This month’s GCI Buzz explains calling. Our primary calling, as followers of Christ, is to him, by him, and for him. First and foremost, we are called to someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, politics, or teaching) or to somewhere (such as our neighborhood or a different country). #gcibuzz
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A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
I was born with a defect in my heart. This is not uncommon. It’s called a heart murmur, commonly. If the defect is not an “innocent” murmur, surgery may be required to repair or replace the valve. My first open-heart surgery was during Covid at age 61. Unfortunately, I needed a second surgery two weeks later! My talented surgeon has performed more than 2500 operations, and this was the first time he needed to do a second open-heart surgery. But the second surgery went well. Afterward, when the surgeon listened to my heart, he murmured, “Lovey dovey!” He was so pleased to hear no heart murmur.
My real heart issues are common to all humanity. We all need a new heart and Spirit within us. The Father’s heart is totally for us. The triune Creator knows we need his heart. Jesus is God’s heart given for us.
God’s heart-to-heart conversation with humanity is in and through Jesus—his eternal Word made flesh for us. It is the conversation in which the great exchange takes place, leading to a deep and meaningful conversion—real, transforming communion with our triune God.
We have new life in him, the resurrection life operating in our hearts and minds and eventually bodies, forever. New life is a once and for all heart transplant, which surely makes God murmur, “Lovely dovey!”
Prayer: Loving Father, we deeply thank you for our new life in your Son, Jesus, poured in us through your Holy Spirit. Our hearts forever joined to yours, may we rest more fully in your bosom.
By Bharat Naker, pastor
Carina and Logan, Qld, AU
P.S. Learn more about our devotional writer here.
A couple times a year, GC Surrey Hills plans a special Sunday worship experience called, “Beginnings Weekend.” It is focused on baby dedications and those who wish to be baptized. On January 29, we had the privilege to share in a baby dedication of a new little one who was unable to be dedicated in her first year due to COVID-19.
On the same day, we were able to witness and participate firsthand in what Jesus is doing in the lives of six people through their decision to join Jesus in his baptism through their own baptism. Five were ages 7-15. After having a one-on-one conversation with each of them, it was very clear that Jesus is working in their lives and they know it, even at a young age.
It was a grand celebration with more than 120 people present and hundreds watching online. As the worship team played quietly the song “I’m Alive in You,” each person would enter the baptistry. As the person was being immersed into the water, the worship team would get louder with a crescendo of the song. Cheers filled the room as each person came up out of the water into new life. It truly felt like a heavenly sound of worship!
All we can say is thank you, Holy Spirit! We will have more!
Joe Brannen, pastor
Surrey Hills, OK, US
On Sunday February 26, GC Fayetteville celebrated Black History Month with the theme, “Christian Unity in Diversity.” More than 100 people gathered for this special occasion, including many from other local churches. We invited Greater Love Church of God to be our special guest. Their members led praise and worship, helped with ushering, and their pastor delivered a message on unity. We were also joined by Pastor Ken Hygh and his wife, Lana, and many members from the GCI Apex, NC congregation. We’re grateful to our assistant pastor and Hope Avenue champion, Elder Carolyn Cooley, for leading this combined service.
Let me just say that it was a beautiful sight to witness a diverse group of Christians worshiping in unity! God blessed us with spiritual songs, instruments, praise dancing, and solos. Several of the participants taught us the meaning behind the music. The age of the worshippers ranged from 10 to 80. I am reminded that we are never too young nor too old to serve God.
At the end of the service, my wife and I, on behalf of our church family, honored our dedicated leaders. We surprised them with words of thanks, trophies, roses, and books.
In the fellowship hall, a gourmet buffet was provided for everyone. Foods of many cultures and nations were prepared and served by GCF. Our God blessed us like he did the people in Matthew 14:13-21. There was so much food that all our guests took home a plate, and we still had leftovers.
Everyone had an amazingly blessed time. Hallelujah to a true and living God who has given us freedom to receive his love and share his love with the world.
Billy Cooley, pastor
Fayetteville, NC, US
In John 20:21, Jesus shares with us his mission of being sent. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we have been sent. How many of us know that? How many of us understand what that means? In Cincinnati, we are aware that we have been sent. But we do not fully understand what that looks like, so we have prayed that the Lord would lead us in being sent. We have asked him to teach us and help us walk in that reality.
Last year, we began to visit a local nursing home. As a group, we visited each resident in a particular wing and delivered Christmas gifts. We introduced ourselves to each resident and asked if we could pray for them. No one refused. In fact, most were eager and visibly touched that we would care for them in such a way. We have continued to participate in loving the residents of this local nursing home. We visit each month and are considering increasing our visits. Word has spread in the home about this church that visits and prays with the residents. One of the nurses recently asked about our church and expressed interest in visiting.
Here we have learned to pray for one another, to sit and listen, to laugh together, to cry together, to witness to God’s love and care, and to be the church. We have learned that God is presently working in the lives of others and is constantly inviting us to join him – not to fix their problems, but to love them in his name. We have learned the joy of boldly sharing Jesus and loving others without ulterior motives. We have learned that we are the church, and we have been sent.
Julie Frantz, pastor
Cincinnati East & West, OH, US
Jesus reassured his disciples before his death in John 14:19, “Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.” Jesus’ promise isn’t just for the future, but for now.
As we approach Easter, our thoughts are focused on Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. I’ve been thinking about my own journey and how my relationship has evolved. Initially, it was mostly going through the motions of prayer and reading Scripture. But along the way, Jesus became more of a friend, comforter, encourager, and guide. My dependence on him has grown to get through each day of life.
