GCI Update

Thoughts about Father

Dear children of our heavenly Father,

Next Sunday (June 17) is Father’s Day in the U.S. and elsewhere. This holiday celebrates one of the most influential roles any man can have – that of father.

What comes to mind when you hear the word father? Perhaps you think of your human father with positive thoughts like strength, leadership, security, friendship and love. However, for some the word father brings negative thoughts because their human fathers did not live up to the high calling and responsibilities of fatherhood. They may have to learn later in life what it is like to have a loving father as they come to know the first person of the Trinity, revealed to us by Jesus as the Father.

Used with permission.

Most languages have diminutive (baby talk) words to speak affectionately of fathers. In English we have dad, daddy and papa. Sometimes it is said that Jesus used a baby talk word in speaking of God as abba. Though in modern times this Aramaic word is used in the diminutive sense, it was simply another word for father in Jesus’ day. Each of the three occurrences of αββα in the New Testament is followed by the Greek equivalent πατερ, which simply means father. There were diminutive words for father (such as pappas) that Jesus could have used, but did not.

Nevertheless, it is significant that Jesus called God father and abba. Though God is referred to as father 14 times in the Old Testament, when Jesus addressed God as his own Father, he was accused of blasphemy. On one occasion, when Jesus was accused of Sabbath-breaking because of healing people on Saturday, he replied, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too, am working” (John 5:17). The Jewish leaders missed the point of the miraculous healing and who those miracles identified him to be. They only heard more blasphemy. They were even more outraged when Jesus taught his followers to pray to God as their Father in Matthew 6:9. Just who did this Jesus think he was?

Indeed, if Jesus was not who he said he was, he would have been guilty of blasphemy. But Jesus knew who he was, and he knew exactly what he was doing. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). Jesus makes known to us his absolutely unique relationship with the Father, one of mutual knowing as Son of the Father. He also reveals that he can let us into that relationship of personal knowing by sharing with us his inner knowledge as the unique Son of God the Father.

When one of his disciples asked him in John 14:8, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us,” he responded by telling them that he was the representation of the Father; whoever had seen him had seen in him the Father (verses 9-14).

Jesus gives us amazing insight into his relationship with his heavenly Father especially as we listen to his prayer found in John 17. From all eternity they have shared love, glory and a oneness. But more than this, we discover that the Son intends to share with us all that the Father has shared with him! So in John 15 Jesus says: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (vv. 13-15).

Jesus revealed the astounding truth that God is not a remote taskmaster or slave driver demanding respect and obedience (or else!). Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus revealed God as the Father who thinks of us as his children. Jesus has included us in his relationship with the Father – a relationship of love and acceptance that God intends we enjoy forever. Indeed, the Father has a place in his kingdom for each of us and it is his “good pleasure” to give it to us (Luke 12:32). That place is our sharing in Jesus’ own sonship with the Father (John 17: 24).

Happy Father’s Day to all who are fathers. Let’s do our best to live up and into all that this title means.

With love in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

P.S. We just completed our annual audit for 2011. It was performed by CapinCrouse LLP, Certified Public Accountants. They specialize in audits for churches and non-profit organizations. Once again, we received an unqualified opinion that our records and practices are free of material misstatement and deficiencies, with no deficiencies in internal controls, and in conformity with accepted accounting practices. My thanks to Mat Morgan and Robert Meade who were both complimented by this outside audit firm.

Celebrating 50 years

GCI congregations in the Zamboanga Peninsula of the Philippines recently celebrated their jubilee year.

The two-day celebration was led by area senior pastors. Participants shared recreation, worship, prayer and communion and heard encouraging messages from Pastor Rex Dela Pena who spoke about church unity. The celebration included installation of a new pastoral team (made up of Orvel Legaspi, Reynan Fernando, Ryan Paquit, Giovannie Bahilid and Jose Ronilo Arquisal) and the baptisms of several youth and one child.

Pastoral team commissioned.
Youth baptized.

Camp reports

Following are reports on two GCI youth camps held recently.

SEP Visayas: Jesus is More than Life!

GCI Philippines held its Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) camp in the Visayas in late May at a site near Cebu City. 67 campers attended, served by 27 full-time and 15 part-time staff. 34 of the 67 campers were first-timers and 21 were from non-churched backgrounds.

Encounter Night

The camp included several evening events, including Movie Night with the viewing of the film “Gifted Hands,” which helped inspire the campers’ performances at Talent Night later in camp. On Encounter Night, camp director Joseph Ouano shared the story of the Prodigal Father (commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son) in a fresh way. Campers responded with candle lighting to symbolize their surrender to God’s extravagant love. Campers also enjoyed Dance Night on the final evening. It featured fine dining, beautiful lanterns and exciting dance moves (with some awkward moments!).

