BMH Editor's Blog

Vicki Barilla, Director of Community Ministries for the Grace Brethren church in Seal Beach,California, has informed us that the Seal Beach Parade Committee has unanimously selected Pastor Don Shoemaker (pictured) as this year’s Seal Beach Christmas Parade Grand Marshal.

Vicki said, "We were happy to be informed by the Seal Beach Parade Committee and Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce Board Member Brian Warner who attends Grace with his wife Jane."

It is this year that Pastor Don has been serving the Seal Beach church and the Seal Beach Community for 25 years giving additional significance to this honor. He has served as Seal Beach Police Chaplain for more than five years, and actively supports the engagement of the church in many community activities.

The Seal Beach Christmas Parade is Friday, December 4, 2009, at 7 pm.

An early Thanksgiving dinner was served this Thursday morning to students and their family members who participate in an ESL (English as a Second Language) class offered by the Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church as an outreach.

Carving and serving the turkey were (bottom photo, left) Dr. Don DeYoung, whose wife, Sally, is one of the ESL teachers, and retired GBIM missionary Diana Davis (right), who roasted the turkey and directs the ESL program. Bruce Barlow is lead pastor of the Winona Lake Church. (Sharon White photos)

Pastor Roy Halberg of the Alta Loma Grace Fellowship in California (pictured with books) participated in a program in which 170,000 students got a copy of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.”

Copies of a special edition of Darwin's book were given away at 100 of America's top universities. The book was freely given in honor of its 150th anniversary, and contains a 50-page introduction by best-selling author Ray Comfort. According to Halberg, more than 1200 people across the country will be handing the landmark publication to our future doctors, lawyers and politicians, and atheists are fuming.

In a message to his church, Halberg said, "You were represented by Carlos and me as we joined the team at CSUN (Cal State University Northridge). We had a great day and gave out 2,000 copies to mostly thankful people . . . please pray that they read the 50 page introduction and respond to the gospel message.

"Ray Comfort, the author of the controversial introduction, says that students should read the whole book. 'Darwin says: 'A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question,'' says Ray Comfort. (Introduction to On the Origins of Species, 1859). Yet atheists have vowed to burn the book, offer 'unilateral resistance,' and Richard Dawkins has even encouraged students to rip out the Introduction."

Halberg reports, "Our opposition at CSUN was limited to one campus policeman who asked Carlos to move elsewhere. God truly answered prayer for a great day in every way."

To read another account of the Darwin book distribution project, click here.

Congratulations to the boys soccer team at Worthington Christian High School, a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio. They defeated Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 2-1 to win the OHSAA Boys Soccer Championship, Division III. Below is from the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. To read the complete story, click here.

Worthington Christian beat Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 2-1. Trent Smith scored the winning goal halfway through overtime. It is the Warriors' second title.

"Trent is a special player," Worthington Christian coach Dan Roads said. "Give all the credit to Trent for having a great game and working as hard as he did for that long. He deserves to be the hero today."

To see photos from the event, click here.

In addition, Caleb Palumbo, a member of the Worthington Christian team member, was named to the Division III All-Ohio team.

Pastor Dan White of the York, Pennsylvania, Grace Brethren Church, sent the following e-mail to his congregation regarding the homegoing of one of the founders of the York church:

This morning at 12:32 am, Brother Jim Knepper entered the presence of the Savior he so loved. He was one of six brothers in a family that was instrumental in the beginning of the York GBC back in the early 1950’s.

Jim had been a member here until several years ago when he and his wife, Edna, moved back to their home area (Somerset County, PA) and lived there.

They had been back from time to time to visit, most recently returning last Saturday for the 90th birthday party of one of our dear ladies. After Sunday am church, they were to leave for home when Jim’s condition required medical attention. He was taken to Memorial Hospital here in York. It was from that hospital that he “walked the valley of the shadow”—with our Lord.

I suppose it doesn’t get any better than this: to worship with us at York GBC one Sunday, and then to be in the myriads of worshipers in heaven the next!

