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Trumpets: a festival fulfilled in Christ

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

joeandtammy

I was greatly saddened to learn last week that my dear friend and long-time colleague Bernie Schnippert had died (see the announcement linked at left). Please join me in praying for Bernie’s wife Arlene, for their daughters Crystal and Coral, and for the rest of the family. Bernie will be greatly missed, though we take comfort knowing that he is now free from pain and that we’ll see him again.

September is a busy month! In addition to back to school activities, there are celebrations of all sorts of things. In the U.S., September 15 is National Cheese Pizza Day and the first Monday of the month is Labor Day, which celebrates the achievements of workers and marks the unofficial end of summer. In Australia, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Queen’s September birthday is celebrated with a holiday.

September also includes the Jewish festival called “Rosh Hashanah,” which in Hebrew means “the head of the year.” Among the traditions practiced by the Jews on that day are eating the head of a fish to symbolize the head of the year and greeting one another with “L’shanah tovah,” meaning “for a good year.” Tradition also correlates Rosh Hashanah with the sixth day of creation week when God made mankind in his image.

In the Hebrew text of Leviticus 23:24 the day is referred to as “Zikhron Teru’ah,” meaning “a memorial with the blowing of horns.” And so in English, the day often is called the Festival of Trumpets. Many rabbis teach that on Rosh Hashanah, a shofar (a trumpet carved from a ram’s horn) was blown a minimum of 100 times, including a series of 30 blasts indicating the hope of the Messiah’s coming. I have a shofar, and I can tell you it’s hard to make any sound when you blow into it. I’ve read that at Rosh Hashanah services, it was common to have a second trained person in the wings just in case the first one was unable to complete the task of blowing the shofar the required number of times.

Jewish sources indicate that three types of notes were blown that day:

  • Tekiah—a long unbroken tone symbolizing hope in the strength of God and praise for who God is
  • Shevarim—three shorter, more broken sounds, indicating wailing and sorrow for sin and fallen humanity
  • Teruah—nine quick, staccato notes (like the sound of an alarm clock) representing the broken hearts of those who come to God

Regarding Teruah, the Talmud says this: “When there’s judgment from below, there’s no need for judgment from above.” Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon (known as Maimonides), perhaps the greatest Jewish scholar and teacher of the middle ages, adds this important qualification:

It isn’t enough that God is my King alone. If all humanity doesn’t recognize God as King, then there is something lacking in my own relationship with God. Part of my love for the Almighty is to help guide all people to an appreciation of Him. Of course this is largely an expression of my deep caring for others. But it also affects my own sense of God’s all-encompassing Kingship.

silver trumpetsAncient Israel initially used ram’s horns for their trumpets, but by the time of Numbers chapter 10, trumpets were typically made of silver. The use of trumpets is mentioned 72 times in the Old Testament. They were sounded for various reasons: to announce national crisis, to call the nation to solemn assembly, to make announcements, and as a call to worship. In time of war, trumpets instructed soldiers as to how to prepare for and then proceed into battle. Trumpets also announced the arrival of the king.

In our day, some Christians observe the Festival of Trumpets as a mandatory day of worship, often viewing it as pointing to future events—Jesus’ second coming or the rapture of the church. As well-meaning as these interpretations of the festival may be, they miss how it points to what Jesus has done already.

As we know, the old covenant, which included the Festival of Trumpets, was temporary, given to point people to the coming Messiah who is Prophet, Priest, Sage and King. The blowing of trumpets on Rosh Hashanah not only signaled the beginning of a new cycle of annual worship in Israel, it proclaimed the celebratory message, “our King is coming!”

For me the most meaningful element of the Festival of Trumpets is how it points to and is fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming through his incarnation, atoning ministry, death, resurrection and ascension. Through these “Christ events,” God not only fulfilled his covenant with Israel (the old covenant), but changed all time, forever. Jesus is the head of the year—the head of all time, especially since he created time. He is our tabernacle and we have new life in him. As Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus is the new (the second) Adam. He succeeded where the first Adam failed. Jesus is our Passover, our Unleavened Bread and our Atonement. He is the One (and only One) who takes away our sin. Jesus is our Sabbath in which we have rest from sin. As the head of all time, he now lives in us, and all our time is holy as we live the new life that is ours in union with him. Jesus, our King, our Lord and Master, has blown the trumpet once and for all!

