Some GCI congregations need video sermons to fill in when live sermons are not possible. To help fill this need, GCI media makes video-taped sermons available online. A new one has recently been posted, titled Ministry and Mission in the Spirit. To download this sermon given by Dan Rogers at the 2011 regional conferences, go to http://www.gci.org/pastoral/wfos. New sermon videos are first posted for pastors on that webpage and then later on the public webpage at http://www.gci.org/media/word-our-sponsor.
Author: GCI Media
Janna Jones
Here is an update to an earlier prayer request for Janna Jones from her father, GCI pastor Jim Kissee:
Janna and our son-in-law Nate are thankful for the many encouraging notes of support with prayers. Their daughter Lilah was born November 30! On December 5 both mother and daughter received a good medical report, despite the induced labor, which was necessary due to Janna’s thyroid cancer operation scheduled for December 13. Continued prayers for Janna are appreciated.
Lilah is settling in. She seems to like her new home. As you can guess, the whole family is rejoicing. We won’t believe how much Janna’s early pictures look like Lilah’s. This little girl, like her mommy, has lots of thick hair. What a joy!
Janna has a blog describing her journey while pregnant with cancer. Go to http://pregnantwithcancerwhat.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/pregnant-with-cancer-what/.
We’ll keep you informed. Thanks for the prayers and love.
Janna Jones 847 S Campbell Ave Springfield, MO 65806
Curtis May to participate in COPS conference
Curtis May, director of the GCI-affiliated Office of Reconciliation and Spiritual Mediation, has been invited by the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) office of the U.S. Department of Justice to participate in a one day meeting focused on “racial reconciliation and police legitimacy.” The meeting, which will be held on January 11 in Washington, D.C., will focus on issues involving law enforcement and African-American communities facing challenges of violence, drug activity and high levels of criminal justice system involvement. Those invited to participate are police chiefs and other community leaders from a selection of cities that are focused on this issue.
Crossing Borders to Mexico
A group of missionaries from GenMin’s Crossing Borders ministry are leaving on Friday, December 9 for a weekend trip into Mexico. The group will visit two colonias (very poor neighborhoods) and one children’s home where they will distribute 400 shoebox gifts (most donated by GCI members from about a dozen different U.S. congregations), to sing Christmas songs, to share an Incarnation message, to cook and feed the kids, to play and show the love of God.
After the shoebox trip ends, four of the group will fly south to visit Karen Salinas and her 16 foster children. The group last visited with Karen and her kids about 18 months ago when they lived in northern Mexico near the U.S. border. However, they had to move south due to border violence. Please pray for the group’s safety and that their ministry will be a blessing to many.
Honolulu congregation
The following report is from Glen Weber who serves as senior pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, a GCI congregation in the Pasadena, CA area, and one of GCI’s district pastoral leaders in the Western United States:
My wife Connie and I were recently vacationing in Hawaii. During our time there we visited Light of the World, the GCI congregation in Honolulu. It was a blessing to spend time with our members there, including Pastor Gary Crowell and his wife Risa.
Although Light of the World once numbered only about 12 people, it now has about 50. Virtually all the new members came to the congregation through outreaches focused on military veterans. The picture at right shows their praise band participating in one of those outreaches, which included a worship service and a meal. Most of the members of the praise band are former clients of a local veteran’s recovery program. They now share their faith with fellow veterans by providing worship music for veteran’s recovery meetings. They can be found most Tuesday nights rocking out at the U.S. Veterans Initiative.
Death of Marie Lee
We are saddened to report the death of long-time GCI member Victoria Marie Lee, 86, of Hammond, LA.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Lee, of Baton Rouge, her parents, Everett and Lela Wyatt of Gainsville, Texas, and her sisters, Helyn Coe of Conroe, Texas and Billie Jo Nokes of Midland, Texas. Marie is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Sandy and Dave Orban (Dave pastors GCI churches in Texas) and Pam and Mike Horchak (Mike pastors GCI churches in Louisiana and also serves as a GCI district pastor), five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
Notes of condolence may be posted on the funeral home website at http://www.resthavenbatonrouge.com/guestbook.asp?page=guestbook&id=21336&locid=36 or sent to Marie’s daughters:
Sandy (Lee) Orban 7 Ramblewood Dr Longview, TX 75605-3348 Pam (Lee) Horchak 41120 Adelle Dr Hammond, LA 70403-7539
Philippine conference
A Pastoral Team Conference for GCI Northern Luzon pastors and ministry leaders was held November 12-17 at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary in Baguio City, Philippines. Immediately after a welcome worship, updates and denominational focus were discussed by Eugene Guzon, GCI National Director. He also exhorted the pastors about the theology of “abiding and abounding.” Rex Dela Pena then explained the “sense of call” into the ministry as well as “ministry weariness and burnout.”
On the second day of the conference, the pastors were led in an overview of the GCI Church Administration Manual. Other matters regarding the financial statement of the church were also reviewed. The conference concluded as participants joined the Baguio City church for worship services.
Christmas videos
Here are two videos that might be helpful in Christmas-themed Bible studies or youth Sunday school classes:
The Story of Christmas – An Animation from Grace in Cranberry on Vimeo.
If Mary and Joseph Used Facebook on YouTube
Hazel Roberts
Please pray for Hazel Roberts, wife of Jim Roberts who pastors the GCI congregation in San Leandro, CA.
Hazel was taken to the hospital recently, having lost most of her mobility. This condition is apparently due to restriction of blood flow to the brain, though her doctors are still running tests. It is anticipated that Hazel will return home this week. Prayers for her full and rapid recovery and for Jim are appreciated.
England: Back to Church service
On Sunday September 25, members of the GCI/WCG congregation in Manchester, England combined with members of the St. Andrew’s Church for a joint Back to Church service.
The previous Saturday leaflets were distributed to homes in the area. The leaflet featured an article by GCI member David Bedford describing his impressions when he first started attending church. He was expecting to find near perfect members, but it wasn’t long before he realized they had as many flaws as he did. Then, reading the Bible more closely, he realized the New Testament was full of flawed individuals as well. The leaflet then gave encouragement to respond to the invitation to attend the special Back to Church service, knowing that the members of the church are not perfect, but trying to serve God.
David also led the service, with other WCG members doing a scripture reading and playing piano for hymn singing. The Rev. Lisa Battye of St. Andrews gave an encouraging and uplifting message about the healing of the paralytic man as covered in the scripture reading. Rev. Battye then concluded the service by leading Communion. Following the service, the two congregations joined in fellowship over tea and refreshments.
