Category: Stay Connected

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 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.