Below is a video of an interview with retired GCI pastor Ray Meyer. He discusses the pastoral succession planning process in the Kansas City, Missouri church, where he served as senior pastor for 19 years. Also watch for the July issue of Equipper, which tells Ray’s story.
This update is from GCI Canada member Mark Yandt who was one of the riders in the event.
Our Canadian youth camp, Camp Connections, recently held its third annual Peddling Kilometers fundraiser. The 200 km bicycle ride was completed by 13 riders (pictured below) who worked hard prior to the ride selling pledges for the kilometers they would cover. In this way funds were raised for Friends of Camp Connections (FOCC), an organization that subsidizes the registration fees paid by needy campers.
Over the past three years the event has brought participants together from Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Peterborough and Petawawa and has raised over $22,000 (Canadian). Though this year’s results are not yet finalized, it looks like we’ve raised over $10,000! This is a testament to the efforts of the riders who worked for months doing fundraising prior to the ride. Not only did they gain support from friends and colleagues (in person and online), they had the opportunity to tell people about the value of Camp Connections.
This year’s ride started at Parliament Hill in Ottawa and took us through eastern Ontario to Hawkesbury where we stayed overnight before heading the next day to Montreal. Camp director Lynn Lawrence welcomed us with a hot shower and a BBQ dinner.
Here’s a happy announcement from Anthony Mullins who directs GCI’s Generations Ministries. Congratulations to Anthony and Elizabeth!
Anthony and Elizabeth
I have some big news out of North Carolina: I have asked Elizabeth Gill to be my bride (and she said “yes”).
It was a beautiful evening—we had been talking about the Father’s wooing and romantic heart. This seemed the natural segue into asking her to share life with me and me with her.
I know you will share our joy in announcing our engagement to be married. Thanks to the many who have been praying about this. For both of us, it’s a testament to God’s redemptive and restorative nature.
Throughout church history, the importance of preaching has been emphasized and explained as being a vital activity of the church. John Calvin said that where the word of God is not preached and heard, there is no church. Preaching is a ministry that Jesus himself authorized and continues to empower by his word and Spirit. When we prepare and deliver a sermon, we are sharing in the ongoing ministry of the Great Shepherd. As the living Word, he continues to communicate by his word, both written and preached. Therefore, let us offer our sermons up to God as “loaves and fish” for him to bless and multiply in feeding his sheep.
Reproduced with permission from Chris Carmichael.
Every time I prepare a sermon, I’m reminded of John Stott’s book for preachers, Between Two Worlds. He observed that preachers need twelve hours to adequately prepare a sermon. That amount of time, I know, is unrealistic for many of us—especially bivocational pastors. Nevertheless, Stott’s observation reminds us of the importance of adequate sermon preparation—I’m particularly motivated to spend more time in prayer.
We are blessed with many resources that help us prepare our sermons. I asked Ted Johnston from Church Administration and Development to list some of them (see the “preaching resources” link at left). These resources will need to be adapted to your personal style, your congregation’s needs and our denomination’s doctrinal standards. But they do take some of the “heavy lifting” out of sermon preparation.
The single oddest response I ever received after a sermon (true story) came from a man I had never met.
“Excuse me,” he said, “Do you mind if I disturb you for a moment?”
“No,” I said.
He put his thumbs in his ears, wiggled his fingers wildly, and made a noise that sounded like Ruga Ruga Ruga. Then he walked away. I haven’t seen him since. It was the oddest response I have received, but not the worst.
Perhaps the oddest response I have ever received was following a sermon I preached on grace. A man came up to me and said that he would like to publicly execute me by chopping off my head with a giant ax. As it turns out, this fellow was visiting us from one of our splinter groups.
How about you? What is the most unusual comment you have ever received in response to one of your sermons? I invite you to share yours using the “ADD A COMMENT” feature below.
Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” I have noticed that the opposite is true as well. A critical comment can have the effect of trumping any number of positive remarks. But for a preacher, a certain amount of criticism goes with the territory. It isn’t necessarily your fault. Even the apostle Paul couldn’t please all of the people, all of the time. He wrote,
Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse (2 Corinthians 2:16 MSG).
So next time someone tells you your sermon “stinks,” remember you are in good company. However, let’s make sure the criticism comes because the listener rejects the truth of our message and not because of sloppy, inadequate preparation. To quote Paul again,
This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can” (2 Corinthians 2:17 MSG).
Let me encourage you to be diligent in your preaching, entrusting your best to Christ the living Word, so you can be “a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NRSV).
SEP Florida, a GCI Generations Ministries camp, held its 2013 summer session on June 11-14 at beautiful Camp Shalom north of Ocala, Florida with 48 youth and 22 adult staff. The group enjoyed sunshine, great food and challenging activities. Most of all, they enjoyed sharing, with Jesus, fellowship with God and one another. Several youth were first-time campers.
Camp director Marty Davey noted that after the camp concluded, the owner of the facility commented that in his 15 years of hosting camps, he considers ours to be one of the top five, noting our spirit of love and cooperation. He said were we are one of the most respectful, courteous, knowledgeable and organized groups he has ever worked with.
