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I  !.- 


BRETHREN  MISSIONARY 


JANUARY    1985 


ft 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


Decentralization: 
the  New  Trend 


by  Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 

It  all  seems  to  have  started  in  Washington  a 
few  years  ago.  There  was  a  call  for  getting  the 
work  done  back  home.  The  theory  was  that  it 
could  be  done  better  back  nearer  the  source. 
The  airlines  were  deregulated  and  were  put  on 
their  own  to  schedule  and  do  the  work  with- 
out governmental  interference.  The  concept 
spread  to  other  organizations— trucking,  tele- 
phone communication,  and  investment  serv- 
ices, including  the  banks. 

There  is  a  lot  to  be  said  for  the  concept  and 
the  idea  is  spreading  to  many  other  organiza- 
tions. Long  before  the  government  started  the 
concept,  religious  organizations  were  involved 
in  this  movement.  It  certainly  is  one  of  the 
strongest  trends  of  the  day— whether  it  be  in 
education,  publications,  or  missions.  There  is 
a  definite  movement  to  get  more  done  on  the 
local  level.  Universities  twenty  years  ago  be- 
gan to  bring  the  state  universities  to  the  local 
communities.  They  grew  with  an  unbelievable 
pace.  Small  community  colleges  grew  to 
20,000  or  more  students.  In  Christian  circles 
we  are  now  following  the  same  trend,  but  at  a 
much  slower  pace. 

There  is  a  renewal  of  the  Bible  institute. 
The  local  Christian  Day  School  extended 
from  day-care  for  preschool  to  the  elementary 
level,  then  to  high  schools,  and  now  to  edu- 
cate adults.  Education  is  going  back  home.  In 
the  area  of  publications  we  see  the  very  same 
thing.  Churches  have  their  own  presses  and 
the  new  copy  machines  are  just  miniature 
printing  presses.  Small  computers  and  word 
processors  are  the  new  wave  of  printing  on  a 
local  level.  Denominational  publications  are 
now  monthly  in  almost  all  cases  and  local 
churches  can  get  news  to  their  people  much 
faster  than   through   the   magazine.  With  the 


Sunday  school  not  playing  the  role  it  did  in 
former  times,  there  is  a  change  in  curriculum 
and  supplies.  More  is  being  done  at  home 
again. 

New  churches  and  missions  are  more  under 
the  watchful  eye  of  the  district  mission 
boards.  More  of  the  funds  for  church  develop- 
ment stay  in  the  territory  than  in  other 
periods.  If  you  have  any  doubts,  take  a  look 
at  the  growth  of  funds  being  used  for  local 
missions. 

This  trend  will  continue  and  gain  much 
more  momentum  in  the  future.  It  is  a  good 
trend,  for  everything  that  can  be  done  on  a 
local  level  should  be  done  there.  Those  of  us 
involved  in  work  on  a  national  level  know  we 
are  here  to  serve  the  local  churches  to  be  able 
to  help  them  do  the  work  of  preaching  the 
Gospel.  There  are  some  tasks  that  cannot  be 
done  as  well  by  individual  churches,  so  those 
functions  should  be  done  by  national  boards 
and  organizations. 

There  is  the  need  for  the  joint  efforts  of 
the  entire  Fellowship  to  work  in  unity  to  get 
the  Gospel  to  everyone.  What  can  be  done  by 
the  national  boards  to  help  local  churches 
must  be  done.  What  the  local  churches  can  do 
on  a  unified  basis  for  national  boards  must  be 
done.  We  need  to  see  the  growth  of  local 
churches.  Any  study  of  recent  information 
shows  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  to  be  in  a 
slowing  growth  trend.  This  trend  must  be  re- 
versed soon  or  we  will  be  moving  into  a  nega- 
tive growth  stance.  This  would  indeed  be  a 
sad  circumstance,  because  I  believe  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  has  much  to  contribute  to 
the  world  of  Christianity  and  also  to  the 
needs  of  the  world. 

So  let  us  renew  our  efforts  in  the  cause  of 
Christ  and  the  work  of  our  Grace  Brethren 
Church. 


