Category: Hear From the President

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am writing this from Orlando, Florida where our denominational conference is winding down. About 1,000 people attended. As you know, we hold regular national, regional and district-level conferences for our ministers and members. But once every three years we come together from around the world for an international conference like this one. It takes a lot of work to pull it off, but it is well worth it. My sincere thanks to the many who worked so hard to make it so wonderful.

Though small in numbers, we truly are an international denomination. We are blessed with close relationships around the world—some going back many decades. But those relationships deteriorate unless we maintain them. That is why a conference like this is important. It helps us see who God has made us. We see what God is doing through our collective ministries around the world and our local ministries close to home.

Each day at the conference we enjoyed general sessions with inspiring worship and thought-provoking presentations from GCI leaders and guest speakers including Jeff McSwain and Gerrit Dawson. We also had a wide array of workshops facilitated by GCI leaders and guests. All these meetings focused on our conference theme: Participation-Fellowship-Communion. Recordings of many of the sessions will be posted on our website as soon as our media team can prepare them.

During meals we heard updates from some of our national leaders concerning what is happening in their area of the world. My friends and colleagues from all over the world shared their stories, showing what God has been doing as we strive to follow his lead.

Some areas, like Europe and Australia have become spiritual “stony ground” and the Christian church faces a challenge to survive. In other regions we are experiencing explosive growth. Kalengule Kaoma, our mission director in East and West Africa, told us of whole networks of congregations in Namibia, Tanzania and Burundi that are lining up to join us. We could be adding dozens of congregations in those countries in the next few years. This type of growth already has happened in Mozambique. Tim Maguire, our mission director in Southern Africa, told us that 96 congregations in that region have joined us in the last three years.

As the conference draws to a close, I am encouraged. Though we face many challenges, we are seeing many successes as we join in what God is doing to reach people and transform lives. Though statistics help measure progress, they don’t tell the whole story. As Kalengule pointed out in his presentation, the most important progress is made at the deeply personal and individual level, whether in an American inner city or in a remote African village.

You’ve probably heard the expression “the devil is in the details.” I disagree—in our gospel work, the Holy Spirit is in the details. He guides us to share in what Jesus Christ is doing to transform one life at a time. At this conference, we heard many testimonies concerning the Spirit’s work.

A conference like this reminds us that perhaps our greatest asset as a denomination is our relationships with each other. As one of our pastors posted on his Facebook page, “On earth, I get to know a bit more about heaven all the time in moments like this.” As we worshiped and fellowshipped we had many opportunities to deepen relationships with people we already knew and to forge friendships with those we were meeting for the first time.

In my address to a general conference session, I reflected on our miraculous transformation—from an exclusivistic sect, to an outwardly focused church that joins Jesus in his work to redeem and restore his creation. I am deeply grateful that God has shown us the foolishness of our former ways. Looking back, I find it hard to believe that we thought that was how God wanted us to live. I pray that he will continue to work through us as we join together in his mission throughout the world.

As Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, “The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 The Message).

Our world needs that message. Our denomination is living proof that human beings can put their differences behind them and work together in harmony, love and mutual respect.

As I write these words, my friends are beginning to go home to their various responsibilities. God willing, we will meet again in three years. As we say our temporary “goodbyes,” we are reminded that God has given us this new life that will last forever. So there will always be a “next time.” And there will never be a “last time.”

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Taking care of our denomination’s financial affairs may not be one of the more glamorous functions of our work, but it is one of the most important. As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2, NRSV).

Our Glendora office accounting team takes stewardship of GCI’s finances very seriously. They maintain meticulous professional standards and work hard to meet the requirements of the law. This includes submitting our financial records to an independent external auditor. Our staff then devotes many hours in responding to the auditor’s requests. This is time well spent because it shines an outside light on our financial management records and processes and helps us improve each year.

