Category: Be Inspired

Bob Miller, pastor of three GCI churches in Alabama (Birmingham, Good Hope and Hokes Bluff) retired last May but continues to work part-time.

Bob started serving people a long time ago when he worked as a bellhop at a motel while in high school. “I assisted the manager in waiting on customers, ran the switch board—one with all the wires like you see in old movies. I would make beds and clean rooms. A daily ritual was to wash the glasses at the local restaurant and wrap them for the maids to put in the rooms. I turned on lights at night (screwing in the light bulb at every outside door) and shoveled snow during winter. Our business rate for a single room was $6.30 a night.”

Bob, who grew up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, had a desire to teach from a young age, “but no real direction in my life. I have never been one to do a lot of long-term planning. I believe God has nudged and pulled me along and placed me where he wanted me to be—sometimes with me pulling a Jonah and trying to run.”

Bob started attending the then Radio Church of God in Pittsburgh when he was 16.

I rode to church with a neighbor who had taught the MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) I attended. Another young man, who became a WCG pastor, now deceased, Danny Bierer, rode with us—he and I attended high school together. Jimmie Friddle was our pastor and recommended us for Ambassador College. I consider him my father in the faith. As a young man I found the church’s teaching something solid I could grasp and it gave me a sense of direction and purpose in life. I found, being a teenager, a lot of encouragement and acceptance from the way the members loved and supported me.

Ambassador College gave Bob more than an education. It was on the Big Sandy, Texas campus that Bob met his wife-to-be, Ruth. “We were married at Big Sandy by Dean Blackwell on January 22, 1977.” Bob and Ruth just celebrated their 36th anniversary in January. They have three children: Lisa; Laurie, who is married to Mike; and Brian, who is married to Kristen. They have one grandchild, Jackson Miller Dewey, who is 2½ years old. Another grandchild is due in May.

Ruth has a passion for women’s ministry and has been leading a fall women’s retreat for many years. She also enjoys teaching, and is currently teaching a women’ss discipleship class in their Birmingham congregation. She also gives occasional sermons. She works full-time as church secretary for Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills.

After graduating college, Bob served for a short time as a ministerial trainee in Tennessee. In 1970 he began working for a US Steel subsidiary in Akron, Ohio working in their data entry and computer department for five years. He eventually moved to church headquarters in Pasadena and was hired full time in the Postal department and ended up working in the Ambassador Publishing department all through the 70s and 80s. He also served as a deacon in the HQ congregations. “I was ordained an elder in 1988 and sent to Birmingham, Alabama in 1989 as an assistant pastor. When the doctrinal changes were introduced, we lost our senior pastor and I took his place in 1995. I have served in this area ever since.”

Bob said the best part of being a pastor is “giving encouragement and helping someone find their spiritual giftedness to serve God.” This is clear from his most memorable moment as a pastor. “I was blessed to baptize a man in prison and twenty-three years later participate in his ordination and serve with him in ministry.”

Bob and Ruth love that GCI has enabled them to be part of a worldwide family. “Ruth and I have been privileged to serve in many aspects of the denominational work and have come to know and love many dear friends. GCI has been so good to us and the way our denomination presents the gospel is the most encouraging message I can imagine.”

Bob’s hobby is gardening, but his passion is to help others understand the love of God. “My passion is to nurture and encourage others in their faith journey.”

When asked about people who have been mentors for Bob, he was quick to respond. “Two men come to mind: Jimmie Friddle and Roger Lippross. One was my pastor and the other my boss. Both encouraged me to do better and gave me opportunities to improve my life and the lives of those I love. They both set examples of faith, perseverance and a love for preaching the gospel.”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Bob said, “When struggling with life’s problems and receiving the peace of God during prayer and the counsel of my best friend and dear wife that keeps me on track.”

Lynn was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in California, married a Canadian and moved around Canada before settling in Montreal, Quebec where she now serves as pastor. That’s a short summary of a life filled with many moves, many life changes and a passion for serving God’s children.

