BMH Editor's Blog

Dr. Keith Shearer, pastor of New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, and moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (FGBC) this past year, addressed the conference in the Monday morning main session. Speaking from Luke 24:13ff, he noted seven observations about the travelers on the Emmaus Road.

A variety of workshops were held at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. throughout the convention center in Indian Wells, CA, and some conferees are spending Monday evening on a coach bus tour of Pioneer Town and Joshua Tree National Monument, with dinner at Pappy and Harriett's, one of the tourist attractions in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area.

Among the items of prayer concern to the conference today were the health of CE National director Ed Lewis, who was admitted to the hospital here with back problems. Also, GBIM missions staff Kip and Mary Cone left the conference early and flew to Hagerstown, Maryland, because of the deteriorating physical condition of Mary's father, C. M. Hicks, who is a leader in the Maranatha Brethren Church there (Jay Fretz, pastor).

Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 1, begins with women's and Grace Brethren Ministers' meetings at 8:30. In the 10:30 a.m. general session the speaker will be Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Grace Brethren North American Missions luncheon and corporate business meeting will be at noon, and the evening general session tomorrow will again feature Cymbala as speaker.

Grace Brethren International Missions honored a number of missionaries for their years of service at today's missions luncheon and annual corporation meetings.

Here Margie Hull, who just retired after 42 years of missionary service in Africa and Portugal, was honored and Pastor Charles Ashman, right, prayed a dedicatory prayer for Margie. Ashman was pastor to the Hull family in the Phoenix, Arizona, Grace Brethren Church when Margie was still a young girl.

Among the items of business at the meeting was the announcement that the board has extended to GBIM executive director Dave Guiles another three-year call to head the organization. New missionaries in training and any missionaries home from their fields were also introduced and honored.

The perimeter of the Grand Hyatt Convention Center is lined with exhibits and displays from Grace Brethren national organizations, ministry units, and vendors. Here is the BMH Books display, located across from the main registration table.

Activities got underway today, Monday, with a "Women in Ministry" breakfast designed to honor women on the staff of Grace Brethren churches, spouses of men on the staff of churches, or women missionaries.

Pastor Tom Hocking of the Bellflower, California, Grace Brethren Church was the main-session speaker this morning at the Grace Brethren annual conference. His assigned topic was "Fire in the Soul: A Beginner's Guide to Pyrotechnic Worship."

Using a rapier wit and insightful illustrations, Hocking skillfully used The Lord's Prayer from Scripture to teach truths about how to pray, what should really motivate prayer, and the importance of corporate--as well as individual--prayer time together.

Beginning at 3 p.m. today, conference attenders will have their choices of a wide range of workshop topics at the 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. hour. This evening's featured activity is CE National's 40th Anniversary Celebration, which will include a tram ride and mountaintop meal. At noon today Grace College and Seminary held its annual corporation meeting and information luncheon.

Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey began today's session by requesting prayer for retired Grace Brethren pastor Tom Inman, who had a heart attack yesterday in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Introduced by his pastor, Keith Shearer from the New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, Kevin Kreider gave a testimony in the 10:30 a.m. session today about the move he and his wife, Lorna, have made to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to church-plant among those who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Gregg Noble is the alto and soprano saxophone player with the worship band, which leads worship music for all the main sessions. Pastor Doug Lee from Fontana, California, is the worship leader this year.

Children checked in early this Sunday morning, got their ID armbands, and were off for a good day's fun and activities in the Kids Konference, being directed by Tim and Sue Howard of the Simi Valley, CA, Grace Brethren Church. Gail Cosgrove is directing the childcare program for the younger children.

Sunday, the second full day of Celebrate06, the annual Grace Brethren conference being held at Indian Wells, California, began at 6:30 a.m. with a chaplain's breakfast sponsored by the Eagle Commission and Grace Brethren Investment Foundation.

A number of chaplains were present and gave ministry reports--those who were not able to be present sent written reports which will be distributed later. Here in the photo, from left, are James Schaefer, U.S. Army; Ken Townsend, U.S. Air Force Reserves; Jack Galle, U.S. Navy; Larry Chamberlain, president and CEO of GBIF; John Schumacher, FGBC chaplain's endorsing agent; Mark Penfold, U.S. Army; and Ralph Molyneaux, U.S. Air Force.

In addition to the chaplain's reports, GBIF also had its annual corporation meeting.

Quotes From Day One of Celebrate06, Indian Wells, California


“Now in my 66th year in the ministry at age 86, I want to say with the psalmist, “Yes, even when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not, but keep me alive until I have declared your mighty strength to this generation, and your might and power to all that are to come.”
--Dr. Lester Pifer


“Is there hope for the FGBC? It’s just as good as the people are right with God.”

“Like sugar, gifts can lie unused in the bottom of the cup. Don’t leave the sugar in the bottom of the cup!”

“Regarding FGBC’s history, God is not only faithful, but God is patient.”

“We’ve had too many conflicts that have ended in severing schisms. Most were not caused by serious doctrinal differences.”

--Pastor Charles Ashman


“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that really doesn’t matter.”

--Pastor Jim Brown, Goshen, Indiana


“It’s difficult to discern those who are wholly ambitious from those who have a holy ambition.”

“We do not serve Christ in a vacuum—we serve Christ on a battlefield.”

“People are God’s agenda, and I want to have a passion for the people God has put into my life.”

“Just because something ‘works’ doesn’t make it ‘right.’”

“When you sit under the Word of God, you can’t be neutral. You’ll be softened by it or you’ll be hardened by it.”

“If you’re afraid to go door-to-door, go pew-to-pew. Ask your people the two diagnostic questions and you may be shocked to see what they’re trusting for eternal life.”

--Pastor Tim Boal, FGBC incoming Moderator

The main program option for tonight at Celebrate06, the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, was an international food-fest and missionary reception organized and sponsored by Grace Brethren International Missions.

A variety of ethnic food lines provided some exotic choices for the hundreds who came to eat, to enjoy ethnic music, and to chat with GBIM missionaries and staff personnel from all over the world. All GBIM personnel wore the blue Hawaiian shirts for the event, which was organized by GBIM's chief development officer, Ted Rondeau.

Tonight's missionary reception was enlived by several kinds of live ethnic music. Small ensembles, a Mariachi band, and an African drum ensemble entertained the crowds while they enjoyed ethnic foods and visited with missionaries.

