BMH Editor's Blog

For the third consecutive year, the Grace Brethren Church in Tracy, Calif. hosted a Thanksgiving meal for international students in San Francisco. It was held at the International House of Friendship, where Kevin and Sieu Choo Ong minister to young men and women from around the world.

This year, more than 70 students and ministry supporters attended the November 17 dinner. About 20 members of the Tracy church prepared the meal, while another 10 took it to the city and served it, relieving the Ongs from any preparation or cleanup.

"After the meal, we led in games and a program in which a Christian perspective of an American Thanksgiving was presented," reported Robert MacMillan, Jr., teaching pastor at the Tracy church. Guests were challenged to consider most world religions and to test the truths about Christianity.

In the photo above, two students (from different continents) participate in the popcorn race.

Eighty people will be part of the first Bible Quiz Invitational held at CE National's Russell Center which starts tonight in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Key leadership at the BQI are Scott Feather, serving as main quiz master; Ray Feather, senior pastor at Grace Community Chapel, Mukilteo, Washington, serving as a quiz master and sharing challenges from the first six chapters in John; Timothy Clothier, youth director at Community Grace Brethren Church, Warsaw, Indiana, leading worship.

CE National executive director Ed Lewis will emcee the event and Courtney Cherest, Judy Fisher, and others will assist with the weekend, coordinated by Lois Maxson.

A special session for adults will be offered, helping them learn how to be effective coaches, along with three seminars for students. Dave Guiles, Director of Grace Brethren International Missions, will share a seminar titled "Ways to Share My Faith" from the Gospel of John.

Kip Cone, pastor at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, will give a seminar titled "Using Scripture to Make Practical Application to My Life." Timothy Kurtaneck, Director of Church Relations and Operation Barnabas at CE National, will teach on "Maintaining a Godly Character in Competition."

During the coaches' meeting, Scott Feather will talk about strategies for discipleship through Bible Quizzing.

The final quiz awards will be given at 7:30 Saturday evening, with a worship time and a challenge by Ray Feather following. Sunday morning will also see a devotional time led by Ray.

Teams participating are from Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky.

CE National feels Bible Quizzing is important because it stimulates students to Scripture memorization and study. Not only is quizzing fun, but it helps students understand team concepts as they study the Word together.

Coaches have an opportunity to disciple students and answer questions about Scripture as they compete against each other. While not all students will want to participate in a program of Bible Quizzing, churches need to evaluate how students are stimulated to study and memorize the Word on their own.

This year's Bible Quiz Invitational is very practical, as students coming have already studied and memorized portions of John chapters 1-6.

iGo 08 will be held at the Innisbrook Golf Resort near Tampa, Florida on July 26-31, 2008. For more details, click here.

While you are there, take time to look at the review video from Equip07, the 2007 conference of the FGBC, which was held in Winona Lake, Ind.

Services for Richard L. (Dick) Coldren, father-in-law of Pastor Bruce Barlow (Winona Lake, Ind. Grace Brethren Church), will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 1 at at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, 8225 Worthington-Galena Rd., Westerville, Ohio. Below is the obituary that appears in today's (November 28) Columbus Dispatch.

Richard L. (Dick) Coldren went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, November 27, 2007. He died at his home surrounded by family and friends, following an extended illness. He was born on December 25, 1929. A native of Columbus, his life was invested in teaching. He graduated from Linden McKinley High School, Capital University, and the Ohio State University. He served a four year hitch in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military police officer during the Korean Conflict. He started his teaching and coaching career in 1957 at Marion Franklin High School. Later, he taught English and speech at his alma mater, Linden McKinley, until 1964. He then became Director of Publications and Public Affairs for the Columbus Public Schools. He held that and other administrative positions until his retirement in 1990. He became a Christian as a teenager and served God in various ministries to students throughout his life. He was an avid runner, having participated in the first fifteen Columbus Marathons, as well as other races in the region. He served as a Docent at the Columbus Zoo for thirteen years. He loved educational programs, especially concerning the elephants. He married Carol (Tolbert) on May 9, 1953, who survives. He is also survived by his three children, Rick (Gayla) Coldren of Shreve, Ohio; Christi (Bruce) Barlow of Winona Lake, Indiana; Lori (Matt) Liston of Worthington; and his brother, Robert Coldren of Delaware. He is also survived by ten grand-children; one great-grand-child; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Grace Brethren Church Columbus, 8225 Worthington-Galena Rd., Westerville, on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 1 p.m. Calling hours, also at the church, will be from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Schoedinger Chapel of Worthington is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund for needy students has been established in his name at Gahanna Christian Academy and gifts in his memory may be sent directly to the school at 817 N. Hamilton Rd., Gahanna, OH, 43230.

Word was received mid-afternoon Tuesday of the death of Richard Coldren, long-time member of the Grace Brethren Church in Columbus, Ohio. Coldren had been declining in recent days with advanced cancer.

Dick will be remembered, among other things, for his work as a photographer at BNYC, and for being the father-in-law of Pastor Bruce Barlow of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.

As further details become available, they will be posted here.

John Ward writes that the DRIVEN GO team is leaving this week for Europe and their ministry trip. Reproduced here is an excerpt from the DRIVEN blog--to read daily accounts of the trip log onto http://drivenblog.wordpress.com/

The date has finally come for the Driven GO team to hop on a plane and head to London. Once there we’ll be spending time with our GBIM missionaries in London and then in Paris for a few days each.

The team will be focused on cultural and missional understanding that will guide us a we spend a significant amount of our time in prayer.

