This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. It is a feast day that ends the liturgical year and introduces the new cycle taking us into the Advent season. I believe that it is a wonderful tradition to celebrate Christ’s messianic kingship and sovereign rule over all creation. It tells the end of the story even as we prepare ourselves for a new liturgical year, ushering in the incarnate baby Jesus born to His mother, Mary, in Bethlehem.
Jesus was intentional and clear with His disciples about having a “kingdom mindset.” Preaching the good news of the coming eternal kingdom of God was central to the teaching of Jesus from the beginning of His public ministry throughout.
In His final evening with the disciples, He made some key comments. When He instituted the Lord’s Table service, He presented the elements of the bread and wine, symbolizing His broken body and spilled blood. He declared that He would not eat these again with them until they were regathered in the kingdom of heaven.
As He was preparing the disciples to manage with His absence, He gave them strong words of encouragement.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:1-4 NIV
Even after Jesus was resurrected, and just before He ascended back to the Father, the disciples had their minds fixed on when Jesus, the King, would restore the kingdom to Israel. Unfortunately, it seems they were thinking of the benefits of a physical kingdom with a keen desire to be delivered from Roman rule. They missed the fuller meaning.
At the Last Supper, Jesus intimated that the point of the kingdom was to be with Him. The kingdom is about relationships. The apostle Paul amplified this understanding in Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (NIV).
Paul’s short verse profoundly describes the abundant life humanity can and will have in Christ. It is the “kingdom life” we are meant for with our King.
Let’s break down the righteousness, peace, and joy that comes from God, the Holy Spirit.
Righteousness means everything that is virtuous and good — everything, streaming from the virtuous, perfect nature of Father, Son, and Spirit. All good gifts flow from God!
What if we engage our thoughts with “throne room” realities where we are seated together with Christ? Whoa! Can we really do that? As kingdom citizens now, let’s make a spiritual practice of having our minds go there.
Peace is more than the absence of strife; it is harmonious interaction with our neighbors. You may recall the famous quote uttered during the 1992 Los Angeles riots by the victim of police brutality, Rodney King, “Can’t we just all get along?” The answer to Mr. King’s question is a resounding “yes,” we can all get along, and we will in the realized kingdom of God.
The fullness of the kingdom will be the fulfillment of the Great Commands to love God with our entire being, and to truly and selflessly love our neighbor.
This peace is about goodwill in all relationships.
No more misunderstandings.
No more hurtful words.
No more stepping on the other to get ahead.
No judgment or contempt.
No malice.
There will be just, whole, peaceful relationships among all of God’s children.
Joy is our internal thinking and feeling about self, and the absence of negative, destructive self-talk. Many of us are our own worst critic. How many of us dominate ourselves with internal thoughts like:
“I’m not good enough or smart enough.”
“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).
You get the point. On the other hand, I think about the uplifting, reassuring lyrics from the Christian band Casting Crowns, and their song, “The Voice of Truth.” Here are a few lines:
The waves they keep on telling me Time and time again. “Boy, you’ll never win!” “You’ll never win!”
But the voice of truth tells me a different story The voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!” The voice of truth says, “This is for My glory” Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth!
It will take the fullness of the kingdom to completely eradicate and eliminate our self-doubt and negative self-talk, but oh there is joy to come!
Nestled in Romans 14, this tiny, little verse truly describes the eutopia that our inner beings and all creation long and groan for. The righteousness, peace, and joy that God has designed and will accomplish is what Christ the King Sunday is all about.
Keep in mind that Jesus is not only preparing heaven for us, but He is also preparing us for heaven. So, in 2025 our GCI annual theme is going to be “Kingdom Life.” I expect 2025 to be a fruitful year for GCI.
It is important that we have theological clarity as to what we mean when we use the popular phrase, “All are included in the life and love of Jesus.” It is exciting and life-changing to grasp and participate in what God has accomplished for all humanity in and through His incarnate Son, Jesus. In our hearts, we want this for all people.
Dr. Gary Deddo addresses what we do and don’t mean by “included” in Christ and the meaning of “union with Christ.”
