BMH Editor's Blog

Dave Rank’s Mother With the Lord

Posted by Terry White on July 31, 2009  |  No Comments

Word has been received of the passing of Arlene Rank, mother of Dave Rank of Winona Lake, Indiana. Dave Rank is the music/worship pastor at the Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church and is also coordinator of the Momentum youth conference sponsored by CE National. Here is the obituary:

Arlene J. Sherman Rank, 79, died Thursday, July 30, 2009, at ECC Retirement-StoneRidge Campus in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, following her courageous 35 year battle with MS.

She was born September 6, 1929, in Lebanon, PA, to the late Aaron and Verna Gettle Sherman. She was a member of New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church, Myerstown. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, baking and singing in the church choir. She worked in a knitting mill.

Surviving is her husband, David E. Rank of Lebanon, to whom she was married 58 years; daughter, Bonnie and husband, David Long of Lebanon; sons, David H. and wife, Sherilyn Rank of Warsaw, Ind., and Eugene and wife, Laura Rank of Lebanon; brothers, Paul E. Sherman of Lebanon, and Boyd Sherman of N.C.; sisters, Violet Shenk of Lebanon, and Grace Kaylor of Annville; grandchildren, Jeremy Long of Pittsburgh, Janelle Long, Tamara Rank, and Courtney Rank, all of Lebanon, Ashton Rank and Abby Rank, both of Warsaw, Ind. She was preceded in death by a brother, Carl Sherman.

A viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2009, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church, 430 E. Lincoln Avenue, Myerstown. The service will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Burial will be at Kochenderfer’s ‘Zion’ Cemetery.

Memorials can be sent to, New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church, 430 E. Lincoln Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067. Create a LifeMemory at www.christmanfuneralhome.com.

Aiken Celebrates Ron Thompson Ministry August 30

Posted by Terry White on July 31, 2009  |  No Comments

The Grace Brethren Church of Aiken, SC (Steve Taylor, pastor) is preparing to say goodbye to Ron Thompson, who is going into partial retirement and is moving to Tennessee.

On Sunday, August 30, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Aiken Elctric Cooperative Community Room, 2790 Wagener Road, there will be a celebration of how Pastor Thompson has been used as an instrument of God in his more than 50 years of ministry.

We invite all friends to join us in Aiken or send a card of encouragement to our church, GBC of Aiken, 144 Talatha Church Rd., Aiken, SC 29803, attn. Cindy Speer. Here is biographical information from the Thompsons:

GOD HAS USED US AS HIS INSTRUMENTS

• God called me into the Gospel ministry in 1953 when I was 18. Later He joined me in marriage to Thelma, my wonderful wife, and then gave me an opportunity to receive sound biblical training at Grace Theological Seminary at Winona Lake, Indiana, where He led us both out of liberalism and into the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

• God gave us an evangelistic ministry over 14 years by allowing us to conduct many crusades and seminars in other denominations as well as in FGBC churches throughout the United States and in several foreign countries including Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, and C.A.R.

• God provided a rich pastoral experience for us by sending us to two FGBC churches in Virginia and one in Arizona, as well as to churches of other denominations.

• God has deeply influenced us through some wonderful mentors – a pastor and a lay leader in Virginia, a pastor in Indiana, and an evangelistic leader in Mexico. In turn, we have been able to mentor younger workers.

• God has blessed me with the greatest mentor, my wife, Thelma, who has been at my side for over 52 years. He has given us wonderful children, terrific sons-in-law, and beautiful grandchildren.

• God has enriched our ministry greatly through Thelma’s gifts and abilities as a teacher of children, bookkeeper, and nursery worker.

• God has given me innate musical ability that laid dormant for many years, but now He has made it an integral part of my ministry.

• God answered our prayer for an opportunity to serve in a mission-minded, outward focused church by giving us nine wonderful years with you at Grace Brethren Church of Aiken.

• After over 50 years of service for our Lord, He has released us to move into a partial retirement in Tennessee where we will be open to whatever ministry door God wants us to go through for His honor and glory!

