BMH Editor's Blog

Grace Brethren military chaplain James Schaefer (standing, right) asks prayer for the family of an Afghanistan mullah friend (seated) who was recently murdered. Here is Chaplain Schaefer's message:

I am saddened to report that my dear friend and Afghan religious leader, Mullah Fayez, was murdered today in Kandahar.

I met with Mullah Fayez, the senior religious leader in southern Afghanistan, at least 12 times. He was a constantly affable person, open to my friendship and dialogue every time. He welcomed my commander and me every time with an embrace and ready agenda of peace in our discussions. We prayed together, cried together, worked and laughed together in the godly care for the Afghan people.

Mullah Fayez proved himself to be a godly and sacrificial leader for his people. He so often lamented the last 28 years of oppression in Kandahar by the Taliban yet praised the Coalition, and my commander, for our dangerous work, saying that for the first time "we can hope and dream of our future." He wrote those very words in poems and in sermons to the faithful to whom he spoke every Friday.

I am terribly sad for the Fayez Family, for Mullah Fayez' nephew and my friend, Yusef. I am sad for my friends and Mullahs in Kandahar who still fear for their lives against the al Qaeda evil still in their land.

Pray for the dear Fayez Family and for the other Mullahs and their families. Pray for peace and safety in Afghanistan and for the work of the Coalition soldiers against evil. Pray for the Love of God to continue to be tangibly seen in Afghanistan. Pray for more godly leaders, of all nations, to lead in Afghanistan.
 

The Grace Brethren Church of Osceola, IN, thought they wouldn't be able to distribute candy from the church's float in yesterday's annual Memorial Day parade. (South Bend Tribune photo by Greg Swiercz)

But it all worked out well, after all. Here are several paragraphs from the Tribune story. To read the entire article, click here.

Robyn and Jon Carter had already told their children, Emily, 4, and Camden, 13 months, there would be no candy.

"She's disappointed," Robyn Carter said of Emily's reaction.

The Carters' church, Osceola Grace Brethren, had a float to promote its Bible school program, she said. But, without the candy, the group had to be content with handing out brochures along the parade route.

"There'd been a suggestion that parade participants should walk with bags and hand out candy to keep kids from running into the street," Jon Carter said. "But I don't know if it's any more than a suggestion."

What he had heard turned out to be true.

There were people walking in the parade who were handing candy to the children.

A compromise was found, and smiles ensued.
 

Here are two urgent prayer requests from FGBC family members. The first is from Steve Galegor, Jr., who works as a Grace Brethren North American Missions church-planter in New York City:

Please pray for us as we face a terrible family event. Yesterday, Melanie's dad, Lyle Galey, collapsed and suffered a heart attack which prolonged and has resulted in severe bleeding in his brain after a heart procedure. Doctors have concluded there is nothing more that they can do.

I have rushed Melanie to the airport and she is now with the family at his bedside. I will be packing up the kids and making our way back to Indiana as the prognosis is for his passing within hours. Please pray for God's healing should He wish, grace and peace for Mel's mom, Marie, and her sister, Laura and family gathered there. We have been very close as a family and this has devasted Mel. The kids are struggling too, so we pray for much grace. I ask your prayers as we travel today the 13 hours back to Indiana.

The second is an update from Elizabeth Schaefer, wife of Grace Brethren military chaplain James Schaefer:

Here is an update on my treatment for thyroid cancer. I thought I'd let everyone know that they have scheduled me to be hospitalized for the radioactive iodine treatment this coming week--I'll be at Tripler Hospital from Tuesday at least through Friday. (no visitors are allowed--not even family--I'll be totally isolated).

I appreciate everyone's prayers that I don't get sick from this stuff (and perhaps affect its effectiveness by vomiting or whatever--the first four hours are critical), and that God will give my family grace, especially James, during this time.

About 10 days after this is over, they will do a whole-body scan and see if there are spots of cancer anywhere else. Of course we are praying for the best. It is hoped that this one massive treatment will kill all the thyroid cells left in my body, no matter where they are, so that all chances of remaining cancer will be killed. After THAT time, they plan to start me on the replacement hormone, so I'll likely continue to be weak until they get that regulated. By God's grace, we pray that will not be a hard and long process!

I'm not looking forward to this, but I am looking forward to starting on the road to getting better. I pray for the Lord to somehow use this as a testimony to others of His care and grace in my life! Thanks for praying for James and the kids. Gracie's six friends from Grace College are going to still be here during my hospitalization, Tom has a full-time job, and James is working and trying to tie up all loose ends here at Schofield in order to get ready for us to move July 1. So they are at least busy. That's good. :)

Robert Andringa has resigned as president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Washington, D.C., effective June 30, 2006. He will have served 12 years as president and CCCU will mark its 30th year in 2006.

"When I turned 60,” said Andringa, “I adopted the motto 'peak at 80,' and so I look forward to many adventures ahead, probably staying close to my passion of helping CEOs and boards achieve worthy goals.”

Grace College is a member of CCCU. For more inforamtion, log onto www.cccu.org.

This view down Park Street, from in front of the Billy Sunday Museum looking toward the ClockTower Bakery and business district of Winona Lake,IN, is a reminder that long-awaited summer is finally coming. Last weekend Winona Lake was colorfully dotted with sailboats racing in the regatta and throngs of visitors will be coming in next weekend for the Juried Art Fair. 

Leaders of the Grace Brethren national organizations met this week in the conference room of the BMH/FGBC office for their twice-yearly overview of church health, Fellowship progress and priorities, and general sharing. Those participating included (clockwise, from left) Tim Boal of Grace Brethren North American Missions; Tom Avey, Fellowship Coordinator of the FGBC; Ed Lewis of CE National; Dave Guiles of Grace Brethren International Missions; Ron Manahan of Grace College and Seminary and (photographer) Terry White of the Brethren Missionary Herald Company. 

"How to Start a Kingdom Conversation," BMH Books' new release on personal evangelism by Dr. Duke Heller of the Worthington, OH, Grace Brethren Church, recently received a nice review and "push" on one of the nation's best-read Christian websites, www.crosswalk.com.

Dr. Ray Pritchard, pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL, and a regular weblog columnist on Crosswalk, said the following about Heller's book:

"Speaking of evangelism, I am happy to recommend How to Start a Kingdom Conversation by Duke Heller. God has given Duke an amazing ability to talk to just about anyone, anywhere, anytime about Jesus.

"Chapter titles include "Starting a Conversation With Strangers," Overcoming Objections," "The Role of Prayer," and "Your Attitude--Positive is Better."

"Too many books on evangelism are long on theory but short on practical help. Duke Heller's book deserves wide reading because it comes from a man who daily shares Christ with contagious enthusiasm. You'll be a better witness if you read it and make it a part of your life."

Pritchard's complete column may be seen by clicking here.

Copies of How to Start a Kingdom Conversation are available, for $11.99 plus shipping and handling, at www.bmhbooks.com or by calling 1-800-348-2756. Consider using this fine new work as a text for ABF or adult Sunday School class, or for your small group that wants to be more effective in sharing the Gospel. 

Grace Church at Willow Valley, the Grace Brethren church in Lancaster, PA, (John Smith, pastor) recently held its Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service, which recognizes police officers who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Chet Barofski, NJ State Trooper and pastor of Grace Community Church in Hope NJ, was the speaker. Chet gave an excellent message including police stories and a challenge to trust Christ as Savior.

A new addition to the service was a recognition of current officers for bravery, outstanding investigative effort and outstanding officer awards. Local businesses donated gift certificates, savings bonds, TV's, theatre tickets and other gifts.

