We are proud to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of two of our own from GCI India, who have recently completed significant academic milestones. Join us in congratulating them.
Jessica Philips has successfully earned a master’s degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Illinois, Springfield.
In the field of medicine, we also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Leeann Zachariah, who has achieved the MRCEM (Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, London). She is the daughter of Mary Zachariah, and Dan Zachariah, Superintendent of Asia.
More than 50 members and guests met for an annual gathering of faith and fellowship with the theme “We Press on for Such a Time as This.” Several teambuilding activities helped strengthen faith, foster community and inspire personal growth. Along with worship, we also had one baptism. We were also blessed with the presence of guest pastors and missionaries who shared stories of their faith journey. The three days were experiences in unity, transformation and surrender to God’s will.
Discover the transformative power of Christ’s love in our new series, GCI Testify. Join us as members from our global fellowship share testimonies of their experiences with Jesus through GCI congregations and ministries. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of the Spirit in and through GCI.
“I love God. I have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus. I love serving him.”
Get to know Eleanor Toussaint, Hope Avenue champion in Queens, New York, U.S. One of her many roles is Sunday school teacher, where she passionately teaches young people about God’s love.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a cherished ministry of the church, designed to reach neighbourhood children and lead them to know and respond to Jesus Christ as guided by the Holy Spirit. In April, GCI India organized a three-day VBS program. Children, volunteers, and teachers came together in a spirit of learning, worship, and fellowship. The theme for VBS 2025 was Forgiveness, centered around the verse: “Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.”
VBS was held on GC Vanasthalipuram’s premises and jointly hosted by them and GC Hyderabad. Each day we welcomed an average of 25 enthusiastic children, supported by eight committed volunteers and six dedicated teachers. The program began each morning with a sumptuous breakfast, followed by a lively time of worship and praise, and a short devotion tailored for the children. The heart of each day was the activity-based classes, which focused on the theme of forgiveness and were designed to be both engaging and spiritually enriching.
The children witnessed the transformative love of God — a love that heals hearts and strengthens the bonds of community. Our prayer is that these lessons will remain with them, guiding their walk in the love and forgiveness of Christ.
Enjoy the following photos of other Neighbourhood Camps.
We share news of a historic event which took place at the GCI Blantyre congregation in Malawi in June. In an unprecedented development, 22 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour and were baptized in a single day. The 22 baptized converts were drawn from 4 different congregations, as follows: Chimbeta 3, Miseu 5, Mombezi 4, and Mpanda 10. We also share a significant highlight and positive development in the growth trajectory of the church in Malawi: 14 were youths aged 15–19 years.
This momentous occasion marked a significant milestone in the spiritual journey of these believers. The baptism sacrament was a powerful celebration of faith, with each individual publicly declaring their commitment to follow Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the Lord’s work in their lives and pray that they will continue to grow in their faith. This event is a powerful testament to the effectiveness of our discipleship efforts, and the impact of the gospel in our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and worship together as a body of believers.
We will continue to provide discipleship and mentorship programs to support the spiritual growth of our new believers. We encourage the newly baptized individuals to share their testimonies and experience with others, inspiring further growth and evangelism within our communities and neighbourhoods. Glory and honour to our Lord Jesus Christ for the continued growth of his ongoing work in our midst.
Gardner Kunje (L) and Marshall Dube
By Gardner Kunje, Malawi National Director Lilongwe, Malawi Marshall Dube, Central Africa Regional Director Harare, Zimbabwe
In August, President Greg Williams presented a training workshop on the Gold Coast, Australia. Almost 40 participants of the Christian Discipleship Pathway (CDP) programme came from New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia. Greg presented material on several facets of Kingdom Culture. Then we discussed the topics in small groups and fed back to the full group at the end of sessions.
L-R: Matt Gudze, Jason Raki, Eugene Panuve, and Epeli Nakautoga
One highlight was the Saturday evening meal. The dining room was transformed into a banquet hall. We were invited to use our “sacred imagination” to picture what it will be like to join Jesus at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19). Throughout the meal, Greg asked questions to stimulate ideas regarding what this dinner might be like. It was a time of excitedly contemplating possibilities about what this amazing event will be like. The dinner ended with communion.
The weekend was a meaningful time of learning and discovery together. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, as friendships were formed or strengthened. We learned more of how we can support one another in our ministries.
In all, the gathering was a great blessing, learning from one another and enjoying the Holy Spirit’s presence. We felt the Spirit’s direction and blessing. Greg is keen that this material is shared with all members, so we will be looking into how to best pass on what was covered.
As we look at how we participate in kingdom work now, we are reminded of how we should be living as kingdom citizens, as well as what we should be doing to share the message of Jesus with others. We also look with anticipation to the fullness of the kingdom following Jesus’ return.
The Church is not a building — it’s us. A family formed by Jesus, united in the Spirit. This month’s GCI Buzz shares what it means to be the Church and how God invites us into his mission of bringing grace, hope, and transformation to the world.
Discover the transformative power of Christ’s love in our new series, GCI Testify. Join us as members from our global fellowship share testimonies of their experiences with Jesus through GCI congregations and ministries. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of the Spirit in and through GCI.