These words from the Psalmist are our encouragement for the future: “I want to praise the Lord throughout my life. I want to make music to praise my God as long as I live.” (Psalm 146:2 God’s Word Translation)

In His Great Faithfulness, Ron & Thelma

BMH Sponsors Brethren Heritage Tour

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2009  |  No Comments

The Brethren Missionary Herald Co. sponsored an Ohio valley Brethren Heritage Tour on the final full day of Equip09, the national conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. Led by Dr. Todd Scoles and Dr. David Plaster, noted Grace Brethren historians, the tour left the Columbus, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church shortly after 1 p.m. and nearly 40 participants traveled by coach bus to historical sites in the Dayton/Brookville area that are significant in the history of the Fellowship.
First stop was Carriage Hill Farm in Montgomery County. Originally part of a 900-acre property settled by an Old Order Brethren family from Virginia, the farm has been recreated to depict typical farm life in the 1800s.
The park historian gave a full history of the social and religious culture of the Arnolt family, which settled the land and raised several generations in a home and community setting characterized by the spartan lifestyle of the German Old Order Baptist Brethren group.The next stop was the Bear Creek Meeting House, which has been in continuous use since it was built in the 1850s.
Elder Michael Miller of the German Baptist Brethren congregation and his wife, Sondra, met tour participants at the meeting house and gave a thorough and touching portrayal of their lives and beliefs. The time ended with hymnsinging, prayer, and scripture.
Special guest participants for the tour were Jeff and Sherry Martin (left) of the Powell, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church staff. The Martins are historical researchers and re-enactors, and all their clothing was made to precise historical specifications by Sherry. At right are elder Michael Miller and his wife, Sondra, from the Bear Creek congregation.The final stop, before a delicious buffet dinner at Rob’s Restaurant in Brookville, was the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville. This treasure-trove of Brethren historical material contains vast archives of publications from all six Brethren groups descended from Alexander Mack. Here Heritage Center volunteers conduct an historical tour of the murals which are reproductions of those in the Quinter-Miller auditorium at Camp Alexander Mack in northern Indiana.

2010 Conference Set for Cincinnati, July 16-20

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2009  |  No Comments

Plans are nearly complete for the 2010 national Celebrate10 conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Moderator Tom Hocking, in his moderator’s address to the current conference on Wednesday evening, indicated that the conference will be held in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area the dates of July 16-20, 2010.

According to Fellowship Coordinator Tom Avey, the conference will begin on Friday evening, July 16, and participants will join with teens from the Momentum youth conference all day Saturday, July 17, for a day of ministry and serving in the Dayton, Ohio, area.

Saturday evening both conferences will meet together on the campus of Cedarville University, where the Momentum teens will have been conferencing, for a closing finale.

Adults will then return to Cincinnati for the remainder of their conference, which will be July 18-20. Mark your calendars now—further details will be available soon on www.fgbc.org.

Homer Rodeheaver in the News Again

Posted by Terry White on July 30, 2009  |  No Comments

Surprisingly, one of the most famous historical residents of Winona Lake, Indiana, Homer Rodeheaver, is back in the news (from 1936). Check out this article from Time magazine by clicking here. Here is an excerpt:

For 22 years the ablest associate of the late Evangelist William Ashley (“Billy”) Sunday was Homer Alvan Rodeheaver, who played an old slide trombone which he bought for $4.50 while at Ohio Wesleyan University, led audiences in such rousing hymns as Brighten the Corner Where You Are!

The decline of old-style evangelism and the death of Billy Sunday left Homer Rodeheaver less newsworthy but no less busy. Unctuous, large of frame, full of vigor at 55, he is much in demand as a speaker at gatherings of such evangelical bodies as Christian Endeavor. He runs a publishing house with offices in Chicago and Philadelphia, keeps his friends in formed of his activities in periodic news letters which he calls “Rainbow-Graphs.”

A firm believer in music as a religious force, Homer Rodeheaver lined up a number of young people in Korea, Japan and the Philippines in 1929, staked them to musical education in the U. S. One of these, a Korean who fortnight ago received a doctor’s degree from Chicago Musical Dramatic Conservatory, changed his name to Rody Hyun in honor of his benefactor.

Last week Religionist Rodeheaver turned up in Manhattan, told newshawks about a trip he had made in the Congo with Methodist Missionary Bishop Arthur James Moore. Inviting his interviewers to call him “Reverend Trombone” or at least “Homer,” Mr. Rodeheaver explained that Negro spirituals had taken him to Africa.

