2013 – Page 38 – GCI Update

Insights about churches

Chuck Lawless, Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary, recently shared ten insights gleaned through many years serving as a church consultant. Here is a summary list; for the details, click here.

Churches often wait too long to address decline.
Statistics really are helpful.
Prayer in unhealthy churches is reactive rather than proactive.
Churches often settle for numerical growth rather than life transformation.
Churches do not know their community.
Most churches aren’t ready for conversion growth if God were to send it.
Sometimes the most obvious suggestions seem the most revolutionary.
The leader in the pulpit matters.
In most churches, somebody wants the congregation to make an eternal difference.
God is still growing His church.

ConneXions conference

This update is from Carrie Smith a GCI pastoral intern serving in the San Diego, California area.

On January 24-26, a group of 20 that included GCI ministry developers, pastors, church planters and six pastoral interns gathered at CrossRoads Christian Fellowship in Tipp City, Ohio, for ConneXions, a conference focused on community outreach and church planting.

In the morning, CrossRoads pastors Jim and Becky Valekis led discussions concerning how they developed Christ-centered “conneXions” with their focus community in Tipp City (for information about the Valekis’ community outreach, click here). In the afternoon, the group discussed the culture and context of their home communities. This discussion was led by Hal Haller, a church planter and mission strategist from Jacksonville, Florida. Hal emphasized utilizing the outreach and church growth strategies exemplified by the early church in the book of Acts. As the group said their goodbyes, they left encouraged and ready to do their part in making “conneXions” within their own communities.

Interns3 — Intern Joe Lamb (left) talks with Hall Haller

Prayer relationships

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Artists typically depict prayer as going upward from us to God. They might show a person kneeling in a beam of light, or looking up with hands outstretched to heaven. In the illustration below, the artist depicts another dimension of prayer—its roots and soil. It reminds me of Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus to be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17—KJV throughout).

Although I see most of you only once a year or less, I feel close to you all. That closeness is not about email, but a relationship of unity in the Holy Spirit that is grounded in prayer. I pray frequently for our elders and their families as I do for all our members and their families. I do this not as a duty or mere discipline, but because I want to maintain my relationship with all of you even if we are not able to be together as often as I would like.

I learned this idea of prayer relationships from my reading of the apostle Paul’s writings. Long before Facebook and Skype, Paul maintained a strong network of personal relationships across the Mediterranean world. He prayed that God’s blessings would rest upon the churches that he planted and served. These were not just general “catch-all” prayers. He was often quite specific. To the Thessalonians he wrote: “Night and day praying exceedingly that we…might perfect that which is lacking in your faith…. To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:10, 13). To the Romans: “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:9). To the Philippians: “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy” (Philippians 1:4). And to the Colossians: [We] do not cease to pray for you… I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you (Colossians 1:9; 2:1).

Day and night Paul prayed for God to intervene and that the Holy Spirit might guide and direct these Christians. As earnestly as he believed in the power of his intercession for them, he believed in the blessing that their prayers would bring upon him: “Now I beseech you…that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30). “[God] will yet deliver us; ye also helping together by prayer for us” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). “Praying…for me…that I may open my mouth boldly” (Ephesians 6:18-19). “This shall turn to my salvation through your prayer” (Philippians 1:19).

Paul understood that a pastor-congregant relationship is a heavenly one—developed and maintained through prayer, by the Spirit. It is the same today, no matter where the congregation may be. Because we are participants in God’s life through Christ’s vicarious life for us, our prayers are ultimately rooted and grounded in the intercessory voice of Jesus as our Faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 7:25).

In Atonement: the Person and Work of Christ, T. F. Torrance wrote this: “Prayer is the link between world history and the intercession of Christ in heaven. So far as the church in history and on earth is concerned, therefore, the great connecting link between world history and the heavenly session of Christ is to be found in prayer and intercession.”

Paul’s prayers focused on all kinds of relationships—not only between Christians, but also between church and state. Remember Paul’s words to Timothy: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Do you see why I like the illustration shown above? Rather than presenting prayer as something vague and ephemeral, it brings it right down to earth. When we pray, we are joining in the work of the kingdom of God, supporting each other and those we serve in a vast “underground” network of prayer relationships that are rooted and grounded in love.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Santiago Lange

This prayer request is from GCI Germany’s national director Santiago Lange who asks for prayer concerning a health issue he’s dealing with.