According to Steve Doutrich, associate pastor of spiritual formation and administration at the Willow Valley church, nearly 600 people attended, including local politicians and many police officers and their families. Three TV stations covered the event. Doutrich said, “Everyone heard a clear gospel presentation by Pastor Chet. This is another avenue to share the gospel with people.” (photo courtesy Steve Doutrich)
 

Ed Lewis, executive director of CE National, will be the featured speaker at a joint US/Mexican youth conference this weekend. This annual event was featured in the July/August, 2004 issue of FGBC World, page 5 (see archived issues). Here is part of Ed's prayer request for the event:

Just wanted you to know that I would appreciate prayer this weekend if you think of it.

I leave on Friday for Orange, CA, where I will join about 150 young people to travel by buses to Tecate, Mexico, where we will join about 200 youth from Mexico (many of them are non-believers). This will be a campout/retreat.

I am to be the speaker for this international, evangelistic cross-cultural weekend. It is planned by the Orange, CA, Grace Brethren Church and of course I will have a translator as I speak. I know no Spanish--except “bonjour” . Pray for my effectiveness, boldness, and communication.

The prayer is that there will be many who will pray to receive Christ.

# posted by Terry White @ 12:20 PM 2 comments

Joel Curry, director of institutional communication and publication for Grace College and Seminary, spotted this sign recently while touring the 13th century Church of St. Multose in Kinsale, Ireland. Be careful where you park! 

(from the Christian Booksellers Association e-newsletter):

Larry Hair, director of retail stores at Christian Publications for nearly 32 years, passed away late last week from complications resulting from surgery. The memory of Larry’s life on earth was celebrated on May 21, at Hope Grace Brethren Church in Dillsburg, PA (George Traub, pastor). Please remember in prayer his wife, two sons, and their families, along with the Christian Publications family.

Christian Publications, the publishing/bookselling arm of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, is headquartered in Camp Hill, PA and has about a dozen Christian bookstores in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and in the Detroit area.

"Studies in Mark," the newly-rewritten and expanded commentary on the Gospel of Mark by Dr. Homer Kent, Jr., is now available for purchase online at www.bmhbooks.com. The 248-page commentary is the first of a 15-volume matched set BMH is producing entitled The Kent Collection. Cost is $14.99. 

Dr. K Marie Stolba, an internationally-acclaimed musicologist, music historian, violinist, music educator and composer who taught music at Grace College in the 1970s, died Wednesday, May 18 in Fort Wayne, IN.

A professor emerita of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, she had also served as a visiting professor and lecturer at universities and musicologists meetings all over the world. A prolific author, she was best-known for her book “The Development of Western Music: A History,” which enjoyed wide usage as a college text.

A native of Burlington, Iowa, she earned her B.A. magna cum laude from Monmouth College, IL; her M.A. from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley; and her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. In 1990, Monmouth College conferred on her the Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

She was a member and elder at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, where she served as choir director from 1995 to 2004. At her death, she was serving her third term as president of the Board of Directors of the Bach Collegium-Fort Wayne. Service is 11 a.m. Monday at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne.

Eugene Habecker, who for the past 14 years has been the president of the American Bible Society in New York City, has been named president of Taylor University in Indiana.

Habecker, a 1968 Taylor grad, replaces David Gyertson, who is returning to a faculty position at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, an institution he co-founded in 1977.

The Taylor board of trustees named Habecker its 30th president after a nationwide search involving more than 150 candidates. Previously he was president of Huntington (IN) College, and he also held administrative positions at George Fox University in Oregon and Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Taylor officials said his start date will be no later than September 1. 

Let me introduce you to just a few of the wonderful people I've spent this past week with, taking a course in the ACTS church-planting strategy from Dave Guiles of Grace Brethren International Missions. Please...take a few moments and pray for each of these if you are so led.

Rich and Jill Elledge, pictured here, are a young couple who have sold their home in Indianapolis and are leaving their jobs to work with the Community of Hope Grace Brethren Church in Columbia City, IN (Dan Gregory, pastor) to help start a new church in Fort Wayne, IN. 

Deb and Jim Momeyer have served in Africa with Grace Brethren International Missions, and will be returning there after some time in the States for further studies and fund raising. They are from the Community Grace Brethren Church in Warsaw, IN. 

Kirk and Kay Carver are from the Calvert County (MD) Grace Brethren Church (Robert Wagner, pastor). They have spent some short-term missions time in the Czech Republic and are looking to where the Lord may want them to serve. Kay is a massage therapist and Kirk is a chiropractor, currently doing graduate studies at Capitol Theological Seminary near Washington, D.C. 

Brian Williams, who spent a number of years on the staff of the Delaware, OH, Grace Brethren Church staff, is now planting a Grace Brethren Church in Sunbury, OH. 

Carlos Peralta, an Argentine native now planting a Hispanic church in Coatesville, PA, is doing so under the sponsorship and guidance of Gateway Grace Community Church (Dan O'Deens, pastor). Carlos' congregation, Encuentro Latino, is currently averaging about 80 in Sunday morning services--last Lord's Day 100 were in attendance. 

Jason Weimer (left) from the Waterloo, Iowa, Grace Brethren Church (Kelvin Cooke, pastor) will soon be leaving with his wife, Doni, for a year in the Philippines, helping to plant churches. Viseth Hou (right) is a Cambodian who has been very successful as an evangelist and church-planter and Campus Crusade staff member. He is currently enrolled in graduate studies at Ashland (OH) Theological Seminary. 

Jay and Deb Hocking will soon be leaving Indiana to spend 15 months in France as host couple at the Chateau St. Alban. Jay has been working in media and information technology at the Grace Brethren International Missions headquarters in Winona Lake, IN, and they are members of the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church (John Teevan, pastor). 

Bob Steiger, who is from the Centerville, OH, Grace Brethren Church (Steve Makofka, pastor) has already spent time ministering in Chad, Africa, and is on his way back there to teach English, teach Bible, and other ministries. 

BMH Books proudly announces the release this week of a newly expanded and re-written commentary on the Gospel of Mark by Dr. Homer Kent Jr., former dean of Grace Theological Seminary, former president of Grace College and Seminary, and world-respected scholar of New Testament and Greek.

Subtitled "The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," the Mark commentary contains 16 chapters, and includes in its 248 pages photos by the author of many New Testament sites appropriate to the Mark text.

The Mark commentary is the first BMH Books release in the Kent Collection, an ambitious project to re-edit and republish Dr. Homer Kent Jr.'s entire set of 15 New Testament commentaries. The Gospel of John is next in the series, and it should be available about the first of July.

The new Mark commentary will soon be available for purchase on BMH Books' website at www.bmhbooks.com and is now available by calling 1-800-348-2756. Studies in Mark retails for $14.99 and its ISBN number is 0884692469. 

Needing some variety in a five-day course on church-planting, ACTS course instructor Dave Guiles subdivided the current 40 students taking the class into groups and assigned them to devise a creative way to demonstrate the biblical concept of the church as the body of Christ. This group used pantomime and music to show that all parts of the church are important and must be included for the body to be whole. 

This group used Play-Dough to demonstrate the concept of the various parts of the body of Christ articulating together. Other groups used parable, PowerPoint, drawing, rap, and drama. 

The Old Order German Baptist Brethren, a sister group to the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is currently meeting in Pennsylvania. The group, which traces its heritage to Alexander Mack and 1708 as does the FGBC, is one of six groups (along with the FGBC) which participates in the Brethren Encyclopedia Project.

Here is an excerpt of an article from the Chambersburg, PA, newspaper about the conference. To read the entire article, click here.


Thousands of people from as far away as California are to arrive in New Franklin this weekend for the Old German Baptist Brethren Church's annual conference.

Two large tents are being erected today to accommodate the expected 4,000 participants from 55 church districts in 16 states — a dining tent where two meals a day will be served during the conference, and a council tent. About 50 ministers will speak from a center table. Seating is divided, brethren and men on one side, sisters and women on the other side...

