Elizabeth Mullins – Page 20

Healthy Church—Fall Neighborhood Parties

Ladson, SC, US

GC Ladson held our second annual Fall Festival last month. We invited the community to come out for an outdoor movie and a chili cook-off with corn bread. We shared invitations with the local elementary school, who generously offered to email it to all students. We also posted flyers at the housing office and banks of mailboxes in our focus neighborhood.

On Saturday evening, 5-9 pm, neighbors enjoyed our fire pits for warmth and for roasting s’mores. Children also enjoyed arts and crafts and glow-in-the-dark stickers. New this year was a photo booth. We hired a photographer who provided all the fun props and printed the pictures on the spot for guests to take home. It was a big hit!

After working hard on the planning, logistics, and set-up, our Love Avenue team was grateful for the participation of the Hope Avenue team. They attended with the express purpose of connecting with guests. We were thankful to see families return who have attended other events.

By Mary Robinson, Love Avenue Champion
Ladson, SC, US

Grove City, OH, US

Annually GC Grove City hosts a Harvest Party for the congregation and the surrounding neighborhood. They share a variety of games and potluck style meals with their neighbors. This year the weather was beautiful, and they look forward to it again next year!

River Road, OR, US

GC River Road held another Trunk or Treat in October. Many neighbors came out to play, and everyone had a wonderful time.

Pikeville, KY, US

GC Pikeville hosted a church picnic in the park, inviting the neighborhood. With cooler temperatures, fall is a great time to host an outdoor event!

Healthy Church—Renewal

Rayong City, Rayong, Thailand

In late October, the members of the GC Rayong congregation took a group trip. Initially, we planned a fun sightseeing trip as a gift to the servant leaders and church workers, to thank them for their service, especially during the recently held Asian Leaders’ Retreat and Team Building Activity. But Sandy and Irma Jane Alisbo proposed that the trip be a Revival Trip instead. So, the trip was opened to all willing to join. Forty people participated, including school and work friends. The seven-day trip was packed with tourist destinations and famous landmarks during the day — from temples to sheep farms, and even waterfalls — and worship and devotional services at night.

The Revival Trip was given the theme “Burn Within,” which served as a reminder that the Spirit keeps our hearts burning as we serve our triune God, no matter how difficult or tiresome our circumstances are. The services included praise and worship, and topics like faith and obedience, and ministry and commitment. Attendees commented that GC Rayong serves as their second family — a home away from home.

By Jessica Joy Pamor, GC Pili Youth Leader
Bicol, Philippines

Note: Jessica lives in the Philippines. She accompanied her sister and brother-in-law, Pau and Jake Orcena, on the revival. Pau and Jake are on the pastoral team in GC Rayong, Thailand.

Masterton, Greater Wellington, New Zealand

Transforming Our Community: Embracing the Healthy Church Vision

I am a young member of GC Masterton. God is moving within the heart of our close-knit community in remarkable ways. We are a congregation of fewer than forty members — primarily Filipino immigrants and overseas workers in the beekeeping and caregiving industries — and we have witnessed God’s faithfulness in profound and transformative ways over the last few months.

Our recent journey has been filled with blessings that testify to God’s unwavering love and commitment to our church. With every step forward, we feel a renewed sense of purpose as God’s partners, working to make a positive impact on each other and on our wider community.

Finding My Place

As someone new to the church, I initially felt unsure of how I could contribute. Yet, I was welcomed with open arms, and the encouragement I received from fellow members inspired me to serve in small but meaningful ways. Embracing the Team-Based Ministry concept has been life-changing. Through my background in media and communication, I’ve been able to support our church’s vision and serve in ways I hadn’t imagined.

The Healthy Church Initiative

Over the past two months, we’ve enthusiastically embraced the Healthy Church initiative, which has equipped us to foster a stronger and healthier church community. This initiative has been instrumental in uniting us around a model of healthy leadership, with a focus on equipping our congregation and strengthening our ministries. As we grow together in this vision, our hope is to reach even more people in our community with the gospel, embodying God’s love in all we do.

Denominational Support and Collaboration

Under the leadership of National Director Dennis Richards and Superintendent Daphne Sidney, GCI New Zealand has partnered with GCI Asia/Philippines to conduct an intensive month-long program to strengthen our church. This initiative has been a vital support for members who have faced job losses and has deepened our understanding of Healthy Leadership principles, including the Team-Based Pastor-Led model. Weekly services, leadership meetings, and even a transformative three-day retreat have been invaluable experiences that have drawn our community closer and sharpened our focus on effective ministry.