Tonight's GBIM reception provided excellent opportunities for one-on-one meetings with missionaries to make new friendships, renew previous ones, and to get updates from the field. Here GBIM missionary and Europe Field Director Dr. Paul Klawitter (left) chats with Long Beach pastor Dale Workman and other friends.

Old college buddies hook up again. Joe Beaver (left), son of retired GBIM missionaries Wayne and Dorothy Beaver, and now living in Simi Valley, California, chatted at the reception with his college friend Greg Burgess (right), now living and working in France with Editions Cle, the French publishing arm of the Fellowship.

Dr. Tim Boal, pastor of the Penn Valley Grace Brethren Church in Telford, Pennsylvania, and the incoming moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, gave the annual Moderator's Address at the 3 p.m. Saturday session of Celebrate06.

Prefacing his remarks that his assignment is to analyze the Fellowship's strengths and current situation, Boal found the following reasons the FGBC is currently enjoying unity:

1. Better communications in the Fellowship.
2. Growing partnerships in the Fellowship.
3. Continuing commitment to the truth.
4. Multiple training tracks for leaders.
5. The emergence of young, progressive leaders across the FGBC.
6. The desire of our leaders to consider others better than themselves.

In suggesting ways to prevent the enemy from attacking this unity, he recommended:

1. Additional office and support for the national coordinator's office.
2. Investing ourselves diligently in the emergent generation.
3. Be on guard against the tyranny of the pragmatic ("what works").
4. Let's applaud and promote every training system available to our emerging leaders.

Audio recordings of Boal's address (and all other sessions) will be available through www.fgbc.org and a transcript will be published in the forthcoming FGBC Handbook.

Pastor Charles Ashman, who retired from his last pastorate in 1989, addressed the first session of the Celebrate06 conference this morning with an address entitled "Coals Aglow."

Speaking from 2 Timothy 1:1-7, Ashman, 82, began by saying "I promised the Lord I would serve Him as long as He gives me breath." Then he went on to give a powerful and convicting biblical message on the importance of Christians using their gifts and exercising unity in the body of Christ.

Citing an illustration of a man in a restaurant who used all the available sugar in his coffee and asked for more and was told by the waitress, "Stir up what you've already got," Ashman skillfully made the biblical point that people in our churches should "stir up the gifts that are within them" and get busy in ministry.

Pastor Phil Helfer, of the Los Altos Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach, California, adds his touch to the praise and worship sessions as percussionist.

Doug Lee, pastor of The Fountain Community Church, a Grace Brethren fellowship in Fontana, California, is leading worship for the Celebrate06 conference. He and his band of nine backup singers and instrumentalists are beginning each general session with a mixture of hymns and praise and worship choruses.

Dr. Lester Pifer, now on the staff of the Columbus, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church as Seniors Pastor, gave testimony in the opening session of Celebrate06 of God's provision and blessings since his conversion to Christ in 1940.

Beginning as a church-planter at "Hairpin Curve Chapel" in Tennessee while in college, Dr. Pifer went on to pastor churches in South Bend, IN, and in Fremont, OH, and then served 33 years with the Brethren Home Missions Council, assisting or directing in the planting of more than 200 Grace Brethren churches.

Since his official retirement in 1985, he has also served 12 years in Florida as a church planter and now shepherds a seniors group of more than 1,000 in the Columbus area. Now in his 66th year of ministry, Dr. Pifer gave testimony that, "God has supplied all our needs and the power we have needed" for that long ministry.

Sandi Avey (right) and Sandy Barrett assisted Dr. Christy Morr of the Grace Seminary faculty in registering this morning for the Celebrate06 Grace Brethren conference being held at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells near Palm Springs, California.

Activities this first day of conference included a morning session with Charles Ashman as speaker, a noontime all-Fellowship luncheon, the Moderator's Address at 3 p.m. by Tim Boal, and an evening "drop in reception" with Grace Brethren International Missions personnel and missionaries.

The center of gravity of the Grace Brethren Church shifted several hours to the southeast about noon today.

The Biola University campus in LaMirada, California, was just about emptied out after an intense week of Brethren National Youth Conference, attended by some 3,000 teens, youth pastors, youth leaders, staff, Grace Brethren national organization staff, and more.

Traffic was especially heavy on "the 10" and on the Riverside Freeway as attention, equipment, and personnel shifted to the Grand Champions Hyatt Resort in Indian Wells, a few miles south of Palm Springs and Palm Desert on Hwy 111.

By noon today the semi-trailer had arrived from Biola carrying the huge rigging and superstructure for the lights, platform, sound system, and other mechanicals. They are being brought into the ballroom and set up this afternoon.

In the foyer of the Conference Center, national organizations, local ministeriums, and other exhibitors have set up booths and exhibits. Deadline for completion is 9 p.m. Friday--the conference officially opens at noon on Saturday.

All around the perimeter of the conference center, small-group and special-purpose meetings are occurring. In one room are members of the Fellowship Council, in another the Women of Grace USA. At 5 p.m. officers of the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers will meet, and at 2 p.m. all Grace Brethren International Missions staff were gathering for pre-conference briefings and meetings.

We will keep you updated as the week goes along, though not with the frequency and intensity of the reports from youth conference. YIB (Your Intrepid Blogger) will be reporting from most of the main sessions, trying to give some flavor of this annual gathering of the Grace Brethren family.

We sweated and sweltered in LosAngeles, and here in the desert there is a searing hot dry heat. But the local California churches have brought in a mountain of bottled water for our comfort, and the power blackouts have not reached this far, for which we're thankful.

We do, however, grieve with those who have lost loved ones to the heat in California--a news report a bit ago said the death toll in California from this heat wave is over 130 at this point.

The big tent on the south field of the Biola campus was billowing and rocking as Brethren National Youth Conference 2006 came to a close last evening (Thursday).

Led by Todd Proctor and his band, the 2,000+ teens exuberantly praised God as the week came to a close.

The closing evening's program included a threefold communion service with feetwashing, Love Feast, and bread and cup. Jeff Bogue, pastor at the Akron Grace North campus, gave the closing challenge.

Teens were leaving all night--some to catch red-eye flights, some to spend Friday on the beach before returning home.

For more complete stories, to browse 7,000 photos of the week, and to catch the flavor of what God did in many lives, log onto www.bnyc.net.

