Grace Christian Church, GCI’s congregation in Waltham, MA (Boston area), recently conducted a community-wide event called the Kaleidoscope Festival. According to GCI Pastor Dishon Mills, the congregation established and coordinated the event—determining its theme and theological foundation, designing its logo and other graphics, recruiting other event partners, securing donations for raffles, recruiting vendors, obtaining necessary city permits, recruiting and managing volunteers, setting up the space, and providing advertising. Dishon gave this report:
God has gifted our church to be multigenerational and multiethnic, and we wanted to share that with our community. We also heard from our community that many people were feeling our society was getting more and more divided. In particular, Waltham recently had a few ugly incidents as it adapts to its changing demographics. The Holy Spirit used all these things to guide us to create an event that would celebrate diversity and seek to heal man-made divisions. In addition to the joy that comes from participating in the work that Jesus is doing, our members got to build relationships with dozens of our neighbors. Since the event emphasized open conversation, we got to talk about the gospel in a relaxed, welcoming environment. We incentivized visiting the various community engagement tables, so most guests got to talk with someone who was different from them. Since God made us for relationship, this is part of what living and sharing the gospel means to us.
Police officer (at left) with Dishon Mills
One of our volunteers, who is currently homeless and having a lot of family problems, was beaming throughout the event because it made her feel seen and useful. Another volunteer, one of our members, had a 45-minute conversation with a man about Jesus. The conversation started with him saying he didn’t believe in God and ended with him saying he wanted to visit our church. I had a wonderful conversation with a man who had negative experiences with religion. Interacting with us and being at the event made him want to hear more about our church. I will be having lunch with him soon. We had similar conversations throughout the festival. A captain in the Waltham police force told me that the city needs more events like this and he would be happy to be involved in the future.
Our church received a lot more visibility in the community as a result of this festival. As we continue to reach out, we believe we will become known as “the church that creates community.” Though sharing the gospel is our primary goal, we feel that events like this will attract people to our congregation due to the relationships that are being formed.
Joseph, Tammy and Greg attend conference in Australia
Joseph and Tammy Tkach and Greg Williams recently attended a conference for GCI pastors and members held in Australia’s Gold Coast. They joined more than 230 people attending from six countries. The conference provided an opportunity to say “farewell” to outgoing President Joseph Tkach and his wife Tammy, and to welcome Greg Williams, who will become GCI president at the end of this year.
The conference was a wonderfully warm occasion for fellowship and learning. As one participant noted, “What an excellent conference. We love our church, and are grateful for the journey we have shared. We are going away encouraged and motivated to continue in faith, hope and love with renewed clarity and enthusiasm.” Another said, “We loved the interview format and learned so much. We appreciate the prayerful and professional transition taking place—so good to see the relationship between Joe and Greg.” As shown in the picture below, a highlight of the conference was the ordination of Daphne Sidney.
Joseph Tkach shared this concerning the conference:
Tammy and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Queensland for our Australian Conference. It was like a family reunion and a celebration! The praise music and the worship were excellent, and the food and fellowship were abundant. Even though I retire this year, we are planning a return visit in the future.
The McLeans and Tkachs
Greg Williams shared this:
I was overwhelmed by how receptive and welcoming the people were toward me. It was a lovely reunion since my last visit to Australia was in 1982 for SEP. I noticed among our members a deep appreciation about our past and a very positive spirit about our future. Daphne’s ordination, which reflects her deeper dive into ministry, was exciting. She has wonderful experiences and skill sets that should serve our Australian pastors and churches very well.
Greg visits New Zealand
Greg addressing members
Prior to meeting up with Joseph and Tammy in Australia, Greg spent three days visiting members and leaders in New Zealand. In church services during the visit, Greg gave a sermon titled “The Big Picture” in which he gave an overview of his vision for GCI’s future. He addressed the goal of developing healthy churches and outlined other goals as well as the structure and culture of GCI going forward. Pastor Dennis Richards submitted this report about Greg’s visit:
What a joy it was to have Greg Williams swing by Wellington, one of GCI’s most southerly congregations. Our gathering started with a finger-foods lunch allowing all to stand around and chat, so by the time services began, Greg had already met many who came. Our service began with an informal Mihi (greetings) given by Louis Smith in Maori, Samoan and English, followed by an explanation of the Maori welcoming customs by Janis Murton, who also spoke in Maori and English. At the heart of Greg’s sermon were his projections for advancing our vision for living and sharing the gospel, and how what he foresees for our future connects to and emerges from what has been accomplished under Joseph Tkach’s leadership. Generally, the word afterward was how much all were encouraged by the message, and how much each appreciated his effort in coming so far to visit us.
GCI’s congregation in Bowling Green, KY (pictured below), celebrated its 50th anniversary on Pentecost Sunday. The celebration was led by Facilitator Bonnie Ferranti and the sermon was given by guest speaker Lloyd Briggie. The celebration capped off with lunch at a local restaurant.
Here are links to reports on recent developments and ministry activities in GCI-Philippines:
Dr. Eugene Guzon
Eugene Guzon graduates. Congratulations to GCI-Philippines National Director Eugene Guzon who was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformational Leadership.
A medical-dental missionwhere professionals hosted by a GCI congregation provided medical and dental services to people in the community where the congregation meets.
Here from Rod Matthews (GCI Mission Developer for Southern Asia and the South Pacific) is an update on GCI ministry activity in Nepal.