JANUARY  '85 


BMH 


BRETHREN 
MISSIONARY 


eralc 


Vol.  47         No.  1         January  1985 

The  Brethren  Missionary 
Herald  is  published  monthly  by 
the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
Co.,  P.O.  Box  544,  1104  Kings 
Highway,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590.  Subscription  prices: 
$8.25  per  year;  foreign  $10.00; 
special  rates  to  churches. 
Printed  by  BMH  Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back 
issues  are  available.  One  copy, 
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Editor,  Charles  Turner 
Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 
Artist,  Mary  Jane  Fretz 
Editorial  Secretary,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Denny  Brown 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer,  Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


2b 


ccntents 

6  Historical  Highlights 

8  Planting  Churches  in  Navajoland 

1 1  Hope  and  Peace  in  the  Midst  of  Trials 

12  The  Lord's  Church  and  the  Lord's  People 

14  Being  a  "Radical"  in  Our  Unpredictable  World 

16  1985  Brethren  National  Youth  Conference 

19  One-on-One 

20  RVICS  Leaving  the  Shuffleboard  Behind 

23  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  SHORT  COURSE 


hmh  features 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters  2  • 
Feature  Article  4  •  BMH  News  Report   17  • 


repcrted  in  the  herald 


35   YEARS  AGO   -    1950 

Dr.  Paul  Bauman,  executive  vice  presi- 
dent of  Grace  Seminary,  and  Dr.  Louis  T. 
Talbot,  president  of  Bible  Institute  of  Los 
Angeles,  took  off  for  a  trip  around  the 
world  to  visit  missions.  .  .  .  First  Women's 
Missionary  Council  organized  in  Africa 
under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Orville  Jobson. 

25   YEARS  AGO   -    1960 

Rev.  George  and  Evelyn  Johnson  from 
Wooster,  Ohio,  went  to  the  field  of  Brazil 
as  missjonaries  to  that  country.  .  .  .  The 
Brethren  Construction  Crew  —Sellers, 
Sturgill,  Jordan  and  Keyser— worked  on  the 
Fairland  church  in  Akron,  Ohio. 

5   YEARS  AGO  -   1980 

The  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Irasburg, 
Vermont,  was  dedicated.  John  Snow,  pastor. 
.  .  .  Grace  Brethren  Christian  Education 
moved  into  their  new  headquarters  which 
are  located  just  off  Grace  College  campus. 


letters 


Dear  Reader, 

There  is  something  new  in  the 
Herald  this  month.  Check  page  36  to 
find  the  new  feature,  IT  PAYS  TO 
READ  THE  HERALD.  Each  month  a 
subscriber  to  the  Herald  will  be  chosen 
by  a  random  method  from  the  mailing 
list.  The  person  chosen  will  be  given  a 
special  gift  from  the  Herald  Company. 
The  gift  this  month  is  a  Zondervan 
limited  edition  parallel  Bible.  It  is  a 
$150.00  Bible,  bound  in  beautiful 
Buffalo  Calfskin,  and  is  indeed  a  prize 

possession.  The  winner  is 

-CWT 


Cover  photo  by  Larry  Kayser 

^=BIMH  JANUARY  '85  Oi= 


FEA  TURE  ARTICLE 


MONEY 
TALK 


by  Winn  Shackleford 

Assistant  Professor  of  Business 
Grace  College,  Winona  Lake,  Indiana 

(Editor's  Note:  Mr.  Shackleford  is  a  member  of  the 
Shackleford  and  Owen  CPA's  of  Warsaw,  Indiana. 
This  material  was  presented  in  class  at  the  college  and 
also  Sunday  school  at  the  Winona  Lake  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church.) 

The  Bureau  of  Engiaving  and  Printing  says  it  costs 
about  fifteen  dollars  to  print  a  thousand  bills,  regard- 
less of  denomination.  Thus,  to  print  a  five  hundred 
dollar  bill  is  as  cheap  as  printing  a  one  dollar  bill. 

Whether  one  covets  a  one  dollar  bill  or  a  five  hun- 
dred dollar  bill,  the  cost  in  spiritual  life  is  always  the 
same.  The  "love  of  money"  can  be  present  in  both 
the  rich  and  the  poor,  and  leads  to  a  straying  from 
the  faith  and  a  piercing  through  with  many  sorrows 
(1  Tim.  6:10).  While  all  of  us  place  some  priority  on 
money  and  some  priority  on  ministry,  few  of  us  agree 
on  where  to  place  these  priorities,  let  alone  finding 
out  positions  consistent  with  Scripture.  The  balance 
offered  by  1  Timothy  6:6  is  a  godliness  with  content- 
ment. In  several  ways,  Paul's  message  to  Timothy  in 
this  chapter  can  be  seen  as  an  expansion  of  Christ's 
parable  of  the  unjust  steward  in  Luke  16,  where 
life  and   livelihood  are  put  into  proper  per- 
spective. After  all,  wherever  we  view  the 
greatest    prospect    for    advantage,   we 
usually  find  the  greatest  motive  for 
industry     and    creativity.    Do    we 
agree  with  Solomon  who  writes, 
"Happy  is  the  man  who  findeth 
%2Ml    \\  wisdom  .  . ."  which  consists  in 

