Local Church Updates

• Midwest Teens Travel to St. Louis
• Beloit and Wisconsin Dells Host WNP Seminar
• Kansas City Hosts Second Memorial Day Weekend
• Houston Holds Second Music Festival
• Milwaukee Celebrates 50th Anniversary
• Houston Area Holds Annual Fall Campout
• Kentucky and Tennessee Teens Enjoy Mammoth Cave Weekend

Midwest Teens Travel to St. Louis

Nine Midwest teens from six congregations gathered in St. Louis, Missouri, Aug. 13 to 15 for three days of non-stop activities. From daily Compass Checks to thrilling rides, from live theater and the St. Louis Zoo, to the sobering Holocaust Museum, it was definitely three days to remember. Following are excerpts from teens who attended.

Codi Cole wrote, "The arch of St. Louis (otherwise known as the Gateway to the West), as we all know, is large, extremely large at that, but only when we had come within about a mile's distance of it did it really dawn on us how tremendously monstrous the monumental structure is.

"After spending 45 minutes in the Museum of Westward Expansion, it was finally time to go up into the arch. We all got into the line and moved into groups of four or five, to ride in the tiny trams. The four-minute ride came to an end, and after a few small flights of stairs we were finally there—the top of the St. Louis Arch!

"On a clear day (our day was extremely clear) you are supposed to be able to see for a 30-mile radius. Boy do I believe it, because I felt like I was literally suspended above the earth. We took a lot of pictures while at the top, both of the view and of each other, enough to have a book full of memories by the time we got home."

Kevin Carter wrote, "The first night we all went to the Muny, the largest outdoor theater in the United States , to see the play Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. The second day we went to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor. This was one of my favorite activities of the whole weekend. We split up into several groups, and went through the entire park. By the time the day was over, we were ready for the pizza and pool party we had that night.

"On Tuesday, we went to the St. Louis Zoo and then the Holocaust Museum. Besides all the activities, just being at the hotel at night was great. There was a large pool area where we had breakfast and Compass Checks every morning. Throughout the trip we all got to know each other better and were able to make new friends too."

Teens and parents both agreed that the trip was a great success, and look forward to a similar trip next year.

—Paul Carter

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Beloit and Wisconsin Dells Host WNP Seminar

The Beloit and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, congregations hosted a World News and Prophecy seminar on the Sabbath of Nov. 4 in Beloit. Brethren from at least eight states and more than 15 congregations attended the series of four lectures that were held after Sabbath services.

Darris McNeely and Melvin Rhodes gave split sermons at Sabbath services and Robin Webber was also a presenter at the seminar. A potluck meal was enjoyed after services.

"This was the second WNP seminar to be held in Beloit , and the interest and enthusiasm was as good or better than the first," said Mr. McNeely. "The members seemed excited by the subject and eager to learn. Their zeal was very encouraging to see."

Weeks in advance of the seminar hundreds of Good News magazine subscribers were invited by mail to the seminar. At least 11 subscribers attended, but more may have attended since it is hard to identify subscribers at such an activity.

Several subscribers asked various questions of the Beloit pastor, Steve Nutzman. One couple said they really enjoyed The Good News magazine and World News and Prophecy. Another subscriber asked for a subscription to WNP.

—Steve Nutzman

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Kansas City Hosts Second Memorial Day Weekend

From May 26 to 29, the Kansas City, Kansas, congregation hosted its second Memorial Day weekend event.

This year's theme was "Building Spiritual Friendships." Guests from 15 states converged for another exciting and inspiring event. With nearly 80 in attendance, guests came from as far west as California and east as New York and Rhode Island . Special guest speakers were UCG president Clyde Kilough and Ken Treybig.

Kansas City's beautiful Hyatt Regency Hotel once again served as the meeting place for all the seminars, Sabbath services and guest rooms. A luxurious and spacious hospitality room with a breathtaking view of the Kansas City skyline was available for the entire weekend for guests to fellowship and enjoy a variety of delicious snacks and beverages.

Mr. Kilough delivered the keynote address and discussed the seven levels of spiritual friendships. Other seminars for the singles included "How to Become a Successful and Positive Christian Single" and "Keys to Successful Dating in the Church Today." Married couples heard about "Jesus Christ—the Key to Marriage" and "Emotions, Notions and Potions."

Saturday evening included a gourmet dinner at the historic Union Station, followed by a lively mix of dancing and karaoke. After Sunday morning's final seminar, all guests were invited to a nearby park for a family picnic. Six teams were organized on two courts for a very competitive but fun volleyball tournament. A host of other entertaining public activities, including live music, were being held on the grounds, and the evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display in front of the Liberty Memorial Tower.

