Category: Stay Connected

Following are reports on two GCI youth camps held recently.

SEP Visayas: Jesus is More than Life!

GCI Philippines held its Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) camp in the Visayas in late May at a site near Cebu City. 67 campers attended, served by 27 full-time and 15 part-time staff. 34 of the 67 campers were first-timers and 21 were from non-churched backgrounds.

The camp included several evening events, including Movie Night with the viewing of the film “Gifted Hands,” which helped inspire the campers’ performances at Talent Night later in camp. On Encounter Night, camp director Joseph Ouano shared the story of the Prodigal Father (commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son) in a fresh way. Campers responded with candle lighting to symbolize their surrender to God’s extravagant love. Campers also enjoyed Dance Night on the final evening. It featured fine dining, beautiful lanterns and exciting dance moves (with some awkward moments!).

Day-time activities included snorkeling and other sports. Campers also enjoyed the team obstacle course with dirt or paint on their faces.

We praise God for moving in the lives of all the participants. Eight campers decided to publicly proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior and were baptized on the last day. All the campers and staff experienced the theme that Jesus is more than life Truly, it is only in Christ that we live a full and happy life.

Heart O’ Texas Camp: Rooted: Deep Roots, Lasting Fruit

Generations Ministries held its Heart O’ Texas camp in early June at The Colony in Texas. The 12 campers who attended were served by 12 staff. Two of the campers came from non-churched backgrounds. The three-day long camp included acts of random kindness (neighborhood outreach), fireside chats, team-building challenges, games, and the formation of a praise band that led worship for the sponsoring GCI congregation on Sunday.

The local congregation not only provided the main facility for camp activities and lodging, but also gave financial support and served as camp workers. Off-site swimming and cook-outs were held at the home of camp directors Scott and Shawna Herridge.

GCI congregations in the Zamboanga Peninsula of the Philippines recently celebrated their jubilee year.

The two-day celebration was led by area senior pastors. Participants shared recreation, worship, prayer and communion and heard encouraging messages from Pastor Rex Dela Pena who spoke about church unity. The celebration included installation of a new pastoral team (made up of Orvel Legaspi, Reynan Fernando, Ryan Paquit, Giovannie Bahilid and Jose Ronilo Arquisal) and the baptisms of several youth and one child.

This update is from Santiago Lange, GCI’s national director for Germany.

On Pentecost Sunday, May 27, WCG/GCI Germany celebrated its 50th anniversary in Leonberg, near Stuttgart. The celebration was preceded by a fellowship meal on Saturday evening that was enjoyed by 65 guests. After a multimedia presentation covering our history in the German-speaking region we heard from Dr. Joseph Tkach whose message was greatly appreciated. Dr. Tkach also led the concluding communion service. About 80 members attended the joyful event at the Amber Hotel. We were honored to have international guests from the UK, Switzerland and Austria.

This update is from Gary Moore, GCI’s national director in Canada.

The Yorkton, Saskatchewan church recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Maurice and Lorraine Yurkiw were in attendance. They were the congregation’s first pastoral couple and were able to travel out from Winnipeg for the occasion. Trevor Cherry, the current pastor, was also present at Yorkton’s first worship service 40 years ago, as were a number of the current members.

I enjoyed chatting with Elmer Pufaldt, who was baptized in 1952 and has been a member of our fellowship ever since! Eleanor Lucky did a fine job as worship leader. The potluck meal was excellent and the fellowship most enjoyable.

This update is from Charles Fleming, GCI’s missions director for the Caribbean region.

May 11-13, the Grenada church hosted its second annual leadership retreat, with approximately 50 in attendance. Guest presenter was Greg Williams, Regional Pastor overseeing GCI congregations in the Eastern United States. Greg drew on his experience from his years of service to Generations Ministries to lead discussions on ministering to young people.

Greg also administered the Platinum Rule (relationship styles) survey, which helps participants learn about their temperaments. This led to lively discussions and was timely as the church has been recently joined by a group of former Adventists who have increased church attendance by nearly 50%.

Carmen Fleming served as the retreat’s spiritual director, leading insightful spiritual formation exercises much appreciated by the participants. Gus Thomas, a Grenadian living in Canada and serving as an elder in Toronto gave an inspiring presentation on relational evangelism.

