Category: Prayer & Updates

Thanks for your prayers for Arlen Bryant who pastors GCI’s church in Cookeville, Tennessee. As announced in an earlier prayer request, Arlen has a brain tumor. It was removed in surgery a few days ago. It appears that the tumor is cancerous. Not all of it could be removed and so he will likely be having follow-up radiation and chemotherapy. Please continue to pray for Arlen and his wife Jean and for the Cookeville congregation.

Cards may be sent to:

Arlen and Jean Bryant
2054 Benton Young Rd
Cookville, TN 38501

Prayer is requested for Charles Taylor, lead pastor of GCI’s congregation in Miramar, Florida (Miami area). On May 11, while cooking dinner, Charles suffered severe burns to his forearm and hand from a stove fire. It appears that he has some nerve damage. Charles’ wife Keysha gave this report:

Charles was transported to Ryder Trauma center at Jackson Hospital in Miami. The pain meds they are giving him are really strong, so he’s nauseous, but otherwise comfortable. He was originally scheduled for surgery on May 12, but they are holding that off for at least a day. Praise God—the area to be grafted is getting smaller because his skin is healing itself!

Cards may be sent to Charles and Keysha at:

Charles and Keysha Taylor
9650 Dunhill Drive
Miramar FL 33025

Please join us in offering condolences to David Howe, lead pastor of GCI congregations in Fort Wayne and Elkhart, Indiana. David’s father, Howard Howe, died recently.

Howard, who was a GCI member, was born in Holly, Michigan, in 1946. He graduated from Grand Blanc High School and in 1965 married Susan Lynn Rainbolt. He retired in 1994 from GM’s V-8 Engine Plant.

Surviving are his wife, Susan; two sons, David Howe (Ann), and Paul Howe (Bekkah); eight grandchildren; two sisters; three brothers and several nieces and nephews. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Cards to David and his family may be sent to:

David Howe
24465 Country Road 18
Elkhart, IN 46516-5942

In March, we asked for prayer for our members in Vanuatu who were impacted by tropical cyclone Pam. Here is an update from GCI Mission Developer Rod Matthews.

On March 13, tropical cyclone Pam, a category 5 storm (the highest rating), hit the island nation of Vanuatu. The government estimated that about 166,000 people were affected (about half the population) with perhaps 65,000 in need of temporary shelter. GCI has a couple of members in Port Vila, the capital, and a congregation on the island of Malekula.

Fijian pastor, Isei Colati, had already planned a trip to Vanuatu to help our members there celebrate Holy Week. The timing proved ideal so he could check on the members and provide encouragement and material assistance. In his report to me, Isei noted that his visit was “very inspiring and uplifting, especially when we realized that the members had been affected one way or another.”

Before he left Fiji, Isei purchased vegetable seeds for the members to plant “so that they can get some quick cash and have some help in their food supply, realizing that most of the crops would have been damaged or destroyed.” He also purchased medical supplies to assist in countering diseases that normally come after hurricanes. Isei reported that though damage to Port Vila was severe, our members were not badly affected.

Several of our members came together in the town of Rory where our church facility is located to help repair the building’s roof and do general cleanup (see picture at left). During that time they held a series of church services and Bible studies. At times, attendance reached 55 people. Isei reported that “their desire for biblical knowledge and answers to questions interrupted the repairs on the roof of the building!”

Every evening, the members prepared food for dinner and supper following Bible Study and distributed used clothing (brought from Fiji) to those in need. According to Isei, they “experienced the truth of Psalm 133: ‘How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.'”

During the trip Isei conducted the annual Lord’s Supper commemoration service and three baptisms (pictured at right).

Thanks to all who offered to go to Vanuatu to assist in rebuilding the homes of our members. I’m grateful to report that they are well cared for and outside assistance is not needed at this time.

Please pray for Arlen Bryant, lead pastor of GCI’s church in Cookeville, Tennessee. Arlen had been experiencing troubling symptoms, including diminished ability to speak and memory problems. In a recent scan, doctors found a tumor in his brain. Arlen is now at home, being treated with medication to shrink the tumor awaiting surgery, which is now scheduled for May 7.

