SEP Mindanao, a GCI youth camp in the Philippines, was held on April 24-28. The camp’s theme was Make Your Mark. It was attended by 81 campers and 44 staff from various parts of the Philippines. 70% of the campers attended for the first time and almost 30% were non-GCI members.
The camp focused on chapels and Christian living classes using the GCI Generations Ministries’ Behold curriculum. Recreational activities included soccer, dance, basketball for boys and volleyball for girls.
Campers and camp visitors testified how the Lord revealed himself in so many ways during the camp. Many first-time campers commented that they had never received so much love from people around them.
GCI pastor Doug Johannsen reports that Jonah Skrove, a 16-year-old member in one of Doug’s congregations in Minnesota, recently had to have his leg amputated due to bone cancer.
GCI’s Tucson congregation held its second annual Easter-themed children’s outreach on April 7. The event was led by Pastor Tom and Michelle Landess, and the congregation’s outreach coordinator, Nanette Krestel. 29 guests (adults, teens and children) attended along with members of the congregation.
The event began with a short message from Pastor Tom and music led by Michelle; both pointing to Jesus’ resurrection. Then there were five workshops where members mingled with the children, followed by an Easter egg hunt. The day ended with a meal where members sat at each table to fellowship with the guests.
At the event, a table with free resources was manned by Pastor Ted and Lila Millhuff who answered questions from adults and children. Many told their stories, giving them opportunity to share their struggles with others.
Last week, over 75 GCI leaders joined with about 5,000 others at the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. In addition, about 45,000 church leaders from 93 countries watched the conference on live video streamed over the internet. Those in Orlando from GCI included church planting teams, ministry developers, regional and district pastors and pastoral leaders from established churches. Several GCI leaders (pictured below) traveled to Orlando on behalf of GCI churches in the Caribbean, Latin and South America.
New GCI pastor Justin Meier and his wife Laura Beth
Exponential has grown to be the largest gathering of church planters in North America (and possibly on earth). Its theme this year was Discipleshift, emphasizing the importance of recapturing the church’s Great Commission focus on multiplying mature disciples of Jesus who then disciple others.
The conference included day-long pre-conference seminars addressing topics related to church planting and transformation. The main conference had five plenary sessions and five workshop tracks, with dozens of selections in each track, all focused on one of the conference’s primary themes related to shifting to a more intentional focus on disciplemaking.
Here are comments from several GCI participants:
Hands for Christ church plant team and Randy Bloom
This has been a wonderful, difference-making experience. It has helped me visualize what and how we can help our pastor make disciples.
WOW…. such a new experience and wonderful spiritual feeling to take home and share.
Such a worthwhile conference… so many resources to glean from!
Praise God for such information and the dedication shown for reaching people to become disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In 2014, the Exponential Conference is titled, Seek and Save, Rethinking Evangelism. It will be held in Orlando on April 28-May 1. For further information, go to www.exponential.org.
This update is from Rod Matthews, GCI’s mission developer for SE Asia.
Death of Karen Elder
Moolah Shi and Kushi
It is with deep sadness and concern for our Karen members in a camp in Thailand that I report the death of Moolah Shi on January 27 at the age of 72. He served the Karen members with dedication, humility and faithfulness for over 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Kushi and five children. He was baptized by John Halford in 1978, ordained a deacon in 1986 and an elder in 1996. Moolah Shi once served as an officer in the Karen National Union (KNU), a liberation movement in conflict with the Burmese army in his homeland of Myanmar. He was related through marriage to one of the top Karen generals and found himself in a difficult situation as he was called of God, came to understand the scriptures and developed a relationship with his Creator. He started reading The Plain Truth magazine in 1970 when a Baptist minister shared it with him. Ultimately, he and a number of associates in the KNU were discharged from the organization due to their hearts not being in the revolution.
With thousands of other Karen people, he found himself a refugee in Thailand, restricted to a corridor along the border with Myanmar, unable to gain Thai citizenship or equivalent benefits. His heart for his people and their welfare was demonstrated again when he became heavily involved with the Karen Refugee Committee set up to assist the Thai authorities in managing the refugee camps established along the border in Thailand and holding tens of thousands of mainly ethnic Karen people fleeing the fighting in Myanmar.
As a result of this advantageous position, he was relatively free to come and go from the camp where our congregation was located. Through personal family circumstances he found himself able to live outside the camp, more easily coordinating with the church leadership and conducting church business as well as visiting other non-camp members in that area.
