Our Surrey Hills, Oklahoma congregation hosted their first in-person Worship Experience this month. The service was held outdoors at the new property! It was a beautiful night filled with beautiful people.
Church members came together as a team, alongside volunteers to make the whole event happen. It included a coffee house hosted by church members Lucas and Ceeja Malmkar’s coffee shop. It was a great evening of sharing, singing, laughing, and loving each other. For more photos check out the Grace Communion Surrey Hills Facebook page.
Bunda Congregation: This month, our Bunda Congregation was able to provide an Under-five Clinic facility for the surrounding communities. For those unfamiliar, Under-five Clinics are clinics that provide special care for children under the age of five. For more photos, check out the GCI Malawi Facebook page.
Lilongwe Congregation: Every second week of the month, Lilongwe Congregation Youths conduct a Full Church Service including fellowship, announcements, praise and worship, a short message, and the main message. For more photos, check out the post on their Facebook page.
I pray you are well during this unusual time. Who could have known that 2020 would be so full of surprises! COVID-19 pandemic, economic and job turmoil, civil protests, and an earthquake in North Carolina have made this a year to remember, and summer has just barely ended! I have heard some say that they are staying up until midnight on December 31, not to celebrate the beginning of a new year, but to make sure that 2020 does not stick around!
We are blessed to know that our future is secure in Christ. With challenges also come opportunities, growth, and blessings. Shared below are a few of these challenges, opportunities, and blessings as well as some insight into GCI finances so far this year.
Challenges
As you might expect, the pandemic that has shuttered many organizations and forced many out of work has affected GCI operating income this year. Overall, income (excluding Paycheck Protection Program funds) as of June 30 was down roughly 6% from 2019. We pray that in God’s timing, the world will reopen fully, and that donation income will stabilize. Apportionment and estate income have been most affected by the pandemic since many churches have not met in person for many weeks. Thank you to the faithful donors who have continued to support and even increased your giving when others have not been able. Your faithfulness is inspiring.
Another challenge has been the necessary postponement of celebrations and learning and fellowship opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. Much work, preparation and excitement were focused on the international celebration in Charlotte, two regional celebrations in Africa, and other leadership gatherings in 2020. Most of these events have been postponed and funds reallocated to provide successful events for 2021. Like you, we dearly miss the opportunities to fellowship and learn with our brothers and sisters from around the globe, and we look forward to celebrating with you in 2021 knowing that this absence will make these celebrations even better!
Opportunities and Blessings
We have cheered as many Grace Communion International (GCI) congregations began offering online worship services and online giving opportunities. I believe Home Office efforts to provide tools to help congregations with online giving options starting last year was Spirit-led and has helped some congregations thrive in the middle of the pandemic. My hat is off to those who have taken advantage of these tools and have expanded their online ministry reach, despite ongoing challenges. Some congregations have reached new members online that they will have the pleasure of meeting in person when physical worship services resume. Recently, I spoke with a GCI pastor who said that donations have increased 30% from last year because of the online worship, Bible study, and prayer groups that they offered! Please see some giving resources that have helped congregations succeed with online giving. The COVID-19 closures may linger for some time so these tools may yet prove useful.
An artist’s rendering of the completed MTC.
Another exciting opportunity moving forward during this year of challenges is the construction of a church and Ministry Training Center (MTC) in Oklahoma City. This facility will soon serve the vibrant local church and its surrounding community, providing a GCI training arena for new interns and pastoral residents in the U.S. Central Region and beyond. A groundbreaking ceremony anchored by prayer took place August 15 commemorating the start of this project. The construction phase is expected to take about 12 months.
Photos from the Groundbreaking event.
The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPP), a bipartisan bill designed to help organizations, including churches, during this challenging economic environment has been a tremendous blessing. GCI qualified for approximately $1.2 million of PPP benefits, a majority of which were given to eligible congregations in the form of reimbursed salaries, benefits, rent and utility expenses.
