BMH Editor's Blog

Six Congregations Welcomed into FGBC

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 31, 2008  |  No Comments

Six congregations were welcomed into the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (FGBC) during the annual meeting of the fellowship on Thursday morning. It was the final meeting during a week of sessions focusing on outreach and evangelism.

The six churches are:

• Brighton Chapel, Howe, Ind.,
• Grace Connections Church, Englewood, Ohio,
• Catalyst Church, Kent, Ohio,
• Life Spring Church, Brownsburg, Ind.,
• Spring Valley Grace Brethren Church, Elyria, Ohio, and
• Community of Hope, Surrey, Canada.

Tom Hocking, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Bellflower, Calif., was voted as moderator-elect. He will join the Fellowship Council and will serve as moderator of the fellowship in 2010. Also joining the Fellowship Council are Doug Courter, pastor of the Calvary Grace Brethren Church in Hagerstown, Md. and Bob Wagner, senior pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Owings, Md., representing the Eastern Region; Nathan Bryan, executive director of GBC Canada, and Jonathan Carey, pastor of the Ellet (Ohio) Grace Brethren Church, representing the Central Region; and Dan Thornton, chief operations officer of Integrated Community Development International, and Chris Ball, senior pastor of the Dimond Grace Brethren Church in Anchorage, Alaska, representing the western region. Also the appointment of Steven Joyce, pastor of About My Father’s Business in Washington, D.C. and Jason Carmean, pastor of the Lexington (Ohio) Grace Brethren Church, to the fellowship council was ratified. They had previously been appointed to vacant seats.

Go2 Church Planting Ministries received provisional approval as a National Ministry of the FGBC. The fellowship council will review the status of Go2 at its winter meeting in 2010 with a view towards recommending a permanent status for approval by delegates at the 2010 conference.

Vision Ohio, a church planting ministry in the state of Ohio, received provisional status as a Cooperating Ministry until annual conference 2010. The fellowship council will also review its status at the winter meeting in 2010 with a view towards recommending a permanent status for approval by delegates at the 2010 conference.

In other action,

• conference delegates approved proposed changes to the make-up and terms of service on the Fellowship Council, the group that acts as the board of directors of the fellowship. First considered at last year’s conference, the changes increase the size of the council, enlarges representation from various regions of the country, changes the length of terms of the moderator, and elects a moderator and vice moderator on the same ballot. (Click here to see a complete explanation of the changes.)
• affirmed resolutions brought to the conference by the Social Concerns Committee. Click here to read the resolutions dealing with current issues, including same sex marriage and the definition of marriage, home schooling, the ‘Jeremiah principle,’ religious liberty, God’s creation, prayer for peace and all in authority, and the election year.

Richard Todd Named Pastor of Year

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 31, 2008  |  No Comments

Richard Todd, senior pastor of the Community Grace Brethren Church of Whittier, Calif., was recognized as Pastor of the Year this morning (Thursday) by the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers. (See photo at right.)

“He has demonstrated competence and faithfulness in pastoral ministry for 37 years,” said Tom Hocking, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Bellflower, Calif., who made the presentation.

“This guy has been a real friend to me and has been used by God to both encourage and direct me in my own ministry,” he added. “This pastor has served in his current city since 1983 and consequently is well-known by people in the political, educational, business, and law enforcement circles of his community. He has been an active part of the Southern California-Arizona District for decades and has served faithfully on the board of CE National for many years as well. He has been mentored in ministry by the likes of Roy Roberts, David Hocking, and David Seifert, educated at Bob Jones University, Biola University, and Talbot Seminary, and is within a few months of his 25th anniversary of ministry at Whittier Community Grace Brethren Church.

Hocking noted several characteristics of Todd: energetic generosity, innovative administration, and faithful service for the Lord and for people.

“Richard served on the CE National board for more than 10 years,” Hocking noted. “He developed the WORD books for children to help kids understand things like salvation, baptism, communion, giving, and other topics.”

Hocking also noted Todd’s dedication to his family. “Rich’s love for Jesus is fleshed out in his love for Claudia and his boys.”

Deposit Required: Incoming Moderator Cites Components for Transferring Gospel

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 31, 2008  |  No Comments

“We need to be faithful in depositing God’s truth into trustworthy men,” said John McIntosh, incoming moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, last night at the final evening of the annual conference of the fellowship. The conference concluded today (Thursday) in Tampa, Fla.

McIntosh, who is senior pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Simi Valley, Calif., referenced II Timothy 2:1-2 as he listed the five critical components for transferring the gospel from one generation to another. The five were the treatment, the treasure, the training, the transfer, an the trophy.

He challenged those present to join him in studying the book of II Timothy during the coming year, as pastors and other leaders will spend time in the book during regional Focus Retreats.

Conference Participants "On Mission" — Learn About Buddhist Religion

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 31, 2008  |  No Comments

Wednesday afternoon, about 70 participants in the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches visited a Buddhist temple. The visit was an effort to learn about Buddhism in order to be more effective in reaching people for Jesus Christ. It also gave participants an opportunity to experience a culture where many Grace Brethren missionaries minister. At right, Ed Trenner, of Orange, Calif., visits with a monk.

Madame Zokoe, Barb Say ‘Thanks’

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2008  |  No Comments

GBIM missionary Barb Wooler and Madame Zokoe, the Africa-based director of Project Hope and Charite ministry to orphans in the Central African Republic, respond here to the offering of more than $30,000 taken Tuesday evening at the FGBC national conference in Tampa for the support of the orphan center:

Dear family in Christ,

Words cannot express the gratitude of our hearts for your goodness to us and our children. Last night Madame Zokoe and I walked home a bit in a daze. It’s only this morning that we have started to understand the implications of your gift received last night.

Among the “new realities” that Madame Zokoe and I woke up to this morning is the realization that we can now send our teen girls to James Gribble High School since we now have the funds to place them in a home with godly house parents to watch over them.

We could have never imagined that God would work in such a way in answer to our prayer last Thursday (July 24) when we asked God for an immediate and significant influx of funds to cover the costs of sending our children to Christian boarding school.

We feel overwhelmed by the love of our Grace Brethren family in Christ, sensing that you are really and truly standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us as we do all we can to raise a new generation of Central African believers who will pursue excellence in all things.

PLEASE EMAIL ME (bwooler@gbim.org) AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK ONLINE so that I can include you on a special email update I will send that will include, among other things, photos, and stories of some of the young adults whose lives your giving will be impacting during the next school year.

Please accept our sincere expressions of the profound love and gratitude that we feel for you all. What if God would be moving in our hearts as a Fellowship to not be willing to coexist on a planet where Asian and African children are the prey of wickedness and famine?

Love in Christ,

Barb Wooler and Madame Alexandrine Zokoe

For regular updates on PH&C check their blog at http://phc-blog.blogspot.com/

Schwarzenau Monograph Now Available

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2008  |  No Comments

BRETHREN ENCYCLOPEDIA, INC.
ANNOUNCES THE PUBLICATION
MONOGRAPH # 7

“THE ORIGINS OF THE SCHWARZENAU BRETHREN”

BY MARCUS MEIER

$40 PLUS $ 5 p&h
ISBN: 0-936693-52-5
Available Now

Not since the pioneering work of Donald and Hedda Durnbaugh in the 1950s has so much primary source material pertaining to the early Brethren in and around Schwarzenau been discovered.

Meier compiles a vast list of books and pamphlets in print near the beginning of the 18th century that were likely read by leaders of the Radical Pietist movement as well as Anabaptist leaders.

Meier presents well-documented stories showing how pietism and Anabaptism influenced Brethren theology and practices.