Thx for your prayers for us here and for Edna, his widow, and Joyce and Pastor Larry Humberd (his daughter and her husband) and their family.

Heaven has become richer with his presence.

“Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.”

Dan

PS I have copied Pastor Larry and Pastor Tim Hodge (grandson-in-law) in this e-mail so you may extend any condolences or questions to them. Details of service, etc., are not available at this time.

Also, should you wish to correspond with Edna, you may use the following address: Mrs Edna Knepper, 404 South St., Berlin, PA, 15530

Pastor Dan White, Grace Brethren Church, 661 N Newberry St, York, PA, 17404, 717-843-7284, pastordanw@verizon.net

Monday morning update from Larry Humberd:

I thought i would piggy back on Pastor Dan's email and just let you know that the schedule will be as follows:

Viewing- Tuesday 5-6:30pm @ York GBC
Service- Tuesday 6:30pm, light reception after the service (@ York GBC)
Burial- Wednesday 9am (For family and any who wish to attend)

Thanks for your prayers. Joyce & Edna are experiencing God's grace & peace, as are the rest of the family. And we rejoice with hope & confidence for "Poppi's" graduation to heaven. Can't wait to see him again soon.

New members of the Lancer Athletic Hall of Fame are (front, left to right) Eve Dawes, Willa Henry, Cheryl Pulver, Gary Woolman, Tim Van Duyne, (back row, left to right) Rebecca Macy, Ron Henry, John Boal, Jim Woolman, and Darrell Johnson

Grace College inducted nine members into the Lancer Athletic Hall of Fame this past Homecoming weekend, November 7. The inductees honored at the banquet in the Orthopaedic Capital Center include: Rebecca Macy (Wahlstrom), volleyball; John Boal, men’s basketball; Darrell Johnson, baseball and golf; Eve Dawes (Arthur), women’s soccer; Cheryl Pulver (Myers), women’s basketball; Tim VanDuyne, men’s soccer; Lloyd Woolman, athletic director and coach; and Ron and Willa Henry, for their meritorious service to Grace Athletics.

Macy was an NAIA All-American (‘95), MCC Player of the Year (‘95), and two-time NCCAA All-American (‘95, ‘96) for volleyball.

Boal was a two-time NAIA District 21 Player of the Year (‘83, ‘84), NAIA All-American Honorable Mention (‘84) and two-time NCCAA All-American (‘83, ‘84) for men’s basketball. During his speech, he spoke about his bond with fellow teammates and the lessons that 33-year veteran head coach Jim Kessler taught him.

Johnson was named MCC All-Conference (’73) for baseball and MCC Golf Coach of the Year (’97). He also holds Grace College’s pitching records with wins in both career and season, as well as single season ERA. Johnson pitched in the very first game at Grace College’s Miller Field, and as a long-time faculty member, he has enjoyed seeing Lancer Athletics evolve over the years.

Dawes was an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention (’99), NCCAA All-American (’97, ’98, ’99) and MCC All-Conference (’96-’99) for women’s soccer. She also holds the individual records for goals and points in a career.

Pulver was a two-time NAIA District 21 All-American (’91, ’92), NCCAA All-American (’92) and two-time MCC All-Conference (’91, ‘92) for women’s basketball; and Van Duyne was an NAIA All-American (’76), NAIA All-American Honorable Mention (’78) and MCC All-Conference (’76-’79) for men’s soccer.

The late Lloyd Woolman was also honored. Woolman won four MCC track and field championships, and an MCC soccer title as a coach. Woolman also served as athletic director and he helped institute Grace’s track and field, cross country, baseball, tennis, golf and soccer programs. Woolman’s two sons were in attendance to accept the award.

Ron and Willa Henry were also honored for their meritorious service to Grace Athletics. Ron has been a faculty member for over 50 years, and he was the public address announcer at Lancer games and Warsaw High School games for a number of years. Willa has also been named Warsaw teacher of the year.

