BMH Editor's Blog

More Wildfire News from California

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 25, 2007  |  No Comments

A Wednesday check of Grace Brethren pastors throughout California has brought a few interesting reports.

From Julie Schumacher, Director of Missions and Communications at the Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach
Here in Long Beach, we are not directly in danger from the fires, but are certainly affected in other ways. Many in our church have family and friends who are displaced, and one of our staff members sister’s house burned to the ground yesterday. Of course, the sky is dark and it’s raining ash as well.

We are trying to set up some systems for assistance with two other churches we have relationships with in the Escondido (San Diego County) area, in order to channel supplies and resources to those who need help. Even getting down there today is nearly impossible as they’ve closed THE major freeway from LA to San Diego due to a fire that jumped the freeway. It’s pretty crazy out here right now.

Thursday update from Julie: The good news is that the weather is finally changing and the winds are dying down. That will give the firefighters and standing chance to deal with these raging fires.

If you would like to help, we (Grace Brethren Church, Long Beach) are working with Northcoast Church in Vista, Calif. to provide $20 gift cards to Walmart or Target in order for those displaced or now homeless to be able to purchase basic need items. Notes of prayer or encouragement can be attached to the card. Funds can be sent to Grace Long Beach, 3590 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807, ATTN: Pastor Eric Marsh. Checks should be made to Grace Long Beach and the memo line should state “fire assistance.”

Other Wednesday reports:

From Pastor Chris Suitt, New Hope Community Church , Canyon Lake
New Hope Community Church is unaffected – at this point – by the fires. Some of our people are helping get food to those who are affected. People in our home school group have been forced to evacuate and one has had damage. Our family and home school group are providing meals and clothing.

From Pastor Terry Daniels, Grace Brethren Church of South Pasadena
We have had no direct impact from the fires. In fact, we hardly even smell smoke here in South Pasadena. Thanks for your concern.

From Pastor Mike Sciarra, Grace Church of Orange
We are pretty unaffected by the fires. The closest it got to any of our people was a few miles from my home in Irvine. We all have relatives/friends who have been evacuated in other areas but nothing near us.

From Pastor Glen Shirk, Ripon Grace Brethren Church
We are far enough away that we are not impacted other than hurting for those affected in the south of our state. I know that there are fire teams that have gone south to fight the fires from our area.

From Pastor Roy Halberg, Grace Fellowship of Alta Loma
Nothing near us this time . . . at least not yet!! Four years ago we were impacted but so far we are in the clear.

Photo above: Passing over Southern California at 3:10 p.m. on October 24, 2007, NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of the massive wildfires that have devastated the area.

Columbus-Area Writer With the Lord

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

This week’s centralohio.com news feed carries news of the death of Jim Boggan, who was affiliated with the Southwest (OH) Grace Brethren Church (Tony Webb, pastor). Boggan, who was a freelance writer, wrote several articles for FGBC World, the all-Grace Brethren periodical published by Brethren Missionary Herald Co. Here is his obituary:

James E. Boggan, 50, of Orient, passed into the arms of the Lord Jesus, Giver of Life and Peace, October 23, 2007.

He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Mary Alice Boggan. James is survived by his wife, Shelley; son, Nathan; father, J. Austin Boggan; mother, Nelda Boggan; brothers, Stephen and Larry Boggan; stepsister, Lynne Crooks and stepbrothers, Lane and Lon McPherson.

James was a reporter for the Madison Press and a freelance Christian writer. He attended Southwest Grace Brethren Church and Darbydale Church of the Nazarene. He was a former minister at Brokensword and Lykens. He also served on the mission field in Brazil.

He was a graduate of Asbury College and studied at Ashland Seminary. Visitation will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 at Southwest Grace Brethren Church, 3989 Neff Rd., Grove City, Ohio, with the funeral service following at 4 with Pastor Tony Webb officiating. Interment will be held at Mansfield Memorial Park, Ontario, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southwest Grace Brethren or Darbydale Church of the Nazarene. Arrangements entrusted to Newcomer Funeral Home, Southwest Chapel.

Messages of condolence may be left at www.NewcomerFamily.com.

Several pieces of Boggan’s writing can be found on the Southwest church’s website at www.southwest.org. Here is a short excerpt from one of those pieces:

Reflections on cancer at 50

To hear one of my doctors talk, I¹ll live to be 100. He obviously hasn¹t checked my belt size or my cholesterol count.

Of course, he wasn’t talking about the health of my heart.

He was talking about the knob below my right ear which started out (in my fancies) as infection from a defunct tooth and moved through several identities before being pegged as cancer.

