World Renewal International

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 miserable 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 Republic. 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]

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 also 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.