“We want to thank those individuals who have brought much distinction and honor to Grace College and have established a tradition of Christian excellence which is incomparable,” said Grace Athletic Director Chad Briscoe. “These achievements have touched everyone associated with Grace College both in and out of the arena of athletics.”

Now available through Friday, November 20 at a discounted rate!

Ordinances: What Are They?

What is the difference between an ordinance and a sacrament? In the minds of average Christians, they seem to be clear and well-defined. But when pressed to actually define the terms, it is not a task that is easily undertaken. In fact, the Church has seen a tremendous amount of diversity as to what an ordinance really is. From the early post-apostolic era, in which little attention or definition was offered, to the height of Scholasticism in the Middle Ages, when a list of 30 sacraments was presented, theologians have discussed and debated this subject.

Ordinances: What Are They? is written by Grace Brethren pastor David Plaster and explores the possible parameters which Biblical data and theological deduction place on the term “ordinance.” He provides an overview of the term and its history, reviews its ceremonial aspects, highlights any intended significance, and discusses what constitutes an expectation of perpetuation regarding ordnances.

Ordinances: What Are They? is now available at bmhbooks.com for just $6 (regularly priced at $7.99). Or call 1-800-348-2756 and ask for the Friday Feature. Tell John that you saw it on the Editor's Blog! Order now!

This price is only good through Friday, November 20, 2009.

This is an excerpt from a story in today's local paper from Dillsburg, Pa., where George Traub is pastor of the Hope Grace Brethren Church. To read the entire article, click here.

Quaking Dillsburg seeks answers

by Greg Gross

At first, Rebekah Wyman thought the rumbles were caused by the boys who were in the other part of a partitioned-off part of the room.

But upon further investigation during a bible study session in October 2008, Wyman, and the other girls who had attended the study at Hope Grace Brethren Church in Carroll Township, found out that it was actually a small earthquake that had rocked the building.

“We thought it was the guys and they thought it was us,” the Northern York High School senior said as she recalled the first time she felt an earthquake.

Since October 3, 2008, the township, just southeast of the York County Borough of Dillsburg, has been hit with a swarm of small earthquakes, said Jeri Jones of Jones Geological Services in Spring Grove.

A number of the quakes’ epicenters have been just down the street from the church at the intersection of Old York and Warrington roads.

Ironically, Wyman said, the church’s youth group is called “Epicenter,” Wyman said with a laugh as she enjoyed coffee with her mother, Kimberly Wyman, also of Carroll Township, at Coffee Express in Dillsburg. The younger girl said the tremors aren’t felt at their home, which is to the west of Route 15.

Turkey Trot benefits food bank

Grace Brethren Church and Schools will host a familyfriendly 2009 Turkey Trot 5K run/ walk at 7:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26 at the church, 2900 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley, California.

All proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit Simi Valley Care and Share Food Bank.

The race route will begin at the church and proceed along Alamo Street and down Sycamore Drive to the DMV through Lemon Park to Avenida Simi, circling back to Alamo and finishing at the church.

Participants can register at the church online at www.GraceBrethren.com.

The cost through Nov. 14 is $30, or $25 with five canned/nonperishable food items. Nov. 15 and later, registration will cost $35.

For more information, call Tim Howard, associate pastor of family ministries, at (805) 582-4300. John McIntosh is pastor of the Simi Valley church.

Today was "picture day" for the after-school SMM group sponsored by the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church in Winona Lake, Indiana (Bruce Barlow, lead pastor). After the "pretty picture" was taken, the girls wanted one with their "ugly faces" as well.

The group meets every Thursday at 3:45 p.m. for games, crafts, Bible stories, and refreshments as part of the church's ministry to Jefferson Elementary School, which is right across Kings Highway from the church facility.

Currently the school building is under construction so WLGBC is hosting some Jefferson classes and the SMM group during the construction period. An "SMM Tea" will be a special program feature in December.

