Category: Stay Connected

In 2015, instead of regional conferences, GCI is hosting retreats for senior pastors (and equivalent, with their spouses) in various locations within the six U.S. regions. The first of these retreats was held recently in Southern California. Here is a report from Pastor Glen Weber, who hosted and facilitated the retreat on behalf of Regional Pastor Lorenzo Arroyo.

The retreat group, which represented 15 congregations in the southern part of the Western Region, met at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, California. The retreat provided refreshment and inspiration with a focus on prayer and worship. The only “agenda” for the event was to listen together to the Spirit as we walked together through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. That focus led us to worshiping our triune God, who has predestined us to a relationship with himself in Christ. It also led us to a deeper appreciation for our call to ministry with Jesus and thankfulness for those who minister with us, including our many bi-vocational pastors.

Most left the retreat asking that we hold events like this again. One pastor stated, “An old friend came up to me during the retreat and said he felt born again a second time.” Another wrote, “The retreat was thoroughly enjoyable! Time spent praying for one another, praising God with music and prayer, time together over meals—an opportunity to get to know one another better. It was refreshing. Thank you!!” Another wrote, “Coming together in open, honest prayer about where we are in ministry and life, gave way to a great sense of unity. It also provided time to realize just how much we are to trust the Lord for our (his) ministries and churches.”

One of the participants who is new to GCI said, “I think the most insightful thing for me was the time we broke into groups and shared our testimonies. I learned a lot by listening to the stories of believers who left legalism for true liberty. Since then I have watched the film, “Called to be Free.” What a remarkable story of God’s deliverance of and love for a group of people who once had it so wrong.”

Greg Williams, the new director of Church Administration and Development USA, attended the retreat. He announced that the current plan is to hold regional conferences like those in past years again in 2016, and then a single international conference in 2017.

February in the United States is Black History Month. The background is helpfully explained in an interview with GCI elder Curtis May at https://www.gci.org/history/bhmonth.

Snowblast 2015 was held recently in Minnesota. This intergenerational winter camping event has been a GCI tradition for nearly 20 years.

About 60 people participated this year. The primary organizers were from the Fargo/Moorhead church. Activities included ice fishing, pottery, knitting, model rubber-band airplane making, hiking, ice skating, games and some indoor sports. The cold dark evenings were brightened by popcorn, snacks and movies in the warmth of Lakeview Lodge.

By using an auger to drill a hole in the three-foot-thick ice, and erecting a canvas ice fishing shack for shelter (see picture below), the group was able to enjoy excellent fishing—62 fish were caught: 2 bass, 40 sunfish, 15 crappies and 5 northern pike.

The event included times of worship with messages about God’s love from Tom Kennebeck, Betty Johannsen and Troy Meisner. Doug Johannsen and Becky Deuel gave interactive devotionals.

Plans are already underway for Snowblast 2016.

Here are links to updates about GCI-Philippines missions, single’s activities and conferences:

• http://my.gci.ph/rabim-thailand-missions-update/
• http://my.gci.ph/gci-singles-philippines-level-up-for-2015/
• http://my.gci.ph/gci-sta-rosa-echoes-new-york-4-14-window-best-practices-conference/

The GCI home office recently hosted several new pastors and their spouses for New Pastors’ Orientation. The conference, which was facilitated by Church Administration and Development (CAD), had a two-fold purpose: to share ministry tools and information and to provide an environment that would nurture mutual love, support and respect. An immediate bond of love developed among participants (pictured below) as the group experienced God’s presence in prayer, worship and meals.

Topics addressed during the conference included church history, participation in the mission of God, reading and interpreting Scripture with trinitarian eyes, a pastor’s ministry, preaching and pastoral counseling. Home office staff from IT, Media and the Treasurer’s Office presented helpful practices and shared ministry vision and goals. GCI President, Joseph Tkach, ended the gathering by commissioning the new pastors and leading communion. He reminded the group of the privilege we have to labor together in the shadows of the triune, loving God.

Two conference participants received special recognition. Dan Rogers, one of the instructors, was honored on the occasion of his retirement as CAD director. Mike Rasmussen, who accompanied several new pastors to the event, was commissioned as a regional pastor (see picture at left). Mike will continue to pastor the GCI church in Oklahoma City while serving the pastors and churches of the U.S. south-central region.

