News
A Special Announcement about Pastor Rice and Patsy Sun, Nov 27th
Dear Glad Tidings family,
After 20 years of faithful minsitry here at Glad Tidings, God has lead Pastor Howard and Pasty Rice to accept a position as the campus pastors at Skyline Health and Living Center here in Omaha. The Rices will be moving to Skyline and will be able to enjoy all the amenities Skyline has to offer including a fully furnished apartment. God is truely taking care of His servants and I know the Rices feel so blessed. Their last sunday with us will be Jan 1, 2012, however, they will still be in Omaha and are more than welcome to worship with their Glad Tidings family at any time. Below you will find the a letter from Pastor Rice about how God has oppened this door for them and what their new responsibilities will be.
Words cannot express how much we love the Rices and how much we will miss them. Their lives and faithful ministry at Glad Tidings have been some of the best sermons ever preached! We are planning an appreciation and send off Sunday for the Rices in the near future. Stay tuned!
Moving forward, I plan to distribute Pastor Rice’s pastoral care responsibilites and ministry to seniors to our existing team. More on that in the days to come. Let’s be in prayer for the Rices and Glad Tidings as we follow the Lord’s leading in this transition.
One of my favorite Psalms to look to in times of change is the 23rd Psalm. David says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall lack nothing.” That pretty much says it all.
We love you all.
Pastor Walt and Kerrie
A letter From Pastor Rice and Patsy
TO: Pastor Walt, Staff members, church board, Glad Tidings members and friends:
SUBJECT: The special elements of God’s will (For times of transition)
OUR CALL TO MINISTRY: November 18TH, 1957 at our home church, Topeka, Kansas
GOD GAVE US A MANDATE: (We asked Him to open the right doors)
I Peter 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by restraint but willingly, not for for dishonest gain, but eagerly not as being Lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the cheif shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that fades not away.
THE MINISTRY PROCESS: (We were to honor)
Ps. 11:3 “God’s work is honorable and glorious”
I cor 3:9 “For now then we are laborers together with God” (A partnership)
Acts 20:28 Therefore be responsible to watch over the flock which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd God’s church which He purchased with His own blood.”
HOW GOD OPENS THOSE DOOR AHEAD OF US:
It always involved two elements…...
1. The leading of the Holy Spirit and fervent prayer
2. And men who extended us an invitation to consider a new ministry
That is true of churches we have pastored, serving with State and National ministries, Teen Challenge, Glad Tidings these past 20 years at the invitation of Pastor Rick Cole and church board.
Six months ago, we were invited to lunch with Lou Jackson, president and owner of some 42 senior health care and retirement centers, nation wide, inviting us to pray and consider serving our local Skyline manor, retirement, assisted living, and health care center as campus pastor/chaplain role. Lou Jackson is a pentecostal christian with Assembly of God roots. After months of prayer and soul searching, we felt a release!
On October 22, 2011. Patsy and I met with Lou Jackson over lunch and agreed to accept their invitation to serve on the team at Skyline effective January 3rd 2012. We will serve a congregation of some 250 residents in the 3 seperate departments.
I have served a number of years on an advisory board at Skyline, Patsy and I have conducted chapel services there 19 years, so have made friends with staff and residents over the years.
Please know how much we love every person at Glad Tidings, young and old, appreciate the privilege of serving with several pastors over the years, and our love and prayers will linger on here, after our departure. If you question anyone, let it only be God who has opened this door ahead of us. Paul said: I Cor.16:9 “For a great and effective door has opened
to me”...and Acts 20:22 I go bound in the spirit, not knowing the challenges I will face there.”
Serving Him and others,
Pastor Rice and Patsy
“We moved to Omaha and were looking for a spirit-filled church that would challenge us in our spiritual walk. We have really found that in Glad Tidings. It is a very diverse, friendly, vibrant, and growing church. The teaching and preaching of the Word has helped us tremendously in our spiritual growth. We have made many friends here who are really like family members. We truly enjoy Glad Tidings.”