Category: Be Inspired

From the dawn of creation, the triune God has demonstrated a passionate mission for all humanity created in his image. God fully trusts and empowers us, his body, with this mission — let us truly embody that mission.

This redemption song of God echoes through the ages, centered on the perfected humanity of Jesus. We can embrace the beautiful verses of this eternal song in the first chapter of Ephesians — the blessings he has given his people to empower his mission.

Let’s sing his mission anthems and rhythms in communion and worship and live out his inclusive mission to all people in our lives and fellowships.

How can we live life together to exemplify the Trinity’s mission to all humanity, making the gospel relevant to our diverse communities?

Perhaps this is the missing ingredient to make Ordinary Time truly extraordinary. Therefore, let’s embrace Christ’s promises and power for the church and join his missional journey without fear or favor.

I pray that you will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in heaven.

God put everything under his power. And God made him the head over everything for the church. The church is Christ’s body. The church is filled with Christ, and Christ fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:18b-20, 22-23 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

Prayer:
Lord, may your overwhelming love of redemption and mission motivate us through this time. We embrace the honor and urgency of our adoption as your cherished children. We are thankful we can live your mission in boldness to be co-heirs and coworkers in your redemptive and inclusive mission to all people. Amen.

John Newsom, Pastor
Queens, NY, US

Richardson, Texas, US

GC Richardson’s Neighborhood Camp hosted 22 campers, two teen helpers, and 25 adult volunteers for three days in June. With a medieval theme dubbed “Skills Faire,” we focused on becoming “more than conquerors through Christ” (Romans 8:37). Volunteers taught 16 skills including robotics, first aid, cooking, drawing, bicycle maintenance, sign language, soldering and electronics, flipbook animation, arm knitting, graphic design. Indoor and outdoor activities included ping pong, basketball, kites, water games, Hula-Hoop, and creative imagination station.

Our twice-daily spirit rallies focused on relational skills for conquering conflict, anxiety, and fear, and pursuing unity, peace, and trust. Devotional and fun, spirit rallies pointed to Jesus as the one through whom we are more than conquerors, the one who gives us victory as we face life’s challenges.

Campers and parents said they are looking forward to next year and hope for more camp days to be added. Skills camp provided opportunity for both learning and fun! We thank Father, Son and Spirit for the time, talents and resources God provided that made camp possible.

Christine Ojih, Camp Director
Richardson, TX, US

Big Sandy, Texas, US

Seventeen campers (9 teens and 8 mini-campers), along with 23 staff members, enjoyed three days of challenging fun at GC Big Sandy in June. Each day started with a yummy lunch and included an afternoon snack. Camp ended at 5 pm on Thursday and Friday. At the end of the camp activities on Saturday, we hosted a spaghetti dinner for the campers’ families. Forty-one were present for the delicious meal professionally served by the teen campers

Each day after lunch, I shared a short devotional corresponding to the camp theme of “The Great Adventure!” Also, the mini-campers had fun learning about the seven days of creation in Genesis. Activities included team challenges, crafts, and outdoor play, including water games.

Our Love Avenue team did a great job in planning this year’s neighborhood camp! God blessed us with many special opportunities to get to know one another and bless the young people and their families in our neighborhood.

Jerome Ellard, Pastor
Big Sandy, TX, US

For information on preparing a strategic planning retreat for your ministry team, read this Equipper article.

Leaders’ Retreat Focused on Missions, Australia

During President Dr. Greg Williams’ visit in May, we had the joy of holding a Vision Pastors & young leaders’ retreat. The Superintendent for Latin America and National Coordinator for Church Multiplication, Heber Ticas, also joined us. This culminated in the Sunday worship service where Greg gave the sermon and an update on the church in the U.S.

Discussions at the retreat centered around missions. Topics included:

• • • The Harmonious Flow
    • Understanding Mission
    • Outside the Walls
    • Healthy Church Multiplication and Church Planting

The sessions were interspersed with enjoyable activities and fellowship, along with delicious meals. Matt Sianidis led us in meaningful worship on his guitar. Having a retreat such as this provided a pleasant and relaxed environment conducive to getting to know one another and strengthening relationships. At the end of the day, everything is built around relationships, our loving relationships with God and with one another — the basis of all missions and all that we do.

