BMH Editor's Blog

A late-afternoon cruise today on 5,500-acre Lake Pierce was one of the day's highlights for pastors and lay leaders attending the southeast Focus Retreat in Haines City, Florida.

After-dinner fun included watching a slow-swimming alligator cruise within a few feet of the boat dock, and watching the sun set behind the historic Bok Singing Tower visible across the lake.

The evening concluded with a praise, prayer, and worship time--the retreat concludes Wednesday morning. 

Guy Allan Johnson, 99, of Wooster, Ohio, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006, at West View Manor Nursing Home.

Johnson was the father of several faithful servants to the FGBC – Jim (Grace Brethren Investment Foundation), George (missionary to Brazil) and Jane Peters (missionary to Central African Republic).

Maxine, Jim Johnson’s wife, said, “We are so happy for him, but so sad for us. It's difficult to give him up, but we know he is in heaven with the Lord he loved so much.”

Services were Tuesday, February 28, at 11 a.m. at Grace Brethren Church in Wooster, with Pastor Robert Fetterhoff officiating, assisted by Pastor George Johnson.

From today's Elkhart (IN)Truth newspaper:

Hiler to run against Craig Fry
Toll road funds a campaign issue
Published: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 -- The Truth, A3
Last updated: 2/27/2006 11:04:39 PM
By Aleks Tapinsh
Truth Staff


Photo: Fred Flury / The Truth

ELKHART -- Jeremy Hiler announced recently his intent to challenge Craig Fry for state representative.

The 23-year-old Republican hopes to unseat the nine-term Mishawaka Democrat in the November election.

"Mr. Fry and I have a difference of opinions," he said.

It looks as though the 75-year lease on the Indiana Toll Road for $3.85 billion is a done deal, Hiler said.

While a lot can be said for not leasing the road, now it's time to focus efforts on how much money District 5 would get as a result of the lease, he said.

"Who will get the money?" he asked.

"Will it be a divisive Democrat or a Republican who will work with local governments to get as much money for his district as possible?" Hiler said.

Hiler said he would support legislation to allow the name of Jesus Christ to be used in prayers before House sessions, referring to a court ruling which said use of the name in an opening prayer before a session is unconstitutional.

Cutting across St. Joseph and Elkhart counties, District 5 includes most of Mishawaka, parts of Penn and Baugo townships and the west-central portion of Concord Township.

Hiler is a cousin of former U.S. Rep. John Hiler, who served from 1980 to 1990. He graduated from Grace College, Winona Lake, and works in sales at the family-owned steel service center STRIPCO Inc.

Hiler and his wife, Katie, live in Baugo Township and are expecting their first child in May. They attend Osceola Grace Brethren Church. 

SANTEE, CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- Dr. Henry Morris, the founder of the modern Christian creationist movement, has died in California at the age of 87.

Kentucky-based Answers in Genesis says Morris's son sent an e-mail notifying friends and associates that his father died Saturday night in the presence of his children.

Henry Morris had been hospitalized earlier this month after suffering a series of strokes.

Morris's 1961 book "The Genesis Flood," which he co-authored with former Grace Theological Seminary professor John C. Whitcomb, helped launch the modern creationist movement, which holds to belief in a seven-day Creation less than ten-thousand years ago and a biblical worldwide flood. He also founded the Institute for Creation Research, where he remained president emeritus after his retirement.

Morris was a Professor of Hydrogeology. He was Former Director of the Institute for Creation Research and the author of numerous creation books and articles.

Morris gained his B.S. with honors in Civil Engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas in 1939, his M.S. at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1948, and his Ph.D. also at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in 1950.

He was a former faculty member at Rice University (1942-46), University of Minnesota (1946-51), University of Southwestern Louisiana (1951-56) and Southern Illinois University (1956-57).

Morris also served as former head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1957-1970) as well as being former president of Creation Research Society (1967-1973).

Morris has biographical listings in "World Who's Who in Science, Antiquity to Present," "Who's Who in America: American Men of Science;" "Who's Who in Engineering;" "Who's Who in Science and Engineering;" "Who's Who in the World;" and "Contemporary Authors;" etc., among others.

He is the author of over 45 books regarding Creation-Evolution and the Founder and president emeritus of the Institute for Creation Research.

Writings by Morris appear in the following books that can be purchased on-line: "The Modern Creation Trilogy," and "The Genesis Record."

 

In-depth study and discussion of Psalm 119 continues to be the main theme of the southeast Focus Retreat, now underway in Haines City, Florida. Participating this morning in one of the small-group discussions were Pastor Larry Edwards (left) of Ashland, Ohio, and Nelson Fernandez from the North Lauderdale Grace Brethren Church in Florida.

Edwards, who pastors the Southview Grace Brethren Church in Ashland, is attending the retreat as a member of the FGBC Fellowship Council.

The group will take a boat tour of Lake Pierce late afternoon today, and Tuesday evening's session will be a praise/prayer/worship session led by Doug Lee. The retreat concludes after a wrapup morning session Wednesday. 

Pastor Jim Poyner of the Gulfview Grace Brethren Church in Port Richey, Florida, gave introductory comments to the last section of Psalm 119 to begin this afternoon's sessions at the southeast Focus Retreat in Haines City, Florida.  

Pastor John Nelson from the Grace Community Church in North Lauderdale, Florida, led off one of this morning's Focus Retreat study sessions of Psalm 119 with some introductory comments. 

April 1 is the early-bird deadline to get discounted registrations to this summer's FGBC national conference near Palm Springs, California.

Churches and individuals are encouraged to download promotional materials from the Celebrate06 website, including bulletin announcements in WORD format, bulletin inserts in color and black and white as pdf files, and copies of the Celebrate logo.

Click on the "church promotional items" line at www.celebrate06.org.

Doug Lee (left) of Fontana, California, and Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey discuss plans for the opening session of the Southeast Focus Retreat which began this afternoon in Haines City, Florida.

Lee is leading music and worship for the retreat, which is attended by about 25 pastors and church leaders from Florida and other southeastern states. 

Pastor Leland Friesen of the Brooksville, Florida, Grace Brethren Church, opened the Focus Retreat's ongoing study of Psalm 119 with introductory thoughts. The retreat, which began this afternoon, continues through Wednesday morning and is the fourth of five such retreats being held around the US. The final Focus Retreat is in Washington state in May. 

Some 86 presidential scholarship contestants and their families were on the Grace College campus in Winona Lake, Indiana yesterday and today for a competition that concluded at noon today (Saturday.)

The students interviewed with faculty members, attended a dinner hosted by
Grace President Ron Manahan, and competed by writing essays and answering questions. At stake was some significant scholarship money to the Christian liberal arts school.

The average grade point average of the finalists was 3.94 (on a 4.0 scale). Their average math and reading SAT score was 1283 and the average ACT composite score was 28.4. They came from 21 different states, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, and many Midwestern and eastern states.

The scholarships for which they were competing included two Trustee Scholarships at $20,000 per year for a total of $80,000; five Faculty Scholarships at $68,000 ($17,000 per year); ten Achievement Scholarships at $52,000 each ($13,000 per year); and twenty Winona Merit Scholarships of $4,000 each ($1,000 per year). 

