Author: Elizabeth Mullins

Melbourne, FL, US

Our children attended Ocean Breeze Elementary School, and I was a school aide and a crossing guard for six years. This is a school that is near and dear to my heart. When our congregation was choosing a way we could engage and serve the community, I thought immediately of this school. I know teachers there spend their own money for student school supplies.

I first approached Jennifer, the School Resource Officer, to find out the needs of the school. Now Officer Jennifer sends us a list, and we shop for the items. This is such fun and a joy to see the look on Officer Jennifer’s face when we show up with all the goodies. In this way, GC Melbourne has been partnering with the school for approximately four years. The teachers truly appreciate our congregation’s help.

Marianne Legg
Melbourne, FL, US

Kenockee, MI, US

In September, GC Kenockee celebrated the beginning of the school year and a new Children’s Church year. Pastor Jim Meade prayed a back-to-school blessing over the children. And Pastor David Borum commissioned and prayed for the new Children’s Church teachers and helpers.

During this special Sunday service, Kathy Forsyth was honored. She is retiring from the role of Children’s Church Coordinator after serving for many years. Kathy passed the baton to the new Coordinator, Angie Ashbrook. Pastor Grant Forsyth commissioned and prayed for Angie.

Thank you, Kathy, for your dedication and service!

Queens, NY, US

On September 7-8, GC Queens hosted a unique community event, departing from the traditional broad public outreaches. Instead, we took a more personal approach, limiting the invitation to families who participated in our previous back-to-school events. This event attracted hundreds in the past, but it was difficult to make a personal impact.

By narrowing the invitation list to those with whom we had already established relationships, the event had a more personalized and “community reunion” feel. This allowed for deeper conversations and more meaningful connections, which we believe left a lasting impact. Many family members who attended already knew us, and we also met new guests. Instead of just handing out backpacks, we used the time to pray with our guests, offering conversation and literature in Spanish. This impressed our Spanish-speaking families (a large part of our target community), making them feel equally valued and included.

In addition to meeting immediate needs with school supplies, we took the opportunity to discuss our various ministries, including our plans for a 2025 neighborhood camp. Parents learned about our Sunday School program for children, and many adults were able to connect with leaders from our Men’s and Women’s Ministries. These conversations helped strengthen existing relationships within the community, and they opened doors for further spiritual support.

We were blessed to hear and pray through individual stories from the neighborhood. We heard from fathers looking for a strong men’s ministry and their children’s career dreams. We prayed with families seeking reassurance in uncertainty, sharing their hopes for healing and community. We listened to and prayed with new immigrants looking for relief and a spiritual home.

The impact of our community outreach event was further demonstrated the next day as many guests joined our Sunday service, doubling our average attendance. Vicky Newsom gave a bilingual sermon, “Who is God’s Favorite?” from James 2. She explained that God’s favorite is all of us in Christ, so all are welcome at GC Queens! This increase in attendance and the whole service validated the event’s effectiveness and showed the community’s growing interest in our church and its activities. It was a hopeful sign for our future endeavors.

Our church’s commitment to spiritual and practical support was evident in the smaller but much more spiritually fruitful event. I would also like to recognize the work of our Avenue champions: Eleanor Toussaint, Hope Avenue champion; Ruth Phillips, Faith Avenue champion; and Vicky Newsom Love Avenue co-champion, along with elders, James Hills and Jonathan Browne. We are grateful for the reunions and the new contacts made, and we look forward to continuing to walk alongside these families, sharing the love of Christ in both spiritual and practical ways.

John Newsom, Pastor
Queens, NY, US

Considering God’s missional nature can be tough if it conjures ideas about missionaries who lived this out in radical ways. We respect these examples, but they feel unattainable. Is this what it means to live for a missional God? While it is true that God is missional, the primary calling God has for us is to be God’s children, submitting our entire selves so that we might live into this new identity. Then, as Christ grows us up into that identity, we will naturally reflect the missional identity of God.

Ruth is a good example; she surrenders her previous ideas about herself.

But Ruth said,
“Do not press me to leave you,
to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people
and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

We may think that Ruth participated with God because of her upstanding character, but it was God’s invitation and movement toward her first that allowed her to submit and surrender who she thought she was — her old self. Then Ruth clung to her newfound identity as a child of God.

