World Renewal International
Friday, November 21, 2008
World Renewal 2008 Annual Banquet and Worship Service
World Renwal Int'l had its annual banquet Saturday, November 15 at Brookville Road Community Church, New Palestine, Indiana. I really enjoyed it. The music was very diverse. Rowena Holliday played great songs and hymns of the church while people got their food and ate. During the banquet Frank and Janet Penna sang one of my favorite songs, "Sarah Laughed" it has one of my favorite lyrics "old lady gonna have a baby." This is followed by writer Maury Macy's ending, "And I've got a feeling, yes I do, God was laughing too!" I love the Bible story songs. Later the Penna's sang a Ken Medema song about Mary and Martha. [Janet Penna pictured singing the part of Martha as I watch] I am sure the crowd attending this mission banquet was a crowd of "doers", so such a song that points to the merits of sitting at the feet of Jesus seemed right on target. 
Brian Hanneken gave a testimony describing the night he accepted Christ. He accepted Christ the night of the day my mother died. I was preaching in Paonia, Colorado, January 1991 when news came that mom had made her entrance to heaven. I preached that night on, as Brian describes, "a miserable little old man named Zacheas, and there I sat back there a m
iserable old man." Although a practicing Zen Buddhist, Brian joined me at the front of the church to receive Christ. He says his life has never been the same. He followed up his decision by going to seminary and receiving a degree in Biblical Literature-New Testament. He is presently the an associate dean in the academic office of Barclay College, Haviland, Kansas where I once taught. I had always felt guilty that I was not with mom when she died. It was at her insistence that I kept the schedule in Colorado that weekend. "Oooh no you are not!" (going to see her), mom had said sternly to me on the phone. "You go to Colorado and do what I raised you to do, preach the Gospel!" Well, I went and when she died I felt I had failed her, my dad my brother Mark and his wife Kathy. Sixteen years went by without me knowing that my preaching with a grieving heart that night was part of what moved Brian to open his life to Christ. Having Brian and wife Twila at our annual celebration allowed me to share with the folks God's faithfulness. I have stopped feeling guilty and instead feel such joy that mom's death was marked by what mom and dad had given their lives for, introducing people to Jesus the Christ. [Brian being interviewed during service.]
iserable old man." Although a practicing Zen Buddhist, Brian joined me at the front of the church to receive Christ. He says his life has never been the same. He followed up his decision by going to seminary and receiving a degree in Biblical Literature-New Testament. He is presently the an associate dean in the academic office of Barclay College, Haviland, Kansas where I once taught. I had always felt guilty that I was not with mom when she died. It was at her insistence that I kept the schedule in Colorado that weekend. "Oooh no you are not!" (going to see her), mom had said sternly to me on the phone. "You go to Colorado and do what I raised you to do, preach the Gospel!" Well, I went and when she died I felt I had failed her, my dad my brother Mark and his wife Kathy. Sixteen years went by without me knowing that my preaching with a grieving heart that night was part of what moved Brian to open his life to Christ. Having Brian and wife Twila at our annual celebration allowed me to share with the folks God's faithfulness. I have stopped feeling guilty and instead feel such joy that mom's death was marked by what mom and dad had given their lives for, introducing people to Jesus the Christ. [Brian being interviewed during service.]
What a switch in music styles to the Contemporary Christian music sound with Doug Newnum and Renewal's "Let the worshipers arise" and "How great is our God" followed by Renewal's bluesy sound from the newly recorded CD Mike Cruse's title song"Get Ready." Then things turned plain country as Renewal's Steve Cruse played his fiddle and lead worship with the stand by "I'll fly away." Renewal's new country rock sound "Gonna' Give Him Praise" , written by Doug Newnum and Mike Cruse, usually brings even quiet audiences to their feet praising the Lord, closed Renewal's time of leading worship in jubilant joy and honor to our Lord. One of the songs lyrics "honor you (God) with every breath I take" summed it up best.
"Celebration of Community Church" was the next part of the worship service. This began with a video, produced by Ned Arthur, of the history of our partner Community Churches under the leadership of Dr. Charles Lake and Pastor Hubert Nolen. Hubert Nolen thanked Dr. Lake for his leadership and offered a prayer of thanks to God for the vision we have all joined. Over 50+ Community Churches have been planted in the USA, Brazil, Haiti, Mexico and the Dominican R
epublic. Although I narrated some of the video, I wept as I saw the way Ned chose pictures showing the beginning of Community Church of Greenwood in 1977, then Brookville Road Community Church 1981, then Brandywine where my brother pastors and on to the international churches that we have been a part of. It closed with pictures of the newest USA church plant that includes Greg Ruble as lead pastor and Ned's son Shane leading worship and assisting. I love the passing of church planting leadership from one generation to the next. Pastor Brad Davis, Shelbyville Community Church gave a clear witness to Christ's leading in planting the congregation birthed by Brookville Road making it a granddaughter church of Greenwood. My brother Mark and wife Kathy closed this portion of worship singing "Holy! My God! You are worthy of all my praise!" Wow! It was glorious!
epublic. Although I narrated some of the video, I wept as I saw the way Ned chose pictures showing the beginning of Community Church of Greenwood in 1977, then Brookville Road Community Church 1981, then Brandywine where my brother pastors and on to the international churches that we have been a part of. It closed with pictures of the newest USA church plant that includes Greg Ruble as lead pastor and Ned's son Shane leading worship and assisting. I love the passing of church planting leadership from one generation to the next. Pastor Brad Davis, Shelbyville Community Church gave a clear witness to Christ's leading in planting the congregation birthed by Brookville Road making it a granddaughter church of Greenwood. My brother Mark and wife Kathy closed this portion of worship singing "Holy! My God! You are worthy of all my praise!" Wow! It was glorious!