Pray for safety for our team of six adults and one baby as we travel today and tomorrow. Please join us on this journey as we plan to post news daily of all the happenings.

From today's Johnstown (PA) Tribune-Democrat. Randy Haulk is pastor of the Meyersdale, PA, Grace Brethren Church.

BY KECIA BAL
The Tribune-Democrat

BERLIN — Like thousands of others in the area, avid hunter Roger Deem woke early Monday to pursue a favorite pastime.

His annual tradition of heading out on the first day of deer season turned tragic when the 56-year-old Meyersdale man fell about 20 feet from a tree stand to his death, Somerset County Coroner Wallace Miller said.

Deem’s family characterized him as a hard-working and loving family man and a faithful churchgoer.

“He was a very energetic man,” said his wife, Pamela Deem. “He loved spending time with his grandchildren.”

A recently laid-off laborer at FreightCar America and former foreman, Deem always had enjoyed working with his hands.

“He was a jack-of-all-trades,” his wife said, adding that the couple sang in the choir at Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church. Roger Deem sang tenor. The family lived in South Fork before moving to rural Meyersdale.

State police said Deem was found about 100 yards off Glennoris School Road in Brothersvalley Township. Another hunter called emergency services when he saw Deem lying at the base of a tree. State police called it an accidental death.

The fatal fall was not considered a hunting accident. But Mel Shake, a regional supervisor with the state Game Commission said hunters should purchase appropriate safety devices when they buy a tree stand.

“One of the most important things for people to remember when using an elevated hunting platform is to use some sort of fall-restraint device – one that won’t slip up around the chest, preferably a full body harness,” Shake said.

Dr. John C. Whitcomb (center), one of BMH Books' best-selling authors, dropped by the BMH offices in Winona Lake, Indiana, today to give an update on his project to update and revise his book Early Earth. BMH Books division manager John Leonard is at left and BMH executive director Terry White is at right.

The new edition should be available sometime in mid-2008. Meanwhile, Whitcomb's charts, and books such as World that Perished, Esther, and others, continue to be among the publisher's best-selling works.

Whitcomb materials, and all BMH Books, may be obtained at www.bmhbooks.com. (photo by Liz Cutler Gates)

The Grace Brethren Investment Foundation (GBIF) has recently approved the financing necessary for the construction of a new worship facility for the Sebring Grace Brethren Church, 3626 Thunderbird Road, Sebring, Fla. (Randy Smith, pastor). The new building will encompass 7,800 square feet of space and will be situated on more than four acres of land.

"GBIF is pleased to partner with this thriving
congregation in Florida as we witness God continue to transform lives in the furtherance of His work," said Ken Seyfert, executive director of operations for the Foundation.

PINELLAS PARK, FLORIDA – Thieves broke into a church on November 10 and walked off with a guitar and amplifier. Police said the suspects entered the Grace Brethren Church at 6300 62nd Ave. through a side door.

Other electronics equipment had been stacked in the chapel area. It appeared that the burglars left quickly when they were scared off. Randy Weekley is pastor of the Pinellas Park church.

Outreach pastor Ivanildo Trindade of the Grace Brethren Church in Wooster, Ohio (Robert Fetterhoff, pastor) sends along the following photos and report of the Wooster Fun Fest outreach:

Halloween at the church?

Not really. A healthy alternative for families who want to bring kids to a fun and a safe environment? Yes!

This is how our church views our Fall Fun Fest. We ask people to come dressed up in their favorite costumes and we provide them with fun activities for the evening. We let the light of Christ shine all over our building that night!

This year we built a maze with cardboard boxes, black light and a lot of creativity. Young people did most of the work to put this together. We also had face painting, giant inflatable games, which we locate inside our Family Life Center, and arts and crafts for all ages.

The highlights of the evening are the puppet team and a guest group we invite to perform. In previous years we’ve had magicians, painters, a man who did his juggling act using a chain saw, and other unique attractions.

This year our puppet team presented the story of Jonah and “Quiet Love,” a group that performs songs with sign language and black light, were a crowd favorite. They both presented the gospel in all of their shows.

We had more than 800 people come into our building for a little over two hours on a Saturday evening. Though it was raining, it didn’t dampen peoples' enthusiasm for what our church was providing to their children. I talked to so many people who said again and again: “Thank you for allowing me to bring my children to such a wonderful place the week of Halloween.”

Fall Fun Fest is also for adults. We go out of our way to make sure that children have loads of fun but still feel safe in our building. We realize that perhaps the best way to get to the hearts of the adults is to make sure that we treat their young ones with utmost love and care.

We can tell the parents are happy when they leave our building and shake hands with members of our staff. Many of those folks had never been to our building before. Now we hope they will come back for some more.

Did I tell you that each child gets a bag of candies as well? Oh yes, “no tricks, only treats.” The bags also have a tract that is appropriate for this time of the year.

Fall Fun Fest is just another way that Wooster Grace finds to extend the love of Christ to people in our community in a tangible way.

BASEBALL’S JOSH HAMILTON TO SPEAK AT HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH
Will Share Story of Addiction, Recovery, and Rise to Baseball Fame

Raleigh, NC -- Josh Hamilton (pictured) of the Cincinnati Reds will be a guest speaker at Hope Community Church (Mike Lee, pastor) during the weekend services of Saturday, December 1, at 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 2, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. The church, which is affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is located at 821 Buck Jones Road in southwest Raleigh.

Hamilton, also known as “Hammer,” hails from Raleigh and graduated from Athens Drive High School. In 1999, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected Hamilton first overall in the MLB draft making him the first #1 pick in franchise history.

In 2006, after numerous off-field problems, the Chicago Cubs used the Rule 5 draft to pluck the outfielder out of the Tampa Bay farm system, and then traded him to the Cincinnati Reds. Baseball America’s Chris Kline and John Manuel called Hamilton “the biggest name in the Rule 5 in years.”

During the three weekend church services at Hope, Hamilton, nicknamed “The Natural,” will share his story of drug addiction and recovery, his rise to baseball fame, and how his faith impacted his addiction recovery and his baseball career.

For directions to or more info regarding Hope Community Church, visit www.gethope.net or call 919.532.0620.

The Iglesia Comunal Cristiana, a Grace Brethren church in Tampa, Florida, pastored by Gerardo Leiton (left in photo) recently dedicated its new facility. (photos courtesy Gerardo Leiton)

Dr. Larry Chamberlain of the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation, Winona Lake, IN, was one of the speakers for the dedication service.

Pastor Jason Carmean of the Lexington, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church (pictured), sent along the good news that the church has paid off its mortgage. Here is part of his message:

This last Sunday, we finished off our capital campaign to pay off our mortgage to the bank. Four years ago we started to take a one-time extra offering the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We also initially allowed people to give low-interest loans to the church as well, which were more than savings accounts were paying but less than our mortgage interest percent.

Sunday we had just under a $60,000 offering to finish our responsibility to the bank. We needed just a little more than $57,000.

We praise the Lord for this and the beginning of the financial freedom it is providing. We still have approximately $140,000 in loans that people gave, but those can be stretched out a little longer because of the agreement that we had.

Then last night, we had communion as well. It was great to have so many people reflect on the Lord's goodness shown to Lexington in the good times and the tougher times over the years.

All in all, the day couldn't have been much better!

Today's South Bend Tribune carries an article about coaches in the upcoming Indiana state football finals, including a Grace College (Winona Lake, IN) graduate. Here is an excerpt--to read the entire article, click on http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071120/SPORTS11/711200408/1001/Sports

This isn't Herb King's first trip to Indianapolis.

Although King is bringing Rockville to the state finals for the first time, he knows the routine from his playing days at Tippecanoe Valley.

The 1980 graduate was a member of the Vikings' 1977 Class 1-A state runner-up squad and a starter on the 1979 state championship squad.

"Although I don't have any family left in Mentone, I've still got a lot of fond memories and classmates left there and in Kocsiusko County," the 45-year old King recalled. "Some of the lessons I learned from (former Tippy Valley Coach (Charles) Smith as a player, I've used to teach my own players."

One of the Rox's top perfomers just happens to be King's son, junior quarterback Matt King.

"I've been very blessed over the years, so I really couldn't ask for anything else," said King, who graduated from Grace College in 1985. "I not only get to coach in a state title game, but I have my son along with me as well."

Dr. Larry Chamberlain, who oversees The Eagle Commission which coordinates with all Grace Brethren military chaplains, has announced the posting of a new website and some compelling video on the chaplaincy. Here is an excerpt from his communication:

I am pleased to announce that a web-site has been established for the Eagle Commission, thanks to the good efforts of Kathy Allison, who had worked with me as Director of Communications and Public Relations during our days together with GBNAM. Kathy is now with Grace Schools, but she has graciously agreed to help us with the web-site’s development and regular maintenance.

The web address is www.eaglecommission.org. Surf it at your earliest convenience and pray for our co-workers who wear our nation’s uniform, that God will protect them and bless their ministries.

I received word this week from James Schaefer, US Army Chaplain now serving as a recruiter for Army Chaplains, that his efforts have been very successful with the Army exceeding its goals for new Chaplains. He sent to me a link to a recent ABC News report on the Army Chaplaincy.

I encourage you to view the video (http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3737124)as it serves as a compelling reminder of the effective and significant ministry our Chaplains provide for troops in harm’s way.

From the Okeechobee, Florida, News:

Anyone around Okeechobee in the 1970’s might remember the big two-story house on the corner of NW Second St. and US Highway 441. David R. MacNeil and his wife Carrie had owned it since the 1920’s.

But when Barnett Bank bought the property, the house had to be either torn down or moved. That’s when Harvey Sampson came into the picture. He and his wife Edith had wanted to start a children’s home and this house was certainly large enough to hold as many youngsters as they could handle.

Tom Hebel, who was manager at Barnet Bank at the time, told Sampson, “If you move that house you can have it.”

Mr. Sampson, now 88 years old, remembers it like yesterday.

“I went to a fellow here in town who moved houses and asked him what he’d charge.” He recalled. “He looked at the house and said he could move it for $25,000.

“I went back and told Tom Hebel the price and said ‘I don’t have that kind of money,’ and Tom said -- right then and there -- ‘We’ll make you a loan.’ And they did. Can you imagine? That wouldn’t happen today,” he continued.

Harvey and is wife Edith attended the Grace Brethren Church here in town at the time. (Randy Macomber was the pastor then.) The church owned 20 acres in Bassenger, and they gave Mr. Sampson one acre for the house. They named the place “Crossroads,” and according to Sampson, he had children ready to move in even before the house was ready.

“To move the house,” Mr. Sampson said, “We had to cut it in two and move both halves. When we got both halves to Bassenger, Edith said, ‘Don’t put them all the way together. We’ll have a breezeway.’ So that’s what we did.”

