Category: Prayer & Updates

We were saddened to learn of the death of Nilo Belarmino who served as an assistant pastor at Grace Communion Fellowship in Los Angeles. Nilo succumbed to a several-week-long battle with liver cancer. Following are reports and prayer requests from Bermie Dizon, Nilo’s friend and neighboring pastor, and from Angie Tabion, Nilo’s pastor.

From Bermie: Pastor Nilo was a good friend and brother in Christ. We thank God for him and his humble dedicated service. He had such compassion for people and love for our Lord Jesus. He will be greatly missed. Please pray for Nilo’s wife Pilar, their three sons and the whole Belarmino family. Several of them live in the Philippines.

From Angie: Nilo was an assistant pastor in our congregation, having been ordained an elder in the Philippines before moving to the U.S. Nilo was diagnosed with liver cancer in May of this year and died peacefully on August 13.

Unfortunately, Nilo’s brother in the Philippines has been denied a US visa to come to the U.S. for Nilo’s funeral. Nilo’s son Israel will be applying for a visa on August 17 (August 16 in the U.S.) and his other son, Michael is scheduled to be interviewed for a visa on the 22nd. Please pray his sons will be approved so they can see their father before he is cremated.

Cards may be sent to:

Pilar Belarmino
4126 Toland Way
Los Angeles, CA 90065

Here is an update and praise report related to a previous prayer request from Andrew Silcox.

A big hello to all of you who have expressed your concern for me over the past four months during my illness and injury. I have now been home a little over a week and am feeling very well. I am at present walking about a half mile a day on my plastic leg brace/boot and with the aid of sticks, which essentially keeps the injured foot off the ground. I otherwise get around in a wheelchair. I recently had a visit from the doctor. He was generally pleased with the results of my latest blood test, although my kidneys still give cause for concern. My blood sugar and blood pressure are under control.

I have been hugely blessed by the grace and goodness of the Lord God in bringing me back from the brink of death, then possible amputation of my left leg and drastic disability to where I am now. I am also so grateful for your prayers and support for my wife Dana who has been tireless in her support of me during my long stay in hospital as well as keeping our household going. She is tired but over the moon to have me home again.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and loving concern. Please keep up your faithful intercession for the countless others who need you as much as I have.

With much love and gratitude,
Andrew Silcox

We were saddened to learn that retired GCI Pastor Robert Persky died at home early Sunday morning, July 23. Bob was 72 years old.

Born to Arthur and Sadie Persky in 1945, Bob (pictured at right) first heard the World Tomorrow program in 1959, then began attending the Radio Church of God in Houston, TX, in 1960. He was baptized in 1963. After attending the University of Houston, Bob transferred to the Texas campus of Ambassador College, graduating in 1969. He then married the love of his life, Kay Hyde. Shortly thereafter Bob and Kay started a family with the birth of twin sons Ted and Neal. Later they were joined by daughter Livia and a third son, Bradley.

In 1969, Bob entered the employed ministry of WCG, serving first as a ministerial trainee in Indianapolis, IN. Following ordination, he was transferred to pastor a church in Ohio, followed by pastorates in Wisconsin, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida and last in Texas. In 1996, Bob was named a District Superintendent, serving first in Kentucky, then Florida, followed by Texas.

In 2013, Bob retired from the employed ministry of GCI after 49 years of dedicated service as a beloved pastor of churches and a pastor to pastors. In his spare time, Bob enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with his family. The study of theology was one of his passions in life.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his son Ted. He is survived by his wife Kay, his daughter Livia, his sons Neal and Bradley, his children’s spouses, and his six grandchildren. For information about the funeral in the Dallas, TX, area on July 27, click here.

Prayer is requested for Kay (who has her own health struggles), their children and grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to:

Kay Persky
129 Star Point Lane
Weatherford, TX 76088-6409

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Wanda Rand, mother of Barbara (Rand) Rogers, wife of Dan Rogers who formerly served as the Director of Church Administration and Development and Superintendent of U.S. Ministers. Wanda was born in 1929 and baptized in the Radio Church of God in 1963. She is survived by her sons Richard and Roger Rand, her daughter Barbara Rogers and her sister Janice Gallagher.

Cards may be sent to:

Barbara Rogers
2657 Windmill Pkwy Ste 154
Henderson, NV 89074-3384

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Dr. Graham Mitchell of GCI’s Northampton, UK congregation. Graham was a retired GCI pastor and former member of the GCI-UK board. He had been in care for over two years following a spinal injury, and his wife, Maggie, thanks everyone for their prayers during that time. Please remember Maggie and their two children, Anna and James, in prayer, that God may comfort and support them.

Cards may be sent to:

Maggie Mitchell
11 Kettering Road
Broughton
Kettering
Northants
NN14 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM

Prayer is requested for retired GCI Pastor Glen Weber who will have a surgical procedure on Friday, June 30, to treat a heart condition (atrial fibrillation). Glen’s heart rate has been running high and his blood pressure has been running low, significantly impacting how he feels. In the procedure, the doctors will insert catheters into his legs to access his heart, then locate and treat the spot in his heart that is currently misfiring. If all goes as planned, he will leave the hospital that evening with the problem permanently fixed. Within a month he should be off his medication. Please pray that this will be the outcome, and that Glen will be restored to full health.

Cards may be sent to:

Glen and Connie Weber
22461 E Powers Place
Aurora, CO 80015

Thanks for your prayers for GCI-USA Pastor Bruce Metz (click here for the original request). Bruce’s wife Sharon reports that he is recovering well from the surgery that occurred a couple of weeks ago.

Cards may be sent to:

Bruce and Sharon Metz
1190 Grand View Avenue
Everett, PA 15537-6964

Please pray for Lynn (Egbert) Lawrence, long-time GCI Canada youth camp director and widow of GCI Canada Pastor Dennis Lawrence. In a battle against cancer, Lynn is being treated with chemotherapy and reports that the side effects have been relatively minimal, though she is experiencing tingling in her hands and feet and some nerve pain, making it somewhat difficult to walk and ride her bike. Recently, she had a scan and the doctor was surprised to see how well she is doing. Lynn attributes the improvement to “the many prayers that surround me.”

Cards may be sent to:

Lynn Lawrence
211 Boul. De L’ile
Pincourt, QC J7V 3R6
CANADA

Prayer is requested for Bruce Metz, pastor of GCI’s congregation in Jenners, PA. Bruce is recovering from recent heart surgery. Please pray for his rapid and full recovery.

Cards may be sent to:

Bruce A. Metz
1190 Grand View Avenue
Everett, PA 15537-6964

Angelita Tabin, Lead Pastor of Grace Communion Fellowship, Los Angeles, CA, requests prayer for Pastor Nilo Belarmino who was taken to the hospital over a week ago due to severe back pain. There he was diagnosed as having stage 4 liver cancer. Please pray for Nilo’s healing and that God gives him and his wife Pilar guidance concerning medical treatment.

Cards may be sent to:

Nilo Belarmino
4126 Toland Way
Los Angeles, CA 90065