BMH Editor's Blog

A remarkable artistic accomplishment by Grace Brethren International Missions appointee Deb Hocking (pictured) has been completed and is on display around the circumference of the front lobby of the GBIM headquarters on College Avenue in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Here are some statistics on the mural, taken from the blog of Jay and Deb Hocking at http://www.jaborah.com/

• It's painted with oil paints, mostly with palette knives, although the faces were done with brushes

• About 74ft long, by 3 ft high - 212sq ft

• took just a little over 500 hours to complete

• The river of shapes that runs through the painting represents the Spirit of God, which unites all believers around the world. The river's patterns represent the various cultures, and how one Spirit of God is demonstrated in different ways through many cultures.


To scroll through the entire mural, click on http://www.chateaustalbain.com/mural.html

Deb and Jay are just about finished with their support-raising phase and will soon be departing for France, where they will resume an earlier ministry of managing the chateau there and preparing to transition the chateau into French leadership.

Author and speaker Gracia Burnham (pictured) will be speaking in Grace College chapel service on Wednesday, March 12 at 10 a.m. in the Orthopaedic Capital Center on the Winona Lake, Indiana, campus.

Burnham, who wrote In the Presence of My Enemies and To Fly Again, is the widow of jungle pilot Martin Burnham. She and Martin were missionaries for 17 years in the Philippines with New Tribes Mission.

In May 2001 they were part of a group kidnapped by a militant group of Muslims. The Burnhams were held hostage for 376 days. On June 7, 2002, in a firefight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf group, Martin was killed and Gracia was wounded, but freed.

She returned to the United States with her three children, and now lives in Kansas.

In addition to writing, she has established the Martin and Gracia Burnham Foundation, which serves to collect funds and resources for missions. To read more about Gracia and her ministry, visit http://www.graciaburnham.org.

Visitors are welcome to attend chapel on the 12th and hear Gracia speak. She will also be speaking at other times in the Winona Lake area. For details, call the Tree of Life Bookstore at 574-267-2006.

The following update and prayer request on the situation in Cameroon, where many Grace Brethren refugees from the unrest in Chad have fled, is from Mike Taylor of Grace Brethren International Missions:

Greetings to all,

I have been in contact with Frank Puhl (Assistant Regional Director for GBIM in Africa) as well as Karen Foster (GBIM missionary living in Yaoundé).

Our team as well as other missionaries in Cameroun have not been harmed as a result of recent political instability.

The instability was sparked by a taxi strike (most people rely upon taxi transport) that quickly escalated into riots in the Douala (seaport – large city). That unrest spread to Yaoundé where our staff live and work.

Karen has been in touch with the Momeyers (Jim, Deb, and kids) and they too are okay.

Our prayer is that this unrest will not escalate into what we have seen in neighboring countries over the past several years.

We are also praying for the safety of our missionary and national family.

Frank Puhl and I will continue to monitor this situation with our team.

Thanks for your phone calls, emails, and most of all for your prayers.

Michael Taylor
Africa Regional Director
GBIM

Jeremiah Olson (right), who leads music and worship at the Grace Brethren church in Goshen, Indiana, did a little coaching and sharing of music and chords with Javier Forero (left) of Tampa, Florida, after the Tuesday evening session of the Southeast Focus Retreat.

Pastors and church leaders attending the Southeast Focus Retreat fanned out across central Florida today to accomplish some goals for meeting people and sharing the gospel.

Here John Nelson of Fort Lauderdale (front right) demonstrates how he did a quick U-turn with his vanload which included John Diaz (front left), Glen Rininger (back row left) and Dan Younger (back row right).

Though some groups had to contend with the power outages that hit central and south Florida, participants engaged many people in conversation as they completed assignments to take photos of people with four or more grandchildren, a store clerk who has been on the job for at least three years, someone wearing a sport shirt, someone who does not know Christ as Savior, and more.

The retreat concludes Wednesday at noon.

Today's (February 26) Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch includes a story about Tyler and Zack Joseph, stand-out basketball players at Worthington Christian High School, a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus. (In the Dispatch photo at right, guards Tyler Joseph, left, and Zack Joseph are big contributors to Worthington Christian's success this season.) To read the complete story, click here.

Joseph brothers' basketball schooling makes them tall order on court

One can almost hear Marv Albert calling the Nerf basketball games that Tyler and Zack Joseph waged in the bedroom they have shared since infancy.

"I was always John Starks and he was Patrick Ewing," said Zack, younger by two years. "Our one-on-one battles were epic. They were always super, super competitive. We're that way in everything."

The part about the Joseph's fierce sibling rivalry makes perfect sense. But Patrick Ewing?

"Tyler was always an inch or two taller than me," Zack quipped. "I've always thrived on being the underdog, anyway."