Edith was a school teacher and taught kindergarten to all the Bassenger kids in that Breezeway. The couple also took in a total of 32 foster children during the 12 years the children’s home was in operation.

“The Big House,” as Mr. Sampson still refers to it, was too big for them after Edith got cancer and they couldn’t take care of children anymore. He sold the place to Jeff and Debbie Clemons with the condition that he could have a house trailer there on the property.

Mr. Sampson, now widowed, still resides there by himself and his little dog Louie. He can’t do much anymore and he’s legally blind, but he has some wonderful memories of what God has done throughout his life.

Grace Fellowship of Alta Loma, California, celebrated their 30th anniversary Sunday morning November 18th by burning the mortgage. Pastor Roy Halberg, along with the church elders, Kevin Fairchild, Dan Magnusen, and Carlos Lascaibar, led the church family in celebrating this great milestone. By the providence of God, former pastor, Neil Cole, was also present along with his wife, Dana, and their son Zach.

Kevin Fairchild was a high school student when Grace Fellowship began with a Bible study in his parents' home. Having been a part of the church family since his youth gave Kevin a unique perspective as he shared in the service by highlighting the church’s history through photographs that included the first baptism service, the ground breaking ceremony, and the construction of the church building.

After Kevin’s look back, Pastor Roy looked forward, addressing the theme “Grace Fellowship- The Next 30 Years” stressing the church's ambition to demonstrate love for the Lord by loving the lost and seeking to introduce them to the Savior.

The morning celebration concluded with lunch and a three-fold communion service.

Today marked the last day of life for the Lancer gymnasium on the campus of Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana.

The gym, completed in 1958 and used since then as the main athletic facility on campus, was equipped with seating for 1800 on folding bleachers. The main athletic facility on campus is now the Orthopaedic Capital Center, a sparkling $9.1 million facility first occupied in May of this year. (Bekah Harlos photos)

Pastor Roland Maust recently began his ministry at the Grace Brethren Church in Uniontown, Pa. The Connellsville Union Courier featured him in Friday's paper.

New pastor feels welcome

Pastor Roland Maust is a pastor for the people.

Maust is the new pastor at the Uniontown Grace Brethren Church. He arrived in Uniontown after serving for 11 years at the Millersburg Grace Brethren Church, located in Ohio.

"It was time," Maust said. "I laid out some goals when I was in Millersburg and I met all those goals."

Maust compares his role of pastor to that of a member of a relay team.

"You complete your one lap as well as you can then you hand off to the successor," said Maust.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Pastor Ralph Wiley has had a long and fruitful ministry as a Grace Brethren pastor, prison chaplain, and interim pastor, and has both a son and grandson who are Grace Brethren pastors. He has been alternating between Ohio and Florida, making the Grace Brethren Church of Sebring, Florida (Randy Smith, pastor) his home church and place of ministry during the winters.

Recently Ralph has experienced the return of cancer from which God cured him some 40 years ago. The following e-mail from Pastor Randy Smith tells the remarkable way in which Pastor Ralph plans to spend the next several months:

This past Sunday Ralph Wiley stood before Grace Church in Sebring and told us his news. The doctors say he has two months at the outside before he gets his long-awaited meeting with Jesus. All indications are that he will be home soon.

He said, “If my doctors are correct, January 8th, 2008 at 10:40 AM, I’m outta here!” The doctor was not sure that Ralph grasped the situation when he saw Ralph’s unmistakable smile. He asked, and got a Gospel presentation as the answer by Ralph’s very able daughter, Ruth. Ralph said, “I am so at peace with this, it’s ridiculous!”

Here’s the plan. Ralph has planned his memorial service at Sebring, and HE IS THE SPEAKER! I have every confidence the Lord will absolutely shower the place with blessing. The service will be held at the second service at Grace (10:45 AM) on Sunday, November 25th, 2007.

People will be coming in from several states, and the place is going to be packed, I am sure. After that, Ralph will wrap things up in Sebring, and take off to Ohio, leaving the Elders here with his parting words as Paul did at Miletus to the Ephesians.

Just a personal word here: As you pray for the flock here, I am very aware that God has called two other pastors home in two years (Denny Brown and Vince Lohnes). Pray that as we continue to grow in both numbers and faith, our leaders will continue to be able to adjust to each home going.

When Denny left us, I felt heavy. Some of the joy and a lot of the humor left quickly, and it took time to bring it back. When Vince left I felt a hurt I can’t describe, it was like a loneliness. Since then, the team has grown and I have excellent and fun partners in this growing work again.

Yet, Ralph is a father in the faith, a friend, and in many ways a mentor. He has been by my side for many years in two different churches. What an honor to serve with these dear men! What a blessing to have been sharpened and loved by them! Keep us in prayer in these days of change, as God graduates one of our best.

Pastor Randy Smith
Sebring Grace

We recently received an update e-mail from Sue Poyner, the daughter-in-law of Randy and Betty Poyner. Randy is a longtime pastor and professional counselor in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. They are now living in Florida, and Betty has recently been battling a recurrence of cancer. Here are excerpts from the update:

We've returned from Florida, and I wanted to give you a quick recap of the weekend. Mom was able to come home under hospice care on Sunday morning. We were thrilled that we would be able to have their 50th [wedding] anniversary celebration at home instead of in a hospital room.

At 2:00 p.m., with all our immediate families present, as well as Mom's sister, Janie Russell, and seven other friends, they exchanged vows, and we had time to reflect together on the sweetness of their relationship and the great gift of faithfulness these 50 years represent.