The camp congregation started with a foundation of ex-members of the KNU and their families and grew in numbers with a weekly attendance that at times reached about 80. In due course, some families were granted UN refugee status and were resettled overseas, and some were denied refugee status and remained stateless in the camp. In the last few years, the UN has made a concerted effort to resettle more Karen people in the hope that the refugee crisis along the border can finally be resolved. But as some are moved to new lives overseas, their places are often filled with economic refugees seeking a better life than what is available in Myanmar. And so today, our congregation still numbers around 50, with about half being children.
As pastor, Moolah Shi travelled to the camp regularly on a church-provided motorcycle to conduct services in our own church building, constructed on acquired land within the camp and built by the members with materials funded by the Australian churches. Southeast Asian senior pastor, Wong Mein Kong and I met with him in the nearby town of Maesot once each year and in most years were permitted to enter the camp to meet with our people and conduct worship services. I was always impressed that in spite of his remoteness, Moolah kept up with and embraced the doctrinal enlightenment in the church and, led by the Holy Spirit, provided humble, effective and faith-filled leadership in spite of the church’s difficult journey and our Karen family’s own physical deprivations. He was highly respected among all the Karen people and the Thais who knew and worked with him. He set a wonderful example of Christlikeness—patient, meek, faithful, encouraging and always dedicated to his people. Please pray for us as we move into a new phase of pastoral care for the congregation there. Actually, we might one day be thanking God that the congregation closes, which would mean that the refugee camps are no longer needed there. May God speed that day.
Bangladesh
I recently returned from visiting several of our groups and the mission center of GCI’s mission arm in Bangladesh, the Bengali Evangelical Association (BEA), accompanying its director, Dr. John Biswas. BEA supporter and southern California member, Ron Boyer joined us.
John talks with book seller
Our trip by auto takes us to a ferry across the Padma River (the Ganges in India). On the ferry, John Biswas tells a young bookseller (see picture at right) that he too once sold books to fund his education. When asked if he had heard of Jesus, the young man said he had—but all he knew about him was that he was a Christian! John offers him the opportunity to come with us—right there and then—and be employed in the physical care of our mission center with the promise of food and lodging and education. But the young man can’t bring himself to accept. So John buys a few of his books and gives him some extra taka (the local currency) with instruction to save it for his education—and the young man moves on.
Congregation in Anandapur
Late in the day we detour off the main road to visit the congregation at Anandapur. Nearly 60 people, mainly women and children since the men are working in the fields, are waiting to welcome us dressed in their beautiful best. We are honored with flowers and food and give short messages of encouragement before we move on. The next day there are now strikes in Barisal and we are advised to stay put for another day. That evening we meet with a little group of Christians in the hotel. It’s a delight to talk about the resurrection for a short while. They surprise me with a cake and gift celebrating my birthday two days earlier! I am struck with what a privilege it is to be visiting brothers and sisters in Christ in one of the most challenging and remote environments in which to be a minority Christian.
Batajor
On Friday we set out early to visit two rural congregations I haven’t seen before: Batjor and Bagdha. At Batajor we were presented with flowers, a welcome song and a graceful dance. We brought Bengali Bibles and offered short encouraging messages. It’s amazing and humbling that God has chosen us to plant congregations of poor yet very responsive Bengali people in these remote rural locations in southern Bangladesh.
Later at the BEA mission center in the village of Sathsimulia, we were honored with a shower of flower petals as we entered the facility through an honor guard of members and workers. We are led to the chapel building for a short service and welcome ceremony. The compound is a hive of activity with construction under way for the new building that replaces the old original “Canadian” building which had to be demolished due to cyclone damage. A large part of the compound is taken up with piles of building materials as construction has reached the second level of the three-story building. It will stand as a partner to the Herman L. Hoeh building and will provide needed facilities and accommodations for the training of nurses’ aides and gospel workers and other outreach activities emanating from BEA’s mission center. Our sincere thanks to the many who have donated toward construction of this building, including many individuals, congregations in Canada, our denominational headquarters in Glendora and our Australian office.
On our return to Dhaka, we met about 30 gospel workers from several of our groups so John Biswas could have opportunity to discuss plans for the year ahead, evaluate projects and assess the means to continue the outreach and evangelism in a wise and appropriate way in a most challenging environment. I encouraged them to let their already bright light shine.
This update is from Gary Moore, GCI’s national director in Canada.
Ordinations in Vancouver
Recently I had the privilege of attending services in the Surrey, Vancouver, British Columbia church. It was a special day with Jerry Lucky and Johannes Breytenbach ordained as elders, and Louise Jeansonne and Dan Holiove commissioned as deaconess/deacon (called “ministry leaders” in the US). These individuals with spouses are pictured here, from left to right: Juliette Breytenbach, Johannes Breytenbach, Louise Jeansonne, Dan Holiove, Sue Lucky and Jerry Lucky. They will add to the committed group of existing leaders in the congregation and provide a great team working with pastor Craig Minke as they lead the church into greater participation in the mission of Jesus Christ to the world.