Capin Crouse LLP recently finished auditing our financial records for 2011 and 2012. They presented their findings to our Board of Directors in a written report that summarizes the audit and suggests ways that we can improve our financial systems. The report also notes forthcoming changes to legal and financial requirements for churches. The report’s cover letter includes this summary statement:

In our opinion, the combined financial statements [from GCI]…present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Grace Communion International and Affiliate in the United States of America as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the changes in their net assets and their cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

This statement means that our external auditor has given us a “clean” or “unqualified” report. They noted to us informally that our financial systems are “stellar.” This is significant, for in a world where institutions, including churches, are often distrusted, our members and other donors can have peace of mind knowing that their contributions and financial sacrifices are respected by their church and that its financial resources are being handled with the greatest of professional care. Any GCI member in the US may obtain a copy of Capin Crouse’s audit report by sending their request to Grace Communion International, P.O. Box 5005 Glendora, CA 91740, attention Mat Morgan.

The pictures below show our home office financial team. I thank all of them, including Mathew Morgan, our treasurer and Robert Meade, our accounting manager who lead us in financial stewardship. I also thank the many others in our home office and in our congregations who diligently strive to be trustworthy stewards of the finances entrusted to us for the work of the gospel.

On a related note, I urge all pastors and treasurers in our US churches to stay current with requirements for reviews of financial records as detailed in the GCI-USA Financial Management Manual. An internal review is required each year and an external review is required every third year. Although these reviews can be time-consuming, they are essential in helping us properly steward the finances within our churches.

Due to the upcoming International Denominational Conference, we will not be publishing GCI Weekly Update next week. I look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach.

PS. As you may know, churches, denominations and ministry organizations are seeing significant changes related to financial stewardship and fundraising. Ted Johnston tells me that this important topic will be the focus of the August issue of Equipper. I hope you will read it when it’s published in early August. Equipper is emailed to all GCI-USA pastors and to others who request it. It also is posted online at http://mindev.gci.org/equipper.htm.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In our modern age of smart bombs and unmanned drones, it may seem hard to believe that not so long ago one of the most effective unmanned flying machines used in warfare was the humble pigeon.

The homing, or carrier pigeon, is able to find its way home over hundreds and even thousands of miles. Approximately 250,000 of them were used in World War II as a low-tech but highly effective way to carry messages. Because the enemy would deploy air-to-air anti-pigeon hawks to bring them down, these messages were often written in secret code.

Last November, one of these coded messages was discovered in a canister attached to the leg of a dead pigeon that had become stuck in a chimney. There are few secrets remaining from that war, but this is one of them. The message, which has 27 five-letter code groups, is said to be impossible to crack without its codebook. It may never be deciphered, but here it is (see picture at right) if you want to try.

There is something fascinating and challenging about coded messages, isn’t there? Some people seem to think the Bible is just as mysterious as that pigeon’s message, containing coded information that must somehow be unraveled so the real truth may be known.

Perhaps you remember a book that was published some years ago, The Bible Code. The author claimed that there were secret messages hidden in the original text of the Hebrew Bible. By looking at the sequence of Hebrew letters—for example, every 50th one—the secret information could be deciphered. That information, encoded into the text thousands of years ago, revealed specific details about contemporary events.

If you think this sounds a bit far-fetched, you’re right. It just doesn’t work. The Bible Code failed to predict some important developments and history has shown it to be quite wrong in many others. Also, computer analysis has shown that you can actually do this with almost any book. One critic, presumably with tongue firmly in cheek, showed how Herman Melville anticipated the assassination of Martin Luther King in the text of Moby Dick.

To study the Bible in this way is a waste of time. It is not what it is for. The Bible is certainly profound and repays in-depth study. Ever since it was written, scholars have poured over Holy Scripture in search of a better understanding of God’s character and will. Studies of the Hebrew Scriptures by Jewish scholars before the time of Jesus left them with unanswered questions. This is what Paul was referring to when he wrote to the church at Colosse that the word of God was to some extent a “mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations” (Colossians 1:26a). However, as Paul notes, it is no longer a secret and we are called to proclaim the word: “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness” (v 25).

That fullness is the core message of the gospel, which, through Paul, “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ (vv. 27-28).