I note the difference between the personal union of the two natures in Christ (the hypostatic union) and our spiritual union by the Holy Spirit that incorporates us into the Body of Christ (what normally union with Christ has meant). It is by the ministry of the Holy Spirit that frees our response of repentance and faith so that we have a relationship of communion (koinonia) and personally receive the benefits Jesus Christ has for us. The two are not the same even though they are necessarily related. Our union by the Holy Spirit depends absolutely upon the whole Christ, the hypostatic union that makes Him one in being with God and one in nature with us.
This theological declaration is based on the biblical revelation that Christ died for all, and that God has loved and reconciled the world to Himself (Rom. 5:18; 2 Cor. 5:14; John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:19, Heb. 2:9). Jesus is “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29), and He is the “ransom” for all (1 Tim 2:4, 6; 4:10; Matt. 20:28). Because this reconciliation is accomplished, and thus a present reality, God’s desire, which is fulfilled by the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit, is for all people everywhere to come to repentance and faith so they may personally experience (receive and live into) this reconciliation and so not perish (2 Pet. 3:9; Ezek. 18:23, 32). Thus, when we declare that all are included, we are affirming several important truths:
Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all humanity.
He died to redeem all.
He has atoned for the sin of all.
Through what He did, God reconciled all people to Himself.
Jesus is the mediator between God and all humanity.
He has made all his own by virtue of his redeeming work.
He is for all and against none.
He is judge of all, so that none might experience condemnation.
His saving work is done on behalf of all, and that work includes His holy and righteous responses to the Father, in the Spirit — responses characterized by repentance, faith, hope, love, praise, prayer, worship, and obedience.
Jesus, in Himself, is everyone’s justification and sanctification.
He is everyone’s substitute and representative.
He is everyone’s hope.
He is everyone’s life, including life eternal.
He is everyone’s prophet, priest, and king.
(I encourage you to read the complete article by Dr. Deddo. There is a great introduction by our friend, Dr. Joseph Tkach, as well.)
When we say, Jesus has done it all, we really mean that. However, to experience union with Christ through the Spirit, we are talking about an interactive relationship that involves response, communication, giving, and receiving. Ultimately, a relationship with Jesus means participation. This is why the apostle John says, “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NRSVA) Becoming a new creation in Christ has depth and breadth of understanding, as well as active relationship that displays a level of truly receiving and participating with Christ. It signifies the image-bearer of the Creator now coming into union with Jesus through the power of the Spirit.
It is important that our understanding about inclusion follows what we see in biblical revelation, otherwise we can fall into a “lazy theology” that is governed by our personal feelings, desires, or social and cultural influences. It is equally important that we maintain a prayerful, hopeful posture that Paul expresses so well in the closing verses of Ephesians.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21 NRSVA)
This prayer of Paul is so beautiful in that it displays the inclusion of humanity in the Father, from whom all earthly families take their name. Then it takes it further to Jesus’ dwelling in the hearts of His children with a permanent faith and an experiential comprehension of His unfailing love. So, we pray to the triune God vigorously requesting that He draws all His children into a relationship of union with Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of all!
Included and in union with Christ, Greg Williams
P.S. On October 29, 2024, torrential rain brought over a year’s worth of precipitation and historic floods to several areas in southeastern Spain. Pedro Rufian, our ministry leader in Spain, has confirmed that none of our members or their families have been directly affected by the flooding. Please pray for Spain and all those suffering.
Unless you live in a cave, you know that 2024 is an election year. In fact, 2024 could be called “The Election Year,” at least 70 countries around the world will have an election, including Ghana, Bangladesh, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Sorting out the role as a Christian during this season is not an easy journey.
I’ve asked Rick Shallenberger to write an article speaking into how we as GCI walk through the elections as we are guided by the instruction of Scripture and the leading of the ever-present Holy Spirit. And we pray to the King of kings, please provide us with leaders who care for their people and countries.
Greg Williams
I have good Christ-following friends on both sides of the U.S. political aisle whom I love and respect. I may disagree with some of their political views, and I may believe they don’t see the bigger picture, but I suspect they feel the same about my political views. The important thing is that our relationships and our worldviews are not based on politics; they are based on Jesus.
