Category: Stay Connected

GCI’s congregation in Surrey (Vancouver), Canada, recently held an outreach picnic in a park nearby their place of meeting. Members wore t-shirts that said “Ask Me About Jesus!” (see picture below). People in the park were invited to lunch (elder Bruce Edmonds is cooking hot dogs in the picture at right).

For about an hour Debbie Minke and her son Bryce (pictured in the shelter, below) played contemporary worship music, which created a warm and inviting mood. It was an opportunity to reach out in a friendly, non-threatening way, as members walked through the park inviting people to lunch.

According to pastor Craig Minke (at right in the picture below with member Harry Baergen), a GCI gospel pamphlet was made available to passersby and those who stopped for lunch. Entitled Here’s Good News for Everyone!, the pamphlet is available for download in both booklet and tri-fold pamphlet formats at http://www.gci.org/gospel-tract.

With assistance from our Australian churches, GCI’s congregations in Kenya, Africa, are helping educate orphans in the Manyera, Migori District of that nation. With GCI help, a school with nine classrooms is under construction (see pictures below). GCI pastors Joseph Nyakwaka and Rose Ocholla are coordinating the outreach, which is making a real difference in that community. Children are being cared for and pupils are anxiously awaiting their move into the new school.

GCI in the nation of Cameroon (central Africa) is led by Pastor Jean Ndoudoumou (pictured below, at right) who serves alongside a committed group of united leaders. Though financial challenges abound, GCI’s members in Cameroon are being inspired to put their hope and trust in God who is able to supply all their needs.

GCI’s congregations in Cameroon recently held a special celebration that featured presentation of ordination certificates to elders ordained last year, and the ordination of ten new deacons from a recently planted GCI congregation in the town of Makak (central Cameroon). Cameroon churches also recently participated in a youth camp organized by GCI Pastor Victor Balinga. This interdenominational camp served close to 300 young people.

A new GCI church plant in Bimbia (southwest Cameroon) is thriving. Bimbia is a religious community where Christianity came alive when a Jamaican missionary, Joseph Merrick, landed there in 1843 (see the plaque, above). However, many who received the gospel became disappointed and discouraged in their walk as Christians. Through outreach activities, GCI’s members in Bimbia have been flaming the hope of salvation. As a result, men, women and children are returning home to Jesus where they are finding his love and grace.

Hector Barrero, GCI’s mission developer for Latin America, reports that a new GCI church is being started in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Accompanied by GCI leaders from Angola, Africa, Hector recently met with the leaders of the new congregation (see picture below; Hector is at center).

During Hector’s visit, the congregation held special services for three days. Services on Friday and Saturday were held in a rented hall in the center of Sao Paulo where many African immigrants live. About 25 people attended each day. Then on Sunday, services were held at a member’s home where about 30 people, plus children, attended (see picture below). All the services where enlivened by Christian music with an African touch.

Hector reports great enthusiasm among the GCI leaders and members in Sao Paulo. With their gifts of preaching and music, their future as a congregation, despite financial limitations, looks bright.

Here are reports from two recently completed GCI youth camps.

SEP Tahoe

This new GenMin camp was conducted for the second year in the beautiful setting of Lake Tahoe near the Nevada/California border. The 60 campers (a 43% increase from last year) were served by 41 staff members led by camp director Susan McKie. The staff included eight pastoral leaders from five different GCI congregations. Activities included camp chapel, archery, capture the flag, line dancing, skits, human foosball (a big success), an obstacle course on the beach, water skiing, boating and tubing.

SEP Silvermeadows

Held in Alberta, this GCI-Canada camp is led by Clay and Gillian Houghton with a staff dedicated to pointing campers to a real relationship with our Triune God. GCI-USA intern Andy Rooney joined the staff this summer. Andy’s passion for Christ, as well as his ability to identify strongly with youth and youth culture (he has been a professional rapper) added to the spiritual tenor of the week.

Grace Communion Seminary (GCS) now publishes a newsletter titled GCS News. To download the first issue, in which new GCS president Gary Deddo shares part of his personal story, click here.

Here are links to reports on recent events in GCI-Philippines:

• http://my.gci.ph/gci-pampanga-celebrates-38th-church-anniversary/
• http://my.gci.ph/gci-sta-rosa-414-window-team-echos-learnings-to-davao-city/

Here is a video from GenMin’s SEP Rockies summer camp, held recently in Colorado.

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/ZipgYwrZt_Y.

In addition to its ongoing gospel work in Bangladesh, the Bengali Evangelical Association (BEA), which is led by GCI members, holds multicultural gatherings for fellowship and worship in San Bernardino, California. Below are pictures from some of those gatherings. BEA also recently held a “Summer Kids Camp” in the same location.

This update is from Nancy Silcox

GCI in the United Kingdom held its annual Ladies’ Conference in May at the High Leigh Christian Conference Center, just north of London. The theme of the conference was Acceptance in Christ. Over 40 women attended.

Each conference session began with worship with solos, a quartet and praise dance. We heard from a variety of speakers. The opening address by Jackie Mill reminded us that we are one family, sisters in Christ. Guest speaker Marie Angelique Picard, GCI national coordinator for France, brought us two powerful messages. The first was about how God has his own timeline and how we can change the way we look at things! The second was about God being “The Anchor of Your Soul”—we do not need to give excuses for our failings, just trust in the mercy and grace in Jesus Christ.

Margaret Rose, in a talk entitled “To Hell And Back,” courageously shared her journey through depression, which occurred after she had a reaction to medical treatment. Jackie Mill then looked at the subject of “Being A Helpmeet,” with a video clip showing how changing your words can change your world. Other speakers included Jeni Ozumba, who contrasted human acceptance with God’s acceptance; Ashley Thompson, who gave a talk entitled “The Gender Agenda” that made us think carefully about society’s view of the female gender; Linda Halford slouched up to the front in a hoodie and an iPod and presented “Teenage Matters” about the dramatic development of the teenage brain. Irene Wilson then discussed some of the difficulties of growing old gracefully, explaining that “The Golden Age Is Before Us Not Behind Us.”

On Saturday evening we gathered for Music and Entertainment led by Beth and Eva from Scandinavia. The songs were punctuated by a quiz, skits and jokes, enhanced by cheese, champagne and chocolates. The conference ended with worship led by Jackie Mill, and communion led by Jean Dougall. Jean reminded us that as we take the bread and wine, we accept Christ’s sacrifice and participate in his life.