Welcome to the Global Impact Celebration for 2023!
In the Bible we see a God who is both sender and sent in Christ. Jesus speaks of being sent by the Father, and commissions his followers to be the sent people of God, carrying out the mission of God—to proclaim redemption to all of creation. For this year’s GIC we are exploring how we, as the body of Christ, are sent.
Schedule of Events
GIC Guests
Tim and Tina Louderback
Tim and Tina currently serve with the International Mission Board in Panama City, Panama. They have lived and worked there for 15 years, including raising 4 kids who call Panama home. In Panama, they receive short term mission teams through a program called Go Experience and connect them to ongoing national work. Through pre-trip and on-the-ground training, as well as hands-on cross-cultural ministry, the Louderbacks prepare people to take healthy next steps in missions. Currently on home assignment, Tim and Tina are spending the 2023-2024 school year as missionaries-in-residence at California Baptist University, supporting the university’s large population of Third Culture Kids.
Jack and Holly Stagge
Jack and Holly founded Faces For Hope in 2008 after visiting Tanzania for the first time in 2007. They returned home from that first trip moved by God into action, and within a year, had sold their business and returned to Tanzania full time to cultivate the seeds of their new mission. Faces For Hope exists to offer relationship, discipleship, and education to Maasai girls at risk of exploitation as child brides. The Stagges currently lead the US side of the organization, which is responsible for funding and promoting the work in Tanzania. Jack and Holly have three adult children and live in Spokane, WA.
Chris Thomas
Chris and his wife Stephanie are on mission planting Dope Church in Tacoma. Through Dope Church they focus on reaching, welcoming, and discipling our neighbors who are addicted, homeless, or exploited. While on a mission trip in Mexicali, Mexico in high school, Chris sensed a call to become a missionary. Assuming this meant work overseas, God redirected him during seminary and gave him a heart for the local church and a desire to plant churches that were missionary communities, serving and discipling people in every neighborhood. Chris and Stephanie have two daughters and live in the Federal Way/Tacoma area.
Allen McClellan – GIC Alumni
Dr. Allen McClellan serves as the Vice-President of Southeast Asia/Oceania for Global Focus. In that role he is responsible for coordinating the training of leaders and mobilizing churches to accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission in that part of the world. Before working for Global Focus, Allen served in pastoral ministry for 25 years and helped launch the Impact partnership, which helps engage North American church for work among Indonesia’s unreached people groups. He and his wife, Ruth, have three adult children and recently moved back to the US after living in Bandung, Indonesia for several years. Allen will serve as our speaker for the Kick-Off celebration and Commitment Service.
Small Group Evenings
These informal dinner gatherings provide a setting to meet our GIC guest workers and learn more about their global work. Please contact the group host for the address and information on potluck meals.
| Missionary Guest | Thursday Evening Group (10/19) | Friday Evening Group (10/20) |
|---|---|---|
| Tim and Tina Louderback IMB | Arnold Small Group Arnolds’ home Host: Patty Arnold 253-332-1647 | LW Youth Group/Berry SG LifeWay Sanctuary Host: Claire Berry 253.315.0237 |
| Jack and Holly Stagge Faces for Hope | McNutt Small Group Thurman home Host: Bev McNutt 206-399-3062 | Lindholm Small Group Stubblefields’ Home Host: Melissa Stubblefield 253-269-8655 |
| Chris and Stephanie Thomas Dope Church | LW Men’s Group LifeWay Sanctuary Host: Billy Arnold 253-332-1670 | DeVries Small Group DeVries’ Home Host: Chaise DeVries 253-632-9084 |
| Allen McClellan Global Focus | Althoff Small Group Althoffs’ Home Host: Heather Althoff 253-414-3195 |
Saturday Workshops
| Missionary Guest | Topic | Time Slot | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Thomas | Reaching our Homeless Neighbors | 9:00am – 10:00am | Sanctuary |
| Tim and Tina Louderback | The Missionary Task | 10:15am – 11:15am | Sanctuary |
| Jack and Holly Stagge | Reaching a Patriarchal Culture through Women | 11:30am – 12:30pm | Sanctuary |
| Allen McClellan | Retirement as Missions | 11:30am – 12:30pm | Annex |
Faith Commitment Card
You will have the opportunity to fill out your Faith Commitment Card during our Commitment Service on Sunday of GIC. We are asking you to prayerfully consider what commitments you can make to grow, pray, give, and go for missions.