knowledge  and  love  of  God, 
and  entire  conformity  to  all 
the  intentions  of  His  truths, 
providences,  and   laws?   If 
so,  then  this  should  be  the 
thrust  of  our  business  and 
and    not    a    by-business. 
Or,    do    we    subordinate 
wisdom   to  the  merchan- 
dise of  silver  and  fine  gold 
which  in  itself  cannot  be 
wisdom?  We  might  dowell 
to  weigh  Paul's  admonish- 
ment to  a  ministry  of  godli- 
ness   in    our    behavior    and 
teaching,   against   our  heart's 
pursuit  of  materialistic  rewards. 


For  where  your 


The  Evidence 

In  Luke  16:10-11,  Christ  attaches  a  value  system 
to  money,  called  unrighteous  mammon,  and  labels  it 
as  the  least  of  our  priorities.  However,  matters  of 
truth  and  ministry  in  the  service  of  our  Lord  are 
identified  as  true  riches.  If  these  become  extreme 
points  on  a  continuum  of  our  life's  endeavors,  then 
how  can  we  discern  where  we  fall  without  being 
deceived  by  our  own  subjectivity?  Perhaps  we  cannot. 
But  1  Timothy  6  offers  some  objective  criteria  as 
evidence  of  a  troubled  system  of  values. 

1.  In  verse  3,  Paul  begins  with  a  rebuke  of  any- 
one who  teaches  that  the  value  of  worldly  gain  is 
higher  than  godliness.  He  said  this  type  of  teaching 
tends  to  corruption,  but  Christ's  value  system  tends 
to  healing.  Do  we  teach  and  live  by  the  doctrine  that 
is  according  to  godliness,  or  a  doctrine  dictated  by 
the  dollar? 

2.  A  second  evidence  taken  from  verse  4  is  an  argu- 
mentative spirit  that  produces  envy,  strife  and  evil 
suspicions.  This  spirit  comes  from  disputes  against  the 
wholesome  words  of  verse  3  and  consumes  the  life 
out  of  the  church  (1  Cor.  2:13  and  Rom.  16:17-20). 
Often  it  seems  that  we  pridefully  defend  our  pursuit 
of  gain  with  impeccable  logic  and  rationale,  at  the 
expense  of  pursuing  godliness  and  unity  in  the 
church.  Many  times  these  wrong  priorities  define  the 
lines  of  division  in  the  local  church. 

3.  Verse  5  suggests  that  these  are  men  who  fashion 
gain  as  godliness  rather  than  godliness  as  great  gain. 
Therefore,  their  relative  successes  are  measured  in 
terms  of  gain.  Yet,  Christ  has  said  in  Luke  16  that 
these  gains  are  not  true  riches.  Paul  says  these  men 
who  value  gain  over  godliness  are  of  a  corrupt  mind 
and  destitute  of  the  truth.  In  fact,  we  are  to  withdraw 
from  such,  when  often  we  all  act  as  such. 

Therefore,  while  the  wholesome  words  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  are  intended  to  heal  the  wounds  in  the 
church  and  prevent  division,  we  often  defend  posi- 
tions valuing  gain  over  godliness,  and  by  our  words 
flaunt  our  ignorant  pride  and  destroy  the  unity  in  the 
body.  We  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon. 

The  Effects 

The  parable  in  Luke  has  assigned  godliness  as  a 
high  priority  over  the  least  valued  gain  of  mammon. 
Paul  continues  in  1  Timothy  6:6-10  to  contrast  a 
healthy  attitude  toward  contentment  with  the  evils  of 
coveteousness.  Paul  begins  with  the  pursuit  of  godli- 
ness, perhaps  because  it  is  the  highest  priority. 

