The month of October is Pastor Appreciation month. In addition to the way you plan to demonstrate your appreciation locally, help us honor our GCI pastors in Update. Use the form below to tell us why your pastor or pastoral team is wonderful. How have you been encouraged or invested in personally?
Next month, we’ll share your stories celebrating our pastors. Click the link below to fill out the form. Thank you!
When I asked one attendee of the Welcome Home Conference how she would describe the conference in one word, she replied, “Hope.” I could not agree more. Certainly, this conference came at a time when the message of hope is sorely needed in our country, both within and outside of GCI. We are still dealing with the aftereffects of the pandemic. All our churches and fellowship groups faced being online for several months and many have just started to have in-person services. As a country, we have faced divisions over the handling of the pandemic as well as the stress of dealing with our colonial past and our interactions with the original inhabitants of this land. Finally, as a denomination we are facing the reality of having an aging ministry and members. So, the presentations regarding the Hope Avenue resonated with many of us.
It also fit with the theme of “Welcome Home.” We all have a place in relationship with our triune God, and he is in the process of welcoming all peoples to their true home. As our guest performer and lecturer, Canadian Christian artist Steve Bell said during his For the Journey presentation, “We are all in communion with God by his grace” (a play on our denominational name).
The presence of many new Canadians from Africa and Latin America gave us all a sense of what the future leadership of GCI in Canada will look like. Canada and GCI have become a new home for immigrants from many countries, and they are excited to be part of this fellowship and are inviting others to participate in this relationship with our triune God.
As Michael Rasmussen kept mentioning during his presentations on the Hope Avenue, “God is calling all people to be a part of the church…they just don’t all know it yet.”
By Bill Hall
National Director, Canada
Editor’s Note: Our overarching theme for devotions during the five months of the liturgical calendar called Ordinary Time is Jesus is sending his church. Using Michael Frost’s B.E.L.L.S. acronym as a framework, the topics will relate to missional living.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13 (NIV)
Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he ascended to the Father, gave us this magnificent, lovely parting gift– the gift of the Holy Spirit. The verse above instructs us on one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit – to guide us into all truth. Whatever we hear from the Spirit guides us and lets us know what is yet to come. As children of the Most High, we know the mind of God through the Holy Spirit’s leading. In missions, we are out and about walking in his truth, letting the world know about his kingdom. The best companion to have, trust, and listen to is the Holy Spirit. He knows the mind of the Father, and he is the one directing us as we speak about God’s kingdom. Not listening to him would be like telling your parents that you are of age and do not need their guidance anymore.
Missional practices, journeys, or events are our way of telling God that we are privileged to be telling the world about who he is and obeying his commandments. We are grateful to be carrying his presence. It will be very unwise of us to say that we will not listen to the one who is to teach us how to speak, walk, who to talk to, what to say, how to say it, when to say it, to whom to say it, and where to say it. The missional field is a dynamic field, and we need to listen to the Spirit, not only because he is God and knows the mind of Christ, but he also knows the minds of those we are being sent to. It is the Spirit’s ministry to convict the individual being spoken to. It should be a deliberate action. He should be our best friend, helping us navigate through life in our personal and missional lives.
Prayer:
Our Father, the great God of heavens and earth, we pray, oh Lord, that we will trust you enough to let you lead as we share your word with others through our lives, actions, and words. May we have a listening ear and be sensitive to your promptings as you direct us in this world to let the world know about you. May we be like the sheep who know your voice and follow where you lead. May we never go astray from you because you are the way-maker and the road map to our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
By Brenda Asare-Akoto
National Youth Pastor, Ghana
Dear GCI Family and Friends,
In early August, I was able to join Board Chair Dr. Randy Bloom and North America and Caribbean Superintendent Michael Rasmussen in a gathering with Canada National Director Bill Hall, and 120 conference attendees in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Due to COVID, this was the first gathering like this in four years. Hence, Bill titled the conference “Welcome Home.”
The family reunion element was a big part of the celebration, and we were grateful to the hotel property to honor their rates from the original contract signed three years ago. We give thanks to our triune God.
Bill invited Christian music recording artist, Steve Bell, to share his music and his thoughts about the trinity and worship. Steve inspired the audience with his meaningful songs and stories, and he fit perfectly into helping us have deeper thoughts about worship through the Hope Avenue. I was especially pleased for how Steve immersed himself within the group, and how he reinforced our values for the Revised Common Lectionary and the annual worship calendar.
Early in the conference, I shared the “big rocks,” or priorities of how our ministry is structured. Long before we move into the how and implementation, there is need for us to be crystal clear on the questions of who? Who we are? And the why? Hopefully, you have some answers in mind, but allow me to fill in these answers. The “who” is the triune God revealed to us in the person of Jesus. “Who we are?” includes believers and followers of Jesus, and as such we are fellow members of his church. I reminded the attendees that “We are Church People.” It was music to my ears to hear them echo those words back to me. “Why?” is the mission of the church, expressed in our motto, “Living and Sharing the Gospel.”
Mike Rasmussen picked up the training from this point and gave a wonderful thousand-foot view of the Faith, Hope, and Love Avenues, with a deeper dive on the Hope Avenue. Mike shared stories out of his past decades of pastoral ministry, and most recently what he has been learning as he participates in the church and Ministry Training Center in Surrey Hills, Oklahoma. It was amazing to observe the interaction of the pastors and ministry leaders as Mike fielded questions and comments. There was a spark of life, creativity, and hope in this mix of church people. Praise be to God!