“My mother became interested in the WCG/GCI in 1962. I was the oldest child so she explained all the changes she was making in our lives to me. My siblings and I went to Imperial School in Pasadena, California, and in 1966 my father became part of the WCG. He eventually wound up being the plant manager of the Ambassador College Press.”

Lynn’s early years included tennis and singing. “I think the things I remember the most from my teen years were my dad spending likely hundreds of hours coaching me in tennis. He had this great idea that it was a wonderful game. You only needed a racket, a couple of balls and one partner! Good idea in theory until we got moved to Canada! I also loved being in the Imperial Choraliers and later the Ambassador Chorale. I also loved being close to the beach.”

Lynn was baptized in 1971 while attending Ambassador College. It was there that she met Dennis Lawrence, a fellow student. After marriage they moved to Prince George, British Columbia in Canada. “He was ordained and we were transferred regularly like most GCI pastor families. We were moved to Montreal in 1999.

Lynn continued her education after Ambassador. “I loved the chance to get my masters in education from the University of Phoenix (getting it on-line was interesting in a number of ways), then a certificate as a document technician (I’m now a school librarian), and then my bachelor of education (I know, backwards, but what can you do?). I loved all this time in school.”

Lynn states that being ordained an elder resulted from her love for children and her involvement in Canada’s Eastern Canadian Camp. “My family has a history of being involved in youth ministry (my brother is Jeb Egbert) and I also had that love. Over time the elders that were involved with camp thought I should be ordained.” Lynn served as an elder for some time before becoming a pastor. “I became a pastor through a set of unfortunate circumstances. My husband, Dennis was diagnosed with cancer. For the two years he was sick I filled in and when it became clear that he would not survive, people started looking to me as the likely successor. This has been hard as I kind of think of myself in some ways as still filling in. I know I will find my place in this calling.”

Lynn thanks the congregation for helping her find that place. “Many in my church knew I felt uncomfortable with the title of pastor and so they used it all the time. I thought that was kind of sweet. They wanted me to feel okay with the place I was in.”

Lynn and Dennis were married for over 36 years. They have four daughters (Abbie, Erin, Judith and Erika) and two sons-in-law: Pierre (married to Abbie) and Nathan (married to Judith) and one grandson (Andrew) who is six and Abbie expecting in June—the projected day of delivery is her father’s birthday.

When asked what she loves most about GCI, Lynn said, “I have been a pastor’s wife for a long time, and being a pastor is a little different, but mostly I love the people. We have been in many amazing places. I think the thing I really love about GCI is its history. We have such an amazing worldwide family. When my husband was sick we heard from people around the world, some we knew and some we didn’t.”

As mentioned earlier, Lynn’s passion has always been church kids. “I love camp (I’m now the director) and the opportunity to love the campers but also challenge them to realize that someday the beliefs need to become their own. It is so amazing to watch what God does through each camp session.”

Lynn shared other passions, but noted that time has kept her from enjoying them. “This year has kind of taken the wind out of my sails, but before this I loved to read, cook, study history, take pictures, spin wool and a zillion other things. Now I have two jobs (I’m a bivocational pastor), so I don’t have much time for all of this, but we shall see what surfaces as a passion still, or perhaps some new ones.”

Lynn shared a recent highlight for her ministry. “I just got to help with the funeral for a grandmother of our church who died at 106. She was an amazing lady and I loved being part of the celebration of her life.”

Lynn says she feels closest to God in two ways: music and nature. “I love a wide variety of Christian music, all the way from Handel to contemporary and being near water is my best place for ‘God moments.’

Howard Blakeney, a district pastor and senior pastor in South Carolina, has been part of GCI since age two. “My mom was baptized in the Greensboro, North Carolina church in 1966. She then moved from Greensboro to Charlotte, North Carolina where we attended church and that is where I grew up. I was mostly absent from church from about age 19 to 21, though I would return during basketball season and that kept up my relationship with other teens.”