Many event participants commented that they felt a renewed sense of hope and courage, now viewing challenges in their ministries as opportunities to share the abundant love of Jesus. In a survey to receive feedback, one of the questions asked was, “What are your greatest take-aways?” Here are a few of the most frequent responses:

• God loves me. God is love. His love is constant.
• Sense of community. I’m not alone. We all work together for a common goal. Network.
• There is a huge support system and encouragement base.
• Being free to go and do what God has called me to do.
• It is with humble hearts that we thank our congregations for their generous support as we partner in ministry.
• We look to the future with excitement and anticipation.

We’re pleased to announce two GCI media developments in Europe. Our program “Speaking of Life” (with a UK ending appended) is now airing in the United Kingdom on SKY TV and on an internet video channel. In the Netherlands, we have launched a new website at www.gracecommunion.nl and a new YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/gcinetherlands. Here is one of the videos there:

Watch on YouTube at http://youtu.be/dmiApTe-2fc.

GCI Intern Program coordinator Jeff McSwain met recently with GCI-USA regional pastors and other leaders to give them an update. Here are excerpts from his presentation.

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/jkwD3GA6clc.

An effective way to support the Intern Program is to donate to the GCnext mission fund. For information, go to https://www.gci.org/GCnext.

Steve Solari, senior pastor of Hope Community Fellowship, GCI’s church in The Colony, Texas (north Dallas), provided the following update concerning a unique outreach opportunity for his congregation.

I met recently with our new neighbors—the Ring of Hope boxing club. Rich Lox, the club manager and head coach, and I shared our goals for reaching the surrounding community for Christ through building genuine relationships. Rich feels called to reach out to the youth of The Colony by giving them a positive after-school activity. There are many youth boxing programs in the U.S., but not many that are faith-based like his. Rich tells the story of how his childhood boxing coaches had a tremendous influence on him while he was growing up, and if they had only included Christ in their conversations he would have come to know God sooner. He wants to give that opportunity to others now.

Rich invited our congregation to participate in this outreach with him. Some of us already have started doing so (see picture below, where some of our members are helping set up the boxing ring).

Time will tell where God wants us to go in terms of ministry partnership, but I have to say this: if our church building were a person, the shopping center where we’re located would be its “lap.” We’ve been praying as a congregation about how to expand our youth ministry, and here comes a group geared toward leading youth to Christ. They have landed, almost literally, in our lap!

For recent updates on people and ministries in GCI-Philippines, go to http://my.gci.ph/category/news-updates/.

It was a day of mixed emotions recently at Christ Fellowship Church (one of GCI’s churches in the Cincinnati, Ohio area). The congregation said good-bye to their senior pastor Rick Shallenberger and his wife Cheryl who have served them for 12 years. They then celebrated the installation of their new senior pastor, Dustin Lampe, who serves with his wife Rachel.

CAD director Greg Williams (pictured above, right) was present and gave specific charges to the congregation before he and Rick commissioned Dustin. Rick then passed the baton of leadership to Dustin (see picture below). After the baton-passing ceremony, Greg commissioned Rick as a U.S. regional pastor. A meal for the congregation followed the service.

The oak baton used in the ceremony was made from an ancient tree located on the grounds of a Wesleyan church in Minnesota. The display (pictured below) was crafted by CFC elder Mike Lockard.

Reflecting on the day, Dustin posted this comment on Facebook:

Twelve years ago I was beginning my journey in church ministry by voluntarily teaching Sunday school class to teens. At about the same time my current church was beginning a journey with a new senior pastor named Rick Shallenberger. I didn’t have the foggiest idea where I was going with it or why I felt so compelled to teach. Now I see that God knew.

This past Sunday, I was commissioned as senior pastor of a most wonderful, down to earth, good-hearted church. Rick graciously and selflessly empowered me to take over what many would consider the dream job that was his. Christ Fellowship Church was of the same mind, patient with me and always willing to find reasons to accept my approach and the changes that have resulted.

Faith is present at times like these and even seems more real than “certainty.” Certainty is its own end, but faith opens up the world into a greater mystery. Because of the faith of Christ, I am filled with wonder and awe and belief in God and his unrelenting pursuit of people. Because of Christ, I am filled with hope and energy to believe in God’s love for all, from the wealthy and satisfied to the broken and downtrodden. I will not discriminate between the two.

Many are now looking at me with a great expectation that I will be a fine senior pastor for them. I realized this with the utmost of awareness on Sunday. I have never been one to enjoy a lot of attention on myself. But a funny thing happened as I was struck with the awareness of the expectations of my new role. I had a series of images flash through my mind of times in my life when I felt at peace. And the still small voice said, “so it is now.”

And so I rest easy in the arms of my Father in heaven. And I wake up working like crazy each day (except one) glad for the opportunity to be united completely in my heart and mind as a testimony to a God who is good!