Sometimes I think, what would I do if I lost this or that? But Easter is a reminder that the one thing that I cannot live without is Jesus. A few years ago, I had a lot going on in my life on all fronts: work, church, and family. I felt myself approaching a breaking point. One day during my lunch break, I walked down the street to a church near my office. I went to the altar, and my prayer was simply, “Jesus, I need help.” I laid on the altar and wept. As I picked myself up and walked back to work, I felt immense relief.
I knew, somehow, that Jesus would work things out and that everything would be okay. This is just one time, out of many, when my precious Savior helped me live. As I reflect on my personal journey and prepare for Easter, I know I can face each tomorrow because Jesus lives.
Prayer
Lord, open the eyes of our hearts to see you more clearly. Please give us the reassurance we need to face each day with confidence, knowing because you live, we can also live.
Debby Bailey, pastor Pikeville, KY, US
Grace Communion Woodbury’s Love Avenue is directed towards feeding the hungry and giving the lonely a place to connect. With long-term goals of having mission meals to contribute to this endeavor, our short-term goals are more within the grasp of our currently small membership.
Our Love Avenue team has begun creating half-size aluminum steam pans (available at warehouse club stores) to assist families struggling between “heat or eat” through the winter months. They have been experimenting with recipes in order to learn the amounts and costs for each meal. So far, there have been two large “meal-making” parties after church netting between 15-17 half-size steam pans of food. The first was a shepherd’s pie with mashed potatoes on top. The second was Mexican rice and chicken fajitas; tortillas, sour cream, and salsa included.
They delivered the hot pans to unexpecting families. The families’ faces lit up when receiving the hot and ready-to-eat dinners, and they expressed their gratitude. Any pans that were unable to be delivered the same day were put in the freezer for later delivery. An unanticipated benefit of these meal preparations is that when a guest came to church and mentioned he was attending a funeral later in the day, we were able to offer a frozen dinner for him to give the grieving family.
There are no strings attached to this outreach. Recipients are not asked to join our church. They are simply receiving love and assistance in a tangible form. The foil lids have our church name on them as well as the words, “You are loved. You are valuable.” If the meals are delivered hot, recipients are verbally informed as to the meal content. If frozen, they are labeled with content and heating instructions.
This “first phase” of our Love Avenue walk has been a growing and learning experience. We are enjoying where we are now in the process and are anticipating a well-developed Love Avenue as we continue.
By Brad Reed, pastor
Woodbury, PA, US
Watch the WeAreGCI video featuring Brad and his wife, Marlene.
On February 26, Grace Communion Cleveland celebrated Black History Month with a multicultural luncheon after church services. Members were encouraged to bring a dish that highlighted their family’s culture. The delicious food was an excellent opportunity to celebrate our unique differences and how we all are brought together in Christ. 
We had another reason to celebrate on this day. We opened our new children’s space!
Earlier in the month, we had an evening sing-along on Saturday, February 18. A good time was had by all, with several guests in attendance. Using members of our worship band and YouTube karaoke, the music from various genres was covered for young and old alike. The song list ranged from “The Gilligan’s Island” theme song, “We Will Rock You,” to “Hallelujah Amen,” just to name a few. Singing, dancing, and laughter filled the air. It was decided the sing-along would become an annual event.
By Tamar Gray, pastor
Cleveland, OH, US
Black History Month is celebrated in the US during the month of February. To honor this celebration, in GC Ladson (SC), the children spoke to the congregation about historical figures. Included was a summary of the life of Aretha Franklin and a recitation of a portion of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in US history. Join us in celebrating the achievements of one of GC Ladson’s elders, Dr. Alvin Simmons!
Dr. Simmons is a leading research entomologist at the US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. An entomologist is an expert in the branch of zoology concerned with insects.
Dr. Simmons is also the president of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). The ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and individuals in related disciplines. He is the first African American president of the ESA.
We asked Alvin to tell our readers a little about his family.
My wife, Edith, and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this year. We have two wonderful daughters, Princess (age 12) and Duchess (age 8). We all enjoy travel opportunities; Princess has been to eight countries so far. Last November, Princess was, by far, the youngest speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America.
Read more about Dr. Simmons here and here.
Congratulations on your achievements, Dr. Simmons!
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
As we start our day, it doesn’t take long for something to not go well. It might be a missed alarm, spilled coffee, an angry interaction, or any number of daily occurrences which we’d say are “not good.” How then can we believe God works all things for good? There’s no way, right? Wrong, there is no human way, but God has made a way through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 8 helps us remember this way of Jesus: full of forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, and relationship. Paul reminds us not to have a mindset of flesh, which is death, but one of the Spirit, which is life and peace (verse 6). We are not obligated to live according to the flesh (verse 12) especially because it cannot compare to what God has in store. Paul is adamant about shifting our focus and perspective away from ourselves and upwards to God, our relationship with him, and his coming glory we’ve yet to experience (verse 18).
This is how we know “all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (verse 28). This doesn’t mean all things we experience are good, for we live in a broken, fallen world. It does mean God is with us in our sorrow, confusion, suffering; bringing his goodness into every heartache we experience, no matter what.
Prayer
Precious Lord, you know our struggles and our desire to experience your good. Help us lean into you and receive life and peace amidst our struggles and daily circumstances. May your life replace our selfish comparisons. Show us, Lord, how you work ALL things for good. Amen.
By Carrie Osborne, pastor
Chillicothe, OH, US
