Prayer is requested for Jeff Snyder, Facilitator of GCI’s fellowship group in Savannah, Georgia.
Jeff is very sick and in the hospital. His doctors have been unable to determine what’s going on. Please pray the doctors can determine quickly what is happening with Jeff. Please also pray for Jeff’s wife Stephanie as she cares for her husband.
Cards may be sent to:
Jeff and Stephanie Snyder
11 Bay Pines Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Thanks for your prayers for our members in harm’s way in the recent hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. We continue to receive updates and will pass them along as we do. Below is an update from Daphne Vidal concerning our members in the Caribbean Island of Dominica.
Our thanks to the prayer warriors who have been lifting us up in prayer during and following Hurricane Maria. Our members in Dominica, which was devastated by Maria, are all fine, though five families lost their roofs and others sustained other forms of property damage. Because communications have not been fully restored, we have not been able to reach some of our members, but we know all have survived.
Dominica’s air and seaports are now open, which will allow us to receive relief supplies sent by our churches in Barbados and Grenada. We also are encouraged by the community spirit here as people have pulled together to clear roads and help one another otherwise.
Please continue to lift us up in prayer as the rebuilding has only just begun. The psychological impact of Maria on Dominicans is also something to pray about.
The GCI Disaster Relief Fund provides members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repairs, temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency needs. Monies received into the Fund that are not immediately needed will remain in the Fund to be allocated in future disasters. In previous years, money from the Fund was used to help members recover from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, storms and flooding in Bangladesh, an earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands, typhoons in the Philippines and an earthquake in Haiti. If your congregation would like to donate to the Fund, your treasurer can set up a one-time or monthly donation through the GCI-Online system (http://online.gci.org) by logging in and clicking on Donate under the Manage tab. If your congregation prefers to send a check, make it out to Grace Communion International, indicating on the memo line that the donation is for the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The donation should be sent to:
GCI Disaster Relief Fund
Grace Communion International
P.O Box 5005
Glendora, California 91740
Prayer is requested for David Weber, pastor of GCI’s congregation in Wheatland, Wyoming. The retinas in both of David’s eyes became detached. The one least severely detached was repaired earlier this week with a laser procedure. The more severely detached one will be repaired later this week in surgery. David will then have to lie face-down for a week as he recovers. Please pray for a successful and rapid recovery—in addition to pastoring a church, David works full-time leading his construction company, and takes care of the family farm.
Cards may be sent to:
David Weber
679 Deer Creek Rd
Wheatland, WY 82201-8817
We have learned that GCI pastor Richard Frankel recently suffered a minor stroke and spent one night in the hospital. Though his speech is slighlty slurred, the doctors feel it will return to normal within the next week or so. Thanks for praying for his complete and rapid recovery.
Cards may be sent to:
Richard and Joyce Frankel
6905 67th Street
Unit 214
Kenosha WI 53142
An article in the September 11 issue of USA Today made this observation concerning the recent hurricanes that have devastated parts of the United States and several Caribbean nations:
Forecasters said the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season would be above average, though we couldn’t have imagined how catastrophic it would be. Hurricane Irma barreled into Florida Sunday and millions of people are without power. Irma earlier chewed through a string of Caribbean islands, causing massive damage there. Before that, Hurricane Harvey plowed into Texas in late August, causing major flooding in Houston, Beaumont and Port Arthur and projected to be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Next up is Hurricane Jose, which weather models suggest could move toward the East Coast, but any direct hit — if it does make landfall — won’t happen until next week.
We reported last week on how our members in Texas and Louisiana fared in the aftermath of Harvey. We are still waiting to hear from all our pastors in the areas affected by Irma, but so far it seems that our members fared relatively well. Here are excerpts from the reports we’ve received so far:
From Charles Fleming (Caribbean Mission Developer)
Irma did extensive damage to a number of islands in the North-Eastern Caribbean. Most of the worst devastation occurred on islands where we do not have members. Cleaning up and re-building on islands like Barbuda and St. Martin will be a long, difficult process. Our prayers go out on behalf of those who suffered. From all the reports I have received, none of our members suffered any serious loss. For that we are extremely thankful.
