GCI Update

Does God hear the prayers of sinners?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Joe Tkach and Tammy TkachI’m often asked if God hears the prayers of a sinner. Well, if he doesn’t, all of us are in a miserable state—for as the apostle Paul noted, we all, being sinners, fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This question typically arises when people read certain isolated scriptures and then apply a hyper-literalist interpretation. For example, notice Proverbs 28:9 (NKJV): “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” This sounds rather ominous, doesn’t it?

But to properly understand this verse there are two things to keep in mind. First, in the parlance of the Old Testament, “to hear” means putting the message into practice in one’s life. Second, “abomination” is a reference to something so unclean that it can never come into God’s presence. Thus, this verse is making a point about those who pray to God while intentionally, even contemptuously, disobeying him. It is not referring to a humble person who, despite being a sinner, is sincerely seeking God’s help.

Another example is John 9:31: “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.” But notice that Jesus did not speak these words. They were spoken by a man Jesus had healed of blindness, who was then examined by a group of Pharisees looking to trap Jesus. The man who had been healed cleverly used their own twisted theology to trap them. Sadly, some still misinterpret scriptures like this to keep themselves and others on a guilt trip, which is contrary to the wonderful truth of God’s true character.

It is always important to remember that Jesus is the lens through which we should read and interpret the Bible. Doing so helps us keep clearly in focus both who God is and what he is doing. We know that God sent his Son into the world not to condemn it, but to save it. We also know that Christ died while we were yet sinners. Scripture tells us that the life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Savior brought into action the new covenant. With that “Christ event,” everything changed: all humanity was forgiven and reconciled to the Father (though not all realize it, and, sadly, some reject it).

It is ludicrous to think that God, having given his Son to die for us (sinners all), would turn around and refuse to hear our prayers because we are sinners!

Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:11-14 shows how God regards the prayers of sinners. In the parable, a Pharisee stood off by himself (separate from “sinners”) praying: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” In contrast, this despised tax collector (considered in that culture to be a terrible sinner), stood with eyes downcast, beating his breast in sorrow, praying these words: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus’ conclusion was this: “I tell you that this man [the sinning tax collector], rather than the other [the supposedly righteous Pharisee], went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

We should not forget that God is constantly aware of every detail of his creation. Being omnipresent, he is able to hear every syllable of every word of every conversation, and even of every unspoken thought. He hears what sinners are saying, even if they aren’t praying to him. So we can be certain that he does not miss a single prayer. Notice Psalm 56:8 (NLT): “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

How can God process so many prayers at one time? Again, a reasonable question from limited humans who have trouble sometimes even keeping track of three or four things at a time. But the astonishing advances in computer technology give us some insight into just how much information can be managed simultaneously.

Do you remember when home computers were a luxury, just 25 years ago? Although regarded then with almost superstitious awe, they were slow and cumbersome by our standards today when the speed of the fastest computers is measured in terms we weren’t even aware of less than ten years ago. Today computer speed is measured in PFLOPS (quadrillion operations per second). Speed like that is unfathomable for the average person. Nevertheless, a supercomputer is still only the product of human ingenuity. God is far greater.

Even a fairly simple computer can process more than a trillion instructions a second. Given a world population far below 1 trillion, it’s theoretically possible that a computer could “hear” everyone on earth praying. I think we would all agree that our creator God, who is not subject to the limitations of a created being, is much more than a match for our fastest computer. Perhaps this comparison helps us understand how God can “process” all the data about humanity, even to the extent of knowing the number of hairs on our heads (about 100,000 on the average head!).

The bottom line is this: God does hear our prayers—all of them. He is never too busy to listen and never too busy to respond. As the Psalmist wrote: “God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:19-20).

Unlike a supercomputer designed simply to process instructions, God’s desire is to build up and be in relationship with all his children. Part of that relationship is never being too busy to hear or to answer our prayers. Even if we are sinners.

Your brother in Christ,
Joseph Tkach signature

 

 

Roger Abels

Roger and Donna Abels
Donna and Roger Abels

Roger Abels, senior pastor of GCI’s congregation in Fort Wayne, Indiana, grew up in the village of Papillion about 20 miles southwest of Omaha, Nebraska. “I had always taken religion seriously” Roger shared. He enrolled in Midland Lutheran College with the anticipation of entering ministry. “After two years of college, it became clear that the Lutheran synod I had grown up in was becoming increasingly liberal. It was at this time that I began listening to The World Tomorrow broadcast and was immediately impressed that this was a denomination that took both the Scriptures and Christian living seriously.”

Roger left that college and transferred to Ambassador College in 1969. “For the next 45 years I have been blessed to do what I have always loved doing—teaching the word of God.”

Before becoming interested in pastoral ministry, Roger had another interest. “I grew up with a passion for playing baseball. It was the magnet that drew our family closer. I had been scouted by several major league teams, but lost interest after deciding to become a pastor while in college.”

Roger found out that desiring to be a pastor in the Lutheran college, and desiring to be a pastor in Ambassador College were two different things. “I transferred to Ambassador College at a time when ‘wanting to be a minister’ was almost a disqualification. Fortunately I kept a low profile and became a pastor after graduating from Ambassador College in 1972. I first pastored in Philadelphia, then Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky. I have pastored in Fort Wayne for the past 24 years.” Roger recently announced that he will be retiring from employed pastoral ministry this coming June.

While in college, Roger met Donna Lynn May. They have now been married for 42 years. “I would summarize by saying that I definitely got the better end of the deal! For most of our married life Donna devoted herself to staying home with the children. She began painting portraits, landscapes and still-lifes while we lived in Kentucky, and many of her paintings are in various hospitals and courtrooms in Louisville.”

