Please pray for Raul Ramos, one of GCI’s pastors in Southern California.
Sylvia and Raul Ramos
Recently, Raul had the flu and his blood sugar rose to a dangerous level. He was taken to the hospital where, at first, the doctors were unable to bring down his blood sugar level. This caused Raul’s kidneys to shut down and he became incoherent. His wife Sylvia was told that his condition was not good. Thankfully, over the next couple of days, his condition improved and now he is able to converse normally and his doctors believe that Raul’s kidneys will start functioning again.
Raul and Sylvia thank everyone for their continued prayers for his complete recovery. You may send cards to:
Raul and Sylvia Ramos 38011 Boxthorn Street Palmdale, CA 93552-3222
As you may know, Grace Communion International in the United States is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). I serve on its board of directors. Some have asked about this organization. Since I will be attending the NAE board meeting this week in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this is a good opportunity to explain what the organization does, and the advantages that NAE membership brings to GCI.
Through NAE membership, we join with other evangelical denominations to have a larger impact than any single denomination could have by itself. The NAE serves a constituency of millions of people and represents more than 45,000 local churches and 40 denominations.
The NAE includes Reformed, Holiness, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, Charismatic and other evangelical Christian traditions. This diverse and vibrant group is united by NAE’s core theological convictions, while acknowledging and respecting the diversity of its membership. Together, NAE members stand on God’s revelation in Scripture of redemption only in Jesus Christ the Son of God, by grace through faith. Found within NAE member denominations and churches is a commitment to dynamic unity that works toward a vision of all things made new, of all God’s people reconciled and of a lost world saved.
The NAE provides a forum where evangelicals work together to preserve religious liberty, nurture families and children, protect the sanctity of human life, seek justice for the poor, promote human rights, work for peace and care for God’s creation. Evangelical Christians do not always agree on the details of policy proposals or on the best strategies for reform. However, in a spirit of humility, we seek to learn from one another — and indeed from those of other faiths and those with no faith. Where possible, we seek common ground while remaining true to our own denominational beliefs and convictions.
The NAE writes position papers on a variety of issues, in order to represent the evangelical perspective accurately to the media. At times, this perspective has been hijacked by some megachurch personalities, who may have high profiles, but do not represent the views of most of us. Thankfully, the NAE has become the more respected and representative voice from within the evangelical community.
The Christian humanitarian arm of the NAE is the World Relief Organization, which provides churches a platform to engage the great causes of our day. From refugees fleeing to our shores, to the sudden onset of disasters, to the global health crises of HIV/AIDS and malaria, World Relief exists to help the church fulfill its mandate to serve those in need.
Here are a few announcements from a recent NAE Update. They illustrate the kind of work and extended reach that we have through our NAE membership.
Release of Pastor Nadarkhani from Iranian Prison
Nadarkhani, the head of a network of Christian house churches in Iran, was sentenced to death by hanging in September 2010 for apostasy. The Iranian Supreme Court upheld Nadarkhani’s conviction in July 2011, while offering to rescind the conviction if Nadarkhani would deny his Christian faith. A lesser conviction remains on the books. International pressure for Nadarkhani’s release has been strong with condemnation of his conviction from U.S. political leaders, as well as many human rights and religious freedom advocacy organizations. The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) welcomes the announcement that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been acquitted and freed after nearly three years in an Iranian prison on charges of apostasy. The NAE continues to advocate for increased religious freedom in Iran and around the world. “We are relieved for Pastor Nadarkhani, and pleased with this good decision of the Iranian government,” said Leith Anderson, NAE president. “We watch as laws are increasingly being used by governments against religious minorities, and we pray and press for more outcomes like this.”
Humanitarian Relief for Sudan
Directed to members of the United Nations Security Council, the NAE joined with over 120 human rights, faith-based, public interest and ethnic organizations in calling for decisive U.N. action to press Sudan to allow humanitarian access to the Sudanese states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, as well as Darfur.
Human Trafficking
As the world’s second-largest, fastest-growing criminal industry, human trafficking has led to the enslavement of more than 20 million people around the world. To meet the demand in the United States, a person is trafficked over U.S. borders every ten minutes. World Relief has been active in the fight against human trafficking in the United States since 2004 in the areas of partnership building, victim service provision and community outreach and awareness support. In 2008, World Relief launched an initiative to reduce and prevent the exploitation and abuse of women and children in Cambodia. This program is designed to address the root causes of trafficking of vulnerable adults, adolescents and children through community-level training.
I feel privileged to represent all of us in Grace Communion International as a member of the NAE board. It is a reminder that God’s work is larger than any one group or denomination. Please join me in praying for a useful board meeting and the continued success of the NAE in its mission.