A Transformative Retreat Experience

The three-day retreat, held from September 7-9, was a pivotal moment for us. Facilitated by Dr. Eugene Guzon, former Asia Superintendent and National Director of GCI Philippines, the retreat introduced us to the 5 Voices assessment and provided us with fresh insights into the Team-Based Ministry Model of leadership. Through group workshops, personal meetings, and strategic planning, we left the retreat with a clear sense of direction and purpose. In the weeks that followed, Dr. Guzon continued to guide us through leadership development and planning for our 2025 Ministry Action Plan.

Challenges and Opportunities

Building and sustaining the Healthy Church vision has not been without its challenges. Developing a new culture takes time, patience, and dedication, but each small victory reminds us that we are moving forward. We continue to work towards engaging more stakeholders, volunteers, and partners, both locally and overseas, including our extended GCI family in the Philippines.

Investing in Our Youth

One of our dreams is to see a more active youth ministry that connects with our young members and reaches Filipino expats in Masterton and nearby areas. We are taking early steps to make this vision a reality through our Love Avenue engagement. Although we are still building momentum, we are hopeful that our efforts in training, coaching, and prayer will lead to a vibrant youth ministry that nurtures the next generation of believers.

Journey Towards REAL Teams

I have seen the dedication of my friends on the pastoral team in this ministry as they work towards creating a participative and supportive environment for everyone. Their commitment to building a Team Based — Pastor Led ministry is inspiring, and it reminds me that growth takes time, grace, and a shared vision. Together, we are learning, praying, and striving to embody the Healthy Church vision in all aspects of our community life.

Recent Celebrations

We have been blessed with recent celebrations that fuel our hope and faith. We now have a GCI branded GC Masterton signage and a welcome banner at the entrance of our hall, making our presence known to the community. On October 27, we rejoiced in the ordination of Associate Pastor Emmaneul “Manny” Ornejas and the commissioning of our pastoral team. We also celebrated the baptism of three new members — a local Māori couple and the son of our Associate Pastor.

Additionally, special thanks go to Superintendent Daphne Sidney for her pastoral visit, which lifted our spirits, and to National Director Dennis Richards, whose commitment to regular visits, even with his busy schedule, has been a source of encouragement. (And we love watching him enjoy Filipino food!)

Looking Forward

Our prayer is that, as we continue this journey, God will open doors, provide resources, and bless us with a deeper understanding of His will for GC Masterton. We invite everyone to join us in prayer for our congregation as we pursue the vision of a healthy, vibrant church community that brings love, hope, and faith to Masterton and beyond.

“When the leader [or team] gets better, everyone gets better.” — Craig Groeschel

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” — John C. Maxwell

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Together, let’s pray for a healthier congregation with servant leaders worth following towards becoming the best expression of the church in Masterton. Let us give glory to God!

By Kate Andrea Sotalbo, member
Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand

Devotional—Reign of Christ

In a few days, we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. It ushers us to the final Sunday of Ordinary Time with an extraordinary proclamation: Christ Reigns! What will Christ’s reign be like? We get a clue from Jesus’ words, “Go learn what it means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’” (Matthew 9:13). Our Father is merciful, and the kingdom of Jesus is nonviolent.

Peace is His way of being human, which is the hope for the world. Can we let go of interpretations that tell of divine violence? Can we instead think of God as accompanying violent humanity until they finally give up the sword and the gun? Jesus is the Servant and the Lamb risen from the dead who gives us the faith to follow His way, to not retaliate or scapegoat. He has brought us into His reality of nonviolence.

The authorities at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate and Caiaphas, capitulated to the pressure of the violent mob demanding the death of Jesus. Jesus willingly died the atoning death for all humanity. The extreme cruelty of the crucifixion, though, was because of fallen humanity’s bent toward violence.

[Jesus] stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets. Colossians 2:15 The Message

In true trinitarian extraordinariness, Jesus’ kingdom reign has been and always will be without harm or violence.

Prayer:
Jesus, we are grateful that you reign now, that your kingdom is here. Spirit, help us recognize and repent when we are participating in violent systems and scapegoating. We believe the Cross of Christ broke the power of sin and death, and we long for the fullness of your kingdom and no more violence and no more death. Amen.

By Reuben Rios, Pastor
Bellflower, CA, US

Read here about the retreat on nonviolence that Pastor Reuben hosted.

Christ the King

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. It is a feast day that ends the liturgical year and introduces the new cycle taking us into the Advent season. I believe that it is a wonderful tradition to celebrate Christ’s messianic kingship and sovereign rule over all creation. It tells the end of the story even as we prepare ourselves for a new liturgical year, ushering in the incarnate baby Jesus born to His mother, Mary, in Bethlehem.

Jesus was intentional and clear with His disciples about having a “kingdom mindset.” Preaching the good news of the coming eternal kingdom of God was central to the teaching of Jesus from the beginning of His public ministry throughout.

