Thankfulness

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

Thankfulness is the conscious state of realizing benefits received and feeling a sense of appreciation. These tangible blessings received include kind gestures, positive experiences, helpful services, and generosity. The undergirding factor is that they all involve human connection and relationship. Perhaps, it’s by God’s design?

From childhood, we are taught to count our blessings. In most cases, many, many blessings. In a short time, the U.S. will be celebrating its traditional Thanksgiving holiday. In my family, we have a Thanksgiving ritual of going around the table and one by one sharing our personal stories of gratitude. This time of family reflection is always rich.

I am writing this letter in August, and I simply cannot wait to take my turn around the Thanksgiving table in November. So, I sit here, awake at 3:00 a.m. (recovering from jet lag after my recent trip to Australia). But more than jet lag keeping me up, I am energized and deeply grateful for such a blessed trip.

Being reunited with friends who are 9,000+ miles around the world in the southern hemisphere is a blessing in itself. Superintendent Daphne Sidney and her able staff are always courteous to pick me up with smiling faces and an Australian “Good Day, how are you going?” They provide me with comfortable lodging and pack the kitchen with enough fruit and snacks for a family of five. (I came home five pounds heavier!)

More than these kind acts, Daphne is keen to help me connect to a wide pool of relationships. Knowing that Urvashi Naker (Pastor Bharat Naker’s wife) was leaving on business, Daphne made sure that we shared dinner with the Nakers before Urvashi left. I am grateful that in GCI, connecting is first about friendship.

I got to spend my second day meeting and strategizing with the ACCM staff. Unfortunately, Director John McLean was unable to come into the office. He and Heather joined us for the opening meeting on Zoom. This was my opportunity to show appreciation to John for his 25+ years of leadership over ACCM. I presented a handsome plaque that acknowledged his lifetime of service and commitment. This was a perfect opportunity to honor those who labor among us. It was a blessing to honor John and Heather.

Daphne arranged another dinner to include her husband Bill, New Zealand National Director Dennis Richards and his wife, Sue, and retired Director of Asia, Rod Matthews. This was an opportunity to reminisce with seasoned leaders who have gone before and to collectively acknowledge God’s faithfulness to us. It was especially good to catch up with Rod since his beloved wife, Ruth, died in 2023. Rod spoke of Ruth fondly and the way she eagerly anticipated the wedding supper of the Lamb. I am thankful for the lives of the saints who have gone before and the hope of eternity that Jesus promises. (Read Ruth’s posthumous devotional in this issue.)

All these events culminated in a two-day weekend workshop, Kingdom Culture. This was a time of interactive sharing around the words of Jesus with an emphasis on his kingdom parables. The crowd consisted of several groups of people — Daphne and her staff, the board of directors, pastors who serve as mentors, and the second-year participants in the Christian Discipleship Pathway group. I am grateful for this high level of participation. All too often, we have individualized learning, and then we attempt to report back. It’s not as good as having all groups together. So, it was good that each of these groups were hearing and experiencing the same things.

I have facilitated dozens of workshop weekends, but I must say that the level of learning and sharing was amazing. I saw people become enlightened about the reality of Jesus and how they are called to participate with him. I saw many people encouraged about who they are in Jesus and become empowered to want to take back this experience to share in their home congregations. It was an extra blessing to see new and younger faces in the group, and how comfortable they were to join in. I am grateful for the tangible presence of Jesus and the guiding power of the Holy Spirit.

As I write, this gray-haired president may have his sleep patterns off, but he is deeply appreciative of how God is present and faithful to this little slice of the Body of Christ called GCI. I am also very thankful for our pastors! October is pastor appreciation month, and we hope our pastors feel honored for their service and dedication.

Thankful,
Greg

P.S. Thank you, Daphne, for your care of God’s people in Australasia. Read more about the workshop here.

Devotional—Drops or Droplets?

Do you know what a white rainbow is? Better yet, have you seen one? I haven’t, and I only just learned that they even exist.

