GCI Update
Connecting Members & Friends of GCI
Header Banner

Month: July 2013

US church structure

GCI Church Administration and Development USA (CAD), led by Dan Rogers, recently announced changes to the structure of the US church. There now are four administrative regions, each served by a regional pastor (RP) and an associate regional pastor (ARP). Each region has multiple districts, each served by a district pastor (DP) who oversees the various congregations within that district. The list below shows the four administrative regions, their districts and the congregations within each district. Each congregation is identified by its pastor (or other primary leader or pastoral care team), showing the location(s) where the congregation(s) served by that pastor meet.

The CAD leadership team extends heartfelt thanks to these leaders and to those who, in the past, have served as regional, district and church pastors.

Western Region

RP: Lorenzo Arroyo, ARP: Heber Ticas

DP: Tim Sitterley
• Jim Jobe—Port Angeles, WA
• Chuck Downey—Olympia, WA
• Dee Bulante— Portland, OR & Vancouver, WA
• Bart Baril—Port Orchard, WA
• Bill Chaffee—Federal Way, WA
• Larry Pate—Tacoma, WA
• Bill Miller—Seattle-Bellevue, WA
• Anne Gillam—Klamath Falls, OR
• Robert Potvin—Medford, OR
• Robin Chester—Bend, OR
• Gerald Schnarrenberger—Coeur d’Alene, ID & Spokane, WA
• Bill Linge—Boise, ID
• Don Marson—Anchorage, AK
• Jack Evans—Kenai, AK
• Tim Sitterley—Eugene & Salem, OR

DP: David Weber
• Wayne Fisher—Green River, WY
• Carol Fertig—Elko, NV
• Shannon Fertig—Cheyenne, WY
• Arthur Baldrey—Casper, WY
• Bill Bryce, Norm Foster & Ron Heck—Salt Lake City, UT
• John Kehn—Scottsbluff, NE
• Jim Anattol—Missoula, MT
• Tobe Johnson—Helena, MT
• David Weber—Wheatland, WY

DP: Heber Ticas
• Manuel Ochoa—Hawthorne, CA
• Jose Escalante—Santa Fe Springs, CA
• Gildardo de La Rosa—Santa Ana, CA
• Ines Cante—Moreno Valley, CA
• Mario Lopez, Pablo Sotoj & Zavid Cova—Pasadena, CA
• Bernabe Roman & Alejandro Alcantara—Howell, NJ
• Heber Ticas—Sun Valley & Los Angeles, CA

DP: Bermie Dizon
• Rand Holm—Chatsworth & Ventura, CA
• Romy Degolacion—Los Angeles, CA
• Tony Murphy, Rudy Lomboy—Central Coast, CA
• Randy Sorrentino—Orange County, CA
• Eric Shaw (interim pastor)—Long Beach & Orange County, CA
• Tom Ecker—Beaumont & Victorville, CA
• Raul Ramos—Antelope Valley, CA
• Leonard Raught—Corona, CA
• Bermie Dizon—Pasadena & Los Angeles, CA

DP: Glen Weber
• Michael Wyatt-Paige—Phoenix, AZ (Sunday)
• Mike Roberts—Phoenix, AZ (Saturday)
• Leon Cooper—Cottonwood, AZ
• Ted Landess & Ted Millhuff—Tucson, AZ
• Harold Jackson—Albuquerque, NM
• Ruel Guerrero—Las Vegas, NV
• Gary Crowell—Honolulu, HI
• Neil Earle—Glendora & Rancho Cucamonga, CA
• Mark Stapleton—San Diego, CA
• Glen Weber—Eagle Rock, CA

DP: Mike Swagerty
• Steve Smith—Modesto, Santa Rosa & Fairfield, CA
• Mel Dahlgren—San Jose, CA
• Richard Roberts—San Francisco, CA
• Jim Roberts—San Leandro, CA
• John Jester—Watsonville, CA
• Larry Van Landuyt—Redding & Chico, CA
• Ed Kofol—Reno, NV
• Tom Byars—Visalia, CA
• Bill Schultz—Fresno, CA
• Mike Swagerty—Sacramento, CA

