As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Easter weekend, we are thankful for the fellowship we have with God and with each other through being united with him.
Haiti
Charles Fleming sent this update:
Our brothers and sisters in Haiti are making progress in their quest to re-open the school. As you may recall, of the two buildings on the church property, the school building was not badly damaged but the church was. So far a team of church volunteers and paid construction workers have gutted the church building, removed the debris and put in temporary walls so that access to the school is once again safe for the kids.
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Our pastor in Haiti, Joseph Franklin, has said that getting wood (of any type) has been difficult. He says, “Haitians do not want cement buildings,” and so the demand for wood is high. He has been buying recycled wood from vendors on the streets. The canvas awnings you see in one of the pictures covers the space to be used to re-open the school. “Haitian people do not want to send their children to a cement structure” and “the kids won’t enter it either.”
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Given the degree of trauma experienced by the kids the plan is to offer them a place to go for encouragement, counseling, recreation and one meal a day. We hope it won’t take too long for the children to feel comfortable enough to begin using the actual classrooms. The school administrator and four teachers have been contacted and asked to resume their duties. Later this week Mr. Franklin will place an announcement on the local radio station inviting parents to a meeting at the school. Mr. Franklin will also write to the mayor offering to take in some of the children the city has on its lists. The hope is to re-open the school later this month.
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In the midst of all this, Mr. Franklin still needs hernia surgery. Last Friday he reported that he may have his surgery done in Haiti (by a visiting team of U.S. doctors) and should know later this week if he will be accepted. The decision depends on the results of the usual pre-surgery tests for someone his age. He hopes to relocate his family to the church property before going in for surgery as the owner of his rented home needs it. Mr. Franklin sends his deep thanks for the financial assistance they have received. The money sent in so far has helped our members with personal needs and also been used to pay workmen to demolish and rebuild the church building.
Tony and Wilma Murphy
Tony and Wilma Murphy, long time employees of GCI, are retiring this week. Tony has served the church in many capacities in video production over the years, and since our move to Glendora he has headed first a one-man video production department and then a two-man department when he took on Nate Smith part-time and began grooming him to one day replace him. Tony is not only an outstanding producer and director, but is also a highly talented set designer, camera operator, audio technician, and video and audio editor. As we can all attest, his work on Speaking of Life, You’re Included, and GCI Together have been nothing short of exemplary. We are delighted that he will continue to work part-time producing the You’re Included video program. Nate Smith, Tony’s assistant and protégé, will now step into Tony’s full-time duties. Nate actually began his professional video production career in high school as an assistant to Tony several years ago. Now, with a bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University in cinema art, industry awards for outstanding film and video production and working for the past two-and-a-half years with our GCI video programs, we are pleased to welcome him as our new video producer.
Wilma has been serving as Mat Morgan’s executive assistant in the Treasurer’s Office. We will greatly miss working with her, but, at the same time, we are excited for her as she opens this new chapter in her life. We wish her every blessing and thank her for her capable and faithful service! We are pleased to welcome Cheryl Corson back to employment with GCI in Wilma’s place. Cheryl is a graduate of Ambassador College in Pasadena and a 20-year-plus employee of the church. She returns to work for the church after serving in a management roll for another firm during the last five years. Cheryl brings many talents and her warm personality to the office so I am sure that you will enjoy working with her also. Please join me in welcoming Nate and Cheryl.
Rick & Lois Peterson
Big Sandy, Texas
Pastor Sonny Parsons reported that Rick and Lois Peterson were the Big Sandy Chamber of Commerce Man and Woman of the Year 2010. A committee of community leaders with the Chamber of Commerce announced the unanimous decision at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet held last Tuesday. In other Big Sandy news, Savanna Reed, the granddaughter of Kelly and Vinita Barfield, was named Miss Big Sandy.
U.S. Economy affects church giving
According to the second annual “State of the Plate” research by Maximum Generosity and Christianity Today International, “Nearly 40 percent of churches across the country experienced a decline in church giving and offerings in 2009, representing two consecutive years of significant decreases. After the October 2008 stock market drop, 29 percent of churches experienced a decline in giving and this past year the number has climbed up to 38 percent of churches. Multiple research projects last year documented the sharp decline in church giving and our research this year shows that things have only gotten worse for a growing number of churches.”
Jackson, Tennessee, Church visit
Last weekend, Tammy and I enjoyed visiting our GCI congregation in Jackson, Tennessee, pastored by Wayne Wendt. I was pleasantly surprised to find that every week, before their 11 o’clock church service, they serve breakfast, and often they also serve lunch after the church services. I mention it since many may not have thought of this as being a regular weekly activity. I have to tell you that it really enhances fellowship when practiced regularly.
Prayer Request
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Tammy and I much enjoyed visiting our Newark, New Jersey, congregation last weekend where I was privileged to perform the wedding of Pastor John Adams and Edna Olen. Please join me in extending hearty congratulations to the happy couple!
Sermon power
The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing of January 29, 2010 reported that nearly one hundred percent of churchgoers look forward to sermons, but only 17 percent think preaching changes the way they live, according to a study from the CODEC Research Center at St. Johns College in Durham, U.K. titled “The View from the Pew.” The report is based on interviews with 193 Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists and Baptists from 16 churches. Many Anglicans want the sermon to last less than 10 minutes, but up to 20 minutes. Baptists are happy with a 75-minute sermon, while Catholics want it completed within 10 minutes. Sermons are seen as good at teaching about God, the Bible, and being comforting, but need to do more to motivate and challenge people to look at the world differently. Sermons seem to encourage Christian reflection but not Christian action.
Germany – Togo partnership
Our members in Germany have partnered with our congregation in Lomé, Togo, for the building of a WCG medical and social center there. Paving stones on the first level were laid March 3.
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According to Barna
Many Americans appear to be significantly cutting back on charitable giving in order to adjust to the downturn, according to Barna Group research. Forty-eight percent of U.S. adults have reduced their giving to nonprofit organizations (excluding churches and houses of worship) in the last three months. Churches were slightly less likely to be affected but were certainly not immune to cutbacks: 29 percent of Americans have dropped their level of support to churches and congregations in recent months.
When compared to a similar Barna study conducted at the start of the economic meltdown in late ’08, there has been a 58 percent increase in the percentage of Americans who have curtailed giving to nonprofits and a 45 percent increase in the proportion that have reduced their church donations. The segment of donors who have dramatically decreased their contributions to churches has more than doubled in the last 14 months.
Seventy-five percent of Americans believe the economy will take two or more years to recover, and 42% expect it to take more than 3. Two recent surveys report the recession is having a serious impact on church budgets and contributions. A November LifeWay Research study revealed 28 percent of churches surveyed raised less money in ’09 than in ’08. Fifty-seven percent said the poor economy was hurting their church. Seventy percent reported increased requests from people outside their congregation for financial help. Three percent were considering closing down their churches. A Barna Group study found budgets were down seven percent across all Protestant churches.
