Category: Stay Connected

October 6 through 8, twelve Home Office employees gathered in Oklahoma City, OK, to plan for the coming year. Due to Covid-19, our meetings took on a different look–we even had GCI branded masks.

We were each seated at individual tables to create proper spacing. At first look, everything seemed so spread out and separated, but after we started working, the extra space didn’t hinder the warm communication or collaboration, and most commented that they liked having the extra space to spread out their documents.

While in Oklahoma City, we traveled to Surrey Hills, the site of the new church building that is being built. We were greeted on-site by Surrey Hill’s pastor, Joe Brannen. Joe gave us a tour of where the sanctuary would be located, classrooms, and meeting space. Although no steel or concrete construction had started, the ground had been leveled and chalk marks, colored string, and wooden stakes were seen throughout the space where concrete was to be poured later in the week. This church facility will also serve as a Ministerial Training Center for interns and pastoral residents when complete.

Our meetings were collaborative, focusing on the Faith Avenue theme for 2021. Working within this theme, we discussed how national and regional resources and events could be focused to support congregations and members in exploring this avenue. The Faith Avenue is one of the three key ministries (the others being Hope and Love) that are important in a healthy church as we share the gospel. Tools, including social media, church hacks, prayer calendar, Equipper, monthly church reporting, and more, will all be used to emphasize and inform participants about the Faith Avenue in 2021.

This planning time together was beneficial and joyful because it is the only time during the year that this group gathers in one place to share ideas face to face. We brainstormed and planned, and also enjoyed recreational time together to relax and deepen our relationships.

The next time we will all be in one place will be the Denomination Celebration in 2021. We hope to see many of you there!

Pam Morgan
Operations Coordinator

In a couple of months, by the grace of God, I will officially begin my tenure as the National Coordinator for Generations Ministry (GenMin). My friend Jeff Broadnax and others blazed a trail that I am grateful to follow. It is humbling to be placed in a position to assist in the spiritual care for the young people of our denomination in the US. Fortunately, God has proven himself to be a God who can do big things with small things. I would like to share a bit of my story with you, so you understand my confidence in God.

I was 5 years old when I last saw my father, and I emotionally struggled with never knowing the man that made me. My mother was always enough, but there were times when the dad-sized hole in me ached. At those times she would say, “Don’t ever think that you don’t have a father. You have a heavenly Father who loves you.” It took me a very long time for me to believe her. I was born into the Worldwide Church of God, and I struggled under legalism and people who did not treat me with kindness. One adult charged with caring for the youth in a neighboring congregation told me that I likely would not amount to much. Encounters like this made God seem unloving and cruel. On top of that, I grew up in a community where many did not value little brown boys. My family was one of few black families in my town, and I suffered under persistent racism. In high school, my guidance counselor refused to help me apply to colleges because he did not believe I was college material. With a backstory like this, you would expect me to become a statistic, but we serve a God who can do big things with small things.

Miraculously, God did not allow the hatred and dehumanization of others to derail his plan for me. By God’s grace, he decided that I would go to Harvard University, where I studied sociology and African American studies. While in school, he introduced me to my wife Afrika, and our union produced Serena and Cairo, our wonderful children. At Harvard, God also gave me my first career through my work-study job. I became the first African American to serve on the adult staff of the South Boston Boys and Girls Club. It was there that I realized how much I loved working with children. For the next twenty years, every job I had was working either with or for young people. For ten years I worked for the Boston Public Schools, where I headed the office that coordinated afterschool programs and student services. At one point, my office supported 8,000 children and youth across the city of Boston. The kid that “would not amount to much” helped thousands of children learn, grow, and realize there were no limits on what they could accomplish. Our God can do big things with small things.

