While national public polls show many churches are struggling with a decrease in membership, Gilford Community Church (GCC) continues to grow its membership base. “We are thrilled to continue to welcome new members to the church,” noted Pastor Michael Graham. “Our message is one of inclusiveness and diversity, and I think this message resonates with a broad audience.”
This message inspired Jennie Tichich and her family to join GCC “for several reasons.” “I feel welcomed when attending church,” she said. “This is no small thing to feel. I know what it is like to feel lonely around people.” Tichich said she has experienced this kind of loneliness in other churches. “We've attended churches where everyone dressed and looked nice, but there was no feeling of warmth when greeting each other,” she said.
In addition to the camaraderie she and her husband, Nick, feel both during and after church in fellowship with other members, Tichich cited GCC’s youth programs as another reason they decided to join the church. “Our son, Reed, immediately felt a sense of purpose and connection in the youth program and he has been excited to continue attending,” she said. “The events that the Youth program has organized have been amazing for supporting this connection.”
These events have ranged from weekly Sunday school time to hiking Mount Major, carving pumpkins, participation in a holiday Tree lighting service, and a recent penpal activity. “Reed also loves being in a group of mixed ages during this time,” she added. “He has really bonded with some of the younger kids in the program and seems to enjoy being a ‘role model’ and helper for his younger friends at church.”
For Tichich, however, the biggest factor for her personally has been the impact GCC has had not just on her mind, but her heart. “GCC has moved religion for me from a mental construct with a set of rules on paper to an act of the heart,” she said. “I feel that we are, in fact, a faith in practice and action. We are experiencing community, sharing in the messages, and showing humanity and kindness to one another.”
She said Pastor Graham’s sermons have been especially meaningful to her. “I usually find myself reflecting on something from the sermon throughout the week,” said Tichich. “From the bite-sized purpose of the church he describes as ‘to make love visible’ to the question recently posed, ‘What if you are the second coming of Jesus?’, which is interpreted as to act like Jesus here and now.”
Expressing appreciation for the trust of new members, Pastor Graham said he is personally humbled whenever he hears anyone discuss the church or his sermons in “glowing ways.” “I am here to guide and ready to do all I can to bring people together,” he said. “I’m not here to simply get people thinking, but to encourage them to do and feel from their hearts.”
Located in Gilford at 19 Potter Hill Rd, Gilford Community Church (GCC) is an inclusive, open community that welcomes believers and doubters, seekers and skeptics, young and old. Viewable live on YouTube, Sunday service takes place at 10 a.m. at 19 Potter Hill Rd., Gilford, NH and is also available on a livestream feed on GCC’s Facebook page.
This message inspired Jennie Tichich and her family to join GCC “for several reasons.” “I feel welcomed when attending church,” she said. “This is no small thing to feel. I know what it is like to feel lonely around people.” Tichich said she has experienced this kind of loneliness in other churches. “We've attended churches where everyone dressed and looked nice, but there was no feeling of warmth when greeting each other,” she said.
In addition to the camaraderie she and her husband, Nick, feel both during and after church in fellowship with other members, Tichich cited GCC’s youth programs as another reason they decided to join the church. “Our son, Reed, immediately felt a sense of purpose and connection in the youth program and he has been excited to continue attending,” she said. “The events that the Youth program has organized have been amazing for supporting this connection.”
These events have ranged from weekly Sunday school time to hiking Mount Major, carving pumpkins, participation in a holiday Tree lighting service, and a recent penpal activity. “Reed also loves being in a group of mixed ages during this time,” she added. “He has really bonded with some of the younger kids in the program and seems to enjoy being a ‘role model’ and helper for his younger friends at church.”
For Tichich, however, the biggest factor for her personally has been the impact GCC has had not just on her mind, but her heart. “GCC has moved religion for me from a mental construct with a set of rules on paper to an act of the heart,” she said. “I feel that we are, in fact, a faith in practice and action. We are experiencing community, sharing in the messages, and showing humanity and kindness to one another.”
She said Pastor Graham’s sermons have been especially meaningful to her. “I usually find myself reflecting on something from the sermon throughout the week,” said Tichich. “From the bite-sized purpose of the church he describes as ‘to make love visible’ to the question recently posed, ‘What if you are the second coming of Jesus?’, which is interpreted as to act like Jesus here and now.”
Expressing appreciation for the trust of new members, Pastor Graham said he is personally humbled whenever he hears anyone discuss the church or his sermons in “glowing ways.” “I am here to guide and ready to do all I can to bring people together,” he said. “I’m not here to simply get people thinking, but to encourage them to do and feel from their hearts.”
Located in Gilford at 19 Potter Hill Rd, Gilford Community Church (GCC) is an inclusive, open community that welcomes believers and doubters, seekers and skeptics, young and old. Viewable live on YouTube, Sunday service takes place at 10 a.m. at 19 Potter Hill Rd., Gilford, NH and is also available on a livestream feed on GCC’s Facebook page.
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