Category: Hear From the President

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

Revelation 7:9 pictures “every nation, tribe, people and language” gathered in the eternal kingdom. It’s a hope-filled vision of an innumerable multitude of people from all corners of the world standing before God’s throne in worship. This mosaic vision represents God’s offer of salvation to everyone, regardless of their ethnic, cultural, or linguistic background. This pictures God’s ultimate purpose to unify believers from every part of the earth and gather all peoples to himself.

How does this picture of God’s ultimate purpose shape how we as believers live our lives today? As Kingdom Representatives, the Spirit empowers us to:

• • Value and respect all cultures: The inspiration of the Revelation passage is that every group has inherent worth and dignity in God’s eyes. Kingdom representatives appreciate the rich tapestry of human cultures and backgrounds and look to see the beauty of God in all his children. It contradicts God’s design to elevate one’s ethnicity over another. When one group dominates another culture seeking to erase them, it is antithetical to the kingdom fulfillment that Jesus is working out.

• • Break down barriers and build bridges: Kingdom representatives are challenged to actively work against racism, xenophobia, and prejudice. It is a human response to be comfortable in “your people group.” But it can stunt one’s growth when there is little to no interaction outside your group. Much of the New Testament story is about the blending of Jewish and Gentile people together in this wonderful new enterprise called the Church. Paul’s phrase that he became all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9:22) is a high calling for us to follow. The present and future kingdom has “no superiors or inferiors,” so current life should reflect this equality in the eyes of God.

• • Build unity through relationships: Kingdom representatives build genuine relationships and “cross-cultural connections” with people from different backgrounds. I have the privilege to be in relationship with the assistant pastor from my home church, Afrika Afeni Mills. Afrika and I meet periodically, not as assistant pastor of GC Steele Creek and GCI president, but as “sacred siblings.” Her background and life experiences are quite different than mine, but we learn together with humility and openness. I am deeply grateful for my sister, and it is relationships like this that help bridge the gaps that divide society.

Revelation reveals the reality of the eternal kingdom to come; it provides a beautiful vision. The opportunity we have in this present world is to live out the kingdom’s values now and be the early adopters of the reality to come.

Part of the mosaic of God,
Greg

As 2025 comes to an end, we continue to explore the richness of Kingdom Culture. It’s a way of life shaped by the presence, character, and reign of King Jesus. The Update issues of 2025 reminded us that life in the kingdom is not a distant ideal. It’s a present reality, rooted in faith, hope, and love. Kingdom Culture calls us to live as citizens of God’s kingdom.

Let’s reflect on some the memorable quotes from the most read letters and watched videos from the president. May we look back with gratitude and forward with renewed vision. May we embrace the “nowness” of the kingdom as we grow together in Christ.

Kingdom Living and Kingdom Culture

“We identify with Christ and his most pronounced virtues — faith, hope, and love. This is his nature, and he gifts us with these virtues to transform us and to equip us so that we participate with him in his ministry.”

“God the Father has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”

“As we collectively grow in the grace and knowing of Jesus, we will think and act as citizens of the eternal kingdom, representing Jesus and pointing to him.”

Greg reminded us that Kingdom Culture starts with knowing who we are in Christ. We’re people being transformed and continually growing in grace.

The King

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… and in him all things hold together.”

“There is no church without Jesus and no Kingdom Living without the presence of the King.”

“Our purpose is to make the King known and to help believers grow up in Jesus. King Jesus is present and guiding at all points — even the next breath you and I draw.”

We centered our year on the truth that Kingdom Living originates in the King himself. All things — our life, our church, our mission — hold together in him.

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

Ministry Training Centers (MTCs) have been growing and learning under the guidance of our U.S. Development Coordinator, Cara Garrity. By design, MTCs are housed by healthy congregations with strong expressions of Faith, Hope, and Love Avenues. We have sites in the Philippines, Colombia, South America, Africa and the U.S. Each site has a unique flavor based on its cultural setting alongside the giftings and personalities of the congregational leaders. Our overarching goal is to have healthy churches providing a welcoming space for new and younger leaders to join a formal Christian education pathway while participating in the active ministries of the church. I am happy to have Cara provide us with highlights and updates.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NRSVUE

In GCI, we describe development as an intentional process to steward the priesthood of all believers. I am glad to be part of a denomination that strives to take seriously the priesthood of all believers. Nearly 10 years ago, I began my journey as an intern and pastoral resident with my local congregation in Waltham, Massachusetts. I was blessed to receive the investment of time, funds, giftings, and more from the members of my congregation. I received discipleship, pastoral mentorship, hands-on ministry experience, and the love and care of the Body of Christ.

In my role as development coordinator, it is now my privilege to partner with congregations and leaders in GCI who are growing in the intentional stewardship of the priesthood of all believers. Ministry Training Centers are one way we are bringing increased intentionality to the equipping of ministry leaders.

What is a Ministry Training Center? An MTC is a site dedicated to the development and multiplication of emerging leaders through provision of strategic ministry equipping within the life of the church. The intentional ministry training of an MTC is grounded within the healthy church practices of a local congregation. It is a congregational setting where established leaders are gathered to receive ongoing ministry equipping and where emerging leaders are gathered to receive equipping to step into ministry participation and discern ministry giftings. See the following GCI Buzz to learn more about MTCs.