Today's Waterloo (IA) Cedar Falls Courier newspaper features short-term mission efforts of several churches in the Waterloo area, including the Grace Brethren Church of Waterloo (Kelvin Cooke, pastor). Here is an excerpt which includes information about the Grace Brethren mission trips:

Students aren't the only ones itching to take their faith to all corners of the world. Faith-based service trips are offered throughout the year by Cedar Valley churches and missions societies to adults, too.

Weeklong service ventures assist the efforts of long-term missionaries and local pastors. Short-term missionaries also bring new programs to communities.

In January, a Cedar Valley team with Grace Brethren International Missions visited the Philippines to support the efforts of missionaries Jason and Doni Weimer of Waterloo, who are fulfilling a year-long assignment in Manila. Group members went from house to house sharing the Gospel and publicizing the children's park programs organized by the Weimers.

Some may question the effectiveness of sometimes costly, not to mention brief, short-term missions trips.

But a well-organized, culturally-sensitive effort impact individuals, communities and local missionary efforts, missionaries say.

"... Ten people on a short-term mission trip can sometimes, literally, do in two weeks what may have taken the local missionary two months to do," Weimer wrote in an e-mail to the Courier. "They also bring a freshness and new zeal to the area that the missionary has been working."

The trip encouraged Jesup resident Christy Eichelberger, with Grace Brethren Church in Waterloo, to bring the same zeal to her own backyard.

" ... To meet and share God's love," Eichelberger said. "... That just made me come back and realize I need to be doing that in my very own neighborhood."

Pastor Peter Smith, of Hope Valley Community Church in Red Hill, Pennsylvania, recently had back surgery. Word has come, via Northern Atlantic Fellowship coordinator Kork Moyer, that further surgery is necessary, to be done today. Here is part of the message Kork has forwarded from Peter’s wife, Julie:

"Hi everyone. wanted you all to know that Peter will be going in for another surgery this afternoon. I just got off the phone with the surgeon.

Peter isn't getting better from the spinal leak and now has developed a fever. I am not sure what time the surgery will be but God knows and so you can pray for him this afternoon. He will keep him until Monday morning probably.

Then he will probably have to do antibiotics for six weeks. I am sure this sounds crazy but we are both glad that this is getting done ... it has been a long week of pain for Peter and yesterday when the surgeon said we should wait a little longer and probably have surgery some time next week, I didn't see how we could wait that long.

So, thanks for your prayers and we will keep you posted. My parents are in the area so they will be helping us with the kids, etc. Thanks everyone for your concern this week."

The website for the Hope Valley church is www.hopevalleychurch.org.

Many are praying for Phil Dick (pictured with grandchildren) of Winona Lake, Indiana, who is just about to enter treatment for cancer in both lungs.

Dick, former coach and Athletic Director at Grace College, is the son of longtime Grace Brethren pastor Paul Dick. Phil and his wife, Becky, are members of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.

Phil's daughter, Michelle, is making regular journal entries on a CaringBridge website for those who wish to keep updated on progress and prayer requests for the Dicks.

An edited portion of one of her first posts is, "Dad was diagnosed with kidney cancer on January 9, 2006. He underwent surgery on January 18th to have his kidney removed. His pathology reports came back a week later; they believed they had gotten it all.

"As a precaution and motivated by her positive experience this fall with her breast cancer treatment, Mom made an appointment with Dr. Schwartzendruber of the Goshen Cancer Care Center. They met with Dr. S. on February 10th. He ordered a battery of tests, including a CT scan on Dad's chest (and a head MRI because of dizziness Dad had been experiencing). He was told that night that the CT scan showed nodules on his lungs and the MRI on his head was clear.

"A biopsy done on February 14th confirmed our fears that the kidney cancer had spread to Dad's lungs."

Phil, at his request, was recently anointed in a prayer service by the elders of WLGBC. For updates on Michelle's journal, or to send a message to the family, visit www.caringbridge.com and enter sitename phildick. 

Pastor Jim Brown from Grace Community Church in Goshen, Indiana, reports, "We presently have a disaster relief team in Biloxi from our church in Goshen. We are siding homes, putting new roofs on, drywalling, and doing cleanup.

"We loaded up Monday morning with a caravan of 35 people. Things are going great and God is giving us many opportunities to love on people. This is our fifth team to go and help out. They will return Saturday evening.

"We have a desire to continue to be a support to this hurricane-stricken area. Please pray that God will give us many divine appointments." 

How do you celebrate your 87th birthday?

Pastor John McIntosh of the Simi Valley, CA, Grace Brethren Church, took his mother for a ride on the Harley on hers.

McIntosh said, "We loaded and rode down the street a few miles. Mom asked me to go faster but it was too cold."

John and his mother are on the motorcycle. At left is John's brother Don, and his sister-in-law Barb.

Pastor John says, "I am grateful for my three brothers and their love for God and people. A big chunk of this love emerged from the soul of our godly mother, Martha." 

The board of directors of Grace College & Seminary, Winona Lake, IN, recently voted to begin construction of the new Orthopaedic Capital Center in late April. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Friday morning, March 17.

The $9.1 million, 60,000-square foot community center located on Wooster Road will meet the needs of businesses and organizations that hold events with an audience of up to 2,800 people, such as business meetings and seminars; trade shows and exhibitions; musical events and concerts; home, boat and craft shows; and athletic events. The building is scheduled to open in May 2007.

Initial construction of the community center, which will be located on the north side of the Grace campus, involved cleaning up an adjacent four-acre brownfield and converting it into a parking lot. The brownfield was contaminated by a former industrial site, and had been idle for 30 years. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management was integrally involved in this cleanup process, which was completed in the fall of 2005.

Three of the area's largest employers provided the lead gift to make the center possible: Biomet Inc.; DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc; and Zimmer. Paragon Medical, Inc. and Symmetry Medical Inc. also provided donations.

The Orthopaedic Capital Center is part of Grace College's capital campaign, "Invest in Leadership; Impact the Future." Begun in 2000, the goal of the seven-year campaign is to raise $40 million. The community center is the last project of Phase One of the campaign. Design Collaborative is the architect on the project.

"This is certainly one of the most exciting times in the history of Grace College," said Dr. Ronald Manahan, president of Grace College and Seminary. "Grace is grateful to those who have made the Orthopaedic Capital Center possible, and we feel thankful to be able to bring it to our community. We are also excited because if attendance meets projections, this fall we also anticipate the highest enrollment in our history. We feel we are truly blessed!"

Grace College is an evangelical Christian community of higher education that applies biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and preparing for service. The provisions and programs of the college are designed to encourage serious academic stimulation, wholesome recreation and relaxation, spiritual growth, and development in the social graces.

Grace College seeks to aid individuals to become competent in intellect, expression, physical development, spiritual understanding, Christian conduct, and social conscience. For more information, visit www.grace.edu. 

The following article appears in the forthcoming March/April 2006 issue of FGBC World:

"DRIVEN06," a second annual conference for young adults will be held June 22-26, 2006, on the campus of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and is now open for registration.

