The GCI Intern Program recently held an orientation conference in Durham, North Carolina, for our new GCI-employed interns and pastoral residents (pastoral residents have previous ministry education and experience) along with their pastors and support staff (pictured below). Led by Intern Program director Jeff McSwain, sessions focused on the biblical and theological underpinnings of practical ministry, especially youth ministry. Emphasis was placed on having lives and ministries rooted in Christ so that Jesus is the ground of all that we are and do, within the life of the Son, to the Father, by the Spirit. Detailed discussions were structured around the Intern Program’s three core principles: 1) incarnational connection, 2) unconditional gathering, and 3) intentional discipleship.
Pictured, L to R (front): Jillian Caranto, Joe Brannen, Scott Reid, Andrew Rooney, Jacqueem Winston and Greg Williams; (back): Anne Stapleton, David Botha, Mike Rasmussen, Mat Morgan, Anthony Mullins, Jeff McSwain and Dave Gilbert.
Intern Program director Jeff McSwain recently began part-time employment with GCI Church Administration and Development. Previously, he served as director of Reality Ministries in Durham, North Carolina (his wife now serves as director). The intern orientation was held at the Reality Ministries facility in Durham. In the short video below, Jeff describes the Intern Program:
The 2014 round of GCI regional conferences in the U.S. was completed recently in Orlando, Florida. Attendance was up overall from previous years. In addition to the Orlando site, conferences were held in Ontario, California; Vancouver, Washington; Chicago, Illinois; Somerset, New Jersey; Lexington, Kentucky; and Dallas, Texas.
The 2014 conference theme, GCnext: Sharing Jesus’ faith, love and hope, refers to our progress toward GCI’s future (GCnext), which means a Spirit-led journey forward sharing in Jesus’ own faith, love and hope. The theme scripture for the conference makes reference to this vital “faith triad”:
We continue to remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
Plenary conference presentations were given by Dan Rogers on faith, Joseph Tkach on love, Greg Williams on hope, and Gary Deddo on how all three interrelate in the person and work of Jesus. A fourth plenary session featured GCI members sharing stories about what they see the Holy Spirit doing in and through their churches and ministries. It was a highlight of the conference to hear the variety of ways the Spirit is helping us participate in what Jesus is doing to fulfill the Father’s mission to the world. These stories showed the great resourcefulness and creativity being displayed by GCI members as, together, we journey, on mission, with Jesus.
We’ll let you know when videos of the plenary sessions are posted online. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the Dallas and Orlando conferences:
Members who attended from the Wichita, Kansas church.Thanks to all, like Nancy Akers, who worked behind the scenes to make these conferences possible.Dan Rogers leads a breakout discussion group.There were many opportunities for small group discussion.Greg Williams gives the closing sermon.Lots of table fellowship!Informal one-on-one discussion.Michelle Fleming tells about a new GCI church in Orlando.Part of the band that led worship in Orlando.
Grace Communion Seminary dean of faculty, Michael Morrison, recently reviewed a helpful book that examines the life and theology of Thomas F. Torrance.
The book, Theology in Transposition, was written by Trinitarian theologian Myk Habets. On page one of the book, Myk mentions GCI, noting that we, as a denomination, have embraced and now teach Trinitarian theology.
Click here to read Mike’s review on Amazon.com where the book is sold.
In the video below, Collette Bliss, a camper at GenMin’s The Rock camp in North Carolina, recites for the assembled camp a powerful and insightful poem that she wrote entitled “Make Up.” It’s inspiring to see the creativity of our Triune God being expressed in and through one of our young leaders!
This update is from Carl Fredrik Aas, GCI’s regional pastor for Scandinavia.
I returned recently from participating in the summer school that we as a church run in the town of Kallaste, Estonia (pictured at right). It was a success in every way. We had about 40 students (some of them are pictured below), which is not bad considering the regular school in Kallaste has 70 students.
Our teachers and other staff members came from Norway, the USA, Sweden, England and Estonia. They did a fine job as a team. The mayor of Kallaste visited one day to thank us for holding the summer school in his community.
School activities included helping 8 to 12 year olds practice English. The 13 to 15 year olds were taught about friendship, courage, success, integrity and identity. Some of the 13 to 18 year olds were taught to play piano. A former student taught the 13 to 15 year olds to play chess (see picture at right). Other students played American football and volleyball, studied English, learned to give speeches, learned to be interviewed for a job, and learned to prepare meals.
I taught a “Principles of Living” class for the 16 to 18 year olds. We discussed success, budgeting, marriage and sexual relations. I also taught an adult English class, which was a lot of fun.
On Friday evening we held an informal time of socializing together with good food, beverages and fun. The students enjoyed trying to teach me Russian! We all had a good laugh!
The last day of school we held a graduation ceremony in which the local English teacher and I gave short speeches. On the diplomas handed out was this quote: “A friend in need is a friend indeed. The friends you choose will help you win or lose.” I expounded on these points.
The highlight of the week was the baptism of Karyn Sanders. As she was being baptized in a local lake, a thunderstorm rumbled in the distance. It reminded us of God’s presence at Mt. Sinai.
Here are reports from recently held GCI-USA Generations Ministries sponsored youth camps.
Higher Ground (Tennessee/North Carolina)
Our new location this year (Camp Wesley Woods) was a huge hit. We had 128 campers (with 30% of them new to camp). They all enjoyed our Superhero theme. Our 52 staff members where heroes in their own right. They added some new activities this year including hiking to a beautiful waterfall, which our teens had the opportunity to rappel over (see picture at right). We also added canoeing and a creek-exploration class.
Having to move camp locations has been a blessing! I was continually reminded this year of how much God wants us to participate with him. We are looking forward to next year—some staff members want to dig deeper into ministry and we already are 100% full for camper registration. Jesus, our Superhero, is doing great things with all of our camps and I’m glad to be a part!
– Higher Ground director, Natalie Sturgeon
Northern Light (Minnesota)
This year, 44 staff and campers (see picture at right) enjoyed a week at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. About a third of the campers and staff were first-time attendees. I marveled at the love and dedication shown by the staff members—many made great sacrifices to attend. Our week was packed with activities including high ropes, canning carrots and disk golf. Chapel messages pointed to Jesus, the supreme Superhero.
It was a joy to see so many people flourishing in a loving environment. The excitement and positive experience of this year’s camp has many making plans to attend next year.
– Northern Light director, Troy Meisner
YES Camp (Louisiana)
We had an awesome time at beautiful Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, Louisiana—experiencing God’s work and presence. Our teen camp had 54 campers and our pre-teen camp had 42. Our 45 staffers are some of the best people in the world! Nearly 30% of our campers were there for the first time and we were excited to expand our Youth Leadership Team to include a new camp assistant director over staff, Trinity Thigpen, and new activities coordinator, Anthony Robertson. These two individuals are a blessing from God and the skills they possess are amazing.
This year, we sought to instill in our campers and staff that they, in and through the Superhero Jesus, are all superheroes. Our chapel team did an outstanding job of teaching and conveying the principles of courage and gratitude, so vital in tackling the challenges of everyday life. Other camp activities included family trivia, team-building, womanhood/manhood sessions, archery, tubing, basketball and arts and crafts.
Thanks to everyone who prayed for our success and for the constant support in other ways.
– YES Camp director, Brandon Antwine
Here is a video from the teen session at this year’s YES Camp:
This year Pathways camp had 61 senior campers, 32 junior campers and 8 mini-campers who were served by 72 staff members. Twenty staffers were first-timers; many over age 60.
Pastor Jeff Broadnax served as our camp chaplain, giving chapel messages to the senior campers. Pastor Gary Weldon adapted the standard GCI camp curriculum for use by the junior campers. Dressed as the superhero “Average Man,” he used storytelling to bring the message alive for our younger campers.
Camp activities included archery, swimming, dance, team-building, volleyball, inflatables, kickball, laser tag and something called Nine-Square-in-the-Air. The wonderful relationship we have with outside vendors was again evident as the company, Solid Rock Sports (inflatables), waived the fee when it was necessary to make a last-minute schedule change due to inclement weather.
In addition to these activities, our senior campers participated in life-equipping tracks: photography, worship, leadership, survival and missions. Survival track participants learned how to build a fire and shelter and how to collect water. Missions track participants learned about mission opportunities while preparing for our camp’s outreach to the surrounding county—35 disadvantaged children joined us as campers for one day.
Please pray for Pathways in the coming months. We have begun looking for a new location.
– Pathways camp director, Aaron Frim
Crosswalk (Oklahoma)
Crosswalk camp is held twice each year (May and November). Attendance last May included 37 junior campers, (22 new to Crosswalk), 42 senior campers (15 new) and 12 mini-campers (six new). There were 72 staff members (16 new). This was in increase of 40 campers above last November. The increase was due largely to the involvement of several GCI churches in the region. The idea of using camp to reach kids, is catching on! The Dallas (central) congregation sent 20 campers and staff. They were led by Joe and Megan Brannen, key Crosswalk leaders who moved recently from Oklahoma City to Dallas, where they are active in ministry at the Dallas (Central) congregation.
GCI’s Church of the Living Waters in Charlotte, North Carolina, went “old school” in holding a July 4 holiday weekend worship service. They based the service on the way the church might have gathered in its earliest days. The general theme was Freedom in Christ and there was no pre-planned order of service. The members had been asked to bring to the service what the Spirit laid in their hearts to bring: a poem, literature, questions, a passage of Scripture, a song, a testimony.
