Category: Stay Connected

Several GCI members recently attended the Exponential Conference, East in Orlando, Florida. Those attending included the group pictured at right. Most are members of Hands for Christ Community Church, a newly planted GCI congregation serving the deaf community in Staten Island, New York and beginning to reach out through streaming video to groups of deaf people gathered elsewhere.

Mary Bacheller, Hands for Christ church planter and senior pastor, provided signing for deaf people during several of the sessions at the Exponential Conference (she is in the foreground of the picture below).

Mary reported that her group had a profound experience at the conference:

Our hearts were changed and our hands were moving. We were motivated and renewed in our commitment to spread the gospel. Every night we reviewed what we learned and discussed how we would implement it back home. This conference is a great way to get people involved by helping them experience for themselves the excitement of being disciples who make disciples.

This update is from Kalengule Kaoma, one of GCI’s mission directors in Africa. It reports on the aftermath of the flooding in Burundi, which was addressed in an earlier post here in GCI Weekly Update.

Many people in Bujumbura, capital city of Burundi, vividly remember the February 2014 floods that affected the city. Victims, especially, carry memories that will be part of their history. To check on how GCI Burundi members were coping with the aftermath of the flood, Kimani Ndungu, East Africa Area Pastor and I arrived in Bujumbura on a hot and humid morning in April.

Our host, Pastor Eugene Sibomana, met us at the airport and drove us to a hotel near his house. Before receiving an update on the status of the members, we got in a taxi and went to the hospital where the youngest Sibomana girl was receiving treatment for diarrhea. We prayed for both mother and child. The child was discharged from the hospital a few days later.

Over 60 GCI families were affected by the flooding. Pastor Sibomana told of how he woke up in the night and found that one wall of his bedroom had fallen. When he got off the bed, he stepped into floodwater. His home was extensively damaged.

“When we see clouds forming in the sky, we get out of our houses. We are afraid that strong winds will come again and blow off our roof,” said a woman who attends GCI. Although no life was lost among GCI members, many people suffered losses. Houses fell, clothes and beddings were swept away. Kitchen utensils floated away with swift-flowing floodwater. Children lost their books and school supplies.

Despite physical losses, our members are well. Our GCI home office sent $15,000 from the GCI Disaster Relief Fund, which Kimani and I took to Burundi. With these funds, we assisted over 200 people representing 60 families. Each family received 15 tin sheets for house roofing and 10 kilograms each of rice and beans. Students received notebooks and pens. Pastor Eugene Sibomana extended appreciation for the generosity of the GCI congregations and members in the U.S. who donated to the Disaster Relief Fund—they truly made a difference in the lives of those who were affected by the floods.

New Creation Fellowship held its inaugural worship service on April 13 in Binan City in the Philippines.

The new church is the outgrowth of small group Bible studies held beginning in 2005. The studies were conducted for children and adults by the husband-and-wife team of Nomer and Gemma Venus. Nomer will serve as the pastor, assisted by Gemma and other members of a pastoral team.

The initial Bible studies were mostly attended by the workers and family members of the business firm owned by Nomer and Gemma. Meetings were held under mango and acacia trees, until a concrete church building was built on the couple’s property. Since those meetings began, 60 people have been baptized, and 80 children have participated in a Vacation Bible School conducted in the summers.

At the inaugural service, area superintendent Rey Taniajura gave the sermon, there was a blessing of children service, a communion service, and the announcement that a prep school managed by the church will also be established by next year. Also, Gemma (shown in the picture at right) gave a testimony concerning the starting of the church.

This update is from Lorenzo Arroyo, mission director for GCI in Mexico.

GCI Mexico recently held its annual Training Conference for pastors and other congregational leaders over the Easter weekend. Held in Guadalajara, the event was attended by about 70 GCI Mexico adults (with about 120 adults and children attending the Easter service). Alfredo Mercado, national leader for GCI Mexico, coordinated event transportation, lodging, and meals.

A story of transformation

There are always special stories of inspiration told at these conferences, as the Spirit works within and among us. Here is one such story.

On the first day of the conference a woman named Lupita was moved to attend though she had never been to a GCI church service or activity. She had been depressed due to the death of her husband of 40 years, a loss that left her feeling empty and alone. But after attending women’s workshops on loneliness with Barbara Rogers, and on sharing your faith with Rita Arroyo, Lupita experienced an amazing transformation. She became a new woman—radiant, cheerful and full of new life in Christ! Several from the Guadalajara church befriended her and Lupita declared that she will never leave GCI, now that she has found a place to belong.