Moderator’s Address Caps Wednesday at Equip

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 29, 2009  |  No Comments

Another day at Equip 09, the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, being held this week at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio.

Today’s sessions included free seminars for women, as Women of Grace USA sponsored workshops on topics such as missions, finances and women, and coaching others in ministry. Dinner this afternoon was sponsored by the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation, who sponsors the Eagle Commission, the organization that gives visibility to the Grace Brethren military chaplains around the world. The conference heard testimonies from chaplains who were present, including Mark and Robin Penfold, Jeff Wirick, and David and Whitney Mvondo, and some via recording.

The day was capped by the moderator’s address. Tom Hocking, the incoming moderator for the FGBC and pastor of the Bellflower (Calif.) Brethren Church, challenged the conference to make disciples, radiate obedience, and redemptively serve the nations together.

The concluding event of the evening, the young adult gathering known as Driven, saw young leaders in the fellowship gathering to discuss how to best reach their generation for Christ.

‘Day of Generosity’ Set for November 1

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2009  |  No Comments

A “Day of Generosity” project was announced Tuesday of Equip09 national Grace Brethren conference in Columbus, Ohio, for the purpose of providing funding to help support the efforts of workers and missionaries sent by churches in countries other than the U.S.

Sunday, November 1, 2009, has been designated as the “Day of Generosity” with the goal of a one-time offering of $321,000 from Grace Brethren churches across the U.S.

Material from Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM) indicates that God is raising up a fresh army of Great Commission workers from the 2,700 Grace Brethren churches that are located outside of North America.

While these workers are selected, trained, and sent by their local churches, the sponsoring churches are often unable to meet the entire financial needs of sending workers cross-culturally. Funds raised through the Day of Generosity will be distributed as grants to indigenous agencies.

U.S. churches are encouraged to use promotional materials supplied by GBIM to promote the project during September and October. Materials available include (1) an introductory video, (2) three short video clips telling the stories of national missionaries, (3) a set of posters, (4) PowerPoint announcement slides, and (5) ideas for bulletin inserts. Churches are encouraged to show a video clip each Sunday from October 11 through November 1.

To view an introductory video and to download resources, go to www.gbim.org/dayofgenerosity. Gifts should be sent to GBIM, Box 80065, City of Industry, CA, 91716-8065.

For more information contact stewardship mobilizer Dave Lewis at dlewis@gbim.org or call (574) 527-6896.

Meet Beate Schlecht, Missionary to Chad

Posted by Terry White on July 29, 2009  |  No Comments

One of the delights experienced by many participants at Equip09, the national Grace Brethren conference occurring this week in Columbus, Ohio, was meeting a soft-spoken, charming former kindergarten teacher from Germany who now serves as a career missionary in Chad, Africa.

Beate Schlecht, 45, was born in Stuttgart, Germany, and grew up in a village and home where families were members of the state church but generally had no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Beate and her two sisters went to Sunday School at church and heard stories from the Bible. A childhood friend was a believer, and when they were age 11, the girl asked Beate whether she had asked Jesus into her heart.

That question made no sense to the gentle German youngster until, at age 14, she heard evangelist Luis Palau preach and give an open invitation for people to accept Christ. “That was the first time I ever heard that Jesus died on the cross for me,” Beate reflects. “I accepted Christ at the invitation and that was the beginning of my spiritual life.”

Later she attended a Pietism group, but her spiritual life went up and down because, she says, she didn’t know the scriptures well and didn’t have a systematic program of learning from them.

When she was 19, Beate encountered a group of young Christians who really had a desire to live for Christ, study the scriptures, and be involved in missions. After studying the Bible on Saturday mornings, the young people often went onto the streets of their city to witness to people and to engage unbelievers in conversation at coffeehouses and cafes.

Now trained and working as a kindergarten educator, Beate felt called to Bible school and so, at age 22, she began serious study of God’s Word. In her third year of Bible school she was baptized and began a lasting relationship with the Grace Brethren Church in Stuttgart, where one of the pastors was Rainer Ehmann.

Over the next decade she worked in the Stuttgart church while teaching kindergarten and learned much from Ehmann and the believers there. She also was involved for a time in a church plant effort. Reflecting positively on her relationship with the Ehmanns, she recalls, “Rainer and Susanne just shared their lives and their love with me.”

