Posted by Terry White on October 31, 2011 | No Comments
A prayer request comes via Tom McDairmant for longtime retired Grace Brethren pastor John Gillis, now living in northern Alabama.
Gillis will be having hip replacement surgery Nov. 29 and is currently in a lot of pain. The Gillis family will appreciate your prayers for Pastor John.
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Posted by Terry White on October 31, 2011 | No Comments
The Brethren World Assembly Planning Committee met at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio, on September 12, 2011, to continue planning for its next event, scheduled for July 18-21, 2013. With the theme Brethren Spirituality, the event will be held at the Brethren Heritage Center, Brookville. Ohio.
Those in attendance for the planning session were: Gary Kocheiser, Conservative Grace Brethren; Milton Cook, Dunkard Brethren; Jeff Bach, Church of the Brethren; Robert Alley, Church of the Brethren; Tom Julien, Fellowship of Grace Brethren; Mike Miller, Old German Baptist Brethren-New Conference and Brenda Colijn, Brethren Church.
The Brethren World Assembly, held every five years, is a function of the Brethren Encyclopedia Committee. In 2008 The Brethren World Assembly was held in Schwarzenau Germany to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Brethren.
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Posted by Terry White on October 31, 2011 | No Comments
The Grace Brethren Church in Clinton, Maryland (Irv Clark, pastor) is featured today for their community outreach program. Here is an excerpt–to read the entire article, click here.
Clinton resident Lauren Teel said she was looking for a gas station to fill up her car Sunday afternoon when she drove past a crowd of people wearing bright red shirts with “Grace” written on them who were offering 25 cents off per gallon of gas at the Oceanic gas station on Brandywine Road in Clinton.
She pulled into the station and was greeted by members of Grace Brethren Church in Clinton, who were there to provide discounted gas as a “no strings attached” service.
“I just put $25 in the tank yesterday, and it’s already gone, so this is great,” she said Sunday afternoon.
Teel was one of many residents served by the Christian church of approximately 325 members during their “Grace Sunday” community outreach event, which started in October 2010 and is becoming a regular tradition held once every several months.
“God has called us to touch our community, to leave an imprint in our community,” said senior pastor Irv Clark. “So we’re going out in practical ways to share the love of God in our community.”
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Posted by Terry White on October 29, 2011 | No Comments
An Akron, Ohio, area church is seeing hundreds of people come to Christ through their annual “Judgment House” presentation–an idea sparked through Pastor Bob Combs and the Grace Brethren church in Barberton/Norton.
In an article about the Grace Brethren church, an Akron Beacon-Journal religion writer said, “Combs became pastor of the 64-member church in 1973. Under his leadership, the church building and staff were expanded to accommodate the growth in attendance and ministries. In 1995, Combs brought the idea of Judgment House (a walk-through drama that encourages people to choose a relationship with Christ) to the church. The presentation, which attracted more than 100,000 people from 1995 to 2008, helped facilitate growth at the church.”
The Grace Brethren Judgment House was featured in the very first issue of FGBC World in January of 2004. The article may be seen here:
http://fgbcworld.com/images/stories/backissues/pdf/2004%201%20jan_feb.pdf
Quoting the co-lead pastor of the church currently doing Judgment House, the ChristianPost article said, “Schofield and a team of people started “Judgement House” in 2001, capturing the vision from another local church in Akron, Ohio.
“We were taking our teens to the Judgement House at Norton Grace Brethren, and we saw the powerful impact it had on students we took, plus the many un-churched people it drew,” he told CP.”
The Christian Post article about the spinoff Judgment House may be seen here:
http://www.christianpost.com/news/local-church-offers-judgement-house-not-haunted-house-59656/
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Posted by Terry White on October 28, 2011 | No Comments
The Los Angeles Times notes that the tallest high school basketball player in California is playing for a Brethren high school. Here is an excerpt — to read the entire article, click here.
The tallest high school basketball player in California and maybe in the nation is 7-foot-5 Mamadou Ndiaye, a native of Senegal who has been cleared by the Southern Section to play this season for Huntington Beach Brethren Christian.
“That’s a legit 7-5 without shoes,” Coach Jon Bahnsen said.
Ndiaye, a junior, attended Simi Valley Stoneridge Prep last season and received a medical hardship waiver from the Southern Section to play this season. His guardians reside not far from Brethren Christian, which competed in Division 5A last season.
“He’s going to be pretty phenomenal, especially for our league,” Bahnsen said. “He’s extremely strong.”
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 26, 2011 | No Comments
In this weeks e-zine from FGBC Moderator Bob Fetterhoff, veteran Grace Brethren pastor and church planter Ron Boehm talks about building relationships with people who don’t attend church.
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Posted by Terry White on October 25, 2011 | 2 Comments
Pastor Doug Black and Liberty Grace Brethren Church of Johnstown, Pa., is currently featured in local publications as Liberty prepares to move into its new facility. Here is an excerpt from the article–to read the entire piece, click here.
For the past five months, Liberty Grace Brethren Church has been immersed in renovations.