I recently received results of a routine diabetes checkup. Thankfully, my blood sugar levels are within normal range. However, it was discovered that I might have a rather uncommon form of diabetes. More tests will have to be performed, but I should know by the end of April. If I have this form of diabetes, I will have to inject insulin for the rest of my life (unless, of course, God intervenes). I would appreciate prayer for me and my family as we continue to trust in God who knows and understands all our pains and frailties.

Tuskegee Airman visits

This update is from George Hart who pastors one of GCI’s churches in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.

As part of our celebration of Black History Month, Christ Community Church was visited by a true American hero—Mr. Leslie Edwards, one of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II fame.

Mr. Edwards was born in 1924 in Memphis and joined the military where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant and flight chief. He was part of a team handpicked to maintain planes used in night flight operations to train navigators. In 1945, while stationed in Seymour, Indiana he witnessed the so-called “mutiny” at Freemen Field. African-American officers tried to enter a whites-only officers club and many were arrested. Mr. Edwards insisted that it was not an act of rebellion, but an effort of African-American officers to stress the importance of a fully integrated military. Mr. Edwards said, “Sometimes you just have to do the right thing.”

Mr. Edwards is critical of the movies about the Tuskegee Airmen, even the latest, Red Tails, by George Lucas. He referred to these movies as “the Hollywood version of the story” that are full of inaccuracies, including the following:

The Tuskegee Airmen did not receive inferior aircraft and equipment but were provided the best the Air Force had to offer.
It is inaccurate to say the Tuskegee bomber escorts did not lose bombers. They did have the highest return rating but “no one went up against the highly trained Nazi pilots in superior equipment and returned with no loses.” They witnessed many young white bomber crews plunge to their death.
The movies fail to mention the number of white military and congressional leaders and people like First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who fought for full integration of the military, or President Harry Truman who wiped out segregation in the Armed Forces by Executive Order in 1948.
There is no mention of the many awards and citations the Tuskegee Airmen received including the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2006 they were awarded the distinguished Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Edwards brought his medal for the audience to see.

Mr. Edwards encouraged us to watch the soon-to-be-released documentary Double Victory, which more accurately portrays the Tuskegee Airmen story.

Mr. Edwards stressed that humanity, with its diversity, is better together than separately. He referred to segregation as an evil of our past that has hurt everyone in the nation. Several times his eyes welled with tears as he spoke of the hurt caused to both blacks and whites.

Mr. Edwards attended the recent inauguration of President Barack Obama. Of the thousands of Tuskegee Airmen who served as pilots, mechanics and ground crews, 187 were present. Most were in wheelchairs, though Mr. Edwards was able to walk out under his own strength. The airmen were recognized as a significant part of history that led to an African-American being elected president.

Brian Queener

This prayer update is from Mark Queener and his wife Rhonda, concerning their 33-year-old son Brian Queener who attends the GCI church that Mark pastors in Belleville, Illinois. Click here for the original prayer request.

Brian is out of the ER and into a regular room at the hospital. We thank God for this progress—his kidneys, which had shut down, are now working normally and he is breathing on his own without the help of a ventilator. However, Brian’s pancreas may have been affected severely enough that he will have diabetes, and so we continue to pray for his complete healing.

Thanks to all of you who are praying for Brian and also for me and Rhonda.

Boston church plant

GCI elder Dishon Mills with his wife Afrika are in the process of planting The Redeemed of Christ Church (ROCC) in Randolph, Massachusetts (near Boston). Here is an update from Dishon concerning their progress as they prepare for a public launch in September of this year.

As we continue to follow where the Lord leads, we grow closer to the time of our public launch. In preparation, our focus has been on prayer, building relationships with people in our focus community, strengthening our core team, establishing administrative systems and fundraising. Here are some of our key activities:

Preparing to move our meetings to a more central location
Conducting Food & Faith gatherings where we build relationships with new people in our focus community
Fine-tuning financial and other key administrative systems (with much-appreciated help from the folks in the GCI home office)
Visiting area churches to talk about what Jesus is doing in Randolph
Serving needy people in our focus community through home care, providing food and sending children to GCI’s New Heights summer camp
Equipping our core team through various conferences including the CMM summit and the Exponential conference

Please pray for us, asking the Lord to supply our need for additional workers and for guidance and support through this critical period.

