Ministry Training Center (MTC) Dedication

God is so faithful, friends. It’s been 5 years of dreaming, following what God placed in our hearts, stepping out in faith, and joining with the incredible generosity from our denomination, sister churches, and amazing members. It’s been 5 years of tears, prayer, awe, and more joy than can be expressed. After 5 years, and by the grace of God, we celebrate the dedication of our brand-new Church and Ministry Training Center facility in Surrey Hills! Praise God!

While my gratitude cannot be fully captured with words, my heart is exploding with so much humility and thankfulness. This year, my family and I celebrate ten years with GCI. The ways in which God has used this denomination to impact and change the course of our lives are indescribable. I’ve always believed that God has a plan for our denomination and churches in ways that we cannot fathom. Not only have I believed that, but I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

As I write, there is so much joy filling my heart, as I celebrate the fact that I have the honor of being the Ministry Training Center Coordinator for this incredible program. I look forward to working with young people who have a calling to pastoral ministry and spending time alongside them as God uses their hearts and gifts to participate in His Great Commission of making disciples. I am so excited to think “outside the box” and empower and equip these young people to be healthy leaders, being careful to fuel their passions, rather than suppress them.

After years of searching for land, God moved through relationship, and we were able to secure the most beautiful place in Surrey Hills nestled on an amazing pond in the heart of our target neighborhood. Three years later, here we are! We dedicated this building to the amazing God who gave it. This special event took place on Saturday, January 29th in the new MTC building. We dedicated the building to our great God and to the furtherance of His kingdom work. Dr. Randy Bloom (GCI Board Chair), Dr. Greg Williams (GCI President), Michael Rasmussen (GCI Superintendent, North America & Caribbean), and Mathew Morgan (GCI Chief Financial Officer) joined us for this special occasion. The day started at 9:30am in the Welcome Center where drinks and light snacks were served. We then moved into the Sanctuary for a thirty-minute Dedication Ceremony.

As we celebrate all God has done and continues to do, we also pause and relish in his goodness with so much gratitude for all the people he has used to help make this happen! We are so excited. We are overflowing with joy and hope. We are compelled by his love to celebrate this momentous occasion. We are GCI!

By Ceeja Malmkar
Ministry Training Center Coordinator