With fewer events, we have been able to update the Planned Giving Reference Chart and mail it to all congregations and donors. It is also available online in pdf form. This chart can be used by individuals or congregations to help explore planned giving opportunities. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about planned giving options for your local members. See the contact information within the brochure.
The U.S. church was able to bless our brothers and sisters in the Philippines and the Bahamas through the Disaster Relief Fund this year. Approximately $9000 was sent to aid members affected by the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines, and $24,000 was also sent to the Philippines to stabilize church operations, fulfilling urgent needs caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Disaster assistance of $9,700 was sent to help members in the Bahamas recover from Hurricane Dorian in 2020, following $23,000 sent in 2019.
On behalf of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines and the Bahamas, “thank you” to all the churches who have contributed to this fund so that it stands ready in times like these. Just as God forgave us before we knew that we needed it, you have provided help before the need arose. Thank you for your generous examples!
Among other updates and blessings that are too numerous to mention, is the completion of our annual combined external audit of GCI and Grace Communion Seminary (GCS), both receiving positive unqualified reports, and the accreditation of GCS through 2025. If you are a life-long learner and want to receive a quality, accredited masters-level Christian education, check out GCS at https://www.gcs.edu/.
If you would like to receive a copy of the annual GCI audit and you are a member in good standing, you are welcome to receive a copy by requesting it in writing from Financial Services at financial.services@gci.org.
In closing, I would like to pass on a warm greeting from all of us in the Financial Services area at the Home Office. We are blessed to be working together with you as we join Jesus in his mission to reconcile all people to himself through the miracle of grace. Every time I read Romans 5 and other similar passages; I am overwhelmed by this grace that we have the privilege to share and I am proud that the word “grace is in the name of our church.
God is working among our Grace Communion congregations.
In the midst of Covid-19, our services by Zoom have attracted some 14 new people to our churches – families with children to one GCI church, and one family to our African church in Friesland.
In the meantime, we have resumed physical meetings, while still incorporating Zoom as an option every Sunday.
The joyous news is also that we had one baptism in July and three in August last week!
For our GCI congregation De Hoeksteen in Tiel (The Netherlands), this pandemic has been a time of spiritual growth.Four people were baptized in July and August 2020:
Three in a river, and one in an inflatable bath. The 4 baptized are Gratia Hopman, Monique van der Slikke and the couple David and Berdien Keulen. The ceremonies were performed by pastor couple Hans and Denise de Moei.
So God added four precious people to his kingdom! We are very thankful and praise him for this encouraging growth. We rejoice God is adding to his kingdom!
Warm regards and blessings,
Frans Danenberg Grace Communion International Nederland en Vlaanderen
Eleven members of GC Oriental Mindoro were baptized by Pastor Bernardo “Narding” Cuizon on July 26, 2020.
The newly baptized members are: Ipan Lay-ayan, Ita Gay-ayan, Alyas Salayaw, Adones Gay-ayan, Leony Lin-iman, Asonn Gay-atan, Sima Gay-ayan, Dimi Ipoy, Yumis Lin-iman, Lalyn Yumyan, and Idong Amay.
After the baptism, with proper social distancing, the members gathered in GC Bansud service hall each to receive a sack of rice donated by Pastor Ric Sayo, Pastor Ronald Hernandez, and Pastor Pol Makahiya. The worship service ended with the blessing of the children by Pastor Narding.
Let us all welcome our new siblings in the fellowship!
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”- Luke 15:7 (ESV)
Long time GCI Elder Frank Espinoza has been diagnosed with cancer and we are requesting prayer. Frank has served the church for many years – as an employee in Pasadena and also in the Spanish-speaking area. Now serving in San Diego as an elder at Cornerstone Community Church (Lemon Grove) – a congregation of GCI. Frank’s wife Carmen also has severe health issues.
