Elizabeth Mullins – Page 4

Prayer Guide—July 2025

“Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.” — E.M. Bounds

Halfway through 2025, we pause to give thanks and seek God for what’s ahead. The July Prayer Guide helps you reflect, intercede, and stay connected to what God is doing across our church family.

View or download the full guide here, and join with us in prayer.

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

Kingdom Citizens’ Toolbox—Place-share

Citizens of God’s kingdom are being conformed into the image of Jesus and his incarnational love. Place-sharing is about being present with others in a way that reflects Jesus’ incarnational love. It is walking alongside people without trying to fix or change them, simply sharing life and showing up with care.

This video series invites us to build a rhythm of place-sharing in our neighborhood as a team, practicing consistent presence and mutuality. It’s a practical expression of our Kingdom Culture theme, which calls us to live as followers of Christ by fostering belonging, embodying love, and joining God where he’s already at work in our communities.

View the entire series here.

This GCI Buzz describes place-sharing and provides examples.

Kingdom Living—Incarnational Loving

Incarnation living is joining people right where they are, place-sharing by the power of the Holy Spirit, and as imaged by the ultimate Place-sharer, Jesus. Read how these congregations are trusting that Jesus is already at work in their communities and discerning where best they can follow him and come alongside their neighbors.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Cricket is the most popular sport in Bangladesh, deeply ingrained in the nation’s culture and identity. The congregation in Dhaka, Bangladesh is participating in a cricket league, organized by an association representing 30 denominations. This brings positive exposure of the Christian faith to the community and builds solidarity among churches. It’s taking advantage of young men’s love for the sport and joining them right where they are.

United Kingdom

Recently, two GCI congregations in the U.K. have intentionally moved location to be in their local neighbourhood and be the living expression of Jesus in their community. GC Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and GC West Hampstead, London relocated to physically “share a place” with their neighbours.

Mexico City, Mexico

GCI Mexico has undertaken numerous activities to reach more people in the community and demonstrate the love of Jesus through tangible acts of compassion.

Substance Use Clinic

Substance use is a profoundly serious issue. It has infiltrated countless homes, undermining the unity and peace of families across our city and our nation.

Since August 2023, I been actively serving at a rehabilitation clinic.

From this rehabilitation center, our congregation has connected with one couple and six young people, offering support in their fight against addiction. As a church, we have also provided food to those in residence, demonstrating and embodying the love of Jesus to those in need of his light.

Recognizing the pervasive issue of addiction, the Holy Spirit has challenged us as a church to focus more intentionally to support children, youth, and couples within our community.

Marriage Dinner

On June 7, 2025, we hosted a dinner for married couples, titled “Have You Screwed Up Yet?” It was a heartfelt evening dedicated to highlighting the importance of teamwork within marriages to strengthen relationships. Sixteen couples attended, including members of our church and new couples from the community we met for the first time.

This event beautifully bridged the realms of faith and love, emphasizing their vital connection in building healthy marriages. The dinner was a memorable evening filled with romance, laughter, an inspiring lecture, and a delicious meal. The event was thoughtfully organized and led by Valery Oloño, Abigail Sánchez, and Luis Enrique Flores.

Our next step is to establish monthly discipleship sessions for married couples, and we are eager to connect with new couples to join us on this journey.

The couple we befriended from the rehabilitation center attended. Another couple who we did not previously know is now a part of our congregation.

Transitional Housing Services

Alongside our Lord Jesus, we have also had the privilege to visit with women living at a social assistance and integration center (CAIS) operated by the Mexico City government. The center houses nearly 600 women who have experienced abuse, abandonment, human trafficking, and psychiatric issues. The center invited us unexpectedly, and we gladly accepted.

What we witnessed was deeply heartbreaking because of the circumstances that brought these women there. We firmly believe that Jesus goes to places of hopelessness, where needs are beyond what we can imagine. During his earthly ministry, Jesus reached out to the marginalized and overlooked, and that is exactly what we sought to do.