1.A  Christian's  godliness  is  gain  because  it  is 
profitable  as  it  stands  opposed  to  the  division  and 
strife  caused   by  other  doctrines  described  in  verses 


3  through  5.  This  means  that  godliness  promotes 
Christian  unity.  Unity  is  a  spiritual  bond  among 
people  whose  lives  are  wholly  surrendered  to  Jesus 
Christ  and  the  leading  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  involves 
one  mind,  1  Peter  3:8;  one  spirit,  Psalms  133:1-3;  one 
faith,  Ephesians  4:4-6;  one  fellowship.  Acts  2:42-47; 
one  concern,  1  Corinthians  12:25-26;  and  one  pur- 
pose, Isaiah  43:7.  Therefore,  as  we  pursue  godliness 
as  opposed  to  coveteousness,  we  will  become  a 
stronger,  more  unified  body. 

2.  Paul  writes  that  the  gain  of  godliness  is  great 
when  compared  to  the  worldly  gain  of  mammon. 
Verse  7  suggests  that  this  worldly  gain  is  temporal,  as 
we  will  carry  nothing  out  of  this  world.  According  to 
Proverbs  23:2,  some  people  are  given  to  large  appe- 
tites. Verses  4  to  5  say  that  others  are  given  to  cov- 
eteousness. Here,  the  context  of  these  efforts  to 
satisfy  coveteousness  involves  overwork  in  long, 
hurried  days,  usually  associated  with  total  concentra- 
tion, and  often  anxiety.  These  efforts  are  for  things 
that  are  not;  for  things  of  the  world  have  a  real  exist- 
ence, but  not  a  lasting  existence.  Verse  5  says  that 
you  do  not  lose  them,  they  dissolve  themselves  as 
they  make  for  themselves  wings,  and  fly  irretrievably 
out  of  sight.  By  contrast  Christ  teaches  the  immor- 
tality of  godly  gain  in  His  Sermon  on  the  Mount  in 
Matthew  6:19-21:  "Do  not  lay  up  for  yourselves 
treasures  on  earth,  where  moth  and  rust  destroy  and 
where  thieves  break  in  and  steal;  but  lay  up  for  your- 
selves treasures  in  heaven,  where  neither  moth  nor 
rust  destroys  and  where  thieves  do  not  break  in  and 
steal.  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  your  heart  will 
be  also." 

3.  The  pursuit  of  godliness  is  closely  attached  to 
contentment  in  these  verses,  while  other  doctrines  are 
attached  to  strife.  For  the  little  that  a  righteous  man 
has  is  better  than  the  riches  of  many  wicked  (Ps. 
37:16).  There  are  many  who  would  not  associate  the 
word  "sorrowful"  with  the  words,  "rich,"  "young," 
and  "ruler."  But  such  was  the  case  with  the  young 
man  in  Matthew  19:22-23.  He  had  position,  posses- 
sions, and  youth.  In  spite  of  having  all  three,  he  was 
sorrowful.  He  was  sorrowful  for  what  he  had  to  sacri- 
fice to  be  born  again;  while  he  should  have  been  sor- 
rowful about  what  he  would  miss  in  the  future. 
Notice  that  with  food  and  clothing,  the  Christian's 
heart  is  content  as  he  pursues  godliness.  His  desires 
are  not  insatiable. 

However,  through  verses  9  through  10,  Paul  gives 
some  of  the  effects  of  a  value  system  that  is  perverted 
toward  mammon.  Christ  makes  reference  to  these  ef- 
fects in  Luke  16  when  He  calls  mammon  unrighteous. 

1.  Christ  may  identify  mammon  as  unrighteous  be- 


treasure  is  .  .  .  your  heart  also." 


(Continued  on  page  34) 


;BMH 


JANUARY  '85 


Historical  Highlights 


by  Earle  E.  Peer,  Pastor 

Grace  Brethren  Church 

Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania 

earing  the  name 
Gettysburg,  one  con- 
jures mental  images 
of  men  engaged  in 
fierce  and  deadly 
battle,  imagines  the  sounds  of 
horses'  hooves,  creaking  wheels, 
and  the  roar  of  cannons,  the  crack 
of  muskets,  the  shouts  of  com- 
manders, and  the  cries  of  agony. 

Gettysburg  is  located  in  south- 
central  Pennsylvania  in  Adams 
County,  named  after  our  second 
United  States  president,  John 
Adams.  The  town  itself  was  named 
for  James  Gettys,  who  arrived  from 
Ireland  in  the  mid-eighteenth  cen- 
tury. Aside  from  the  historical  im- 
plications it  holds  in  our  nation's 
history,  it  is  also  noted  in  the 
history  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches.  Here  are  a  few 
highlights: 

July  1,  2,  and  3,  1863:  General 
Robert  E.  Lee,  commander  of  the 


Confederate  States  of  American 
Army,  75,000  troops  strong,  en- 
counters General  George  G.  Meade, 
with  100,000  men  in  the  battle  of 
the  Potomac  at  Gettysburg.  The 
fighting  rages  for  three  days,  ending 
in  a  decisive  battle  at  the  High 
Water  Mark  with  the  failure  of 
Pickett's  charge.  General  Lee  re- 
treats into  Maryland  and  crosses 
into  Virginia.  Gettysburg  is  the 
scene  of  the  bloodiest  battle  in  the 
history  of  our  nation,  with  51,000 
casualties. 

