In the last issue of Weekly Update we requested prayer for John Halford. Here is an update from John’s daughter, Becki Halford Brown.
John Halford
Tests show that Dad has stage three esophageal cancer. He is scheduled to start radiation and chemotherapy soon—going five days a week for five weeks. He will then have a couple weeks of rest, then surgery. That will be followed by more rest then additional chemotherapy. The bottom line is that Dad is in for a rough six months, but we are optimistic that he will get through this and will be back to his old self soon.
Doctors have given Dad something to help with his nausea to increase his appetite. We are praying this works because he is weak due to losing a lot of weight.
The cards and letters that have been sent to him from all over the world are covering his mantel and Mom is having to find more space to put them. Dad has expressed time and time again that he is overwhelmed by all the kind words and prayers from you all. It has been such an encouragement to him. Thank you all so much. I will keep you posted on his progress.
Cards may be sent to:
John & Pat Halford 5836 South State Road 129 Versailles, IN 47042
To learn more about John and his perspective on life and aging, watch the video below.
“I’m a geek and a nerd and I live on the bleeding edge of technology. I’m one of the few pastors who would love to go to Comicon and the CES show” said David Howe, pastor of Grace Family Fellowship, our GCI congregation in Elkhart, Indiana. “I’m a geek in the true sense of the word. I had to play with the cutting edge gadgets as-seen-on-TV, including the Flowbee, Dyson vacuum (not a good Valentines gift!), hybrid car and anything cutting edge. I had the first smart phone in 1996 (a Nokia 9000 Communicator; I still have it).”
David grew up in Linden, Michigan and started attending the Flint, Michigan church with his parents in 1973. “I basically grew up in the church. I am challenged by the pursuit of truth. What started as attending the only church I ever knew, transformed into a quest to find God in my life and develop a deep and personal relationship with him. Our changes indicated to me that we were serious about finding the Truth, the Way and the Life.”
David said he wanted to be a pastor since he was a teen and decided to attend Ambassador University. His dream changed for a while after graduation. “After Ambassador, I followed the path that was open, which was technology. I didn’t imagine that God needed to take me on a longer journey to prepare me for what he had in store.”
It wasn’t long before ministry opportunities came about and David started attending the Port Huron, Michigan church in 2002 to work with and be mentored by bi-vocational pastor, Jim Meade. Not long after that, David became the congregation’s bi-vocational co-pastor. “After getting laid off in 2005, and being unable to find an open door in that area, I applied to be the pastor of our Elkhart and Michigan City, Indiana churches. I went full-time in those responsibilities in 2006, then in 2009 I became the bi-vocational pastor in Elkhart.”
David and his wife Ann have been married for 21 years. “She is my soul mate and we have three children, Amanda (12), Ariana (10) and Taggart (8). Ann works with the middle-school ministry, but more importantly she helps me with my messages to make sure I’m able to connect with everyone in my congregation. Most importantly, she is the evidence for me that God loves me unconditionally—she is a constant support and encouragement.”
When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, David said, “The chance to see people come to a personal relationship with our Triune God. Being a part of peoples’ lives when God is working through them is also something I enjoy. I love seeing relationships mended and blossom. I love being a part of God’s tool chest to help people be inspired by the Holy Spirit.” Along this line, David said that what he loves about GCI is “our understanding of the early church’s beliefs of who God is—this has been exciting and life changing for me. That I can share in the journey of this denomination as God leads us into the next chapter, is wonderful.”
When asked to share about a most memorable moment as a pastor David recalled a time when, “There was a teenager my wife and I worked with when we came into the area. She had a rough environment and attended our church on her own from the time she was a kid. When she was 16 she decided to get baptized and that was a very memorable moment for us.”
David has many interests. “I love to travel and seek adventure. I’ve sky-dived, white-water rafted, rock-climbed, did the NASCAR driving school in Fort Worth, was scuba-certified, and traveled most of the 48 states by car. I’ve been to England, Spain, France, Canada, Puerto Rico, several islands in the Caribbean and Mexico and we are saving up for our 25th anniversary to take the family to Hawaii. After the kids go to college, my wife and I hope to drive to Alaska. I want to learn piano and how to sail. I hope to publish a children’s night-time story book that I’m working on now.”