Susan and Christy had planned a lot of wonderful touches: a beautiful cake, 50 roses, and a wonderful buffet of finger foods, etc. for afterwards. Their granddaughter, Harmony, had put together a slide show with music that was very fun to watch.

I felt like God gave Mom a good hour to not only have the energy to be fully present, but to really enjoy herself and Dad. Cards and flowers from many folks are spread throughout their home. It's so very right to mark such a milestone - I was thrilled for all our children to witness it. The "staying" of love so reflects the heart of God.

We are very grateful for your prayers on their behalf - I feel as though we are all walking Mom home. Thank you for your hand in hers through prayer.

The Grace College Lancer Gym, Winona Lake, Indiana, is seeing its lasts days as G & G Hauling and Excavating has gutted the inside of the facility and plans on tearing the building down beginning Monday. The college is planning to construct a new student dormitory on the site. Grace Lancer teams now play their home games at the Orthopedic Capital Center on Wooster Road. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union

From the Grace Brethren Church in Sebring, Florida, GCBI site coordinator Ben Ogden sends along the following photos and brief report. For more information on GCBI log onto www.gcbi.net.

On Saturday, November 10th, the students of Great Commission Bible Institute had the opportunity to represent Christ and Grace Church of Sebring in our town's 41st annual Art Festival. The festival draws thousands of people each year to our downtown "historic" area to celebrate art, food and community.

The GCBI gang spent the day handing out free water bottles along with literature on how to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. They had the opportunity to share their faith in Christ with many people and invite them to come check out the church. We are praying that God uses their efforts to produce an abundance of fruit in our community.

Can you use your skill with finances to reach people for Christ? Yes!

Grace Brethren International Missions is seeking a person with strong accounting background to join our team as our Controller. God can use your skills to keep GBIM ministries fiscally strong, so our missionaries are free to focus on and grow their ministries – to take the church where it is needed most!

For more information, see www.gbim.org. Please send your resume to Joan Hoke at jhoke@gbim.org or call her at 268-1888 ext. 21.

Former Grace Brethren pastors and military chaplains Richard McNeely (left) and Wayne Flory (right) visit with BMH senior editor Jesse Deloe (center) at the Evangelical Theological Society annual meeting, currently being held in San Diego, California.

BMH Books is one of the exhibitors, and a number of Grace Seminary faculty members are giving presentations or are on the program, including D. Brent Sandy, Terry Hofecker, Ed DeZago, Tiberius Rata, Ron Clutter, and others. Many Grace Brethren pastors and Grace alumni have also stopped by the exhibit to visit.

The ETS convention ends Friday afternoon.

On Saturday evening, November 10, the new worship center of Iglesia Comunal Christiana in Tampa, Florida, was dedicated to the Lord. This church was assisted in its formation by Grace Brethren North American Missions and is pastored by Gerardo Leiton, who was led to the Lord and discipled by Jesus Munoz. Dr. Larry Chamberlain, president of Grace Brethren Investment Foundation, offered the dedicatory address and praised the congregation and its leadership for their faithfulness and commitment to reach their community with the Gospel of Christ.

In the photo, Jesus Munoz (left) congratulates Gerardo and Paz Leiton on the dedication of the new worship center. (Photo by Larry Chamberlain)

Under the heading "Must-See Game of the Week" here is an interesting blogpost about the Grace College (Winona Lake, IN) Lancers from an outsider. A short excerpt is posted here--to read the entire post, click on http://thesportsoup.com/2007/11/09/must-see-games-of-the-week-11-9/

In today’s fast pace, over-marketed sports world, sometimes we forget about the true importance of the sport we like to call basketball. In a little known small town, Winona Lake in Indiana, the Division III, Grace College Lancers take the floor each basketball season with undersized, non-highly recruited players. In fact, they don’t even grant athletic scholarships.

But that doesn’t take away the passion for basketball portrayed by the players of Grace College, and the student body of approximately 1,300. They are there to see basketball. Not superstars. Not superegos.

I visited this amazing institution this summer, and was truly moved. Aside from the beautiful campus, and thoughtful faculty, you can’t help but channeled Jimmy Chitwood, when you step into their new Sports Arena, the Orthopedic Capital Center.

For our consideration this Veteran's Day weekend, Chuck Winter sends along this poem, which was penned several weeks ago by Jim White, a member of the Grace Brethren Church of Sunnyside, Washington (Nathan Zakahi, pastor):

Very many people, through more than two hundred thirty years,
Have stood up for Old Glory, in times of sweat, and blood, and tears.

Each generation has risen up to meet their country’s call.
Freedom must be won time and again, there is no “once for all”.

The light of liberty has been fueled by a nobly burning spark.
The valor of millions has bestowed upon our land sweet freedom’s mark.

Earning freedom’s blessings has come not free, but with great cost,
Not just expense of treasure, many lives were also lost.

Recipients of their service, we live today in light,
Though many, and their comrades, gave their all to win the fight.

Around the world, and through the years, in climates hot or cold,
Our veterans have earned our gratitude, that multitude of the bold.

Never should we take for granted what our vets have done.
Unappreciated vets—their number should be “none”.

Sacrifice for others has characterized many a selfless vet.
Among us now are many who gave, and others are serving yet.



Do we appreciate their service, are thanks upon our lips,
For those who’ve stood for freedom’s cause—on land, in air, on ships?

As we, on this day of remembrance, think of vets now and before,
May our attitude be of thanksgiving to them, today and evermore.

You and I live in liberty and freedom, to them we are in debt.
For what they’ve done, in the past and now, be sure to thank a vet.


James W. White
Teacher—Grade 5
Prosser Heights Elementary School
Prosser, Washington
October 21, 2007

Michael Grill, second from left in photo, was given the Bill Reneker Memorial Community Service Award Friday evening at the ninth annual dinner for the Winona Lake, Indiana, community. With him are (from left) Grill's wife, Becky, his mother, Kittie, son Josh and daughter-in-law Amy.

Grill, who is professor of psychology and chair of the behavioral science department at Grace College in Winona Lake, has been active in the community as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, the town's plan commission, head of a tennis recreational program, and more. He also serves on the Board of Overseers of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church (Bruce Barlow, lead pastor).

Approximately 150 Winona Lake residents attended the festive function, which was held in the Rodeheaver Auditorium, which is currently decorated with more than 30 Christmas trees for the Holiday Festival of Trees.

The award recognizes an individual who is respected by the community, involved in some form of service to the citizens of the town that results in significant impact on the community as a whole, and must be a resident of the town.

A number of other individuals were recognized at the dinner, including several who have significantly improved their properties over this past year. Town Council president David Delp emceed the program and special music was provided by Patrick Kavanaugh and Gert Kumi of the Grace College music faculty.

Previous recipients of the Reneker Award include Brent Wilcoxson, R. Quinton Rupe, Dr. Stephen Peoples, Lisa LaMasters, Dane Miller, Lee Jenkins, Dr. Ron Manahan, Al Disbro, Willa Henry, Dr. Steve Grill (Mike Grill's brother), Blaine Mikesell, and Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh.

To read more, click on http://www.timesuniononline.com/main.asp?SectionID=-1&SubSectionID=224&ArticleID=28876

Denominational communications and publishing were the topics as the board of directors of the Brethren Missionary Herald Company kicked off their fall meeting in Winona Lake, Ind. on Thursday afternoon (November 8). Joining the board for lunch and conversation were representatives of the Baptist General Conference (BGC) from Arlington Heights, Ill., who discussed their publication and book store operations.

In the photo, Gary Marsh, director of publishing for the BGC, describes the communications arm of their denomination. Left to right are BMH board member Nathan Bryant, Marsh, BMH Executive Director Terry White, and BMH board member Pat Phillips.

Joining Marsh in Winona Lake was Bob Putman, editor of BGCWorld, and Scott Nelson, director of Harvest, the denomination's online bookstore.

In addition to Bryant, of Milton, Ont. and Phillips, of Bexley, Ohio, BMH board members at this week's meeting include Todd Scoles (president) of Dublin, Ohio, Bob Arenobine of Fort Wayne, Ind., Nathan Harrison of Gahanna, Ohio, and Rick Fairman of Lancaster, Pa. Not able to attend are Bruce Barlow of Winona Lake, Ind., Dan Thornton of Soldotna, Alaska, and Barb Wooler of Winona Lake, Ind.

The board continues to meet through tomorrow.

It is not unusual for a local Grace Brethren church to serve as a polling place during an election, such as the Ghent Grace Brethren Church in Roanoke, Va. or the Grace Brethren Church in Norton, Ohio did on Tuesday. (Read here and here about the Ghent church serving as a polling place or here about voter turn out at the precinct at the Norton church.)

Andy Wirt, a church planter in New Albany, Ohio, realized it was an opportunity to let his community know a new Grace Brethren congregation, ClearView Church, is being established in northeast Franklin County. He persuaded a local Caribou Coffee shop to donate coffee and donuts. Early Tuesday morning, he and other members of the church core group were on hand at the Gahanna YMCA to serve the goodies to poll workers, voters, and other volunteers.

"What was most exciting was the contacts we were able to make and the conversations we were able to have," Andy reported on his blog. "Many people were excited about getting something of value (that they enjoy) for free. We were also able to talk to a handful of families that communicated they are looking for a church. I estimate we were able to give out about 20 invitations to our meetings and seed our logo and a smile in countless minds."

At the end of the day, Malik Moore, membership services director at the Y (pictured on right with ClearView Church teammate, Dan Whinnery) wrote: "It was a great pleasure having you at the YMCA for Election Day. You are a great example of what it means to be a neighbor. Our members and visitors all seemed to really enjoy your warming spirit. ... Please do not hesitate to call me with any ideas you have for partnerships between the Gahanna YMCA and ClearView Church in the future!"

To learn more about ClearView Church, click here or see Andy's blog, Wirt Prayer Team. The church is currently in the foundational stages with a grand opening scheduled in Fall 2008.

John Ward will be joining Grace Brethren International Missions as the new recruitment coordinator. His title is O2 Mobilizer (Overseas Opportunities) and he will begin his duties on January 1, 2008. He and his wife Kate (pictured at right with son, Micah) will continue to reside in Ohio, which places them close to about 1/3 of the Grace Brethren in the United States.

Over the last week, several Grace Brethren churches have announced new pastoral leadership.

At the Ghent Grace Brethren Church in Roanoke, Va., Zach Doppelt will be its next pastor, beginning November 27.

In Medina, Ohio, Shepherd’s Grace Church has called retiring Air Force Chaplain, Ralph E. Molyneux as its next pastor. (Ralph is pictured at right.)

For more information on both men, plus other news of interest to Grace Brethren pastors and church leaders, see the blog for the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers by clicking here.

Today's Peninsula Clarion in Soldotna, Alaska, includes a story about disaster training that was held Saturday at the Peninsula Grace Brethren Church (Keith Randall, pastor).