Please join us in praying for Gary and Karl Moore’s mother, who suffered a major heart attack, stroke and congestive heart failure last Friday night. She is improving, but the stroke has affected her left side. At the beginning of the week she had no movement at all on her left, but since then she has begun to have movement in her leg. The Moores send their thanks for the many prayers and encouragement.
Cards may be sent to: Mrs. Ina Moore c/o Alvaro and Laura Palacio 32 Tangle Briarway North York, ON M2J 2M4
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Sixty-two GCI Generations Ministries leaders and supporters met last week near Dallas for GenMin’s annual camps and missions leadership summit. The summit focused on planning for the 18 GenMin camps and short-term missions trips that will be held in 2010 (see the list at http://genmin.gci.org/calendar.htm)..
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A highlight of the event was the passing of the GenMin leadership baton from Ted Johnston (on left), who has served as director of GenMin for the last ten years, to Greg Williams (in center). Anthony Mullins (right) will replace Greg as GenMin camps and missions leader. Ted Johnston will take up a new post on the CAD ministry development team as coordinator of CAD communications and resources.
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Another highlight of the summit was the active participation of young emerging leaders who are active in camp leadership, in developing ministries within existing churches, and in helping to start new churches.
Regarding new churches, we were excited to hear from Aaron Armstrong of the progress of Ground Zero, a new GCI church plant in the Denver area (see their website at http://groundzerochurch.com/), and Janet Morrison of “The Great Commission Trips” team.
Tucson, Arizona
Tammy Tkach, wife of Pastor General Joseph Tkach, was guest speaker on February 7 at Grace of God Fellowship in Tucson, Arizona. Her sermon subject was “The Trinity.” After services, there was a special potluck and a time of fellowship and sharing. Pictured, left to right: Pastor Ted and Lila Millhuff, Tammy Tkach, Pastor Tom and Michelle Landess.
Tagatay, Philippines
A Church Planting Basic Training Course was held at the Christian Development Center in Tagaytay City February 16-18. Steve Elliott and Jun Sabate of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) facilitated the training.
The 35 participants who attended the training came from Grace Communion International, Evangelical Free Church of the Philippines, Agape Campus Ministry, Philippine Missions Association and the Conservative Baptist Association of the Philippines.
Dr. Randy Bloom, Director of Church Multiplication Ministry, represented Grace Communion International USA. Called “Boot Camp 101,” the course was also facilitated by Dr. Prisco Aloca, Jeff Martinez, and Noel Andreneda of Evangelical Free Church of the Philippines.
Prayer Request
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
I’m delighted to announce that the Hoeksteen congregation in Kerk-Avezaath, the Netherlands, pastored by Hans de Moei, officially joined GCI on March 7, 2010. Hans and Denise de Moei left our fellowship many years ago and eventually raised up the Hoeksteen congregation on their own. In the last year, they contacted Holland National Leader Frans Danenberg about a possible reconciliation. That relationship grew and eventually led to the joyful events on March 7. Frans said that when Hans read aloud the welcome letter from GCI, the entire group was moved with joy.
There are now five GCI congregations in Holland.
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Philippines
Cebu City and Tagatay City Leadership Conferences
Pastors and pastoral team members from all over Visayas gathered in Cebu City February 16-19 for the Leadership Conference entitled “Participating in God’s Life and Mission.” Guest speakers were GCI Vice President Dr. J. Michael Feazell and GCI-Australia National Director John McLean. GCI Philippines’ National Director Eugene Guzon opened the conference with a message about GCI-Philippines’ vision and mission. Photos of the Cebu Conference are courtesy of Kai Baslao.
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National Director Guzon flew back to Manila in time to open the Leadership Conference in Tagaytay City and facilitate small group discussions among local church leaders. Dr. Randy Bloom of GCI-US Church Multiplication Ministries led sessions called “Transformissions” and “Church Multiplication.”
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In the afternoon of the second day, Dr. Feazell joined us, leading sessions on practical theology, church renewal and an extended Q&A period. Later in the afternoon, National Director Guzon and Dr. Rey Taniajura met the young leaders of GCI Philippines to convey the goal of the national office for more youth leaders to be equipped and trained for service to God and to listen to their ideas, needs and concerns.
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On the third day, Dr. Feazell answered remaining questions, and Pastor Rex dela Pena led the closing Communion service.
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Photos by Orly Osillos, Jocer Sabbaluca, and Bong Tinoyan.
Dr. Randy Bloom
Combined Metro Manila worship service
Members from Metro Manila and surrounding provinces gathered February 21 at the Celebrity Sports Plaza for a wonderful time of worship, fellowship and learning. Members from as far away as Bicol and Mindoro also joined the service, having participated in the recently concluded Leadership Conference in Tagaytay City.
In addition to the uplifting worship led by the GCI Crossway Music Ministry, highlights of the service included updates and greetings from members in Australia given by GCI-Australia National Director John McLean, an audio-visual presentation of last year’s highlights, an encouraging message from our guest speaker, Dr. Randy Bloom of GCI-US Church Multiplication Ministries, and the ordination of three new elders, Pastor Andy Ducay (Manila South), Pastor Bernardo Cuizon (Oriental Mindoro), and ministerial trainee Aron Tolentino (Crossway). Photos by Jocer Cris Sabbaluca.
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Germany
Announcing the 2010 Autumn Festival in Germany September 10-17
Festival site: Lake Constance is a 538-square-kilometer basin between the Alps and the Jura mountains. Three countries share the lake: Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The mild climate around Lake Constance promotes the growth of lush, southern European vegetation and makes the region well suited to fruit and vine cultivation. The shores of Lake Constance are densely populated. The lake is surrounded by picturesque, historic towns and villages where visitors can see many buildings from the Middle Ages. Most of these are linked by boat. In summer, Lake Constance sparkles against the backdrop of the Alps, radiating a Mediterranean atmosphere with its many boats and their white and colored sails.
For a taste of the tropics, pay a visit to Mainau, the island of flowers. Alongside fascinating vegetation, the island is home to Germany’s largest butterfly house with viewing windows. A family-friendly beer garden by the lake stands next to a children’s village with cave-like dwellings, a wooden train and water play areas. On the lake’s northern shore, the Unteruhldingen museum and prehistoric village (built on stilts over the lake) adjoins a nature conservation area. Twenty pile-built houses take the visitor on a journey back to the Bronze Age (4000 to 850 B.C.). These life-size houses are the fruit of archaeological research. The largest island in Lake Constance is the monastic island of Reichenau. It bears extraordinary testament to the religious and cultural role played by the Benedictine abbey in medieval society. The abbey was the cradle of Western civilization and played a key role, renowned as it was for its teaching of book calligraphy and painting and its goldsmiths, in influencing European culture.