We shared gelatin treats and provided socks, played guitars, and sang songs from their favorite artists. Then, we had the honor of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, praying, and singing praises. At the end of our visit, the women expressed their gratitude with smiles and told us, “Come more often, even if you don’t bring anything. Your time means so much to us.” And we do plan to visit regularly.

Out of respect for the residents’ privacy and security (since some are witnesses to drug trafficking and are protected by the government) we could not take photos inside. Nonetheless, the memories, the stories, and the joy of serving these women remain in our hearts. Though they may never attend our church, their lives are precious to Jesus. In the brief time we spent with them, they experienced the vast, long, high, and deep love of the triune God, even amid their challenging circumstances. We are committed to taking our church beyond the walls!

By Natanael Cruz, Pastor
Mexico City, Mexico

Devotional—Do Good to Your Enemies

Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

These verses are very important, especially today. It feels easier to condemn someone who believes or behaves differently from us than to do good to them. It feels easier to write people off when they do something wrong than trying to understand their actions or them as a human being.

However, doing what feels easy is not the way of the Lord. Acting like him means doing the hard thing, which is showing empathy and compassion for the ones that differ from us. It means caring for the ones most people would deem “other” or “bad” for who they are or what they have done. This is a challenge that we accepted the moment we devoted our lives to Christ. Living like Jesus means loving like he does.

Prayer
I pray that, in the moments when we struggle, we remember how God treated those who many had seen as evil or not worth saving. I pray that we do not meet people with judgments, but with attempts at understanding. I pray that you will read my words today and reflect on someone that you could pray for and hold space for that is different from you in some way, and that it blesses you.

By Serena Mills
Steele Creek, NC, US

The Kingdom of God is Among You

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

I am an American football fan. I played the sport, and so did my three sons. So, during the college bowl games I was watching the University of Texas play Ohio State University. The Texas quarterback was interviewed after the game. And what caught my attention was a prominent tattoo that was visible across his right forearm. It was the verse reference “Luke 17:21.”

I have a pretty good recall of many Bible verses (some of you remember when we had boxes of memory verse cards). Luke 17:21 was not one that immediately came to my mind, and when I looked it up, I got excited. These were the words of Jesus speaking to the Pharisees saying, “The kingdom of God is among you.” Wow, a young college athlete of a major university was inspired to have this verse displayed on his arm for the world to see.

I don’t know the backstory as to what the verse means to this player, but the verse is one that I have had on my list as we in GCI go forward in our 2025 theme of Kingdom Culture. How did Jesus instruct his audience about what to look for in his second coming?

First, the kingdom of God isn’t simply about external conditions and happenings (Luke 17:20). It isn’t about cobbling together bits of scriptures alongside world news leading to wild predictions. And as much we want Jesus to come back soon, it is irresponsible to set dates on a calendar. Jesus says that no man knows the date or the hour of his return, only his Father knows (Mark 13:32). The conditions that Jesus goes on to describe in Luke 17 can easily match up to various eras of human history in the past 2,000 years and certainly what we see in our society today. So, we collectively say, “Thy kingdom come” in our daily prayers.

2026 Denominational Celebration

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.

Home Office Full-time Job

GCI is hiring!

The Grace Communion International (GCI) is still seeking a qualified applicant for a full-time position in the Home Office in Charlotte, NC, U.S.

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 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.

From Equipper—Parable of the Sower

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

Subscribe to Equipper today!

By Bill Hall, National Director of Canada
Winnipeg, SK, Canada

Not too many of us in the Western world live in an agrarian society. For instance, although I’m surrounded by farms in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, I am an urban dweller. As a result, we may have some issues trying to understand various parables that have first-century agricultural overtones.

Looking at this parable found in Matthew 13:3–28, Mark 4:1–19, and Luke 8:4–15, we see Jesus’ conversation with the crowd on the lakeside is divided into three parts:

1. Jesus shares the parable.
2. Jesus explains why he speaks in parables.
3. Jesus then explains the parable to his disciples.