During meal time many persons got together to sing songs of praise to God (see picture, above right). Meals were catered by Carlyle McIntyre a retired chef who worked in hotels in Miami and once was invited to cook for President Bill Clinton.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the opportunity to have two blessing of children services. In the first, we blessed 13 children, many of whom are members of the new group that recently joined us. In the second, we blessed newborn Abby McIntyre (picture at left).

Recently, Johnny and Mollie Weatherman (alumni of GCI’s Crossing Borders mission trip) were interviewed on A Time to Reconcile, a radio program hosted by Tom Pickett (GCI pastor in Fort Worth, TX). You can listen to the two-part interview about their Crossing Borders experience by clicking on these links:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHInWxyvqBU&feature=share
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqpLqx85qQ4&feature=relmfu

 

GCI’s SEP camp in Luzon, Philippines was held in May. Participants in the six-day camp included 103 campers and 40 staff members. Staffers included Jenny and Wayne Straub from SEP Canada.

The camp theme was The Joyride – Awesome God, Amazing Journey. This theme aligned with GCI Philippines’ 50th anniversary theme, depicting our continuing journey with God. Though the journey has valleys as well as peaks, we can find joy and assurance knowing that God is in full control.

Camp activities included daily devotionals, Christian living classes, community service, basketball, volleyball, swimming and ballroom dancing, acting workshops, trekking and Ultimate Frisbee. Camp evenings were highlighted by team-building games, movie night, bonfire, an entertaining variety show, and the much-anticipated banquet and dance night. A highlight of the camp was the baptism of 19 campers on the last day.

This update is from Mark McCulley, a district and church pastor in the Denver, CO area.

A day-long seminar in spiritual formation called A Deeper Walk was recently sponsored by Living Grace Christian Fellowship in Denver, CO. The seminar was led by GCI district and church pastor Larry Hinkle, and Caribbean Mission Developer Charles Fleming and his wife Carmen, each of whom have spent many years in the study of spiritual formation and prayer.

During the seminar we discussed and practiced lectio divina (spiritual reading of Scripture), examination of consciousness and healing prayer. The training counted toward CEUs in GCI’s continuing education program for pastors. Participants included GCI pastors in the Rocky Mountain district along with members of Living Grace and a few other GCI congregations.

Several participants gave positive feedback. John Barry, associate pastor of the Green River, WY congregation said that the seminar offered him “new understanding about how to look at Scripture, take it in and allow it to sink in deeply.” My wife Joanne McCulley said that the seminar was an answer to prayer in that she had been praying for a long time about the need for a ministry of healing prayer.

Our district is considering hosting a full three-day Odyssey in Christ spiritual renewal retreat next year. For information about this retreat, see http://www.odysseyinchrist.com. For additional detail contact me at mark.mcculley@gci.org or Larry Hinkle at larry.hinkle@gci.org.

 

This update is from Beth Leyva, member of the GCI Philippine Missions Team.

GCI Philippines recently held it first Missions Fest in Pampanga. Titled Beyond the Great Commission – Preparing the Bride, it showcased what God is accomplishing in missions through GCI in the Philippines. The event was facilitated by a team of missionaries and mission advocates headed by GCI National Missions Director Dr. Reynaldo Taniajura.

After the welcome from Pastor Miles Umlas, GCI National Director Eugene Guzon gave a presentation titled, GCI Mission: The Next Decade, in which he set the tone for what GCI members can expect from denominational leadership for fulfilling the Great Commission mandate of Matthew 28.

Dr. Taniajura then gave the first plenary session titled, Preparing the Bride and Mission. He explained that the church’s role in the Great Commission is primarily preparing the bride for the coming wedding of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. Elder Kwan Soo Lee then gave the next plenary session titled, Transformation. Elder Lee is a successful businessman and chairman and adviser of several Korean business organizations in the Philippines. He encouraged participants to embrace transformation principles as a primary means in eradicating poverty.

In the afternoon, participants viewed the GCI Philippines Missions Journey video, which highlights local missions among the Mangyan tribe in Mindoro led by Senior Pastor Bernardo Cuizon with his son-in-law, Pastor Nomer Venus of GCI Manila South. Together, they pioneered outreach efforts to the people of Sitio Tuog, Rosacara, Bansud and Sigao in Mindoro. Also featured were GCI Manila Senior Pastor Gil Llaneza and Glory to the Lord Fellowship (GLF) Senior Pastor Andrew Teng. Both spoke about their congregations’ participation in missions in the past 12 years. A missions supporter turned missionary, Mercedes Aldaba from GLF shared about her personal missions journey which culminated in serving among orphaned children in Kenya.