Frank was diagnosed on September 2 with stage 4 liver cancer that has spread into his lungs. He was in the hospital for only a few days and is now in a hospice house. He is receiving palliative care to deal with the pain, especially as it progresses. His wife, Carmen, has been battling Parkinson’s disease for some time and is almost bedridden at home. The family is working to make it possible for Carmen to move to the same facility where Frank is so that they can be together. Please pray for them both and also for their family as they take care of them during this difficult time.
Cards of encouragement can be sent to:
3591 Ruffin Rd Unit 127, San Diego, CA 92123
Blessings,
Mark Stapleton, Pastor Cornerstone Community Church San Diego, California
The 2020 GCIgnite all-virtual gathering was a success, giving young adults a chance to grow and fellowship despite the postponement of this year’s denominational celebration.
Breakout Session 1
With participants from around the globe, including Australia, Fiji, the Philippines, South Africa, the United States, and more. The event focused on spiritual formation and practice as key components of knowing yourself to lead yourself.
Breakout Session 2
Beginning the week with welcome activities and fellowship, participants then delved into sessions led by speakers Dishon Mills and Michelle Fleming on the main themes. Breakout sessions facilitated discussions about applications of spiritual formation and practice in both their home churches and personal lives. The week concluded with a live worship session led by four amazing young adults and included a prayer session that covered the many challenges we’ve collectively faced this year.
Worship Session
We are grateful for all the hard work and prayers from the GCNext Team and individuals in the home office over the past few months that made GCIgnite possible.
The 2020 GCIgnite gathering provided a great opportunity for participants to connect, grow and worship, and we’re looking forward to next year’s in-person event that will coincide with the Denominational Celebration!
Warm greetings from GCI Burundi in Jesus’ name and hope this report finds you well!
The future construction site.
GCI Burundi Church members, in general, are doing well. Like other countries, Burundi also has affected by COVID -19. The Burundi government announced 250 cases and some sanitary measures have been taken, but the church activities continue.
As we recognized that many members around the world are not gathering together, on March 26, all congregations of GCI Burundi took a time of fasting to seek God’s protection of our GCI Family members around the world and to ask God to inspire researchers as they look for getting medicine for COVID-19. We also began rethinking how our congregation could take extra precautions while meeting.
Due to added safety measures, we have begun to plan various construction projects, including restrooms, a baptismal, a new pastor’s office, and finishing paving the inside of the church hall. Please join us in praying for a successful construction process and completion.
Yours Faithfully, Dr. Eugene Sibomana Burundi National Director & Carama, Burundi Pastor
Following the wake of Hurricane Laura, our Southeastern USA Regional Director, Anthony Mullins, and US Superintendent, Michael Rasmussen reached out to members of GCI congregations who were in the path of the storm. Their updates are below.
Your prayers are much appreciated.
I’ve talked to all but one of our church members, and all are okay. My sister and I suffered no home damage My sister experienced a section of fence damage due to downed tree limbs. We lost electricity for a few days. We had a generator that saved our food and powered an air conditioner/fan and lights. Sunday, August 30, news reports listed 18 deaths from storm-related causes. One half were caused by the improper use of generators. A family of five was among the nine. I believe that all the other deaths were due to trees falling on houses. Today, (Monday, August 31) we are under a heat advisory [105 degrees in some areas] from 9 am to 8 pm which adds to the misery for those without electricity.
The two church families in the Lake Charles area suffered only carport damage. I’ve not been able to contact the church member who lives across the lake in Sulphur. Her home phone does nothing when dialed and her cell goes to voice mail.
We all feel blessed that the storm was not as destructive as had been predicted.
Richard Young Facilitator – Lake Charles, Louisiana
James Scales, our Facilitator for the Beaumont, Texas church is fine and staying with his daughter due to power outages.
All the members are safe and did not sustain major damage from the storm, but some are still without power.
Our friends in the Atlanta GCI congregation are up to good work in their neighborhood again! Under Pastor Charles Young’s leadership, the church is participating in the City of South Fulton’s Summer Food Program. Twice each week the church delivers meals to 85 children who might otherwise go hungry during the pandemic.
This practical ministry reminds me of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
