GCI Update

Good Friday & Easter Sunday

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Joe and TammyOver the next few days, we will be celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus. These are pivotal celebrations because all that we believe and hope for hinge on the events commemorated by Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Some sincere people put great emphasis on getting the details surrounding these events correct. Much has been written about the exact year, or precise date, or precise chronology of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death and resurrection. Though most accept that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, others insist that it was a Wednesday or a Thursday. Some argue over whether Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights or just parts of those days. Some believe we should not celebrate the orthodox Christian days at all, insisting that the Old Testament observances are the only correct way to remember Jesus’ sacrifice.

I once thought these details were important and spent far too much time trying to resolve them. I now see that it was time wasted. I don’t mean to suggest that the details are insignificant. The events of Jesus’ last week were carefully orchestrated by God so that prophecies of the Messiah could be fulfilled. However, if we try to establish an exact chronology, some of these questions cannot be resolved definitively, because there is some ambiguity in the scriptural record. However, even if the precise details had been recorded with the attention to chronological detail that we expect today, they really do not matter. What is important is what happened, not when.

If, about 2000 years ago, Jesus the Son of God incarnate, was executed and then later resurrected, the destiny of every human being has been changed forever. If he was not, then, as Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “Our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). In that letter, Paul reminded his readers that if indeed Jesus had been resurrected from the dead, “Then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (v. 54). Here Paul was quoting from Isaiah 25:8:

He will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.

That was probably a popular scripture. It is poetic and concise. Had Hallmark been in operation then, they probably would have put the saying on bereavement cards. Paul was showing the Corinthians that it was no mere pious platitude. Because of Jesus, what Isaiah prophesied became reality. Death had in fact been swallowed up in victory and thus Paul could write confidently: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Death—any death—does have a sting. If a particular death does not affect us personally, it might only be a small sting and the pain doesn’t last long. Tragedies like the shooting at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut leave us all hurting for some time. The pain of the death of a loved one goes even deeper.

Our Christian worldview gives us comfort in knowing that there is more to life than what we experience in our mortal bodies. Jesus taught that there is an afterlife and promised that he would go and prepare a place for us. Knowing that death is not the end for our loved ones moderates the terrible pain of loss, so that we need not “sorrow as those who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NLV). However, it does not take away the entire ache. We still suffer the loss of not having their companionship and presence with us while we are still alive and they are dead.

This is why death is the enemy, and even though Jesus has conquered this enemy, we still feel some of its sting when a loved one dies or when we see innocent children murdered. Though we shed tears over death, we are reassured in Psalm 56:8 that God is aware of them all: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle” (ESV);  “…list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?” (NIV).  Whatever the translation, the point is clear: God knows our pain and suffering down to the details and has promised to eventually remove them forever.

I have been pondering the phrase that John wrote in Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Like Paul, John was reminding us of the reality of the promise in Isaiah 25:8. Consider how important that promise is. If God did not wipe away all tears from our eyes, there would be ongoing cause for weeping.

Most certainly, we’d weep over our past sins, the wasted opportunities while we were upon the earth, as well as our acts of unkindness toward others. We would weep much about the old order of things. But God says there will be no more death and the old order has passed away. In the fullness of God’s kingdom, every cause of grief will be removed. In our glorified life, there will be no more death to part loving hearts. There will be no more sorrow of any kind. There will be no more crying for any reason. There will be no more pain of any sort. Instead, there will be fullness of life—a sharing in God’s own kind of eternal light and love.

This is why Jesus allowed himself to be tortured and executed, only to be resurrected shortly thereafter. What he did for us he did freely and with confidence in his heavenly Father. And so we read of him: “Who for the joy set before him, endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).

The precise chronology of Holy Week is not the important issue (were it important, surely God would have made it clearer). What is important is what Jesus did to fulfill the specific prophecies of the Messiah, like those given by Isaiah. Jesus changed the very nature of death and opened a pathway to our future hope when all things are made new (Revelation 21:5).

That is what Jesus did and that is what we should focus on. Let us remind our congregations of these things as we commemorate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

Glen Weber

Glen and Connie Weber (and grandbaby!)
Glen and Connie Weber (and grandbaby!)

