by Susi Albrecht and Nancy Akers Leading children’s ministry or teaching children’s church is an important calling with lasting rewards. But let’s be honest, it can also feel overwhelming. Kids nowadays have higher expectations than ever when it comes to being entertained. Of course we want our children to enjoy church, but we have to be … Continue reading "Kid’s Korner: Planting lasting seeds" Read the article
This month’s Equipper focuses on how we may participate with God in what he is doing to rebuild our congregations and denomination. The five articles in this issue are linked below. Enjoy! -Ted Johnston, editor From Greg: Our journey of rebuilding Greg Williams discusses how we can share in what God is doing to lead us … Continue reading "Rebuilding GCI" Read the article
Here is a summary of a sermon from Brian Carlisle, lead pastor at Living Hope Christian Fellowship, GCI’s Washington DC (West) congregation. In John 21:1-19, we read about a profound encounter Peter had with the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Together they shared breakfast, and so much more. This encounter occurred after Peter and his companions had returned … Continue reading "Sermon Summary: Forward with Jesus" Read the article
Many of our smallest congregations are trying new ways to join Jesus in reaching out to new people. In the article below, Bob Miller, who pastors GCI’s church in Birmingham, Alabama, shares his congregation’s story. Fellowship group-sized congregations often see themselves as too small to make an impact beyond their immediate members. That was our … Continue reading "Rebuilding smaller congregations" Read the article
Dear Pastors and Ministry Leaders, Rebuilding GCI is the theme for this issue of Equipper. That theme came into focus for me during the U.S. regional conference held in February in Ontario, California. Our Intern Program coordinator, Jeff McSwain, stepped out in faith and began his address to the conference by boldly declaring, “To the … Continue reading "From Greg: Our journey of rebuilding" Read the article
by Susi Albrecht and Nancy Akers The Year of the Child is GenMin’s theme for 2016 with the goal of encouraging all of us to focus with intentionality on our precious children! An important way to do that is by providing Children’s Church—a place at church where the children can bond, learn and grow, while discovering … Continue reading "Kid’s Korner: Equipping children to know, grow and show God’s love" Read the article
This article is from Janet Morrison who directs Great Commission Trips, one of GCI Generations Ministries’ mission organizations. The first time I saw them was at LAX—seven Congolese refugees from the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi coming to a new world, a new culture. Though they had heard many things about the U.S., they did … Continue reading "Helping a refugee family in Los Angeles" Read the article
This article is from Fraser Henderson, one of the pastors in GCI’s Ottawa, Canada, congregation. It’s hard to describe what it’s like arriving in Canada in the dead of winter. The -13 degree Fahrenheit weather is likely to elicit a curse even from those with robust reigns on their tongues. For the refugees, despite the … Continue reading "Welcome home to Ottawa" Read the article
In this issue of Equipper we focus on joining Jesus in responding to the global refugee crisis. We also introduce a new feature: Kid’s Korner. The five articles in this issue are linked below. Enjoy! – Equipper editor, Ted Johnston From Greg: The refugee crisis—how can we respond? In 2014, nearly 60 million people were displaced from their homes and … Continue reading "The Refugee Crisis" Read the article
In this article, Nova Musafiri, a refugee who settled in Canada, tells his story. I left my country in April 1993 because of security issues: students were arrested, beaten to death and tortured because of a dictatorial regime, which reigned for over 30 years. I did not have a choice, but had to escape in … Continue reading "Nova’s story" Read the article
