Overseer's Insight: October 2012

Dear Saints:

This last month, September 14-16, 2012, the Kirkland Family Church sponsored an E.L.I.T.E.  (Emerging Leadership Intensive Training Excursion) weekend.  Approximately 20 young people from around the State attended this powerful time of training.  The training was coordinated by State Youth Ministries Director, Sister Shelly Symonds.  She taught a class on the gifts and moving of the Spirit.  Throughout the weekend, students were given time for Bible exegesis and then given the opportunity from a practical standpoint to share their findings.  Bishop Knoblich presented a class on the “3 C’s of Leadership - Calling, Character, and Competence.”  On Sunday morning the students delivered mini-messages which were well thought out and presented.  Overall, the weekend was a great success.  Our emerging leaders gained more perspective into their callings and were given some very practical skills in their growth and spiritual formation.  Thank you to Sister Shelly for coordinating this training for our young people.  And thank you to the Kirkland Family Church for sponsoring this event.

October - Clergy Appreciation Month

For several years now, October has been designated by our Church and by many denominations as “Clergy Appreciation Month.”  This is a time for the local church and members of that church to show their appreciation to the pastor and his/her family.  Appreciation can be demonstrated through special offerings taken, groceries bought, clothes purchased, or taking the family out to dinner.  Your pastor gives so much of himself/herself throughout the year, this is a time where we have the opportunity to give something back to them.  Please do something special for the parsonage family.  Seek God for how you may bless your pastor and family.  This is a wonderful way to show love and honor for those that serve you in their labors unto the Lord.

Camp Roganunda

As mentioned last month, on September 1st, we had our “Super Saturday - Open House” at Camp Roganunda.  Many brothers and sisters from several of our churches were able to be with us on the Labor Day weekend. Since then and over the last several weekends, some of our brothers and sisters have been coming up to the Camp in preparation for winterizing 6 cabins and the pool house.  Thank you so very much to all of those that have volunteered your time and finances in getting the Camp ready for Winter Retreats.  Though a good start has taken place, there is still much work to get done.  Churches and Individuals or Families that want to contribute to winterizing cabins, donating materials or donating some labor, please contact State Overseer, Bishop Don Knoblich ( as soon as possible. All help will be greatly appreciated.  You may also contact, Camp Caretaker, Brother Bob Gaines at 509-658-1013.  Before too long, winter will be on us, so time is of the essence in moving forward with getting these projects completed. Once again, thank you for your vision and support of this vital Ministry.

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Our next Gordon-Conwell Course (October 25-27, 2012 at Kirkland) will be “Theology II” as taught by Dr. Hector Ortiz.  It is not necessary to have taken Theology I to take Theology II.  Registration forms have already been sent out.  Please remember that your registration form along with a $50.00 registration deposit is to be sent to Dr. Knoblich, one month in advance of the class, that is, by September 21, 2012.  The deposit will be credited to the tuition cost for the course.  Deposits sent in after September 21st will be subject to an additional $50.00.

Adult Retreat

This year, as in past years, Adult Retreat will be held at Pacific Beach.  The dates are for February 1-3, 2013.  Our Retreat Theme is: “Anointed For Service.”  Whether we may realize it or not, we are all gifted and called by God for His service. We are expecting an awesome time in the Lord!  Western Canada National Overseer, Bishop Walter Doroshuk and his lovely wife, Sister Claudia will be our special guest speakers at this year’s  Retreat!   They are both so excited  to be with us and we are excited to have our neighbors to the North of us with us.  Applications have been sent out individually and will soon be sent to the pastors.  You can also download an application by going to the State Website at: www.wacogop.org

Applications should be sent in no later than November 30th, 2012.  This is going to be a Great Retreat!!!  Please don’t miss it!!!  Pass the word on to others.  We look forward to seeing you there!!!

