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.
I got to spend my second day meeting and strategizing with the ACCM staff. Unfortunately, Director John McLean was unable to come into the office. He and Heather joined us for the opening meeting on Zoom. This was my opportunity to show appreciation to John for his 25+ years of leadership over ACCM. I presented a handsome plaque that acknowledged his lifetime of service and commitment. This was a perfect opportunity to honor those who labor among us. It was a blessing to honor John and Heather.
Daphne arranged another dinner to include her husband Bill, New Zealand National Director Dennis Richards and his wife, Sue, and retired Director of Asia, Rod Matthews. This was an opportunity to reminisce with seasoned leaders who have gone before and to collectively acknowledge God’s faithfulness to us. It was especially good to catch up with Rod since his beloved wife, Ruth, died in 2023. Rod spoke of Ruth fondly and the way she eagerly anticipated the wedding supper of the Lamb. I am thankful for the lives of the saints who have gone before and the hope of eternity that Jesus promises. (Read Ruth’s posthumous devotional in this issue.)
All these events culminated in a two-day weekend workshop, Kingdom Culture. This was a time of interactive sharing around the words of Jesus with an emphasis on his kingdom parables. The crowd consisted of several groups of people — Daphne and her staff, the board of directors, pastors who serve as mentors, and the second-year participants in the Christian Discipleship Pathway group. I am grateful for this high level of participation. All too often, we have individualized learning, and then we attempt to report back. It’s not as good as having all groups together. So, it was good that each of these groups were hearing and experiencing the same things.
I have facilitated dozens of workshop weekends, but I must say that the level of learning and sharing was amazing. I saw people become enlightened about the reality of Jesus and how they are called to participate with him. I saw many people encouraged about who they are in Jesus and become empowered to want to take back this experience to share in their home congregations. It was an extra blessing to see new and younger faces in the group, and how comfortable they were to join in. I am grateful for the tangible presence of Jesus and the guiding power of the Holy Spirit.
As I write, this gray-haired president may have his sleep patterns off, but he is deeply appreciative of how God is present and faithful to this little slice of the Body of Christ called GCI. I am also very thankful for our pastors! October is pastor appreciation month, and we hope our pastors feel honored for their service and dedication.
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.
His kingdom continues to expand as he continues to draw people to himself. The church becomes the means through which this expansion takes place. The church does not build the kingdom, but she bears witness to the coming kingdom. Her participation in bearing witness to the coming kingdom takes place through the planting of gospel-centered churches who multiply disciples, leaders, ministries, and new churches. Church multiplication is rooted in the Great Commission where Jesus calls us to make disciples of all nations. He emphasizes the sending nature of the church and commissions her to go and join him in this continual enterprise of kingdom expansion.
In GCI, we desire to be part of this heavenly enterprise of expanding the kingdom through the multiplication of new expressions of the church. Our unified vision is to become the healthiest global expression of the church that we could possibly be. Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM) exist with this ultimate purpose in mind. Alongside the U.S. National Ministry Team, CMM provides vision, strategic leadership, consulting, and equipping. We yearn to continuously witness existing congregations be renewed in such a way that missional living, disciple making with Jesus, and leadership development become the deep-rooted culture of the church. We are continually providing consulting and training to congregations who are currently being replanted or relaunched. We are coming alongside those congregations that are developing teams to eventually plant/launch a new expression of the church and assisting those who are currently starting new ones.
This year CMM has been actively supporting Pastor Julie Franz, providing consulting and strategic direction as she navigates the merger of two congregations in Cincinnati, Ohio. With the merger, the congregation has greater potential for missional movement. We have also been providing support to Pastor Anthony Mullins who is in the process of planting a congregation in Durham, North Carolina. Last October, CMM sponsored a “Dream Huddle” at our MTC in Surrey Hills, Oklahoma. The “Dream Huddle” was a gathering of some missionally-minded pastors and leaders who came alongside a group of leaders from the Surrey Hills congregation for equipping on best practices for missional living and the process of starting new expressions of the church.
Kingdom expansion through church multiplication encompasses missional living, discipleship, leadership development, and intentionally seeking the lead of the Spirit to provide strategic direction in joining Jesus’ mission in our world. It is a prodding of the Spirit to move beyond addition and into multiplication at every level, including multiplying churches. In GCI, we aspire to become a church multiplication movement, and CMM is at the center of this vision.