After a very successful first conference in 2005, planners have titled the 2006 conference "Alert and Oriented." It centers on helping twenty-somethings answer four questions: 1. Do I know who I am? 2. Do I know where I am? 3. Do I know what time it is? and 4. Do I know what is happening?

To help answer those questions, the Thursday through Sunday conference will include speakers, workshops, roundtables, coffee talks, open mic sessions, and much more. A significant amount of time for recreation and individual reflection is also built into the schedule.

Main speakers for the conference will include Kondo Simfukwe from Christ's Covenant Church in Winona Lake, IN; Jeff Bogue from Grace Church (north) in Akron, OH; Lisa Harrison from the East Side Grace Brethren Church in Columbus, OH; Dr. Randy Smith from the Grace Brethren Church of Sebring, FL; and Kary Oberbrunner of the staff of the Grace Brethren Church of Powell, OH.

Many others will be leading workshops on specific topics, and several of the Grace Brethren national organizations will be present to participate and exhibit.

The fee for single adults is $165 per person, or $300 for married couples. There are special group rate "packs" that provide free t-shirts and free registrations. Also day rates, weekend rates, and children's rates are available. Registration includes lodging for three nights and four days, and seven meals (concluding with Sunday breakfast).

For more information, or to register, log onto www.driven06.org or e-mail questions to markartrip@hotmail.com .
 

# posted by Terry White @ 9:59 AM 0 comments

Our friend from the Church of the Brethren, Craig Alan Myers, calls our attention through his "Dunker Journal" blog to a movement among contemporary churches to return to the use of hymns, piano/organ accompaniment, choirs, and more. Here is a short excerpt--to read the entire article from the Dallas Morning News click here:

A funny thing happened last summer at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. A shipment of hymn books arrived, and not by mistake.

Lake Pointe is a megachurch with contemporary-style worship. Years back, it dissolved its choir and got rid of its hymnals in favor of Christian "praise" music, played by a rock band,with lyrics flashed on big screens.

That style still dominates at Lake Pointe. But in August, sensing demand, the church debuted its "Classic Service," an early Sunday morning alternative service with choir, piano, organ and lots of congregational singing – out of those shiny new hymnals.

The first Sunday, Pastor Steve Stroope and his staff prepared a room for 200. Nearly twice that many came, forcing a move the next week to the church gym. A second batch of hymnals was ordered. The service now regularly draws 300 to 350, with chairs covering the basketball court.

"We've scratched an itch," Mr. Stroope said.

Call it a counter-reformation, or a rear guard action in the worship wars. But more and more churches that cast their lot with contemporary worship are beginning to innovate through tradition, giving folks some old-time religion – especially hymns.

The following article appears in the forthcoming March/April 2006 issue of FGBC World:

The Grace Brethren national conference returns to the "Celebration" format this summer with its sessions to be held July 29-August 3, 2006, at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, CA, near Palm Springs.

The conference theme, reflecting the emphasis and writings of this year's FGBC Moderator, Keith Shearer, will be "Hearts on Fire: Igniting Biblical Fervor."

Activities will begin with an opening celebration Saturday morning, July 29, at which longtime Grace Brethren pastor Charles Ashman will address the subject, "A Glowing Heritage." This will be followed by an all-FGBC luncheon, and in the afternoon session the incoming moderator, Dr. Timothy Boal from Telford, PA, will give the 2006 moderator's address.

Each morning of the conference (except Monday), there will be simultaneous sessions for Women of Grace and the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers. Mid-morning each day there will be a celebration meeting with highlight speakers that include Pastor Tom Hocking of Bellflower, CA; Moderator Keith Shearer from Myerstown, PA; Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City; and Dr. Randy Smith of the Sebring, FL, church.

On the final day, Thursday, August 3, the "Vision" delegates brunch and annual conference business session will be held.

Grace Brethren national organizations will have informative luncheons and business meetings each day--Grace College & Seminary on Sunday, Grace Brethren International Missions on Monday, Grace Brethren North American Missions on Tuesday, and Brethren Missionary Herald Co. on Wednesday.

Sunday morning there will be a combination Chaplains' Appreciation Breakfast and meeting of the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation. Tickets for these events are required--information is available on the Celebrate06 website.

A wide variety of seminars will be available each afternoon, including a Celebration session Wednesday afternoon with Pastor Terry Hofecker of Northwest Chapel in Dublin, OH, as speaker. Each evening there are activities and speakers as well.

Child care for infants through Kindergarten is available throughout the conference, as is the Kids Konference, for children in grades 1 through 6.

Lodging at the Hyatt is available at the special conference rate of $95 a night, including the resort fee, which should be arranged separately from the conference registration by calling resort reservations at (760) 341-1000.

Registration cost for the conference (per adult) is $85 before April 1, $105 between April 2 and June 1, and $125 after June 1. A number of entertainment and sightseeing options are available--there are approximately 130 golf courses in the Palm Springs area.

Conference is organized and arranged by the Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey and his staff. Full registration information and online registration capability may be found at www.celebrate06.com.

Registration packets and materials may also be obtained from Avey's office by calling (574) 269-1269, ext. 2 or by mail at P.O. Box 384, Winona Lake, IN, 46590.
 

Blogging is big, and getting bigger--FAST! Technorati tracks blogging--here is a summary of some recent stats. More by clicking here. To see an array of general Grace Brethren blogs click here. For Grace Brethren missionary blogs, click here.

In summary:

Technorati now tracks over 27.2 million blogs

The blogosphere is doubling in size every 5 and a half months

It is now over 60 times bigger than it was 3 years ago

On average, a new weblog is created every second of every day

13.7 million bloggers are still posting 3 months after their blogs are created

Spings (Spam Pings) can sometimes account for as much as 60% of the total daily pings Technorati receives

Sophisticated spam management tools eliminate the spings and find that about 9% of new blogs are spam or machine generated

Technorati tracks about 1.2 million new blog posts each day, about 50,000 per hour

Over 81 million posts with tags since January 2005, increasing by 400,000 per day

Blog Finder has over 850,000 blogs, and over 2,500 popular categories have attracted a critical mass of topical bloggers

The Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches will hold its annual conference-and 50th anniversary celebration-at the Elizabethtown, PA, Grace Brethren Church on Sunday, March 19, 2006, from 3:30 to 8 p.m.

NAF coordinator Kork Moyer, along with current moderator Larry Humberd and incoming moderator Jeff Hoffard, is encouraging anyone who has photos of NAF activities of the past 50 years to lend them for the occasion.

Moyer says, "We would appreciate any NAF pictures that you might have available to post online, helping us to reminisce. Our forthcoming Moderator, Jeff Hoffard, will be focusing us on this theme for 2006-2007 'From WOW to Worship,' looking back on where we have been, but looking forward to God's work for us."

A Brief History

When the Grace Brethren movement began in 1939, there were two districts in the eastern U.S.--the Pennsylvania District (later changed to the East District), including churches in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and the Southeast District, including churches in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Washington D.C.

The wide area covered by the East and Southeast Districts made fellowship difficult, so in 1945 the problem was solved by the forming of seven churches into the Atlantic Fellowship of Brethren Churches, composed of the easternmost churches in the East and Southeast Districts.

