This update is from GCI Generations Ministries (GenMin) director Anthony Mullins.
The first weekend of March, 80 members of GCI’s GenMin family gathered in Encino, California for Converge West (see the group pictured below). Converge West is one of two GenMin Converge conferences being held this year. Converge East will be held in Ohio later this month (for information, click here). These Converge conferences bring together our GenMin camp and missions staffers together with pastors and ministry leaders from GCI congregations and denominational ministries for a time of spiritual renewal, vision-casting and equipping. Our theme this year is, Let’s build something together!
Converge West began Friday night with learning the Converge theme song: Build Your Kingdom Here. This was followed by small group discernment prayer, camp introductions, updates and a time of fellowship.
On Saturday, we heard from guest speakers Meredith Macy and Heber Ticas. Meredith challenged us to honor parents and family as we minister to teenagers while Heber helped us consider practical ways to live on mission with God. Camp directors then met with camp coaches Jeff Broadnax and Mark & Anne Stapleton to share best practices, ask questions and get assistance with camp planning processes and to encourage one another.
Also on Saturday, Greg Williams updated us on the GCI Pastoral Internship Program. Several young people later met with Greg to explore the possibility of becoming GCI pastoral interns. On Saturday evening we celebrated the commissioning of two new camp directors: Susan McKie of SEP Tahoe and Susan McNutt of Base Camp NW. We then shared a moving communion service with several young adults/teens leading. It was a beautiful and fitting end to a great day.
On Sunday I was privileged to share a sermon message entitled “Building the Church.” It was a joy to point to the Builder, Jesus Christ, and to invite the young people to participate and celebrate with him through their local church. During the service, a call was placed to our friend, Dallas area pastor and camp leader Arnold Clauson, who has been very ill. We all shouted, “We love you, Arnold!” As we said our goodbyes on Sunday, people seemed to be encouraged, uplifted and ready to go where the Holy Spirit is leading.
