BMH Editor's Blog

Clinton Team Wins Title

Posted by Terry White on February 28, 2007  |  No Comments

From today’s Washington Post:

Grace Brethren-Clinton captured the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference girls’ title Saturday, snapping Covenant Life’s 50-game league winning streak with a 52-43 win at Trinity College.

The Eagles (23-5) were led by freshman Andrea Jones, who scored 25 points and was named the game’s most valuable player. Junior Jamea Rawles added 16 points.

Also Saturday, the Colonial Beach boys’ team (26-4) won the Delaney Athletic Conference tournament championship, beating Randolph-Macon Academy, 60-47.

Pray for Chilean Team

Posted by Terry White on February 28, 2007  |  No Comments

From Dave Guiles, executive director of Grace Brethren International Missions:

We just received news of a tragic loss in the international FGBC family.

The son-in-law of one of the members of the national church planting team in Curico, Chile, was killed in an accident at work, leaving behind his wife of 22 months, Erika, who is six months pregnant.

The young man had been led to Christ as a result of the team’s effort and showed promise as a future leader. Please pray for Erika and the fledgling church in Curico.

Capital Center to be Dedicated at Equip07

Posted by Terry White on February 27, 2007  |  No Comments

Grace College and Seminary will dedicate its new Orthopaedic Capital Center (pictured) Sunday, July 29, 2007, at the Equip07 national conference for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Equip07 begins Sunday evening at 7 p.m., in the Orthopaedic Capital Center, with a joint business meeting of the corporations from the FGBC, Grace College and Seminary, and the Brethren Missionary Herald Company. The OCC dedication service will follow the meeting and the evening will conclude with a reception.

The new $9.1 million, 60,000 square-foot facility will be used for campus activities such as chapel, athletic competition, and commencement. The OCC will hold audiences up to 2,800 people and will also provide a center for community and church-related events, concerts, business meetings, and trade shows. The first event scheduled for the OCC is Grace College and Seminary’s 2007 Commencement, to be held in May.

The dedication service on July 29 is the first of several dedications planned for the new facility. The final dedication will be held at Grace’s Homecoming, scheduled for the weekend of November 2-4, 2007. Grace College and Seminary are located in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Day Two of South Focus Retreat Concludes

Posted by Terry White on February 27, 2007  |  No Comments

Posted by Terry White on February 27, 2007  |  1 Comment

A group of Haitian pastors provided several special musical numbers in the Tuesday evening session at the south Focus Retreat. The songs were sung in the Creole language.

Promotional Copy You Can Use

Posted by Terry White on February 27, 2007  |  No Comments

The March/April issue of FGBC World is now arriving in churches and homes. Here is promotional copy you can use for church bulletins, newsletters, websites, and promotions. Please pass on to the communicators on your church staffs:

Week One:

Cowboy hats and bandannas, live chickens in a crate, an authentic back porch… and a bungee bull? Sounds like a party. But for the women of Warsaw Community Grace Brethren Church in Warsaw, Ind., it also sounded like ministry. An evening of food, pampering, and live music exposed non-believers to the truth of the Gospel. Read more about it in the March/April issue of FGBC World, now available.

Week Two:

Surfing lessons and a “gospel choir” are unique methods being used to share the Gospel with Japanese nationals who live in the Long Beach, California, area. About every three months, they’ve experienced someone committing their life to Jesus Christ. Read more in the March/April issue of FGBC World, which is now available.

Week Three:

Church planting has taken an international flavor in Frederick, Md., where Grace Community Church, a Grace Brethren church, is helping the Frederick Grace Chinese Fellowship grow to become an independent congregation. Learn more in the March/April issue of FGBC World, which is now available.

Week Four:

In one life, Roland Maust is pastor of a Grace Brethren church in the rolling hills of Ohio’s Amish country. In another, he is a Civil War medicine expert and author who specializes in the Second Corps Hospital at the Battle of Gettysburg. Read more about his alter ego in the March/April issue of FGBC World, which is now available.

South Focus Retreat Off to Good Start

Posted by Terry White on February 27, 2007  |  No Comments

The south Focus Retreat, being held near Haines City, Florida, began yesterday with a worship session and small-group discussions based on the Acts of the Apostles. FGBC Moderator Tim Boal, who is leading the retreat, was delayed in Philadelphia by weather but arrived later in the evening. The retreat continues through Wednesday mid-morning.

Posted by Terry White on February 27, 2007  |  No Comments

Ohio Church Plant on Fox News

Posted by Terry White on February 26, 2007  |  2 Comments

Jonathan Herron, the church-planting pastor for the new Catalyst church in Kent, Ohio, sends along the following note:

Just wanted to update you with encouraging news from our 5-month-old church plant in the heart of downtown Kent, Ohio.

The Cleveland affiliate of FOX News came out yesterday to film a great piece on our church – it aired last night during the 10pm newcast andcan be seen here:http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2495396&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Catalyst!

Working the Sunshine State

Posted by Terry White on February 25, 2007  |  No Comments

YIB (Your Intrepid Blogger) is working some of the Grace Brethren churches in the Sunshine State this weekend as we prepare to attend the South Focus Retreat in Haines City, Florida, this Monday through Wednesday.

This morning I was at the Gulfview Grace Brethren Church in Port Richey, Florida (pictured) where Pastor Jim Poyner and his lovely congregation gave me a great welcome as I displayed BMH Books products and talked a bit in the morning service about the ministry of Brethren Missionary Herald Co.

Retired Grace Brethren pastor Warren Tamkin and his wife, Lois, attended the church and live during the winter in the park just behind the church property. So we had lunch together and then they gave me a personalized tour of the Word of Life facility and grounds just north and east of Port Richey.

Then on to Brooksville, where Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey had preached in the morning and met with church leadership as Pastor Lee Friesen has announced his retirement effective about May 31.

I hunted up Lee at his lovely house in the development behind the church building and we chatted for about 45 minutes about our churches in Florida, his pending retirement, and much more.

Tomorrow it’s on to Orlando for some prospective-author contact and then to Haines City with 25 of God’s choice servants for the Focus Retreat at the FFA camp facility on Lake Pierce. FGBC Moderator Tim Boal will lead the retreat, which will focus on the Pauline epistles and the biblical definition of “church” as portrayed in Tim’s recent BMH book, Building Authentic Community. Each person attending the retreat will receive a copy of the book.

This retreat concludes mid-morning Wednesday. One Focus Retreat remains in the current cycle–that will be for the northwest, and it will be held at Camp Clear Lake near White Pass in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state, the dates of May 14-16. Log onto the FGBC webpage for more information or to register.

Posted by Terry White on February 25, 2007  |  No Comments

Powell Church Seeks Summer Children’s Intern

Posted by Terry White on February 23, 2007  |  No Comments

Grace Brethren Church in Powell, Ohio (Rick Nuzum, pastor) has an opportunity for a paid intern position for 28-hours/week during 10-12 weeks of summer (includes attending Driven Conference and/or vacation week).

This person works for the Family Pastor, works with volunteer teachers & helpers, parents & children K-5th grade, and all summer programming.

The Powell church website is www.gbcpowell.org and the phone number is (740) 881-6200.

Pastors Assess Church-Planting Potential in Pgh

Posted by Terry White on February 23, 2007  |  No Comments

A number of pastors from the West Penn district (pictured) in Pennsylvania earlier this month took a “research” trip to Pittsburgh, PA, to explore the possibility of church-planting potential there.

Please pray they have wisdom in this venture. For updates, log onto the West Penn district website at http://www.westpenngbc.com/

One Woman’s View of CAR and Chad

Posted by Terry White on February 23, 2007  |  No Comments

Former GBIM missionary Gracia McDairmant has called to our attention a very interesting website.

Actress Mia Farrow has chosen to “celebrate” her birthday by taking an investigative trip through the poorest regions of Central African Republic, Chad, and Darfur.

Her personal reflections and the chronology of her trip may be seen at www.miafarrow.org. Since the Grace Brethren have such a long-standing and deep investment in these regions, it makes for very interesting reading.

Ortho Capital Center Inches Toward Completion

Posted by Terry White on February 23, 2007  |  No Comments

This webcam photo, taken this Friday morning from the roof of the Morgan Library on the campus of Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, shows construction progress as the Orthopaedic Capital Center inches toward completion.

According to Grace officials, the project is still on target to host the school’s graduation in early May, 2007, and it should also be available for use during the Equip07 Grace Brethren national conference in late July.

The new $9.1 million, 60,000 square-foot facility will meet the needs of Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary for chapels, conferences, meetings, and indoor sports events, but also is designed for businesses and organizations that hold events with an audience of up to 2,800 people, such as business meetings and seminars; trade shows and exhibitions; musical events and concerts; home, boat and craft shows; and athletic events.

Three of the area’s largest employers donated $1 million each to make the center possible: Biomet Orthopaedics, Inc.; DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.; and Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

Speller Won’t Compete on Sunday

Posted by Terry White on February 23, 2007  |  1 Comment

Here is an interesting human-interest story about a young speller who chooses not to compete on Sunday. The article excerpts and photo are from the Indianapolis Star–read the complete story here. Huck is from Church of the Good Shepherd in Bloomington, pastored by our friend Tim Bayly.

Auburn Missions Conference This Weekend

Posted by Terry White on February 23, 2007  |  No Comments

Auburn Grace Community Church, the Grace Brethren church in Auburn, California (Phil Sparling, pastor), will kick off its annual Missions Conference Saturday with a 7:30 a.m. men’s breakfast.

“God is Still Drawing People” is the theme of the conference. Potluck dinner is at 4:30 p.m. and sessions on missions work locally and globally follow.

The 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday services feature pastor Joe Warware from Kenya and Wayne Hannah from Grace Brethren International Missions and missionary displays from far and wide.

C.E.F. will be offering a children’s program, junior high and senior high Sunday school and fellowship coffee hour follows both services.

