We were greatly saddened to learn of the recent death of Luann Patrickson. Here is a message from her husband, George Patrickson, who is a retired GCI-Canada pastor:
George and Luann Patrickson
It is with a heavy heart that I write to let you know Luann died on October 12 in Lions Gate hospital. During her last week she started experiencing severe difficulties and was admitted to the hospital. Her condition was deteriorating quite rapidly and she spent her final two days under palliative care. The family was able to be with her and each had time alone to say their personal goodbye.
It will be difficult coming to terms with the fact that she is no longer with us and we will miss her warmth, kindness, gentle spirit and all the many wonderful things she brought into our lives.
On behalf of Luann and all the family, I thank everyone for their love and prayers offered for her over the last 12 months as she battled cancer. She was appreciative of these and of the many cards and messages she received.
Prayers for the family over the next while would also be appreciated as we come to terms with her passing.
Cards may be sent to:
George Patrickson 1936 Hyannis Drive North Vancouver, BC V7H 2E4
Now that we’ve come to the end of the summer camp season, we have a couple more GenMin camps to tell you about: New Heights and SEP Montana.
New Heights, Connecticut
This report is from camp director Dishon Mills.
New Heights 2015 was fantastic! God poured out his love on us—64 campers and 65 staffers. We began with a block party to get acquainted. That evening we held our first chapel—from the beginning, the campers enthusiastically worshiped God. In accordance with our Epic Story theme, we discussed how God has a story in which we are all part. Our theme song, Rez Power by Israel & New Breed, was introduced. It was an instant hit. We also introduced the Great Book, a gigantic book made to record the stories of our campers. On the first page, campers were asked to write their “working titles”—names they are called and they call themselves that hide the truth of who they are. It was very sobering to read what some of our youth wrote.
On Monday, we began our first full day of activities, including dance, riflery, team-building, science, arts/crafts and biking. This year we added Turning Point (a class that helps campers think about important moments in their lives and how they were impacted) and mountain boarding (like skate boarding but with a longer board with giant wheels and a hand brake—perfect for coasting down New Heights’ many hills). One of the last activities of the day was Showtime, a showcase of skits, songs, dances, etc. by our campers. We ended the day with the Pavilion Party, a series of messy, wild, and hilarious games. Marshmallows, women’s make up, and a sing off were all featured.
On Thursday we held a concert. We were blessed to have several staff who are talented artists. All acts delivered uplifting, Christian messages, letting our campers know that they do not have to give up their music to follow God.
On Friday, we began by baptizing two young people; 15 others dedicated their lives to Christ. God is so good! Each baptism reminds us why we do camp. We then conducted archery and riflery challenges and our first “water war”—a structured water fight where good behavior and actions during the week earned dorms more “water-power.” The staff got in on the action, handing out “justice” with their water blasters. Water war made a big splash (sorry!) and will, no doubt, be one of our signature events.
We closed the day with a beautiful ceremony. The Great Book made another appearance, this time we turned the page to record our True Titles. Campers wrote who they believe God made them to be. It was moving and inspiring to see the transformation our campers underwent in just a week. A banquet followed, and the evening closed with a dance.
New Heights does not happen without its incredible volunteers. As those who pour into the campers, it is important for staff to be spiritually nourished as well. New Heights was blessed to have five lead pastors and five elders attend. With their help we were able to have a morning devotion each day for staff members.
SEP Montana
This report is from camp director Tobe Johnson.
SEP Montana is a faith-based community youth camp held on the banks of Canyon Ferry Lake near Helena, Montana. It was started by Living Hope Fellowship, a GCI congregation. Staff are recruited primarily from community churches, and campers come from across the community. 2015 was our ninth year. We had 116 campers and 60 staff members.
We faced many challenges this year, including learning in March that our regular camp location was unavailable. But God provided and we found another location that gives us room to grow. Though some of our regular staff were unable to participate due to the change of dates, God provided new staff members and allowed existing ones to move into new roles. The change of dates also caused problems with campers’ schedules. We had to refund some deposits. Despite these challenges (or perhaps because of them) we had the best camp ever.