Paul’s point is that the Sender has given us the code to the mystery. We don’t have to be expert code-breakers and we don’t have to be stumped. We can shout the message from the highest hill. We don’t have to spend hours struggling to work it out because the mystery has been revealed. God has come to us through his incarnate Son, Jesus Christ with unbounded grace for all. God is the Sender and we are the recipients. Jesus, himself, is the deciphered message of God to us.

The essential starting point of correct Bible interpretation is to read and interpret it through the lens of the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus told the biblical scholars of his day, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40 ESV).

Sadly, for many, that is still the case. They spend their lives trying to decipher what the Bible “really says,” coming up with a never-ending stream of bizarre and inaccurate ideas. You’d think they’d learn, wouldn’t you?

But the hope of unlocking “secret knowledge” lures them on—like, I suppose, those people who are still trying to decipher the message strapped to the leg of that long-dead carrier pigeon. Though the pigeon’s message may never be decoded, we most certainly do not have to be confounded by the message of the Bible. Jesus not only decodes it, he is the code and the message.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

PS: We will publish Weekly Update on July 24 and then skip July 31. The triennial GCI Denominational Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida during the week spanning July 29-August 4. I hope to see many Update readers there.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I couldn’t resist sending you the picture below. Haven’t we all met people who do crazy, self-destructive things? Such people don’t need enemies—they are their own worst enemy! They go through life tripping themselves up and inflicting catastrophe after catastrophe on themselves.

How do we help people like that? They can try a pastor’s patience and it’s tempting to think we must “do something about them.” Perhaps we need to be reminded of Paul’s instructions to Timothy: “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV).

Note the emphasis here. Paul does not say, “Tell these people to get their act together and start living properly. Or else!” Rather, he tells Timothy to be patient, tolerant and humble, reminding him that even though such people may be their own worst enemy, they are not God’s enemy. They may be unable to acknowledge their problem and so become easy prey for the devil. They may reject and resist advice, but that does not give a pastor the right to abandon them. We may not be able to open up their minds to see their problems, but God can.

Gently relating to such people is an important part of being a pastor. We are reminded that we are shepherds of God’s flock, not “lords over God’s heritage” (1 Peter 5:3 KJV). If we remember this as we serve those who “oppose themselves,” we will become more aware of God’s unrelenting and unconditional love for all of humankind, including ourselves. If we are brutally honest, we must admit we too have our moments of self-opposition.

One of the most awesome dynamics in our lives comes when we recognize and acknowledge that, in Christ, God says “YES” to the question of our reconciliation with him and our eternal salvation. Then when we see what God is doing with us in Christ and say, “yes” and “thanks be to God,” he says “YES” right back to us—for eternity.

Trouble is, having accepted God’s big “YES,” we often respond with our little “no’s.” Paul lamented this reality in Romans chapter seven. Though wanting to respond to God’s “YES” by living a life worthy of our calling, the more we try, the more we become conscious of our failures.

Paul gives voice to this struggle: “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (vv. 18b-19 NIV).

Even seasoned, mature Christians oppose themselves at times and so Paul continues the lament: “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work in me. What a wretched man I am!” (vv. 21-24a).

Sounds hopeless, doesn’t it? But that is not where Paul ends—he had learned that God never gives up on us: “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (vv. 24b-25).

When people oppose themselves, they think and behave as if they can cut themselves off from Christ. They are not living in communion with God even though their life, breath and movement is dependent on him (Acts 17:28). God is the sustainer of every life and no one lives outside of his relationship with them, whether they know of or acknowledge that relationship. God loves sinners. That is why he sent Jesus to save and redeem us. He will never give up on us and he never stops loving us.

The wonderfully reassuring dynamic of our relationship with and to God is that when we say “no” to his reconciling and saving “YES” to us in Christ, he won’t take our “no” for an answer. We cannot change the fact that God loves us and has, in Christ, reconciled himself to us. No matter how angry, disbelieving and denying we may be toward God, it does not change the reality that God is our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. God is faithful even when we oppose ourselves.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we in the United States celebrate Independence Day this week, perhaps some will be asking, “What is there to celebrate?”

