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News at a Glance
Ministerial Development Program Workshops SetAs part of the new Ministerial Development Program (managed by Richard Pinelli) Ministerial Services will be holding two-day regional conferences for full-time U.S. ministers over the next year. These meetings will be composed of workshops to assist pastors in identifying potential candidates for the pastoral ministry. The first four are: April 26-27, Mountain Region. May 16-17, South Central Region. June 26-27, Southeast Region. June 28-29, Northeast Region. In addition to the planned U.S. conferences, Mr. Pinelli will be conducting a similar program for Canada between now and the end of the fiscal year (June 30). And in the next fiscal year, plans are for two such international meetings (in addition to the five remaining U.S. regions). The two international areas will be the Philippines (July 2006) and Great Britain (August 2006). "Please pray for the success of these workshops," said Jim Franks. "It is important for our future that we have a consistent process for developing candidates for the pastoral ministry." UN [ back to top ] Ghana Youth Corps Volunteers SelectedThree ABC students were selected to help with the UCG camp in Ghana in August: Laura Beth Childers, Zachary Smith and Francesca Nixon. They will join three other young adults who were selected by the Youth Education Team to serve with the United Youth Corps in Ghana: Mark Mirigian of the Oakland, California, congregation; Kirsten Korthuis of the Seattle, Washington, congregation; and Michal Lisa Capo of the Tucson, Arizona, congregation. Melvin Rhodes and Doug Horchak will accompany them to the Ghana camp. —Dave Register [ back to top ]
Elders Ordained and CredentialedThe Council of Elders approved the credentialing of Morgen Kriedemann at their February meetings. He and his wife, Joleen, serve in the Johannesburg, South Africa, congregation. On April 8, Bart Bornhorst was ordained. He and his wife, Joan, serve in the Dayton, Ohio, congregation. Russell Devilbiss was ordained April 13. He and his wife, Tammy, serve in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, congregation. Dennis Horlick was ordained April 19. He and his wife, Paula, are serving in the Toronto, Ontario, congregation. He is serving part-time as an assistant pastor. [ back to top ] New Pastor Assigned to Milwaukee/OshkoshDan and Roxanne Dowd will be moving this summer from New England, where he has been pastoring the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, congregation, to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. The Dowds will be replacing Mike and Zelda Hanisko as the pastor for Milwaukee and Oshkosh. The Haniskos are moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, as replacement for Jim and Judy Servidio, who transferred to Houston, Texas. Mr. Hanisko has also taken on the responsibility of regional pastor for the North Central Region. This completes the latest round of ministerial transfers that began last fall. [ back to top ] New Pastor for Upstate New YorkBecause of his increased workload in the Philippines and Asia, Dave Baker will be replaced as the pastor of Buffalo, Rochester and Elmira, New York, by Scott Lord, effective July 1. Scott and Monica Lord have been serving with Dave Baker in the role of associate pastor for the past year. This change will not result in anyone moving or relocating. Dave and Dorrie Baker will continue to live in the New York area and serve in the local congregations as time permits. This change in pastors will free Mr. Baker to focus on the growing work in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka. [ back to top ]
Beyond Today Web Site Visitors and Program ResponseThe first five months of activity at the Beyond Today Web site show a healthy increase. We had 4,844 visitors to the site in December of 2005, 13,115 in January, 13,618 in February, 21,119 in March and 32,440 in April—a 54 percent jump! All aired programs can be viewed online at www.beyondtoday.tv. Beyond Today is scheduled to air on more than 160 channels at present. During our program start-up during the last week of December 2005, we received 63 responses to Beyond Today, and then for January we received 262, followed by 306 for February, 461 for March and 567 for April. So far, overall response to United's new video effort has been very positive. The popular online search tool, Google, offers a video search feature where registered users can upload videos to the Google video Web site. As of the first week of April, we had 11 Beyond Today TV programs posted for free. In just a few months these programs have been viewed over 5,000 times. The most popular program—"Is There Life After Death?"—has generated over 2,000 views. In addition, Apple's iTunes browser offers Beyond Today in its music store as a free program download. We have begun receiving reviews from listeners who have rated the program very highly. Simply launch your iTunes program, go to the music store, click on "podcasts" and browse for Beyond Today in the search window. —Peter Eddington [ back to top ]