Surgery and radiation will send it packing, I’m told. I’ll never be bothered by it again.

The only thing which is unnerving about all that is the professional sympathy. When two doctors in one day pat you on the shoulder while wearing kind smiles, it makes you wonder.

It also makes you think about the big “what if.”

Sooner or later, of course, the big one will hit, whatever form the big one takes when it takes me.

Even if Doc is right and the calendar reads “2057″ at the time, at some point, from whatever cause, my heart monitor will go flat with a long screech and a bunch of people in white coats and cool rubber gloves will step back from the table, sadly shaking their heads.

The thing I¹ve found odd through this process has been my state of mind as expressed by the question, “Do I want that to happen now, or later?”

Don¹t get me wrong. Life is good. I’m married to a wonderful woman and my son, at 10, makes me proud every day. I enjoy my work, my friends, life as I have it.

But I also believe something better awaits. When the pastor tosses a clod of earth on my coffin I won’t be there. I’ll be in a stupendously better place, from which I¹ll never leave.

Pray for Columbus Church and WCS

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

The Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio, and the school it sponsors–Worthington Christian Schools–have been the focus of much negative publicity recently.

The Columbus newspaper has run a number of articles regarding the school and how it has handled personnel matters. One incident goes as far back as 1996 and involves a staff member who resigned because of an indiscretion, went through a restoration process and was re-hired. That individual, however, has recently re-resigned from the school staff in light of recent news reports.

A second school staff member is currently in difficulty, apparently because of incidents in a prior employment in another state.

Pastor David Plaster and all his Worthington Christian School administrative staff would appreciate prayers that they handle all the situations biblically, that the school will not suffer irreparable harm from these reports, and that God will somehow be glorified through the current difficulties.

More on the situation is available at http://www.worthingtonchristian.com/faq/ .

East Focus Retreat Begins

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 24, 2007  |  No Comments

Jim Brown, moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches leads the men at the East Focus Retreat in a get-away from work and a focus on mission. Pray as the retreat continues through tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. The retreat is being held at Sandy Cove on the Chesapeake Bay in North East Md.

California Wildfires Impact Grace Brethren People

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 24, 2007  |  No Comments

The world is watching as firefighters battle out-of-control wildfires across southern California. A number of Grace Brethren churches are located in areas impacted by the fires. Here’s a report from Pastor Glen Sykes at the Grace Brethren Church of San Diego, which is located near Qualcomm Stadium, where many people have gone after being evacuated from their homes.

So far we are fine. Our church is located near Qualcomm stadium so people are being evacuated toward us. It has been intense trying to determine the best course of action to take as far as ministry. The local schools and our own pre-school are closed until Monday due to the fires and air quality issues.

As of now, all the people in the church are safe and still in their own homes including those who live in Poway and Escondido, two of the hardest hits areas with the fire.

Right now we are waiting to see what new direction the fires will head with the changing weather front … we may still see quite a bit of new damage. To give some perspective on the fire, four years ago with the Cedar Ridge fire, there were only 50,000 people evacuated from their homes. With the combined fires in San Diego County alone there have been over 300,000 people evacuated.

On a personal note, our extended family suffered loss in the fire.
Sharon and Dan Cullen were evacuated on Monday afternoon only to have everything destroyed today (Tuesday). Their home is burnt to the foundation. Sharon is an older adopted sibling of our adopted children.

Thanks for praying. Pray for wisdom in how to effectly minister in this very trying time.

"Taste of the World" on October 24

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 22, 2007  |  No Comments

In connection with the Conference on Mission, which is being held this week at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., the ninth annual “Taste of the World,” will be held on Wednesday, October 24, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Rodeheaver Auditorium.

Guests can “travel” from country to country via booths and hands-on displays, enjoying food, music, art, media, and games from more than 20 countries and cultures. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for students, and $6 for families. Children 12 and under are free. This event is sponsored by Grace’s chapter of Mu Kappa International, which includes nearly 100 students from 50 countries.

This week’s conference theme is “Through Fear to Faith.” Special chapel speakers are Bible translator Marilyn Laszlo from the Laszlo Mission League, and Oswaldo Magdangal, president and founder of Christians in Crisis. Thirty-five mission representatives will be on campus during conference to talk with students about ministry possibilities and to lead seminars.

One feature of this year’s conference is a “round-theclock” prayer time, coordinated by students, which runs throughout the conference. Students and employees are encouraged to sign up for specific times to pray in the Upper Room in McClain Hall.

