Creative Ways to Build Christian Community

Jeanne C. DeFazio, John P. Lathrop, DeFazio, Lathrop

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN: 9781498266116
• eBook ISBN: 9781621896210
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

Creative Ways to Build Christian Community is exactly what its title says it is: a very personal, practical response to the present and future prospect of isolation, a treasure trove of examples and suggestions about how to accomplish the Great Commission from community builders telling how, over the years and the ministries, they have implemented creative ways to build up churches and organizations to develop more intensive Christian fellowship and, thereby, create community. --Dr. William David Spencer

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Building Christian Community Through Meetings and Meals

Jeanne DeFazio

Over the course of the last four decades I have been privileged to be involved in several Christian communities. The experiences that I have had, both building and participating in these groups, have become a multicolored tapestry woven together by the power of the Holy Spirit. These communities have truly touched my heart and soul with the love of Jesus. The ministries I served brought me into a wonderful company of highly creative, intelligent, and spiritually strong Christian men and woman. As I share the memories of these times when Jesus touched my life in Hollywood, New York City, Washington, DC, and London, England, I pray that you too will experience some of the joy I received while serving Jesus.

World Alliance for Peace Bible
Studies in Hollywood

From 1983 to 1995, I worked as an administrative assistant for Mr. M. P. Grace II. One of my duties was to organize a Bible study that was attended by members of the entertainment industry. Mr. Grace was a prominent and devout Roman Catholic. His close friend, actress Christine White, encouraged him to become a born-again Christian, which he did. This spiritual awakening brought him great joy as he experienced the forgiveness of sins and was filled with the love and power of Jesus. Mr. Grace’s born-again experience motivated him to sponsor meetings so that others could receive new lives in Jesus. His devoted friend, the veteran actress, Joan Caufield, noticed the spiritual growth in him and encouraged his outreaches. The Bible studies took place in Mr. Grace’s homes in Playa del Rey and Mandeville Canyon. Over the years, the venue had to be changed to banquet rooms in local Hollywood hotels in order to accommodate the number of attendees.

These meetings were sponsored by World Alliance for Peace. Charlene Eber, secretary and director of advertising for WAPF, explains,

I had the privilege to volunteer as secretary and director of advertising for 14 years with World Alliance for Peace. The inspiration for it was a phenomenal experience. A voice in the night woke me with a message, part of which was, “We are the children. We are the world. This world does not belong to us. It belongs to our children and our children’s children. We are merely caretakers of the future. We need to start making a difference now.” I shared this with Michael Grace the next day, and his response was that we have to do something with it. Together, we came up with the name, World Alliance for Peace. He brought the idea to Archbishop Metropolitan John Stanley, founder of the Orthodox Church of the East. Our vision was that the whole world is our community, as we are all God’s children and we are all responsible for each other. We met with Major General Uban in India and helped initiate peace talks between India and Pakistan and were able to get medical equipment donated to the Okanarth Health Center and much-needed medicine and assistance to Mother Teresa. Our primary focus was on helping grassroots types of organizations that desperately needed help, including Christian missionary groups such as Breath of the Spirit and later, Christ in You, the Hope of Glory.1

Joanne Petronella and her daughter, Michelle Corral, faithful and loving Christian friends to Mr. Grace, are both powerful ministers of Jesus’ redemptive love. They attended Mr. Grace’s meetings and opened the door for many members of their own ministries, Christ in You, the Hope of Glory and Breath of Spirit respectively, to bond spiritually with the regular attendees of Mr. Grace’s monthly Bible studies.

A wonderful and culturally diverse Christian community developed as a result of these meetings. Michael Roemer, a devout Catholic, attended one of Mr. Grace’s Hollywood meetings. The community included actress Jane Ross, and Mr. Grace’s confidant, actress Midori Arimoto. His colleague Barbara Evans introduced him to Prophetess Ada Schwartz. Ada ministered at several of Mr. Grace’s meetings. The late Mary Dorr and Gordon Gordon, founders of Excellence in Media, honored Mr. Grace with an Angel Award; they were strong supporters of his ministry to the Hollywood community.

Pastor Robert Reith, of Media Fellowship International, faithfully took time from his own ministerial responsibilities to encourage those who attended the meetings with insights from Scripture. Many talented vocalists led the worship. Among them were actress, author, and songstress, Maria St. John (who often hosted these events) and actress and songstress, Miss Mayrita Varna. Those who were weary in spirit found solace in Pastor Reith’s teaching and the encouragement of the worship. One person who was especially faithful to the monthly meeting was Wally Bruder. Wally shared Jesus’ love by hugging everyone who attended and by faithfully praying for their concerns. In his own words, “It was a privilege and joy being part of this group where together we were encouraged and richly blessed in pursuing the priceless treasure of being drawn deep into the heart of Jesus first for our own edification, and out of the overflow we freely shared Jesus’ transforming love, joy, peace, and presence with everyone else.”2

Beulah Bee Beyer Wenger, editor of the Hollywood Times, and her daughter Gemma, producer of the international television series, Hollywood and Beauty for Ashes, brought members of the entertainment industry to the event. Beulah Bee Beyer Wenger remembers Mr. Grace: “As in biblical times, many were named according to their character; Michael Grace was also appropriately named because he was constantly helping people to become Christians and to lead them to God’s amazing grace.”3

Gemma Wenger recalls Mr. Grace’s influence upon her a young child:

