September 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Every Friday since September 8, 2006, about 1,000 website visitors a week watch or listen to the latest Speaking of Life video online or download the program to their own computer (or handheld media player) for later use or to create a DVD so the program can be shared with those who do not have Internet access.

Older programs are accessed an additional 10,000 times a month, and many pastors play the program in church each week.

Since March 2007, GCI Vice-President J. Michael Feazell has conducted more than 50 interviews for the series titled You’re Included, which is devoted to exploring the practical implications of Trinitarian theology. Media Director Michael Morrison serves as alternate host.

Our video programs are posted in 12 different formats to meet the needs of all sorts of viewers. Each week, more than 1,000 people watch, listen or read the transcript for one of our interviews. Some of them are burned to a DVD and played in churches or small group settings. Some seminary professors direct their students to our website so they can watch the program.

Guests on the program have included the late Ray S. Anderson, senior professor of theology and ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of more than a dozen books on ministry and theology; Elmer Colyer, professor of historical theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and author of How to Read T.F. Torrance; and Gary Deddo, Senior Editor of Academic Publications at InterVarsity Press.

We have also featured Gerrit Dawson; Chris Kettler; Jeff McSwain, founder of Reality Ministries; Baxter Kruger, founder of Perichoresis and author of The Great Dance; John McKenna, professor at our own Grace Communion Seminary; Paul Metzger, Roger Newell; Andrew Root; and Paul Young (right), author of the best-selling novel The Shack.

In August 2008, we launched WCG Together, a series featuring interviews with GCI leaders. To date, we have posted a dozen interviews, and several more are in the editing process. Each week, about 400 people watch or listen to one of them.

Posted interviews include (alphabetically) Eugene Guzon and Rod Matthews, mission directors for Asia; Ted Johnston, director of Generations Ministries; Kalengule Kaoma, mission director for Africa and national director of our churches in Zambia, with his wife, Nsama; Santiago Lange, mission director for Europe and national director for Germany; Curtis May, director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries; John McLean, mission director and national director for our churches in Australia; Gary Moore, mission director for southern Africa and national director for Canada; Dan Rogers, director of Church Administration & Development in the United States; Pat Shaw, administrative assistant and budget analyst in Church Administration & Development, GCI President Joseph Tkach; and Tammy Tkach, director of women’s ministry.

Many pastors asked that we make video sermons available to be played in local churches when the pastor is unable to give the message. We created a series for this purpose called A Word From Our Sponsor, with messages from Drs. Mike Feazell, Michael Morrison, and Dan Rogers. You have probably seen these during a church service. Each of these programs will also appear on the GCI website one year after they were first made available for pastoral use.

The amazing thing about our high-quality video programs is that all the work—set design, lighting, sound, shooting, and editing, as well as contacting and arranging all logistics for interview guests—is done by our highly talented and dedicated staff of two, Tony Murphy and Nathan Smith. I can’t adequately express how richly God has blessed us with such a gifted little team who literally do the work of many highly skilled people. My executive assistant, Deborah Paz, assists Tony and Nathan during shoots by applying makeup to reduce shine on our faces and heads and by operating the teleprompter when it is needed. I know they all deeply appreciate your prayers.

Through it all, and most importantly, the good news of God’s abiding love, made manifest in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, is being spread through all our media efforts, videos and publications, as well as through the devoted work being done by so many faithful brothers and sisters in each of our local congregations.

Thank you for all you do. Your prayerful support and your faithful donations are the vital means through which God makes possible our collective gospel work!

With love, in Jesus’ name,

Joseph Tkach