BMH Editor's Blog

Recent news about our Grace Brethren military chaplains comes from the Eagle Commission.

Army Chaplain Billy Graham, and his wife, Robyn, and their three children, Joy, Katie, and Christopher, are adjusting to life in Korea. Pray for them as they get used to life in a different country. They are also facing another move to a different location in Korea this summer.

Army Chaplain Mark Penfold has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel at Fort Eustis, Va. He and his wife, Robin, also anticipate a move to Fort Hood, Texas, this summer.

Elizabeth Schaefer, wife of Army Chaplain James Schaefer, recently received good news. Two years ago, she had surgery for thyroid cancer. Recently, the results of a body scan showed no evidence of cancer.

The Eagle Commission serves as a strategic link between the people of the Grace Brethren churches and Grace Brethren military chaplains around the world. It provides a means to express support for the chaplains and their ministries and to provide their latest news and prayer requests.

Continue to remember the chaplains in prayer as they minister to the courageous men and women who serve in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind. will host the Pro-Life Music Festival 2007 from June 21-24. With more than 25 bands scheduled, the free admission festival (no tickets required) will be held on the Grace Athletic Fields. For more information, visit http://www.plmf.org/.

In conjunction with the Pro-Life Music Fesitval, the college will host a special VIP Campus Visit Day from 10 a.m. to noon on June 22. Prospective students can tour the campus and learn more about Grace - then attend the festival afterward. To register, call the Grace College Visitor's Center at 1-866-97-GRACE or e-mail enroll@grace.edu.

A Grace College adjunct music professor leads the jazz quintet that will kick off this summer's Concerts in Central Park in Warsaw, Ind.

The Kevin Piekarski Jazz Quintet will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, June 1 at Central Park.

The concert is free, and is sponsored by the Warsaw Park and Recreation Department. The park is located at the corner of Indiana and Canal streets.

The band includes bass player Piekarski (pictured at right above), guitarist George Ogg, saxophone player Rick Brown, drummer Doug Laughlin and trombonist Loy Hetrick.

Piekarski, the assistant principal bassist with the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Philharmonic since 1983, joined the faculty at Grace in 2005.

Photo by Matthew Rusling, Medill News Service

Today I saw a thought-provoking corruption of Joshua 24:15.

A pastor's online signature said: "As for me and my mouse, we will serve the Lord."

Think about that!

Recently I was in a Grace Brethren church over the weekend and had a short but interesting conversation with a woman leader who wears a head covering--as Brethren women in years past commonly did--in response to 1 Corinthians 11. Now comes a column in WORLD magazine by respected writer Andree Seu. Here are several paragraphs from her piece--the complete article may be read at http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13011

I will write precisely one column on this, and one column is all it deserves. I have taken to wearing a head covering during worship. I expect one in a thousand readers follows this practice, so you might all be annoyed with me.

It means launching out and putting a symbol of "glory" on my head at church because I think 1 Corinthians 11 tells me to, even if I may turn out in the end to be wrong. That's because I will definitely be wrong if I don't do what I think God is commanding.

To disobey what I think God is telling me is to disobey God. There is nothing more a man can do at any given moment than say yes to God as he hears Him. It is God Himself who gently steers our boats, and corrects their course, but only as we're moving toward Him (Philippians 3:15-16).

I read in 1 Corinthians 11 that the woman's head is to be covered in worship. The modern Christian consensus tells me that is a relative and obsolete command, dealing with some first-century problem in the city of Corinth. My high-school literary skills tell me otherwise: The command is rooted in creation (verses 7-9) and in nature (verse 14). And if that weren't ironclad enough, I am to cover my head "because of the angels."

From today's Simi Valley (Ca) Acorn:

Hope Community Church and Grace Christian School New Owners

Hope Community Church, a Grace Brethren church in Cary, N.C., and Grace Christian School, also of Cary, have jointly purchased the former Crossroads Ford dealership property in Cary. Located at 1101 Buck Jones Road, the 48,000 square foot property will be shared by the church and the school, institutions who operate independently of each other.

Already sharing a 14.7 acre parcel adjacent to the Ford property, Hope Community Church, located at 821 Buck Jones Road, and Grace Christian School, located at 801 Buck Jones Road, will share 50/50 ownership of the new site. As the school and church already work in tandem sharing current facilities and parking, the purchase of the new property will allow both institutions to expand their presence and influence within the surrounding area and continue to offer unique opportunities to the Cary and Raleigh communities.

Grace Christian School is a private K-12 college preparatory Christian school with an enrollment of 392 students. This purchase will allow future school enrollment to reach approximately 700 as well as provide a separate campus for grades 6-12.

“The acquisition of this new campus will usher in one of the most exciting times in the 23-year history of Grace. The new facilities will better enable Grace to effectively equip students with a quality, Christ-centered education to impact the world for Jesus Christ,” Don Payne, school administrator, explains.

For their part, Hope Community Church has cast a vision for a new community youth and teen center in addition to expanding their already overflowing student ministries. Upon relocating their middle and high school youth facilities and programs to the new building, work will begin on a community after school drop-in teen and outreach center. Hope purposes to significantly impact local youth by organizing positive, proactive student venues in one of the most ethnically diverse areas of Cary.

“We want to be a dynamic and compelling force in meeting the needs of our local community,” says Senior Pastor Mike Lee. “We feel one of the most proactive ways to do so is by reaching out to the burgeoning youth community that surrounds us.”

