GBC Community Update: Discipleship never changes!

​Good morning!  What a beautiful fall day this is turning out to be.  May we find blessings in it.  Yet despite the beauty, there are clouds overhead.  As we see Covid numbers increasing again this fall we’ve seen the government respond with tightening up regulations. I know this has brought out a wide range of emotions. Some think the government should go further and some think this is an overreaction. I suspect the same thought process is happening with how what we as a church are responding.  This is a time to show patience and grace with each other as the devil would love to sow seeds of discontent. May we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and find ways to let our lights shine.
              
 
Sunday Morning Services Update
With the recent changes to local mask policy and the government’s tightening of gathering limits we have a few changes that we need to implement.
First off, “Lunch on the Lawn” scheduled for Sunday is cancelled. With outdoor gathering numbers set at 25 we can’t do it. That being said, I’d encourage you to grab a few people and have lunch together on your lawn, in a park or on a deck.
Also, to clarify our mask policy, with the change in public policy everyone in the congregation will need to keep their mask on for the whole service unless they have a breathing issue. Under these directives though, those on the platform providing leadership are exempt.  As a reminder, we do this in respect for public authority and not out of fear, we do this to love our neighbor and those who are vulnerable in our church family.
 
 
Mission’s Report
Mark and Gretchen Potma (church planting work in Prague, Czech Republic)
Church Plants
Discipleship
Leadership
The Czech Republic is the most non-religious country in the world.  This is why we reach out to the greater Prague area with the Gospel.  It is one of the most under-reached, under-churched, and under-engaged regions of the Czech Republic.  Our strategy is to reach younger Czechs who are choosing to raise their families in the growing communities outside Prague.  The best way to reach a community with the gospel is to plant a church there!  Our vision is to see four new churches planted around Prague by 2030.  Our strategy is to use a “timed-release” approach, so a new church is launched before the previous one is fully established.  This would result in a new church being launched every 1 – 2 years, Lord willing.
 
As new Christians have come to faith, we have led them through discipleship courses and baptism.  Several have gone on to lead and serve in our church and God’s kingdom.  Our goal is to equip every new disciple to make new disciples.  We are encouraged with the number of believers attending Sunday services, actively participating in small groups, Bible studies and prayer meetings.
 
Mark has been serving as administrative pastor of the seven church network of church planting initiatives.  Our prayer is that God would place a burden on the hearts of the Czech church planters we can lead, mentor and encourage.  We continue to make use of and direct new leaders toward resources already available: local biblical and theological education, pastoral internship programmes, and plenty of hands-on ministry training and experience.  As a couple, we desire to invest in the lives of couples in ministry as they serve together.
 
Wednesday Prayer
Wednesday prayer has switched to 3pm on Wednesday afternoons at GBC. So now no need to drive in the dark!  Come out and join Jacob and Karen Ginter  in prayer.
For questions or further details please contact Jacob Ginter– [email protected] or text 519-803-4453
 
 
Thought for the day: Discipleship never changes
It’s been interesting as we’ve looked at this thought over the past couple of weeks, as it turns out, discipleship in the time of coronavirus is like discipleship to Jesus at any other time. Disciples fix their eyes on Jesus and do so alongside their fellow disciples (even if its 2 meters apart!). And yet, in a time when emotional withdrawal and isolation are both tempting and real, practices of attending to the presence of Jesus and attending to others are urgently needed. Perhaps one of the opportunities of these days is that we do not have the luxury to “play Christian” or “play church.” The realities of the moment force our hands. Turning and returning to the presence of Jesus and the presence of his people is the way of Jesus in these times and always, and honestly, as I think about it that’s pretty exciting. Discipleship never changes.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris