One day last week, I was standing in a grocery store line behind two young girls. They were trying to buy a six-pack of beer. “That is bold of them,” I thought, as they looked so obviously under age. The cashier asked them for their ID, and to my astonishment, they were both 22.
Suddenly, I felt rather old. That feeling was reinforced when I overheard two other young people talking about a song titled Titanium by David Guetta. I had never heard of David Guetta or the song. It was the same for the next five songs they discussed.
Slowly, but perceptibly, it seems like the world is starting to pass me by. I never really thought of myself as the center of the universe—my parents made that clear to me long ago. But I always thought I was reasonably aware of the trends and events going on around me. However, more and more, I find myself getting out of touch with the world of the younger generations.
Back in 1970, Alvin Toffler wrote a best-selling book titled Future Shock. He defined future shock as a psychological state of individuals and entire societies, brought on by too much change in too short a period. He predicted that an incredible shift would occur in the next 40 years and that it would affect nearly every aspect of life. He also predicted that some would find this quite disorienting. Time has shown how right he was.
Perhaps we think time-honored institutions like the church would be immune to this and would be islands of calm in the storm. Not so. Recently, Ted Johnston sent a blog post from Jonathan Martin who pastors a Pentecostal church in Charlotte, North Carolina. The post discusses the huge shift taking place in the demographics of Christianity. Here is an excerpt:
Those of us in the younger set…are competing largely for the hearts and minds of the 20 and 30-somethings with their iPads and macchiattos. We are already dinosaurs, and we did not know it. The average Christian in the world right now is an African or Latin American female in her early 20s. She doesn’t read our blogs, and she doesn’t read Christianity Today. She doesn’t know or care who I am, and she never will. The names Piper, Driscoll, Chan, Bell, Stanley, Warren mean nothing to her. Like most Pentecostal women coming into the kingdom around the world, words like complementarian and egalitarian are not in her vocabulary, nor Calvinism and Arminianism.
That this is the case should not surprise us when we consider how the Holy Spirit has been transforming our denomination both theologically and demographically. It may well be that he is strategically preparing GCI for the shift that this pastor is describing.
Recently one of my colleagues commented that GCI Weekly Update seems to feature a lot of news from Asia and Africa. The fact is; we, like many Christian denominations, are growing much faster in Asia and Africa than elsewhere. I don’t mean that we are not seeing growth in other places, but it is not as noticeable.
Though I try to keep you up to date through Weekly Update features and my conference presentations, it is not possible to cover all that is happening. Additionally, some progress is quite gradual and thus almost imperceptible. For example, it was over a long period of time and with much research that we came to the seemingly momentous decision to ordain women as elders. At first, there were only a few such ordinations. However, slowly, the number has grown.
In the USA we have 24 female elders (see last week’s Up Close and Personal for an example). In Canada we have five female elders and there are several in Colombia (see the P.S. below), Congo, France, the Philippines and South Africa. Any reservations that some may have had about ordaining women have surely been dispelled as these women have quietly and faithfully taken up positions of service alongside their brothers in our fellowship.
I am sure that as the future continues to arrive, often ahead of schedule, it will present us with new challenges (even shocks). You and I may sometimes feel out of date and out of touch. But thankfully, Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
That does not mean that Jesus never changes. According to his wisdom he responds afresh to every new situation in order to accomplish his unchanging redeeming purpose. The book of Acts shows how God guided the tradition-bound early Christians through some challenging situations. God is never out of his depth with change. With the unconditional love of the Father, the continuing leadership of Jesus as we join with him in his ministry, and the never-failing guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can look forward in confidence to the future, however unexpected and shocking it may be.
With love, in Christ’s service,
Joseph Tkach
Colombia National Director Hector Barrero and Pastor Sonia Orozco
P.S. One of our female elders is Sonia Orozco. She is the pastor of GCI’s Barranquilla, Colombia congregation. She recently began broadcasting a weekly radio program on a Barranquilla station. On the program she routinely invites listeners to attend her church.