In 1999 Beate attended a retreat at the Chateau St. Albain in France where she met Frank and Karin Puhl, Germans who were serving as missionaries to Chad, Africa. The Puhls invited Beate to come to Chad to help educate their children and, at age 35, she took a two-year leave of absence from her job to join the Puhls in Africa.

A great concern to her was how her parents would react, but eventually they came to say, “If you feel called by your God, then go.” After two wonderful years in Moundou, she was again searching for direction and listened to a tape of a woman speaker that Karin Puhl gave her. The speaker said “God can only guide a ship that is moving—not one that is in the harbor.”

After going back to Germany and seeking guidance from Rainer and the elders at her home church, she felt God leading her back to Africa as a career missionary and she entered candidate school. After six months of language study in France, and after raising her support, she returned to Chad in March of 2006 to a ministry that included working with young girls (Lumiere), leading girls’ camps for young ladies coming from the eight districts in Chad, and also taking over helping with True Love Waits and True Love Stays AIDS/HIV ministry which had been pioneered in Chad by Tina Walker and Bob Steiger.

Beate left Columbus this morning, July 29, for five months in Germany and anticipates returning to the Chad in January of 2010. As a prayer request, she seeks wisdom on how to best organize her ministry among girls, and she asks prayer that God will work in the hearts of Chadian young people to learn to live a deeper life in Christ.

Her primary support is from her home church in Germany, but American churches and individuals may contribute to her field budget. Gifts should be channeled through Grace Brethren International Missions.

Kids Konference Learns to "Be Set Apart"

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 29, 2009  |  No Comments

In addition to the more than 500 people who are registered to attend Equip 09, the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, there are 170 kids participating in Kids Konference and child care.

The Kids Konference is headed up by Bernie Simmons, the children’s pastor at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio, who is hosting Equip 09. Designed for kids in grades 1-8, the conference is packed with Bible lessons, activities, and field trips. Today (Wednesday), the kids are off to Olentangy Caverns. They’ve also been to a water park and done extreme bowling. Friday, they will experience Summer B.L.A.S.T (Busride Life Adventure Scripture Trip) and learn about Christ’s temptation in the wilderness.

All the while, they are focusing on I Peter 3:15: in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

Tuesday at Equip: Classes Continue, Missionaries Commissioned

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 29, 2009  |  No Comments

At Equip 09, the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, on Tuesday, classes continued. Since this is an equipping, or professional development-type, conference, sessions have ranged from classes on the life and journeys of Moses, Paul, and Jesus (separate classes), spiritual formation for women, implementing change and conflict, cross cultural teaching and learning, family ministry, and discipleship counseling. Yesterday afternoon, friends of the Grace Brethren International Missions enjoyed an Argentine asado in celebration of 100 years of ministry in the South American country. An asado features a variety of barbecued meat, including beef and chicken.

Nine missionaries were commissioned at the evening plenary service. They include Mike and Emily McCaman, Jesus and Rosa Munoz, Tim and Jessica Robertson, and three who cannot be named for security reasons.

Gabe Lyons, the author of unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters, talked about how Christians can respond to a changing society. Among his suggestions: develop a heart for outsiders, value relationship over technology, get involved in the community, measure spiritual conversations, learn how to make friends again, and grow in your cultural education.

Below are a few snapshots from the day.

Grace College Increases Student Aid

Posted by admin on July 28, 2009  |  No Comments

Grace College increases student aid
Will help make up for state shortfall

WINONA LAKE, Ind. (WANE) – The State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) has reduced its financial aid for students by 31 percent for the 2009-2010 school year.

SSACI reduced its financial aid because of a 34 % increase in applicants for the 2009-2010 school year. Grace estimates the additional aid it will provide to its students will total $778,000 to make up for the SSACI shortfall.

Ronald Manahan, Th.D., president of Grace College, says recent gifts to the school allow it to make up for that reduction.

“We are grateful to the Lord for providing these extra funds this year,” Dr. Manahan said. “We have informed the affected students that we will be compensating for the state’s reduction. Letters have been sent to the affected students informing each about the amount of his or her financial aid.”

The SSACI had previously notified each student about the amount of aid. However, the commission has sent new award letters to notify students of the reduction in aid funds. The extra aid from Grace College applies to new students, as well as returning students.

