GCI Update

Reaching out with the gospel

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

What is the best, most effective way to share the gospel with others? This is a question our church has been discussing as long as I can remember. And I think I can say with some confidence that we have tried just about everything except the Goodyear blimp.

We have published millions of magazines and booklets, used radio and network television, launched evangelistic personal campaigns – and in recent years we have experimented with web casts and other types of social media.

Which of these has been the most effective? It’s very hard to quantify the results. Some work for a time, and then the novelty wears off. Others seem to be effective, until we add up the cost. Then there are those methods which generate a huge initial response, but very little actual returns. Like the Plain Truth Newsstand programs. Or the advertisements we put in the Reader’s Digest about forty years ago. Believe it or not, our offices still get the occasional request for literature from those.

But is there one method that is the most effective? Yes there is.

Many of you will remember Ed Stetzer who was a guest speaker at our International Conference two years ago in Orlando. Ed is a missiologist and the president of LifeWay Research, and he provided us with a helpful, humorous and colorful presentation on evangelism. He noted that while driving down the interstate, especially in the “Bible belt” in the USA, you will come across some interesting billboards and marquees, set up by well-meaning religious organizations that seem to have more enthusiasm than theological insight and marketing savvy. Here are two examples:

Like me, you probably wonder what made them think that messages like these would turn people to the gospel. As Ed said, “You feel frustrated at how silly they seem. But more importantly, you wonder about the reaction of the countless unchurched who are reading them.”

Ed has done more research on this topic, and has come up with some interesting information about how unchurched people respond to various evangelistic approaches. He conducted a survey with more than 15,000 Americans, asking them about different methods of church outreach. The survey covered 13 different evangelistic methods to discover ways that Americans are willing to receive information about local congregations. The top five, in increasing order of effectiveness, are:

5) Newspaper or magazine advertising – 46%

4) Outdoor sign or billboard – 46%

3) Informative ad in the newspaper – 48%

2) Personal conversation with a friend or neighbor from the church – 56%

1) Personal conversation with a family member – 63%

So the research showed that, whereas mass marketing methods have some effect, the biggest impact, by far, is gained by the least expensive techniques.

Additionally, the research discovered that some people are more or less receptive to considering issues of faith at different times in differing circumstances. The following are the top five times that people are most open to considering matters of faith:

5) After the birth of a baby – 28%

4) After a natural disaster – 34%

3) After a major national crisis, such as 9/11 – 38%

2) During the Easter season – 38%

1) During the Christmas season – 47%

What Ed Stetzer’s research has shown is that unchurched people are more willing to talk about Jesus than we may realize. But it has to be the right person and the right time. So while the research shows that marketing and advertising do provide support for outreach, they are supplemental at best. Contact based on relationships is the most effective approach.

And so it has been since the early years, when Peter exhorted the first Christians to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

The message of Jesus is best shared by example, one conversation at a time. Perhaps that explains at least some of why, rather than hovering over us for all eternity in a heavenly blimp, Jesus came to us in time and space, in flesh and blood, in person, face to face!

In Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Report on Namibia

The following report is from Tim Maguire, GCI mission developer in Southern Africa.

Click on map to enlarge

My sincere thanks to GCI Canada for funding my recent visit to Namibia. GCI South Africa has been walking alongside a group of churches in Namibia since late 2010. This was my third trip to visit with their pastor Lascan Sikhosi.

A brief history

In 2006, a German missionary planted a small church in Katimo Mulilo in the Caprivi Strip in northeastern Namibia (see map at right). The missionary returned to Germany in 2008, leaving the new church without a support structure and suggesting that they find a mother church to associate with.

Unsure what to do, Lascan searched the internet and found the GCI South Africa website and started corresponding with me by email. I forwarded him a lot of our literature, which he read. He then asked for a visit. My first visit came in late February 2011.

On that first visit I found a group struggling with legalism and unable to understand the freedom we have in Christ. The Seventh-day Adventists are active in the area and had been trying to get the little group to follow them. Their leaders asked me if they should change their day of worship to Saturday. In reply, I explained the distinctions between the old and  new covenants and the reality that Jesus is our Sabbath rest.

I returned to Johannesburg and sent them additional reading material as well as CDs dealing with Trinitarian theology. Also, I had hymn books made for them, with their songs in their language, which I delivered to them on my second visit in September 2011. Lascan then traveled to Zimbabwe towards the end of the year to spend some time being mentored by Zimbabwean National GCI Director, Joseph Mpophu. Lascan then attended a Southern African regional conference in Harare, Zimbabwe in February 2012, a week before my latest visit.

