NAE: extending our reach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you may know, Grace Communion International in the United States is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). I serve on its board of directors. Some have asked about this organization. Since I will be attending the NAE board meeting this week in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this is a good opportunity to explain what the organization does, and the advantages that NAE membership brings to GCI.

Through NAE membership, we join with other evangelical denominations to have a larger impact than any single denomination could have by itself. The NAE serves a constituency of millions of people and represents more than 45,000 local churches and 40 denominations.

The NAE includes Reformed, Holiness, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, Charismatic and other evangelical Christian traditions. This diverse and vibrant group is united by NAE’s core theological convictions, while acknowledging and respecting the diversity of its membership. Together, NAE members stand on God’s revelation in Scripture of redemption only in Jesus Christ the Son of God, by grace through faith. Found within NAE member denominations and churches is a commitment to dynamic unity that works toward a vision of all things made new, of all God’s people reconciled and of a lost world saved.

The NAE provides a forum where evangelicals work together to preserve religious liberty, nurture families and children, protect the sanctity of human life, seek justice for the poor, promote human rights, work for peace and care for God’s creation. Evangelical Christians do not always agree on the details of policy proposals or on the best strategies for reform. However, in a spirit of humility, we seek to learn from one another — and indeed from those of other faiths and those with no faith. Where possible, we seek common ground while remaining true to our own denominational beliefs and convictions.

The NAE writes position papers on a variety of issues, in order to represent the evangelical perspective accurately to the media. At times, this perspective has been hijacked by some megachurch personalities, who may have high profiles, but do not represent the views of most of us. Thankfully, the NAE has become the more respected and representative voice from within the evangelical community.

The Christian humanitarian arm of the NAE is the World Relief Organization, which provides churches a platform to engage the great causes of our day. From refugees fleeing to our shores, to the sudden onset of disasters, to the global health crises of HIV/AIDS and malaria, World Relief exists to help the church fulfill its mandate to serve those in need.

Here are a few announcements from a recent NAE Update. They illustrate the kind of work and extended reach that we have through our NAE membership.

Release of Pastor Nadarkhani from Iranian Prison

Nadarkhani, the head of a network of Christian house churches in Iran, was sentenced to death by hanging in September 2010 for apostasy. The Iranian Supreme Court upheld Nadarkhani’s conviction in July 2011, while offering to rescind the conviction if Nadarkhani would deny his Christian faith. A lesser conviction remains on the books. International pressure for Nadarkhani’s release has been strong with condemnation of his conviction from U.S. political leaders, as well as many human rights and religious freedom advocacy organizations. The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) welcomes the announcement that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been acquitted and freed after nearly three years in an Iranian prison on charges of apostasy. The NAE continues to advocate for increased religious freedom in Iran and around the world. “We are relieved for Pastor Nadarkhani, and pleased with this good decision of the Iranian government,” said Leith Anderson, NAE president. “We watch as laws are increasingly being used by governments against religious minorities, and we pray and press for more outcomes like this.”

Humanitarian Relief for Sudan

Directed to members of the United Nations Security Council, the NAE joined with over 120 human rights, faith-based, public interest and ethnic organizations in calling for decisive U.N. action to press Sudan to allow humanitarian access to the Sudanese states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, as well as Darfur.

Human Trafficking

As the world’s second-largest, fastest-growing criminal industry, human trafficking has led to the enslavement of more than 20 million people around the world. To meet the demand in the United States, a person is trafficked over U.S. borders every ten minutes. World Relief has been active in the fight against human trafficking in the United States since 2004 in the areas of partnership building, victim service provision and community outreach and awareness support. In 2008, World Relief launched an initiative to reduce and prevent the exploitation and abuse of women and children in Cambodia. This program is designed to address the root causes of trafficking of vulnerable adults, adolescents and children through community-level training.

I feel privileged to represent all of us in Grace Communion International as a member of the NAE board. It is a reminder that God’s work is larger than any one group or denomination. Please join me in praying for a useful board meeting and the continued success of the NAE in its mission.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

P.S. You might be interested in viewing the Microsoft advertisement currently playing on TV—it was filmed on the former Ambassador College campus in Pasadena. Click on the picture below or go to http://youtu.be/8mSckyoAMHg.

Phil Hopwood

Phillip Hopwood, GCI Australia pastor in Hobart, Tasmania was born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania. Phil said he had a “simple but positive upbringing attending church and Sunday school and Scouts every week. We had no Scout leader for several years, so my dad and those of us who were older ran the troop, which provided lots of leadership experience, fun and adventure.” When Phil was 16, his father was killed in a tragic accident while on a Scout activity.

Motorbikes were a highlight of Phil’s young adult life. “At one stage I had 13 motorbikes in various stages of repair, including Harley Davidsons and Triumphs. I entered a 1938 Harley with a sidecar in a race to help get sidecar racing re-established in Tasmania around 1970—lots of fun!”

