It is with sadness we announce the death of Steven Lewis Broadnax of Cincinnati, Ohio. Steven died on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the age of 67, surrounded by loved ones. He will be greatly missed.
He is the brother of Jeff Broadnax, Regional Director of the Eastern U.S. Jeff shared the following reflection:
My big brother was one of my heroes growing up. We were eleven years apart so everything he did was super cool to me. As we grew into adulthood, I continued to admire him as a man, husband, father, brother and child of God. His smile was infectious and a true love (that could only come from God) was always felt by those he came into contact with.
Cards may be sent to: Jeff and Karen Broadnax 1211 Deer Path Court Grove City, OH 43123-8750
We are Grace Communion River Road, formerly Grace Communion Eugene and before that, Living Grace Fellowship. We have gone through many names, but our heart has always remained the same. We have been a people that have endured many moves in our long history—including grange halls, schools, movie theaters, and square dance palaces!
More than twenty years ago, we were fortunate to land in a Methodist church that offered us a chance to heal and realize our purpose both within the congregation and without, but we knew it wasn’t a permanent home. We started our search for a permanent location, and we ended up just jumping from that church to another one that felt even less like the place we wanted to be. But at least we were able to make the change to Sunday at that location.
We finally hired a realtor to help with the search, but she didn’t understand our needs, like parking, appropriate rooms, and accessibility for those who are disabled. We became discouraged and finally gave up the search. There just wasn’t anything out there.
It is very interesting when you give up control of a situation, because it is then that God is ready to step in and take control. He was waiting for us to see what he had in store for us in his time.
Later, my son told us of a church that was for sale in our small community, and we thought it would work for us. But eventually, we realized we would not be able to afford to purchase it. Oddly enough, a member approached me and asked if we would be interested in leasing the church if she and her husband purchased the property. Of course, I said yes! They purchased the property, and we moved in. (Then COVID happened, but even that was a blessing because it allowed us to do some remodeling before we moved in.)
Over the months, it became apparent that some of the plans the owners had for developing the property were not feasible, creating an opportunity for GCI to help them transition from ownership and bless Grace Communion River Road with a permanent home. It seemed that the Holy Spirit was moving puzzle pieces around to make this a blessing for all. The Home Office stepped in, with board approval, and purchased the building for the Eugene Congregation with available funds from our region. Our congregation was told over 70 years ago that one day they would have a building of their own, and now they finally did!
We have a concentration of members in Junction City and the bulk of our members live just to the south, in the north end of Eugene. Therefore, it has been on our radar for quite some time to pursue Junction City as a potential focus neighborhood. So, you can imagine how thrilled we are to have found a church location in our focus neighborhood!
As a new church to the neighborhood, we are trying to be a “learner first” and not coming in with any preconceived ideas of what we think we should be doing. We have a pretty good understanding of our area because we’ve been mapping our neighborhood. We know the urban vibe is starting to grow because younger people are moving in, and it’s a neighborhood full of families. Now, we just need to find where we can be the best fit.
Original church with bell tower
Our challenges going forward are shared with the rest of the world—Covid. Once we have it behind us, we can make the push we’re wanting to make to engage our neighborhood more fully. And you know what? COVID has, in some respect, been a blessing because it’s allowed us to get moved into a new building and make the renovations that we needed. Our little country church is not extravagant; it puts on no airs. It is surrounded by Filbert Orchards and a Country Club. There are many projects in the works from roofing, laying asphalt in the parking lot, landscaping, and tree removal. Also, we are considering adding a “bell tower” to make it resemble the original church that stood on this property for more than eighty years.
Covid has also forced us to have the digital presence that we’ve always wanted. So, without the pressure of having to hurry all these projects along and risk them turning out poorly, we were able to do properly what was needed.
Church outdoors during Covid restrictions
Since moving in, we’ve already come to know many families in the neighborhood. Now we’re looking forward to opening our doors and welcoming the families with an Open House in July. And then hopefully, we will be mutually welcomed by our neighbors.
So, for those thinking “It’s never going to happen. We are never going to find a permanent home,” I was the last person to believe our story could happen. But it did happen—in just the right time, in just the right place, and most importantly, in God’s timing and not ours.
Note: Listen to Linda and others talk about the process of “mapping” their neighborhoods from a posture of being a “learner” on this episode of GC Podcast.