Your brother in Christ’s service,
Joseph Tkach
P.S. You might be interested in viewing the Microsoft advertisement currently playing on TV—it was filmed on the former Ambassador College campus in Pasadena. Click on the picture below or go to http://youtu.be/8mSckyoAMHg.
Life Club is a speech club that includes men and women of all ages. It is being used as an outreach and discipleship tool by GCI congregations in the UK. Here are reports on recent Life Club meetings.
London
A Life Club hosted by the London church met on June 9. The theme was the Diamond Jubilee. A Union Jack of flowers made by Pauline Daley was displayed on stage (see picture at right). The chairperson, Maxwell Victor, quoted from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon in St Paul’s Cathedral on June 5 in which the Queen’s dedication was highlighted. Referring to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Maxwell mentioned that we should “give thanks” for the Queen’s service over the last 60 years. The club’s four speakers focused on the Queen. At the end of the club, Maxwell proposed a toast to the Queen and Gordon Brown prayed the Jubilee Prayer. This was followed by children waving Union Jack flags (see picture below) while singing the National Anthem. Club director James Henderson said that “Life Club is a good preparation for whatever we do in life.”
Birmingham
Christine Jordan
A Life Club was hosted by the Birmingham church on March 31. Christine Jordan (pictured at right) won the best speaker cup. She spoke about Acts 20:35, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” David Gibbs who directed the club, noted that we need to develop deeper relationships with young people in our congregations to help them stay in the church.
Cambridge
A Life Club was hosted by the Cambridge church on May 5. Chairperson Sylvia Low,quoted Ecclesiastes 3:7, which says that there is “a time to keep silence and a time to speak.” Speakers included three members of the same family: Alan, Val and Corinne Quinn.
Jan Kalamaha reports that her husband Surgay is improving and has been moved to a rehabilitation facility in Minot, North Dakota (click here for the previous update about Surgay).
Surgay’s kidney and liver functions are back to normal, and his upper body strength is good—however, he still has little strength in his legs. He is now involved in rehab exercises to regain that strength. He is still on some medication, but the doctors are gradually decreasing the doses.
Please continue to remember Surgay in prayer for his health and for everything that goes into running the family farm.
In a recent GCI Weekly Update cover letter, Joseph Tkach asked, Why be concerned about mission? To help explore the answer, Church Administration and Development has produced Becoming a Missional Church. This video (embedded below) features Randy Bloom leading a discussion about how churches can actively participate in the ministry that Jesus is doing in the Spirit to fulfill the Father’s mission to the world. This video is a good resource for facilitating interactive discussions of pastors in districts, leadership teams in congregations, and members in small groups.
About 55 members and children from Lima and La Huaca, Peru gathered in Piura on September 28 through 31 for a GCI-sponsored seminar. Piura is a large Peruvian city about an hour’s flight from Lima, Peru’s capital city. During the seminar, GCI Mission Director Hector Barrero presented lessons focused on Steve McVey’s book Grace Walk Experience. His goal was to help members draw closer to Jesus and to join actively in what our Lord is doing to proclaim the gospel. Members expressed gratitude, noting that the seminar helped them gain a closer connection with GCI.
Seminar group with Hector Barrero presenting
During the event, Juan Carlos Florian, a GCI leader from La Huaca, Cajamarca, was commissioned a ministry leader (deacon). Also, with parental consent, two children were baptized: 15 year-old Christian Nieves and 10 year-old Camila Gutierrez. Activities for children were provided, including their participation in a talent show.
Children’s activitiesChildren baptizedJuan Carlos Florian commissioned
Craig Minke is one of GCI’s newest pastors. After serving as an elder for several years, he was asked to pastor the Vancouver, BC, Canada church when Roy Page retired. Craig and his wife Debbie (Burbach) met at Ambassador College. They have been married for 25 years and have three children: Natasha, 20; Bryce, 18; and Brent, 16.
Craig grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan. “Our family was not that well off. Until I was 12, we had no electricity, no TV, no running water and no furnace. Our house was a farmhouse, heated by a big pot-bellied stove in the middle, which was loaded with logs and coal.” Craig’s family farmed grain and raised cattle. Craig says his job was “to watch the cattle when we let them out so they would not get into the neighbor’s grain fields.”
Craig, along with his mother (who is legally blind) and his two sisters, started attending WCG in 1970, when Craig was 12 years old. “We got picked up on our farm by another family and then drove 100 miles to where the church was meeting.” After high school, Craig attended Ambassador College, first in Big Sandy, Texas, then in Pasadena, California. After graduating, he spent a year living in Europe before taking a job with the WCG Vancouver office working in media.
