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1 #Remembering2016

2 Youth Celebrate Christmas . . . and New Year’s!

2 “Plan C” for Cheerful Beginners

3 Gallery PICs

4 World Report

6 Snow Days! January 2017

The congregation gathered on Friday, January 6, to look back at 2016 through a slideshow of photos taken throughout the year. The program was titled “2016 #memories,” which was the first of many hashtags of the evening. The pictures had been provided by photographers Kenny Cripps, Ryan Parker, and a few others who contributed for special occasions.

The photos were grouped by types of event, beginning with a group called “Services #familyofGod.” These photos included snapshots of various specials, testimonies, preaching, and prayers. While watching the pictures roll by we

realized that although church services are the most common events on the calendar, there are very many special moments in them. The next group was “Sunday School #totesadorbs,” and these photos of little ones were indeed the most adorable photos of the night.

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#Remembering2016The section titled “Special Events #thisandthat,” featured occasions such as the Memorial Day work day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and the Easter concert. “Young People #cantstop #wontstop” showed the variety of activities our youth have enjoyed, and “Weddings #somany #yearofthewedding” included nine different couples on their big day in 2016. The other sections were “Camp Meeting #exhausted #blessed,” “Youth Camp #sotired #sodirty #bestweekoftheyear,” and “Christmas #tobecontinued #christmasinjanuary.” The evening

concluded with light refreshments and fellowship in the activity room.

It is a blessing to have this family of God who can worship, work, and have fun together. We look forward to more of the same in 2017 as Jesus tarries.

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Fitting so many memories into an hour reminded us that we do a lot in a year! Two examples: (Top) Memorial Day. (Bottom) Wednesday morning Bible study series.

“ . . . although church services are the most common events

on the calendar, there are very many special moments in them.”

Youth Celebrate Christmas . . . and New Year’s!The annual youth Christmas

celebration was postponed two weeks due to weather conditions, with the new date set for Saturday, December 31. The initial cancellation was a disappointment, but in the end it was a great way to spend New Year’s Eve.

Young people arrived around 5:00 p.m., and soon a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, dressing, and salad was

candy canes with another candy cane. It was an amazing display of useless talents, and a lot of fun.

A “Best Dressed” contest was held after the “Minute to Win It” activity. Everyone present was given a Christmas bow, and they voted for best dressed by sticking their bow to the individual they felt had the best outfit of the evening. Small gift bags were given as prizes to the three wearing the most bows once the votes were all in.

The young people had been encouraged to bring a plate of cookies or brownies to the event, and these were used for the final activity of the evening. The treats were wrapped festively and delivered by the young people to the homes of about twenty shut-ins from the congregation. In some cases they were able to sing a carol or two as well. It was a merry Christmas and a happy New Year’s Eve!

served. It was a holiday feast done right, and what a treat! Following the meal, everyone participated in a Christmas version of “Minute to Win It.” The activity involved people gathering into teams of six and then competing in six challenges which take about one minute to complete. One challenge required a team member to blow a Christmas card across a table, and others involved stacking marshmallows and hooking

Fun group photos with friends are always an enjoyable addition to any youth gathering!

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“Plan C” for Cheerful BeginnersThe annual Beginner Department

Sunday School Christmas Program was originally scheduled for the beginning of morning service on Sunday, December 18. However, the same snow and ice that prompted the postponement of the Youth

of the year (remember #totesadorbs from the 2016 slideshow?), and we can look forward to hearing them tell us all about God’s love in a couple of weeks!

Christmas Celebration caused Sunday school—and therefore the Beginners’ dress rehearsal and performance—to be cancelled that morning.

Plan B was to reschedule the “Happy Birthday, Jesus” program for Sunday morning, January 8. But amazingly, another storm brought even more snow and ice that weekend. So, on to Plan C! The Beginner Department is now preparing a valentine’s program to open morning service on Sunday, February 12.

Two-year-old through kindergarten children are quite entertaining anytime

(Above) Beginner Department students prepare for their program, aid-ed by teachers Sarah Walden and Laura Moberg. (Left) Gracie Hinkle practices her speaking part.

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Gallery PICSselections from our online albums

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(Clockwise from top left) The Junior Orchestra starts 2017 off right: Cheyenna Hall on violin, Henry Parker on trombone, Solomon Cook on saxophone, Ariah Piper on bassoon, and Patrick Lee on French horn; new congregant Nora Cook with dad, Jeremy; Sylvia Phillips testifies; Steve Mixer preaches; Ella Krasnogorov is happy to be at Sunday school.

Excerpts from Sunday, January 8 The saints in India send New Year’s greetings. This past week, they concluded their special meetings and began holding Vacation Bible School (VBS) with several locations taking a turn at hosting.

Clark Wolfe and Charles and Antonia Schleicher are still in India and were able to visit fourteen of our churches during the special meetings as well as two for VBS. They wrote that there have been too many blessings to number, including five saved in Durganagar, where over one hundred had gathered, filling the small church past its capacity of about sixty.

This year the Masakapali church was the first to host VBS, and about sixty-five children participated. The lesson, which was on faith, was conducted on the roof to take advantage of the sunlight as the power had gone out in the building, leaving it dark. The children really enjoyed the activities. At the close, each was given a gift bag containing soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, cookies, chips, candy, a lunch container, and ten rupees, which they were especially excited about.