In his story he speaks of a sower casting seeds that fell on inhospitable and hospitable ground. Some of the seeds fell on the path and were eaten by birds; some fell on rocky ground and, while sprouting, couldn’t survive exposure to the elements. Other seedlings were choked out by weeds, and finally some seed fell on good soil and flourished into a bountiful harvest.

Reflecting on his words, even with my limited agricultural knowledge, it is obvious that what Jesus is describing in this parable is not how to be a successful farmer. A successful farmer would value every seed and give it the best opportunity to flourish. To do the opposite would be fool-hardy and a waste of valuable seed.

Instead, Jesus is describing something about the kingdom that is ushered into the world with his coming.

N.T. Wright explains that this message, with the interpretation given to the disciples (Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23), had a very prophetic meaning regarding Jesus’ ministry:

The Sower, in other words is not simply an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, a moral lesson about listening carefully. … It is full of the music of the Kingdom, the new song of God after the long silence of exile. It encapsulated Jesus’ challenge to his contemporaries to be Israel, because God was at last ‘sowing’ them again; and the warning that if this final word was not heeded the alternative would be catastrophe. [1]

Certainly, the Gospels give many examples of how Jesus’ words and actions were perceived differently by various individuals and groups. Some celebrated his coming, while to others, such as the religious leaders and the empire that was Rome, he was a threat to the status quo.

In his interpretation to the disciples (after he explains the reason for parables), he is not actually talking about seeds as much as the “type” of soil on which the seeds fell (Matthew 13:18-23).

As people who are reading these words over the shoulder of first-century disciples and their contemporary situation, modern Christians can learn some important lessons.

First, as we reach out into our neighbourhoods with the message of the kingdom, Jesus’ words help to explain why not everyone we develop a relationship with will respond to the kingdom message. The parable also helps to explain that even those who become disciples can get distracted and move on sometimes.

This can be very disconcerting. However, I find in Jesus’ words something very encouraging. The fact is, long before we encounter people in our neighbourhood, the Spirit is already preparing some to be the soil ready to accept the gospel. Could we be that person, in partnership with the Spirit, who plants the seed resulting in them becoming a part of that bigger harvest?

Secondly, I find encouragement from the reflections of David Lose. He calls God the “reckless sower,” because from our perspective God is a farmer who throws seed with abandon where three-quarters of the seed appears to be simply wasted. He adds:

Why does this shift of focus matter? Because as we give our attention to the crazy abandon of this ridiculously wasteful farmer, we get a hint about the character of the kingdom Jesus preaches. It is a place where God’s love and God’s word are scattered with equal abandon, with no regard for how any of it will be received. It’s as if God just can’t help but share love and grace and mercy and will do so recklessly, even wastefully, because God alone knows that grace is never exhausted, and love never wasted. [2]

Let us all participate with God as “sowers” in our own right to share his love, grace, and mercy in our neighbourhoods. More than ever our neighbours need to feel the touch of God’s kingdom in their lives!

[1] (page 86, Twelve Months of Sundays: Biblical Meditations on the Christian Years A, B & C, Morehouse Publishing 2012)

[2] (https://www.davidlose.net/2014/08/matthew-13-1-9)

Members Honored

Pastor Marty Davey shared the following announcement about a member of the GC Jacksonville congregation in Florida, U.S. She assisted two other bystanders to pull a trapped person from a rolled over vehicle.

Our very own Jasmine Daricaud was recognized and awarded by the city of Jacksonville for her bravery. Such an example of God’s purpose, favor, and love!

In Jasmine’s own words,

On Tuesday, I got an award from the city. And I have imposter’s syndrome. In my mind, if someone needs help, you help them to the best of your abilities. So, while I feel this was courageous and a little careless, I don’t feel like it was heroic. My husband’s life was saved [in 2023] because three guys put themselves in harm’s way. So, if I can help someone even a fraction of that, I’ll be eternally grateful.

Read the news report here.

Jeff Broadnax, U.S. Director, shared this announcement about the pastor of GC Cleveland in Ohio, U.S.

I want to take a moment to celebrate our sister and fellow pastor, Tamar Gray! She was selected Teacher of the Year 2024-2025 in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. Praise God, Tamar. You shine bright for Jesus and are a fantastic leader and teacher. We love you.

