Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand
On Saturday morning, September 4, at 4.35 am local time, a severe earthquake rated at 7.1 on the Richter scale struck just to the west of Christchurch, New Zealand. Rod Matthews sent the following report:
The quake caused significant damage to buildings throughout the city, especially older buildings, many of which are constructed of brick. Burst water mains caused flooding in some areas, and electricity and telephone services were severely disrupted. But remarkably, no one was killed (although it was reported later that one person died of a heart attack due to the shock) and only several people incurred major injuries.
We have only a few members in Christchurch, and NZ pastoral coordinator Dennis Richards was able to contact one member, Betty Thompson, soon after the quake. Betty had already heard from local elder Phil Baldwin who, with his wife, Susan, live about 30 km from Christchurch, close to the epicenter of the quake, but they were not hurt. For some time the other members in Christchurch could not be contacted.
Now all members have reported they are safe with no injuries, but several have structural damage to their homes, and one lady was trapped in her bedroom for some time when furniture shifted and blocked the door.
Dennis reported that the city center of Christchurch has been cordoned off and is under a 7 pm to 7 am curfew because of the dangerous state of some buildings. Many of the older churches are severely damaged but the staff have been out there helping people’s needs. There has been much comment on how neighborly everyone has been, checking on the elderly and people in need and seeing they get what they need.
It is estimated that the damage bill could be well in excess of $1 billion dollars with many buckled roads, broken bridges and infrastructure repairs needed. The low casualty rate is partly attributed to the strict earthquake-resistant building codes for newer buildings in this area of the world, which sits on the Pacific’s “ring of fire.”
The people of Christchurch and especially our members who have to face a disrupted life and home repairs in the months ahead would welcome your prayers.
Nassau, Bahamas
From Janet Morrison
July 30 through August 14, 2010, was our second mission trip to Nassau, Bahamas. There were 18 Americans in our team representing seven churches in California, Tennessee and Ohio. We joined members of the GCI Nassau congregation to hold a two-week day camp for 105 Haitian refugee children and Bahamian children.
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In Nassau, there are thousands of Haitian refugees who have fled from chronic poverty, hunger and violence and risked their lives at sea, hoping to start a new life. The children at our day camp ranged in age from 4 to 17 years. Some now live in shantytowns on the outskirts of Nassau. Their home is a room no larger than 12×12 with no electricity, running water or bathroom. Many of the children have been victims of crime, violence, abuse, rape, prostitution or even incest. Many have only one parent, who is in the country illegally and can only get a job that pays less than minimum wage. Young children are often raised by their older siblings and there is very little discipline or order. The Bahamian government provides little help to this growing population.
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The day camp we run is like Christmas for many of these children. It is something they could never afford to pay for. We started each day with praise & worship followed by a Bible DVD or message and debrief time. This was followed by activities such basketball, soccer, volleyball, team building, parachute games, biblical crafts, dance and more. We provided lunch for the kids and for some, this was the only meal they had that day. The day ended with praise & worship.
For our team, it was an opportunity to share the gospel, to serve others less fortunate, a time for growth, and a time where we learned to appreciate the blessings God has given us. In the words of some of our missionaries:
“I don’t think I came here to teach these boys how to know Jesus as much as I think God brought me out here to learn how to love like Jesus.” – Larry
“Today made me realize that I take a lot for granted.” – Jasmine
Today I learned that different cultures have different ways of connecting with people and if I want to be effective in ministry I have to adapt to those ways.” – Dwight
Great Commission Trips are open to those 16 years and older. Next year we plan to return to Bahamas and we also have tentative plans to go to Zambia and/or India. To find out more, go to www.gctrips.org and click on the country you are interested in. Read all about it and see pictures at: http://gctrips.org/2010blog.aspx
U.S. Summer Camps
Anthony Mullins sent these camp updates from Paul David Kurts, Tom Woods and Jeff Broadnax.
Higher Ground
Paul David Kurts wrote:
At Higher Ground in July, 60 staffers, 130 campers, and 10 mini-campers participated in the shared life of the Father, Son and Spirit in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Camp was marked with blood, sweat and tears, but the challenges were surpassed by victories.
For years our primary mission at Higher Ground has been to help campers and staff more fully understand and experience their real identity in Christ. Several years ago, we gave up trying to be a “behavioral modification” camp. However, the cool thing is that we now see in lives of campers the fruit of their understanding of the new identity.
