Joseph, Tammy and Greg attend conference in Australia
Joseph and Tammy Tkach and Greg Williams recently attended a conference for GCI pastors and members held in Australia’s Gold Coast. They joined more than 230 people attending from six countries. The conference provided an opportunity to say “farewell” to outgoing President Joseph Tkach and his wife Tammy, and to welcome Greg Williams, who will become GCI president at the end of this year.
The conference was a wonderfully warm occasion for fellowship and learning. As one participant noted, “What an excellent conference. We love our church, and are grateful for the journey we have shared. We are going away encouraged and motivated to continue in faith, hope and love with renewed clarity and enthusiasm.” Another said, “We loved the interview format and learned so much. We appreciate the prayerful and professional transition taking place—so good to see the relationship between Joe and Greg.” As shown in the picture below, a highlight of the conference was the ordination of Daphne Sidney.
Joseph Tkach shared this concerning the conference:
Tammy and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Queensland for our Australian Conference. It was like a family reunion and a celebration! The praise music and the worship were excellent, and the food and fellowship were abundant. Even though I retire this year, we are planning a return visit in the future.
The McLeans and Tkachs
Greg Williams shared this:
I was overwhelmed by how receptive and welcoming the people were toward me. It was a lovely reunion since my last visit to Australia was in 1982 for SEP. I noticed among our members a deep appreciation about our past and a very positive spirit about our future. Daphne’s ordination, which reflects her deeper dive into ministry, was exciting. She has wonderful experiences and skill sets that should serve our Australian pastors and churches very well.
Greg visits New Zealand
Greg addressing members
Prior to meeting up with Joseph and Tammy in Australia, Greg spent three days visiting members and leaders in New Zealand. In church services during the visit, Greg gave a sermon titled “The Big Picture” in which he gave an overview of his vision for GCI’s future. He addressed the goal of developing healthy churches and outlined other goals as well as the structure and culture of GCI going forward. Pastor Dennis Richards submitted this report about Greg’s visit:
What a joy it was to have Greg Williams swing by Wellington, one of GCI’s most southerly congregations. Our gathering started with a finger-foods lunch allowing all to stand around and chat, so by the time services began, Greg had already met many who came. Our service began with an informal Mihi (greetings) given by Louis Smith in Maori, Samoan and English, followed by an explanation of the Maori welcoming customs by Janis Murton, who also spoke in Maori and English. At the heart of Greg’s sermon were his projections for advancing our vision for living and sharing the gospel, and how what he foresees for our future connects to and emerges from what has been accomplished under Joseph Tkach’s leadership. Generally, the word afterward was how much all were encouraged by the message, and how much each appreciated his effort in coming so far to visit us.
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We have requested prayer for Pedro Rufián, GCI pastor in Spain who is battling prostate cancer. Here is an update from Pedro:
Thanks to God I have good news to share in regard to my treatment. I recently returned from the hospital where I received the 6th, and last, chemotherapy treatment. Before that the oncologist told me that based on recent blood tests, the prostate cancer I was diagnosed with in January “is asleep and under control with no metastasis found.” I will need to continue follow-up controls, trusting in our Triune God who is the one who sustains our lives. I rest in him, having incredible peace of mind and comfort. Thank you very much for your prayers for me during this trying time.
Cards may be sent to Pedro and his wife Brigida at:
Mr. and Mrs. Pedro Rufián Real 26 E-28610 VILLAMANTA SPAIN
Come celebrate the life and love of God our Father, poured out lavishly on humanity through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit! Meet believing brothers and sisters from all over the world! You are invited to the 4th annual “Father Loves and Likes You!” Celebration, to be held in Ocean City, Maryland on October 11-14, 2018. To download the information/registration form, click here.
View from the Holiday Inn where the celebration will be held.
GCI’s congregation in Bowling Green, KY (pictured below), celebrated its 50th anniversary on Pentecost Sunday. The celebration was led by Facilitator Bonnie Ferranti and the sermon was given by guest speaker Lloyd Briggie. The celebration capped off with lunch at a local restaurant.