Howard and his wife Wanonia Myers-Blakeney are in their 28^th year of marriage. “For me it was love at first sight. We dated in high school and afterwards for a total of four years before getting married. We have three children (Kashonta, Ladaisha and Dale), one son-in-law (Bryant, married to Kashonta) and two grandchildren (Trevon and Kaylonee). We love to spend time with our children and our grands.”

Howard was baptized in May 1988 and began serving in the Charlotte church. He was ordained an elder in 1996. “I was then asked to assist Pastor Greg Williams in the newly planted Myrtle Beach, South Carolina church. He was pastoring three congregations at that time. After one and a half years, Pastor Greg and District Superintendent Keith Brittain decided I had a call to pastoral ministry. Eventually I agreed and became the senior pastor of the Myrtle Beach congregation in January 1998.” Howard planted the Marion, South Carolina congregation in 2000.

Howard, who is currently working on a master’s degree in theology, loves the history of GCI. “I love the long road that Jesus Christ has led us on. Our journey has been humbling, yet distinct in the body of Christ. I believe it enables us to help minister to folks who are trapped in legalism and works-oriented faith. Many still do not understand the grace of God!”

When asked about mentors, Howard noted the influence of Deacon Curtis Polk, Pastor Martin Manuel, Pastor Greg Williams, District Superintendent Keith Brittain and District Pastor Paul David Kurts. “These men taught me a lot about being a pastor and a leader.”

Howard’s passion is “To raise up things that God wants raised up. To help guide and grow what God wants grown. To develop and equip members to advance the kingdom of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Our congregation hosts the Myrtle Beach fall conference each year. God has also given me a great passion for this.”

Recently, Howard was appointed to serve as the district pastor in North Carolina and part of Georgia. “The thing I enjoy most about pastoring is helping people, serving people, and seeing the growth in people as they stay the course and learn to trust Jesus in their lives. If I had to choose one moment as a pastor that is most memorable it would have to be baptizing all my children, my brother’s wife, my younger brother and both my sisters. Praise God!”

When asked when he feels closest to God, Howard said, “I feel closest to God in the midst of tribulation and difficulty. He has always given me the strength and power to trust him in the storms of my life.”

Dee Bulante, senior pastor of GCI’s churches in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, grew up in the Philippines in Metro Manila. “I grew up with the hope that one day our family would move to the US because my mom applied for a workers visa back when I was just a kid. It took many years before the US Embassy reviewed her application; I was already a college student at that time.”

Growing up, Dee was active in sports and church. “I enjoyed ping pong, tennis, basketball and golf.” Growing up Catholic, Dee’s mother wanted him to become a priest. “I served as an altar boy and a reader.” Dee’s mother got part of her wish. He’s not a priest, but he is a pastor.

Dee started attending GCI in the Philippines in 1984. “I started listening to The World Tomorrow telecast and subscribed to The Plain Truth magazine and was intrigued by the message and teaching. I was baptized in 1986 in the Philippines, just prior to our family immigrating to the United States.”

The family was supposed to live in Florida, but ended up in Los Angeles in 1986. “I attended the Reseda church in Southern California for several years before 1997 when I helped Pastor Bermie Dizon start NewLife Fellowship in Pasadena.”

Dee, who was divorced in 2009, married Lisa on March 18, 2012. “I have two stepsons, Nelson and Eli Heimsoth. Nelson is a freshman college student in Southern California. Eli is a sophomore in high school in Oregon City. My wife Lisa has been a teacher for over 20 years in the North Clackamas School District. She also serves as a union officer in the local chapter of the National Education Association.”

Dee served with Pastor Dizon at NewLife Fellowship for two years as a bi-vocational pastor. “Bermie was my mentor. He saw the passion and zeal I have for our Lord Jesus and acknowledged my sincere desire to serve in pastoral ministry.” The mentoring served Dee well. “I was hired as a full-time salaried pastor in 1999. It was during our time of transition from legalism to grace that I felt the calling of God to enter vocational ministry. I embraced our freedom in Christ through our new theological understanding and was excited, encouraged and motivated to share that amazing grace to our members and others. We were losing many of our pastors at the time, either through voluntary departure or financial difficulties. I sought a meeting with Dan Rogers to convey to him my desire to serve, in whatever capacity, the denomination during this time of transition. This meeting led to my hiring and subsequent transfer to pastor in Tucson, Arizona.”