Within eleven years, the expanding Atlantic District was divided into northern and southern portions to enhance the work of the Lord. The northern portion became the "Northern Atlantic District," and received official recognition by the Annual Conference in Winona Lake, Indiana, on August 21, 1956.

The original seven churches were in Allentown (Bethlehem), PA, Harrisburg, PA, Hatboro, PA, Palmyra, PA, Philadelphia, PA (1st Brethren and 3rd Brethren), and York, PA.

Currently, this Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches consists of thirty churches in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New England. With strong church planting, camping, youth and many other auxiliary organizations, the vibrant Northern Atlantic Fellowship continues to be blessed of God with growth.

Access the NAF website at www.gbnaf.org.
 

Joan Keane, who has carried on the ministry of her father, Rev. Nathan Meyer, in leading study trips to Israel and the Holy Land, asks prayer for the February 22-March 8 trip in which the 412 Commission students will be participating.

Dr. Randy Smith (pictured with his wife, Dottie), pastor of the Sebring, FL, Grace Brethren Church, previously lived and taught in Israel and will be the Bible teacher for this trip. Here are some edited excerpts and explanations from Joan's letter, and some specific requests on how to pray for the trip:

BACKGROUND

This study trip with Dr. Randy Smith is included as part of the 4:12 Commission program. That group has 24 post-high school students who have spent six+ months studying the Bible and ministry in Grace Brethren churches in Sebring FL and Akron (Norton) OH.

Also joining us are a minister/missionary friend of Randy, and his people from Hawaii. Other participants are from various parts of the USA, plus two men from South Africa who will be filming for "The Word on Location" project.

There will be 76 people on two buses with Randy doing morning and evening lectures, and meeting with each bus separately at least once during the day. I am responsible for the logistics for the group.

Randy's wife Dottie is in charge of the car needed to get Randy between meeting places. She will also use her Hebrew and shopping skills to put together picnic lunches every day for the students.

After preaching for two morning services this Sunday (February 19) Randy & Dottie drive to Orlando for their 5 p.m. flight. The students from Sebring will be leaving early Wednesday morning to drive to Orlando for a 9 a.m. flight. The Akron students' flight leaves Cleveland at 11 a.m.

I leave Columbus at 11:30 a.m. We all meet in Newark, NJ. People will also be coming from other parts of the country. Most of us are connecting with the flight leaving Newark at 3:50 p.m. We arrive in Israel at 9:15 the next morning.

PRAY NOW

I met with Randy and all the students two weeks ago. God is doing some very special things in their lives. Whenever God is at work, Satan attacks. Please pray for Randy's protection, and the ability for him to stay focused on God in the midst of overwhelming pressures.

If one person comes with germs, we will all share them! Pray that everyone stays healthy.

There are always many things to be done before we leave. Pray for the process of pulling together everyone's loose ends, both at home and at work.

Everyone comes with expectations, some realistic, and some unrealistic. Pray that each of us will have attitudes of cooperation and flexibility.

We each have our own personal struggles. Pray that God will customize this experience to minister uniquely to each one of us.

Rain is seen as a blessing in the biblical texts, and Israel always needs rain. Since this is the end of the rainy season, pray that the rains come at night, and not while we are touring during the day.

More information on the 412 program is available at http://www.fourtwelvecommission.org/
 

Today's Anchorage, Alaska, Daily News carries an extended feature story about ChangePoint, the largest church in Alaska, that began from Grace Brethren roots. Here is a portion of the story detailing how the church began--to read the entire story click here (Daily News photo):

HOW THIS CHURCH BEGAN

The seed of ChangePoint was planted in 1989. Some members of Anchorage Grace Brethren Church on the Hillside wanted to establish a smaller church closer to the highway. Their pastor would be Brian Chronister, a local man embarking on his first ministry.

They gathered on the second floor of a bank in a strip mall near Seward Highway and O'Malley Road, recalls Linda Bray, a current ChangePoint member who was there.

The ministry took root, calling itself Grace Community Church. When their numbers outgrew the bank, they moved next door to the vacant Food Land grocery store, which they also soon outgrew.

Finally, in 1993, they built a spacious new home at the corner of Lake Otis Boulevard and Sentry Drive, where weekend attendance at four services eventually topped 3,000.
 

A one-week church planting seminar will be offered in Columbus, Ohio, the week of March 6-10, 2006, under the sponsorship of Grace Brethren North American Missions. Sessions will be held on the campus of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus in Westerville, Ohio.

Designed to introduce the prospective church planter to the basic understanding and skills necessary to start a congregation in any North American cultural context, the course takes the student from call through self-assessment to reaching and bringing together a group of 25-75 individuals committed to being a church.

Informed by David Garrison’s concepts of church multiplication, the course seeks to train church planters to form new congregations aggressively and rapidly. Students are expected to engage both intellectually and spiritually—emphasis is given on building spiritual community within the class and work groups.

The seminar may be taken for three hours of graduate credit at Grace Theological Seminary, or it may be audited for non-credit. Spouses attend free, unless they wish seminary credit or official audit status. Cost is $960 for seminary credit, and $480 for audit, plus books, lodging and food.

A number of prerequisites must be met for those who would enroll. All required assessments must be completed by February 28, 2006, along with completion of reading assignments and submission of a reading report.

For more information, or to register, contact Jessie Schroder, Grace Seminary Admissions Coordinator, at schrodjl@grace.edu or call 1-800-544-7223, ext. 6413.

The March/April 2006 issue of FGBC World will soon be arriving in homes and churches. This is one article from the upcoming issue:

The Brethren Missionary Herald Company (BMH) was informed on Valentine's Day, 2006, that Send The Light, the British-based company that has owned and operated the Herald Bookstore in Winona Lake, Indiana, for the past four years, is closing the store effective April 30, 2006, and is ceasing operations in Winona Lake.

BMH Executive Director Terry White noted that a Christian bookstore has been operated continuously in the BMH building since the facility was constructed in 1956 by then-BMH general manager Arnold Kriegbaum.

"We are, obviously, sad to see this operation close down," White said, "but we are currently in negotiations with possible new tenants in an effort retain a Christian bookstore for the Winona Lake area."

BMH is the communications arm of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, whose mission is "to nurture Great Commission teamwork among the churches and people of the FGBC by building bridges of communication." FGBC World and its companion website and blog are part of that ministry, as is the publishing of BMH books.

John Leonard, who has been an employee of STL since they purchased the store, will return to BMH as a full-time employee, managing not only the distribution of BMH books but also the sale of church bulletin covers, offering envelopes, Sunday School curriculum, and VBS kits that were acquired as part of the changeover.

Any church wishing to obtain these supplies at a discount should call Leonard at 1-800-348-2756 (toll free). 

Pastor Bob Smoker (pictured) from Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Grace Brethren Church was featured in the May/June, 2005 issue of FGBC World in an article entitled "A 'Screaming Eagle' Returns to 'Nam." (click on back-issue archives at www.fgbcworld.com).

Smoker has continued to foster interest in ministry in Vietnam and is now hosting a time of fellowship for Vietnam veterans.

