Hugh's News & Commentary

It was my privilege to serve as the presiding officer for the PACIFIC WESTERN ANNUAL CONFERENCE Session, May 14, 2011.

The Conference was hosted at Celebration Center, IPHC, in Modesto, California. Celebration Center is co-pastored by Rev’s Craig and Susan Bagley [Susan serves as a member of the Pacific Western Conference (PWC) Executive Council]. The Bagley’s ministry at Celebration Center is an incredible story of God’s grace and restoration. They were assigned by Conference Superintendent Bill Terry and the PWC Executive Council “to close Celebration Center and relocate the twenty [20] plus remaining members to a better part of town,” but, upon arrival, the Bagley’s felt the Holy Spirit directing them to “work with this existing group for awhile.” The rest is history…today Celebration Center has expanded to three ministry campuses with a membership of seven hundred and forty-four [744]. The Presiding Officer devotional/training session for 2011 is focused on the theme; Live, Move, Be…God’s Call to the IPHC. This session identifies three objectives from the classic passage in Acts 17:24, “In Him We Live and Move and Have our being.” Those objectives are:

1. To Live Missionally

2. To Move Back to Biblical Beliefs

3. To Be Authentic

I could not help thinking that it was providential that this Annual Conference Session was hosted at Celebration Center under the shepherding of the Bagley’s as they personify what it means to Live Missionally, to Move Back to Biblical Beliefs, and to Be Authentic!

Ministerial Credentials were issued as follows:

Local Church Minister’s License (10) –

REV. CAMERON WYATT
REV. BRENDA BOOTHE
REV. FRANK CABRERA JR.
REV. MACHIAVEL CONCEPCION
REV. CHINGCHING CONCEPCION
REV. GARY DUTTON
REV. JOSE RAMOS
REV. SAMUEL WINTERS
REV. ROBERT TRUDELL, SR.
REV. MICHAEL JELLSEY

It was an honor as the Presiding Officer to recognize the following Conference attendees:

REV. BILL TERRY, former Conference Superintendent, Director of Men’s Ministries, IPHC & General Ministries Cabinet Member
DR. DAN GREENLEE, former Conference Superintendent, President, Advantage College, General Church Institutions Board Member & General Ministries Cabinet Member
REV. ANTHONY HOLMES, General Discipleship Ministries Division Council Member & Conference Discipleship Ministries Director

Bishop Halvorson’s comprehensive State of the Conference Report included the introduction of several new Conference Ministries/Director’s including the new Conference School of Ministry. Bishop Halvorson also reported that they are in the process of planting four Hispanic and one Filipino congregation. He challenged the forty-five churches in the PWC to become passionate and intentional about “reaching the thirteen million lost people in the Northern California area with the saving Gospel message of Jesus Christ.” Bishop Halvorson also requested that I lead the Conference in Session in observing the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper or Communion together. The Holy Spirit orchestrated our observance of Communion as a powerful occasion for faith’s confession as we concluded with a powerful ministry time around the altar.

Bishop Halvorson recognized Dr. Dan Greenlee, pastor of The Father’s House to provide the Conference with a special announcement. Dr. Greenlee summarized his remarks for me in the following news release:

“Daniel said that God changes the times and seasons. He is changing the season for The Father's House, International in San Jose, California.

Recently the Roman Catholic Church made a large cash offer for our property so they can start a school and worship center. Our church wasn't listed on the market–it happened ‘out of the blue.’ We are now in the process of making a cash purchase of a newer commercial facility in south San Jose with freeway access and great visibility. After our contract was accepted we were presented with an offer to partner with Live Oak Academy to lease part of our building during the week for a generous monthly lease. We will soon move into a facility with one million dollars in recent upgrades and have a new beginning. We are setting aside a large amount of money for the future development of the congregation. The City of San Jose will be re-zoning this building in October which will greatly increase the value of the property. As it is, we are purchasing a five million dollar facility for a little more than three million dollars cash. We are extremely grateful for God's provision and grace.”

I knew you would want to celebrate this miracle with Dr. Greenlee and the members of The Father’s House IPHC.

Bishop Halvorson has served the IPHC in many leadership capacities over the course of his tenure as Superintendent including serving as a member of our current General Finance Committee.

May every benefit and gift that comes from God our Heavenly Father, be graced on Bishop Roger and Lennie Halvorson. The Halvorson’s are choice servants and the Pacific Western Conference has tremendous growth potential for the Kingdom’s sake!