September 27, 2006

As the time of this writing, the staff and leadership of WGA are basking in the aftermath of our 20th anniversary celebration. Much of our conversation over lunch and breaks has centered on the pleasure it was to share such a fun evening with our friends and supporters. For those of you who weren’t there, I would like to give you just a little picture of what the evening was like. And for those of you who attended, I hope the comments are a pleasant reminder.

As guests arrived, they enjoyed coffee and soft drinks as they milled about the silent auction area visiting with one another and outbidding each other on favorite items. Just before dinner was announced, and the bidding was closing, there was a flurry of activity as people made last minute bids. The conversation was feisty with spurts of friendly banter over who would go home with the “treasures.”

As people moved into the banquet room, thirty tables set with white cloths, red napkins and black WGA coffee mugs were soon filled with the almost three hundred guests. The centerpieces were made up of an eclectic collection of coffee cups and mugs giving off the glow of candle light. A slide show featured photos from WGA leadership albums, comments and congratulations from ministry leaders around the country, and posters from television shows and movies from 1986 and 2006. (As one could imagine, the contrast was striking!)

Friend and supporter, Jeff Johnsen, director of Mile High Ministries and founder of Issachar Communities, was asked to give the Invocation. Jeff’s prayers were warm and encouraging, as well as celebratory, with words that acknowledged the Lord’s presence and our gratitude for His provision. At the close of the invocation, guests turned to their meals and conversations.

The food was great, by the way, we can surely recommend the Hyatt Regency Tech Center! There were crisp salads with vinaigrette or ranch dressing, beef with burgundy sauce, chicken, or vegetarian dishes, with mango cheesecake for dessert. Many guests commented about the excellent food.

The program started as the background music switched to a lively number and Scott made his way through the tables toward the platform. His mini dance number was delightful and his comments and slides entertained us as they portrayed unfortunate fashion moments and hairstyles from the eighties, 1986 news headlines, and pictures of the staff from 1986.

Roger Jones and Mary Heathman both gave presentations, Mary’s was on WGA and the Great Commission, and Roger’s was on Beyond Brokenness. Board president, Peter Ordelheide, made a presentation of gifts in appreciation for Mary’s twenty years of service and for Roger’s ten. After WGA leader, Kristi Johnson, presented an opportunity to invest in the next twenty years of WGA, the evening was closed in prayer by former board president, Roderick Knoll. His words were full of hope and promise for the future of WGA. We hope this little report gives you some sense of the celebratory nature of the evening. We are so encouraged by the presence of our friends and supporters and by the many gifts and congratulations from those who were unable to attend. Thank you!After expenses, almost $17,000 was raised to further WGA’s mission and purpose. This amount includes over $5,000 which was raised from the Silent Auction.

Blessings,

WGA Board, Staff and Leaders