During this time, God was drawing me to himself and towards my calling in Christ. While in college I decided to stop following God. I believed he existed, but I was angry at him and doubted his love for me. That went on for over a year until, like the prodigal son, I remembered my Father and longed to be with him again. Because God is full of grace, he began to reveal himself in different ways and in different places. My wife and I attended a progressive Baptist church, a megachurch, a traditional Baptist church, and a Pentecostal church. At each church except the megachurch, I was invited to lead in ministry — youth minister, associate pastor, and youth pastor, respectively. It was through these experiences that I came to learn that God is a good God, and in him, there is no shadow or darkness. I came to fall in love with the church and wanted to participate in the work Jesus was doing. God took the kid that hated church and was not taught about Christ to share the gospel with scores of youth and adults. Our God can do big things with small things.

God brought my story full circle and returned me to Grace Communion International. God used the denomination that placed burdens on me as a child to spiritually liberate me and finally give me a theology that felt right. After serving as a church planter in Randolph, MA, the Lord led me to shepherd Grace Christian Church, the same church I occasionally attended in college. God blessed me with a truly beautiful church family. When Greg Williams approached me about the GenMin role, my mind flashed back through the journey I just shared with you, seeing God’s hand in every moment. Of course, I prayed and sought wise counsel from those led by the Spirit, but through the circumstances of my life, God showed me the extent to which he had been equipping and preparing me for this moment before I even knew to call on him. My God can do big things with small things. I pray that God will use me, in partnership with parents, pastors, and congregations, to bring the same message to the young people of our denomination.

Dishon Mills

The Next Leg for GenMin

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry… I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. -2 Timothy 4:5-7

In a 4 x 100-meter relay race, each runner is strategically placed so that the team can use his/her speed to maximum advantage to win the race. No matter what position, the coach wants each team member to run their race to the full and then hand the baton to the next member.

There is a 20-meter exchange zone to hand off the baton but experienced runners know about the additional 10 meters called the acceleration zone. It allows you to get up to full speed as you enter the exchange zone and receive the baton.

In that spirit, I’m excited to be handing off the GenMin baton to Dishon Mills for the next leg of the race. I have known Dishon and his family for decades. His mom, Shirley, has been an instrumental prayer warrior in my life, my congregation, and my ministry.

When I received the baton from Anthony Mullins in 2017, I knew my leg was to equip the members of the GenMin camps, missions, and ministries for the transformation the Lord was working in GenMin.

Our motto of Loving Kids, Developing Leaders and Sending a Generation added one spirit-led insight. We moved from sending “A Generation” to sending “Generations”.

Our focus shifted from loving and building children, youth, and young adults via camp ministry to intentionally setting their sights on local congregational mission fields, connection groups, and neighborhood camps. Now it’s time to equip and deploy them.

Dishon has been richly blessed with gifts perfectly suited to lead the discipling, equipping, and sending of those who serve in intergenerational ministry.

This is the second time I have been blessed to watch him take the next leg of a race with me. Back in 2012, after nearly 20 years of service, I was honored and thrilled to release the New Heights Summer Camp into his capable hands. It was a pleasure to watch God use him in fresh ways, with fresh ideas and deep Christ-centered grounding.

I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses him on a national level through GenMin. Like a runner who has given his all and left it on the track, I release the baton and become his biggest cheerleader as he discharges his duties on his leg of the race.

Please join me in praying for Jesus’ strategic placement of Dishon and his team as they continue to love kids, develop leaders and send generations into the mission field to join our Lord, Jesus, in what he is doing in the world.

Jeff Broadnax

Frank Espinoza died quietly, taking his last breath just after 7 pm on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. He was a former employee of WCG, an elder, and a long-time dedicated church member. On September 2, he was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, which had spread to his lungs. He was in a senior care facility over the last month and a half. Gratefully, he was able to be with his wife, Carmen, in that facility during his last days. Carmen has been battling Parkinson’s disease for some time and remains in the care facility. Please pray for her health and comfort and for peace and comfort for the entire family. There was a memorial service for Frank Espinoza at his home GCI church in Lemon Grove, CA on October 24.