Festival venue: The superior Parkhotel St. Leonhard (4+ stars) is located high over Lake Constance. The Parkhotel has a fantastic panoramic view and it is surrounded by vineyards and a large park with wildlife. The town center Überlingen and Lake Constance are just 1 km away from the Parkhotel. The train station Überlingen Mitte is 2 km away.
Airports: Zurich (75 minutes), Stuttgart (75 minutes) or Friedrichshafen in Lake Constance.
Cost: (All amounts in Euros)
Double room with half-board (per person): E551.
Single room with half-board : E660
Family room 3-4 adults 18 years of age and over half-board (per person): E540.
Family room 2 adults plus 1 child (not over 12 years of age) half-board: Adults E578 and child E298.
Family room 2 adults plus 1 child (between 13-17 years of age) half-board: Adults E578 and child E405.
All reservations will be made by the WKG German office through a travel agency.
There will be English translations at our worship services.
Anyone wishing to attend should contact WKG National Director Santiago Lange as soon as possible at wkg53bonn@aol.com
Prayer Requests and Updates
Nsama & Kalengule Kaoma
Please join us in praying for Nsama Kaoma, wife of African Mission Director Kalengule Kaoma. Kalengule reported that Nsama is suffering from symptoms of heart failure. He wrote: “Nsama began medication last night and doctors drained a lot of excess fluid. We are grateful to God about this, and she is feeling better than other mornings. The doctor thinks that this is a 50/50 situation with regard to recovery. We are trusting God for a miracle and his will to be done.”
Cards may be sent to: PO Box 50117 Ridgeway Lusaka ZAMBIA
Pastor Lloyd Barrie of our Kalispell, Montana, asked for continued prayer for his wife, Joanne, who has begun eight three-week chemotherapy modules for her cancer. Lloyed added: “Joanne and I want to deeply thank everyone who has called, sent cards, and e-mailed over the past two months, and especially for everyone’s prayers for Joanne.”
Cards may be sent to: 503 2nd Ave E Kalispell, MT 59901-4903
Pastor Jim Roberts let us know that his wife, Hazel, is recovering from her recent injuries. He wrote: “Thank you for all the support and prayers for Hazel following her fall and severely broken upper arm and cracked elbow. Thursday’s X-rays showed good progress with the re-alignment and healing procedure.”
Haiti
From Caribbean Mission Director Charles Fleming:
Thank you for your concern and support of our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Helping me coordinate our efforts in Haiti are David Perry, Rick Shallenberger and John Halford. Some of you have committed to becoming a long-term partner with us in our efforts to make a difference in Haiti, so I thought it would be helpful to share with you some of our thinking at this time.
Short-term (continuing until some measure of security and stability are in place):
Given the small size of our congregation in Haiti (19 persons), the GCI response will be to take care of our members. We have already sent in money to the church account in Haiti for Mr. Franklin to distribute to our members. We will continue to send in money as needed. This may include helping at least one member rebuild his home in the town of St. Marc.
Last Friday Mr. Franklin informed me that he has a crew making temporary repairs to the church building and is working on erecting tents so the school can reopen, it is hoped, by the beginning of April.
I am planning a trip in June with Jeff Snyder (GCI pastor in Savannah, Georgia, who is also a building contractor) and Cecil Pulley (GCI pastor in Bermuda who is also an architect) to, among other things, evaluate the condition of the buildings and to discuss long-term needs.
Medium-to long-term:
Jeff Snyder’s son, Nathan, who was on an earlier mission trip to the Caribbean, is being assigned to work in Haiti as part of the US government’s effort to help with the rebuilding in Haiti. Join us in praying that his job enables him to connect us to people who can help us get the school up and running.
Join us in praying for wisdom in how best to use our property to advance God’s purposes. One possible option we are considering is to help with the need for schools. Given the fact that some 85 percent of schools in the capital have been badly damaged, it would be nice if we could run our school at maximum enrollment. For that to happen, there would need to be five- to seven-year commitments to help pay operational costs. Congregations and/or individuals would start with a higher up-front commitment, which would be reduced each year until the five or seven years are up. Our goal would be to have the school self-sustaining based on local resources at the end of the five or seven year period.
Join us in praying for more long-term partners of Haiti to help us with this effort (or some other ministry opportunity that God leads us to) and the ability to make it a truly self-sustaining Haitian institution when our period of providing outside help is over.
Your prayers and support are important. I know Mr. Franklin deeply appreciates all that you do.
P.S. Pastor Joseph Franklin will be travelling to Florida within the next two weeks for long-delayed hernia surgery. He expects his recovery time to be six to eight weeks. Please pray for a successful operation and quick recovery. During Mr. Franklin’s time in Florida, Andre Naval will oversee the school.
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Hector Barrero, GCI Mission Director for Chile, has forwarded a note from Thomas Keller, a GCI house church leader in Santiago, stating that the members in Santiago are all safe following the devastating 8.8 earthquake that struck the southern part of the country February 27. Thomas experienced some minor damage to his home and currently doesn’t have electricity or internet service at his residence, but otherwise is fine. We do not know of any specific member needs yet, but information is still limited at this time.
We have been able to send GCI Disaster Relief funds to Haiti to help the members there with emergency needs following the quake in that region. We have some additional funds that can still be sent as they are requested by Haitian Pastor Joseph Franklin.
The Disaster Relief Fund was established to help provide members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repairs, temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency needs. Monies received into the Fund, but not immediately needed, remain in the Fund to be allocated for future disasters.
Since inception, money from this Fund have been used to help members recover from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, storms and flooding in Bangladesh, an earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands, typhoons in the Philippines and the recent earthquake in Haiti.
On behalf of all those who have been helped, let me express their sincere appreciation to the congregations and individuals who have generously provided these funds.
If your congregation would like to donate to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund, please send a check to Grace Communion International, indicating on the memo line that the donation is for the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The donation should be sent to:
GCI Disaster Relief Fund Grace Communion International P.O Box 5005 Glendora, California 91740
Thank you for your prayers and financial contributions to help members of the GCI family who are suffering.
Typical Mozambique Church Building.
South Africa
GCI South Africa National Director Tim Maguire, and Regional Pastor Caleb Makhela recently spent two weeks visiting dozens of congregations in Mozambique who want to affiliate with our denomination. Here are some excerpts from their report:
Caleb Makhela and I travelled through four of the central and northern provinces of the country and spoke in 44 churches. There are 13 churches in Mozambique we weren’t able to visit, and another eight in Malawi.
