Category: Stay Connected

On November 17-19, GCI Mexico held its National Conference in the city of Guadalajara. The purpose of the conference was to equip pastors and other leaders serving GCI congregations in Mexico. Over 40 attended. Mission director Lorenzo Arroyo and pastor Heber Ticas gave seminars on biblical preaching, personal evangelism and Jesus’ missionary model.

Through conferences like this, GCI’s leaders in Mexico are being helped to understand the importance of intentionally multiplying disciples and planting new churches. Newly appointed Mexico City pastor Natanael Cruz will open on December 2 a new mission work in Zumpango-Tizayuca (near Mexico City). Alfredo Mercado, pastor of GCI’s Guadalajara church and Mexico’s national leader, is “preparing the soil” to plant a new church by 2014. Both pastors are working with potential church planters who currently are leaders within their existing churches.

On Saturday at the conference, there was a ceremony in which credentials were presented to the Mexican pastors who were appointed this year. Receiving credentials at the conference were Ruben Ramirez, Luis Alberto Soto, Humberto Perez, Arnoldo Trigg and Natanael Cruz (credentials were sent to Rigoberto Pantoja who was unable to attend the conference).

On Sunday, a special worship service was attended by over 130 members from the area. Church planter Heber Ticas, pastor of GCI churches in Sun Valley and Los Angeles, California, gave an inspiring sermon on Jesus not allowing Peter to be sifted as wheat but rather to be strengthened in faith.

On Monday, Rita Arroyo and Xochilt Ticas led workshops for pastor’s wives and other women. The workshops were on devotional journal writing and decision making with Martha and Mary. The women were elated to receive seminars related to their needs—there were tears and much joy in sharing with one another.

The Mexican youth are preparing to celebrate their second national camp to be held December 29-January 1. The camp, with the theme, “The call of the Master” will be held on the beach of Guayabitos (near Puerto Vallarta). GCI Generation Ministries secured scholarships for campers and invited Mexico’s national youth leader Samuel Mercado to attend the GenMin Converge summit in Southern California in February.

The next GCI Mexico National Conference will be in Guadalajara on March 29-31, 2013 (Easter weekend). Special guests will be Joseph and Tammy Tkach, and Gary and Cathy Deddo.

 

On November 10, Larry Oglesby, pastor of GCI’s Columbus, Georgia congregation, was honored during Veterans Day ceremonies in Columbus.

Larry, who served in the Army from 1974-1988, was placed on the Army’s permanent disability retired list due to blindness in both eyes from a cause deemed service-connected.

During the Veterans Day ceremony, Larry was given special recognition by Fort Benning commander Major General McMasters and Columbus mayor Teresa Tomlinson.

Following the ceremony, Larry was interviewed by the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The picture of Larry at right appeared on the newspaper’s cover on November 12, which happens to be Larry’s birthday. To read the article, click here.

This year, GCI in the Philippines is celebrating its 50th anniversary in festivals titled, 50 years of Amazing Journey with Our Awesome God. Festivals were held in October in Cagayan de Oro City and Cebu City. Both sites offered a festive grand reunion of GCI members who had not seen one another for many years.

Cagayan de Oro City site

Members attending this site came from Mindanao, the Visayas, Luzon and from overseas. Speakers were Len Joson, Gil Llaneza, Margie Bahinting and national director Eugene Guzon.

A special plaque was awarded posthumously to GCI pastor Captain Jessup Bahinting in recognition of his love and service to the Philippine members. Margie Bahinting, Jessup’s wife, also was awareded a plaque in recognition of her love and service to the members in Mindanao.

Other highlights of the event included the ordination of Adriano Bravo as an elder (he serves as senior pastor in Pagadian City), the baptism of 14 members and the blessing of several children.

Cebu City site

A Journey with the Master (JWM) retreat was held recently in Bremerton, Washington with 12 participants. JWM retreats are sponsored by GCI Generations Ministries.

The topic of this retreat was Ministry with Jesus. Interactive sessions were conducted by GenMin director Anthony Mullins, focusing on what ministry is (selfless service), who may participate (all believers), what it might look like (messy and wonderful), and whose ministry it is (Jesus’). Many aspects of the retreat were led by the young participants and they did a terrific job!

If your district or congregation would like to host a JWM retreat, contact anthony.mullins@gci.org.

GCI district pastor Larry Hinkle, reports that Odyssey in Christ recently completed a spiritual renewal retreats in Florida. The two videos embedded below are testimonials from retreat participants. Following the videos are comments from retreat co-leaders Charles and Carmen Fleming.

http://youtu.be/k_8dRS1ckfM

http://youtu.be/lR_Qui1INAo

Charles Fleming commented: “I have always valued and made an effort to practice the basic spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible reading, but involvement in this spiritual retreat ministry has exposed me to a range of additional formational exercises that are greatly enriching my own walk with God. And then there is the joy of seeing retreat participants experience a greater intimacy with Christ as they take time to use different formational exercises to position themselves in his presence. As the testimonials express, individuals are impacted in many and varied ways that transform and heal. Perhaps my favorite comments revolve around the themes of experiencing God personally and of growing to a greater awareness of personal value and significance.”

