About GCM

Background

Welcome to Growing Christians Ministries, a Bible teaching ministry that was started in 1973 by Dr. David R. Reid, a faculty member at Emmaus Bible College and life-long student of the Bible.  Dr. Dave knew that “becoming” a Christian is just the beginning.  To “be” Christians, we must learn and grow!  With this goal in mind, he began to develop ways to facilitate steady spiritual growth for Christians of all ages and stages.  GCM has expanded from short essays (Devotions for Growing Christians, 1973), to lectures of concentrated material (Courses for Growing Christians, 1990), to audio messages (Talks for Growing Christians, 1994).  In Talks for Growing Christians, Dr. Dave teaches through the entire Bible, chapter by chapter.   All these resources will be helpful for growing Christians, and we hope that your faith will grow as you spend time with us.

The seeds of Growing Christians Ministries were planted in 1971, when Dr. Dave began writing devotional articles for a weekly Young Life newsletter in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Two years later Dr. Dave, who was a research scientist and engineer, moved to the Boston area with his wife, Margie, and their three children, to study at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  To keep in touch with the teens from their Young Life group in Cincinnati, Dr. Dave continued to write devotional articles, sending them through the mail along with Reid family news.

Devotions for Growing Christians was born, and continues today with the same basic format.  In September 1973, the first issue of  Devotions for Growing Christians was mailed to about 100 teens, but the mailing list soon grew to over 5,000 people.  In 2003 the mailing method changed from hard copy to email, and eDevotions for Growing Christians is now emailed to subscribers around the world.

Growing Christians Ministries has expanded since 1973, and the Reid family has grown, too.  The three Reid children are married, and the family news now includes six grandchildren.  In 1995 Dr. Dave’s son, Ron, joined the ministry, doing all the technical work of editing talks, duplicating recordings, shipping orders, answering emails – and much more. After Dr. Dave’s sudden and unexpected Homecall in January 2012, Ron Reid succeeded him as Director of Growing Christians Ministries, while continuing to do his previous ministry work. The entire family is involved in continuing and contributing to the valuable legacy of Bible teaching and study materials that Dr. Dave provided for all believers.

God has truly blessed Growing Christians Ministries, and we give Him all the honor and praise. We thank the Lord for His guidance and direction in the expansion of the ministry.  We’re thankful for the valuable expertise of our Website Administrator, Joel Sonoda, and our Webmaster, Faithe Emerich. We’re also thankful for the Good News Network that broadcasts Dr. Dave’s Talks, and for the many faithful believers who have contributed their help and financial support for the ongoing ministries of GCM.

Growing Christians Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit ministry, registered with the United States government.  All gifts are tax-deductible, and donors will receive receipts for gifts.  All our materials are available online free of charge.  Items in our Online Store are sold below cost, and subscriptions to “Devotions for Growing Christians” are free of charge.

Doctrinal Statement:

• The Bible is inspired of God, inerrant in the original documents and of final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
• There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• The eternal Son became Man when He was born of a virgin, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ is thus fully God and fully Man forever.
• In His earthly life, Jesus was sinlessly perfect. His sacrifice for sin on the cross was substitutionary and representative. He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into Heaven, where He now ministers as our High Priest. He will come for his Church, and return with His saints to reign over this earth.
• Each member of the human race is fallen, sinful, and lost, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of any person. Redemption is wholly by the blood of Christ, and salvation is by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Every child of God possesses eternal life and, being sealed with the Holy Spirit, is safe and secure for all eternity.
• The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, who is thus empowered to live a godly life.
• There will be a resurrection of the saved and of the lost, the saved unto eternal life, and the lost unto eternal and conscious judgment.
• The Church began with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and is composed of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. These believers are united to Him and to one another by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Church’s chief function is to glorify God as the body and bride of Christ and to witness for her Lord until His return.