After serving the GCI congregations in Tucson and Sierra Vista, Arizona for two years, Dee was transferred to Washington and served as the senior pastor of the Olympia and Port Orchard congregations. “I transferred to Vancouver, Washington in 2010, where I now serve as senior pastor of our churches in Portland and Vancouver.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Dee said, “This is easy. I love sharing in the lives of the members of our church and their families. I’m especially excited about teaching biblical doctrine and helping people apply it to day-to-day living. Secondarily, I enjoy the pursuit of knowing the Triune God and the privilege of unpacking the truth of the immense love of the Father, expressed through the grace of the Son in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Understanding the truth of our acceptance and inclusion in the life and love of the Trinity instructs and guides me in loving the people that God brings to my circle of influence.” Dee also mentioned GCI’s fellowship and unity. “I feel at home with our churches and members in other states and countries when I have the privilege to be with them.”

We asked Dee what he would like others to know about him that they may not already know. “It embarrasses me a little bit to confirm this,” he replied, “but I do love reality TV. I was a fan of The Real World on MTV when it pioneered the genre of reality-based TV programming. It has since morphed into reality game shows and other weird shows. I currently like watching Top Chef, Survivor, and yes, The Bachelor/Bachelorette.”

While reality shows provide entertainment, Dee’s real passion is God’s Word. “I am passionate about preaching and teaching the good news of the Father’s love through the Son by the power of the Spirit.”

Dee shared an interesting memorable moment. “I was preaching with fervor and enthusiasm during one of our festival days, when from out of the audience a woman leapt to her feet, ran towards me and kissed my cheeks. At first, I didn’t know what she had in mind, but certainly appreciated that endearing gesture. It has not happened to me since. I guess it went downhill from there (smile).”

Dee finished up by sharing this: “I feel closest to God when I am worshiping him through music because I feel his love for me through the words sung and can express back to him my devotion and gratitude.”

Brian Carlisle, pictured at right with Anne, his fiancée, is the senior pastor of Living Hope Christian Fellowship, the GCI congregation in Vienna, Virginia (in the Washington, DC area).

Brian grew up in San Jose, California. He says that his competitive nature led him to become captain of the water polo team in high school, then a member of the rowing team at the University of California, Davis.

In 2007, Brian became a member of GCI. “It was the promotion of a Trinitarian incarnational gospel vision by GCI leaders that led me to want to join.” His interest in Trinitarian theology led Brian to his pastoral role. “I became a pastor in 2009. A phone call from Pastor Tim Brassell in 2008 asking me to consider being a pastoral candidate for where I am today is what led me to consider God’s call to full-time ministry.”

Brian loves to pastor because he loves people. “I have a desire to know people, to allow people to know me, and to know the God who is made known in Jesus Christ. I enjoy offering support for people to ‘see the Son and believe in him.’”

Brian says that he especially enjoys leading Bible studies and “exegeting the various Old and New Testament books within the context of a learning community.”

When asked what he enjoys about being part of GCI, Brian said, “I enjoy the freedom and openness to inquire and seek the truth in all the important matters of life.”

Brian’s personal vision is to tenaciously stand for truth and stand with others to disarm despair with hope. He also has an interest in the twelve ancient anointing oils mentioned in the Bible and, what he terms, “God’s forgotten biblical gift of healing.”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Brian replied, “When I’m seeking to know him through his written word, either alone or with other brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Al Nelson, the pastor of GCI’s church in Montpelier, Vermont, says that he feels close to God when he does something he knows he could not have done on his own, “like being a pastor.” “My feeling close to God does not come and go with daily events or where I am at any given time. It is more like a continuum. As my knowledge of God increases I feel closer and closer to him. I feel closer to God now than at any time in my life.”