The boys soccer team at Worthington Christian High School, a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio, returns to the state finals tomorrow when they take on Cuyahoga Valley Christian at Noon tomorrow (Friday, November 13) in Crew Stadium.

The game will be streamed live on OhioHSsports.com.

For a report on the semi-finals match-up, when Worthington Christian defeated Cincinnati Seven Hills, 1-0, in a Division III state semifinal at Centerville, click here.

This is the second time in as many years that the Worthington Christian boys have played in the state finals. Last year, they lost 1-0 to Toledo Ottawa Mills.

A team from Grace Community Church, a Grace Brethren church in Goshen, Ind., just returned from Thailand and Cambodia where they visited their two orphan homes.

"Our trip lasted 10 days and we wee able to love, encourage, and offer hop to our kids," reports Pastor C. Jim Brown. "All six team members came back with changed hearts and a deeper love for our family in Asia. Asia's Hope is making a profound difference in our world and it is a privilege to link arms with them." The video below is an overview of their trip.

An "All You Can Eat" pancake breakfast benefit for the Brethren Heritage Center will be held at the Bookville Grille in the Brookside Plaza, Brookville, Ohio, on Friday and Saturday November 13 and 14 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Bacon or sausage is served with the first plate of pancakes, along with beverage. Cost is $6.50,with a portion going to the Brethren Heritage Center. Featuring Dean Dohner's Ohio Maple Syrup.

Bring the family and friends and do a good thing for Brethren historical preservation and interpretation!

Jim Brown, director of MetroGrace Philadelphia, alerts us to the following:

Dr. Renald Showers (pictured) will be appearing on the History Channel in The Nostradamus Effect series at 9 p.m. on Nov. 11 and Dec. 2. These sessions relate to what the Bible reveals concerning the future.

Dr. Showers is a well-known author, teacher, and conference speaker who is widely recognized as one of the most distinguished theologians in America today. He is a graduate of Philadelphia Bible Institute (now PBU) and holds a B.A. in history from Wheaton College, a Th.M. in church history from Dallas Theological Seminary, plus a Th.D. in theology from Grace Theological Seminary.

He has served on the faculties of Lancaster Bible College, Moody Bible Institute, and Philadelphia Biblical University. At present, he travels the world speaking and writing for The Friends of Israel. His ability to teach truth with grace and gentleness is an encouragement to many.

A new book by BMH author and Grace College physics professor Don DeYoung is now available through BMH Books, as well as through other outlets.

Discovery of Design: Searching Out the Creator's Secrets is co-authored by DeYoung and Grace College alumnus Derrik Hobbs. The well-illustrated book compiles designs from nature that have been turned into useful products, from fiber optics to bullet trains.

Retail price for the 232-page paperback is $12.99, and it is available through general outlets or at bmhbooks.com or by calling 1-800-348-2756.

Join BMH Books author Dr. John Whitcomb, president of Whitcomb Ministries, Inc., for four dynamic sessions on biblical prophecy at the Sixth Annual Day with Whitcomb Ministries. The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Brookside Baptist Church, 4470 N. Pilgrim Road, in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Dr. Whitcomb will speak from the Old Testament book of Daniel and explain its significance for these last days of the church age under the theme of "The Prophecies of Daniel: The Christian's End-Time Message."

Prepare your heart for Thanksgiving at this very special Bible conference, which will include worshipful sacred music fitting for the season.

There will be no charge for those attending, but a freewill offering for Whitcomb Ministries will be taken at the conference. Pre-registration is requested, and may be done online at www.SermonAudio.com/Whitcomb under "Events."

The Sunnyside, Washington, Grace Brethren Church (Nathan Zakahi, pastor) has had a part in fostering an anti-gang program through bicycles. Here is an excerpt from an article in the Yakima Herald--to read the entire article click here.

Re-cycling offers alternative to gangs

By Ross Courtney , Yakima Herald Republic

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Don’t give George Villalobos a hacksaw.