As we step into the identity that God has for us, we need to trust that it is God who is missional. God does not need us, yet he allows us to share in his work of love. From this understanding, we can be more effective at reaching out, because our identity and worth is never dependent on the results of our effort.

Reflect on what God’s missional nature means for you.

Prayer
Dear Lord, as I consider how capable you are to bring your mission of redemption to completion, please reveal how I might release my identity to you, that I may live more fully into the identity you have for me. Amen.

By Alexander Brandt, Pastor
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

In the past, our Hawthorne, California congregation has been at the forefront of regional development for Southern California Spanish-speaking congregations. Pastor Manuel Ochoa has always been willing to create spaces for the development and sending of leaders. Over the last few years, I have brought a higher level of support to this congregation with the vision of establishing a Ministry Training Center (MTC).

An MTC congregation must display a good level of congregational health, and this congregation has been on a journey toward greater health. Disciple-making with Jesus is at the core of congregational health. Over the last three years the Hawthorne church has had 26 baptisms, including four during the West Regional Gathering. A healthy Hope, Faith, and Love Avenue are crucial for holistic health. Although this is a work in progress in Hawthorne, their Faith, Hope, and Love expressions are healthy enough to create spaces for leadership development.

On August 11, during the West Regional Gathering, we officially launched our second Spanish-speaking MTC. (We also have an MTC with the Bogotá, Columbia congregation.) The proximity of our other Spanish-speaking churches in Southern California facilitates regional development at a better pace. During this gathering, we also commissioned José Luis Lopez as the MTC coordinator. José Luis will not only coordinate development at the Hawthorne congregation but regionally as well.

The Hawthorne MTC will join our Latin American program that offers a six-course diploma in Foundational Theological Studies, and a twelve-course diploma in Advanced Theological and Pastoral Studies. Participants in Hawthorne will also go through the program as a learning community in cohorts. The MTC coordinator will work closely with the local pastors to ensure that ministry practices lanes are opened for the participants. Coaching, consulting, and mentoring will be offered at all levels to ensure the MTC receives high support.

With the pool of participants coming from our Sun Valley, Santa Ana, and Hawthorne congregations, the MTC will have a hybrid component. The cohort will meet in person in Hawthorne, but their ministry development practices will take place in their local congregation. The MTC coordinator will have the challenge to ensure that all participants are provided with significant ministry participation within the framework of Team Based — Pastor Led and the three ministry Avenues. We expect 16 participants to participate in the initial learning cohort that is being launched September 21.

I trust that you will all join us in prayer for this endeavor, asking our heavenly Father to give us the joy of participating with Jesus in the development of leaders and potentially, pastors and church planters.

In Christ,

Heber Ticas, Superintendent of Latin America
Sun Valley, CA, US

Twenty-four GCI leaders from seven countries in Asia converged on the Kwanruen Resort in Korat province of south Thailand for a three-day retreat. (Korat is a four-hour drive from Bangkok, towards the border of Cambodia.) Amiyo Bacher from Bangladesh was the only one who could not join due to unrest in his country.

During an introductory session, several leaders brought updates of GCI activities in their regions. Following the Healthy Church theme, we discussed what it means to be healthy as a fellowship in four main sessions. Here are some interesting takeaways:

• • • Jesus never criticizes the church for its size.
    • Most leaders are constantly negotiating between the Dominator and Protector model. (From the Support Challenge Matrix, a tool from GiANT Worldwide. For more information, see A Giant Step Forward.)
    • The priesthood of all believers is primarily inviting everyone to participate in ministry.
    • We are better together — this is the synergy of a denomination.

Facilitators included Rex Dela Peña, Aron Tolentino, Sachin Nirale, and Audie Santibanez. Retired leaders Wong Mein Kong and Eugene Guzon shared vital insights from their experience. In the wrap-up session, I proposed Eph 4:16 as one way to experience Healthy Church.

Activities included team-building activities for GCI Thailand, a fellowship night that enthralled the audience with worship, games, and embarrassment on the dance floor! Special moments included the ordination of Chan Thleng( a leader from Myanmar) and a farewell party for Eugene Guzon and Wong Mein Kong. Unforgettable moments included visiting three elegant coffee shops in three days! A memorable three days of “brethren dwelling together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)

Danny Zachariah, Superintendent of Asia
Hyderabad, India