You can send cards of sympathy and encouragement to Frank and Carmen’s son at the address below:

Brett Espinoza
13308 Entreken Ave.
San Diego, CA 92129

On October 4, John Biswas was taken into the hospital for a gall bladder operation and survived a heart attack during the operation.

The doctors say they may let him home in a few days if he is well enough. The heart situation will be dealt with later. He was happy to hear everybody’s encouraging words, which I relayed to him one by one. He is very grateful for your prayers for him and his family. He is a tough Bengali.

Praise the Lord,
Roger Lippross

Please pray for our return to Sunday School and personal community outreach with a renewed emphasis on families in the neighborhood. Under the lead of the Spirit, we are offering our congregation as a place of hope and renewal in what will be tough days ahead for our city, physically and spiritually.

With increased unemployment and local budget deficits affecting city services, our community is dealing with issues such as soaring depression, food needs, and potential evictions. In order to be a better presence in our home community, we held our annual Back to School event (outdoors with COVID precautions) on September 13.

As we are returning to our normal worship routines, we were proud to have had our first live Blessing of a Newly Born on September 20. Her name is Icardi Ermene Elizabeth JR. She was born during our first Zoom service of the COVID crisis on March 15 when the pandemic was nearing the worst in the city and hospitals were frantic. She is a symbol of our own rebirth!

John Newsom
Pastor, New Life in Christ
Queens, New York

The GCI Home Office works to serve our dedicated pastors, who shine brightly in their neighborhoods. Here are some words of appreciation from a few of our Denominational Leaders.

Eugene (and Lulu) Guzon
Superintendent, GCI Asia

Thank God for our Pastoral teams! In the last 20 years, our local churches, and our districts in the Philippines has been led almost totally by our lay pastoral teams. They continue to serve our congregations nationwide with selfless dedication and humility. We thank you, dear pastoral teams – our front liners of the faith, for responding to God’s call to serve our 70 congregations and about 30 fellowship groups towards our journey of becoming healthy churches.

We are grateful for your participation in worship, making disciples, and for reaching out to your communities demonstrating God’s love for them in many untiring ways. We are grateful to you for continuing to serve even in the face of many challenges and limited resources, yet abundant in faith and love for our great Triune God. Many of you continue to serve even in your senior years and some, even up to their last breath. I am blessed to have you all as friends and beloved co-workers in God’s work. I pray that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit renew your strength, sustain your passion, and refresh you always to live out and share the good news of Jesus Christ. May he bless you, your families and your communities exceedingly, abundantly. We need you; we love you and appreciate you all! On behalf of the churches and communities you care for, and the greater GCI family, we affectionately commend you all before God!

Isaiah 41:10 TPT

^“10 Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me,^[a] for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation.^[bI will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.”

Wong Mein Kong
Regional Director, GCI Malaysia

October is Pastors Appreciation Month, and I am reminded of the privilege of working with you and your pastoral teams to participate with our Lord Jesus in his mission to the world.

You all serve Christ in unique circumstances in Asia, often challenging and difficult. Your dedication, loyalty, and humility towards the people under your care would surely be seen and felt by them, and most importantly, by our Lord himself.

It is a joy to see you and other leaders in the Asian region working together in unity and harmony. I am touched and edified by your friendship and exemplary servant leadership. The motto from GCI Home Office of “High Challenge, High Support, Grace Always” is something we can aim for.

I can find no more fitting words of encouragement and motivation than those of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2: 19-20: “For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

May God’s blessings be upon you in participating with Christ’s ministry.

Daphne Sidney
Superintendent, GCI Australasia

What a year 2020 has been! A difficult one for everyone – members and Pastors alike. Pastors have had to forego their usual spot at the pulpit and instead speak into tiny cameras and quickly acquire all kinds of zooming skills. There was no theology course to prepare them for Pastoring Pandemically…

Ministry has taken on new ways of serving, via zoom, telephone calls, masked and socially distanced visits depending on the regulations of the area. And maintain vigilance in keeping up with the latest Covid announcements and requirements.