They will meet at 7:00 PM on Friday, February 24, and during the day on Saturday, February 25. Jay Bell from Grace Brethren International Missions (also a Vietnam vet) will be the guest speaker. For more information call 717 252-0624. 

The Grace College faculty this week unanimously approved a new pre-law program to begin in fall 2006. According to the college, this builds on the successes Grace has had with pre-law students in the past and focuses Grace for ministry in the legal profession in the 21st Century.

Students may choose from a number of majors to complement a pre-law minor. This new minor is designed to encourage students to take a broad range of existing rigorous liberal arts courses that will help prepare them for the LSAT and for law school.

Students will not only be assigned an advisor for their major, but will also have a pre-law advisor through the Department of History and Social Studies. An additional strength in the program is internship possibilities with Christian lawyers in the Warsaw-Winona Lake, Indiana, area where the college is located.

The faculty believes that America is in great need for Christian lawyers who will be ready to serve the hurting, alienated, and abused - all in the name of Christ.

For further information, please contact Dr. M.M. Norris at norrismm@grace.edu or call 1-800-54-GRACE, ext. 6256.

Dan O'Deens (lower right in photo), pastor of Gateway Grace Community Church in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, recently returned from California where he and some of his staff continued their work with Saddleback Community Church as a P.E.A.C.E. pilot church.

At left is Brian Rader from Grace Community Church, who will be doing the technical work of building the P.E.A.C.E. website link along with the Saddleback team. Gary Mohler (rear), also from Grace Community Church, is headed for the mission field. Saddleback pastor and author Rick Warren is in the middle. 

God continues to use How to Start a Kingdom Conversation, a practical, helpful BMH book on sharing your Christian faith, written by Dr. Duke Heller of Columbus, Ohio. Rejoice with us in this e-mail from an individual who read his book and responded. How to Start a Kingdom Conversation and other helpful BMH-published books are available online at www.bmhbooks.com.

"Tonight, a young man (25) and his wife are going to be baptized into the Heavenly & Eternal Family at our church. He has been a part of a Men's Bible study that is in week 14 of 34 weeks. We have all been praying for and counseling this dynamic young man during our Sunday evening sessions.

"I want you to know that your book gave me more courage to boldly speak to and with him about his purpose, plan and personal walk.

"Thank you for your wisdom, talents, witness, example and most important Christian Faith and Walk in Action!

"I hope you know what an impact you have for The Kingdom with each e-mail you send and the willingness to put in writing a manual to use to win Souls for The Lord!" 

Wednesday, family and friends said goodbye to a fallen U.S. Marine from Westerville, in central Ohio.

Private first class Jacob Spann died in a roadside bombing just outside Baghdad last Monday.

The 21-year-old graduated in 2003 from Westerville North High School.

Spann's funeral was held at Grace Brethren Church in Westerville.

He'll be buried in Kingwood Memorial Park.
 

The website of Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM) today carries the news that Stuart Hake (pictured), GBIM's Chief Financial Officer, is in Manila, Philippines, where he will teach a Micro-Enterprise Development Conference starting Wednesday, Feb. 15.

The goal of the nine-day conference is to train Filipino nationals in starting small businesses. Missionaries and nationals from other Grace Brethren fields will also be in attendance.

Small businesses can generate income to sustain the families of church people and leaders. It also results in increased giving to the church, which enables the church to implement outreach and other ministries.

Your prayers for Stuart's ministry and those in his conference will be appreciated.
 

Thomas Martenson, a Swedish Baptist missionary who has been living and working with the Pygmies in southern Central African Republic for the last four years, shows a tigerfish he recently caught.

Thomas also loves to hunt with the pygmies as they gather food for their families from the remaining forest in the Central African Republic. The Pygmies are now learning to grow gardens and fruit trees to supplement their diets as the forest is no longer what it used to be and they must travel weeks to get the meat and wild fruit that used to be all around them.

Missionary Jim Hocking, whose organization Integrated Community Development International (ICDI) assists missionaries in Africa, sends an updated report on well-drilling in the Central African Republic and especially in the southern forest areas where the Pygmies live.

Hocking says, "Because of the work of Thomas Martenson, they understand the dangers of drinking river water and have wanted to have better drinking water. This village has watched as many of their younger children have died from lack of pure drinking water and from nutritional needs.

"ICDI has been helping Thomas work in this area in both this area as well as in the area of community projects. Thomas has grown to love these people over the past 4 years. He hunts, fishes and hunts honey with the pygmies on a regular basis building relationships to a degree that they fully trust him.

"ICDI has been thrilled to be able to add value to both these forgotten people of the forest as well as to Thomas Martenson and his family who live in the tropical rain forest in the southern most tip of the Central African Republic."

Regarding the drilling of water wells, Hocking says, "The team is out on some very difficult roads right now. Sometimes huge trees are across the road and with the heavy trucks they are traveling with it can sometimes take days to get trucks in and out of locations.

"They have completed wells at two locations in the forest where people had very poor water sources. The forest has been one of the hardest areas in the Central African Republic to drill and yet it is where the most needy people are.

"Sickness and death are often caused by poor sanitation and lack of clean water. The team is currently working in Moale, CAR, very near the Congo border, drilling for that village. They are over 300 feet deep and still no water. They will continue to drill until we run out of drill pipes trusting that when they strike water it will come back up to a level where we can pump it out with manual pumps.

"There is no electricity in these villages. Will you pray for water for these villages?"

More information about ICDI is available at: http://www.icdinternational.org.

Barb Wooler, Grace Brethren International Missions missionary who has done pioneering literacy, evangelism, and church-planting work with the Pygmies, left Winona Lake, Indiana, on Friday and arrived in Bangui, CAR, Sunday morning.

While in Africa she will coordinate GBIM's orphan-care project and will spend several weeks with the Pygmies assessing their progress in literacy, Bible knowledge, and preparation for church-planting in the forest.

More information is available at www.gbim.org and at www.womenofcharis.net.
 

Marjorie Mighells, 91, mother of Gladys Deloe of Winona Lake, Indiana, went to be with the Lord early yesterday morning, Friday, February 10, at her residence in Grace Retirement Village in Winona Lake.

Mrs. Mighells, pictured here at a 90th birthday celebration for her at Grace Village the fall of 2004, had been in failing health for some months.

Gladys, her husband Jesse, and her sister Sue and family from Marion, Indiana, had been caring for her mother since Mrs. Mighells was moved to Winona Lake from her home in Randolph, New York, several years ago. Jesse Deloe is senior editor of BMH Books and operations director at Brethren Missionary Herald Company and the Deloes have been active in founding and implementing Grace In Action, a non-profit organization formed to help churches through economic development.

A memorial service and burial will be in Randolph, New York, next Saturday, February 18, at 11 a.m. 

Pastor Ron Shank (pictured) celebrated 20 Years as Youth Pastor at Maranatha Brethren Church in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Sunday, January 29, 2006.

Over 400 were in attendance at Maranatha Brethren Church for an Anniversary Celebration which included pictures of Pastor Ron through the years at the church, which is pastored by Jay Fretz.

Shank spoke at the worship service on the topic "I Press On." A catered meal was enjoyed with fellowship time. Following the meal Letters of Appreciation were read to Pastor Ron and there was a testimony time. 