Daphne Sidney, Superintendent of Australasia
Logan, Queensland, Australia

Hope Avenue Team, Hyderabad, India

A one-day Hope Avenue retreat was conducted for all the worship team members in the Hyderabad congregation. Our focus was “What does it mean to be a true worshipper and a disciple of Christ as a worship team member?”

As Jesus’ disciples in this ministry, we stressed how we are called to continually train, teach, and equip one another and the congregation as we lead from the front unto excellence for the Lord. Using Galatians 2:20 as a guide, we looked at these four areas of equipping.

F- Faithful to the Lord and our calling
A- Available to this cause
T- Teachable to learn and grow, to take correction where needed
E- Enthusiastic, passionately committed to this ministry

Practical tips and exercises were included, such as breathwork and pronunciation. We also emphasized the importance of being well-versed with the scriptures and living a prayer-filled life.
We had a breakout activity by our group: musicians, worship leaders, and back-up vocals. With the help of assigned verses, we answered the following questions and then presented our conclusions to the team.

• • • • Who we are?
      • Why are we on the worship team (our roles and responsibilities)?
      • What is our role on a weekly basis to the congregation?

The workshop produced enthusiasm, renewed harmony, and joy of serving the Lord. The presentations by the three groups were insightful and practical, as well as enriching in the Lord. We ended with a deliberate and purposeful extended time of prayer.

By Pastor Sachin Nirale, Shanti Nirale, Pastor Praveen Chinta, the GCI-India Editorial Team

Excerpted, with permission, from the GCI India Newsletter. You can request to be added to the subscription list of this quarterly newsletter by emailing office@gcind.org.

As disciples living out the great commission given by Jesus, there will come a time when we need to be encouraged. Living life on this journey during “ordinary” time, we may find ourselves sometimes lost in the everyday life of this discipleship walk. Loving our neighbor can be difficult, especially if we allow our God-given differences to interfere.

More than ever, we need to remember: It is all about Jesus, period. Knowing that God is always working allows us to view our moments of participation with gratitude and humility. It is indeed an honor to take part in the work being done on earth.

However, we will find that there will be occasions of quiet and silence. We will begin to wonder, am I in the right place? Am I doing my part? Are you still using me, Lord? Let us take these times to remind ourselves not to fear the silence. In these times we need to stand firm in the faith.

The waiting and silence are part of the process. As disciples we need to be ready for the next thing. We are right where we should be as we put the Lord first in all things and do all in love. May it all be to his glory.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Prayer:
Lord, as we wait in the quiet times we will continue to trust you. Please work in and through us in all things. Lord, we thank you for having us pause, listen, and wait for the next direction. As we wait, help us through the power of the Holy Spirit to stand firm in the faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Tamar Gray, Pastor
Cleveland, OH, US

Derby, KS, US

Last month, GC Derby hosted a two-day neighborhood camp with the theme, “I Wonder Adventures.” The campers’ adventures were related to different Bible stories. Ten children, first grade through fifth grade, attended, with a staff of 16 adults and three teenagers.

Activities included Jonah in the belly of a large blue tent staged as the whale. We had an escape room focused on Paul and Silas in prison. Campers stood up to a giant cardboard Goliath and made David’s shepherd flute. Moses as a newborn baby floating in the Nile provided our science project. Our final adventure was Noah and the flood, where the campers built an ark from boxes.

Campers also learned skits related to the five Bible adventures. They used craft time to create their props and masks. On the final evening, the campers, dressed in costumes, performed for all the parents and some grandparents.

Both days, we served a hot breakfast and lunch. Before the skits on the last day, we served dinner to the families.

This camp was a testament to the lead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God gave us the opportunity to participate with him in what he is already doing with these campers and their families.

Kirk Hayden, Pastor
Derby, KS, US

Bulacan, Luzon, Philippines

The GCI Plaridel congregation organized a Vacation Bible School (VBS) in June. Their theme was “Put on the Full Armor of God.” The three-day camp served 30 children from the community. You can view all their photos here.

Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines

The GCI Kiara congregation was excited to finally conduct youth camp again! This is the first year they have been able to enjoy camp since the COVID pandemic began. In June, 62 campers attended this three-day camp. To read more about this camp, visit their website.

Read what one camper had to say about the experience:

I formed unexpected friendships. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to deepen my connection with God. One of the highlights for me was the youth jam. This event brought young people together to revel in the presence of the Lord and sing praises. Another memorable activity was the Amazing Race, where our teamwork and effective communication helped us overcome various obstacles, resulting in us clinching second place. I also gained valuable insights from the pastors, with Pastor Rex’s sermons leaving a lasting impact on me. One of his powerful messages was about God’s active presence in our struggles, offering comfort, support, and guidance. I look forward to more camp experiences in the future.

By Danny Zachariah, Superintendent of Asia
Hyderabad, India

More than eight years ago, I recall discussing our GCI development vision of Ministry Training Centers (MTCs) with our now president, Dr. Greg Williams. These were the early stages of vision development. It has taken a bit longer than I expected for the vision to take hold, but by God’s grace, it is becoming a reality. On Sunday, June 30, we launched our first MTC in Latin America.

Over the last five years, our pastors in Bogota, Colombia, Hector and Paulina Barrero, have been experiencing renewal. It is renewal in ways that are reflective of a healthy pastor that practices the 4 Es of healthy leadership (engage, equip, empower, encourage). With the lead of the Spirit, their healthy approach to ministry has created an environment where Healthy Church renewal has taken place. They have fully embraced our GCI ministry structure of Team Based — Pastor Led and have structured their church around the three healthy ministry Avenues of Faith, Hope, and Love. This has afforded the congregation a well-balanced approach to ministry that is bearing much fruit. There is a contagious enthusiasm in the congregation and the energy level is off the charts. Missional participation and disciple making with Jesus is becoming the defining DNA of the church.

By embracing Team Based — Pastor Led, lanes for emerging leadership have been facilitated. There is a core of younger individuals yearning for significant participation in ministry, and thus a need for leadership development has become evident. It is within this context of Healthy Church that an MTC is organically birthed. During this process of renewal, Pastors Paulina and Hector, along with key leaders, have received high support consulting from me, their superintendent. And they are now in a good position to intentionally recruit, equip, and send young people into ministry with Jesus.

Click here or the image below to view the entire Buzz. #gcibuzz

Check out the printer-friendly PDF here.

Pondering the wonderful time we had at the MTC launch in Bogotá, one refreshing reflection is this: Jesus empowers us to avoid leading from open emotional wounds. Just as the body needs time to heal from physical wounds, our hearts also need care and attention to heal from emotional wounds.

Leaders who empower and liberate others make every effort to not let their emotional wounds affect the guidance and support they give to their families and church members. Tending to our emotional wounds with the love of Christ is necessary for becoming a compassionate and assertive leader/servant in his mission.

Do you ever feel burdened by past emotional hurts, struggles, and traumas?

Maybe we all do. We are all broken in a certain way. But that brokenness is not our identity — Christ is.

Let’s be honest. The healing journey can be long, painful, and difficult. But when we give our suffering to Jesus, we find peace.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18

How am I tending to my wounds? How am I helping others tend to theirs? How can I lead and serve from a place of healing?

Jesus is the ultimate healer. He understands our pain and always offers us his unending love and peace. As we heal, we are empowered to guide others through their healing journeys.

Prayer:
Dear God, you know my pain and struggles. Please continue to heal my wounds. As I grow and heal, help me serve and lead others with compassion and love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

By Bibi Barrero, Worship Leader, and Juanca Barrero, Hope Avenue Champion
Bogotá, Capital District, Colombia

Burias Island, Luzon, Philippines

Dubbed “Burias Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder), our three-day camp was the first neighborhood camp in the Philippines to have a holistic approach, reaching young people and the host community through a deep well project. By God’s grace and our sustained efforts, we raised the funds for this new camp.