Tyler is listed as 5 feet 10 and Zack 5-9 (and both figures might be inflated), but their diminutive stature hasn't kept them from playing big roles on a 21-1 Worthington Christian team that shared the Central Catholic League championship and spent all season ranked at or near the top of the Division IV state poll.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

FGBC Moderator Jim Brown (seated, left foreground), who also pastors the Grace Brethren church in Goshen, Indiana, led off the opening session of the Southeast Focus Retreat this afternoon at a camp near Haines City, Florida.

In the opening session, a number of the pastors and church leaders attending gave their personal testimonies and identified those who have had a significant impact on their spiritual lives. The retreat continues through Wednesday noon.

Grace Brethren of Lexington

LEXINGTON -- The Grace Brethren of Lexington, 215 W. Main St., will hold a mortgage burning ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Along with the Rev. Jason Carmean, the service will feature the Rev. Jim Custer of Columbus Grace Brethren. The original building was dedicated March 23, 1969, and has had several additions over the years.

Cornerstone Grace Brethren

MANSFIELD -- Cornerstone Grace Brethren, 1905 N. Lexington-Springmill Road, will hold an "Understanding World Events in the Light of Prophecy" conference with Evangelist Mike Wingfield March 2 to 4. The event will kick off at 9:30 a.m. March 2 with a class titled, "Are We Living in the Last Days?" At 10:30 a.m. "Islam and the Land of Israel" will be discussed and at 6:30 p.m., "The World's March to Armageddon."

"The Sudden Collapse of the Present World System" will be presented at 7 p.m. March 3. "When God Judges America" will be the topic of the final class, 7 p.m. March 4.

Wingfield is an international Bible conference speaker, the director of Prophecy Today Ministries, editor of Prophecy Today Newsletter and hosts tours to the Middle East.

Dr. Matt Harmon (pictured), associate professor of New Testament studies at Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, is speaking today at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

He is speaking in the last of a three-part series held by Campus Crusade entitled, Reasonable Faith. Dr. Harmon's talk is titled, "God of Vengeance, God of Love: Is the God of the Old Testament the same as the God of the New Testament?"

Brian McCollister, director of staff of Ohio University's Campus Crusade, said, "It's to expose our students that come to our weekly meeting to some of our best and brightest graduates and to address topics that are of interest both inside and outside of the Christian community."

Dr. Harmon's blog can be read at http://bibtheo.blogspot.com/

Today's (February 21) Roanoke, Va. Times carries a story about wind damage to a landmark sign over the Ghent Grace Brethren Church in that city. To read the complete story, click here.


Many are looking for the light after a windstorm damaged the landmark.

The congregation of Ghent Grace Brethren Church hasn't shone with the glowing red light of Jesus lately. Neither have its neighbors near Roanoke's Memorial Bridge.

That's because the huge neon sign atop the church proclaiming "JESUS SAVES" was damaged in the windstorm Feb. 10 that temporarily knocked out power to about 45,000 customers in the Roanoke region. The sign, with 4-foot letters that face northwest, is an icon as visible in its community as the H&C Coffee and Dr Pepper landmarks are in downtown Roanoke. It now merely reads, "SAVES."

So essential is the neon badge to the identity of the Ghent Grace sanctuary that Zach Doppelt, the pastor, has a likeness of it printed on his business card. "Some people around here know us as 'the Jesus Saves Church,' " said Doppelt, 30, who arrived at Ghent Grace fresh out of seminary in Indiana in December.

"We'll get the sign back. Someone is coming to see about fixing it early next week," he said.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Wielding paint brushes and wall-papering tools, a team from the Aiken (S.C.) Grace Brethren Church is helping with renovations at the Chateau de St. Albain, Grace Brethren International Mission's retreat center in France. The team, who left February 8, includes (back, left to right) Tom Palm, Ron Crofts, Jack Reed, (front, left to right) Sue Palm, Kathy Crofts, and Janet Reed. They will be returning to the U.S. on February 28.

Valerie Crumbley, an administrative assistant at Grace Brethren International Missions, and her business partner, Katie Elder, were featured in today’s (February 20) Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette. The two have teamed up to create Friendship Foods, which provides cooking consultation. In the photo at right, Katie and Valerie show their Favorite Meat Loaf Cups and Rosemary Oven Fried Chicken (photo by Dean Musser Jr., The Journal Gazette). Read on to learn more about this dynamic kitchen duo.

Moms' advance course offers stress-free meals

You know the routine. In fact, you know your mealtime routine so well it has become dull and mundane.

If that’s your situation, two northeast Indiana women believe they can help turn things around at your dinner table.

Fort Wayne resident Katie Elder, 27, and Valerie Crumbley, 31, of Warsaw, will present Neighborhood Connection’s latest cooking course: Friendship Foods: Meals in Advance.

The two own Friendship Foods, a cooking consultation business. Friendship was created when these formerly “kitchen-lost moms” had trouble preparing food for their families, according to their blog, http://www.friendshipfoods.blogspot.com/ . After much trial and error, they came up with a solution that virtually anyone can use. Their program provides guidelines for cooks to prepare quick, economical and healthy meals on a budget.

Crumbley, mother of a 4-year-old daughter, Lauren, and administrative assistant at Grace Brethren International Missions, and Elder, a stay-at-home mother who home schools her 5-year-old daughter, Selah, have worked together as cooking consultants the past three years.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

BMH Books author Dr. John Whitcomb (pictured) continues his vigorous travel and speaking schedule. Here are some places you can hear him speak in the near future. To browse his books log onto www.bmhbooks.com and for further information on his ministry contact www.whitcombministries.org

From Friday, Feb. 29, to Sunday, March 2, Dr. Whitcomb will speak on creationism at the Philadelphia Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. For more information, call Pastor Barry Bruce at 205-967-6023, or visit www.pbchurch.org.

From Monday, March 3, to Friday, March 7, Dr. Whitcomb will teach on Bible Prophecy at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Hudson, Fla. For more information, call Tom Phillips at 727-856-7575, or visit www.wol.org/biblei.

From Friday, March 7, to Sunday, March 9, Dr. Whitcomb will preach at the Bible Baptist Church in Wilton, Ala. For more information, call Pastor Tom Hammett at 205-665-2939.

From Friday, March 14, to Sunday, March 16, Dr. Whitcomb will speak at the Community Bible Church/Westview Baptist Church in North Charleston, S.C. For more information, call Pastor Al Edgington at 317-414-0171.

From Friday, March 28, to Sunday, March 30, Dr. Whitcomb will give presentations on creationism at the Grace Bible Church of Elkhart, Ind. For more information, call Dr. Mike Fisher at 574-264-7333 or visit gracebibleelkhart.com.

For additional details about these events, please visit web pages at www.whitcombministries.org and www.sermonaudio.com/whitcomb.

The following update on the political situation in Chad, Africa, is taken from the latest e-newsletter of Love In Action International. For more information on this ministry, click on http://www.loveinactioninternational.org

Matthais Ezel reported that although the French military have given the okay for residents of N'Djamena to return to their homes, the situation remains very unpredictable and uncertain.

Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM) coworkers remain for the time being in Cameroon. Reports from other missions and missionaries indicate that the majority of mission stations were relatively untouched with the exception of a few vehicles that were stolen.

Most of the missionaries serving in Chad were evacuated from the country. Some reports from missionaries indicate this was the worst fighting they had seen in the 40 years they have served in Chad.

Praise the Lord that the fighting has seemed to have subsided. Please pray for wisdom on the return of missionaries to Chad and for continued protection and faith for our fellow believers living in this country.

More on Chadian refugees living in Cameroon may be seen at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/februaryweb-only/108-22.0.html

Mark D. Weinstein (pictured) has accepted the position of Dean of Enrollment and Marketing at Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, effective April 1.

Weinstein is a 1982 Grace College alumnus and also holds his M.S. degree in organizational leadership from Geneva College. In his new position at Grace, Mark will lead undergraduate and graduate enrollment and marketing.

Weinstein comes to Grace from his position as Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to that, he was Director of Public Relations and Enrollment Marketing at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1999-2005, and Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, from 1990-1999.

Mark and his wife, Lisa, plan to relocate to the Winona Lake area later this spring. He will be replacing Ken Moyer, who left the enrollment post in late December.

Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, will welcome 184 high school seniors to campus for the 2008 Presidential Scholarship Competition on February 22 and 23. In the competition, Grace will award more than $2.2 million in four-year academic scholarships.

Competitors and their parents will enjoy a dinner, dessert, and student panel with former scholarship finalists on Friday evening. Then on Saturday, the competitors will participate in individual interviews and writing sessions. More than 60 faculty and staff will be involved in the interviews.

The average academic criteria of the competitors is a 3.89 GPA, 28 ACT and/or 1260 SAT. Twenty-five states and two foreign countries are being represented, and more than 70 percent of the competitors travel to Grace from out of state.

A Grace representative said, "Please join us in praying for the impact of the Presidential Scholarship Competition and for those who have been invited to come. Pray for travel safety and good weather and also for faculty and staff who are involved in this important weekend."

To see a schedule of the competition, go to http://www.grace.edu/grace/admissions/pres-scholar.schedule.htm

HULLIBERGER (Stauffer)---Elizabeth “Betty” Fuller Hulliberger, of Lake Odessa, Michigan, aged 96, was rewarded with her home in heaven early Sunday morning, February 10, 2008.

Betty was born in Caledonia, MI, on June 6, 1911, to Owen and Hattie (Fuller) Stauffer. She was the oldest of nine children that also included Blanche, Elsie, Donald, David, Harriett, Mary, John “Jack”, and Alice. Betty was united in marriage to Orley K. Hulliberger on December 6, 1931 at the United Brethren Church parsonage in Freeport, MI. Orley preceded her in death on September 11, 1979 after 48 years of marriage.