South-Central Region

RP: Ted Johnston, ARP: Mike Rasmussen

DP: Mike Rasmussen
• Mark McCulley—Denver North & Colorado Springs, CO
• Tim Snyder—Denver South, CO
• Sam Reese, Doris Baer & Mrs. Richard Shriver—Pueblo, CO
• June Welch—Alamosa, CO
• Aaron Armstrong—Englewood, CO
• Stuart Rising—Ada, OK
• Jon Rummel—Tulsa, OK
• Mike Roth—Van Buren, AR
• Don Engle—Wichita, KS
• Sammy O’Dell—Amarillo, TX
• Jason Frantz—Kansas City, MO
• Ron McCrerey—St. Joseph, MO
• John Howard—Topeka, KS
• Robert Edsall—Kirksville, MO
• Fred Davis—Grand Island, NE
• Ron Felling—Tontitown, AR
• William Condley—Russellville, AR
• David Husmann—Omaha, NE & Sioux City, IA
• Mike Rasmussen—Oklahoma City, OK

DP: Arnold Clauson
• Bob Persky—Dallas (Central), TX
• Rodney Schuler—San Antonio & Victoria, TX
• Mark Mounts—Houston, TX
• Gene Koch, James Scales—Beaumont, TX
• Ruben Salazar—Harlingen, TX
• Richard Gonzales—Odessa, TX
• Don Amundson—Austin, TX
• Tom Pickett—Euless, TX
• Carl Head—Azle, TX
• David Pickett—Burleson, TX
• Lee Berger—Longview, TX
• Martin Farnsworth, Gary Demarest, James Newsom & Donna Patillo—Tyler, TX
• Frank Parsons—Big Sandy & Texarkana, TX
• Walter Deptula—Lufkin, TX
• Terry Lambert—Abilene, TX
• Janet Warner, Toni Contreras, Michael Alvarez—Las Cruces, NM
• Arnold Clauson— Dallas (North) & Denison, TX & Antlers, OK

DP: Mike Horchak
• Richard Young—Lake Charles, LA
• Anthony Rice—Baton Rouge & Lafayette, LA
• Mike Booze—Shreveport & Monroe, LA
• John Ross—Greenwood, MS
• Andrew Britton—Mobile, AL
• Phil Nichols—Monroeville, AL
• Leonard Tillotson—Natchez, MS
• John Novick—Jackson, Hattiesburg & Meridian, MS
• Oliver Baker—Pine Bluff, AR
• Harold McKissic—Geneva, AL
• Mike Horchak—New Orleans & Hammond, LA

North-Central Region

RP: Randy Bloom, ARP: Rick Shallenberger

DP Rick Shallenberger
• Jeff Noordhoek & Jim Noordhoek—Batesville, AR
• Jeff Chandler—Jonesboro, AR
• Paul Sniffen – Memphis, TN
• Wayne Wendt – Jackson, TN
• Linda Rex—Nashville & Murfreesboro, TN
• Bob Druien – Bowling Green, KY
• Tony Raney, Joe Blagg & Deb Blagg – Paducah, KY
• Ellis Necessary – Morristown, TN
• Ed Peters & Frances Sykes – Clarksville, TN
• Harry Kall—Cicero, IL
• Stephen Hill—Manteno, IL
• Lucille Cramer & Carl Cramer—Rockford, Janesville & Madison, WI
• Juanita Bushert—Madison, WI
• James Newby—Chicago (NW) &, Joliet, IL
• Richard Frankel—Chicago (N), IL & Kenosha, WI
• Willard High—South Holland, IL
• Mark Porter—Milwaukee, WI
• George Isken—West Bend, WI
• Raymond Olson—Watertown, WI

DP: Karl Reinagel
• Calvin Devries, Kathy Korte, Bill Ritzman, Virginia Wernli & Beverly Worden—Des Moines, IA
• Robert Ehlen—Hillsboro, MO
• Gary Dry—Warrenton, MO
• Austin Caldwell—Alton City, IL
• Mark Queener—Belleville, IL
• Mark Bannier—Macomb, IL
• Dana Loter John Anderson & Todd Woods— Davenport, IA
• Alan House, Harold Flaugher, Ruth Pennock & Lea Payton—Lake of the Ozarks, MO
• Jim Kissee—Springfield & Joplin, MO
• Karl Reinagel—St Louis, MO

