Category: Stay Connected

How can the church respond to the refugee crisis? Here, in an update video from Greg Williams (Church Administration and Development director), is what a group of GCI congregations have been doing:

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/83MUlW-ndBk.

This update is from Crossing Borders director, Lee Berger.

In December, for the 10th year in a row, Crossing Borders mission trip attendees delivered shoeboxes full of gifts to needy children in Mexico. Thanks to our generous partners (churches, school groups and others) who provided the shoeboxes full of gifts, we blessed over 1000 children with tangible expressions of God’s love. In addition to the shoeboxes, our partners provided over 125 handmade blankets and quilts, 50 cloth totes filled with infant supplies, dozens of pairs of shoes and other items.

As seen in the pictures below, there were smiles of joy all around as the children received giftboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene articles, toys, candy and other needed and fun items. But of even more importance were the smiles, hugs, prayers and words of encouragement given by the missionaries to the children and their parents.

Due to a record number of applications, we had to turn away many who wanted to join us on this trip (those not accepted were deferred to a future trip). Given the large number of those accepted (38), we formed two teams and thus were able to visit twice as many churches, children’s homes and other ministries as before. Thankfully, we had a record number of shoeboxes and other gifts with us!

It’s been a joy for many of our team members to return to the same places in Mexico each year, where we’ve watched children grow from toddlers to teenagers. Along the way, we’ve built friendly relationships with onsite ministers: pastors, orphanage directors and other ministry leaders. It’s a joy to partner with them in sharing with people messages, drama, prayer, games and gifts—all for the one purpose of sharing with the children and their families the good news of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

---

The next Crossing Borders trip is this summer (June 18-26). It will be a week of life-changing mission ministry. The most benefit is gained by attending the full week, but we also offer half-week options. For details, check out our website at www.cbmisison.org or call me (Lee Berger) at 903-746-4463.

GCI’s congregation in Pikeville, Kentucky recently was featured in a report by a local TV station telling of the congregation’s outreach to the community, which involves providing a free meal twice each month. To watch a video recording of the TV report, click on the image below, or click here.

Greg Williams and Charles Fleming recently team-taught a weekend intensive in Dallas, Texas, as part of the Christian Leadership course offered by Ambassador College of Christian Ministry (ACCM). Seven men and women pastoral leaders participated (they are pictured below with Greg and Charles).

Various Christian leadership topics were addressed during the three-day intensive, including how to develop an operational style of leadership that is both team-based and pastor-led. This approach fits well with GCI’s modified-episcopal system of governance. Greg Williams elaborated:

In GCI we place a great deal of emphasis on prequalifying and then training our lead pastors. We then place on them a great deal of trust to lead their congregations. In that leadership role, we call on them to recruit, train and empower a team of able ministry leaders and then meet with that team regularly to discuss, pray and deeply consider the ministries that are involved in advancing the disciplemaking work of the congregation. We also expect our pastors to utilize their Advisory Council, which brings together a cross-section of members that help keep the pastoral leaders informed concerning the general mood and attitude of the congregation. We expect that our lead pastors will work closely with these leaders to establish, communicate and then execute a clear vision and mission for their congregation. As part of that work, the team will establish and then operate in accordance with an annual budget aligned with the agreed-upon vision and mission. Also, the team will work through the challenges it encounters, including conflict within the team. An effective lead pastor develops trust and credibility with the team, seeking consensus in discerning how the Spirit is leading the team forward. In the few cases where consensus cannot be achieved, the lead pastor is called upon to make the final decision.

Here are comments about the Christian Leadership intensive from some of the students:

Thanks to everyone involved in offering this class. It was an amazing three days of learning and building friendships. The class gave us the opportunity to not only learn leadership skills and applications, but also to see them in a perspective of how Christ leads us so we can in turn lead others. I came away with an excitement to serve. The friendships made in the close-knit environment of the intensive are wonderful. I look forward to other classes in the future.

It was awesome! We covered day-to-day practical things and items to dream towards for our congregations. It was interactive and open to any of our questions. The format was great—Greg and Charles were very accessible.

This was a great way to take an ACCM class. Every aspect was a learning opportunity. I came away with an increased knowledge of leadership and a love for others. The structure of the class and time outside the class gave me the blessing of getting to know everyone in the class. I came away blessed with new knowledge and new friends.

It was uplifting to be together in an intimate setting for three days with people who treasure God’s love and want to share that love with our church and future members that God will bring to us. To see the passionate dedication of Greg and Charles was truly inspiring. I believe this intensive class will spur us to grow into our future responsibilities as we transition into a more active pastoral role.

Established or emerging leaders interested in participating in an intensive course like the one described above are encouraged to let the GCI-USA CAD office know of their interest. We plan to offer more intensives like this in the future.