Betty still resided in the farm home she and Orley purchased in 1944 when they moved to Lake Odessa from Lansing. Betty is survived by her beloved family, daughter Lorraine (Marvin) Stuart of Leonidas, MI, and their family, Suzanne Gibbs, James, Mark, and Stephen Stuart and 11 grandchildren, and two great grandsons; daughter Norma Lathrop of Wasilla, AK and her family, Beth Winter and Anna, Cathy, Rebekah, and Ben and Sarah, of Palmer AK, and Daniel and Brianna Lathrop of Wasilla, AK; and daughter Marcia (Don) Hofstra of Anchorage, AK and their family, Jane and Dale Ruckman and children, Jasmine, Harley, Ciera and Dustin of Unalaska, AK, and Jeanne and Phil Postma and their children, Sabriah, Jordan, Ellyana, and Isaiah of Middleville, MI; sisters and brothers, David (Millie) Stauffer, Harriett Steinfort, Mary (Ed) Good, and Jack (Colleen) Stauffer; brother-in-law, Ralph Lang; and many more loving relatives.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Orley; grandson, Jon Hofstra; and sisters and brothers and their spouses, Blanche, Elsie (Lavern), Donald (Lois), and Alice; brother-in-law, Jerry Steinfort; and sons-in-law, Paul L. Shellenbarger and Robert H. Lathrop.

Betty was a homemaker who loved gardening and quilting for her family and for the Navajo people. Betty had been a member of the Lake Odessa Grace Brethren Church for more than 60 years. She leaves a host of friends and church family who loved and cared for her over the past several years.

Betty had served as the church secretary for many years and had been a faithful and dedicated Sunday School teacher for most of her life until ill health and advancing years slowed her down. She had also made sure that many children always had a ride to church, and her lady friends always knew that that could count on her for transportation to church functions until her driving days finally ended at the age of 90.

Betty had been a committed Christian her entire life and delighted in reading through her Bible each year faithfully since 1970. She had been a prayer warrior for her family, church and missionaries around the world. Betty loved her Lord and served Him, and now is rewarded with a home in heaven.

The funeral service was to be held at 11:00 AM today, Monday, February 18 at the Lake Odessa Grace Brethren Church (2720 Vedder Rd. Lake Odessa MI 48849). Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Lake Odessa.

The family has suggested that memorial contributions may be made to Pastor Tully Butler’s Cedar Hill Church in New Mexico which supports the Navajo Radio Ministry, where Betty’s daughter Norma and her husband Robert Lathrop served for more than 30 years.

The following story appears in today's Goshen (IN) News, where FGBC Moderator Jim Brown pastors the local Grace Brethren church. To read the story in its original version, click on http://www.goshennews.com/local/local_story_045105237.html

7,750 ounces of chocolate, hand-delivered

Grace Community Church’s “blue crew” is sweetening up the Maple City today for Valentine’s Day.

Around the city, the blue crew — named because they wear bright blue sweatshirts and T-shirts with the church’s name on them — will randomly hand-deliver to people 5,000 1.55-ounce bars of Hershey chocolate.

Crews were out this morning and will continue handing out Hershey bars from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

“There’s nothing quite like a delicious bar of chocolate, but that doesn’t begin to compare to what Jesus has to offer us and it’s all free,” said the Rev. Jim Brown, lead pastor at Grace Community Church.

“We want our shoppers and business owners to know without a doubt on Thursday that no one loves them more than Jesus. In fact, that is what the Valentine’s Day card says that will be passed out with the Hershey bars. There are so many people out there who are hurting and alone on Valentine’s Day and just need to know that someone loves them and that someone is Jesus. So if one person comes to know that, it’s worth all 7,750 ounces.”

“Our theme this year at Grace is ‘raise the bar,’ and we are constantly trying to think outside the box as we reach out to people,” Brown said.

“Jesus tried different ways to connect with people and that’s what we’re trying to do. We just want to get out of the way and let Jesus take charge. As people eat that last piece of chocolate and wad up that wrapper, we will be praying that they will have a desire to know the everlasting goodness there is with knowing Jesus.”

A large group of college students will be involved with the blitz. “Having them onboard makes it really special,” Brown said.

“We have a group of high school graduates from all over the country who are taking a year of intensive study for college credit right here at our church. They live with families in our church and take classes online through a Christian university.

“They are also taking trips to Vietnam, Israel and to model churches and organizations throughout the country as part of this year of training. They have been serving in our outreaches and other church activities and events this year here at Grace, and it’s been great having them here. The only problem is keeping them out of the chocolate.”

For more information about Grace, call 533-7546 or go to www.gracecommunity-church. com.

Sarah Cunningham, author of Dear Church: Letters From A Disillusioned Generation, will be the Saturday morning speaker at Driven 08, the annual young adult conference. A first-time speaker at Driven, she is from Jackson, Mich., where she lives with her husband, Chuck.