Due to the lack of communication about a specific time to meet, we often found that a congregation had been diligently waiting all day for us and were still waiting when we arrived in the late afternoon. The welcome we received in every church was unbelievable! These are men, women and even children who hunger and thirst and live for the Word. Most of them are subsistence farmers, who live from day to day, not always sure where their next meal will come from, but they are spiritually energized and praising God.
Regional Pastor Mariano on a bicycle.
Every church we visited had built or were building a place of worship, from timber, home-baked bricks, mud and grass or reeds. The leaders and pastors seem deeply committed to serving God and his people. Public transport to the churches is nonexistent. Some churches only have paths leading to them, so it is not unusual for a pastor (one regional pastor is 68 years old) to walk or cycle 20 or 30 km to church.
Rain has been late this year, and maize, their main crop, looks set to fail or yield very little. Without crops, the people go hungry. Domingos, their national leader, serves full-time but receives no remuneration for it. When I asked him how he survives, he says sometimes he goes to bed hungry but he trusts God to provide.
Another need is that of Bibles. Most are able to read in their home language (for most, that is Senna) and/or Portuguese, but they don’t have access to a Bible. I have asked our South African churches to take up a collection so we can purchase five Bibles apiece for each of these congregations. Bibles are available for about 30 Rand in Mozambique.
Before we left, we met with Domingos and his regional leaders and they asked if our members would pray for the members in Mozambique, specifically about the following:
The need for rain and good crops
The need for some sort of transport for Domingos to allow him to travel to visit the churches. (The distance between Chimoio, where Domingos lives, and the furthest church is about 800km on very poor roads.)
Their upcoming Easter conference in April. Many leaders may not be able to attend as they do not have the fare needed to get them there.
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Bogota, Columbia
Mission Director Hector Barrero and his wife, Paulina, began a new round of outreach marriage enrichment classes in our Bogota congregation in February. Twenty-six couples not associated with the church responded to their invitation and joined the four-month series of classes to improve their marriages. Last round 17 couples received certificates of completion. One of them is now helping teach the class.
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Estonia: Young Adult Summer Program 2010
This will be the fifth year that the church will hold a summer school in Kallaste, Estonia.
Dates: From Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 8, 2010.
Place: The first two days will be sightseeing in the capital city, Tallinn. The rest of the time we will be in the small Estonian town of Kallaste on the shores of Lake Peipsi, the fourth largest lake in Europe. The town of Kallaste has a population of 1300, which mostly consists of Russian-speaking Estonians.
New activities for teens and young adults have been added to the 2010 GCI International Conference in Orlando, Florida. A printable flier is available at the conference website at http://2010.gci.org/category/youngadulttrack/
In addition, because the host hotel for our international conference is part of the Walt Disney World Resort, conference attendees will have access to discounted Disney tickets. These discounts, which are only available to groups holding meetings within the resort, grant extended hours to many of the attractions. For advance purchase of specially priced Disney Meeting/Convention Theme Park tickets, go to www.disneyconventionear.com/GCI
Please note that these Theme Park tickets must be purchased no later than July 20, 2010.
Pastor Paul Miller of our Mountian Home, Arkansas, church has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Paul asked for prayer for his health and his family.
Cards can be sent to: 422 Hwy 14 S Yellville, AR 72687-7501
Jeanette Wendt, widow of longtime headquarters employee Jim Wendt, died February 27, in her home. Please remember the Wendt family in their loss. Pastor Glen Weber of our Eagle Rock, California, congregation sent this update about his father:
They took Dad back into surgery to re-install the electrodes on his new pacemaker. During the procedure his heart stopped. After extensive CPR they were able to revive him, but could not complete the procedure. They wanted to re-do the surgery by opening his chest and installing the electrode that way (rather than through the blood vessel like they were doing before). But he is so feeble now from all he’s been through that the family doesn’t want him to go through another procedure.
Yesterday he was moved out of the main hospital and into their Acute Rehab Unit. He is walking fairly well and doing everything he would typically be doing, but he is very weak and shaky. His mind is working very well. He will go through extensive therapy for the next few days.
Cards may be sent to: Glen Weber, Sr. 17 Cozad Rd Wheatland, WY 82201-8987
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Emmanuel Okai, the chairman of our ecclesiastical council in Ghana, sent a note about their new church plant. He wrote: Following initial contacts made from a group located at the Buduburam Refugee Camp, a church has started for the mainly Liberian refugees and other residents of the Buduburam community near Kasoa. A church hall has been leased for the next three years for the group, and plans are far advanced to purchase the property and its associated land for the church. Donations of chairs, food and clothing are being received from the various church areas for the use of the refugees, who now are faced with a serious dilemma. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is currently pulling out its activities there and has made a number of efforts to repatriate the refugees back home to their countries. Those who opt to stay will receive no more funding and will be on their own. They will therefore need a lot of support to integrate them into mainstream Ghanaian society. The group is very vibrant, energetic and fired up with the love of Christ. At the December Youth Camp, four of their youths who attended requested for and received baptism. Twenty-three of their adult group are also undergoing counseling for baptism. Another development that occurred is the adoption of the group by Mr. William Akoto and Mrs. Ernestina Akoto, who now regularly worship with them and take turns to bring sermons to them. They have also been instrumental in seeing the group established and have been donating various gifts, clothing and food to the group.
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Colombia
From Hector Barrero:
Hector and Paulina Barrero conducted a seminar on February 13-16 for our Barranquilla congregation on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Our congregation is pastored by Sonia Orozco and it was great to see that 70 people attended and there were three baptisms. We are happy to see that congregation growing. Attached are a few pictures including two of the seminar, and members of the same family baptized: grandmother, daughter and grandchild, as well as the Orozco family.
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You’re Included
Michael Feazell, Tony Murphy, Nathan Smith, and I traveled to Scotland for the Thomas F. Torrance Conference at St. Andrews University, and to interview some of the Trinitarian theologians. James Henderson, John and Phil Halford met us to assist in the interview set-up and taping. So far, we have interviews with Alan Torrance and Trevor Hart. We hope to complete 12 -15 interviews.
Prayer requests and updates
From Marjorie Friddle:
The 3-D CT scan done on my knee last week shows fluid around the kneecap area, where it should not be. There seems to be something wrong with the synovial fluid — I’m not sure of the medical terms. No infection, thankfully, but a definite problem. My doctor is sending me to a doctor in a different orthopedic group. I heard that he is very good, but I can’t see him until March 4. My knee is still very painful, and I have to be on medication in order to walk. I have “cried a river” because of this problem. It has been stressful and I would love not to be on the verge of tears all the time.
We deeply appreciate everyone’s love and prayers. I will let you know after I know more. With love to all.
Cards may be sent to: Marj Friddle 7404 Stillwater Drive Bayonet Point, FL 34667
Norma Dick
Funeral services for Norma Dick, 84, of Hawkins, TX, were held on Sunday, February 21, 2010 in Hawkins. Norma died in the early hours of February 18 after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer six months earlier. Norma was blessed with relative freedom from pain and was able to spend quality time with all of her descendants who live in the United States.