Al and his wife Arlene (pictured above) have been married for 35 years. Al has two children from a previous marriage, Ella and Eric, along with five grandchildren and one great grandson.

Born on a little hill country farm in Vermont, Al was the third of five boys. “I spent the first eight years of schooling in a two-room schoolhouse—one teacher for the first four grades and one for the last four grades. I went on to graduate in 1954 from a small academy in a class of 18.”

Al has had several careers over the years. “People think of me as a window cleaner, which I have done for over 32 years. But I have done other things before I started my window business. I had my own trucking business for over ten years. I worked as a general contractor for a few years and was building houses for the FHA in the early seventies.”

Al became interested in the church when he was a teenager. “I started listening to Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong around 1950 on WWVA Wheeling, West Virginia. After reading The Plain Truth and taking the Bible Correspondence Course for a few years, Al wanted to become part of the church. “I started attending WCG in summer 1966, was baptized in February 1967, made a deacon in 1988 and ordained a local elder in June 1993. Following intense training, in 1997 I became the pastor of the GCI congregations in Montpelier, Vermont and Plattsburgh, New York. Highlights of those years included weekly services, Bible studies, 22 years in Spokesman Club under six different directors and three years of Graduate Club.”

Al said he learned a lot from his grandfather, who lived with the family until he died, when Al was 18. “He was the one real mentor in my life. I had (and still have) an insatiable curiosity. I would pester my grandfather with questions until he would tell me, ‘I will give you a nickel if you will be quiet for five minutes.’ From him I got my sense of humor, my personality and my patience. I never in 18 years saw my grandfather angry. I have people today who have known me for a long time ask me, ‘Al, do you ever get angry?’ (Of course I do—just not very often.) I have learned many things from many people, but I think what I learned from my grandfather influenced everything others have taught me since.”

Asked about being a pastor, Al said, “I enjoy being pastor most when I have helped someone understand the gospel and realize they have listened to me because I am a pastor.” Being pastor ties in with Al’s passion, which is the search for truth. “This is the driving force behind my reading. Many of my books (about 750 the last time I counted) are, of course, on biblical matters. But there are many on other subjects. I got this from my grandfather too. He read a lot and very little of it was fiction. Another thought from my grandfather: He would tell me just because I thought something was true did not make it true; truth stands on its own. I never forget that.”

When asked about his most memorable moment as a pastor, Al shares the “moment” started before he became a pastor: “Children have provided memorable moments for all who have been blessed with them, and I am no exception. When my son, Eric, was about to come into the world, his mother and I decided to have him born at home. We found a doctor who said he would be there. All we had to do was call him. When the time came, I called him and he said take her to the hospital. We decided if he would not come, we would deliver him ourselves. A little later I cut the umbilical cord, put on his diaper, wrapped him in a blanket and all was well. Fast forward a few years – I am now a local elder and Eric asked me to baptize him. A few months later he and his bride-to-be asked me to perform their wedding ceremony. Any one of these events would be considered memorable moments; and I was blessed with all three. I realize only the last was performed as a pastor, but the first two made the last even more memorable.”

Al shares a final thought about being part of GCI: “I grew up spiritually in WCG/GCI. Just as my physical family is special to me, so is my spiritual family. I am excited about GCI’s understanding of both the Old and New Testaments and the gospel message. I am enjoying speaking it every chance I get.”

Peter Lindop pastors GCI’s congregation in Rotorua, New Zealand and serves as chairman of the New Zealand GCI church board.

Peter and his wife Lillian joined GCI (then the Radio Church of God) in 1964. “We were baptized in September of that year at the festival.” That was the year after Peter and Lillian were married, which means that “we have been married for near on 50 years.” They have two daughters, the eldest is a nurse in Perth, Western Australia and the other a social worker in New Zealand. They also have two grandchildren, Savannah and Ryan.