Renovations to the property to make the best possible use of space by both the school and church are expected to be completed by June 1, 2008.

Jesse Deloe, senior editor at BMH Books, center, leads the staff (and friends) in prayer this morning for Terry White, director of the Brethren Missionary Herald Company. Terry leaves next week to teach writing and journalism classes in Cameroon and Central African Republic. (See blogpost of May 24, 2007.) Seated to Jesse’s right is Ken Herman of Evangel Press, whose office is in the BMH building.

Left to right on the photo: Dan Balmer, chairman of Penn Valley elders, Larry Orme, executive pastor of Penn Valley, Al Kidder, pastor of Suburban GBC, and Tony Osimo, campus pastor at Bucks County Campus

FGBC Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey (right) led national conference planners from the various Grace Brethren national organizations on a tour today of the new $9.1 million Orthopaedic Capital Center (OCC) on the Grace College and Seminary campus in Winona Lake, Indiana.

The OCC will be headquarters for this summer's Equip07 national conference, which will be held July 29-August 3. All exhibits will be in the OCC, as well as some of the classes on the Equip07 roster.

The first session of conference will be in the OCC at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 29. Full information and conference registration information is available at http://www.fgbc.org/equip07/.

One of the Brethren groups descended from the Alexander Mack (seal at right) baptism in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708, is the Old German Baptist Brethren group. It is one of six groups which, along with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, participates in the Brethren Encyclopedia Project and is cooperating in organizing a 300th year celebration in Germany in August of 2008. These "cousins in the faith" are meeting this coming week for their annual conference. Here is an excerpt of an article in today's Carroll County (Indiana) Comet--to see the entire article click on http://www.carrollcountycomet.com/news/2007/0523/Front_Page/005.html . For more information on the OGBB's Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio, go to www.brethrenheritagecenter.org.


Fellowship and encouragement among brethren will be a running theme throughout the Old German Baptist Brethren Annual Conference May 26-29 on the Donald L. Hufford farm, 8101N. CR600W., two miles southwest of Rossville in Clinton County.

Each year, brethren from across the nation arrange a weekend of renewal of spirit and friendships to commemorate the anniversary of the Holy Spirit's descent upon the church. The event is held in different regions of the country on a rotation basis.

Preparations for the four-day series of meetings began more than two years ago with the formation of a seven-member committee of arrangements. Since then, 30 more committees were formed, each designed to handle a specific function of the conference.

Before the conference officially gets under way, worship, dining, rest and meeting facilities will be put in place on tentraising day, May 24. More than 35 acres of land surrounding the Hufford farm was sown in grass last year to provide meeting room for the anticipated six to seven thousand visitors. Church members will put final details in place the rest of the day Thursday and all day Friday.

Public welcome to attend

Members of the public are welcome to attend services during the conference that begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and continues each day at designated times. Visitors are asked to wear modest attire and that no photographs be taken inside tents during worship services.

Services on Pentecost Sunday will be held at 7 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the council tent. Additionally 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. services will be held in the auxiliary tent and Middle Fork meeting house, one-half mile south of the conference site.

A Love Feast involving self examination, foot-washing, Lord's Supper, observation of the Holy Kiss, and Holy Communion will occur Sunday at 5 p.m. in the dining tent. Only active church members may participate. However, the public is welcome to observe.

Visitors may also attend Monday preaching services held at 7 p.m. at area churches - Middle Fork, North Fork near Pyrmont, Bachelor Run in Flora and Deer Creek near Camden.

Late addition: Our friend Craig Myers over at Dunker Journal has posted some interesting photos of the tent-raising in his May 24 posts, which may be seen here: http://www.brfwitness.org/Journal/journal.htm

The next three weeks will be a bit unusual for this blog, though you may not notice much difference.

YIB (Your Intrepid Blogger) leaves the day after Memorial Day for nearly three weeks in sub-Sahara Africa, where we’ll be teaching and training young African journalists.

If all goes well, we’ll spend a few days in Cameroon, and then fly by small plane to the Central African Republic, where we’ll be working with a group that is starting up a new African youth periodical.

Organized and under the direction of Greg Burgess, who works with GBIM and Editions Cle' (French publisher) in France, the trip is part of an outgrowth of a group which informally calls itself TAG or “The American Table Group,” named for the restaurant in Warsaw, Indiana, where the group first convened several years ago. (see blogpost of August 1, 2006)

Comprised of individuals who have a special interest in the literature ministry in Africa, it includes Mike Taylor and Ted Rondeau of the GBIM staff, missionary appointee Jim Momeyer, ICDI founder Jim Hocking, Greg Burgess of Editions Cle', Terry White of the Brethren Missionary Herald Co., and occasional others, including a representative from the mission agency SIM.

Part of the group’s mission is to help Dounia Marc and other Central Africans whose literature ministry, supplies and equipment were destroyed in the civil strife, get back “on track” with printing and publishing in the CAR. BMH has been contributing $500 a month for this purpose since January of this year. All BMH corporation membership contributions ($25/year or more) are going toward the Africa literature ministry this year.

In addition, we desire to help train and encourage journalists and writers not only in the CAR, but also in other countries where there is a Grace Brethren heritage, with Brazil and Argentina likely next.