Other speakers include:

• Jeff Bogue, who will open the conference on Thursday evening. Jeff is pastor at Grace Church North Campus, a Grace Brethren church in Akron, Ohio and a regular speaker at Driven.
• Kary Oberbrunner, also a returning speaker whose third book is scheduled to be released soon. He is the founder of Redeem the Day Ministries and is a pastor at Grace Church, a Grace Brethren church in Powell, Ohio. Kary will be speaking on Friday morning.
• Kondo Simfukwe will lead the Saturday evening session. Last year, he challenged conference participants to claim a piece of land and overcome the giants. He is on the staff at Christ's Covenant Church in Winona Lake, Ind.
• Keith Minier will close the conference on Sunday morning. The pastor at Grace Fellowship, a Grace Brethren church in Pickerington, Ohio, he has served as Driven’s MC for the past few years.

Friday evening will be a special night as the conference joins to observe communion, which will be conducted by New Perspectives pastor (at Grace Church North) and Driven band member Tony Livigni.

Driven 08 will be held June 26-29 at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio. For more information, click here or here.

We have just learned that Charles R. Taber, age 78, went to be with his Lord on Friday, October 26, 2007.

He died at his home in Johnson City, Tennessee, after a two-month illness.

Taber was born in Paris, France, of American parents, Floyd and Ada Taber, where he lived until he was nine years old. He then moved to the Central African Republic where his parents served as a missionary doctor and as a teacher.

He left Africa when he was 17 years old and moved to Allentown, PA, to finish the last two years of high school. Charles graduated from Bryan College and attended Grace Seminary before returning to the Central African Republic with his wife, Betty, to serve as a missionary from 1953-1961.

He pastored a church and was principal of the church school for two years in Winona Lake, Indiana, before moving to Hartford, CT, where he earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics and Anthropology at the Kennedy School of Missions.

Dr. Taber was then employed by the American Bible Society first as a researcher and then as a translations consultant in West Africa for five years. Charles co-wrote the translation textbook, TAPOT, with Dr. Eugene Nida that is still used today in the training of Bible translators. He edited a popular missions magazine, Practical Anthropology, and later another, The Gospel in Context. He has written several books and many articles on missions related topics.

Dr. Taber taught at Milligan College for four years, then at Emmanuel School of Religion for 18 years as the professor of World Mission. He has been retired for a decade. He continued to teach, write, and lecture internationally as health permitted.

Charles is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty and five children, Christine Taber, Diana Abbott & her husband, Bob, Kathleen Moisan, Charles Taber & his wife, Sue, and Patricia Taber & her husband, Dan Brewer; seven grandchildren, Jared Abbott, Rebekah Abbott, Charles Abbott, Lukas Moisan, David Moisan, Jamie Taber, and Tony Taber; a sister, Lois Baker & her husband, Dwight; a brother, Allan Taber & his wife, Linda; a sister-in-law, Patricia Buck; a niece, Elaine Spearman; three nephews, Karl Baker, Douglas Baker, and Victor Spearman; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Marguerite Spearman, and a nephew, Jonathan Spearman.

Charles was a member of Grandview Christian Church where he served for many years as an elder, Sunday school teacher, and on the Missions Team. His goal in life has always been to glorify his Lord, Jesus Christ. Betty & Charles took Psalms 48:14 as the verse in scripture they would live by: This God is our God, forever and forever. He will be our guide, even unto death.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service was held at Grandview Christian Church on October 29, with Mr. Aaron Wymer, Minister, officiating.

A blogpost tribute to Dr. Taber by one of his former students may be seen at http://aaronwymer.blogspot.com/2007/11/tribute-to-dr-charles-taber.html

From Tom Julien -- Wonderful news from Augustin Hibailé this morning:

Daniel has been freed! God explicitly answered our prayers. There was an intervention by a group of armed Fulanis which caused the armed bandits to flee and Daniel took advantage of this to escape and to arrive at the house at Bouar yesterday evening around 5:00. What a miracle!

I was on the phone with Daniel this morning and he said that there were nine bandits, one being Central African and the others Chadian Arabs. They fired on the vehicle, which turned over. Some passengers fled but Daniel was caught in the leg by part of the car. He was therefore taken by the bandits and led with 16 other prisoners into the bush.

According to what he said, the bandits told him he would not be freed because he is a nurse and that he would be kept captive even if a large ransom was paid, in order to care for their health. Since he has not returned (to Bangui) yet, he was only able to give me this brief information.

There was also a case of the kidnapping of three doctors plus three health technicians on the road from Bozoum to Bangui last Sunday. The bandits asked for the sum of 16 million CFAs (around $35,000) before freeing those detained. Pray that God will save the CAR from this growing insecurity.

Daniel asked me to thank all those who have supported him by their prayers. He sensed the power of these prayers and that it is because of this that his life was saved and that he has returned to his family.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for this important support.

Augustin Hibailé

Pastor Chuck Davis of the Ocala, Florida, Grace Brethren Church has been involved for years with helping church-plants in Trinidad. Here is an excerpt from a recent e-mail communication he sent:

"It was a joy to have Roger and Kumarie Dabideen visit us in Ocala, FL, and share with the congregation about the exciting church planting ministry in Trinidad. Trin-Grace Ministries is a missions partner with the Ocala GBC in Trinidad and Pastor Chuck Davis has worked with them in church planting in Trinidad for eight years.