There is no question that the US faces serious problems. Americans are divided over many issues. There is the overarching problem of the economy and national indebtedness. What should be done about climate change and protection of the environment? In many places, our infrastructure of roads, bridges and utilities is crumbling. The cost of health care is skyrocketing. Divorce rates are still at 50% and 40% of children are born out of wedlock. There are 3000 abortions a day and 19 million new cases of STDs each year. Some things about our nation are not worthy of celebrating.

Nevertheless, we cannot deny that life in the US, compared to most other nations, is the proverbial bowl of cherries. That is no reason to be smug and complacent about our blessings. As the patriotic hymn, “America the Beautiful” reminds us, we still need to ask God to “mend thine every flaw.” As loyal citizens, we should want to do whatever we can to make our homeland a better place. But how do we do that?

Many Christians have become embroiled in the various causes that campaign relentlessly for change (or not, as the case may be). This is especially true of those issues involving social justice, such as immigration reform, abortion, gay rights and same-sex marriage. Many Christians—particularly evangelical Christians—are heavily involved, and the National Association of Evangelicals is predicting that political activism in its ranks will increase in the next decade.

Maybe some of you are tempted to join in the battles. We are, after all, also members of our earthly communities. However, I do need to remind you to keep your personal political views out of the pulpit. I know it is tempting to use your position and influence to advance an agenda about which you feel passionately. We must also be cautious on another level. Instead of making things better, there is a risk of complicating our ministry situation, while undermining the main purpose of the church in this world at this time. It is important not to lose focus. We need to ask, “Where is Jesus in these debates? What is his perspective and priority? What does he want us to do?”

So this week, as we in the US celebrate our comparatively abundant freedom and independence, let’s remember that God has called us to proclaim a much greater freedom—one that God has for all humankind. Jesus Christ shares this freedom with us by the Holy Spirit who works to renew us from the inside out.

In thinking about celebrating freedom, it’s appropriate that we remind ourselves of what Jesus said to his disciples following the Last Supper. It was a time of national frustration for the Jewish nation. They were under the yoke of the Roman Empire and like the American colonists in the 18^th century, they yearned for freedom. Some of Jesus’ disciples had been political zealots. They all looked forward to Jesus turning his thus far peaceful preaching into a militant protest movement that would lead them to freedom. Isn’t that what the Messiah was supposed to do?

Let’s read what Jesus said in his prayer recorded in John 17 (quoted from The Message, with emphasis added).

I gave them your word; the godless world hated them because of it, because they didn’t join the world’s ways, just as I didn’t join the world’s ways. I’m not asking that you take them out of the world but that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world than I am defined by the world (vv. 14-16).

The world tends to define us by our political and moral views—conservative or liberal, pro-life or pro-choice, etc. Jesus prayed for his followers to be above that. If we are to be defined, let it be by our Lord’s agenda.

Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I’m consecrating myself for their sakes so they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission (vv. 17-19).

Jesus knew that to be successful, his followers must be united. That does not mean that we must be exactly alike in every way. From the earliest days, it was obvious that different cultures and customs could all be accommodated. The church in Jerusalem was different from the church in Corinth. But in their overall mission, Jesus’ followers must present a united front, so that the world will be in no doubt about what we stand for and who we represent.

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me (vv. 20-21).

While I am not opposed to those who lobby for the government to protect our Christian worldview, our emphasis on lobbying for a certain political position will not always be met with success. Some, if not most, will even misunderstand our motives and aims and have no ability to follow our reasons. Therefore our focus must be on the mission that Christ has given us—to proclaim his gospel and in doing so to multiply his disciples throughout the world—and that, eventually, leads to true freedom for all people.

George Orwell once said that, “freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” I’m thankful that we have the political freedom to share the gospel, even if some do not want to hear it. Though I enjoy the fireworks and other celebrations of Independence Day, I realize that true freedom is found only in and through Christ. Sown in the soil of our souls, that freedom can never be taken from us. It is a gift from God that brings peace and joy to all people for all time.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Throughout church history, the importance of preaching has been emphasized and explained as being a vital activity of the church. John Calvin said that where the word of God is not preached and heard, there is no church. Preaching is a ministry that Jesus himself authorized and continues to empower by his word and Spirit. When we prepare and deliver a sermon, we are sharing in the ongoing ministry of the Great Shepherd. As the living Word, he continues to communicate by his word, both written and preached. Therefore, let us offer our sermons up to God as “loaves and fish” for him to bless and multiply in feeding his sheep.

