Category: Stay Connected

Kelly Meade and Andrew Rakestraw wrap up 2021 with an engagement! Andrew and Kelly met in 2017 at the GCI International Celebration, where they spent every day together, talking late into the evening about their lives, theology, and everything in between. Since then, they supported each other as friends, both knowing that the connection they had was valuable. They acknowledged that this connection could be a God-filled, life giving, and loving relationship during 2021. They got engaged in the Rakestraw’s backyard December 31, 2021. A May wedding is planned.

Stacey and Robert Meade and Carolyn and Jonathan Rakestraw are happy to celebrate the engagement of these two!

This month’s GCI Buzz explains the Hope Avenue and provides some examples of how you can contextualize it to your congregation. #gcibuzz

Check out the full PDF here: https://resources.gci.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/022022-GCI-Buzz.pdf

God is so faithful, friends. It’s been 5 years of dreaming, following what God placed in our hearts, stepping out in faith, and joining with the incredible generosity from our denomination, sister churches, and amazing members. It’s been 5 years of tears, prayer, awe, and more joy than can be expressed. After 5 years, and by the grace of God, we celebrate the dedication of our brand-new Church and Ministry Training Center facility in Surrey Hills! Praise God!

While my gratitude cannot be fully captured with words, my heart is exploding with so much humility and thankfulness. This year, my family and I celebrate ten years with GCI. The ways in which God has used this denomination to impact and change the course of our lives are indescribable. I’ve always believed that God has a plan for our denomination and churches in ways that we cannot fathom. Not only have I believed that, but I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

As I write, there is so much joy filling my heart, as I celebrate the fact that I have the honor of being the Ministry Training Center Coordinator for this incredible program. I look forward to working with young people who have a calling to pastoral ministry and spending time alongside them as God uses their hearts and gifts to participate in His Great Commission of making disciples. I am so excited to think “outside the box” and empower and equip these young people to be healthy leaders, being careful to fuel their passions, rather than suppress them.

After years of searching for land, God moved through relationship, and we were able to secure the most beautiful place in Surrey Hills nestled on an amazing pond in the heart of our target neighborhood. Three years later, here we are! We dedicated this building to the amazing God who gave it. This special event took place on Saturday, January 29th in the new MTC building. We dedicated the building to our great God and to the furtherance of His kingdom work. Dr. Randy Bloom (GCI Board Chair), Dr. Greg Williams (GCI President), Michael Rasmussen (GCI Superintendent, North America & Caribbean), and Mathew Morgan (GCI Chief Financial Officer) joined us for this special occasion. The day started at 9:30am in the Welcome Center where drinks and light snacks were served. We then moved into the Sanctuary for a thirty-minute Dedication Ceremony.

As we celebrate all God has done and continues to do, we also pause and relish in his goodness with so much gratitude for all the people he has used to help make this happen! We are so excited. We are overflowing with joy and hope. We are compelled by his love to celebrate this momentous occasion. We are GCI!

By Ceeja Malmkar
Ministry Training Center Coordinator

We are excited to welcome Cara Garrity as the new host for season three of the GCPodcast! Cara is the GCI Development Coordinator, ordained elder, and host of GCPodcast, who, at 21 connected with GCI after being brought to the local church in Boston. Cara will continue exploring best ministry practices in the context of Grace Communion International churches, through warm, insightful conversations, filled with joy and laughter.

To listen to GCPodcast, check out https://resources.gci.org/media/gcpodcast or search for “Grace Communion International” on your favorite podcast app.

“As an 83-year-old widow of an unbeliever and as a great-great-grandmother, I want to show everyday people that we can all serve in the ‘little things’ and still have a positive impact on others.”

Check out this month’s GCI Profile to get to know Donna Jones, a member of Grace Communion Big Sandy. To read her full profile, click the image below.

