The short video below looks at the ministry of Tom Melear who pastors GCI’s Las Vegas, NV, congregation while working full-time as a hospice chaplain and grief counselor. On October 1, 2017, Tom was on duty when victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting began arriving at area hospitals. He was able to participate with Jesus in helping many who were going through terrible trauma.
On YouTube at https://youtu.be/S8hMGV7B40E.
Here are links to updates on several recent events held by GCI-Philippines.
Nearly 300 people gathered in late September in Wisconsin Dells, WI, to celebrate EngageGCI. The theme of the annual conference this year was Engage Neighbor. Guest speakers were Joseph Tkach (GCI President) and Heber Ticas (GCI Church Multiplication Ministries National Coordinator). With 24 breakout sessions to choose from, all attendees could see the practical application of loving others as Jesus loves us. Here is a one minute video with highlights of the gathering and an invitation to EngageGCI 2018:
On YouTube at https://youtu.be/wYwV-CdZBxk.
As noted in the current version of the Church Administration Manual, GCI-USA ordains elders but no longer licenses them. We found that our system for licensing elders, which was labor intensive, was no longer serving a useful purpose. Elders currently holding an elder’s license may retain it until it expires. Existing licenses will no longer be renewed and newly ordained elders will not receive a license (though they will receive an ordination certificate).
Note that the ordained title/status of “elder” is retained by an individual so long as the following stipulations apply:
If stipulations 1 and 2 are met, but either 3 or 4 are not, the elder becomes an “elder emeritus” (a title one can hold for life, so long as stipulations 1 and 2 are met—if stipulations 1 or 2 are not being met, the individual ceases to be a GCI elder).
When ordained, an elder is given an appropriate pastoral title (such as assistant pastor) in accordance with the particular pastoral leadership assignment they are filling within the congregation where they regularly attend. That assignment is determined by the congregation’s lead pastor (in consultation with other leaders and the advisory council). In the case of an assignment to serve as a lead pastor, a member of a pastoral team, or a facilitator of a fellowship group (chartered or non-chartered), the appointment is made by the denomination (through the Regional Pastor) in consultation with leaders and the advisory council within the congregation.
Note that none of these pastoral assignments are permanent—all are subject to change/re-assignment. If an elder moves to another congregation, there is no guarantee they will be given a pastoral assignment in the new location.
Where the denomination is approving the pastoral appointment, the applicant must fill out an application form that is available online (click here to download).
Please note the following related stipulations and clarifications:
If you have questions concerning what is covered in this announcement, please contact your Regional Pastor.
Here is a report from camp director Mark Yandt on GCI-Canada’s Camp Connections.
Camp Connections 2017 in Ontario was a huge success. We had three sessions: the four-night Junior Camp with 27 participants (ages 7-11) served by a staff of 17; the six-night Senior Camp with 41 participants (ages 12-18) served by a staff of 25; and the Leadership in Training (LIT) program, which ran concurrently with the Senior Camp with 10 participants (age 16+). I can’t say enough about the volunteers who ran these programs—their efforts blow me away year after year!
The camp teaching curriculum was themed around the idea of “mysteries.” When it comes to understanding God and our faith, God’s mysteries are intended to intrigue us, not confound us. We talked about Paul’s description of the gospel as the “mystery of godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16) and how it seems beyond comprehension that an all-powerful entity would suffer a mortal existence, allowing himself to be ridiculed, beaten and crucified. We also explored why God chose to bring us salvation the way he did. The camp chaplain put together a summary of each chapel along with some questions—some were asked during the chapel and a few were used to help stimulate dorm-time discussions.
It’s worth noting the success of Camp Connections efforts over the last few years to partner with various community agencies in serving the youth of surrounding communities by providing them with access to our camp. Doing so gives us a great opportunity to share the good news and to wrap vulnerable individuals in loving community.
In the video below, GCI Mission Developer Rod Matthews interviews Daniel Zachariah who pastors a GCI congregation in India. Danny shares what his congregation is doing to reach out to their community and beyond through various initiatives, including providing Christian counseling.
On YouTube at https://youtu.be/4LjbQQPErRg.
This report is from GCI-Canada director Gary Moore.
My wife Wendy and I experienced a most uplifting time at the Thanksgiving Retreat held recently in Penticton, Canada. About 80 people gathered for a lovely time of learning, fellowship and good food. The retreat’s theme was “God is on the Move,” and from what we saw and heard, there is no doubt that GCI is participating more and more in what Jesus is doing in our world and in our generation.
It was a special treat to have with us GCI President Joseph Tkach and his wife Tammy. During the opening service we ordained Debbie Minke as an elder, and later celebrated at an elders’ dinner at a local restaurant. Debbie (along with her husband Craig, who pastors our Vancouver–Surrey and Prince George congregations) has been serving in an elder capacity for many years. Her ordination was thus an acknowledgement of this reality, and a chance to celebrate her service to our church.
We are pleased to announce that GCI has launched a denominational Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WeAreGCI/. Please like this new page to keep up with GCI news and resources.
On the first day of each month (beginning November 1), we will post on this new Facebook page a GCI prayer guide so members and leaders around the world can praise and petition corporately. If you are not on Facebook, click here to pray along with us in November. We are GCI, and it’s joy to pray with and for you!
Dr. Gary Deddo’s five-part essay, “Clarifying Our Theological Vision,” which was published in GCI Equipper, has been edited for publication as a single article and posted on the GCI.org website at www.gci.org/lit/clarifying-our-theological-vision. The essay will have a wider audience on the website—please pray it will help many understand more fully the incarnational Trinitarian theology that it seeks to clarify.