DP: Sam Butler
• Roger Abels – Fort Wayne, IN & Kalamazoo, MI
• Ray Griffee & Susan Davis—Chase, MI
• David Howe—Elkhart, IN
• Jon Pairitz—Michigan City, IN
• Bradley Haist—Freeland & Flint, MI
• Grant Forsyth—Kenockee, MI
• Ron Washington—Livonia, MI
• Ross Flynn—Detroit, MI
• Stuart Mahan—Toledo, OH
• Sam Butler–Grand Rapids & Ravenna, MI

DP: George Hart
• Rick Shallenberger—Cincinnati West, OH
• Charles Shelton—London, KY
• Mark Beverly, Tierrella Bentley & Cora Hamilton—Hazard, KY
• Carrie Smith, Debby Bailey & Mike Stewart—Pikeville, KY
• James Humphries—Mt. Sterling, KY
• Mike Greider—Louisa, WV & Barboursville, KY
• Don Hussell—Ripley, WV
• John Bailey & Beth Jeffers—Lexington, KY
• David Perry – Indianapolis, Lafayette, Terre Haute & Hope, IN
• Wayne Blair – Richmond, IN
• George Hart – Cincinnati East, OH

DP: Doug Johannsen
• Richard Siedschlag—Fargo, ND
• George Affeldt—Sioux Falls, SD
• Nevin Nolder—St. Cloud, MN
• Gordon Lindquist—Duluth, MN
• Steve Cole & Becky Deuel—Appleton, WI
• Charles Holladay—Bloomington, MN
• John Torgerson—Wisconsin Dells, WI
• Todd Fox, Troy Meisner & David Laack—Rochester, MN
• Roger Galstad—Eau Claire, WI
• Lynn Pahl & Joyce Wendt—Wausau, WI
• Tom Kennebeck—Orr, MN
• Margaret Olheiser—Dickinson, ND
• Surgay Kalamaha—Minot, ND
• Carrol Miller—Grand Rapids, MN
• Doug Johannsen—St. Paul & Champlin, MN

Eastern Region

RP: Greg Williams, ARP: Paul David Kurts

DP: Larry Wooldridge
• Al Nelson—Montpelier, VT
• Bill Ford—Boston, Amherst & Worcester, MA
• Robert Thurlow—Windham, ME
• Jim Cook—Bangor, ME
• Luciano Cozzi—Providence, RI
• Thom Freidrich—Loudon, NH
• Andy Jacob, Jeannette Trotter & Jeanette Singleton—Schenectady, NY
• Mary Williams, Edward Binder, Dennis Hoyt & Irene Hutchins—Lake George, NY
• Dishon Mills—Randolph, MA
• Larry Wooldridge—Meriden & Stratford CT

DP: Timothy Brassell
• Calvin Simon—Virginia Beach, VA
• Charles Adams—Richmond (S), VA
• Brian Carlisle—Washington, DC
• Richard Kissell—Smithburg, MD
• Pat Blubaugh, Sylvia Bailey & Charlotte Parsons—Cumberland, MD
• Raymond Taylor—Seaford & Elsmere, DE
• Richard Ridgell—Front Royal, VA
• Michael Kinzie—Roanoke, VA
• Bill Winn—Richmond, VA
• John Keen—Harrisburg, PA
• Joel Duttera—York, PA
• Timothy Brassell—Baltimore, MD

DP: Larry Hinkle
• Charles Taylor—Miramar, FL
• Steve Schantz—Orlando & Melbourne, FL
• Linard Johnson—Gainesville, FL
• Hugh Steininga, Sarah Faulkner & Bonny McQueary—Ft. Myers, FL
• Ted Ralph—Miami, FL
• Ellie Kurzawa—Tampa/Lakeland, FL
• Jonathan Rakestraw—Tallahassee, FL
• Martin Davey—Jacksonville, FL & Woodbine, GA
• Steve Brown—Clearwater, Ocala & Bradenton, FL
• Larry Hinkle—Port St. Lucie & Pompano Beach, FL