As seen in the picture below, smiling, shy and excited faces met our gaze when we addressed this year’s incoming students at the Himalayan Bible School (HiBiS), which began its 2018, three-month-long-term in February. My wife Ruth and I, along with Danny Zachariah (senior pastor of GCI’s north Indian pastorate), recently visited HiBiS to spend time with its leader, Deben Sam. GCI has partnered with Deben for over 12 years, doing ministry in Nepal.
Sixteen young people (pictured below) from several rural areas in Nepal, were chosen to come to Kathmandu this year for HiBiS. They were selected by a team from Kathmandu that visited those areas last year to conduct three-day mobile Bible Schools hosted by local churches. The young people selected are eager to undertake the intensive three-month course, which involves classes five days a week.
As we addressed the students in an interactive session through a translator, their responses made it obvious that here are some young people with great potential for future involvement in the commission of taking the gospel to Nepal. Their studies include courses in theology and pastoral care. After the three months of study is over, the students return home, where they assist their local pastors in practical ways for nine months. The hope is that some of the students will become fully engaged as pastors and missionaries in their rugged and challenging country.
We are glad that GCI has been able to help the school by providing our literature translated into Nepali and by providing financial assistance (given by GCI members in Australia). On this visit, Danny and I addressed the students and then Deben’s congregation (pictured below) at their weekly church service. The enthusiastic worship of the 65 men, women and children present was quite stirring.
This year Deben has faced many financial and logistical challenges. He had to make costly improvements to his meeting facilities to deal with periodic flooding (and more improvements are needed). He is now paying more to lease his home where he and his wife look after 15 disadvantaged young people originally from rural areas who are in Kathmandu to attend school. He’s also having to look for a new location to raise livestock to support his family. Please join me in praying that God will provide for the needs of Deben’s family and his ministries. Deben is grateful for the prayers of fellow-Christians across the globe.
Here are updates concerning GCI ordinations and church celebrations held recently in three countries.
France: ordination
Marie-Angelique Picard (in the black dress, behind the young girl in the picture below) was ordained an elder in the church in Paris. Participants included GCI President Joseph Tkach and his wife Tammy, and GCI-Europe Director James Henderson and his wife Shirley.
Netherlands: jubilee celebration and ordination
GCI in the Netherlands celebrated its 50th anniversary on Pentecost. As shown in the pictures below, a highlight of the celebration was the ordination of Denise de Moei.
Here are pictures of the celebration, attended by Joseph Tkach, Greg Williams and James Henderson:
Philippines: ordinations
Two elders were ordained recently in the Philippines: Dante Abatayo and Aprille Eunice Pompresert (she is being ordained in the picture below).
Here is a report from the coordinating team of the LiLY conference for women held recently in Ohio.
Our 15th annual LiLY conference was held in Beachwood, OH, on April 27-29. Its theme was “Rest in the Lord” with the theme scripture, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). God blessed us with an attendance of 91 women, including 11 young women (ages 13-17) who participated in our “Bonfire-teen session” facilitated by Tammy Johnson.
The conference speakers were Keysha Taylor (GCI worship leader, speaker and songwriter) and Amy Seiffert (speaker, teacher and mentor). Keysha, who also served as conference worship leader, spoke on “Falling in Love with God”—we belong to him and we have hope, peace and rest in Christ. Keysha’s testimony affected many of the women who have gone through similar situations in life. Amy spoke on “Resting in our Identity”—we are women chosen, delightful and loved by God. She also gave an address titled “Resting in Him,” encouraging the women to set aside a day each week to cease, rest, embrace and feast.
The women broke into small groups at the lunches to get to know each other better. Special praise and worship gatherings with a worship band were held on the two evenings. One evening included “Café Praise” at which women volunteers shared heartfelt songs, instrumental pieces, dance, visual art, poetry, and testimonies giving glory to God.
The conference included an outreach to 2nd Chance Ministry, a program that helps women transition from difficult situations, and limited spa services were offered between conference sessions by Sereniti Solutions. The conference closed with a worship service on Sunday, joining with the women of GCI’s Edgehill Community Church in Cleveland, which sponsors the conference. Conference organizer, Tamar Gray, who is the assistant pastor at Edgehill, recapped the conference: “We had a wonderful weekend and God was certainly present. We had women tell us that they would be coming next year and bringing family or friends.”
Grace Christian Church, GCI’s congregation in Waltham, MA (Boston area), recently conducted a community-wide event called the Kaleidoscope Festival. According to GCI Pastor Dishon Mills, the congregation established and coordinated the event—determining its theme and theological foundation, designing its logo and other graphics, recruiting other event partners, securing donations for raffles, recruiting vendors, obtaining necessary city permits, recruiting and managing volunteers, setting up the space, and providing advertising. Dishon gave this report:
As we addressed the students in an interactive session through a translator, their responses made it obvious that here are some young people with great potential for future involvement in the commission of taking the gospel to Nepal. Their studies include courses in theology and pastoral care. After the three months of study is over, the students return home, where they assist their local pastors in practical ways for nine months. The hope is that some of the students will become fully engaged as pastors and missionaries in their rugged and challenging country.
Our 15th annual LiLY conference was held in Beachwood, OH, on April 27-29. Its theme was “Rest in the Lord” with the theme scripture, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). God blessed us with an attendance of 91 women, including 11 young women (ages 13-17) who participated in our “Bonfire-teen session” facilitated by Tammy Johnson.
