May 25, 2011
Leadership Biographies
Last Sunday we passed out the biographies of our Leadership Candidates. This is an abbreviated version. Please pick up the complete copy of their biography at the Visitor Center if you did not get one last week.
Dan Beeks - Elder
Dan and Denise met in 1976, shortly after Dan had finished serving in the Navy for six years and Denise had completed college at OCU. They were married in March 1977, and lived in Gillette, Wyoming, for nineteen years before moving to Klamath Falls in 1996, and then to Medford in 2000. Dan has worked in the power generation business for thirty-four years. Denise has been a homemaker, raising three children and substitute teaching in public schools. Jeremy and Angela and family live in Eagle Point and attend West Main; Brooke and Grant and family live in Eugene; Cortnee and her husband, Justin, live in Texas and attend the Sunset church in Lubbock. Dan and Denise were both raised in Christian homes. When asked about their life at West Main, they said, “We count our work in the church as being a tremendous blessing to us and hope that it will be such to others. We continue to look forward to serving within the West Main Church for many years.”
Dan has been serving as a deacon for the last two years in Adult Education. As an elder, he will be transitioning into Adult Education and Leadership Development. Denise will continue coordinating the Children’s Education Department.
Ron Zielke - Elder
Ron was raised in central Washington state while Sally grew up in Visalia, California. They met early in their freshman year at Columbia Christian College and married in June 1980. Both were raised in Christian homes and became Christians in their early years. Ron graduated from Columbia in 1982 and began work at a public accounting firm in Portland thereafter. During his time there he passed the Certified Public Accountant exam and received his CPA license in 1984. Sally worked for various firms as an accounting clerk up to head bookkeeper. With the birth of their first daughter, Sally became a homemaker and a contract bookkeeper for a few clients.
Ron has worked for four other companies handling a variety of accounting and financial responsibilities. They moved to Medford in 1989 when Ron went to work at Harry & David. For the past twelve years he has worked for Kathrein Inc., Scala Division, and is currently the Vice President of Finance.
Daughter, Kayla, graduated from Pepperdine University and currently lives and works in Portland, OR, and attends the Agape Church of Christ. Their daughter, Brooke, graduated from Abilene Christian University. She and her husband, Ezra, live in Riverside, CA., and attend the Magnolia Center Church of Christ.
When asked about their service at West Main, they said, “We have been honored to serve in various capacities over the past twenty-two years and have no intention of stopping. Our parents are examples to us of continued service to the Lord’s church in good and bad times and regardless of age. A title or position does not matter, we just want to continue serving the Lord.”
Ron will begin serving in transition as an elder of Finance and the “Youth on Fire” ministries.
Larry Albright - Deacon
Larry was born in Medford, Oregon. He was baptized at Court Street Church of Christ in Medford. His family began attending West Main Church of Christ after this building was built in 1952. His father served as an elder. Lynn, was raised in the Church of Christ. They met at Camp Yamhill and married two years later in 1967. They are parents to three adopted children: Lori, Tom and Al. They foster-parented five more children who remain a part of the family. They have seventeen grandchildren and one great grandson. They have often shared their home with countless individuals and families.
Larry graduated from SOU as an elementary teacher. He went to Air Force training then went to the reserves before he started teaching at Applegate Elementary. He taught for twenty-seven years at Phoenix Elementary in grades 2, 3, and 4. After he retired, he did delivery driving. Lynn continues her long-tenured work at Phoenix Pharmacy.
Larry has used his skills in many ministries at West Main: Mexico Mission, Bible Camp, Visitation, Building Maintenance, etc. Especially, he and Lynn have been active in coordinating the activities of West Main senior members. Larry has been busy driving for people who need transportation for appointments and church attendance.
He states, “I enjoy serving and visiting with our senior members. I have believed and trusted in God for most of my life and will continue as long as God keeps me here.”
Larry will serve as a deacon with our senior members, continuing his service of some years.
Josh Johnson - Deacon
Josh and Chaley Johnson met and fell in love in the West Main youth group in 1999. They dated during high school and were married at West Main after Josh returned from attending ACU in 2003. They have been attending and serving in the church at West Main and living in Medford since they met. Josh has worked in the construction industry throughout his entire life and has been with Adroit Construction locally for the past ten years. Chaley has been a faithful homemaker and mother to their three children, Asher, Naomi, and Logan. The children have a heart for the Lord and love the fellowship and family they have at West Main.
Both Josh and Chaley are committed to serving the Lord wherever they are, but feel they have been blessed by God to serve Him here. Josh was raised with a strong Christian background on his mother’s side and has remained faithful to the church. He was baptized at West Main when he was twelve. Chaley was not raised in a Christian home and attended a Mormon church infrequently with her grandmother. In her first year of high school, Chaley began to attend West Main. Through the grace of God, Josh was privileged to baptize her in July of 2004 and she has been joyously serving the Lord ever since. Josh states, “Our family has grown in the Lord, and specifically in his Church at West Main. We look forward to continued growth and service in all the years to come.”