One outstanding thing I have noticed with our Pastors is their deep desire to serve their churches and keep connected with the members, no matter what the circumstances hold! Their love for their congregations overflows through their conversations and activities they are able to undertake.

Eugene Peterson draws an analogy of members being like hikers who walk through the high country and come across magnificent views.[1] Along the way of course there are valleys and fatigue and hunger set it. The Pastor is likened to the one who brings refreshment and recovery in the spiritual environment. The weekly services can be likened to refreshment stops providing spiritual nourishment, “bread from heaven” and refreshing waters to help rejuvenate and inspire the hikers to continue their journey through the week. The Pastor is also there to provide comfort and preside over funerals when a loved one passes, or anoint and pray for the sick, and compassionately work with the hurting and broken-hearted. The Pastor is a joyful part of the celebrations of life, conducting weddings, baptisms, the blessing of children – such an integral part of the life and journey of members.

J.B. London who was known as a ‘Pastor to Pastors’ preached his final sermon, aptly entitled – “Pastors Are People Too”[2] Interesting that he preached this message at the end of his years, most likely with the loss of his youthful energies and the dawning and acceptance of his human frailties and mortality. These beg a deeper connection with life and loved ones and are often very productive years. That’s one thing I have noticed with our retired Pastors – they just keep on serving! Their wisdom and experience is a great blessing to those they are mentoring and serving.

And yes, pastors are people too — they have feet of clay, believe it or not, and they do get tired and sometimes grumpy…well, just a little. It’s always an encouragement to know that Jesus in His humanity grew weary in His travels, sitting beside the well for shade and refreshing water (John 4:6,7). Pastors too need to have that time – time out to sit at the well, time to drink in deeply of the living waters so that they are renewed. It is out of the ‘deep well’ of the life of Jesus Christ in them, that they serve. Their work is a participation in the work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As shepherds, they point people to the Good Shepherd, the ultimate source of spiritual nourishment and life. What a joy and responsibility they carry. Thank you for your prayers for them. The greatest gift you can gift a Pastor with, is yourself. And that’s one thing I have noticed with our members — loving and faithful members who show up regularly, who participate in the life of the church – who support and pray for the church and the generations to come — what a blessing you are to your Pastor. Thank you!

As October is Pastor Appreciation Month, most of all, thank you for your prayers for our pastors and their families. Perhaps you would like to find some practical ways to express appreciation for your Pastors as well. A card or note of encouragement always goes a long way, or any other creative ideas you may think of. I would like to conclude with Paul’s words to the church in Thessalonica: Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other [I Thess 5:12-13].

[1] E. Peterson: Five Stones for Pastoral Work, Grand Rapids Michigan 1980

[2] www.Christianitytoday.com/news/2018/0ctoberdied-h-v-london-focus-on-famiy

Michael D. Rasmussen,
Superintendent, North America & Caribbean

Words cannot express my deep appreciation for all of you! You are amazingly resilient servants of our Lord! This year has been difficult to say the least and yet you have all maintained great attitudes and stayed focused on how you can join Jesus in being the Church. You have been creative in how you have stayed connected to your members and your neighbors, even though we have had to physically distance most of the year. I can’t imaging working alongside a more dedicated group of servant leaders. Please know that in the darkest of times, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are often making the greatest transformation of hearts and minds. We are not alone or without the great love and guidance of the One who makes a way where there seems to be no way. Please know that you are loved and valued, not just by the leadership of the denomination, but by our Lord and Savior Himself.

What does Healthy Church mean to you? Snap and submit photos from your GCI church events to enter our 2020 Healthy Church Photo Contest.

Individual prizes include up to $150 in GCI Spreadshirt Web Store credit.

For more information go to: https://resources.gci.org/photocontest