...Old German Baptist Brethren believe in non-resistance and non-conformity to the world. They don't swear and they wear plain clothing that conforms to scriptural laws of modesty and simplicity.

Worldly influences — such as television, radio, stereo and the Internet — are not acceptable in their homes, although Brethren do have telephones and electricity. "We think electronics should be a tool, not a toy," said the media committee representatives who met with a reporter...

...Worship will be conducted at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday through Monday with short morning worship services at 7 a.m. Sunday and Monday. A 7 p.m. Monday service will be in the council tent and at the Antietam, Browns Mill and Falling Spring meeting houses. The general public is welcome and invited to attend the preaching services.

Only members may participate in a communion service at 5 p.m. Sunday, but others may attend and observe. The service involves self-examination, feet washing, the Lord's Supper (a full meal of beef, broth and bread crumbs, bread and water), the salutation of the holy kiss, and communion using unleavened bread and wine. About 600 members are expected to participate.

The May 23, 2005 issue of BusinessWeek Magazine features a major section on evangelical churches in America. Geared to the business audience, the article is entitled, "Earthly Empires: How evangelical churches are borrowing from the business playbook."

Here is a brief excerpt from one of the lead articles. To read the entire article, click here.

So successful are some evangelicals that they're opening up branches like so many new Home Depots (HD ) or Subways. This year, the 16.4 million-member Southern Baptist Convention plans to "plant" 1,800 new churches using by-the-book niche-marketing tactics. "We have cowboy churches for people working on ranches, country music churches, even several motorcycle churches aimed at bikers," says Martin King, a spokesman for the Southern Baptists' North American Mission Board.

Branding whizzes that they are, the new church leaders are spreading their ideas through every available outlet. A line of "Biblezines" packages the New Testament in glossy magazines aimed at different market segments -- there's a hip-hop version and one aimed at teen girls. Christian music appeals to millions of youths, some of whom otherwise might never give church a second thought, serving up everything from alternative rock to punk and even "screamo" (they scream religious lyrics). California megachurch pastor Rick Warren's 2002 book, The Purpose-Driven Life, has become the fastest-selling nonfiction book of all time, with more than 23 million copies sold, in part through a novel "pyro marketing" strategy. Then there's the Left Behind phenomenon, a series of action-packed, apocalyptic page-turners about those left on earth after Christ's second coming, selling more than 60 million copies since 1995.

Evangelicals' eager embrace of corporate-style growth strategies is giving them a tremendous advantage in the battle for religious market share, says Roger Finke, a Pennsylvania State University sociology professor and co-author of a new book, The Churching of America, 1776-2005: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy. A new Pope has given Catholicism a burst of global publicity, but its nominal membership growth in the U.S. stems largely from the influx of Mexican immigrants. Overall, the Catholic Church's long-term decline in U.S. attendance accelerated after the recent sex-abuse scandals, there's a severe priest shortage, and parish churches and schools are closing in the wake of a financial crisis.

Similarly, the so-called mainline Protestants who dominated 20th century America have become the religious equivalent of General Motors Corp. (GM ) The large denominations -- including the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church -- have been shrinking for decades and have lost more than 1 million members in the past 10 years alone. Today, mainline Protestants account for just 16% of the U.S. population, says University of Akron political scientist John C. Green.

In contrast, evangelicalism's theological flexibility gives it the freedom to adapt to contemporary culture. With no overarching authority like the Vatican, leaders don't need to wrestle with a bureaucratic hierarchy that dictates acceptable behavior. "If you have a vision for ministry, you just do it, which makes it far easier to respond to market demand," says University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sociology professor Christian Smith.

With such low barriers to entry, the number of evangelical megachurches -- defined as those that attract at least 2,000 weekly worshippers -- has shot up to 880 from 50 in 1980, figures John N. Vaughan, founder of research outfit Church Growth Today in Bolivar, Mo. He calculates that a new megachurch emerges in the U.S. an average of every two days. Overall, white evangelicals make up more than a quarter of Americans today, experts estimate. The figures are fuzzy because there's no common definition of evangelical, which typically refers to Christians who believe the Bible is the literal work of God. They may include many Southern Baptists, nondenominational churches, and some Lutherans and Methodists. There are also nearly 25 million black Protestants who consider themselves evangelicals but largely don't share the conservative politics of most white ones. Says pollster George Gallup, who has studied religious trends for decades: "The evangelicals are the most vibrant branch of Christianity."

The triumph of evangelical Christianity is profoundly reshaping many aspects of American politics and society. 

Dave Guiles (standing, dark shirt), executive director of Grace Brethren International Missions, began this morning teaching a five-day class on Apostolic Church-Planting Strategies in Winona Lake, Indiana. Approximately 40 are in the class, including a number of Hispanic church planters, Grace Brethren pastors from Iowa, Florida, California, Indiana and Ohio, and a variety of others who are interested in in-depth biblical teaching on church-planting strategies and movements. 

The following article appeared earlier this week in the Tracy, CA, Press newspaper. It gives a little more background on the planned pickets in Tracy on June 12, which includes the Grace Brethren Church of Tracy.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church apparently can't get enough of what they see as Tracy 's dens of iniquity. Or maybe they got a good deal on airfare with a Saturday stay-over.

In any case, the notorious anti-gay group from Topeka , Kan. , announced Thursday that it plans to visit Tracy for a second day in June. This time, they're picketing churches — including churches whose pastors said they disapprove of homosexuality.

The group announced its intentions in a press release with the headline, “WBC to picket sodomite whorehouses masquerading as churches in Tracy , Calif. ”

While the release did not list reasons for targeting these particular churches, pastors or retired pastors of four of the six churches were quoted in a May 3 article in the Tracy Press.

All four denounced the Westboro group. However, two of the pastors — the Rev. Mark Humphreys of Heartland Church and the Rev. Robert MacMillan Jr. of Grace Brethren — went on record saying they believe homosexuality is immoral.

Humphreys said he found it ironic that they were protesting his church, given that he is a self-professed social conservative.

“But isn't that what fundamentalism is?” Humphreys said. “If you don't believe exactly what they believe, you're the enemy.”

Humphreys added that he believes in setting an example with his beliefs, not demanding that they become the absolute law of the land.

“Jesus didn't go out and fight sinners,” Humphreys said. “He helped people who were struggling.”

The other two churches, St. Bernard's Catholic and St. Mark's Episcopal, represent denominations for which the Westboro Church bears a particular dislike.

The group has a Web site that states their belief that Pope John Paul II is in hell because of the priest sexual abuse scandals and other sins. The group has also targeted Episcopal churches for the ordination of an openly gay bishop in November 2003.

Last week the group announced that it would picket the graduation ceremonies of West and Tracy schools June 11. That night they will undertake one of Tracy 's most common activities: commuting into the Bay Area. They'll be picketing the media awards held by the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders in San Francisco .

The group is upset by the case of West High math teacher Richard Thompson, 53, who resigned after discussing in class his belief that homosexuality is a choice. Earlier this week, Thompson told the Tracy Press that he was quitting to pursue a job in the technology industry, where he has spent most of his career. He said his resignation had nothing to do with his comments.

The Tracy Protest Itinerary of the Westboro Baptist Church for Sunday, June 12

First Presbyterian, 9 a.m.

Heartland Church , 9:30 a.m.

St. Mark's Episcopal, 10 a.m.

Grace Brethren, 10 a.m.

St. Bernard Catholic, 10:30 a.m.

Hope Lutheran Missionary, 11:05 a.m.

This blog by YIE (Your Intrepid Editor) got a nice mention and tip-of-the-hat earlier this week from fellow blogger Ray Pritchard, who is senior pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL, and is a regular blogger on crosswalk.com.

Pastor Ray's blog is well worth reading, as is his newest book from Crossway, entitled "The Incredible Journey of Faith."

