Tag: Church of God

GC Missions

I really want to thank Bryan for his help. After returning from Malaysia a few weeks ago, Bryan uploaded some 64Gb of video to our server which he had filmed while on mission work in Africa and Asia. A tentative script I wrote was further edited by Calvin, and with the audio track finally recorded, it then took about three day’s work to finally get the six minute film to where I felt reasonably comfortable about uploading it to YouTube.

If you have a heart for mission and a desire for your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world to be blessed, then you’ll probably enjoy this short film.

john2015thumbaaaBy John Klassek

IMC Meeting In Malaysia

We’ve just returned from an inspiring time with brothers and sisters in Christ at the inaugural International Ministerial Congress in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Represented by leaders from Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, USA and Mexico, we experienced four days of fellowship, learning, teamwork, prayer and planning amidst a great unity of Spirit and an inspiration for greater collaboration and sharing.

Take a sneak peak with this four minute YouTube synopsis (uploaded yesterday), or see our online gallery of photos:

Visual Gospel

We’ve just returned from the International Ministerial Congress meeting of the Church of God (Seventh Day) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was a wonderfully inspiring time together with leaders from Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, USA and Mexico.

Among the numerous presentations shared was one I titled “A Visual Culture Demands A Visual Gospel”. Our work for the past 17 years has been to share the gospel using media streaming, and I believe we’ve barely scratched the potential this has for introducing the gospel to millions and millions of people in South East Asia and beyond.

A missionary must understand the culture to which he or she is sent. To ignore the language, customs, religion and more if we’re to effectively convey and minister the gospel is to fail before we’ve started. Today’s culture is increasingly immersed in multimedia. The film industry and media generally are powerful influencers at every level of society, affecting attitudes and social mores.

IMC_Malaysia

The disciples of two millennia ago understood this. Matthew wrote his testimony with a Hebrew audience in mind. Paul preached to those in Athens, understanding the Greek culture of the day. What about us, today?

May we have ears to hear where God is sending us, eyes to see the harvest ripe, and a heart and hands to minister where God beckons.

(For additional photos of the IMC meeting, please visit our gallery).

Let Your Light Shine

The Australian General Conference 2014 of the Church of God (Seventh Day) was held on January 15-20, 2014 at the city of Swan Hill in rural Victoria. The theme of the conference was “Let Your Light Shine”. The conference was a great success, with attendees from right across Australia, and while attendance was lower than expected because of an extreme heat wave that resulted in dozens of bush fires (wild fires) right across Australia, those who were able to get there really enjoyed the worship, fellowship and time spent planning and sharing the vision for outreach in the years ahead.

Sermons were shared by Phil Kordahi, David Kidd and John Klassek. Sightseeing included a visit to a local aviation museum, a planetarium and a river cruise on the mighty Murray River. Other activities included a games night, family barbeque, Sabbath evening dinner, as well as several Bible studies. Calvin Burrell sent greetings via a pre-recorded video message which was played on Sabbath. During the Sabbath service, John Klassek was ordained as an elder. All who attended remarked at the warmth and friendliness of our time together at Swan Hill.

Galvin Burrell’s video greetings played on the Sabbath during the Conference.

Click here to view gallery of photos.

Humble, faithful people

The people of God are everywhere, but sometimes you must look carefully. Within large and flourishing churches, and in small, scattered groups, you’ll find humble, faithful people who, having God’s Holy Spirit within, live their lives quite contrary to the norms of “this world”. They are saints. They reflect the light of Jesus in all they are. They have, in the words of scripture, crossed over from death to life.

These are the people with whom God fellowships. And they should be your friends as well. They are loosely defined corporately, as the “church without borders” is bigger than you may imagine and spread further afield than you might know. They are the very reason the world hasn’t yet sunken into the abyss of war and pestilence.

One faithful community, who in looking to Jesus for leadership, wrote this on their website:

We live in a time when many of the faithful have been scattered. The darkness of our world and the coldness of so many religious leaders make it a challenge for God’s children to find safe pastures. We believe God will provide the shepherds. We believe those leaders provided by God will be different than those who came before. Less invested in corporate mentality, less interested in control, more given to loving leadership, more generous in service. Less arrogant, less contentious, more humble, more patient with the imperfections of their brethren.

If this speaks to you, then you understand something others may not. You’re among friends, and definitely a part of the success story. And what’s more, you’re probably able to help others in search of safe pasture. It was Jesus who said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28 NIV)

John T Klassek