GCI Update
Connecting Members & Friends of GCI
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February 25, 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is a pleasure to finally announce our new Italian Website:

www.ccdg.it (www.chiesacristianadellagrazia.org) While some items still need to be fleshed out, our Italian brothers and sisters are already very excited about it.


Africa

Most Recent Church Plant:

Emmanuel Okai, the chairman of our ecclesiastical council in Ghana, sent a note about their new church plant. He wrote: Following initial contacts made from a group located at the Buduburam Refugee Camp, a church has started for the mainly Liberian refugees and other residents of the Buduburam community near Kasoa. A church hall has been leased for the next three years for the group, and plans are far advanced to purchase the property and its associated land for the church. Donations of chairs, food and clothing are being received from the various church areas for the use of the refugees, who now are faced with a serious dilemma. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is currently pulling out its activities there and has made a number of efforts to repatriate the refugees back home to their countries. Those who opt to stay will receive no more funding and will be on their own. They will therefore need a lot of support to integrate them into mainstream Ghanaian society. The group is very vibrant, energetic and fired up with the love of Christ. At the December Youth Camp, four of their youths who attended requested for and received baptism. Twenty-three of their adult group are also undergoing counseling for baptism. Another development that occurred is the adoption of the group by Mr. William Akoto and Mrs. Ernestina Akoto, who now regularly worship with them and take turns to bring sermons to them. They have also been instrumental in seeing the group established and have been donating various gifts, clothing and food to the group.

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Colombia

From Hector Barrero:

Hector and Paulina Barrero conducted a seminar on February 13-16 for our Barranquilla congregation on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Our congregation is pastored by Sonia Orozco and it was great to see that 70 people attended and there were three baptisms. We are happy to see that congregation growing. Attached are a few pictures including two of the seminar, and members of the same family baptized: grandmother, daughter and grandchild, as well as the Orozco family.

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You’re Included

Michael Feazell, Tony Murphy, Nathan Smith, and I traveled to Scotland for the Thomas F. Torrance Conference at St. Andrews University, and to interview some of the Trinitarian theologians. James Henderson, John and Phil Halford met us to assist in the interview set-up and taping. So far, we have interviews with Alan Torrance and Trevor Hart. We hope to complete 12 -15 interviews.


Prayer requests and updates

From Marjorie Friddle:

The 3-D CT scan done on my knee last week shows fluid around the kneecap area, where it should not be. There seems to be something wrong with the synovial fluid — I’m not sure of the medical terms. No infection, thankfully, but a definite problem. My doctor is sending me to a doctor in a different orthopedic group. I heard that he is very good, but I can’t see him until March 4. My knee is still very painful, and I have to be on medication in order to walk. I have “cried a river” because of this problem. It has been stressful and I would love not to be on the verge of tears all the time.

We deeply appreciate everyone’s love and prayers. I will let you know after I know more.
With love to all.

Cards may be sent to:
Marj Friddle
7404 Stillwater Drive
Bayonet Point, FL 34667


Norma Dick

Funeral services for Norma Dick, 84, of Hawkins, TX, were held on Sunday, February 21, 2010 in Hawkins. Norma died in the early hours of February 18 after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer six months earlier. Norma was blessed with relative freedom from pain and was able to spend quality time with all of her descendants who live in the United States.

Mrs. Dick was born Norma Porter on September 16, 1925, in Cokeville, Wyoming. She was married in 1942 to Raymond C. Dick, long-time employee of the Worldwide Church of God, who preceded her in death five years earlier. Norma is survived by two siblings, three sons, Robert, Ronald and Randal and their wives, Dyanne, Linda and Susan. She also has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Cards to the family may be sent to:

Randal & Susan Dick
2516 179 Avenue E
Lake Tapps, WA 98391-6453

Ron & Linda Dick
3445 Lansdowne Dr.
Lexington, KY 40517-1123

Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.

Love from my family to yours,
Joseph Tkach