As Ron Shank demonstrates, youth pastors often have to get "down and dirty" with the teens in their church in order to have an effective ministry! 

The Jeremiah Olsons from the Goshen, Indiana, Grace Brethren Church are featured this week in the South Bend newspaper. Here is a short excerpt--to read the entire article click here.

SOUTH BEND -- This is what independence means to Jeremiah Olson.

He's onstage in front of a throng of people -- guitar in hand -- singing praises to the Lord. It could be a concert. After all, Jeremiah and his wife, Marcie, are members of the indie contemporary Christian band 40 miles north.

But it's not a concert. It's a church service.

Jeremiah serves as praise leader at Grace Community Church in Goshen. He's held the position since 2001. Along with other members of the worship team, he leads the congregation in singing praise and worship songs. Their lyrics attest to God's greatness. They also encourage every member of the band and each person in the congregation to get personal with God.

When Jeremiah asks the entire congregation to stand, everyone in the gymnasium-size sanctuary rises as one.

Each song's words scroll across the bottom of overhead projection screens located on both sides of the stage. But most of the congregation know the lyrics by heart.
They stand, many with arms outstretched and eyes closed, singing along with Jeremiah and the rest of the worship team.

Singing praise and worship songs is a powerful and intimate experience -- it's as if each member of the congregation is having a melodic conversation with God.
Jeremiah says he sees the same reaction from audiences at 40 miles north concerts. And Jeremiah thinks he knows why.

"These people work every day around people who don't know Christ," Jeremiah says. "Sometimes they must feel like sheep among wolves."

The sanctuary truly becomes a sanctuary on Sunday mornings. These people need this, and Jeremiah's role is to help them find shelter in praise.

Grace Community is where Jeremiah believes God wants him to be every Sunday morning.

"I might miss two Sundays a year," Jeremiah says. "And that's because of family vacations."

Jeremiah and Marcie can make that commitment to their church because of their band's commitment to remaining independent of any record label.
 

This article appeared in Monday’s Leader-Times from Kittanning, Pennsylvania. Grace Christian School is a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church of West Kittanning, Mark Cornwell, pastor.

100 ways to celebrate
By Mitch Fryer
LEADER TIMES
Monday, February 6, 2006

WEST KITTANNING -- Astronaut Neil Armstrong was at Grace Christian School on Friday.

Sort of.

So was anthropologist Jane Goodall, gymnast Mary Lou Retton, TV's Mr. Rogers and more than a dozen 100-year-old guests -- an impressive collection of very important people to visit one school.

Those famous people weren't really there.

It was only preschool through fourth-grade students dressed up either as their favorite person of the past 100 years or as they think they themselves would look when the reach their 100th birthday.

They were all participating in the school's annual activity day, "The 100th Day of School."

"It's a fun thing to do in the middle of winter when there is nothing going on," said teacher Vi Fennell. "It means that they're better than halfway done with the school year."

Jared Emminger wore a button sweater and tennis shoes as Mr. Rogers.

"I liked watching him on TV," Emminger said.

Samuel Wilson has read all about his dress-up character, Neil Armstrong.

"He was the first man on the moon," Wilson said.

Kayly Lazaroff looked for monkeys, pretending to be Jane Goodall.

There were 100-year-old kids with aching backs, in wheelchairs and wearing shawls.
Gray-haired Ashlynn Cogley shook as she walked with a cane.

The students also brought 100 of this and 100 of that to the school.

"We tie all kinds of activities in with our science, art, math, reading and history classes," Fennell said. "They've done 100 projects."

The students counted out 100 toy animals, 100 football cards, 100 gems, 100 marshmallows and 100 chocolate chips and put 100 quills on a porcupine. One made 100 muffins for her classmates, and they added 100 of every ingredient to a big pot of soup for lunch.

They read about "100 Hungry Ants," decorated bulletin boards with things such as 100 creatures of the deep and 100 acts of kindness and made a 100-year time line.

"The San Francisco earthquake happened in 1906," several students said.
Fennell even got in on the fun, dressing up as a schoolmarm.

"They look forward to this all week," Fennell said. "They count down the days."

BMH Books of Winona Lake, Indiana, announces the release of the newly-revised and republished edition of The Glory of the Church: Studies in Ephesians by Dr. Homer A. Kent, Jr.

The 140-page paperback commentary is part of The Kent Collection, a republishing of Dr. Kent's entire set of commentaries on 15 books of the New Testament.

Every generation faces the question "What does church mean?" and Dr. Kent asserts that no book of the New Testament answers that question more completely than Ephesians. This commentary, published in an earlier edition is part of the "Everyman's Bible Commentary" series by Moody Bible Institute, has been updated with references from the New American Standard version of the Bible and includes helpful discussion questions after each chapter.

Dr. Homer A. Kent, Jr. taught for 50 years at Grace Theological Seminary and Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, and also served as dean of the seminary for 14 years and president of both schools for ten years.

The Glory of the Church: Studies in Ephesians retails for $11.99 and may be obtained online at www.bmhbooks.com or by calling 1-800-348-2756. The ISBN number is 0884690849. 

MIDDLEBURG, OHIO — The Rev. Maynard G. Tittle, 83, of 127 Dinius Ave., went home to be with the Lord on Monday morning, Feb. 6, 2006, at his home after battling several serious health problems since 2000.

He was born May 14, 1922, near Penns Creek, a son of the late Arthur and Bertha Grubb Tittle. On July 6, 1947, he married the former Kathleen "Kay" Graybill, who survives.

The Rev. Tittle was a graduate of Middleburg High School; Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, where he earned his bachelor of arts degree; and Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind., where he earned his master of theology degree. He also studied Christian school administration at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill.

He served in the Air Force during World War II, until air superiority was achieved, at which time he was transferred to the infantry, where he served as communications sergeant with duty in France, Belgium, Germany and Luxemburg, where he was gravely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, spending eight months in army hospitals. He received two Purple Hearts and two battle stars.

The Rev. Tittle's first pastorate was from 1952 to 1960 in Culver, Ind., followed by five years as administrator of Marshall County Christian Schools in Plymouth, Ind.

He served two churches in Ohio: in Defiance and his final pastorate of 18 years at Grace Brethren Church in Galion. While in Galion, he was a member of the advisory council of a day care center and a member of the ministerial board of the Northcentral Ohio District of Grace Brethren Churches, serving one year as district moderator.

On the national level, the Rev. Tittle served one year as chairman of the National Executive Committee of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and 21 years on the board of trustees of the denomination's publishing house, serving part of that time on the editorial board and one year as vice president.

Since retirement and his return to Snyder County, the Rev. Tittle filled the pulpit as needed in 20 different churches and served three interim pastorates.

He was a member of Kish Valley Grace Brethren Church, Reedsville.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are one son, Philip of Baton Rouge, La.; one sister and brother-in-law, Marion and Bill Hackenberg of Beavertown; as well as nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one son, David, in infancy; two sisters, Phyllis and Arla; and one brother, Orval.

Friends and family may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Hummel Funeral Home, 574 Hill St., Middleburg, where the funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday with his pastor, the Rev. Douglas Sabin, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Denton Mallonee.

Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Penns Creek.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in the Rev. Tittle's memory may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship, PO Box 38, Middleburg, PA 17842; Kish Valley Grace Brethren Church, 99 Taylor Road, Reedsville, PA 17084; or Faith Baptist Church, P.O. Box 119, Beaver Springs, PA 17812.

So when I get home from my trip, the wife, she says, "I don't want to read your blog. Just tell me how your trip was!" 

The Fellowship Council, the elected leadership group of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is meeting yesterday, today, and tomorrow in Sacramento, California.

The group is elected by the national conference delegates from various geographical regions and also includes the immediate past moderator, the current moderator, and the two moderators-elect. Current moderator Keith Shearer is leading the meetings this week.

Members of the Council present include Doug Courter, Larry Edwards, Jim Brown, Greg Howell, Nathan Zahaki, Andy Wirt, Mike Jentes, Dan O'Deens, Tom Hocking, Dan Allen, Robert MacMillan, Ed Waken, Dan Gregory, and Shearer.

The meetings conclude tomorrow and most Council members will stay over and preach in various northern California Grace Brethren churches on Sunday.

Updates and reports given today by national organization leaders included Grace College & Seminary (Ron Manahan); CE National (Ed Lewis); Grace Brethren Investment Foundation (Larry Chamberlain); Brethren Missionary Herald Co. (Terry White); Grace Brethren North American Missions (Tim Boal); Grace Brethren Men (John Haller); Women of Grace USA (Janet Minnix); National Hispanic Ministries (Jesus Munoz); Grace Brethren International Missions (Dave Guiles) and Grace Village Retirement Community (Jeff Carroll). 

Ron Manahan, president of Grace College and Seminary, was the featured presenter to the Fellowship Council and national organization heads today at the Fellowship Council's meeting in Sacramento. His presentation was on leadership development and he updated FGBC leadership on current changes and adaptations the college and seminary are making to better prepare tomorrow's leaders. 

From today's Warsaw (IN) Times-Union newspaper (Al Disbro photo):

Symphony Names Board Of Directors

The Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, having presented three successful concerts in the fall, is now creating a board of directors to oversee its operations.

Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh, the orchestra's founder and conductor, is excited to see the group take this next step.

"A great orchestra needs a great board of directors," said Kavanaugh. "A solid group of Warsaw's movers and shakers will ensure the future of the cultural advancements in this community. I'm especially gratified that such dedicated leaders as Rebecca Kubacki and Cathy Teghtmeyer are putting the board together."

WSO began last September. Performances included a Handel's "Messiah" sing-along and the Bach "Magnificat" which featured the Grace College Symphonic Chorus, soprano Tammie Huntington, and Marvin Perry, principal trumpeter of the Indianapolis Symphony.

The next concert is Feb. 25 and will present Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony,” the “Suite” from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein and soloist Jennifer Jackson in Mozart’s “Piano Concerto in Eb Major.”

Performances are in Rodeheavor Auditorium and are free of charge.

Community members say they are excited about the new orchestra.

Brent Wilcoxson said, “With all that has happened in this area in the last few years – the MasterWorks Festival and many other organizations that have enhanced the cultural climate – having a full orchestra is perfect for our community.

“A symphony orchestra is a real plus to the corporate community as well. Having such a cultural asset nearby will make it far easier to recruit top talent to our many businesses. This is a win-win situation for everyone.”

Ron Manahan, president of Grace College, said, “I think it is wonderful that Dr. Kavanaugh has starting the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra. It will be extremely important for the community, for Grace College, and for the culture of the entire area. I look forward to seeing dozens of our students performing in this orchestra, side by side with musicians of all ages from throughout Kosciusko County.”

Kavanaugh, who writes a weekly column for the Times Union (“This Week in Music”), has stood before orchestras for many years. In addition to conducting the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra – both here and in Europe each summer – he has been the conductor of Washington, D.C.’s Asaph Ensemble, the Patrick Henry Orchestra, the University of Maryland’s 20th Century Ensemble and the CUA Orchestra.

He has frequently conducted in the Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall, the Center for the Arts and many other concert halls. In 1993, Kavanaugh became the first American conductor invited by the Russian government to conduct at Moscow’s historic Bolshoi Theater.

In 1984, Patrick and Barbara Kavanaugh and a few other professional musicians founded the Christian Performing Artists’ Fellowship where he serves as executive director. This organization has produced dozens of major concerts and sponsors the MasterWorks Festival each summer. Kavanaugh and his family recently moved to Kosciusko County from northern Virginia.

“We love this part of the country,” he explained. “The people here are hard working, devout and patriotic – and they also have a great love of music. What better place to create the pinnacle of musical ensembles: a symphony orchestra.”

When he is not making music, Patrick Kavanaugh is usually writing about it or speaking to groups about the joy of music. He has lectured at many universities, churches, the White House, the State Department and he has appeared on many television music and talk shows.

He currently teaches a music appreciation class at Grace College. Among his nine published books are “The Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers,” “You Are Talented,” and “Raising Musical Kids.” Kavanaugh is married to Barbara, a professional cellist. The couple’s son, David, is at home.

For more information about the new Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, call 574-267-1888. 

The newly-named president of Concerned Women for America is a sister to Terri Starcher, who is a member of the Grace Brethren Church of Centerville, Ohio (Steve Makofka, pastor). Here is CWA's release making the announcement:

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 30, 2006 - Concerned Women for America (CWA) announced today the appointment of Wendy Wright as its new President.

The Board of Trustees unanimously selected Wendy Wright, a seasoned activist and a long-valued part of CWA's team, at its meeting on January 26. Miss Wright had been serving as Executive Vice President since September.

"Wendy is an incisive policy strategist and eloquent spokesman for the issues we all care deeply about. Her leadership in defense of the family and the most vulnerable victims of the culture war is well-known," said Beverly LaHaye, CWA's founder and chairman.

"But, what has always impressed me most is Wendy's consistent Christian commitment and integrity. That combined with a striking humility make a unique presence in the halls of power here in Washington and at the United Nations where she has served with such dignity.

"CWA will benefit from Wendy's gracious acceptance of this appointment and I look forward to working closely with her."

Since she joined CWA in 1999, Miss Wright has specialized in pro-life issues and worked with all six core areas of concern to CWA: sanctity of life, definition of the family, religious liberty, pornography, education and national sovereignty.

She serves as CWA's representative at the United Nations and played a key role in earning CWA's nongovernmental organization (NGO) status there.

Wright has been an eloquent communicator throughout her public policy career, which includes positions at the television outreach arm of Free Congress Foundation and as an Operation Rescue spokesman. Wright has worked on political campaigns and volunteered with community programs. She taught English at a national Bible college in Sri Lanka and served as a short-term missionary there.

"I am excited about CWA's future and am honored to walk side-by-side with Beverly LaHaye in our efforts to make a difference for all Americans. CWA's vision is one I've long shared - 'for women and like-minded men from all walks of life to come together and restore the family to its traditional purpose and thereby allow each member of the family to realize their God-given potential and be more responsible citizens.'"

Concerned Women for America (CWA) is the nation's largest public policy women's organization. CWA's website is www.cwfa.org. 