DP: John Dobritch
• Jim Valekis—Tipp City, OH
• David Marquis – Marion, OH
• Jeff Broadnax – Columbus & Chillicothe, OH
• Charlie Palmer, Emma Smith & David Diels—Lorain, OH
• David Botha—Akron & Cleveland, OH
• Bruce Metz—Jenners, PA
• Todd Crouch—Washington, PA, Wheeling, WV & Cambridge, OH
• Tom Smith—Pittsburgh & Indiana, PA
• Warren Wilson—Mineral Wells & Summersville, WV
• Frank Novak—Mount Pleasant, PA
• John Knaack—Buffalo, NY
• Leonard Banks—Rochester, NY
• Leonard Ladage—Olean, NY
• Verne Seekings—Fredonia, NY
• Doris Evans—Erie, PA
• John Dobritch—Canfield, OH

DP: David Gilbert
• Anthony Caputo—Lakehurst, NJ
• John Newsom—Queens & Manhattan, NY
• Mary Bacheller—Staten Island, NY
• Franklin Howard—Newark, NJ
• Gerald Backhus—Hillsdale, NJ
• Lenny Underwood & Sylvia Musto—Middletown, NY
• Serge Volpe—White Plains, NY
• Eric Dreibelbis—Selinsgrove, PA
• Shawn Gregory—Blossburg, PA
• Tom Davis—Wilkes Barre, PA
• Eric Larison—Syracuse, NY
• David Gilbert—Union, NJ & Philadelphia, PA

DP: Dennis Wheatcroft
• Arlen Bryant—Cookeville, TN
• Dewey Peterson—Crossville, TN
• Brad Campbell—Decatur, AL
• Lance McKinnon—Dallas, GA
• Ernest Tollner—Athens, GA
• David Beckner—Snellville, GA
• James Lewis—Montgomery, AL
• David Whited & Terry Cohron—Buford, GA
• Bob Miller—Birmingham & Good Hope, AL
• Larry Oglesby—Columbus, GA
• Robert Saulsberry—Macon, GA
• Leroy Hunter—Thomasville, GA
• Charles Young—Atlanta, GA
• John Huffman—Greenville, SC
• Dennis Wheatcroft—Chattanooga, TN & Murphy, NC

DP: Howard Blakeney
• Paul David Kurts—Hickory, NC
• William Boney—Wilmington, NC
• Tommie Grant Jr & Alvin Simmons—Charleston, SC
• Joel Irusta—Greensboro, NC
• Earl Jones—Fayetteville, NC
• Troy White, Ron Garrett & Rocky Ray—Charlotte, NC
• Ann Vinson & Rick Rogers—Kings Mountain, NC
• John Moskel—Columbia, SC & Augusta, GA
• Ken Hygh—Raleigh, NC
• Don Mason—Wilson, NC
• Jeff Snyder—Savannah, GA
• Rick Stillwell & Bob Vischer—Asheville, NC
• Howard Blakeney—Marion, SC

Retreats in Africa

This update is from African mission developer Kalengule Kaoma.

GCI pastors and their wives met recently in Zimbabwe and Zambia for pastor retreats. These retreats foster teamwork and good pastoral relationships, and provide opportunities to discuss doctrinal matters.

The pastors’ retreat in Zimbabwe took place at Lake Chivero near Harare; 23 attended.

Zimbabwe 2
Part of the Zimbabwean pastoral team

The pastors’ retreat in Zambia took place in Chongwe, east of Lusaka; 27 attended, including (pictured below, left to right) Kennedy Musopelo with his son Divine, Christopher and Judith Simbeye, and Aaron and Maggie Ng’ambi.

Zambia 3 Zambia 2 Zambia 1

The Zambian retreat was enhanced by a worship service that included all of our churches in the Lusaka area. The service featured singing, drama and poetry.

Allan Barr

Edna Barr sent us this prayer request concerning her husband, retired GCI district and church pastor Allan Barr.

Allan recently visited a urologist regarding a growing lump, which may be testicular cancer. The urologist prescribed a CT scan and surgical removal of the tumor, which will be followed by a biopsy to determine if it is malignant. The surgery will be on July 25 with a follow-up visit a week later to discuss possible treatment. We are thankful for the answered prayers that made the first appointment possible, since for weeks they said that the first available appointment was August 2. We also give thanks for the prayers of church members. We’re expecting that things will go according to God’s plan.

