Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A 9.0 earthquake struck Japan on March 11, giving them multiple disasters: the most powerful earthquake ever to hit Japan, a tsunami 30 feet high in some places, and since the tsunami destroyed the emergency cooling system of some nuclear power plants, radioactive materials have been released into the atmosphere. Those power plants are a significant part of Japan’s electrical capacity, so the economic ripples will continue to be felt for a long time.
Thousands of deaths have been confirmed, thousands more are likely, and hundreds of thousands of people are homeless due to the quake, tsunami or radiation leaks. The rescue workers face daunting working conditions, including aftershocks, fears of radiation and difficult supply lines. Please join us in praying for the millions who are directly affected by these catastrophes.
Eugene Guzon reported that he has contacted seven of our 10 scattered members in Japan, and so far all have been safe with minor property losses. He will continue his efforts to reach the others and will keep us updated.
New Zealand
From Rod Matthews:
All six members in the general area of Christchurch are okay. All but one are living in their homes again, although most suffered damage to their home contents and some non-structural damage. The one member who has not returned lived in a rented apartment that lies at the bottom of a cliff from which boulders have been dislodged, one of which destroyed the stairs that led up to her apartment. Because of the constant aftershocks and fear that other rocks will come down, she has not moved back in, but is staying with relatives in another part of the city. The local elder in the area, Phil Baldwin, who lives 35 km west of the city, is in constant contact with the members there and will keep Dennis Richards informed if there are any immediate needs.
GenMin Summit
From Ted Johnston:
The guiding vision of GCI Generations Ministries is summarized in the motto: “All Generations on Journey with Jesus.” In pursuit of this vision, a cross-generational group of 98 GenMin leaders gathered last week near Dallas, Texas, for the annual GenMin Camps & Missions Summit. This year’s theme, “The Genius of the AND,” explored GenMin’s commitment to helping GCI churches include young believers and young leaders on their journey.
At the summit, inspiring reports were given concerning GenMin’s 17 U.S. camps, three short-term missions trips, and young leader development program (Journey with the Master). Other reports detailed GenMin’s contributions to recruiting and interning young new pastors and church planters. Various large group and small group meetings focused on ways GenMin programs can improve their capability to help GCI congregations share God’s love and life within their communities.
Dan Rogers, who directs Church Administration and Development USA (CAD), addressed the summit, noting that CAD (which includes GenMin) serves as a “spiritual L.L. Bean”— outfitting GCI churches for the journey with Jesus. Many young GenMin leaders shared their appreciation for this approach, looking forward to being further equipped and then to equipping others. Randy Bloom, director of GCI Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM), and CMM consultant Steve Elliott also addressed the summit, noting ways GenMin and CMM partner in recruiting and outfitting young emerging leaders to start new GCI churches. An inspiring update was given by Aaron Armstrong, who leads the team that started a new GCI congregation near Denver, Colorado. Aaron’s team emerged within the GenMin camp and Journey with the Master program conducted in Colorado.
It was particularly inspiring to hear many testimonies from young adults who are devoted to Christ and to his mission in and through GCI. Many are stepping up as GCI leaders, not only within camps but also within existing and newly planted GCI churches. Three current young GCI pastoral interns shared the exciting news of what is happening in their lives as they respond to God’s call to GCI pastoral ministry. Ten additional young leaders attended a summit meeting to discuss GCI’s pastoral internship program. One noted that his local church has designated $3,500 of their annual budget to help fund an internship.
An important meeting of GenMin’s advisory team preceded the main summit. The meeting celebrated the conclusion of five years of ministry guided by GenMin’s Vision 2010—a document that defined GenMin’s understanding of God’s call for 2006-2010. By God’s grace, including the dedicated work of more than 700 GenMin volunteers, the Vision 2010 dream for 20 GenMin camps in the U.S. was realized in 2010 with 17 traditional camps and three short-term missions. The meeting then looked forward by adopting Vision 2020—a document that sets out the team’s understanding of God’s call to GenMin for a decade of growth leading GenMin to provide the churches of GCI in the US with the following mission-enhancing resources:
• 20 GenMin camps where young seekers and believers encounter Jesus, and young workers emerge as leaders to serve established and newly planted GCI churches.
