Category: Announcements

During recent CAD team meetings held in Denver, Colorado, Anne Stapleton was ordained a GCI elder.

Anne asked that the ceremony be held in Denver so family and friends living in the area could attend. The ceremony was led by GenMin director Anthony Mullins and CAD associate director Greg Williams. Moving testimonies concerning Anne and her ministry were given by GCI leaders (including GCI president Joseph Tkach) and by others who have known Anne and her ministry for many years.

Anne and her husband Mark Stapleton pastor GCI’s congregation in the San Diego, California area. They also co-direct SEP SoCal—the GCI GenMin summer camp held in Southern California.

We join Anne’s congregation, family and friends in extending hearty congratulations. Here is a video with excerpts from the ordination ceremony:

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/FmKvel-XUHM.

GCI district and church pastor Mike Horchak and his wife Pam are pleased to announce that their daughter Holly Horchak married Deron Grafton on November 9. Mike officiated and Holly’s brother Jeff Horchak gave her to dad, who, in turn, gave her to Deron.

The ceremony was held in Covington, Louisiana, outdoors under a 300-year-old oak tree (see picture above). The weather was perfect and many family members and friends attended.

Holly and Deron’s love for each other includes a shared love for children. Holly has worked for many years as a nanny and Deron teaches disabled children.

Congratulations to Holly, Deron and their families.

We are pleased to announce that on October 26, Generations Ministries director Anthony Mullins married Elizabeth Gill.

The ceremony, held at a Christian camp near Hickory, North Carolina, was officiated by GCI regional pastor Greg Williams.

The couple will be making their home together in nearby Lenoir, North Carolina.

Congratulations to Anthony and Elizabeth!

As seen in the picture below, GCI Canada director Gary Moore recently led a ceremony installing in the Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada congregation co-pastors Jim Miller and Keith Roberts.

Video and audio recordings of some of the presentations at the 2013 International Denominational Conference held in Orlando, Florida are now posted at http://www.gci.org/media/conference2013.

Alex Rowan, a GCI-USA pastoral intern serving at GCI’s Ground Zero church in the Denver, Colorado area, recently was engaged to be married to Manda Bulowns. Congratulations Alex and Manda!

Christian Reconciliation Fellowship, the GCI church in Greensboro, North Carolina recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a day-long retreat at a nearby state park.

The day began with a breakfast buffet followed by a Lectio Divina (meditative Scripture reading) session. After a break for refreshments, the group shared a worship service with Pastor Hillary Irusta (pictured at left) leading inspiring and reflective worship in song and prayer. Her father, Pastor Joel Irusta, then gave a short summary of the congregation’s history, while focusing on its vision for the future. After a photo session the group (pictured below) enjoyed a buffet lunch. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in hiking, games and just talking together.

Becky Valekis, wife of GCI pastor Jim Valekis, serves as an elder and ministry leader in GCI’s Tipp City, Ohio congregation. Becky recently received a major “Spirit of Innovation” award from the president of Wright State University where she is employed as assistant director of annual giving. To learn more about this prestigious award, watch the video below. Congratulations Becky for this well-deserved honor!

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/_8QHLAjEoVE.

Belated congratulations to Perc and Shirley Burrows who a year ago celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary (on September 5th). For many years, Perc served GCI congregations in Canada as an elder. The couple now attend Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, one of GCI’s Toronto-area churches.

Terry and Nancy Akers, who both work at GCI headquarters, are pleased to announce the birth of their grandson Sebastian Soto. He was born on Aug 27 to Ismael and Ashley Soto; 19” long and 6 pounds 7 ounces. The whole family, including Sebastian’s sister Isabella and brother Alexander are doing well. The grandparents are ecstatic!