About the Author

Dr. Meier was born in 1965 in Geinhausen, Germany, and studied protestant theology in Heidelberg and Marburg. For six years he was active on the academic staff of the protestant theology department at Marburg and is currently researching the monastic roots of the Reformation in Wittenberg for his postdoctoral project. Dr. Meier has published numerous papers, including several in Brethren Life and Thought. He is an ordained Lutheran pastor. [Translated by: Dr. Dennis L. Slabaugh]

Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc.
313 Fairview Avenue
Ambler, PA 19002
Ronald G. Lutz, Assistant Treasurer
ronglutz@aol.com
www.brethrenencyclopedia.org

Peggy Owens is ‘Wall of Honor’ Recipient

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2008  |  No Comments

Peggy Owens (left) was honored at the CE National luncheon at noon Wednesday as the 2008 recipient of the organization’s highest award, the Wall of Honor Award. At right is CE National’s T.K. Kurtaneck, who presented the award.

Peggy, an 18-year employee of CE National was cited for her cheerful and faithful service, and especially for her enthusiasm and involvement in leading music for the jail ministry in Warsaw, Indiana. Peggy is a member of the Winona Lake, Indiana, Grace Brethren Church (Bruce Barlow, lead pastor).

To read the remaining three daily news sheets from the conference, click on:

http://www.fgbc.org/igo08/Newssheet08-Monday.pdf
http://www.fgbc.org/igo08/Newssheet08-Tuesday.pdf
http://www.fgbc.org/igo08/Newssheet08-Wednesday.pdf

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2008  |  No Comments

Ed Lewis, executive director of CE National, was the keynote speaker in the 10 a.m. general session of the Grace Brethren national conference this Wednesday morning. Lewis spoke on “grace,” using the Old Testament character Manasseh as an example.

“We must be people of Grace,” Lewis exclaimed, citing several examples of sinners who were treated with grace and restored. “Otherwise, let’s take ‘Grace’ out of the name ‘Grace Brethren,’” he said.

It was reported in the Wednesday morning meeting that the offering taken Tuesday night for the Project Hope and Charite orphan care center in Central African Republic had topped $30,000.

Incoming FGBC moderator John McIntosh, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Simi Valley, California, is the keynote speaker for the Wednesday night 7 p.m. session. The conference concludes Thursday morning with a “delegate’s brunch” and FGBC business meeting at 10 a.m.

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2008  |  No Comments

It was “local church pastor appreciation day” in the 10 a.m. general session of the FGBC national conference this Wednesday. All pastors of local churches were called to stand by the cross in the center of the room and sing, unaccompanied, “Amazing Grace.” As they finished, a prayer time followed, thanking God for the faithful ministry of these pastors and asking Him for protection, guidance, and wisdom as they continue their local ministries.

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2008  |  1 Comment

Pastor Ed Jackson of the Columbus, Ohio, area was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers in its annual meeting Wednesday morning in Tampa, Florida. Jackson was unable to attend so his pastor, Rick Nuzum of the Powell, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church (left) received the award from Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey on Jackson’s behalf. Here is the citation Avey read as part of the ceremony:

The Apostle Paul claimed that his service in the gospel was not voluntary; he was compelled by the call of God. Many years ago, an Ohio state trooper was near retirement; however God called this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award to plant churches. It was a calling that he and his wife could not ignore.

The story of this man’s ministry is an amazing journey of faith. He wrote some of these accounts in his autobiography however it is also chronicled in the lives of men and women he has deeply impacted.

After a long career in law enforcement and a founding role in the establishment of the Worthington, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church, he pastored churches in places like Kenai, Alaska; Orlando, Florida; and Findlay, Ohio. He planted churches in Homer and North Pole, Alaska as well as having a significant role in the start of many other churches including Marysville, Ohio.

He was a regional director for Grace Brethren North American Missions and has worked on the staff of the Worthington Ohio Grace Brethren Church and the Grace Brethren Church in Powell, Ohio. And this person holds the distinction of being on the board of elders of both of these churches at the same time.

To talk with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner is to learn stories of God’s faithfulness. While his book is full of these stories, even in his 80s he has not stopped taking risks for God. A year ago I called him only to find that he was in an interim ministry as the only English-speaking pastor in a Chinese church! Just a few weeks ago I sat in his family room as he reviewed facts about various cities around Columbus, Ohio, and the work he is engaged in to see new churches in those cities. I have never met a man of greater energy and of faith.

