GCI’s congregation in La Huaca, Cajamarca, Peru, recently held its annual seminar. Mission Director Hector Barrero was the featured speaker, hosted by the congregation’s leader, Juan Carlos Florian, who is a prosperous farmer and a mayor in the region. Among seminar participants were 60 adults and 25 children. The focus of the seminar was a study of the book of Colossians. As seen in the pictures below, the atmosphere was one of great joy and celebration. The food was delicious and plentiful.
“When you take a child by the hand, you take a parent by the heart.” With this thought in mind, GCI Generations Ministries recently hosted a Children’s Ministry Training seminar in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fifteen children’s ministers attended from GCI congregations in the area.
The seminar was led by children’s ministry expert Becky Jarrett (standing in the picture above), who facilitated interactive discussions on these important topics:
According to GenMin National Coordinator, Anthony Mullins, “The feedback has been very good and we hope to provide this kind of high support to other GCI congregations in the future.”
The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) recently hosted a webinar with Mark Yarhouse addressing the pastoral care of LGBT persons and their families. The webinar was recorded, and can now be viewed at https://vimeo.com/183694588 (use password: 092016NAE).
Many churches have friendly members, but are they friendly to visitors? In a recent post on his blog, LifeWay president Thom Rainer offers “Six Reasons Why Your Church Members May Not Be Friendly To Guests” (click here to read the post)—it offers some good food for discussion on the importance of extending hospitality to visitors.
Retired GCI pastor Willi Mandel requests prayer for his wife Ingrid who fell a few days ago, breaking her right hip. She has already had hip replacement surgery for her right hip, and the same surgery is scheduled for her left hip, which has given her problems for the past two years. Recovery/rehabilitation following these surgeries will take her about two months
Cards may be sent to:
Ingrid Mandel
747 Tanner Drive
Kingston, ON K7M 9G7
CANADA
GCI congregations in Denver, CO and Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (Twin Cities) recently held spiritual formation retreats facilitated by Odyssey in Christ, a GCI affiliate ministry led by Dr. Larry Hinkle. Here are reports from each retreat:
The Denver North congregation participated in a retreat (Experiencing The Trinity) led by Larry Hinkle with assistance from two Denver pastoral couples: Bill and Donna Rae Wells and Mark and Joanne McCulley. According to Mark, “The Spirit of God was evident in our midst, helping us love one another more deeply and openly, and open ourselves to the grace and healing our Lord Jesus Christ brought us.” Another participant said, “This was a whole new beginning for me in my spiritual life. I can’t wait to see what’s next!” Another spoke of a much closer personal relationship with the Triune God after learning and practicing the spiritual exercises that are part of the retreat.
Members from Twin Cities congregations met near Farmington, MN, for a retreat (A Deeper Walk) led by Larry Hinkle with assistance from Dr. Charles Fleming (GCI Caribbean Mission Developer) and his wife Carmen. Participants learned how our western world, including its theology (in large part due to the Enlightenment “age of reason”) has emphasized head knowledge and neglected matters of the heart. The retreat addressed this neglect by teaching spiritual disciplines practiced by the early church. These disciplines involve using our head knowledge to awaken our hearts to greater intuitive, creative, emotional, and imaginative awareness of the love of God for, with and in us. Neglect of either head or heart distorts and inhibits our relationship with God as well as with one another. As one of the retreat presenters noted, “Grace without truth is not grace. Truth without grace is cruel.”
In a recent post on his blog, Carey Nieuwhof, teaching pastor of Connexus Church near Toronto, Canada, asks, “How do you interact with infrequent church attenders who don’t seem to be embracing the mission of your church the way you hoped they would?” His answer is simple and to the point: “You embrace them anyway.” To read his post, click here.
GCI’s Baguio/La Trinidad congregation in the Philippines participated recently in a city-wide health fair. To learn more, click here.
Prayer is requested for Pat Evans, wife of Jack Evans, pastor of GCI’s congregation in Kenai, Alaska. A few days ago, Pat was involved in a head-on collision and underwent surgery for two fractured legs. She also broke several ribs and punctured a lung. She is facing a long recovery, and at least one more reconstructive surgery on her foot.
Cards may be sent to:
Pat Evans
308 James Street
Kenai AK 99611
Congratulations to Billy Cooley and Carolyn Holley Cooley. Billy and Carolyn were united in marriage on July 24, in Jackson, Mississippi. The ceremony was officiated by John Novick, pastor of GCI’s congregation in Jackson.
Billy is Pastor/Facilitator of Christ Community Fellowship Group, GCI’s congregation in Meridian, Mississippi. Carolyn is from Murfreesboro, North Carolina. She has a degree in nursing, and is continuing her education in religion and counseling at Liberty University. They are enjoying their new life together and expecting a great future.