Mrs. Dick was born Norma Porter on September 16, 1925, in Cokeville, Wyoming. She was married in 1942 to Raymond C. Dick, long-time employee of the Worldwide Church of God, who preceded her in death five years earlier. Norma is survived by two siblings, three sons, Robert, Ronald and Randal and their wives, Dyanne, Linda and Susan. She also has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Cards to the family may be sent to:
Randal & Susan Dick 2516 179 Avenue E Lake Tapps, WA 98391-6453
Ron & Linda Dick 3445 Lansdowne Dr. Lexington, KY 40517-1123
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Eric Shaw and Charles Albrecht conducted the baptism of Charles and Susie’s son, Noah, during Altadena’s Community Life Fellowship worship service on December 26, 2009. Noah wanted to be baptized the day after Christmas so he would always remember his baptism date.
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Mikayla Faith Truman
Congratulations to Terry and Nancy Akers, the new grandparents! Mikayla Faith Truman, Terry and Nancy’s new granddaughter, was born on Friday, February 12, at 7:09 p.m. She weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz and is 20½ inches long. Everyone is doing fine.
UK Church Organizes Tour Of Holy Land 6th to 14th October
From James Henderson:
Hello to all you adventurous travelers out there!
Often, when Christian groups go to the Holy Land, they go from one church to another to see the possible sites where biblical incidents took place. We plan to visit some churches, but will be concentrating on the history, topography and archaeology of the land. Going up the Mount of Olives, visiting Jericho, floating on the Dead Sea, sailing over the Sea of Galilee, meandering through Masada, walking where Jesus would have walked all those years ago. I can’t wait! And, what’s more, they say October is a good time of year, weather wise.
So I am excited at the prospect of this trip! Come join us…see you there!
Almost forgot!!! To find out more, check out our website – www.wcg.org.uk
New Pastors’ Training Conference
Over the Presidents Day weekend, new pastors’ training sessions were conducted for Leroy Joines from Jamaica; Nisho & Michelle Cherison; Max & Janie DeVilbiss; Brian Carlisle; Paul-David Faustino; Francisco Garcia; Tom & Sandy Kennebeck; Stuart Mahan; Bill & Katie Ritzman; Todd Woods; and Michael & LaVerne Wyatt-Paige.
SEP Zambia
Gary Moore shared Kalengule Kaoma’s report from several projects funded by donations to our African Mission Fund, and from a number of our Canadian congregations.
The first concerns the Summer Youth Camp held December 16 – 23 near Livingstone, Zambia. We provided $3,000 U.S. in support, which was instrumental in this camp happening. There were 30 campers, and 20 staff this year. Five girls were baptized. Three photos to follow, at the bottom of this update – the first of Kalengule teaching Christian Education, the second of a girls’ dorm, and the third of a bike trip taken by some of the boys. Janet Morrison, wife of Mike Morrison, taught team building to the campers, and brought some support from her local congregation in California. The assistance was essential and greatly appreciated.
A number of our congregations provided support so national ministry leaders in Africa could visit their churches – especially encouraging for outlying areas. Visits we have funded have taken place now in Togo, Benin, and to four outlying congregations in northern Zambia. Many of our African congregations face huge challenges. Our pastors are pretty much all unpaid and are trying to hold down full-time jobs in stressed economies, look after their own families, as well as serve a congregation. They need and appreciate our prayers. These visits have been very, very encouraging. Other visits we have funded will take place as they can be scheduled.
Finally, the Kingston, Ontario small group church and the Prince George, B.C. congregation each funded a $350 poverty alleviation project. Each project was hosted by the women’s ministry in a Zambian congregation (the Central congregation in Lusaka, for Kingston; the Chawama congregation for Prince George). Each project involved the purchase of a sewing machine and fabric. Ladies were trained in how to use the machine and make items for sale. In one case, the products were of sufficient quality to be marketed. In the other case, the products weren’t the best and few sold. However, a further training session is now planned to raise the skill level of that group. Of course, in both cases the investment is long term, and the machines will be used many times in the future to teach skills, and allow products to be sold to relieve poverty, and even earn funds to further the gospel. Many thanks to the brethren in Kingston and Prince George for making this possible.
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Papua New Guinea
In December, Ben Galwa and Richard Kindle, two of our church leaders in the Mt. Wilhelm congregation in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, attended a seminar on biblical preaching presented by Langham Preaching, a ministry of Langham Partnership International, founded by renowned author and theologian, Dr. John Stott. Here is the report from Langham’s December email newsletter:
Spiritual Renewal for PNG Preachers
by Wendy Toulmin, Langham Partnership Australia
The first Level 1 Langham Preaching seminar in Papua New Guinea has taken place earlier this month at the Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) Banz, an hour’s drive east of Mt Hagen. We were warmly welcomed by Principal Ezekiel Ivihi and his staff.
This is Langham Preaching’s third initiative in the Pacific, supported and funded by Langham Partnership Australia.118 preachers attended from 24 different denominational groups, as well as students from CLTC, a contingent from SIL-Wycliffe, delegates from Gospel Recordings, Evangelical Alliance, and a number of other organisations.
The seminar was facilitated by Paul Windsor, Associate Director for Langham Preaching, with Melbourne’s Andrew Reid and Tim Johnson. This was Andrew’s first return to PNG after spending his childhood there. Many participants spoke of the seminar as a time of deep personal renewal.
“A long time in ministry can leave the tools going blunt,” said Pastor Gireva, a senior pastor with the Christian Life Centre. “This week has been about becoming spiritually sharpened again.”
During the group feedback sessions we posted the preachers’ sermon outlines all around the auditorium.
“It resembled an art gallery as people wandered around,” said Paul Windsor. “The quality of their work progressed so much through the week that during the final feedback session I decided to walk through the gallery myself and stop and ‘commentate’ on the various features of each outline,” he said.
Dr. Rosie Crowter with seminar participants.
Five associates of Australian Indigenous Ministries joined the seminar, building partnerships with CLTC and Langham as they develop preaching training for an indigenous Australian context, and David Kima, Director of the very active Evangelical Alliance-PNG brought an enthusiastic contingent from Goroka.
Another key initiative of the seminar was the provision of the late Phil Crowter’s highly-acclaimed Pray-Prepare-Preach resources to many of the participants. It was a highlight having Phil’s sister, Dr. Rosie Crowter, a missionary in PNG, with us. Rosie came with a group of pastors from Western Province.
The Level 2 seminar in PNG, preceded by a condensed Level 1 for a small group to be selected from denominations and provinces under-represented this year, is on track for December 2010. Pray for Emmanuel Kauna, David Kima and other members of the local organising committee.