From Robert McKinney (pastor in the Bahamas)
Thank God for the mercy he showed us here in Nassau. We only received winds of about 25 m.p.h. and sustained only minimal damage. In fact, we were able to have church yesterday. The main Bahamian island hardest hit was Ragged Island which suffered severe damage. Every house and building on the island was impacted. Our 91-year -ld member there, Louise Curling, and her daughter Clarice Wood, had to be evacuated along with several others ahead of the storm. But we are all fine and thanking God for his abundant mercies.
From Charles Taylor (pastor in Miami, FL)
We are doing good—power came back yesterday (Sept. 11). We spent the day clearing some fallen trees that blocked the roads in the community and cleaning up debris. Most of the members who I’ve been able to contact are doing fine with minimum damage. Some still don’t have power or water so continue to pray.
From Marty Davey (pastor in Jacksonville, FL)
We are all fine here in Jacksonville. The worst is past, but it’s still windy and some flooding will get worse along the St. John’s River as the day goes on. I talked to our pastor in Naples and he and his wife came through fine, although they have been without power since Saturday.
The GCI Disaster Relief Fund provides members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repairs, temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency needs. Monies received into the Fund that are not immediately needed will remain in the Fund to be allocated in future disasters. In previous years, money from the Fund was used to help members recover from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, storms and flooding in Bangladesh, an earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands, typhoons in the Philippines and an earthquake in Haiti.
If your congregation would like to donate to the Fund, your treasurer can set up a one-time or monthly donation through the GCI-Online system (http://online.gci.org) by logging in and clicking on Donate under the Manage tab.
If your congregation prefers to send a check, make it out to Grace Communion International, indicating on the memo line that the donation is for the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The donation should be sent to:
GCI Disaster Relief Fund
Grace Communion International
P.O Box 5005
Glendora, California 91740
Prayer is requested for retired GCI pastor, Sonny Parsons of Big Sandy, Texas.
Sonny was hospitalized last Sunday in Tyler, TX, suffering with pneumonia. He remains in the hospital, and is not doing much better.
Cards may be sent to:
Sonny & Jane Parsons
110 W Groves St
Big Sandy, TX 75755
Thanks for your continuing prayer on behalf of the multiple thousands of people suffering as the result of Hurricane Harvey. We are grateful that none of our members in the affected areas in Texas and Louisiana lost their lives and that very few experienced significant property damage. Here is the latest information we’ve received:
HOUSTON, TX: Only one of our members in Houston had water make it into their home. They are being well provided for and should return to their home this week. Mark Mounts (our pastor in Houston) recently held a video call with his leadership team to discuss how the congregation can help that family and also the people living in the neighborhood that surrounds the building where our Houston church meets. They have been working very closely this past year with an elementary school whose property adjoins the church building. They will be looking for ways they can help the school with clean-up, once the roads reopen.
BEAUMONT, TX: All our members in Beaumont are OK. James Scales (co-pastor of our congregation there) had to evacuate his home due to the potential of flooding resulting from levies being opened to drain surrounding lakes. He is now with his family in Louisiana and all are doing well. Our church building in Beaumont had a small leak in the roof from the rain, but the repair should be simple. James, who is battling lung cancer, is disappointed that the start date of his chemotherapy in Houston has been postponed due to the hurricane. Please pray for him about that. He is struggling to breathe.
Both congregations have been made aware that financial assistance is available to them via the GCI Disaster Relief Fund, which was established to provide members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repairs, temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency needs.
Monies received into the Fund that are not immediately needed will remain in the Fund to be allocated in future disasters. In previous years, money from the Fund was used to help members recover from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, storms and flooding in Bangladesh, an earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands, typhoons in the Philippines and an earthquake in Haiti.
If your congregation would like to donate to the Fund, your treasurer can set up a one-time or monthly donation through the GCI-Online system (http://online.gci.org) by logging in and clicking on Donate under the Manage tab.
If your congregation prefers to send a check, make it out to Grace Communion International, indicating on the memo line that the donation is for the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The donation should be sent to:
GCI Disaster Relief Fund
Grace Communion International
P.O Box 5005
Glendora, California 91740
We were saddened to learn of the death on August 12 of Betty Shamus, wife of GCI-San Jose, CA, elder Larry Shamus. Here is information about Betty from an obituary distributed at her memorial service.