William Mankhomwa
William and Chrissy Mankhomwa
William Mankhomwa, a Research and Test Development Officer for the Malawi Africa National Examinations Board (MANEB), serves as co-pastor of the GCI Blantyre, Malawi congregation with Fadrick Nihaka. He also helps serve the four satellite churches within 200 kilometers of Blantyre, Malawi.
William will have been married to his wife Chrissy for 30 years this September. They have two adult children, T. Isaiah and Marah Anne Chrissy.
William grew up in a typical African village, living in huts surrounded by bushes and cornfields. His parents separated when he was five years old and his grandmother, who had a great influence on his faith, raised him. She was a devout Presbyterian who traveled to many congregations bringing instruction to women.
After about two years as a Seventh-day Adventist, William became interested in GCI in 1981 and contacted the office in Kenya. In 1983, he went to England to study. “I was fully integrated into the church under David and Nancy Silcox, participating in all church activities… and visiting with members’ families. I was baptized on April 8, 1984 by Mr. Silcox.”
In 1996, William was ordained an elder and started assisting pastor Gardner Kunje in Malawi. The church needed more personnel in ministry and William was asked to help where needed. He loves preaching and leading worship, and “seeing people accept Jesus Christ and committing their lives to him.” It’s not past William to spend hours answering questions and talking with someone who wants to know about Jesus.
Because of his love for his country and his Lord, William has used his education to help others. “I have translated some of the GCI literature into the local language and distributed it to the church.” William loves being a pastor and loves preparing messages. His pastoral passion is “to help people know who they really are in Christ… watching the Holy Spirit bring new revelation to a person and watch that person grow in Christ.”
William lists two events as highlights in his ministry. One was when a fellow pastor who was struggling with understanding the changes came back from a conference in Zimbabwe a new man. “He said it was as if a mask had been pulled off his face.” William still gets a thrill recalling that transformation. His second highlight was a church service in January 2012 when visitor Rick Shallenberger preached in Malawi. “The service was recorded by our national television, then aired on subsequent weeks. It was inspiring to receive complimentary remarks from relatives and friends across the country who watched the service and said how much they enjoyed it.”
When asked what he likes most about GCI, William said, “The brotherly love we have; it feels real and unfeigned. We are truly connected and truly one.” He loves GCI’s sound doctrine and focus on Christian living. “I’m so glad we have learnt the humility and simplicity that is in Christ.” William loves to learn and loves to spend time with God. “Every moment of my life I seem to feel there is someone beside me. He said he would never leave us nor forsake us.”
Camp Connections
The Canadian eastern youth camp (Camp Connections) was held recently. Camp director Lynn Lawrence (who also pastors the Montreal, English congregation) commented that the campers and staff experienced a wonderful atmosphere of peace and unity. Everyone went home tired, yet inspired.
Lynn Lawrence speaks to campersCampers receive communion
Staten Island church plant
Mary Bacheller
This update is from Pastor Mary Bacheller, who reports on the progress of Hands for Christ Community Church in Staten Island, New York. This new church is being formed principally by and for people who are deaf. Mary reports on two recent events that are important steps in preparing to launch the new church.
Launch team retreat
Mary gathered the 14 ministry leaders who are helping her start the new church (see picture below). They held a weekend retreat where the leaders introduced themselves and the group prayed for one another. Much laughter and some tears were shared. Of the 14 in attendance, three are GCI members. Seven of the others are either unchurched or have not been to a church in over 15 years. Mary shared with the group the vision, mission, budget and discipleship pathway that will shape the life of the new church. She then asked each leader for a one-year commitment to serve on the launch team. She also asked each of the leaders to complete a self-assessment survey called SHAPE: S=spiritual gifts, H=heart, A=abilities, P=personality, E=education/experience. The retreat ended with communion.
First formal Bible study
Fifteen people attended this event, the first in a series of Bible studies. It was held in the library of the church building where the new church will be meeting. It turned out that the library was too small to accommodate the group – next time they will meet in the church fellowship hall. For these studies, Mary is using the Alpha Course. The first study addressed personal friendships and a relationship with Jesus. The next study will address the identity of Jesus and God’s plan for humanity as revealed in Scripture.