Scott Distler, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, Pennsylvania, was the featured speaker for the Thursday morning general session of BNYC06.

His assigned topic was to help teenagers deal with contemporary culture without letting media and other influences lower their standards and "pull them down." He gave a number of practical, biblical techniques for dealing with sexual temptation, in particular.

Author/apologist Lee Strobel spoke to the Brethren National Youth Conference Wednesday evening in the main session. A former newspaper editor, pastor, and journalist, Strobel gave the teens some good advice on how to deal with doubt and how to obtain answers for the questions they and others may raise about Christ and the Christian faith.

With more than 3,000 photos from BNYC now available for browsing on www.bnyc.net, it's obvious there are some skilled photographers at work.

Perhaps a dozen are contributing but the majority are from Jeanine Russell from the Mukilteo, Washington, Grace Community Chapel and Jenna Hollinger (pictured), from the Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church. Jenna will be leaving in August for a year of professional photography school.

Following each of the evening sessions, teens split into small "youth groups" with others from their church or district.

The BNYC printed program has discussion guides for the youth groups, and much of the discussion revolves around the evening session and lessons or questions issuing from it.

A number of teens are doing serious business with God at this year's Brethren National Youth Conference. As the conference draws to a close tomorrow, prayer supporters are asked to pray for specific and lasting commitments on the part of many teens. If you have not signed up to pray in a specific time slot, you may still do so at www.bnyc.net.

Rich Yauger, youth pastor at Grace Community Church in Goshen, Indiana, and his wife, Carol, gave a workshop in the Heritage Courtyard of the Biola campus entitled "Untouchables."

The couple discussed some of the "untouchable" issues in today's world such as eating disorders, cutting, sexual abuse, pornography, addictions, and homosexuality. The workshop was part of the "PowerTrax" held at 9:30 a.m.

Sing it, Pastor Wayne! Wayne Ayer (blue shirt, middle), pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Norwalk, California, loves to sing along with the Youth Choir as they practice and perform in the services at Brethren National Youth Conference.

Francis Chan, in his final address to the BNYC audience this year, challenged teens as to who was in control of their lives. Using a model car and a toy duck to illustrate, he forcefully made the point that even if we think we may be in control, God actually has all things under His control. At the conclusion of the service, a number of teens indicated making a commitment to the Lord during a reverent time at the conclusion of the service.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

During the "Rescue" time this afternoon, approximately 100 of the BNYC students visited a Sikh temple and talked with officials there to explain the tenets of the Sikh religion. Here one of the students who participated reported to the BNYC audience in the Tuesday evening service. (Jenna Hollinger photo)

It's "off to the races" once more as the Grace College racecars came back out on the track this evening during "hangtime" between sessions. Yesterday the racing was furious--this evening's pace was much more leisurely.

"Rescue Lifesavers" in the signature highliter yellow packaging from Grace Brethren International Missions covered the tabletop of the GBIM display under the trees. Giveaways and advertising novelties assured "stopping points" so teens could engage in conversation with representatives of the various Grace Brethren national organizations and ministries.

Janelle Armstrong (kneeling, left) of the Grace Brethren International Missions staff used water and a sponge to apply a temporary "Rescue" tattoo to various body parts of teens attending BNYC. The GBIM tent is one of many organizational displays set up under the trees on the main walkway through the Biola University campus in LaMirada, California.

A mime group from the Brookville (OH) Grace Brethren Church performed in the pre-service prelude in the 6:15 p.m. session at Brethren National Youth Conference today. NAC competition and quizzing is occurring each afternoon, and many of the entries and contestants are used as pre-service performances for the main sessions.

Jeremy Kingsley (center, blue shirt) was the speaker for this morning's main session, with the topic "Apathy to Intimacy."

Kingsley, who for 11 years has been in his own ministry of traveling and speaking, is a graduate of the Clinton, Maryland, Grace Brethren Schools. He is based in Chapin, South Carolina, and more information may be obtained at www.jeremykingsley.com.

Hundreds of teens knelt at the front of the main meeting tent this morning at the conclusion of Jeremy Kingsley's address on "Apathy or Intimacy." The teens, who were counseled by adults for followup, were indicating a desire in their lives to move from apathy toward God to a more intimate relationship with Him. (Jenna Hollinger photos)

Josh McDowell spoke this noon to the "Generations Luncheon" at Brethren National Youth Conference. Generations is for adults and subjects discussed are parenting, mentoring, and ministry to the generations in a family structure.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

McDowell spoke on "The Last Christian Generation," which is the topic of his latest book. He will be speaking for the main session this evening.

Noted author, youth analyst, and apologist Josh McDowell is speaking to several smaller groups on campus today at BNYC, and will be the main session for the Tuesday evening meeting. More information on his ministry is available at www.josh.org.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California, and a perennial favorite speaker for BNYC, was the featured speaker at the 8:30 p.m. main session this evening. Chan emphasized the aspect of "enjoying God," and helped the teens view sharing their faith as an enjoyable, not dutiful, thing to do.(Jeanine Russell photo)

Jordan Byers, a teen from the Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church (Heartland District) sang a vocal solo in this evening's main session of the Brethren National Youth Conference, meeting on the BIOLA University campus in LaMirada, California.

The longest lines at mealtime--by far--on the BIOLA campus are those waiting to access the soft ice cream machine at Brethren National Youth Conference.

At 7 p.m. on Monday the temperature in LaMirada was still 95 degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees. BNYC participants are being urged to bring bottles of water to all meetings.

In spite of the stifling heat in the southern California summer, the "Go Kart Races" that are part of the "Grace College Fair" day at Brethren National Youth Conference are very popular.

Teens are encouraged to create teams of four for competition and the pedal-powered cars, trucked to the BIOLA campus from Winona Lake, Indiana, are sent around a serpentine course in an asphalt parking lot on the BIOLA campus.

Earlier it was announced that the percentage of Grace Brethren students accepted into Grace College this year has increased, as has the overall number of students applying and being accepted to the college. More information is available at www.grace.edu and hundreds more photos and reports from BNYC are available at www.bnyc.net.

"Inspired" is a youth choir from the Clinton Grace Brethren Church in the Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C. They competed this afternoon in the "Youth Choir" category of the NAC competition, singing "Our God is an Awesome God." They sang in the Crowell Music Hall auditorium on the BIOLA University campus in LaMirada, California, where the Brethren National Youth Conference is meeting.