Living in Him,
Joseph Tkach

Steve Smith

Steve and Karon
Karon and Steve

Steve Smith, pastor of GCI’s congregations in Modesto, Santa Rosa and Fairfield, California, grew up in northern Indiana. “It has to be God that brought me to where I am today because it is beyond my expectations. My early life was one of poverty, cold winters, living in a two-room shack, being hungry and embarrassed. The upside is that God was kind to me and wired me as a happy kid overall. Sports, track, cross-country, football, basketball and baseball were a big part of my life opening up many opportunities.”

Steve excelled in baseball. “My baseball career was a highlight for me. Every year I was in Little League I won the batting championship. In seven years playing baseball I never struck out until I tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates (I struck out much more often in life than in baseball!) My lowest batting average was .556 in the travel league division.”

Steve’s family became interested in the Radio Church of God in late 1957 and began attending in Chicago in 1958. “My interest was generated by the fact that going to church was a parental decision—no questions asked.”

Steve then applied to attend Ambassador College, which he said “was the turning point in my life.” However, his memories of that time are filled with mixed emotions. “My dad died the same day I was accepted to college. Twenty days later I was 2,400 miles from home living in a mansion for a dormitory and off on an incredible journey that I have never regretted.”

Moving from Indiana to Bricket Wood, England was quite a change for Steve, but that was only the first of many more changes. “After graduating in 1968, I entered the ministry. My first assignment was in Atlanta, Georgia—I was told where I was going and what I would be doing and I didn’t disagree.” This ties right in with Steve’s passion, which is “to live in the will of God.”

Steve and Karon have been married for 21 years. “We have five children between us and ten grandchildren. Most of them live in California within easy driving distance, which we consider a great blessing. We love being grandparents.”

Karon is Steve’s “incredibly loving support and partner in life and ministry. Karon has been our youth minister and is gifted with hospitality.”

Steve says what he likes most about being a pastor is “working with people and seeing God’s love for them and how he works in their lives.” Speaking about GCI, Steve said, “What I enjoy most about GCI is our freedom in Christ.”

His most memorable moments as a pastor were “performing my children’s baptisms and weddings.”

Steve is still learning. He has earned a master’s degree in psychology. “I use that as a therapist for addiction and mental health outreach counseling. I devote one day a week to this outreach program. I’m presently in the final stage of getting my California license as a marriage and family therapist.”

Steve is also an avid gardener and loves to be outdoors. His favorite times with God are “in the mornings while on prayer walks.”

New mission launch near Guadalajara

This update is from Lorenzo Arroyo, GCI-USA regional pastor and mission developer for Mexico.

A new mission outreach has been launched in Colonia Santa Rosa del Valle on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Mexico. The goal of this outreach is to work toward starting a new GCI church in the community of Santa Rosa.

???????????????????????????????The idea for this mission grew out of discussions led by Alfredo Mercado, GCI-Mexico national leader and senior pastor of the Guadalajara church. It was decided to give the green light to three Guadalajara church leaders to get the mission started. In April, Lorenzo Arroyo appointed Luis Alberto Soto, Humberto Perez and Jose Rodriguez to commence the mission work.

The mission team’s first event was a prayer meeting on June 7. Five adults and four children attended. Then on September 6, the team conducted an afternoon fiesta entitled “Mexican Tardeada.” The surrounding community was invited and the 100 people (including the 40 children) who attended enjoyed live music, singing, prayer, a sermon, food and lots of fun, including games for the children (see the picture above).

The place of meeting was a tent with a dirt floor (see below) set up on property graciously donated by a GCI couple for the use of the new church. Lorenzo (shown preaching below) gave an evangelistic sermon from Romans chapter 1, connecting the message of the gospel to the lives of the many newcomers in attendance.

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Blessing of children

One of the highlights of the event was a blessing of the children ceremony (pictured at right).

Everyone enjoyed themselves as the crowd interacted with the mission support team made up of members of the Guadalajara mother church. New people from Santa Rosa were heard asking, “When is this going to happen again? Will you be coming back?” Our response is that it’s the goal of the mission team to bless every child in that community by Christmas of this year!

???????????????????????????????During his visit to Guadalajara, Lorenzo, accompanied by Jose and Bertha Rodriguez (on the left in the picture at right), conducted a Bible study during a visit with Daniel and Carolina Blanco and their six children (pictured at right). The Blancos, who are new converts, live in Santa Rosa and have joined the mission group.

Though the lives of the Blancos have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, Daniel, a bricklayer by trade, struggles at times to find employment in the impoverished community of Santa Rosa. The family lives in an upstairs apartment no bigger than most living rooms. But they light up at hearing the word of God and have become diligent workers in the new mission.

???????????????????????????????On the day before returning to the U.S., Lorenzo attended Samuel Mercado’s presentation and defense of his thesis paper. Samuel (pictured at right) is a leader in the Guadalajara church and national youth leader for GCI Mexico. Following his presentation, Samuel was told that he had defended his thesis successfully and would be awarded a master’s degree in information technology from the University of Guadalajara. Congratulations, Samuel!

Lorenzo extends his thanks to the GCI-USA congregations who have generously supported GCI’s gospel work in Mexico. As indicated in this report, there is much to be done, but the Lord has, as always, been more than gracious.

Death of Bernie Schnippert

Bernie and Arlene
Bernie and Arlene

We were saddened to learn of the death of Bernie Schnippert on September 10. Please pray for his wife Arlene and their daughters Crystal and Coral and the rest of the family during this difficult time.

In a brief note to close friends Arlene wrote “I wanted to let you all know that Bern passed away about 7:00 pm this evening. He was asleep and it was very peaceful. His months and years of suffering are now over and he can be at peace.” A small private memorial service is being planned.

Due to ongoing health struggles, Bernie retired from GCI employment on June 27. He had served for many years as GCI’s legal counsel. To read about his distinguished career in an earlier Weekly Update article, click here.

Bernie and his service to GCI will long be remembered and missed.

Cards of encouragement to the family may be sent to:

Arlene Schnippert
64651 Jan Dr.
Bend, OR 97701

Africa update

This update is from GCI pastor Rick Shallenberger who recently visited Malawi and Ghana on behalf of GCI president Joseph Tkach.

Malawi: new church building dedicated

GCI-Africa mission developer Kalengule Kaoma (KK) and U.S. pastor Rick Shallenberger participated recently in dedicating a new GCI church building in Mbulumbazi, Malawi, just outside Blantyre (the new building is pictured below, left). In 2012, Rick preached at the congregation’s former thatched meeting hall (pictured below, right) while visiting his daughter in Blantyre.

New church buildingMalawi church meeting place in 2012

The congregation was planted in 2009 when community leaders in Mbulumbazi asked GCI to start a congregation there. They did so because they were deeply impressed by the compassion GCI members showed in caring for a terminally ill resident of their village who formerly attended a GCI congregation in another village, but moved to Mbulumbazi to be near family and medical care.

Ribbon cutting at the new building
Ribbon cutting at the new building

So in 2010, GCI purchased a small plot of land in Mbulumbazi and built a small thatched (grass) hut where worship services were conducted. Average attendance at the time was 35. But members desired a more permanent structure, so they constructed a building on the property in 2012, and average attendance increased to 55. They delayed official dedication of the building until pastor Rick could return. Those attending the dedication last month included the village chief and headmasters, along with chiefs from adjoining villages and leaders from other denominations. Total attendance at the dedication service (pictured below) was 255.

Malawi dedication service

Malawi: leadership training conference

Malawi leadersIn addition to participating in the new building dedication, KK and Rick also conducted a two-day leadership training conference for GCI Malawi leaders (pictured at right). Rick opened the conference asking, “What does it mean to be in communion with God?” Discussing the related questions of “Who is Jesus?” and “Who are we in relation to Jesus?” led into a communion service.

In other sessions, Rick discussed how GCI theology affects mission and ministry. KK then discussed ministry in the African context, particularly with respect to church planting, leadership development and working with groups wanting to join GCI. Rick and KK also hosted a special dinner for the group on behalf of Pastor General Tkach.

