At the Converge conference in Nashville in April, leaders from Generations Ministries renewed their commitment to using GCI camps to serve GCI congregations. Here is a video with excerpts of a discussion concerning ways to do that.
On YouTube at https://youtu.be/Kq1mSC89trE.
Given the advanced age of many pastors, several GCI congregations face pastoral transitions. One such (successful) transition is detailed below by John McLean, GCI-Australia National Director.
GCI-Australia National Administration works with pastors as they retire and with their replacements. Later this year, Randall Bourchier will be retiring as pastor of Mooroolbark Christian Fellowship (MCF) and connected churches. Matthew Gudze will be taking his place. Randall and his wife Mary will continue serving the congregation in a variety of ways—the value of their wisdom, experience and insight will not be lost. I thank Randall and Matthew for the warm, proactive and collegial friendship expressed as we have worked through the transition process. Together, our major concern and priority has been the health and wellbeing of the congregations involved, as well as the life situations of the ministers and their families. My thanks to these men and their wives as they have negotiated what is not always an easy transition with grace and care.
Randall was instrumental in the development of the MCF pastoral team. He has done outstanding work connecting the congregation with the local community, in prayerful and Spirit-led involvement in incarnational mission. He is well-known for his creative, artistic gifting. Combining this with excellent theological depth, he has made a great contribution to the role of worship in our national fellowship.
Matthew, Sandra and their two young children moved into the Mooroolbark area some time ago where Matthew has worked with Randall and the othere leaders there for some time. Matthew has a Master’s Degree, and gave up a secure and well-remunerated career to join the ministry. He has a heart for the gospel, for mission and ministry, and is a blessing to the fellowship. His humble and gentle approach, and genuine concern for others, as well as his research and teaching abilities, are wonderful ministry gifts.
My heartfelt thanks to Randall and Mary for their years of wonderful dedicated ministry pastoring the MCF and connected churches—for Randall taking the initiative in this journey, and for the couple’s continued ministry. The congregations have been aware of these developments throughout the year. My thanks to the pastoral team as it has prayerfully and collegially discerned the lead of the Spirit in these developments, working through Randall with National Administration to arrive at this outcome.
I know that the individuals and congregations will appreciate your prayers for God’s blessing on these upcoming changes—that the Holy Spirit’s work might be done in everything.
Note: though GCI-USA does not have a mandatory retirement age for its employees, Church Administration and Development asks all lead pastors (employed or bivocational) to work with their regional pastor to develop a transition plan. The planning should commence when the lead pastor turns 62. Even though the actual transition may be several years away, it takes considerable time to identify and properly prepare a new lead pastor (or pastoral team) and we want the transition to be as smooth as possible for all concerned.
This update is from GCI Mission Developer Rod Matthews.
The Himalayan Gospel Church (HGC), GCI’s ministry partner in Nepal, runs the Himalayan Bible School (HiBiS), which recently concluded its 2017 course in Kathmandu. Since mid-February, 11 young men and women (pictured below) from rural Nepal have lived and studied in Kathmandu for three months, completing an intensive course in biblical understanding and Christian ministry. The students were chosen from attendees at village seminars conducted last year in seven locations in the Himalayan foothills by HGC’s Mobile Bible School.
On March 30, Southeast Asian Senior Pastor, Wong Mein Kong, myself and our wives arrived in Kathmandu to meet with HGC Pastor Deben Sam and members of his team. I had also requested that Daniel Zachariah, who serves our north Indian pastorate, based in Hyderabad, join us so Deben could become acquainted with the GCI pastor closest to Nepal geographically.
While in Kathmandu, we visited HiBiS in session and each of us had the opportunity to teach the students (through a translator, see picture at right) and enjoy their enthusiasm for the Scriptures and the gospel message. We also had the opportunity to visit the HGC’s medical clinic at its new location on a busy street where drop-in customers can purchase basic pharmaceuticals. The clinic also has a mobile unit (on the back of a motorcycle!) that takes basic medical services to the very poor on the outskirts of the city several times a week.
During HGC’s weekly worship service (pictured below), Wong Mein Kong and I re-established our connections from the last visit and introduced Danny Zachariah to the congregation before sharing messages with the 70 or so people in attendance.
Nepal is a challenging country in which to work. While most of the population is Hindu in religious heritage, the government consists largely of politicians from a mix of Hindu and Maoist philosophies and they wrestle with conflicting approaches to religion. Many Hindus would like to see anti-conversion laws installed. The Maoists make no commitment to that. So, in one sense, the impasse serves the Christians well for the moment.
Kathmandu still shows signs of the severe earthquake of April 2015 with some rubble still not cleared from certain secondary streets and a few residences here and there, mainly on the outskirts, remain a pile of bricks. At the best of times, building good infrastructure in a mountainous country is an expensive proposition. But it’s a huge challenge in a poor country subject to earthquakes where many people live in isolated, remote valleys, and on the steep sides of the Himalayas, most with their own languages or dialects. That is overlaid by the inefficiencies of a government afflicted with philosophical conflicts and a desire to retain control of everything. But we are privileged that God led us into this partnership of over a decade with a ministry led by Deben Sam who has a passionate heart for the poor and isolated who need to hear the gospel message. As a result, many have heard the Word of God and personally experienced a practical example of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Deben much appreciates your prayers for him and his team.
Here are links to reports concerning recent events in GCI-Philippines:
This report is from Kairis Chiaji, Spanish interpreter for the missionary team.
GCI’s congregation in Sacramento, CA, was preparing its youth to live on mission. Toward that end, Lead Pastor Mike Swagerty worked with youth leaders Judah Dwight Sanders and Lauren Rierson to implement a curriculum addressing GCI doctrine. The curriculum included field trips to non-GCI churches to experience their approach to worship. And then a big idea hit—what if the learning experience included a mission trip overseas? After looking at various options, the answer came—our sister congregation in Bogotá, Colombia, would be the perfect place to participate in God’s work on an international scale. GCI Bogotá Lead Pastor Hector Barrera and Pastor Mike not only are friends (originally connected by Ambassador College) they have participated in joint evangelism efforts. After some research, it seemed evident that God was leading us to take a mission trip to Bogotá, Colombia.
After much fundraising, updating passports, and reassuring parents, we were set to travel in April. Six adults (including three youth leaders) accompanied six youth group members on the 3,375 mile trip to Colombia to meet with Pastor Hector, his wife Paulina, and their ministry and mission team in Bogotá.
No doubt about it, Comunión de Gracia Internacional of Bogotá, sets the standard for hospitality! Our trip there was filled to the brim with opportunities for serving, sightseeing, praise and worship, and education. Each day, in every activity, Bogotá church staff and members tended to our needs. They fed us well, gave us gifts and shared their stories. Excellent cultural liaisons, they went above and beyond. We were safe and comfortable. We were family. We had a blast!
During Holy Week we witnessed three baptisms and two of us were invited to give sermons in Holy Week services. Some of us participated in an international praise and worship team at the Easter service. The Holy Spirit’s presence transcended the language barriers. We were truly many parts, one Body.
Our mission team sought out ways to serve and support the Bogotá congregation’s community outreach goals. As a result of all these activities, we returned home energized and with a renewed heart and spirit for evangelism. Though we lent our hands to help with their ongoing service projects, the blessings we experienced far outweighed anything we contributed. The Bogotá congregation’s youth ministry leadership team, which reflects the determined, patient and grace-filled leadership of Pastor Hector, had a great deal of experience and wisdom to pass on to us. Their commitment renewed our own. Their success gave us hope.
Though these two congregations are half a world apart, they have been closely connected for years. Their lead pastors, steadfast in kingdom-building work for decades, have now passed the torch of leadership to a new, up-and-coming generation. The bonding and friendships that took place during our visit were heartfelt and sincere. Like any siblings with Christ’s DNA, had there not been different languages to navigate, you would never have known we hadn’t met before. The great good news of our futures together is set for eternity!
Mission Developer Rod Matthews reports on developments in Southern Asia and the South Pacific.
We are delighted to report the end of the very long drought on the island of Malekula in Vanuatu (where the GCI congregation is located). The water tank is now full and crops are growing! Thank you for your prayers for our members at Rory. They are most appreciative of the help provided by GCI churches in New Zealand, the U.S. and Australia to help them purchase rice and other foodstuffs and ship it in from other islands during this prolonged, difficult time.
GCI’s congregation in Hyderabad conducted a mission trip to Gudivada in February. Led by Senior Pastor Dan Zachariah and accompanied by Sanjeeva Rao and Praveen, it started with an overnight train trip of about eight hours. The mission team spent half the first day in Gudivada discussing Trinitarian theology with Pastor Joseph Usala who serves the pastoral needs of about 100 people. That evening a gospel meeting was conducted for about 30 people in nearby Nandiwada, a village where Pastor Joseph runs an educational center serving the needs of about 20 children who come in five times a week to be helped with their studies. Prayers were held for those struggling with various life issues. A seminar was later held for about 20 pastors (pictured below) on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Video highlights of the mission trip are available at https://youtu.be/QcUissCsJG8.
In February, 40 GCI members (pictured below) attended a refresher weekend in Waikanae, NZ. The weekend began with a formal Maori welcome, followed by a magnificent banquet-like supper. In teaching sessions, Kerry Gubb expounded on Philippians 2:5-9, focusing on the way Jesus emptied himself of his rights of deity, and exploring how that might play out in our life of becoming Christ-like.