I learned early on that there are two secrets to this person’s success: Prayer and Polly.

I can guarantee that if you asked him how to plant a church or succeed in any kind of ministry he will say “Pray.” He prays like his ministry depends on it.

I also learned early on that this man isn’t worth much without his wife, Polly. I was shocked to watch the most grounded man I have ever known appear lost when Polly left for a few weeks to visit friends in Alaska. He was worthless!

When they asked me to write this citation, I felt a moment of guilt. There are many men who are better suited, willing and able to write this citation. However, I could not turn down this privilege.

Years ago this great man approached a young, untrained man and asked me to considering following him as pastor of the Orlando Grace Brethren Church. He assured me that God could use me. His words of confidence have been vital to me over 28 years of service. Much of my commitment to the FGBC is simply returning this gift of confidence to others.

We know how to teach theology and basic ministry skills. However we have never found a way to teach “faith.” It has to be caught. It is what Paul calls “from faith to faith” in Romans.

This man is a legacy of faith. As we honor him with this award we not only recognize a great man but we pass on a legacy of faith for those who follow. It is a good thing that we recognize the faith and faithfulness of Pastor Ed Jackson in the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers.

Isobel Fraser Dead at 87

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2008  |  No Comments

ISOBEL C. FRASER, 87, passed away Sunday, July 27, 2008, at Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, Indiana. She will be remembered for her work with Brethren Home Missions in Jewish evangelism, where she spent most of her career in Los Angles, Calif. working with the blind and disabled elderly.

She was a member of Grace Brethren Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She graduated from North Side High School, Fort Wayne, in 1939. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bob Jones College, in 1946.

Born May 2, 1921, in Inversess, Scotland, she was the daughter of the late Duncan and Agnes Fraser. Surviving are her sisters-in-law, Bea Barnes of Columbia City and Margarete Fraser of Angola; nephews, David Schaefer of Auburn, Greg Schaefer of Fort Wayne and Ken Barnes of Boise, Idaho; and nieces, Barb Linsky and Karen Smith, both of Columbia City. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Alister “Al” and Duncan; and sisters, Margaret Schaefer and Violet Fraser.

Service is 1 p.m. Friday, with calling one hour prior, at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home For Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Road, Fort Wayne. Burial in Friends Cemetery, Rockford, Ind. Memorials to Grace Village Retirement Community.

Tom Avey Given Excellence in Ministry Award

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2008  |  No Comments

Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey (center) was awarded the Excellence in Ministry award Tuesday morning by the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers. Sandi Avey, Tom’s wife, is at left and Tim Boal made the presentation. Here is the citation read as the award was presented:

It is my deep privilege to have been asked by the AGBM leadership to present our award winner this year for Excellence in Ministry. I know you will agree with me when we call his name in just a moment that his entire ministry has been marked by a quality of service for the Lord Jesus that can truly be categorized as excellent.

This quality of work has been provided to the FGBC churches he has served for more than 30 years, beginning with a youth and worship role in 1977 and leading to his becoming a licensed elder in 1980. From there he has been engaged in ministry work as an associate pastor, a solo pastor and administrative pastor and servant to the churches.

The only other relationship of a longer standing nature than his service to the FGBC is his marriage, and Lord willing he will celebrate 35 years of wedded bliss to his bride this fall. He has four children and six grandchildren, all loyal followers of Jesus, using their gifts and talents for the Lord all over America. But don’t take that to mean he is old, after all he was only a baby when he got married, and he is still very young at heart and as relevant to the younger pastors he serves as he is wise as a colleague to pastors his own age and older, all of whom seek him out for his insight and guidance.

Through the years of his service for our Lord, God’s people have noticed, along with his other many gifts and skills, four significant areas of ministry impact that have characterized his work.

First is the gifted nature of his administrative skills which have brought to each organization he has served significant progress and strategic thinking. These in turn have helped to advance the cause of that pastor, church, or organization far beyond what might otherwise have occurred.