Pastor Ron Garrett
The service was facilitated by pastor Ron Garrett (pictured at right), who began by breaking bread and then sitting down, inviting members to come forward, in an orderly flow, bringing with them their contributions. In that way, the whole service was considered “communion.” Songs were perfectly distributed among the different presentations. The service concluded with the drinking of the communion cup, with toasts raised to Jesus.
Everyone felt that the service was special. Some young participants commented that “they felt love in the room.” Here are comments from others:
From Joe McClure: “The service was inspirational and Spirit-filled. It’s always good to acknowledge the fact that we are truly blessed to be able to assemble and worship God any time we choose, without fear of being persecuted or imprisoned. Some of our Christian brothers and sisters worldwide do not have the same freedom. It’s good to know that someday soon they will.”
From James Gray: “The service was wonderful…listening to different ones share their thoughts about how God is great, so good to us—faithful in providing for our physical and eternal needs. We could never praise God enough.”
GCI Philippines denominational leaders Rex de la Pena and Rey Taniajura recently attended a discipleship trainers’ seminar at the invitation of Efraim Tendero, national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches. A similar seminar was held in another location where Terrence Santibanez and Rannie Suan, both GCI-Philippines area superintendents, attended.
The purpose of the seminars was to equip trainers to teach disciple-making in the Philippines. It is hoped that this will spark a movement of multiplying disciple-makers all over the country. Those trained will be responsible to hold workshops and plan, recruit, host and equip small group teachers in their home churches and denominations. The invitation letter to those invited said this:
This nationwide disciple-making initiative is already in progress across Thailand and India, so we are inviting your personal participation as well as your prayers for Asia during this coming decade’s strategic emphasis on returning to the first century’s proven life-to-life methodology. To our knowledge, this is the largest coordinated Christian disciple-making effort in Asia’s history, so this is why we are earnestly requesting your regional spiritual leadership.
The seminar incorporated material from Operation Multiplication, which addresses one-on-one and small-group approaches to disciple-making. GCI plans to incorporate the material from this publication into its own disciple-making methodology, which is referred to as the D-Star Discipleship Pathway.
Church Administration and Development (CAD) held important meetings last week in Asheville, North Carolina related to GCI’s GCnext mission to plant new churches and renew established churches.
Church planting consultation
From left: Tom Nebel, Heber Ticas, Greg Williams, Randy Bloom.
Members of GCI’s Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM) team met with church planting expert Tom Nebel who helps denominations develop church planting cultures and improve church planting processes. Tom has authored several books on church planting, including the soon-to-be-published, Leading Church Planting: Locally, Regionally, Nationally (co-authored with Steve Pike).
To participate more effectively in Jesus’ disciplemaking mission, Tom suggested that GCI move from a denomination that says, “We have church planters,” to one that proclaims, “We are church planters.” In pursuing that goal, CMM and other CAD team members will help congregations participate in GCI’s church planting movement serving, as God calls them, as a parent (that plants churches directly) or a partner (that helps others plant churches).
ChurchNext Training
Following the church planting consultation, CMM trainers Heber Ticas, Travis Jarrett and Randy Bloom conducted a two-day-long session of ChurchNext Training (CNT). Participants (pictured below) included prospective church planters, pastors of established churches and regional pastors.
CNT equips leaders who are planting a new church or re-planting (re-missioning) an established church. The trainers presented basic church development principles and practices including identifying a focus group (focus community), developing church leadership teams, evangelism, gathering people, disciplemaking practices, and steps for starting new worship services.
CNT trainers Travis Jarrett (left) and Heber Ticas.Prospective church planter Chad Pendergraft presents his team’s “disciplemaking pathway.”Left to right: Effie and Chad Pendergraft, Heber Ticas, Rick Shallenberger and Mark Queener.
On June 29, GCI members from the Portland and King City, Oregon, areas hosted the annual King City veteran’s celebration. Eighty four community participants, including 17 WWII and Vietnam veterans (pictured below) enjoyed the festivities, which included a surprise salute to the veterans in the form of a gift of hand-crafted quilts (pictured at right) from Oregon Quilting.
GCI pastor Dee Bulante emceed the event, which included patriotic music and a flag presentation by members of the Portland squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. Pastor Dee then showed two video interviews of local veterans, including a World War II vet who had been awarded the Bronze Star and a helicopter pilot who served three tours of duty in Vietnam. Local resident Jennifer Lamaye then spoke about Mission Mahalo which she formed in 2010 to acknowledge the service of those serving in Afghanistan by sending them over 1,000 care packages to date. A picnic-style lunch was then served by church members.