With all these interests, David makes sure he has time for his true passions: his wife and family, and “reframing the gospel in ways that connect with the next generation. I’m interested in using technology to promote communication and relationships and to help people connect to our Father.”
When asked when he feels closest to God, David said, “When lying in my hammock with my wife next to me and a fire burning in the fire pit (and no mosquitoes!).”
After two years of Converge gatherings in two regional locations, GenMin will be holding Converge 2015 in one location: Deer Creek State Park near Sterling, Ohio. The event will occur on March 20-22, 2015 and is open to all GenMin leaders, staffers, friends and partners—all those interested in gathering to celebrate what God is doing to raise up and equip a new generation within our fellowship.
We have reserved the entire beautiful Deer Creek Lodge, which has over 100 hotel-style rooms designed for multiple occupancy.
Wm. Paul Young
The featured speaker at Converge 2015 will be Wm. Paul Young, bestselling author of The Shack and Crossroads. For his bio, click here. To view GCI You’re Included episodes with Paul and theologian C. Baxter Kruger, click here.
Registration for Converge 2015 will open soon and we’re expecting a sellout crowd, so don’t delay once the registration site opens (watch for an announcement at www.gci.org/events). The costs for the event will be posted there along with registration information.
To help you get a feel for Converge, here is a video of a presentation from GenMin national coordinator Anthony Mullins speaking at Converge 2014, West:
In line with its 2014 theme, “Forward Together On Mission With God,” GCI-Philippines is conducting several youth camps this year. The first was held recently in Malaybalay City on the Island of Mindanao. It ran for six days, with 67 campers and 32 volunteer staff, mostly from GCI congregations in Mindanao and some from Manila City. About one third of the campers were first-timers at what camp director Pastor Rey Balistoy said was the longest camp held so far in Mindanao.
National Director Eugene Guzon was among the camp speakers. The teaching curriculum used was “Superhero,” produced by Generations Ministries. On the last night, campers shared by candlelight in a reflective and personal “Encounter” event. In the midst of the challenges they face, and in their quest for inspiration to move on, the campers drew assurance, healing, power and encouragement from knowing that Jesus, the true Superhero, is with them and for them.
The camp graduation ceremony was heartwarming, showing the depth of friendships made and the spiritual refreshment received, having focused on Jesus’ attributes of Gratitude, Courage, Hope, Integrity and Vulnerability, all compelled by his deep Love for all. Three campers were baptized on the last day of camp. At the closing ceremonies, everybody praised God for a spiritually enriching event.
In the last issue of Weekly Update, we announced the death of Shirley Moskel. Here her husband, GCI pastor John Moskel, offers a tribute to Shirley and his thanks to Update readers.
Thank you to all for your prayers on behalf of my dear wife, Shirley. On April 19, she ceased her struggle with lung cancer.
Stephanie, Shirley’s daughter, was able to assist me in caring for Shirley at home, with the hospice nurse and staff giving much-needed support. Shirley was on the maximum allowable dosage of pain-killer medications, plus a little extra in her final days. She had a fair degree of mental confusion in her last week, but that was expected as the disease progressed through her frail body.
Retired GCI pastor Keith Brittain officiated at her memorial service. Over 160 attended. Our local congregation, Open Hearts Fellowship, provided a delicious lunch following the service.
Though it was at times exhausting to care for Shirley through the night, I cherish those memories and consider it a privilege to have helped make her suffering a little more bearable. She was a terrific companion, always ready to share a laugh and be cheerful in the midst of what must have been very deep pain.
The silence and the loneliness are hard to bear now, but I take comfort in what one clergyman said recently, “The nice thing about being a Christian is that you never have to say goodbye.”
I eagerly anticipate the grand family reunion that lies ahead.