If it wasn't supposed to be serious, it would have been funny. But as the cries of Paul Adams echoed through the hallways of Peninsula Grace Brethren Church early Saturday morning, few earthquake victims could keep a straight face.

Adams, a cadet with the Civil Air Patrol, crawled around a dim classroom on the second floor of the church's worship center with a broken leg, a compound fracture of his right arm and a shard of glass sticking out of his head, searching for Larry, who was pronounced dead as rescuers carried him down to the lower floor.

"Don't die on me Larry, you owe me 50 bucks!"

To read the whole story, click here.

The Chico, Calif., Enterprise-Record has been running a series of stories on a Brethren group that is part of the Grace Brethren family tree -- the Old Brethren Church. Part of the series was Sunday's article on Pastor Paul Rhodes at the Chico Grace Brethren Church (see blog posting from Saturday, November 3).

The Old Brethren Church is part of the larger Brethren movement, which will celebrate its 300th anniversary next year. In the tradition of the Protestant Reformation, which originated in Germany nearly 500 years ago, the Brethren stressed individual judgment and personal faith.

Leslie Cover, an Old Brethren Church minister who lives in Tuolumne County, said while the original Protestant reformers of the 1500s were full of passion, by the 1700s, the established churches in Germany had become rather lifeless.

As a reaction, a group within Lutheranism started its own movement, which became known as Pietism.

The Pietists wanted a more personal, spiritual Christianity. They emphasized reading the Bible and holy living.

Cover said the Brethren were strongly influenced by the Pietists and also the Anabaptists, who believed Christians should be baptized only when they were old enough to have some say in the matter.

The Brethren movement sprang up in the early 1700s. At that time in Germany, Lutherans, Catholics and members of the Reformed Church enjoyed religious freedom, but other groups did not. It wasn't long before members of this new Brethren church were being persecuted.

By 1730, a number of Brethren families had moved to America, seeking tolerance. They settled first in Pennsylvania, and their movement began to grow.

To read the whole story, click here.

When Pastor Jim Brown from MetroGrace Philadelphia arrived at Crossroads Community Church - Northeast on Sunday (November 4) he found a large hole in the front wall of their rented facility. A car had driven through the wall and destroyed the nursery.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. Just hours before on Saturday night, Brazilian Bible Church would have been using that room. And a few hours later, children from Crossroads would have been playing there. Praise the Lord for his protection!

Unable to hold services in the building that day, the congregation was invited to worship at Crossroads Community Church – Frankford (Mark Ritzman, pastor). In a tremendous act of love, Crossroads Frankford, a small inner-city church, donated their entire offering to Crossroads Northeast!

Reunion weekend at Grace College wound down Saturday evening, November 3, with the annual homecoming dinner followed by a brass reunion concert and dessert.

The dinner, which was catered by Biaggi's Italian Restaurant, was held in the Gordon Student Recreation Center on the Winona Lake campus. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends, joined together to reminisce about the past and look to the future.

A highlight of the evening was the brass reunion concert, presented by alumni who had participated in performing groups such as the Dimensions in Brass and Grace Brass. Led by current Grace faculty member, Dr. Tim Sanborn, the concert featured songs like How Majestic Is Your Name, A Mighty Fortress, God of Our Fathers, and How Firm a Foundation. Former director Tim Zimmerman and long-time Dimensions in Brass announcer, Ron Henry, helped lead the walk down memory lane.

Homecoming Weekend drew to a close on Sunday afternoon with the Alpha Chi induction in McClain Hall's Ashman Chapel.

WILLIAMSPORT - Paul Edwin Hartman, 76, of C-62 16505 Virginia Ave. and formerly of Hagerstown, Md., died unexpectedly Wednesday evening, Oct. 31, 2007, in the emergency room of the Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown.

Born April 20, 1931, in Five Forks, Pa., he was the son of the late Kellar P. and Esther V. Shipp Hartman.

Mr. Hartman was the founder and president of Valley Credit Service of Hagerstown and also formerly worked at the Household Finance Co. in Hagerstown, Baltimore and Florida. He was a charter member of the Maryland Collection Agency Licensing Board.

He was a longtime member of Grace Brethren Church in Hagerstown, where he previously had served on the church board, as a deacon and as Sunday school superintendent. Mr. Hartman also had been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Hagerstown.

He was active in The Salvation Army in Hagerstown, where he served on the board, and following his retirement, he managed the thrift store.

He was a 1949 graduate of Greencastle (Pa.) High School and served in the U.S. Army in the Medical Corps at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

He and his wife, Alice L. Snider Hartman, were married on Sept. 19, 1953 at Macedonia United Brethren Church near Greencastle. Mrs. Hartman has been quite active in the Women of Grace USA ministry of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Surviving family in addition to his wife are one son, Randall E., husband of Joni, Hartman of Ellicott City, Md.; one sister, Louise Ryder Linebaugh of Greencastle; three granddaughters, Beth Anne Dunphy and her husband, Martin, Sarah Hartman and Rebecca Hartman; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond Hartman and Robert Hartman.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. at Grace Brethren Church, 837 Spruce St., Hagerstown, with Pastor Brad Nigh officiating. Burial will be in Montgomery Brethren in Christ Church Cemetery near Mercersburg, Pa. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Harold M. Zimmerman and Son Funeral Home, 45 S. Carlisle St., Greencastle.

