Category: Prayer & Updates

We are saddened to learn of the death of long-time GCI elder and employee Joseph (“Joe”) Kotora on July 12. Joe’s wife Mae preceded him in death as did his parents Michael and Barbara Kotora and his two brothers and three sisters. Joe is survived by his three children: Jana Cardona (married to Mark Cardona), Sandra Kotora and Daniel Kotora; and by his many grandchildren.

Joe was born in Pennsylvania and in early adulthood worked there building steel mills. During WWII he worked building ships and met his wife-to-be Mae. They married and settled in Monessen, Pennsylvania where they raised their family. Joe became a deacon and then an elder in the Worldwide Church of God in Pennsylvania. In the 1970s, he and Mae moved to Pasadena, California where Joe attended Ambassador College. He then worked for many years for the church, serving in several capacities, including traveling with Herbert Armstrong. Due to ill health, Joe and Mae moved back to Pennsylvania in the 1990s where he served WCG churches as a volunteer assistant pastor. In 2007 the couple moved to Memphis, Tennessee to be near family.

Joe was born with a congenital heart defect. Later in life he made medical history twice: once when becoming the first person in the US to have his particular heart defect repaired, and again when he was the first person to survive receipt of an artificial heart valve.

Cards to the family may be sent to:

Sandra Kotora

7323 Appling Ridge Drive

Cordova, TN 38018

We are saddened to learn that retired GCI pastor James (“Jim”) Turner died unexpectedly on July 16. His funeral will be held on July 23 or 24.

Jim is survived by his three children, Kim, Jacquie and Michael and by his ex-wife, Diane.

Prior to his retirement, Jim served as a pastor and district superintendent for GCI in the Denver, Colorado area.

Cards may be sent to:

Kim Turner

4199 East 131st Drive

Thornton, Colorado 80241

GCI pastor Mark McCulley and his wife Joanne recently narrowly escaped a disaster that occurred next door to them in Westminster, Colorado (in the Denver area). Here is his praise report.

With almost 500 homes destroyed in the Black Forest fires in nearby Colorado Springs, I feel a bit embarrassed to mention what happened in our neighborhood. But we are thanking God for delivering us from injury to ourselves and from significant damage to our home when our next door neighbor’s home was destroyed by a natural gas explosion (see picture at right, our home is in the lower right of the picture, near the exploded one).

Perhaps most amazing and encouraging about this situation was the community-building work that the Holy Spirit did through the disaster to bring together the folks in our neighborhood. Our neighbors came over several times to help us. We also had two community “thanksgiving” meals where Joanne and I were asked to say grace.

Prayer is requested for the Schnippert family in accordance with this very sad announcement from our dear brother in Christ, Bernie Schnippert who serves as GCI’s legal counsel.

It is with almost unbearable sadness that I inform you of the death of my beloved daughter, Amber Yvonne Schnippert Patrick, due to breast cancer at about 2:24 A.M. Tuesday morning. In accordance with her wishes, no funeral will be held. She is survived by her Mom and Dad; by two sisters, Crystal and Coral; by her husband, Josh; and by her beautiful six-year-old daughter, Megan.

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during this time of trial. They have been and remain a source of strength for me.

—Bernie Schnippert

Cards may be sent to:

Bernie and Arlene Schnippert

64651 Jan Dr

Bend, OR 97701-8824

This prayer update is from Santiago Lange, one of GCI’s missions directors for Europe and national director in Germany.

In recent days, parts of Germany, Austria and eastern Europe have been experiencing some of the most severe flooding on record as the rivers involved have not been able to contain the rising water. In Germany the southern and eastern regions have been particularly hit hard. Significant cities like Passau and Halle have suffered considerable damage. About 26,000 people in the city of Magdeburg have been evacuated. Several German dikes have been under heavy pressure and the overall situation is still considered by experts to be quite serious. In Austria several towns and cities were partly under water. In Hungary, Budapest is in danger. According to the news there have been several casualties and the physical property damages will be in the billions of Euros.