TEAM-UP Midwest

“Team-Up Midwest” is scheduled for October 31-November 3, 2012 at Sheraton Overland Park, Overland Park, Kansas.  This is a power-packed weekend for pastors, youth pastors, children’s pastors, and church leaders.  Practical training is presented that can be immediately utilized in one’s area of ministry.  You can register online at     More information about the training is presented at the website.  Please share with others this upcoming important training event.

Events Calendar for 2012

October                       Clergy Appreciation Month

Oct. 19-21                   Yak Retreat - (Bill & Cindy Davison, Directors) - Camp Roganunda

Oct. 25-28                   Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Kirkland Family Church

                                     (Theology II - Dr. Hector Ortiz)

Oct. 31 - Nov. 1          Team-Up Conference - Overland Park, KS

November 9-11           Pastor's Wives Retreat - Cannon Beach, OR

November 30              Application deadline for Adult Retreat

“Designed For God’s Greatness”

Bishop/Dr. Don Knoblich

Examing Our Stewardship Style

October, Stewardship Month, is a good time to look at our relationship with all the blessings the Lord has entrusted us with and to examine our ‘stewardship’ style. For this commentary let’s look at the various ways people handle money. Here is a list of words, positive and negative, used to describe ways people relate to money:

Accountable                       Charitable                           Extravagant                        Foolish

Giver                                   Good steward                   Greedy                                  Hoarder

Impulse spender              Irresponsible                     Miser                                    Open handed

Penny pincher                   Philanthropist                    Reckless                              Saver

Spendthrift                         Squanderer                        Stingy                                   Tightwad

Wastrel (waster)             

Let’s look at some negative ways of relating to money;

Extravagant, Squanderer, Greedy, Hoarder, Impulse spender, Irresponsible, Miser, Tightwad, Penny Pincher, Reckless, Spendthrift, Wastrel, Stingy.

Notice that these negative attitudes are not all about greed.  There are as many frivolous attitudes as there are selfish ones.  So if greed is not the motivator here, what is the common denominator?

The answer is that each of these negative relationships with money is led by an emotion. Each unhealthy attitude indicates an emotional response to a financial decision; not thought out, not preplanned, and without any commitment to a consistent course of action. These “off the cuff” or “knee jerk” responses to a spending decision are very common. There is an entire market strategy aimed at capturing the dollars of the impulse or emotional buyer.

In contrast, the more positive relationships with money listed below are well thought out.  They are practiced as the result of a “pre- event” decision made by a good steward to control finances in a healthy, responsible, rational way. Some healthy financial attitudes are;

Accountable, Charitable, Open handed, Good Steward, Philanthropist, Saver, Giver.

Scripture tells us that a person’s relationship with money is an indicator of where their heart is.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21 KJV, Luke 12:34 KJV

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matthew 12:35 KJV, Luke 6:45 KJV

A person’s relationship with their money might be a good indicator of how they relate to life in general. How a person treats their money might be the same way they treat their time, other belongings, things they might borrow, perhaps even their friends.

Are you allowing your emotions to dictate your response and relationship with money? Are you in charge of your finances? Are there areas that you’d like to have better control over? Identify the behavior that you wish to change, pray for strength and guidance, and then take control of your responses and your actions.

During October, Stewardship month, I challenge each of us to examine our own relationship with our ‘good treasure’. Could we be allowing our emotions to dictate our response and relationship with money? Are the areas of spending, saving, and giving in healthy proportion? Let’s take a close look at our position as director, controller and manager for each of our stewardship decisions.

Once you have made a decision to behave a certain way you need only to exercise that behavior. Do what you’ve set your mind to do. After the first experience in walking in this new path I assure you the Lord will bless you in ways you can only imagine. I’m not saying that making the right financial decision will always be easy.  As with any new behavior it may take a little time to get it consistently right. But you have the power in the promise of the Lord that once He has begun a good work in you He will be faithful to complete it!

May God continue to richly bless you as we turn to Him for insight and guidance.

Carol Dillard

Stewardship Ministries Director