Memorial contributions may be given in his memory to Homewood Retirement Center, 16505 Virginia Ave., Williamsport, MD 21795; or Grace Brethren Church, 837 Spruce St., Hagerstown, MD 21740. Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanfh.com

The Oroville (CA) Mercury Register today carries this feature article on Chico Grace Brethren pastor Paul Rhodes.

Pastor's 'brethren' ties span two continents

By LARRY MITCHELL - Staff Writer

The beauty of "archaic" is in the eye of the beholder. Chico pastor Paul Rhodes sees beauty and also flaws.

He may know as well as anyone why the dictionary calls "brethren" an archaic plural form of "brother."

Now the pastor of Grace Brethren Church, he was raised in the Plymouth Brethren Church in England.

While he admires what's old and traditional in these churches, he also feels archaic elements hinder success.

Though their names are similar, the Plymouth Brethren and Grace Brethren churches aren't closely related. The former originated in Britain in the early 1800s while the latter has roots in a movement that began in Germany in the early 1700s.

Rhodes grew up in Leeds, in northern England. His father had joined the Plymouth Brethren and become an unpaid minister.

This church first appeared in England in 1830. There had been small Christian communities in Ireland in the 1820s that called themselves "brethren." An Anglican priest, the Rev. J.N. Darby, became convinced the Church of England had become faithless and that he should leave it and go to Dublin. There, he met some of these "brethren," and from that encounter, a new religious movement was born.

"They were austere days, growing up with the Plymouth Brethren," Rhodes said of his childhood in the 1940s. "We were very poor. Dad posted billboards and worked in a mill."

Members of the church were very strict and bound by tradition, he said. They wanted to remain separate from the world, citing James 4:4 — "Surely you know that love of the world means enmity to God?"

"My father would not even go to a soccer match. He didn't want to hear the profanity," Rhodes said.

As a teenager, Rhodes had a rebellious streak. He excelled at playing classical accordion and even became national accordion champion for northern England. But he didn't stay apart from the world. He began playing swing music in pubs — until he had a striking conversion experience at the age of 17.

After that, he preached on the streets.

Rhodes became a nurse and moved to the United States in 1972 to take a job at a Southern California hospital. He moved to Chico in 1977. For 14 years, he was in charge of the night shift at Enloe Medical Center's intensive care unit.

He never stopped teaching adult Sunday School in churches and sometimes did some preaching. In this country, he'd begun attending a Grace Brethren Church (he was drawn by the familiar "brethren" name, he said). And when he first came to Chico, he served as associate pastor of Grace Brethren Church for a year. He later attended Neighborhood Church for many years, and, eventually, at the invitation of Senior Pastor Larry Lane, joined the staff there. He served as associate pastor for pastoral care from 1999 to April of this year.

In May, Rhodes was called by Grace Brethren Church.

Of his religious upbringing, he said, "I'll be eternally grateful to the Plymouth Brethren. They taught me the word of God — they really did. They had so many people so knowledgeable who never went to Bible college or seminary. Just spirit-taught people."

On the other hand, the Plymouth Brethren, like many evangelical churches, put too much emphasis on human sinfulness and "thou shalt not," he said. In reality, "the biblical view is you're a saint, unfortunately, you occasionally sin."

The Plymouth Brethren are dying out in many parts of England because members won't change with the times, he said. "The message never changes, but the method of delivery will change over time. It's got to be culturally relevant, or you're just wasting your time."

Rhodes said he "sees things through different paradigms now."

He hopes for a bright future with some innovations at Grace Brethren Church.

"I love people and I love this community," he said. "If we want to do an evening of 50s music and do swing dancing, we'll do it, just to bless the community."

Prior to the first-ever men's basketball game this Saturday afternoon in the Orthopaedic Capital Center on the Grace College campus in Winona Lake, Indiana, there was a ceremony of dedication of "Kessler court," the hardwood playing floor in the new facility.

Kessler Court is named for head Grace basketball coach Jim Kessler, who has coached the Lancers for 30 years. Following the dedication the Lancer basketball team played its first game of the season against the Crusaders from Madonna University, a private, non-profit, Catholic university located in suburban Livonia, Michigan, on the western perimeter of metropolitan Detroit. The heart-clutching game was tied at regulation and went into overtime with Grace College eventually emerging victorious 90-88.

The next game in the OCC will be Wednesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. when Grace faces Illinois Tech.

It was a lovely sunny day in Winona Lake for Homecoming, and a "tailgate luncheon" of grilled burgers was available in the parking lot between games. Following the basketball games, there was an art exhibit open in the Mt. Memorial gallery, dorms were open for inspection by all, and a Homecoming and Brass reunion dinner followed in the Gordon Recreation Center at 5:30 p.m. Reunions were held by classes ending in the years ending with 2s and 7s.

The final event of the day was to be a brass reunion concert and dessert at the Gordon Recreation Center.

"Boomer," the official mascot of the Indiana Pacers of the NBA, was a crowd-pleaser as the first-ever men's basketball game was played in the Orthopaedic Capital Center (OCC) on the Grace College campus Saturday afternoon. Boomer's antics included working the crowd, trampoline and gymnastic acts with basketballs at halftime, and distributing T-shirts and gifts to those in attendance.

Grace College alumnus Bill Katip, who returned to the Winona Lake, Indiana, campus this year as provost, was the speaker for the Saturday morning alumni breakfast to kick off the college's Homecoming 2007.

Katip gave updates on facilities, programs, enrollments, and other events at the college.

Following the breakfast, which was held in the Alpha Hall Dining Commons, the Lady Lancers beat a women's basketball team from Missouri Baptist University in the new Orthopaedic Capital Center.