Association of Ministers Gives Top Three Awards

Posted by Terry White on July 28, 2009  |  No Comments

The Association of Grace Brethren Ministers at its annual national conference meeting in Columbus, Ohio, this week awarded its top three awards for service.
Kent Good (left), who has served with his wife, Becky, for many years with Grace Brethren International Missions first in France and most recently in Cambodia, was given the Excellence in Ministry award.

The Pastor of the Year award was given to Greg Howell (lower right, striped shirt), who has for many years pastored the Grace Brethren Church in Goldendale, Washington. He and his wife, Colleen, have raised a large number of adopted and foster children while pastoring the growing Washington congregation. Greg recently received his D.Min. degree from Grace Theological Seminary.

The final award, the Lifetime Achivement Award, was given in absentia to E. William Male who served many years as a Grace Brethren pastor, Christian educator, and administrator at Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. Dr. Male and his wife, Ella, have raised four daughters and they worship during the winter months at the Sebring, Florida, Grace Brethren Church. Sebring pastor Dr. Randall Smith read the citation. Male’s award was given to him several weeks ago when all his children and grandchildren were together for a family gathering. During summer months the Males now live at Grace Village Retirement Center in Winona Lake.

OB Winds Down

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 28, 2009  |  No Comments

Operation Barnabas, the annual discipleship ministry for young people sponsored by CE National, is finishing this week. Below is the entry from the OB blogs. For more details, click here.

After 44 days of training, equipping and ministry, Operation Barnabas 2009 is officially winding down. For the next two days, OB students will spend time with their teams reflecting over the work that God has done in and through their lives this summer and preparing to return home. It has been one incredible journey and words can not express the immense gratitude and overwhelming joy we have for our God and Savior. We stand in awe at the magnitude of His unconditional love and faithful provision for us that was continuously evident as we served Him this summer.

For one last time, all three OB 09 teams joined together to worship along side the Worthington Grace Church on Sunday morning. During the Sunday School hour, Keystone did a program for the children’s ministry complete with puppets, dancing and stories. Team Central used pantomimes and skits to lead discussion groups in Jr. High while Tri-State did the same in High School. As pastors and guests from all over the country were pouring into the church for the start of Equip 2009, OB students were quick to mingle and interact with everyone. They have learned this summer that Barnabas was a greeter and it is clear that they have begun to develop this character trait in their own lives.

For the combined Sunday Worship Service, the choir sang a plethora of songs in worship to the Lord…and it sounded absolutely beautiful! When 90 voices are singing in harmony, worshipping at the foot of the cross and responding to the Almighty God…there is nothing quite like it…it is absolutely beautiful. Students from each team shared the testimony of how God is refining their lives and guiding them to be more like Jesus. We rejoiced with the congregation at the lives saved as a result of God working through the OB ministry around the country. During one of the testimony times, Tri-State student Luke C. shared how God has been teaching him that he needs to be 100% reliant on the Lord in every aspect of his life…even when things get tough. At Momentum, we were all in fervent prayer for his mom who was undergoing an operation. In an answer to prayer, she was able to return home that same day and we rejoiced in that. However, yesterday Luke discovered that she was back in the hospital battling the illness and he once again was reminded that God is sovereign and the only source of our peace, hope and healing. All of the students gathered around Luke as prayers were lifted up asking that God heal Mrs. C. and bring her quickly home to her family. May God be glorified…

It was evident that God was moving in that place…His presence was felt and hearts were changed. Many people committed to living their lives as a daily sacrifice to the Lord and stood to make that public profession as the OB choir sang “I Give You Me.” We pray that the students will continue to give the entirety of who they are to the Lord even as they return home…all that they have, all that they are and all that they will become. We pray that they will continue to seek out opportunities to love God and love others through servanthood. We pray that they will never stop becoming more like Christ; developing a heart for God, a heart for the lost, a heart for encouraging believers and a heart for full time vocational ministry.

The debriefing process is now underway…TK taught on the pitfalls of returning home and warned the students of obstacles they will likely face. He encouraged them to remain steadfast in the word and fervent in prayer on a daily basis and to actively seek an older believer to be mentored by. Teams will now continue meeting and debriefing and hanging out together before goodbyes on Wednesday morning.

To read the rest of the blog, click here.