Since acquiring Richland Christian Church’s red-brick building on Tener Street, the Liberty Grace congregation has extensively remodeled the sanctuary, bathrooms, kitchen and offices. New carpeting has been installed throughout, and chairs have replaced pews in the sanctuary.
But Pastor Doug Black wants his congregation to remain focused on the community, not the building itself.
“As much as the building is a great place to meet and encourage and build up, for us it’s the launching point,” Black said. “It’s more important for us to be involved in community activities.”
Liberty Grace Brethren Church will hold an open house weekend Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30
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Posted by Terry White on October 24, 2011 | No Comments
Dan Allan, pastor of the Grace Brethren church in Ashland, Ohio, opened Monday’s first two sessions of the East Focus Retreat, being held in Ocean City, Maryland. Approximately 40 pastors, elders, and national organization representatives are attending, focusing on the theme “Finding Our Way Forward.”
This is the second of five focus retreats held in various locations throughout the U.S. Pastors are treated to three days of scripture study, relationship building, and relaxation on the Atlantic seashore. FGBC Moderator Bob Fetterhoff of Wooster, Ohio, will lead the Tuesday morning session entitled “Finding Your Sweet Spot.”
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Posted by Terry White on October 23, 2011 | No Comments
Pastor Roy Polman from Beaumont, California, is one of several police chaplains featured in an article this weekend in local news media. Here is an excerpt from the article–to see the entire article, click here.
Pastor Roy Polman
Pastor Roy Polman, of Cherry Valley Grace Brethren Church, spent one year as a chaplain with the Troutdale, Ore. Police Department., then 13 years with the Rialto Police Department. He has been with Beaumont Police for 1½ years.
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 21, 2011 | No Comments
If you are in the Warsaw-Winona Lake, Ind., area this weekend, check out the BMH Books display at the Taste and Trade Expo at Grace College’s OCC on Wooster Road. Sponsored by the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce, the event showcases 80 local business and 11 restaurants or caterers.
At the BMH booth, you’ll have opportunity to purchase BMH products at a 25 percent off retail. Seven BMH authors who make their homes in the Warsaw-Winona Lake area will be on hand to sign books, as well. Their books will be 50 percent off during their personal appearance.
Today, Warsaw-area pastor Larry McCall kicked off the book signing at Noon. Also scheduled for today is Dr. Homer Kent at 2 p.m., Dr. Don DeYoung at 4 p.m., and Dr. John Davis at 6 p.m.
Tomorrow (October 22), Tom Julien will appear at 11 a.m., J. Davis Illingworth at 1 p.m., and Roger Peugh, at 3 p.m.
The Expo is open today through 7 p.m., and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 and kids 12 and under are free.
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 21, 2011 | No Comments
This week’s e-zine from the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches features a clip from moderator Bob Fetterhoff’s address. He looks at the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6 of to consider examples of visionary leadership.
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 20, 2011 | No Comments
Dayn and Lyan Edwards, twin sons of Canadian church planters Oliver Shane and Cheryl Edwards, enjoyed another 15 minutes of fame this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America. GMA played footage that Cheryl had filmed of Dayn escaping from their crib. Here’s the clip from Good Morning America:
The Edwards are planting a new Grace Brethren congregation, Grasslands Church, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and just had their opening service on September 11, 2011.
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 18, 2011 | No Comments
The 2011-2012 season for Focus Retreats, the Grace Brethren regional retreats for ministry leaders, kicked off last week in Ohio and continues next week in Ocean City, Md.
Today, FGBC conference coordinator, Tom Avey, announced that the retreat has been scheduled in Florida next year after taking a hiatus last year. The South Focus Retreat will be held at the Florida FFA Training Center in Haines City, Fla.
This year, those attending the retreats are looking at the challenges of “Finding Our Way Forward” through the ministry jungle. A clear path through the “many dangers, toils and snares” certainly does take a regular dose of grace at the heart level. Dan Allan, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Ashland, Ohio, is leading the retreats.
For more information on the Focus Retreats, click here. To see photos of the East Focus Retreat, held October 10-12 at Mohican Lodge near Loudonville, Ohio, see the FGBC World Facebook page.
Other retreats on the schedule include:
East – October 24-26 in Ocean City, Maryland, at the Grand Hotel
Southwest – January 30-February 1 in Southern California
Alaska – May 18-20 in Soldotna, Alaska
Northwest – May 21-23 @ Camp Clearlake
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 18, 2011 | No Comments
Cheryl Edwards, wife of Canadian church planter/pastor, Oliver Shane Edwards, has been chronicaling the life of their six boys through on online video blog. You’ll find her posts on her YouTube Channel, The Mom of 6 Boys, a companion to her blog, themomof6boys.com. Recently, several of her videos caught the attention of the online news site, Right This Minute, who called to interview Cheryl. See the results below as she talks about one son who has managed to get the potty seat on his head and the other who is an escape artist.
The Edwards are planting a new Grace Brethren congregation, Grasslands Church, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and just had their opening service on September 11, 2011.