Ghana: 40th anniversary celebration

40th celebrationWith the theme: Ebenezer: The Lord has been faithful and gracious to us, GCI-Ghana concluded a year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary with an eight-day festival at the church property in Kutunse, north of Accra. The property, which formerly served as the church farm, now is the location of a school and church hall (pictured at right) and hosts youth camps and other church events.

WashingtonsOne of the highlights of the festival was the return of Ghana’s first pastor, Abner and Sharon Washington (on the right in the picture at left with leaders from Ghana). Abner, now 90, said returning from the U.S. to Ghana was “a dream come true.” He and Sharon are considered the “Dad and Mom” of the Ghana churches and received a beautifully worded certificate of appreciation and a number of gifts, giving them due honor. Abner gave two of the messages during the eight-day festival.

Each day of the festival began with 30 minutes of music and devotion before the start of the service. The two-hour service featured hymns, praise songs, dancing and choir music along with the messages. Following each service, Pastor Emmanuel Okai, director of Ghana churches, presented awards and gifts to various groups who have served over the years. Speakers included Abner Washington, South Africa mission developer Tim Maguire, KK and Rick. On the final “Thanksgiving Day,” Rick greeted all on behalf of President Tkach and his wife Tammy and gave a message about our communion with the Father, Son, Spirit and each other. The 40th anniversary celebration ended with all participating in communion. Attendance averaged 500 a day with the peak of 604 on the final day.

Ghana: African national ministry leaders’ conference

Twenty-seven African national leaders and pastors (pictured below) from Nigeria, Angola, Togo, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, met in Accra, Ghana, from August 28 through August 31. These meetings were held in the afternoons and evenings following the 40th anniversary activities (see above). For many of the leaders, it was the first time they had met.

Arican national leaders

The meetings, which were conducted by KK, Tim and Rick, began with an address from Rick about our communion with the Father, Son and Spirit, followed by a review of the “Christ events”—Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection and ascension, explaining the significance of each in our lives. Each national director then gave an update on his country. Here is a summary:

  • In Kenya, we have 16 congregations and many active ministries. Membership continues to grow, currently topping 1200 members. The challenge is finding appropriate places for worship and encouraging pastors to stay motivated.
  • In Togo we have one congregation and approx. 200 members. These numbers are down. The current project is building a social and medical center, which will not only be used for worship services, but also as a place to provide healing and a place to build relationships.
  • In Nigeria the attendance is just below 500. Nigeria is a very poor country, but God has blessed the church. There are many youth in Nigeria, and they are being connected to different areas to provide growth opportunities. They have just completed a new church building and are hopeful to build more so congregations have a base to work from.

Following these presentations KK, Tim and Rick covered various topics: theology, church planting, church development, mission/ministry, developing pastors, pastoral succession, African tradition/culture, finances, managing change, and questions and answers.

During the conference Rick and KK hosted a special dinner for the group on behalf of Pastor General Tkach. The conference, which ended with an affirmation exercise and prayer session, was a great success. Nigerian pastor Essien George summed it up well: “The last week of August 2014 is going to remain in my memory for a long time, because it was the week I had the opportunity to meet with Christian leaders, brothers and friends from GCI in other countries. I met many for the first time. It was a joyful experience that solidified the teaching and belief that we are all one in Christ Jesus.”

ChurchNext training videos

In an earlier post, we reported on the ChurchNext training conducted in July in Asheville, North Carolina, by GCI Church Multiplication Ministries. Videos have been produced with excerpts from the training segments at that conference. You will find those videos in the YouTube playlist embedded below. These videos are helpful tools for equipping your congregation’s leaders and workers in key aspects of our participation with Jesus in his disciple-making mission. The videos address various aspects of that mission in and through newly planted churches and established churches.

On YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKReP7aB2Rgai1dO6liylV2Ald3UMdtYg

Evangelism resources

Here are helpful resources related to the topic of evangelism (involving ministries of cultivating, planting and reaping) in and through the local church. To celebrate the fruit of this work in one of our congregations, click here.