As one pastor with whom he served noted, “He moved his family to our church in early 1987. He came not as a pastor on the staff, but as my personal assistant. Before the year was up, I lost him to everybody else in the church. He became the de-facto treasurer and church administrator. During the years when we entered a fund-raising and facility construction period, he was invaluable. We eventually tried to move him to a pastoral role, but it was impossible. His influence was everywhere.”

Of course, we know the nature of this gift has been deposited by the Holy Spirit into his life and the resultant fruit of his faithfulness to use this gift has brought great glory to God and the advancement of the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. I do not believe it is unfair to think that when pastors or FGBC leaders frame in their mind the type of person they need on staff to bring organization, structure, and support to their ministry they model their ideal candidate after our recipient today.

Second, our winner has a unique ability to network people together around the common themes of ministry. He is what Malcolm Gladwell in his book The Tipping Point calls a connector. Connectors — the kinds of people who know everyone and possess special gifts for bringing the world together. Connectors are defined by having many acquaintances, a sign of social power, and embody the maxim “it’s not what you know but who you know.” Even though he knows a lot, he knows the Lord best and the Lord’s servants everywhere in the FGBC and beyond.

A third ministry aspect that has been noted in our award winner is his attitude of humility. This attitude of servant leadership has allowed him to play a support role to other pastors like his mentors Ed Jackson, R. Paul Miller, Jerry Young, and every moderator who has worked with him through the years. His earnest and heartfelt desire is to see those with whom he works succeed in their endeavors for the Lord.

Finally, as you know is true for any married man who is fruitful in ministry, such fruitfulness cannot happen without a faithful and supportive wife of the first degree. So it is that our recipient has been provided a godly helper in his wife Sandi who has shared the ministry’s ups and downs and the joys and wonders of a shared life together for 34 years.

In the last few years we have prayed earnestly for him as he and his family have undergone many issues including his health and the health and well-being of his children and grandchildren who have persevered through assorted trials and difficulties. It has been my privilege to watch him suffer with a meek spirit and it has been a personal blessing to see his tender heart and deep devotion to Jesus during these times of trial. A man of God is normally made in the pressure cooker and “man of God” is a term that accurately defines his life and ministry.

He has been aided in his ministry by a faithful support staff in his office as both Sandy Barrett and Charles Ashman have added to the excellence in ministry offered by our brother.

Raised on Long Island, New York, influenced and shaped by his parents, he was recruited in 1996 to move to Winona Lake, Indiana, and become the assistant to the FGBC moderator, and then in 1998 he was named FGBC Fellowship Coordinator. As his former boss says, “He is one of the most talented guys I ever met in my life. He was a great help to us in Lititz, a gift from God at precisely the right time. I am proud to count him and Sandi among my friends.”

I too am proud to count him a friend and deeply honored to present him to this esteemed group today, our Excellence in Ministry award winner for 2008, Rev. Tom Avey.

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2008  |  No Comments

Jeff Bogue, pastor of the north campus of the Grace Brethren church in greater Akron (Norton) Ohio was the keynote speaker for the Tuesday morning general session. Giving credit to Norton senior pastor Bob Combs for the growth of the two Akron campuses, Bogue spoke on the scriptural mandate to “give it all away” in allowing the Lord to use our best in resources, both material and human. Moderator Jim Brown will be the speaker for the Tuesday evening general session.

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2008  |  No Comments

GO2Church Planting, the new church-planting agency which is expected to be voted into a relationship with the FGBC as a National Organization at Thursday’s business meeting, held an informative luncheon Tuesday for participants of the Grace Brethren national conference.

GO2 staff members present included (back row, from left) Arnold Betony, Oscar Chavez, Jim Snavely, and Jesus Munoz. Executive director Tim Boal is at left in front and speaking is GO2 board chair Bob Fetterhoff, who is also pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Wooster, Ohio.

Boal led a lengthy discussion of issues leading to organizational changes during the past five years, and was affirmed for his leadership with a lengthy standing ovation. Pending approval by the conference, GO2 will begin a steady flow of church-planting-related communication through its own and through national organization communication channels to the FGBC.