Today we live with worldviews that are in contradiction to a Christian worldview and Jesus’ teachings. Both Christian Nationalism on the “right” and Progressivism on the “left” are problematic. Christian Nationalism is different than patriotism. The basic premise of Christian Nationalism is that America should be a theocracy, ruled by Christian power in government. This is not the same as cultures and governments being influenced by Christian principles, and it is different from patriotism.
Paul Miller, the author of Nationalism vs Patriotism: What is the Difference? in a podcast with Walter Kim, president of the NAE, said this about patriotism:
Patriotism is the love of our country and our home. I think patriotism is actually a positive virtue, and everybody should be patriotic no matter what country you’re in. I think patriotism is the virtue of gratitude. We should be grateful for where we come from and our homes.
Christian Nationalism pushes for the obliteration of the separation of church and state and for the primacy of Christian beliefs and principles in U.S. governance. This might sound good, but one must ask, who determines the Christian principles? Our nation was founded on Christian principles yet, slavery was allowed, minorities and women were marginalized and excluded from educational and leadership positions, along with Catholics, Jews, and others. Likewise, not every tenant of “progressivism” is in alignment with Jesus’ teaching.
It is beyond the scope of this article to cover all the issues. The scope is to remind us to stay focused where we should be focused — on Jesus and his kingdom. I suggest that many forms of nationalism and progressivism are contrary to our true identity as children of God and citizens of the kingdom. But, before we continue, let’s make it clear that we should not treat anyone who claims a particular viewpoint with anything but love.
Politics divide us into left and right — us and them. My beliefs, loyalty to my nation can easily become more important than the kingdom and unity in Christ. As Christians we need to avoid such divisions. This “us vs them” approach was one of the main points of the “Third Option” training many of our pastors and leaders went through recently.
Jesus didn’t tell us to raise up nations for him, he told us to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). He made it clear that he came for all of humanity, including atheists, Muslims, and other religious groups (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2, John 12:44-50). He did not set one nation up as an example. Neither did he tell us to push our beliefs or political views on others through government and law. He did say we are to love God and to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40). He also said to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Further, he said we are not of this world (John 17:16). So, Christians are to adopt a biblical, Christ-centered worldview and avoid adopting alternate worldviews that are based on political or social philosophies or agendas.
The challenge isn’t to make our nation a theocracy or to force others to believe and act as we do, it is to be disciples of Jesus. It is to follow Jesus and to believe his word:
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come (Hebrews 13:14 ESV).
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself (Philippians 3:20-21 ESV).
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13 ESV).
Loyalty to a political party is not the answer, Jesus is. The Bible is our authority, not a political platform. Jesus is our Savior, not a political candidate. We are first and foremost citizens of the kingdom. Can we trust our King? It’s not anyone’s place to tell someone how to vote, or even whether to vote. We can give people the benefit of the doubt that they are following Jesus as best they can. And if we vote, let’s not vote for America to be the example of the world in how to follow Christ. Let’s not vote with the mistaken idea that any particular candidate is going to change our country the way it needs to change. That hasn’t happened yet. Let’s be informed, but let’s be informed primarily by Jesus and his gospel, trusting him to be with us no matter what our circumstances.
My ongoing prayers are for the good of my nation. I pray for our leaders to have strength and wisdom, and that all people in authority rule well so that we can live in peace and pursue a relationship with our triune God. My vote in November may count, but I know with certainty that my faithful prayers count for more.
No politician can save me or the nation I live in. There is only one Savior who loves all of humanity. Jesus is going to return, and he will establish his kingdom because he is, and always has been King of kings, Lord of lords, and our only Savior. And, thankfully, he is still in charge.
Let’s remain grateful and focused on Jesus, Rick Shallenberger
Greg Williams at the West African Leadership Conference
Dear GCI Family and friends,
When electrical power is lost and cell phone towers are down, our reliance on technology becomes exposed. It heightens the fear and concern we feel for our loved ones whom we cannot reach.
During Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic destruction across the southeastern U.S., my home state of North Carolina was hard hit. After the brunt of the storm had passed, it took until Sunday, September 28, before we had communication with my extended family to know that everybody was safe. There was one exception — my older brother Evan. My friend and colleague, Rick Shallenberger, was at my home, and he and I listened to the prompting of Susan to determine that rather than head to church services, the greater need was to make our way to Evan. I appreciated that Rick made the statement, “Rather than going to church, we were being the church.”
