Pastoral Welcome
Rev. Sandra Turnbull
I want to welcome you to the Glory Tabernacle Christian Center in Long
Beach, California (GTCC)! We are a unique Christian church with a special
message of God's inclusive love through Jesus Christ. GTCC is welcoming of
everyone. We are also defined by our special ministry of sharing God's
incredible love and acceptance.
Over the past 28 years, GTCC has provided a place where individuals have
come to know and accept Jesus Christ in a real way. Wherever you are at
in your spiritual journey with God, I know that you will find something
to hold on to here at GTCC that will change your life. My prayer is that
you will feel called to join with us in this unique ministry of sharing
God's love through Jesus Christ to everyone!
I believe that GTCC is a unique church for three important reasons
besides the fact that we are inclusive of everyone. What makes us so unique is that we are:
Christ-Centered,
Charismatic and
Commissioned.
We are a Christ-centered church which means that our message has to do
with the person of Jesus Christ. We acknowledge Jesus Christ as central
to the message of the Bible believing the Old Testament points to the
coming of Christ Jesus while the New Testament reveals the work of
Christ Jesus as Savior, Baptizer, Healer and Soon Coming Ruler! Everyone
is invited to begin their relationship with God by accepting Jesus
Christ as their personal Savior. God's word tells us that everyone can
be saved by grace, (a free gift) and through faith. Many people have
been turned away from religious organizations or from other churches for
various reasons. Nevertheless, at GTCC, we believe that the person of
Jesus Christ calls each of us to COME enter into a relationship with God
regardless of who you are.
At GTCC we acknowledge the
work of the Holy Spirit in our world today and in our lives as
believers. When we believe in Jesus Christ and are saved, then not only
are we made spiritually alive, but God's Spirit actually lives in our
spirit. (Ephesians 1:13,14) As if this was not exciting already, then we
are invited to ask Jesus Christ to baptize us or fill us completely with
the Holy Spirit. This begins a whole new way of living and we call this
being "Spirit-filled" or "Charismatic". The term "charismatic" comes
from the Greek word "charisma" referring to God's gifts of grace and the
workings of the Holy Spirit. As believers, the Holy Spirit works in our
lives through the baptism, gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. I would
like to invite you to join us at GTCC as we welcome the presence of the
Holy Spirit so that we are refreshed, continually filled, hear God's
voice, receive power, become bold witnesses, and are transformed. Our
church seeks to be on the forefront of the move of the Holy Spirit in
the world during this new millennium.
The exciting thing about
following Christ and living out your faith in the world is that you
can't contain God's wonderful love. When we accept Jesus Christ as our
personal Savior and then are filled with the Holy Spirit in power, we
all desire to share our experience with our friends, families and
others. This is no less true for the Church! Therefore, as a church we
take seriously Christ's commission to us: "Go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the heavenly Parent, the Son and
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you." (Matthew 28:19, 20) At GTCC we strive to share this wonderful love
of God with our local community as well as to the nations. As we begin
this new millennium together, there is so much to do for Christ in that
there are many individuals who have yet to hear the truth of God's love
through Christ Jesus. Every believer can be a part of this exciting
endeavor of sharing God's love with others and seeing their lives
changed.
