Category: Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the following individuals recently were ordained as elders. We thank God for raising up these leaders in the body of Christ. We offer them, and their congregations, our congratulations.

• Aida Gaspar (6/26/16) Cabanatuan City, Philippines
• Jesus Samar (12/29/16) Polangui Albay, Philippines
• Myrla Dawal (12/29/16) Legaspi City, Philippines
• JoAnn Lagge (12/17/16) Souix Falls, SD
• Hilda Babol (1/22/17) Baao, Camarines Sur, Philippines
• Lito Olaguer Jr. (2/24/17) Rayon City, Philippines
• Cleo Henderson (3/5/17) Memphis, TN

GCI’s congregation in Pikeville, Kentucky, recently participated in commissioning Ron Tiller as a new member of its pastoral team. The team (left to right in the picture below left) now includes Debby Bailey, Ron and Mike Stewart. Debby and Mike have served on the team for nearly 15 years. John Nelson (at left in the picture below right), who has served on the team for the past five years, will continue serving the congregation as an elder emeritus.

Here is a picture of the congregation joining in a prayer of blessing for Ron.

Several GCI Home Office employees and guests gathered on January 20 to honor Nancy Akers on the final day of her 33 years of employed service to GCI. In retirement, Nancy and her husband Terry (who works part-time in the Home Office) will remain in Southern California.

Nancy began working for WCG in 1973, first as a mail processing clerk/typist, then as a secretary in personal correspondence. From 1981 to 1995 she worked in mail processing and landscape administration, then in May 1995 she began serving as executive assistant in Church Administration and Development where she served for almost 22 years.

We extend to Nancy our thanks and congratulations. Job well done, faithful sister! You will be missed.

GCI-Caribbean Mission Developer Charles Fleming and his wife Carmen are pleased to announce the birth of their first grandchild, Addison Michelle O’Donnell. She was born on January 4 to Annie (Fleming) O’Donnell and her husband Mike O’Donnell. The couple reside with their daughter in Florida. Here are pictures of Addison and Annie:

This year, GCI Generations Ministries (GenMin) will host one Converge conference. It will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 21-23, 2017. With the theme Reimagine Camp, the conference will focus on new developments, new directions and best practices related to GenMin’s camps and missions. Registration for Converge 2017 is now open—we encourage you to register soon. For further information and to register, go to gci.org/go/converge17 (login required).

Greg Williams, Director of GCI-USA Church Administration and Development (CAD), recently announced several changes to CAD’s administrative structure, effective January 1, 2017:

• Heber Ticas, in addition to his duties as national coordinator for Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM), now serves as liaison to Spanish-speaking congregations in the U.S., and Ecclesiastical Supervisor for GCI-Mexico.
• Lorenzo Arroyo, formerly a U.S. Regional Pastor and Ecclesiastical Supervisor of GCI Spanish-speaking churches in the U.S. and Mexico, now serves as consultant to both Tim Sitterley (in his duties as RP) and Heber Ticas (in his duties working with Spanish-speaking churches).
• Ted Johnston, formerly a U.S. Regional Pastor, now serves as Special Assistant to the CAD Director (which includes his work as Publications Editor).
• To provide support and supervision to its pastors and facilitators, GCI-USA now has five regions (previously there were six). The map below shows region boundaries along with the chartered congregations on the date the map was produced (there have been changes since).
• The five GCI-USA Regional Pastors are as follows: Tim Sitterley (West Region, including Alaska and Hawaii, shown in yellow), Mike Rasmussen (South-Central Region, shown in green), Rick Shallenberger (North-Central Region, shown in beige), Randy Bloom (Northeast Region, shown in purple), and Paul David (PD) Kurts (Southeast Region, shown in gray).

Via their pastors/facilitators, affected GCI-USA congregations were notified last month of these changes. Questions and concerns may be directed to the appropriate Regional Pastor or the CAD office.

Registration is now open for GCI’s 2017 Denominational Conference in Orlando, Florida! It will be held on August 2-6, 2017, with a pre-conference session for pastors and church facilitators on August 1.

• For conference information, click here
• To register, click here (login required)
• For a detailed conference schedule, click here

Because pastors and facilitators will not receive scholarships from the denomination to attend this conference, we recommend that the cost of their attendance be reimbursed by their congregations. There are no early-bird or otherwise reduced rates for pastors and facilitators—all attendees pay the same rates for registration, onsite lodging and conference meals. By registering this month, pastors and facilitators can help their congregations spread out the conference costs across two calendar years.

Here is a list of recently ordained GCI elders. Congratulations to all!

• Richard Miller (6/26/16) Federal Way, WA
• Danny Ray England (9/11/16) London, KY
• Julio Panlaqui (10/2/16) Pampanga PHILIPPINES
• Felix Llarves (10/2/16) Olongapo PHILIPPINES
• Adelaida Gaspar (12/4/16) Cabanatuan PHILIPPINES

The following announcement is from GCI-USA Regional Pastor Paul David Kurts.

Please join me in congratulating Lead Pastor Franklin K. Howard and his wife Leslie upon Frank’s retirement from 16 years pastoring 24-7 Community Church, GCI’s congregation in Newark, New Jersey. In a beautiful and moving ceremony held recently, Frank passed the baton of leadership to a new pastoral team. Frank and Leslie (pictured below) will continue to be involved in ministry at 24-7, but in different ways. You know the saying, “You can’t keep a good man (or woman) down!”

Frank and Leslie helped start 24-7 Community Church 17 years ago with about 14 people. Not too many folks gave them a fighting chance, but in the years since, the church has grown, engaged their surrounding community, and above all moved forward on their knees in prayer. Through Frank and Leslie’s example and leadership, a culture of empowerment was created at 24-7 whereby all people, young and old, were given opportunity to play an important role in the daily life of the church.

Frank and Leslie, your GCI family thanks you for your many years of tireless, faithful service to our brothers and sisters at 24-7, and to the members of the Newark community beyond. The impact you’ve made can’t be overstated. May God bless you as you enter into this new season of life and ministry.

We are pleased to announce the birth of Hazel Shaw Henderson, daughter of GCI-Canada pastor Fraser Henderson and his wife Julie. Hazel (pictured below) was born at 2:20 p.m., November 26. Congratulations to Fraser and Julie and to the proud grandparents, James and Shirley Henderson (James is Mission Developer for GCI-Europe).