Generations Ministries
Generations Ministries announces that the Journey with the Master National Celebration scheduled for Rome, GA on June 11-13 is being merged with the GCI 2010 International Conference in Orlando on July 22-25. The International Conference will gather GCI members and friends from around the world, and GenMin is hosting a special conference track for teens and young adults. That track will include special events for this age group and times with the larger group as we celebrate together as one family.
We received this update from pastor James Roberts, for his wife Hazel who fell down a flight of stairs.
THANK YOU for the prayers! In our fourth day of this situation, we are seeing perhaps the first appreciable progress. We had another five-hour stint with two doctors on Thursday. They took more X-rays and discussed results and options. The fracture of the humerus just below the shoulder joint looks absolutely scary. The top end of the break has at least two splintered sections sticking downward. The lower end shows the bone shaft misaligned with the top end, offset almost completely. So it’s a nasty break that affects a lot of tissue. The first option was to have surgery involving a metal plate with several screws to cinch the ends together all at once. The alternative was to have a custom-made brace/harness assembly that would immobilize the arm and “squeeze” from all sides to encourage the ends to come back together at least enough for new connective tissue to develop and complete the bone again. This would take six weeks to three months. A sling will also be in place for at least two weeks. Hazel opted for the second option, so we got a brace fitted last night by the second doctor. It’s too soon to see what the pain/comfort level will be, but Hazel made it through the night without a bout with pain, a good sign. She’s sitting up a lot more so far today.
Cards may be sent to:
Hazel Roberts 32727 Gustine Street Union City, CA 94587-5603
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Caribbean Mission Director Charles Fleming sent this update on our church in Haiti:
Yesterday I had a long talk with Haiti pastor Joseph Franklin. He, his family and all our members are doing relatively well and in good spirits. They are still sleeping outside and are fearful of aftershocks, but they have access to a flea market where they can buy food. The big news is that one of the two bank branches open in the city is within walking distance of the Franklins’ home. So we are finally able to get some money through to them. Mat Morgan has already sent it, but it may take a few days to get it to the Franklins.
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Attached are some pictures showing the damage done to the church building (the school is a newer building but Mr. Franklin did not sent pictures of it). Also attached are some pictures Mr. Franklin sent of his family and some relatives sleeping under a tarpaulin in his backyard.
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Please pass on sincere thanks from the Franklins and all the members in Haiti to all who are praying for them and sending them help. All the members are planning to get together this weekend for the first time since the earthquake.
Phoenix, Arizona
On January 17, District Pastoral Leader Glen Weber traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, to participate in the installation of Phoenix Co-Pastors Al Yeager and Michael Wyatt-Paige, as well as Michael Wyatt-Paige’s ordination as an elder.
Al Yeager has been serving for many years as pastor of the Phoenix congregation that meets on Saturday. His heath now requires that he restrict his duties, so he will share pastoral responsibilities with newly installed Community of Hope pastor, Michael Wyatt-Paige. Michael Wyatt-Paige has been serving the Community of Hope congregation for some time under recently retired pastor, Larry Marshall. Community of Hope meets on Sunday. Mrs. Sheila Yeager and Mrs. LaVerne Wyatt-Paige took part in the ceremony.
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Denver, Colorado
January 29-31, ministry trainers Randy Bloom (Church Multiplication Ministries) and Greg Williams (Generations Ministries) visited Ground Zero, a group of people in the Denver area who are working to start a GCI church in the Denver area. Randy and Greg, as well as Lorenzo Arroyo, are providing Church-Next Training (training for starting new churches) for the group leaders. Ground Zero is searching for a place to meet within a community they feel called by Jesus to make disciples. A highlight of the weekend was a blessing ceremony for Mikalaya Pearman, five-month old daughter of Jason and Rachel Pearman.
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Asia
Rod Matthews sent these reports about India and Myanmar.
India
In December, Hyderabad pastor Daniel Zachariah was asked to conduct a counseling course in Mumbai under the auspices of the Person to Person Counseling organization in India. He had the opportunity to teach pastors at the Free Methodist Church and counselors at the YMCA counseling center in Mumbai.
Then in late January, Daniel was asked to go to New Delhi to be in involved in a three-day conference conducted by the Association of Christian Counselors. About 150 people participated and Danny was asked to conduct the communion service at the end of the conference.
He discovered on arrival that the plenary speaker was Dr. Ajith Fernando, Principal of the Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS) in Sri Lanka, whom Mohan Jayasekera and I had met in Colombo this past December. CTS had printed the Sinhala edition of our discipleship course for us in Sri Lanka, and our meeting was to express our thanks and strengthen our contacts with CTS as we prepare a Tamil edition. Danny was surprised that Dr. Fernando knew so much about our church, and he expressed to Danny that the changes in our church are nothing short of a miracle.
Myanmar
In late November, Malaysian senior pastor, Wong Mein Kong, travelled to Myanmar (Burma) to meet with pastors and leaders and respond to several new requests for contact. His conclusion is that there is much potential for future growth and involvement of the church in Myanmar.
Firstly, Mein Kong met with Tluang Kung, a young man from the north of the country whom we got to know several years ago. He was “adopted” by the Gold Coast congregation in Australia who helped him financially in getting a masters degree in theology so he could serve his people more effectively in ministry. Tluang Kung currently teaches at a theological seminary in Yangon.
Tluang Kung has appreciated our literature and teachings, and we have developed a close relationship with him. Through him we are in the process of having the discipleship course translated into Burmese. Wong Mein Kong discussed its progress with him and suggestions as to its use and distribution after we have it printed, possibly later this year.
Tluang Kung’s father, Peter Za Hmung, through whom came our first contact with this family and their fellowship of churches in northern Myanmar, is now a pastor of a house church in Yangon and active in evangelism and outreach to the local community.
Wong Mein Kong wrote, “Saturday morning Tluang Kung and I took a taxi to [Tluang Kung’s] father’s house in [a] township about 40 km north of the city. A group was waiting for a worship service. Also present were a pastor and his wife from the AOG church. A total of 10 children and 18 adults attended. Peter and Tluang Kung introduced me. Tluang Kung led worship, the children sang special music and recited scripture, followed by short messages from Peter and the AOG pastor. Then I gave the sermon with Tluang Kung translating. We had lunch together in the house.”
I should insert here that after Wong Mein Kong’s visit, Tluang Kung was married and here he is with his new wife, Ro Din Pui.
Mein Kong also met with Saw Hler Ghaw, who is now the effective leader of our group in the southern delta area, who had travelled to Yangon for the meeting. His father, Saw Htoo Plow, our pastor there, whose wife died in May, has been in ill health for quite some time and is often bedridden and limited in what he can do. Hler Ghaw holds services in his home for the group (mainly Htoo Plow’s children and their families) totaling 43 people. Two members of the group were baptized earlier in the year by our northern pastor, Naing Key Har. Mein Kong gave Hler Ghaw some used clothing, children’s Bible stories, Karen language Bibles, Bible study materials, sermon outlines, and some funds for his family’s medical expenses and his house roofing repairs.