An emphasis on disciple-making

Lorenzo Arroyo conducted workshops on the need, call, and art of making disciples with an emphasis on casting nets and reaching out to the lost.

Heber Ticas led small group discussions on a missional model for pastoring that focuses on making disciples on the congregation’s “home turf.” He also led the youth in small groups, keeping an eye out for potential church leaders. He then hosted a dinner for young emerging leaders, sending them the message that GCI values and validates them as they prepare for church leadership.

During the conference, Samuel Mercado, national youth coordinator for GCI Mexico, announced plans for the third Mexican youth camp to be held at the end of this year. Natanael Cruz, who pastors our Mexico City congregation, announced the launch of a new video ministry geared toward the unchurched next generation.

In the evenings, event trainers took time to experience some of the food, culture and folklore that Mexico offers.

During the conference, Dan Rogers gave inspiring messages on faith and decision-making in the church, then at an uplifting Easter service he gave a moving sermon on Paul’s argument for the resurrection of Christ. Worship at the Easter service was led by Natanael Cruz,who offered dazzling keyboard arrangements of spiritual songs. Worshipers were moving and clapping to the music—it was a truly amazing Easter event!

Much thanks to the individuals and congregations in Canada, Washington, Oregon and California for the generous gifts that made this event possible. Praise the Lord!

In line with its 2014 theme, “Forward Together On Mission With God,” GCI-Philippines is conducting several youth camps this year. The first was held recently in Malaybalay City on the Island of Mindanao. It ran for six days, with 67 campers and 32 volunteer staff, mostly from GCI congregations in Mindanao and some from Manila City. About one third of the campers were first-timers at what camp director Pastor Rey Balistoy said was the longest camp held so far in Mindanao.

National Director Eugene Guzon was among the camp speakers. The teaching curriculum used was “Superhero,” produced by Generations Ministries. On the last night, campers shared by candlelight in a reflective and personal “Encounter” event. In the midst of the challenges they face, and in their quest for inspiration to move on, the campers drew assurance, healing, power and encouragement from knowing that Jesus, the true Superhero, is with them and for them.

The camp graduation ceremony was heartwarming, showing the depth of friendships made and the spiritual refreshment received, having focused on Jesus’ attributes of Gratitude, Courage, Hope, Integrity and Vulnerability, all compelled by his deep Love for all. Three campers were baptized on the last day of camp. At the closing ceremonies, everybody praised God for a spiritually enriching event.

On April 12, a group (pictured below) of 20 GCI pastors and leaders from California and Nevada known as the “SoCal cohort” held their first “mission field discipleship” meeting in Glendora, California.

Those invited to participate in the cohort are highly motivated pastors and ministry leaders who are interested in growing their congregations spiritually and numerically. The purpose of the cohort is to make disciples in the mission field using an organic process that includes engaging new contacts, sharing the gospel, discipling relationally in venues outside the church walls, and incorporating rhw new disciples into the body of the local church.

At the first meeting, regional pastor Lorenzo Arroyo made a presentation entitled, “rethinking evangelism.” He noted that evangelism and discipleship are two sides of the same coin that should be fully integrated. District pastor and church planter Heber Ticas led the group in sharing stories about disciple-making in their contexts. Church pastors Anne Stapleton, Manuel Ochoa, Glen Weber, Bermie Dizon, Ruel Guerrero, Enoch Palacios, Jose Luis Escalante, Angie Tabin and several others shared stories concerning their community engagement experiences. Those stories were then compared to events recorded in Luke and Acts.

The meeting concluded with prayer for more intentional engagement of those in need of experiencing the reconciliation that is already theirs, and for continued guidance and participation with what the Spirit is doing in their midst. In the next meeting, the cohort will tackle the nuts-and bolts of making new disciples in the mission field.

Ranaeil Thompson (pictured at right) is a member of GCI’s church in Kingston, Jamaica. He is a youth group leader and member of the praise team.

Recently Ranaeil’s story was featured in a local newspaper. The article highlighted Ranaeil’s aspirations to become an architect.

Also recently, the church awarded Ranaeil the first-ever Edalere Scholarship to help cover his high school expenses. The scholarship was set up as a tribute to the late Lateef Edalere who pastored the Kingston congregation for many years.

