Employees in GCI’s Home Office recently gathered for a luncheon to honor Janet Shay for her 37 years of faithful service as an employee of Grace Communion International. Janet retired in January.
Janet, who was originally from Oregon, started working for GCI while attending Ambassador College in Pasadena, California. Like most AC students, she held a variety of jobs during her college years, working in the custodial departments and then as a keypunch operator and terminal operator in mail processing. During her college years, Janet traveled to Israel to serve on the student archaeological project in Jerusalem. She then transferred to AC in Big Sandy, Texas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree before returning to Pasadena to work there in the AC registrar’s and admission’s office. Janet married her husband Gary in 1971.
After taking time off from full-time work to be with her family, Janet returned to work in GCI’s personnel department, first as a secretary and then as a benefits specialist, risk/benefits manager and finally human resources manager where she served until her retirement. As human resources manager, Janet was responsible for both risk/benefits administration and the human resources functions with the able assistance of Maureen Warkentin. During her tenure with GCI, Janet held several professional designations including Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
During the luncheon, Dr. Joseph Tkach, President, and Mat Morgan, Treasurer (pictured with Janet at right), recounted with appreciation Janet’s work history with GCI, to the applause of the other Home Office employees. They presented Janet with a large card signed by the employees and a gift card.
Please join us in expressing appreciation for Janet’s faithful service to the Church, and wish her a wonderful retirement with much reading, gardening and time with her grandchildren. Notes of appreciation can be posted in the “comments” section below, or emailed to janet.shay@live.com.
Please note: Maureen Warkentin now serves as GCI’s Human Resources Manager and Cheryl Corson serves as the Risk/Benefits Manager. Both can be emailed at humanresources@gci.org. Maureen can be phoned at 626-650-2372, and Cheryl at 626-650-2352. We thank these women for accepting these additional responsibilities.
Jannice May, president of Connecting and Bonding, hosted the annual Lexington, Kentucky conference for pastor’s and minister’s wives on March 13-15. Women came from various parts of the country to enjoy the time together.
Jan Taylor kicked off the conference with a devotional showing how much God loves us. Keysha Taylor led the group to “the heavenly places” in worship. Powerful, heartfelt messages were given by Leslie Howard, Alma Smith, Doreen Ray, and Leigh Sniffen. A concert of praise was given by Edna Barr, Tamar Gray and Keysha Taylor. The group also heard an audio-taped message from Naomi Beard, who, over the years, has served as a valued mentor to the group. Little did they know that this would be Naomi’s last message—she died of a heart attack just a few weeks ago.
Jannice honored the wives of retired pastors for their many years of service to the church. These women truly are a gold mine of godly wisdom. The group ate, sang, laughed, cried, prayed and played together. They left feeling pampered and loved with “full cups and full hearts,” ready to face the joys and challenges of participating in ministry with Jesus.
In the video below, GCI Intern Program coordinator Jeff McSwain invites candidates to apply for an internship. Your assistance in getting this information to potential candidates is much appreciated. Also note related resources at https://www.gci.org/internprogram.
Prayer is requested for GCI-Canada elder Perc Burrows. Perc is suffering with various health problems. He sleeps a lot, suffers shortness of breath and walking is a problem due to lack of balance. He and his wife Shirley are looking at obtaining a walker to help improve Perc’s mobility.
Perc and Shirley (pictured at right) have served faithfully in the Toronto, Canada, churches for many, many years, and are widely known in our fellowship. Your prayers for Perc and Shirley at this time would be greatly appreciated.
Cards may be sent to:
Perc Burrows 208-115 Bonis Avenue Scarborough, Ontario M1T 3S4
Please pray for Jim Cook, pastor of the GCI church in Bangor, Maine. Jim suffered a mini-stroke on March 6, losing his ability to speak. Though his speech is returning, he still occasionally “drops” words. Your prayers for Jim and his wife Theresa are much appreciated.
GCI-USA pastor Tom Ecker and his wife Alberta are pleased to announce the birth of their third great-grandchild, Olivia Kaoiokalani Morris. She was born on March 20, weighing 8 pounds 13 ounces, and 20.5 inches long. Olivia has two older brothers.
We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Susan Williams’ father, Paul Lang. Susan works for Grace Communion Seminary and is married to Greg Williams (GCI-USA, Church Administration and Development director). Here is Paul’s obituary.
Paul Richard Lang completed this life’s journey on March 5, 2015. He was born in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1933 and grew up on the family farm. Paul married Jennie Marie Mandigo in 1954. In 1978, after 24 years working the farm, the couple moved to Eugene, Oregon where they owned and operated P&J Tool Company until retirement.
Paul is survived by his wife Jennie (they were married for 60 years); three daughters, Debbie (Mark) Larson, Connie (Art) Cady, Susan (Greg) Williams; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and siblings John Lang, Corine (Marvin) Hasson, Marilyn (Robert) Showalter. Paul was preceeded in death by his sisters Pauline Jackson, Maxine Gleason and Verna Schumaker.
The pillar of his family, Paul loved unconditionally, worked tirelessly, was quick with a smile and faithful to his Savior. His family share that faith and take comfort knowing they will be reunited one day.