The rest of the afternoon and the first part of Sunday were spent in workshops designed to give the members a glimpse of and a deeper appreciation for missions and missionary life. Divided into groups of 10 or more, each participant went through five tracks: 1) Networking and Faith Promise Giving led by Tess Uadan; 2) Cross Cultural Experience facilitated by Cecilia Bangay with desired outcomes of organizing a cross-cultural exposure trip by the end of the year and coordinating and assisting potential students of our missions training center; 3) Spiritual Warfare and Prayer facilitated by Malou Leyva; 4) Member Care with Honorio and Angelita Tabin; and 5) Intimacy with God facilitated by Beth Leyva. Going through the tracks culminated in participants signing a Covenant Declaration, which is a one-year commitment paper reminding them of what they have personally agreed to do for missions.

Sunday afternoon was spent in celebratory worship led by the GCI Pampanga worship band. Robert O. Ferrer, First Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, India gave the missions challenge sharing how God’s provision follows his mission. He also challenged participants to rethink their role as stewards of God’s resources. The rest of the afternoon was spent in prayer for the denomination including its leaders and missionaries, for each participant, and for various least-reached people groups: tribal peoples, Hindus, the unreligious, Muslims, Buddhists, and the 4-14 window (children in the church ages 4 to 14). Then with glad hearts, participants listened as Beth Leyva shared a vision for building a missions training center and place for missionaries to stay while on furlough – both would be constructed on the Alfonso, Cavite farm property made available by our missionary family to the United States, the Tabins.

Credit for Missions Fest goes to Senior Pastor Ronald Hernandez of GCI Bulacan who did a lot of the communication and advance arrangement, and to the good-hearted members in Pampanga who graciously hosted the Missions Fest team. The team now prepares for the next leg of Missions Fest to be held in Pili, Camarines Sur in June. The aim is to bring the event to as many places as are willing to host it within the year.

This update is from Rick Shallenberger who was a guest at the conference.

Nine International Mission Developers (MDs) – many with their wives – along with other GCI administrative leaders and church pastors recently attended two days of meetings in Chicago, IL (held prior to the U.S. Regional Conference).

Each MD shared highlights of what is happening in their respective areas. Here are highlights (given in the order, left to right, of the picture above):

• James and Shirley Henderson serve the UK and Europe. James shared the challenge of trying to build a church in Europe which is anti-religion. Churches are dying all across Europe and Christians are looked upon as simple-minded. In spite of this, our churches are serving others well in many different ways.
• Charles and Carmen Fleming serve the Caribbean. The Caribbean churches are developing plans to raise funds for growth. Charles shared his training methods for the future leadership of the region.
• John McClean (and Heather who could not attend) serves in Australia – another country that is quickly becoming anti-religious. The Australian government is getting more and more involved in non-profits requiring more and more paperwork, forms, reports, etc. This causes a work stress among the pastors who are trying to serve their congregations.
• Tim Maguire (and Marissa who could not attend) serves several countries in Southern Africa. He shared about the growth in Mozambique and the financial challenges the churches are facing in South Africa. Church growth is only limited by financial resources.
• Kalengule and Nsama Kaoma serve 17 countries in central Africa. Kalengule highlighted a couple countries and shared how he is training leaders and how Nsama is encouraging pastors wives throughout the country.
• Gary Moore (and Wendy who was unable to come) serves Canada. He shared the challenges of pastoring in another non-religious country. He also shared the focus the Canadian churches have on mission and their many projects around the world.
• Hector and Paulina Barrero (kneeling in front) serve South and Central America. One of their most popular ministries is to couples desiring to strengthen their marriages. Hector also shared pictures of some of the leaders in South America and spoke a few moments about some of the challenges faced in various countries.
• Eugene and Lulu Guzon serve the Philippines. The Philippine work has missions all over the world and serve the members and communities in numerous ways.
• Rod and Ruth Matthews serve Southern Asia and the South Pacific. Rod focused on the ministry in Nepal and highlighted a couple other areas out of the 18 countries in which we have congregations.
• Tammy and Joe Tkach hosted the two-day MD conference.

Grace Communion International is growing around the world, but each area faces it’s own challenges. Let’s continue to pray for our brothers and sisters around the globe as we work together to share God’s love and life with others.