BMH Editor's Blog

Go2 Prayer Summit Concludes

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on January 11, 2012  |  No Comments

Tim Boal, executive director of Go2 Ministries, the church-planting arm of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, issued a call to pray on Tuesday as he met with representatives of Grace Brethren districts from around the U.S. “We want to plant churches,” he said. “If we don’t get serious, we won’t have a part in a great commission harvest,” he added as he introduced the Circles of Grace program to the pastors. “The Lord is the Lord of the harvest,” he stressed. “He is the one who will make it happen.”

Circles of Grace has a goal of 500,000 people praying for the 1,765 metro areas, or circles of grace, in America. Boal encouraged the Grace Brethren pastors to begin thinking about church planting by praying for an area — that God would raise up a church planter to begin a work in that area, that funding would become available, and that people would come to know Christ as a result.

He said that everyone one could be involved in this process. “I don’t want any of our churches to think they can’t ‘pray the Lord of the harvest’ because they aren’t very big,” he stressed. “It’s about, ‘can your church pray?’”

The Summit ended Tuesday afternoon as the men gathered to consider how they could carry out the project in their own regions. Pastors came to the Orlando meeting location from as far away as Alaska and California, representing most regional districts in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Pastors’ Book Sets for Chad Arrive Safely

Posted by Terry White on January 10, 2012  |  No Comments

Greg Burgess, who works with Encompass World Partners in France and in French-speaking Africa, has sent notice that the 50,000+ books for the Pastor’s Book Sets project (PBS) for Chad arrived today.  They made an 860-mile cross-country journey from the port in Douala.

Burgess says, “Thank you so much for praying for their safe arrival. The Chad PBS teaching and book distribution conferences will take place later in 2012.”

Also included in the delivery are more than 1,000 copies of a children’s Bible that will be used in children’s ministries in Chad. There are two more containers (another 50,000+ books) on their way to Bangui, for the PBS conferences to be held in the Central African Republic.

Burgess requested prayer that the containers for Bangui arrive safely and at no extra cost. He said, “Harry Walker and I will be traveling to Cameroon February 6-18 to work on the organization of the PBS conferences there. Please pray that our trip would be a success and that our families will be well in our absence. Thank you for praying the Chad books through! Please keep praying for the arrival of the books in Bangui.”

Go2 Ministries Prayer Summit Begins in Orlando

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on January 9, 2012  |  2 Comments

Mission representatives from Grace Brethren districts around the U.S. are gathered in Orlando, Fla., to learn more about Go2 Ministries Circles of Grace initiative and to pray for the development of new Grace Brethren congregations in the United States.

“We’re hoping everyone leaves energized and excited about Circles of Grace and the opportunity the project presents to allow for concerted, focused prayer on the entire country,” said Jim Snavely, national church-planting director for Go2 Ministries.

Tim Boal, executive director of Go2, noted, “It’s Go2’s desire to see each participant become an advocate of this vital project within his or her own sphere of influence.”

The Summit began with dinner this evening and continues tomorrow as the participants review the 1,765 Circles of Grace and prayerfully consider how they and the churches in the region they represent may be involved.

Go2 Ministries is dedicated to the establishment of new churches in the United States of America. It hopes to start 5,000 new churches, see 500,000 new believers, and serve 50 million Americans by 2020.

Norma Stech With the Lord

Posted by Terry White on January 9, 2012  |  No Comments

Norma Jeanne Stech of 1423 Sunset Drive, Winona Lake, Indiana passed away Monday, January 9, 2012, at 2:15 a.m. at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the age of 71.

She was born on December 17, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, to Francis James Stech and Pearl Eldonna (Swaffar) Stech-Lofton.

Norma received her Bachelor’s degree in 1966 from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana; then continued her education, receiving her Master’s degree at St. Francis University. She also received her endorsement in learning disabilities from Ball State University. She was an elementary school teacher for 44 years at Warsaw Christian School in Warsaw, Indiana, retiring in 2011. She was a member of Community Grace Brethren Church of Warsaw, Indiana.