Glen Weber, pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, GCI’s congregation in Eagle Rock, California was active in 4-H during his high school years. “One of my areas of focus was raising, showing and judging poultry. During my senior year I was the Wyoming State champion poultry judge. I guess that taught me the importance of being aware of details!”

Glen grew up in southeast Wyoming, “where we raised Hereford cattle and wheat with our family, my grandparents and my father’s sister and her family. It was a wonderful, Christ-created foundation upon which to build my life.” Glen’s parents began studying the Radio Church of God’s Bible Correspondence Course in 1955. “They were baptized on a baptizing tour in 1958 in the Laramie River when I was seven years old. I remember that day clearly.”

Glen said that the solid foundation of his his parents’ marriage has proven to be a blessing to the entire family. “Just before my father died recently, my parents passed their 63rd wedding anniversary. They had known each other since first grade. They raised six children who have been married 38, 38, 37, 35, 24 and 13 years, respectively. When including the grandchildren who are married, and when we have all passed our anniversaries in 2013, we will have 343 years of marriage and one grandson joining in marriage this year—with no divorces! A testimony to what Christ can do in a family!”

After graduating from high school, Glen went to England to attend Ambassador College in Bricket Wood. “I spent four years as a student and one year as an intern in the ministry in England—and loved it. Upon completion of my one year of ministry internship (we called them Ministerial Trainees back then), I was hired into the ministry in Canada.”

Shortly after moving to Canada, Glen married his wife of 38 years, Connie. “Our families were both founding members of the Denver GCI congregation in 1959. We were married after I moved to Canada. While in Canada we added two sons to our family, Dennis and Paul. Dennis and Carolyn have one daughter, Sophie, who is 16 months old, and Paul and Katie have two children, Mollie (5), and Anderson (3) and a baby due this month. This will be my parents’ 24th great grandchild.”

Pastoring is a dream come true for Glen. “From the age of about ten or twelve I felt called to ministry, even though I didn’t really understand what that meant. This June will be my 40th anniversary of serving in ministry. Upon beginning ministry I was blessed to serve with four wonderful pastors in Northern England; Glasgow, Scotland; Belfast, N. Ireland and Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.  After Kelowna, I was sent to plant a church in Castlegar, British Columbia as my first pastorate.”  Glen and Connie spent 21 years pastoring in Canada before moving to the Spokane, Washington area where they pastored for 11 years. They then “moved to the Portland, Oregon area and three years later were invited to pastor New Hope Christian Fellowship in Pasadena (meeting in Eagle Rock), California.”

Connie is an integral part of Glen’s ministry. “I’m not sure I would have had a ministry for forty years without Connie’s support. Perhaps it is “prophetic” that I was hired for a start date on June 10, 1973, Connie’s 20th birthday—even though we had not seen each other since we were in elementary school. In the years up to our sons’ leaving high school, Connie was full-time in ministry with me on visits and most church work. When our younger son graduated, we moved to the US and she went to work full-time out of the home to help us recoup financially, send sons to university and careers and save for retirement. She continues to be a vital part of my ministry and is loved by the members for her wonderful spirit. She also continues a card ministry to literally hundreds of people every year for birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Glen said, “I enjoy preaching and explaining the Word of God ‘so a farm boy can understand it.’ Close behind preaching would be counseling young couples and performing marriages. However, I enjoy the wide variety of service within pastoral ministry. I could count on one hand the days I have wondered why I was a pastor.” This ties right in with Glen’s passion, which is, “Serving God’s people—especially those in my immediate family.” A highlight of Glen’s was when he was able to perform his son’s wedding ceremonies.

Glen feels thankful to be part of GCI. “Our growth in spiritual understanding has been amazing! I have found it a tremendous challenge and joy to read, study, teach and practice all that we have learned through the years. I also enjoy serving alongside our denominational leadership who are humble, serving men and women who are friends and ‘helpers of our joy.’”