Could we even get through crippled roads, washed out bridges, downed trees and power lines? We weren’t sure, but we were determined to try. We made our way west through towns where traffic lights were out and stores had darkened windows. We got within less than a mile of Evan’s house, and we had to park because of the impassable road. After hiking in with arms laden with groceries and drinking water, we began seeing the damage — a tree laying across the roof of his detached garage, a caved in roof of his truck. And then when we got to the entrance of the main house, we saw another big tree laying across the roof of the primary bedroom with a gaping hole in the ceiling.
We knocked on the side entrance door. We saw the dogs, but not Evan. After a few minutes, he appeared with a surprised look. Once the shock passed, we rejoiced in finding him upright and in good spirits. We listened to his harrowing story of nature’s fury that snapped trees, dumped torrents of water that carried off his firepit and rearranged his front yard. Evan was grateful for the provisions, but more so for human company; he was moved to tears that we made the effort to come to him. It brought a huge sigh of relief to Evan to know that we would tell his children, our mom, and brother that he was safe.
On our walk back to the truck, we encountered Evan’s neighbor trekking toward his house. It was heartwarming to see a concerned neighbor making the effort. Disasters can bring out the best in people.
Our visit moved to stage two — driving up the mountain to check on my mom. When we reached the family property, we first encountered my brother, Mark. He was on high alert, as he and his wife, Penny, were working through their church and county offices to get water and food to stranded people, to cut up trees blocking the roads, and to rally care and support as best they could.
My son, Glenn, was working extra shifts as a paramedic supervisor attempting to help so many people in dire situations. It is unbelievable the pressure and amount of effort that is expended in a disaster of this magnitude. The first responders are heroes, and yet they feel massive disappointment when they cannot rescue everybody. Please pray for them.
One of the most practical ways I could serve was to take my mom to stay at my house, along with my daughter-in-law and grandkids, until the power is restored so that folks like Mark and Glenn can continue to bring help where it’s needed.
Times like these amplify the reminder that we are our sister and brother’s keeper. I mentioned that we embarked on this Sunday venture at the prompting of Susan, but she would rather give credit to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. (In my experience, the voice of the Spirit often comes through my sweet wife.)
Fortunately, the Home Office fared well through the storm, and we are operating as normal now. The news of Hurricane Helene destruction will become old news in a matter of a few short weeks. Please do not forget these people who are left to rebuild their homes and lives. There is a tremendous loss of property and a growing number of fatalities. As we continue to pray for the many who are suffering, please keep in mind those affected by Hurricane Milton. It is currently bearing down on the west coast of Florida.
Made in the image of the One who keeps us all, Greg
P.S. I recently traveled to Ghana for the GCI 50th Anniversary. Read the story here.
In Church Administration and Development (CAD) for the U.S., we have been working for more than a year to move from a regional structure of support and supervision to a national structure.
During our summer gatherings, I shared the “5D cycle” of transformational change process: disruption, discovery, death, design, and deploy. It’s an appreciative inquiry tool, adapted from the 5D Method of Change. The newly formed U.S. CAD team has journeyed around this circle and have learned many valuable lessons. One of the most important lessons is to get each team member in his or her best fit. I think they have accomplished this.
I am proud of their hard work; they have demonstrated a yielding to the Spirit in each stage. In January 2025, the new structure will be fully implemented. Mike will give us more background, so please keep reading.
Greg Williams
GCI in the United States has been undergoing major restructuring throughout 2023 and 2024. These changes have occurred for several reasons. The main reason is a shortage of pastors and key leaders to replace our ranks. For the past 12 years, our regional system has served us well. We started with six regions. With the retirement of Ted Johnston, it went to five regions. In January 2024, Anthony Mullins left the role of Southeast regional director (RD) to plant a GCI congregation in Durham, North Carolina. Then in January 2025, Rick Shallenberger, North Central RD, and Tim Sitterley, Western RD, will both be retiring. This means Dr. Jeff Broadnax, Pam Morgan, and I will be sharing the responsibilities of overseeing the United States. I also have the responsibility of overseeing the Canadian and the Caribbean regions. We hope you can understand that we clearly needed to make some changes to manage this vast area with fewer people.
