Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Pastor Glen Weber writes:
In September New Hope Christian Fellowship in Eagle Rock, CA honored Ron and Norva Kelly on their 50th wedding anniversary with roses and a cake. The Kellys had been away on a trip during their actual anniversary – August 28. Ron is an elder at New Hope and also coordinates the weekly church service we hold at Fair Oaks By Regency Park Retirement Center in Pasadena.
Ron also serves on the denomination’s Advisory Council of Elders and on the Board of Directors of Grace Communion Seminary.
European Ministerial Conference in UK
Pastors, elders, and pastoral teams from Europe and predominantly the UK gathered for the weekend at Whipsnade Zoo near Luton Airport. Speakers included Dr. Alan Torrance from St. Andrews, Dr. Joseph Tkach and Dr. Michael Feazell. There were just over 100 in attendance and we concluded with a communion service led by James Henderson.
. 
. 
Update from Africa
Kalegule Kaoma writes:Pastors Paul Mvita and Benoit Mpinda Ndayi of our church in Kinshasa, Congo, visited Katanga Province July 23 – August 4. They arrived in Lubumbashi on Friday July 23, where they encouraged and spiritually strengthened the members on Saturday and Sunday. They also did baptismal counselling, which resulted in three baptisms on Monday. On July 27, they travelled to Kawama, a township outside Lubumbashi. There, eight people were baptized. The following day, they were on the bus for five hours to Kolwezi, a copper mining town in Katanga Province. Four baptisms were conducted in Kolwezi, bringing the total to 15 baptisms. The report’s conclusion ended with these words: “We have not visited our congregations in Katanga since 2003. Our members, young and old were very happy to see us. Some members who left our denomination have come back to our fellowship. We are happy and thankful to God for what He is doing in our church.” This Ecclesiastical Council (EC) visit to Katanga Province was made possible by generous donations and support from members in GCI Canada congregations.
.
. 
Update from Canada
Gary Moore writes, I had an enjoyable trip to Quebec this past weekend. Roger and Sylvie Labelle picked me up at my brother’s home on Saturday morning, and we drove to Quebec City. I was able to show pictures and a DVD updating the congregation there about our international missions work, and followed up with a sermon looking at Romans 5:1-11 and the implications of our salvation by faith. The key concepts of Trinitarian theology emerge easily from the text, and I hope the members found it as edifying to hear as I did to prepare it. We enjoyed a potluck lunch following services.
Sunday morning we drove to Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers), where we met with the congregation there. We did the same presentations, and then had a wonderful lunch with the members. Bison Stew was the centre piece of the meal, and it was absolutely wonderful. Ah, but our French members can cook!
Both congregations were very warm and welcoming – it was a pleasure to visit both of them. Below are two pictures, one of the Quebec City church, and the second of Charles Meyer (left) and Denis Cayer (right). Charles has been serving as an elder in our Quebec churches for many years, and has a tremendous love and loyalty to Jesus Christ and his people. Denis serves as an elder in the Trois Rivieres church, helping out as well in Quebec City, and does so with great joy and enthusiasm. We much appreciate these men, who with the great support of their wives Irene Meyer and Therese Cayer, provide service to these churches, under Roger’s able leadership.
. 
SEP Rockies
SEP Rockies camp director Sarah Miles writes, SEP Rockies, held this summer (July 25 thru August 1) near Denver, CO was pure joy. We had 63 campers and 52 staffers, beautiful weather and one of the most transformational camp sessions we’ve ever experienced. Here are some highlights:
- Outreach. 40 baby blankets designed, built and signed by the campers were donated to our Crossing Borders mission camp to give to new mothers in Mexico.
- Solo Time. We introduced new ways to help campers participate in private devotional time. Each camper dorm was given a “solo time bucket” with devotional books, scripture cards, and recordings of worship music and teen Bible studies. These resources gave campers creative ways to seek God’s voice in their lives.
- Guys\Girls Day: We had a day devoted to gender-separated activities. The guys had a traditional 1960s backyard cookout, with male staffers leading discussion sessions that continued far into the night. The Spirit broke down walls, softened hearts and convicted attitudes. The girls had a time of worship, then dressed up and entered into a discussion of the concept of true beauty and how it has been distorted. This was followed by a candlelight hors d’oeuvres reception ending with a rose ceremony (kind of like you’d see on the Bachelor…but everyone got a rose). With the presentation of a rose came a definition of each girl’s personality…Kayla the beautiful, Holly the Compassionate…each girl got a description of what the staff observed in the personality God has given her to bless the world.
- Worship Night: It started with upbeat music and then became more introspective and mellow. There were a couple of skits, and one of the pastors led a prayer of acceptance, awareness and invitation for the Spirit’s presence and activity in the campers’ and staffers’ hearts. It was a powerful moment. What a joy it was to see hearts melt and pulse with joy as they sensed the very reason they were created by a loving God.
- Chapel: Male and female chapel presenters took the campers through big chunks of Scripture to help them understand more about the overall message of the Bible and how that speaks to their everyday lives. Chapel was a highpoint!
- International staff: We were privileged to have with us this year Tim Maguire, who directs the GCI camp in South Africa. Tim shared what he is doing to develop older campers to become staff members. As a result 27 of our campers signed up to receive information about becoming a camp staffer.
. 
Prayer Requests and Updates
Update for Lorenzo Arroyo
After two months on hormone therapy and right before radiation, my PSA levels have gone down from 38 to 1.9. As a result, my radiation doctor says the cancer cells are “asleep” and therefore making the radiation treatment that much more effective. My lymph nodes did not shrink as a result of the hormone therapy, which leads her to believe that the cancer has not spread. Previously my urologist told me that the suspect lymph nodes should shrivel up as a result of the hormone injections if they are cancerous. He had wanted to surgically remove them, but it now seems that that won’t be necessary. Thank God for the Spirit’s guidance. I am encouraged by the good news, although I still have a long way to go.
Cards may be sent to:
4035 Mount Day Ct.
Antioch, CA 94531
Update for our church in Benin
Hundreds of thousands of people are being affected by the worst flood in Benin since 1963. Over 100,000 are homeless, and health officials are concerned that epidemics such as cholera may break out. Our Benin ministry leader, Arthur Adjibodou, wrote:
“Thank you much for your great concern and your prayers for us at this time of hardships. What are the causes of the flooding? Benin has two rainy seasons. The longer one lasts from March to June. The shorter season lasts from August to October. But the weather changed this year. The rain has not stopped since March, until now. The rain made our largest river to rise in level and overflow. Thus 55 out of 70 administrative areas are flooded, causing over 700,000 victims. 72 people have died so far. Some villages have disappeared. No more crops, no more tarred roads. Even in Cotonou [industrial and commercial city of Benin], people are using canoes because roads are flooded. A little boy went to the traditional toilet [pit latrine] and the toilet collapsed and he died. Fortunately our members are not affected. The main problem is that food is so difficult to find, and food items are very expensive. Prices have gone up three and even four times more than usual. Government assistance is directed only towards the direct victims, but no one is doing anything about the people who suffer indirectly because of food shortages. We thank God for his protection and his love. Greetings to our sisters and brothers.”
Santiago Lange writes:
Alfred Hellemann, a long-time German elder currently attending the Hannover congregation, suffered a heart attack on Tuesday. Fortunately, his heart tissue suffered no permanent damage. He is still in the hospital, and improving steadily. I am sure that Alfred, his wife Margarete and the rest of the family would much appreciate your prayers.
Cards may be sent to:
Lendorfstr. 10
Wennigsen
D 30974
GERMANY
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