Africa mission trip
GCI Canada member Leigh Smithson recently made a mission trip to Africa where he visited various GCI congregations and contacts. Here is his report.
I left Canada for Africa on July 7. The plan was to ride “shotgun” with GCI’s African missions directors Tim Maguire and Kalengule Kaoma (KK for short).
Leigh and KK
Before I recount some of the stories, I need to share some thoughts about fear and worry. As Tim and I (sometimes with KK) traveled through the southern part of Africa, we faced many frightening, worrisome challenges. Yet, I felt calm, safe and generally free of fear. All credit goes to the Holy Spirit–and now to the stories.
Johannesburg
Tim met me at the Johannesburg airport. That evening, he hosted a meeting of the SEP camp staff (wonderful people!). Early the next morning, Tim and I packed the car and started on our journey. We headed east towards Mozambique–a route that would take us through Kruger National Park.
Kruger Park
Tim and I spent five hours in this amazing game park. We saw all sorts of animals and Tim got an elephant to “mock charge” our car (thanks Tim!). Was I worried? Well, yes, this got me a little concerned…why tempt the Lord?
Mozambique
At about 1:00 a.m., an ugly pot hole “attacked” our car and bent two tire rims. We pulled over to evaluate and discovered that one tire was rapidly losing air. As we started repairs, a stranger pulled up in a truck and offered help. I felt uneasy with his mannerisms as he took the hammer out of Tim’s hand and started to beat the rim into shape. I thought this was strange, so I made sure my back was never turned to him. As we got the tire inflated with a can of tire repair stuff, the stranger got back into his truck, but the engine would not start. Interestingly, he knew exactly how to hot wire the truck. Once it was started and before he drove away, he told us to follow him to his garage. We said okay, but when he pulled in, Tim kept going–he was sure the truck was stolen and that our “helper” was up to no good. Was I afraid? No but I was a wee bit leery. At 2:30 that morning, after almost 20 hours of driving the world’s worst roads, we parked at a closed gas station. We decided to sleep until dawn when the station would open and we could get gasoline. The place was mostly dark, with spooky shadows; it appeared to be almost abandoned. However, we were confronted by a guard coming out of the shadows, carrying an assault rifle. We told him that we needed to park until dawn so we could buy some gas. He said okay. Tim fell asleep, but as I tried, a large and noisy crowd of young men started to gather. I felt threatened and could not sleep. Eventually, around 6:00 a.m., a school bus picked them up – that was a close call! Tim made breakfast and we offered some to the guard. Was I worried? Not really…ha!
Malawi
We then traveled northward toward Malawi. I was surprised by the young guard who greeted us at the border. He wasn’t wearing a uniform and he smiled a lot. (I later learned that the more a guard smiles, the more trouble you are going to have!) As he interviewed us about the trip, he was twirling his handcuffs and asked for my yellow fever card. I did not have, nor did I need one, and was taken aback even more when he asked if I had been recently in Brazil. As it turned out, I had been in Brazil six months earlier, but that passport had expired and there was no indication of my trip to Brazil in my new passport. However, I said I had been there recently, and it took some quick talking to assure him that I had not been in the Amazon or the jungles (which are prone to yellow fever), so he eventually stamped my book. As we left, the young guard came out to our car and told us that he was fasting to hear God’s direction for him. I prayed for him, Tim gave him his card and we stepped on the gas! Was I worried?? Not a bit (plus we were able to witness). A few minutes after leaving the border station, we hit a deep pothole with a loud thud. We suspected from the sound that we had put a hole in the oil pan. The red oil light coming on confirmed it. We had no choice but to keep driving, and we soon arrived at a little town teeming with people. Loud music was blasting from some poor quality speakers. It was not a comfortable feeling! Tim left me in the car while he searched for oil. Meanwhile, night fell and the town’s power went out. I was now alone in the dark, locked in the car, with no idea where Tim was. Once again, the car was surrounded by a crowd of young men. But I was not worried–I was confident that God was looking after us, even though I was making plans for what to do if Tim did not return! Thankfully, after a long wait, Tim returned with diesel oil, which should be