“The message I hope to send is that God gave you talents, so find them, develop them, and use them for his glory!”—Josh Holsenbeck
Check out this month’s GCI Profile to get to know Josh Holsenbeck, member of Grace Communion Richardson, Texas, U.S. To read his full profile, click the image below. #WeAreGCI
Grace Communion Cleveland (Cleveland, Ohio) hosted their 18th Annual LiLY (Living Life for You) Women’s Conference on April 22-24, 2022, at Embassy Suites in Beachwood, Ohio. Eighty-one women registered to participate in our conference, “Faith in Action,” highlighting the theme scripture:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28).
The weekend began with a praise and worship session Friday evening. Saturday, our first speaker Dr. Kim Carter, led “Igniting Your Faith.” We were reminded to look for the “And” in scripture and remember we are enough. We walked away with the words “Read, Heed, Study, Work” to put our faith in action.
Left to Right: Pastor Carrie Osborne, Dr. Kim Carter, Pam Smith
Pastor Carrie Osborne (Voice of Hope Church of God—Grace Communion Chillicothe, Ohio) presided over session two, “Your Heart God’s Home.” She shared how we know we do not have to be perfect, but we can still struggle with perfectionism. Another highlight was learning how creating boundaries allows us to love others and ourselves simultaneously.
Dr. Carter returned in the afternoon with “Executing Your Faith in Action Plan,” where we learned the need to be in the correct posture to move forward in faith, not lose precious time, and how God is really in charge of us. We learned not just to tell God about our problems but instead to take the time to inform our problems about our God.
Ashley Gray, praising with worship flags
Pastor Tamar Gray (Grace Communion Cleveland, Ohio) was the MC for the weekend and led the last session-church service on Sunday. The sermon was titled “Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt.” Before leaving, we were reminded to drop our doubts and put our faith in Jesus.
Chakeyra’s proud parents, Charles and Keysha Taylor, are the pastor and Hope Avenue Champion at GC Miramar, Florida, U.S.
Let us share in the joy of Chakeyra Taylor’s accomplishment! On Sunday, May 1, 2022, she received a Bachelor of Public Health from Florida International University in Miami, Florida.
This is Chakeyra’s second degree. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts in 2017. She is on track to enter medical school in the near future.
Chakeyra, you bear the image of our triune God in the way you desire to serve others and usher in light where there is darkness. Congratulations!
Carmon “Mac” McCulley, father of Denver North pastor Mark McCulley, died on March 1, 2022 aged 99. He was born on a farm in central Tennessee in 1923, the first of four children. He moved to Nashville before being drafted into the Army where he served in the Signal Corps toward the end of WWII in Okinawa. After the war, Carmon and his new wife Doris settled in Wichita, KS where they raised seven children. He worked as a mail handler for the railroad, then as a machinist, including at the Coleman Company for many years. After retiring, he volunteered at a local hospital, and developed friendships with several of the doctors serving there. He and his family were pioneer members of WCG in Wichita, and Carmon was an avid student of the Bible all his life.
Doris died in 1975, and Carmon remarried, later saying he felt blessed to have been married to two great loves. His second wife, Sue, passed in 2019. He leaves seven children: Carma Ellen Aschenbrenner, Brenda Williams, Timothy McCulley, Mark McCulley, Paul McCulley, Laurie McCulley, and Leah David. His graveside service in Wichita was attended by many old friends and admirers, his seven children, several of his 16 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
Cards may be sent to: Mark and Joanne McCulley 9246 Ingalls St Westminster, CO 80031
Enjoy this virtual tour of the GC Surrey Hills church and Ministry Training Center (MTC) that was dedicated on January 29, 2022. Click the links above to watch the dedication ceremony.
This is the first established MTC in GCI. But we have initiatives for more MTCs in the works. See the link below for more information about MTCs, and check out this GCI Buzz about Ministry Training Centers.
What do you get when you combine laughs, snowballs, victories, pizza, giggles, and a trophy?
You get a Snowball Extravaganza!
GC Kenockee held a Cross-Generation event (part of the Faith Avenue) to mark the passing of our Michigan winter and to celebrate our youth/adult connections. What better way than to host an indoor snowball competition (cotton snowballs) between the youth and the adults?
The prize? Mostly bragging rights but also a trophy and plaque that we hope to compete for each year, much like the Stanley Cup. Naturally as the anticipation grew each week, there was a build up to the event that included some good-natured jiving (can we say mild trash talking?). The youth were encouraged to invite friends and neighbors, which also made it feel like an outreach event for our Love Avenue.
Judges were assigned to count the number of hits that landed on opponents with the winning team having the least number of hits. It was a time to be a little crazy but all in good fun!
The winners you ask? The youth won the day this time, but the adults are already talking a comeback for next year. So, the buildup begins early, which goes to show just how much fun was had by all. Disappointments and ‘wounds’ were consoled by a pizza party that followed the Snowball Extravaganza.
The idea for this event was the result of our youth receiving second place in their age group for last year’s ‘Healthy Church Challenge’. The prize money from that challenge was used to cover expenses.
Our youth have begun to plan with the Faith Avenue Champion the next cross-generation event coming soon. But for now, we say so long winter, hello spring, and congratulations to our GC Kenockee youth!
By Kathy Forsyth, Faith Avenue Champion and Grant Forsyth, Kenockee Pastor
Floriade Expo 2022 is the world horticultural exhibition in Almere, The Netherlands, April 14 – October 9. It is the seventh Floriade in the Netherlands and the 23rd edition of the AIPH world horticultural exhibition.
Working Together Towards a Common Goal
At the Floriade 2022, in our pavilion of Fruitful City, we point out the greatness of creation, which is expressed in our slogan: Attention to God’s Creation and Care for Each Other. We strive for this by realizing the construction of a Tiny Church (max 40 persons capacity), a garden with biblical plants and shrubs and crops and medicinal herbs, and a garden with 12 works of art about the fruit(s) of the Spirit. In the garden are several walking routes with questions about creation, nature, and sustainability.
“Joy”
That was the challenge we heard in 2016 when about 20 denominations of Evangelical Contact gathered in Almere to think about the question: do we as churches want to be present at the Floriade 2022? The answer was a clear, “Yes!” 2022 seemed far away then, now it’s here! Because I had just lost my job at ING in October 2016 and went into early retirement, I raised my hand to volunteer to participate in the group of 5 people, which later became a board with a foundation form. On the board, I represent the evangelical movement, next to the Protestant and Catholic denominations, and we started working together under the guidance of the Spirit.
My areas of responsibility are the contacts and communication with the artists who made the statues, and the landscape gardener for the construction of the garden. Administratively, I contribute as vice-chairman. I have volunteered to coordinate various presentations and lectures that will take place from various churches on the Tiny Church site over the next 6 months, which is consistent with my past restaurant work experience. We have had setbacks over time. For example, a building permit was not granted, and we came to a standstill. Then it was brought to the Lord in prayer, together with the City Prayer group of Almere. And that gave the breakthrough!
“Patience”
It’s been a special experience to be involved in such a project, to be interviewed on mainly Christian radio and TV and newspapers. Most of all, I discovered that I could make a meaningful contribution to such a project, and trust in God to participate, and that my contribution is appreciated. My eyes have been opened to the creativity of the minds of the artists, and I got to know Christians from many different Christian organizations such as the Protestant Church, Green Churches, Platform church and art, Inspiration Gardens at churches and cloisters, Enough to Live. These Christians show an inspiration for creation and sustainability and caring for creation as God commanded Adam and Eve—and all of us. (Revelation 11;18, Genesis 2:15,4-8)
The pursuit of sustainability is set out in presentations at our location. Our Tiny Church is turning with the sun and has solar panels on the roof, so we are independent of electricity supply. Our saying is, “We are turning towards the sun.” Someone asked if we are sun worshippers. Our answer was: No, we turn toward the Son of righteousness, Jesus Christ. We follow the true light. We didn’t receive any more comments after that!
The Tiny Church, the garden, and the statues were completed for the opening on April 13, when our King Willem-Alexander was a guest. On Easter Monday, various speakers from various churches were represented. Hans de Moei, the GCI National Director of the Netherlands, also attended.
Drone overview during construction
Our main goal is pointing the visitors of our garden installation to spiritual sustainability—that they need the fruit of the Spirit, like love, meekness, self-control, patience, kindness, joy etc.
An estimate of 200 visitors per day will visit Fruitful City and can admire creation and reflect on what spiritual properties a new neighborhood needs to be able to interact well as fellow human beings (Galatians 5 fruit of the Spirit and 1 Corinthians 13). We’re hopeful our visitors will realize that we must look up to the God of creation for those needs—hence, the sloping roof of our Tiny Church!
There is a feeling that permeates the Fruitful City: we are not ashamed of God and Christ and proclaim that He is our Creator! Genesis says that God planted a garden with beautiful trees and plants. He just called that to life in a moment, I imagine. And we toiled for years to accomplish the Tiny Church and garden and statues! That’s something that keeps you humble, knowing His blessing is undeniably indispensable.
By Frans Danenberg Vice-chairman of Fruitful City, pastor of Grace Communion, and member of the National pastoral team Netherlands & Flanders (Dutch area)
It is with sadness we announce the death of Steven Lewis Broadnax of Cincinnati, Ohio. Steven died on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the age of 67, surrounded by loved ones. He will be greatly missed.
