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Faith, Hope, & Love in Action Workshops

Equipping gatherings around our theme of Faith, Hope, & Love in Action are taking place throughout the GCI regions. Earlier in the year, ministry leaders attended a retreat in Tagaytay, Philippines (pictured above). Last month, 25 people from four congregations attended a workshop in Ladson, SC, US (pictured below).

Read on for a detailed account of the workshop in Monterey, Mexico.


On the weekend of March 18-19, 35 members, leaders, and pastors from the northeastern region of Mexico had a blessed time of fellowship and teaching in the city of Monterrey, Mexico. The theme of the conference was “Faith, Hope, and Love in Action.” This was the continuation of the introductory training on the Avenues of a Healthy Church, held in the spring of 2022 in Francisco Villa, a town close to Monterrey.

We started the event with a delicious lunch offered by the Monterrey congregation and immediately we had a time of praise and prayer. Next, I gave an exposition of the themes of “Faith, Hope, and Love in Action,” echoing the invitation of President Greg Williams for 2023. Then my wife, Pastor Selena Venegas, spoke on “Preaching with the RCL.”

On Sunday morning of March 19, we had the worship service and participated in Communion. After lunch, we had a brainstorming session led by the local church pastor, Mario Sáenz, in which the leaders came up with different practical ways to get the Avenues up and running in their church’s neighborhood.

We are grateful to God for the atmosphere of love and fellowship that we experienced at this gathering. We said our farewells with the certainty of the guidance of the Holy Spirit to carry out our participation in the mission of Jesus.

Luis Alberto Soto
Mexico National Director

Pause for Prayer

Join us in praying for all our members around the world who are beginning a new academic year, as students or teachers.

Five schoolkids in casualwear with rucksacks on backs holding by hands while going to school

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we pause from our busy lives to acknowledge how much we need you. A new school year has started in many parts of the world, and we feel excited and nervous. Please guide and direct your children who are students. May they have many opportunities to learn and have new experiences. May they make friends easily and experience safety and security. Please guide and direct your children who are teachers, administrators, chefs, facility managers, bus drivers, counselors, nurses, and all who keep a school running smoothly. May they have a renewed sense of purpose and fondness for their coworkers and the students. May they experience safety and security. May all who are going back to school feel your love for them in tangible ways, God. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Click the image above to watch our Pause for Prayer video.

Devotional—Witnessing Transformation

Editor’s Note: For our Ordinary Time Devotional series, you will be hearing entirely from young authors. They will be sharing their perspectives on the theme, “God is in the streets.” Enjoy reading how the next generation of emerging GCI leaders experiences God outside the walls of the Sunday church gathering.


How do I see or experience God in the everyday or in the streets? One way I see God in the everyday is when I touch the lives of people who I least expect. In one example, there was a person in my life who has been enslaved to addiction for years and felt far away from God. After having an encounter with God, he now strives to learn more about Christ. We have Bible studies on a weekly basis.

Another example is when I experienced God in my own life. He has brought me from a place of bondage, where I was constantly chasing meaningless things of the world to now following the one who is eternal. I am a witness to say that God’s glorious presence can change anyone he chooses. He does not have favorites.

For the Lord is spirit, and wherever the spirit of the Lord is there is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Now that I’ve found true meaning in life, which is in Christ, God is now using me to show younger people that there’s more to this eternal life than this life here on earth. “In those days I will pour out my spirit even on servants—men and women alike.” (Joel 2:29, NLT)

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we ask you to use us as vessels for your kingdom and to lead those who are in darkness into light. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Briana Grant
Ladson, SC, US

 

Watch the Denominational Celebration Recordings

We are so grateful for your participation in the Denominational Celebration! The live recordings are now available. The playlist includes the GCI stories sessions and GCS graduation which were not livestreamed. The keynote sessions and worship services are also included, in case you missed them. During the keynote sessions, we experienced some technical challenges. We did our best to improve the final product for a better viewing experience.

We are also excited to share a digital version of GCI President, Greg Williams and Mark Mounts’ book with you. You can download it, here.