GN Ads to Reach 5.2 Million HouseholdsOver 5.2 million U.S. households will be reached this fiscal year through Good News print advertising. Demographic statistics confirm that through focused use of card packs, co-op mailers and subscription brochures, we are vigorously targeting a "young family" audience in the 25 to 42 age range. As part of this intensive effort, distribution of 500,000 copies of five new bifold brochures on "Good Neighbor" displays is nearly complete. The brochure titles included: "You Can Understand Bible Prophecy," "Is There Really a Devil?" "Creation or Evolution?" "What Happens After Death?" and "Does God Exist?" These eye-catching brochures, which offer a booklet and a Good News subscription, were positioned on large, attractive "take one" displays in 4,300 leading supermarkets and discount stores. Response to this year's "Good Neighbor" campaign has been outstanding. So far, 11,293 new responses have been tabulated, providing an excellent 2.3 percent response and a cost per response of only $3.70. Please continue praying for God's blessings on the Church's advertising efforts around the globe. —John LaBissoniere [ back to top ] 2007 Feast to Be Held in AlaskaAs previously announced, Anchorage, Alaska, will be a "specialty site" for 2007. (A "specialty site," like the Biblical Tour of Turkey for 2006, is a Feast site that is not planned for every year.) Anchorage will not be considered again as a possible site till 2010. Originally we hoped the Captain Cook Hotel would host the Feast. However, changes in hotel sales staffing led to drastic changes in the rates and stipulations. So a contract has been signed with the Sheraton Anchorage, where the Feast was held in 2004. Details and registration for this Feast site will come out in late 2006. Since there will be a site in Alaska, no site is being planned for Hawaii in 2007. The Feast will return to Hawaii in 2008. —Charles Melear [ back to top ] Denver Plans 50th AnniversaryThe Denver, Colorado, congregation will be commemorating its 50th anniversary on Aug. 5 and 6. The actual beginning was in nearby Lyons in April 1956. We invite anyone who has information about the history of the Denver congregation, or about the Pueblo and Fort Collins/Loveland, Colorado, and Garden City, Kansas, congregations, to contact us. We are especially interested in locating any charter members, as to date we have located only one, a member currently living in Dallas. We will provide further information and a sign-up form on request. Contact Larry Neff at larry_neff@ucg.org (the preferred method) or by phone at (303) 470-3112 or by mail at 10267 Spotted Owl Ave., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. —Larry Neff [ back to top ] Costa Rica Feast Site AnnouncedServices and activities will be held at the Fiesta Resort (www.fiestaresort.com) in beautiful Puntarenas on the Pacific coast, 90 minutes from San José, Costa Rica. The rates are: • $100 per night per adult. • $50 per night per child age 4 to 12. • Price includes all meals, drinks, snacks and coffee break after all services. • No off-site reservations can be made. A variety of activities is planned during the Feast, and time will be available for day trips to visit God's marvelous creation. Services will be held in Spanish and English, with simultaneous translation. Registration is first-come, first-served: • Only 200 international transfers will be accepted. • Reservations must be confirmed with a nonrefundable hotel deposit of $200 due June 5, 2006. • Register on-line at www.unidaelsalvador.org/feast, or call Barbara Parada at (713) 914-0766 if you do not have Internet access. • For more information, visit www.unidaelsalvador.org/feast or e-mail unidaelsalvador@yahoo.com. Location of Services: Salón El Roble, Fiesta Resort, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. First Service: Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. (social to follow services). Tax: Approximately $30 per person airport departure fee. —Herbert Cisneros [ back to top ] Public Bible Studies Held in BendLarry Walker, pastor of the Bend, Medford and Roseburg, Oregon, congregations, began a five-part Bible study series March 27. He had recently taken a class titled "The Jewish Roots of Christianity" at a local Bible college, and he prepared this Bible study series as a follow-up. He gave flyers to the other 14 class members, mentioned the series in an article and the "Religion Briefs" column in the Bend newspaper and sent flyers to nearby GN subscribers. Two class members also sent flyers to others they know who are interested in the subject, including eight pastors of other churches. Mr. Walker reported: "We had six new people in attendance at the first session, including two members of the class that I had been taking, the wife of one of the two and another couple that I met a few years back and recently had a three-plus hour visit with and dinner. The other new person was a man whom I have never seen before. "Despite the few attendees, the session went very well. I felt excellent rapport with everyone and had very positive feedback from them during and after the session. All but the one man stayed long after visiting and enjoying