NAC and Bible Quizzing involve hundreds of teens using their music, art, writing, drama, and other performance skills to glorify Christ. NAC stands for "Nurturing Abilities for Christ," and it is a program whereby talented teens can progress from a local up through the district level, and finally to the national competition level.

Dave Rank is the national director for NAC this year, and the staff at BNYC is being directed by Rhonda Raber, Tim Placeway, and Rick Daam.

The OC4, a Southern gospel quartet of teens from the Osceola, Indiana, Grace Brethren Church (Heartland District) competed earlier this afternoon in the NAC competition in the "Small Vocal Ensemble" group.

Individuals and groups that participate are judged by a panel of judges, and each is given constructive, helpful comments for improvement.

Shawn McBride, from Washington, D.C., a perennial favorite BNYC speaker, spoke at the 10:45 a.m. session today on "Sexual Purity."

Using a variety of visual aids (rat traps, duct tape, a ladder) he emphasized the biblical theme that God gave sex for a purpose, but like any good gift, sex can be misued and abused. He challenged the teens to lives of purity.

"Sound Investment," the praise and worship band from Grace College, led the P&W section of the 10:45 a.m. main session today at BNYC.

Dr. Randy Smith, pastor of the Sebring, Florida, Grace Brethren Church and expert on Israel, gave a quick trip through the End Times tonight as he detailed events that will happen as portrayed in the Book of Revelation.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

The evening concluded with Youth Group meetings and counselor groups, with lights-out at 12:15 a.m.

Speakers for the main sessions tomorrow, Monday, are perennial BNYC favorite Shawn McBride and the return of Francis Chan.

Jeremy Perry from the Clinton Grace Brethren Church in Maryland sang the offertory as teens contributed to the National Youth Project Offering project, which this year will largely be used to help fund the Training Center now under construction on the CENational campus in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Youth Groups, meeting by church, followed this evening's main session. Here Pastor Paul Mutchler meets with teens from his Grace Brethren Church of Lanham, Maryland.

Nick Vujicic, a 23-year-old Australian born without arms or legs, spoke powerfully at the 6 p.m. BNYC session today about how one's approval should be based on God, not on physical appearance or other criteria.

Lacing his talk with self-deprecating humor, Vujicic began by flipping a tennis ball to an audience volunteer with his small "flipper" left foot, the only appendage with which he was born.

Speaking from Isaiah 61, he mixed scriptural truth with his own testimony and called for commitments, to which dozens of teens responded. The next general session will be at 8:30 p.m., when Dr. Randy Smith from Sebring, Florida, will speak on "end times" based on the Book of Revelation.

A giant inflatable "prayer wall" stands on the center of the student union complex on the BIOLA University during the week of Brethren National Youth Conference.

Individuals are invited to participate either by writing prayer requests on the wall, as this student is doing, or in praying for the requests indicated.

New Zealand evangelist, speaker, and author Ray Comfort, best known for his "Way of the Master" materials, brought powerful challenges both to youth leaders and to the general session today of the Brethren National Youth Conference.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

Comfort's theme is that individuals generally do not realize they are in need of Christ's salvation until their lost condition is made real to them. He suggested some practical, powerful steps for the teens attending BNYC to use in their evangelism outreaches the rest of the week.

To read a more complete summary of Comfort's message, and to see hundreds of additional BNYC photos, log onto www.bnyc.net and click on "Sunday."

Jenna Wells, wife of Nathan, associate pastor at the Ashland, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church, spoke this morning to youth leaders and youth pastors as part of the ongoing education sessions for youth workers at BNYC.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

The BNYC Youth Choir opens nearly all general sessions of the conference with upbeat songs of experience and challenge.

Tammie Robinson, from the Warsaw, Indiana, Community Grace Brethren Church, is the enthusiastic leader of the youth choir each year at BNYC. She is also the manager of the Grace College campus bookstore.

Ed Lewis, executive director of CE National, began the staff meeting and breakfast on Sunday with instructions for the day. Already God has been working in a number of students' lives at Brethren National Youth Conference. Jeff Bogue, pastor of the Akron North Campus of Grace Church, challenged the staff with opportunities to be servants to those they encounter today.

The GBIM "mister" is a popular walk-through area at BNYC, as pedestrians can get misted with spray to get some relief from the sweltering heat on the BIOLA campus.

Various national organizations and ministries have established exhibit tents along the main campus walkway on the LaMirada, California, campus.

Ted and Dawn Rondeau of the Grace Brethren International Missions staff have safely arrived at Brethren National Youth Conference in LaMirada, California, after having ridden their motorcycle more than 2,200 miles from Winona Lake, Indiana.

Stopping to visit Grace Brethren churches along the way, the Rondeaus sometimes rode during the nights, encountering temperatures as high as 117 degrees in the Mojave Desert.

Shown here parked by a Saguaro cactus somewhere in Arizona, Ted and Dawn Rondeau of the GBIM staff stopped at a number of the more remote Grace Brethren churches on their motorcycle trip to Brethren National Youth Conference. Among the churches they visited were Beaver City, Nebraska; Dallas Center, Iowa; Colorado Springs, Colorado, and others.

Francis Chan, popular pastor, educator, and youth speaker from Simi Valley, California, spoke at the opening session of Brethren National Youth Conference this evening. This is the fifth year in a row that Chan has been one of the headline speakers.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

Tomorrow morning the main session speaker will be Ray Comfort, and other sessions tomorrow will feature speaker Nick Vujicic and Randy Smith.

This massive tent on one of the athletic fields on the BIOLA University campus in LaMirada, California, is housing the main sessions of Brethren National Youth Conference.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

They come by the thousands--and still more are set to arrive as late as midnight Saturday.

Several thousand teens, youth pastors, and sponsors have gathered on the BIOLA University campus in LaMirada, California, for Brethren National Youth Conference 06.

The conference, which concludes Thursday night, is a function of CE National. Daily updates and photos may be seen at www.bnyc.net.

A month-long gourmet feast of classical music comes to an end this weekend as the MasterWorks Festival concludes its major summer program in Winona Lake, Indiana.

More than 250 top-quality young classical musicians and a star-studded roster of the world's best performers, master-teachers, and clinicians has provided a rich array of concerts, theater productions, ballets, chamber concerts, individual recitals, and master classes since it opened mid-June.