Glen is currently working on his Master’s Degree at Grace Communion Seminary and he hopes to graduate this summer. After that, he may start playing horn again. “One day I plan to pick up the trumpet again. It’s in the closet; all I need is the time!”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Glen replied, “I am deeply moved by contemplative worship and prayer in corporate situations with pastors or congregations. Those are the times when I really hear the Holy Spirit speaking through the Scriptures and through other believers, and then as the Holy Spirit expresses the heart of God directly to my heart.”

Argentine visit

This update is from Hector Barerro, GCI missions director for Latin America.

Dan preaching; Hector translating
Dan preaching; Hector translating

Dr. Dan Rogers, director of GCI Church Administration and Development USA, recently joined me in visiting our church located in Ezeiza, Argentina, a suburb of Buenos Aires. Dan fellowshipped with the members, delivered a sermon and presented two lectures. I provided translations.

Julio and Dan
Pastor Julio Fernandez and Dan

Dan’s sermon, “Ministry and Mission in the Power of the Holy Spirit,” emphasized that in Christ a new creation has begun. His lectures on Incarnational Trinitarian Theology and GCI’s Adventist roots helped members understand our past and present theology and doctrine. Dan also held a Q&A session and the group enjoyed a traditional Argentine barbecue.

barbeque
Barbeque

Easter resources

Easter2013Many reading this are putting finishing touches on messages for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Here are some resources you might find helpful:

  • Here is a powerful quote from T.F. Torrance:

“The empty tomb points to the revelation of the virgin birth; it is the unveiling of what was veiled, the resurrection out of our mortality of what was inserted into it and recreated within it. But such a resurrection of true man and true God points back to the virgin birth of Jesus as a union of true God and true man. The humiliation of Jesus began at Bethlehem and reached its climax on the cross, just before his glorification in the resurrection. The new life began at Bethlehem and reached its unveiling in the resurrection. Thus the mystery of the virgin birth is the basis of the mystery of the resurrection. By the mystery of the resurrection the mystery of the virgin birth becomes effective and understandable. Here we have a closed circle—to deny the virgin birth involves a denial of the resurrection, and vice versa” (T.F. Torrance in Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ, p. 97).

Lexie Ellis

Lexie Ellis, wife of retired pastor Mark Ellis in Australia (and sister of John McLean), has just been diagnosed with a tumor on the brain. After days of feeling unwell, she was admitted to hospital for tests, which have shown the tumor. The surgeon says it looks like melanoma, and she is on a waiting list for an operation. She has had battles with breast cancer and melanoma in recent times and was clear for 18 months, and she and Mark would much appreciate your prayers.

Pam Horchak

This prayer update is from GCI pastor and district pastor Mike Horchak. It provides a follow up to the request made last week.

The results of Pam’s MRI revealed that the cause of her debilitating pain is a severely herniated disc in her lower neck compressing the spinal cord and surrounding nerves with some degeneration of the spine in that area. She still has a good deal of discomfort and will be receiving chiropractic care and physical therapy in an attempt to avoid surgery. Though the disc situation is quite painful, we are grateful that her problem is not life-threatening, as once feared.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and prayer that we have experienced during this time of need. The support was so comforting and encouraging in every way. The body of Christ truly is the conduit by which Jesus can share his love and compassion with us.

Cards may be sent to:

Mike and Pam Horchak
41120 Adelle Dr
Hammond, LA 70403-7539

Joan Backhus

Gerry and Joan Backhus
Gerry and Joan Backhus

Jerry Backhus, who pastors GCI’s congregation in Hillsdale, New Jersey submitted this prayer request for his wife Joan Backhus.

Joan has been hospitalized at Sloan Kettering in New York City where she is undergoing tests to determine if her cancer has become active again. She is also being treated for fluid retention. Thank you for prayer on her behalf.

Cards may be sent to:

Jerry and Joan Backhus
501 Russell Avenue
Wyckoff, New Jersey 07481

Interview with Paul Young

Paul Young
Paul Young

William Paul Young, author of the best selling book The Shack, was interviewed recently by Christianity Today editor Mark Galli. The interview, published in the CT article, “The Love Shack,” addresses Young’s background and theology and why some people misunderstand his book. To read the article go to http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/march/love-shack.html.