Being the Church

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 22, 2007  |  No Comments

Saturday’s coverage of clean-up efforts in Nappanee, Ind. featured members of the Grace Community Church, a Grace Brethren church in Goshen, Ind. Pastor Jim Brown, who also served as this year’s moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is quoted.

To view the entire story, as broadcast on WSBT (South Bend), click here.

People in Nappanee are still trying to get over the shock of the devastating storm that leveled homes and business in Nappanee and northern Kosciusko County, and tore lives apart.

But now, many have also turned their attention to the massive cleanup effort.

“The noise was deafening. It was. It was like a freight train. It was loud, real loud,” said Kathy Magner. The storm left her yard in a big mess.

“I think a lot of this came from the factory over there that was demolished,” Manger said. “Because I have no idea what that is, no idea.”

But Saturday, she and others in Nappanee are getting some much needed help to clean it all up. Volunteers from Grace Community Church are just some of the many people already helping the people of Nappanee recover.

“I think this is the way God wants us to live, just helping each other out,”
said Jim Brown.

On Sunday, instead of having church services in Goshen all three services are going to be in Nappanee, helping the people.

“Instead of going and learning how to be the church, why don’t we be the church and go out and do it,” Brown said.

Joy Distler Featured in Lancaster Shopping News

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 22, 2007  |  1 Comment

Joy Distler, daughter of Scott and Laura Distler (he’s the pastor at Grace Church in Lititz, Pa.), was featured in the Shopping News of Lancaster County.

To see the article, click here. Scroll down to School Scene, then click on Lititz Christian School.

Whether joking with a fellow classmate or encouraging an underclassman, Joy Distler is fully immersed in the lives of students at Lititz Christian School.

What she likes most about school are the people. And the people love her!

As Joy enters her fourth year at LCS, she continues to bring an atmosphere of warmth to the halls of LCS. Another favorite is AP English, “because we can eat and drink coffee everyday,” says Joy.

Within school she is actively involved in many areas including choir, the school play, volleyball, and soccer. Joy has been involved in the ministry team at LCS for three years and became a member of the National Honor Society in her Junior year. In addition to improving her skills in the numerous areas with which she is involved, Joy enjoys running and hanging out with her friends. She is also involved in her church, Grace Church of Lititz, where her father pastors.

As well as being involved in her school and church, Joy has traveled to a variety of countries, including Mexico, England, and Italy. After she graduates Joy plans to go to college as an education major, where she will continue to touch the lives of the people around her with her encouraging words and loving spirit.

Written by: Alicia Miklas

Indiana Grace Brethren Help with Tornado Clean-up

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 22, 2007  |  No Comments

Northern Indiana Grace Brethren responded to the needs of their neighbors over the weekend to assist with tornado clean-up following a devastating F3 storm on Thursday night. Some churches canceled Sunday services, while other members and attenders chose to forgo Sunday morning worship to assist with the task at hand.

Churches at Goshen and Osceola, located 10-15 miles from where the storm hit, canceled services and carpooled to the southern Elkhart County community to help. Total numbers of people involved are not known, but there were three groups of 10-12 cars each from the Goshen church who took chain saws and other heavy equipment to help move trees and other debris. Others drove directly to a check-in site at a local high school where they were assigned a place to work.

Approximately 10-15 people from the Winona Lake church helped at the Yoder farm on Sunday, which had experienced a direct hit from the tornado. This was also a site where members of the Goshen church helped.

The pastors and elders at the Goshen church also went on Saturday to assist with clean-up.

Area media reported that the roads to Nappanee were crowded on Sunday as volunteers flocked to the community to help.

To see a report from Nappanee, which includes interviews with Goshen’s Tregg and Kevin Fisher, and Winona Lake’s Gladys Deloe, click here.

About 205 from the Osceola, Ind., Grace Brethren Church also volunteered to help. To read a report about their day, click here.

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 22, 2007  |  No Comments

Dan Wray (center, in red shirt) organized volunteers from the Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren Church. Also helping with tornado clean-up were members of the Grace Community Church, a Grace Brethren church in Goshen, Ind. (in blue shirts).

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 22, 2007  |  No Comments

Volunteers from the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, along with some from Grace Community Church, a Grace Brethren Church in Goshen, Ind., and others helped with clean-up at the Yoder farm, located southwest of Nappanee.

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 22, 2007  |  No Comments

All that remains of the Yoder farmhouse is the basement and a slab.

