Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
By now most New Year’s resolutions have been abandoned as we humans fall predictably back into our old habits and routines. But in our frustration, we can rejoice about one thing: God’s faithfulness to save us and transform us into the image of Christ will never fail. Wherever we fall down, Jesus has succeeded in our place and on our behalf. That’s why we put our trust in him. For us alone, 2011 might be another year of failure and frustration, but for us and Jesus together, it will be a year of joy, blessing and spiritual rest. Praise be to God for his indescribable gift!
Memphis, Tennessee
Frederick Moore, director of our Memphis, Tennessee, congregation’s Souled Out camp, sent this report (photos by Jasmine Broadnax).
This year’s Souled Out camp was held over the New Year’s Day weekend. Many staff members were young adults from the local GCI congregation, with others from Connecticut and Louisiana. To see these young adults step into their calling to lead in the body of Christ was heart-warming.
Forty campers came from nearby and as far away as the Gulf Coast. Nearby campers included seven young men enjoying their first Christian camping experience. One proclaimed excitedly that although he had attended church all his life, this was the first time the messages reached him at a personal level. He’s planning to bring other local teens with him next year.
Jeffrey Broadnax, GCI pastor in Columbus, Ohio, was the Souled Out camp chaplain this year. The theme of his chapel messages was “Souled Out 180 Degrees.” Pastor Broadnax explained God’s unconditional love for all, and our opportunity to live into that by receiving it with an open heart. Great joy is ours when we are “souled out” for the triune God.
Camp activities included basketball, step dance lessons and arts and crafts. A banquet on New Year’s Day was followed by a black attire dance with Christian and popular music led by Anthony Rice, GCI pastor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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GCI Worship Blog
Mike Hale, moderator of GCI’s Trinitarian Worship blog ( http://trinitarianworship.blogspot.com/), reports that the blog has been steadily gaining viewership. There were 1,526 pageviews in December 2010, which was the highest monthly total since the blog was launched in 2009. Half the readers are from within the US, with the other half scattered across the globe. Pastors, worship leaders and all worshipers are invited to take a look at these widely read posts:
- If introverts are called and gifted by God, then why is church designed for extroverts?
http://trinitarianworship.blogspot.com/2010/08/if-introverts-are-called-and-gifted-by.html - Keeping it practical: Learning to pray “Abba” to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
http://trinitarianworship.blogspot.com/2010/10/keeping-it-practical-learning-to-pray.html - Congregational singing, and how special does ‘Special Music’ really need to be?
http://trinitarianworship.blogspot.com/2010/09/congregational-singing-and-how-special.html - What songs and hymns reflect the theology of this Trinitarian worship blog?
http://trinitarianworship.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-songs-hymns-reflect-theology-of.html
Mike says “In one sense, readership is still small, but it is encouraging to see growth, with one more method of coming alongside one another in our journey with Jesus, and helping people share in his ongoing ministry.”
Minnesota Snowblast
From Doug Johannsen:
We held our annual winter Snowblast event January 15-17 at Ironwood Springs Christian ranch, located in southeastern Minnesota just west of Rochester. The weekend event attracted 79 people of all ages with an additional 20 who came just for the Sunday morning worship service. We view this event as a way of reconnecting those who attend the Northern Light summer camp, refreshing existing relationships between church areas as well as identifying and developing potential youth leaders and staff. Although the majority who attend are from GCI congregations, a few friends and family associated with other denominations also participate.
Chapel, dorm chats, snow tubing, Christian living, arts & crafts, making pottery on a pottery wheel, movies and games take up the bulk of the time, with plenty of free time for informal chatting. We even take the time to make a few batches of peanut brittle. By cooling it rapidly outdoors on a snow drift, the brittle is exceptionally “brittle.”
A praise band that recently formed in the Champlin, Minnesota, congregation came, so we had live music instead of CDs.
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Bahamas Mission Trip
Twenty-seven inspired but tired mission volunteers returned December 31 from a five-day Cruise-Mission-Camp in partnership with the Red Cross. The adventure included camping in Ft. Lauderdale, a five-hour cruise from Florida to the Bahamas, and community outreach and Christian mission work in Freeport, Bahamas. For further details see http://www.gci.org/news/11/cruising
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More photos from the mission work and activities:
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Prayer Requests and Updates
From David Fiedler
Thanks to all for your continued prayers and loving concern. After four surgeries, my retina has finally held in place. The last surgery was in August. The doctor has wanted to wait this long for everything to heal and any scarring to settle down. So on February 8 I have a checkup and expect to have surgery the next day to remove the oil from my eye, put in a new lens and peel off some scar tissue from the retina. I trust recovery will be shorter this time as no lasering will be required. There still is a question as to what degree of vision I’ll have after this procedure. Please pray that my full vision will return.
Cards may be sent to:
20389 Strawline Road
Bend, OR 97702-2627
From Lorenzo Arroyo
I had external radiation therapy on a daily basis (except weekends) from October 21 through December 22. With that much radiation it left me fatigued and anemic. It felt like the inside of my midsection and back were toast. Still, after my last treatment the doctor said I did so well she does not want to see me for another three months. I thought if she calls this doing well, then, what about others who don’t do so well! The doctor said I would be doing much better after the first month of recovery. Praise the Lord! I am doing much better. The pains and toasted feeling gradually diminished. I have gained strength and stamina. While I’m not 100 percent yet, I should by the end of February.
Cards may be sent to:
4035 Mount Day Ct.
Antioch, CA 94531-8279
John Biswas
Bengali Evangelistic Association Director John Biswas has been hospitalized for what doctors think might be a kidney infection. He needs our prayers for a full recovery.
Cards can be sent to:
P.O.Box 776
Bryn Mawr, CA. 92318.
Lorraine Pelley
From Dennis and Lorraine: “The results of the recent MRI reveal that Lorraine has disc disease or arthritis from the middle to the bottom of the thoracic spine area. This area is compressed, and the irritation of her spinal cord has caused her to have daily spasm episodes for the last four months. Next she will see a neurosurgeon to determine what treatment may be recommended. Thank you for your continued prayers and loving concern.”
Cards may be sent to:
8056 Old Exchange Dr
Colorado Springs, CO 80920-4807
From Bernie Schnippert
I travel to Portland on January 30 for a procedure to treat (i.e. kill) another tumor or tumors in my liver on Monday, the 31st. Unlike last time, which used radioactive beads, this time, for technical reasons, chemically impregnated beads will be used. Although the expectation is still that the tumor(s) will die, a bit more “good liver” is usually sacrificed in this procedure, leading to greater, but temporary, side effects, especially nausea and pain. Consequently I will be hospitalized in Portland for at least one day after the treatment. I have improved greatly since the first treatment, and now, with the help of the treatment, drugs, and your supportive prayers, have much but not all of my energy back, and have a good appetite, little to no nausea, and have gained weight. Inasmuch as these were the focal points of my prayer request, I am grateful to all of you. Please remember me on Monday. I or my wife will update you after the procedure.
Cards may be sent to:
64651 Jan Dr
Bend, OR 97701-8824
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