Pancake Breakfast, Classes Mark First Full Day of Equip

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 27, 2009  |  No Comments

The first full day of Equip 09, the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, got off to a start on Monday with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Brethren Missionary Herald Company. (See related post.) A full day of classes followed, with dinner sponsored by Go2Church Planting Ministries.

BMH Board Appoints Liz Cutler Gates Next Executive Director

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2009  |  No Comments

Liz Cutler Gates addresses BMH corporation members Monday morning in Columbus, Ohio, after having been introduced as the company’s next executive director.

BMH Board Appoints Liz Cutler Gates Next Executive Director

At the annual corporation meeting of the Brethren Missionary Herald Co. (BMH) held Monday morning, July 27, in Columbus, Ohio, BMH board chair Dr. Todd Scoles announced that Liz Cutler Gates will succeed Terry White as executive director of BMH, effective January 1, 2010.

Scoles reported that White had requested some time ago that the board begin a search for a successor, and after a lengthy and thorough process the board unanimously selected Gates, who first had served on the BMH board and has now been on staff as Editorial Director for the past two years. Originally from the Wooster, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church, Gates has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Grace College and Ball State University.

She was a newspaper reporter, served in a public relations/communication post for Grace Brethren Home Missions Council (later known as Grace Brethren North American Missions), and for nearly a decade directed communications for the law school at The Ohio State University and was part of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio.

In making his announcement, Scoles said, “Liz brings a powerful combination of experiences in the fields of communication and journalism, inside knowledge of the mission and operations of BMH, and an extensive network of relationships within the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. We believe God has prepared her to lead BMH in its continuing purpose to nurture Great Commission teamwork between the people and churches of the FGBC. Please pray for and encourage her as she assumes her new responsibilities in January 2010.”

Terry White was appointed executive director in October of 2003 and oversaw the re-birth and re-creation of the ministry of BMH, which had ceased operations in the previous decade. As the communication arm of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (FGBC), BMH seeks to connect the people and churches of the FGBC by building bridges of communication. Its primary products include the all-Fellowship periodical, FGBC World, websites, blogs, and communication services for Brethren-related organizations. It also publishes BMH Books, which has about 130 active titles in its current catalog.

In responding to her appointment, Gates said, “I’m humbled, honored, and looking forward to new opportunities in telling the stories of the people of the Grace Brethren movement and helping build bridges of communications between Grace Brethren people and churches. ”

White commented, “I feel Liz has all the essential background, drive, and abilities to take the BMH organization through its next development phase and to raise it to new levels of excellence. I have been grateful to serve in the startup/turnaround role for the company, and am now delighted to turn the leadership over to someone in whom I have confidence.”

Flying Pancakes Lighten BMH Corporation Meeting

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2009  |  No Comments

High-flying pancakes from world-class flippers greeted conferees and BMH corporation members at a Monday morning pancake and sausage breakfast at Equip09, the national conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Chris’ Cakes, an award-winning organization that has flipped pancakes for four U.S. Presidents and is in the Guinness World Book of Records, was present to add a little levity to the breakfast that preceded the annual corporation meeting of BMH, held Monday, July 27, at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio.

BMH Board Chair Dr. Todd Scoles led the meeting, which was highlighted by updates on the company’s activities, recognition of outgoing former board chair Dan Thornton, and special announcements relating to the company’s future.

Later this week BMH will sponsor a southern Ohio Brethren Heritage Tour that will include visits and guided lectures at Carriage Hill Farms, Bear Creek Meeting House, and the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio.

Custom-Made Drilling Rig Ready for African Debut

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2009  |  No Comments

The behemoth white truck with the monster tires, crowned with a bright green drilling mast, is attracting attention as it is parked outside the main entrance of the Columbus, Ohio, church facility that is hosting Equip09 annual conference.

The rig, which will soon be on its way to the Central African Republic to drill water wells for villages and towns desperately needing clean water, will be staffed by Integrated Community Development, Inc., the non-governmental organization founded by former missionary to Africa Jim Hocking.

Weighing more than 46,000 pounds, the rig is mounted on the chassis of a 1998 Mack concrete truck with all-wheel drive. The drilling mast is from a well rig that was in a fire in New Hampshire—the twisted, melted top section has been cut off and the mast custom-fitted to the truck.

A bed-mounted air-cooled French-made Deutz diesel engine, selected because Central African mechanics are already familiar with this engine and know how to service it, drives a system of four hydraulic pumps that operating the heavy-duty rotary drilling heads.