Missions work; Mozambique Easter conference
I’m pleased to report that GCI Canada’s International Mission Fund and congregational donations sent $77,000 outside our borders for mission work last year. This has accomplished much good, and it is great to see this level of generosity within our fellowship. We recently provided financial support for the annual Easter conference in Mozambique. Here is Tim Maguire’s report:
Accompanied by Dawie Maree, I returned mid-week from my travels up into Mozambique. Even though the roads are long and in poor condition and living conditions extremely basic, I somehow return rejuvenated after seeing the joy that these people have from embracing Christ. My words are inadequate for describing the experience, and I wish you could all come along so that you could see and feel it for yourselves, as 11 Polokwane members did this year, hiring a taxi and spending two days of the conference with our Mozambique brothers and sisters. This year there were about 750 people in attendance at our headquarters in Morrumbala. The Easter conference is for our Mozambique pastors (about 100 in total) but others just arrive, drawn by a thirst for knowledge of him and fellowship.
This year’s theme was “Who is Christ.” When I arrived I discovered after talking to some of the leaders that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have had a fairly strong influence within some areas and some of the understanding of who Christ is was distorted.
It is a surreal feeling, being surrounded by mud and grass huts, no plumbed water or electricity (though they had managed to hire a diesel powered generator), eating basic food cooked over open fires, yet having access to vast online resources due to mobile internet. I was immediately able to go online, search our international GCI website for relevant articles, translate them into Portuguese (using Google translate), print them on a small laser-jet printer we had purchased for them (which is usually operated by a battery and power inverter fed from a solar panel, also bought by GCI South Africa) and distribute them to all the pastors to study further. What a privilege it is to participate where the Holy Spirit is working!
Thanks to funding from GCI Canada, I was able have a tow-bar put on my car to take a trailer with me on this trip. It was loaded with clothes donated by members and congregations, as well as food, Bibles and “Talking Bibles,” GCI t-shirts for our pastors and fivewater purifying units, which were installed in and around Morrumbala. That the trailer had two blow-outs on the way and we had only one spare wheel is a story for another day! The final day of the conference concluded with a moving Communion service.
Prayer request: Unfortunately, when Tim returned from Mozambique, he fell ill with malaria. After several days of high fever and sickness, he is returning to health. Please pray for his complete recovery, and for our members in Mozambique who face this dangerous disease on a regular basis without even the benefit of pain killers. Malaria is the most common cause of death in the region.
Decerel Pilarca, an English teacher and GCI missionary in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand together with a fellow Filipina teacher, accompanied three Thai teachers from her school to visit the Philippines for the first time last March. The group had dinner with GCI Philippines national director Eugene Guzon (see picture at right).
The visitors were hosted by the GCI Philippines missions community team represented by Mina Gonzales who also served as tour guide. While in the Philippines, the group explored the possibility of establishing a student exchange program between their school and a partner high school in the Philippines. Through the program, Thai students would stay in the Philippines for a month while being hosted by Filipino families. In turn, an equal number of Filipino high school students would travel to Thailand and stay with Thai families.
The group also met with GCI Philippine leaders in Baguio City and Manila. After visiting her parents in Mindanao, Ms. Pilarca will return to Thailand to continue teaching in Chiang Rai. The Philippine missions team hopes to organize a short-term mission trip to Thailand within the year. Those interested in participating may contact the GCI Philippines national office.
“I think it was one of the happiest, most positive conferences I have ever attended in the church. It showed that the concept of the various generations represented in our church working together is not just a nice idea. It really is happening.”
This was John Halford’s observation after attending Converge East, where about 100 men and women from GCI Generations Ministries (GenMin) camps, mission events and administration gathered last weekend near Columbus, Ohio. Also participating were GCI youth ministry leaders from Canada as well as other guests.
Converge is the annual summit of GenMin’s leaders, held this year in two locations: Southern California (last February—click here for a report) and recently in Ohio. The purpose of Converge is to gather for inspiration, encouragement and instruction. Participants worshiped, shared meals and fellowship, and participated in discussions about various aspects of GenMin camp and mission event ministries.