This year, due to GenMin Converge conference participant donations, we were able to add a new dorm for girls (we use tents for dorms). This year we also added a Staff in Training (SIT) Program for kids who are still campers, but show interest in becoming members of our camp staff.
This year we had 44 church and community donor sponsors—a new record for us. We are happy to partner with various church and community organizations to make a difference in kids’ lives. Those organizations include Kiwanis, Wal-Mart and Staples. Our largest donor core is made up of GCI groups, including GCI churches in our region. Thank you!
This year 22 people committed their lives to Christ, including Michael (not his real name) who is about 12 years old. His interactions with several staff members throughout the week went something like this:
Day 1, to our Christian Living teacher: “I’m a wiccan. Don’t try to convert me.”
Day 2, to another staff member: “Actually, I’m not a wiccan, but my mom is.”
Day 3, to another staff member: “I actually might want to get baptized someday, but not this year.
Day 4: “I think I might want to get baptized this year. Do you think that I can?”
It is our policy to ask parents about baptism on their child’s applications. Michael’s application had checked: “Do not baptize child. Do not call to ask.” Our chaplain explained this to Michael and how we honor our parents and how God will watch over him until a later time when he could get baptized. He seemed to understand and take it all well. God reached out to Michael in 2015 and we all got to witness to it.
This year we baptized 30 campers and staff members in Canyon Ferry Lake—the highest count in our camp history. Another group camping nearby heard about our baptism service and one of the women in that group asked if she could be baptized. In the middle of her camp, with 15 or so of her friends listening in, we talked about baptism, what it pictures, and about God’s unconditional love for us all. At the end of our time, I told her that if she wanted to be baptized, show up at our baptism service, and we would be glad to baptize her. As we were standing out in the water on Friday morning, with a line of kids and staff waiting their turn to enter the water, I looked back at the shore and there she was—standing in line with the rest of those waiting their turn!
GCI-USA Regional Pastor Randy Bloom provided this update concerning Stephen Larison, son of Eric and Sue Larison. Eric pastors GCI’s congregation in Syracuse, New York. Randy had the honor of leading a special “blessing ceremony” for Stephen the day he left to enter the U.S. Naval Academy. At the end of the ceremony, all present sang the hymn mentioned below. Randy said it was a particularly moving ceremony (no dry eyes!), since Randy had performed a blessing of children ceremony for Stephen just after he was born.
Eric and Sue Larison pictured with their son Stephen.
It has been a momentous year for Eric and Sue Larison along with their son Stephen, who graduated from high school on June 28 and was inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) on July 1. Steve also had been offered appointments to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a full ROTC scholarship to the University of Rochester. The decision was not easy, but Steve felt he would have the most opportunities by going to the USNA as part of the Class of 2019. Steve started classes there following “I-Day” and “Plebe Summer.” He is now serving as a member of the USNA’s Drum and Bugle Corps (if you watch a Navy football game you might see Steve performing in the half-time show).
An Eagle Scout, Steve has many other accomplishments to his credit. At his high school graduation, he received awards for leadership, community service, athletics, and academics, and his peers selected him to be the honors graduate speaker. Steve also received several scholarships including the Driver/Sweet Scholarship, one of the top scholarships offered to graduates from his high school (his father Eric received the same scholarship 37 years ago). He also was awarded the Lt. Patrick Kelly Connor, USN, Scholarship to help develop new leaders with Christian values in the United States Military.
During high school, Steve was active in his GCI congregation and in a local Young Life chapter. At the USNA, he is part of the a choir serving the USNA Chapel most Sundays during the academic year.