One option was to move our more experienced pastors from their current congregations to the role of RD, but this would put these large, healthy congregations at risk. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is never a good strategy for growth nor sustainable health. So, the Holy Spirit has been leading us to think differently and guiding us to implement a new strategy. However, this new strategy has required incredibly challenging and painful decisions and even more difficult conversations with our pastors and facilitators.
We changed our chartering guidelines in 2023 and revised them in 2024. Groups who meet via Zoom but do not meet face-to-face weekly, no longer have a charter. We also are transitioning groups of less than ten in weekly face-to-face attendance to closed status, and they will no longer have a charter. Of course, most will continue to gather and fellowship as small groups as they are able, but it is not wise stewardship of limited resources for the denomination to continue to insure them nor support their charter. None of these decisions has been easy for the facilitators, members, RDs, or the home office staff. We all grieve and lament with those our decisions have affected. I have struggled with bouts of depression due to these transitions and closures. This is, however, necessary if we are to oversee and properly lead our groups who have a weekly attendance of more than ten people.
The members and leaders affected by the restructuring are our brothers and sisters, our fathers and mothers, and our grandmothers and grandfathers, and we love and appreciate them very much! And it is also true that we cannot continue to provide support for the number of groups we previously supported and still provide training and the necessary accountability to help turn the corner to be a growing and thriving denomination. We do not want to leave anyone behind, so we have created the Home Church US. Pam Morgan has written an article to help explain what this is and how it works. Read it here.
I want to remind us that the “church” is not buildings or specific meetings — it is the people. Along with all Christians around the world, it is you and I, together, who make up the church, the body of Christ, the bride of Jesus. No one can remove you from God’s church. It is a covenantal relationship we each have with our God, as Father, Son, and Spirit, because of what Jesus did on our behalf. We belong to him, and no one can snatch us out of his hand. (John 10:28-29) Remember, he will never leave us nor forsake us! (Deuteronomy 31:6)
I also want to remind us that everything living has a life cycle and that includes congregations and fellowship groups. The apostle Paul planted congregations, yet they no longer exist today. Did Paul fail? Did those congregations fail? No, we are all here, in part, because of the work the Holy Spirit did through Paul and those congregations. Jesus tells us that he will build his church and even the gates of hell and death will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) Jesus never said a congregation or group of people will always exist in their current form until he returns.
I thank each one of you and am grateful for your love for God, love for his children, and your years (and even decades) of support and prayers. I apologize to those hurt by these transitions. To cause hurt has never been our intent, nor what is in our hearts. Like me, I know you love this denomination and want to see it thrive. I covet your continued prayers for God’s provisions and direction, as we try our best to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Love you all!
Mike Rasmussen, Superintendent of North America & the Caribbean
My pastor recently gave a sermon about Jesus the great shepherd from John 10. He emphasized how Jesus loves us, pursues us (even leaving the 99 to come after us), and saves us. Then he emphasized how important it is for us to listen and recognize the voice of our shepherd. Thank God we have this wonderful shepherd in Jesus.
In this same passage, Jesus says that there is a thief. This thief’s motives are to steal, kill, and destroy. The apostle Peter makes a similar reference in his letter to the church.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NIV)
If our enemy is on the prowl and seeking to devour and destroy us, it behooves us to understand his tactics, and then to be sober-minded and alert. Deception, division and distraction are his best and most-often-used tools.
Deceit
The apostle John, who identifies the devil as a thief, gives us more insight.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44 NIV)
The devil is a liar and deceiver. In the garden of Eden, he beguiled Eve and caused her to doubt God. Satan embedded the notion that God is holding back and cannot be trusted, when in fact he is the one who cannot be trusted. He is the liar who twists God’s words.
He continues to gaslight humanity by planting the seeds of disbelief. How can there be a good, loving God when there is so much evil in the world? Why would an invisible, distant God be concerned about my personal choices and moral behavior, when self-expression and personal happiness are the higher good for me? Why did a good God let my loved one die when he could have intervened? The emotional doubt and moral dilemmas have worked well to keep many people in a state of disbelief.