November  18,  1863:  President 
Abraham  Lincoln  arrives  in  Gettys- 
burg and  spends  the  night  at  the 
Will's  House,  where  he  puts  the 
finishing  touches  on  a  speech  he  is 
to  deliver  the  next  day  at  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  National  Cemetery. 
His  "few  appropriate  remarks"  (he 
is  not  the  main  speaker)  last  for 
only  two  minutes,  but  have  been 
recorded  in  history  as  the  im- 
mortal "Gettysburg  Address." 

August  1955:  President  Dwight 
D.  Eisenhower  and  his  wife,  Mamie, 
retire  to  their  home  in  Gettysburg. 
(After    his    death    in     1969,    Mrs. 


Eisenhower  gives  the  home  to  the 
United  States  Department  of  the 
Interior.  It  is  now  known  as  the 
Eisenhower  National  Historic  Site.) 

ugust  1973:  The 
National  Confer- 
ence of  the  Fel- 
lowship of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches 
convenes  on  the  campus  of  Gettys- 
burg College  with  Dr.  S.  Wayne 
Beaver  presiding  as  moderator. 

February  1980:  Pastor  Lee  Dice, 
of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Dillsburg,  Pennsylvania,  conducts 
Bible  classes  in  homes  in  the 
Gettysburg  area.  He  is  assisted  by 
Pastor  Larry  Coggins  in  visitation 
throughout  the  community.  (This 
ministry  continues  for  a  little  more 
than  two  years.) 

May  10,  1981:  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
Wendell  Kent,  of  Waynesboro, 
Pennsylvania,  begin  to  commute 
each  Sunday  to  Gettysburg  to 
conduct  Sunday  school  and  wor- 
ship services  in  the  YMCA  Building 
on  Lincoln  Square. 

April   10,  1983:  The  Gettysburg 


=6 


JANUARY  '85 


GBHIMG 


Grace  Brethren  Church  is  formally 
organized  by  Pastor  Earle  Peer,  of 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
home  of  Rev.  Donald  Hinks. 
Fifteen  persons  are  present  for  the 
organizational  meeting  and  an 
offering  of  $100  is  received. 

May  15,  1983:  The  first  baptism 
of  the  Gettysburg  GBC  is  held  in 
the  Melrose  Gardens  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church  in  Harrisburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, with  representatives  from 
both  congregations  present  for  the 
evening  service. 

July  3,  1983:  Exactly  120  years 
after  the  final  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
the  first  service  of  the  newly 
organized  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Gettysburg  assembles  in  the 
living  room  of  Pastor  and  Mrs.  Peer 


Pastor  and  Mrs.  Earle  Peer 


door  for  the  fledgling  congregation 
to  meet  in  rented  quarters  in  a  re- 
modeled motel  unit  at  805  Harris- 
burg Road.  There  are  16  present  for 
Sunday  school,  and  25  for  the 
morning  worship,  with  16  people 
returning  for  the  evening  service. 
Jesse  Gingrich,  formerly  of 
Hershey,  Pennsylvania,  becomes  the 
organist  for  the  new  congregation. 
His  father,  Rev.  Ulysses  Gingrich,  a 
member  of  the  GBC  in  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, begins  teaching  the  adult 
Sunday  school  class. 

November  13,  1983:  A  dedica- 
tion service  is  conducted  for  the  re- 
modeled building,  as  well  as  a  Conn 
organ  donated  by  Mrs.  Dollie 
Setinsek  of  Harrisburg  in  memory 
of  her  late  husband,  Henry.  Darlene 


Above:  Overlooking  the  battlefield 
Right:  Marker  in  National  Cemetery 


at  635  Highland  Avenue,  about 
one-half  mile  from  the  National 
Cemetery.  The  group  continues  to 
meet  here  through  October  17. 

September  25,  1983:  The  first 
communion  service  is  held  in  the 
basement  of  the  pastor's  home, 
with  14  persons  present.  Eight  of 
those  have  never  participated  in  a 
threefold  communion.  It  is  a 
blessed  time  around  the  table  of  the 
Lord. 