As a young child, I remember Mr. Grace gathering people together in churches, restaurants, and homes to hear and grow in the word of God. He was a pioneer in bringing the gifts of the Spirit to people who were hungry for a deeper walk with the Lord. The seeds that were planted in my heart through Mr. Grace’s outreach have resulted in me starting my own evangelical and prophetic international ministry. Mr. Grace was a friend, a leader, and a spiritual guide to a body of people called by God. He truly was raised up for a specific time and a purpose to break the bonds of religious tradition and usher in a new era of God’s anointing.4

All who attended the meetings were invited to have a light supper hosted by World Alliance for Peace, which I was responsible to organize and cater. These were very informal and nontraditional events. No one was judged by appearance or lifestyle; all were greeted with love and acceptance and were made to feel welcome in Jesus. Relationships formed, and many of those who attended accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and subsequently sought fellowship in local churches. Mr. Grace’s Hollywood outreach continued until his passing in May 1995.

During these years of service, I developed close relationships with many people who were from totally different backgrounds than I was. I had been brought up in a small university town and led a fairly sheltered childhood. Many of those who came to these events suffered from addictions and poor relationship choices. I learned to be open-minded and open-hearted and grew to love so many of these dear and wonderful Christians. This ministry impacted me deeply. I still have close friends from this community, and I draw on their spiritual strength as prayer warriors. The prayer materials that I receive from Pastor Mel Novak, who is an actor and the founder of Heavenly Manna Inc.—especially his “Arsenal of Protection and Deliverance”—are part of my daily intercession. Mel’s newsletters and reports of numerous conversions among the imprisoned and those on skid row have been a great encouragement to me.

Beulah Bee Beyer Wenger has been a great support to me as an author. She placed advertisements in the Hollywood Times for a book I coauthored with Teresa Flowers, entitled How to Have an Attitude of Gratitude on the Night Shift. Bee is a member of the Southern California Motion Picture Council, which has twice honored me with Lifetime Charitable Achievement Awards. Mary Dorr, of Excellence in Media, honored me with an Angel Award for Lifetime Charitable Achievement. Joanne Petronella twice invited me to travel to India with her ministry, Christ in You, the Hope of Glory to minister with Mother Teresa and the Sisters of Charity. Bishop John Stanley invited me to travel to Israel on a missionary tour. These were life-changing experiences. Throughout the years, Bob Reith of Media Fellowship International has remembered me in his prayer-chain emails and met with me for counseling, in New York City, Washington, DC, and London, England. In retrospect I can say that my life has been changed for the better because of this company of Christians whose devotion to Jesus and commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission is outstanding. Charlene Eber’s words capture the excitement of this communal ministry:

We could all ask God to reveal what our soul intention is. He will answer. Every community needs help. It may be in your own backyard, or in the missionary field, or by starting a Bible study in your area. You can make a difference, and no effort is too small. In our journey, every step we take forward, God opens another door, and we are blessed enough to be able to walk through and share an incredible journey of faith. There are no words to sum up how amazing an opportunity it is to walk in faith and inspire others around you. There is no greater joy than serving God and helping humanity. I promise you, if you take a step in this direction, you are in for the greatest time of your life. It certainly has been mine. God bless you all the days of your life.5

World Alliance for Peace New York City Bible Studies

By 1986, I was working as Mr. Grace’s executive assistant in both New York City and Los Angeles. I had a hectic schedule with great responsibilities administering to Mr. Grace’s legal, banking, social, and charitable activities. I was reluctant to take on any more responsibility, but Mr. Grace directed me to organize his World Alliance for Peace New York City Bible study. Mr. Grace’s longtime friend, realtor Ann Pett, introduced him to New York City inventor, consultant, and entrepreneur, Dr. Robert Fondillier. Dr. Fondiller graciously hosted a monthly prayer meeting in his apartment on West 58th Street, NYC, for Mr. Grace. After these meetings, the attendees were invited to a supper hosted by Mr. Grace and World Alliance for Peace at a local restaurant. Bishop Singh, a colleague of Ann Pett, led these monthly meetings at Dr. Fondillier’s home. He also conducted a weekly outreach sponsored by World Alliance for Peace. The outreach was held at a McDonald’s Restaurant in New York’s Broadway theater district for anyone who needed a meal, prayer, or spiritual encouragement. Due to the growth of these ministries, the venue was changed to the third floor of the McDonald’s Restaurant on 58th Street and Third Avenue. I purchased meal tickets from McDonald’s which were distributed free to all who attended the monthly meeting. Pastor Robert Reith of Media Fellowship International encouraged this group with Scripture. Encouragement, as Hollywood Circus of the Stars stuntman Bob Yerkes explains, is one of Pastor Bob’s great gifts: “Pastor Bob Reith is down to earth and kind. He listens and encourages us, sharing Scripture praying with and for us. Under his pastoral anointing, we bond and feel great joy in Christian community devoted to bringing others to Jesus.”6

The culturally diverse attendees worshipped God in song and testified of his grace. An unusual co...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Building Christian Community Through Meetings and Meals
• Chapter 2: Agape Feasts
• Chapter 3: The Arts: An Essential Dialogue for the Body of Christ
• Chapter 4: A Listening Heart
• Chapter 5: A Look at New Beginnings
• Chapter 6: Summing It Up
• Contributors
• Bibliography