In His final evening with the disciples, He made some key comments. When He instituted the Lord’s Table service, He presented the elements of the bread and wine, symbolizing His broken body and spilled blood. He declared that He would not eat these again with them until they were regathered in the kingdom of heaven.

As He was preparing the disciples to manage with His absence, He gave them strong words of encouragement.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:1-4 NIV

Even after Jesus was resurrected, and just before He ascended back to the Father, the disciples had their minds fixed on when Jesus, the King, would restore the kingdom to Israel. Unfortunately, it seems they were thinking of the benefits of a physical kingdom with a keen desire to be delivered from Roman rule. They missed the fuller meaning.

At the Last Supper, Jesus intimated that the point of the kingdom was to be with Him. The kingdom is about relationships. The apostle Paul amplified this understanding in Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (NIV).

Paul’s short verse profoundly describes the abundant life humanity can and will have in Christ. It is the “kingdom life” we are meant for with our King.

Let’s break down the righteousness, peace, and joy that comes from God, the Holy Spirit.

- Righteousness means everything that is virtuous and good — everything, streaming from the virtuous, perfect nature of Father, Son, and Spirit. All good gifts flow from God!

What if we engage our thoughts with “throne room” realities where we are seated together with Christ? Whoa! Can we really do that? As kingdom citizens now, let’s make a spiritual practice of having our minds go there.

- Peace is more than the absence of strife; it is harmonious interaction with our neighbors. You may recall the famous quote uttered during the 1992 Los Angeles riots by the victim of police brutality, Rodney King, “Can we all get along?” The answer to Mr. King’s question is a resounding “yes,” we can all get along, and we will in the realized kingdom of God.

The fullness of the kingdom will be the fulfillment of the Great Commands to love God with our entire being, and to truly and selflessly love our neighbor.

This peace is about goodwill in all relationships.

- - No more misunderstandings.
  - No more hurtful words.
  - No more stepping on the other to get ahead.
  - No judgment or contempt.
  - No malice.

There will be just, whole, peaceful relationships among all of God’s children.

- Joy is our internal thinking and feeling about self, and the absence of negative, destructive self-talk. Many of us are our own worst critic. How many of us dominate ourselves with internal thoughts like:
  - “I’m not good enough or smart enough.”
  - “I can’t ever get it right” (when we demand perfection from ourselves).
  - “I’m such an idiot” (when we identify with labels that others have thrust upon us).
  - “Nothing goes right for me” (when perhaps our plane flight was delayed because of bad weather).

You get the point. On the other hand, I think about the uplifting, reassuring lyrics from the Christian band Casting Crowns, and their song, “The Voice of Truth.” Here are a few lines:

The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. “Boy, you’ll never win!”
“You’ll never win!”

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
The voice of truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth!

It will take the fullness of the kingdom to completely eradicate and eliminate our self-doubt and negative self-talk, but oh there is joy to come!

Nestled in Romans 14, this tiny, little verse truly describes the eutopia that our inner beings and all creation long and groan for. The righteousness, peace, and joy that God has designed and will accomplish is what Christ the King Sunday is all about.

Keep in mind that Jesus is not only preparing heaven for us, but He is also preparing us for heaven. So, in 2025 our GCI annual theme is going to be “Kingdom Life.” I expect 2025 to be a fruitful year for GCI.

In the power and glory of King Jesus,
Greg

Save the Date

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

Please mark your calendars. More information will be made available in mid-2025.

We’re Hiring

GCI is hiring!

Two full-time positions are now open at the Grace Communion International (GCI) Home Office in Charlotte, NC, U.S.

The Media Coordinator position is currently available, and applications are being accepted. See the job description here.

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

If you would like further details on either 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 either position at the Home Office.

From Equipper—Our Life of Faith

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What does a healthy Faith Avenue look like?

By Linda Rex, Elder

As GCI moves toward Healthy Church, one of the areas we seek to grow in is that of faith. We want to grow up in Christ and draw closer to God. We want to draw closer to one another and connect with our neighbors and other community members.

Markers of a healthy Faith Avenue

In a church with a healthy Faith Avenue, people get to know Jesus better. They grow to be more like Him and mature in their faith. They are given opportunities to connect with others of all ages, both within and without the walls of the church. There are spaces to encounter Jesus, to learn more about Him, and to grow up in Him. People are encouraged to build positive and supportive relationships. We find discipleship occurs throughout the congregation, not with just a limited number of people.

Signs of unhealth

In an unhealthy church, people are disconnected from life in the body of Christ. They attend church on occasion, but they do not fully participate in the life of the congregation. Connect groups act like exclusive clubs. Rather than feeling included, safe, and enabled to make entry into the discipleship pathway of the church, people feel separated or isolated. People may attend connect groups in order to be with friends or to enjoy the activity, but not to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. When challenges arise or new concepts are heard, those who attend may simply leave, refuse to listen, or may even cause conflict. They are not open to the work of the Spirit. A facilitator may act more like a teacher or preacher or may seek to draw people to follow a particular teaching or person. A mentor may be someone who is controlling, enabling, or does not seek the best of others.