White rainbows are sometimes called fogbows. They are like rainbows — light entering water at just the right angle. But the droplets of fog are about 100 times smaller than drops of rain. Because the droplets are so tiny, most of the light is scattered rather than refracted as in a rainbow. As a result, the colours are washed out, leaving a white rainbow.

The combination of light and water and its effect got me to thinking of Jesus as the Light of the world, flowing to and through us.

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. John 1:3–5 NRSVUE

Neither the rainbow nor the fogbow would exist without the sun (in our case, the Son). We are blessed to live in a constant state of being receivers. We easily forget this and think of ourselves as being doers.

We are God’s children (his drops or droplets), and we receive and reflect his light. In both Ezekiel and Revelation, we find references to the glory of the Lord described as a rainbow. Consider the beauty and glory of God’s determination to finish the work he has started in each of us. I may never see a rainbow again (or a fogbow, if I’m lucky) without thinking of the rainbow beauty of God’s life that he shares with and through me.

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for being our light. Spirit, empower us to refract the beauty of God’s love out to others. Amen.

By Ruth Matthews (1951 – 2023)

Adapted from the full article written in 2023.

Kingdom Living—Entrusting Our Treasure

Kingdom Living looks like trusting God as provider. It looks like generous people sharing their treasure with others. Kingdom citizens do not hoard from fear and scarcity. Read below how two congregations are trusting God with their resources.

Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.

GC Appleton thanks our God of abundant provision for the resources to pay off the mortgage on our church building that has been our home since 2008. We’re grateful to have been able to use this building over the last 17 years for multiple community events, weddings, monthly community interfaith prayer gatherings, as well as our weekly worship services and church events. We’re also grateful for this building that housed our Good Neighbor Day Camp for the last three years. We praise God, and pray that God will provide guidance going forward in stewarding our funds in a way that furthers the kingdom in this neighborhood and brings God honor and glory. Amen

By Becky Deuel, Pastor
Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.

Ferguson, Missouri, U.S.

Since 2013, GC Ferguson, in Missouri, has conducted a special offering at the end of the year, which longtime members look forward to with joy. Here are some of the best practices we have found useful.

Set a goal: A specific target with clear objectives helps people know how the year-end offering (YEO) will be used. This gives people a tangible target to pray about and to invest in personally. We often include activities we feel the Lord wants us to start or expand but could not fund through regular offerings. For example, you might need upgraded audio visual (AV) equipment or rent for a connect group at a neutral location. Our goals generally amount to 5-10% of our annual budget.

Communicate early and often: I begin reminding members about the YEO in September or October through periodic announcements so they can begin planning. I encourage members to begin setting aside funds. Using a special envelope that is dedicated to the YEO helps to build anticipation. There are two main strategies we employ:

1. Proactive savings: Put aside funds to match your spending. For example, I set aside a dollar for each gallon of gas purchased. Some may prefer to put aside a few dollars each time they shop for groceries.
2. Found money: Be on the lookout for little surprises from our heavenly Father. We all occasionally receive money that was unexpected: a gift for no reason, a rebate, a discount, or perhaps a bill that was much lower than we budgeted.

I include reminders to members during offering messages or announcements and through emails. This builds anticipation as we see the Lord providing for the YEO.

Special appeal to co-laborers of the gospel: Share your needs and invite them to share in the joy of meeting these needs. Encourage them to respond by the end of the year and include the ways they can send gifts — text, online, cash apps, regular mail. GC Ferguson supplies a return envelope for their convenience.

Set a date for the in-service offering: Joy is increased by having a specific date to receive the offering. We traditionally set the third Sunday in December to receive the offering during the worship service in addition to the regular weekly offering.

Celebrate the results: I share the results as they come in, which adds to the joy of giving. We have a final tally only after mail offerings arrive in early January. Members are always excited to see how the Father, Son, and Spirit meet these special needs through them.

By Karl Reinagel, Pastor
Ferguson, Missouri, U.S.

