GCI Media – Page 247

New church in the Netherlands

This report on the start of a new GCI church in the Friesland province in the north of the Netherlands is from Santiago Lange one of GCI’ s mission directors in Europe.

The atmosphere at the inaugural service of our new Friesland church was celebratory and warm. I shared a message from GCI president Joseph Tkach and presented to the congregation’s newly commissioned pastoral coordinator, Matendo Makoti, a candle bearing the GCI emblem. In my message I drew a connection between the light of the candle, the meaning of the GCI emblem and our gospel commission.

During the service, the congregation’s leaders were commissioned. The congregation is looking positively forward to the future—I believe they have much potential for growth. I know that Matendo and all the leaders seek our active assistance, including our prayers.

Rex Dela Pena

Please pray for the family of GCI Philippines area leader and pastor Rex Dela Pena (pictured below left) who sent us this message concerning his father’s recent death.

Wilfredo_L._Dela_Pena — Wilfredo L. Dela Pena

I thank God for answering our prayers for my father Wilfredo Dela Pena (pictured at right). He died peacefully surrounded by all four of his children and one grandchild. At his bedside we sang songs and prayed as the nurses joined in.

I lost both of my parents in less than a year. It has been hard, but the whole family is grateful that both of my parents now know the awesome depth of God’s unconditional love. My father had been asking God to take him home—now he truly is; basking in the loving embrace of our Father in heaven.

Mexico youth camp

GCI Mexico recently held a youth camp on the beach at Guayabitos. Total attendance was 30, including campers and staffers. The following report is from camp director Samuel Mercado.

Our camp was aimed at fostering unity among the youth who regularly attend our congregations in Mexico. The camp programs had a two-fold focus: first, that everyone understand that they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; secondly, the continuation of the GCI Generations Ministries course, “Journey with the Master—The Master’s Calling,” which helps equip young people for their participation in ministry with Jesus.

During the camp five young people were baptized. The baptism service was conducted by Nathaniel Cruz, GCI’s youngest pastor in Mexico. Nathaniel also led the camp worship services. In addition to worship services, campers enjoyed recreational activities and prepared their own meals. On New Year’s Eve, campers visited the nearby beach and shared wishes for one another and their gratitude toward God. It was a moving and unique evening that included a special dinner. Some also took the opportunity to make a boat trip to watch whales migrating in the area.

The results of the camp are quite positive. New young leaders are emerging, new national projects are taking shape, and young people are accepting the call to work actively within their home congregations. This year, 18 campers received Jon Whitney Foundation grants—without this help, they would not have been able to attend. We all thank God for the opportunity to attend camp where we learned about the love of God and his will for our lives. Thanks to all who supported us!

Richard Parker retires

Two Southern California churches recently bid farewell to their senior pastor, J. Richard Parker and his wife Sally. Richard recently retired after many years serving GCI as an employed pastor.

Mr. Parker with Retired Hat — Pastor Richard Parker

Richard, who was ordained in 1971, pastored GCI churches in Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Arkansas and California before becoming senior pastor of the Long Beach/Bellflower, California congregation in 1993, adding the Orange County congregation in 1996. Richard taught these two churches about the freedom they have in Christ, which replaces the bonds of legalism with grace-centered living. Richard served the members through preaching, counseling and writing (including his monthly Pastor’s Letter). Sally served by taking care of the church’s finances and membership contact information.

In his final Pastor’s Letter, Richard stated, “This is my last Pastor’s Letter… I must be a father, a grandfather, a husband, a brother and a son-in-law to my family. I must also grow old and eventually die. But the way of God will never die. In fact, it carries us all into eternal realms with God. The best to you all as you journey forth into those realms.”

Parker retirement — Prayers of blessing for Pastor Richard and Sally

The Long Beach/Bellflower and Orange County congregations are currently being pastored by Interim Pastor Eric Shaw and his wife Pat. The Shaws have graciously set aside their own retirement plans to serve the two congregations until a permanent pastor is appointed.

Insights about churches

Chuck Lawless, Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary, recently shared ten insights gleaned through many years serving as a church consultant. Here is a summary list; for the details, click here.

Churches often wait too long to address decline.
Statistics really are helpful.
Prayer in unhealthy churches is reactive rather than proactive.
Churches often settle for numerical growth rather than life transformation.
Churches do not know their community.
Most churches aren’t ready for conversion growth if God were to send it.
Sometimes the most obvious suggestions seem the most revolutionary.
The leader in the pulpit matters.
In most churches, somebody wants the congregation to make an eternal difference.
God is still growing His church.

ConneXions conference

This update is from Carrie Smith a GCI pastoral intern serving in the San Diego, California area.

On January 24-26, a group of 20 that included GCI ministry developers, pastors, church planters and six pastoral interns gathered at CrossRoads Christian Fellowship in Tipp City, Ohio, for ConneXions, a conference focused on community outreach and church planting.

In the morning, CrossRoads pastors Jim and Becky Valekis led discussions concerning how they developed Christ-centered “conneXions” with their focus community in Tipp City (for information about the Valekis’ community outreach, click here). In the afternoon, the group discussed the culture and context of their home communities. This discussion was led by Hal Haller, a church planter and mission strategist from Jacksonville, Florida. Hal emphasized utilizing the outreach and church growth strategies exemplified by the early church in the book of Acts. As the group said their goodbyes, they left encouraged and ready to do their part in making “conneXions” within their own communities.

Interns3 — Intern Joe Lamb (left) talks with Hall Haller

Prayer relationships

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Artists typically depict prayer as going upward from us to God. They might show a person kneeling in a beam of light, or looking up with hands outstretched to heaven. In the illustration below, the artist depicts another dimension of prayer—its roots and soil. It reminds me of Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus to be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17—KJV throughout).