Mozambique

Pastor Manuel Vasco, the GCI contact in the African nation of Mozambique reports that Northern Mozambique has been severely impacted by flooding (click here for a news report). About 32 of our congregations there have had their villages destroyed, leaving about 800 of our church families destitute. We don’t know the extent of injury or loss of life.

Through its US, Canada and South Africa relief funds, GCI is giving financial aid. Please pray that God provide those in need with food, other supplies and comfort.

Howard Blakeney

Howard Blakeney, a district pastor and senior pastor in South Carolina, has been part of GCI since age two. “My mom was baptized in the Greensboro, North Carolina church in 1966. She then moved from Greensboro to Charlotte, North Carolina where we attended church and that is where I grew up. I was mostly absent from church from about age 19 to 21, though I would return during basketball season and that kept up my relationship with other teens.”

Howard and his wife Wanonia Myers-Blakeney are in their 28^th year of marriage. “For me it was love at first sight. We dated in high school and afterwards for a total of four years before getting married. We have three children (Kashonta, Ladaisha and Dale), one son-in-law (Bryant, married to Kashonta) and two grandchildren (Trevon and Kaylonee). We love to spend time with our children and our grands.”

Howard was baptized in May 1988 and began serving in the Charlotte church. He was ordained an elder in 1996. “I was then asked to assist Pastor Greg Williams in the newly planted Myrtle Beach, South Carolina church. He was pastoring three congregations at that time. After one and a half years, Pastor Greg and District Superintendent Keith Brittain decided I had a call to pastoral ministry. Eventually I agreed and became the senior pastor of the Myrtle Beach congregation in January 1998.” Howard planted the Marion, South Carolina congregation in 2000.

Howard, who is currently working on a master’s degree in theology, loves the history of GCI. “I love the long road that Jesus Christ has led us on. Our journey has been humbling, yet distinct in the body of Christ. I believe it enables us to help minister to folks who are trapped in legalism and works-oriented faith. Many still do not understand the grace of God!”

When asked about mentors, Howard noted the influence of Deacon Curtis Polk, Pastor Martin Manuel, Pastor Greg Williams, District Superintendent Keith Brittain and District Pastor Paul David Kurts. “These men taught me a lot about being a pastor and a leader.”

Howard’s passion is “To raise up things that God wants raised up. To help guide and grow what God wants grown. To develop and equip members to advance the kingdom of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Our congregation hosts the Myrtle Beach fall conference each year. God has also given me a great passion for this.”

Recently, Howard was appointed to serve as the district pastor in North Carolina and part of Georgia. “The thing I enjoy most about pastoring is helping people, serving people, and seeing the growth in people as they stay the course and learn to trust Jesus in their lives. If I had to choose one moment as a pastor that is most memorable it would have to be baptizing all my children, my brother’s wife, my younger brother and both my sisters. Praise God!”

When asked when he feels closest to God, Howard said, “I feel closest to God in the midst of tribulation and difficulty. He has always given me the strength and power to trust him in the storms of my life.”

ORM update

This update is from Curtis May, director of The Office of Reconciliation & Mediation (ORM), an independent ministry, which partners with GCI on projects of mutual interest.

Left to right: Pastor Michael Paige, Pastor Gene Blissett, and ORM director Curtis May at the ORM event in Phoenix

ORM and its 28 chapter leaders continue to reach out to churches both inside and outside of GCI. We recently held reconciliation workshops in Portland; Vancouver: Detroit; Phoenix and Beaumont, California (where we had a particularly lively gathering). Due to the nature of our ministry, ORM works both interdenominationally and internationally.

On January 24, ORM’s editor Neil Earle interviewed the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s close friend and colleague Dr. James Massey. Dr. Massey is an accomplished scholar and author of 18 books. He formerly served as the Dean of Chapel at Tuskegee University and during the turbulent 1960s he pastored in Detroit. Dr. Massey stated emphatically that people “must know that we are one, then the commitment to fix our experiment in democracy will surely follow.” For a full report on this interview, click here.

I invite you to learn more about ORM at atimetireconcile.org where you will find upcoming ORM events, information about ORM local chapters and ideas for celebrating Black History Month.

Year: 2013