That job lasted 15 years until the denomination switched from a media focus. At that time his job became redundant. “I have switched jobs a few times and through those times God has taken care of us. About three years ago, I started my own company and I am doing this in conjunction with my duties as a bivocational pastor.”
Craig looks at his life as preparation for being a pastor. “I have always felt that to whom much is given much is also expected. I truly feel we were given some great opportunities at Ambassador College, working with the teens at the summer camps, as well as travel and local church events. Serving in the pastoral function is just an opportunity to be able to give something back to the many who invested in my early years.”
When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Craig said, “I enjoy working with people—seeing people grow and change. I enjoy the interaction that takes place. I have always enjoyed the organizing aspect or the administrative aspect and also am a person that likes a good challenge and stepping out into new territory.”
One of the things Craig loves best about GCI is being part of a worldwide family. “No matter where you go in the world, you have friends and a family that treats you like their own. I enjoy the spiritual community and the time spent in fellowship.”
Over the years, Craig has been passionate about working with youth in church and at summer camp. “It is my passion that I can use my gifts to serve, to water and plant that others may learn of the tremendous hope we have been given. God does the calling and my passion is that I can be one of the tools he uses to help our church grow.”
When asked when he feels closest to God, Craig says it’s when he is outdoors. “I enjoy camping trips where you can take three weeks with no schedule and no pressing needs. The beauty of the creation around us loudly proclaims God’s power, might and majesty, along with his kindness and compassion. A break from the busy schedule gives me lots of time to meditate and reflect on things. Often it seems we are much too busy to be able to have quiet, unrushed time for reflection. There are times we need to slow down more, by skipping a meal, taking the night off, getting away for a quiet weekend, so we have time to pursue the important things.”
In the U.S., GCI is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). A recent NAE Update highlighted World Food Day, which is observed in more than 150 countries each year on October 16.
NAE encourages churches and Christians to use this occasion to learn about where food comes from, why so many are hungry and what responsibility Christians have. Doing so softens our hearts and reminds us to be grateful for God’s blessings.
There are a variety of ways for congregations and individuals to get involved in World Food Day. For resources put together by NAE, click here.
Learning more about the nature of God has dominated my Bible study for the last decade and I find it to be more and more fascinating. Having the correct perspective of who God is cannot be overestimated. Viewing his sovereignty over eternity and the nature of his being orders all of our doctrinal understandings.
I love the following quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon, England’s best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century:
The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity.
I am sometimes asked, “What’s so special about Trinitarian theology—don’t most orthodox churches believe in the Trinity?” Yes, they do. In fact, belief in the Trinity is considered the hallmark of authentic Christian doctrine. It was our acceptance of the Trinity that brought our denomination “in out of the cold,” allowing us to break free from being considered a cult.
As I studied what various churches believe about the Trinity, I observed that while most consent to the doctrine, it does not have a central role in their faith. Many consider the Trinity to be an abstract idea, of interest to theologians but not really of much use to the rest of us. This is sad because when the Trinity is not at the center, shaping all other doctrines, strange ideas and distortions arise. For example, those who proclaim a health/wealth/prosperity gospel tend to view God as a divine “vending machine.” Others tend to view God as a mechanistic version of fate who has determined everything from before creation—including who will be saved and who will be damned. I find it particularly hard to accept a God who creates billions of people just for the purpose of condemning and damning them for eternity!
Trinitarian theology puts the Trinity at the center of all doctrinal understanding, influencing everything we believe and understand about God. As theologian Catherine LaCugna wrote in her book God for Us:
The doctrine of the Trinity is, ultimately…a teaching not about the abstract nature of God, nor about God in isolation from everything other than God, but a teaching about God’s life with us and our life with each other. Trinitarian theology could be described as par excellence a theology of relationship, which explores the mysteries of love, relationship, personhood and communion within the framework of God’s self-revelation in the person of Christ and the activity of the Spirit. [Note: While I appreciate much of what is in this book, I don’t agree with all of it.]
We know of this triune life of God from Jesus who is God’s self-revelation in person. It should be our rule that anything we say about the Trinity must come from Jesus’ life, teaching, death, resurrection, ascension and promised return.
I have seen many diagrams that attempt to explain the Trinity. The best of them fall short and some are confusing. It is, of course, impossible to explain the nature of God in a diagram. However, a good one can help us grasp some aspects of the doctrine. You may find helpful the diagram shown at right. It summarizes early church teaching, pointing out that correct biblical understanding concerning the nature of God upholds three essential beliefs about God. It also indicates that we end up denying that God is Triune when even one of these beliefs is rejected.