All this is the brainchild and the creation of John Repasky, a Pennsylvania businessman who, with his wife, Christine, owns and operates Hanover Architectural Products, a maker of custom paving for decorative uses, in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

“God was all over this thing” says Repasky, who with his employees has custom-designed and built the entire rig.

The drilling machine is especially built for use in Africa, where fuel is scarce and parts are difficult to obtain. The all-wheel drive has an additional front-mounted winch to enable it to traverse muddy and difficult African and jungle terrain.

The oversized 300-gallon diesel fuel tank is needed because there are only several places in the Central African Republic to obtain diesel fuel. The truck itself has a 100-gallon oversized fuel tank. All the drill-rig controls have been reconfigured from electronic to manual, because electronic components are not readily available in Africa. The hydraulic fuel tank has special cooling fins designed to disperse three times as much heat as the normal tank.

Repasky tells a remarkable story of how he and ICDI founder Jim Hocking connected. Following a mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo several years ago, Repasky felt called of God to create a drill rig for use in that country. Without any real target ministry or group in mind, he began designing and building the rig, encountering a number of problems along the way.

Repasky says he felt like Noah, who was instructed to begin building an ark without a clear picture of where or how it would be used. While he persisted in the design-build process, he also began contacting possibly ministries who could use the equipment to drill wells where needed in Africa.

After several unsuccessful attempts, he was eventually referred to Hocking’s organization. When the two finally connected, they discovered that each was the answer to the others’ prayers. Hocking’s drilling equipment was antiquated and continually plagued with breakdowns. Repasky, meanwhile, continued building his rig without a clear picture of where it would end up.

Hocking reflects, “God orchestrates events over which we could have no possible control. John was looking to fulfill his dream to help those in the Congo needing water, and we were working in the next country over. He was happy to invest in Africans’ lives.”

“God had prepared his heart,” Hocking says, “and God is blessing him because he is blessing the poor as referred to in Deuteronomy 15:10. Our gratitude is that John was willing to listen to the Spirit and follow His leading.”

Following the completion of a few final construction items, the rig will go overland to a harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, where it will be loaded on a ship for Douala, Cameroon, Africa. When it arrives in Douala, it will then be driven overland in a difficult, treacherous journey to its final destination in the Central African Republic. It has the capacity to drill a 500-foor water well in a single day, although most wells in Africa are 250-300 feet deep.

Returning to the Noah analogy, Repasky says, “Jonah’s water came from above and caused the people to perish. Our water is coming from below to save peoples’ lives.”

More information about ICDI and its well-drilling ministry may be found at http://www.icdinternational.org/

John Repasky and his employees custom-designed and custom-built the drilling rig especially for use in Africa.

First Conference Day Ends With Ice Cream Social, Authors’ Signings

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2009  |  No Comments

A festive ice cream social and BMH authors’ autograph party was the concluding event of a full Sunday first-day of Equip09, the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Hosted by the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio, the conference formally began with a plenary session at 7 p.m. Sunday at which the host pastor, Dr. David Plaster, addressed members of the Fellowship gathered from around the U.S. and the world.

Brethren Missionary Herald Co. sponsored the author’s autograph party, at which ten BMH Books authors were present to sign their books and visit with conference participants.

Former Grace Brethren Pastor’s Wife Diagnosed with Leukemia

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 27, 2009  |  No Comments

Sue Micheals, wife of Dan Michaels, Grace Seminary graduate and former youth pastor at the Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren Church (in the 1980s), has been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and is a patient in the Cleveland Clinic. (He is currently the pastor at Grace Community Church in Alliance, Ohio.)

Here is a portion of a message he sent to many of the young people who had been in his youth group in Winona Lake (and used with his permission).

Sue was diagnosed with Leukemia last Friday July 18 about noon. By 5 p.m. she was at the Cleveland Clinic. They did their own bone marrow biopsy on Saturday morning. By Monday morning the rest of the diagnosis was Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). They started chemo treatment immediately (what a great way to start the week!). She will be in Cleveland Clinic from 4-6 weeks taking chemo through a port in her chest. Her hair will fall out about week three. She has a great group of doctors treating her!

To see regular updates about Sue’s condition, click here.

Four Churches Join FGBC!

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on July 26, 2009  |  1 Comment