Every time I prepare a sermon, I’m reminded of John Stott’s book for preachers, Between Two Worlds. He observed that preachers need twelve hours to adequately prepare a sermon. That amount of time, I know, is unrealistic for many of us—especially bivocational pastors. Nevertheless, Stott’s observation reminds us of the importance of adequate sermon preparation—I’m particularly motivated to spend more time in prayer.

We are blessed with many resources that help us prepare our sermons. I asked Ted Johnston from Church Administration and Development to list some of them (see the “preaching resources” link at left). These resources will need to be adapted to your personal style, your congregation’s needs and our denomination’s doctrinal standards. But they do take some of the “heavy lifting” out of sermon preparation.

Also of interest is a Christianity Today article by John Ortberg entitled “The 5 Comments Preachers Hate Most” (at www.christianitytoday.com/le/2012/october-online-only/five-comments-preachers.html). Ortberg wrote:

The single oddest response I ever received after a sermon (true story) came from a man I had never met.

“Excuse me,” he said, “Do you mind if I disturb you for a moment?”

“No,” I said.

He put his thumbs in his ears, wiggled his fingers wildly, and made a noise that sounded like Ruga Ruga Ruga. Then he walked away. I haven’t seen him since. It was the oddest response I have received, but not the worst.

Perhaps the oddest response I have ever received was following a sermon I preached on grace. A man came up to me and said that he would like to publicly execute me by chopping off my head with a giant ax. As it turns out, this fellow was visiting us from one of our splinter groups.

How about you? What is the most unusual comment you have ever received in response to one of your sermons? I invite you to share yours using the “ADD A COMMENT” feature below.

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” I have noticed that the opposite is true as well. A critical comment can have the effect of trumping any number of positive remarks. But for a preacher, a certain amount of criticism goes with the territory. It isn’t necessarily your fault. Even the apostle Paul couldn’t please all of the people, all of the time. He wrote,

Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse (2 Corinthians 2:16 MSG).

So next time someone tells you your sermon “stinks,” remember you are in good company. However, let’s make sure the criticism comes because the listener rejects the truth of our message and not because of sloppy, inadequate preparation. To quote Paul again,

This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can” (2 Corinthians 2:17 MSG).

Let me encourage you to be diligent in your preaching, entrusting your best to Christ the living Word, so you can be “a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NRSV).

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The 1940s were a time of great growth for evangelical churches. Our own denomination, then known as the Radio Church of God, was no exception. As more and more people responded to Herbert Armstrong’s broadcasts and personal campaigns, small groups would form. But with no one to pastor them, they soon disbanded. In his Autobiography, Mr. Armstrong explained how he noticed that several other small churches had resolved this problem by starting training colleges. And so, in 1947, Ambassador College in Pasadena opened. Later, sister campuses opened in England and Texas.

Ambassador College served us well for several decades. In the years when our churches grew exponentially, we were able to employ nearly every graduate. But by the 1970s through 80s as fewer and fewer graduates were employed by the church and as the costs of maintaining the campuses rose, the difficult decision was made to close all three.

This proved to be the right decision. In the last two decades, hundreds of small Bible colleges have been forced to close. Ambassador graduates have gone on to find success in many fields, and many still serve in the ministry of the church. That includes many of you reading these words. No longer are we those fresh-faced young people beaming out of the pages of the Ambassador College Envoy. Many of us, now in our late sixties, are approaching retirement.

We need to prepare the next generation of leaders and pastors. It is no longer financially possible to have a full-time training college. Nor is it necessary. There are many fine institutions, including our own Grace Communion Seminary, which provide a sound theological foundation. But ministry is more than academic knowledge. Effective pastoral training must also include practical, hands-on experience in churches.