"A GO2Trinidad Team is scheduled for ministry in Trinidad October 18-25, 2008. Pastor Chuck and Millie will be leading this team. Interested people from all churches are invited to join Chuck and Millie on this missions adventure.

"The team will be ministering in church services and outreach evangelistic meetings. In addition the team will do neighborhood outreach, widow visitation, grocery box ministry, government school gospel programs and training sessions for the Grace Church, Cunupia teachers and staff.

"But the trip is not all work and no play. There will be time for shopping, sight seeing and an all-day visit to the coast, mountains and Maracas Beach.

"The team will be limited to 12 members. The cost is $1,600 and that includes air fare, food, housing, and all expenses from the time you leave the US until you return (except for snacks, souvenirs, etc).

"If you are interested please contact Chuck for more information and an application. You can reach him at: chuckdavis1@cox.net."

The following prayer request comes from the Central African Republic via Grace Brethren International Missions' Tom Julien. Dr. Hibaile is a highly-visible leader in the Grace Brethren movement in the Central African country.

My youngest brother Daniel Mbami left for Bocoranga yesterday to see our parents. He was kidnapped with everyone he was traveling with in the vehicle near Bohong and was carried away into the bush. We do not know the outcome of this situation.

Pray, pray for his release.

Hibailé Augustin

The following article is from the Somerset County (PA) Daily American. Randy Haulk is pastor of the Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church.

MEYERSDALE — Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church will hold its annual wild game supper at 6 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the church’s activity building.

Guest speaker for this year’s event is Brent Henderson, an avid outdoorsman, martial artist and a professional musician. His travels have taken him to more than 30 countries and 49 states hunting, fishing and touring with his music. Brent also worked on a commercial salmon boat off the Aleutian Islands and has fished all over the U.S. and Canada.

He is an outdoor writer, field tester, and on the pro staff for Whitetail University and God’s Country Camouflage. He is also the director and pro staff member for God’s Country. He has written articles for companies such as Grim Reaper Broadheads, Bear/Jennings Archery, Goldtip Arrows, ATSKO, PolarMAX and many more.

Brent is also a songwriter, recording artist, professional studio musician and an ordained pastor. He has toured and worked with many recording artists including Steven Curtis Chapman, Avalon, Crystal Lewis, Sandi Patti, the group One, Bill and Gloria Gaither and Ray Boltz. His songs have topped the nationwide charts including several No. 1 hits and numerous Top 10s. Brent has also sung on commercials for radio and television companies.

He has agreed to stay over and give a concert at the Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 24. There is no charge for admittance.

Brent makes his home in Anderson, Ind., with his wife, Kathy, son, Garrett, and daughter, Emma.

Reservations for the banquet must be in by Feb. 17, but due to limited space, early reservations (call 634-5980) are encouraged.

The following is excerpted from an article in today's Lancaster (PA) New Era, featuring the two young women from the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, PA (Scott Distler, pastor) who survived the tornadoes which earlier this week hit their school, Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. To read the entire article, click on http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/216301

When the wind howled louder than the tornado sirens, Melissa Leisey knew it was time to take cover.

The Lititz native ran into her dormitory at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and packed into a first floor bathroom with five other women, waiting for the storm to pass.

She sat on the toilet, praying and holding hands with Laura Spotts, her roommate and fellow Lancaster County native, who crouched on the edge of the sink.

For a moment everything went silent.

Then the pressure dropped so drastically that Spotts felt a heavy weight push her down from the sink. The moment she jumped to the floor, ceiling tiles rained on the six students, who covered their heads with a blanket.

In just 35 seconds the tornado that roared through the university campus around 7 p.m. Tuesday demolished nearly half of its buildings, tore down concrete walls, swirled cars into the sky and trapped two dozen students in the rubble.

"It felt like a really long 35 seconds," Leisey said this morning from the home of another roommate's grandparents 30 miles outside of Jackson, where she and Spotts are staying.

When the shaking stopped, Spotts opened the bathroom door and surveyed the damage.

"The furniture was all over the room," she recalled today. "Windows were blown out. Blinds were all mangled like someone just flew through them."

The damage Tuesday to Union University, a Baptist college of 3,200 students, was caused by one of a series of devastating storms that killed more than 50 people across the South.

Grace Seminary alumnus David Dockery, who is president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, is overseeing recovery efforts from tornadoes that hit the school earlier this week. The following is excerpted from a release by the Baptist News Service:

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen toured the tornado-ravaged Union University campus Feb. 7, as the long process of cleaning up debris and rebuilding the campus begins.

"We're going to be here," Chertoff said, "to stand shoulder to shoulder with the governor and help you get cleaned up and get back to school.... We're really glad you're alive and we're looking forward to coming back to the campus when it is spic and span and rebuilt."

Chertoff took note of the university's preparedness plans, stating, "It's impressive the fact that the administration of this school and the students were able to get prepared. They really saved a lot of lives." Buildings, he said, can be replaced; "we can't replace lost lives.