We appreciate the willing hearts of all who served, especially the support of the GCI Bicol pastorate. GCI Daet provided worship. GCI Pili sent volunteers for food service and transportation. GCI Cotmon delivered equipment — tents, cooking utensils, archery sets. GCI Tabaco sent a culinary expert. GCI Donsol sent a veteran counselor to complete our personnel requirement.

Our theme, “Live Out Love” (1 Corinthians 16:14), was shared by the more than 100 individuals involved. The camaraderie and love culminated in three baptisms in the sea — a trio of young people yearning to serve the Lord!

Here lies the challenge now. We’re responsible for ensuring that these young leaders are guided and equipped on their journey of faith.

By Ricardo E. Perez, Pastor
Cotmon, Luzon, Philippines

Jacksonville, FL, US

We named our neighborhood camp “Grace Camp” when it started back in 2021 to note our connection to Grace Communion International, and to highlight our emphasis upon God’s love and grace towards all children. Each year in our daily chapel service, we focus on a certain aspect of God’s grace. This year our chapel theme was “Speaking with Grace to Others.”

Thirty-six campers aged 6-18, and 24 volunteer staff participated in our three-day camp. The teens had an additional day with an overnight on Jekyll Island, G.A. to provide better mentoring time.

Activities included crafts, sports, a block party, a dance, a water balloon contest, skits, a hike, and off-site outings (See schedule). Approximately a third of the campers came from the neighborhoods near the church. Some previous GCI attendees’ kids and grandkids attended, which is a good way to reconnect with them. Most of our regular church youth attended, which we value as strengthening our internal youth ministry and their discipleship journey with Jesus.

By Marty Davey, Pastor
Jacksonville, FL, US

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Our goal with children’s ministry is to plant seeds of God’s word in children’s lives and allow the Holy Spirit to transform them, nurturing a relationship with Christ. To that end, we organised a three-day Vacation Bible School (VBS) on the church premises. The theme was “I Wonder.”

Fourteen children participated, and our design was a place-sharing perspective that would be non-threatening for children who are not Christian. An event like this brings members together and becomes a rich relational experience.

The children were taught to grow in their relationship with Jesus by engaging them with robotic science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — and most importantly, our Creator! They heard from early church leaders like Paul, Peter, and Timothy, who helped the first Jesus followers wonder what made their stories unique, what gifts God gave them, how they could use those gifts to serve, and how they could spend time with God each day. Thanks to “Grow Curriculum” from where the material was resourced.

By Danny Zachariah, Superintendent of Asia
Hyderabad, India

During Dr. Greg Williams’ visit to Australasia, the Fiji Avenue champions and their teams gathered in Nadi, Fiji, for a two-day retreat. Greg and Superintendent Heber Ticas led the equipping discussions. Also present were Pastor Frank Boyd and Emily Boyd, and my wife, Sue Richards, and I.

Commissioned in late 2023, Love Avenue Champion Eugene Panuve, Faith Avenue Champion Jason Raki, and Hope Avenue Champion Epeli Nakautoga and their teams avidly absorbed the material presented. They appreciated the instruction, but they especially enjoyed the many stories and practical tips emerging regularly during the retreat. Dr. Williams began with the relational flow of Christ’s love, faith, and hope into and through our lives that is foundational to the health, vibrancy, and work of the church. Supported with stories from his experiences, Mr. Ticas encouraged us toward having a missional mentality and “posture,” and he described the missional flow between church and community.

On the second day, Greg proposed we tackle the questions submitted earlier as a practical exercise. Given questions appropriate to their Avenue, the teams spent the morning brainstorming and strategizing goals, action steps, point persons, and completion dates. Then they presented their suggestions and received feedback. What a good job they did! They had generated basic ministerial action plans (MAPs) and proven the ability of the teams to work together on difficult issues.

While Dr. Williams returned home on Sunday, Mr. Ticas stayed to speak to the Suva congregation. He gave tips on staging Love Avenue events at that venue, signage to advertise the church’s presence, the importance and placement of greeters, and the role of contact cards for following up with visitors. How encouraging this visit was! The emerging leaders are fired up and excited about the future growth and health of the church in Fiji, and the future looks positive.

Blessings,

By Dennis Richards, Regional Director, New Zealand and the South Pacific
Palmerston North, New Zealand