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

Thankfulness is the conscious state of realizing benefits received and feeling a sense of appreciation. These tangible blessings received include kind gestures, positive experiences, helpful services, and generosity. The undergirding factor is that they all involve human connection and relationship. Perhaps, it’s by God’s design?

From childhood, we are taught to count our blessings. In most cases, many, many blessings. In a short time, the U.S. will be celebrating its traditional Thanksgiving holiday. In my family, we have a Thanksgiving ritual of going around the table and one by one sharing our personal stories of gratitude. This time of family reflection is always rich.

I am writing this letter in August, and I simply cannot wait to take my turn around the Thanksgiving table in November. So, I sit here, awake at 3:00 a.m. (recovering from jet lag after my recent trip to Australia). But more than jet lag keeping me up, I am energized and deeply grateful for such a blessed trip.

Being reunited with friends who are 9,000+ miles around the world in the southern hemisphere is a blessing in itself. Superintendent Daphne Sidney and her able staff are always courteous to pick me up with smiling faces and an Australian “Good Day, how are you going?” They provide me with comfortable lodging and pack the kitchen with enough fruit and snacks for a family of five. (I came home five pounds heavier!)

More than these kind acts, Daphne is keen to help me connect to a wide pool of relationships. Knowing that Urvashi Naker (Pastor Bharat Naker’s wife) was leaving on business, Daphne made sure that we shared dinner with the Nakers before Urvashi left. I am grateful that in GCI, connecting is first about friendship.

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

This issue I have asked Vice President Heber Ticas to be a guest writer. Heber is also the Church Multiplications Ministry (CMM) Coordinator. He explains how CMM is working to support new church plants and church relaunches to help GCI-USA move forward as we join Jesus as he expands his eternal kingdom. The dawning of new churches and revitalized existing churches are markers of healthy church and move us forward in our vision to be the healthiest expression of church we can possibly be.

From the inception of the church, God chose to expand his kingdom through her witness, calling people out of brokenness and into a wholesome relationship with the triune God. King Jesus’ earthly ministry began with the proclamation of the arrival of the kingdom:

Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15 ESV

Jesus’ kingdom proclamation was such that it called for hearts and minds to respond to the divine king, who has descended into our human experience as one of us, and is drawing humanity out of the depths of isolation and into a living relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John paints a glorious image of the fulfillment of this reality when he says.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God.” Revelation 5:9-10 ESV

God’s redemptive mission from all of eternity was to reconcile humanity to himself. It is in and through king Jesus and by the power of the Spirit, that people from every tribe, language, and nation respond to the proclamation of the gospel. And as people come to know him, this beautiful mosaic of the kingdom of God begins to take shape.

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

Nestled in chapter 14 of Romans is an amazing verse that gives us a deeper understanding of the kingdom of God.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

Paul’s short verse profoundly describes the abundant life humanity has in Christ. It is the “kingdom life,” and its initial blessings we enjoy now with a fullness to come for the entire human family.

Righteousness and peace in the Spirit are huge topics on their own. Today we will develop the spiritual fruit of joy. I am picking out joy because I recently saw the impact this message had with participants in a Kingdom Culture workshop I facilitated in Gold Coast, Australia.

Joy is much more than happiness. Happiness is rooted in “happenings.” What is next? What will stimulate me? Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It provides contentment whether you are abased or you abound. Situations don’t make or break the joy that resides in a Christ follower.

Joy is entangled with our internal thinking and feelings about self. Do we believe and walk in the reality of what God says about us or does the negative, destructive self-talk hinder our joy?

How many of us are our own worst critic? How many of us dominate ourselves? We have internal thoughts like:

• • “I’m not good enough or smart enough” (when we compare ourselves to others, or perhaps we made a B and not an A on a test).
  • “I can’t ever get it right” (when we demand perfection from ourselves).
  • “I’m such an idiot” (when we identify with labels that others have thrust upon us).
  • “Nothing goes right for me” (when perhaps our plane flight was delayed because of bad weather, something totally out of our control).

You get the point.

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

In the most basic terms, prayer is the communication link between followers of Christ and the triune God. From the instruction of Jesus in Matthew 6, we talk to our heavenly Father, and we do this through the name and authority of Jesus. The apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Rome explains that the Spirit assists with our communication effectiveness, providing clarity of meaning and earnestness of intent (Romans 8:26-27).

Returning to the words of Jesus, he says that our Father knows our needs even before we utter the words. So, if this is the case, why pray? The analogy that works for me involves the relationship I share with my wife, Susan. On Sunday May 13, 1984, I told her I loved her and made a binding covenant of marriage in front of the preacher and gathered crowd. My stated love for her and desire to share life together has not changed in 41 years, however, to express my love and to share my love means that she and I actively interact and communicate. Hearing, “I love you” daily does not get old. This is what prayer is — active participation with the God we love and rely on.

I do not know about you, but I am one who utilizes my prayer time talking to God about my biological family and their needs. I want them to be healthy and to find fulfillment in this life. And now that I have grandkids, my list of desires grows even longer. To avoid getting into a one-track mindset of seeking God as a protector and provider for the welfare of my family, I find the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer to bring me around to a more God-centered robust prayer life. “Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, and thy will be done.”