Here's his note from earlier this week:

Six Blog Quickies

Attention Span offers a balanced perspective on Rick Warren and the Purpose-Driven Life. (Hat tip to Brian Bill)


Terry White has an excellent weblog, with a special focus on matters of interest to the Grace Brethren churches. (emphasis mine -- tw)


John Armstrong comments on the popularity of Joel Osteen.


Wayne Pederson has a new weblog.


Bruce Johnson explains why life is too short to live with anger.


Here's the real story about Chan Chandler and his resignation as pastor of East Waynesville Baptist Church in North Carolina for allegedly dismissing church members who voted for John Kerry. As usual, the media got the story wrong.

The Spring/Summer, 2005 issue of “Women’s Infoline,” the newsletter for women’s ministry and Women of Grace USA leaders, announces the awarding of two “Honor Her” scholarships to be used for involvement in short-term missions.

Awarded by Women of Grace USA, the scholarships are designed to encourage young women in their desire to reach others with God’s Word and come from gifts of women who wish to honor other women who lived lives of faithfulness and service to the Lord.

Kathryn MacMillan has been awarded $750 toward her Grace Brethren International Missions internship in Paris, France, this summer. She will be working with GBIM missionaries Dennis and Jeannie Martin. A Grace College sophomore majoring in business and marketing, she is from Tracy, California, where she is a member of the Tracy Grace Brethren Church.

Rebekah Pinkham was awarded $250 for a spring break missions trip to Urban Encounter in Chicago. A Grace College junior from Washington, Indiana, she has majors in business administration, finance and international business.

The current issue of “Women’s Infoline,” just now being received in homes and churches, features an article on a women’s retreat, “When Does a Girl Start Becoming a Woman?”, “Do I Have Enough to Give?” and “A Health Checkup for Your Women’s Ministry.”

Viki Rife is editor of Infoline and may be contacted at Women of Grace USA, PO Box 711, Winona Lake, IN 46590 or by e-mail at womenofgraceusa@aol.com.

Bob Combs, pastor of the Norton (OH) Grace Brethren Church-South Campus and past moderator of the FGBC, is serving as advisor to a new creation science museum in the Akron area. (photo by Ken Crisafi)

Today's Akron Leader carries the following article, which quotes Combs extensively and gives background on the new museum.

By Stephanie Kandel

COPLEY — Check your assumptions at the door: This isn’t your father’s dinosaur museum.

William Sanderson displays the jawbone of a Wooly Mammoth and the teeth of a pterodactyl, but at his soon-to-open Akron Fossils & Science Center located in Copley, a different kind of idea emerges.

The idea the Earth is fairly young after all.

According to Sanderson, his center is the only one of its kind in Ohio: a creation-based science museum that offers the opportunity for children and adults to challenge their assumptions about creation, evolution, dinosaurs, prehistory, nature and the world as we know it.

The center is devoted to teaching creation science and intelligent design models in contrast to evolutionary models.

Sanderson believes dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures co- existed with humans during the time between the creation of man and the flood of Noah as told in the Bible. The Ice Age then followed the flood, he said.

Before the flood, he said, the Earth’s atmosphere was so different that animals, plants and humans were able to grow much larger and live much longer than today.

“There’s a lot of science that supports that, and that’s what we’re trying to make the case for,” he said.

Among his many pieces of evidence on display at the center, Sanderson has a casting of an original Ica burial stone. (Only 11 original stones exist, according to Sanderson, and he said he is trying to obtain one. If he does, however, he won’t display it in the center. He’ll keep it in a safety deposit box instead, he said.)

The stones portray the death of a person and are subsequently buried with that person. Holding up one of the stones, Sanderson pointed to its depiction and said, “This is a dinosaur killing a human being.”


He also showed a photograph of an Ican mummy with what he said are images of dinosaurs woven into her grave clothes.

“Maybe,” he said, “dinosaurs weren’t millions of years old.”


Sanderson’s efforts are backed by a multi-member advisory board, which includes Fred Brannan, of West Akron, an engineer. Brannan and Sanderson are acquaintances through Grace Brethren Church of Norton and share an interest in creation vs. evolution.

“He’s got a wealth of knowledge on the topic,” Brannan said.

Bob Combs, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church, also is on Sanderson’s advisory board. Combs reiterated Brannan’s comments that Sanderson has a wealth of knowledge about creationism, a belief Combs said he subscribes to and believes the Bible teaches.

Combs also praised Sanderson’s determination to go forward with the project.

“I’m amazed at his passion,” Combs said. “This is such a tremendous undertaking.”


Brannan knew of a similar creation-based science center in Florida and said he was glad to hear of Sanderson’s endeavor.

“I thought that would be nice, to have something up here that portrays what the evidence says from a biblical point of view and to give that as an alternative to the typical thing that is put out there from an evolutionary standpoint,” he said.

Combs concurred, saying both he and Sanderson visited a creation research center in San Diego, and Sanderson’s center will be a great thing for the area.

“I encourage the public to come and see it, because I think they’ll be surprised at what’s been done,” he said. “It’s being done first class.”


Upon entering the center, one of the first areas guests come to is called “Assumption Junction.”


“What we want to do initially is get people looking at what the assumptions are that they’re starting from,” Sanderson said.

Visitors can view an impressive casting of the head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex found in Wyoming; a wall-mounted mastodon skeleton that was found in Newark (with 18 living organisms still in its intestinal tract, Sanderson said), and other artifacts, including matrix pieces that show imbedded bones and tendons.

There is the “pure science” section to the museum and also an area called “Opening the Doors to Truth,” which depicts the science behind the Bible’s creation story, Sanderson said.

The center also will offer a snack bar and gift shop, a Saturday morning lecture series, educational models that change quarterly, and “Truassic Park,” an outdoor dinosaur-themed playground.

Sanderson, a former middle school science teacher in a public school system in Clermont County, said he wasn’t satisfied with the answers he found in the theory of evolution. Instead, he developed a fascination and passion with the creation theory.

“Every time I look at the creation, I look at design — I see the coordination and the complexity, and it just marvels me,” he said.


He said he finds himself in a shrinking minority as far as his scientific beliefs.

“I think more and more, scientists are beginning to question the validity” of evolution, he said, noting that prior to the 1850s, everyone was a creationist. “Evolution is a fairly recent theory that hasn’t progressed effectively,” he explained.

Sanderson does stress he believes in “microevolution” — that species adapt to their environment over time. The idea of “macroevolution,” he said, is where the argument begins to fall apart.

“We see things staying in their own kind,” he said. “Our cells will continue to create more of ourselves.”


Of opening the center, Sanderson said: “Our mission is to pose life’s questions and open the doors to truth so visitors can find their own answers.”
He hopes visitors will open their minds to what the center offers and perhaps entertain a new understanding of the development of the world.

“It’s an opportunity for people to be stimulated to think in different ways,” he said.

The Akron Fossils & Science Center, located at 2080 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, plans to open to the public May 26, with a grand opening slated for June 16-17.

Museum hours will be Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 2-5 and free for children younger than 2. Group rates and season passes are available.

Reservations for field trips are now being accepted. A variety of science lessons can be taught, depending on the group’s age range. The museum also will offer special services for birthday parties, special events and summer science camps.

For more information or to make reservations, call (330) 665-DINO.
 

The Tracy, California, Grace Brethren Church (Robert MacMillan, pastor, pictured) has been targeted by a notorious hate group for picketing on Sunday, June 12, according to news reports.

The Tracy church, along with five other Tracy churches and the local high school, will apparently be picketed by one of two teams from a Kansas church well-known for its inflammatory language and in-your-face tactics regarding homosexuals and ministry to those in the homosexual lifestyle.

According to MacMillan, the controversy started when the local newspaper, the Tracy Press, reported on a conversation a former member of the Tracy church had about supporting President Bush and the importance of the moral issues of abortion and homosexuality in the making of his decision.