Conference Participants "On Mission" — Learn About Hindu Religion

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 28, 2008  |  No Comments

About 70 participants in the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches were “on mission” Monday night as they visited a Hindu temple.

“Once you enter the complex, you will be in their cultural setting,” said Jay Bell of Grace Brethren International Missions, who arranged the trip. “A most important skill for entering a new culture is to learn to go in as a ‘learner.’ The agriculture metaphor of the New Testament is very helpful for us. When entering a new culture we want to learn all about the soil … their soil. God is giving us a unique opportunity to learn about Asian culture and their belief systems from the people themselves. It’s one thing to read a book on world religions, but it is quite different to have an opportunity to interact with the ‘devotees’ in person.”

Members of the temple discussed their beliefs, answered questions, then gave a guided tour of the temple. The also served a simple vegetarian meal.

On Wednesday, conference participants have the opportunity to visit a Buddhist temple. The conference continues at Tampa, Fla. though Thursday night.

Distler is Monday Morning Keynote Speaker

Posted by Terry White on July 28, 2008  |  No Comments

Scott Distler, pastor of the Grace Brethren church in Lititz, Pennsylvania, was the keynote speaker for the Monday morning 10 a.m. general session at the Grace Brethren national conference now in progress at Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Florida. Distler gave a powerful, motivating message on the urgency of being involved in personal evangelism. Earlier, conference attendees shared some stories and prayer requests of Kingdom conversations and local outreach occurring during the conference.

Posted by Terry White on July 28, 2008  |  No Comments

Monday at the Grace Brethren national conference in Florida has a foreign missions emphasis. In this photo, new missionaries to about six fields were commissioned in the 10 a.m. celebration service. GBIM board chair Keith Shearer (right) led in the dedicatory prayer.

In addition, a number of retiring missionaries were honored at the GBIM luncheon at noontime. Monday afternoon is “on-mission” time, with scheduled ministry visits to a Hindu temple, a minor-league ball game, and more.

Posted by Terry White on July 28, 2008  |  No Comments

Displays and exhibits from national and cooperating organizations line the perimeter of the Inverness Hall foyer on the Innisbrook campus near Tampa, Florida, as the Grace Brethren national conference is now in its third day.

This is the BMH Books’ exhibit, where BMH books are for sale, and free distribution is occurring for the two latest Brethren history and doctrine related products, Restoring the Household by Todd Scoles and Heroes Who Live On, Vol. 3. Jesse Deloe (right) of the BMH staff helps church-planter Tony Osimo from Penn Valley Church in Pennsylvania with a selection.

Sunday a Full Day at National Conference

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2008  |  1 Comment

Dr. Todd Scoles, associate pastor at the Marysville, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church and chair of the board of Brethren Missionary Herald Company, was the featured speaker at the Sunday morning annual corporation meeting of BMH. Scoles is the author of BMH Books’ latest product, Restoring the Household, which details the historical context of the Grace Brethren church in this 300th anniversary year of the founding of the Brethren movement.

Marysville pastor Clancy Cruise led in a prayer of dedication for the new Scoles book.

Also speaking briefly were soon-to-be-published authors Dan O’Deens and Bruce Triplehorn, as well as BMH Books’ newest author, military chaplain’s wife Robyn Graham. Graham’s memoir, He Touched Me, details her spiritual victory story over a childhood of severe abuse.

Sunday’s schedule was packed tightly with meetings and functions. On the schedule for Monday are a Women in Ministry breakfast at 8 a.m., a general session with speaker Scott Distler at 10 a.m., Grace Brethren International Missions Luncheon at noon, and “On Mission” trips in the afternoon. Some will also be attending a minor league baseball game as part of the conference package.

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2008  |  1 Comment

In the annual corporation meeting of the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation this Sunday evening, GBIF’s president and chief executive officer Larry Chamberlain and his wife, Sherlene, were honored for more than 30 years’ service with the organization. At left, making the presentation, is GBIF board chair Jerry Michael.