In Tamar’s own words,

I have been teaching for more than 40 years, 34 in this district. This is just a huge honor that I know is a blessing from God. I am proud to be a public-school educator alongside many hard-working teachers and staff. As I said in my acceptance speech, I share this with all of those who show up, give 100% and speak into the lives of our kids every day.

Death of Santiago Lange

Santiago Lange died Saturday, April 12, 2025. He was born in 1959 in Cuba and served in GCI for nearly 30 years. He served as a Mission Developer in Europe and National Director in Austria and Germany. Most recently, Santiago pastored the Stuttgart congregation in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Join us in praying for his wife, Elke, and their family. We share in their grief and in their hope of resurrection. Below is the memorial tribute given by Nestor Rodriguez, GCI Bogota, Colombia member.

In Loving Memory of Santiago Lange: He Fought the Good Fight

We honor a life marked by unwavering faith, courageous perseverance, and deep compassion. He devoted himself wholly to Christ and to living in truth. His relationship with the Lord was not simply a private conviction but the foundation of every word he spoke, every action he took, and every trial he faced. In his life, we witnessed what it means to love God with one’s whole heart, to rely on him steadfastly, and to walk in obedience even when the road was steep and painful.

For three years, he waged a heroic battle against cancer. Throughout countless rounds of chemotherapy, he maintained a remarkable transparency, sharing virtually every detail of his experience in letters and messages that encouraged and uplifted. He never once allowed despair to overshadow hope. Instead, he chose faith-filled words, demonstrating a “never give up” spirit that pointed others back to the power of prayer and the presence of Christ in the midst of suffering. When exhaustion and discomfort weighed heavily upon him, he refused to complain. His attitude remained steadfast: grateful to God for each breath, trusting that God was with him, and confident that no trial could separate him from the love of Christ.

Hospitality was a hallmark of his character. When visitors came from afar, he welcomed them with open arms, seeing in them the image of God. He made his home a place of warmth and generosity. He treated every guest as family, extending kindness and care not only to friends but also to those who found themselves far from home. His open-door heart reflected the biblical call to welcome the stranger; through him, many experienced the tangible love of Christ.

His love for theological discussion was well known to all who knew him. No subject was too difficult, no question too complex. He approached every conversation with humility and curiosity, eager to learn more about God’s nature and eager to share the insights he had gleaned over the years. He spoke with a passion that inspired those around him to dig deeper into Scripture and to grow in their own relationship with the Lord.

He cherished his wife in a way that bore witness to sacrificial love. Countless times, Santiago spoke of how blessed he was to have her by his side. In his words, it was clear that her steadfast love sustained him through every challenge. Their marriage was a portrait of Christ’s love for the Church: self-giving, faithful, and rooted in mutual submission. Through his testimony, we saw a man who recognized that the love of a godly spouse is one of life’s greatest gifts.

He was a lover of life’s simple joys. He delighted in a good laugh, a shared joke, and the fellowship of friends around a fine meal or glass of wine. Even as he faced pain, he found reasons to smile and reasons to celebrate God’s goodness: a well-timed quip, the taste of a favorite dish, lingering conversations by candlelight. In these moments, his vitality shone — reminding us that joy and suffering can coexist when the heart is fixed on Christ.

He had a unique gift for seeing the best in others. Always ready to commend a small victory or to highlight a hidden strength, he lived out Christ’s call to esteem others more highly than himself. No one left an encounter with him feeling insignificant or unseen. He believed that every person bore God’s image and ought to be treated with dignity and honor.

Let us hold fast to his example of faithfulness. Even when the road grew dark, he walked in obedience, truly loving the Lord by keeping his commands. His life reminds us that genuine faith is not measured by comfort but by perseverance. May we be inspired to greet every circumstance—joyful or painful—with the same trust in Christ.

Though his earthly battle has ended, his testimony remains. In the words he often shared, we find our charge: to walk by faith, not by sight; to rejoice always; and to give thanks in all circumstances.

Author: Elizabeth Mullins