Josh will serve as a deacon in worship coordination and be open to further assignments.
Brian Pannell - Deacon
Brian grew up in the dirty South, in Memphis, TN, attending Ross Road Church of Christ with his mom and dad and two sisters. Jessie grew up in the middle of nowhere on a farm in Colorado with her family attending the Flagler Church of Christ in which she and her brother and sister comprised the youth group. They met on a train somewhere between Amsterdam and Florence, Italy, in the middle of the night in 1995. Both were studying abroad via Harding University. Brian graduated from Harding in 1996 and began working in Memphis. Jessie graduated in August 1997. They were married one week after her graduation and began their life together in Memphis, TN. Brian, or Pannell as we call him, traveled to Grants Pass to visit a college friend, had an interview and went back to Memphis with the shocking news (to his family) that they were moving out to Oregon. Six weeks later they arrived in the Pacific Northwest in August, 1999.
Brian had several years experience in the financial sector before entering full-time ministry. Jessie has worked as a bookkeeper for many years and is a full time mother as well. They have three children: Jude, Merrick and Hadassah. This trio keeps Brian and Jessie always on their toes! The family enjoys music, reading, dancing, sports and church. Brian states, “We have been active members at West Main for almost twelve years now and could not imagine calling anywhere else home.”
Brian has been serving as our full-time Youth Minister for seven years. He will continue his work in Youth and Family Ministry, with even greater emphasis on intra-generational development that will more greatly unite all ages at West Main.
****If you have any questions or comments about any of the leadership candidates, please contact an Elder. Please keep these men and their families in your prayers. We want God’s will to be determined for these nominees in this process. We thank you for your participation. Please return your Congregational Survey Sheet to an Elder or the office by June 5th. If you did not receive your survey sheet this past Sunday, please pick one up this week at the Visitor/information Center.
Cell Groups and Super Summer Sunday Nights
Our Cell Groups will have their last meeting this Sunday night, May 29th. Super Summer Sunday Nights begin on June 5th. Get ready for an exciting summer of Sunday Evening Services and Fellowship.
50th Anniversary Celebration
Please join us to celebrate the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Larry and Wydie Denn on Saturday, May 28, at West Main Church of Christ from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Please RSVP. Your presence on this special occasion is the only gift the couple desires.
Prayer Requests . . .
Please continue to pray for a complete healing for Mel Hamilton, Connie Kennedy, Ernest Strawn, and Gerry McCord ... Sharon Englert is in Providence Hospital recovering from surgery ... For prayers answered - Keenan Patterson’s first cancer surgery was a success and he is doing very well ... For the Dahlstrom Family in Texas whose ten year old granddaughter was killed in a hunting accident ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families. Also remember our veterans and the families of those who have served.
Vacation Bible School
Our theme this year is “Be Strong in the Lord.” We will be studying the Courage of David, the Strength of Samson, the Selflessness of Esther, and the Faith of Noah.
VBS this year is June 21-24 from 9:00-11:45 a.m. and is for children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade. Lunch and activities will be provided on Friday after VBS. We still need someone willing to do front set-up; we still need prizes, hot dogs, buns, lemonade mix, and cookies. Please sign up Sunday in the foyer to help in anyway that you can. Thank You, Denise Beeks.
Graduation Open House
Terry and Corinne Christopher are pleased to announce the graduation of their daughter, Kayla, from South Medford High School. They will be hosting an open house in her honor at their home on Friday, June 10th, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
****We will be honoring our four high school graduates in next week’s bulletin.
Kelsey J. Burns
and
Blain A. Rennels
Along With Their Parents
Invite you to Share
In Their Joy At Their Wedding
Saturday, The Twenty Fifth of June, 2011
Two O’Clock in the Afternoon
Cantrall-Buckley Park, Area A
Jacksonville, OR 97530
Reception Immediately Following
***Parking is very limited. Please carpool if possible. Parking fee is $4.00. Please R.S.V.P. to the family if you plan on attending the wedding.
Wedding Shower
There will be a wedding shower honoring Kelsey and Blain following evening services on June 12th. We will have a Hawaiian theme. Please bring your favorite recipes, funny stories or advice and lots of your favorite Hawaiian foods for the potluck. Kelsey and Blain are registered at Target if you need gift ideas.
Camp: Thank you for your generous contributions at our camp auction. Over $4,000.00 was raised for camp. Remember to get your early bird registration into the office by June 13th. Camp is July 10-16.
Calendar of Events
June 21-24 VBS
June 28 Ladies Class Barbeque; 11:00 a.m.
July 10-16 CAMP
August 5-6 Ladies Prayer Retreat
June Coffee Servers: Fran and Cindy Sharpe
June Greeters: Josh Johnson, Christi Olson and Buddy Rennels
Nursery : June 5 & 12, Ferne Scott