Steve’s GCI congregation in Syracuse now sings the hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” (known as the “Navy Hymn”—click here to watch an excerpt on YouTube). The fourth verse of the hymn is the congregation’s prayer for Steve:
O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren shield in danger’s hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them where so e’er they go; Thus evermore shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
In a GCI Weekly Update letter on LGBT issues, I noted that singleness should be viewed as a spiritual gift. In this letter I’ll develop that thought further, beginning with the related topic of Spirit-anointed humanity. As noted by the apostle John, Jesus was given the Holy Spirit “without limit” (John 3:34). By the Spirit’s power, Jesus performed the miracles we read about in the four Gospels. Those miracles were a testimony both to the Spirit’s power and to the fullness of the godhead in Christ. A.W. Tozer put it this way:
While our Lord Jesus was on earth, he did not accomplish his great deeds of power in the strength of his deity. I believe he did them all in the strength and authority of his Spirit-anointed humanity (Jesus, Our Man in Glory).
Dove of the Holy Spirit by Bernini (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
While remaining eternally one with the Spirit in his divinity, Jesus was “filled” with the Spirit in his humanity. On our behalf, Jesus had the Spirit in a human way so that we, mere human beings, could have the Spirit dwelling within us. As we follow Jesus, our human spirits are joined to the Spirit-anointed humanity of Jesus.
Thus the new life we have in Christ is from the indwelling Spirit, who then gifts us for ministry with Jesus. Paul explains this gifting in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14, where he exhorts Christians to eagerly desire spiritual gifts (Greek: charismata), which are given not for personal benefit, but to build up the body of Christ. Even though some gifts are more visible than others, all are needed for the proper functioning of the church in its mission to the world. The charismata of singleness is one such gift, and a vital one at that.
Unfortunately, many have not recognized singleness as the gift from God that it is. It is often wrongly reasoned that since marriage is a blessing from God, being single must not be a blessing. Some go so far as to state that it’s contrary to God’s will to remain single. Can you imagine how this wrong-headed message is heard by those who remain single, either by choice or for other reasons (such as needing to leave an abusive marriage)? The reality is that singleness and marriage are both gifts from God, though these gifts (like all spiritual gifts) are not permanent, personal possessions. Marriages end, and widows and widowers, now single, are also gifts of God to the church (my dad often referred to a group of widows he served as his “prayer warriors”).
When we are in a relationship with the Lord, we are able to find purpose and contentment in all the circumstances we face (excluding those that contradict God’s holiness), knowing that God, who is ever-faithful and full of grace, gives us all we need. Being content does not mean being free from unfulfilled desire. In Christ, all our desires are being redeemed, transformed and reordered. But as we look to Christ daily, and seek to serve others in his name, we find that his grace is indeed sufficient for the day. We are content in him and in being channels of his grace as members of his body, the church.
Note how Paul addresses his own singleness as a spiritual gift from God:
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift [charismata] from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do (1 Corinthians 7:7-8).
Here Paul identifies singleness and marriage as God’s gifts. Given the circumstances of that time, Paul favored singleness, but he noted that both singleness and marriage bear witness to God’s purposes and faithfulness. Though careful not to denigrate marriage (as some in Corinth were doing), Paul wanted the church as a whole, and unmarried persons in particular, to understand the benefits of remaining single:
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-35).
In honoring marriage in the church today, we often forget (or even dismiss) what Paul says about singleness being a special gift from God. That is a mistake we need to avoid.
When Jesus, in Matthew 19, conversed with his disciples about marriage, divorce and singleness, he used the term εὐνοῦχος (eunoúxos), which figuratively means someone who voluntarily chooses a life of sexual abstinence (when used in the literal sense, the word refers to one who is castrated). This Greek term is translated as the English word eunuch, and refers to those who cannot produce children, as well as those who remain single due to life circumstances. Note this exhortation from Jesus:
Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it (Matthew 19:11-12 ESV).
Like Paul, Jesus viewed singleness as a gift—something that “given,” that some are able to “receive.” For Jesus, singleness is a gift that some in the body of Christ are able to receive for the sake of unencumbered service to the kingdom of God.
We’ve all witnessed the giftedness of those who, being single, are able to serve others, taking on extensive responsibilities in and outside the church because they don’t have the same responsibilities as those who are married and raising children. I’m not suggesting we take advantage of those who are single—far from it. My intent is to bring attention to the unique ways a single person can use his or her gifting to serve not themselves but serve God and his church. Such selfless service is not a natural occurrence (singles can be just as self-centered as marrieds!). Selfless giving comes from the Father who loves us and by his Spirit strengthens us and sets us free to up-build the body of Christ and bear faithful witness to the world.
I’ve been personally blessed by many adults who, remaining single, have dedicated their lives to serving others as prayer warriors and in countless other ways. We thank God for the gift of singleness, just as we thank him for the gift of marriage and the many other gifts by which he builds up the church for its ministry with Jesus to the world.
Thom Rainer of LifeWay, in a recent post on his blog, noted five ways some senior adult churches were able to become younger. In that post he made this important comment:
I am not suggesting there is anything inherently wrong with a congregation of senior adults. But I have been asked on numerous occasions how these churches can possibly reach younger families. Rather than give you my own subjective opinions, let me share with you five different ways some churches have actually accomplished this feat.
On a related note, Haydn Shaw, in his book Sticking Points, wrote this:
Hoping your church can reach everyone puts the focus on your church, not on the people you’re trying to reach, and in no time you’ll be asking the dead-end question again. Go young or grow old together—both benefit the Kingdom of God. Just don’t fool yourself into thinking you can do both if you keep doing what you’ve been doing (p. 207).
For a summary by Ed Stetzer of the key points in Shaw’s book, click here.
Here from GCI-Canada retired pastor Willi Mandel is an update related to a previous prayer request concerning his health.
I received some good news recently. A cat-scan showed that my tumor has not grown since last year. The doctor asked how I have been feeling the last few months—I said I felt OK. He gave me a print-out of the scan results, which show that my tumor may be a thymic neoplasm (thyoma or thymic carcinoma). He suggested another scan in nine months. The scan also showed that I have severe coronary artery calcification. I have an appointment with another doctor in October to follow up on that issue. Thank you for your prayers so far, and now I request prayer about this new issue.
Cards may be sent to:
Wilhelm and Ingrid Mandel 747 Tanner Drive Kingston, ON K7M 9G7 CANADA
A Renewal Church cohort that includes 18 pastors and ministry leaders from the U.S. Western Region met recently at GCI’s home office in Glendora, California. The group meets regularly to sharpen its outreach ministries by receiving training in methods for connecting with and discipling unchurched people.
During the meeting, encouraging stories were shared concerning steps forward in these important aspects of being disciple-making churches. GCI Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM) national coordinator Heber Ticas (standing in the picture below), provided training on the topics of small groups, ministry shift (changing ministry paradigms), and other important aspects of disciple-making ministry. The cohort was challenged regarding ways to change the culture within their congregations to be more fully-aligned with the incarnational, community-oriented nature of Jesus’ ongoing ministry to the world.
Since Christians fellowship by eating together, the group shared a wonderful lunch that provided time for relationship-building.
This update is from Emmanuel Okai, National Ministry Leader for GCI Ghana.
The 2015 Annual Convention of Ghana was simultaneously held in Lolobi-Kumasi and Kutunse. About 150 attended at Lolobi–Kumasi where the theme was “Come celebrate the goodness of God.” Meetings were held at the town square, providing opportunities to minister to members of the community.
About 500 attended in Kutunse, where the theme was based on John 14:3. Meetings were filled with music and dance (see pictures below) and various groups and individuals gave special music in praise of the Lord, whose coming was celebrated with great anticipation. During the convention, deacons and deaconesses were ordained to serve two local congregations, and little children were blessed. A highlight of the convention was the musical presentations from various congregations including a children’s choir that performed a musical skit in which the Apostles Creed was recited. A new group named Couples for Christ GCI was inaugurated to help young couples experience a stable married life, and to be involved in community service projects. Convention activities included hiking, family day, and a visit to Pastor Alfred Ablordeppey who is unwell. Prayers for his healing are requested.
GCI’s Crossing Borders mission organization will be embarking on its 20th trip into Mexico on December 11-14. Ages 15-99 are invited to come along. On this trip (among many activities), participants will hand-deliver shoeboxes full of supplies and gifts to children in Mexico. For more information about attending or about sending shoebox gifts, go to cbmission.org/ or telephone 903-746-4463.
