Anderson University welcomes alumni, family and friends back this weekend for fun and fellowship during Homecoming 2008, titled “U R AU” October 17-18. Along with the annual homecoming football game and introduction of the homecoming king, queen and court, there will also be opportunities to enjoy the RavenFest, class and academic reunions, and a theatrical production entitled “Seussical.”

For more information about Anderson University’s 2008 Homecoming celebration, contact the AU Office of Alumni Relations at 765-641-4100, 765-641-3888 (fax), or visit the AU public Web site at www.anderson.edu/homecoming.

By Mike and Heather Webb

Tanzania—This was our sentiment as we returned from the Kondoa area earlier in September. We drove two and a half hours over pothole-studded roads and sand as fine as talcum powder to encourage our sixteen theological education by extension (TEE) students in their studies. Our visit marked the halfway mark for their first book Following Jesus, and we were eager to see their progress. We hadn’t been face to face with them since leaving them with books and training five weeks earlier, so we were thrilled to see students’ books filled out, witness a lively discussion among them about what they had learned, and see the leaders keeping great records.

Anderson University will receive $375,000 from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc., for a sustaining proposal to provide students more opportunities and incentives to keep them in Indiana upon graduation.  The Anderson University sustaining grant proposal approved by the Endowment is entitled, INvision AU.  The grant comes from the Endowment’s “Initiative to Promote Opportunity through Educational Collaborations.”

By Susan Kane
Church Multiplication

But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9 niv)

I love a good fire! I love watching fires. I love sitting by fires. Actually, I love starting fires, but that is a whole other story. (Sorry, Dad and Mom!) There is something about a fire that has always drawn me towards it. And I don’t think I am all that different from most people. Fire draws a crowd. That is just what fires do.

It is time to honor our congregational shepherds and servants of the church. October is Pastor Appreciation Month, a time to express our appreciation for our pastor’s selfless service to the ministry of the Father. These servants have responded in obedience to God’s call to serve in his kingdom as they give leadership to their local congregations.

The challenge of ministering to many different people and communities has a way of leaving them emotionally, spiritually, and physically depleted. Tangible acts of appreciation and gratitude help to strengthen and encourage the pastor and their family.

Efforts continue at Church of God Ministries (CGM) to obtain detailed assessments on the extent of damages to Church of God congregations affected by Hurricane Ike. While some churches have been able to provide initial assessments, contact has remained difficult with several congregations in the most severely affected areas due to power outages, closed roads, and downed phone lines.

“Contact with the Churches of God in Port Arthur, Orange, and Beaumont, Texas, has been difficult,” reports Robert Pettit, hurricane relief coordinator for our churches in Texas. “They were hit hard, and at this time we are unable to make contact to assess the situation. As soon as information is available, we will be able to have a better understanding of what type of response to initiate.”

The following is a letter of update provided by Pastor Don Bergstrom, Houston First Church of God regarding their experience and situation following Hurricane Ike.

Dear Church Family and Friends,

Houstonians who stayed in town will never forget the night of September 12, 2008.  We went to bed (well, some went to bed) not knowing what the morning would bring.  Hurricane Ike was coming, and all we could do was wait…and pray.  Around 1:00 a.m. our power went out (and would remain out for the next ten days, but we were just one of some 8 million homes from the Gulf Coast to Canada that would experience power outages due to Ike).  The sound of wind that rattled our house through the night is permanently etched in my memory!  I’ve been through a few earthquakes.  They hit and then it’s over.  I now know that hurricanes hit - and continue hammering!  I wondered throughout the night if it would ever end. 

Leaders, pastors, and lay workers from eight different faith communions within the Holiness tradition met on September 23 at the Madison Park Church of God, Anderson, Indiana, for a day of discussion and networking, focusing on “Holiness in the 21st Century.”  The event was described as a day to engage the minds and hearts of leaders in our common call to holiness in fulfilling our mission.

With 235 representatives in attendance from the Brethren in Christ, the Salvation Army, the Wesleyan Church, the Evangelical Church, the Free Methodist Church, the Church of the Nazarene, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), the day was packed with times of worship, reflection, and thought-provoking presentations and discussions.

A few months ago, Church of God Ministries sent a simple and free gift to your congregation via e-mail that you could use in your worship: PowerPoint slides for welcome and announcements. The response was very positive. Good news! We now have a new set of slides that you can use. Simply click here to download, from the Church of God Ministries Web site, new announcement slides for use in your worship. It’s a great way to have professional slides for your worship service and identify with the Church of God family.