The refresher weekend included a meeting of the NZ Board and Pastoral Team. The Board marked the retirement of Maureen MacDonald, a Trustee since 2002, and member of the National Advisory Council before that. Rex Morgan commented that her wise input and diligent service are greatly appreciated, and the NZ churches owe her a debt of gratitude. One of the main reasons for Maureen’s retirement was to enable the younger generation to be more involved, and the Board was pleased to welcome Jocelyn Best as a new Trustee.
Southeast Asian Senior Pastor Wong Mein Kong, his wife Chew Yeng, along with Rod Matthews and his wife Ruth (all pictured below) recently travelled to the village of Matupi in western Myanmar. Matupi is the center of the area populated by the Matu Chin people. GCI has a congregation in Matupi and six others in villages in the surrounding region, totaling over 300 people who came into GCI as a collective decision of the elders led by Pastor Chan Thleng that was then confirmed by the members of the congregations involved.
Chan Thleng had requested that GCI conduct a conference in Matupi for the pastors of these congregations. No GCI personnel from outside Myanmar had been to Matupi before. The travelling group felt immensely privileged to visit the home area of these wonderful people and to meet with the pastors (pictured below). During the conference, brief messages were given by Rod and Mein Kong, followed by a lengthy question and answer session with the area pastors. The conference ended with a communion service followed by the commissioning of the area pastors and church planters as they serve under the guidance of our GCI fellowship.
The conference included the wedding of Chan Thleng to Lydia (pictured below). She is the daughter of the pastor of another church. The wedding had been scheduled for this weekend so that international guests could participate. Rod and Mein Kong officiated, with about 200 people attending.
Here are links to reports on Easter church services in the Philippines where multiple GCI congregations combined to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Converge, this year’s national gathering of GenMin camp and mission leaders, was held April 21-23 in Nashville, TN, at the beautiful Scarritt-Bennett Center. The Converge theme this year, “Reimagine Camp,” emphasized the great foundation of 51 years of camping ministry in GCI, while looking to future hopeful outcomes of stronger partnerships with GCI congregations, of rethinking how camps can create spaces for making disciples throughout the year and further develop new leaders.
Anthony Mullins, the outgoing GenMin National Coordinator, introduced a reimagined focus on Community Church Camps in each of the five U.S. regions (see picture below) and GC Launch, a new national emerging leaders’ camp for high school seniors. GC Launch will get started in December 2018 at the new GCI Home Office in Charlotte, NC.
After five years in GenMin leadership, Anthony had the privilege to commission and appoint the new GenMin National Coordinator, Jeff Broadnax (Anthony and Jeff will work side by side through the rest of this year). Former GenMin Directors Ted Johnston and Greg Williams, along with GCI President Joseph Tkach, shared stories about Jeff and prayed for him in his new responsibility (see picture below). Jeff shared the final sermon message at Converge, offering a vision of healthy church and ministry that involves intergenerational collaboration and togetherness.
This update is from Heber Ticas, ecclesiastical supervisor of GCI’s congregations in Mexico.
Over the Easter weekend (April 14–16), GCI Mexico held its annual conference for pastors and other congregational leaders in Guadalajara, Mexico. It was a great time of fellowship, worship, renewal and learning. Dr. Joseph Tkach was the keynote speaker and those in attendance were inspired as he shared the good things the Lord is doing in our fellowship around the world.
Throughout the weekend, various teaching sessions were offered. Lorenzo Arroyo gave a workshop on the different models of the doctrine of salvation, emphasizing GCI’s incarnational Trinitarian theology. Heber Ticas gave a series of workshops challenging pastors and others to lead their congregations through four avenues (phases) leading to becoming a fully missional church: 1) developing a missionary mentality, 2) missional development, 3) experiencing missional movement, and 4) being a church fully engaged in missional rhythms. Xochilt Ticas (Heber’s wife) gave a workshop for women on forgiveness, including the important role of forgiveness in the life of a congregation.
The highlight of the conference was Dr. Tkach’s Easter Sunday sermon on the resurrection, and the ordination of Jose Luis Seba who started a small group in Tlaxcala Mexico a few years back that has blossomed into a full church.
Overall, the conference was a great encouragement to GCI’s congregations in Mexico. Please pray for them, asking God to bless the work he is doing in and through them in the nation of Mexico.
We send heartfelt thanks to our brothers and sisters in Canada and the United States for the financial assistance that made this conference possible.
We are pleased to announce that Hands for Christ (GCI’s congregation for the deaf in Staten Island, NY) baptized seven people on April 15. Lead Pastor Mary Bachelor reports that “it was a glorious event—all seven were filled with joy and graciousness.” Five of the newly baptized are deaf and two are hearing. As Mary noted, “All were thankful to have the opportunity to proclaim their commitment, faith, love and relationship with Jesus Christ. It was an honor to baptize these people into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Here are pictures of the blessed event:
