I recently shared that our GCI theme for 2025 is Kingdom Culture. I hope this captures your imagination and stirs your spirit.
Growing into a Kingdom Culture begins with Kingdom Living. Kingdom Living originates in the King himself, King Jesus. We are familiar with the slogan “Jesus is the center of the center.” Our annual worship calendar supports this with celebrations anchored in the Person and works of Jesus (vicarious works on behalf of all humanity). But who is this King and what do we know about Him?
In the letter to the Christ-followers in Colossae, Paul writes some of the most magnificent truths about the King.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20 NRSVA
The glory of the triune God is perfectly on display in the Person of Jesus. In Him, all things are held together. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being.
Jesus is Lord of creation and Lord of His church. As head of the Church, He is the source and nerve center — guiding and directing us “body members” as His hands and feet. There is no church without Jesus and no Kingdom Living without the presence of the King.
He is pre-eminent in the widest scope possible, supreme in all aspects and at every point. It reminds me of the great hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” and the line, “be thou my best thought in the day and in the night.”
When our identities, our thoughts, our purposes are fully wrapped in Jesus, we then are active citizens of His Kingdom. We have a mindset focused on Jesus above anything or anyone else.
A small Kingdom story that was significant to me involves a young man named Will Chitwood. Will is Vice President of CapTrust, a financial management company that manages our corporate capital account. We recently went through a trial that threatened to carry a potentially large expense to the church. Will was on standby to negotiate the anticipated rough waters, and the good news is that the threat was negated. I sent Will an email message to share the outcome. Instead of simply replying electronically, Will gave me a phone call. He shared how he had been regularly praying for us, and he recounted a sermon he had recently heard about God’s deliverance for Joshua and Israel as they populated the Promised Land. Will said that he rejoiced with us over God’s deliverance, and we mutually shared that the nature of our relationship was more than business, rather we are joined together as Kingdom partners.
Our purpose is to make the King known and to help believers grow up in Jesus. How encouraging is it to have a financial manager who embraces this and comes alongside GCI in the shared journey? And even more exciting is to realize that King Jesus is present and guiding at all points, even the next breath you and I draw.
We invite you to join us for this U.S. Home Church sermon by Greg Williams. Clothed in Christ
P.S. Our hearts and prayers go out to our members, friends, and all victims who are suffering from the devastation caused by the wildfires in southern California. The multiple fires have been fueled by the strong Santa Anna winds, and we continue to beseech Jesus to calm the winds and for the fires to be put out. We have been able to work with our local pastors to be able to get emergency funds to our members who have lost their homes and possessions. And yet there will be long-term effects, and rebuilding houses and lives will take years. Let’s not languish in our prayer support or allow this catastrophic event to become old news while people continue to suffer. More information about the GCI Disaster Relief Fund is available here.
We also pray for the people of Southeast Australia who are facing extreme fire risk due to dry conditions and a heatwave. When one suffers, we all suffer. Greg Williams
As we approach the end of 2024, there’s much to give thanks for in our shared journey. In the U.S., we came together for face-to-face regional gatherings (the first live gathering of this nature since before the Covid pandemic). It was a time to hug necks and rejoin the deep relationships that we have enjoyed for many years. This year was also a time to face difficult realities about the state of our congregations, and we made needed changes related to what congregations can be chartered, and served accordingly, as we go forward into 2025.
Another significant change that is under way in the United States is moving from the regional structure to a U.S. National Ministry Team, whose purpose is to serve our pastors and congregations in meaningful ways that can put legs to the vision for Healthy Church. We are prayerfully hopeful.
I am encouraged by the remarkable ways the Spirit is at work in and through GCI, moving us forward in unity and purpose. The resiliency and supportive attitude of GCI pastors and members amazes me. Thank you!
The triune God is faithful in our midst. Jesus Christ, the head of the church has much in store for us. I caught a glimpse of this at the Dream Huddle event held at our Ministry Training Center in Surrey Hills, O.K. Church planters, pastors of church mergers, and leaders of church relaunches gathered to share what we have been learning. We discussed how we can be supportive of each other as the Lord reshapes and rebuilds GCI in the U.S. Once again, I am prayerfully hopeful.
I am very encouraged by my visits and interactions with our international leaders as well. This past year, I collaborated with our Australasian Superintendent Daphne Sidney who is leading more than thirty participants in the Christian Discipleship Program. Their journey of learning and growing together has great promise. I joined New Zealand Regional Director Dennis Richards and Pastors Frank and Emily Boyd from Fiji as they hosted their Avenue Champions for a two-day workshop. It was inspiring to see their focus and intentionality as they join Jesus in His ministry to their island nation. I rounded out my year joining Kalengule Kaoma, Superintendent of Africa, and his team of regional directors in Ghana. The church in Ghana celebrated its 50-year anniversary, but with the level of energy and enthusiasm expressed it’s like they are just getting started.
Looking ahead to 2025, I’m excited about the year ahead as we embrace our theme: Kingdom Culture. This theme invites us to identify more deeply as citizens of God’s kingdom and encourages us to participate more actively. GCI’s history is one of being kingdom-minded, especially praying for the fullness to come. But we hear the Spirit telling the church that we are kingdom citizens now, so therefore, live as such.
As we continue to move forward in our commitment to Healthy Church, we’re focusing on four key aspects of Kingdom Culture.
Who: Focusing on the centrality of Christ and being centered in the relational presence of Jesus and allowing Him to shape us more than any social construct or distraction of this age. Jesus is our source.
Why: Joining Jesus through living by the Two Great Commandments and participating in the Great Commission. This is the soul of being the church, why we do what we do.
What: Living out our collective identity in Christ through our values, teachings, structures, liturgy, and church programs. This is the skeleton for Kingdom Living.
How: Reflecting Jesus in relationships with a special focus on the corporate expression of congregational life, being the light on the hill that embraces our neighbors and welcomes more and more disciples into the glorious kingdom of Jesus. This is the outward skin — what non-believers see and experience from church folk.
We will follow this framework for the stories and articles in the upcoming Update newsletter and in our resources throughout the year. It’s a joy to share inspiring stories of how God is at work in different corners of the world. I’m eager to see how the theme of Kingdom Culture reshapes you and me, and spills over to the transformation of our neighbors.
Wishing you a joyful close to 2024 and a 2025 filled with growth, connection, and a deepening of our kingdom calling, highlighted by our kingdom participation.
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