This is why, in the US, we have our Pastoral Internship Program. We have just completed the second annual meeting of our interns and those involved in training and mentoring them (see group picture below). The meeting was held in a Christian retreat center north of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Church Administration and Development team member Greg Williams coordinates our Pastoral Internship Program. Following is a report he sent me about the recent gathering. I think you will find it encouraging.

We held our second annual meeting with our interns over the weekend of June 6-9. Out of the 35 attendees, 11 were pastoral interns and two were pastoral residents who are ordained elders serving in GCI churches. Ranging in age from 22 to 50, our interns are participating in one of two internship tracks: as a volunteer progressing at a pace that fits their schedule; or as a paid intern following a two-year intensive program.

The group gathered expecting to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading, to be nurtured and trained, to continue building our relational networks and to clarify our next steps. The Spirit’s activity was clearly evident in the active participation, enthusiastic conversation and transparent sharing.

A highlight of the gathering was hearing the interns offer insights during a group study of 1 Timothy. On Friday, while discussing chapter 3, two interns showed how they saw Paul’s listing of qualifications for ministry less like a “check list” and more like the ingredients of a cake. The foundation of the “cake” is Jesus. His attributes and actions, in which we share, are the cake’s substance. All this is what Paul calls “the mystery of our faith”—a mystery now revealed in the person and work of Jesus.

Our discussions continued on Saturday, examining the nuts and bolts of the internship program. The interns informed us that they feel well supported by their congregations and their denomination. They desire more interaction through the year and plan to use video chats and a Facebook page to keep in touch. They also asked for more clarity in tracking their progress and in transitioning toward pastoral leadership or church planting.

These conversations continued each day after the formal sessions were over—a good sign that people were fully engaged. The weekend showed me that the program is working well. I am impressed that this community of interns and pastor-trainers are so affirming of each other. They encourage one another and are committed to seeking the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. A deep camaraderie, grounded in shared experience, has developed.

The weekend was a valuable experience, and will help us refine our practices for training and developing emerging pastoral leaders to pastor established churches and start new ones.

This is indeed good news. Seventy years ago, Mr. Armstrong saw the need to start a college to train pastors. Times are different, and the techniques have changed, but there will always be a need for qualified and dedicated men and women to take care of those God calls through our ministry. I am reminded of Paul’s instructions to Timothy: “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Your brother in Christ,
Joseph Tkach

PS: For a short interview with pastoral intern Jon Kuhn, go to http://youtu.be/Fkn8X32o8rc. For the recent “passing the baton” of pastoral leadership in Kansas City from Ray Meyer to Jason Frantz (one of our first interns in the current program) go to https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151442585746050&set=vb.629281049&type=2&theater.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

June 16 is Father’s Day in the USA. As it approaches, I find myself reminiscing about both my dad, Joseph Tkach, Sr. and my wife’s dad, Don Hall. I look at pictures of them as well as my grandfathers, all of whom have joined with God in eternity.

Though I have visited Greece where my mother’s father was born, I have not yet visited Eastern Europe or Russia from where my dad’s folks immigrated. Doing so is on my “bucket list.” I want especially to visit the St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum to view Rembrandt’s famous painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son. This masterpiece (pictured below) is over eight and a half feet tall and six and a half feet wide. Apparently, this gives the viewer an experience similar to a Cinemax movie—you are invited into the action rather than just watching from outside. Some people spend hours looking at the painting.

Rembrandt’s painting captures, in a remarkable way, the essence of Jesus’ well-known parable recorded in Luke 15. While the wayward son in the parable was “still a long way off,” his father saw him and “was filled with compassion” (verse 20). The Greek conveys the idea of an inward movement of concern and mercy. This moved the father to run to his son where he “threw his arms around him.” Rembrandt’s picture vividly portrays this warm embrace, which was extended to the son before any words of repentance could be spoken.

The God portrayed by Jesus in the parable and by Rembrandt in the painting has a heart that is quite different from that shown by many religious folk. They are like the older son in the parable who was jealous of the gracious affection showered on his returning brother.