One of our new contacts is a young man of 26, with a BSc in Botany who works as a volunteer with World Vision in Yangon. He got to know us through Hler Ghaw and the denominational website and is very keen to learn more. He and a group of his friends interested in Christianity meet as a cell group for study and worship. He invited Wong Mein Kong to visit his family and meet his friends; and volunteered to help Mein Kong in communicating with the other Yangon people in the future.
In another new contact, Mein Kong said,
Mein Kong concluded it had been a profitable trip filled with potential for the development of new connections and opportunities to serve small ministries bringing the gospel to a country in great need of good news.
Soon after I arrived, Pastor Aung Kyaw Moe and his cell group leader Nyinyi Tun came to see me. Both are young men about 30 years old. Aung had contacted our website and wished to learn more about us. He graduated from a Bible college in Yangon and started church planting. He has a church and several cell groups in Thaketa Township just east of the city. They are active in evangelism and even have a football outreach in the local community. Aung realizes the need for leadership training and discipleship for new converts, which he hopes we can help provide. I told him about our collaboration with other groups in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka and gave him copies of the Malaysian magazine, WCG Today and A Brief Introduction to Trinitarian Theology. He is dynamic and sincerely wants to learn to develop his ministry. He wanted me to visit his church, but I didn’t have the time, so he invited me to conduct a seminar for his leaders on my next trip.
Immediately after Aung left, pastor Daniel Ling Thang came to see me. He is 32 years old, a graduate of the Gospel For Asia Bible College in Yangon (same as Tluang Kung) and a seminary in northwest India. He planted a house church and several cell groups through his evangelism and outreach efforts in the same township as Peter Za Hmung, so I arranged for him to meet with Peter. Our discussion was similar to the one I had with Aung earlier. Daniel seems a humble, simple man full of faith. He too wanted me to speak to his group.
Sunday morning Tluang Kung, Hler Ghaw and I took a one-hour bus ride to hold a Bible study in Peter’s house for a group of four children and 14 adults. I also had a Q&A session that they really appreciated. Peter then telephoned Daniel Ling Thang, who came over to fellowship with us. Daniel, too, originally came from Kalaymyo and he recognized Tluang Kung from his Bible college days. I wanted the two groups to know each other and they seemed glad for the opportunity to work together in future. Daniel then led me, Tluang Kung and Hler Ghaw to take a bus to his house where we met his wife. The three of us left shortly after to take two bus rides back to Yangon.
On the way we stopped in Insein Township and walked 20 minutes to Thant Zin’s house, where his grandfather, parents, two brothers and a friend were waiting. They spoke good English and asked me to pray for them. They were very pleased with my sharing in response to their questions and requested for a visit again on my next trip. Thant Zin and his brother also asked me for books on counseling and Christian topics. Since it was already dark, a relative of Thant Zin drove us to my motel before sending them back.
Mein Kong concluded it had been a profitable trip filled with potential for the development of new connections and opportunities to serve small ministries bringing the gospel to a country in great need of good news.
Prayer Requests and Updates
Deben Sam
Last week Rod Matthews received an urgent message from Deben Sam, our ministry partner in Nepal. Deben reported that a small congregation in the town of Dolakha, part of his network of rural congregations, established only in the last year, had been attacked by a mob of ethnical religious leaders and their followers. They had destroyed their “cottage of fellowship,” badly beaten the believers and driven them from the village with threats that they should not gather for fellowship any more or speak about Christianity in the village. The local leader and his family had just arrived in Kathmandu with the news, saying that the environment in Dolakha was not safe for any Christians at the moment. He asked for prayers for all the persecuted believers wherever they had fled so that they would stand strong in the faith. In the meantime, he needed to be accommodated and supported in Kathmandu, and since Deben’s local congregations there are small and poor, the Australian office sent some money to Deben to provide him with additional means to look after their needs until it was safe for them to return home.
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Please join me in congratulating Mohan and Nihara Jayasekera on the wedding of their second daughter, Niranga, to Miland Warakaulle. Mohan and Nihara travelled to Sri Lanka for the event, where Mohan performed the ceremony.
The newlyweds are living in Sri Lanka and plan to move in the next year or so to Perth, Australia, where Mohan is Pastor. Mohan said: “It was a wonderful family occasion for us and I have attached some pictures to share with you this blessing we experienced.”
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Haiti
Thank you for your continued prayers for Haiti and for our GCI brothers and sisters there. None of our members were killed in the earthquake, and for that we are so deeply grateful to our Savior. Mission Director Charles Fleming and Pastor Joseph Franklin have asked that we wait until general order has been restored before we begin disbursing GCI disaster relief funds to them, so as to avoid the currently high prospect of theft or robbery. However, because of the outpouring of generous hearts, the fund stands ready to help as soon as the local leadership deems it safe to proceed with disbursement.
Los Angeles
From Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM):
On January 30 CMM trainers Heber Ticas and Lorenzo Arroyo met with a newly formed district team of five families to discuss plans for a new church plant in the Los Angeles area. The team worked on developing the plant’s core values, mission and vision and began mapping the demographics of their target area and developing a discipleship pathway strategy for making new contacts and reaching the community.
The plant team recently reached their goal of 100 prayer partners and requests your prayers as well. Their next meeting is scheduled for February 20.
South Africa
From Tim Maguire, National Director for South Africa:
On behalf of WCG South Africa I’d like to again thank the Red Deer and Crossfield, Alberta, congregations for their generous donation towards the 2009 SEP. As a result of their generosity, we were able to assist in sponsoring many deserving WCG children from the Moruleng tent church, as well as several other kids who could not afford the full fees. We were also able to purchase portable basketball posts and hoops, as Bekker School did not have these facilities, and basketball is always very popular among the kids.
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Camp was a huge success! It ran for nine days, December 13-22. Eighy-one teenagers, 40 pre-teens, and 27 young adult staff trainees participated in swimming, soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, obstacle course, hiking, ballroom dancing, rock climbing, abseiling, handcrafts, Christian living and life skills classes. We were assisted by 40 dedicated volunteer staff members. Each morning we started the day with praise and worship and a devotional, and each evening we closed in worshipping God, who made it all possible. As always, many expressed their thanks for a life-changing experience that helped them develop on a personal level as well as being led into a closer relationship with God.
Estonia
From Carl Fredrik Aas:
We had been concerned about the future of the summer school project in Estonia because a new major took office in the town of Kallaste. But I have now been informed that the new major will support the summer school in the same way the former major has. So I would like to ask those who are interested in participating as teachers at the 2010 summer school, scheduled for the first week in August, to please contact me as soon as possible for more information. I will have to decide by the middle of March whether we have enough personnel to proceed.