The paper called for comment from several local pastors, including MacMillan, who had previously been published in the paper on the issues of homosexuality and free speech. MacMillan’s position was that the Tracy church has a principle of “hating the sin and loving the sinner,” and it was that comment which apparently inflamed the Kansas group.

MacMillan is meeting later this week with Tracy police to arrange logistics for the Sunday the picketers will be present, and says “we are going to go ahead with business as usual.”

MacMillan plans to fully inform the elders of his church, and then inform the congregation that they will not engage the picketers in conversation or debate.

Ministry opportunities are already emerging from the situation. This evening, MacMillan has been asked by the church’s youth leaders to have a question-and-answer session with high school students about the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality and what the Christian response should be.

“We are all trusting God to bring good out of it,” says MacMillan. Grace Brethren people around the country are urged to pray for MacMillan and the Tracy church over the next month, that this unusual visibility will give opportunity for God’s Word to be clearly taught and for the Holy Spirit to reach many with the message of God’s love and forgiveness.
 

Kevin and Holly High, currently in Spanish language school enroute to missionary service in Argentina, send along this message, excerpted from a longer e-mail. Bottom line? Pray for the Highs!!

The end of the Spring semester in Spanish language school at the Rio Grande two-hour each day final starting at 8:15. Monday’s final is on conversation.

We have to hold a Spanish conversation with the professor and tell him about our families, all about clothing, and all about the foods and happenings at a restaurant, followed by a graded recitation of John 3:16-17 in Spanish.

Tuesday’s final is recitation and pronunciation drills to see how well we have progressed. Wednesday’s is phonetics. It is by far the most technical. We know more phonetic rules in Spanish than I could ever imagine exist in English.

For example: in juncture modification does the regressive assimilation of an r on the preceding s produce a voiceless dental fricative or a voiced dental fricative, and is the r a trill, a flap, or a fricative. Or: name the 6 points of articulation of the n (dental, bilabial, labiodental, palatal, velar, or prealveolar) and give a Spanish word for each, what joy?

Finally, on Thursday, we have the grammar final, the hardest of them all.

The following release, posted today at www.christianpost.com, points out the importance of biblical literacy to being generally well-educated.
Biblical literacy gives students educational advantages but most American teens lack basic knowledge of the Bible


Biblical literacy gives students educational advantages but most American teens lack basic knowledge of the Bible, according to surveys presented at the National Press Club last month.

Marie Wachlin, The John Templeton Foundation, George Gallup Jr. of the Gallup Poll, and Chuck Stetson, chairman of the Biblical Literacy Project each submitted reports. Wachlin's report revealed that American teenagers are "clueless" when it comes to the Bible, thus, hindering their education, stated an article by Associated Baptist Press reporter Ken Camp.

Ninety-eight percent of high-school English teachers in the survey believe biblical literacy gives students educational advantages. Templeton's report agreed with Wachlin's, stating that American citizens need a basic understanding of the Bible as an influence on Western civilization.

He cited the speeches by Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and Martin Luther King Jr. as examples of public discourse that requires Biblical knowledge. But most students lack even a basic knowledge of the Bible.

According to Wachlin, terms, such as the "Ten Commandments," "Garden of Eden," "Golden Rule," "Good Samaritan" and 68 other terms are "the common currency of our language."

In fact, the surveyed English teachers "overwhelmingly" agreed Western literature is steeped in biblical references, which means that Biblical illiteracy limits understanding, classroom discussion and even what literature teachers can teach.

In addition, Stetson's report pointed out that students who lack knowledge of the Bible will be disadvantaged on major standardized tests.

by Pat Phillips

On Friday, May 6th, Pastor Chip Heim of East Side GBC said goodbye. Oh, he isn’t retiring and no, he wasn’t forced to resign. Instead, Chip and four other adults from the East Side GBC in Columbus, OH will be spending the next two weeks in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, at the Zaporozhye Bible College (www.gemission.org/zbc).

This trip marks the eighth yearly trip Chip has made to teach at ZBC. Each time he goes, he makes it a priority to take one or more adults along. In addition to exposing others in the church to missions, the trip enables the adults to participate in a teaching ministry in another culture. Several former participants from East Side who Chip invited are now in seminary or in full-time Christian service. In fact, one is now a senior pastor - Keith Minier at Grace Fellowship GBC in Pickerington, OH.

Accompanying Chip this year to the Ukraine are: Pastor Nate Harrison, formerly with the Navigators and now pastor of adult ministries at East Side, and one of the organizers of and speakers at this summer’s FGBC Driven Conference; Julia Gruenler, one of the young adults at East Side who has previously gone on mission trips to Philadelphia, Mexico and India; Josh Flanigan, one of the young adults at East Side who also has gone on mission trips to Philadelphia and Mexico, not to mention going on a year long short-term mission trip with GBIM to the CAR; and Heather Aspen, a graduate of Grace College and one of the young adults at East Side, where she is a teacher at Grace Christian School.

This is Nate’s and Julia’s second trip to ZBC. Julia was one of the adults who accompanied Chip two years ago, and Pastor Nate went with Chip last year for the first time. While at ZBC this time, Chip will be teaching a short course on “Human Beings, Sin, and Salvation,” while Nate will be teaching a short course on “Discipleship.”

In addition to teaching classes and answering questions such as, “What is the church like outside of the Ukraine?”, “How can I share about Jesus in my culture?”, “What can a young adult do in the church?”, and “What about the role of women in the church?”, the group will be involved in three other “significant ministries.” The first is taking students out for ice cream. The second is taking students to McDonald’s. And the third is having several of the school’s faculty over for dinner.

While at first blush these may not seem all that important, Chip has found that over the years, these activities are some of the most productive. As students, and as someone who lives in the Ukraine where the average monthly salary is $50, there is not a lot of money for what are considered “luxury purchases”, namely ice cream and McDonald’s. The students are often overwhelmed that their American guests would want to treat them to a time out at a fancy restaurant like McDonald’s (yes, that’s what they call it), much less freely pass out candy bars and chocolate.

However, as they sit around tables conversing and spending time together, some serious sharing occurs about such topics as God, love, grace, the church, evangelism, discipleship, worship, dealing with persecution, having a heart for the lost, crosscultural ministry, etc. Over the years, Chip and his groups have spoken with former Communists and even former members of the Red Army, who for one reason or another have been led to attend ZBC.

As far as Chip’s group having faculty over for a home cooked dinner, faculty salaries are meager, and entertaining groups is a luxury that they really can’t afford. Plus, what Americans would consider a modest meal is a feast by Ukrainian standards, so the faculty members feel like they are being treated like royalty. The group from East Side will try its best to prepare a Ukrainian meal, instead of subjecting their hosts to sushi, tex-mex, or some other cuisine that is foreign to the Ukrainians.

So, in addition to the money required to send these individuals, the church at East Side provides money for ice cream, candy, chocolate, McDonald’s and food. Chip’s group also takes a couple of music CDs, movie DVDs or VHS tapes, and lots of munchies, all of which go over really big with the students.

In closing, since the Ukraine has undergone a considerable amount of civil unrest recently, your prayers for the group’s safety would be greatly appreciated. And if you think that you might be interested in learning more about teaching at ZBC, Pastor Chip would love to talk with you about it. Maybe, he’d even treat you to an ice cream cone!

Pat Phillips, who serves on the board of the Brethren Missionary Herald Co., is one of the church leaders at East Side Grace Brethren Church in Blacklick, OH. To reach the church’s website, click on www.esgbc.org

Roger Newton has been named as the new athletic director for Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, replacing Jeff Kowatch, who resigned in June of 2004.

Newton, who will likely begin full-time at Grace in early August, has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in sport management from Baylor University.

He worked in the Baylor athletic department helping to raise funds for student athlete scholarships, and at Kentucky he worked as the central procurement manager and director of athletic contracting.

Over the past 14 years Newton served as athletic director at the high school level, earned distinction in 2000 as a Certified Athletic Administrator from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and received the Outstanding Male Coach of the Year award from the Kentucky Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 1998.

“I am encouraged to have the opportunity to work with such a dedicated coaching staff, with people as respected as Jim Kessler,” Newton said. “I am also looking forward to the opportunity to work with Dr. Manahan, Jim Swanson, and the faculty, students, and staff at Grace.”

Newton and his wife, Pam, have been married 13 years. They have an eight-year-old son, Tyler, and are expecting a second child in July.

While Grace College and Seminary was having Saturday morning commencement services in the Gordon Center at Winona Lake, Indiana, across town on the CE National campus a crew of workers from the York, PA, Grace Brethren Church (Dan White, pastor) was putting a new roof on the Philemon Center and building a covered shelter over the deck at the rear of the property.

The crew chief is Lee Knepper, and other workers from York included Dave Knepper, Mark Adams, Mark Aby, Tom Lepore, Jonathan Knepper, Morris Shirey, and Dale Knepper.

Glenn Stauffer did much of the setup and preparatory work, and CE National's Jesse Deboest worked along with the York crew on the construction. 

The York, PA, crew of workmen left York about 7 p.m. Thursday, drove all night, and arrived in Winona Lake about 4:50 a.m. Friday. Working Friday and Saturday, they will leave for York Saturday evening and arrive home approximately in time for Sunday morning church services tomorrow. 

Bruce Barlow (pictured), associate pastor at Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church, was on a plane last February with his son, Trent, enroute to a college visit.

They struck up a conversation over Trent’s high school jacket with a fellow traveler, who turned out to be David Thornton, a six-foot, two-inch 230-pound linebacker with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

The conversation turned to football and faith and Barlow, who is also assistant football coach at Warsaw (IN) High School, saw an opportunity. By the time he and Trent reached the baggage claim area, he had conceived the idea of bringing Thornton to Warsaw to speak to student athletes.

After going through proper procedures with the Colts and with the high school, Warsaw became the first stop on the Colts’ “Make It Personal” tour which resulted in Thornton and Colts’ wide receiver Troy Walters speaking this past Wednesday evening at Warsaw High School.

“I’m here because God had a reason for me to be here,” Thornton told the Warsaw athletes Wednesday night. He and Walters spoke to the athletes, parents and teachers about hard work, leadership and faith.

Thornton discussed what it takes to be not only a good football player, but also a good person.

“Faith is the cornerstone of who we are,” he said. “The motto for the Colts is ‘Make it Personal’ and God wants you to make it personal with him, too,” he said.

Warsaw head coach Troy Akers said, ”With all the negative talk about professional athletes, to have two guys come and speak like we did today with David and Troy is an amazing thing.”
 

David Thornton, linebacker for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, spoke to the Warsaw (IN) high school athletes Wednesday after a chance encounter on a plane with Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church's associate pastor Bruce Barlow. (Colts photo) 

BMH Books, Winona Lake, Indiana, is pleased to announce the release and immediate availability of an exciting new book on personal evangelism by a Grace Brethren author.

“How to Start a Kingdom Conversation” is by Dr. Duke Heller, a dentist from the Worthington, OH, Grace Brethren church, who has had a distinguished career both in oral implantology and in personal evangelism. Well-known for sharing his faith continually and fearlessly, Heller presents seminars and workshops on evangelism a number of times each year.

Subtitled “Sharing Christ With Those Closest to You,” the 148-page paperback starts with endorsements and forewords by four of today’s Christian leaders—Zig Ziglar of Dallas, TX; Pastor Jim Custer of the Worthington (OH) Grace Brethren Church; Erwin Lutzer, pastor of the historic Moody Church in Chicago; and Dr. Richard Mayhue of The Master’s College and Seminary in Santa Clarita, California.

Ziglar says, “I believe there is a critical need for this book.” Custer says, “Duke does not write as a theoretician who tells us how to witness; he takes us by the hand and shows us how….here is help for us all!”

The book’s 17 chapters cover a range of evangelism-related topics from “Approaching Our Parents” to “Starting a Conversation With Strangers,” to “The Role of Prayer.” A unique inclusion is a chapter entitled “What Are They Really Thinking?” based on actual responses to a questionnaire distributed to those who committed their lives to Christ through Heller’s method and materials.

The book concludes with a cut-out card which can be laminated and placed in a wallet or purse for handy reference when sharing one’s faith. Through Heller’s website a companion “Mayishare” brochure and training video/DVD are also available.

Heller is available for speaking engagements and interviews by contacting BMH Books at www.bmhbooks.com. “How to Start a Kingdom Conversation,” which retails for $11.99 plus shipping and handling, is available through www.bmhbooks.com by credit card or by calling (toll-free) 1-800-348-2756. Quantity discounts are available for churches and individuals wishing to use the book as a text or in evangelism training.
 

Dr. Duke Heller, well-known dentist and personal evangelist from the Worthington, OH, Grace Brethren Church, is the author of the newly-published "How to Start a Kingdom Conversation." Copies may be obtained from www.bmhbooks.com or by calling (toll-free) 1-800-348-2756. 

Observant readers will note some new live-links in the left column of this blog template.

Dr. Tim Boal, who is both president of the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers and also the new Executive Director of Grace Brethren North American Missions, is posting to both the GBNAM and the AGBM blogs.

Check them regularly for updates and links to both these great organizations.

In addition, you will note "Dunker Journal" also listed in the bloglinks.

Craig Alan Myers, a Church of the Brethren pastor in Columbia City, Indiana, is the blogmaster for this fine organization, Brethren Revival Fellowship, which seeks to emphasize biblical orthodoxy and the distinctive Brethren ordinances and theology in the Church of the Brethren.

Grace College and Seminary school year concludes this weekend with commencement services this Saturday morning, May 7.

Awards chapel was held April 28 and students publicly honored for their accomplishments over the past year included Scott Borchelt and Megan Walter, recipients of the Dean of Students Award, and Jennifer Brook and Nathan Zuck, who were honored for Greatest Contribution to Campus Life.

Also at Awards Chapel, Professor Laurie Owen received the McClain Award for Excellence in Teaching, named after Dr. Alva J. McClain, Grace's founding president. The award is presented every two years to a faculty member who is an outstanding example of teaching excellence. Prof. Owen is an associate professor of education and has been with Grace since 2001.

Thirty-one faculty and staff members were honored for their years of service to Grace at the annual Employee Recognition Luncheon on May 2. Six received awards for 20 years of service or more. They were: (20 years) Frank Benyousky, chair of the Communication Department and Dr. Tom Edgington, associate professor of psychology; (30 years) Dr. Richard Jeffreys, chair of the Biology Department, Jim Kessler, men's basketball coach and associate professor of physical education, and Nancy Weimer, executive assistant to the president; (40 years) Dr. Paulette Sauders, chair of the English and Journalism Department.

GLENN ROY 'COACH' JOHNSON
Glenn Roy "Coach" Johnson, 68, who coached baseball at Grace College from 1995-2000, died at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne after suffering a stroke.

Prior to coming to Grace College, for 11 years, Johnson was an assistant high school coach, along with being an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves.

Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Ellers Mortuary Webster Street Chapel, 3400 S. Webster St., Kokomo, IN, with Pastor Mark Malin officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.

This obituary of a former Grace Brethren Church musician appears in today's Toledo (OH) Blade newspaper:

FINDLAY, OH - Betty Brauneller, a member of the Jericho Road gospel quartet who organized and promoted artists at the Lighthouse here as well as the Hancock County Fair, died Tuesday in Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center of complications of a kidney tumor. She was 62.

Mrs. Brauneller, a woman of strong religious beliefs, found music to be a way to share her faith.

"We are for one purpose only," her husband, Russ, said. "That's to get the message to the people."

The Braunellers founded Jericho Road in 1998. It has since grown to a quartet.

The group has traveled all over Ohio and surrounding states, performing more than 150 times a year, including monthly concerts at the Lighthouse and in the gospel pavilion during the Hancock County Fair, her daughter Vicki Orwick said.

They released their first recording in July, 1998, and plan to release their fourth this summer.

About six years ago, the Braunellers decided to help with the Hancock Gospel Pavilion at the county fair because they saw an opportunity for its growth.

"We decided to extend our ministry to helping out with this," Mr. Brauneller said.

As president of the pavilion, Mrs. Brauneller helped bring in gospel groups from all over the country. "We have to turn groups away," he said.

For the last five years, Mrs. Brauneller has arranged monthly gospel nights at the Lighthouse, bringing in four groups to perform for an audience of 200 on the third Saturday of every month.

She also was involved with the Buckeye State Gospel Music Association, the Northwest Ohio Gospel Music Association, and the Country Gospel Music Association of America.

At various times, she led a women's trio at her church, directed the choir, and played the organ for Grace Brethren Church in Bowling Green, her daughter said.

Today is the National Day of Prayer, ordered by an act of Congress 54 years ago, proclaimed by President George W. Bush, and supported by millions of Americans across the nation.

While the National Day of Prayer, which falls on the first Thursday of May, is mostly a Judeo-Christian celebration, it invites the entire nation to join together in prayer for peace and grace from God.

This year’s theme is “God Shed His Grace On Thee” and is based on the Christian scripture Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (NIV)

More information is available at www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

The following is the full text of President Bush’s statement on the National Day of Prayer 2005:

Since our Nation's earliest days, prayer has given strength and comfort to Americans of all faiths. Our Founding Fathers relied on their faith to guide them as they built our democracy. Today, we continue to be inspired by God's blessings, mercy, and boundless love. As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we humbly acknowledge our reliance on the Almighty, express our gratitude for His blessings, and seek His guidance in our daily lives.

Throughout our history, our Nation has turned to prayer for strength and guidance in times of challenge and uncertainty. The Continental Congress, meeting in 1775, asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a new Nation. Throughout the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued exhortations to prayer, calling upon the American people to humble themselves before their Maker and to serve all those in need. At the height of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt led our citizens in prayer over the radio, asking for God to protect our sons in battle. Today, our Nation prays for those who serve bravely in the United States Armed Forces in difficult missions around the world, and we pray for their families.

Across our country, Americans turn daily to God in reverence. We ask Him to care for all those who suffer or feel helpless, knowing that God sees their needs and calls on us to meet them. As our first President wrote in 1790, "May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths . . .". As we face the challenges of our times, God's purpose continues to guide us, and we continue to trust in the goodness of His plans.

The Congress by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to honor the freedom of religion by recognizing annually a "National Day of Prayer."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2005, as a National Day of Prayer. I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each according to his or her own faith, for the liberty and blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance and protection. I also urge all Americans to join in observing this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH
 

For many years--particularly before the founding of Grace College--Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC was a feeder school for Grace Theological Seminary and men going into Grace Brethren pastorates. Today's Washington Post carries a lengthy analysis article by Peter Carlson on recent changes at the school. A brief excerpt is reproduced here--to read the entire article click here.

Is Bob Jones University going to the Devil?

Could America's most famous bastion of hard-core Christian fundamentalism and pugnacious political conservatism be getting a little . . . soft? There are signs, portents.

In 2000, Bob Jones III, president of the university and grandson of the Founder, announced on "Larry King Live" that the school was ending its ban on interracial dating, long defended because "God has separated people for His own purpose."

In 2003, the school ended the practice of ringing the dorm bells at 6:55 a.m. to rouse students for daily room inspections.

Last year, the university applied for (and received) accreditation, a process it had always avoided because, as Bob Jones III once said, "accrediting associations will not approve our educational process if it does not include the worship of their gods."

And on Saturday, for the first time in its 78-year history, Bob Jones University will inaugurate a president not named Bob Jones.

For eight decades, BJU has been led by three generations of Bob Joneses -- preachers who pioneered a combative and highly political form of fundamentalism that gave rise to the "Christian Right." The Joneses became famous touting politicians they liked -- George Wallace, Barry Goldwater, George W. Bush -- while hurling thunderbolts of quotable vitriol at apostates, back-sliders and liberals.

Bob Jones, the hellfire-and-brimstone evangelist who founded the nondenominational Protestant school in 1927, railed against the Catholic Church, which stands, he said, "for ignorance and superstition and the slavery of the human soul."

Bob Jones Jr. pilloried Secretary of State Alexander Haig as "a monster in human flesh" and publicly prayed that God would "smite him hip and thigh, bone and marrow, heart and lungs."

Bob Jones III denounced Ronald Reagan as "a traitor to God's people" for the sin of choosing as his vice president George H.W. Bush, whom Jones called "a devil."

But at Saturday's graduation ceremony, the presidency will pass to Stephen B. Jones, 35, the Founder's great-grandson, a mild-mannered fellow who describes himself as "laid-back" and says he doubts that he'll be calling on God to smite anyone.

Todd Scoles, of the Northwest Chapel staff in Dublin, OH, and the coordinator for the North Central Ohio district, has sent along a list of North Central Ohio Grace Brethren pastors who will be on mission trips this spring and summer.

The NCO district includes 22 churches, 90 clergy staff, and has an aggregate attendance of about 7,000 on Sunday mornings. Here are some of the pastors and their intended ministries:

Chip Heim (East Side GBC) will be in Ukraine, May 6-21. Fenton McDonald (Pataskala GBC) and Tony Webb (Southwest GBC in Grove City) will travel to Cambodia in May. Dave Bogue (Upper Arlington GBC) and Larry Edwards (Southview GBC) have plans for Africa. Jim Custer (Polaris GBC) will head a study tour of Greece in May. Mo Grimm and Martin Guerena (Northwest Chapel GBC) will lead a team of students to Mexico.

These men and those ministering with them would appreciate prayers for safety, for effectiveness in ministry, and provision for family members and churches left behind while they are traveling.

The May/June 2005 issue of FGBC World, the connecting publication for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is now arriving in homes and churches of the Fellowship. Here are some promotional paragraphs you can use in church bulletins, newsletters, and websites to let people know it is available.


WEEK 1

The May/June 2005 issue of FGBC World, the connecting publication of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is now here. Read about how a couple in Ohio uses bowhunting for witness, how a Vietnam vet wants to win the former “enemy” to Christ, and what impact Francis Schaeffer’s L’Abri has had on Grace Brethren missions. The paper is also available online at www.fgbcworld.com with daily updates on the “editor’s blog.”


WEEK 2

Two resurrections were highlighted this past Easter in a Grace Brethren church in Alaska. One was the resurrection of Christ, and the other was the resuscitation of a gentleman whose heart stopped during the church service and he was brought back to life. Read about this and many more Grace Brethren churches and people in the May/June issue of FGBC World, now available through the church or free by mail to your home. Read it online at www.fgbcworld.com and get daily updates through the “editor’s blog.”


WEEK 3

An exciting array of 23 courses in subjects ranging from personal discipleship to conducting worship to counseling for women will be offered at Equip05 national conference this summer. And a first-ever conference for Twenty-Somethings in June also offers great opportunity. Read about these and much more in the May/June issue of FGBC World, the connecting publication of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren churches. Available at church or online at www.fgbcworld.com, with daily updates on the “editor’s blog.”
 

Many Grace Brethren churches are set to participate in Thursday’s National Day of Prayer activities in communities around the nation.

Typical is the participation of Pastor Nicholas Philiposian of the Uniontown, PA, Grace Brethren church, as noted in this excerpt from a news item in the Uniontown, PA, Herald-Standard newspaper:

This year's theme is "God Shed His Grace on Thee," with Scripture from Hebrews 4:16. A prayer by author Max Lucado will be read in unison at noon in cities and churches across the country.

Local events begin Thursday at 6 a.m. with the 12th annual Fayette County National Day of Prayer Breakfast at the Uniontown Holiday Inn, Route 40.

The Rev. George McLaughlin of White House Free Methodist Church near Smithfield will be the keynote speaker. Other pastors leading prayer include the Rev. Nicholas Philiposian of Grace Brethren Church in Uniontown, for education; the Rev. Art Mace of Central Christian Church, for the media; the Rev. Gary Witt of Wooddale Bible Brethren, for the church; the Rev. Carl Jackson of Antioch Baptist Church in Edenborn, for families; and the Rev. Tom Barnhart of Triumphant Fellowship Church, located on Route 21 just outside Uniontown, for government.

The Simi Valley, CA, Grace Brethren Church (John McIntosh, pastor) is hosting a breakfast for the Day of Prayer. National Day of Prayer breakfast will be held 7 a.m. Thursday at Grace Brethren Church, 2900 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley. Tickets $20. Actor Dean Jones (who played Chuck Colson in the film "Born Again") will be the guest speaker. Call (805) 527-0123.

For complete information on the NDOP, log onto www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

JENKINS & LAHAYE ON DATELINE NBC WEDNESDAY.

Dateline NBC will air an interview with “Left Behind” series (Tyndale) authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, just prior to NBC’s mini-series “Revelations.”

The story will focus on the success of “Left Behind,” and the public's interest in end times prophecy. Dateline will air prior to NBC's miniseries Revelations, which focuses on the end times.

Grace College graduates Frank and Suanne Woodring were featured over the weekend in their local newspaper, the Hagerstown (MD) Herald-Mail, for a new book they have published on the history of a local park. (Herald-Mail photo by staff photographer Yvette May)

Frank, a 1967 grad with a BA in History, and Suanne (Kuhn), a 1970 grad with a BS in Elementary Education, own and publish a local history magazine. Here is the story by Herald-Mail writer Marlo Barnhart.

Couple's Pen Mar book covers history of popular park

by MARLO BARNHART

With the first concert of the 2005 season at Pen Mar County Park just a month away, the timing for Frank and Suanne Woodring's new book seems perfect.

The 128-page book combines nearly 200 vintage pictures with reflections by people who share memories of the park's earlier days as well as its rebirth, according to the Woodrings, who are best known as the publishers of the Maryland Cracker Barrel magazine since 1991.

The official release date of the book was March 7 and it has been selling well, Frank Woodring said. Originally, 1,200 books were printed, and a reprinting is possible.

The book is available at Borders, Books 'N Things, Waldenbooks and the Washington County Hospital gift shop. It also may be purchased via the Internet at Arcadiapublishing.com or through the Cracker Barrel office.

The subject matter seemed a natural for the couple, who separately and then collectively developed a love of history.

"We met so many people who are so passionate about this park," said Suanne Woodring. Last summer, they decided a book would be the ideal way to share their stories and a wealth of pictures with history buffs as well as those who have fond personal experiences at the park.

Pen Mar sits atop the Blue Ridge Mountains at an elevation of 1,400 feet. The park was opened in 1877 by Col. John Mifflin Hood, then president of the Western Maryland Railway. He was inspired by the view spanning 2,000 square miles across the Cumberland Valley and determined to make it available for lots of people to enjoy.

Pen Mar - near the border of the neighboring states of Maryland and Pennsylvania - soon became a magnet for visitors. Hotels and boarding houses began to appear and people flocked to the park for amusement, relief from the summer heat and family vacations.

Accessible by railway, cars and buses, the park flourished until the advent of gas rationing during World War II. It closed in 1943 and didn't open again until 1977.

The book is broken into five chapters, Frank Woodring said. The first three chapters deal with getting there, the adventures available once at the park and what it was like to stay there, he said.

Neighbors of the park, such as Fort Ritchie, are discussed in the fourth chapter. The rebirth of the park is addressed in the final chapter.

Born in Waynesboro, Pa., Frank Woodring, 62, first came to Maryland when his dad became chief of police in Emmitsburg, Md.

He taught school for 24 years at Heritage Academy, he said.

Suanne Woodring, 58, was born in Morgantown, W.Va., and came to Funkstown at age 5 when her father was drawn to the area by Fairchild. She, too, became an educator and taught for 31 years, retiring in 2001.

The Woodrings, who married in 1965, have a son, Chad.

"We love to travel and often head south on vacations," Frank Woodring said. "We tend to find ourselves at historical places. Otherwise, we figure, why go?"

That passion seems to be shared by many people who have come to the Woodrings' book signings.

"Young and old, they want a piece of that history," Frank Woodring said.

Many book buyers say they have either been to Pen Mar or heard their parents and grandparents talk about it, they said.
 

"The Crosswalk Show," an outreach program of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, PA (Scott Distler, pastor), is featured in the current issue of Outreach magazine.

Six local churches in America and the successful events they are using to reach people for Christ are featured. Pastor Distler says, "It was exciting to see Grace Church of Lititz featured as one of these six churches for our comedy Crosswalk Show evenings."

Here is an excerpt from the article:

“Laughing does a body good, and it can do your church body good, too, as Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, in PA., has discovered. The church, which averages 1,000 attendees weekly, has held comedy events for three years and has seen many families come to Grace Brethren as a result.

"Sheri Sell, who helps lead outreach events at Grace Brethren, has learned that there are several key characteristics of a comedy event that attracts both the churched and the unchurched crowd.”
 

Laura Peugh, who faithfully served for many years in the Harrah, Washington, Grace Brethren Church, died Thursday, April 28, at 5:20 a.m. at Grace Village Health Care in Winona Lake, Indiana. Mrs. Peugh had been living in Indiana since 1989, and was a member of the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.

Born in Grandview, WA, Mrs. Peugh was married in 1938 to Harold Peugh, who died in July of 1987. Mrs. Peugh's teaching degree was from Central Washington College of Education in Ellensburg, WA, and she taught in Washougal, WA and for many years at Harrah Elementary School as a first-grade teacher.

Surviving are three children: Maurice of Yakima, WA; Roger of Winona Lake, IN; and Mrs. James (Maxine) Currie of Cheboygan, Michigan. Her son, Roger Peugh, is a former Grace Brethren missionary to Germany and is now on the faculty of Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Monday, May 2 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church with Pastor John Teevan, Roger Peugh, and James Currie officiating. Calling will start at noon Monday in the church courtyard. A memorial service will also be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at Harrah Grace Brethren Church in Washington with Pastor Peter Touhey, Roger Peugh and James Currie officiating.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Grace College and Seminary, 200 Seminary Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590 or to Grace Brethren International Missions, 999 College Ave., Winona Lake, IN 46590.

Jerry Twombly, former Director of Development for Grace College and Seminary and a Grace Seminary graduate, is featured in an interview with journalist Ron Keener in the April issue of "Church Business" magazine. More information is available at www.churchbusiness.com.

BUILD A CHURCH THAT’S DESIGNED FOR IMPACT
Q & A with Organizational Developer Gerald H. Twombly

In this interview in a series on congregational planning for campus expansions and building programs, freelance writer Ronald E. Keener talks with organizational developer Gerald H. Twombly about building a congregation’s mission and vision before entering such a program.

Twombly has spent 34 years serving ministries in organizational development and capital campaigns. He’s the president of Development Marketing Associates Inc. (an international consulting firm in Indianapolis) and a member of the Building God’s Way