We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Jane Nolder, wife of Nevin Nolder, who pastors a GCI congregation in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Jane’s death from complications due to cancer was unexpected—the couple had been led to believe that they had more time together. A memorial service will be held on Feb 17.
Please join us in prayer for Nevin and his family.
Cards may be sent to:
Nevin Nolder
4690 253rd Ave NW
Isanti, MN 55040
GCI’s congregation in Charleston, South Carolina, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Two years ago, the congregation, led by Pastor Tommie Grant and his wife Robin (pictured at right), moved into their own church building. After much prayer concerning where God would have them locate, the building, which had been vacant for two years, became available. It has served since then as an effective place from which the congregation reaches out to the surrounding community.
The anniversary celebration was special as the congregation thanked God for his provision. The event drew guests from the community along with family and friends. The guest preacher was Charles Young who pastors a GCI congregation in Atlanta, GA. It was a joyous day!
We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Sam Templeton, former pastor of GCI’s congregation in Cambridge, Ohio.
A long time member of GCI, Sam (pictured at right) was baptized in 1966 and first attended WCG in Wheeling, WV. Sam was a founding member of the WCG/GCI congregation in Cambridge, OH, where he served as a deacon, elder and lead pastor. Due to declining health, Sam retired from serving as lead pastor in 2005.
A US Navy veteran, Sam was employed as a deputy sheriff and a private investigator. He was widely known and highly regarded, and will be missed by many, including the GCI members in the area.
Sam is survived by his wife Dorothy, who lives in Woodsfield, Ohio.
Cards may be sent to:
Templeton family
111 Young Ave
Woodsfield, Oh. 43973
GCI Vice President Greg Williams recently announced the following changes to GCI’s denominational leadership in Africa.
Kalengule Kaoma (pictured at right with his wife Nsama) has been appointed to serve as Director over all GCI churches on the continent of Africa. In making the announcement, Greg wrote this to the GCI mission developers, regional directors and national ministry leaders in Africa:
We are confident that Kalengule will provide thoughtful and effective oversight for all of the regions that make up the vast continent of Africa. We congratulate Kalengule and ask that you support him as he endeavors to serve you in the gospel work of Jesus Christ.
Greg also announced that Takalani Musekwa (pictured at left with his wife Margaret) was approved by GCI’s South Africa Board to serve as the new National Ministry Leader for GCI in the nation of South Africa (RSA). Takalani will be working with a national ministry team that will share the office previously held by Tim Maguire.
Greg thanked Tim for his 10 years of service as RSA National Ministry Leader. As Greg noted, 2017 was a very trying year for Tim, capped off by a serious injury to his foot and ankle. Tim resigned from his denominational leadership position in November, but will continue serving the church in South Africa in a volunteer capacity.
We solicit your prayers and support for this new phase of GCI denominational leadership in South Africa and all the continent of Africa.
In the last issue of GCI Update, prayer was requested for Pedro Rufián, GCI pastor in Spain. Here is recent update from Pedro:
Thank you very much for the outpouring of love, concern, prayers, messages and phone calls. I just came back from a visit to the urologist. She told me that I have grade two prostate cancer, with some metastasis into my bones. I will have hormone treatments for 15 days, followed by chemotherapy. My family and I trust in our loving Father as our ultimate Healer and in his perfect will for our lives, so we have peace and confidence knowing our triune God is always with us to comfort and strengthen us. I will continue to appreciate your prayers for my family and me at this challenging time.
Cards may be sent to Pedro and his wife Brigida at:
Mr. and Mrs. Pedro Rufián
Real 26
E-28610 VILLAMANTA
SPAIN
Prayer is requested for Warren Wilson who pastors GCI’s congregation in Mineral Wells, West Virginia.
Warren had his gall bladder removed recently but had to return to the hospital due to complications, including a great deal of pain. Please pray that God will guide the doctors in diagnosing and treating Warren, and please pray for Warren’s wife Lorrain.
Cards may be sent to
Warren and Lorrain Wilson
220 Waverly Way
Clarksburg, WV 26301-4047
PS: Here is an update we received from Warren on Feb. 14: “I was just released from the hospital following an 11 day hospital stay for a bowel obstruction, which was cured by laprascopic surgery. I want to thank you all for your prayers and support.
Prayer is requested for Jodie Haist, wife of Brad Haist, pastor of GCI congregations in Flint and Saginaw, Michigan.
Jodie is scheduled to have a second back surgery on February 15. Brad says she is in great pain, and they are praying for relief. According to Brad, this surgery will involve rods, screws and more.
Please pray for Jodie and the surgical team.
Cards may be sent to:
Jodie Haist 618 9th Street Sebewaing, MI 48759-1211The last GCI Denominational Conference was held last August in Orlando, FL (click here for videos). The next one will be held in 2020 at a location near GCI’s new International Home Office in Charlotte, NC. It will start on July 29 and end on August 2 (this is different than previously announced).
We were saddened to learn of the recent death of retired WCG/GCI pastor, Carlton Smith. Carlton graduated from Ambassador College in Pasadena, CA, in 1956, where, as a student, he participated in two U.S. baptizing tours. Carlton then pastored WCG congregations in Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington and California. Following retirement, he resided in Visalia, CA, then most recently in Solvang, CA.
Carlton is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beverly, his son Douglas Smith, his daugther Aletha Mann (wife of GCI Assistant Pastor Brad Mann), and his daughther Carlene Jones. Carlene wrote this in tribute to her father:
One of his greatest joys was serving the church for nearly forty years. We experienced so much through him and appreciated his favorite and often-quoted Bible verse, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). He has now achieved that glory and left us with a love for Christ and the pursuit of our Christian faith with deep reverence, sincerity and confidence that all things work for the good of those who believe. We joke that he made it from Mississippi to the resurrection, a tremendous journey in which we were privileged to share.
Cards may be sent to:
Beverly Smith
1651 Laurel Ave
Solvang, CA 93463
February 7-14, 2018 will be celebrated by many churches in the U.S. as “National Marriage Week.” Endorsed by the National Association of Evangelicals and the U.S. Congress, its purpose is to advance a “collaborative campaign” that will “strengthen individual marriages, reduce the divorce rate, and build a culture that fosters strong marriages.” To learn more about National Marriage Week and to obtain related resources, go to https://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/.
Looking for sources to help you address marriage and family in your congregation or small group? Try these:
