Fellowship Elder Appointed Provost of West Africa Theological Seminary
Lagos, Nigeria
West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS) is pleased to announce that Pastor William Udotong has been elected as the new provost of West Africa Theological Seminary, with immediate effect. The announcement was made at the twentieth anniversary graduation celebrations of WATS, on Saturday, May 23, 2009. The announcement was met with cheers and jubilation by the more than 2,500 people present..
Pastor Udotong joined the WATS staff in 1994, after earning the BA in Religious Education from the University of Uyo (1989), and the Master of Arts in Educational Guidance and Counseling from the University of Port Harcourt (1994). He took graduate courses in counseling from Liberty University (USA), and completed the Masters of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2006. He is currently completing his dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, USA.
Pastor Udotong comes to the office of Provost with a broad range of teaching, administrative and pastoral experience. He served as a lecturer at WATS from 1994 until his departure to the US for further studies in 2004. In addition, he has served WATS as Dean of Student Affairs, Academic Dean, and Vice Provost for Spiritual Formation. He has also been very active in various pastoral roles in Nigeria.
Pastor Udotong was ordained by General Superintendent, Dr. William Sillings, during the 2006 Assembly of the International Fellowship of Bible Churches, Inc. in Orleans Indiana.
Bro. William and his wife Victoria have five children: Grace, 12; Goodness, 10; Esther, 7; Blessing, 5; and Jeremiah William, 3
William Udotong is highly respected within the WATS community, and is a man with both the education and the spiritual maturity to lead WATS into its second twenty years with strength. Our prayers are with him.
Fellowship Youth Camp Changes Required
July 6-10, 2009
Ohio Christian University Campus
1476 Lancaster Pike
Circleville, OH 43113
In March, Wesleyan District Superintendent, Dr. Mark Eckart, informed us that changes in Indiana State code regulations required the Wesleyan Camp of Orleans, Indiana to limit youth camps to no more than 72 hours. We sought to find ways to work around that limitation. However, three weeks ago, we learned that could not be done this summer.
FYC typically runs about 100 hours, including registration and clean up. Many people drive hundreds of miles, and shortening the camp seemed ill advised to both FYC Director, Loy Mershimer and IFBC Executive Committee members. Consequently, executive committee members ultimately voted unanimously to move the 2009 Youth Camp to the Ohio Christian University Campus in Circleville, Ohio.
Ohio Christian University officials have worked diligently with us to make the campus available to us at such a short notice. All of them have been very accommodating, kind and helpful.
We realize that such a move creates its own set of challenges. Not the least of these is that the date for the camp has had to be moved one week earlier. (July 6-10)
We understand and regret that such late notice may make some serious scheduling problems . But it seemed on the part of wisdom to make the move for this year. We do apologize for the inconvenience, and wish we could have had the same date for everyone involved. Our hope and prayer is that most of our people will be able to change to the new date and make the longer (or shorter) trip anyway.
Housing Costs for students and adults will remain the same:
Students: $119, plus a $10 refundable clean room deposit -- includes meals/on-campus activities.
Adults: $20 per room per night. (2 adults per room)
Meals:
Youth Meals included in registration fee
Adults, $12 per day -- By the meal: Breakfast $4, Lunch $6, Supper $4
Children 4 and under, with parents, free
Children 5 and up, half price
Campers will need to bring their own bedding, linens, towels, etc. More details will be posted as they become available.
Hope to See You at Camp!
William Sillings
Wayside Community Church Joins Fellowship
A short , picturesque drive north of Grove City, PA, on the east side of Route 58, stands one of the more beautiful church complexes in the area. At the roadside stands a sign to advertise that Wayside Community Church meets at this location. It was in this beautiful pastoral setting that IFBC General Superintendent, Dr. William Sillings, was invited to speak to the congregation during the morning worship service on Sunday, 26 April.
This was to be a high day for the congregation and for Dr. Sillings, who was privileged to welcome the congregation of Wayside Community Church into full membership within the International Fellowship of Bible Churches, Inc.
The Wayside board and pastoral leadership have been consulting together for a number of months about the possibility of the congregation joining as a full member of IFBC. After months of communication under the capable leadership of board chairman Randy Geisler, the church board made formal recommendation to the congregation’s annual meeting that the church join the Fellowship. The church had been well informed, questions answered, minds and hearts prepared. On Wednesday, April 22, the church membership voted unanimously to cast its lot with the International Fellowship of Bible Churches, Inc.
It was immediately on the heels of this vote that Dr. Sillings was privileged to be with the congregation to celebrate this decision.
Important Items for Your Calendar.
- Fellowship Youth Camp -- July 6-10, 2009
- International Coordinating Council Meetings
- July 8, 2009, in connection with FYC, Circleville, Ohio
- November 5-6, 2009, Corydon, Indiana
- International Assembly -- July 18-23, 2010