Category: Announcements

The Mary Lee Bellamy Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Mrs. Mary Lee Bellamy (1933-2002), a long-time GCI/WCG member, deaconess and elder’s wife in the Chicago area. Mary was deeply concerned about the young people of the church and recommended and supported programs for their growth and development. She was particularly concerned that church youth obtain the best education possible, set goals and strive for achievement of those goals. Her life and example inspired the establishment of the scholarship.

In honor of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Chicago Southside and Hammond churches on July 5-7, the scholarship is being extended to students whose relatives attended the Chicago South, Southside or Hammond, Indiana churches anytime during the past 50 years. The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four- year college, university or vocational technical school. It is awarded based on merit, community service and extracurricular involvement. The amount of the awards will range from $500-$1,000. The awards will be announced during the 50th anniversary celebration. The deadline to apply is June 9. For information go to scchurch.us.

We’re pleased to announce that GCI elder and music minister Ross Jutsum and his wife Tammy will be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary on May 13. Congratulations!

GCI’s Odyssey in Christ ministry is offering a spiritual formation seminar on Sunday June 9. The seminar, titled A Deeper Walk will be held at one of GCI’s churches in Cincinnati, Ohio. For details, click here.

GCI elder Barry Gridley and his wife Wendy are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this week. They married on May 4, 1963 in England, where their families lived. They have since lived mostly in California.

Barry and Wendy send their warm thanks to all in GCI who have supported them with kindness and patience over these last 50 years.

Cards may be sent to:

Barry and Wendy Gridley

6332 Jack Hill Drive

Oroville, CA 95966-3812

Congratulations to Don and Anne Marie Marson who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Carmel, California. Don is the senior pastor of GCI’s congregation in Anchorage, Alaska.

Here are excerpts from the April issue of “Update” from the National Association of Evangelicals.

Evangelical Day of Prayer & Action for Immigration Reform. On April 17, a unified evangelical voice will echo through the halls of Congress proclaiming a biblical vision for immigration reform that respects the rule of law, reunites families and upholds human dignity. Join Bill Hybels, Stephen Bauman and others in Washington, D.C., to pray and advocate on behalf of immigrants. (read more)

Once-a-Month Communion is the Norm. Wine or grape juice, bread or wafers, intinction or separate actions, served at the front or in the pew. There are many decisions evangelical churches and denominations make when setting up the Lord’s Table. But the question posed in the February Evangelical Leaders Survey was on frequency: How often does your church serve communion? The vast majority (70 percent) said once a month. (read more)

Faith & Family Foundation. This NAE member Foundation was formed to build and support Christian families with biblical values. It work and resources cover all aspects of Christian family care, including pre-marriage counseling, marital guidance and counseling, family-raising, childcare, children’s education and senior care. (read more)

If the Supreme Court Legalizes Same-sex Marriage Nationally, How Should Churches and Pastors Respond? This question is addressed in the April 2013 edition of Christianity Today. (read more)

We are pleased to announce that Hillary Irusta was ordained an elder in GCI on March 17.

Last December, Hillary completed her GCI pastoral internship, which was supported by the denomination, her home congregation in Greensboro, North Carolina and other churches in her church district.

Hillary now serves as associate pastor in her home church where her father, Joel Irusta, is the senior pastor. She also is working on a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree at Wake Forest University, School of Divinity.

Congratulations Hillary!

Congratulations to GCI Canada pastor Todd Martin who recently was awarded a doctoral degree in sociology from the University of British Columbia.

Todd has been working to earn this degree for the last several years. Anyone who has earned a graduate degree while working full time and providing for a family understands the great effort this represents.

William Paul Young, author of the best selling book The Shack, was interviewed recently by Christianity Today editor Mark Galli. The interview, published in the CT article, “The Love Shack,” addresses Young’s background and theology and why some people misunderstand his book. To read the article go to http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/march/love-shack.html.

Here are three recent birth announcements.

Pastor Ted and Lila Millhuff of Tucson, Arizona are pleased to announce the March 5 birth of their great grandson Easton Owen Millhuff. Easton’s parents are Ted and Lila’s grandson Tyler Millhuff and his wife Kaila. Easton came into the world weighing 8 lbs 5 oz and 21 inches long.

Tyler’s twin brother Thales Millhuff and his wife Katelyn gave birth to a daughter, Reagan, last September.

Ted and Lila feel blessed to have their name continue with these two great grandchildren.

---

Terry and Nancy Akers, long-time GCI home office employees, are pleased to announce the March 13 birth of their granddaughter Briella Grace whose parents are Jeremy and Alyssa Truman.

Briella weighed 8 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20 inches long at birth.

Mom and Dad are recuperating nicely and big sister, Mikayla, thinks her new sister is pretty special.

---

Retired pastor Paul and Pat Kurts of Alabama are pleased to announce the birth of their third grandson Maxwell Wesley Meadows born on February 27.

The son of Paul and Allison Meadows of Hoover, Alabama, Max weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19.75 inches long at birth.

Mother and son are healthy and the Kurts family rejoices over another child of God born into the world!