The Australian National Conference, Life Together in Christ, was held on the beautiful Gold Coast on May 31 to June 2.
More than 200 participants enjoyed a wonderful celebration of fellowship and learning. The conference was open to all who wanted to attend. People came from all over Australia and some from as far away as Malaysia and New Zealand. Participants included representatives from Perichoresis and GraceWalk ministries that, like GCI, embrace a Trinitarian, incarnational perspective on theology.
Conference speakers: (back row) Tammy Tkach, Gary Deddo, Cathy Deddo; (front row) Joseph Tkach, John McLean and a guest from another denomination.
Here are comments from conference participants: “It was most uplifting, encouraging and enjoyable.” “I left feeling uplifted and filled with contentment.” “More—more learning, more fellowship, more opportunities like this please!” “Awesome conference—inspiring, encouraging and lovely atmosphere.” “It was so spiritually rich, refreshing, edifying and rewarding to spend time together exploring the deep things of God.” Joseph Tkach commented: “It was wonderful to have visitors attend the conference with us. Their fellowship enriched the gathering. Many people told me that they were encouraged and inspired by the growth God is giving to us.”
A positive spirit was evident throughout the conference. There was deep joy in appreciating our union with Christ and the communion we have with our Triune God and one another. The next Australian general conference is eagerly awaited.
Joseph and Tammy Tkach visit an Australian member in the hospital
Prayer is requested for the Schnippert family in accordance with this very sad announcement from our dear brother in Christ, Bernie Schnippert who serves as GCI’s legal counsel.
Amber in 2008
It is with almost unbearable sadness that I inform you of the death of my beloved daughter, Amber Yvonne Schnippert Patrick, due to breast cancer at about 2:24 A.M. Tuesday morning. In accordance with her wishes, no funeral will be held. She is survived by her Mom and Dad; by two sisters, Crystal and Coral; by her husband, Josh; and by her beautiful six-year-old daughter, Megan.
Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during this time of trial. They have been and remain a source of strength for me.
—Bernie Schnippert
Cards may be sent to:
Bernie and Arlene Schnippert 64651 Jan Dr Bend, OR 97701-8824
The 1940s were a time of great growth for evangelical churches. Our own denomination, then known as the Radio Church of God, was no exception. As more and more people responded to Herbert Armstrong’s broadcasts and personal campaigns, small groups would form. But with no one to pastor them, they soon disbanded. In his Autobiography, Mr. Armstrong explained how he noticed that several other small churches had resolved this problem by starting training colleges. And so, in 1947, Ambassador College in Pasadena opened. Later, sister campuses opened in England and Texas.
Ambassador College served us well for several decades. In the years when our churches grew exponentially, we were able to employ nearly every graduate. But by the 1970s through 80s as fewer and fewer graduates were employed by the church and as the costs of maintaining the campuses rose, the difficult decision was made to close all three.
This proved to be the right decision. In the last two decades, hundreds of small Bible colleges have been forced to close. Ambassador graduates have gone on to find success in many fields, and many still serve in the ministry of the church. That includes many of you reading these words. No longer are we those fresh-faced young people beaming out of the pages of the Ambassador College Envoy. Many of us, now in our late sixties, are approaching retirement.
We need to prepare the next generation of leaders and pastors. It is no longer financially possible to have a full-time training college. Nor is it necessary. There are many fine institutions, including our own Grace Communion Seminary, which provide a sound theological foundation. But ministry is more than academic knowledge. Effective pastoral training must also include practical, hands-on experience in churches.
This is why, in the US, we have our Pastoral Internship Program. We have just completed the second annual meeting of our interns and those involved in training and mentoring them (see group picture below). The meeting was held in a Christian retreat center north of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Interns, pastor-trainers and mentors at the Pastoral Internship Program meeting
Church Administration and Development team member Greg Williams coordinates our Pastoral Internship Program. Following is a report he sent me about the recent gathering. I think you will find it encouraging.
Greg Williams addresses internship gathering
We held our second annual meeting with our interns over the weekend of June 6-9. Out of the 35 attendees, 11 were pastoral interns and two were pastoral residents who are ordained elders serving in GCI churches. Ranging in age from 22 to 50, our interns are participating in one of two internship tracks: as a volunteer progressing at a pace that fits their schedule; or as a paid intern following a two-year intensive program.
The group gathered expecting to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading, to be nurtured and trained, to continue building our relational networks and to clarify our next steps. The Spirit’s activity was clearly evident in the active participation, enthusiastic conversation and transparent sharing.
Intern Anthony Walton presents cake diagram
A highlight of the gathering was hearing the interns offer insights during a group study of 1 Timothy. On Friday, while discussing chapter 3, two interns showed how they saw Paul’s listing of qualifications for ministry less like a “check list” and more like the ingredients of a cake. The foundation of the “cake” is Jesus. His attributes and actions, in which we share, are the cake’s substance. All this is what Paul calls “the mystery of our faith”—a mystery now revealed in the person and work of Jesus.