The 13-year-old bike mechanic-in-training might try to use it to remove a crusty tire from the rim of a road bike.

“That would make it more simple,” he says through his grunts, as he pries at the bead with tire levers and a screwdriver.

Elsewhere in the unheated downtown garage, boys sort spokes, push brooms and grease bearings.

They are all pitching in at Lucky 7 Bikes, a volunteer-run shop that functions as a recycling, youth outreach and apprenticeship center.

A product of communitywide gang prevention efforts, the program works by allowing kids to select a salvaged bike and refurbish it under the tutelage of unofficial manager Dan White and other mentors. In turn, the students contribute about five hours helping other kids, sweeping and cleaning parts.

Or removing stubborn tires.

Grace College and Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, today hosted a Business Continuity Planning Seminar which was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security.

Gary Colby (upper photo) was one of the main presenters of the seminar, which was designed to help small business owners develop a business continuity plan. Colby, who teaches part-time at Grace, oversaw emergency preparedness measures for a local utility and is a senior expert with the US Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security in the areas of emergency preparedness, vulnerability, and counter terrorism activities.

Other presenters included John Burtoft of Warsaw, Indiana, a Grace alumnus whose business was recently destroyed by fire; Rich Ladeen, CEO of Da-Lite Screens discussing disaster recovery operations Da-Lite experienced after a tornado severely damaged Da-Lite's facility in October, 2001; Dr. Portia Plummer, former Indiana State U. professor of health, safety, and environmental sciences; Ed Rock, Kosiusko County Emergency management director; and Deputy Craig Bales of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department along with his bomb-locating dog, Justice. Justice (lower photo) participated in several demonstrations.

Subjects included creating a business continuity plan, workplace violence, and disaster recovery plans. A number of students from Craig Allebach's criminal justice course also sat in on part of the day's presentations. Bill Darr was the on-site coordinator for Grace College.

Congratulations are again in order for the boys soccer team (16-1-4) at Worthington Christian High School, a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus (Worthington), Ohio. They've advanced to the Ohio Division III semifinal game which will be played tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. in Centerville (500 East Franklin Street, 45459-5714). The Warriors will face Cincinnati Seven Hills (18-1-1).

The Altoona (Pa.) Grace Brethren Church (Rodney Lingenfelter, pastor) is featured in today's (November 9, 2009) Altoona Mirror in a story about the church preparing boxes for Operation Christmas. To read the complete story, click here.

Area resident now helps other children

Lejla Allison had survived three years in wartorn Bosnia when she decided she wanted to die.

Eleven years old at the time, Allison had to walk to school through snow and slush in shoes so old and worn her toes poked through.

"I was praying to God every day for a pair of shoes," Allison said. "I decided there was no such as God, because if there, he would not let me live like this." ... Despondent, Allison headed to a local school, planning to steal a coat to keep warm.

When she arrived at the school, she was greeted by people handing out shoe boxes filled with gifts. A man presented her with one of the boxes, which contained several little gifts - and a pair of shoes.

There were more than 200 boxes distributed that day in 1993, and only one contained a pair of shoes, which fit Allison perfectly.

"At that moment, I knew God was real, and he answers prayers," Allison said. "That's why those three attempts didn't work."

The shoe boxes were being distributed by Operation Christmas Child, which collects them throughout the U.S. and gives them to needy children in 130 countries.

Allison, now 27, helps coordinate collection efforts at Grace Bible Church in Hollidaysburg.

She moved to the area with her husband, a U.S. Air Force veteran she met in Bosnia, in 2001.
Allison, who was raised in the Muslim faith, asked that her hometown not be identified, as she and her family have received threats because of her work with the Christian organization.

It wasn't until her sister-in-law was packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child that Allison realized that the program was behind the shoes she'd received in Bosnia.

Grace Brethren Church has been participating in Operation Christmas Child since 1998, said Shannon Krater of Altoona, site coordinator. Last year, the church collected 3,246 shoe boxes; this year, they're aiming for 10,000.