Category: Stay Connected

This update is from GCI pastor Mark Porter who coordinated the conference.

 

Over 325 people gathered in September for Engage 2013—a weekend of inspiration and fellowship in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. This year marked the launch of a new name and theme for what was previously called the Wisconsin Dells conference. The Engage name highlights how our faith in Christ is lived out through intent and action.

Each of the four days of Engage 2013 conference featured a worship service with messages emphasizing a heavenly worldview that leads to serving others with God’s love. Engage sermons were given by Becky Duel, Joseph Tkach, Rick Shallenberger and Stephen Hill (left to right in the pictures below).

Worship services also featured the Engage praise and worship team, interpretive dance, and a skit and music by the children. The event was packed with other opportunities to engage—from breakout sessions on multiple topics to recreational activities for families, teens and seniors.

Preparations for Engage 2014 are underway. It will be held September 25-28 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells—a beautiful facility with a large indoor water park and a theme park with rides, games and challenge courses. Discounted resort lodging rates and passes are available for GCI attenders. Visit www.EngageGCI.org for details and updates. Early bird registration rates are now available. Make plans to join us for a time of meaningful fellowship, family fun and spiritual refreshment.

“Because God loves everyone, we in the church should not exclude anyone.” This was the resounding message from GCI Philippines national director Eugene Guzon at the conclusion of the 4-day Mindanao-wide festival held this month in Cagayan de Oro City in the province of Mindanao in the Philippines.

The focus of the festival was to urge the 500 members attending to develop within their churches a culture of Connectivity, Sensitivity and Proactivity.

This update is from Sarah Miles who directs the GenMin camp in Colorado—SEP Rockies.

Watching God “do his thing” in the hearts and lives of his people (young and old) is addictive. As one of my favorite Bible study teachers says, “There ain’t no high like the Most High.” God is good!

We had a phenomenal SEP Rockies this summer. A heartfelt “thank you” to all who supported us. Your money, time and service enabled a truly life-changing experience for 62 campers and 46 staff.

This year we shifted from a reliance on activities to focus on helping campers and staff develop deeply bonded relationships. We had fewer classes and more small group sessions. Although the content of these sessions was educational (including finance, public speaking, prayer, Bible study 101, woodworking, art, first aid and apologetics) the intent was to provide a safe environment for sharing and discussion. These small groups have “moved down the mountain” and are still meeting.

Our theme this year, “The Future Is Now,” walked through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 and 6), covering such tough topics as sexual purity, adultery, divorce, forgiveness, prayer and revenge. It was our desire to apply the content to the campers’ struggles/issues back home. It was amazing to watch the Spirit move and bring comfort and conviction simultaneously.

Again this year we offered swing dance classes and group dances. The kids love hanging out with each other and learning about chivalry and dating. It’s a lost art in our society! Our dances were “out of this world” with our outdoor pavilion transformed into an image of the galaxy complete with planets and a massive rocketship that smoked and lit up…and we might have had a storm trooper DJ one night as well! So much fun.

One day was devoted to guy/girl focused activities. The boys and girls didn’t see each other all day and we had a great time working through gender-specific struggles and distractions in society. The boys went fishing and built racing carts. The girls picnicked, did some Zumba and painted their nails.

All in all, we sought after, learned about, looked for and worshiped the one true God who made himself known to us. I can’t wait for next year! Here is a video from this year’s camp:

Watch on YouTube at http://youtu.be/R0J6m0C6s1A

This update is from district and church pastor Howard Blakeney.

Earlier this month, about 200 members and friends attended a GCI-sponsored conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The conference theme, “It’s All About Jesus,” was emphasized in a powerful testimony given by Melissa Harring and her dad Bill. They related how Melissa as a young teen was headed down the wrong path, resulting in a terrible automobile accident. Initially, the doctors did not think she would survive, let alone walk again. But thanks to God’s mercy, she not only is now able to walk, she tells people about Jesus and the importance of not drinking and driving.

Another conference highlight was joining Jesus in reaching out to the surrounding community. One group went to what locals refer to as the “homeless village”—a place in the woods where homeless folks live in tents without running water, flushing toilets, central air, refrigerators or soft beds. We gave them food and toiletries, but most importantly, we talked and prayed with them. Some of them understood that despite their circumstance, Jesus would take care of them. A few accepted Jesus and became believers. Another group of conference-goers visited a homeless shelter where they led a worship service and provided a meal.

Mary Snyder reports here on a recent mission trip she made to Ethiopia. Mary and her husband Cliff lead M25:40 Missions—one of GCI’s GenMin Missions.

I recently made my eighth mission trip to Ethiopia to continue assisting Fanos, a young lady studying at a local university. I also visited Korah, a community built on a dump. Korah’s residents live in extreme poverty, digging through the trash for their daily food. Large numbers of them have leprosy or HIV/Aids and many of Korah’s children are orphaned.

When my husband Cliff and I visited a church in Korah a year ago we discovered that they had only two Bibles to serve the 60 people who attend. At that time we gave them 60 Bibles in the local language which they then gave to people at the time of their baptisms. They ran out of Bibles in only three months, so on this trip I gave them 60 more.

In Addis Ababa I visited Evangelical Theological College (ETC) where we are assisting three students. Now we hope to help three more. ETC students are being trained to become pastors and church leaders, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Ethiopia.

I also visited an elementary school where I spoke with the principal about providing English children’s dictionaries, which are in great demand. I then visited with the pastor of the International Evangelical Church to discuss bringing a GCI missions group next year. He had great ideas as to how M25:40 Missions could partner with his church to conduct a VBS program for children. IEC is associated with a group who minister in Korah and at an orphanage in Awassa.