Randy Bloom met with the Canadian Board of Directors. The board members are those “hidden figures” that offer their time, experience, and wisdom in support of the national director as he attends to the business and mission of the church. A major decision made in this meeting was to elect Gillian Houghton as the Board Chairperson for the coming year. Please keep her and the work of our Canadian church in your prayers.
On Sunday our conference group was joined by another 200+ attendees through a video link. I was humbled and privileged to be able to address just about half of our dear church members across Canada. I shared with them a message out of 1 Corinthians 3 about “Jesus Our True Foundation.” Any enduring work that we will do in this life will only happen when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, when we participate by building with him, when we build on him and when the work is inspired and saturated by his love.
We join Jesus and our brothers and sisters in Canada as we go forward into the life of GCI. May God continue to bless our participation with him and his work in GCI Canada.
Greg Williams
Claudine Lorraine Woodie, age 97, of Greenwood Village, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Claudine was born December 10, 1924, and she was an employee of GCI in Business & Human Resources and Mail Processing from 1951 through 1995. Her brother-in-law, David Hunsberger, submitted the following to be shared with our Update readers.
Claudine was a long-serving employee, known by many who would have enjoyed her exceptional hospitality and generosity in both Bricket Wood and Pasadena. Claudine hosted many dinners in her home. After retirement and moving to the Denver, Colorado area, she continued serving members and youth with enthusiasm.
Widowed in 2001, Claudine lived her final years with Shirley and David Hunsberger and niece Teresa Hannaway, and her children—a real “full house!” As she took her last breath here at home, she was surrounded by sister Shirley, brother-in-law David Hunsberger, nephews Glen Hunsberger, Gavin Hannaway, and Justan Presley, and nieces Annette Presley and Teresa Hannaway. With a peaceful look, Claudine departed for her spot in glory, to wait for and welcome the rest of us.
The following is a prayer request for Patsy Ross, wife of John Ross, the pastor of Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S.
Patsy suffers from serious digestion complications that make it difficult to eat enough and get the necessary nutrients. The lack of nutrition has caused her heart to beat too fast. The good news is that a heart specialist recently determined that Patsy’s heart is healthy, and she is trying a new medication to slow her heart rate. Patsy will see a pain specialist and a gastric specialist to hopefully resolve some of her symptoms.
Due to nausea and lack of appetite, Patsy has lost more than 50 pounds this year and is very weak. She needs assistance moving around, and John is her primary caregiver. Please pray for provision, healing, and peace.
Cards may be sent to:
Patsy and John Ross
1204 Glendale Cir
Greenwood, MS 38930-7203
On July 31, in the Atlanta area, I had the privilege to commission Phil Doele as the pastor of GCI Snellville. It was a blessing to have Elizabeth with me as we celebrated Jesus Christ and his unflinching love with the congregation. The day before, we enjoyed the retirement party for their former pastor, David Beckner, and his wife, Gayle.
Installing a new GCI Pastor is a wonderful experience. Within the congregation is a renewed hope through a refined vision in the Holy Spirit, an anticipation for the future, and gratitude for the triune God’s provision. Join me in praying for Pastor Phil and Esther during this time of transition.
Allow me to share a little about Phil and his family and vocational context. He’s married to Esther Carlisle Doele. Many of you will know Esther and the Carlisle family from Alabama. Esther’s sister, Jacquelyn Carlisle, is an elder and facilitator of our fellowship group in Montgomery. Please excuse their love for Alabama football! Their older daughter, Christianna, is a student at Georgetown University in the Washington, D.C. area and has served on our regional GC Next team and as a cohost for GC Podcast. Their younger daughter, Eula, will soon begin her freshman year at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Eula is following in her father’s footsteps by attending Yale. I can’t say enough about Christiana and Eula! They are exceptional young women and emerging leaders in our denomination.
Phil will not only serve as the pastor of GCI Snellville but will continue his full-time employment as an architect. Phil, we are grateful for your humble servant-heart and your deep love for God and your neighbors. Thank you for saying “yes” to God’s “yes!”
By Anthony Mullins
Regional Director, Southeast
Grace Communion River Road, just outside Eugene, Oregon, recently held a successful Outside The Walls (OTW) event. We invited neighbors to join us for fun carnival games, free food, and even summer snowball fights.
Our Love Avenue team wanted an event as welcoming as it was repeatable. “Christmas in July” seemed simple to explain and an instant tradition to draw people year after year. Throughout the training the acronym OTW became widespread. Looking Outside The Walls to serve our neighbors is important. 
Even so, I immediately saw OTW as ‘On The Way’ and for me, the event took on new meaning. The great commission is translated with the command, “Go”, but the Greek reads, “as you go.” In other words, ‘On The Way’ to whatever you do, make disciples.
I feared that a failed OTW would discourage our congregation from ever reaching out again. We have to remember that events are opportunities, not obligations. When we have fun engaging with guests, they are bound to want to join us on the way.
We made ourselves known in the community and started some good relationships with the neighbors who stopped by, but we learned we could have had better advertising and signage. Also, reducing the event from five to three hours could prevent wearing out our volunteers in the future. I look forward to seeing more neighbors at our monthly family nights, and we already have volunteers eager for our Halloween event.
You don’t have to spend a fortune or overwork the members of your congregation to attract people to join you in the body of Christ. Your congregation just needs to be welcoming and treat every guest as a new friend. I know that I picked up some friends on the way and am excited to see what God has in store for the future.
By Aleck Thompson
Associate Pastor & Love Avenue Champion