Camp is living proof that when you believe you are God’s child and that you belong to him, then you can really become who he created you to be. Of course it takes time for people to process and come to believe what is true about God and themselves, but the truth does eventually transform one’s life. We see fewer behavioral problems at camp and more cooperation, mutual respect and peace between campers. There is also a greater sense of unity within our camp family. Here is one example from the parent of a camper:
When I saw the bond our son made with the guys in his dorm I was amazed. As I heard the reports of the friendships and the self-confidence he was developing I felt as if I were witnessing a miracle. After leaving camp, our son has walked with his head higher, his shoulders squared and he’s had a much more positive attitude. There is lightness in his spirit from his exposure to the godly environment. You will never know the healing God was able to do because of your efforts. May God bless your efforts as you prepare for next summer! It is such a privilege to impact the lives of so many young people. I know for a fact that my son will never be the same because of his experience at Higher Ground.
Another thing we are thankful for at Higher Ground is how the Holy Spirit is raising up a younger generation of camp and church leaders. We see young people who have come to camp for years as campers now becoming counselors. Some transition to camp leadership and then decide to start their own camps or serve in full-time ministry. We are focusing on leadership development and working with these young people in various ways year ‘round.
Three campers this year were immersed in the assurance of the Father, Son and Spirit’s love through baptism, and many more campers stated that they were going to get baptized back home in their churches.
This year marked our 9th year at Higher Ground and we are making big plans for our 10th anniversary celebration in 2011. We have already received 80 applications for campers for next year. We thank the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for what they are doing through those who joyfully serve in camp ministry.
Heartland SEP
From Todd Woods:
This year Heartland SEP Camp celebrated its tenth anniversary as a GenMin camp. Our programs this year featured a sharper focus on developing young leaders. In our Director’s Night program, campers who have exhibited leadership, growth, and spiritual focus were invited to a special night with me. We discussed their feelings about camp, about their level of commitment to the faith, and what being a disciple of Jesus means. The night ended with encouragement to tie in closer to people of faith, to actively participate in their life in Christ, including participation in their local church and returning to serve on camp staff.
We have also instituted a Staff In Training program. Trainees experienced every aspect of camp ministry from washing dishes to presenting dramas in camp chapel and spending time with the campers. Every day they were given leadership training by Pastor and GenMin leader James Newby. This year we had 88 staffers, 80 campers, and 16 mini campers. Departure day was topped off with five baptisms with many family members in attendance.
New Heights Summer Camp
From Jeff Broadnax:
New Heights Camp in Connecticut was held in August with 81 campers and 83 staffers. Campers were taught about their new identity in Christ and how to live out of that identity in their world. The camp had a strong focus on prayer—an all-camp “solo time” was held twice each day during which campers and staffers took time to study Scripture, pray and just sit silently in God’s presence, seeking his direction for the day.
Here are some comments from campers:
– “I loved camp! This was my first year and I’m so thankful to God I came. NH changed my life so much! I made friends that will last forever and became so much more in touch with Jesus” (Mya).
– “NH is like a release from all the stress and pressure of the real world. You can just disappear for a week and have fun and laugh again. Every single year I hate to go home” (Soleil).
– “I can’t even begin to explain just how much work God was able to do this past week. We reached NEW HEIGHTS in Christ! Thank you all, we are truly blessed!” (Jon).
– “This camp has been a whole new experience in that here I can get in touch with my inner feelings” (Kiya).
– “In this camp people love you, care for you and understand you” (Precious).
– “I give the glory all to God for the humbling experience I had at New Heights camp this week. It’s not about me; it’s all about God’s will” (Joya).
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![](https://update.gci.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/8New-Heights11.jpg "\")
Update from Italy
Our Italian ministry leader, Daniel Boesch, wrote:
Here is a brief note from our Italian congregation – Chiesa Cristiana della Grazia. From August 19 through 22 about 70 members from all over Italy and a few guests gathered in the town of Ferrara for their annual festival. Activities included worship and praise services, communion and a half-day excursion with a dinner together. Other highlights were three baptisms and a wedding. Guest speaker was John Halford. The theme of the festival was “Be not afraid.” The speaking schedule included encouraging messages on the topics of not fearing about our salvation and how to be positive and confident in a world full of fears.
It was especially encouraging to have Giacomo Tarroni attending with us. Giacomo was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident two years ago. At first it was feared that he might be in a coma for life, or at best, paralyzed.
Members around the world have been praying for him. Giacomo can now walk, and was able to join in the bicycle riding afternoon, with a specially adapted tricycle. He hopes to resume his education this year.