used only in diesel engines (we had a gas engine!). Now I was worried for the sake of the engine, but not for us! Fortunately, we made it to Blantyre, Malawi where we met KK. It was 10:00 at night and we were hungry, so we headed out to find food. However, the car stopped suddenly about two blocks from the lodge; it seems the engine had seized up and would not turn over. We had to walk down a dark street to a gas station to buy oil. The gas station had oil, but we did not have Malawian money. Another short walk to a bank machine was in order. Once again, a young guard there had a big gun. Tim got some funds and we returned to the gas station, bought the oil and walked back to the car. The little engine drank five liters, but it still would not turn over. We eventually pushed the car up an incline where we could then point it downhill. Then Tim steered the car while KK and I followed. It was easy to see where the car had rolled because there was a trail of oil on the road. As we pushed Tim’s car into the lodge parking lot, we could hear oil gushing from the engine. What a mess! Over the next several hours we made plans to get Tim and me back to Johannesburg and get KK to Lusaka. We would have to arrange for our flights and for a tow truck to take Tim’s car the 3,000 kilometers back to his home. In the meantime, we were safe in Blantyre and the ministerial conference would start in the morning. Was I worried? Not a bit. However, I was disappointed because I still wanted to experience Zambia, Namibia and Botswana. I guess that will have to be another trip.
Malawi Ministerial Conference
The conference was a delight. I met most of the people Rick Shallenberger wrote about earlier in the year. KK was host and he made sure that Tim and I were put to work! It was fun how KK arranged it; his exact words were, “You can talk about anything you want, but I want you to talk about conflict resolution methods.” Was I worried? Not a bit. Long before we planned this trip, God had brought into the Blantyre church a young man named Mike. He works for the church at the school doing maintenance, plus he is an auto mechanic! He was able to repair our car and get it running again. It ran flawlessly for the rest of the trip, bent wheel rims and all. There was nothing to worry about. God is in charge!
Malawi church visits
In one of the churches we visited in Malawi, 50 children were in attendance. They were so well behaved that it was a delight to be with them. With KK’s permission, I handed out peanuts that had been given to us earlier. As I did so, the children surrounded me, pushing so hard that I could not move. Looking down, I saw that some of them were being walked on. So I started throwing the peanuts away from me and the kids ran after them, giving us all room to move. Though I feared for their safety, the kids seemed to enjoy it. I don’t think I will do that kind of food distribution again!
Zambia
We next traveled to Zambia, KK’s home country. Though Tim and I had never been there, it soon felt like home to us, thanks to the wonderful hospitality from KK’s family. On Saturday afternoon we had a meal with most of the ministers working in Lusaka. Then on Sunday we met for church. Following that we said goodbye to KK’s family and the three of us headed out. On the west side of Lusaka, we got a call from KK’s family telling us that they had been in a car crash! Before they could share the details, the phone disconnected. You can imagine the heart-stopping thoughts that raced through our minds. We turned around, and then a second call came in. Fortunately it was not as bad as we had imagined–just a fender bender, but it meant we had to return to KK’s house and spend another night. However, this turned out to be a blessing for the family since it gave me time to run solar-powered lighting into KK’s house. Now the family can see at night without having to run extension cords and listen to a noisy generator.
Headed home
Now behind a day in our travels, Tim decided not to go to Namibia as planned. We said our goodbyes to KK and his family, and Tim and I headed off for Johannesburg. On the way, we visited Victoria Falls (magnificent!) and then camped for the night in Botswana. At 3:00 a.m., Tim’s air mattresses sprung a leak with a loud bang. Tim got up and repaired it and fell back to sleep. But I could not sleep–Tim had a cold and his snoring got quite loud. And then I heard loud snorts and grunts outside the tent. Earlier, we had seen warthogs in the area, but as I listened, I realized that these sounds were from hippos resting just 15 meters away. The only “protection” we had was a little barbed wire fence and the fabric of our tent! Was I worried? No, but I was pretty tired!
