Mark’s WEPASA Ministries

This Advent season begins early here at DHQ here in Wepasa. Our Thanksgiving service was held in New Kensington with our special guest Lt. Colonel Richard Dean. What a turnout for our service; over 300 in attendance. The previous week, we were asked to conduct the Thanksgiving service for the northern Corps at Erie. It was nice to play guitar with my good friend Major Walter, but it wasn’t so much fun driving home in a blizzard! Major Walter informs me, this is an everyday occurance in Erie!

From there the Mackneer express conducted the Sunday morning worship meeting on the second Sunday in Advent at the New Kensington Corps. Our good friends Captains Elvie and Colleen Carter are doing a great job at New Ken, and had a wonderful day planned for us.

While preparing for the morning message, “The Mighty God”, I came across these interesting comments from Isaiah 9 and El Gibbor.

        “He is the Divine Warrior, or a Hero divine! He has superhuman prowess, not simply because the Spirit of the Almighty God rests upon him in anointing, but because the nature of essential deity resides within Him!’         Beacon Commentary

  “El Gibbor” is really the essence of who the mighty God is.  “El” means power strength and Power. “Gibbor” means the “Mighty God as a Warrior and champion.”

“The decisions of a king make or break a kingdom and a kingdom designed to be everlasting demands a wisdom like that of the everlasting God. In this case, like God because He is God, the Mighty God (El Gibbor) the title given to the Lord him self in Isaiah 10:21,22. Plainly Isaiah means us to take seriously the “El Gibbor” component of this name, as of Immanuel. ” Alex Motyer

To make sure I was pronoucing “El Gibbor” correctly I found this good hebrew website which actually pronounces the words for you. Check it out at: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/index.html

This week we finished up the Treasures for Children program for Allegheny County which my wife coordinates, with the help of our DHQ staff. With the help from the Women’s auxiliary, over 30,000 toys are collected and delivered to  the Allegheny Corps.  It’s not  kettles, but it’s lots of hard work!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

Allegheny Valley Men
The Men from AV recently had their annual hoagie sale to raise money for their men to go to Men’s Camp. Through their efforts, over $1200.00 was raised. Good work men, and see you in September at Men’s Camp.

The Divisional Bowling Tournament took place in Sharon over the weekend with over 200 men showing up. Thank you to everyone who came to bowl, and especially the Corps Officers for bringing your Men to participate.
We had a total of 22 Corps and 2 ARC’s that brought men to the event, and joined in at Thornton Hall, for 4 games of Bowling.
The Sharon Corps once again served as a great host for the day, providing coffee and donuts in the morning, and a great lunch.
40 Men took advantage of a night at camp Allegheny to get an early start Saturday morning. Thank you Captain Carter for your devotions Friday night.
A special thanks to Debbie and Eric Blanchard for your Pizza and wings!

If you’re reading this and you haven’t secured your ticket from your Corps Officer, time is running out! The Penguins are the hottest team in Hockey, and we’re lucky to get these tickets. 

  It never ceases to amaze me what God is doing! I can’t help but think that Spiritual minded men in places of authority in our Corps, and in their homes, are making a difference! God is Blessing, and Corps are growing, and Men’s ministries in WEPASA are leading the way!  For the Division we praise God for an additional +278  meetings!+1886 more men in those meetings. An increase of +576 more volunteer hours.

We are grateful for all the work  and ministry that you are doing in your Corps.

 Christmas Season

I’m sure by now you have volunteered in some form or fashion for your Corps Christmas effort! If not, make sure to give at least 1 day of your time to helping out with kettles, collecting toys, or distributing food baskets or visiting Nursing homes. What an encouragement to your Corps Officer when you offer yourself to volunteer.

Penguins Game

We are planning in the New year a Men’s night out at a Pittsburgh Penguins game. More information will be coming. If you are interested in going, make sure you let your Corps Officer know. Be watching for more details.   

Men from the Northeast Ohio Division and the Western Pennsylvania Division united at Camp Allegheny for a weekend of fun, sporting events, bible studies and Worship. 350 men gathered Friday evening for the kickoff event entitled “Steelers and Browns” night. The football analogy united the men in divisional rivalry as the 2 host cities football teams battled the week before. Sporting events started after the keynote meeting and continue until the saturday evening program. Christian Comedian Justin Fennell headlined the saturday evening program with his unique southern style and hilarious stories.

Sunday Morning found all the men joining in united worship as Major Charles Kelly delivered the morning message. Men came from all around the room to kneel and pray at the altar in repentance and rededication of their lives to the Lord Jesus.

Leadership for the weekend was under the direction of Divisional leaders, Major Robert Reel from Western Pa. and Lt. Colonel Bill LaMarr from Northeast Ohio. Major Reel lead the Sunday morning worship and Colonel LaMarr shared his personal testimony for the men.

God wonderfully united the events of the weekend as He wonderfully united the hearts of the men together in worship. Only by His Spirit could this be accomplished, and only for HIS Glory!

  So what Men’s Fellowship groups are meeting the most and having the most MEN? Glad you asked! As of MAY of 2007 here’s your top 7 Men’s Fellowship Groups in WEPASA. Congratulations to these Corps and Men. Most Meetings:1. Clearfield-53 2. Warren-39  3. Franklin-36 4. Allegheny Valley-34 5. Alliquippa-326. Pittsburgh Homewood-327. Altoona-31   Most Men:1. Pittsburgh Homewood-4242. Altoona-2873. Clearfield-2674. Allegheny Valley-2255. Franklin-1886. Aliquippa-1767. Warren-172 Thank you to all 34 Corps who have conducted Men’s Fellowship events this year! We need everyone!  

Today we conducted our first of three seminars/bible studies being offered to WEPASA to the men at the Allegheny Valley Corps. The men at Allegheny Valley under the leadership of Captain Rhodes, meet on a weekly basis and keep Men’s ministries at the forefront of their ministry. This first bible study focuses on the examples of the Centurion, Eli the Priest, King David, and Daniel. A powerpoint presentation, with handouts are given to each man, as we search the scriptures together for discussion on living as “Men under Authority.”

If your Corps Men’s Fellowship club is interested in this bible study, or all three bible studies, please contact your Corps Officer or Major Mackneer at Divisional Headquarters.