Trustworthy stewards

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Joe and Tammy TkachTaking care of our denomination’s financial affairs may not be one of the more glamorous functions of our work, but it is one of the most important. As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2, NRSV).

Our Glendora office accounting team takes stewardship of GCI’s finances very seriously. They maintain meticulous professional standards and work hard to meet the requirements of the law. This includes submitting our financial records to an independent external auditor. Our staff then devotes many hours in responding to the auditor’s requests. This is time well spent because it shines an outside light on our financial management records and processes and helps us improve each year.

Capin Crouse LLP recently finished auditing our financial records for 2011 and 2012. They presented their findings to our Board of Directors in a written report that summarizes the audit and suggests ways that we can improve our financial systems. The report also notes forthcoming changes to legal and financial requirements for churches. The report’s cover letter includes this summary statement:

In our opinion, the combined financial statements [from GCI]…present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Grace Communion International and Affiliate in the United States of America as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the changes in their net assets and their cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

This statement means that our external auditor has given us a “clean” or “unqualified” report. They noted to us informally that our financial systems are “stellar.” This is significant, for in a world where institutions, including churches, are often distrusted, our members and other donors can have peace of mind knowing that their contributions and financial sacrifices are respected by their church and that its financial resources are being handled with the greatest of professional care. Any GCI member in the US may obtain a copy of Capin Crouse’s audit report by sending their request to Grace Communion International, P.O. Box 5005 Glendora, CA 91740, attention Mat Morgan.

The pictures below show our home office financial team. I thank all of them, including Mathew Morgan, our treasurer and Robert Meade, our accounting manager who lead us in financial stewardship. I also thank the many others in our home office and in our congregations who diligently strive to be trustworthy stewards of the finances entrusted to us for the work of the gospel.

Celestine Olive, Donation processing, Cheryl Corson, Executive Assistant, Mat Morgan, Treasurer, Gwen Schneider, Payroll, Pam Morgan Accounts Payable
Left to right: Celestine Olive, (donation processing), Cheryl Corson (executive assistant), Mat Morgan (treasurer), Gwen Schneider (payroll), Pam Morgan (accounts payable).
Robert Meade
Robert Meade (accounting manager)

On a related note, I urge all pastors and treasurers in our US churches to stay current with requirements for reviews of financial records as detailed in the GCI-USA Financial Management Manual. An internal review is required each year and an external review is required every third year. Although these reviews can be time-consuming, they are essential in helping us properly steward the finances within our churches.

Due to the upcoming International Denominational Conference, we will not be publishing GCI Weekly Update next week. I look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach.

PS. As you may know, churches, denominations and ministry organizations are seeing significant changes related to financial stewardship and fundraising. Ted Johnston tells me that this important topic will be the focus of the August issue of Equipper. I hope you will read it when it’s published in early August. Equipper is emailed to all GCI-USA pastors and to others who request it. It also is posted online at http://mindev.gci.org/equipper.htm.

Timothy Brassell

Tim and Donna Brassell
Tim and Donna Brassell

Timothy (“Tim”) Brassell pastors the GCI congregation in Baltimore, Maryland and serves as a district pastor.

Tim’s father Rufus was a professional heavyweight boxer, so while growing up, Tim met many interesting and famous people. “My dad fought with Muhammed Ali, George Foreman, Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry and others. He had a winning record of 18-7 and was ranked as high as eighth. Like Ali, he trained with Angelo Dundee at the 5th Street Gym in Miami.”

Tim was born in Nuremberg, Germany, where his father served in the Army. “I grew up in Lima, Ohio, my parents’ hometown, and then in Bluffton Ohio. In my adult years I returned to Lima. In ministry I’ve lived in various places in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and now I live in Baltimore, Maryland.”

Tim and his family started attending WCG around 1973/74, “although my entire life I was under the influence of Armstrongism since my dad was a long-time Plain Truth reader.”

Tim began serving in pastoral ministry in Findley, Ohio. “Due to the doctrinal changes in 1995 our pastor left. The pastor from our sister congregation in Toledo became the new pastor, but needed help serving the two congregations. A coupon appeared in The Worldwide News that invited those sensing a call to pastoral ministry to reply. Many members in my congregation encouraged me to do so. I did, and was appointed to serve on the pastoral team in my congregation.”