Prayer is requested for John Halford, special assistant to GCI president Joseph Tkach. John was recently hospitalized where he was diagnosed with cancer. He is now home, awaiting further tests to determine the extent of the cancer and to determine needed treatment. Here is an update from John’s daughter, Becki Halford Brown:
My dad had been experiencing rapid weight loss and some discomfort in his chest. Tests showed that he has esophageal cancer. The oncologist says he is “cautiously optimistic” that the cancer is limited to the esophagus. If that is the case (and we will know soon), radiation and chemotherapy will probably not be needed, and dad will have surgery right away to remove the cancer. Short of a miraculous healing, this is about the best news we could ask for.
John and his family ask for your prayers for John’s healing and for direction for the doctors who will be treating him.
Cards may be sent to:
John & Pat Halford 5836 South State Road 129 Versailles, IN 47042
We are saddened to learn of the death on April 18 of Shirley Moskel, wife of GCI pastor John Moskel. Click here for a previous prayer request that outlines her battle with cancer that now is over. Please pray for John and Shirley’s other family members and friends. Details about the funeral are pending.
On April 12, a group (pictured below) of 20 GCI pastors and leaders from California and Nevada known as the “SoCal cohort” held their first “mission field discipleship” meeting in Glendora, California.
Those invited to participate in the cohort are highly motivated pastors and ministry leaders who are interested in growing their congregations spiritually and numerically. The purpose of the cohort is to make disciples in the mission field using an organic process that includes engaging new contacts, sharing the gospel, discipling relationally in venues outside the church walls, and incorporating rhw new disciples into the body of the local church.
At the first meeting, regional pastor Lorenzo Arroyo made a presentation entitled, “rethinking evangelism.” He noted that evangelism and discipleship are two sides of the same coin that should be fully integrated. District pastor and church planter Heber Ticas led the group in sharing stories about disciple-making in their contexts. Church pastors Anne Stapleton, Manuel Ochoa, Glen Weber, Bermie Dizon, Ruel Guerrero, Enoch Palacios, Jose Luis Escalante, Angie Tabin and several others shared stories concerning their community engagement experiences. Those stories were then compared to events recorded in Luke and Acts.
The meeting concluded with prayer for more intentional engagement of those in need of experiencing the reconciliation that is already theirs, and for continued guidance and participation with what the Spirit is doing in their midst. In the next meeting, the cohort will tackle the nuts-and bolts of making new disciples in the mission field.
Here is a recent update on Arnold Clauson from his daughter Rachelle who is helping with his care at his home in Texas.
From left: Rachelle, Arnold and Trish Clauson
Dad had a difficult time this weekend, then yesterday [April 21] he seemed to decline even more.
We had arranged yesterday for him to receive hospice care. For now they are coming in 20-30 minutes each day. However, Dad’s symptoms were changing so fast last night that we asked them to return. They gave him oxygen to help increase his blood oxygen levels.
This morning [April 22], Dad was able to eat and was strong enough to travel for dialysis. His blood pressure drops at times, so we’re keeping a close eye on that.
Continued prayer for Dad’s healing and comfort is much needed and appreciated. Please also pray for Mom [Trish] and for me—we often get exhausted caring for Dad. We love you all—blessings and health to you and your loved ones.
Cards may be sent to:
Arnold and Trish Clauson 109 Melrose Circle Denison, Texas 75020
Have you ever picked up one of those small, multi-layered sandwiches at a buffet and been surprised at how tasty it was? A Bible story can be like that—perhaps a bit confusing at first with its multiple layers, yet surprisingly tasty and nourishing once you get into it. There’s a story like that in Mark chapter 11. The first layer goes like this:
As they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it (Mark 11:12-14).
Why did Jesus do that? It seems at first glance a rather unreasonable thing to do. It wasn’t the season for figs—so why blame the tree? Was the pressure of the last weeks of his earthly ministry getting to Jesus? No, he knew exactly what he was doing. He didn’t mutter this under his breath—as verse 14 indicates, he made sure his disciples heard.
Mark then adds another layer to this “tasty sandwich”:
Casting Out the Money Changers by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890)
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’” (Mark 11:15-17).