She is survived by three brothers (all of Illinois): Richard, Wayne, and Gary Lofton; and two sisters: Linda D’Amoto (Illinois); Sandra Lofton (Australia). She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, January 12, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana, officiated by Pastor Howard Immel.

There will be a time for visitation two hours prior to the service from 12 noon – 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2012, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Mexico, Indiana.

Memorial donations in Norma Stech’s name may be directed to Warsaw Christian School, 909 S. Buffalo Street, Warsaw, Indiana 46580.

Vision2020: Integrating the Gospel into the Community

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on January 8, 2012  |  No Comments

Integrating Gospel with Community from Grace Churches on Vimeo.

Jonathan Carey, pastor of the Ellet Grace Brethren Church in Akron, Ohio, updates a story that was in the November-December 2010 issue of FGBC World. In that issue, ‘Love Your Neighbor’ Comes to Life in Akron, told how the Ellet congregation adopted the Ritzman Community Learning Center, a K-5 elementary school in the Akron public school district, and began to send them school supplies, sponsor pre-school-year fairs, and even cut a hole in the fence between the properties so the church parking lot could be used for after school programs or during special events at the school.

After this video, which was recorded in July 2010, was sent as part of Moderator Bob Fetterhoff’s weekly e-zine last month, Pastor Carey sent an update:

This past fall all the students and staff of the school had their picture taken in front of our building and then they invited us over for a special presentation. They received their results back from the state and were one of two elementary schools in the city to receive an excellent two years in a row. The presented us with a plaque with the picture on it that read, “Your sincere kindness, support, and generosity has helped to make our school achieve ‘Excellence’! Our community ‘grows’ because of you.” They said they couldn’t have achieved this wtihout the help and support of our ministry. They also made posters with the picture, which went to the city council and mayor. We continue to build the relationship with the school and just recently baptized a young mom who is thrilled to be growing in her faith and desiring to reach the rest of her family.

Seal Beach Pastor Shoemaker Retires Sunday, January 8

Posted by Terry White on January 7, 2012  |  1 Comment

The Sun newspaper chain in Southern California today has a feature story about Sunday being the last Sunday for Don Shoemaker as senior pastor at the Seal Beach Grace Brethren Church.  Here is an excerpt–to read the entire article, click here.

On Sunday, Jan. 8, Pastor Donald Shoemaker will preach his final sermon as Senior Pastor for Grace Community Church of Seal Beach. He has held the position since 1984.

The church and community are invited to honor Shoemaker in a community-wide celebration of “A Heritage of Song.”

It will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, in the McGaugh School Auditorium in Seal Beach,. It will highlight his commitment to excellence in Christian music during his 28 years of service at Grace Community Church.

Pastor Emeritus.  It’s a designation of honor Grace Community Church has conferred on Shoemaker as he steps out of his day-to-day involvement as Senior Pastor to what he will contribute in the years ahead.

The title is in honor of past involvement. However,  Shoemaker will  give more time and effort to his role as the Senior Chaplain of the Seal Beach Police Department, his writing, his family, a different role at Grace Community Church and, he said, an opportunity for more of his mountain hiking.

Shoemaker plans a two-month absence from the church so that there is a smooth transition without him in a leadership role.  After that, he has said he’s available to serve in helpful ways—whatever is desired by future leadership.

While a search is conducted for a Senior Pastor, the church will be led by the two current associate pastors.  Steve Williams will become Pastor in the interim and Bob Wriedt will be associate pastor.

Shoemaker began his pastoral career in Elkhart, Indiana in 1968.

He and his wife Mary moved to Long Beach in 1970 when Don became Pastor of Los Altos Brethren Church.

He joined the theology faculty at Biola University during those years where he served for 8 years, becoming the Pastor at Grace in 1984 where he and Mary were already members.

A hallmark of Shoemaker’s tenure as Senior Pastor, is to live out the word “community” in the title of Grace Community Church.  It is his desire that the church build bridges of communication to the community—not just in words—but in actually being part of the people and the events of Seal Beach.