Beatrice Rachel Cimorelli was born on June 4, 1933 in Philadelphia, the third child of Hercules and Nora Cimorelli. She was born with dark ringlet curls all over her head, so the nurses nicknamed her “Betty Boop.” From then on, she thought her name was “Betty.” When she went to kindergarten and the teacher called her “Beatrice,” she had never heard it before and assumed that you were given a new name when you started school.
When Betty was 12, her family moved to Pennsburg, PA. After quitting school following the 8th grade, she worked in a sewing factory, an upholstery shop, and later at a hoagie shop. At age 20, Betty married the love of her life—Larry Shamus. Larry was in the Navy, so they lived in several states early in their marriage. Betty and Larry welcomed another new baby each time they moved, so after Larry, Carol, Mike, Marilyn and Jeff were born, they decided to stop moving and put down permanent roots in San Jose, California.
A model wife and mother, Betty filled her home with laughter and love, selflessly devoting her time to caring for her growing family. Neighbors, church friends and extended family were drawn to her boundless enthusiasm, creativity, and fun. Betty’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren delighted her beyond measure. Her legacy of love will live on in the smiles, laughter, and memories of those precious children and all who were lucky enough to share her incredible life.
Betty was a devoted Christian, serving God, her family, and her church. She lived by the words of her favorite scripture, Proverbs 3:4-5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
Cards may be sent to:
Larry Shamus
1332 Crestwood Dr.
San Jose, CA 95118
Please pray for retired GCI pastor and district superintendent Don Lawson and his wife Sue.
Sue, who is in a nursing home, continues to battle Alzheimer’s disease and Don continues his battle with a blood disorder.
On August 19, Don’s adult children noticed that their father was acting confused. They called an ambulance and it was determined that Don had suffered a minor stroke. After a few days in the hospital, Don was released with doctors saying his prognosis for recovery is good. Though feeling weak, Don has fully recovered his speech.
Cards may be sent to:
Don Lawson
82383 Stradivari
Indio, CA 92203
We were saddened to learn of the recent death of retired GCI pastor Jim Reyer. After spending the evening with several family members, he passed away in his sleep in his favorite chair.
Here is his obituary:
James (Jim) Reyer, of Shepherd, MT, age 85, passed away on August 3, 2017, from complications of a stroke. He was born September 27, 1931 in Fort Wayne, IN, and lived there until 1972. He spent the last 27 years of his life in Montana.
After serving four years in the Navy on a minesweeper during the Korean War, Jim returned to Indiana and became a journeyman electrician, working for the family business, Hambrock Electric. It was in Indiana that he met his first wife, the former Alice Easley, and is where their three children were born. He became a minister in 1965 and pastored WCG churches in California, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Because of these moves, he had numerous friends and impacted people’s lives all across the United States.
Jim had a John Wayne-type persona and enjoyed the life of the west. He and his wife Sondra owned and enjoyed horses, as well as other animals on their small “ranchette.” He was a man of his word, tough yet generous and hospitable, had a great sense of humor and could carry on a conversation with anyone he met. He was a very practical man and could do most of his own home maintenance and remodeling. As a younger man he coached and played sports such as basketball and softball and was a very good athlete. A lover of the outdoors, Jim took advantage of opportunities to camp, hunt and fish. He had a lifelong dream of going to Alaska, which was fulfilled by a fishing trip with his wife, son and daughter-in-law in the mid-1990s. He also loved music and family gatherings where music played a part. He lived life to the full.
Jim was preceded in death by his first wife of 30 years, Alice, a daughter, Rhonda, and brother, William (Bill) Hambrock of Indiana. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Sondra, daughter Lori (Denny) Sexton, son Dan (Ardys) Reyer, daughter Martie Panarelli, daughter Kellie (Nigel) Bearman, son Rob (Karen) Barrett, son-in-law Gary (Rhonda) Castle, 15 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and sister Judy Furge of Indiana. He also leaves behind nieces, nephews and numerous friends. He will be greatly missed.
Cards may be sent to:
Mr. Daniel L. Reyer
PO Box 309
Shepherd, MT 59079-0309