Division
For those of us who have tasted and seen that God is good and live as believers, we are still at risk to the devil’s tactics. One he loves to use is division — separation by differences of opinion or feeling, disagreement, dissension, contention. In other words, the opposite of unity.
At the root of division is the presence of sinful pride. This wrongful, self-centered, sense of superiority is what caused the archangel Lucifer to fall and to become Satan.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! … For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne … I will sit also upon the mount … I will ascend above the heights…I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14 NIV)
It is the seed of pride that causes us to esteem ourselves above others and to think more highly of ourselves than we should. (Lucifer, drunk with pride, thought he could displace God.) It is this arrogance that alienates us and erodes the communities of our families, neighborhoods, and churches. It is the handiwork of the destroyer.
Distraction
Unified believers are prey to the devious tool of distraction. We live in an age where “busyness” is given an elevated status. You must be important because you are so busy. Full calendars and constant action have been the primary metrics for success.
Jesus imparted words of wisdom throughout his brilliant Sermon on the Mount that give us timely knowledge that can help us in the 21st century.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:24-25 NIV)
In essence, he is saying that being overly anxious about our physical existence and physical needs can easily dominate our life. Our time and attention can be fully occupied with the pursuit of money and goods, which chokes out the flow of our relationship to our God and Savior. Serving God, seeking his kingdom and righteousness, is the chief master we attend to, and then we can rest assured that all the physical needs will be met.
Conclusion
I very seldom talk about the devil. I believe the advice given in the book of James that tells me when I submit myself to God, the devil’s only option is to flee far from me. However, I find it helpful to know that the tools of deceit, division and distraction are the methods by which the enemy can gain a foothold. So as Peter exhorts, let’s be alert and sober-minded, and as my pastor says, let’s listen to the true voice of the good shepherd.
I hope the title caught your attention. I also hope that it didn’t frighten or intimidate you.
Often, when we talk about the Christian life, we need to break it down and simplify it. Dr. Barry Corey does a great job of this in his book, Love Kindness. Allow me to share an enlightening section.
Living a life of radical kindness, a life that others are watching, means owning up to the fact that our lives are messy and uncertain, our roads are crooked. We don’t have it all together. The kind life acknowledges that we have little true certainty, a claim that seems so countercultural. The wonder in which we live as people of the Spirit is that the wind of the Spirit – as the Gospel of John says – “blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (3:8). It blows without our logic and where it pleases. As my home church pastor said, “God is totally reliable but hardly predictable.” (p. 30)
What I take from the wisdom of John, Barry, and Barry’s pastor, is that I am in a relational journey with Jesus and guided by the Spirit. My idea of getting from point A to point B is not typically the map the Spirit has in mind. A recent example was when I was on a three-day golf vacation with a group of professional people ranging from doctors to lawyers, and business owners to politicians. A neighborhood friend invited me to participate. Three of us were on the balcony one night, observing the stars and anticipating the solar eclipse that was to happen in a few days.
I was expecting the conversation to ebb toward science and evolution, and the Spirit took it in another direction — a creation that demands a Creator. Then a follow-up question was, “What is this Creator up to?” I suggested that what we were experiencing at our retreat is exactly what the Creator wants for all his children — friends who are for each other, sharing fun (like golf), good food, and healthy relationships. One guy exclaimed, “That would be Nirvana.” I said Jesus called it the kingdom of God, and my friend let out a resounding, “Hallelujah.” The Spirit blows where he wills.
There is a popular and provocative quotation from C.S. Lewis when Mr. Beaver answers Lucy’s question about Aslan, the Lion. Lucy asks if Aslan is safe, and Mr. Beaver replies, “Safe? … Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe)
This quote helps us to think more deeply about the triune God, especially Jesus. In Lewis’ allegory, Aslan represents Jesus. We’ve already discussed the fascinating and mysterious way the Spirit moves through our lives and through us to reach others. My good friend, Dr. Gary Deddo, a theologian who teaches a graduate course on the writings of Lewis, provided this overview of Aslan.