• 20 short-term mission trips (some international; most domestic) where young workers and leaders experience Jesus’ heart and strategy for mission at home and beyond.
• Resources that help many existing and newly planted GCI churches participate with Jesus in multiplying young believers and leaders, yielding significant community impact.
• Resources that help identify and equip 20 new young pastors to lead established and newly planted GCI churches.
• Resources that help identify and equip young leadership teams that will plant 20 new GCI churches in the U.S.
In the months ahead, the GenMin team will be defining specific action steps related to these five faith goals. We solicit your prayers for God’s continuing direction and provision. Congregations may contribute financially to the realization of these goals by donating to the GC Next domestic mission fund (see information at http://genmin.gci.org/donate.html).
NAE board meeting
The recent National Association of Evangelicals board meeting was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, and included a panel discussion regarding the ongoing dialogue between Evangelical theologians and Mormon scholars. The panel, pictured to the right, included (left to right) Craig Hazen, Director of the M.A. Program in Christian Apologetics at Biola University; Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary; Craig Blomberg, Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary; and David Neff, Director of the Robert E. Webber Center for an Ancient Evangelical Future. David, as you may know, is also Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today.
By coincidence, Mike Feazell (who attended the meeting with me) and I ran into David at a local restaurant during dinner the night before and the three of us enjoyed catching up. Many years ago, David interviewed us for an article he ran in Christianity Today about the doctrinal transformation of the Worldwide Church of God.
Greg Johnson, Director of Standing Together, emceed the discussion. As an NAE board member, I had been asked to conclude the discussion with a brief talk about this approach in contrast to the traditional counter-cult approach, which I was happy to do.
Grand Junction, Colorado, Perichoresis Conference
Dr. Baxter Kruger and Dr. Mike Feazell will be in Grand Junction, Colorado, Friday evening, May 13, and all day Saturday, May 14, to teach and share insights about our inclusion in Jesus’ relationship with the Father through the Holy Spirit. To reserve a spot, please call Grand Junction Pastor David Eddy at 970-210-5560 or email him at ajautosales1@gmail.com. Attendance is limited to the first 70 people who sign up.
Prayer Requests and Updates
John Ferlatte
We are deeply saddened to report that our elder in the Smiths Falls, Ontario, congregation, John Ferlatte, has died tragically after a short bout with deadly strep pneumonia. Pastor Bill Rabey wrote, “We have lost a beloved brother and truly humble servant of God.”
Please remember John’s family in prayer as they face this terrible shock and grief.
Cards may be sent to:
The Ferlatte Family
231 Douglas Lane
RR 7, Perth, Ontario K7H 3C9.
Madam Rajoelisolo Georgette
Madam Georgette, a deaconess in our church in Madagascar, died February 18 at the age of 77. A pillar in the church, she had been blind for more than ten years. Kalengule Kaoma wrote, “Thanks to God for this exceptional woman with a great affection for other people and a remarkable thirst for God’s Word.” Madam Georgette’s daughter is a member of our Paris church.
Beth Holm
Rand Holm wrote:
This morning Beth collapsed in our hallway and couldn’t move. It did not appear to be a seizure. She also lost most of her vision with a darkness and kind of “lightning” before her eyes. She was sick to her stomach, and an occipital headache was developing. Her speech was slowing dramatically and she had profound weakness on her left side and labored breathing. In the past, these have all been symptoms of an intercranial bleed (of which she has had four), so I called 911 and we transported her to the hospital. As soon as she was given oxygen, she started to feel better. A CAT scan did not show any evidence of “gross bleeding.” The doctor did not think she showed any evidence of a TIA or ischemic stroke either. Her blood pressure had dropped to 70/40. Now it is 100/43.