John Ward Involved in Community Effort

Posted by Terry White on October 19, 2007  |  No Comments

John Ward, from thequest and East Side Grace Brethren churches in Columbus, Ohio, is also involved in leading a community service opportunity. Here is a short excerpt. To read the entire article, click on http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/101807/Westerville/News/101807-News-438431.html

WARM is a faith-based, nonprofit local food pantry that also provides employment coaching, budget training and limited financial assistance, according to Marier.

Team coordinator John Ward said that while the team is comprised of individuals of varying skill levels, everyone has worked hard over the last 16 weeks and has logged more than 2,500 miles as a team.

“There’s a good spirit among the team. For some, this is an entry into the sport altogether,” Ward said. “It’s one thing to train for a marathon by yourself, but it really is a shot of adrenaline to have others alongside of you, encouraging you along and helping you to make strides toward the goal of completing a half or full marathon.”

A Westerville businessman, Ward recently began volunteering with WARM, and has said that his background in marathon running gave him the idea for the fundraiser. Ward ran his first marathon in 2004, in London, England, and followed that by competing in the Boston Marathon in 2005 and the Columbus Marathon last year.

As part of the team’s training, WARM has organized several clinics on injury prevention, nutrition, what kind of shoes to wear and stride analysis for the runners, according to Marier.

Heritage Center is Unique Repository of Brethren History

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 19, 2007  |  No Comments

Tucked away in a shopping center in Brookville, Ohio, is a repository of all things Brethren. Founded in 2001, opening in 2003, the Brethren Heritage Center is a haven for the various historical records and artifacts of Brethren denominations that trace their spiritual roots to 1708 in Schwarzenau, Germany. It’s not only evidence of the common history of the groups, but a testimony of their ability to work together in spite of a variety of theological and functional distinctives.

Recognizing those differences, the organizers insisted that the center only focus on heritage. As a result, the Center is a diplomatic celebration of the roots that bind the groups together. With an eye to preservation, there are more than 12,000 catalogued books in its 7,000 square feet. In addition to the library, there is a store with new and used books about Brethren, Anabaptist, Pietist, and related history and a one-room museum of Brethren memorabilia.

“As I study the history of the (Brethren) church, I see the continuity of faith and practice,” says Dale Savage, chair of the board and a member of the Old Brethren Church.

“I take comfort in that continuity and that the faith is still a living faith,” he adds. “I want to show that continuity and faith, and pass it on to future generations.”

One of the visible symbols of that continuity is the set of murals that depict Brethren history from 1708 to 2008 and circle the reading room. At five-feet long by two-feet high, each of the 12 panels are one third the size of the original murals that were painted by Medford D. Neher in 1949 and installed at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind.

The collection includes five rare Sauer Bibles (Sauer was an early Brethren printer); the personal Bible of Daniel Miller, one of the earliest Brethren leaders in the Dayton area; and a variety of meeting house furnishings, communion ware, clothing and photographs. The only Grace Brethren artifacts presently in the collection are a unique early 20th century communion tray of glasses from the First Grace Brethren Church in Dayton and a girding towel from the Englewood Grace Brethren Church.

Jean Rogers, a member of the Brookville Grace Brethren Church, is the sole Grace Brethren member on the group’s board. As a member of a group of churches that more often looks ahead than back, she sees value in being a part of the Center. “If you want to know about your spiritual heritage, you can find it there,” the former church librarian says.

She is also one of many volunteers who have logged more than 20,000 hours working in the collection, often researching history or genealogical questions for interested individuals.

Both Rogers and Savage encourage Grace Brethren people to consider volunteering at the Center. “It’s important to tell the story of the Grace Brethren,” says Savage. “If they are here to be able to narrate that story, it’s even better.”

While based in southwest Ohio, the not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization sees its mission as a nation-wide effort to preserve Brethren heritage. It has welcomed visitors from all over the world and encourages involvement by Brethren people from outside their area. The denominations it represents include: The Brethren (Ashland) Church, Church of the Brethren, Conservative Grace Brethren International, Dunkard Brethren, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, Old Brethren, and Old German Baptist Brethren.

Photo above — Brethren communion ware sits on a convertible pew table at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio.

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 19, 2007  |  No Comments

If you go…

The Brethren Heritage Center is located at 428 Wolf Creek Street (P.O. Box 175), Brookville, Ohio 45309-0175. It is open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed all major holidays. It is easily accessible from Interstate 70. For more information, see www.brethrenheritagecenter.org.

To volunteer or to donate items, call 937-833-5222.

Church Blog Seeks to Foster Interaction

Posted by Terry White on October 18, 2007  |  No Comments

The Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church is experimenting with an all-church blog designed to create interaction, to engage members in daily scripture readings, and to foster insights and comments on scripture by various congregation members.