Given all that Aslan says and does through all the Chronicles and what he says about God in his other discursive works, I believe, represents the fact that God’s will and actions are not exactly predictable. He cannot be threatened or bribed, manipulated or compromised. He is implacably opposed to evil and will one day obliterate it. He can and will oppose us if needed. He can lead us or put us into dangerous and challenging situations—but what he does do and how he does lead is for our truest and best good—even when we can’t see or understand it now. Aslan teaches us that, in retrospect, one day, we will see that it was all coming from his wise, loving and life-giving purpose for us and all. Just as we see in the incarnate life of Jesus, Lord of lords and King of kings.
Being in awe of God and embracing his majestic and mysterious ways is hugely important to living a gospel lifestyle. Then giving over to the spiritual fruit of kindness towards others will allow us to have those incredible opportunities to speak of the kingdom of God. That evening on the balcony with my two golf buddies was all about listening to them, praying silently for Jesus to tangibly meet us in our conversation, and then to simply state that the kingdom of God is about right, peaceful relationships among all people under the sovereignty of Jesus. Can I get a hallelujah?
Development is the greatest need for GCI, especially for the preparation of future ministry leaders, pastors, and church planters. We have long understood our need for training and development, and we believe Ministry Training Centers (MTCs) are essential for our future. The development of MTCs is part of our vital strategy to reach the younger generation. We want to invest in them, to equip them, to bless them, and to empower them to populate our churches, which are positioned for renewal, with fresh leadership. The MTC strategy also includes maintaining an intentional focus on planting new churches. We will celebrate the day a church with an MTC gives birth to a daughter church.
Our Development Coordinator is Cara Garrity. Her responsibilities include overseeing MTC sites across all six GCI regions to maintain alignment with the Home Office. She had this to say about the key ingredients needed to establish an MTC: “If you are baking a cake and you leave out the salt, baking powder, or any key ingredient, you will not end up with a cake.”
We believe that the following are key ingredients for MTCs:
We understand that an MTC must grow out of a church body that is in renewal displaying healthy ministry.
It is important to understand that it is a church that has an MTC and not a fledgling MTC that aspires to be a church. This foundation is vital to the overall vision.Renewal is measured by the presence of the following three components:
Love Avenue: This happens with a healthy church that is missionally minded and missionally engaged. Deep relational connections are being made as the church engages and serves the neighborhood in established rhythms. The congregation’s gifts and resources are leveraged in ways that match the context and needs of the neighborhood. It is the love of Christ that compels us to proclaim the message and connect with those who don’t yet know they are reconciled!
Hope Avenue: Under the guidance of a capable pastor and a competent ministry team, the healthy church clearly knows their purpose for when and why they meet (e.g. a worship service is worshipful, and Jesus is always the focal point). In the Hope Venue, inclusive gathering happens with clarity and purpose.
Faith Avenue: Disciple making and community building is happening in an established small groups ministry and in short-term missions. Intentional disciple making is happening in this Avenue, and Christian community is continually being built.
This kind of missional environment is the best place for the healthy development of ministry interns, pastoral residents, pastors, and leaders. We have learned from past experience that it works better to cluster ministry interns and pastoral residents at MTCs where they will experience a synergistic learning environment. Ministry interns we assigned in the past often felt individually isolated, and believed their means for healthy learning was limited. Intentionally grouping young leaders together in the MTCs will be our guiding practice going forward.
We envision a financially stable congregation housing an MTC. We expect that an MTC congregation will be or will become financially stable and have capable financial leadership in place with the pastor and treasurer. Church Administration and Development (CAD) will assist the church in developing a thorough, long-term financial plan for the official launch of an MTC. CAD will also provide training and coaching for fundraising.
We see the MTC as a ministry educational center that will become the hub for regional training. The MTC will support emerging leaders, existing pastors, and ministry leaders across the region for the building up of the church. The superintendents and regional directors can work collaboratively with the MTC Pastor and MTC Coordinator to design and offer intensive courses that can benefit the ministry interns and pastoral residents, as well as pastors and leaders from across the region. Grace Communion Seminary (GCS) and Ambassador College of Christian Ministry (ACCM) can be partners in providing courses.