The three sides of the triangle in the diagram represent these three essential beliefs, and the point of the triangle across from each side represents the corresponding error when that particular belief is denied:
Denial of the Three Persons results in Modalism (sometimes referred to as the Oneness teaching), the erroneous belief that God appears to us in three ways or modes, wears three hats, acts in three different roles or just has three different names.
Denial of the Equality of Persons results in Subordinationism, the erroneous belief that one of the divine Persons is less than fully and truly God.
Denial of Monotheism (the idea of the Unity of God) results in Polytheism, the erroneous belief in two or more separate gods (including the error of tri-theism—a belief in three gods).
When we are careful to uphold all three of these essential beliefs about God, we avoid the corresponding false teachings and thus bear faithful witness to the glorious mystery of the Trinity.
I thank God daily for answering our many prayers to reveal to us greater truth. His revealing himself to each of us as the Triune God was a miraculous moment for each one of us.
Your brother in Christ’s service,
Joseph Tkach
P.S. Last week the computer servers that host this blog crashed. We apologize for this inconvenience. As you can see, the system is now back online. If you missed reading some of the posts from last week, click on “archives” above and there you will find listed all past Update articles, including those you might have been unable to read last week.
Don Marson has been serving as the pastor of GCI’s church in Anchorage, Alaska since 2008. He has been Married to Anne Marie for 49 years and together they have three children (Andrew, Bradley and Lynn) and seven grandchildren.
Don knows the blessings of being a senior citizen in Anchorage. “Every year we’re given dozens of delectable, fresh-caught salmon.” One of Don’s hobbies is to marinade, smoke, vacuum-seal and then to share these delectable fish with others.
Don grew up in Seattle, Washington and graduated from high school in 1955. He served in the U.S. Air Force, including a year in Africa. It was back in Seattle in 1959 that his older brother introduced Don to the Radio Church of God. Knowing Don had a fascination with science fiction; Don’s brother gave him the booklet, 1975 in Prophecy. The booklet piqued Don’s interest. “I then began to study the Bible and became a Christian and WCG member. Don was baptized in August 1960 by Jim Friddle, Seattle’s pastor.
Due to a series of job changes, Don moved his family from Seattle to Portland, Oregon in the 1970s and then up to Anchorage in 1984. Don retired in 2004; at least he thought he did. He was serving as an associate pastor in Anchorage when he and Anne Marie were asked to attend the new pastors’ training at the GCI home office in Glendora, California. This was in 2006.
The conference changed Don in a powerful way. “I experienced what I believe was a second conversion, evidenced by the Holy Spirit’s work in my life since.” Don said he and Anne Marie were curious as to why they were asked to go to the conference. After all, Anchorage had a pastor. But it all made sense in 2008 when the Anchorage pastor resigned and Don was installed as senior pastor.
Don may have retired from his previous employment in 2004, but he is anything but retired in ministry. “I regularly participate with other local evangelicals in an Anchorage Evangelical Pastors Fellowship, encouraging and praying together. In addition, I enjoy breakfasting with similar ‘Old Geezer Pastors,’ weekly at a nearby restaurant. And, my wife and I are involved in volunteer work with the Anchorage Love, INC (In the Name of Christ) organization, serving neighbors in need. Love, INC is one of the missions that our congregation supports along with the Bengali Evangelical Association.”
Don said he loves serving and leading “our small, harmonious congregation together in Jesus’ love, peace and joy.” Further he loves the community he serves, with “its unique people and fantastically beautiful State of Alaska.”
When asked what Don enjoys about being part of GCI, he said, “The realistic and absolute assurance that God is peacefully, faithfully and lovingly leading me and others along his positive journey towards eternal life with full conviction of assured, promised salvation.” This ties in with his passion “to faithfully follow God with firm conviction wherever he leads, and encouraging others as well.”
Don then listed some of his small congregation’s blessings—already in 2012 they have had one baptism, two new members join and the commissioning of a new ministry leader. “Praise God and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit,” Don said.
Don’s most memorable moments as a pastor have to do with receiving God’s affirmation. “I frequently experience the unplanned alignment of my sermon with the message of a Speaking of Life video or a worship song presented in the church service that day. Things like this reassure me that God is leading, and that’s exciting, to say the least!”
Don and Anne Marie feel blessed to be serving God’s beloved in Alaska. He loves his job, his community, his congregation, his beautiful state, and his relationship with God. Don said he feels closest to God while in the Word and in prayer. “In particular, when studying carefully and being deeply inspired by his Word from various sources. He is so real, so encouraging and gentle.”