Peter was raised in England. “Although I was born in South London, I was brought up in the Northwest at a place called Southport. After Lillian and I had been married for about five years, we went to live in South London. Then in 1974, we emigrated to New Zealand where we have stayed.”

Though emigrating to another country is difficult by any standard, Peter and his family made it an adventure. “I wanted to do something different so we bought a Land Rover and caravan and drove from London to Calcutta and then flew to Australia where we went to see my great uncle who lived in Sydney. Then we caught a boat and came to Auckland, New Zealand. The whole journey took us about nine months.”

Peter got involved in the local GCI congregation and was ordained a few years later. “I was ordained on May 19, 1979, just over 33 years ago—that sounds rather a long time ago!” What Peter enjoys most about being a pastor is “the satisfaction you get when through Christ and the Holy Spirit you manage to enter someone’s life and things change for them.” Along that line, what Peter appreciates most about being part of GCI is “the freedom to be what Christ called me to be.”

In addition to serving GCI, Peter is involved with Rotorua Gospel Radio and is on the chaplaincy team at Rotorua Hospital. At the hospital he spends time in the intensive care, coronary care, orthopedic care and mental health wards. Working with hospital patients is one of Peter’s great passions.

Before becoming a part of WCG/GCI, Mark Queener was an on-air radio and television personality. “I worked in radio as a sports anchor, disc jockey, newscaster, announcer and play-by-play sportscaster. In television, I was a news and sports reporter and a sports anchor.”

Mark, who now pastors the GCI church in Belleville, Illinois, has been married to his wife Rhonda (Staples) for 36 years. They have two sons, Scott (Cindie) and Brian (separated), and four granddaughters: Hannah, Sophie, Reagan and Brielle. All of the above attend the Belleville church. Mark mentions that having four granddaughters is notable in the Queener family: “My parents had three sons and no daughters. My wife and I had two sons and no daughters. Now, our two sons have nothing but daughters. My wife and my mother, finally, got their girls! (and the Queener men seem pretty happy about it, too).”

Mark grew up in Mascoutah, Illinois, but loved spending his summers at his aunt’s home in the hills of eastern Tennessee. “There was no indoor plumbing. But using the outhouse and taking a bath in a washtub were all part of the adventure, as my cousins, their friends, my brothers and I hiked all over the mountains, armed with BB guns and fishing poles.” As an older teen, Mark toured the country as a member of the Belleville Black Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, one of the top-ten horn lines in the country.

Mark enlisted in the army at age 20 and spent six years in active duty in Korea, Texas, Massachusetts and Germany. “After spending about 10 years of my adult life away from Mascoutah, I decided to return there in the summer of 1985. I’ve lived there ever since. I spent a couple of years as an administrator at a local community college. But I’ve worked for the Department of the Air Force at nearby Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, since July 1989.”

In the early 80s, while working on his bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Mark picked up a copy of The Plain Truth at a supermarket. “I subscribed to the magazine, ordered all the free literature I could get, and began to watch The World Tomorrow program on television. After I graduated from college, I took a job in Joplin, Missouri, where I attended a Plain Truth Bible lecture. I started attending Worldwide Church of God worship services and Bible studies in spring 1985, as part of the Joplin, Missouri congregation. Within a couple of months, I moved to the Belleville, Illinois church area and was baptized there in December of that same year.”

In the mid 90s Mark completed a survey WCG leaders were using to determine who might be interested in, and qualified for, pastoral ministry training. “I was ordained an elder in March 1996. Belleville pastor Jim Stokes and our district superintendent, Bob Taylor began training me in pastoral ministry for the next several years. Eventually, they discussed with me and confirmed with the congregation a plan to have me succeed Mr. Stokes as senior pastor when he retired. I became the assistant pastor of the Belleville church in September 2001 and its senior pastor in July 2004.”

