Category: Stay Connected

This update is from GCI Pastor Doug Johannsen who attended the retreat reported on below.

As we grow together in understanding and appreciating the relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we find the Trinity moving us to see the importance of growing together as a group. This realization motivated some of us to attend the “Spiritual Discernment Retreat” conducted recently in Farmington, MN, by the Odyssey in Christ ministry. The retreat focused on helping groups practice life rhythms that lead to improved spiritual discernment as a community. The approach taken was in line with Paul’s prayer for the church in Philippi:

This is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. (Phil. 1:9-11)

Practical applications shared at the retreat included sessions on presence, silence and solitude, ways of life discernment, decision-making, discerning God and self, environmental discernment, group discernment practices and creative expressions.

The retreat was followed by a worship service and meal shared by all four GCI congregations in the Twin Cities, MN, area. Dr. Larry Hinkle, Odyssey in Christ Director, gave the sermon titled, “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”.

Here, from Mission Developer John McLean, is a video report on GCI’s work in Australia. John emphasizes that mission must start (and continue) by connecting relationally (incarnational ministry!).

On YouTube at https://youtu.be/g1TBIoaro10.

This summer, SEP UK celebrated its 50th year of holding youth camps in Scotland. Here is a video update from James Henderson, GCI leader in the UK and Europe:

On YouTube at https://youtu.be/0Escqe4N5aE.

This week, GCI’s blog, The Surprising God, marks ten years of exploring the content and application of incarnational Trinitarian theology. The first post was written by GCI Pastor Timothy Brassell, and GCI Publications Editor Ted Johnston has managed the blog and been its principal author since late 2007. For more details about the blog, click here.

Thirteen GCI members gathered recently in Phoenix, AZ, for “Journey to Wholeness in Christ,” a retreat hosted by the Odyssey in Christ (OIC) ministry. Several participants were from the Philippines. Others came from the state of Washington and Phoenix.

Facilitated by Larry Hinkle (GCI pastor and OIC director) and co-facilitated by Lorilee Immel (Ashland Theological Seminary doctoral candidate), the retreat helped participants rest in the Lord’s presence on a personal journey to wholeness. Through sessions on prayer, the three R’s (rest, receive and respond), limbic exercise and silent awareness, participants learned to more fully experience the God’s presence, resulting in moments of healing, renewal and transformation. As a retreat highlight, skits were presented in which participants portrayed the playfulness of little children.

Life Club International, a public speaking club sponsored by GCI-Britain, truly is international, as shown in these pictures of Life Club meetings provided by international coordinator Geoff Sole.

Zimbabwe. Here is the first Life Club meeting in this African nation. The seed is planted!

England. Here ist he group that meets in Birmingham.

Papua New Guinea. Here is the first Life Club meeting in this southwestern Pacific Ocean nation.

In July, the staff of SEP Silver Meadows in Western Canada welcomed 51 campers to a week of sporting, camping and interactive activities, while exploring the theme, The Journey – A Lifelong Adventure with Jesus. Each day after breakfast, the camp band led worship followed by a chapel message from a different speaker each day. The theme song for the camp (played whenever it was time to gather in the main hall) was, “Never Been a Moment,” by Micah Tyler. As the campers explored the journey with Jesus, the refrain from the song came to life: “There’s never been a moment… that I was not loved by you…!” Here’s a video from the camp:

On YouTube at https://youtu.be/TffjHZ9yX2Y.

Camp activities included water skiing, wakeboarding, wall climbing, paintball, archery and a beach day. Campers also enjoyed Scottish Highland games where teams challenged each other in cabre tossing, hammer throwing, kilt racing and haggis eating. They also enjoyed an evening dance with the theme “Origins: Where You Originated,” which aligned with “The Journey” camp theme. The last day of camp began with brunch, followed by a volleyball tournament and the final chapel. An offering was received, which raised over $3,000 to assist other SEP camps in South Africa and Canada. Saturday afternoon was spent on the beach with canoeing, skiing/wakeboarding/tubing, swimming, snacking and just hanging out. The highlight of the afternoon (and camp) was the baptism of two young men who have been long-time camp attendees. That evening there was a graduation ceremony and a closing Praise & Worship session with lots of flag and t-shirt signing.

Here links to reports on recent events in GCI-Philippines:

1. GCI Mindanao leaders meet: http://gci.ph/gci-mindanao-leaders-meeting-at-cagayan-de-oro/
2. Outreach: helping those who grieve: http://gci.ph/helping-those-who-grieve-using-ehs/
3. Outreach: helping fire victims: http://gci.ph/gci-brethren-extends-help-to-fire-victims-at-barangay-old-capitol-site/

On July 22, Grace Communion Seminary (GCS) instructor and retired GCI pastor Neil Earle (pictured at right) gave a lecture at the Duarte Public Library in Southern California on the 70th anniversary of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. “The Dead Sea Scrolls evoke mystery and legend,” Neil told the audience. “It’s a fun subject when you start with this young Bedouin goat-herder named Muhammed the Wolf throwing a rock and hearing a clunk and discovering these stone jars that contained copies of the Hebrew Bible transcribed about 150 years before Christ.”

According to Neil, the challenging part was helping the audience see that the Dead Sea Scrolls should be evaluated by the official Jewish Masoretic Text that forms the Old Testament in many of our English Bibles. “It’s almost a case of ‘I’ve told you this story to tell you another one,'” Neil said. The significance of the scrolls is that scholars could now have an earlier Hebrew text than the Masoretic manuscript that makes up the Law, Prophets and Writings that Jesus bore witness to in Luke 24:44.

“It’s in describing the skill of the authorized Jewish scribes that the audience comes alive,” Neil added. “Those Masoretes counted the middle letter of the Torah, of the Hebrew Bible, and of each book and numerous other references as well. William Foxwell Albright, the great scholar of the early 20th century stated that there is no other ancient text that has been so well handed down.” Neil also gave thanks to GCS professor Tim Finlay (who also teaches at Azusa Pacific University) for his help in preparing the lecture. “With a subject this fascinating, you want to make sure you get the finer points right,” said Neil.

On Sunday, July 9, Good Shepherd Church (GCI’s congregation in Cicero, IL) held a baptism service. “It’s always been a desire of mine to have baptisms here at our building—this year we did it for the first time, and we hope for many more,” said Pastor Israel Hernandez.

The baptism service, which began in the sanctuary, continued outside where ten young followers of Jesus were baptized in a pool (seven were participants in the GenMin camp in that region). Many non-member family and friends attended, bringing the total to 95 people witnessing this joyous occasion. After the ceremony, the children jumped into the pool and a picnic-style potluck was served. Here are some pictures (for more, click here).