Click the image below for the 2019 January Prayer Guide.
Author: GCI Media
Remembering the Life of Carl Parks
Carl Parks, a long-time elder in the Salem Oregon congregation, suffered a severe heart attack and passed away on December 23. Carl and his wife Francis served the congregation faithfully for many years, hosting a variety of events in their home until recently moving into a retirement community. As an Assistant Pastor, Carl coordinated most of the senior activities and Bible Studies, as well as serving on the pastoral team. One of Carl’s favorite hobbies was woodworking, and the beautiful communion trays he turned in his shop are often used as part of the Lord’s Table service.
Carl is survived by Francis, his wife of 64 years, as well as three sons, a daughter, 13 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.
Cards can be sent to Francis Parks at
5210 River Road N Apt. 3020
Keizer, OR 97303
GCS Spring Semester Registration
Registration Now Open for Grace Communion Seminary Spring Semester
Registration for Spring Semester opened January 2 and runs through January 10. If fewer than five students enroll in a class, it may be canceled at the discretion of the instructor. We encourage you to register early so we may know as soon as possible if a class will meet this minimum. An email has been sent to all current students with further details and the registration link. Our classes on average require 12 hours of study per week, including reading and written assignments. I am happy to assist with any questions you may have about the classes offered, your personal course of study, or any issues you may have with registration or the website. Do you know of anyone interested in taking classes with GCS? Please share your experiences with them and direct them to our website to find an application, a course schedule and much more helpful information. I am happy to answer any questions from potential students as well. Just give me a call at 980-495-3950. It is our prayer that the classes you take at GCS are a blessing to you personally and in your ministry. If I can be of service to you in any way, don’t hesitate to let me know.
— Georgia McKinnon, Registrar
Linda Nichols-McCarty Installation
GCI Ripley Honors Former Pastor, Celebrates New Leadership
On December 9, Linda Nichols-McCarty was installed as lead pastor of the Ripley, WV congregation. Randy Bloom, East Regional Director, officiated. Don Hussel was honored as he retires from pastoral ministry.
GCI Photo Contest
Do you attend a GCI church? Enter to win our 2018-2019 GCI Photo Contest and submit photos of your healthy church.
Prizes include, $100, $200, and $300 Amazon gift cards!
For more information go to: https://resources.gci.org/photocontest
Devotional – Choose God’s Choice
Choose God’s Choice
You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16 NIV).
If God has a will for us, does it threaten our human rights? Surely, we have free will. Theologians and philosophers have discussed these subjects endlessly.
God, of course, also has free will. He cuts to the chase in dealing with our dilemma about whether to choose him. He first chose us, before any of us were born! No one forced God to supply “his glorious grace, which he has given us freely in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:6). It was entirely God’s own choice.
God expressed his free will by sending his Son to die for us.
A “no brainer” is a phrase used to indicate an obvious choice – so obvious that we need not think about it for long. Our response to Christ’s sacrifice may seem like a “no brainer”, but it becomes a stumbling block for many. The desire to hold on to our own free will is so strong. We see accepting God’s will for us as an assault on our freedom. But it isn’t. God’s choice is about making us free. It is about fulfilling our own unique human potential that he chose for us from the foundation of the world.
Choose God’s choice for you.
Accept Jesus.
Prayer:
Great God, thank you that you chose me in Christ Jesus. Help me through the Holy Spirit to live every day in acceptance of your will.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
By James Henderson
Healthy Church
GCI President, Dr. Greg Williams, gives an update on Grace Communion International, sharing the vision of GCI as a “Healthy Church”.
He emphasizes that church health and growth starts with Jesus, we, however, are invited to participate with the divine. In our participation with Jesus’ ministry in the world, Dr. Williams encourages all of us to participate wholeheartedly.
Learn more about how Healthy Church begins with Healthy Leadership
A message for Boomers
As the Boomer generation reaches the age of retirement, they are challenged to focus on mentoring the younger generations for leadership within the church. For ideas about how to do that, click here to read a helpful Christianity Today article written by Karl Vaters.
Johnstons’ daughter
Ted and Donna Johnston send their thanks for the prayers, cards and other expressions of support concerning their daughter Traci (Johnston) Calvert, who recently was diagnosed with cancer (click here for the original prayer request).
Traci is doing well and returns home this week after undergoing the first round of chemotherapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Subsequent rounds will be administered in Mobile, AL. While in Houston, Traci was cared for by her aunt Jan, Ted’s sister (shown below with Traci), while Ted and Donna remained in Alabama to help care for Traci’s two children and her husband Troy.
Your continued prayers for Traci are needed and much appreciated. Please pray that the cancer (which was successfully removed in surgery) will not return, and that Traci will be blessed with long life in good health.
Death of Pastor Jack Maderazo
We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Jack Maderazo, Senior Pastor of GCI’s congregation in Batangas City, Philippines. Jack passed away at age 65 due to cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife Luzviminda Simeon Maderazo and two daughters: Cathleen Faith Maderazo and Rainbow Maderazo.