Thankfully, at this point, we have received no reports of any church members in the flooded regions having been directly affected.

Please, do join me in praying for the victims of this natural catastrophe.

Long-time GCI elder Joe Kotora is hospitalized and needs our prayers.

Joe worked at church headquarters many years ago and more recently served GCI churches in Pennsylvania. He was hospitalized recently with intestinal bleeding related to treatment of his heart condition. He was in critical condition and had to be given seven units of blood before he was stabilized. He is quite weak and frail and having trouble with his heart, making it hard to walk and breathe.

His family reports that though he is getting tired of it all he is trying to keep in good spirits. Thanks for your prayers for Joe and for his family in this difficult time.

Cards may be sent to

Joe Kotora

7323 Appling Ridge Dr

Cordova, TN 38018

Over the last couple of years, we’ve had several prayer requests for 12 year old Jason Richards who not long ago received a heart transplant. Jason is the grandson of GCI pastor Martin Manuel, the nephew of GCI pastor Rocky Ray and the son of Colin and Janet Richards. For the last update on Jason, click here. And here is a new update, with a request for prayer:

Jason continues to be in the hospital (ICU), receiving oxygen to support his breathing. On an encouraging note, he has gained eight pounds since admission. A recent test showed that his left lung was damaged by Legionnaires Disease and his right lung is impeded by an inoperative problem with his diaphragm.

On Thursday, June 6 his doctors will attempt to move his diaphragm down through surgery to relieve pressure on his right lung. Please pray that his lungs can resume working without oxygen, enabling him to leave the ICU and after further recovery return home.

This update concerning the aftermath of the tornado that devastated Moore Oklahoma is from GCI Oklahoma City pastor Mike Rasmussen.

Thanks to all who have been praying and offering financial assistance. We encourage you to make donations to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The GCI home office recently sent us money from that fund that is being used to provide hot meals to first responders, and supplies and gift cards to those whose homes were destroyed or badly damaged. We will continue in the days and weeks ahead to reach out and help those who were devastated by the tornado.

To donate to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund, go to https://www.gci.org/participate/donate/form or make out a check to Grace Communion International, noting that it is for the Disaster Relief Fund, and mail it to:

Grace Communion International

P.O. Box 5005

Glendora, CA 91740-0730

Prayer is requested for Pastor Gary Dry and his wife Diane. Gary is the pastor of GCI’s congregation in Warrenton, Missouri.

Earlier this week, Gary and Diane’s home burned to the ground after it was struck by lightning during a storm. The family members in the home at the time escaped safely, but the Dry’s dogs and all their possessions were lost. The Red Cross is assisting the Drys, but they are emotionally exhausted.

Gary asks that no one call him at this time, but prayer is definitely needed.

This update about the recent tornadoes near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is from Mike Rasmussen who pastors the GCI church in that area and serves as a district pastor and associate regional pastor.

Thanks to the many who have been praying about the devastation that occurred here in Oklahoma and have sent us notes of concern and encouragement. As you know, we had several major tornadoes over the last couple of of days. About 24 people were killed, including nine children. Hundreds were injured and many lost everything. The scope of the devastation is hard to grasp.

We thank God that all of our members have been accounted for and all of them are safe. Even though several live near where the tornadoes struck, none suffered any injury or property damage.

The camp facility that we have used for 12 years for our Crosswalk Camp was hit by one of the tornadoes and suffered major damage to six dorms, the dining hall and pavilion. Fortunately, no camp was in session when the tornado hit, so there were no injuries. Because of the damage to the facility, we have had to cancel the camp session we were going to hold there this coming Memorial Day weekend. I thank God that we were not holding camp when the tornado hit!

Thank you again for your prayers and support! Please continue to pray for all those who are suffering and for the safety of those assisting in the recovery.