January, 2019 The FOCUS

.

Hope For

A New World 2019 glc

Conference In Session

June 8th

Winebrenner Seminary

Olive Branch and Sugar Ridge Church of God installed Marc Phillips as their pastor on October 21st. Marc and his wife, Sarah, come to the GLC from the Midwest Region.

During the annual White Elephant Auction fund raiser and fellowship event at Union Chapel, Bryan, OH, Pastor Denny Jones was recognized for 40 years in ministry. Union Chapel experiences Denny and Pam’s love for the congregation daily. The church is grateful for their ex-perience and leadership. Denny and Pam, have been committed to loving the people and they are loved in return..

Everyone had a great time bidding on things of little value as they recognized what has true value: the love

of God and each other.

Around 100 ladies were blessed at Mt. Tabor’s Align Women's Retreat on November 9 & 10. Fun and games had everyone laughing on Friday night and Deborah Lovett touched the ladies lives with her stories and wisdom.

December 9th, the Seville Community Church of God celebrated it’s 17th anniversary of the pre-sent ‘Worship Center’ and 134 years as a Churches of God Congregation. Pastor Lance Finlay was the guest speaker and invited guests included Pastor Jim Wilder, Gomer Church; Dr. George & Shirlee Whitson, Trustee, U of F and

WTS; State Rep., James Lower and State Senator, Rick Outman. Rev. George M. Showers serves as the Senior Pastor and Pastor Bob Fall is the Associate Pastor.

Nancy Yoakum, project leader of Operation Christmas Child, Hopewell Church of God, re-

ports that the church blessed 412 children this year with their shoeboxes. The church believes

it is an avenue to take the Gospel to the world. This year a garage sale/fundraiser for shipping

cost ended up with more than enough for another 100 boxes.

Mendon and Mt. Tabor churches went together for Christmas caroling in the town of Mendon.

Both churches met at the Mendon Church of God and then walked through the town and sang

Christmas carols together.

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Where It’s Happening!

Camp Dates and Cost

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GLC

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Tally

Catalyst 70

College First 340

Hopewell 412

Leipsic 105

Mt. Carmel 150

Mt. Tabor 296

New Haven 423

Ney 12

Olive Branch 52

Pathway 102

Ridgeway 53

Risingsun 99

Sugar Ridge 36

Union Chapel 12

Vanlue 15

Wharton First 36

2016= 1,909 2017= 2,056 2018=2,213

Col lege Fi rs t served as Hancock County's Drop-Off Center for Opera-tion Christmas Child shoeboxes for the

3rd year. The total boxes they took in this year was 4,344. One of College First aims has been to minister to donors who drop off boxes. They take time to offer specific prayer for the individuals and churches as well as the chil-dren who will receive the boxes. Numerous volunteers from Col-lege First, as well as area churches, assist them in receiv-ing the boxes and praying for do-nors. They have been especially blessed by donors who shared their concerns about personal and church needs. They feel this prayer ministry makes the shoe-box collection a greater blessing for their church family.

In addition, College First sent a team of 24 persons to the Char-lotte, NC processing center. Per-sons from other churches are al-ways welcome to join them or send your own team.

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On November 7, Monty

Harlan was introduced as

the new Executive Director

of Camp Otyokwah.

Monty has been Director at

Bear Lake Camp, Albion,

Indiana, since 1992. Dur-

ing his tenure of leadership at BLC, Monty

has seen God strengthening the impact of

this ministry by expanding their summer

camping program from 4 weeks to the pre-

sent 8 weeks, implementing the summer

staff and service crew program, the expan-

sion of the dining hall, cabin renovations

and other construction and renovations to

the facilities, the birth of a vibrant commu-

nity ministry, and the addition of two addi-

tional full-time staff positions.

Monty holds a B.A. from Taylor University

and an M.Div. from Winebrenner Theologi-

cal Seminary. Monty and his wife, Janette,

have four children; Ben (Karli), Abbey, Re-

bekah, and Caleb. Janette is also very active

in the camping, retreat, and community min-

istries

Monty would love to come to your church

and share about the ministry of the Camp.

Monty is an ordained pastor in the Churches

of God and would also be available to

preach. You may contact Monty by email at

director@otyokwah.org. You may also con-

tact him by phone 260-402-7001.

Dr. William (Bill) Reist has assumed the role

of President of the Foundation of the Great

Lakes Conference. We are extremely grateful

for the ministry and service of Tom Weaver

who served in this role for the past six years.

Tom provided excellent leadership and we

deeply appreciate his meaningful service to the

Foundation and the conference.

PRELIMINARY

GRANT APPLICATIONS The Foundation of the Great Lakes Confer-

ence is pleased to announce receipt of 17 Pre-

liminary Applications totaling $263,480 for

funds to be distributed in June 2019. The

Board will consider each of the Preliminary

Applications and will notify applicants by

February 1, 2019 whether or not they are ap-

proved to proceed with a Formal Application.