Under the direction of proclamation pastor Kip Cone, the church’s “Live It” blog is now featuring a daily scripture reading schedule and commentary by various church members.

Here is part of the blog’s introductory section:

What is this?
This blog is an attempt to connect the people of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church as we dive into the life of Christ. Daily (hopefully 5x/week) entries will be posted here on the current day’s Bible reading.

How do I use it?
Follow along with the reading schedule located below. Don’t worry if you miss a day…just keep going. After you’ve read the scripture passage/s take time to read the devotional thoughts that are posted for today. Consider how you might add to the conversation as we all dive into the life of Christ.

To follow along, or just to take a look, log onto http://liveitblog.wordpress.com/
(hint: next week’s entries are all written by BMH staff members who are also from the church)

NCO Pastors Discuss Autonomy

Posted by Terry White on October 18, 2007  |  No Comments

Pastors of the North Central Ohio District are meeting today at Woodville Grace Brethren Church in Mansfield, Ohio, to advance a discussion about “Autonomy and
Cooperation.”

Pastor Todd Scoles, chairman of the NCO leadership team, led the discussion.

Questions asked include:

“What are the three greatest avenues to cooperating in the NCO?”
“What are the three greatest obstacles for cooperating in the NCO?”
“What are the three greatest opportunities for cooperating in the NCO?”
“If NCO churches drafted covenant of cooperating between churches, what
guidelines would you like to see included?”

Grace Brethren churches are historically committed to the autonomy of the local church and to maximum voluntary communication. How these historic commitments are applied to our movement in today’s world is a vital discussion for FGBC churches.

Grace Brethren want to know Jesus and to make Him known… Together!(Tom Avey photo and article)

T-shirt Source

Posted by Terry White on October 18, 2007  |  1 Comment

Need custom T-shirts for your youth group or function? Here’s a new source that just came to our attention:

http://myhallshirt.blogspot.com/

‘Spectrum’ Women’s Magazine Now Available

Posted by Terry White on October 17, 2007  |  No Comments

The 2007-2008 edition of “Women’s Spectrum” the official program magazine of the Women of Grace USA, is now complete and ready for shipping.

The 46-page full color magazine contains a wide variety of feature articles, personality sketches, and challenges, including one by Women of Grace USA president Janet Minnix. Spotlighted missionaries for this year include Tracey Schwartz, Patty Morris, Siew-Choo Ong, and one other in central Asia.

Other informative articles include “When the Answers are Out of Reach” by Jesi Kettering,”Called to Plant ‘Seed Truths’” by Lisa Triplehorn, “Not Retired–Just Retreaded” by Geneva Inman, “Why We Need Relationships for Personal Growth” by Dr. Christy Morr, “The Need for Prayer in Counseling” by Dr. Tammy Schultz, and much more. Linda Michael is senior editor of the magazine, and Viki Rife is the general editor.

Single copies of “Women’s Spectrum” are available for $6 each or $5 each in quantities of five or more copies sent to one address. To order, or for more information, contact Women of Grace USA at PO Box 711, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590 or e-mail womenofgraceusa@aol.com. The Women of Grace website is www.wgusa.org.

Ashland Southview Celebrates 50 Years

Posted by Terry White on October 16, 2007  |  No Comments

The Southview Grace Brethren Church of Ashland, Ohio, (Larry Edwards, pastor) celebrated its 50th year of ministry the first Sunday of October.

Former Pastor Donald Farner spoke on “The Year of Jubilee” to the 152 who were in attendance. There were several musical specials, including a concert by Nancy Messner and Jim Messner.

It was Jim Messner’s father, Glenn, who was on the original board of trustees of the church for starting Southview. Many gave testimonies as to what the West 10th Street Brethren Church and Southview Grace Brethren Church meant to them. A fellowship meal followed the concert.

The Southview church had its beginning as a branch of the West 10th Street Brethren Church, eventually re-named the Grace Brethren Church. Because of overcrowded conditions and with the foresight of several individuals, in 1957 Southview was born.

It was originally called “one church with two locations” but in 1965 the church was named Southview Grace Brethren Church and the following year was officially organized as a separate church body.

The first pastor was Dr. Miles Tabor, and his assistant was Eddie Cashman. Other pastors who followed included William Kolb, Mason Cooper, Charles Martin, Donald Farner, Gary Miller, Gary Taylor, Steve Burns, and Randy Haulk.

Larry Edwards currently serves as pastor, with Mark Abel as youth pastor. Dean Risser serves the congregation as pastor emeritus. (material contributed by Rex Weirich)