Kingdom Citizens’ Toolbox—Invest Treasure in Mission

Citizens of God’s kingdom take seriously our mission to love our neighbors and to share the gospel. Our calling includes the responsible management of our resources, congregationally and personally.

The intersection of mission and money in budgeting supports a church’s commitment to living out its vision. Below is an excerpt of Cara Garrity’s Equipper article, “Money Follows Values.” Read the full article here.

The most effective budgets begin with mission, vision, and values. What is the mission, vision, and values of the local congregation?

You may have heard it said that money follows what we value. Reflect on the budget and financial habits of the congregation. What does it reveal about what has been given value?

- In what ways has the budget reflected the mission, vision, and values of the local congregation?
- In what ways has the budget reflected values or priorities other than the stated mission, vision, and values of the congregation? Where did these alternative priorities come from?
- How can the budget become better aligned with the mission, vision, and values of the congregation in the upcoming year? What needs to change for that to happen?

You may have also heard the phrase “put your money where your mouth is.” It is meant as an exhortation to align your actions with your words. Don’t just talk about it, do something about it. Prayerful budgeting is one way that we can “put our money where our mouth is” concerning our participation in Jesus’ ministry and living out the mission, vision, and values of the local congregation.

- What are we willing to do or change so that our budget reflects our mission, vision, and values?
- How will the annual budget support the goals of the Team Ministry Action Plan (TMAP)?
- How will the annual budget reflect the priorities of the Faith, Hope, Love, and Pastor Avenues?
- How do we want to communicate about church finances?

By Cara Garrity, Development Coordinator,
Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.

Neighborhood Engagement

Pikeville, Kentucky, US

The GC Pikeville congregation hosted a summer engagement event, called Carnival for Christ. The members all pitched in to serve their neighbors, providing ten stations with a different game or activity at each station.

Kenockee, Michigan, US

In August, we hosted our annual two-day community yard sale on the church property. The event was lively and well attended, with free hot dogs, chips, and bottles of ice-cold water — an especially big hit considering the summer heat. Many of our own members set up booths alongside friends and neighbors, selling their items and crafts.

The true highlight, however, was the chance for our members to connect and build relationships with others in our community — sellers, crafters, and buyers alike. We were thrilled to distribute hundreds of welcome bags filled with information about our upcoming church events, along with small gifts. Through these personal connections, we spoke with many families who expressed interest in our children’s program.

Already, we have welcomed new faces at Sunday services as a direct result of the yard sale, and we believe there will be more to come. The event was a blessing for all involved, strengthening bonds and sharing the love of Jesus through engagement with our community.

By David Borum, Pastor
Kenockee, Michigan, US

Cape Town, South Africa

GC Cape Town participated in a Community Service Initiative on Mandela Day. Mandela Day, officially known as Nelson Mandela International Day, is celebrated annually on July 18 and honors the legacy of the former South African president, a champion of human rights and democracy.

Together with the women from Cafda Village, they provided soup and bread to those in the community. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.” Matt 25:35

Pastor Appreciation

Pastors, we are grateful for you. You faithfully serve as Christ’s under-shepherds, tending to your flocks with perseverance and love.

Meet Marivir Mayonte

“I’m happy to serve and participate in whatever ministry God is leading me into!”

Get to know Faith Avenue Champion Marivir Mayonte from GC Cebu, Philippines. Aside from leading worship, serving as the Faith Avenue champion has helped her grow significantly in confidence.

Read the full profile here.

From Equipper—Parable of Hidden Treasure

Join us! We invite you to read this article from Equipper.

Subscribe to Equipper today!

The kingdom of God is our true treasure.

By Paulina Salinas, MTC Coordinator and Pastor
Bogota, Colombia

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matthew 13:44 NIV

Recently, I heard about someone who bought a house near the area where I live in Bogotá. These houses are large and very old. The owner began to remodel it and when lifting the wooden floor — what a surprise! There were three trunks full of pure gold jewelry. We might say these are very lucky people, right? The previous owners had never realized what was beneath their floor.

