Category: Stay Connected

Anthony (Tony) Murphy passed away August 18 after a short battle with cancer. He worked in the Television Department in Pasadena for almost 40 years. He and his wife Wilma retired to San Luis Obispo on the central coast of California in 2010. He was ordained on July 21, 2013, and served in GCI’s congregation Grace Communion Santa Maria. Tony was a warm loving husband, father, and grandfather. He served four years in the Navy during the Vietnam War, returning to his home in Minnesota. He worked as a lab technician at the University of Minnesota developing an artificial heart. When the team moved to La Jolla, C.A., Tony moved with it. He soon found himself headed for Pasadena to work in the TV studio.

Tony loved living on the Central Coast. As he said, “we live where other people vacation.” He started bike riding and accumulated enough miles to circle the earth at the equator.

Tony and Wilma enjoyed traveling around the world visiting family in New Zealand and friends in Europe and Australia. They visited all 50 states, many of them on a motor home trip covering over 16,000 miles in less than four months.

Tony enjoyed volunteering and will be missed by his family and many friends around the world.

Cards may be sent to:
Wilma Murphy
1817 Thelma Drive
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405-6237

Join us in congratulating our 2026 Grace Communion Seminary (GCS) graduates! GCS had seven graduates participate in the 2026 graduation ceremony in Dallas, TX during the Denomination Celebration.

Above watch the graduation speech by Pastor David Borum, Kenokee, Michigan, U.S. The full graduation ceremony can be viewed here.

Master of Theological Studies (MTS)
Martin Connelly
Ebenezer Maninang
Michael McNally

Master of Pastoral Studies (MPS)
Brenda Asare-Akoto
David Borum
Julie Frantz
Saji Jacob
John Newsom

Read the GCS Fall Newsletter here.

“Our triune God is one friend who never leaves us or forsakes us.”

Meet Devaraj Ramoo, pastor of GCI Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. A lifelong learner, Devaraj continues to grow in faith and ministry while encouraging others to do the same.

Read the full profile here.

In July, more than 400 members gathered for GCI’s Denominational Celebration. (We hold it every three years.) It was a meaningful time of worship, equipping, and fellowship. If you were not able to attend, you were missed!

Enjoy this collection of images from the Celebration.

Click here for the sermon and main session playlist.

Throughout the Celebration, speakers helped us explore Kingdom Living and what it means to participate in the life and mission of Jesus in our congregations and neighborhoods.

Now you can watch these sessions at your own pace and share them with others. Consider watching a message that interests you, revisiting a session with your ministry team, or using one to begin a conversation in your congregation.

As you watch, consider:

• • What is the Spirit inviting me to notice?
  • What might this mean for our life together?
  • How might we participate in what Jesus is doing in our congregation and neighborhood?

Click here for the sermon and main session playlist.

“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” — Karl Barth

This September, we gather in prayer — seeking God’s peace in a world that often feels divided. May his love shape how we care for one another and serve the communities around us.

Click here to download the September Prayer Guide.

Would you like to receive this Prayer Guide straight to your email inbox before the first of the month? Sign up here.

Read her full profile here.

Join us in congratulating these GCI graduates from North America, Latin America, and Asia. They completed important educational milestones. We thank God for their dedication and pray for his continued guidance as they move into the next season of their lives.

Raegan
Preschool Diploma
Cicero, Illinois, US

Aden
Middle School Diploma
Cicero, Illinois, US

Rose
Junior High School Diploma
Cicero, Illinois, US

Isaac Santis Beltrán
High School Diploma
Barranquilla, Colombia

Kassidy Soleil Broadnax
High School Diploma
Grove City, Ohio, US

Jacob Sosa
High School Diploma
Cicero, Illinois, US

Adrianna Vallejo
High School Diploma
Cicero, Illinois, US

Alicia Victoria Villanueva
High School Diploma
Barranquilla, Colombia

Jorge Andrés Vengoechea Rodríguez
High School Diploma
Barranquilla, Colombia

Arrianna Gil
Malcolm X College
Associate in Applied Science in Biology
Cicero, Illinois, US

Giselly Guerrero
Universidad del Atlántico
Bachelor of Public Accounting
Barranquilla, Colombia

Rossana Adriana Mora Estrella
Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas
Bachelor of Fine Arts and Visual Arts Education
Bogotá, Colombia

Gisela Prieto Ramírez
Universidad Uniminuto
Bachelor of Psychology
Bogotá, Colombia

Christina Ojeda
National Lewis University
Master of Arts in Education
Cicero, Illinois, US

Devaraj Ramoo
Millennium International University (USA)
Doctor of Ministry
Klang, Selangor, Malaysia

Justine Paolo “Jep” G. Parcasio

“My life is a testimony that God restores, heals, and continually writes new stories of grace.”

Meet Joel Alemán, assistant pastor at GCI Tegucigalpa, Honduras. With a compassionate and thoughtful approach, Joel walks alongside others as they grow in Christ and discover life together in community.

Read Joel’s profile here.

“True prayer is a response to the God who has already spoken and acted.”
— Eugene H. Peterson

This August, we gather in prayer — trusting Jesus as he leads us each day. Together, we learn to participate more fully in his life and mission.

Click here to download the August Prayer Guide.

Would you like to receive this Prayer Guide straight to your email inbox before the first of the month? Sign up here.