Click the image below for the 2019 February Prayer Guide.
Year: 2019
Regional Celebration Registration
Don’t Miss Out! West USA Regional Celebration Closes February 25th.
In 2019, GCI will host 5 Regional Celebrations in the USA:
- April 5 – 7 West – Portland, OR
- June 7 – 9 Central – Dallas, TX
- June 21 – 23 Southeast – Charlotte, NC
- September 27 – 29 North Central – Noblesville, IN
- October 25 – 27 East – Ocean City, MD
Click the image below to for more information and registration options.
Devotional – What’s in Your Backpack?
Most of us are not strangers to traveling, whether it be a daily commute or long-haul travel. Our trip to the U.S. Conference in October lasted 20 hours with several stopovers. Upon arrival in America, we were in a rush to get through the airport. As we hurriedly emptied our pockets and removed our bags for security, my backpack passed through the X-ray machine but something was detected so it was stopped and brought back. The staff motioned for me to bring it over for inspection and asked me, “What’s in your backpack?” As it turned out, it was an unsuspecting stapler that caused the delay.
With life often compared to a journey, it would be good to regularly evaluate what we carry with us. What is in our “backpack” says something about our values, priorities, and aspirations. There may be things that should be there but aren’t. At times, we may be carrying things that are nice to have, but not really necessary. We may also be unsuspectingly taking along things that delay us by distracting us or weighing us down.
Hebrews 12:1 comes to mind, “therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…”
We can be weighed down by physical baggage, in terms of too much dependence on people or material things. It can be emotional baggage – like resentment, discontent, envy, and insecurity. It could be spiritual baggage – like guilt, legalism, self-righteousness, or sinful habits we refuse to confront. Sometimes these are clearly evident to us. Sometimes though, further introspection is required to come to terms with what is in our “backpack”, and what we should or shouldn’t take along.
At the crossroads of another year, let us rest and reflect on what we have been carrying with us. Allow God to search our heart and detect what does not belong there. What are the things we should not leave and live without? In this journey, let us make room for what matters – the joy of salvation, hope for the kingdom, boldness for the gospel, and passion for God and for the people he has called us to love. Happy travels!
Prayer: Lord, in this life we all go through, you are with us all the way. Let nothing hold us back, or weigh us down, but rather, refresh us, and help us fix our eyes on you. In Jesus name, Amen.
By Eugene Guzon
In His Steps
Dear GCI Family,
While touring the most popular attraction in Charlotte, I was struck by some coincidental characteristics between myself and the personality for whom the museum was honoring. The video film introduced our main character as, “A southern farm boy from North Carolina who became a gospel preacher and worldwide evangelist.” You may have guessed that I was touring the Billy Graham Library and my “aha moment” was, “Hey, I too am a southern farm boy from North Carolina, and a preacher of the gospel.” It feels good to associate with the likes of Billy Graham (though I don’t have any notions of filling stadiums as he did).
Over the course of the tour I saw more insights into Graham that intrigued me. He had a friendly relationship with every US President from Harry Truman forward. There were pictures of him playing tennis and golf with a few presidents. There were other shots with him at retreat sites or their personal properties, like Lyndon Johnson’s farm in Texas, or George Bush’s vacation home in Maine. Billy Graham was active, athletic and a rather “normal” guy who was good company to presidents and ordinary people alike. I aspire to be rather normal myself.
During his long and storied life of 99 years, Graham displayed humility. He readily admitted that his wife Ruth was a better Bible student than he was. He touted Ruth as being his chief spiritual counselor throughout his ministry. Again, I felt a kinship with him knowing just how important Susan is to me.
Another similarity is that Billy Graham’s greatest attribute was pointing others to Jesus. At his best, Graham was simply reflecting the Jesus in him. More than any aspiration to be like Billy Graham or any other spiritual leader, my greatest aspiration is to be like Jesus. I’m sure this is your aspiration as well.
In several gospel accounts, Jesus was a regular party guest, and I bet he would have fit very well into the social scene of spending time with the presidents of our modern era. Both Matthew and Luke identify Jesus as a “friend of sinners,” and they add glutton and drunkard to their critical review. Ironically, the “friend of sinners” label was meant as a criticism and yet it is one of the highest compliments awarded Jesus. I hope the same label will be awarded to the leadership of GCI. It is a mystery how religious people want their leaders to be other-worldly instead of approachable and likable.
The apostle Peter challenges believers to be like Jesus and to follow in his steps. In his first letter, he reminds us we have been called to be like Jesus in our patient endurance, especially in the light of unmerited suffering. What!?! How am I supposed to do that in a world that has programmed me to stand up for my rights and to fight back against any type of abusive treatment? It is only in the vicarious humanity of Christ that I find the strength to walk in his steps; it is Jesus who has saved me from sin and death, and only him living in me can empower me to endure the struggles of this life.