Saturday afternoon, our Nadimpalem church was the next to host VBS, with children from our Yanam and Uppongala churches joining. Everyone had a great time.

On Sunday morning, the Kaikavolu church held their quarterly ordinance service (pictured above, left). Many were in attendance and the blessings overflowed. During the time of prayer that preceded the taking of the emblems, one woman was saved, about six were sanctified, and another six received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God is good!

Vacation Bible School is scheduled to continue throughout this week among our India churches. Our hope is that the children who attend will be touched by the love of Jesus. Please keep them in your prayers.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Excerpts from Sunday, January 15 Harlan Lee of Roseburg, Oregon, is in Romania for a two-week stay, during which time he plans to visit several of our churches as well as make home visits. He arrived in Bucharest on Tuesday and was met by Gheorghei Macovei and Ted Bora, the Eastern and Western District Superintendents of Romania, who will accompany him during the trip. Brother Ted will also serve as an interpreter.

Heavy snow (pictured right, top) kept the team from going anywhere on Wednesday, but on Thursday they were able to travel six hours north to the city of Pascani. Five years ago, our workers began regular visits to the families who live in the thirty-five villages surrounding this city and were invited into many homes to share the Gospel. A few took the way, and since then the work has grown from dozens to hundreds.

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From the

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In one of the neighboring towns, Sodomeni, a former bar has been acquired and remodeled for use as a church which is able to accommodate a congregation of about ninety. Our team joined the saints there for a service. Brother Harlan said they had a wonderful time of fellowship lasting three hours, and during that time two gave their hearts to the Lord. He said no one wanted to leave when the service concluded. Brother Harlan also reported that the congregation had been using a borrowed wood stove to heat the building, but our team was able to purchase a more suitable stove with funds donated from the saints in the United States.

After leaving Sodomeni, our team went to Rimnicu Sarat where we have had a church for ten years. They participated in a service with forty-five, and then made two home visits in the same city.

As Brother Harlan continues in Romania for another ten days, he asks that we keep these services and the people of Romania in our prayers.

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Excerpts from Monday, January 23 The dedication of our new Philippines headquarters church in Bagong Sikat (pictured right, middle) was held on Sunday. First, though, we attended Sunday school at 9:00 a.m. in the original church, which is now the chapel. The adult classes were held outside as it was a beautiful sunny day with ninety-degree weather. The young people met inside and were taught by a relatively young staff with a determination to carry the Apostolic Faith work forward for as long as Jesus tarries.

Following Sunday school and some time in the new prayer room, we gathered outside the main entrance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Debbie and I had the honor of cutting the ribbon, after which Bill and Lori McKibben carried a large Bible into the church and placed it on a stand located in the narthex.

The ministers then proceeded into the church and took their places on the platform followed by the choir and orchestra. As the congregation filed in, it became apparent that the sanctuary, designed to seat 500, and the overflow area, accommodating another 300, would not be sufficient, and 200 remained outside.

The service (pictured right, bottom) had several music specials including “People Need the Lord” performed by the orchestra, and “Lord God Almighty” sung by the choir. The congregation also had an opportunity to lift their voices in worship, and a sweet spirit settled on the sanctuary. After an opening prayer, the dedication message, and a Scripture reading, Zenaida Ruiz gave the dedication prayer. Then the service closed with a time of prayer at the altar.

Following the dedication, the choir and orchestra members served lunch to the entire congregation. The kitchen staff had worked for days to prepare the meal, and it was greatly appreciated by all. In the evening, an evangelistic service was held. The music, provided by the Bagong Sikat choir and orchestra, was wonderful, and the testimonies were inspiring. Afterward another meal was served for the congregation. It has been great to spend time with the saints here.

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After some snow and ice in December, January brought tenfold! It was a good time to remind everyone how to receive schedule change notifications. And once we were able to resume services, Brother Steve Mixer shared some thoughts about snow days in his sermon on January 20:

Snow Days!

“I’m not sure about you, but I really enjoy snow days. There is something about a forecast of snow that kind of raises your expectations of unplanned possibilities. Just think about what can happen—school closures, sliding around in the snow in your car, maybe even staying home from work and having a second cup of coffee.

“The possibilities are not endless, but there are possibilities. Sometimes at this time of year people think about making changes in their lives; we call them New Year resolutions. They think about the possibilities, which can be motivating. They think maybe some good change can take place in their lives.

“We read about the Children of Israel in Exodus 16. There were many possibilities. When God delivered them

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from Egypt, a whole new life opened up for them. They were doing something completely different from a few months prior when they were slaves. God brought change to them, and it was an exciting time. But even in the good times, faith will be tried. They came to the Red Sea and the Egyptians were pursing them. Yet God told them to stand still.

“We may think that the Gospel is all about being on the move. But sometimes the Lord may want us to stand still and let Him work. Standing still is not a passive experience. It is waiting on the Lord. It requires patience and hope, and it builds faith.

“Israel was challenged to trust God with their safety and security, and we are too. God can help us to keep our eyes on the possibilities. He does surprise us sometimes, but He will take care of us. We can remember what God has done for us in the past. He has blessed our lives beyond measure. We will be tested; God will prove us in this new year as He tarries, but we can look forward with an expectation of wonderful possibilities.”