Discovery: Your Strengths, God s Design

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1 The FOCUS January, 2017 Free! Great Lakes Conference Discovery: Your Strengths, God s Design Open to ages Friday, February 24 th - Sunday, February 26 th Winebrenner Theological Seminary 950 North Main Street, Findlay, OH Lodging: Drury Inn & Suites 820 West Trenton Avenue, Findlay Discover how God has uniquely created you to make the most difference in your church, community, work and the world. Build connections with other young adults. Event Includes: A copy of Living Your Strengths: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community. StrengthsFinder survey Learn how to: Unpack the passions that fulfill who you are Discover the difference you can make in the world Understand the purpose for which God made you Use StrengthsFinder to uncover your top strengths in life To Register: Earl Mills glcdirector@cggc.org Please provide your name, and church affiliation. Subject Line: Discovery: Your Strengths, God s Design. Made possible through a generous grant from The Foundation of the Great Lakes Conference

2 The Focus Page 2 Arthur Center and Eagle said good bye to Pastor Jereme and Kimberly Bear and family on November 20th. Catalyst had 3 baptisms on Nov. 13. All beautiful steps of faith as people walk with the Lord. They also wrapped up Bullseye Bible School. The children learned several scripture verses, the skill of shooting archery and some very important life lessons. Ex. "God Made a Way" "Aim small, miss small" and "God's way is the best way". On Sunday, December 4 th, Kingdom Community Christian Ministry and Pathway Community Church joined together for a Celebrate Christmas Music Sunday. In addition to holding worship service together, the group performed at the Stranahan Manor House for two hours providing Christmas hymns and music to hundreds of guests that tour the house at Wildwood Metro Park in Toledo. On December 11 th Seville Community marked their 15 th anniversary in their present building and 132 years in ministry to the community. Pastor LouAnn Miller, Grace Fellowship, traveled to Israel and feels truly blessed for the opportunity. Hopewell installed Pastor Byron Denman as their Associate. Byron has accepted a two year internship with the Military Chaplaincy Program and will be serving at Hopewell Church with the hopes of establishing a Campus Ministry with Tiffin University and Heidelberg College. The Denmans are already involved in many ministries within the church and their Tiffin community. Pastor Brad Adams, Shawnee, has accepted another pastorate and the church voted to close it s doors on December 18 th. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ FLOURISH Women s Conference March Winebrenner Theological Seminary, Findlay

3 The Focus Page 3 Advancing Camp Christ Dates Through and Cost Service Scholarship There are scholarships of $500 each, available through the Cross Cultural Commission of the Great Lakes Conference, for students to participate in an ACTS Team.* Consideration for the Scholarship: 1. Under the age of Active in a Great Lakes Conference Church 3. Approved and encouraged by local pastor 4. Availability to share with others about impact after the ACTS Team experience Application must be returned to The Great Lakes Conference office by January 20th and approvals will be communicated by January 31st The scholarship is available through a Grant from The Foundation, Great Lakes Conference The $500 will be utilized to reduce the registration costs listed for the trip and will be paid directly to the CGGC office. Applications may be obtained on the GLC website or by calling the office at (419) Applications must be submitted by January 20, Mission Trip Dates May 24-31: Netherlands May 27-June 3: Haiti June 1-8: Dominican Republic June 9-16: Brazil June 20-27: Fallbrook/San Diego, CA June 20-25: Southwest, USA July 9-16: Brazil July 9-17: Meridian, MS *ACTS Teams are short-term, inter-generational mission trips. Participants have the opportunity to grow in their relationship with Christ, experience the Gospel at work in a different culture, and see mission as a part of everyday life. Shower House

4 The Focus Page 4 Operation Christmas Child Great Lakes Conference Contributions: Catalyst 98 (+4) Sugar Ridge 20 College First 240 Union Chapel 23 (+3) CrossPoint 157 Vanlue 9 (+2) Hopewell 228 Wharton 91 (+77) Leipsic 131 (first year!) Mendon 71 (+4) Assisting in Boone, NC: Mt. Carmel 106 (+6) From College First Bill Wollum and. Mt. Tabor 195 (+16) Don & Phyllis Dennison New Haven 210 (+79) From CrossPoint Angie Brown and Ohio City 16 Diane Iobe Olive Branch 34 (+8) From Mt. Tabor Dick and Clarabelle Pathway 60 (+10) VanHorn Ridgeway 73 Risingsun 132 (+49) Total GLC OCC boxes packed 1,909! Shawnee 15 (+2) 569 more boxes than in 2015 Children Gave People Prayed Boxes Piled Up!

5 The Focus Page 5 Our Sincere Sympathy Terry Anne Keiser ( ) Terry (wife of Pastor Jim Keiser) passed away at their home in St. Marys, OH on Wednesday, September 28 th. She is survived by her husband, Jim, two sons, D.J. (Carrie) and Adam (Marta) and three grandchildren: Olivia, Wyatt and Ethan, her mother, and a brother. Terry was a homemaker and had worked as a realtor and entrepreneur. She volunteered as a youth worker and small group facilitator from She enjoyed writing, travel, word games and her family. She was a member of New Community Missionary Church in St. Marys where she and Jim served. Previously they had served the following Churches of God, General Conference in Pennsylvania: Middletown First, Vander Avenue, New Brighton First, New Beginnings, High View Ronks, Highspire First and in Ohio they had served Mt. Tabor, Celina. For almost 26 years she fought the good fight. She may have had MS, but it never had her. To her, MS meant My Source, My Savior, My Strength, My Salvation. She wants everyone to know that she has moved and that if you wish to contact her, you must receive Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life. A memorial service was held on Saturday, October 1 st with Pastor Jim Keiser officiating. A memorial service was also held at the Middletown First Church of God in Middletown, PA. # # # # # # # # # # # # # Beverly Thompson ( ) Beverly, wife of Pastor O.J. Thompson, 89, passed away on October 22 nd. She had been a secretary for three lawyers in Canton, a secretary for the Nurses at the Lima Schools and had been a saleslady at Freedlanders. She was a member of the Great Lakes Conference, Churches of God. She is survived by her children, Rodney (Deborah) Thompson of Orrville and Ned (Dawn) Thompson of Venice, Florida and 9 grandchildren and 19 greatgrandchildren. O.J. preceded her in death on August 29th. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 1 st at First Church of God, Wooster, with the Revs. Ben Thompson and Arnie Kauffman officiating.

6 The Focus Page 6 Christmas Parties Pastor and Spouse