Cards to the family may be sent to:
Grace Communion International Attn: Susan Williams PO Box 5005 Glendora, CA 91740
Often when travelling, I’m asked to speak to GCI churches, conferences and board meetings. Sometimes I’m asked to give the closing benediction. When doing so, I frequently use the blessing Aaron proclaimed over the children of Israel in the wilderness (the year after their flight from Egypt, long before entering the Promised Land). On that occasion, God was instructing Israel concerning administration of the Law. The people were restless and rather passive (after all, they had been slaves all their lives!). Likely, they were wondering: “God delivered us out of Egypt through the Red Sea, and gave us his Law. But here we are, still wandering in the wilderness. What now?” God did not reply with details of his plan for them. Instead, he encouraged them to look to him in faith:
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace'” (Numbers 6:22-26).
Fjellstedt Överstepräst Präst (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
I envision Aaron standing before God’s beloved children, arms outstretched, proclaiming this benediction. What an honor it must have been to pronounce the Lord’s blessing upon his beloved. As you’ll recall, Aaron was the first high priest from the tribe of Levi:
Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever (1 Chronicles 23:13).
Pronouncing a blessing was a profound act of worship—representing God to his people in order to encourage them—in this case during the difficult sojourn between Egypt and the Promised Land. This priestly benediction invoked God’s name and blessing, so that his people might live with assurance of the Lord’s mercy and provision.
Though this benediction was first spoken over a people weary and frustrated with wilderness wandering, I see an application for us today. There are times when we’re unsure about the future, feeling like we’re wandering in a wilderness of our own. At such times we need words of encouragement to remind us that God has blessed us and will continue to keep us. We need to remember that God does make his face shine on us, is gracious to us, and gives us peace. Above all, we need to remember that because he loves us, God has given us his Son, Jesus Christ—the great and ultimate high priest who, himself, fulfills the Aaronic blessing.
The Last Supper by Carl Heinrich Bloch (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
Holy Week (also called Passion Week) begins in a week and a half with Palm Sunday (Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem), followed by Maundy Thursday (commemorating the Last Supper), Good Friday (where God’s goodness toward us was manifested in the greatest sacrifice of all) and Holy Saturday (when Jesus lay in the tomb). Then comes the glorious eighth day—Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of our great high priest, Jesus, the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14). This season of the year powerfully reminds us that we have been and continually are blessed “in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
Yes, we all face times of uncertainty. But we rest in peace knowing how greatly God has blessed us in Christ. Like a mighty river whose waters flow from its source out to far lands, God’s name moves before the world. Though we don’t see the full extent of this movement, we stand in awe at what we do see. Truly God has and is blessing us, and Passion Week is a powerful reminder.
Though the people of Israel heard Aaron’s priestly benediction and, no doubt, were encouraged, they soon forgot God’s promises. Part of the reason had to do with the limitations, even failings, of the human priesthood. Even the best and most faithful of Israel’s priests died. But God had something (someone!) better in mind. The book of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus, who lives forever, is our permanent high priest:
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens (Hebrews 7:25-26).
The image of Aaron stretching out his arms over Israel to impart a blessing points us to an even greater high priest, Jesus Christ. The benediction that Jesus pronounces over God’s people far exceeds Aaron’s blessing (though it extends, intensifies and personalizes it):
I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more (Hebrews 8:10-12).
Jesus pronounces a benediction of forgiveness that reconciles us to God, healing our broken relationship with him. It’s a benediction that transforms us—extending deep into our hearts and minds. It draws us up into deepest fellowship and communion with God. Through the Son of God, our brother, we know God as our Father. And by his Spirit we become his beloved children.
Christ on the Cross Between the Two Theives by John Paul Rubens (1619). (Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
As I reflect on Passion Week, there is another reason this benediction has great significance for us. As Jesus was dying on the cross, his arms were outstretched. His precious life, poured out as a sacrifice for us, was a benediction—a forever blessing on the world. Hanging on the cross, Jesus asked the Father to forgive us in the midst of our sin, then he died that we might live.
Following his resurrection, and just before his ascension, Jesus gave another benediction:
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy (Luke 24:50-52).
In essence, Jesus was saying to his disciples, both then and now, “I myself bless you and keep you, I make my face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; I lift up my countenance upon you and I give you my peace.”
May we continue to live under the benediction of our Lord and Savior, no matter what uncertainties we may be facing.
We often hear about the dangers faced by rookie pastors, but there are some faced by those who have pastored for many years. The video below has some helpful advice concerning “The Biggest Mistakes Old Preachers Make.”
Janet, who was originally from Oregon, started working for GCI while attending Ambassador College in Pasadena, California. Like most AC students, she held a variety of jobs during her college years, working in the custodial departments and then as a keypunch operator and terminal operator in mail processing. During her college years, Janet traveled to Israel to serve on the student archaeological project in Jerusalem. She then transferred to AC in Big Sandy, Texas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree before returning to Pasadena to work there in the AC registrar’s and admission’s office. Janet married her husband Gary in 1971.
During the luncheon, Dr. Joseph Tkach, President, and Mat Morgan, Treasurer (pictured with Janet at right), recounted with appreciation Janet’s work history with GCI, to the applause of the other Home Office employees. They presented Janet with a large card signed by the employees and a gift card.
