This month’s GCI Buzz reflects on our identity in Christ: beloved, chosen, and redeemed — not because of what we’ve done, but because of who Jesus is. As we live from this truth together, we’re invited to grow as a church shaped by grace.
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Citizens of God’s kingdom prioritize listening to the Spirit. It’s important individually and collectively. Healthy ministry teams create time and space to slow down periodically to listen to the Spirit together. We risk ministering by our own strength when we go through the same motions repeatedly without reflecting or revising.
Holding annual strategic retreats is a helpful practice for teams to reflect the innovation and creativity of the Trinity.
Want to learn more? Follow the link below to read about best practices for crafting a strategic planning retreat for your team.
Kingdom Living includes joining Jesus’ mission in the world, through his Church. Healthy churches who make disciples have healthy leaders.
And healthy leaders function in teams. One way we build strong teams is through intentional time together. We carve out devoted time to build cohesion, listen to the Spirit, and plan for the future.
Read on for stories of two congregations who held annual planning retreats. Learn more about strategic planning retreats here.
Faithful God, we thank you for guiding the Annual Planning Meeting and for the fruitful conversations and united vision it produced. We praise you for the energy and willingness of the younger members who stepped up to serve, bringing fresh life, and hope to the gathering. Bless every plan made and every person who contributed, that this coming year may reflect your wisdom, love, and purpose. May this spirit of collaboration continue to shape the life of your Church.
A heartfelt thank you to our special guest, National Director Marshall Dube, for your guidance and encouragement. We are also deeply grateful for the support of the National President of the Men’s Fellowship Ministry, Pastor X. Mpande, and his Organizing Secretary, Mr. Dabengwa Senior, who kindly hosted us at his lovely home.
The session was filled with fruitful deliberations and a shared vision for the year ahead. It was more than a meeting — it was a day of true fellowship, productivity, and joy. Here’s to a purposeful year ahead!
By Vuyile Mpofu, Pastor
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Durham, North Carolina, USThe Durham church plant held a three-night retreat for our core team. It was a priority to include the caregivers on our team, so we rented a house that could accommodate the entire team plus children and elderly parents.
We bonded over cooking together and sharing meals. We scheduled downtime for rest and recreation. And of course, we played games and shared much laughter.
The bulk of each day was devoted to planning, though. We performed exercises that demonstrated the variety of gifts represented and how that works together for a healthy team. One exercise that was particularly life-giving was naming the strengths we see in one another. Left is an example of one of the “affirmation boards.” (The name has been removed.)
We plan to hold a team retreat every year.
By Elizabeth Mullins, Plant team member
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Because we are God’s children, we are being transformed into the fullness of the stature of Christ. As such, we are becoming more Christlike. Our thinking will essentially be persuaded by Christ to be more loving, kind, compassionate, gentle, forgiving, patient.
How incredible is this?
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. Romans 8:29 NRSVUE
Consider the ways we are being conformed to God’s image. We are being compelled by the love of Christ to be peacemakers, a light, and a witness for him, ensuring anger and lust does not rule our minds. We are vigilant that retaliation is not our first impulse. We are mindful of promises we make and ensure they are followed through. We are slow to judge and even slower to condemn. We are quick to do good to all.
This is good news!
As children of God, we are also being formed into the Body of Christ. How does Kingdom Living manifest in this community? A unique love is the Church’s guiding force: we love one another as God has loved us (John 13:34). This love moves us to join Jesus’ mission in the world. We are continually moved by a keen devotion to the teachings of Jesus. We are compelled by an eagerness to pray, meet together, and share meals.
Let us not stop being amazed at God’s gifts to his children.
Prayer
Father, thank you for empowering us to be ambassadors for the kingdom today on earth. Let us be grateful for the privilege of sharing in your very ministry, Christ. Spirit, guide us to seek first your kingdom and righteousness. Amen.
By Dan Zachariah, Superintendent of Asia
Hyderabad, India
The annual Christian worship calendar begins in late November (or early December) with the Advent and Christmas seasons. Following the seasonal themes of the calendar help citizens of God’s kingdom worship Jesus and learn about his life and ministry.
Begin now to consider how you can make the seasons meaningful for your congregations and neighbors in 2026. See the Church Hack below for planning ideas.
The Advent season is a time of hopeful anticipation. The Christmas season is a joyful time to celebrate the incarnation of God — God becoming flesh in the newborn baby, Jesus.
Enjoy these images of GCI congregations worshiping God during the Advent and Christmas seasons and sharing the hope of Jesus with their neighbors.