Taking care of new developmentIdentifying evangelistic gifts

In a post on the Exponential website, church planter Beau Crosetto writes this:

If we are going to activate evangelistic people in our ministry, then we have to know what they look like! Sometimes this can be pretty easy if they are highly gifted and are more developed. But if they are a young person, it may not be as clear from the surface. What do you look for to identify those people with the Ephesians 4 gift of evangelism (part of the five-fold gifts) in your church? Here are six indicators I often consider…

To read Beau’s article, click here. Though it is written from the perspective of a church plant, it applies directly to established churches as well.

Tools that help

In a post on The Exchange Blog, entitled “Strategic Evangelism,” Ed Stetzer lists several tools that are useful in helping members share in the Holy Spirit’s work of evangelism. To read Ed’s post, click here. For related resources produced by GCI, click on these links:

17 baptisms in Tipp City, Ohio church

baptism2CrossRoads Christian Fellowship, the GCI church that meets and ministers in Tipp City, Ohio, is pastored by a team of elders led by senior pastor Jim Valekis. The team includes associate pastor Becky Valekis (Jim’s wife), who coordinates discipleship programs. For over 10 years, CrossRoads has emphasized evangelism as the win segment of its win-build-equip-multiply disciple-making pathway. Their evangelistic efforts have been of two types: person-to-person connection, and community outreach and engagement events.

CrossRoads’ faithful, persistent and creative efforts to share in what Jesus is doing in the community have born significant fruit, seen in a “Down to the River to Pray” baptism service held on August 24 at which 17 people of various ages were baptized—15 are residents from the surrounding community who are new to GCI, and 2 are children of long-time GCI members. The service was packed with family and guests, with one deciding at the event to come forward for baptism. Another person who was moved by the service has been baptized since.

Baptism

Reflecting on the day, pastor Jim commented:

We have a lot of work ahead to help these new converts learn to live out their new transformed lives in Christ. Many are from badly broken situations, so it will be a challenge to help them learn to follow the Spirit into the true freedom that is theirs in Christ. This weekend is the culmination of years of hard work in which “sweet inspiration” often was followed by “sweet exhaustion.” But it’s been worth it—we’ve been shown that even though Jesus does it all for us, he wants us to do it with him. His grace “works!” And what a joy it has been to see so many lives transformed by Christ! It’s such a blessing to be enabled by the Spirit to enter with our Lord into the joy of his harvest.

Here are comments from others concerning the baptism service:

  • It was more than amazing! Being led by God and by every person at CrossRoads has made my life so fulfilled! I hope we all touched someone at the service so that they may let God lead them too!
  • I shed more than a few tears at the service. I have been so, so blessed to be part of an amazing movement at CrossRoads of bringing people to Jesus Christ. I had no idea that when my wife and I walked through the church doors that Halloween night several years ago, just how much our lives would change. Yesterday, almost my entire family was there. My wife, my mother, father, sister, all four of my children and all four grandchildren. A grandson and two of my children, who have struggled to resist God and have struggled through so many things in their lives, accepted Christ as their Savior and were baptized. Now they will begin to see what wonderful changes are about to occur in their lives.
  • I want to thank each of you for your prayer and, of course, your service that made for a wonderful Celebration Sunday! I thank God for you all! It was truly a wonderful, joyous and humbling day! Glory to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!
  • The thought that struck me at the service was that even though God sends the message, the message doesn’t always get received, or if the message is received, the feet are sometimes too timid to move. What I saw on display this weekend, however, was something far different. The message WAS received and the feet took off running. You can lead followers and help them grow, however you can develop leaders and grow explosively. What I am seeing at CrossRoads Church are leaders developing leaders through Christ and the results speak for themselves!
  • Big things are upon us—I pray that we stay close to God and to each other so we can take this movement where God wants it to go!

Below is a short video that recaps pastor Jim’s sermon of introduction to the baptism service (given at church) followed by scenes from the baptism service itself, held at a nearby river. We welcome these new believers into the body of Christ and celebrate with CrossRoads this fruit of their faithful labor in the Lord.

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/h0D11vOwItk. Thanks to James Egbert for granting use of the music sound track.