Although I see most of you only once a year or less, I feel close to you all. That closeness is not about email, but a relationship of unity in the Holy Spirit that is grounded in prayer. I pray frequently for our elders and their families as I do for all our members and their families. I do this not as a duty or mere discipline, but because I want to maintain my relationship with all of you even if we are not able to be together as often as I would like.

I learned this idea of prayer relationships from my reading of the apostle Paul’s writings. Long before Facebook and Skype, Paul maintained a strong network of personal relationships across the Mediterranean world. He prayed that God’s blessings would rest upon the churches that he planted and served. These were not just general “catch-all” prayers. He was often quite specific. To the Thessalonians he wrote: “Night and day praying exceedingly that we…might perfect that which is lacking in your faith…. To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:10, 13). To the Romans: “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:9). To the Philippians: “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy” (Philippians 1:4). And to the Colossians: [We] do not cease to pray for you… I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you (Colossians 1:9; 2:1).

Day and night Paul prayed for God to intervene and that the Holy Spirit might guide and direct these Christians. As earnestly as he believed in the power of his intercession for them, he believed in the blessing that their prayers would bring upon him: “Now I beseech you…that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30). “[God] will yet deliver us; ye also helping together by prayer for us” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). “Praying…for me…that I may open my mouth boldly” (Ephesians 6:18-19). “This shall turn to my salvation through your prayer” (Philippians 1:19).

Paul understood that a pastor-congregant relationship is a heavenly one—developed and maintained through prayer, by the Spirit. It is the same today, no matter where the congregation may be. Because we are participants in God’s life through Christ’s vicarious life for us, our prayers are ultimately rooted and grounded in the intercessory voice of Jesus as our Faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 7:25).

In Atonement: the Person and Work of Christ, T. F. Torrance wrote this: “Prayer is the link between world history and the intercession of Christ in heaven. So far as the church in history and on earth is concerned, therefore, the great connecting link between world history and the heavenly session of Christ is to be found in prayer and intercession.”

Paul’s prayers focused on all kinds of relationships—not only between Christians, but also between church and state. Remember Paul’s words to Timothy: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Do you see why I like the illustration shown above? Rather than presenting prayer as something vague and ephemeral, it brings it right down to earth. When we pray, we are joining in the work of the kingdom of God, supporting each other and those we serve in a vast “underground” network of prayer relationships that are rooted and grounded in love.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Santiago Lange

This prayer request is from GCI Germany’s national director Santiago Lange who asks for prayer concerning a health issue he’s dealing with.

I recently received results of a routine diabetes checkup. Thankfully, my blood sugar levels are within normal range. However, it was discovered that I might have a rather uncommon form of diabetes. More tests will have to be performed, but I should know by the end of April. If I have this form of diabetes, I will have to inject insulin for the rest of my life (unless, of course, God intervenes). I would appreciate prayer for me and my family as we continue to trust in God who knows and understands all our pains and frailties.

Tuskegee Airman visits

This update is from George Hart who pastors one of GCI’s churches in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.

As part of our celebration of Black History Month, Christ Community Church was visited by a true American hero—Mr. Leslie Edwards, one of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II fame.

Mr. Edwards was born in 1924 in Memphis and joined the military where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant and flight chief. He was part of a team handpicked to maintain planes used in night flight operations to train navigators. In 1945, while stationed in Seymour, Indiana he witnessed the so-called “mutiny” at Freemen Field. African-American officers tried to enter a whites-only officers club and many were arrested. Mr. Edwards insisted that it was not an act of rebellion, but an effort of African-American officers to stress the importance of a fully integrated military. Mr. Edwards said, “Sometimes you just have to do the right thing.”

Mr. Edwards is critical of the movies about the Tuskegee Airmen, even the latest, Red Tails, by George Lucas. He referred to these movies as “the Hollywood version of the story” that are full of inaccuracies, including the following:

The Tuskegee Airmen did not receive inferior aircraft and equipment but were provided the best the Air Force had to offer.
It is inaccurate to say the Tuskegee bomber escorts did not lose bombers. They did have the highest return rating but “no one went up against the highly trained Nazi pilots in superior equipment and returned with no loses.” They witnessed many young white bomber crews plunge to their death.
The movies fail to mention the number of white military and congressional leaders and people like First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who fought for full integration of the military, or President Harry Truman who wiped out segregation in the Armed Forces by Executive Order in 1948.
There is no mention of the many awards and citations the Tuskegee Airmen received including the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2006 they were awarded the distinguished Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Edwards brought his medal for the audience to see.

Mr. Edwards encouraged us to watch the soon-to-be-released documentary Double Victory, which more accurately portrays the Tuskegee Airmen story.

Mr. Edwards stressed that humanity, with its diversity, is better together than separately. He referred to segregation as an evil of our past that has hurt everyone in the nation. Several times his eyes welled with tears as he spoke of the hurt caused to both blacks and whites.

Mr. Edwards attended the recent inauguration of President Barack Obama. Of the thousands of Tuskegee Airmen who served as pilots, mechanics and ground crews, 187 were present. Most were in wheelchairs, though Mr. Edwards was able to walk out under his own strength. The airmen were recognized as a significant part of history that led to an African-American being elected president.

Brian Queener

This prayer update is from Mark Queener and his wife Rhonda, concerning their 33-year-old son Brian Queener who attends the GCI church that Mark pastors in Belleville, Illinois. Click here for the original prayer request.

Brian is out of the ER and into a regular room at the hospital. We thank God for this progress—his kidneys, which had shut down, are now working normally and he is breathing on his own without the help of a ventilator. However, Brian’s pancreas may have been affected severely enough that he will have diabetes, and so we continue to pray for his complete healing.

Thanks to all of you who are praying for Brian and also for me and Rhonda.

Author: GCI Media