Wednesday Nite Live activities begin at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 with dinner and activities for all ages. “Living Proof” will be leading worship March 4. Services are held at 3126 Olympic Way off Bell Road. Call (530) 823-8330 or visit www.auburngrace.com.

Kavanaughs Perform Together Saturday

Posted by Terry White on February 23, 2007  |  No Comments

From today’s Warsaw (IN) Times-Union newspaper:

WINONA LAKE – “If music be the food of love, play on!”

Shakespeare knew what he was talking about. Music and love have always been paired together, and will be so at Saturday’s free Symphony of the Lakes performance.

The concert is titled “A Night of Romance,” and the evening will be filled with the romantic sounds of Schumann, Ravel, Smetana, and John Williams’ memorable score from the movie “Star Wars.”

Conductor Patrick Kavanaugh (pictured) is quick to point out: “There’s romance there, too. Princess Lea and Han Solo finally got together, didn’t they?”

The principal work is the “Cello Concerto” of Robert Schumann. And what could be more romantic than having the conductor’s wife, Barbara Kavanaugh, serve as guest soloist? They have performed together many times in their 31-year marriage. This will be the first as soloist and conductor in the Warsaw area.

Barbara and Patrick met in music school, and were married in 1975. For almost three decades, they lived in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, where they raised four boys.

Barbara was one of the top free-lance musicians in Washington, playing dozens of major performances at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Constitution Hall and at many universities and concert halls on the east coast. She is the director of chamber music for the MasterWorks Festival and teaches private cello lessons in the couple’s home.

While living in northern Virginia, the Kavanaughs and their friends, Jim and Mary Jeane Kraft, founded the Christian Performing Artists’ Fellowship – the ministry that sponsors the annual MasterWorks Festival. This summer festival moved to Winona Lake in 2002. Two years ago the Kavanaughs and the CPAF headquarters moved here permanently.

The Krafts moved here last year. Jim works with Patrick at the Grace College School of Music. Now that both couples live in Kosciusko County, they are all heavily involved in music-making, with the Symphony and the Lakes, the MasterWorks Festival, Grace College and the Second Sunday Series.

Saturday night’s concert includes Ravel’s exquisite “Pavane” and “The Moldau” by the Czech composer and patriot, Bedrich Smetana.

The performance, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Rodeheaver Auditorium. For more information, call 574-267-1888.

French Press Comments on Grace Brethren Work

Posted by Terry White on February 22, 2007  |  No Comments

Dr. Paul Klawitter, European director for Grace Brethren International Missions, has a fascinating post on his blog about how the French view evangelicals. Specifically, he reports on one French publication which comments on a Grace Brethren service the reporter attended:

Well, this past week a journalist had some extremely complimentary things to say about the Montceau Grace Brethren (evangelical) Church, and that in a city where Protestants were once martyred (see March 16, 2006 blog).

The Journal de Saône-et-Loire (Feb. 12, 2007) wrote:“Sunday morning, at the Cultural Center in Paray-le-Monial, the Center for the Study of the Word of Montceau-les-Mines organized a prayer meeting that assembled about thirty people.

“The CSW of Montceau is managed by Protestant Evangelical Christians. The goal of this association is to make known the Bible and its relevant message. Songs, worship, meditation…

“David Hobert… chose a Psalm as a starting point for his meditation. [The Psalm] says that the one who has faith is never alone. Even in the deepest loneliness, there is someone who is thinking of him, who watches over him, and who is waiting for him.

“One must note the good participation of the congregation at this Protestant meeting. Actually, after the reading, everyone gave their impressions and shared a testimony, highlighting the personal relationship between God and men.

“‘God is a place of safety for me,’ said one. ‘He is light in the darkness,’ added another. And ‘He shows me the way to follow when I stray,” said a third.

“These Christians…, families with children, found some comfort, the balm of religion and strength to lead the hard combat of life.

“Each one shared his testimony. The main speaker then chose the Letter to the Ephesians as his starting point; the Bible is the only reference for Protestant Evangelicals. Through metaphors, the passage showed that religion arms believers with the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the belt being the symbol of truth and the shoes representing zeal.

“This was a beautiful ceremony. Alas, too rare in this religious capital — the city of Paray-le-Monial.”

Ukraine Missions Trip Has Room for More

Posted by Terry White on February 22, 2007  |  No Comments

Pastor Ron Sheranko of the Dayton, Ohio, First Grace Brethren Church is organizing a missions trip to the Ukraine the approximate dates of July 21-August 3.

He says, “We have six from our church at this time planning to go and would love to have four or so more. We are currently securing passports, sending support letters, and checking into flights.

“Each person will need to raise $2,200. We are also hoping to sponsor all the children who attend the camp which could be about 100 – 120 kids at $70.

“If someone couldn’t go on the trip, they may want to sponsor one or more kids. July 21 – August 3 are the approximate dates.”

For more information contact Pastor Ron at rasheranko@sbcglobal.net