When asked about mentors, Mark mentioned two people. “My district pastor, Karl Reinagel, is a great encourager and friend. I learn a lot from his example, just watching how he handles different issues and situations. But, perhaps, the person who has had the most influence on me in ministry is Jim Stokes. He groomed me to be his successor as a senior pastor. One of the ways he did that was by decreasing his role and allowing mine to increase. However, above and beyond sharing everything he could from his ministerial training and experience, he also poured his life lessons into me as a good father does with a willing son. Thanks a million, Pastor Pops!”

Mark enjoys being a pastor. “I really enjoy teaching others as I have been taught, especially when it leads to discussions about what God is doing and how he’s working in people’s lives. It’s very rewarding and encouraging to watch and hear people go deeper in their understanding of God and what he’s done and is doing for all people.” This fits right in with Mark’s passion: “I love to see people excited about Jesus – who he is, what he’s doing and how much he loves them. When God involves me in any part of that, even if it’s just to be a witness to it, I feel super blessed.”

Mark’s most memorable moment as a pastor came following a funeral he had preached for a woman in his congregation. “The woman’s niece gave me a tear-filled hug and told me what a comfort I had been to her throughout the entire process of her aunt’s death, visitation and funeral. I didn’t know the niece well and didn’t remember saying all that much to her personally. It was a tremendous lesson about how Jesus already was there, doing his work to comfort people in their grief. That was many years ago, but the convicting power of that experience still resonates deeply in me today.”

What Mark enjoys most about being part of GCI is that “our denomination seems committed to training and equipping us to be ready to participate with Jesus in whatever he’s doing and wherever he’s doing it. Also, our connectedness builds great camaraderie and positions us to work well together and to respond quickly to different situations across the country and around the world. And it’s exciting, as we embrace Trinitarian theology, to know that the gospel is such great good news for everyone!”

Mark says he feels closest to God in different ways. “I really connect with God through songs of praise to him, be it contemporary music or traditional hymns. And being outdoors in his creation really does it for me, too. But I also have to mention those times when one of my young granddaughters says something that reflects the mind of Christ. It may be simple, but it’s often wise enough to stop the rest of us in our tracks and marvel at what God has put in her heart above and beyond what she may have learned from someone else.”

For Sonia Vengoechea, serving as a pastor for Grace Communion International is a dream come true. “When I was 9 years old I had a dream in which I saw what I have become by the grace of God.” Sonia grew up in Concordia, Colombia and then her family moved to Barranquilla. They often traveled between the two cities.

Sonia has always had a passion for teaching. “I always dreamed about becoming a teacher and starting my own school. When I was a little girl I used to pretend that I was a school teacher. After high school I studied pedagogy and worked as a teacher. Later I started my own school. Later I earned a master’s degree in educational supervision and human rights. When I got involved in WCG and started to get to know God, I started teaching about him.”

Sonia said her husband, Luis Vengoechea, is enjoying his retirement, “so he dedicates his time to support me in the congregation and always travels with me. My son Jorge Luis is also very supportive; he is married to Meidy who was part of the church worship band till she became a mother. My grandson, Jorge Andrés, is 4 years old and he already likes to play the drums; and my mother is a deaconess in the congregation.”

Sonia came in contact with WCG/GCI in 1988. “My sister Carmen was already in contact with the denomination and had given me copies of The Plain Truth. At the time I was recovering from surgery, so I had the time to read the magazine and booklets of the church. I was baptized in 1989.”

Soon after Sonia started attending, the church started meeting in her school. Sonia started serving and was soon ordained a deaconess. When asked about her journey to becoming a pastor, Sonia said, “I had constant communication with pastor Hector Barrero who invited some US pastors and friends to visit our congregation. Raymond Olson and his wife Denise gave us an offering to build the roof over the patio of the school so we could have our church meetings protected from the sun and the rain. Also Larry Hinkle, Charles Fleming and his wife Carmen visited us. In 2007, I was invited to attend the GCI international conference in the US, and at the end of that year in November I was ordained an elder and became pastor.”