We pray that our Lord continues to grant us the joy of participating with him in drawing people of all tribes, nations, and languages through multiplying churches that multiply and point others to the coming kingdom. We will sing the “new song” along with those who God will draw to himself through the church multiplication efforts of GCI.
Joyfully participating with Jesus, Heber Ticas, Vice President
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.
On the other hand, I think about the uplifting lyrics from many Christian songs. Casting Crowns’ song, “The Voice of Truth,” is a great example. 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!
What positive, truthful lyrics build you up? Sing those words out loud, and let them soak in. Be captivated by the joy the Lord finds in you!
It is what Jesus says that counts. He doesn’t call us servants. He calls us friends. He shares with us what the Father shares with him. He shares his life, his righteousness, his peace, and his joy. Ultimately, Jesus shares his glory with us in the eternal kingdom of God.
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.”
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”
This opening statement deserves a pregnant pause. Proclaiming our heavenly Father’s name to be sacred and revered is a decisive choice to worship and bow down to him. Who is it with which we are talking? The eternal Father who lovingly sent his only, unique Son for our salvation, AND so that we have meaningful, vibrant relationship with the triune God. Therefore, to the all-knowing, perfect, eternal God of the universe – Hallowed be your name. (A good practice is to consider ways that you have experienced God and his goodness, then simply offer a prayer telling your Father what you admire and appreciate about him).
“Thy kingdom come.”
May the kingdom power and presence come into me, to my family, my church, my neighborhood, my country and to the entire world. We pray for the kingdom now as we live out our lives as kingdom citizens and representatives, and we yearn and groan for the fullness of the kingdom in Christ’s promised return.
“Thy will be done.”
It is embarrassing to consider how much of my prayer time is dedicated to express my thoughts, voice my desires, and seek my will. (Prayer easily becomes me-centric.) God patiently listens and allows me to go on explaining, negotiating, and pleading until I get to the end of myself. Prayer often feels like reasoning with God, and as you surrender to him in the worship experience of prayer you come to understand how he has been faithful to you, you then feel a sense of surrendering your best interest into his capable care. God is for you and coming to the realization that his will is perfect, whereas human will is limited and shortsighted. This is the relationship the Father desires with all his children.
In these three opening petitions of the Lord’s prayer, you notice the flow from who God is, to what God is doing in bringing his kingdom into place, and how he is intricately guiding the lives of you and me, the kingdom citizens. I find it incredibly inspiring to know that our heavenly Father, our big brother, Jesus, and the ever-present Spirit are attending and guiding this universal movement toward the culmination of Christ’s return and the establishment of the eternal kingdom of God. Praying the Lord’s Prayer is a kingdom Prayer, and it keeps you and me vigilant to who God is and what he is up to.
Matthew chapter 20 provides insight into the deep wells of the human heart.
The mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
“What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:20–28
The first lesson is the desire of a mother for recognition and promotion of her two sons. Perhaps she was prompted by her sons to make this bold request. They had seen over and over how Jesus was receptive to women and the special relationship he shared with his own mother. Perhaps James and John thought, “How could he deny her this request?”
These ambitious brothers (the “sons of thunder,” as they were called) wanted to be the right-hand and left-hand men for Jesus, not just now, but for the eternal kingdom. It was a big ask. Jesus’ reply was rather gentle, but straight to the heart of the matter. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” He alluded to the cup of suffering and death. Maybe it’s my sports background, but the phrase, “no pain, no gain” keeps echoing in my head. These young men acknowledged that they could drink the cup.
James became the first disciple martyred in the early years of the Church. John did not die a martyr’s death, however, in his exile to the isle of Patmos, one legend says that he was thrown into a pot of boiling oil and survived. I wonder if this acknowledgement of agreeing to drink the cup frequently ran through their minds.
The over-the-top request of the brothers incited the other ten disciples. How could they make such a request? Who did they think they were? We can only imagine what was going on in the thoughts of the disciple, Simon, especially since Jesus had declared to him that he would now be called Peter (“little rock”) on whom Jesus would build his church. Surely, John and James were witnesses to that event.
So, after this spat of ambition and competition, Jesus gave direct instruction that his followers will not act in the worldly ways that are prevalent around them. Greatness will be found in a life of service, becoming as humble as a slave who washes the feet of others, and laying down one’s life for others — the ultimate sacrifice. Praise God that Jesus (100% God and 100% man) willingly laid down his life for all humanity. He drank the cup of all cups that guarantees our salvation and the covenant of better promises.