Rembrandt depicts this “unprodigal” older son as a drab, almost ghostly figure, lurking in the background, almost out of the picture. He is upset at the extravagant outpouring of love and grace on someone who surely does not deserve it. He feels alienated, not only from his brother, but from his father too.

My dad had a favorite saying, “If you don’t feel close to God, you must ask yourself—who moved?” Our Father in heaven is one who is always working to close the distance—in fact, he runs to close the distance. This is the Father who Jesus came to reveal.

Jesus taught us to think that way. Peter, reflecting an attitude like the older son once asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22 NASB). This is forgiveness without limits.

God’s grace challenges our sense of righteousness and calls us all to respond, whether we think of ourselves as the repentant sinner or his (self) righteous brother. God’s incomparable, limitless grace obliterates our need to judge who is more worthy to enjoy the benefits of God’s kingdom. We all need mercy and grace rather than the justice of rewards and punishment.

Please receive this painting by Rembrandt as my Father’s Day card to you. May it help you appreciate more deeply the love between a father and his children. May it also encourage us to seek to repair any damaged relationships. In doing so, we will come to understand even more the deep love our Father in heaven has for us. All of us.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

PS: In next week’s Update, we’ll publish the final installment in Gary Deddo’s helpful series on interpreting Scripture. I hope this series is a blessing to you. I know that many pastors make copies to share with their members.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As ancient Israel approached her darkest hour, Isaiah warned that there would be a crisis in leadership—or rather, a crisis because no one was willing to lead. He wrote:

One brother will grab another and say, “You look like you’ve got a head on your shoulders. Do something! Get us out of this mess.” And he’ll say, “Me? Not me! I don’t have a clue. Don’t put me in charge of anything” (Isaiah 3:6-7 MSG).

When I see the mess our world is in, I marvel that anyone would want to lead. I am presently in Australia, attending a GCI ministerial conference. Though Australia was recently voted “the happiest nation” in the developed world, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard faces difficult situations and constant challenges to her leadership. In the US, President Barack Obama faces difficulties with the economy, terrorism, winding down two foreign wars, etc. It seems that his every decision is disputed and each mistake exploited by the opposition.

Leaders in less developed nations face many difficulties too—not the least being the struggle their citizens have in merely surviving each day.

Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that behind the trappings of power that come with leadership, there is a frail human being facing often insurmountable problems. Not all leaders are egomaniacs who in clinging to power risk ruining their nations. Some seek a better life for their people, yet their sincere efforts are thwarted by the petty ambitions of those who want to share their power but not their dreams. I think many leaders of nations today can identify with Shakespeare’s observation that “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

Today we see disenchanted and frustrated people using religion, including Christianity, to further their political agendas. The gospel becomes just another weapon in their arsenal of protest. Sometimes literally. It was reported in the news recently that a 57-year-old woman in South Carolina was arrested and charged with inflicting serious injury when she allegedly used her fists and a Bible to assault another woman.

Clearly, using the gospel as an excuse to promote violence is the antithesis of what Jesus taught. So what is the responsibility of a Christian in regard to those who wield power over us? The apostle Paul, writing to the early Christians in Rome gives us the answer:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God…. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor (Romans 13:1, 7 NKJV).

Paul wrote this during the reign of the corrupt and probably deranged Emperor Nero. During his reign, Christians suffered relentless and cruel persecution. I’ve always thought it interesting that Paul did not say to pray for revenge or to get even, or to work to overthrow the evil regime. Rather, he instructed the Roman Christians to respect their rulers and submit to them as far as was possible. To obey God is our highest priority. However, we must not make the mistake of assuming our own political preferences represent the will of God.

Paul not only teaches us to submit to our leaders but also to pray for them:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV).

I do not just pray for our leaders to get things right. I pray that they respond to the lead of the Holy Spirit in their thinking. It can be challenging to pray this way because of the temptation to take matters into our own hands. But our calling is to show the world the way of peace, which the Bible says we do not know of ourselves (Romans 3:17). No human regime can bring ultimate peace. It can only come from the Prince of Peace and the way of life of his peaceable kingdom.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

PS: I recently received a moving report from The Mountaintop—one of our Generations Ministries’ camps—held recently in Georgia. To read the report, go to www.genmin.gci.org/pictures/baptism.pdf. The ministry we are providing to our young people through our camps and short-term mission events impacts lives both now and forever. Thanks to all who are involved!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Tammy and I have just returned from a quick visit to Europe where I attended our UK Board meeting. I also spoke in one of our London churches where over 100 were in attendance. It was a delight to fellowship with them.