We are saddened to announce the death of Dr. John McKenna, long-time Professor at Grace Communion Seminary and Ambassador University. John also served as theological advisor to GCI’s President, Joseph Tkach. John, who was born in October 1935, died peacefully in his sleep on May 23. Joseph Tkach shared this about John:
John McKenna
John was a mentor to me for many years, and I’ll greatly miss having him as my spiritual big brother. I witnessed first-hand his great joy for teaching Christ-centered, Trinitarian theology—especially in helping others see how the Old Testament points to Jesus. Just a week before he died, John told me he was resting up, so he would be ready to teach his next GCS course. I recall several occasions when a loved one had died, and John would say to me, “They are now in eternity with our Triune God, and there is nothing better than that reality!” Though I will miss him greatly, I rejoice that this is now John’s reality.
Cards may be sent to John’s wife:
Mickey McKenna PO Box 3204 South Pasadena, CA 91031-6204
Here is a profile on GCI Pastor Daniel Zachariah, who serves in the northern part of India (click on the image below to enlarge). For a video of an interview with Danny, click here.
Though I was told that I was my paternal granddad’s favorite grandchild, it didn’t always seem that way to me—he was a strict disciplinarian. Because he died when I was young, I didn’t know him well, though I did know he was something special by the way my parents, aunts and uncles honored him—especially on his wedding anniversary and on Father’s Day.
Father’s Day is celebrated in the U.S. and 69 other countries on the third Sunday in June (some other countries celebrate it in September). Last year in Australia there was quite a furor over the notion of changing the name to “Special Person’s Day.” Some reasoned the change would ensure that children without dads would not feel excluded from the celebration. While it behooves us to include children who don’t have at-home dads, I don’t think a name change would help much—we’d also have to change the name of Mother’s Day and several other holidays to avoid exclusion or offense. My only complaint about Father’s Day is that, because it falls on Sunday, we fathers don’t get a day off work!
Father’s Day and Mother’s Day celebrations give us opportunity to obey the commands given in the Bible to honor our parents. However, those commands present a problem for people who have had abusive parents. What are they supposed to do? While there are no easy answers, it’s important to remember three things: First, that God fully understands what those who were hurt by their parents endured—he sees and cares. Second, that giving honor does not mean condoning or continuing to endure abuse. Third, that the ability to honor those who have abused us does not come from within—it’s a gift from God that involves sharing in the mind of Jesus who willingly died for undeserving sinners (Romans 5:8). With Jesus, by the Spirit, we can give honor to those who don’t deserve it. We do so by looking beyond the pain they’ve caused, and instead of seeking revenge, seeing them as a child created by God. Don’t get me wrong, God does not love the pain they have caused, but he does love the child he created.
“Picture of Faith” by Liz Lemon Swindle (used with permission)
Though we may not know all the factors that led a parent to be abusive, we know God did not create them that way and does not want them to remain that way. We also know that our Lord says, “love your enemies,” “pray for those who persecute you,” and “turn the other cheek.” Jesus also says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32). The apostle Paul adds in 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 that we should regard no one (parents included) from a merely human point of view—instead, we should see them in relationship to Jesus, who intends that they become new creations in him, by the Spirit. When we ask God to help us see an abusive parent in that way, our hearts begin to change. We find ourselves less focused on their bad behavior and more focused on the person God created them to be.
Let me emphasize that we are not called to honor our parents on our own power. Instead, enabled by the Holy Spirit, we see them in the light of Christ—the light of what our Lord intends for them. In that light, we are able to honor our parents because we know that Jesus, as Mediator, stands between us and them—he is Lord and Savior of that relationship. We also know and trust that Jesus’ purposes for us cannot be thwarted by bad parenting. Through him and by him we have a heavenly Father who graciously rules over all earthly fathers (and mothers).
Giving honor to a parent is not mere emotion—it’s an attitude that comes from faith, hope and love in God through Christ and by the Spirit. Also, giving honor does not require a positive relationship (in some cases, a face-to-face relationship with a badly abusive parent is not possible). Nevertheless, Jesus calls upon us to rise above the bad relationship to extend honor, even if from afar. We do so by focusing on our relationship with Jesus, who enables us to grow into his maturity, including his ability to love the unlovely. We do so remembering how Jesus showed incredible honor toward us when we were completely dishonorable.
One last thought: When children see parents honoring their parents, they will likely imitate that behavior. Despite the challenges, honoring others is a healthy activity for others as well as for ourselves.