The trip

A large bull African Elephant we came across alongside the road

David Linker, a GCI member in Canada, had shown interest in a mission trip to Africa, and so it was arranged for him to accompany me on this trip. He flew in from Canada, and we left Johannesburg at 3:00 a.m. on Friday, February 24 in order to make our first destination (Kasane in Northern Botswana) by nightfall. We tented in a small camping ground at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers. This is a beautiful, remote part of Southern Africa, with wild elephants known to be found wandering through the streets.

After a 16-hour car journey, we slept well that night and awoke to a beautiful African morning. We then travelled through the Chobe Game Reserve, before entering Namibia on our final leg to Katima. The contrast in living standards as we entered Namibia was obvious. Small, basic rural homes with mud walls and grass roofs were scattered randomly along the main road into town.

We arrived after lunch and Lascan’s excitement was evident. We discussed the following day’s program and went to examine the church building where we were planning to make improvements, which would turn the little mud structure into a more weather-durable church building.

Pastor Lascan welcomes David
The church building as we found it

 

 

 

 

 

 

David on guitar

Sunday was a day of rejoicing. Fifty attended the morning church service. David’s musical talent was a hit – he was asked to keep on singing and playing his guitar. I spoke on Christ’s centrality to all things. As an aside, I mentioned that Christ fulfills the Sabbath-day, quoting Hebrews chapter four. Unknown to me, Lascan had invited four senior Seventh-day Adventist leaders to attend the service. One of them came to him after the service and said they had never seen the scriptures quoted in this context, and asked if they might continue attending with the group. Clearly, the Holy Spirit was giving the message that they needed to hear!

My sermon was followed by a joyful ceremony in which Lascan’s four congregations were welcomed into GCI fellowship: Cow Boy (the congregation with the building) with 58 attending, Makalabani with 64, Singalamwe with 18, and Musambo with 24.

Communion service

Near the end of the worship service the group shared the Lord’s Supper – the first Communion service they had ever taken part in! Following the service we all enjoyed a meal together of boiled chicken and ground corn porridge.

We then traveled to share worship services with two outlying small churches pastored by Lascan – one in Katima Mulio town (about 18 attended), and one about 25 kilometers west of town (about 12 attended). Both congregations meet outdoors.

Arranging building materials

On Monday we went to work on the church building – arranging building materials and trying to arrange for contractors to make badly needed repairs to the building.

A couple days later we traveled about 150 kilometers west along the Caprivi Strip to a small San (Bakwena) community where we held church under the trees. The San (previously known as Bushmen), claim to be the original inhabitants of Southern Africa. The greatest problem we face in this community is that the Bible has never been translated into their language. Fortunately, one of the members speaks Afrikaans, a South African derivation of Dutch, and has an Afrikaans Bible, which he translates for them.

On Wednesday we held an evening service back at the church building. At the congregation’s request, we again shared Communion, so touched were they by the experience the previous Sunday. We then said our goodbyes and early Thursday morning headed home.

It is comforting to know that on trips like this, the Holy Spirit leads us to participate in what God is already doing in the region. The greatest comfort of all, however, is knowing that when we depart we do not leave them alone, but in continual communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who guides them into all truth. These GCI churches in Namibia will now be served by GCI South Africa. Lascan will participate in our Pastoral training programs, and our national office will send them our GCI South Africa magazine, Face to Face (www.face2face.org.za) as well as audio CDs and articles.

Lascan has big plans to spread the gospel in Namibia. He is extremely excited by the truth he sees in Trinitarian theology. I’m sure you will hear again from Lascan and GCI Namibia!

Vision for outreach

In the videos below, Jeff Broadnax and David Marquis – both GCI pastors in Ohio – discuss their vision for outreach in their respective congregations.

http://youtu.be/VUZS1XoByuI

http://youtu.be/x_Vnh66AGNA

Ingrid Mandel

We received this prayer request from Ingrid Mandel, wife of retired GCI pastor Willi Mandel. 

I would like to ask our members for prayer. I have severe spinal stenosis, arthritis and, since last September, a pinched sciatic nerve on the left side of my spine, resulting in extreme pain all the way down to the foot. I can’t sleep, sit, walk, stand without great pain. I have had every possible treatment without any relief. The doctor has told me that my problem is irreversible and there is nothing they can do for me. Even surgery is not possible. I am taking medication but nothing has helped. Now the doctor is talking about narcotics.

God has healed me many times of back problems and I am looking forward to his healing again.

Mrs. Ingrid S. Mandel
747 Tanner Drive
Kingston, ON K7M 9G7
CANADA

 

John Nelson

John Nelson was ordained last month as an elder and commissioned as a member of the Grace Fellowship pastoral team. Grace Fellowship is the GCI congregation in Pikeville, KY.

The following week John underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. Though he is making good progress, his recovery is slow.

John wants to get back to work and we need our team member. Please join with the Pikeville congregation in praying for John’s quick and complete recovery.