From London, Tammy and I accompanied James and Shirley Henderson to a conference with our French-speaking members. It was held in Alsace, a beautiful part of France known for picturesque villages and fine wines. We spent time there with over 100 of our French brothers and sisters (see picture below). Several asked me to convey warm regards and love for all our churches.

Our visit to Alsace also gave us the opportunity to renew our friendship with Gerard and Claire Claude. Gerard has faithfully served in the French ministry for many years. He also takes care of our congregations in the French-speaking part of Belgium. As Gerard drove us to the meeting place, we passed through the town of Colmar, where, to my surprise, I saw a familiar sight. I am sure you will recognize it (see picture at right). Colmar is the birthplace of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty. This replica was dedicated in 2004 to mark the 100th anniversary of his death. As you probably know, the original statue in New York City was presented to the US by France to mark the friendship of the two nations. The iconic statue has become more than that. She has become a beacon of hope for all who desire to live in freedom and friendship.

Sadly, that is still a dream for most people. In this dog-eat-dog world of ours, relationships at all levels, international, local and personal, are often based on convenience and self-interest rather than genuine love. That is one reason why I appreciate our small, but truly international denomination. I am privileged to count among my close friends people from so many different backgrounds and cultures.

As you read this, Tammy and I, along with Gary and Cathy Deddo, are in Australia, attending some conferences. I can remember when international travel was an exciting part of my job. Now, as I have gotten older, and travel has become less and less glamorous, I do not look forward to the “getting there” part like I used to. However “being there” makes it worthwhile.

Gary has remarked that our conferences tend to be more like “class reunions.” Dustin and Rachel Lampe, who recently became part of the pastoral team serving one of our congregations in Cincinnati Ohio, were astonished to see how long our members stay around long after the formal part of services is over. That kind of fellowship has always been a part of our tradition, but perhaps we do not realize how unusual it is.

Never underestimate the value of our relationships. The apostle John, above all the other writers of the Bible, tells us that within the oneness of God, there is a relationship. John explains the nature of God by teaching that God is love. Jesus explicitly told his disciples that those who have seen him have seen God. In other words, that Father and Son have a relationship that is that intimate—one in the other and vice versa. We apprehend this intimacy even though our limited human minds can’t fully comprehend it. As Paul reminds us, the mystery of godliness is great.

However, we can begin to appreciate this mystery as we learn to live the way of genuine, outgoing love. This is why Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another.” Then he added, “Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34, 35). The best beacon of hope is not a statue in New York harbor—however magnificent. It is men and women, from all nations and all walks of life, who strive to live their lives guided by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate genuine, unselfish and Christ-like love.

1 John 4:20-21 tells us, “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also” (NRSV). When we realize the length and breadth of what this is saying, it is revolutionary. This is no mere teaching of a simple universal and general truth and we must not allow familiarity with these words to blunt their impact.

Jesus embodied a love in his own life that does not follow the patterns of love as we might conceive of them. Jesus brings together love with truth, love with repentance, love with acceptance and transformation, love with discipline yet exuberant generosity, love with unity and difference. Jesus links love with faith and hope in the living God. The love of God seen in Jesus is no ordinary or simply ideal form of love, but a particular love that sanctifies and transforms all other types of love. Receiving this love and then passing it on, in all its distinctness, will stand out not only from denials of love but also from other notions of love.

If we Christians would more fully embrace this love and then share it with others, the world would have a more vital witness to Jesus, its Lord and Savior. Jesus did not say, “You will be known as my disciples because of the day you gather for worship,” -or- “Because of the name of your church,” -or- “Because you think you have figured out picky points of prophecy.” Rather, he said, “Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This is why I thank God for our international fellowship, and the many friends I have around the world.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach