BMH Editor's Blog

Tom Julien Gives Historic Tour of Chateau St. Albain

Posted by Terry White on September 15, 2010  |  1 Comment

Tom Julien, who along with his wife, Doris, and the first of their three children came to France as Grace Brethren missionaries nearly 50 years ago, gave a guided tour of the Chateau St. Albain to the CHARIS leadership group this Wednesday afternoon.

After several years of frustration when there were very little results from his traditional missionary methods, Julien began searching for a property where he could develop a ministry similar to that of Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri, whom Julien had come to know and appreciate. Eventually the Chateau was found, a massive, rundown concrete and stone facility on about four acres, dating back to the 14th century.

Julien negotiated the sale and bought the property for Grace Brethren missions in 1964 for $28,000. Moving into the unheated, rustic facility, he began opening it to traveling young people and local youth who would come for evenings of discussion.

Over the years the Chateau has been continually upgraded and improved, and now would be comparable to a two-star hotel and will house about 70 people. It is used widely by Christian groups as a conference center, and also has a strong presence in the Burgundy region as a place of Christian witness. Deb and Jay Hocking, from Winona Lake, Indiana, are now the on-site managers and hosts of the facility. The CHARIS group concluded Wednesday’s activity with a threefold communion service alternating languages between English, Spanish, Sango, and French.

Tom Julien, the original purchaser and developer of the Chateau St. Albain, gave a tour and historical lecture to the gathered CHARIS leaders. Here he points out some of the surrounding sites from the parapets atop the tower, which is about 50 feet above ground on the south side of the facility. In the mountain range in the background, Mont Blanc can be seen when the weather conditions are clear. To the right of Julien is his daughter Becky Schwan, who was raised in the chateau and is now living with her husband, David, in England.

Church Planters Share Vision With CHARIS Leaders

Posted by Terry White on September 15, 2010  |  No Comments

(from left) Neil Cole, Mboi Andre, and Walter Testa shared vision and enthusiasm for church planting and expansion with CHARIS leaders meeting in France.

Three gifted, apostolic church planters shared their vision and hearts for expansion of the gospel with the CHARIS group meeting this Wednesday afternoon at the Chateau St. Albain.

Mboi Andre, executive director of the union of Grace Brethren churches in the Central African Republic, reported on the 54 churches recently planted and explained his strategy for expanding the gospel to the north and east of the central African country.

Walter Testa, an Argentine who works with church planting and expansion in Mexico City, shared his vision for 100 church-planting families and for the planting of a missionary couple in every state of the country of Mexico.

And finally Neil Cole, of Church Multiplication Associates, shared how God is using CMA and its associates in planting organic churches all over the world. The purpose in having the three present was to expand the vision and thinking of the CHARIS leaders about evangelism and church planting for the decade ahead.

CHARIS Delegates Endorse ‘Next Steps’ Document, Plan

Posted by Terry White on September 15, 2010  |  No Comments

Florent Varak (standing) of France moderated the session this Wednesday in which delegates from Grace Brethren fellowships worldwide endorsed a document outlining implementation next steps for the CHARIS movement.

Wednesday was a “pivot” day in the meetings of the CHARIS leadership at the Chateau St. Albain in France as a document better defining the next steps for CHARIS was adopted.

The worldwide leaders of Grace Brethren fellowships met in August of 2008 at Bad Homburg, Germany, and crafted the original document entitled “Commitment to Common Mission.” That document revealed the intention of Grace Brethren worldwide to progress over the decade of 2010 in the three areas of evangelism and church planting, leadership development, and integrated or holistic ministries.

Since 2008 the document has been processed and endorsed by leadership and organizations representing all 35 countries where Grace Brethren churches or Points of Light exist, and this week’s meeting is for the purpose of deciding next steps and being more intentional about plans for implementation.

 Essentially, the document lays out strategies under three main headings—toward an implementation of the Commitment to Common Mission document, toward an expansion of the vision for CHARIS, and toward a commitment of common identity for Grace Brethren worldwide.

Proposed implementation strategies include forming teams containing expertise in the three areas, to coordinate cross-culture to encourage and resource further activity in the three areas. Leadership has committed to communicating regularly and encouraging each other toward implementation, with a possible next gathering or global fellowship encounter in 2015.

And finally, there is an emerging sense that a better system is needed for the recognition and welcoming of groups of churches who may wish to become Grace Brethren, but have not been initiated by Grace Brethren International Missions. Therefore, without desiring to create more structure and another organization, CHARIS leadership has agreed on a plan that engages proximate fellowships to discuss with potential new fellowship members their commitment to biblical truth, biblical relationships, and biblical mission.

Dr. Keith Shearer, pastor of New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church in Myerstown, Penna., and a past moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches is the official North America delegate to this meeting, representing the US and Canadian Grace Brethren churches.  He will be communicating with the districts, national organizations, and the Fellowship Council as progress moves forward.

The Brethren Missionary Herald Co. has committed to assisting with the worldwide communication needs of CHARIS, and will be continuing to transmit information, build relational bridges, and facilitate exchanges and communications between participating fellowships and their representatives.

To reach the conclusion and finalization of the document approved today, Jorge Nunez of Argentina drafted a number of initial suggestions and Florent Varak of France moderated the meeting and discussion in which the agreement was achieved.

Day Three of Charis Encounter Underway

Posted by Terry White on September 15, 2010  |  No Comments

Chateau St. Albain, France

Day three of the CHARIS leadership meetings at the Chateau St. Albain in France got underway as the sun dawned on the ancient chateau which is hosting the event. A highlight of the morning was a gripping and emotional tribute to Dadje Samuel, the gifted evangelist and apostle from Chad, who went to be with the Lord recently. Frank Puhl, Grace Brethren International Missions’ regional director for Africa, showed video clips and historic photos of Dadje and explained the development, life, and impact of this remarkable man.

Dadje died “on mission” April 25, 2010, and shortly before his death he said, “Each missionary being sent is signing his death sentence. He must have a very close relationship with God because his days are numbered. Those with a half-hearted commitment cannot do the work.”

CHARIS Steering Committee

Posted by Terry White on September 13, 2010  |  No Comments

Members of the CHARIS leadership committee meeting this week in France include (front row, from left) Francois Ngoumape (Africa), David Guiles (Grace Brethren International Missions); (second row, from left) Jorge Nunez (Argentina), Florent Varak (France), Mboi Andre (Central African Republic); (back row, from left) Keith Shearer (USA), Rainer Ehmann (Germany), Terry White (Brethren Missionary Herald Co.)

CHARIS Leadership Meetings in France Begin

Posted by Terry White on September 13, 2010  |  No Comments

Dave Guiles (center), executive director of Grace Brethren International Missions, is the convener for the CHARIS leadership gathering being held at Chateau St. Albain in France this week. Monday consisted of reports from Grace Brethren fellowships in all parts of the world regarding what progress has been made in implementing the Commitment to Common Mission document generated at the CHARIS gathering in Bad Homburg, Germany, in 2008. Monday evening's meetings closed with prayer groups in three languages--English, Spanish, and French--for God's direction on the remainder of the conference.

Friends Gather With Tom Julien for Reception

Posted by Terry White on September 13, 2010  |  No Comments

More than 30 "Friends of Tom Julien" gathered at the Chateau St. Albain Sunday afternoon to visit with Tom Julien, who, with his late wife Doris, spent many years as a missionary in France. Julien is participating in the CHARIS leadership meetings at the Chateau this week.

CHARIS Leadership Meetings Commence in France

Posted by Terry White on September 12, 2010  |  No Comments

Nearly 20 leaders of Grace Brethren fellowships from around the world, including regional directors for Grace Brethren International Missions, gathered this afternoon at the Chateau St. Albain in the Burgundy region of France for the first of a set of week-long meetings to discuss strategy for the CHARIS movement over the next ten years.

Based on meetings in Bad Homburg in August of 2008, and considering the document that described a ten-year commitment to church planting, leadership development and holistic ministry, the group has several goals for this meeting.

One is to evaluate the Bad Homburg experience and to determine what good and lasting effects came from that meeting.  The second is to discuss what Grace Brethren fellowships around the world should do now–should additional meetings be held, or just what is the best course of action?  Third, the group will begin evaluating what has happened in each of the world’s regions toward applying and implementing the three initiatives of the Commitment to Common Mission document.  Fourth, Grace Brethren International Missions is looking for input and help concerning its future relationship with the worldwide fellowships as they develop more independent strength. And finally, the role of Brethren Missionary Herald Co. will be discussed as the communication agent to inform the remainder of the Grace Brethren world about progress, ways to implement, and reports on meetings such as the one held in France.

Former missionary to France and GBIM executive director Tom Julien was honored today with a gathering of many of his friends and colleagues from around southern France. Then GBIM’s Dave Guiles called the group to order, and laid out a potential agenda for the week.  After several days of reflection and consultation, the group will be joined by Walter Testa from Mexico, Mboi Andre from the Central African Republic, and Neil Cole from the USA, who are known apostolic church planters, and they will focus specifically on church planting opportunities around the world. 

Reports from the meetings and photos will be posted as they become available.