Robert (Bob) Paul Taylor passed away at his home in Franklin, TN on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at the age of 82 from Covid complications. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and granddaddy. Bob was born August 19, 1939 in Greeneville, TN to the late Paul Dean Taylor and Willie Irma GeFellers Taylor.

Electronics was Bob’s chosen field. He became a computer engineer with GE at the time when working on a computer actually required walking inside of it. After several years in the profession, he took early retirement from Honeywell. His continued interest in computers led him to begin setting up computer systems and software programs and into computer accounting.

As much as he enjoyed computer work, his most beloved job was pastoring which he began in 1995. He served congregations of the Worldwide Church of God (now Grace Communion International) in Nashville, Clarksville, Crossville, and Bowling Green. In 1999, he began serving as a District Superintendent over several states. It was in ministry that he met and came to love so many dear friends. After retiring in 2006 he helped many churches set up and maintain accounting software programs and performed financial reviews for them as well.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Clark B. Taylor, and sister-in-law Sylvia Taylor of Greeneville. Bob is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jan Jones Taylor, originally from Lewisburg, TN. Children: Deborah Taylor of Murfreesboro, TN; Mike (Mimi) Taylor of Joelton, TN and Stacie (Tony) Whaley of Murfreesboro, TN. Grandchildren: Jennifer (Matt) Prior; Brian (Shandi) Patterson; Jay (Rachel) Taylor; Brody Taylor; Chaz Taylor; Jack Whaley. Great-grandchildren: Hayden Prior; Taylor Prior; Brycen Patterson; Baylor Patterson; Brooks Patterson. Several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of life was held February 5, 2022 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home in Franklin, TN. Regional Director Rick Shallenberger and GCI Board Chair Randy Bloom officiated.

Cards may be sent to:

Jan Taylor
115 Chester Stevens Court
Franklin, TN 37067-5838

You’re Included is a video series dedicated to exploring inclusive trinitarian theology. In each episode we interview a different theologian and discuss their understanding and experience in participating with Christ in this relationship we are all invited into. To watch the series, go to https://www.gci.org/videos/youre-included/

“As a mother of two and grandmother of five, I have deep affection, respect, and empathy across each generation and the rich contribution that each age group, from the very youngest to the most senior, is able to make to the life of the church. I know that truly growing together in Christ is vital to a healthy and relevant church.” Check out this month’s GCI Profile to get to know Margaret Cohen, an Elder in our Carina, Australia congregation. To read her full profile, click the image below.

If you were inspired by the youth participation in the Healthy Church Challenge (you can see the results here if you missed it) join me in giving a big shout out to the volunteer Healthy Church Challenge team! These talented leaders worked together to coordinate everything from the design and promotion of the challenge to the collection of challenge entries, monitoring of votes, and announcement of challenge winners. Thank you for making the Healthy Church Challenge possible! It is a blessing to invest in emerging generations alongside you.

Cara Garrity
GCI Development Coordinator

Charissa Panuve GCI Fiji

Where do you call home? Fiji

I feel like I connect with the Faith Avenue the most with the community building aspect. I love meeting people and sharing testimonies and stories and I think the Great Commission is such a great honour to be a part of and I enjoy being able to plant a seed that will hopefully someday grow in someone’s heart

Favorite Activity: If it’s not swimming, it’ll be sleeping or eating 😂

Ria Guzon GC Crossway (Philippines)

Where do you call home? Sunny Philippines ☀️

What I really love about the concept of having a Healthy Church is the intentional strengthening of our community through relationship building across all age groups— all are heard and represented. Having a healthy Faith Avenue encourages members to participate as they are equipped and nurtured in the process.

Favorite Activity: I’m an introvert, so I find my own space in watching re-runs of FRIENDS, and a bag of Cheetos jalapeño all for myself. 🙂

Cairo Mills Grace Communion Church

Where do you call home? Charlotte

The Hope Avenue connects with me the most because of its collaborative nature in how we worship. It promotes inclusion of people into the church so no one is excluded from feeling loved.

Favorite Activity: Soccer and wrestling!