Repertoire and performances--all free and open to the public--for this weekend include:

Friday, July 21, Theatre, 2:00 pm
Harvey Johnson, Director
SHAKESPEARE: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Friday, July 21, 3:30-5 pm
Piano Masterclass with Hugh Sung
Rainbow Room, Westminster Hall

Friday, July 21, 7:30 pm
The MasterWorks Festival Orchestra
Andrew Sewell, conductor
WAGNER: Overture to Meistersinger
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5
Winners of the MasterWorks Festival Student Concerto Competition

Saturday, July 22, 11:00 am
Piano Faculty Recital
Christopher Harding, Hugh Sung
Rainbow Room, Westminster Hall

Saturday, July 22, Theatre, 2:00 pm
Harvey Johnson, Director
SHAKESPEARE: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Saturday, July 22nd, 3:30 pm
String Intensive Study Program Recital
location TBA

Saturday, July 22nd, 7:30 pm
The MasterWorks Festival Orchestra
Andrew Sewell, conductor
Hugh Sung, piano
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5
RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3.

A one-week "afterglow" of individual and small-ensemble performances by MasterWorks faculty will continue after this weekend. For more information log onto www.masterworksfestival.org.

A new Compact Disc by the Sam Baer family of the Victory Mountain Brethren Chapel in Hyden, Kentucky, presents purchasers with a great opportunity to be of unique help to the Lord’s work. And, there is a wonderful human-interest story behind the album.

“Constantly Abiding: Hymns and Songs of Simple Faith” is the title of the album, which includes 14 songs, including the title tune. Vocals are by Sam, Betty, Sophia, and Sonya Baer. Piano accompaniment is by Betty Baer, with spots of sweet a cappella harmony and an occasional obbligato on trumpet by Sam.

Repertoire ranges from old public-domain favorites such as “It Could Happen at Any Moment” to southern gospel songs by Mosie Lister and Ray Boltz to “There is a Redeemer” by Keith Green. It also includes a “bonus track” original composition by Sonya Baer entitled “Living for God’s Smile Alone.”

Nestled in the rural hills of southeastern Kentucky is Victory Mountain Grace Brethren Chapel, a small country church with big heart. Part of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, Victory currently serves a congregation of 45 and provides a number of programs to meet their needs as well as those of the surrounding community.

In August of 1950, Evelyn Fuqua came to Dryhill, KY. She moved in next to Ted and Sally Begley along the riverbank of the Kentucky Middle Fork River. The Brethren Home Missions Council (now Grace Brethren North American Missions) helped Evelyn buy property for $500. A dedication ceremony was held on Oct. 4, 1953, for the newly-built church. Ms. Evelyn started many ministries, including a Friday night boys club. She served until 1965, when Pastor Marvin and Dixie Lowery came to serve. [EDITOR’S NOTE: The story of Evelyn Fuqua is available in Heroes Who Live On, Vol. 2, by Robert Cover, Sr. and Viki Rife, available from BMH Books at www.bmhbooks.com]

Marvin Lowery was called the “Laugh Man” for his hearty laugh. The Lowerys served faithfully for 11 years. John and Jenny Sholley came in 1976 and served four years. John was a good doctrinal Bible teacher and was responsible for creating the “Brethren Bunch,” a traveling youth singing group. Pastor Sam and Betty Baer arrived March 15, 1979, and have served to the present. The Baers have six children who helped extensively with the church work.

Married 36 years, Six Children
Pastor Sam Baer is a graduate of Lancaster Bible College and Grace Seminary. His wife, Betty, is a graduate of Harrisburg Hospital School of Nursing. They have been married for 36 years.

Bambie, their eldest, is married to Mark Getz. They have five children and currently live in Benton Harbor, Michigan, near Mark’s hometown. Sam, the second-born, is married to Jessica, and they live in Wheaton, IL where he works for Baer Homes, Caleb's construction company.

Mike, child number three, is married to Lisa. They have three children and live in Westerville, Ohio, where Mike works for Mike Cheeseman Builders. They attend Powell Grace Brethren Church.

Sophia and Sonya are fourth-born and are identical twins. Sophia lives at home in Dryhill, KY, with Sam and Betty, but leaves frequently for ministries in Michigan where she works with the Hispanic migrant workers teaching English as a second language and witnessing through day camps for children. She plans to be a full-time missionary. Sonya is a graduate of Southland Bible College with a major in Biblical Studies and Missions. She is currently living at home with Sam and Betty but, Lord willing, will be attending language school in Texas where she hopes to study Bible translation.

Caleb is the youngest of the children and is married to Jill. They live in Wheaton, IL, where Caleb owns a construction business, Baer Homes. He takes many short-term mission trips to foreign countries using his construction knowledge to serve people there while bringing them the gospel.

Executive Producer Explains
Pastor Steve Makofka from the Centerville, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church, served as executive producer for the album. He shares some of the “back story” of the album this way:

“Few decisions are harder to make than the decision to discontinue funding for a church. GBNAM had already discontinued their financial support for Victory Mountain GBC and now we were facing the same decision at the district level. The principles of good stewardship wouldn't allow us to continue using church-planting funds for a 50-year-old church, and we didn't have a mechanism for providing ongoing support to a ‘mission’ church with special needs.

“Mark Saunders, pastor of First Grace Brethren Church of Dayton, and I went to Dryhill to discuss these things with the Baers. We loved them and loved their work. We realized it would always be dependent on others for financial support, but where would the money come from?

“We shared a pleasant morning of prayer and conversation, and then sat down with the Baer family for lunch. Before we ate, Sam asked if his family could sing the blessing for us, like they usually do. I remembered that years ago I had heard the girls sing, but that memory did not prepare me for the sheer joy of listening to God's name being praised by the strong, clear voices and simple mountain harmonies the Baer family lifted to God that day. As soon as they sang, ‘Amen,’ my mind started racing.

“I asked Sam if they had ever considered recording their family singing together. He answered that they had been encouraged to do so by Pastor Mike Wingfield and others. ‘Sam,’ I said, ‘You have to record this. People will want to hear it and you could sell the CD's to help raise funds for the ministry.’

“It’s taken about two years and lots of work, but I think the final product is well worth the effort. I think everybody in the entire FGBC family should purchase a copy. The musical style has the same feel as the Grammy-winning ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ soundtrack. The songs are both old and new. The production is elegant in its simplicity. The family's joy and the depth of their faith is unmistakable.

“I find that listening to the CD is soothing, inspiring, and uplifting, partially because the music is just plain good, and partially because I know the family, their faith, and their ministry. Anytime I can buy good music and support a cause at the same time, I'll do it. I encourage everyone I know to do the same.”

The CD is available for purchase by mail at $12 each plus $3 for shipping (total of $15). Make checks payable to Sam and Betty Baer and mail the checks and orders to Sam and Betty Baer, 9131 Dryhill Road, Hyden, KY 41749. The phone number is (606) 672-2520. E-mail inquiries to info@victorymountaingbc.com.

Gladys Deloe will have copies of the CD for sale at Celebrate06. More information about The Baers and Victory Mountain Chapel, including much of the background material in this article, is available at www.victorymountaingbc.com.

The Sam Baer family, who have ministered in Dryhill, Kentucky, for more than 25 years, are a truly great family of servants who have given significantly of their lives and energy ministering in Kentucky. Their goal with the new family CD, "Constantly Abiding," is to provide some support for their constantly underfunded ministry.

Some 70 teens and youth staff gathered to pray with friends and family in the parking lot of the Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church this morning just before boarding busses to depart for Brethren National Youth Conference (BNYC) in California.

Some 3,000 teens will be spending the next week on the campus of BIOLA University in La Mirada, California, in a series of learning, inspirational, and service activities. Coming from all over the U.S. and a number of foreign countries, the teens' daily activities will be posted, along with photos, on www.bnyc.net.

YIB (Your Intrepid Blogger) will report with articles and photos from youth conference this coming week, and then from Celebrate06, the Grace Brethren national conference, the following week. Celebrate06 will be held in Indian Wells, CA, just outside Palm Springs.

Cindy Clark, the wife of Pastor Rick Clark from the Pike Grace Brethren Church in Johnstown, PA, and the children’s ministry coordinator for the Pike church wrote this encouraging report. This is edited for length—a longer version will appear in the September/October 2006 issue of FGBC World:

It began as one person’s dream to reach out to the inner city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Once that dream was shared, God began to do things only He can do.

A member of Pike Grace Brethren Church’s Christian Education Commission had spent time with the children of the inner city of Johnstown in the past. She knew the needs firsthand and desired to reach these children with the love of Jesus.

When asked what got her thinking about this, Sis Link responded, “What started all this was, I saw the effort that our church puts into VBS and the excitement that surrounds them. I really wondered if we could take that excitement about God into the kids of the inner city. In fear and trembling I finally opened my mouth and the CE Commission listened.”

The CE Commission grasped her enthusiasm and began looking for ways to reach out to the Flood City. VBS was a fun way to share with the kids. We began looking for the best VBS material possible. We chose Group Publishing’s “Fiesta.”

This undertaking was much bigger than our seven members could handle so we decided to approach the Outreach Commission with the proposal of joining forces. The Outreach Commission’s elder, Irv Meredith, challenged us to look beyond ourselves as a church. He really felt this outreach would bring our church closer and cause us to look at the needs around us.

We had no idea who would lead such an awesome undertaking. Praise God for Barry Deetscreek, a public school teacher from our church. God knew all along he was the perfect man for the job because he teaches in downtown Johnstown.

When asked why Barry chose to direct this outreach he said, “God just prodded me to do it from the first meeting. Of course I have a love for that community since I’ve taught here for 25 years. I was excited for our own church because I’ve gone here for 57 years and I don’t remember us doing anything like this. I think this is true outreach.”

One Sunday after church we held a fundraiser and approximately 165 people attended our Fiesta dinner. Authentic Mexican food was served. $1,011 was raised.

The two commissions approached the Johnstown Grace Brethren Church, once a thriving church in the center of the city, but now a smaller congregation, to see if they would consider helping with the outreach by providing supper for the kids each night before VBS. Pastor Ron Carnevali was very enthusiastic and agreed to help.

The week at Johnstown Grace Brethren Church turned out to be a fantastic outreach for that area. A double blessing was that it encouraged this smaller church. We were able to touch the lives of 130 children. Sixteen children and one adult came to know Christ as Savior.

Our church has grown from this experience and we are not so focused on ourselves. Why hasn’t the Pike GBC done something like this for 57 years or longer? I don’t know the answer to that question, but this is a new beginning for us. I pray we continue to see our mission and reach out in new and exciting ways. We have a new commitment to reach the city of Johnstown.

Thanks to Sis Link for sharing her dream, the dream that came true the week of July 10-14. We’ve been so blessed we just had to share it with all of you.

Treasures of Wisdom: Studies in Colossians and Philemon, the latest in the revised and re-issued New Testament commentaries in The Kent Collection, is now in the warehouse and available for shipping from BMH Books in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Written by Dr. Homer Kent, Jr., president and dean emeritus of Grace College and Seminary, the 208-page paperback brings Dr. Kent’s extensive knowledge of the Greek language and the culture of the ancient Near East to illuminate these two New Testament books.

He skillfully works verse-by-verse through these two books that speak to concerns of great interest today—the spirit world, angels, the occult, human rights, and social discrimination.

The author, Dr. Kent, taught for 50 years at Grace Theological Seminary and Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. He was dean of the seminary for 14 years and president of both schools for ten years, retiring as president emeritus and professor emeritus of New Testament and Greek.

The ISBN-10 for Treasures of Wisdom is 0884692492 and the ISBN-13 is 9780884692493. It retails for $14.99 and is available by logging onto www.bmhbooks.com for credit card purchases or by calling (toll-free) 1-800-348-2756.

The Grace Brethren Church of Long Beach, California (Lou Huesmann, pastor) has a significant involvement each year in a community impact day known as "Serve Day." Here is an excerpt from an article in today's Long Beach Press-Telegram:

Serve Day has become an event that draws together 100 nonprofits and 28 churches of various denominations in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

This year's Serve Day will be held July 29 at 250 project sites. A rally on July 28 is scheduled at Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach and Mariners Church in Irvine to "pump up" some 5,000 volunteers, Trotter said.

It's also not too late to sign up to participate, and volunteers aren't required to be affiliated with participating churches, he said.

To view the projects or for information on Serve Day, prospective volunteers can log on to www.serveday.com.

Among the nonprofits expected to take part this year are Long Beach's Christian Outreach in Action, the American Red Cross, the Ronald McDonald House and the Orange County Rescue Mission.

Projects range from organizing a blood drive in Lakewood and a carnival in Norwalk, to beautifying Long Beach's Fairfield YMCA and playing with the youth at Orangewood Children's Home in Orange.

Pastor Jim Franklin of the Flora, Indiana, Grace Brethren Church, was the author of this column, which ran in yesterday's Carroll County (IN) Comet newspaper:


Lessons from the Heart
He's a living legend

By Pastor James Franklin

Normally the local ministers write about spiritual things in this space. Today, I'd like to take the opportunity to remember a longtime deacon of Flora Grace Brethren church.

Harold Stayer left this life on Friday morning, June 23, 2006. His family, his church, and his community mourn his loss. Christians understand that he lives on in the presence of God. But he is gone and we miss him.

Pappy was the bravest man I ever met. He stared death directly in the face many times. He was not fearless. Harold learned to overcome his fears, first with raw courage and then with faith.

Those of you who knew Pappy knew him to be a storyteller. He lived an eventful life. He married his sweetheart Mary Humberd toward the end of the Depression. But The War quickly followed the Depression. Pappy enlisted in the US Army early in 1942. He was trained in communications and explosives.

Harold spent much of his war in the Philippines. He faced an enemy who gave no quarter and no quarter was given. The memory of those brutal fights plagued him for the rest of his life. He received the Purple Heart for wounds and the Bronze Star with Valor for bravery.

Though Pappy Stayer did more than his part during World War II, his greatest contribution is written on the hearts of men who knew him as a Scoutmaster and as the founder of Grace Brethren Boys.

This gruff, stubborn, and opinionated man trained many boys on campouts, hikes, and Scout meetings. His endurance on long hikes was legendary. Flora, Indiana has an exceptional number of Eagle Scouts. Pappy trained most of them until his legs gave out.

Some people measure a man's success by the house he lives in, the car he drives, or the clothes he wears. Harold's legacy is written on the hearts of men. He understood that service is more than time spent in the military. Service is an attitude, a lifestyle, an understanding that your family, your community, and your church are bigger than you.

James Franklin is pastor at Flora Grace Brethren Church.

This story about the Winona Lake Grace Brethren church's hosting of a Suzuki string program appeared in yesterday's Warsaw (IN) Times-Union newspaper. Bruce Barlow is coordinating lead pastor of the Winona Lake church:

Suzuki Violinists ‘Camp’ At Winona

BY TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer

WINONA LAKE – Children in the Suzuki Violin Camp at Grace Brethren Church this week are as young as 3 and as “old” as 14.

The Suzuki method allows students as young as age 2 to begin violin lessons. Parents agree to play classical performances as background music in the home. The training also includes simply watching others play.

The technique, developed by Dr. Shin'ichi Suzuki of Japan, insists that children can learn music as easily as they learn a language.

There isn’t much watching at this camp. Classes and individual instruction are given by Betty Haag Academy teachers. Teachers from the Winona Lake Suzuki School are assisting.

Local concert-goers will recall a recent appearance in Rodeheaver Auditorium by Haag’s traveling group, The Magical Strings of Youth.

Last month Haag and 40 students toured Italy. The visit overseas included a performance before Pope Benedict XVI at a special Vatican Mass. They were scheduled to play for 30 seconds. Benedict indicated they should continue to play before the crowd of 100,000.

The Haag Academy is in Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Haag, originally from LaPorte, said visits here are like returning home. She attended a church camp in Winona Lake as a child.

The MasterWorks Festival is a great draw, too. It gives the Suzuki students the opportunity to hear world-class performances.

“This little camp is a great spot for nurturing young children,” she said. “With MasterWorks here during the week they receive great value in hearing a really great orchestra.”

Small in stature, Hagg isn’t much taller than her students. The master violinist is all business when it comes to lessons though. Students from as far away as California are attending the camp this week.

“At any musical camp you have to have a high level of faculty to students. What the kids learn can be taken back to their regular teachers. They learn to practice and perform in a professional way.”

She expects the students to perform at high levels. “They don’t need to be mediocre. They realize they can reach a much higher level.”

In the Grace Brethren Church’s auditorium, a small group of young children learn to bring their junior-sized violins to rest, by placing them under their right arm, and the signal to raise them into position for play.

The afternoons are dedicated to recitals and several public performances are planned. In addition to an appearance at the gazebo in the Village At Winona at 1 p.m. today, the children will perform at the Presbyterian Church preschool in Warsaw Friday and give a concert Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Grace Brethren Church.

Ohio Pastor Ed Jackson (left) and Mike Stanley, from the Worthington, Ohio, church, recently visited Winona Lake and shared some dreams and hopes for the resurgence of a men’s ministry in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Stanley, who was featured in FGBC World’s story about Crusader Football in the September/October, 2005 issue (to read click on archived copies at www.fgbcworld.com), is the founder of Manhood in Action. Mike is ready to take the point position in the Brethren men’s work which Jackson founded many years ago.

To read more, click on www.manhoodinaction.com. Mike is available to do men’s retreats, or to be a speaker for events as schedule permits. The mission statement for Manhood In Action is, “A ministry for men of all ages that exists to encourage, train, and challenge Christian men to model genuine biblical manhood and to positively impact their circles of influence.”

Stanley may be contacted at: Mike Stanley, P.O. BOX 1265, Powell, OH, 43065; (614) 734-9932 or at coachstanley@manhoodinaction.com.

We wanted to share this neat photo, which appeared on Mike Jentes’ e-mail update from thequest in Columbus, Ohio.

It represents the thousands of children and young people ministered to by our Grace Brethren churches this summer. Mike says it for all of us:

“I thank Jesus that in all the fun we are having this week we are connecting children (and their families) to authentic and loving relationships with people AND JESUS.

“That's what it's all about...it's all about HIM! That's why we roast in the sun, and sweat and prepare Bible stories and water balloons. For Him...and for children, men and women to know Him and love Him.”

On behalf of the kids, who probably won’t take the time to say thanks, THANK YOU to all of the summer children’s workers who pour so much creativity, energy, and effort into bringing children into exposure to the gospel and to other believers. May God’s Kingdom reap a really bountiful harvest from your faithfulness this summer!

We earlier posted notice of the death on July 13 of the death of Glen Knepper in Hillsboro, Oregon. His son-in-law, Chris Hay, has provided the following text of a eulogy from Knepper’s memorial service (edited for length):

Pops began making people smile on March 27, 1931, when he was born to Harry and Lula Knepper. Glen Lee was the fourth of their six sons. He was raised in the small dairy community of Berkley’s Mill, Pennsylvania, and grew up with humble means as his Dad supported the bustling household on a coal miner’s meager earnings during the Depression.

Dad’s strong work ethic was developed at a young age as the family grew much of their daily food in a one-acre garden. And since they didn’t own a car, those stories of having to walk three miles – one way- into town were actually true!

When he was nine, the family started attending church, partly because the pastor was willing to drive them home. He also began going to church camp where he first met Adamae.

At the age of eleven Dad committed his life to Jesus Christ, a pledge he has kept and lived for all his life.

Throughout his high school years he was not able to be involved in a lot of sports or typical school activities because he needed to work, but when he had any free time it was usually spent in the woodworking shop. In the midst of work and school, he kept in touch with Adamae through church camps and youth rallies.

In 1952 Dad was drafted to serve in the Korean War as a medic. While serving with the 38th infantry in Pusan, South Korea, he earned; the Korean medal with 2 bronze stars, the United Nations Service medal, the Medical Badge, the National Defense service medal, the ROK Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct medal.

While in Korea, Dad and Mom developed their relationship via long distance love letters and during a two-week R&R he called Mom and proposed. They were married on September 4, 1954, a month after their original wedding date, thanks to Uncle Sam!

They tried to settle down into their new life in Pennsylvania, but after six different jobs in the first five months of their marriage, Dad came home and told Mom “Honey, there’s more to life than punching a time clock, I’m going to college!” so they packed up their bags and moved to Grace College in Indiana where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree and his fifth year in education.

While attending Grace, the Kneppers helped to build up the congregation of Warsaw Community Grace Brethren Church and in 1957 J.Mark was the first to join the family, followed by Dawn in 1960, and Sharon in 1962.

Dad’s teaching career allowed the family to move frequently over the years. He developed the philosophy that “there is too much of God’s wonderful creation and too many of God’s wonderful people to see, to stay in one place very long!”

He jumped at every opportunity to teach in a new place or help a struggling church. We lived in Indiana, Michigan, Washington State, Alaska and finally settled down in Oregon.

While some may attribute his greatest accomplishments to teaching or working with such incredible success with the mentally handicapped, he would say that the most important thing he did in life was to live in the light of God’s Word and raise his children to do the same.

Dad’s attitude in life was to enjoy it, not to get hung up on all the details. At one point in Alaska he owned ‘Pop’s Appliance Repair’ and the logo was “if Pops’ can’t fix it, it’s not worth having around.” Dad never knew a stranger, but kept trying to meet one.

Even in Dad’s final, painful years and days he attempted to spread joy. One day from ICU he told Mom to “ just grab him a sandwich and a glass of milk.” All in all, he never lost sight of his purpose to reflect God’s light. In and out of hospitals for the last 15 years, he never lost his desire to share the eternal hope he had.

Pops is survived by his wife Adamae, his children, their spouses and grandchildren.

The new “Women’s Spectrum” magazine from the Women of Grace USA is now available for shipping.

The colorful 38-page magazine contains spotlight features on missionaries, feature articles on core values for women, department articles that include creative women’s ministry ideas, Bible study ideas, Honor Her scholarships, and more.

Explanatory text says, “In this year’s ‘Women’s Spectrum’ women from many different walks of life share the secrets they’ve learned about dealing with disappointment. The truths they share will encourage your heart and refresh your perspective on how to turn disappointment into God’s appointment for you!”

Copies of the magazine are $6 each or $5 each for orders of 10 or more copies sent to one address. To order, or to obtain more information, contact Resources Distributor, P.O. Box 711, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590. Checks should be made payable to Women of Grace USA.

For more information e-mail womenofgraceusa@aol.com.

Professors Tiberius Rata and D. Brent Sandy of the Grace College and Seminary faculty have written study notes for a new study Bible. The work is based on the Holman Christian Standard Bible (a translation completed in 2004), and will be published by B&H (formerly Broadman and Holman) Press.

Dr. Rata, who is professor of Old Testament Studies, prepared the notes for Leviticus 13–27, and Dr. Sandy, who is professor of Biblical Studies, wrote the introduction and prepared the notes for the book of Zechariah.

The notes may be downloaded from the Grace website at www.grace.edu.

Rose Earnest, a member of the Waterloo, Iowa, Grace Brethren Church (Kelvin Cooke, pastor), was nominated by the Lowell Elementary School staff to receive the Governor's Award for Volunteerism.

Since her semi-retirement from nursing, Rose has volunteered at the school and she coordinates the Waterloo church's partnership with Lowell. She also helps with an after-school Good News Club at the Lowell school.

Fellow blogger Craig Alan Myers calls to our attention that the Washington Post has discovered WholesomeWear swimwear. Here is a short excerpt. The entire article is online at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/13/AR2006071301845.html

Ultimate Coverup
Full-Body Swimsuit Leaves Everything To the Imagination

By Robin Givhan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 14, 2006; Page C01

The makers of WholesomeWear swimsuits would like women to cover up their tummies. And their backs. And their arms. And half their legs. The Oregon company, based outside Portland, sells a collection of swimwear online that consists of a wet suit topped by a dress. The spandex underpinning is not sufficient on its own because bystanders would still be able to make out the curves of the woman's body. The nylon overdress takes care of any audacious display of an hourglass shape.

The collection is not aimed at practitioners of any specific religion. There is no obvious mention of spirituality, God, Allah or Joseph Smith on the company's Web site.

"There are still people in this world who prefer modesty," says Joan Ferguson, who handles sales for the company. "So my son, his wife and daughter designed the product."

Workmen this morning hoisted new air conditioning units onto the roof of the Brethren Missionary Herald Co. building in Winona Lake, Indiana, as part of the process of renovating the old Herald Bookstore space into the new Tree of Life Books/Music/Cafe.

Tree of Life is antiticipating opening the 7,500-square-foot combination cafe, college bookstore and general Christian bookstore sometime in September. Watch this blog for updates as the renovations continue.

Ted W. Engstrom, president emeritus of World Vision International and