Kid Gets Toilet Seat Stuck on Head
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Posted by Terry White on October 14, 2011 | No Comments
Roy Halberg, pastoral coordinator for the Southern California/Arizona district of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches recently sent a report saying, “For our monthly ministerium meeting I hosted a ‘Valentines Day in October’ evening with the men and their wives. Eight couples enjoyed dinner at Louie’s Chicken and Fish Grill featuring Louie’s famous chicken lasagna.”
Halberg continued, “Bill and Joann Kitchell and Dale and Robin Workman shared their ‘love story’ with us . . . each one told the story of their love relationship with Jesus and then each couple shared their journey of love together from first meeting to the wedding day.”
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Posted by Terry White on October 14, 2011 | No Comments
Four faithful and long-serving individuals were honored this week by being inducted into the Mansfield, Ohio, Christian Hall of Flames on Saturday during the school’s 50th anniversary banquet at the high school. The four who were honored were Chet Weigle, Carl Key, Jack Herr, and Ruth Royer. To read the entire article, including the contributions each of these has made to Mansfield Christian School, click here.
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Posted by Terry White on October 13, 2011 | No Comments
The following is an excerpt from an article in today’s Herald-Mail featuring a group that meets in the Rosemont Grace Brethren Church in Martinsburg, West Virginia (Carl Baker, pastor). To read the entire article, click here.
Some young women in the Eastern Panhandle have found second families made of peers and adult mentors who are guiding them through the maze of motherhood.
On the first and third Thursdays of every month during the school year, women ages 15 to 21 gather at Rosemont Grace Brethren Church in Martinsburg to
Stephenie Henry, left, 19, and Julia Gamber, also 19, paint masks during a recent meeting of Eastern Panhandle Young Lives at Rosemont Grace Brethren Church in Martinsburg, W.Va. (By Joe Crocetta/Staff photographer)
chat, learn parenting and life skills, and grow their faith in God. They come with children in tow to share a meal, then the little ones are put in the care of volunteer baby-sitters in another part of the building so the women can have some enriching time with their peers.
At the helm of the meetings is Jill Bevins, area director of Eastern Panhandle Young Lives, who said the group averages 20 young women at each of its gatherings, but boasts about 45 total members. She knows from experience the positive power a support network can have on a teen mother.
Bevins was 17 when she became pregnant with her son, Brandon, who is now 16. She and her husband, Thomas Bevins, also have 11-year-old twin daughters, Alaina and Alexis. She considers herself lucky to have had support from her parents and those of her husband, who was her boyfriend when she became a mother.
“I couldn’t have done it” without that parental support, said Jill Bevins, 35.
She said being a teen mom “was really scary.”
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Posted by Terry White on October 13, 2011 | No Comments
Pastor Don Shoemaker of the Seal Beach, Calif., Grace Brethren Church was contacted by BMH regarding yesterday’s tragic shootings in Seal Beach, which occurred very close to the church property. Shoemaker was asked whether anyone from the Seal Beach church was directly affected, and here is his response:
“It’s a terrible day in SB and there will be many difficult days ahead. I’ll likely be in on planning a community memorial service.
“To my knowledge, the only church member directly affected is the manager of the property where it happened. He called me at home, quite broken up, as he knew the operator and others there quite well. He and I may visit the surrounding businesses tomorrow.
“The location is about two doors down from the Yucatan Restaurant where the Fellowship Council has dined when here.”
Pastor Shoemaker is deeply involved in the community as a police chaplain, and your prayers for him and the Seal Beach congregation will be appreciated as they minister to those in their neighborhood who are affected.
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 13, 2011 | No Comments
At Vision2020 we asked folks to tell their stories about church planting, leadership development and integrated ministry. Pastor Chip Heim tells his story of leadership development at EastSide Grace Brethren Church (near Columbus, Ohio).
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Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 12, 2011 | No Comments
Dan Allan encourages ministry leaders to "find their way forward" at the Central Focus Retreat.
Ministry leaders from Grace Brethren congregations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois gathered this week at Mohican State Park Lodge near Loudonville, Ohio, for two days of spiritual revelation, building relationships, and relaxation during the Central Focus Retreat. The event began on Monday, October 10, and concluded this morning (Wednesday, October 12).
Dan Allan, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Ashland, Ohio, led the majority of the sessions. He focused on “Finding Your Way Forward,” providing thoughts for the participate to navigate the ministry jungle.
He emphasized Ephesians 2:10, stressing that to find the way forward, one must begin by finding their way back to identity in Christ. “We are God’s workmanship,” he said.
On Tuesday morning, Bob Fetterhoff, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Wooster, Ohio, and the current moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, encouraged the leaders to find their ministry sweet spot. Swinging a baseball bat for emphasis, he said, “When we are in the sweet spot that God has created, the ball just goes a little further.” He drew lessons from the life of Moses, noting that ministry leaders should know who they are, that their identity is in Christ, and keep an emotional balance.
The retreat concluded on Wednesday morning with a discussion of the importance of traveling companions — who is on the journey through the ministry jungle with you?
See photos of the East retreat on the FGBC World page on Facebook.
The next Focus Retreat, for ministry leaders in the east, will be held October 24-26 at Ocean City, Md.
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