Day-time activities included snorkeling and other sports. Campers also enjoyed the team obstacle course with dirt or paint on their faces.

We praise God for moving in the lives of all the participants. Eight campers decided to publicly proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior and were baptized on the last day. All the campers and staff experienced the theme that Jesus is more than life Truly, it is only in Christ that we live a full and happy life.

Heart O’ Texas Camp: Rooted: Deep Roots, Lasting Fruit 

Generations Ministries held its Heart O’ Texas camp in early June at The Colony in Texas. The 12 campers who attended were served by 12 staff. Two of the campers came from non-churched backgrounds. The three-day long camp included acts of random kindness (neighborhood outreach), fireside chats, team-building challenges, games, and the formation of a praise band that led worship for the sponsoring GCI congregation on Sunday.

The local congregation not only provided the main facility for camp activities and lodging, but also gave financial support and served as camp workers. Off-site swimming and cook-outs were held at the home of camp directors Scott and Shawna Herridge.

A challenge to churches

In a recent post on his …in the meantime blog, David Lose asks, “Will churches go the way of bookstores?” In answering, he notes that rapid and sweeping changes in technology and other factors have led to the demise of many bookstores. He then wonders if something similar is happening to churches that do not adapt. He challenges churches to consider ways to be more effective in reaching out to a culture that is rapidly changing.

Read the blog post at http://www.davidlose.net/2012/06/churches-and-bookstores/, and consider its implications as we in GCI fulfill our mission to live and share the gospel, in pursuit of our vision for new kinds of churches, for all kinds of people, in all kinds of places.

Sharon Washington and Donna Dunbar

Following are updates from Pastor David Perry concerning previous prayer requests for Sharon Washington and Donna Dunbar.

Sharon Washington (click here for the original request) had surgery on June 8. The surgeon told her husband Abner that though difficult, the surgery removed the source of the pinching of her sciatic nerve. However, it is not assured that the pain she has experienced for a long time will go away. Only time will tell if the damage to the nerve was temporary or permanent. Sharon is now at home and on the mend. Thanks for your prayers for her and for Abner.

124 Kenwood Cir
Indianapolis, IN 46260-2354
 

Donna Dunbar (click here for the original request) remains in the hospital, on a ventilator, recovering in ICU from the lengthy surgery to remove her esophagus. She has run a fever at times with low blood pressure, however medication is helping. The surgeon says she is taking “baby steps” in her recovery, though the family is praying for larger ones. Please continue to pray for her.

741 N Cherry St
Ladoga, IN 47954-9350

Jane Parsons

Please pray for Jane Parsons, wife of Sonny Parsons who pastors GCI churches in Big Sandy, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas. Jane recently had major spinal surgery that lasted nearly five hours. Though the surgery went well, her bones are soft and the lining of her spinal cord was nicked and caused a spinal fluid leak. This causes severe headaches, nausea and disorientation. Until the leak is stopped she has to lie flat and not be up. One of the fears is meningitis from infection.

Cards may be sent to:

Jane Parsons
110 W Gilmer St
Big Sandy, TX 75755-2401

 

Cozzis receive 25 year honors

Luciano and Suzanne Cozzi

At the recent U.S. Regional Conference in Somerset, New Jersey, Pastor Luciano Cozzi and his wife Suzanne were honored for Luciano’s 25 years of ministerial service in GCI. GCI president Joseph Tkach, superintendent of U.S. ministers Dan Rogers and district pastor Larry Wooldridge presented Luciano and Suzanne with a 25-year service plaque and watches to thank them for their many years of service.

Luciano was first hired part-time in July 1980 as a student at Ambassador College in Pasadena, California. He worked first in the Custodial Department, then transferred to Library Services and then to the Italian Department. Later he took a second job on campus, working for Mail Processing’s Telephone Response.

In May 1984 Luciano was hired full-time to work as an editorial assistant in the Italian Department in Pasadena. In April 1988 he was transferred to Rome to serve as the editorial assistant in the Italian Office in Italy. Then in November 1988 he took on a second job, serving as a ministerial trainee in Italy. In February 1991 Luciano was ordained and became a church pastor serving churches in Italy.

In December 1996 Luciano left the employ of the church and returned to the U.S. Then in April 2000 he was rehired to work full time as the pastor of the GCI congregations in Providence, Rhode Island and Norwich, Connecticut.