Phil was brought up Methodist, “but was looking for answers about God at a time when most churches were liberal and the God is Dead movement was at its peak.” In 1965 he heard The World Tomorrow program and became interested. “I sought help regarding conscientious objection status from the church during the Vietnam War, and ended up with my first visit from a WCG minister.” This led to Phil attending church services in 1971 and being baptized a few months later “in a very cold river near Launceston. It was so cold my lungs partially collapsed, which gave a heightened sense of meaning even as I was under the water.”

Phil spent 1972-3 in the UK and Europe working and travelling. “I thought it might be the last chance to see Europe before the end time!” Phil made his base near the Ambassador College campus in Bricket Wood so he was able to attend services and Bible studies there regularly.

Returning to Tasmania in 1973, Phil attended and served in WCG local churches in northern Tasmania during the rest of the 70’s before going to Ambassador College in Pasadena in 1980-83. “My college years were among the best of my life. At one point I was head usher at the Auditorium and I loved attending the concerts. It was a great feeling having the keys to such a magnificent building in my pocket.” During his senior year of college, Phil worked in Personal Correspondence answering letters, which he calls “a great experience.”

After college, Phil was hired as a ministerial trainee in Vancouver, BC, Canada. “I spent 7 years pastoring in Alberta before returning with a family to Newcastle, NSW in late 1991 and then home to pastor the three Tasmanian churches in 1997.”

Phil shares that one of his toughest times was going through a divorce. “It was a very difficult experience to find a way through. I was helped greatly by close friends and family.” He says that it can be challenging being a single pastor especially in a small island state with limited social opportunities. “Thankfully God is merciful and gracious.”

What Phil enjoys most about being a pastor is the camaraderie and “having friends around the world who share a common theology and Christian journey. I enjoy the fellowship of members and fellow pastors.” Phil said he loves to watch people learn and grow in their understanding of what it means to be free, to live in peace, to be loved and to be embraced by the Father. “Preparing sermons and teaching about who God is, and who we are because of who he is” is something Phil holds dear to his heart. One of the highlights of his year is the annual Tasmanian church camp where “we spend a week in a beautiful seaside location studying through one of the books of the Bible.”

At the present time, Phil pastors part time due to limited local income. To supplement his income, he runs a small computer business and serves as a lecturer/evaluator for Ambassador College of Christian Ministry (ACCM). Phil sums up his life by saying, “what a journey it has been!”

Phil’s passion is engaging with others and sharing good theology. “I love the heart and wisdom of Karl Barth’s writings, as well as many others. I share my sermons on line, and recently helped put together the new GCI Australia website (at http://www.gci.org.au) to share more of the gospel with our increasingly secular nation. I believe it is important that we continue to use our denominational gifts of teaching and publishing to spread the gospel through modern media.”

When asked about his most memorable moment, Phil said, “I relish the time of helping members through the changes in the 90’s, including engaging with many locally who were personally emotionally impacted. I also enjoyed developing and overseeing the internet forums to help answer people’s questions, with help from Ted Johnston and technical help from Bret Miller.”

Phil said he feels closest to God “when reading a profound scripture or inspiring statement from a theologian, particularly if I am sitting outdoors in a sunny and inspiring location.”

Canada update

This update is from GCI Canada national director Gary Moore.

It was a privilege and joy to attend recently the annual weekend worship celebration hosted by the Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada congregation. This year, about 60 of our members attended (see picture at right). They came from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

There was a happy buzz of fellowship before and after each service. A lovely chicken dinner was enjoyed on Saturday night, followed by a sing-a–long led by Jim Noseworthy (see picture below).

Moncton2 — Jim Noseworthy leads the sing-a-long

During the celebration, the Moncton congregation presented a gift to Eric and Edna Vautour to commemorate their 30th anniversary in ministry. The Vautours are wonderful servant leaders of our New Brunswick churches who have yielded themselves to Jesus Christ in a wonderful and fruitful way.

Cautions about Facebook use

Facebook is a great tool for building and maintaining relationships with people both inside your church and within your community. However, in a recent ChurchLeaders.com article, Paul Steinbrueck shares some of the risks that Facebook use presents, including the risk of hurting your own reputation.

Click here to read Steinbrueck’s article, “18 Ways to Ruin Your Reputation on Facebook.”

Raul Ramos

Please pray for Raul Ramos, one of GCI’s pastors in Southern California.

Recently, Raul had the flu and his blood sugar rose to a dangerous level. He was taken to the hospital where, at first, the doctors were unable to bring down his blood sugar level. This caused Raul’s kidneys to shut down and he became incoherent. His wife Sylvia was told that his condition was not good. Thankfully, over the next couple of days, his condition improved and now he is able to converse normally and his doctors believe that Raul’s kidneys will start functioning again.

Raul and Sylvia thank everyone for their continued prayers for his complete recovery. You may send cards to:

Raul and Sylvia Ramos
38011 Boxthorn Street
Palmdale, CA 93552-3222