The Board will make a final review of the For-

mal Applications and award grants at its May

16, 2019 meeting, and will notify applicants

by June 1.

Thank you to each congregation and agency

that submitted a Preliminary Application. We

are extraordinary grateful for the resources in

The Foundation that provide this ongoing

grant-making opportunity and the vibrant min-

istries that are supported through this grant

making process.

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Your Prayers Are Needed…

...for Pam Jones. Pam had open heart surgery

on January 9th at St. Vincent Hospital, Toledo.

If you would like to send a note or card, her

address is: 01-501 CR 18.75, Bryan, OH

43506.

IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITES FOR SERVICE

College First, Findlay is seeking an experienced full-time Senior Pastor with the nec-

essary skills to serve as the spiritual leader of the congregation. The Senior Pastor must

be ordained or meet the requirements for ordination by the Great Lakes Conference of

the Churches of God, General Conference. Applicants must submit a resume and cover

letter to office@collegefirst.org. To read more about the church, visit the church website https://

www.collegefirst.org/ or their FaceBook page. You may also request a job description from the church

office.

Pastor Linda Davison, Chaplain/Spiritual Care Coordinator for Birchaven Vil-

lage in Findlay, is in need of a volunteer pianist on Wednesday mornings from

10:30 am to 11 am, the first, third and fourth Wednesday of the month. This is

the mid-week service that Linda does for the residents. If interested, you can

contact Pastor Linda at 419-348-6640.

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CONGRATS TO…

Pastor John and Kris Dodds on the birth of Landon Warren, their first grandson and the first child for

Erin and Kyle. Landon was born on November 28th in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Pastor Marc and Sarah Phillips on the birth of a granddaughter, Sami Iris Renschen, born December

28th. She weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces.

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OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO …

...Pastor Jim and Lynda Bear on the passing of Jim’s father, Glenn Bear, on December 20th in Car-

lisle, PA. Cards may be sent to them at 5492 E Aster Lane, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858.

...the family of Todd Moore. Todd had been active on several GLC mission work teams. Todd was

the son of Juanita Moore, who served on the GLC Missions Commission for many years and his wife

Carol, has been Ridgeway’s Faith Promise Leader for many years. Pastor Doods ask that we pray for

the family and for the church. Todd was 55.

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The Flourish Conference

March 1-3

Winebrenner Seminary, Findlay

“Just Open the Door”

Great Lakes Conference In Session June 7, 8

Winebrenner Seminary, Findlay

“ Hope For A New World“

General Conference Churches of God Sessions July 22-24

Winebrenner Seminary, Findlay

“ Uncharted: Leading Where There Are No Maps“ ` `

Page 5 The Focus

Power in prayer- A story from CGGC Hooghan Nizhoni Church

(As told by John Thumma in his winter 2018 newsletter)

This is an encouraging story of how faithful prayer can make a difference and how

one of our fellowships in CGGC CCM Southwest field is making an impact and

being a witness in their community.

“Coro is one of the seventeen grandchildren of Grandma Caroline who are all less

than ten years old. He and his siblings had a rough life as alcohol was the only

constant when they were with their parents. When Coro was a little baby he was

choked in an alcohol induced fit of rage. At that point he just lay there with practi-

cally no signs of normal development. Grandma Caroline fought for and got cus-

tody of the children. She and Grandpa Davidson now have them to raise. Now this little boy was

in Hooghan every time the doors were open and naturally he was prayed for at every service. Coro

was on everyone’s mind and all prayed for him. He was anointed many times.

The IHS doctors told Grandma that he would never walk or talk, but the faithful at Hooghan were

not buying that. We continued to pray for his healing. After about a year and a half, the hospital

bought Coro a special walker for him to use. However, I never saw it because it was around then

that he started to walk! Certainly, at first he was looking up more than down, but walking nonethe-

less. This little boy who would never walk - was! Now with that many children in the service one

has to ride herd sometimes, but when Coro was “running around” in my mind I would think of the

movie Forrest Gump, and say “Run, Forrest, Run!” and that is why I call him Forrest. He just loves

the drum set that his uncle and aunt play, and he can get up the steps to the drums.

We are still praying for his speech since he is not talking yet. He is making noises and going to a

special speech class. We fully expect another miracle in the near future. Will you pray with us ex-

pecting the same?”

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THE LITTLE CHURCH THAT DID 423 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes!

New Haven Church of God, Sumner, Michigan, had a goal of 200 Operation

Christmas Child shoeboxes. Then the Lord laid a challenge on a young cou-

ple’s heart to purchase and fill another 200 boxes. Also, a smaller local

church had tried to fill some boxes but were unable and

asked the New Haven Church if they would like to take

them. They said absolutely, we would love to. They

were very organized and had a monthly list of items

needed which got everyone excited and involved to

reach their goal. It was a team effort! On the night of packing the boxes they

had a pizza party and people came from all over and they were completely

packed in 1 1/2 hours. Praise the Lord.. He is so good!

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