Category: Stay Connected

“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 Ohio included 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:

http://youtu.be/oNjAbN1Eivo

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.

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.

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.

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.

GCI Philippines recently held a three-day-long seminar for a group of young emerging church leaders in Mindanao. Pastor Jerome Villamor Manriquez, Area Superintendent for Mindanao, opened the seminar with a presentation on trying hard vs. trusting God. Pastor Levi Yuson, Assistant Area Superintendent for Mindanao, gave a devotional on the true meaning of success. Pastor Rex Dela Peña gave a series of lectures concerning Incarnational Trinitarian theology and counseling members. GCI Philippines National Director Eugene Guzon encouraged the young leaders to continue serving the church, while resting in the love and grace of Jesus Christ. He noted that the Philippine National Office is committed to supporting and equipping the young emerging leaders.

The event was a great bonding experience. One participant noted that it was amazing to see leaders gathered with so much enthusiasm for knowing Jesus Christ and serving his people. This event was the second in a series for preparing young emerging leaders in Mindanao to serve as GCI pastors.

Dan Rogers recently visited the GCI congregation in Memphis, Tennessee where he gave an expository sermon entitled “Ministry and Mission in the Spirit.” Following the service, Dan enjoyed fellowship with the members and met with the congregation’s newly formed leadership team.

On February 23 GCI’s congregation in Talisay City, Philippines conducted its first medical-dental outreach. The church compound in Talisay served as the venue for providing free medical help to 167 patients and free teeth extractions to 50 patients.

These wonderful services rendered by medical professionals were made possible through a partnership with several generous doctors whose services were recruited and coordinated by the Philippine Friends Missionary Fellowship, a parachurch organization to which these doctors’ churches (including GCI Talisay) belong.

The patients were happy for the free services, medicines and vitamin supplements given by the doctors. Those serving as volunteers at the event served joyfully and were given a sumptuous meal by a professional caterer. GCI members and volunteers from other churches hope that many more opportunities to serve will come their way.

This update is from Hector Barerro, GCI missions director for Latin America.

Dr. Dan Rogers, director of GCI Church Administration and Development USA, recently joined me in visiting our church located in Ezeiza, Argentina, a suburb of Buenos Aires. Dan fellowshipped with the members, delivered a sermon and presented two lectures. I provided translations.

Dan’s sermon, “Ministry and Mission in the Power of the Holy Spirit,” emphasized that in Christ a new creation has begun. His lectures on Incarnational Trinitarian Theology and GCI’s Adventist roots helped members understand our past and present theology and doctrine. Dan also held a Q&A session and the group enjoyed a traditional Argentine barbecue.

A key goal for GCI in the US is to see church planters, congregations and district networks starting and then multiplying new kinds of churches, for all kinds of people, in all kinds of places. That significant progress is being made was evident at this year’s church planting summit hosted by GCI’s Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM) in Memphis, Tennessee on March 8-9.

Forty-three summit participants (pictured below), including church planters, pastors, Church Administration and Development team members, and others celebrated several newly planted churches and the establishment of church planting networks in about half the US. Through these networks, groups of small churches are working together to identify, prepare and support church planters. Existing networks are now supporting church plants in Los Angeles; Randolph, Massachusetts; and Staten Island, New York.

The featured speaker at the summit was Hal Haller (pictured at right). Hal, who has planted several churches and now trains church planters, challenged summit participants in several areas: developing church planting networks, finding church planters and supporting newly planted churches.

Church Administration and Development director Dan Rogers shared GCI’s vision for new leaders, new ministries and new churches that reach those who are different from us. He encouraged participants to pray that God will bring new church planters to us, and give us the discernment and infrastructure needed to identify, recruit, equip and support them.

For more information about GCI’s US church planting initiative, see CMM’s website at cmm.gci.org.

A primary GCI goal is to multiply young pastoral leaders. An important tool toward that end in the US is GCI’s Pastoral Internship Program. One of our interns, Carrie Smith, recently completed her internship under the direction of her mentors Mark and Anne Stapleton, who pastor Cornerstone Community Church, the GCI congregation in the San Diego, California area.

GCI president Joseph Tkach recently visited the congregation, now meeting in a new location in Lemon Grove, California, to participate in Carrie’s ordination as an elder. Other participants in the ordination included District Pastor Glen Weber and Pastor Mark Stapleton (see picture below). Carrie is moving to Pikeville, Kentucky where she will be part of that congregation’s pastoral team.

Here are other pictures from this special service, which included presentations from Dr. Tkach and his wife Tammy, Carrie’s ordination and a baptism.

On March 10, Tammy Tkach visited the worship service of GCI’s congregation in Tucson, Arizona. She gave the sermon, entitled Freedom in Christ (and the Responsibility That Goes With It). Members and guests appreciated how she melded the two aspects together. After the service the congregation enjoyed a potluck meal.