Our discussions continued on Saturday, examining the nuts and bolts of the internship program. The interns informed us that they feel well supported by their congregations and their denomination. They desire more interaction through the year and plan to use video chats and a Facebook page to keep in touch. They also asked for more clarity in tracking their progress and in transitioning toward pastoral leadership or church planting.
These conversations continued each day after the formal sessions were over—a good sign that people were fully engaged. The weekend showed me that the program is working well. I am impressed that this community of interns and pastor-trainers are so affirming of each other. They encourage one another and are committed to seeking the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. A deep camaraderie, grounded in shared experience, has developed.
The weekend was a valuable experience, and will help us refine our practices for training and developing emerging pastoral leaders to pastor established churches and start new ones.
This is indeed good news. Seventy years ago, Mr. Armstrong saw the need to start a college to train pastors. Times are different, and the techniques have changed, but there will always be a need for qualified and dedicated men and women to take care of those God calls through our ministry. I am reminded of Paul’s instructions to Timothy: “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Eric Warren pastors Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, a GCI congregation in Toronto, Ontario. He enjoys all-terrain biking in some of the more spectacular places in Canada. When he’s not out on his bike, he enjoys working around the house doing home renovation.
Eric grew up on a farm southwest of Regina, Saskatchewan. “I attended my first service at Regina WCG on May 8, 1976. My interest was sparked by my mother.” At that time, Eric never dreamed he would one day be pastoring the church in Regina. “Until I accepted Christ in the eleventh grade I was a quiet, bullied, social misfit with poor grades. It was far beyond my expectations that I would be in this role. The grace and gifting that flows from our Triune God is full of surprises!”
Eric went to Ambassador College in Pasadena and graduated in 1982. He met his wife Amy who was teaching third grade at Imperial Schools. “Amy Jordan and I married in August 1982. We have three children. Our son Brian (married to Melissa) is a high school art and music teacher. Our daughter Shannon is an ER and ICU nurse. Our youngest daughter Brittany is an esthetician. We have no grandchildren (yet!).
In 1982, Eric and Amy entered pastoral ministry in Halifax, Nova Scotia working with Jack and Betty Kost. “In 1986 I began pastoring churches in Moncton, New Brunswick and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. I believe the Spirit enabled these first stumbling steps into ministry and has been our increasing source of strength and direction since.” Eric also credits Amy as another Spirit-led source of strength and direction, saying, “Amy does a lot of volunteer work in the congregation and community and unofficially functions as an associate pastor.”
After serving in New Brunswick and Alberta, Eric and family moved to Regina to serve for 14 years at Pathway Community Church. This brings us to the present. “Amy and I felt led to move to Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Toronto in 2011 to succeed retiring Pastor Doug Smith. With his leadership, in 2007 the congregation purchased a building in the village of Mimico to passionately pursue community mission, to assist local businesses and help agencies in responding to diverse needs. Living within a kilometer of the church building allows us to experience these needs first-hand. Cornerstone is becoming a trusted member of the community and will receive an award for community service from the Business Improvement Association in July. There are an increasing number of people attending from the community, some of whom have been baptized.”
What Eric enjoys most about being a pastor is “the variety and challenge of assisting God in his redemption and development of people in the congregation and community.” Along with this, Eric shares what he enjoys most about being part of GCI: “GCI provides a basic orthodox statement of beliefs and a great deal of freedom for the congregation to customize itself for its context. It also provides significant resources and learning opportunities online.”
When asked about his passion, Eric referred to “all-age people development.” When asked about a most memorable moment, he referred to “performing our son’s wedding last year and performing those of our daughters within the next year.” Eric also refers to the value of mentoring by giving credit to pastor Dennis Lueck, a Lutheran pastor, “who walked with me in a mentoring relationship for 12 years; now retired and still a friend.”
Early Sunday mornings are among Eric’s favorite times. He calls these his “Sunday morning pre-service retreats” and says this is when he feels closest to God.
Our Canadian youth camp, Camp Connections, recently held its third annual Peddling Kilometers fundraiser. The 200 km bicycle ride was completed by 13 riders (pictured below) who worked hard prior to the ride selling pledges for the kilometers they would cover. In this way funds were raised for Friends of Camp Connections (FOCC), an organization that subsidizes the registration fees paid by needy campers.
Throughout church history, the importance of preaching has been emphasized and explained as being a vital activity of the church. John Calvin said that where the word of God is not preached and heard, there is no church. Preaching is a ministry that Jesus himself authorized and continues to empower by his word and Spirit. When we prepare and deliver a sermon, we are sharing in the ongoing ministry of the Great Shepherd. As the living Word, he continues to communicate by his word, both written and preached. Therefore, let us offer our sermons up to God as “loaves and fish” for him to bless and multiply in feeding his sheep.
SEP Florida, a GCI Generations Ministries camp, held its 2013 summer session on June 11-14 at beautiful Camp Shalom north of Ocala, Florida with 48 youth and 22 adult staff. The group enjoyed sunshine, great food and challenging activities. Most of all, they enjoyed sharing, with Jesus, fellowship with God and one another. Several youth were first-time campers.
The Australian National Conference, Life Together in Christ, was held on the beautiful Gold Coast on May 31 to June 2.
