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ABC Affiliate Features Pasadena Youth's Ministry
PASADENA, CA (January 27, 2003) - Geoffrey Arai of Pasadena Covenant Church was
recently featured on an ABC television affiliate in Los Angeles for his
work with a Christian organization ministering throughout the Middle East.
Sixteen-year-old Geoffrey and his mother, Kathleen, are heavily involved
with Christian Cross Cultural Ministries (CCCM), which Kathleen started 16
years ago. This ministry is dedicated to helping build bridges that
facilitate presentation of the gospel to Jews and Arabs. It also focuses on
educating those in the U.S. about people living in the Holy Land and their
cultures.
CCCM team members traveled to Jordan and Israel November 3-19 as Geoffrey
led an art outreach program with materials Geoffrey designed entitled, "The
Bible Through Origami." The use of Origami - the Japanese art of paper
folding - has allowed the team to go to schools and orphanages more easily
and the teaching materials have been translated in English, Arabic and
Hebrew.
In Jordan, Geoffrey interviewed the country's Minister of Trade for High
Adventure-Voice of Hope Radio, based in Jerusalem (see accompanying photo).
He and the group also had the opportunity to travel to a remote area in
Jordan, reachable only by a two-hour camel ride. And their trip, which
occurred during the Ramadan religious holiday, also gave them an
opportunity to learn more about the unique culture in the Middle East.
Geoffrey (who is home schooled) has been to the Middle East nearly two
dozen times, his mother says, and he is fluent in Hebrew. He has been
working with origami and other art programs since age 14.
"I have always thought that God had a special purpose for Geoffrey,
although I didn't know what it was until recently," said Kathleen.
"Geoffrey has a very distinct program and kids love it. We (CCCM) have been
taking trips three or four times per year to different countries. Origami
is a non-threatening medium and Geoffrey leads the whole
program, either in English or Hebrew. He'll work with the children and
introduce the New Testament and then I talk to the parents. We also have
access to kids who are kind of left out in the Christian loop, particularly
in Palestine."
Before heading back to the Middle East this spring to lead a Passover
outreach education program, Geoffrey and his mother are headed to Thailand
to teach contextualized evangelism (Kathleen is an adjunct professor at
Citrus College in Glendora). CCCM also
does regular outreach programs in southern California along with service
projects with the Pasadena Homeless Shelter. Pasadena Covenant Church has
provided some assistance to CCCM, including aid with a delivery of
Christian books to the first public library in Palestine.
To learn more about Geoffrey's work and the efforts of CCCM, call
323-340-1551 or email the Arai family at araiisrael@yahoo.com.
A review of the more than 200 local Covenant church newsletters received by
the Department of Communication highlights other activities on the part of
young people throughout the Evangelical Covenant Church. The following
information is grouped by conference.
CANADA
- Erickson, British Columbia: A number of children at Erickson Covenant
Church participated in a Sunday school musical "Live From the Streets of
Bethlehem." Ten of the junior high students also participated in an
extensive Bible study format called The Journey (the Covenant's new
confirmation materials) with pastor Doug and Korleen Stapleton. High school
students have been busy fundraising for CHIC2K3, the Covenant's triennial
high school conference, using a talent show and coffeehouse as
catalysts. A total of 33 performers shared their talents at the talent
show, including piano, ballet, recitation, singing and storytelling.
GREAT LAKES
- Jamestown, New York: Rich Morton of First Covenant Church was recently
inducted into the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society at the State
College of Brockport, New York.
MIDWEST
- Topeka, Kansas: Brookwood Covenant Church college student Tulora
Roeckers of Washburn University in Topeka is the recipient of a 2002-2003
Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant Award. She will study "Effects of Hair
Length, Hair Color and Facial Symmetry on Perceived Attractiveness." Psi, a
national psychology honor society, was founded in 1929 for the purpose of
encouraging excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of
psychology.
NORTH PACIFIC
- Helena, Montana: Evangelical Covenant Church of Helena young adults
Jordan Ippilito, Seth Bazacas and Anna Fitzgerald had roles in the Grand
Street Theater's
rendition of "Pinocchio" in December. Ippilito played the part of
Pinocchio. On the athletic field, Justin Wigen and Tyler Emmert were on the
roster of the Helena-based Carroll College football team, which won the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics title in December.
Emmert, a freshman quarterback, was an All-Conference pick and completed
153 of 234 passes for 1,978 yards and 16 touchdowns before
suffering a separated shoulder late in the season. Wigen, a sophomore wide
receiver, caught 12 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown last fall.
NORTHWEST
- Brandon, South Dakota: Living Springs Covenant Church high school
students Andrea Larson, Kara Brown, Matt Hubbell, Rose Knudson, Kelly
Pokett and Jordan and Marnie Graham participated as marching band members
for Brandon Valley High School in the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix
recently. The band placed third in their division.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Santa Barbara, California: Josh Bryant of Montecito Covenant Church, a
senior at Cal State-Northridge, is one of the top age group powerlifters in
the United States, based on recent results at the American Powerlifting
Federation (APF) West Coast Open in Newport, Oregon. During that meet,
Bryant broke the junior American record by lifting 2,154 pounds in a
combination of bench press, dead lift and squat events. His effort would
have set a world record, but the proper international judges were not
present. He will compete in the California State Powerlifting Championships
in March and has qualified for the APF Senior Nationals, in Los Angeles in
June. Later this summer, Bryant will compete in the Mountaineer Cup, a
professional meet that will be televised on ESPN.
For more information about what is happening throughout the Evangelical
Covenant Church, regularly visit www.covchurch.org or sign up for the free
subscription headline news service Covenant Newswire (see the Covenant home
page). To submit information for consideration in the online Covenant news
reports, direct the information to the Department of Communication by
telephone at 773-907-8333 or by email to
newsdesk@covchurch.org.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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