Sonia enjoys being a pastor. Her passions include writing, teaching, comforting and guiding those in need. Pastoring enables her to fulfill that passion. “I enjoy caring and receiving the love of the brethren, the mutual service, the unity and their company.” She also loves that her congregation is connected to GCI. “I like that ours is an alive denomination that grows and changes whenever God shows the need to change. I also enjoy the church activities with the members.”

Sonia loves being included and she relates to those she serves. When asked what others should know about her, she replied: “I would like them to know that I have my own inner struggles; that I want to be humble, tender and loving with everybody; that God has performed a great miracle with my life because I used to be proud and arrogant.”

Sonia said her most memorable moments as pastor “are those when God speaks to me to touch my life and the life of the congregation, to guide us. The day of my ordination as an elder and appointment as a pastor was a highlight in my life. I felt honored by the people who were with me.”

Sonia shares a final thought: “I always feel that God is close to me—both with me and in me—guiding my life. I feel him very near when I give to the needy and when I prepare to teach.”

Gordon Green, GCI regional pastor and pastoral developer in South Africa, played lead guitar in a rock band in the 1960s. However, music wasn’t the only interest in his early years. “When I was young (much younger!) I played a lot of sport – especially rugby. Today I enjoy following rugby and cricket. ”

Gordon grew up in Durban, South Africa and his wife Marilys grew up in Mauritius. They recently celebrated 36 years of marriage. Their son Nick and his wife Louise, who live in Durban, have two children, Jessica (4) and Zachariah (4 months). Their daughter Carrie-Anne and her husband Clay, who live in Healdsburg, California, have two sons, Brady (5) and Davis (3), with a girl on the way! Clay is a wine maker—they have a winery in Sonoma Valley (Mauritson Wines). Gordon and Marilys’ youngest son Warren, who is single, is a graphic designer in Durban.

Gordon has been a part of WCG/GCI for many years. “I first heard of WCG and the Plain Truth magazine in 1968 from a friend. He asked a WCG minister to visit him. He was invited to attend – I went along with him, even though I wasn’t officially invited – and got into a bit of trouble for that! I was specifically interested in prophecy at that time.”

In 1983 Gordon left South Africa to attend Ambassador College in Pasadena. “I was a married student with two small children.” After graduation in 1987, he worked as a ministerial trainee in Glendora, California under Dennis Wheatcroft. In 1988, he returned to South Africa and was ordained that year. Gordon has pastored GCI congregations in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Durban.

Gordon is now GCI’s pastoral developer in South Africa and also serves as a regional pastor. He is a also a certified Walk Thru the Bible instructor. When asked what he enjoys most about these roles, Gordon said, “Most of all, I enjoy teaching—specifically participating with God to enlighten the listener’s minds. I love helping people get excited about the love of God, watching them respond and growing in faith and bearing fruit in their lives.” Just last month, Gordon coordinated and taught South African Ministries Training Program classes to potential leaders and pastors. He and Marilys have also been heavily involved in SEP since 1992 and enjoy working with the youth.

When asked what he enjoys most about being part of GCI, Gordon said, “The amazing journey (into God’s heart) that God has taken us on and continues to take us on – enjoying it and encouraging others to enjoy and learn from it as well.” His journey has been full of opportunities. He has worked at SEP camps, taught around South Africa, Mauritius and Zimbabwe, served as a regional pastor, is the presenter on the GCI Face to Face radio program and one of the writers for the GCI South African magazine Face to Face. He also plays in his congregation’s praise band. Gordon feels blessed because these things express his passions for family, teaching, learning, reading and travelling.

His most memorable moment as a pastor was baptizing his son, Nick. Following that, Gordon’s ministerial highlights include attending the International Conferences in Palm Springs and Orlando.

Gordon has had an amazing journey with GCI—and is especially excited about the direction in which God is taking GCI in Trinitarian theology—“the past five years have been the most exciting, enlightening and fulfilling years of my life in the church.” When does he feel closest to God? “When I stop talking to God, get quiet and listen to him.”