Roger and Donna have three children, Jessica (married to Travis McClure), Courtney (married to Mark Harmon) and Travis (single). “Both daughters are in education and our son edits and produces movie trailers in Los Angeles and New York. We also have five young grandchildren: Ella, Oliver, Owen, Josie and Charlotte.

Roger shares what he enjoys most about being a pastor: “Over the years I have seen Christians struggle in their personal relationship with God—legalism, guilt, the ‘health and wealth’ gospel, etc. My greatest delight has been helping members break through these barriers and enjoy a relationship with God filled with peace, joy and meaning. Paul framed it as being ‘helpers of your joy,’ (2 Corinthians 1:24).” Roger continues: “Whatever gift I have for speaking to people’s hearts has grown out of wrestling with my own struggles.”

When asked about the most memorable moments as a pastor, Roger refers to times when he “preached to some 10,000 people at various feast sites, particularly about the victory we have in Christ.”

Speaking about GCI, Roger says, “Our spiritual journey has been unique and historic. It has been a remarkable experience to have participated with Christ in what he has done in bringing our denomination from the fringe of Christianity into the center of the fold.”

Roger says his passion is “reading (particularly theology and early American history), gardening, photography and sports.” He says he feels closest to God, “in the late evening on quiet walks or while singing worship songs when no one else is around—when only God could enjoy such out-of-tune and off-key singing with mangled lyrics!”

Canadian camps

This update from GCI Canada director Gary Moore concerns developments in GCI’s Canadian camps.

????????Leigh Smithson, camp chaplain at our SEP Silver Meadows camp in Alberta, visited the Winnipeg congregation recently to commission Clayton and Gillian Houghton as the new camp directors. Our thanks to Jennifer Pasanen for the wonderful job she has done as camp director for the last couple of years. Leigh commented: “Jennifer has done a fabulous job as director but desired a change in order to concentrate on the camps’ apprenticeship program. That program gives older teens a chance to experience camp as a volunteer in the hopes they will come back some day as camp workers.”

Leigh also commented on related matters: “The Winnipeg congregation includes a lot of enthusiastic camper-age kids and the parents and youth workers are full of energy—you can feel the camaraderie and fun this group shares for camp. However, it is costly to drive the many kilometers between their homes in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and the camp in Alberta. We are grateful to the GCI-Canada board for setting aside funds that we can use to help cover some of these travel costs.”

The purpose of both of our Canadian youth camps (SEP Silver Meadows in the west and Camp Connections in the east) is to evangelize and/or disciple those who participate. Many campers come with friends and many of those friends have never been taught about Jesus. It’s a thrill to reach out to these teens to present Jesus in a setting that is conducive to evangelism.

Philippine workshop

bicol strat1GCI Philippines held a strategic planning workshop recently in the Bicol area. It was led by pastor Rex de la Peña and facilitated by pastor Jonathan Jimenez. The workshop’s objective was to craft ministry plans for the year ahead. Topics addressed included:

  1. The nature of the transformed life—emphasizing what Jesus is doing to share with us his love, service, commitment, diligence, perseverance and righteousness.
  2. Developing fellowship in the churches that more fully reflects our Trinitarian, incarnational theology.
  3. Preaching for life transformation with sermons relevant to the members’ life situations; helping them see how the Spirit is working through their life situations to help them mature in Christ.
  4. Church financial issues.

bicol strat3

Prayer retreat

retreat 3 groupOdyssey in Christ, a GCI affiliate ministry, recently held a Transforming Prayer Retreat in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Twenty-one GCI members, attending from several congregations, learned how the healing ministry of Jesus Christ continues today as they experienced the Lord’s healing presence and learned to position themselves and others they serve to receive the Lord’s healing touch.

One participant gave this commendation: “I encourage and highly recommend this retreat. We all have deep wounds that God can heal!” Charles Taylor, pastor of GCI’s church in Mirimar, Florida also commented:

retreat 2It would take many words to fully describe the blessing of the retreat. It was a weekend filled with transforming prayer, connection, learning and joy. Friday evening inspired us to see Jesus as our healer at work in all of life’s situations. On Saturday, we saw many breakthroughs—chains were broken. The testimonies shared were a demonstration of the power of God’s love at work in the lives of his people.

As we worshiped in ways that engaged all our senses, we were led into a non-threatening, yet lovingly challenging environment where through transforming, healing prayer we could hear God’s voice and be open to the Spirit’s lead. We saw the love and power of God at work as we prayed in small groups and individuals were instructed in how to lead prayers of blessing and healing. The closing service on Sunday was also an inspiration. The messages again pointed to the loving power and healing desire of God in our lives. The music was a powerful complement to the message and prayers. We thank God for the wonderful weekend and pray that Odyssey in Christ will continue to share in what God is doing to help his people practice transforming prayer.

Become a better presenter

A key skill for pastors, ministry leaders and other speakers, is the ability to give effective public presentations. Below is a link to a helpful article (with accompanying slide show) on how to avoid rookie mistakes in making presentations. Though the material covered is probably not new for most of us, the article can help us hone our skills and serve as a helpful tool in teaching new presenters.

blog.prezi.com/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking/

presenters

Free Exponential webcast

Seek-and-Save-Webcast1

Over the last few years, GCI’s Church Administration and Development team has recommended the Exponential Conference as an excellent training/networking resource related to starting new churches and developing existing ones. This year, Exponential conferences will be held in both Florida and Southern California. A webcast of key parts of the Florida conference can be viewed for free. The conference, titled “Seek + Save,” will focus on concepts and tools related to the church’s disciple making mission.

For details about the free webcast, go to http://www.exponential.org/webcast/.