Word has just been received that a medical team of four, including GBIM missionary Larry DeArmey, were involved in a truck accident this morning shortly after their arrival, when a tire blew on the truck.

There were no serious injuries and all were safe, although there is significant financial loss to the vehicle.

Initial reports indicated that shortly after the accident, approximately 150 Africans had gathered, and Larry DeArmey was preaching and sharing the gospel with them.

Praise the Lord for His protection, and remember to pray for this and other short-term teams as they travel and share the gospel.

We posted a short item on January 5 pointing readers to Centerville, Ohio, pastor Steve Makofka's review of Anne Rice's novel Christ the Lord. To his surprise, the novelist responded to his post, and a portion of it is reproduced here. To read Steve's blog, click here.

"Thank you very much for taking a chance on Christ the Lord, and for writing the review. I read the three comments posted with interest.

I'm working on the second book. My vocation, as I'm sure you know, is to get this thing right: to adhere as closely to the gospels as I can. I felt there was a grain of truth in the old legends about Jesus' childhood, and I tried to accommodate those legends.

I understand your discomfort, however, with my choices. For me, Jesus is Our Lord -- God and Man. He could have known everything at any second; He "emptied Himself," as Paul says, for us.

I took my cue from the Gospel of Mark.... when He felt the power go out of Him, and He turned and asked "Who touched me." The story gave me a way to approach Our Savior as human, as coming here to be human with us.

C.S. Lewis says that one aspect of The Atonement is that in coming down and being human Christ gave us help with things that God is not connected with: like humiliation, and suffering and fear. At least that is how I understood what Lewis was saying in Mere Christianity.

I thank you very much for reading the book and commenting on it. Take care and be well, and I wish you every blessing with your ministry.

--Anne Rice." 

From Tom Avey, Fellowship Coordinator:

"Thanks so much for praying for me and Sandi during my recent bypass surgery.

"We are home now and was at the cardiologist today. He says I am doing extremely well and now we just need to prevent further problems (Meds, diet and exercise, etc - UGH!).

"I can't drive or lift anything over 10 lbs for two more weeks and Sandi is making sure I behave."

Raleigh, NC -- Construction is complete and worship services are now being held in the new 90,000-square-foot Hope Community Church at 821 Buck Jones Road in West Raleigh. But church services aren't the only things happening at this unique church.

The "Common Grounds Café" sits just inside the atrium entrance serving up Starbucks Coffee and other unique specialty drinks and treats. Also in the atrium area, which itself is a sort of "main street" complete with streetlights and benches, sits "The Gathering Place," a cafeteria-style eating area serving up hot lunches and hot breakfasts to the Sunday morning crowds.

Inside the main auditorium, the 1,500 stadium-style seating worship center resembles a professional theater venue, designed to support ongoing in-house theatrical presentations, music offerings, and guest artists and speakers.

For Sunday services, this room displays three 11' x 20' HDTV mounted screens displaying the words and graphics to songs sung during the services as well as weekly announcements, scripture and other relevant info presented by the pastor during sermons. A band leads the congregation in contemporary praise and worship, with dramas, music videos and more all a regular part of the Sunday morning worship experience.

For weddings, funerals and other smaller gatherings, a 270-seat chapel is available.

In the college lounge, an area is equipped with washers and dryers to provide students with a place to hang out, study and still get all that college laundry done.

The student ministries areas, comprised of middle and high school ages, feature Xboxes and Playstations, foosball and other game tables, a stage for youth services and bands, a food and refreshment area, an outside patio, and other unique items designed with today's teens in mind.

For the even younger set, "KidCity" is replete with large nurseries for babies and toddlers in a uniquely designed area known as "Starry Streets." Just down the hall, preschoolers make waves in "Splash Harbor," while the elementary grades get busy in "Action Alley."

Explains Senior Pastor Mike Lee, "Our purpose in building a church like this is to reach people who have rejected church or who have never even been to one. We don't change the Gospel message; we just change how we go about getting people in the doors so they can hear that message."

And there's no doubt that Lee is still a big draw to the worship services at Hope. A pastor for over 25 years, he is well known for his dynamic, relevant and insightful Bible-based teaching.

Hope is an interdenominational church founded in 1994. It has grown from the 30 people who attended the first Sunday to the more than 3,000 now attending on any given Sunday morning.

Grand Opening Celebration -- February 5th

Hope will host a grand opening celebration---"New Step, Same Journey"---during both Sunday morning services on February 5. In addition to the special service elements planned, visiting professional graphic artist and illustrator Tom Clark will paint live on stage on a 6' x 10' wall canvas as the Sunday services unfold around him. Service times are 9:30 & 11:15 AM.

For more info about Hope Community Church, visit their website at www.gethope.net or call 532.0620.

Information Sheet -- January 2006

General

Started in 1994; first Sunday attendance of 30

Current Sunday attendance averages 3,000+

Church has occupied four different Cary locations prior to current west Raleigh home

One small corner of parking lot still sits in the town of Cary

Building occupies 89,034 square feet

Facilities sit on 7.2 acres

Current staff includes 26 full and part-time staff

Church affiliation is interdenominational

18 multi-restroom areas

Shower areas for men and women

Three washers & dryers in laundry room

8,400 light fixtures/bulbs

Atrium

Common Grounds Café sits 30, serves Starbucks coffee, and has wireless internet access

The Gathering Place cafeteria-style eating area sits 200, serves hot & cold breakfasts & lunches

Large screen for PowerPoint and satellite feeds

Welcome center and atrium include six LCD panel TVs

Room set aside for future bookstore

Auditorium

Theater-style auditorium opened January 2006

Stadium-style seating capacity of 1,500

State-of-the-art digital sound and computerized lighting

Three mounted 11’ x 20’ HDTV video screens

Video control/editing suite w/14 flat panel displays, production broadcast switcher, three Macintosh G5's

Green room with dressing rooms for actors, musicians, vocalists, and guest artists and speakers

Chapel

270-seat chapel used for weddings, funerals, and small seminars/gatherings

Two large wall-mounted screens for PowerPoint, satellite and DVD feeds

FunZone

McDonald-like play area with seating areas for children's birthday parties and other events

College Lounge

Includes laundry room with washers and dryers

Youth Rooms

Main room

Seats 400, stage, full lighting & sound booth

Two large wall mounted screens for PowerPoint, satellite & DVD feeds

Foosball tables, air hockey, pool table, ping pong table

Tiki Hut area & kitchen

Secondary room

Xbox and PlayStation systems, big Screen TV, computer system, portable sound system

Patio

Outside seating/gathering area

Children’s Rooms

Separate nursery, preschool, elementary learning environments (Starry Streets, Splash Harbor, Action Alley)

Preschool and elementary areas include stages, stage lighting, sound systems, and PowerPoint capabilities

Software program specially designed for Hope to aid with security of children check-in/check-out on Sundays

Adult Classrooms

Three high-tech, multi-purpose rooms seating 70 adults each; can be divided into smaller areas

A final photo by the lake concluded the Southwest Focus Retreat at San Juan Capistrano, California, this morning. A great spirit of unity and fellowship made it a wonderful experience for all.