She has been released from the hospital and now resting at home. We do not know what caused this. Possibilities include a type of seizure that she has not had before and that did not manifest itself normally. We will consult with her neurologist to see if anything else remains to be done.
Thank you for your wonderful thoughts and prayers. Beth sends her love to all. So do I.
Cards May be sent to:
3200 Foothill Dr, Apt 3
Westlake Village, CA 91361-4949
Dave Husmann
Ray Meyer wrote:
Please keep Dave Husmann, our pastor in Sioux City and Omaha, in your prayers. In addition to all the other issues Dave is dealing with following his motorcycle accident last year, he now has several new issues. He recently developed a severe infection in his jaw and ear, and if not arrested, it could navigate to his brain. He also has several spots on his thyroid that need to be checked out, and he just learned he has diabetes. Needless to say, your fervent prayers are requested for Dave.
Cards may be sent to:
250 N 8th St
Akron, IA 51001-8603
From Bernie Schnippert:
I was scheduled for a radioactive bead therapy in Portland on March 8. The beads (which are air-lifted from Australia) did not arrive on time. It looked like my trip to Portland and all my mental and drug preparations (I must take other meds in advance), and motel bills were all wasted. However, the Interventional Radiologist suggested that my coming fourth therapy, to be sometime in April, be undertaken now, since it used chemically treated beads available to him now. After a delay of two hours for the beads to soak up the chemicals, I went ahead with the Drug Eluting Beads therapy. These beads tend to knock one down harder and longer than the radioactive beads, and I am seeing this on a practical basis since my strength is low, my appetite is not returning fast, etc. Please pray for a quick recovery.
I told my wife I feel like the arcade game, “Whack a Mole.” In the game, a stuffed mole puts up its head and then you try to whack it back down, in which case another springs up elsewhere on the field to be whacked again. I seem to just about recover from one therapy and the next one comes along, and with it, the inevitable reactions of fatigue, lack of appetite, etc. I am very much looking forward to what we all hope is the last treatment in this series around the time of April 12.
Thanks to all of you individually and to the whole churches who have sent me cards of encouragement. They are much appreciated.
Cards may be sent to:
64651 Jan Dr
Bend, OR 97701-8824
Maria Sinkler
From Canadian national board member, Gerry Sinkler:
I request your continued prayers on behalf of my wife Maria. Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer last spring and since then has been on an alternative treatment program. We found out two weeks ago that the cancer has spread to parts of her spine and a couple of ribs. Maria is now taking radiation treatments as well as drug therapies to fight the cancer. She is in good spirits but is experiencing a lot of lower back pain. This, and the treatments, are both physically draining and sometimes leave her very tired. Your prayers for her, and for myself and our daughter Brianna, would be much appreciated.
On a related subject, Brianna our teenage daughter, participated in a Bike-a-Thon for Cancer held at her school, Bellrose Composite High. This was the 9th annual Bellrose Bike-a-Thon, where teams have to keep a stationary bike in motion for 48 hours. This year they had 64 teams of 8 to 10 students. Brianna was captain of her team and rode for four shifts. Through the generosity of our congregation, neighbors, and friends, Brianna raised $1,230, her team raised $2,480, and the school raised more than $126,000. Half the money raised will be donated to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, and half will be donated to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton towards the purchase of a new P.E.T. scanner.
Cards may be sent to:
13 Emery Ct
St Albert, AB T8N 5T3
CANADA
Charlie Warren
Charlie Warren (brother-in-law of GCI pastor Mike Rasmussen) was recently diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer. Doctors will not make a decision about surgery unless his chemo regimen is successful, which is only given a 20 percent chance. Charlie was also recently diagnosed with diabetes. His wife Candice (Mike’s sister), is facing major health trials. Please pray for Charlie, Candice and their 14-year-old son, Spencer.
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