GenMin Webinar

GENERATIONS MINISTRIES WEBINAR SERIES
The Generations Ministries (GenMin) Webinar Series is designed to equip
congregations to better disciple children and youth. Participants will learn
how to connect with young people in their neighborhood and share the love
of Christ with them. The series is both for groups currently serving young
people and for those who would like to start building those relationships.
The webinars are open to any member of Grace Communion International
congregation or fellowship group, though the research and context of the content was developed for the US.

If you cannot join the webinars live or miss one, the recordings will be made available after registering.

Register here.

 

Trivia Night

It didn’t start out as a connect group. We began going to Thursday night Trivia at the local beer place as a way to see our daughter and son-in-law during the COVID pandemic. Nothing else was open and we were able to spend time with them as well as get acquainted with our new community in Oregon. The host asked almost every week if anyone would be interested in hosting the game, and for a long time, I paid no attention. But when the kids decided to move back to California, I decided since we went every week anyway – and the poor host had a five-hour round trip commute – I could do it.

After several weeks went by, I told a few people at church about my new gig, and some of them said it sounded like fun. They got a team together and became regulars. It has grown to sometimes two or three teams and everyone has a great time – sometimes they even win!

Then I was asked to become the Faith Avenue champion. I had no idea what that would mean and wondered if I would have to reinvent the wheel. Pastor Linda assured me I wouldn’t, as there were several groups already going strong. Then she said, with a twinkle in her eye, that Trivia was a connect group! I hadn’t realized it could be called that, but she’s right. The church members have another way to interact outside of services and practice reaching outside the walls. They are warm and outgoing to the other teams, introduce themselves to regulars and new teams alike, and have created a more family-friendly and fun atmosphere.

It’s encouraging to me how God can turn something I meant as a favor to the former host with a long commute, and be a fun little side job, into a way to connect people both within our church and to our small town. And he often knows what we need before we do.

Tammy Tkach, Assistant Pastor & Faith Avenue Champion
River Road, OR, US

Community July 4 Celebration

This year during the city of Orr’s 4th of July celebration, our church decided to participate with a booth. Our theme was “Freely Received – Freely Given” (John 13: 34-35). I encouraged our planning committee to approach this event as participating in the ministry of Jesus in the Spirit. For this event, there was to be no hidden agenda, fliers, tracts, church logo, etc. The purpose was to intentionally experience God’s presence in relationship—knowing he is already there.

Our goal was to share the love of Jesus in daily relationships and commit to bless a person through a tangible act with no strings attached. We offered face painting, cold bottled water, and minor bicycle repair. One of our members invited a friend who brought reconditioned, donated bicycles. Seventeen bikes were given away to those in need. The feedback I got from our members seemed simple and very positive. I could sense excitement and joy in their hearts as each person shared their story at our Sunday service.

Tom Kennebeck, Pastor
Orr, MN, US

Luzon Youth Camp

The flame in the hearts of the youth in the Philippines continues to burn as GC Baguio, along with the help of other local churches, conducted the North Luzon Weekend Youth Camp held July 14-16 at a Girl Scout campground in Baguio City. Seventy campers from different churches in Northern Luzon attended the camp.

Our theme was “Remember Our First Love.” The 3-day camp included daily worship and plenary sessions, archery, ballroom dancing, basketball and volleyball, and community service sessions. These sessions were led by volunteers within the church who surrendered their time and resources to serve the Lord through the camp. Many other staff also helped with the success of the camp.

Some campers have mentioned the “Encounter Night” as their favorite camp activity. The Encounter Night is a night of worship and prayer where everyone can experience the presence of God. The dance was also one of the camp favorites where everyone had a chance to showcase their newly learned ballroom dancing skills, in their best bohemian outfits.

On the last day, five campers chose to publicly profess their faith in Jesus. Their baptisms were witnessed by the other campers and staff. Kari Jobe’s song, “First Love,” was the camp’s theme song. May the flame in the hearts of the young people always be lit as they leave the campsite and go back to their daily lives.

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