The weekend concluded Monday afternoon with a hearty meal at the Cheesecake Factory on the Country Club Plaza. Photos and video clips from the event can be viewed online at: http://kc2006.com/Event_Photos.html. There will not be a 2007 event, but it may return in 2008—stay tuned!

—Ruben Gusman, event coordinator

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Houston Holds Second Music Festival

The second annual UCG Houston Music Festival was held on Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006, on the grounds of the Houston North church hall. The festival was a tremendous success; 300 people (including 46 musicians) enjoyed a full day of live music (including rock, folk, country and blues) while visiting and relaxing.

Several out-of-town bands played at the festival this year, including Amendment 21 from San Antonio, Texas; The J. Mac a Due Band from Tyler, Texas; and the Call Me Home Band from Fort Worth, Texas.

Admission to the festival was free and funds received from sales of food, drinks and snacks at the concessions stand covered all the event's expenses. Preparation for next year's Houston Music Festival 2007 have already begun.

—David Buchanan, event coordinator

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Milwaukee Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Amid the elegant surroundings of the Marriott Hotel, 184 brethren from as far as Alaska assembled for Sabbath services Nov. 18, marking the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Church of God. The first resident pastor, George Meeker, had been invited to speak to the congregation.

The first sermon was given by his son, Joel Meeker, who spoke about how God views time. We were reminded once again that God's purpose for humans is to bring many sons into His family. God inhabits eternity, and our spiritual roots are to be planted in God and not this world.

The second sermon, given by George Meeker, was on the subject of time and chance. He explained that our calling was not just luck but was because God has a purpose for us. God knows all His sheep by name and each of us is important as we all fit into the plan He has for us.

Fellowship followed services for about another hour and a half, then a formal dinner was served to 200. There was ample time for more fellowship and many people were able to see old friends they had not seen in many years, some even decades.

After dinner, a photo presentation was narrated by Dave Kroll and Michael Hanisko. Old photos had been gathered and organized for this presentation. We saw photos of people in many activities such as the Spokesman's Club, YOU activities, the music program, fund-raisers, baseball teams ("the purple Turkeys"?) and the ever-popular potlucks. Some of the men we saw in the photos still had hair.

After this presentation the dance band began their music. They even delighted the audience with the Beer Barrel Polka.

After a long but joyous day, the event ended at midnight and people returned to their homes, happy for having the opportunity to thank God for 50 years of the Church in the Milwaukee area.

—Leone Burns

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Houston Area Holds Annual Fall Campout

The weekend of Nov. 10 to 12, 2006, brought the Houston, Texas, area's eighth annual campout at Lake Livingston State Park about 50 miles north of Houston. There were 280 campers from all over Texas, as far away as Corpus Christi and Dallas/Fort Worth.

The weekend started out hot and humid with a huge mosquito problem, but by about 7:30 p.m. a storm headed our way and brought gusty winds with cooler weather, which chased away the mosquitoes. A lightning show with some thunder lasted late into the night, but we escaped the rain. The wind continued to blow throughout the night testing the stability of the tents!

A park ranger told several people Saturday morning that the radar had shown the storm heading straight for Livingston but it separated as it approached and went around the town then came back together on the other side! Houston and its surrounding areas received several inches of rain during the night, but the campers only got a few sprinkles! One person told the ranger that we were a church group and that lots of prayers had played a part in that!

Jim Servidio, Houston North pastor, presented a Bible study on the use of wind in the Bible (inspired by the night's windstorm) to a group of 351 overlooking the lake on Saturday afternoon. Amazingly, as we walked back to our campsites, the winds disappeared and left us with a beautiful, sunny, yet cool day.

Other activities included a Friday night combined dinner at the pavilion, a Sabbath sing-along on Saturday morning, and a young adults' activity on Saturday night.

We hope to start a new tradition by having a spring campout March 2 to 4, 2007, at Bastrop State Park near Austin.

—Laurie Curry

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Kentucky and Tennessee Teens Enjoy Mammoth Cave Weekend

Fifty members, including a combination of teens, their families and other members, joined together for an inspirational weekend at Mammoth Cave National Park on Nov. 11 and 12. Three congregations combined for this event, including Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tennessee.

The weekend started with combined services in Bowling Green, followed by dinner at Mammoth Cave National Park Hotel. After dinner, an inspiring and uplifting teen Bible study covered the topic of participation and teamwork, followed by games and fellowship.

Everyone spent the night at the beautiful Mammoth Cave Hotel, where many deer and other wildlife could be seen wandering through the grounds all evening.

The next morning, everyone ate breakfast together and then attended a 30-minute Compass Check meeting, which focused on thankfulness and the beauty of God's creation. After Compass Check, the group boarded a bus, which transported everyone to the start of their two-hour Mammoth Cave Frozen Niagara walking tour.

—Shari Fooshe

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