Elizabeth Mullins – Page 16

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.

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.

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.

Prayer Guide—October 2025

“God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.” — Oswald Chambers

Along with other members of the Body, may we join the Spirit, interceding on behalf of our fellowship. This month, we thank God for the ways he is building up leaders, blessing communities, and drawing us deeper into his love and purpose.

Download the full prayer guide here.

Would you like to receive this Prayer Guide straight to your email inbox before the first of the month? Sign up here.

Congratulations Graduates

We are proud to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of two of our own from GCI India, who have recently completed significant academic milestones. Join us in congratulating them.

Jessica Philips has successfully earned a master’s degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Illinois, Springfield.

In the field of medicine, we also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Leeann Zachariah, who has achieved the MRCEM (Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, London). She is the daughter of Mary Zachariah, and Dan Zachariah, Superintendent of Asia.

Thailand Team Building

More than 50 members and guests met for an annual gathering of faith and fellowship with the theme “We Press on for Such a Time as This.” Several teambuilding activities helped strengthen faith, foster community and inspire personal growth. Along with worship, we also had one baptism. We were also blessed with the presence of guest pastors and missionaries who shared stories of their faith journey. The three days were experiences in unity, transformation and surrender to God’s will.

WeAreGCI—Dan Zachariah

Kingdom Citizens’ Toolbox—Launch, Renew, Relaunch

Citizens of God’s kingdom believe that Jesus is working through his Bride, the Church. We believe that members of his Body together are being conformed to the image of Christ. GCI’s CMM is devoted to transformational church values and resources. Learn more below.

Church Multiplication Ministries | Grace Communion International Resources

Kingdom Living—Launching Missional Congregations

“[God’s] kingdom continues to expand as he continues to draw people to himself. The church becomes the means through which this expansion takes place. The church does not build the kingdom, but she bears witness to the coming kingdom. Her participation in bearing witness to the coming kingdom takes place through the planting of gospel-centered churches who multiply disciples, leaders, ministries, and new churches.” — Heber Ticas

Read below how two congregations have launched new expressions of healthy church.

Steele Creek, North Carolina, US

On September 7, 2025, Grace Communion Steele Creek (GC Steele Creek) had our official launch. It was a day of great celebration, with many of those present commenting that they felt the presence of God. Since our beginning as a merger between a church plant and an existing congregation in October 2023, the members of GC Steele Creek have followed the leading of the Spirit in rebuilding our faith community from the ground up. We especially gave (and continue to give) our attention to developing meaningful relationships with our neighbors (Love Avenue) and intentionally living out our core values of belonging, celebration, restorative justice, truth, and unity. The result was a launch day overflowing with joy in the Lord and gratitude for his faithfulness.

The group that gathered on launch day, in a small way, reflected images of heaven we see in Scripture. People from different ages, stages of life, ethnicities, and experience following Christ worshiped the Lord together. I was especially grateful for the children God brought into our fellowship. They bring a vibrancy that is contagious.

We believe God has laid a strong foundation for GC Steele Creek and revealed our presence in our community in a beautiful way. We are excited to see where he leads us next.

By Dishon Mills. Pastor
Steele Creek, North Carolina, US

Lemon Grove, California, US

The idea that we’ve been “blessed to be a blessing” is woven through both the Old and New Testaments. This has always been our desire at GC Lemon Grove. Ever since my husband and I began pastoring here more than 24 years ago, we’ve striven to serve the residents in this 3.5 square mile city that lies just seven miles East of San Diego

Five years ago, when COVID gave us time to reflect, pray, ask questions, and dream, God revealed a fresh and specific vision for reaching Lemon Grove with the good news. This dream involved finding a commercial space in the heart of our city’s downtown corridor that would serve as a church and an event space where neighbors could connect with neighbors — and ultimately, be encouraged to connect with God.

After 5 years of denominational high support / high challenge, and very consistent and intentional relationship building with our neighbors, it was beyond thrilling to host the Grand Opening of our new space on August 22. The weekend included a ribbon cutting, community concert, open house, game night and worship gathering. God has truly blessed us, and we are thrilled to pay this blessing forward to Lemon Grove.

Watch our September video update here.

By Anne Stapleton, Pastor
Lemon Grove, California, US

Devotional—God, Are You There?

I must admit that there have been times when I felt God had abandoned me. You’ve probably felt the same. Sometimes, in the severity of our trials, we may think that God has forgotten about us. I’ve cried out, “God, are you there?”

The psalmist expresses a similar sentiment but comes to a comforting realization.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12 NIV

Even in our darkest moments, God is there. Even when we fall into problems, dilemmas, or circumstances where it seems impossibly dark … he sees us.

No matter how dark or difficult life may seem, God is always there. We are never lost to him. In our moments of doubt or despair, let’s remember that God’s light shines brightly, even in our darkest hours. His presence is constant, and his love for us never wavers.

Prayer
Father, thank you for never abandoning me, even when I feel lost or alone. Help me to trust that you are with me, even in the darkest times. Remind me that I am precious to you and that your presence is a light that never fades. Give me strength and comfort, knowing that you see me, care for me, and are always near. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Bermie Dizon, Elder
Glendora, CA, US

Note: This was adapted with permission, from God, in Every Step, a 52-week devotional that invites readers to recognize God’s presence in the everyday moments of life.

Author: Elizabeth Mullins