This update is from Philippine members Carmina Gonzales and Beth Leyva.

Nine GCI members from the Philippines are now in Thailand on a “mission exposure” trip. On the trip they are visiting various mission opportunity sites along with Filipino missionaries already at work there.

This exploratory trip is in keeping with the goal that GCI-Philippines has for its congregations to become active advocates of mission work by praying, giving, welcoming, mobilizing or going themselves into the missions field. Prior to their trip, the group was given pre-field training by four GCI missionaries.

Hector Barrero, GCI mission developer in South America reports that GCI’s churches in Peru held their annual seminar in late September in Piura. Fifty members attended from Lima, La Huaca, Huanuco and Piura. Here is a photo of the group:

Congregations represented at the seminar gave positive reports. Juan Carlos Florian noted that the La Huaca congregation grew last year from 25 to 50 people.

Seminar presentations included, Called to Listen, Called to Serve, Called to Advance, Called to Make Disciples, Practical Evangelism and A Fruitful Spiritual Life. Pastor Sonia Orozco from Barranquilla, Colombia gave a presentation on leading a congregation as a female pastor.

During the event, Diego, Leyla and Sofia Nieves were baptized (see picture below).

Pedro Rufian submitted the following report about a recent GCI retreat in Majorca, Spain.

GCI members, family and friends assembled for a fall retreat in Majorca, Spain. They came from Canada, France, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and the the United States. Our fellowship each night on the resort hotel terrace was great.We also enjoyed a talent show and family dance to which we invited other guests at the resort.

Our worship services featured wonderful music from adult and children’s choirs. Gospel-centered messages were given by Sheila Graham, Francis Bergin, Paul Jendrek, Ross Jutsum, Harry Sullivan and myself. Though Sheila had fallen when arriving at the airport, cutting her lip and breaking a tooth, by God’s grace and her courage, she was able to give her message. I heard recently that she is now fine.

During the retreat, the 20 children attending enjoyed Bible lessons prepared by Maxwell Victor and his team. Another highlight was the baptism of two people early one morning in the waters of the Mediterranean. Also, Ross Jutsum and Adrian Sanso presented an evangelistic music concert for resort guests (pictured below). The 400 people who attended clearly enjoyed themselves. Some then attended our services on the days that followed.

This update from camp director Dishon Mills reports on New Heights Camp.

This summer, God brought 73 campers and 66 staff together to reach new heights in Christ and in life at New Heights—a Generations Ministries sponsored summer Camp in Connecticut.

Our camp theme this year was, “It’s Time!.” We wanted each camper to leave understanding that it’s time to live for Jesus. This theme was conveyed in chapel messages, skits, videos and stories. God blessed the teaching to have a powerful impact on campers and staff.

In addition to regular recreational activities, we provided two new camp elements: Tracks and Showtime. Tracks provided training in various practical ministry skills that can be used in local churches back home. In Showtime, each dorm prepared a skit, song, or dance that was performed for the whole camp.

This year, during our traditional last-night ceremony, we served Communion using multiple stations. Earlier, the campers had written on a piece of paper things they wanted to leave behind. At the first communion station they laid down that paper, then had their hands washed to signify God’s cleansing grace. They then moved to the next station where they received the bread and cup. Then they walked between two bonfires to the “great cloud of witnesses” (the staff) who then prayed for each camper. Through this powerful ceremony, the campers acknowledged the Lordship of Jesus Christ and committed to live for him with new determination. Though it was explained that participation was voluntary, nearly every camper took part.

On Saturday, just before camp ended, we made a special presentation to Dale and Sybil Martin, thanking them for over 30 years of faithful service to GCI camps. They are retiring from serving in camp ministry–this was their last time to lead New Heights’ beloved kitchen staff. Dale and Sybil will be greatly missed—they have taught us so much. We praise God for them.

Here is a video showing New Heights this past summer:

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/SnhcN8kYvFY.

This update, from GCI-Netherlands national leader Frans Danenberg, reports on developments in some of GCI’s congregations in the Netherlands.

In September, we were blessed to have visit our worship service in the city of Almere a couple who had served as missionaries in North Africa. Currently they are living in the Netherlands, reaching out to the Muslim community in Almere. My wife met them—she gives them Dutch language lessons.

The same weekend we traveled to the city of Leeuwarden where our congregation, made up mostly of immigrants from the Congo, held a combined service with a Dutch Reformed Church there. Our congregation’s choir sang in both Dutch and Swahili. The Reformed church pastor prayed for our congregation. It was encouraging to experience the favor that our Congolese members are receiving.

Later that day, accompanied by members of our Leeuwarden congregation, we traveled to the town of Zuthpen to participate in a church service with an independent African congregation composed mainly of immigrants from Burundi. The leader (now pastor) of our Leeuwarden congregation, Matendo Makoti, knows the Burundian congregation. They have expressed interest in joining GCI. As is the African custom, the worship service lasted a long time (about three hours). About 50 people attended what was quite a lively service with drums, energetic music and excited and happy young boys and girls running around. It was quite a weekend—we experienced music in Dutch and Spanish, then Dutch and Swahili, and finally Dutch and Kirundi! It was wonderful to see (and hear) what God is doing in all three locations!

More recently, Santiago Lange and I had the pleasure of ordaining Matendo Makoti as an elder serving as pastor of the Leeuwarden congregation (see picture below). We also commissioned Bisimana Rukoka as a ministry leader. At this special service we had 81 in attendance, including several African church pastors (pictured below) representing other congregations in the Netherlands. It was a truly festive celebration.

Please pray for GCI in the Netherlands. Pray that we remain open to God’s lead, willing to step out in faith to follow.