Category: Stay Connected

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.

In February, we reported on the “Africa Connected” competition being held by Google. We learned recently that GCI was one of ten finalists in the competition.

GCI mission director for southern Africa, Tim Maguire, was in Nairobi, Kenya recently, where Google hosted the finale of the competition. “Google outdid themselves in making us 10 finalists feel like superstars! Although we did not win the competition, Google donated $10,000 to GCI’s water project in Mozambique! Thanks so much for all your support and votes, and to Google for their generosity.”

GCI in Ghana, which has about 700 members, is conducting a year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary. The celebration includes the recently held launch celebration and an upcoming youth camp.

At the launch celebration, hundreds of members thanked God, sang and danced to gospel songs. Gabriel Ojih, associate pastor of GCI’s Dallas North, USA congregation and former GCI leader in Ghana, was the featured speaker. He exhorted those present to depend on the Holy Spirit to lead them., and urged the represented congregations to be submissive to the Word of God and to patiently seek God’s grace. According to Gabriel, the church should grow in love and share that love with society through charity and unity.

Unveiling the official cloth for the anniversary, Pastor Solomon Ayitey, a founding member of GCI in Ghana, noted that the cloth signifies the unity and bond within the church. He urged members to stay united in seeking to emulate the life of Christ.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Pastor Emmanuel Okai spoke about the two schools that GCI operates in Kutunse and Atwima-Koforidua.

This update is from Hector Barrero, GCI mission developer in Central and South America.

Last month, I visited our congregation in Ezeiza, Argentina. Upon arrival I learned that Ruben Soto Castro, a long-time member of the church there, had died. So my visit began with Ruben’s funeral on Saturday, which had been planned as the first day of a seminar.

On Sunday, amidst the sadness, I conducted a seminar on the topic of spiritual disciplines, using material from Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth.

On Monday, pastor Julio Fernandez and I spent much of the day discussing the subjects presented during the International Conference held last summer in Orlando, Florida. Julio was anxious to receive this update. We focused much of our time on discussing the presentations from Gerrit Dawson on the meaning of Jesus’ continuing incarnation.