Re-center our ministry in Christ

The apostle Paul dealt with issues of faith in his letter to the church in Colossae. He says that the Ephesians were “knit together in love” by God (Colossians 2:2 ESV), which is a metaphor for growing into a mature unity in Christ. Although they belonged to Christ, and therefore belonged to one another, certain people in the congregation sought to disrupt the unity of the church and to lead the members astray.

Paul reminded the members in Colossae that true knowledge is only found in Jesus Christ, who is “the mystery” of God. God’s plan and salvation are wrapped up in a person, Jesus Christ, the one who is fully God and fully man (Colossians 2:3 ESV). God’s love expressed in Christ’s life, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension, and in the gift of His Spirit, is what binds us together with God and one another.

Celebrate our unity in the faith

Because of who Jesus is as Lord of all, the apostle Paul says we are to “walk in Him.” We live our everyday lives in the truth of who we are in Christ — the beloved children of God. This is a life of faith, of trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is life in face-to-face relationship with our heavenly Father in the Spirit. We are “firmly rooted” in Christ — this is the truth of who we are in Him, and we live in that reality day by day.

Because of who we are in Christ, we are “built up in Him”, which means we grow up in Christ. As a church body and as individuals, we begin to look more and more like Christ and not like the evil one or this world. Paul also says that we are to “be established in our faith.” Faith can mean both our subjective trust in Christ, and the objective spiritual basis of our faith: Jesus and His finished work. Finally, our life is to overflow with gratitude. We continually express our thanks and praise to God (Colossians 2:7 ESV).

Since we died with Christ and rose with Christ, we seek what is above where Christ is, not things below. We look forward in hope for when Christ “who is our life” is revealed and we will be revealed with him in glory (Colossians 3:4 ESV).

Christ, our life

Christ is our life, and the life of the body of Christ. We manifest the fruits of the Spirit to the world in which we live, sharing the gospel. We create connection, not division. We point people to Christ, thereby to the triune God, not to ourselves or others. As the body of Christ, we include others and encourage them to experience their belonging in Christ. We disciple and mentor others as we ourselves are discipled and mentored. Joined together in Christ, we grow up in Christ and manifest the love of God in Christ to the world in which we live.

How do connect groups provide opportunities for people within the church to build relationships with those outside the walls of the church? Why is this important?
What are some activities or practices of a connect group which will facilitate the process of spiritual development? What might hinder it?
When the life of the church is not centered on Christ, what impact does this have on the sense of unity among believers? How does this off-centered approach affect the process of spiritual growth in those who attend?

Meet Paulina Barrero

“I have an unending passion for Christ, His word, and the calling we have as a church.”

Meet, Paulina Salinas, MTC Coordinator for GCI-Latin America. View her full profile and story here.

Prayer Guide—November 2024

“Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it.”— John Wesley

Let your prayers be filled with thanksgiving this November. Join us in seeking God with thankful hearts. Our November Prayer Guide is available for download here.

Healthy Church—Baptisms

Bogotá, Columbia

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, we had nine baptisms at GCI Bogotá, Colombia, and the families of those baptized brought about 40 people to the celebration. We gathered with them to celebrate this covenant with God through the Lord Jesus.

Our aim is that all of those who were baptized begin discipleship with the “We Believe” material. We relish this unique occasion and hope that the Holy Spirit continues to fill people’s hearts in each family that is part of our community. We honor God for the wonder of this sacrament in the lives of our fellow followers of Christ.

Juan Carlos Barrero, Love Avenue Champion
Bogotá, Columbia

Baptism is a sacrament. A sacrament “is a special act of Christian worship, instituted by Christ, which uses a visible sign to proclaim and receive the promise of the gospel for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. A sacrament is received in faith, trusting in God to minister to us by the Holy Spirit through it. We baptize because Jesus Christ was baptized for us and commanded us to baptize. We share in His baptism by being baptized in His name. Our baptism bears witness to Jesus’ baptism for us and expresses our faith in His baptism for us. Through the sacrament, we bear witness not so much to our faith, but to who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us through His baptism …” From the “We Believe” curriculum.

Here are some other GCI baptisms we celebrated in September and October:

Limpopo, RSA

14 baptisms

Kansas City South, MO, US

1 baptism

Surrey Hills, OK, US

6 baptisms and 3 child dedications

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

2 baptisms

Jacksonville, FL, US

5 baptisms and 3 child dedications

Rizal Laguna, Luzon, Philippines

4 baptisms and 1 child dedication

Author: Elizabeth Mullins