Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
International Conference – Orlando, Florida – July 22-25, 2010
The 2010 International Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida from Thursday, July 22, through Sunday, July 25 at the Hilton Hotel in the Walt Disney World Resort. The conference is open to all GCI members, families and guests. There will also be a session for senior pastors on Wednesday afternoon, July 21.
Please Note: Registration will be open for one more week, but will close after June 23. We have filled our room block at the Hilton Hotel and sleeping room nights at the Hilton are no longer available on our web site. If you would like to be wait-listed for the Hilton Hotel or reserve a room at the over-flow hotel next door, please contact Church Administration and Development at 1-626-650-2330 to make your room reservation. Registration, meals and other conference activities remain open on our web site at www.2010.gci.org.
From left to right, our guest speakers include noted author, pastor and professor Elmer Colyer, InterVarsity Press Senior Editor Gary Deddo and his wife, Bible teacher and retreat leader Cathy Deddo, and missiologist Ed Stetzer. Other details are posted on the conference website at www.2010.gci.org.
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For further information regarding the 2010 International Conference, please visit our conference website or email your questions to church.administration@gci.org. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando in July!
Sponsor a pastor for the July 2010 International Conference
Some pastors from distant areas will need financial assistance to be able to attend the 2010 Conference. Generous congregations who have the means may want to provide assistance for a pastor and spouse who would not otherwise be able to attend. Funds could be allocated from the congregations missions budget. If your congregation would like to be involved, please contact Charles Albrecht (charles.albrecht@gci.org).
Generations Ministry announces teen and young adult track for the Orlando conference
During the 2010 GCI conference, Generations Ministries will sponsor a “conference within the conference” for young adults and teens ages 15-25. In this special Generations Ministry Track, teens and young adults will be able to attend training sessions geared toward their areas of ministry. They will have an opportunity to participate in some Orlando activities and they will have a place to reconnect and hang out. Sessions and activities will run parallel to the conference dates, July 22-25. The conference registration fee for teens and young adults will be $20, which will help offset some of the costs for this special gathering.
2010 Thanksgiving Celebration of Christ
Craig Minke writes:
Plans are well underway for the 2010 Thanksgiving Celebration of Christ conference in beautiful Penticton, B.C. Beginning on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, we will gather together for an intimate and inspiring celebration of thanks to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. With eight days of worship, prayer, instruction and fellowship, we anticipate the experience will fill us with a deeper appreciation for the One who gave Himself for us. Mark October 9-16 on your calendar!
This year we will again be hosting the President of our fellowship, Joseph Tkach, and his wife, Tammy, as our guest speakers. Gary and Wendy Moore and Colin Wallace and his wife, Beverly, will be with us, as well as Todd Martin and his wife Kim from Abbotsford. Our special musical guest is Elizabeth Deveau, an award-winning Christian songwriter and recording artist from Halifax who attends our fellowship. Elizabeth will be performing in concert on Saturday evening, and will help with worship leading as well.
Activities include a winery tour and other favourite events, such as the Thanksgiving Dinner Banquet, Thanksgiving Open House, dinner on the SS Sicamous, Seniors’ Luncheon, bowling, movie and games nights.
All information and forms are posted on the GCI Canada website at www.wcg.ca Early registration closes July 31, so act right away to take advantage of discount rates.
Our Trinidad Congregation Does Community Outreach
Clifton Charles writes:
God has always revealed His will to us as we humble ourselves together as a church in prayer and fasting. On one such occasion His Spirit revealed to us how inward-looking we were and the need to be more outward-looking. We listed the strengths of the fellowship and invited several volunteers to pray and ask God to use those strengths for His glory. Our church was located in a community with which we had little involvement, and as we transitioned into a more grace-filled church, our distant relationship with the community was evident.
As our main strength is hospitality, we sought God’s help in opening our eyes and doors for service. He opened a door for us in 2000. The government of our country, in an effort to provide a social security net for those persons living below the poverty line, introduced the Food Hamper distribution program. It was to be administered through faith-based and non-governmental organizations.
When we applied, the favor of the Lord was upon us, and for three years the food distribution programme was administered at our Arima building. On the distribution days we added used clothing and short presentations on values and family life as well as snacks and beverages.
As a result, a relationship has been established with our community that is precious and priceless. Through that relationship, our congregation has financially supported five weddings of couples who lived in common-law relationship for years. The members of the community have grown to trust us. They send their children every week to children’s ministry. Their children have become our children. They call us Uncle or Aunty. They come to the building not only on weekends, they come during the week to run and play in the wide-open spaces. Given our country’s high crime rate, our facility is a place where they feel secure. Mothers and fathers bring their babies and toddlers on evenings in strollers for a walk around the perimeter of our gardens. Children come to Auntie Laura (our church receptionist) for help with their school’s homework or food when they are hungry.
Two years ago, the government asked for the use of the building to hold community meetings. Pastor Derick Davis sits as an advisor to the Board, and he has helped to introduce and administer programmes in the community.
For the last four years, we have held a Christmas luncheon for all the children and parents in the community. After a church service, lunch is provided and each child a given a gift donated by our members. Last year over 250 children attended. As a result of all these opportunities, God has trained us to be better servants to those we have been privileged to serve.
A couple years ago, we had a visiting missionary team from Texas join us for Vacation Bible School, which included children from the community. In their communication with the villagers, young men we allowed to use our church grounds for some of their sports activities told the visitors that we (our church) have changed because in the past we didn’t care about the villagers but now we do. After all these years, they know we love and care for them. Our hearts’ desire is to let them know that God loves them and that they are included.
Spring Conference in Northern Ireland
From the U.K. office:
The North Antrim town of Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, was the location for the start of our Spring Conference/Retreat (20-21 March), with guest speakers James Henderson and David Stirk, accompanied by their wives, Shirley and Audrey. Members attended from as far away as counties Monahan, Donegal and Londonderry, and two brave chaps, namely Richard White and Stewart Raeburn, ventured all the way from England and Scotland. We thoroughly enjoyed their company over the weekend.
After the long and hard winter, we were graced with beautiful spring-like weather that added to the positive atmosphere of the event. The theme for the weekend was Growing In Jesus, taken from 2 Peter 3:18. David commenced Saturday morning by asking, “What is Grace?” After a delicious catered meal, James gave a presentation on the subject of, Getting to know You.
Sunday meetings were held in the Travel Lodge Hotel, Coleraine, a few miles from Ballymoney, and over a dozen members stayed the night in the hotel. David spoke first on the subject of How to grow in Grace. The final session was given by James, covering the topic, And You Too. A little interactivity was used which kept us all ‘on our toes’ physically and spiritually! Overall, a very positive and uplifting weekend, and a big thanks to all, and especially Will Linton and Stuart Foster, who contributed their time and talents to organizing the event down to the smallest detail.
Prayer Request
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
