BMH Editor's Blog

Keith Shearer Headlines Monday Session

Posted by Terry White on July 31, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

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

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

Posted by Terry White on July 31, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

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

Posted by Terry White on July 31, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

Bellflower’s Tom Hocking Lights the Prayer Fire

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

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

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

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

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

Day One Notable Quotes from Celebrate06

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

Quotes From Day One of Celebrate06, Indian Wells, California

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

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

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

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

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

–Pastor Charles Ashman

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

–Pastor Jim Brown, Goshen, Indiana

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

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

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

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

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

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

–Pastor Tim Boal, FGBC incoming Moderator

GBIM Sponsors Missionary Reception, Food-Fest

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Moderator Praises Unity, Recommends Steps

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2006  |  2 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

Charles Ashman: ‘Stir the Sugar in the Bottom of the Cup’

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

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

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2006  |  No Comments

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

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

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

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

The Conference Ends. The Conference Begins.

Posted by Terry White on July 28, 2006  |  No Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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