What Jesus did here was a public relations nightmare! Approaching the city the day before, the multitudes greeted him as a conquering hero. This was a particularly sensitive time of year and the occupying Romans were on the lookout for trouble. Jesus had “flown under the radar” in his triumphal entry, so the sensible thing for him to do now would have been to keep his head down. Instead, he causes a major incident in the most sensitive spot imaginable—the Temple. He charges it with being unfruitful in prayer for the nations.
This shocking proclamation exposes the corruption and hypocrisy of Israel’s religious elite. Jesus is accusing them of abandoning Israel’s mission to be a light to the nations, and attempting to keep God’s blessing for themselves. Jesus is asking for trouble!
Then Mark adds another layer:
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching (Mark 11:18).
Jesus’ prophetic word was sure to provoke a showdown with the religious elite. But it wasn’t quite time yet. So…
When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city (Mark 11:19).
Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree was not about the tree. It had no fruit through no fault of its own. That would be clear to all. He was using the incident with the tree to illustrate a far more important lesson. But it was not a lesson that the disciples grasped at the time, as we see in the last layers of the story:
In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (Mark 11:20-21).
Jesus’ reply to Peter might seem rather unsatisfying—perhaps even condescending:
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them” (Mark 11:22-23).
Let’s review what Jesus is saying here in context. He is not giving advance notice of a breakthrough in civil engineering. This lesson is no more about the mountain than the other was about the fig tree. In the ancient world, “mountains” often symbolized empires and kingdoms. Casting them into the sea symbolized their judgment—being thrown into a place of destruction (Mark 9:42). This was likely baffling to the disciples, because what Jesus predicted did not happen immediately. The disciples were weak in faith, and so the one who “does not doubt” here is Jesus. He has no doubts that his Father will bring this to pass—that he will judge the Jewish religious elite and the Roman overlords who refuse to bow to Jesus’ lordship. Eventually, they will be thrown down.
The point here is that the kingdom that Jesus is inaugurating by the authority of his words and deeds stands over all other authorities, religious or secular. His rule and reign has begun and he knows that it will reach its fullness over time. Jesus’ words of judgment—sorting out what is what—will come to pass, even if there is a delay, just as there was between the words Jesus spoke and the effects seen upon the fig tree. This delay does not diminish the effectiveness and certainty of his authoritative word. In that regard, remember the prophecy of Micah:
In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it (Micah 4:1).
These “last days” have been unfolding for a long time. The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 and then, by AD 476, the Roman Empire ceased to exist. Yet we still await the ultimate consummation of the last days, which will occur at Jesus’ return in glory. The kingdom Jesus inaugurated 2,000 years ago, eventually will completely overthrow all opposition, whether religious or secular. But, according to our Lord’s way, this overthrow comes gradually, and not through cruelty, force or intimidation. Instead, the kingdom advances through the pronouncement of the Lord’s word by his people who, themselves, live by faith in that word. Opponents to Jesus’ kingdom reign are thus conquered “from the roots,” over long periods of time and in ways generally not immediately seen. For these vanquished foes, rather than revenge, there is forgiveness, love and mercy.
The time span between the inauguration and consummation of the kingdom involves a process of judgment that leads to peace—a peace that the world is unable to understand, for it goes against the grain of human nature (John 14:27). Those whom Jesus chose to join him in the next stage of his ministry needed to understand, as do we. We await the fullness of the kingdom with patience and a hope that will not be disappointed.
With concluding words from Jesus, Mark adds a final and rather surprising layer to this tasty sandwich:
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:24-25).
Here is the unexpected, perhaps shocking, way the kingdom unfolds. Through clarifying judgment, over time, all opposition to the kingdom is overcome as it is exposed for what it is: nothing compared to the rule and reign of God in Christ, which alone gives life eternal. As believers, we pray for and thus welcome this unfolding judgment—not through revenge or condemnation, but by extending the Lord’s forgiveness to all. This we do because our concern is that deception be lifted and all enter God’s glorious kingdom, receiving God’s forgiveness as his redeemed children. Because we have received that forgiveness, we have passed through the Lord’s loving and freeing judgment, which led to our repentance. And now we wish for others to gain what we have received. Ultimately, God’s judgment, delivered to us in Jesus Christ, is a word of compassion and salvation. And that is a tasty sandwich indeed!