Your prayers for Arlen and his wife Jean, and for their congregation are needed and much appreciated.

Cards may be sent to:

Arlen and Jean Bryant
2054 Benton Young Rd
Cookville, TN 38501

Last week we asked for prayer for GCI pastor Dewey Peterson. Here is an update from Dewey:

My healing has been going quite well in some aspects, but my lung capacity has been greatly reduced. I went to the hospital recently where they drew two liters of fluid from the area around my lungs. I experienced considerable pain as the vacated space began to fill after the lungs expanded. I believe it will get back to normal in a few days. Thanks for your prayers!

Cards may be sent to:

Dewey and Georgia Peterson
12 Mariners Pt.
Crossville, TN 38558-2771

In past issues we’ve requested prayer for GCI pastor Rick Ridgell and his wife Pam (pictured at right) concerning Rick’s prolonged battle with cancer. We were saddened to learn that Rick died recently.

We are grateful that GCI pastor Brian Carlisle was able to be with Rick and Pam during Rick’s final few days, offering support, prayer and communion. Pam and Rick celebrated their 27th anniversary on the Friday before Rick’s death.

Please join us in praying for Pam, their son Richard and the GCI congregation he pastored in Winchester, Virginia.

Cards may be sent to:

Pam Ridgell
640 Butler Ave.
Winchester, VA 22601

Many of those who attended Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, will remember Marge Bailey, who was employed by the College for about 20 years. Her married name was Alice Carrick. She completed her earthly sojourn on April 1, just short of age 95. She died as the result of a cerebral stroke that had occurred on March 10.

Born in Stockton, California, in 1920, Marge grew up on remote ranches in northeast California near Fort Bidwell and Alturus. In the mid- to late 1940s The World Tomorrow radio program caught her interest and in the fall of 1953 she traveled to east Texas for a church festival and was baptized there. A few years later Marge was hired to work in the Mayfair kitchen at Ambassador College, along with Annie Mann and Myrtle Horn. Later, she was asked to serve as operator of the campus laundry, where she also sewed laundry bags for the students to use when they brought their clothes in for cleaning. Some students used these sturdy, hand-sewn bags for many years following graduation.

After leaving the college in the mid-1970s, Marjorie returned to northern California. While living in Orland and Corning, she served the members of the Chico congregation of WCG/GCI in a variety of ways over several decades. During this time she decided to begin writing a series of children’s mystery books with a ranch setting similar to that of her childhood. She used the pen name Alys Henderson (a form of her first name, Alice, and her maiden name). Two books were published and a third was unfinished at the time of her death.

Marge is survived by her husband of nearly 22 years, Clifford Carrick. Although Marge had no children of her own, she considered the hundreds of young men and women of Ambassador College her “kids.”

Prayer is requested for retired GCI pastor and district superintendent Don Lawson and his wife Sue. Sue continues to suffer with memory loss and Don, who is Sue’s full-time caretaker must have hip replacement surgery on May 5.

Please pray for both Don and Sue in this challenging time. God willing, they will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on August 7.

Cards may be sent to:

Don and Sue Lawson
78406 Hampshire Ave
Palm Desert, CA 92211-1954

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Joseph Horchak, the father of Mike Horchak who pastors GCI churches in Hammond and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Joseph died on April 10 in Mountain Home, Arkansas, at the age of 93. During his last hours, his daughter, Jacqui Blackwood, was by his side.

Born in Breziner, Pennsylvania in 1922, Joseph married Betty Wargo in 1944. She preceded him in death. Joseph is survived by three sons: Joseph C. Horchak (Jackie) of Roseville, CA, Michael Horchak (Pam) of Hammond, LA, and Douglas Horchak (Tanya) of McKinney, TX; daughter, Jacqui Blackwood (Fred) of Holly, MI; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Cards to the family may be sent to:

Mike Horchak
41120 Adelle Drive
Hammond, LA 70403-7539