General Conference of Elders Meeting in Cincinnati Ohio
United Church of God, an International Association
General Conference of Elders Meeting Report
Saturday, May 3, 2003 – Cincinnati OH
Between the 766 gathered in Cincinnati, the 133 congregations on the phone hookup and the 120 cybercast connections, the audience for the May 3 Sabbath services was one of the largest in United’s history, Clyde Kilough said during announcements. More than 400 elders and wives were registered to attend the General Conference of Elders meeting this weekend, over 100 more than last year.
André van Belkum, chairman of UCG in Southern Africa, gave the first split sermon on the need to “Stand Firm.” After describing the growth in South Africa (27 percent increase in Passover attendance compared to the previous year), Mr. van Belkum played a tape of a lion’s roar. He explained that a guide told him never to run from a lion, but to stand and face it. Then the lion will generally stop its charge. The Bible shows the need to stay close to God so we can stand firm whatever trials that roaring lion, the devil, throws at us.
Aaron Dean, a member of the Council of Elders and a non-salaried elder, gave the second split sermon on our calling to be like Christ in service to others. He compared our calling with the call he received 29 years ago to put on a red jacket as a steward serving on the Church’s plane. Herbert Armstrong’s first instructions were to treat everyone like a king or queen—all have a fantastic potential, and it’s all about people. At baptism we all put on the “red jacket” in agreeing to serve Christ, no matter what. Mr. Dean used memorable examples of service by Mr. Armstrong and by the queen of Thailand to illustrate our need to make service a way of life.
After the Sabbath elders and wives registered for the General Conference of Elders meetings and enjoyed an entertaining slide show during the chairman’s reception. Doctored photographs humorously illustrated a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the GCE. The audience was given a chance to win a prize by guessing who was who in 44 old photographs from the ’50s and ’60s.
Mike Bennett