Tim and Leigh – friends forever!
After 16 days on the road, we arrived back at Tim’s house, both of us still in one piece and still friends (my evaluation). I told Tim beforehand that I wanted to say our goodbyes before we got to the airport (I tend to choke up easily when I am sad). As we said goodbye at the airport, neither of us could speak. Goodbye was a couple of hearty hugs and a wave, and Tim drove off. But he got the last laugh – he had dropped me at the wrong gate! What amazing experiences we shared–many “near-misses,” 18 days (and nights) together–all this can either make friends or enemies. For my part, I feel a deep respect and love for Tim. He does a wonderful job in most difficult circumstances in an efficient and cost effective way. He is totally dedicated to his work as a GCI mission director. The same goes for KK; I really miss those guys and pray for them in a much deeper way than before. I know I will see them again someday and we will pick right up where we left off.
Ground Zero camp reunion
This update is from Ground Zero Church co-pastor Anthony Mullins.
Ground Zero Church, GCI’s new church plant in Aurora, Colorado, recently held a SEP Rockies camp reunion event, which included a worship service, meal and recreational activities.
Several Ground Zero members are on staff at SEP Rockies (Sarah Miles, who directs the camp is shown below speaking at the reunion event). Ground Zero leaders planned for a reunion attendance of about 60. However, 85 showed up – the largest attendance at Ground Zero Church to date!
Perhaps most importantly, the event drew four unchurched new families who live near Ground Zero’s meeting location. They seemed to enjoy the event and their kids returned the next evening for a youth group meeting.
The worship service at the event was filled with testimonies and laughter – there was a wonderful sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence. It seemed to several Ground Zero leaders that the event will be a catalyst for what God does next in the growth of their church family.
Healthy hospital visits
People make hospital visits for all sorts of reasons, including duty, friendship, repayment of favors. But a call that truly ministers the life and love of Jesus to the patient attends to the patient’s soul. For some helpful tips concerning hospital visitation, see the recent Leadership Journal article titled, “7 Essentials of a Healthy Hospital Visit.” Click here to read it.
We are pleased to report that Surgay is doing better. His liver enzymes are lower, his white blood count rising and his kidneys are better. The doctors took him off the ventilator and took out the feeding tube. He is out of ICU and in a regular hospital room.
He continues to have trouble swallowing. Also, he still has swelling in his hands and feet (conditions the doctors say will resolve themselves). The doctors are not concerned about his pneumonia since they have been extracting fluid from his lungs. He seems to be responsive to visitors, though he can’t talk yet.
We are praising God for sparing Surgay’s life and for what he is now doing to heal him. Please continue to pray for Surgay and for his family
Death of Jessup Bahinting
This update is from Eugene Guzon, GCI national director in the Philippines.
Pastor Jessup Bahinting
We are saddened to report that GCI Philippines Pastor Jessup Bahinting died last Saturday in a plane crash.
In addition to serving as an Area Superintendent for GCI in the Philippines, Jessup owned a charter flight and flying school business. At the time of the crash he was piloting a flight transporting Secretary Jesse Robredo to Naga City in the Philippines. Jesse, who also died in the crash, was a top ranking member of the cabinet of the Philippine president, serving as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Kshitiz Chand, the Nepalese co-pilot and one of Jessup’s flying school students, also died in the crash.
About 30 minutes after takeoff, the plane’s right engine and propeller went dead, so it was decided to divert to the nearest airport which was in Masbate. However, the plane didn’t make it and dropped into the sea only 100 meters from the Masbate airport runway.
Jessup was working as a commercial pilot when he entered the GCI pastorate. In the mid-1990s, when the church was going through financial stress due to its doctrinal changes, he volunteered to leave the employ of the church so that others could keep their jobs. He returned to his former employment as a commercial pilot and later started his flight business. It grew to become one of the largest in the Philippines with about 100 employees and students from about 20 countries.