In December 2009 Luciano developed the Biblical Counseling course for Grace Communion Seminary, serving as an adjunct professor there in 2009 and 2010. Luciano continues to pastor the Providence and Norwich congregations.

Congratulations and thanks to Luciano and Suzanne!

Ken Williams retires, Greg Williams appointed

Ken Williams
left to right: Ken Williams, Nancy Williams and Dan Rogers

Last weekend at the U.S. Regional Conference in Somerset, New Jersey, GCI president Joseph Tkach and superintendent of U.S. ministers Dan Rogers honored Ken and Nancy Williams on the occasion of Ken’s retirement after 42 years of employment in ministry with GCI.

Ken was born in Bell, California and lived in the Los Angeles area until joining the Navy at age 18. In 1970, he graduated with a bachelors degree in theology from Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas. Following graduation he entered the employed ministry.

Ken served first in pastoral ministry in Duluth and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. There he met his future wife, Nancy Strommen. They married in 1972 and had their first child, David, in 1973. In 1973, the young family moved to pastor the church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Their second child, Heather, was born in Benton Harbor in 1975. While in Michigan, Ken started a church in Coldwater and began postgraduate studies in communications at Western Michigan University.

In 1982, the family moved to pastor churches in Concord, New Hampshire and Montpelier, Vermont. Their third child, Michael, was born in Concord in 1982. In 1989, the family moved to pastor in Rochester and Syracuse, New York. While pastoring there, Ken began serving as a district superintendent. He also continued his postgraduate studies at Roberts Wesleyan College.

In 2004, Ken and Nancy moved to Sacramento, California where Ken served first as district pastor, then regional pastor and ministry developer. In 2007, they returned to Rochester, New York, home of their daughter Heather and their three grandsons. From Rochester, Ken continued in the employ of GCI until his recent retirement.

We wish Ken and Nancy many wonderful years ahead as they continue to serve our Lord and his children.

Greg Williams

With Ken’s retirement, Dan Rogers has appointed Greg Williams to replace Ken as the regional pastor for the Eastern U.S. Greg can be emailed at Greg.Williams@gci.org or telephoned at 678.699.2017. His mailing address is 129 Timber Creek Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28739.

Pastoral intern commissioned

Jason and Julie with their three sons.

GCI-USA pastoral intern Jason Frantz, his wife Julie and their children are moving from Ohio to start a new pastoral assignment in Kansas City, Missouri. Jason will be serving as an associate pastor being mentored by Ray Meyer who is a district pastor and senior pastor of the GCI church in Kansas City. The plan is for Jason to replace Ray as senior pastor when Ray retires in 2013.

Commissioning.

Recently Jason and Julie were given a good-bye party by Christ Fellowship Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Jason interned for about two years with district and senior pastor Rick Shallenberger. Jason and Julie thanked the congregation for their love and support during their training. Then all present joined Pastor Rick in commissioning the couple for their new responsibility.

Rick pointed out that this was a significant moment, because it showed how effective the pastoral intern program could be. He said. “Jason and Julie are a living testimony that the intern program works. We were privileged as a congregation to help launch their career in pastoral ministry.”

Christ Fellowship Church’s launch pad is now empty, and the congregation is ready to help another intern – any takers? If so, email Greg Williams at Greg.Williams@gci.org.

Canadian Thanksgiving Conference

GCI Canada’s 2012 Thanksgiving Conference will be held in beautiful Penticton, British Columbia from October 6-13. The theme for the conference is Renewed by Spirit. Participants will experience inspiring worship and teaching, uplifting fellowship and fun activities for all ages. Register now to take advantage of early bird rates.

Special guest speaker will be Glen Weber, who has been in full-time pastoral ministry for more than 39 years, starting in the UK, then Kelowna, Castlegar, Prince George, Regina, and Red Deer before moving to the U.S. Glen now serves as a district pastor and a senior pastor in Southern California. Other speakers are Gary and Wendy Moore, Roy Page, Dorothy Nordstrom, Keith Roberts and Craig Minke.

Activities include a tour and catered lunch at Linden Gardens in Kaleden, winery tours, a vinegar farm tour, and the usual favorites – the Thanksgiving Banquet, Thanksgiving Open House, dinner on the SS Sicamous, bike rentals, seniors’ luncheon, bowling, movie night, games night and a worship evening.

Visit http://www.gcicanada.ca/thanksgiving.php for detailed information and forms, or write to the following address to receive an information packet to be sent by mail.

GCI Canada Thanksgiving Conference
22899 14 Avenue
Langley, BC V2Z 2W8
Canada
 

Early registration closes August 1, so act now to take advantage of discounted rates.