Following in the steps of Jesus is different from the typical protégé coming along behind a senior mentor and trying to follow his or her pattern of life. Following Jesus is also more than reading about Jesus in the pages of the Bible and then, through our determination and human effort, striving somehow to be like him. Following in the steps of Jesus means actively walking with him, in communion, continually relying on him, and becoming more and more like him in this Christian journey known as sanctification.
The bottom line is that Jesus is more than a historical example. He is the God-Man who is real, relational, and desires to make his home in every single human. Following Jesus means more than admiring him and hoping to be like him. It means participating with him and coming to the realization that we can do all things only through him (Phil 4:13; John 15:5).
From this southern farm boy who shares some commonalities with the late Billy Graham, allow me to echo the sentiment of pointing you to a day-by-day vibrant relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus. As the great evangelist said, “I have never known anyone to accept Christ’s redemption and later regret it.”
Walking with him,
Greg Williams
Crossing Borders Winter 2018 Trip
Fully Engaged in Mission
December 7-10, 2018 marked the 26th trip into Mexico for Crossing Borders—a GCI-chartered missions team. As we’ve done on previous winter trips, we were able to personally distribute hundreds of shoebox gifts filled with necessary and fun items to the children.
Our group of 21 missionaries included some experienced hands and several who were brand-new to the missions experience. We had our first expectant mother on the trip—and we pampered her. And for a man and woman who met online only a month before, this mission trip was their “first date”—the first time they had spent time together in person.
Our theme was “Engage”—for each person on our missions team to make special effort to be alert, involved and engaged in every aspect of the trip. Whether loading shoeboxes into the vans, singing songs at a church, listening to a Bible message, taking photos of the children and their families, visiting one-on-one with a child or church leader, eating a meal together, or sharing worship in our chapel service—to be fully engaged in what is going on, what God is providing at that moment.
I wish each of you could be with us to see the smiles and hear the squeals of joy from the kids, to see the looks of gratitude from the parents, and to share the heartfelt conversations with our Mexican ministry partners.
We always take special resources with us to share on these trips. It might be a Bible commentary or an inspirational book for a pastor or orphanage leader, boxes of craft items that can be assembled and sold by the people to create some added income for their households, or songs or a drama that we perform during our trip.
On this trip, the children at one of the churches staged a skit of the biblical birth story of Jesus with full costumes. As we watched them tell the story, we realized that they were performing the skit based on the text of a printed flyer we had inserted into all the shoebox gifts last year. So they had utilized this resource to involve their own children learning and sharing the Gospel. God multiplies the resources!
We are so thankful for all those who participate by sending boxes and praying for the mission trips. Your support makes a great positive difference in the lives of hundreds of people who need to see God’s love in action. Muchas Gracias!
Our next trip week-long trip is scheduled for June 22-30, 2019, with details on www.cbmission.org. Come join us or tell a friend!
P.S. We are in need of attendees who speak Spanish and can serve as translators. We also need someone to stay at the base camp and serve as our cook/camp host. If the Holy Spirit pricks your heart to consider serving in either of these ways, please contact Lee Berger at 903-746-4463.
Photo Contest
Do you attend a GCI church? Enter to win our 2018-2019 GCI Photo Contest and submit photos of your healthy church.
Prizes include, $100, $200, and $300 Amazon gift cards!
For more information go to: https://resources.gci.org/photocontest
Meet Franklin Paupens
GC Launch
GC Launch was a weekend celebration and leadership development event for high school juniors and seniors within GCI’s Generations Ministry. Over the course of the weekend, participants were introduced to and loved on by GCI leaders and the Home Office Team. They received a behind the scenes look at the ministries of GCI.
Honoring David and Hinka Gilbert’s Service
On January 6, the Garwood, NJ, congregation honored David and Hinka Gilbert on their retirement after 34 years of pastoral ministry. We all love them and thank them for their dedication and loving service in Christ and pray they experience every blessing possible as they follow Jesus into this new chapter of their lives.
At the same time, the new pastoral team was installed by Randy Bloom, east regional director. The team includes John Adams, Richard Brothers, and Robert Tyson, Jr.
Regional Celebrations Registration
Register Now for a Regional Celebration Near You
In 2019, GCI will host 5 Regional Celebrations in the USA:
- April 5 – 7 West – Portland, OR
- June 7 – 9 Central – Dallas, TX
- June 21 – 23 Southeast – Charlotte, NC
- September 27 – 29 North Central – Noblesville, IN
- October 25 – 27 East – Ocean City, MD
Click the image below to for more information and registration options.