We believe these key roles are essential to an MTC:
Lead Pastor: A strong pastor who is leading a healthy congregation on the trajectory of renewal and is actively equipping the saints to participate in the ministry of Jesus. The pastor will develop a mentoring relationship with each of the ministry interns.
MTC Coordinator: This individual (possibly an existing associate or assistant pastor) will complement the work of the pastor. The MTC Coordinator’s primary purpose is to develop and supervise ministry interns and pastoral residents in conjunction with other ministries within the church. Each global region, along with their superintendent, will determine the opportunity to fund the role of MTC Coordinator, with the long-range goal of the MTC fully supporting this staff position.
Regional/National Director: This leader is a vision caster to help the healthy church see how it can be more intentional in the development of the younger, emerging leaders. This leader acts as a consultant to the MTC in its early days to monitor its progress and to help with challenges that may arise. This leader also keeps the regional focus and collaborative process alive.
In October 2018, when Dr. Joseph Tkach handed the baton of presidential leadership to me, I shared with the audience that the MTC strategy was part of my vision for GCI. It has been a work in progress, and it is starting to take shape. I congratulate the Latin American region on the launch of an MTC in Grace Communion Bogota on June 30. (In Spanish, it’s known as the CEM, Centro de Entrenamiento Ministerial.) Superintendent Heber Ticas gives a glowing report here.
Please join me in praying for God to show us where MTCs need to be developed and supported!
When we read through the Old Testament, we see many occasions where an altar was built. These altars symbolized meaningful encounters with God and were often places of sacrifice and communion with him.
Genesis is filled with examples of altars built by the patriarchs:
A place of sacrifice and thanksgiving — The first altar recorded in Scripture was built by Noah after he and his family left the ark. The Bible says the offering was a pleasing aroma to God, who responded by promising to never again curse the ground because of humankind (Genesis 8).
A place of promise, leading to covenant — We read about several altars that Abraham built, each seemingly with a different purpose, but all leading to the covenant God made with Abraham. Here are some places where he built altars:
Shechem — Here the Lord first promised Abraham that his offspring would inhabit the land that was currently inhabited by the Canaanites (Genesis 12). This could be called an altar of hope.
Mamre in Hebron — Abraham followed God’s lead and left his family land and went where God led him. Here God expanded his promise by promising Abraham that his offspring would own all the land he could see (Genesis 13). This could be called an altar of faith.
Moriah — Here Abraham built an altar to sacrifice his son Isaac. Of course, God never intended Isaac to die and was confirming to Abraham that he was different than the pagan gods. He is a God who fulfills his promises. Here Abraham earned the name, friend of God (Genesis 22). This proved to be an altar of love.
A place of worship — When Isaac returned to Beersheba, the Lord renewed the covenant he had made with Isaac’s father, Abraham. Isaac’s response was to worship (Genesis 26).
A place of personal engagement (literally wrestling with God) — The Lord met Jacob in a crisis as he fled from his brother’s vengeance, and the next day, he built an altar at that place (Genesis 28 and 32).
Several others who built altars include Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, and Elijah. These altars were for communion with God.
Pastor Jack Hayford sums up the meaning of altars quite well. “There is a place of ‘altaring’ and a price of ‘altering.’ Altars have a price–God intends that something be ‘altered’ in us when we come to altars. To receive the promise means we make way for the transformation.” God is not simply pouring out random blessings on us. He is intentionally engaging us for an active relationship and shaping us into the image of his Son.
The grandest altar given to us is the cross of Calvary. When we celebrate communion, we celebrate that the Son of God chose to become the ultimate sacrifice, and his atoning work on the cross reconciled all humankind to God. This altar of selfless sacrifice made it possible for our sins to be forgiven, for our lives to be infused with meaning, and to give us the promise of eternal life shared with him in his glorious, eternal kingdom.
There is no greater promise or covenant that can be made than for Jesus to offer us eternity in paradise with him. There is no greater personal engagement than for Jesus to make his home in us and to abide in our very lives. There is no greater act of worship than to come to the table and remember Jesus in the elements of the bread and wine.
He is our hope, our faith, and our love. Each time we come to the altar of the table, it alters us a little bit more and continues to draw us deeper into relationship with our Savior and king. May God fill us with wonder every time we come to the table and commune with Jesus.
