Stewardship isn’t about giving something up — it’s about joining in.
This month’s GCI Buzz explores what it means to respond to God’s generosity with open hands and open hearts — offering our time, gifts, and resources in love.
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“I’m happy to serve and participate in whatever ministry God is leading me into!”
Get to know Faith Avenue Champion Marivir Mayonte from GC Cebu, Philippines. Aside from leading worship, serving as the Faith Avenue champion has helped her grow significantly in confidence.
The GC Pikeville congregation hosted a summer engagement event, called Carnival for Christ. The members all pitched in to serve their neighbors, providing ten stations with a different game or activity at each station.
In August, we hosted our annual two-day community yard sale on the church property. The event was lively and well attended, with free hot dogs, chips, and bottles of ice-cold water — an especially big hit considering the summer heat. Many of our own members set up booths alongside friends and neighbors, selling their items and crafts.
The true highlight, however, was the chance for our members to connect and build relationships with others in our community — sellers, crafters, and buyers alike. We were thrilled to distribute hundreds of welcome bags filled with information about our upcoming church events, along with small gifts. Through these personal connections, we spoke with many families who expressed interest in our children’s program.
Already, we have welcomed new faces at Sunday services as a direct result of the yard sale, and we believe there will be more to come. The event was a blessing for all involved, strengthening bonds and sharing the love of Jesus through engagement with our community.
By David Borum, Pastor
Kenockee, Michigan, US
GC Cape Town participated in a Community Service Initiative on Mandela Day. Mandela Day, officially known as Nelson Mandela International Day, is celebrated annually on July 18 and honors the legacy of the former South African president, a champion of human rights and democracy.
Together with the women from Cafda Village, they provided soup and bread to those in the community. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.” Matt 25:35
We are proud to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of two of our own from GCI India, who have recently completed significant academic milestones. Join us in congratulating them.
Jessica Philips has successfully earned a master’s degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Illinois, Springfield.
In the field of medicine, we also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Leeann Zachariah, who has achieved the MRCEM (Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, London). She is the daughter of Mary Zachariah, and Dan Zachariah, Superintendent of Asia.
More than 50 members and guests met for an annual gathering of faith and fellowship with the theme “We Press on for Such a Time as This.” Several teambuilding activities helped strengthen faith, foster community and inspire personal growth. Along with worship, we also had one baptism. We were also blessed with the presence of guest pastors and missionaries who shared stories of their faith journey. The three days were experiences in unity, transformation and surrender to God’s will.
Discover the transformative power of Christ’s love in our new series, GCI Testify. Join us as members from our global fellowship share testimonies of their experiences with Jesus through GCI congregations and ministries. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of the Spirit in and through GCI.
Watch the entire series here.
“I love God. I have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus. I love serving him.”
Get to know Eleanor Toussaint, Hope Avenue champion in Queens, New York, U.S. One of her many roles is Sunday school teacher, where she passionately teaches young people about God’s love.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a cherished ministry of the church, designed to reach neighbourhood children and lead them to know and respond to Jesus Christ as guided by the Holy Spirit. In April, GCI India organized a three-day VBS program. Children, volunteers, and teachers came together in a spirit of learning, worship, and fellowship. The theme for VBS 2025 was Forgiveness, centered around the verse: “Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.”
VBS was held on GC Vanasthalipuram’s premises and jointly hosted by them and GC Hyderabad. Each day we welcomed an average of 25 enthusiastic children, supported by eight committed volunteers and six dedicated teachers. The program began each morning with a sumptuous breakfast, followed by a lively time of worship and praise, and a short devotion tailored for the children. The heart of each day was the activity-based classes, which focused on the theme of forgiveness and were designed to be both engaging and spiritually enriching.
The children witnessed the transformative love of God — a love that heals hearts and strengthens the bonds of community. Our prayer is that these lessons will remain with them, guiding their walk in the love and forgiveness of Christ.
Enjoy the following photos of other Neighbourhood Camps.