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Q & A
Q. Is it permissible for a GCI elder to perform a baptism of an infant if asked to do so by the infant’s parents?
A. Though it has not been the general tradition of GCI to perform infant baptisms, we have since 1999 accepted as members those who were baptized as infants in other churches. That decision was based on seeing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Because they are already Christians, they don’t need another baptism.
In the NT we find examples of whole households being immediately baptized upon the conversion of the head of the household (Acts 16:15, 31-33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). It is likely that there were infants and children in these households, but these texts are not conclusive evidence that infants were baptized. For example, the fact that entire households believed (Acts 16:34; 18:8) suggests that the terminology is a generalization, and not meant to include every single person regardless of age.
A more persuasive text is Acts 2:39. In Luke’s account of Peter’s speech on the Day of Pentecost, Peter speaks of the covenantal promises of God given to believers and their children, verifying that believer’s children are already included in the household of faith prior to any personal profession of faith. First Corinthians 7:14 likewise indicates that the children of believers are in a different category than the children of unbelievers, although neither text specifies exactly what the difference is, or how it is to be denoted.
Trinitarian Incarnational theology affirms from the Scriptures that it is the faith of Jesus Christ, not our own faith, that draws us (Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 2:20 KJV). Christian baptism signifies what God by grace, of his own initiative, has done for us, and it is upon the truth of this already accomplished fact that faith comes to rest. As Paul says, “…while we were yet powerless” Christ died for all humanity (Rom. 5:6). Christ lived on behalf of all humanity, died for all humanity, and rose again for all humanity. Similarly, he was baptized on behalf of all humanity, and in that way all have already been baptized, whether or not we are old enough to understand it. Powerless and helpless humans (both adult and infant) are loved and affirmed by God in spite of their current inability to understand or respond.
When adults are baptized they are able to give their free, personal response of faith to God’s claim and call upon their lives. Those who are baptized as infants also come to a point in their lives when they can consciously give their allegiance to Christ. For those who are baptized as infants, a “confirmation ceremony” would provide an opportunity to give public acknowledgement of their faith.
James Torrance put it this way: “In the practice of infant baptism, we believe that in faith we are doing something for the child, long before the child comes to faith, in acknowledgement of what Christ did for all of us nineteen hundred years before we were born. But in faith we pray that Christ in his faithfulness, and in his own, time, will bring this child to personal faith. The efficacy of baptism is not in the rite or in the water, but in the faithfulness of Christ”.
In most churches, infants are welcomed into the community of faith and their special status before God is recognized either by a blessing or by baptism. Either way, the community of faith (parents, extended family, care givers, and all members of the local congregation) has the covenantal responsibility to work together to bring up the child “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).
Daniel Migliori says: “While the practice of infant baptism is not absolutely necessary in the life of the church, it may be permissible. And whether it is permissible depends on whether it is being practiced as a routine social rite, or as a form of cheap, magical grace, or instead with the clear understanding that it proclaims the unconditional grace of God in Jesus Christ and calls both parents and community to responsibility for the care, nurture, and guidance of the baptized child in the life of faith, hope, and love” (Faith Seeking Understanding, 2nd ed., p. 286).¹
When infant baptism is practiced responsibly by the community of faith it can be viewed as a sign of God’s gracious initiative and a powerful expression of the fact that God loves us before we ever begin to respond to God. Infant baptism proclaims that God’s love, grace, and salvation are purely his gift. Any human response to this is just a matter of time as to when it occurs.
Therefore, GCI elders may baptize an infant when requested to do so by the infant’s parents or guardians. They are also free to explain these principles to parents or guardians and offer infant baptism as a scripturally permissible and spiritually blessed expression of God’s unconditional grace and love. They are also free to explain the principles involved in infant blessing and believer’s baptism.
In some GCI congregations, we already have children attending who were baptized as infants. As these children come to faith, it is not necessary to baptize them again. Rather, it will be helpful to have a confirmation ceremony in which they can publicly express their faith in Jesus, and provide a “rite of passage” that helps mark their conscious acceptance of the grace that has already been given to them. As we revise the GCI ceremony book, we will include instructions for infant baptism, confirmation ceremonies, and believer’s baptism.
¹Migliori’s book has an excellent discussion of the permissibility of infant baptism from a Trinitarian theological perspective (including a critique of Karl Barth’s negative position).
Prayer Request
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Love from my family to yours,
Joseph Tkach