Service and sacrifice are markers of Kingdom Culture, not aggressive ambition and cutthroat competition. Jesus declared, “It will not be so among you.” He showed the way for any who follow in his steps — it is from a posture of humility and an outward devotion to serve others. We too must drink the cup as we join Jesus in his economy of service and sacrifice.
The concept that Jesus introduced with new wine and new wineskins to contain the wine has captured my attention for some time. Superintendent Mike Rasmussen and his National Ministry Team took this concept from Jesus and shaped their interactive teaching and training into a wonderful conference for pastors and spouses.
It was designed as a time of engaging Jesus and his call to ministry through GCI in a fresh and new way. I was able to join as a participant, and it was inspiring to hear the stories from various pastors during breakout sessions, inclusive of victories and challenges. Mike and his team designed this to be more than a “one and done” event. They built foundational ideas out from the heart and life examples of Jesus, and the goal is to continue this journey via online cohort meetings in the months ahead.
Please read Mike’s highlights from the conference.
This spring, pastors and spouses from across GCI-USA gathered for our New Wineskins events. We envisioned it as a time of renewal, discernment, and growth. Throughout the gathering, participants reflected on the ministry of Jesus — who shifted focus from religion to relationship, from temple to table, from inward to outward.
It was a time of discovery of what it means to be Jesus’ Church, living as a sent people. We discussed what it looks like to be new wineskins ready to receive and embrace the new wine Jesus brings in his personage, gospel message, and his calling. Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 5:37-38:
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.
Jesus is telling his disciples that he is our new wine, and the containers of this new wine (us) must be made new and ready, because the old wineskins will not stretch sufficiently to hold what the new wine brings — without bursting. As disciples of Jesus and as the Body of Christ, we are filled by Jesus, who pours himself into us. He fills us with his love, his power, his presence, and his Great Commission. Our old ways of thinking and being cannot hold all that he has for us and all he has called us to do alongside him. We must trade our old ways of thinking and our old ways of being for his new way of thinking and being.
In our meetings, Superintendent Heber Ticas, U.S. Director Jeff Broadnax, and I shared how this not only applies to us as pastors, but also to us collectively as congregations. It even applies to our Avenue teams, which we are all building to help proclaim and live out Jesus’ gospel message and plan for his Church. GCI Communications Director, Michelle Hartman, and GCI Development Coordinator, Cara Garrity, introduced new practical tools to help pastors with this process and new way of thinking. At our first event, we welcomed our GCI Consultant, Keith Shields, who shared principles for recruiting new leaders and pastors.
These events provided a space and time for sharing, bonding, and praying for one another — which was powerful. After each talk, pastors engaged in table discussions with their fellow pastors. They shared and prayed together and discussed how God may be moving them to engage with the material and scriptures being presented. This was the first time these groups have been together in person to process side-by-side with pastors who are in similar phases of this journey. Each group shared lunches and dinners together in the Home Office dining room to help facilitate ongoing discussions and continued bonding.
I’ll leave you with this positive feedback we received from one pastor. (Read more comments from participants and see photos of the events here.) “This did not feel like another program, it felt more like a road mapping session to see how we might intelligently navigate where the Father, Son, and Spirit are taking us.”
Love and appreciation to you all! Mike Rasmussen, Superintendent North America and Caribbean
I am an American football fan. I played the sport, and so did my three sons. So, during the college bowl games I was watching the University of Texas play Ohio State University. The Texas quarterback was interviewed after the game. And what caught my attention was a prominent tattoo that was visible across his right forearm. It was the verse reference “Luke 17:21.”
I have a pretty good recall of many Bible verses (some of you remember when we had boxes of memory verse cards). Luke 17:21 was not one that immediately came to my mind, and when I looked it up, I got excited. These were the words of Jesus speaking to the Pharisees saying, “The kingdom of God is among you.” Wow, a young college athlete of a major university was inspired to have this verse displayed on his arm for the world to see.
I don’t know the backstory as to what the verse means to this player, but the verse is one that I have had on my list as we in GCI go forward in our 2025 theme of Kingdom Culture. How did Jesus instruct his audience about what to look for in his second coming?
First, the kingdom of God isn’t simply about external conditions and happenings (Luke 17:20). It isn’t about cobbling together bits of scriptures alongside world news leading to wild predictions. And as much we want Jesus to come back soon, it is irresponsible to set dates on a calendar. Jesus says that no man knows the date or the hour of his return, only his Father knows (Mark 13:32). The conditions that Jesus goes on to describe in Luke 17 can easily match up to various eras of human history in the past 2,000 years and certainly what we see in our society today. So, we collectively say, “Thy kingdom come” in our daily prayers.
Second, Jesus is inferring that the Kingdom of God has a more important internal nature. If it is true as the apostle Paul says that the creation itself is yearning and longing to be delivered and restored, how much more for the humans who populate this planet? In our main passage, Jesus describes a self-indulgent, distracted world and yet at the core of humanity we all long for a time when sorrow, pain and suffering are no more. A time that can only happen when Jesus comes as a flash of lightning (Luke 17:24) on his white horse with a host of angels to make all things right (Revelation 19:11).
Finally, the kingdom of God has a spiritual nature. The kingdom of God was among the Jewish audience that Jesus addressed because the King was present with them. And it’s more than Jesus standing alongside people. We go back in the Gospel story to the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus to understand the relationship that Jesus desires. (You can read the full story in John 3.) Being born again means to believe and receive Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes his home in the believer and the believer becomes a new creation. Believers come to understand that they are kingdom citizens, and as they participate with Jesus in his ministry now, they assume the role of kingdom representatives. The spiritual union that a believer has in Jesus joins him or her to kingdom values and kingdom work.
Our tattoo-bearing quarterback did not have a good game that night of the interview. In fact, he made a bad play that cost his team a chance to win. Based on his composure and graceful act of answering the commentators’ questions, it showed me that he had a grasp of what the kingdom of God among us meant for him. May we go into our spaces and places of influence and do likewise.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be in the world, but not of the world. This New Testament theme originated with Jesus sharing this clear teaching with his disciples the night of his arrest (John 15:19, 17:14-16).
Citizens of God’s kingdom are called to be present in our world and be different. But how can we be? The plainest way to say this is that believers can be active in society, but instead of being shaped by society’s values, we are being shaped by the growing relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit, reflecting God’s nature.
Jesus inaugurated and led a counter-culture movement. That always sounds appealing to the younger generation striving to find its voice and make its mark. Finding the path of following Jesus is our hope for the emerging generation.
In what ways was Jesus counter-cultural? Let us consider Jesus’ approach toward women, children, and non-Jews.
Women
Jesus treated women as equals to men, which was revolutionary for the Judaic culture. Actively engaging women in conversation was radical for a Jewish rabbi. Then, to be in the company of a Samaritan woman and to hear her life story and to reveal himself as the Messiah was a crescendo of crescendos.
From Christ’s encounters with the sisters, Mary and Martha, we see how he valued their company, their hospitality, their friendship, and their worship. Jesus treated women with dignity and respect and valued their shared relationship.
Children
When the disciples were shooing children away, Jesus scolded them and conversely invited and welcomed the children. He took them in his arms and blessed them.
We see multiple examples in Scripture where Jesus was healing and protecting children. He elevated their worth when he said, “You must become like a child to enter the kingdom of God.” He was citing their willingness to believe, their excitement and curiosity that was untainted. It is my opinion that Jesus values the playful, joy-filled nature of a child. Jesus and his Church love kids!
Rather than becoming hard and cynical, Jesus desires that we all retain the awe and wonder of a child.
Non-Jews
Whether it was a Samaritan woman at a well or a Roman soldier whose child was ill, Jesus treated all people openly and with compassion and mercy. Being that Jesus is simultaneously human and divine; it does not escape him that all people are created in the image of God and should be respected as such.
In honoring the image of God in all people, Jesus willingly went to Calvary to die for all. In GCI, we like to say that ALL are included in the life and love of Jesus. Jesus is Savior of all and actively draws all people to himself.
Galatians 3:28 reverberates in our minds. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
The launch of the Church began on a Pentecost Sunday, and we celebrate its rich history. From then until now, the Church has been most impactful when it has treated others with the love and care of Jesus. Proclaiming the goodness of Jesus and demonstrating the flow of his love through us in how we treat others is how the Church shines as a beacon that Christ intended.
The radical transformation we see in the more than 3,000 gathered in Jerusalem that Pentecost morning is exactly what we hope for the Church of 2025. Let us be a part of this Spirit-led, counter-culture movement of Jesus and swept up into the ever-expanding kingdom of God.
Dear GCI Family and Friends,