refreshments. "Another class member e-mailed me to let me know that he couldn't make it because of leaving for Hawaii for a long vacation. But he wants to get tapes of the sessions. Yet another class member who signed up to attend did not come." [ back to top ] Family Weekend in Florida Set for JuneThe fifth annual Family Weekend in the St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida, area will be June 10 and 11. The weekend will begin with Sabbath services at 2:30 p.m. in Largo, Florida. David Myers, pastor of Akron and Youngstown, Ohio, will be the guest speaker. A potluck meal, a Bible study and a Western-themed family dance will follow the service. Sun, surf and sugar-white sand will be the backdrop for Sunday's traditional beach party, which will include a barbecue lunch, games, prizes and fellowship. Activities will be at Fort DeSoto Park, named number one beach in America in 2005 by the renowned Dr. Beach. Further information, including housing, maps, event schedules and costs, can be found at http://ucg-tampabay.org/. [ back to top ] ABC Seminars SetThe education area of Ministerial Services announced the following ABC Continuing Education Seminars: Aug. 21-25 Cincinnati, Ohio Sept. 9-10 Denver, Colorado Oct. 28-29 Atlanta, Georgia Nov. 4-5 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Nov. 11-12 Calgary, Alberta Nov. 18-19 Morton, Illinois (dates still tentative) [ back to top ] Bluegrass Family Fun Weekend SetThe Wheeling, West Virginia, congregation invites musicians and brethren who enjoy music to a Bluegrass Family Fun Weekend July 20 to 23 at Sally Buffalo Park near Cadiz, Ohio. Jam sessions, parking lot pickin' and entertainment programs will highlight activities on Thursday night, Friday and Sunday. Saturday night will feature an extended jam-session and great food. A Bible study is scheduled for Friday night. On the Sabbath there will be a Sabbath service, a potluck-style lunch and Bible studies for adults, teens and children. Registration forms are available at www.ucgnet.org/wheeling/bluegrass. You can also request a registration form and get further information by calling Jesse Earles at (276) 650-2224 or Bob Miller at (740) 968-3106. [ back to top ] Attention Graduating Seniors and Parents!Congratulations! We would like to feature the 2006 high school graduates in a special section of the July United News. Please take a few minutes to answer these questions and send a photograph by June 12, 2006. 1. Graduate's Name 2. Parents' Names 3. Congregation and Pastor's Name 4. High School Accomplishments 5. Church Activities/Hobbies/Interests (tell a little bit about yourself) 6. Plans After Graduation 7. Additional Comments (favorite quote, favorite scripture, motto, advice, etc. Please identify which it is, so we don't think your advice is your motto, etc.) Phone number or e-mail address to confirm spellings, etc. ( Will Not Be Printed ) Please send with a recent photo (conforming with biblical standards of dress and hair length) of the graduate by June 12. By e-mail to: Mike_Bennett@ucg.org By mail to: United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length; 250-word maximum length. Thanks! [ back to top ] Calendar of EventsMay 7-8: General Conference of Elders. May 9-11: Council meetings. May 19-21: Ladies' Retreat on Deer Lake (north of Spokane, Washington). Theme: Pearl of Great Price; guests: Victor and Beverly Kubik; for more information, call (509) 466-4899 or e-mail mmickelson@msn.com. May 20: Creation, Early Man and Noah's Ark seminars, Charlotte, North Carolina; guest speaker, Arnold Mendez Sr. Hosted by the South Carolina and North Carolina congregations. For more information, contact Dave Mills at dave_mills@ucg.org or phone (336) 873-8988. May 26-29: Memorial Day Weekend, Kansas City, Missouri (www.kc2006.com). June 10-11: Fifth annual Family Weekend, St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida July 2-4: Melody of Music, Lafayette, Indiana (www.mom07.com). July 13-16: Teen/Young Adult Weekend in Garden Grove, California (Luky2binhb@yahoo.com). Aug. 5-6: Denver, Colorado, 50th Anniversary (larry_neff@ucg.org). Sept. 3: Second Annual UCG Houston Music Festival. Please send calendar items to mike_bennett@ucg.org. [ back to top ] What's New on the Web?On www.ucg.orgCompass Check See video of home office weekly meeting. UCG Commentary on This Week's News Weekly commentaries by UCG written on world news and trends, from a biblical perspective. Read these and more: "Tower of London Prepares for Bird Flu" Current World News & Trends Browse up-to-date world news events by subject categories! E-mail Updates and UCG eNews Receive e-mail updates relevant to UCG members and weekly HTML newsletters
with ucg.org updates. Sign up today! On vcmagazine.orgThe March VCM has articles on "Answered Prayer on the Coeur d'Alene
River," "Why Is God So Silent?" and more. On verticalthought.org New article posted on the Web site for March is "Movies and the
Culture War." Featured Links of the MonthYouth and young adults' Web site. Singles' Web site for singles in the Church. If you have questions, contact: webmaster@ucg.org |
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