We also saw the new video showing WRI's work around the world. This was produced by Dan Downer. Dan was in my youth group when we planted a new church in Traverse City, Michigan, in 1975. Dan, now in his 50's did a fine job of defining the challenge we face as well as WRI's efforts of taking Christ in many forms to those needs.[Seen in one of their more serious moments]
Wayne Phelps, Cleveland, Ohio, was commissioned as the Director of Recovery Ministries International for World Renewal Int'l. His role is to help with the equipping of leaders in other countries with recovery ministries to those with alcohol and other addictions. [Seen here with Frank Penna]World Renewal-Brazil President Tele Moraes gave the evening message. His challenge was not to lay down the vision God has given us. Renewal's revision of the old hymn "Where could I go but to the Lord." He als
o introduced Pastor Anselmo who is the pastor of the church we just raised funds for the facility of his church this summer and fall.
o introduced Pastor Anselmo who is the pastor of the church we just raised funds for the facility of his church this summer and fall.I wish you all had been there. Jesus was certainly the guest of honor. We also celebrated the rescue of our Haitian orphans and our friends by Pastor Luc and wife Rosana. Luc was hugged and cherished by all.
Jim Dawson did a great job with our food. Check him out on the web in New Palestine, IN. He is a member of Brookville Road Community Church and showed he cared about the banquet attenders. Thanks Jim! Donating grandma's furnished the deserts. Wow! Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for stopping by.
Monday, November 17, 2008
God's People Care!
Frank Penna is a wonderful servant of the Lord Jesus and World Renewal. He spends a great deal of time with our international leaders in Haiti, Brazil and Mexico. He recently had this experience. God is good and so are His people. [pictured Frank and Luc holding donation].
I went to the Dallas area this past weekend to pick up my mother who had been visiting my brother there. On Sunday we went to a small church where my brother Bob preached. Sparrow's Way is a church plant in a daycare building. The lay pastor and wife run the daycare and are planting this church made up of what appear to be several "down and out" folks. Most every person (there were 30-40) just looked like they had an interesting life story to tell if you know what I mean. I loved it. It reminded me of our church plant in Xochimilco (Mexico City, made up mostly of recovering alcoholics).We were greeted at the door by half a dozen tatooed people smoking and laughing together. The singing was "lively" with lots of clapping and amens...not the kind of church my brother typically frequents. His connection was through the daycare business. Anyway, just being there with him in that setting was, let me say "unique," especially if you knew our history.
That is another story.Bob only introduced me and Janet and then briefly mentioned what I do, and said maybe two sentences about what is happening in Haiti. At the end of the service, the pastor got up and explained that they don't usually take offerings (they have the plate in the back). He talked a little bit about sowing good seeds, and then said they were going to take a love offering and give it to (pointing to me), "that gentleman and the ministry he is doing in Haiti." He mentioned wanting to give some to my brother , too. They took it up, and after the service handed me two seperate envelopes. Even after the service, two little boys ran up to our car and said they wanted to help, too. They gave us a few quarters. Bob told me to just take it all.I did not open any envelopes until 8 hours later when I got home.
I told Janet there was probably $50-100 just from what I had seen. I opened the smaller envelope first, and to my amazement found 2 $100 bills and 2 $50's. All together, there was $451.50! My brother joked earlier that all I did was show up, he did all the work, and I got all the money! Little did he know how generous that little group of people had been (I haven't told him yet).
I told that story to a cousin of mine yesterday, one I rarely see who ate lunch with us because mom is in town. Right as she left us, she handed me a check for $200.
I know this kind of stuff happens all the time in our ministries, but sometimes it just comes out of nowhere. God blesses, and then we can pray that He will in turn bless the givers. The folks at Sparrow's Way (good name, don't you think?) really got a excited when I told them that our primary ministry is planting churches and that much of the money they gave would go to feed orphans. I got all the info I needed to report back to them about the results.
Thanks for stopping by.
Indiana Wesleyan Students Make A Difference
Pastor Luc Joseph holds a $1000 check from Indiana Wesleyan University for the relief from damage of the 3 hurricanes that devastated his city, house, church, school and orphanage in Gonaives. The University allowed students to take up an offering for the orphans and people of Haiti who are suffering. Student Sarah Tabb organized the fund raising effort. Sarah has gone on WRI mission trips to Brazil and Mexico City. She is a member of Brandywine Community Church.
We have launched Project Joseph to purchase land, build a new church and school and orphanage near Luc's new home and our mission house. This area is out of the flood zone that saw a similar flood in 2004. A donor has already committed to the purchase of the land needed.
Way to go Sarah!!!!! Thanks for stopping by.
We have launched Project Joseph to purchase land, build a new church and school and orphanage near Luc's new home and our mission house. This area is out of the flood zone that saw a similar flood in 2004. A donor has already committed to the purchase of the land needed.
Way to go Sarah!!!!! Thanks for stopping by.