During Epiphany, we are reminded afresh of who God is, as revealed in Jesus Christ. Epiphany season calls us back to the true nature of God and his posture toward humanity. People often shape their ideas of God by projecting human traits onto him — imagining God through the lens of parents, siblings, leaders, pastors, or personal experiences. But God is not a magnified version of any human being.
He is like no other. The clearest and truest revelation of God is found in Jesus.
A bruised reed [Jesus] will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out … Isaiah 42:3a
This brings me deep assurance. When we feel fragile, bent, or close to breaking, Jesus does not finish us off — he restores us. When our flame is flickering and our strength feels almost gone, Jesus gently protects it until it burns again. Is it not striking that when we celebrate birthdays, we blow out candles? Yet our lives testify to a God who has not blown out our candles but has kept them burning. Jesus does not put out our light. He lights it, guards it, and keeps it alive.
I do not know how you are starting this new year. You may feel worn down, close to breaking, or like your fire is barely burning. Or you may be entering the year with optimism, energy, and excitement. Wherever you find yourself, this promise remains true: God desires your restoration. He does not “put out a dying flame” (Isaiah 42:3 CEV).
May Jesus light up your 2026.
Prayer
Dear Lord, as we step into 2026, may we experience your fire afresh. May we be renewed, strengthened, and upheld by your gentle grace. Spare us from breaking down and instead build us up in hope. Amen.
Takalani Musekwa, Superintendent of Africa
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Citizens of God’s kingdom are disciples of Jesus who also make disciples. We are made in the image of a relational God. And we seek healthy relationships of care and trust. But not all relationships lead to discipleship. How can we be intentional when we discern by the Spirit to go deeper?
A discipleship pathway is a framework that guides the intentional discipleship. To learn more, read the full Church Hack here.
In 2026, we continue focusing on Kingdom Living. Kingdom Living includes prioritizing relationships. To build trust, relationships need patience and faithful presence — for as long as it takes. And it is our hope and prayer that our relationships will flow naturally into discipleship.
Read the story below to learn how Pastor Chan Thleng is doing the slow, good work of building relationships in Myanmar.
What began as a simple follow-up visit became a powerful reminder that discipleship grows best through relationships, patience, and shared life in Christ.
Earlier in the year, Pastor Chan Thleng had introduced GCI’s Healthy Church vision to ministry leaders in southern Shan State of Myanmar. Two leaders, Timothy and Bo Bo Sein, responded with genuine interest. Rather than rushing outcomes, Chan sensed the importance of returning, listening, and building trust. Four months later, my wife and I were invited to join him, and together we set out to see what God was already doing.
Along the way, we were reminded that discipleship often takes place in very ordinary settings. In Yangon, we worshipped with a small house church, mostly women whose husbands were away working. In that simple gathering, we reflected on the gospel as the good news of a relational, triune God who invites us into life with him through Jesus. After worship, practical care was shared through the distribution of rice — a quiet but powerful expression of love and partnership in Christ.
In Hmawbi, we joined a young and lively congregation meeting in a new church building that also served as a family home. Worship, fellowship, and conversations with young men preparing for ministry revealed a deep hunger to serve faithfully. Discipleship here looked like life shared across generations, rooted in relationship rather than programs.
In southern Shan State, meetings with church planters highlighted a longing for healthy theology and sustainable ministry. Many were encouraged by the reminder that ministry is not about striving for God but participating with Christ in what he is already doing. This perspective brought fresh hope and renewed joy to leaders carrying heavy responsibilities.
Another group of leaders travelled long hours simply to spend time together, to talk, and to discern next steps. Their desire was not for quick affiliation, but for shared values, sound teaching, and relationships built on trust. It was a clear reminder that healthy discipleship takes time.
As we returned home, we were encouraged — not by quick results, but by seeds planted through faithful presence, shared stories, and relationships formed in Christ.
Wong Mein Kong, Retired Pastor
Malaysia
Once, we too were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—
When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:3–7 NLT
People sometimes wonder why Christians show mercy. What is the reason? Why do we forgive when others hurt us? Are we weak? Are we people pleasers? Are we insecure? No!
We choose to turn resentment into forgiveness, hatred into love, fighting into peace. We have been there, done that and saw that the way of hate does not pay. Moreover, we too are foolish and disobedient.
But we are forgiven because of God’s mercy. How dare we withhold that mercy from others? By the power of the Holy Spirit, the same kindness and love God showed to us when we were the offenders is what we can show to those who wrong us.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to be a conduit of your love and mercy. Help us to extend what we have received from you to others. Lord, let it be a witness to the world and a sweet-smelling sacrifice to you. Please receive our thanksgiving in Jesus’ name, amen.
By Margaret Musekwa, Webmaster
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