Here are links to articles giving updates on events in GCI-Philippines:

• Christmas celebration in the Santa Rosa church: http://my.gci.ph/gci-sta-rosa-celebrates-the-greatness-of-christ-with-kids/ (pictured at right)
• Singles’ camp in Pangasinan: http://my.gci.ph/where-he-leads-me-i-will-follow/
• Missions exploration in Dubai: http://my.gci.ph/missions-exposure-trip-dubai/

This announcement is from Gary Moore, national leader of GCI-Canada.

A couple of years ago, Joseph Tkach began encouraging GCI’s mission developers and national leaders to think about the future leadership of the church. He advised us that by our early 60s we should begin to put in place a leadership transition plan. He made it clear that he wasn’t implying anyone needed to retire at 65, but rather that there should be in place a plan for transition before attaining that age.

As I thought about my transition plan, I was reminded that the role of national leader (sometimes referred to as national director) calls for a certain mix of gifts. Though no one person has all the needed gifts (I serve as testimony to that!), certain key gifts and skills are needed. Beyond the foundational characteristics of faith in God, understanding of his word, moral integrity and loyalty, good pastoral skills, an ability to work as an administrator and make a budget work, and ability to communicate both verbally and in writing are all important, even essential. And so in putting together my transition plan I considered all these factors plus knowing that the individual who would eventually replace me would need to be some years younger than I in order to provide for at least a number of years of stable service in the role.

As I carefully went through all our staff and our fine group of elders in Canada, the one who seemed to most fit the requirements of the job was Bill Hall. Bill served in office and administrative roles for 17 years at the national office (1981-1998) and from then to the present (1998-2015) for over 17 years as a church pastor. So he has good experience in both the office and administrative environment as well as many years serving the membership in three Canadian congregations. Further, Bill has served as managing editor of GCI-Canada’s Northern Light and Northern Light Digest. He has excellent communication skills, both verbally and in written form.

I discussed the idea with Joseph Tkach and he was very supportive. The board of GCI-Canada also needed to be involved, as they are the legal employer. They expressed their full support. Bill Hall is willing to take on the challenge, which I greatly appreciate. The responsibility brings with it great days, and challenging ones, but I firmly believe that with God’s guidance and strength, and the support of us all, Bill will serve the church and ministry well.

The first phase of this transition is for Bill to assume the position of office/business manager for the church in Canada. He is scheduled to move to British Columbia on July 1 and begin to take on these duties. Once Bill adapts to this new role and is comfortable, perhaps toward the end of 2017, I’ll begin to introduce him to other aspects of the national ministry leader responsibilities. At this point, my plan is to retire at the end of August, 2018, following our Canadian national conference that summer.

This update is from Hector Barrero, pastor of GCI’s congregation in Bogota, Colombia.

Twelve of our members recently completed our ministerial studies program. We presented them with diplomas at a church service (eleven are pictured below).

These students spent about two years in the program, completing eight classes covering theology and various aspects of ministry. Class titles included Biblical Panorama (introducing the books of the Bible), Pastoral Theology, The Life of Christ (the Gospel of Matthew), Acts of the Apostles (the work of the Holy Spirit), and Experiencing God (utilizing the book of the same name by Henry Blackaby).

Congratulations to the graduates!

This update is from Doug Johannsen, pastor of GCI congregations in St. Paul and Champlin, Minnesota.

GCI’s four Twin Cities, Minnesota, area congregations (Edina, Bloomington, Champlin and St. Paul) gathered recently for a combined worship service, a meal and good conversation.

The sermon was given by Christy Merry from the St. Paul congregation. Christy has been involved in several church plants in various denominations and was asked to give a message reflecting on what the younger generation needs from the older generation. Though most of us would consider Christy in the younger generation (she’s in her late 30s), she says she feels more like the generation “in between.” She drew lessons from the stories of Moses and Jethro, and Ruth and Naomi, illustrating how they listened carefully to one another to arrive at mutually-satisfying courses of action. All of us (young, old and in-between) need that kind of heart—one that is open to listening deeply to others.

GCI members from Mississippi, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin gathered recently in Titusville, Florida, for Experiencing the Trinity—a retreat facilitated by Odyssey in Christ ministry. The 72-hour retreat was held at the St. Stephen Christian Retreat and Conference Center. Five GCI members attended in person and two joined in online.

Retreat participants were led through teaching sessions and spiritual exercises that created an environment for experiencing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in close, personal ways. From an extended time of silence, to meditative prayer and praise, to creative expressions in community and transforming prayer, the participants came away, as Carolyn Lane said, “with valuable tools for deepening our daily walk with the Father, Son and Spirit. We truly experienced being in the presence of God in a very intimate, tangible way, which left us thirsting for more.” In the words of Tom Fallon, “we were visited and dwelt in by the very real presence of the Holy Spirit.” John Novick commented that the retreat “was a magnificent 72-hour journey with God that can change one’s life forever.”

Here is a video in which GCI President Joseph Tkach provides highlights of GCI, working together, “on mission with God” in 2015.

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/2M1KGaMkZl4.