What would you do if you found something extremely valuable? Perhaps a better question is: What is valuable to you? What is a true treasure? Scripture tells us that material things are temporary and fleeting, like the wind (Matthew 6:19–21). So then, what truly is a treasure?

In Matthew 13:44, Jesus presents the kingdom as a treasure long buried in the field. Jesus seems to be drawing our attention to this true treasure. God’s work throughout human history has always been present. Gary Deddo wrote that the kingdom — though a reality now through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ — is hidden for the world. We are privileged to have the true treasure, God’s kingdom, revealed to us.

In this parable, the man who finds the treasure realizes its immense value, so much so that it leads him to a radical response: he sells everything he owns — and does so joyfully — to obtain the treasure. He is overjoyed by what he has found. The kingdom of God, revealed through Jesus, is a treasure of great worth that transforms our lives. It is not about personal effort to obtain something; rather, it is a joyful response to God’s grace in Christ. When Christ leads us to discover his kingdom, we do not respond out of fear or obligation, but as a loving response to receiving great treasure.

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to that treasure. He shows us what is truly valuable — or the only thing of great value for real life: knowing the true God, Jesus of Nazareth (John 17:3). That changes everything — our priorities and our true values. In Christ, we find abundant life that people so desperately seek in the wrong places. In Psalm 119:162, the psalmist says: “I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil” (NIV).

Kristopher K. Barnett, in his article, “The Kingdom of God Is Worth Everything,” writes:

The parable reveals a paradox in the Gospel message of Christ’s Kingdom. Salvation is free, yet it costs everything! God gives salvation through the Gospel. God grants access to all into His Kingdom. The Kingdom is free, but it costs everything. (pp 133–134)

So, the question for us would be: Are we aware, in our daily lives, of the value of the kingdom of God as that great treasure? What difference does that reality make in our relationships with others? In pastoral ministry, how does the testimony of the church in our communities relate to the reality of the kingdom?

From the same article, Gary Deddo writes regarding this:

Our current experience of the Kingdom, including our actions, as they are joined to the ongoing ministry of Jesus in the power of His Spirit, constitute a witness or sign of the coming Kingdom. A witness does not testify about themselves, but about a reality they know firsthand. Likewise, a ‘sign’ does not point to itself, but to another, much greater reality. As Christians, we bear witness to what is to come: the coming Kingdom.

We give thanks to the Lord for the presence of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to live in the joy and reality of the true treasure of the kingdom of God in our daily lives, here and now, even as we await the fullness of that kingdom.

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: … as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:4, 10b NKJV

Home Office Jobs Available

GCI is hiring!

Grace Communion International (GCI) is seeking qualified applicants for two full-time positions in the Home Office in Charlotte, NC, U.S.

The Operations Coordinator position is currently available, and applications are being accepted for this role. See the job description here.

The Member Service Representative/Accounts Receivable Clerk position is currently available, and applications are being accepted for this role. See the job description here.

If you would like further details on the position or would like a GCI job application, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@gci.org or 980-495-3960.

Please share this announcement with qualified candidates who may be gifted for this position at the Home Office.

2026 Denominational Celebration

The Denominational Celebration
will be held
in Dallas, Texas, U.S.
on July 23-26, 2026.

Kingdom Living is participatory, relational, and missional.

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” As citizens of the kingdom and co-laborers with Christ, we are sent into the world to reflect his light. Kingdom Living requires awareness of our calling and our context, seeing our neighborhoods, vocations, and even our sufferings as places where Jesus reigns and sends us.

Kingdom Living is not passive. It is a bold proclamation and a tangible demonstration. We not only speak of the reign of God, but we also show it. Our words align with our works. As image bearers, our relationships become a visible witness to the reality of the kingdom being ushered in.

During this gathering, we’ll explore what it means to live as kingdom people, active participants in God’s mission, deeply rooted in community, and shaped by the presence and authority of Jesus.

Registration opens December 1. Look for more information and the registration link in our December 3 Update issue.