Carmen Fleming commented: “In the past I have discovered the value of spiritual formation practices and have a longing for others to experience their great value as well. In preparation for leading the retreats, I have discovered many more spiritual formation exercises. It has been a joy to discover them and through them position myself to experience a deeper communion with God. This has given me more stability and health spiritually, physically and emotionally, though outward circumstances may not change. It is a thrill to listen to the comments of participants in our interactive sessions, as they experience what it feels like to get away from their busy schedules, many distractions and anxieties and position themselves to know God better and experience him more deeply. God meets us there.

This update is from BEA director John Biswas.

On October 21, the Bengali Evangelical Association (BEA) hosted a public lecture in Redlands, California in celebration of the 400-year anniversary of the publishing of the King James Bible.

The event, which was attended by 80 people, opened with worship. After John and Naomi Biswas welcomed the guests and explained the purpose of the event, pastor Neil Earle presented a lecture focused on the story of the great men and events leading up to publication of the King James Bible in 1611.

Neil began by showing a video of the King James Bible being read from moon orbit in December 1968. He then went on to show from history how the King James translation of the Bible had impacted the speech and culture of the English speaking world and how it had helped bring the gospel to the average person.

Many reference books and articles were on display and BEA offered each guest a King James Bible and a book of Bible promises, paid for by a generous donor. The guests from various denominations and backgrounds enjoyed a fellowship meal at the conclusion of the happy event.

This report is from GCI Canada national director Gary Moore.

I recently attended a meeting of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), which focused on the state of Canada’s youth regarding Christian faith. EFC affiliates were invited to bring a younger leader (under 35) with them. I was happy to bring Fraser Henderson. Both of us felt that the assessment of the situation in Canada was sobering. However, we see hopeful signs. Those under 30 today have an openness to discussing the Christian faith—an openness more pronounced than that found in those over 30.

The EFC meeting also included a stimulating presentation from Peter Harris, who gave a balanced Christian perspective on creation care. Another presentation focused on ministry to people caught up in prostitution.

Later in the day we heard from Ed Stetzer. His keynote presentation, “Faith – Contrast America and Canada,” was most interesting. He pointed out that though the challenges are great, the openness in the younger generation includes an openness to hearing a presentation of the Christian faith – especially if it is given in the form of a personal story—here is what Jesus Christ has meant to me—rather than a series of doctrinal statements.

The next day there was a meeting for the leaders of EFC member denominations. Two leaders who are retiring gave heartfelt, thought-provoking observations concerning a lifetime in ministry. As one put it, “I want to end my life not only faithful, but still full of faith!”

I think we all agree that through Christ, we are drawn into the divine relationship between Father, Son and Spirit where we experience real life. Our Christian walk should be more than simply an endurance test, hanging in until the end (though there is, of course, some of that). The Christian life is meant to be a daily engagement in the rich life of the triune God.

95 people attended GCI’s annual conference in Colombia, South America.

This joyful time of celebration was held at a retreat center, a two hour drive from Bogota. Alvaro Palacio from the Toronto East, Canada, congregation was guest speaker. Alvaro presented eight lessons on the grace and love of God based on Steve McVey’s book Journey Into Intimacy.

New Life Fellowship, GCI’s congregation in Baltimore, Maryland, gathered recently to proclaim the gospel with their hands—packing gifts in shoe-box size containers for 100 orphaned, abandoned and disabled children living in Cameroon, Africa. According to senior pastor Timothy Brassell, “The love of the Triune God was flowing!” Here are some pictures:

This update is from Kalengule Kaoma, one of GCI’s national and missions directors serving in Africa.

I traveled earlier this month to Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo where our national leaders and members warmly received me. They send warm greetings to all.

I arrived on September 28 in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. Pastor Jean Mvondo and Andre met me at the airport. Refreshed by a good night’s rest, I attended an enthusiastic worship service the next morning after which all of us shared a delicious meal. On September 30, I visited the homes of our resident pastors where I fellowshipped with small groups of members. Later in the afternoon, we traveled to Peace Center in Balmayo for the fall convention.

During the convention I spoke first on the convention’s theme: “consecration and communion” of the saints. The second time I spoke about “God’s purpose for us.” Communion followed both of these sermons and was a highlight each day of the eight day convention with about 90 people attending. Another convention activity brought members together for an evangelism drive in the town of Balmayo. We hope a new church plant will result.

Later in the week, our two senior pastors in Kinshasa, Pastors Mvita and Mpinda met me at the Kinshasa airport and took me to a hotel in Kasa-Vubu, Kinshasa. A two-day church pastors’ and leaders’ training seminar began there on October 5. Pastor Jonas, who was translating for me from English to French and Lingala, was so thrilled with our seminar that he expressed interest in becoming a GCI member.

I will be conducting five more conferences in Africa this year. Please remember our African missions in your prayers. We appreciate your support.