Last April 21, Easter Sunday, was a time of rejoicing as we celebrated the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death. The promise of our risen Lord is particularly sobering now against the backdrop of the recent bombings in Sri Lanka which took place that morning.
Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to our GCI members, Christian brothers and sisters, and the whole nation as they mourn more than 300 people killed and 500 injured following the blasts in churches and hotels.
Let us pray for comfort in the depths of profound loss, peace in the midst of insecurity, and resilience in the midst of violence and fear. For those in our community who know people from Sri Lanka, I encourage you to reach out to them and be open to other ways we can help.
Psalm 46:1 tells us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. In the midst of painful circumstances, may this truth be made manifest in tender and personal ways, especially to those most affected by these attacks.
We Are GCI Series is a collection of videos where various GCI leaders and members are highlighted. In this episode, GCI Pastor, Mike Urmie, shares a little about himself with why he likes to serve in GCI and how he sets aside 30 minutes every day for his guilty pleasure.
And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25
Venturing out to sea can be an uncertain prospect. The weather can change quickly. In a small boat, the disciples of Jesus knew this all too well when they were caught in a storm for many hours. It must have been terrifying. When Jesus came to the disciples walking on water, it was around the fourth watch of the night. Though his friends had been in the storm for 6-10 hours, they were not lost to the depths; he was not too late. We can take encouragement from this passage that Jesus sees us in the storms of our lives, he is not distant, and disinterested. He is Emmanuel—“God with us.” Jesus not only has a solution he is the solution, and when revealed it will not be too late for us and we will not be lost!
Prayer: Father please help us rest in your faithful embrace. Jesus, it is awfully hard not to panic in the storm. Help us trust you for who you are and that you have rescued us already. And Holy Spirit, it is difficult to show love to others as we frantically bail water from our fragile boats. Please tutor us in the ways of love.
Can a parent ever forget their child? In the time of Isaiah, Israel’s literal complaint was that God had forgotten and forsaken them in their Babylonian captivity. “But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me’” (Isa. 49:14). I love God’s response: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isa. 49:15).
This most tender and affectionate picture that God gave, describing his love for his people, is one most of us can relate to—the picture of a mother’s love for her newborn child. After carrying a child in her womb for nine months, this new living creature, who is nourished and protected by her own body, is nursing at her breast. You can imagine the longing gaze shared between mother and baby. I can recall this very picture as I remember Susan with each of our three sons (doubly with twins Glenn and Garrett).
The wonder and sense of awe of mother to child are best expressed in the thoughts and response of Mary to her precious baby Jesus. The events of Luke chapter two are grander and greater than words can describe, but I shall give it a try.
At the birth of Jesus, in the humble setting of a stable, a visitation was made by shepherds who had been in the surrounding fields. They brought the tidings of good news—the Messiah had come. This was followed by a heavenly host of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).
Can you imagine the conversation between the shepherds and Joseph and Mary as each of them recounted their encounters with angels? They confirmed that each of these angelic meetings and announcements was connected and pointed to the one truth—the incarnation of Jesus is real, and God truly is with us. Glory to God in the highest!
Then Luke 2:19 tells us: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” This became Mary’s private meditation and her treasured storehouse of memories for her son Jesus. Isn’t this what mothers do? Mothers relish the quiet moments with their dear babies; they remember all the details and intricacies, and they have an overflow of positive hope and promise for their dear child. This is the mother’s heart.
Mother’s Day is a special day that pays tribute to our mothers. Appropriately, it is celebrated in many countries around the world at different points during the year. In the United States and Canada, Mother’s Day is held on the second Sunday in May (May 12th for 2019). In some other countries, such as Argentina and Ethiopia, mothering is celebrated in the autumn. No matter what specific day or season, let me echo GCI’s deep love and appreciation for all mothers. We celebrate you for who you are and what you do to care for our precious children.
As beautiful a picture as a mother’s love paints, please know that the love that Father, Son, and Spirit have for every human being far surpasses even that. You are beloved by the majestic God of the universe, so on this Mother’s Day and every other day – “Be loved!”
We Are GCI Series is a collection of videos where various GCI leaders and members are highlighted. In this episode, GCI Pastor, Anthony Walton, shares a little about himself with why he likes to serve in GCI and how his guilty pleasure has zero guilt.
The Women of Edgehill Community Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio would like to invite you to their 16th Annual LiLY (Living Life for You) Conference “Joy Intact,” held April 26th-28th, 2019 at the Embassy Suites in Beachwood, Ohio.
This is a weekend filled with wonderful worship, inspired speakers, lots of laughs and simply enjoying the presence of the Lord. The conference is attended by a diverse group of women and teens (Bonfire Sessions for ages 13-17) from every stage on their journey. We come from different churches and denominations. We are about meeting at the feet of Jesus and making him known.
We keep the registration prices low, meals are included, and you can fill your suite with up to six women to cut the cost of the hotel. This is a great opportunity for you, your family or group of friends to come together and share a weekend in Christ with no judgment or expectations.
This follow-up article was written by Anthony Mullins, GCI National Coordinator in charge of developing Pastoral Residents, Interns and Coaching. Anthony led an ACCM Intensive course on Christian Leadership directly following the Regional Celebration West on April 8 and 9.
We concluded the Portland intensive with ten credit students and one audit. It was a highly participatory atmosphere with rich interaction. I focused our time on the Christology of our Leader, Servant-Leadership, Team-Based Leadership, Coaching, Healthy Pastoral Leadership in the Community, and Formation.
I began the teaching by stating my motivation; they would all become a little better in their ministerial calling. What excites me is ten of the eleven participants requested to have a GCI-certified coach as a result of the class. It’s outstanding to know they will have the guidance, perspective, and accountability that comes with coaching, going forward. Several of them are currently working on a Ministry Action Plan.
The participants were highly complimentary of the depth of the workbook material. Well done ACCM team!
In an effort to make our resources more accessible, we have added a search feature in GCI.org that allows you to search all of our sites at the same time, including Equipper, Update, and Resources.GCI.org.
As shown in the image below, to search a keyword or phrase, click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the page. A search bar will open, and you can type into it, revealing relevant resources and articles from our database. Please refer to the following image for a visual guide.
