Hebron (Clay Center, Kan.) RPC

Ronald Graham, pastor

A men’s retreat was hosted by Shawnee last spring. Guest speaker Jim Carson spoke about “The Godly Man’s Battle For Holiness.” A Covenanter Youth (CY) retreat was held in Shawnee last spring, too. The theme was “service.”

The June CY Retreat was held at Camp Curry. Bob Catloth spoke on “Prayer.”

Mike and Jean Stewart and family from Lawrence moved to Manhattan and joined the Hebron congregation. Mike is a small business consultant with Kansas State University.

Summer communion was held on July 13. Fall communion was held on Oct. 22-24 with Pastor Bruce Parnell as the guest minister. Shawn Cowley from Minneola, Kan., RPC joined Hebron.

We welcome college students Kyle Finley, Shawn Cowley, and Jeremiah Hamer.

The Jes and Laurisa Condray family moved to Elkhart. Laurisa started her first year of teaching grades three through five at the Elkhart Public School.

We welcomed Pastor Bruce and JoAnne Martin. Pastor Martin recited poetry at a church family night supper last summer.

Hebron WMF hosted guest day at the church on Oct. 20. Guest speaker Debby Clark addressed the theme, “Hats to You.”

Pearl Milligan celebrated her 103rd birthday on Nov. 15.

—Mae Henderson, correspondent

College Hill (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC

Anthony Selvaggio, pastor

The month of December saw the addition of two very special people to the congregation. The first to arrive from China was Katherine (Katie) Jean Selvaggio, age 13 months, born in Hubei Province. Within a week, William Copeland arrived from Yarislavl, Russia, accompanied by his mother, Professor Deborah Gayle Copeland and his grandparents, Bill and Willa Copeland of the Fresno, Calif., RPC. On both occasions more than 50 members of the College Hill congregation were on hand at the airport to greet the new arrivals, complete with welcoming signs and balloons.

This year the Pioneer Club for children, both in and out of our congregation, changed its emphasis to a degree commensurate with its new title—Frontier Club. The club, meeting each Wednesday, has seen significant growth in numbers, for which we praise God. The club participated in this year’s Beaver Falls Christmas parade. Several members of the congregation assisted in a variety of ways to make the club’s float a success.

This fall, College Hill RPC welcomed a number of new families into its membership: Robert and Marina Frasier, Everett and Tiffany Lowe, Joe and Aimee Monahan and children, Bill and Jean Ross, and Kenneth and Becky Smith and their children.

The congregation continues to be faced with the “problem” of outgrowing their facilities. This fall College Hill returned, after a number of years, to the practice of conducting two morning services on all but a few Lord’s Days. The session and board of deacons recognize the difficulties presented by the space problem, and the session plans to create a special committee to examine the future needs of the congregation and how best to meet them.

—Norman Carson, correspondent

Orlando, Fla., RPC

David Smith, pastor

Twenty people from the congregation attended the International Conference at Calvin College in July. Elder Jay Worsham presented to the congregation the evangelism training program, “Share Jesus Without Fear,” by evangelist William Fay, on four Sabbath evenings. The congregation hopes to use these skills to reach their neighbors in Orlando with the message of Jesus.

In late summer, Joe and Donna Worsham gave us an update on their work in the American Academy in Larnaca, Cyprus. They showed interesting pictures of their work. A fellowship meal was served after the presentation.

Mr. Roland Herring and Mrs. Royce Tishken were received into church membership.

August 13 brought Hurricane Charley with all its fury. Then Sept. 5 came Hurricane Frances, and Hurricane Jeanne came through Sept. 25. The congregation gives thanks that no one was badly injured. Some families did sustain damage to their homes, and the church basement was flooded badly twice. The church could not be used for four weeks. God’s mighty, protective hand in the storms was evident.

In October, the church held its annual Fall Festival. There were games, activities, and good food for all.

Beginning this fall, the Women’s Missionary Fellowship had been sponsoring Missions Emphasis Night along with a fellowship supper. These nights have featured the work of RP missionaries in the Mideast, the Prison Fellowship Ministry here in Orlando, and the proposed work in the Sudan. An offering is taken to support these ministries.

The WMF held a successful rummage sale in November to raise money for the RP Home and other mission work in the church.

An annual Christmas dinner and program was held Dec. 4 at the church. The theme was “A Family Christmas.” A talent show was presented demonstrating God’s good gifts, a delicious ham dinner was served, and there was a time of singing by the choir and congregation.

—Phyllis Tacey, correspondent

Grace RPC teen wins essay contest

More than 100 high-schoolers entered a contest that was won by Anneke Verlinde, a member of the Grace (State College, Pa.) RPC. The contest was sponsored by The Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania and required an essay on the theme: “What the Gettysburg Address Means to Me.”

As the winner, Anneke was invited to read her essay at a luncheon event held in Gettysburg on Nov. 19, marking the 141st anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. Her essay, entitled “America, A Dazzling Symbol of Liberty,” clearly articulates her response to that famous speech. She states, “Lincoln’s address stirs my mind to think of all the sacrifices people made that America might endure.” And, “Lincoln is also urging us not only to mourn their deaths, but to exuberantly react by continuing the ‘unfinished work’ which these men and others ‘so nobly advanced.’”

Her conclusion was: “In doing so, we are ensuring that these deaths and sacrifices have not been futile and that America will continue to be the dazzling symbol of liberty our forefathers meant it to be.”

More than 300 people attended the event. Bill Troxell, mayor of Gettysburg, presented her with a key to the city. She was also given a copy of Of the People, by the People, for the People and Other Quotations from Abraham Lincoln, edited by G.S. Boritt.

Anneke, with her parents and three younger siblings, regularly attends services and events at the church. She is being homeschooled this year. Her father, Hans, is an elder of the church.

—Jean W. Sherman, correspondent Grace (State College, Pa.) RPC

Ward: A Door Opens in Sudan

Editor’s Note: Many of you have been following updates about the Ward family and Heather Huizing, RP missionaries who are working in the turbulent country of Sudan (see Nov. RP Witness). What follows is Vince Ward’s response to my inquiry about initial reactions to the significant news of a peace agreement in that country.

Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya was recently filled with sights and sounds that many would never have imagined possible—both Sudanese Muslims and Christians exclaiming their respective cries of “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) and “Halleluyah.” Jan. 9 marked the day that the government of Sudan signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese People Liberation Movement.

All were rejoicing on the day that brought an end to the longest war of the past century. Most were optimistic for the future of Southern Sudan as developed countries have pledged their support for the rebuilding of a country in ruins.

Some are wondering whether the peace agreement will hold. Those who trust in the God who brings an end to wars (Psalm 46:9) will look to Him for spiritual renewal and rebuilding.

Pray that the Church in Sudan will work together as they lay hold of open door of opportunity for kingdom building.