In Africa, several of us will be teaching from a curriculum we have used in other countries which was developed by the Colorado Springs-based Magazine Training Institute.

Session topics include “The Christian Writer,” “Understanding How to Communicate,” “Finding and Refining Ideas,” “Gathering Information,” “Organizing Your Material,” “Article Types,” “Writing the Lead,” “Keys to Powerful Writing,” “Writing the Conclusion,” and more.

On the advice of missionaries and seasoned travelers to Africa, I have given up hope of staying in constant contact with the blog and e-mail while I’m gone. So Liz Cutler Gates, the editorial director for BMH, will be posting to the blog in my absence. She has already begun—and I’ll bet you haven’t noticed the difference! News items may be e-mailed to her at lcgates@bmhbooks.com

I expect to return June 16 and should be back in the office June 18. Obviously, your prayer support for this effort will be greatly appreciated. Our dear brothers and sisters in sub-Sahara Africa are working under the most dismal of conditions—and yet the ministry of the printed word is so powerful over time and over distance.

God, after all, chose the printed word as His way to reveal Himself to us. Join us in praying that many Africans—who can effectively communicate in their own language, own thought patterns, and in the ways God has uniquely taught them through the Scriptures—will develop into effective communicators and writers in the years ahead.

You’ll get a report when I’m back.

Paul Rhodes was installed as the pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Chico, Calif. during a special service on May 20.

Previously, Paul served as an associate pastor of the Neighborhood Church in Chico. It was fitting that the pastor of that church began the service with comments of releasing Paul to another church in the community. Pastor Larry Lane expressed how hard that was but reminded us that we are not to think in terms of our own little empire but in terms of the kingdom.

Pastor Joel Richards, representing the Nor-Cal District of Grace Brethren Churches and the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers, was the keynote speaker. His message centered in Acts 13 and how the Holy Spirit calls us, sets us apart for particular ministry and confirms that call through various means. Since Paul had served in the Chico church many years ago under the ministry of Lloyd Woolman, it seemed only fitting and a work of God that he was now called back to be the senior pastor.

Pastor Rhodes call was officially certified by a reading of the minutes. After various pledges by both Paul and his wife Andrea, and by the congregation, the leaders of the church laid hands on their new pastor. They were joined by Pastor Lane and Pastor Richards.

Pastor Rhodes gave a brief challenge to the congregation and promised that he would lead them without oppressing them.

Sprecher Lodge at the Grace Brethren Retreat Center (Camp Conquest) in Denver, Pa., will be dedicated at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 9. The service will be followed by an open house and a light lunch.

The lodge is an expansion of an existing boys' cabin.

“We added two bathrooms, a large meeting room, and a small kitchen to the cinderblock dormitory structure,” says Michael Gehlert, who has been camp director since 2002.

The building is named in honor of Bob and Josie Sprecher, who served faithfully at the camp for many years.

The Retreat Center is a ministry of the Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

On a wooded site in Billy Graham's home town, the Billy Graham Library will be dedicated in Charlotte, N.C., on May 31 and will open to the public June 5. The library and museum trace the life of America's most famous evangelist.

The ceremony is expected to feature former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. The 88-year-old evangelist Graham is scheduled to come down from his home in the mountains and address the crowd of 1,500 invited guests.

If his fragile health allows him to make a now-rare public appearance, Graham's message will echo the one his ministry hopes visitors take from the library: The glory should go to God rather than the lanky farm boy who preached the gospel around the world.

Visitors get a look at the old photos and crusade footage that fill the 40,000-square-foot library. For more information log onto http://www.bgea.com/BGLibrary_Index.asp

By Norm MillerLYNCHBURG, Va., (BP)--Thousands thronged Lynchburg, Va., and the facilities of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University for the May 22 memorial service of Jerry Falwell.

The capacity crowd heard a statement from President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush as read by Tim Goeglein, special assistant to the president.

The statement offered the Bushes' sympathies and said that Falwell was a man who "cherished faith, family and freedom.

"The Bushes wrote that one of Falwell's "lasting contributions was the establishment of Liberty University, where he taught young people to remain true to their convictions, and to rely upon God's Word throughout each stage of their lives."

"Today, our thoughts and our prayers are with his wife Macel and the rest of the Falwell family."

Addressing the Falwell family, Goeglein said, "On behalf of all of us in the Bush-Cheney White House, please know that we are holding you up in prayer -- that we hold the Falwell family in very high regard."

Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, called Falwell "a prophet of our generation. I'm going to miss him."

"People have asked me, 'Franklin, did you agree with Jerry Falwell?'

"Every time he opened the Bible I agreed with Jerry Falwell," Graham said.

Graham called Falwell "controversial" and then ticked off a litany of social issues championed by Falwell, such as the sanctity of marriage and human life.

"He believed in the Gospel. That's controversial.

"He believed in the inerrancy of Scripture. That's controversial.

"He believed in the sanctity of life; he was against abortion. That's controversial.

"He believed in the family, and who would've ever thought that would be controversial?

"He believed in marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

"He believed that moral decay weakened the fabric of America. That's controversial.

"He believed that political leaders should be men of integrity and character.

"He believed in the local church. God bless him," said Graham who noted the impact Falwell had on his own family because all of Graham's children attended Liberty University.

In concluding remarks at the 90-minute service, Jerry Vines, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., and a former chairman of Liberty University trustee board, recalled one of Falwell's oft-noted requests -- that his own funeral last for only 45 minutes.

"And if they go over that," Vines quoted Falwell as saying, "then I'm going to get up and walk out."

"So, I have been watching carefully," said Vines, glancing at Falwell's casket."My assignment is to preach the Gospel, and in Jesus' name, and in the name of Jerry Falwell, to invite people to commit their lives to Jesus Christ," Vines said.

Vines noted that Falwell knew the "will of God, the work of God and the welcome of God," and that Falwell had a "three-fold anointing of God." One was as a prophet to the United States and "not just some preacher who decided he would dabble into politics."

Another role was as an educator, said Vines, who said he would belabor the well-known story of Liberty University, but invited everyone to "look around."

The third role was as a pastor. "God used this man to build a Gospel-preaching church. [Falwell] was a mega-church pastor before mega-churches were cool," Vines said.

Falwell started Thomas Road Baptist Church in 1956 with 35 members. The church has grown to more than 24,000 members. He founded Liberty University in 1971 and its enrollment has expanded to more than 21,000.

Vines concluded his remarks by inviting people to commit their lives to Jesus Christ. Following Vines' remarks, the combined choir and orchestra of Thomas Road Baptist Church erupted into the well-know "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's "Messiah," after which pall bearers wheeled Falwell's casket out of the church's auditorium.

Falwell's interment was a private, family affair.

Falwell who had a history of heart problems, was found unconscious in his office and without a pulse. He was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m. Eastern time on May 15. He was 73.

Grace Village Rehabilitation Center will mark its opening on Thursday, June 21, 2007, with a 4 p.m. dedication ceremony, followed by tours and refreshments. The Center is located adjacent to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Dr. in Winona Lake, Ind.

The Center is a short-stay recovery and outpatient facility that combines clinical quality with modern amenities to create a healing atmosphere and positive experience, according to Village officials.

It features 12 individual recovery suites, each with its own shower; a private dining room; “plug and go” Internet access; and a library and lounge to visit with family and friends.

Its therapy program is designed to help rehabilitation patients make a full recovery and return home. Licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapists use the most functional and effective treatment approaches.

Grace Village is a not-for-profit charitable organization that offers a variety of retirement living options including condominium homes, independent living apartments, licensed assisted living, and skilled care and therapy. Jeff Carroll is CEO and an 11-member board of directors oversees the operation and direction of the facility.

Grace College sophomore Adam Churchill of Warsaw, Indiana, a member of Grace’s soccer team, was responsible for saving the life of a baby recently.

The incident happened at a bicycle festival, sponsored by the Village at Winona, on May 5 and 6.

A baby was left unattended in its stroller and rolled backward into Winona Lake’s canal. Someone saw the stroller go into the canal and noticed a small hand sticking out of the water. Adam jumped into the canal and pulled the baby out.

A local resident wrote a letter to the Warsaw Times Union to say a public thanks to Adam and the other person for saving the baby. She mentioned that the parents did not take time to say thank you.

To read the letter to the editor on the Times Union website, click on www.timesuniononline.com/. You will find the letter under the heading “Baby Saved” (May 11).

Philip Bryant leads the launch team for Community of Hope, Surrey, B.C. 15-20 adults meet each Sunday in the living room of Philip and Beth Bryant to plan for Community of Hope's launch.

This group of folks are beginning to talk about the ministry resources that are available in the group. Wayne Albit (pictured with guitar) led the group in a short time for music. Tom Avey, FGBC Fellowship Coordinator (not pictured) answered questions about the FGBC and Philip (pictured in white shirt) talked about future plans of the group.

Pray for this new church plant. Community of Hope will be the third Grace Brethren Church in Canada. Grace Community Church and the Village are both in the Toronto/Mississauga area.

Cedar Grove is a vibrant, kingdom-minded church in Surrey, British Columbia. The church, under the leadership of Pastor Kevin Canavanaugh, is providing valuable support to Philip and Beth Bryant as they prepare to plant a church six miles away.

Philip and Beth help out at Cedar Grove on Saturday evening and Sunday morning and then host a meeting of their launch team in the evening. Cedar Grove's web site is http://the-grove.net/theteam.htm.

Seventeen teens and pre-teens were baptized at the Grace Brethren Church of Clinton, Maryland, at a special youth-focused baptism celebration on May 16.

Koreem Mack is Youth Minister and Howard Mayes is Senior Pastor

Coming soon to Surrey, British Columbia: Community of Hope, a new Grace Brethren Church!

Philip and Beth Bryant, GBNAM church-planters in Surrey, are amazed as God continues to answer prayer. They have a wonderful home with a huge basement. A few weeks ago, Philip decided to finish the basement with offices for future church staff. So the walls are up, electricity installed and painting underway.

Wayne (pictured) and Carol Ablit are on the launch team and are just a few of many folks who are helping with the new offices.

Joe Pogar graduated from the first 412 class, was an intern in Sebring, Florida, for one year and currently is an intern with Philip Bryant in Surrey, British Columbia. Joe is from the Waldorf MD Grace Brethren church. In this picture, Joe is helping to finish basement office in the home of Philip and Beth Bryant in Surrey.

The Grace Brethren Church in Wooster, Ohio (Bob Fetterhoff, Pastor; Bob Doerr, Nick Cleveland, Josh Atkins, Student Ministries) recently broke ground for the church's new 34,000 square foot Student Ministry and Activity Center. (article and photo courtesy Katrina Miller)

Hard hats were donned and shovels were turned as members of all ages came out to celebrate together. Before the groundbreaking ceremony, students outlined the new building and prayed for the students in the community that might someday walk through the doors of the new facility.

The primary role of the new addition will be to facilitate the growing need for Student Ministry space, as well as adding rooms for Adult Bible Fellowships (ABF’s), creating space for the Children’s Ministry, supplying art and music offices for Wooster Christian School, and providing room during the week for the Seniors/Legacy Ministry.

The project is expected to be finished in early fall of 2008.

At the recent commencement exercises for Grace College & Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, the "Golden Grads" class of 1957 was honored. (photo and ID courtesy Tim Ziebarth). More photos may be seen at http://www.grace.edu/grace/alumni/photo-galleries/GoldenGradReunionWeekend/index.html

Those present included (back row standing, from left):

Darwin Neddo
James Arrington
Robert (Bob) Shackelford
John D (Dale) Brock
John Rathbun
George (Forrest) Jackson
Paul Gehman
Alva Steffler
Jack Lowe
Gordon Lockwood

Front Row, from left:

Glenn Byers
Marilyn Johnson
Amy Volovski
George Johnson
Robert Clouse
John Miesel
Tom Julien
EmLyn Jones
Carl Key

Here is this morning's update on the recent colon cancer surgery on Cheryl Kaufman, former GBIM missionary and now staff member at the Worthington, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church. Donna Fasnacht is providing the updates:

We continue to praise the One who gives LIFE! When Cheryl's surgeon came to visit her last evening, he was the bearer of good news. The preliminary report from the pathologist indicated that the cancer, which is stage one, was removed through the surgical procedure.

At this point they do not anticipate any further treatment such as chemo or radiation, but that will be confirmed with an oncologist. Cheryl continues to make good progress, moving onto solid foods today. There is a "possibility" that she will be released this evening (Friday).

Keep praying for her recovery during her remaining stay in the hospital and then at home. She has continued opportunities to be a light to those walking in darkness. Thanks again for all your prayers for her (and me).

When the announcement was made earlier this week of the death of Dr. Jerry Falwell (pictured), Scott Distler, pastor of the Grace Brethren church in Lititz, Pennsylvania, posted this warm personal remembrance on his blog:

Also from the "Grace Connection," word was received this week that Dr. Stephen Young, 61, of Denver, Colorado, died of liver cancer on May 15. Dr. Young is a 1968 graduate of Grace College and taught in Grace's Speech Department from 1975-78.

The current issue of "Grace Connection" from Grace College & Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, asks prayer for Dr. Tiberius Rata (associate professor of Old Testament Studies at Grace Seminary, pictured), his wife, Carmen, and their two boys, Timothy (7) and Nicholas (4).

The Ratas' home in Warsaw, Indiana, was struck by lightning on Tuesday evening when severe storms swept through the area. There was extensive fire and water damage to the second floor of the house.

The family was home at the time, but no one was injured. You're asked to keep the Rata family in your prayers during this unsettling time, and as they work through insurance and housing issues.

An article on the storms and the house fire is available on the Warsaw Times-Union newspaper Web site at
http://www.timesuniononline.com/index.asp

Small-group discussion of specific passages of Scripture are an integral part of every Focus Retreat. Here, working on an assignment at the Northwest Focus Retreat were (from left) Joel Richards (Modesto, CA, LaLoma church); Nathan Zakahi (Grace Brethren Church of Sunnyside, WA); Greg Howell (Community Grace Brethren Church of Goldendale, WA) and Ray Feather and Steve Wilson from Grace Community Chapel in Mukilteo, Washington.

Dr. Terry Hofecker (pictured), pastor of Northwest Chapel Grace Brethren Church in Dublin, Ohio, and adjunct faculty with Grace Theological Seminary,
has recently been elected to the Board of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) as Vice President of Development.

ASOR is a scholarly society founded in 1900 that is committed to expanding and preserving the knowledge of the foundations of human civilization as found in the people and culture of the Ancient Near East.

As a premier archaeological research and publishing institution, ASOR sponsors study and research centers in Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Jordan with committees committed to work in Syria and Iraq.

In his new role, Dr. Hofecker will develop infrastructure and support for institutional advancement and expansion. As a non-traditional scholar, Terry has been active in Syro-Palestinian archaeology for the past few decades and recently helped launch the Tel Gezer Excavation and Publication Project, serving as Project Administrator.

Dr. Hofecker, a Grace Seminary alumnus (MDiv 81, MA 03), will continue his pastoral ministry and seminary teaching.

Pastor Bob Smoker of the Susquehanna Grace Brethren Church in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, recently hosted a weekend seminar with Mike Stanley. Here is a brief article he wrote, commending Stanley's ministry to other churches:

This was not like other men’s rallies – singing, praying, preaching, eating, business meeting. This rally had all that (except for the business meeting). The question was, “What can we do that is different? Something most men have never done. Something that will be a stretch.”

Susquehanna Grace Brethren Church in Wrightsville, PA, hosted a Men’s Rally April 21. The event was combined with the Grace Brethren Boys district leaders’ meeting and campout Friday night the 20th at the church.

That’s it! Lets set up a rappelling tower and break up the singing, praying, preaching and eating. Mike Stanley came from Columbus, OH, so that he could experience the thrill of rappelling a 25-foot wall.

Well, actually, he came to share the ministry of Manhood In Action and what it means to be a man of Christ. Men from seven churches came to learn that a man of Christ is a man of Commitment, Honor, Responsibility, Initiative, Service, and Truth.

One man later sent me this note: “Mike Stanley's message hit home in so many ways of what it meant to be a Christian man and how we need to honor our commitments at home with our wives and children. How we need to reach others through that same commitment of service to God. Mike’s easygoing personality but direct approach on the issues was refreshing.”

Mike is an excellent communicator and he connected well. He used the Scriptures and inspiring stories from history, movies, and his experiences as a football coach. He then preached at the morning worship service Sunday. The message of “CHRIST” is now being reinforced as several of the men of Susquehanna Grace are using Manhood In Action’s workbook Biblical Heroes as a discipleship tool.

I whole-heartedly recommend this ministry to the churches and men of the FGBC. We are already thinking of our next Men’s Rally with Mike.

You can contact him at (614) 734-9932 or coachstanley@manhoodinaction.com.

Oh yea, the coach took the rappel coaching very well. Pretty good form for a rookie!

Pastor Greg Howell led in the closing prayer for the Goldendale, Washington, Community Grace Brethren worship service this morning. The Goldendale church is actively supporting and assisting a church-plant in the Columbia River city of Dallesport, about 37 miles to its south.

Matt McCoy (right), family pastor at the Grace Brethren Community Church of Goldendale, Washington, in this morning's worship service presented a "Ph.T." (put hubby through) certificate to Colleen Howell (left), wife of Pastor Greg Howell.

Pastor Greg this past week was awarded his Doctor of Ministry degree from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. The Howells have been at the Goldendale church for 25 years and have nine children.

The 6 p.m. Saturday worship services at the Community Grace Brethren Church of Goldendale, Washington, are designed to be casual and family-centered.

Pastor Greg Howell (standing, red shirt) preaches the same message he does Sunday morning, but much of the rest of the service is tailored for the Saturday evening crowd, most of whom do not return for Sunday services.

Last night family pastor Matt McCoy began the service with announcements. After some praise and worship choruses Pastor Howell led a scriptural exploration of "Mary: the Mother of the God-Man" oriented to Mother's Day weekend themes.

Children participated in the service by reading scripture, and a number of spontaneous testimonies preceded the message. Attenders sat at round tables, and the service concluded with everyone retiring to the Fellowship Hall for a tasty fellowship meal of fajitas and strawberry shortcake.

Ron and Thelma Thompson were recently honored for their 50th wedding anniversary by family and friends. Ron served many years as a pastor, evangelist, and most recently as an associate at the Grace Brethren Church of Aiken, South Carolina (Steve Taylor, pastor). When we asked Ron for details on the celebration, he sent this summary:

Our 50th anniversary was officially April 23. Thelma's 70th birthday was April 20. Our daughters, Angie Hales of Lynchburg, VA and Melody Archer of Limestone, TN decided to plan a surprise "roast" for Thelma.

It was held on Saturday afternoon, April 28 from 2-4 PM. That was the nearest date we could work out. I was privy to some of the planning and had to furnish pictures for a beautiful scrapbook the girls were organizing for the occasion.

Melody and family came down that weekend to take Mom out for a birthday dinner. That was the pretense. Thelma was appropriately blindfolded and driven to the church (GBC Aiken) where a crowd of 60-70 people were on hand to wish her happy birthday.

What I did not know nor expect was a 50th anniversary surprise party had been planned for both of us as well. Melody led Thelma into the social hall and we were greeted by our daughter, Angie, and family.

An unexpected surprise was Thelma's parents, now in their 80's, brought to the celebration by Thelma's youngest sister, Carolyn, from Raleigh, NC. A brother from North Carolina was there as well as her favorite aunt and uncle from Roanoke, VA. Her favorite cousin from Florida also made the trip to Aiken.

My two sisters from Virginia were present. And a whole host of our church family came to wish us well. Thelma's "roast" turned out to be more for me than her. The whole thing was so hilarious one of our church ladies suggested we do this monthly for members having a birthday or anniversary!

Many cards, gifts, and hugs were given to us that day. Letters came to us from friends and former parishioners all over the U.S. We were overwhelmed with all the secretive planning that took place months before.

Pastor Steve Taylor and wife, Pat, were in on the surprise and did an excellent job in keeping everything secret. Thelma and I had celebrated our 50th anniversary early in March with a Caribbean cruise. That was our special gift to each other.

We thank and praise God for bringing us together and blessing us so abundantly in our ministry over the years!

YIB (Your Intrepid Blogger) is meeting this weekend with the Grace Brethren saints in Community Grace Brethren Church (pictured) of Goldendale, Washington.

Pastor Greg Howell--DOCTOR Greg Howell since he received the D.Min. degree from Grace Seminary last Saturday -- will be leading worship service tonight (Saturday) at 6 p.m. and again on Sunday morning. We'll be representing BMH ministries and doing whatever else Pastor Howell requests. The website for the Goldendale church is www.goldgbc.org.

Monday through Wednesday the posting will be slim, but the fellowship will be rich as we gather at remote Camp Clear Lake near White Pass, Washington, for the Northwest Focus Retreat. With only one phone line into the camp, it can't be comandeered much for dialup internet access, but we'll try to get a report or two out.

As with the other retreats, FGBC moderator Tim Boal will focus on the biblical definition of church in the Pauline epistles, as explained in his BMH book Building Authentic Community, which forms the foundation for the retreat's curriculum

Here is a Saturday update from the Columbia City (IN) church on Betty Gregory, wife of pastor John Gregory and mother of Pastor Dan Gregory:

Please continue to pray for Betty Gregory and family. She was in a regular hospital room at Lutheran but had to be moved back to ICU overnight.

They will do additional tests today including a cat scan to try and determine the nature of her problems. Pray that the doctors can accurately diagnose her and that they can treat her effectively, and that she would improve.

Pray also for the entire family, especially her husband John, as this has been really tough on them and they are exhausted, both physically and emotionally. Pray for God's comfort as only He can give, and for divine healing.

This article, by Brian Orme of the West Milton (OH) church, originally appeared in the Dayton Daily News:

West Milton, Ohio, is worlds away from Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, but through the love of God these two locales are forming a valuable connection, one that, no doubt, will change lives forever.

In a recent trip to Cambodia, the Rev. Steve Peters and missions leader Woody Curtis of Community Grace Brethren Church were praying about the possibility of partnering with the mission organization, Asia's Hope, and beginning an orphanage.

Back in West Milton, church members were praying for God to open the doors for a future possibility. Through a series of events by the end of the trip, God had provided a building, a gifted administrator, an educator and a widowed cook for the orphanage.

That's when the "Seeds of Hope" orphanage was born.

When Peters and Curtis returned from Cambodia, the report they gave to the people at Community Grace Church was not, "We might start an orphanage," instead, the bold message was — "We just started one."

Decades of warfare have left Cambodia wrought with crisis: HIV, hunger, poverty — all contributing to the flood of orphans within this war-torn country. These orphans need clean water, food, access to medical care, education, love and, above all, Jesus.

In the Bible pure religion is described as "looking after orphans and widows in their distress"— Peters says. This kind of love in action is always relevant and there's no doubt that pure religion is much needed in Cambodia, where children such as Sok Souyean and Chantha Sreypov are growing up without a mother or father.

Community Grace Church always has been known for their unique ministry to children. Within the West Milton and surrounding communities the church has been branded the "Chicken Church" because of a large plaster chicken that sits by the road during their summer vacation Bible school program — a program that reaches more than 800 different children every year.

For Community Grace, the Cambodian connection is just another continuation of that same mission: to love children, whether it's a mile down the road in West Milton or 9,000 miles away in Cambodia.

"We're focused on raising up a new generation of believers that will grow up and reach Cambodia for Christ," Peters says. For Peters, the orphanage is a long-term endeavor, part of a greater mission to reach the beautiful, but tattered country of Cambodia.

Pastor Don Shoemaker of the Grace Brethren church in Seal Beach, California, was recently honored for his work with the city. Double-click on image to enlarge.

BMH Books author Kary Oberbrunner (pictured), who is also on the staff of the Grace Brethren Church of Powell, Ohio, was interviewed Monday night about his new book CALLED over TV and radio.

According to LeSea Broadcasting and the Harvest Show, this interview will be broadcast to more than four billion people. Oberbrunner points out, "This translates to 80 percent of the world's population and 60 percent of the world's land mass."

To view the eight-minute interview, log onto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMGUM-9WMxw

The 11th Annual COSIM (The Coalition On the Support of Indigenous Ministries) Conference will be held June 11-13 on the campus of Wheaton College and Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, Illinois.

The theme of this year’s conference, which is also the title of the BMH Book (pictured) by the main presenters, is Breaking Tradition to Accomplish Vision: From frustration to joy in cross-cultural partnerships.


Featured plenary speakers and facilitators include:
· Paul R. Gupta, President, Hindustan Bible Institute, Chennai, India
· Sherwood G. Lingenfelter, Provost, Fuller Seminary
· John Watters, Executive Director, Wycliffe International

The Coalition On the Support of Indigenous Ministries is a fellowship of evangelical organizations with a common interest in the support and capacity building of developing-world ministries. COSIM’s mission is to expand the understanding and practice of partnership with indigenous ministries for the advance of the gospel.

The mission is accomplished through networking and sharing best practices, with emphasis on partnerships between North American and developing-world ministries.

For more information on COSIM, or to register for the conference (registration limited to 200 people), log onto http://www.cosim.info/cosim/default.asp

Visitors and callers to the Brethren Missionary Herald Company this summer will likely be greeted by the friendly voice and face of Heather Barrett (pictured), who is the 2007 summer marketing intern with BMH.

Heather, who began earlier this week, will be working full-time in the BMH front office through the end of August. She is a marketing major (minor in economics) at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.

Among Heather's duties this summer will be to work on marketing campaigns for various BMH Books products, to help create sales support materials, and to assist in the revision of BMH Books' trade and general catalog. She will also assist efforts to raise the visibility of the Fellowship's news and information periodical, FGBC World.

Heather is the daughter of Steve and Sandy Barrett of Warsaw, Indiana, and is the granddaughter of longtime Grace Brethren pastor Gilbert Hawkins.

Here is this morning's update from Pastor Paul Mutchler of the Lanham, Maryland, Grace Brethren Church, regarding the students and staff members injured in the van crash in Orlando earlier this week:

Headmaster Gene Pinkard and a crowd of faculty, students and parents greeted the returning senior class last night with a glorious mix of cheers, tears, hugs and prayers as all but two of the original 19 senior class trip returned from Florida.

Today the injured go to see their local doctors and the remaining seniors return to school.

Principal Burr remains in Orlando with Megan Matthews, and Mrs. Settles remains in Melbourne with Mrs. Veronica Coleman…three reconstructive surgeons expect to perform an eight-hour surgery on her today.

The following prayer request has come, indirectly, from the Study Abroad Coordinator at Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana:

Please pray for our three students in Spain: Brandon Burns, Lucas Brader, and Annie Lowrie. They are all living at a residence for students that is run by a church in Madrid.

Lucas and Brandon’s roommate, Israel, went to bed last night with what they thought was a bad cold. This morning he was worse and was taken to the hospital by ambulance, where he died.

The doctors have yet to determine the cause of death, but they think it may have been meningitis. Please pray for our students as they are shocked and afraid.

Prof. M. Schlatter
Study Abroad Coordinator

Pastor Ned Denlinger, who coordinates communications for the Tri-State district, sends along the following update on report-after-surgery for Elizabeth Pierce, the daughter-in-law of Pastor Daniel Pierce of the Greenville, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church. Here is Ned's latest report:

Pastor Daniel just called me back. They received the pathology report. Elizabeth's tumor is a grade 3 cancer. They will begin radiation and chemo treatments next week. It sounds like radiation will be 5 days/week for 6 weeks.

One big question is where to have it done. So as Daniel said, the good news is that they have the pathology report. The bad news is that the cancer is grade 3 and they were hoping for grade 2 or less.

As Ned has updates to report, they may be found on the Tri-State website at http://tristategbc.org/

Dear friends and family,

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. After a very long day and seven hours of surgery, I am very happy to let you all know that Gary's surgery went very well.

The tumor had shrunk from, about the size from a golf ball size to penny size. It was removed and the reconstruction of the rectum was successful. The doctor says that after healing takes place all systems should work properly and the ostemy can be reversed.

Keep praying for his healing. He says he feels like he has been hit by a Mack truck--in a lot of pain, but the nurses had him up walking after he had been back in his room about 2 hours.
God bless you all for your prayers.

Love,
Jean for Gary

The following report was received this evening from June Immel. Pastor Gary Austin was operated on earlier today for removal of a cancerous tumor from the colon/rectal area.

A LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG day. BUT an answer to prayer day.

They were able to remove ALL the tumor--it had become much smaller because of chemo and radiation and they were able to hook EVERYTHING back up so he does NOT have a bag. And the bag that he does have hooked to the small intestine will be redone in about 6-8 wks.

Gary is in a lot of pain and because of the meds he is on they cannot give him too much pain meds. or he will stop breathing so---the pain control team is/was trying to get everything balanced out so Gary could get some relief from pain. Keep praying.

Among those participating in commencement exercises at Grace College and Theological Seminary on May 5, 2007, were 60 men and women who, at their enrollment, indicated an affiliation with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Two earned the Doctor of Ministry degree -- Greg Howell (Goldendale, Washington) and John Teevan (Winona Lake, Indiana).

To read the entire list, click here http://www.bmhbooks.com/fgbcworld/article.asp?IDNum=287

Please pray for Betty Gregory, wife of Pastor John Gregory who is on the staff of Community of Hope Grace Brethren Church in Columbia City, Indiana (Dan Gregory, pastor).

Betty was transported to Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne at around 1 pm today. As of this afternoon the doctors still really don’t know what is causing the issues that Betty is having right now. They are going to do a biopsy on her liver tomorrow and hopefully that will provide answers to the questions.

Dan said she is feeling a little better and so please continue to pray for her recovery. Also, pray that the tests they do on her tomorrow will help the doctors diagnose and treat Betty. Continue to also Pray for John and the rest of the Gregory clan during this time of need.

Here is the Wednesday afternoon update on the Lanham van crash from Pastor Paul Mutchler:

Thank you for your continued prayer. This is the most recent news, even as treatment continues. Mr. Burr, our MS/HS Principal, is now in Orlando and making his rounds between three hospitals. Several parents of injured students are there as well.

All six of our people were hospitalized overnight. Two have been released…one, possibly two will be released this morning. Two will be hospitalized yet…

Mrs. Veronica Coleman…critical condition, four hours of surgery last night…many more to follow…major concern

Jason Coleman…two fractured wrists…released

Aaron Harten…seat belt injuries…possibly being released this morning

Megan Matthews…liver and spine damage, not requiring surgery…will be hospitalized for a while

Kyle Schwarm…multiple lacerations…had plastic surgery last night…possibly being released to his parents by noon

Christine Singh…released

All have lacerations, bruises, and great soreness.

Keep praying...

This emergency prayer request has just come in from Pastor Paul Mutchler of the Lanham, Maryland, Grace Brethren Church:

Our LCS seniors were involved in a terrible head-on collision this evening about 6:05 pm in the Orlando, FL area. On the fourth day of their senior trip, all of our people survived, but drivers of two other cars were killed (the original driver who crossed the median and the first car he hit…then he hit our first van head-on).

The police report is tha