Tennessee National Guard troops patrolled the Jackson campus the night of Feb. 6 to secure student residences and academic buildings. When the sun came up Thursday morning, they turned their attention to helping students recover their belongings from housing units that weren't totally destroyed.

"Tennessee Guard members will be working with Union security to retrieve undamaged personal goods from various residence life rooms," said Union President David Dockery. "Our efforts also will focus on helping students remove their vehicles from the campus."

The cleanup operation will begin in earnest on Friday, Dockery said.

Bredeson and Chertoff visited the campus as part of a swing through the region to assess damage caused by dozens of tornadoes that raked Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama Feb. 5, killing at least 54 people and injuring hundreds.

President George Bush is scheduled to visit the area on Friday.

Initial estimates place the damage to the university at $40 million or more, but the loss goes beyond just destroyed and battered buildings, with Dockery noting that "the damage to student possessions and belongings has been equally severe."

Union has established a relief fund for people wanting to help with the recovery. Donations can be sent to "Union University Disaster Relief Fund" at 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, TN 38305. The university also is suggesting that those who want to help students consider providing gift cards that can be used in stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe's or Home Depot.

As of Feb. 6, Union staff had recorded 86 storm-related injuries, 51 hospitalizations, and seven people admitted to intensive care at a local hospital, said Greg Thornbury, dean of Union's School of Christian Studies. By day's end, three remained in the hospital.

The school has enough volunteers already scheduled to help with the campus cleanup efforts Friday and Saturday, according to the university's www.uuemergency.com website.

Susanne Kessler, business manager for the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation, has been honored for 15 years of service to the Foundation. At right, Ken Seyfert, executive director of operations at the Foundation, presents a service award to her.

“We applaud Susanne for her faithful service in behalf of our investors and borrowing churches,” says Larry Chamberlain, president of the Foundation. “Susanne contributes much to the success of the Foundation and we are very pleased with her passion for excellence and her commitment to this strategic ministry of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and the work of the Great Commission. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Susanne on a daily basis. We are pleased to note that our staff of professionals has more than 140 years of combined service. This longevity adds considerable strength and expertise to the Foundation.”

Ben Ogden, site coordinator for the Great Commission Bible Institute, a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church of Sebring, Florida (Randy Smith, pastor) sends along this update about a recent ministry in Haiti:

A group of students and leaders from the Great Commission Bible Institute (www.gcbi.net) recently had the incredible opportunity of serving for eight days in the town of Jeremie, Haiti and its surrounding villages.

They were able to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ with many people as well as deliver much needed supplies to the missionaries working in that area. Many in the group said they were both challenged and inspired by several of the believers they met, whose unwavering faith in God produces strength, hope and joy in the face of so much difficulty.

GCBI is a ministry of Grace Church in Sebring, FL.

Two young women from the Grace Brethren church in Lititz, Pennsylvania (Scott Distler, pastor) are students at Union University in Tennessee, which sustained significant tornado damage last evening. David Dockery, the school's president, is a Grace Seminary alumnus, and was interviewed extensively by CNN and other news organizations. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail update sent today by Pastor Distler:

By now I am sure you have heard of the tornados that swept through the south last evening. You may also have seen on the news that Union University in Tennessee sustained significant damage.

We have two young ladies from our church who attend this Christian college. They are Melissa Leisey and Laura Spotts. Both of these young ladies’ moms work here at Lititz Christian School.

Melissa and Laura are fine but their dorm (and most all of their personal items) is gone. They are currently staying in a home off campus. Below is a link to an article on the damage:

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080206/NEWS01/802060330

Please pray for these young ladies as well as their parents. Melissa’s father, Daryl, wrote this to me this morning in an e-mail:

“I am reminded of the statement, that it is better to be in the center of God's will in the most dangerous place in the world than to be out of God's will in ‘the safest place’. We are extremely grateful!!”

Author/educator/psychologist Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D. (right, blue shirt) held an informal chat session and information exchange with pastors, counselors, and others from the Winona Lake, Indiana, community today in the conference room of the Brethren Missionary Herald Co.

Kellemen is the author of two newly-published BMH Books, Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.

A graduate of Grace Theological Seminary, Kellemen is head of the counseling department at Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham, Maryland. He will be speaking later today for classes at Grace College.

There's an interesting nine-minute interview online with Bart Blair, worship pastor at the Grace Community Church, the Grace Brethren church in Mississauga, Ontario (Bartley Sawatsky, pastor).

The interview is primarily Blair's personal story of how the Lord led him from a business career into the full-time music and worship position he currently holds.

To see the interview, click on http://stpreach.blogspot.com/2008/02/bart-friend-from-my-past.html

The Brethren Missionary Herald Co. will hold a brown bag lunch on Wednesday, February 6, with Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D. author of BMH Books titles, Soul Physicians and Spiritual Friends. He will discuss the state of Christian counseling today.

The lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. 1104A Kings Highway, Winona Lake, Ind. (next to Tree of Life Bookstore). Beverage and dessert provided. Bring your own lunch. Soup and sandwiches may be purchased at the Tree of Life Cafe next door.

If you plan to attend, please call 574-268-1122 or email natalie@bmhbooks.com

According to the website of Grace Brethren International Missions, the first group of GBIM personnel forced to evacuate Chad, Africa, because of civil unrest has arrived safely in the neighboring country of Cameroon.

GBIM's report says, "At 2:00 p.m. EST GBIM's staff, Karina Corrales, Melissa McDairmant, and Beate Schlecht, confirmed their arrival at a mission station in N’Gaoundere, Cameroon.

"Bob Steiger, who was in Nigeria with Chadian church planter Samuel Dadje at the commencement of the fighting, will be joining the rest of his team in Cameroon as soon as possible.

"BBC reports that the quick movement of the rebels, arriving to N'Djemena via 250 pickup trucks with mounted submachine gun, prevented the already demoralized Chadian army to mount a defense. Reports say rebels entered the city encountering very little resistence. Twelve-hundred French troops present in the city, are not entering into the fighting, endeavoring to remain neutral.

"There are reports of some looting in some parts of the capital.

"Please pray for the protection of national believers in N'Djemena, and that the fighting will not spread to south to areas where many of our Grace Brethren live.

"Pray for a quick resolution to the fighting, so that the church may continue to spread unhindered in this country with over 126 unreached people groups."

The International Missions Center (Winona Lake, Ind.) has received unconfirmed reports of rebel activity in Chad that may result in armed conflict in the capital city of N’Djamena and beyond. According to published reports from the BBC and sources on the ground, rebel forces are moving rapidly toward the city. While this type of activity is not uncommon in the region, this recent uprising may be more serious.

All Grace Brethren International Missions and National Missionary Partner staff has been instructed to evacuate to neighboring Cameroun. The team is comprised of staff members from the U.S., Argentina and Germany.

Frank Puhl, assistant regional director for the Africa Region, requests prayer for peace and security. Currently there are approximately 192 Grace Brethren Churches in Chad and many Points of Light (new church plants).

Additional information will be posted at at the GBIM website as it becomes available.

On January 29, pastors and their wives from the Southern District enjoyed a blessed time of fellowship together at the famous Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, Ga. Present were: Pastors Jim and Wanda Laird Sr., Conrad and Monica Santamaria and daughter, Dean and Billie Fetterhoff, and William A. and Betty Byers, all from the Grace Church at Town Center, Marietta, Ga. Retired Pastor W. Carl and Betty Miller from Flintstone, Ga. were also present. From the Fountain of Life Bible Church in Johnson City, Tenn. were Pastor Victor and Linda Young. Representing the Grace Brethren Church of Aiken, S.C. were: Pastors Steve and Patricia Taylor, Donald and Cindy Soule, and Ron and Thelma Thompson.

At the annual Warsaw, Ind., Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday night, January 31, Kosciusko County Jail Chaplain John Boren (pictured at right) was awarded Warsaw Man of the Year.

The Warsaw Times-Union and WRSW Radio have sponsored the Man of the Year Award since 1959. In order to be a recipient of the award, one must first be nominated by someone within the community and then judged on the following selection criteria:

• Demonstrates excellence, creativity, and initiative in business.


• Provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.


• Assists others in reaching their full leadership potential.


• Has made positive impact on the quality of life in Kosciusko County.

Normally given to business men and politicians, it’s a rare honor for a chaplain to receive the award. But John's contribution to the community through the Kosciusko County Jail Ministry has been exceptional as hundreds of letters poured in nominating him for the award.

In accepting the recognition, John gave the glory to God by saying, "14 years ago when I was incarcerated I was a thief, a drunk, and a liar... but God touched my life in jail and all the praise goes to Him."

John’s jail ministry does come out of personal experience behind bars. In 1994, he spent time in the Kosciusko County Jail for conversion (stealing). Those first ten days in February resulted in a different kind of “conversion” that totally changed his life and his destiny. Sitting in a cold jail cell gave John time to think about his relationship with God, and prompted him to receive Christ as his Savior and Lord. John then went about making complete restoration, where possible, for any past sins.

After his release, John was burdened for men and women still behind bars. He soon began returning to the Kosciusko County Jail with the Gideons to share Christ with the inmates. In January of 1995, he became jail chaplain.

Now he leads the team that ministers in the Kosciusko County Jail. Every Sunday morning he conducts services for around 100 inmates--60 percent of the jail population.

Throughout the week, John oversees more church services at the jail and Work Release and counsels inmates. Saturday mornings he meets with his team and others for planning and prayer.

Peggy Owens, CE National staff member and Jail Ministry volunteer says about John, “I’ve never known anyone to better follow Jesus’ greatest commandments to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love others as yourself.”

John’s testimony and example of a heart wholeheartedly sold out to God inspires hundreds within, and without, the walls of the local jail.

John, along with his wife Patti, are members of Community Grace Brethren Church in Warsaw, Ind.