At the recent GCI-USA regional conference in Chicago, recognition was given to Roger and Donna Abels for their many years of service in GCI pastoral ministry. Roger is retiring from GCI employment this coming summer. He currently serves as senior pastor of GCI’s congregation in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Below is a picture of Joseph Tkach honoring the Abels. Thanks Roger and Donna!

These updates are from GCI mission director Rod Matthews.

India: reaching out to children

GCI has two churches in India—one in Hyderabad pastored by Dan Zachariah and one in Bangalore pastored by Joe D’Costa. I visited both recently with GCI-USA district pastor Rick Shallenberger, who was representing GCI president Joseph Tkach. Both churches have a special focus on reaching out to underprivileged children.

The Hyderabad church provides spiritual and material support to the Asha Kiran Home for Girls. The parents of the girls housed there are unable to care for them due to incarceration. The Sisters who run the home are always delighted to receive visitors, and the children love to sing and dance.

In Hyderabad, Mary Zachariah directs the Faust School. The children there contribute in various ways to the Asha Kiran home. In addition, there is a growing relationship between the Hyderabad church and Shining Stars (pictured at left), an after-school-hours center where children receive personalized academic attention.

Some years ago, as an unexpected gift, the Bangalore congregation welcomed a new member, Dr. Piria Suntharam. He brought with him the Susanna Children’s Home (pictured at right), which he had founded in a rural area of the state of Tamil Nadu to care for children with no parents or whose parents are unable to care for them. Dr. Suntharam continues to face serious hurdles in developing the home, including government regulations and lack of staff. He would appreciate your prayers.

In Bangalore, we visited the Shristi Special Academy (pictured at left), a facility that is focused on educating and developing children with mental disabilities. Many of these children suffer from autism and remarkable results are being achieved. Parents benefit immensely from the support of the academy in helping their “special” child become fully integrated, accepted and valued. The Bangalore congregation is exploring possibilities of being more involved in supporting this remarkable facility.

Nepal: Deben’s Vision

Deben Sam, GCI’s mission partner in Nepal, has leased land and built a new church facility, bought land (pictured at right) for an orphanage, and conducted the first “Mobile Bible School” operating in rural Nepal villages.

Deben also runs the Himalayan Bible School (HiBiS) pictured at left in Kathmandu. It serves young men and women selected from the Mobile Bible School classes who show potential and passion for spreading the gospel. HiBiS consists of three months of classes followed by nine months of practical work, during which the students return home to conduct meetings, evangelize and teach. At the end of that time, they are assessed and, if confirmed by the local church, offered full-time missionary positions. When such appointments occur, funding becomes necessary. To help meet the need, Deben has established the Unreached People Missionary Society.

Rick Shallenberger and Mohan Jayasekera accompanied to Kathmandu where they taught some HiBiS classes. Rick’s GCI Cincinnati congregation provides much of the support for a medical clinic on the outskirts of Kathmandu, which also is supported by the Himalayan Gospel Church (a coalition of ministries led by Deben). The clinic provides free medical services to needy children and mothers. Some patients have asked why we do this work and a few have responded to the call of God as a result of hearing the reply.

Myanmar: Second Booklet in Chin Language

We are delighted to announce that our second booklet produced in the Falam Chin language of northern Myanmar (Burma) has been printed in Yangon. That booklet (pictured at right) is The God Revealed in Jesus Christ. The booklet was translated by a young theology graduate named Van Thawm Lian. We first met him several years ago when he expressed great excitement about our literature.

2500 copies of the booklet were printed for distribution among the Chin peoples of which there is an extensive community in Yangon, and for use by Van Thawm Lian in the seminary where he teaches.

GCI Canada director Gary Moore provided this update.

Montreal English church celebrates 45th anniversay

On March 29, the Montreal English congregation celebrated its 45^th anniversary. The celebration included a special church service and a meal. John Adams and his wife Edna (at left in the picture) were guests. John formerly pastored the congregation.

The day was designed as a reunion, giving current and former members a chance to reconnect and share memories. Several former pastors sent greetings, as did GCI president Joseph Tkach and GCI Canada director Gary Moore.

Men’s retreat planned

GCI men in Ontario are hosting a men’s retreat (they call it an “advance”) on May 2-4, 2014. It will be held in Eastern Ontario (about a 90-minute drive from Montreal). GCI men in Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere are invited. For information, email Ken Brady at kbrady@caladena.com or phone Ken at 514.923.0414.