Cards of encouragement may be sent to:

John & Shirley Nelson
165 Cecil Hills Drive
Pikeville, KY 41501

 

Ordinations

Though we don’t always know of all ordinations around the world, here are some that we’ve heard of. These individuals have been ordained as elders within Grace Communion International in the last couple of years. Congratulations to all! If you know of others, please send an email to church.administration@gci.org.

  • Mattie Tillotson (1/15/12) Baton Rouge, LA
  • Camilo Umlas (1/22/12) San Fernando, Pampanga PHILIPPINES
  • Mary Bacheller (1/22/12) Queens, NY
  • Onofre Lopez (5/16/10) San Carlos City PHILIPPINES
  • Peter Chipempele (5/23/10) Lilanda, Lusaka ZAMBIA
  • Frank Espinoza (10/23/11) San Diego, CA
  • Grant Forsyth (11/6/11) Port Huron, MI
  • Nestor Guspordarchuk (11/13/11) Winnipeg, MB CANADA
  • Shimanko Solomon Taele (12/5/10) Moruleng SOUTH AFRICA
  • Fraser Henderson (8/13/11) Ottawa/Gatineau & Smith’s Falls, Ontario CANADA
  • Ann Vinson (8/14/11) Kings Mountain, NC
  • Linda Nichols-McCarty (9/4/11) Ripley, WV
  • Pete Hurlburt (9/10/11) Van Buren, AR
  • Justin Richard Tshibasu Tshinyama (9/11/11) Lubumbashi, Kawama & Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Daniel Gehr (10/16/11) Smithsburg, MD
  • Aaron Armstrong (4/24/11) Ground Zero (Denver, CO)
  • Stein Dahl (5/15/11) Port Orchard, WA
  • Dishon Mills (5/21/11) Randolph, MA
  • Leroy Joiles (5/22/11) Christian Pen JAMAICA
  • Daniel Graham (5/22/11) Christian Pen JAMAICA
  • George Breece (6/5/11) Marion, OH
  • Patricia Blubaugh (6/12/11) Cumberland, MD
  • Beth Jeffers (6/19/11) Lexington, KY
  • Ernesto Aycardo (6/26/11) Daet, Camarines Norte PHILIPPINES
  • Calvin Simon (8/7/11) Virginia Beach, VA
  • Thabo Mahasha (8/29/10) Modjadji & Morutji SOUTH AFRICA
  • William Chaffee (12/5/10) Federal Way, WA
  • Franklin Paupens (2/13/11) Hyderabad INDIA
  • Mario Natividad (2/27/11) Pasig City PHILIPPINES
  • Jose Velis (5/1/11) Denver (Spanish), CO
  • David Buckley (11/14/10) Grand Rapids, MI
  • Calvin Parker (11/20/10) Freeport, Bahamas
  • Gary Peterson (11/27/10) Clearwater, FL
  • Matthew Gudze (11/27/10) Melbourne (East), Victoria AUSTRALIA
  • Bill Schultz (12/4/10) Fresno, CA
  • Remonia Lewis (1/9/11) Bradenton, FL
  • Clarence Roberts (1/16/11) Virginia Beach, VA
  • Raymond Olson (1/23/11) Watertown, WI

Mission Event Resource Team formed

In service to GCI churches, Generations Ministries (GenMin) sponsors both camps and mission events (including mission trips). In support of these services, GenMin director Anthony Mullins recently appointed a GenMin Mission Event Resource Team. The team’s primary responsibility is to resource GenMin mission events. Secondarily, it resources GenMin camps and, as requested, GCI congregations – providing these ministries and churches ready access to tools that help them participate actively in the mission of God both locally and globally.

Standing (left to right): Janet Morrison, Lee Berger, Barbara Solari, Charles Fleming, Steve Solari, Anthony Mullins, Joel Clevenger, David Botha, Lynne Botha, Ted Johnston, Wane Creager. Seated (left to right): Carrie Smith, Carla Pearson-Sethna, Mychelle Fleming, Annie Fleming.

Here is what the Mission Events Resource Team will be providing:

  • Resources to be used by GenMin’s mission events and camps – helping them become fully missional
  • Assistance to GCI pastors in conducting local mission events that engage all age groups including mission-minded GenMin campers
  • Assistance to GCI pastors in developing these youth into mission-minded emerging church leaders
  • An online mission event resource catalog, ranging from starter kits on how to conduct a Vacation Bible School, to instructions on hosting one-day domestic mission events, to instructions concerning sponsoring a team on an international short-term mission trip
  • Communication to the church – telling the stories of how the Holy Spirit is leading GCI churches, ministries and members in missional outreach

For further developments see genmin.gci.org/missionministries.htm. Though the resource team’s emphasis is on assisting GenMin events, it also assists pastors and ministry leaders of congregations interested in conducting local mission/outreach events. To inquire about this assistance, email Ted.Johnston@gci.org.