He has said, “I want the community of Seal Beach to know we love being part of its life and want to serve it constructively and positively even as we share our word about Jesus Christ.”

Winter 2012 Edition of FGBC World Now Live

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on January 6, 2012  |  No Comments

The Winter 2012 edition of FGBC World, the quarterly magazine for the people of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is now live at fgbcworld.com. Print copies of the magazine were mailed individually to homes and in bulk to churches in late December. You may also read the magazine in book format here.

This issue includes stories about CPR-3, a new ministry that works with people who are overlooked, struggling, or in crisis; an excerpt for Ed Stetzer’s address at the 2009 conference of the FGBC; and a discussion with two Grace Brethren pastors about their mentoring relationship.

FGBC World is an all-fellowship, all-Grace-Brethren magazine published four times a year. In it you will find stories about Grace Brethren people around the world—from individuals who are on the front line of ministry to organizations that help impact lives for Jesus.

New Issue of “Veritas” Available

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on January 6, 2012  |  No Comments

The January-February 2012 issue of “Veritas,” a journal of counseling and discipleship, is now available. This issue is the second installment of “The Struggle of the Faith,” which looks to Joshua of the Old Testament. Whether one remembers Joshua’s first appearance in the pages of Scripture as a spy for Moses in the Promised Land, his triumph at the battle of Jericho, or his consummation as the leader of Israel, Joshua was a man of great faith.

The online magazine is a product of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio (Mike Yoder, pastor) and is available online by clicking here.

Youth Ministry Specialist to Speak in Ohio

Posted by Terry White on January 4, 2012  |  No Comments

The National Institute for the Development of Ministries to Youth (The youth ministry major of Grace College overseen by CE National) is pleased to announce that Kurt Johnston, pastor of student ministry at Saddleback Church in southern California, will be a keynote speaker at the January “Strategizing” module. Specific topics for the class that Kurt will be addressing include:

• Junior High Ministry 101
• Nine Best Practices of Youth Ministry
• Purpose Driven Youth Ministry

Kurt is an author and expert in middle school ministries and in the past year has gone from overseeing junior high at one of the largest churches in North America to being responsible for the oversight of the entire youth ministry at the church.

Timothy Kurtaneck, director of The National Institute says, “To have someone of Kurt’s experience and passion share for an entire day with our youth ministry students is an awesome blessing. He is a busy man – yet his commitment to training up the next generation of leaders is strong and an incredible blessing. I am grateful for his encouragement, his vision, and his willingness to serve in the name of Jesus.”

Kurt will be speaking on Friday, January 6, at the youth ministry class held at the Grace Brethren Church in Norton, Ohio. For interested individuals, the five hours of instruction is currently available at a discounted seminar price of $39 which includes lunch.

If interested in this 8:30am-3pm training time, please contact Judy Fisher at theinstitute@cenational.org for specific information

New Encompass Staff Members Participate in Orientation

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on January 3, 2012  |  No Comments

New staff members of Encompass World Partners (formerly Grace Brethren International Missions) are at the International Missions Center in Winona Lake, Ind., this week for training. They’ll learn about the vision and values of Encompass World Partners, the history of the Grace Brethren movement, and network with each other.

“The goal is to deepen their understanding of Encompass so they can move forward with confidence based on our principles,” says Blaine Horst, personnel officer.

Among those participating are Jarod and Jennifer Ebenhack, bi-vocational Floridians who are ministering among the Haitians as part of a network of Haitian Grace Brethren congregations; Armando Lucio and his fiance, Chasity Meuse, from McAllen, Tex., Grace Brethren Church (Robert Soto, pastor), and currently living in Nova Scotia, Canada, seeking opportunities to minister among First Nations people in the area; and Skip and Kerry Jeffries, from the Grace Brethren Church, Martinsburg, Pa. (Kurt Miller, pastor), who will be serving Encompass in a special assignment role in mobilization. Several others involved this week anticipate serving in countries that are closed to the gospel. Their names are not revealed for their personal protection once they are on the field.