While running the business, Jessup continued serving in GCI ministry—most recently as Area Superintendent for the Visayas Region. In this ministry, he often traveled to remote areas in the Philippines to deliver relief goods following disasters. In Cebu, he is considered a hero for his willingness to use his planes and other resources to airlift poor patients from small islands to major city hospitals.
Jessup and Margie
Please pray for Pastor Bahinting’s widow Margie and their children Jemar (who lives in Plano, Texas), Dan and Sarah. Also pray for the families of Secretary Robredo and co-pilot Kshitiz Chandand. Please ask God to give them strength, comfort and peace in this time of grief.
Left to right: Jonathan Rakestraw, Dr. Tkach and Dr. Duke
At the recent Regional Conference in Orlando, Florida, Jonathan Rakestraw, who pastors GCI’s congregation in Tallassee, Florida, was awarded the Advanced Diploma of Christian Ministry from Grace Communion Seminary. The presentation was made by GCI president Dr. Joseph Tkach and GCS president Dr. Russell Duke.
Johnstons receive 25 year honors
Left to right: Russell Duke, Ted Johnston, Joseph Tkach, Donna Johnston and Dan Rogers
At the recent GCI Regional Conference in Orlando, Florida, GCI president Joseph Tkach, CAD director Dan Rogers and GCS president Russell Duke presented a service plaque and watches to Ted and Donna Johnston to mark Ted’s 25 years of full-time employment in the ministry of GCI.
In 1969, while attending Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, Ted began working in the college’s Department of Architecture and Engineering. To advance that work, Ted transferred in 1971 to California State Polytechnic University in Pomona while continuing to work for Ambassador College.
When, in 1972, the Architecture and Engineering Department was closed due to budget cuts, Ted continued at Cal Poly and went to work for EDAW, a firm of landscape architects that had served Ambassador College since 1948.
Following graduation from Cal Poly in 1974, Ted married Donna Graves. They lived for a time in Southern California where they attended GCI’s Santa Ana congregation. During that time, Ted worked with a team that pioneered Youth Opportunities United (Y.O.U.), the denomination’s youth program at the time.
In 1975, Ted’s job with EDAW took the couple to Colorado where they attended GCI’s Fort Collins congregation for 12 years. Ted served the church in preaching and counseling, and Ted and Donna served together in music and youth ministry. During the years in Fort Collins, Ted and Donna’s two children were born.
Ted Johnston
In 1987, Ted was ordained an elder and rehired by GCI—this time working full-time in pastoral ministry. The family was moved to Kansas where Ted served as associate pastor in the Kansas City South and Topeka, Kansas congregations. In 1990, they were transferred back to Colorado where Ted served as senior pastor in the Grand Junction and Craig churches, as GCI’s district youth ministry coordinator in the Rocky Mountain district, and as the coordinator of GCI’s Vail, Colorado festival site. During his years in Grand Junction, Ted completed a master’s degree in liberal studies (psychology) from Regis University in Denver.
In 1997, the family moved to Ohio where Ted served until 2000 as senior pastor of the Akron and Canton congregations. He then became the district superintendent for the northeast United States and co-director of GCI’s national youth ministry. In 2005, the scope of youth ministry broadened and was renamed Generations Ministries with Ted serving as its director until 2010.
In 2007, Ted completed a master’s degree in Christian studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Then in 2009, he began his current assignment within GCI, serving on the Church Administration and Development (CAD) team as a ministry developer and coordinator of CAD media and communications. Ted continues to be part of the Generations Ministries leadership team and teaches part-time at Grace Communion Seminary. Ted and Donna now live in Foley, Alabama.
One day last week, I was standing in a grocery store line behind two young girls. They were trying to buy a six-pack of beer. “That is bold of them,” I thought, as they looked so obviously under age. The cashier asked them for their ID, and to my astonishment, they were both 22.
Back in 1970, Alvin Toffler wrote a best-selling book titled Future Shock. He defined future shock as a psychological state of individuals and entire societies, brought on by too much change in too short a period. He predicted that an incredible shift would occur in the next 40 years and that it would affect nearly every aspect of life. He also predicted that some would find this quite disorienting. Time has shown how right he was.