Tim now is the senior pastor of GCI’s Baltimore congregation, serving with his wife, Donna. “Without her, there would be no ministry of Jesus through Timothy Brassell. She has been a great support and an active participant in the journey every conceivable way: relationally, physically, mentally and emotionally. We’ve always been on the same page–being reformed together. Through it all. she has held down a job and taken care of the home!”

Tim and Donna recently celebrated 22 years of marriage. They share family life with three others: “Our oldest daughter, Jocelyn, is completing her first year in the Coast Guard and serves in the Cape Cod area, pursuing a career in the intelligence field. Our youngest daughter, Autumn, is wrapping up 10th grade and already is pursuing a career as a cosmetic dentist while enjoying softball. Remy, our dog, still tries to lick us to death—but we’re ‘still ticking’ and loving on her!”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a GCI pastor, Tim said this: “My favorite thing is proclaiming the good news of the relational God revealed in Jesus; declaring, against the wisdom of the world, that every human is in him. I share this every way I can, full- time, starting with family. My love relating, thinking, living and speaking out of the love and life of the Father, Son and Spirit shared with all creation all the time—without the religion and right in the middle of the deep brokenness we all share! I greatly enjoy being in a world-wide fellowship of ever-reforming, loving, humble, accessible, free, open and risk-taking people (they hired ME! Ha!).”

Tim has many interests beyond his primary vocational calling. He enjoys doing commercial voiceovers “I have done voiceovers for national, regional and local commercials around the world. I’ve even been the voice of a roller coaster! I record voiceovers from time-to-time in my home studio. I would love to do more of these when I retire from working full-time as a pastor. Tim also enjoys watching movies and shows with his family; traveling to the Islands; listening to, writing, playing and recording music; collecting rocks and lots of reading.”

Tim’s most memorable moment as a pastor has to do with when he became one. “My parents told me all my life I should be one. Coworkers on my job told me I should be one. I felt I should be one and tried doing everything right and going to all the right places, but I was turned down at every point. Finally, in his own time and radical way, God brought it about. Wow!”

Tim feels closest to God when “proclaiming the gospel of the relational God revealed in Jesus, especially when preaching and teaching. He also feels close to God when thinking and praying, hearing about God in all kinds of ways from others and when dancing and seeing others dance distinctly and freely in the joy of the Lord!”

Going back to his early childhood, Tim shared that, “because of my dad’s fame as a boxer and because of my parent’s good character, our family had a lot of favor with many people. My dad trained many young kids in Lima to box, helping keep them off the streets. As a result, I experience favor to this day whenever the family name is mentioned.

Death of Joe Kotora

Joe Kotora
Joe Kotora

We are saddened to learn of the death of long-time GCI elder and employee Joseph (“Joe”) Kotora on July 12. Joe’s wife Mae preceded him in death as did his parents Michael and Barbara Kotora and his two brothers and three sisters. Joe is survived by his three children: Jana Cardona (married to Mark Cardona), Sandra Kotora and Daniel Kotora; and by his many grandchildren.

Joe was born in Pennsylvania and in early adulthood worked there building steel mills. During WWII he worked building ships and met his wife-to-be Mae. They married and settled in Monessen, Pennsylvania where they raised their family. Joe became a deacon and then an elder in the Worldwide Church of God in Pennsylvania. In the 1970s, he and Mae moved to Pasadena, California where Joe attended Ambassador College. He then worked for many years for the church, serving in several capacities, including traveling with Herbert Armstrong. Due to ill health, Joe and Mae moved back to Pennsylvania in the 1990s where he served WCG churches as a volunteer assistant pastor. In 2007 the couple moved to Memphis, Tennessee to be near family.

Joe was born with a congenital heart defect. Later in life he made medical history twice: once when becoming the first person in the US to have his particular heart defect repaired, and again when he was the first person to survive receipt of an artificial heart valve.

Cards to the family may be sent to:

Sandra Kotora
7323 Appling Ridge Drive
Cordova, TN 38018

GCI Update

Follow Us

Designed by PlainJoe Studios
© 2024 Grace Communion International. All rights reserved