Category: Stay Connected

Click the image below for the 2019 February Prayer Guide.

Don’t Miss Out! West USA Regional Celebration Closes February 25th.

In 2019, GCI will host 5 Regional Celebrations in the USA:

• April 5 – 7 West – Portland, OR
• June 7 – 9 Central – Dallas, TX
• June 21 – 23 Southeast – Charlotte, NC
• September 27 – 29 North Central – Noblesville, IN
• October 25 – 27 East – Ocean City, MD

Click the image below to for more information and registration options.

 

Fully Engaged in Mission

December 7-10, 2018 marked the 26th trip into Mexico for Crossing Borders—a GCI-chartered missions team. As we’ve done on previous winter trips, we were able to personally distribute hundreds of shoebox gifts filled with necessary and fun items to the children.

Our group of 21 missionaries included some experienced hands and several who were brand-new to the missions experience. We had our first expectant mother on the trip—and we pampered her. And for a man and woman who met online only a month before, this mission trip was their “first date”—the first time they had spent time together in person.

Our theme was “Engage”—for each person on our missions team to make special effort to be alert, involved and engaged in every aspect of the trip. Whether loading shoeboxes into the vans, singing songs at a church, listening to a Bible message, taking photos of the children and their families, visiting one-on-one with a child or church leader, eating a meal together, or sharing worship in our chapel service—to be fully engaged in what is going on, what God is providing at that moment.

I wish each of you could be with us to see the smiles and hear the squeals of joy from the kids, to see the looks of gratitude from the parents, and to share the heartfelt conversations with our Mexican ministry partners.

We always take special resources with us to share on these trips. It might be a Bible commentary or an inspirational book for a pastor or orphanage leader, boxes of craft items that can be assembled and sold by the people to create some added income for their households, or songs or a drama that we perform during our trip.

On this trip, the children at one of the churches staged a skit of the biblical birth story of Jesus with full costumes. As we watched them tell the story, we realized that they were performing the skit based on the text of a printed flyer we had inserted into all the shoebox gifts last year. So they had utilized this resource to involve their own children learning and sharing the Gospel. God multiplies the resources!

We are so thankful for all those who participate by sending boxes and praying for the mission trips. Your support makes a great positive difference in the lives of hundreds of people who need to see God’s love in action. Muchas Gracias!

Our next trip week-long trip is scheduled for June 22-30, 2019, with details on www.cbmission.org. Come join us or tell a friend!

P.S. We are in need of attendees who speak Spanish and can serve as translators. We also need someone to stay at the base camp and serve as our cook/camp host. If the Holy Spirit pricks your heart to consider serving in either of these ways, please contact Lee Berger at 903-746-4463.

Do you attend a GCI church? Enter to win our 2018-2019 GCI Photo Contest and submit photos of your healthy church.
Prizes include, $100, $200, and $300 Amazon gift cards!

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

GC Launch was a weekend celebration and leadership development event for high school juniors and seniors within GCI’s Generations Ministry. Over the course of the weekend, participants were introduced to and loved on by GCI leaders and the Home Office Team. They received a behind the scenes look at the ministries of GCI.

Register Now for a Regional Celebration Near You

In 2019, GCI will host 5 Regional Celebrations in the USA:

• April 5 – 7 West – Portland, OR
• June 7 – 9 Central – Dallas, TX
• June 21 – 23 Southeast – Charlotte, NC
• September 27 – 29 North Central – Noblesville, IN
• October 25 – 27 East – Ocean City, MD

Click the image below to for more information and registration options.

 

Register Now for GCI Regional Celebrations

In 2019, GCI will host Regional Celebrations, taking place in 5 regions of the USA:

• West USA – April 5, 2019 – April 7, 2019
• Central USA – June 7, 2019 – June 9, 2019
• Southeast USA – June 21, 2019 – June 23, 2019
• North-Central USA – September 27, 2019 – September 29, 2019
• East USA – October 25, 2019 – October 27, 2019

Click the image below for more information on the GCI 2019 Regional Celebrations.

 

With gratitude, we celebrate Deborah Paz and her 31 years of devoted service to Grace Communion International. Her caring nature, dedication to detail, and dependability are remembered by all who had the pleasure to work with and know her. She was first hired part-time in May 1984 as Deb Nickel, a student at Ambassador College in Pasadena working in the Telephone Response Department, with a second job in the Ambassador Auditorium. In May 1987, Deb took a full-time job in our Publishing Department as a Production Services Assistant. Deb then transferred to Church Administration where, in 1995, she began serving as Executive Assistant to Dr. Joseph Tkach Jr. He remarked, “More than an excellent assistant, Deb is a dear friend to Tammy and me.” On January 4, 2019, she transitioned from GCI employment. Thank you, Deb, for your love, support, and a job well done. Praying for a joy-filled next season for you and Don.

 

With warm wishes we celebrate the retirement of Ted Johnston on January 4, 2019. A humble and faithful servant of Jesus who contributed so much to our denomination for decades, Ted worked in pastoral ministry since 1987, serving as a Pastor, District Superintendent, and Regional Pastor. During his tenure, Ted was a champion for youth ministry and mentoring new leaders. Ted served as Gen Min director, and developed much of our Media content through his role of Editor of both GCI Update and Equipper. Ted is a vibrant and vital member of our GCI family and we pray blessings over him and his wife Donna as they enter this new season.

Here are some of Ted’s parting words: “I’m optimistic as I peer into GCI’s future. But I’m also realistic—our transformation needs to continue—we have not arrived. To my brothers and sisters, I say, ‘journey on’!”

Thank you, Ted for the road you have laid and the way you have encouraged us on our journey together.

Click on the image below to learn more about Ted.

Click the image below for the 2019 January Prayer Guide.