Presenters in Ohioincluded Dan Rogers, Gary Deddo, Cathy Deddo, John Halford, Anthony Mullins, Ted Johnston, Greg Williams, Jeff Broadnax, Anne Stapleton and Mark Stapleton. Moving testimonies were given by participants representing GenMin’s cross-generational ministry focus. Here, from Stephen Symonds, is a montage of pictures and video clips from Converge East:
An event highlight was the ordination of Dustin Lampe as a GCI elder (see picture above). Dustin was hired recently to serve as assistant pastor in the GCI Cincinnati, West congregation where Rick Shallenberger is senior pastor. Dustin recently completed a Master of Arts degree in Christian Ministry at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. Dustin learned about GCI from Friends professor Dr. Chris Kettler, who has appeared on GCI’s You’re Included program discussing Trinitarian theology.
Converge East was coordinated by GCI Columbus pastor Jeff Broadnax, who also serves as GenMin camps coach for the eastern United States. Converge West was coordinated by GCI San Diego pastor Mark Stapleton and his wife Anne who serve together as GenMin camps coach for the western United States. For more about the ministries that GenMin provides in service to GCI congregations, click here.
GCI’s congregation in Hazard, Kentucky recently experienced the joy of baptizing nine people (pictured below). The baptism ceremony was officiated by GCI elder Hasadore Hall (far right in the picture). Following the ceremony, the group of about 70 shared food and fellowship.
The Hazard congregation also recently celebrated the ordination of Mark Beverly as a GCI elder. The ceremony (pictured below) was officiated by GCI elders Hasadore Hall, Mike Stewart and Wayne Blair. The congregation is thankful to God for these developments.
This update is from Lorenzo Arroyo, GCI mission director for Mexico and a US regional pastor.
On March 29-31, GCI Mexico held its annual national conference and Easter celebration. Guest speakers were Joseph and Tammy Tkach, Gary and Cathy Deddo, Lorenzo and Rita Arroyo and Heber Ticas. Alfredo Mercado, national leader for GCI Mexico, hosted the event.
Lorenzo Arroyo, Gary Deddo, Joe Tkach and Heber Ticas
During the first two days of the conference about 100 people participated in presentations related to pastoral ministry, women’s ministry, young adults in ministry and teen ministry. Gary Deddo gave plenary presentations on universalism and the Atonement, noting that in doing theology we must begin with who God is revealed to be in Jesus Christ—the triune God of love. Heber gave a plenary session entitled “Fishers of Humanity” that addressed reaching out to the unchurched with Christ’s love. Heber and Samuel Mercado, along with Venegas Parra, did a wonderful job translating for those speakers not fluent in Spanish.
Cathy Deddo, Rita Arroyo and Tammy Tkach
In presentations ministering to the women, Tammy Tkach, Cathy Deddo and Rita Arroyo addressed the freedom of God’s grace, sharing our faith with others, and the priority of love. The response included tears of joy. Cathy also gave a plenary session entitled, “Meeting God in His Word,” which addressed basic Bible study principles.
Samuel Mercado and Heber Ticas addressed about 30 youth and helped make plans for Mexico’s third national camp to be held in November. The youth were upbeat and engaged throughout the conference. In the plenary sessions, three of them movingly shared their journey of faith in Jesus.
Nathanael Cruz leads worship
The conference high point was the Easter service with 150 in attendance. Nathanael Cruz, pastor of the GCI Mexico City church and a talented musician and songwriter, led worship. He played his own arrangements of contemporary praise songs on keyboard, “rocking the building” with adoration and worship toward Jesus Christ. Joseph Tkach then gave the sermon entitled, “The Risen Lord and the Empty Tomb.” Appreciation and affection for Dr. Tkach was shown through enthusiastic applause.
A joyful additional benefit of the conference was the involvement of Jose Vasquez and his family from central Mexico who attended at the invitation of Jose’s brother, a GCI member in the US. Jose recently began a small group of about 25 people in his hometown. He was so overwhelmed by his exposure to GCI at the conference that he agreed to be commissioned as GCI’s representative in leading his small group. Joseph Tkach welcomed Jose to GCI.
In addition to the meetings, the conference provided ample time for meals and informal fellowship. In the evenings several dined at area restaurants and enjoyed cultural events in Guadalajara. Many commented that these Mexican conferences are getting better every year. Planning is underway for the next one to be held on Easter weekend 2014.
SEP Mindanao, a GCI youth camp in the Philippines, was held on April 24-28. The camp’s theme was Make Your Mark. It was attended by 81 campers and 44 staff from various parts of the Philippines. 70% of the campers attended for the first time and almost 30% were non-GCI members.
The camp focused on chapels and Christian living classes using the GCI Generations Ministries’ Behold curriculum. Recreational activities included soccer, dance, basketball for boys and volleyball for girls.