This will be the fifth time we will have held this project, which I think has been very helpful for the youth of Kallaste and a unique experience for young adults in the church who were teachers. Several of the youth of Kallaste have contacted me hoping that we will come again this year.
Those interested in serving should contact Carl Fredrik Aas at: cfaas@online.no
I must remind you that this project is challenging work.
Prayer Requests and Updates
Curtis May sent his thanks for our prayers about his Moody Radio interview. He wrote: “Your prayers meant a lot. I thought the interview went well, and the host seemed pleased with it also. I hope we will have a copy to post on the ORM website once they edit it for airing.”
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Caribbean Mission Director Charles Fleming received this email on Saturday from our pastor in Haiti, Joseph Franklin:
We thank everyone for directing prayers from all over the planet toward us in this time of distress. We just received an encouraging message from a former Ambassador College student who visited with us back in 1983. It is wonderful to be so bound together in the love of God.
We had a quiet night last night and this morning. We are able to get online, and even though it is difficult, we are able to communicate with the Jean Renel family in Les Cayes, with Serges Jacques in Saint Marc and with Daniel Leconte in Port-de-Paix. They are all okay. Later on I will send a complete update with photos.
Now we are 13, sleeping under a tent in our front yard. Besides Georgette, Billy and me, we have one family of four from the church and another six of our relatives. From time to time the house receives a light shock, so we just go in quickly for urgent needs and hurry back outside.
No service is available as yet. I still need to get one generator to recharge my six batteries. These cost 1000HTG, the equivalent of 25USD. This is our only availability to have light and keep our computer running. Every few hours another aftershock comes to do more damage to what is still left of houses and buildings. It is highly recommended not to walk around the streets because of hundreds of corpses are decaying under the debris.
It will take some time to gather enough details for a complete update. Thank you for joining me in praise to our Lord Almighty who has kept us alive a little longer for his purpose. In Jesus’ mission on earth, the cross precedes the crown.
Papike Lebelo
Africa
Please join me in thanking God for providing more leadership in Africa. Papike Lebelo, shown here leading worship at church, was ordained an elder at a church service at Sizwe hospital in South Africa.
2010 International Pastors Conference Registration Discount Deadline Reminder
At 9:00 am on Friday, January 29, registration will be opened to our elders and members. At that time the pastors discount for hotel nights will end, and the pastors registration fee will no longer be waived. You should register before 9:00 am (Pacific Time) on Friday to receive these discounts.
Register before 9:00 am on Friday, January 29, and the denomination will still cover your registration fee and provide you with a $10/night discount for the hotel (for Wednesday through Saturday nights). To register, just click on this link, www.2010.gci.org and it will take you to the conference website. You will then need to click on the “Register” button.
Minnesota
From Pastor Doug Johannsen:
Sixty-five people of all ages from Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota enjoyed Snowblast 2010 at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville, MN. The event began Saturday, January 16, and ended Monday morning, January 18. The theme this year centered on freedom, making choices, and the consequences of those freedoms and choices.
Activities included snow tubing, snowshoeing, making pottery on a pottery wheel, arts and crafts, making peanut brittle, photography, practicing worship leading, playing cards, board games, as well as indoor arena horse rides and a nighttime sleigh ride, courtesy of two draft horses named Bill and Barney. Recent heavy snowfall made the scenery a winter wonderland.
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Prayer Requests and Updates
Reconciliation Ministries director Curtis May asked for prayer for his interview this Thursday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on the “God at Work” program broadcast by Moody Radio in Cleveland. Curtis will be interviewed on the topic “What God is Doing in Reconciliation.” He asked that we pray that God would be glorified through the interview.
Patama Banks, wife of Pastor Leonard Banks of our Rochester, NY, congregation, underwent surgery this week at the Strong Memorial Hospital emergency room following an early morning heart attack. Leonard wrote:
Thank you all for your prayers and phone calls. The power of prayer is awesome. All the catheters were removed last night and the heart is pumping by itself.
Cards can be sent to: 40 Fountain St. Rochester, NY 14620-1902
Pastor Steve Posiak of our Salmon Arm, British Columbia, congregation asked for prayer for Karen Leach, wife of elder Darcy Leach, who is in the hospital awaiting a blood transfusion due to an extremely low red cell blood count. Karen has been battling cancer for some time, and the cancer is now in her bones, liver and breast.
Darcy’s father, Roy Leach, is in the same hospital with a broken shoulder. Roy is also battling cancer of the prostate, which has spread to his bones.
Cards may be sent to: Karen Leach 2431 Tamarack Terr. RR 2 Sorrento, B.C. V0E 2W2 Canada
Last week’s update included a picture of Pat and Cliff Rabe (misspelled as Rage), but the text was not included. Here is the correct copy:
Funeral services were held January 6, at Bergvallei, Muldersdrift, for Pastor Cliff Rabe (78) of our Johannesburg Central congregation. Cliff passed away on Thursday after a short illness. He was diagnosed to be suffering from acute leukemia.
Pat and Cliff Rabe
Cliff will be missed by his wife of 48 years, Pat, his children Avril, John, Michael, Giselle, Paul and Jenny, and his grandchildren Dwane, Keri, Jessica, Rochelle, Jonathan, Katelyn and Megan.
Cliff was baptized in August 1969 and ordained an elder in 1989. He served faithfully in many church areas within southern Africa, including Johannesburg Central, Krugersdorp, Klerksdorp, Botwsana, Bloemfontein, Kimberly, Lesotho, and QwaQwa. He loved the word of God and God’s creation. Cliff will be fondly remembered for his colorful sermons.
Grant Millar conducted the funeral service.
Cards may be sent to: PO Box 4093 Helikon Park 1771 South Africa
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
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Tony and Wilma Murphy, long time employees of GCI, are retiring this week. Tony has served the church in many capacities in video production over the years, and since our move to Glendora he has headed first a one-man video production department and then a two-man department when he took on Nate Smith part-time and began grooming him to one day replace him. Tony is not only an outstanding producer and director, but is also a highly talented set designer, camera operator, audio technician, and video and audio editor. As we can all attest, his work on Speaking of Life, You’re Included, and GCI Together have been nothing short of exemplary. We are delighted that he will continue to work part-time producing the You’re Included video program. Nate Smith, Tony’s assistant and protégé, will now step into Tony’s full-time duties. Nate actually began his professional video production career in high school as an assistant to Tony several years ago. Now, with a bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University in cinema art, industry awards for outstanding film and video production and working for the past two-and-a-half years with our GCI video programs, we are pleased to welcome him as our new video producer.
Jackson, Tennessee, Church visit