October  23,  1983:  After  a 
search  for  three  months,  and  more 
than   40   refusals,   God   opens    the 


(Setinsek)  Canoles  blesses  the 
hearts  of  the  35  persons  present 
during  an  evening  vocal  concert. 
Sunday  school  attendance  is  31, 
with  attendance  at  the  morning 
worship  being  42. 

December  11,  1983:  The  second 
baptismal  service  for  the  new 
church  is  held  at  the  Evangelical 
Free  Church  in  Hanover,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

May  27,  1984:  It  is  dedication 
day  again,  this  time  tor  the  newly 
purchased  Mobile  Home  Annex  and 
a  new  piano  given  to  the  church  by 


Richard  Harman.  Everyone  joins 
in  a  Family  Fellowship  Dinner,  fol- 
lowed by  an  organ  recital  by  Jesse 
Gingrich.  Attendance  for  the  day  is 
59. 

July  8,  1984:  Dr.  Herman  A. 
Hoyt,  President  Emeritus  of  Grace 
Schools,  Winona  Lake,  Indiana,  is 
the  special  speaker  at  the  First  An- 
niversary Service.  A  church  picnic 
follows  the  morning  service  with 
Dr.  Hoyt  speaking  again  during  the 
evening  service. 

October  14,  1984:  The  second 
communion  service  is  held  in  the 
Chapel  building,  utilizing,  as  well, 
the  facilities  of  the  Mobile  Home 
Annex. 

A  continuing  door-to-door  visita- 
tion program  is  being  carried  on  by 
the  pastor.  Pray  that  this  will  result 
in  reaping  precious  souls  for  Christ 
as  we  Reach  Out  For  The  Harvest! 

The  church  appreciates  the 
prayers  and  financial  support  of  the 
Brethren,  the  direction  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Home  Missions  Council, 
the  support  of  the  Northern  Atlan- 
tic District  Mission  Board,  and  the 
overwhelming  encouragement  and 
assistance  of  the  sister  churches 
within  the  Northern  Atlantic  Dis- 
trict. The  Harrisburg  GBC  has  given 
two  portable  cribs  and  juvenile 
cribs.  The  SMM  girls  of  the  Susque- 
hanna GBC  (Wrightsville)  have 
equipped  the  nursery.  The  Ephrata 
GBC  recently  presented  an  over- 
head projector,  along  with  many 
other  supplies. 

".  .  .  the  world  will  little  note 
nor  long  remember  what  we  say 
here,  but  it  can  never  forget  what 
they  did  here.  .  .  —Abraham 
Lincoln 

" .  .  .  the  world  will  soon  forget 
what  they  said  here,  but  heaven  will 
always  remember  what  the  Lord 
did  here.  .  .  —Earle  E.  Peer    ■ 


GBHMC 


JANUARY  '85 


Planting  Churches 

in  Navajoland 


"""■ 


by  Raymond  W.  Thompson 

One  of  the  great  hindrances 
to  evangelization  and  church 
planting  among  the  Navajo 
people  has  been  the  white 
man's  feeling  that  the  Navajos 
could  be  assimilated  into  the 
great  United  States  melting 
pot  with  little  concern  for  the 
Indians'  culture. 

A  few  anthropologists  have 
practiced  their  profession 
among  Navajo  people  and  have 


gained  valuable  insights.  Some 
traders  have  done  what  is 
necessary  to  try  to  predict  the 
Navajo  moods  and  communi- 
cate with  them  because  it  is 
good  business.  A  very  small 
number  of  linguists  have  made 
the  extreme  effort  to  crack 
the  Navajo  "code"— a  language 
difficult  enoughto  be  classified 
among  the  top  three  in  diffi- 
culty. But  it  is  tragic  that  the 
majority  of  evangelical 
Christians  historically  have 


John  and  Nora  Trujillo. 
John  pastors  the  Navajo 
church  at  Red  Lake, 
Arizona. 


=8 


JANUARY  '85 


GBHMC; 


thought  the  effort  to  under- 
stand where  Navajos  are 
coming  from  is  not  worth  it. 
"Let  them  become  like  us, 
then  we  can  teach  them" 
seemed  to  be  a  frequent, 
though  unspoken,  attitude. 

Why  can't  Navajo  people 
just  drop  their  animal  totems, 
or  their  corn  pollen  sacrifices 
to  the  sun,  and  see  that  be- 
coming a  Christian  means 
accepting  the  absolute  lordship 
of  Jesus  Christ?  Can  it  be  that 
closer  attention  to  understand- 
ing those  things  that  are  close 
to  the  Navajo  heart  might 
enable  the  Anglo  evangelist  to 
reach  the  people  before  they 
are  driven  off  by  the  mission- 
ary's lack  of  perception. 

No  observer  can  accuse 
Navajo  people  of  being 
atheists.  Their  daily  life  is 
filled  with  recognition  of  the 
sun  and  moon,  the  sacred 
mountains  which  surround 
them,  and  even  conversations 
with  the  animals.  Their  healing 
ceremonies,  featuring  intriguing 
sand  paintings,  their  woven  art 
and  beadwork  with  broken 
circles,  lest  the  spirits  be 
trapped  inside,  attest  to  their 


The  Navajo  church  at  Cedar  Hill, 
New  Mexico,  pastored  by  Tully 
Butler. 

religious  world  view. 

Lewis  M.  Hopfe  in  Religions 
in  the  World  describes  the 
animism  of  American  Indians: 
"The  Native  American  did  not 
view  nature  as  the  creation  of 
a  supreme  deity  for  the  sub- 
jugation of  human-kind. 
Rather,  nature  was  seen  as  a 
collection  of  multiple  spirits 
with  which  people  must  live  in 
harmony.  And  so  all  of  life 
had  a  religious  nature." 

Hunting  became  a  religious 
occupation  in  which  the  animal 
was  not  just  an  object  to  be 
killed,  but  a  fellow  creature 
with  a  similar  spirit.  Planting 
and  raising  crops,  cutting 
timber,  and  herding  livestock 
must  all  be  done  with  appro- 
priate ceremony. 

In  addition  to  the  productive 
side  of  their  lives,  the  Navajo 


people  live  in  fear  of  malevo- 
lent spirits  which  might  bring 
harm  to  them.  Their  lives  are 
filled  with  elaborate  cere- 
monies to  "appease  the  spirits" 
and  avoid  evil. 

A  perceptive  approach  to 
this  animistic  background  is 
cited  by  an  evangelical  Navajo 
pastor,  Herman  Wiiliams.   He 
describes  an  occasion  in  which 
a  new  believer  came  to  him  in 
great  fear.   It  seems  that  as  the 
believer  returned  home  follow- 
ing his  conversion,  a  number 
of  owls  roosted  in  nearby  trees. 
A  truly  bad  omen  to  the  Navajo 
mind,  this  meant  that  death 
was  at  hand.  A  Christian,  yet 
almost  untaught,  he  went  to 
his  pastor  for  help.  The  Navajo 
pastor,  with  an  understanding 
heart,  told  the  man  to  return 
home,  take  his  Bible  and  open 
it  to  a  clear  salvation  promise. 
"You  owls,"  he  instructed  him 
to  say,  "I  belong  to  Jesus  now. 
He  has  purchased  me  with  His 
blood.  You  can't  control  my 
life  or  bring  death  until  He  is 
ready  for  me  to  die.  Then  I 
will  go  to  be  with  Him  for 
always.  You  go  away  now." 
(Continued  on  page  70) 


GBHMC 


JANUARY  '85 


9= 


(Continued  from  page  9) 

When  the  man  did  this,  the 
first  result  was  the  peace 
which  came  into  his  heart. 
Then  the  owls  disappeared 
never  to  return. 

A  less  perceptive  approach 
might  have  driven  this  child  in 
the  faith  back  to  the  medicine 
man.  The  tendency  of  an 
Anglo  American  Christian  is  to 
say,  "You  are  a  Christian  now. 
Forget  your  pagan  supersti- 
tions. Owls  are  only  birds  and 
can't  predict  future  evil  in 
your  life."  This  is  true,  but  no 
real  help  has  been  offered  to 
one  who  has  known  from 
earliest  childhood  that  owls 
only  come  to  announce  a 
death.   Realizing  the  depth  at 
which  this  perception  of  evil 
was  fixed  in  the  new  believer's 
heart,  the  Navajo  pastor: 

1)  Gave  him  something  to 
do  to  deal  with  a  real  problem. 

2)  Did  not  embarrass  the 
new  babe  in  the  faith. 

3)  Gave  him  spiritual 
counsel  which  was  worthy  of 
his  spending  time  meditating 
upon. 

4)  Substituted  the  power 
and  blessing  of  God  for  the 


fear  which  characterized  his 
life. 

The  result  was  that  this  new 
believer  continued  to  grow  in 
his  Christian  faith  and  eventu- 
ally became  a  Navajo  Christian 
leader. 

Often  in  working  with 
school  children,  one  becomes 
aware  of  conflict  in  their 
thinking.  Parents,  concerned 
about  spirits  being  offended, 
warn  their  children  not  to 
listen  when  religious  instruc- 
tion is  given.  Children,  in  turn, 
are  taught  in  school  to  look 
for  empirical  evidence,  then 
make  choices  based  upon 
knowledge  of  facts.  However, 
the  element  of  faith  is  vital  to 
Christian  training  and  the 
child  is  unable  to  discern  be- 
tween the  reverence  in  which 
his  parents  hold  their  spirit- 
world  objects  and  the  biblical 
faith  taught  in  the  Scriptures. 
The  result  may  be  that  he 
loses  confidence  in  both.   Re- 
bellion against  all  adult 
authority  and  a  determination 
to  "find  my  own  way"  can 
wreak  havoc  in  young  lives 
faced  with  a  world  that  offers 
attractive  but  deadly  allure- 


ments. 

In  view  of  the  immense  gulf 
separating  the  white  missionary 
from  the  Navajo  people  whom 
he  desires  to  reach  for  Christ, 
what  can  be  done  to  bridge 
the  gap?  The  answer,  which  is 
becoming  more  evident  on  the 
Navajo  reservation,  emphasizes 
the  need  to  establish  indige- 
nous Navajo  churches  with 
biblically  trained  Navajo 
leadership. 

Historically,  the  white  mis- 
sionary has  been  moved  by 
compassion  to  meet  what  he 
perceives  to  be  a  great  need  to 
change  the  way  people  live 
and  think.  His  orientation  has 
blinded  him  to  the  feelings  of 
Navajo  people.  Thus  the 
gospel  message  has  not  gained 
serious  consideration  in  many 
of  their  minds.  The  mission- 
ary often  represents  white 
domination  and  power.   He 
has  been  tolerated  as  a  resource 
to  be  exploited  and  his  Jesus 
regarded  as  another  talisman 
to  bring  benefit.   Rather,  the 
missionary  must  see  that  his 
effective  ministry  centers  in 
training  a  few  Navajo  Christians 
(Continued  on  page  13) 


Consider  Your  Investments 

So  you  are  saving  for  the  future.  Where  is  your  money  in- 
vested? Is  it  in  a  savings  account?  A  money  market  certificate? 
An  IRA?  What  returns  are  you  getting?  Is  it  just  financial? 

At  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation,  your  money 
not  only  earns  6.72  percent  continuous  interest,  you  also  have 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing  your  funds  are  being  used  to  help 
spread   the   Gospel    of  Jesus  „<*5pt»* 

Christ    throughout     North 
America     with     low     interest  \\~\ 

growth     loans     to     Grace  s- 

Brethren  Churches.  Cyiyvj 

Consider  your  investments,        RfOtnPE 
then  invest  in  the  GBIF.  nVP^.fmPOt" 

Foundation 

Box  587,  Winona  Lake,  IN  - 


iwi"irniiBnwiininniinin'iiiiiniHHWMitiaimii¥iiiii¥¥^MriiWi 


Hope 

and 

Peace 


in  the 
Midst 
of 
Trials 


Photo  by  Alexandria  King 


by  Liz  Cutler 

Promotional  Secretary 

"So  very  few  people  go  out  to  serve  Christ,"  said 
Bob  Lance  as  he  prepared  for  full-time  Christian 
service  in  1981.  "My  wife  and  I  always  wanted  to  be 
available  to  Christ.  We  just  told  God  that  we  are  will- 
ing to  go  anywhere." 

Anywhere.  That  meant  resigning  a  responsible 
position  as  an  engineer  with  the  Ohio  Department  of 
Transportation  to  attend  seminary.  It  meant  sacrific- 
ing a  more  comfortable  lifestyle  to  study  God's  Word. 
And  it  meant  separation  from  family  and  friends  as 
they  began  to  minister  among  the  Navajo  Indians  of 
northwestern  New  Mexico. 

It  even  meant  continued  commitment  as  Bob  suf- 
fered with  a  heart  infection  and  seven  major  surgeries 
within  a  four-month  period. 

Through  it  all,  he  remained  faithful  until  God 
called  him  home  at  the  age  of  35  on  Wednesday,  No- 
vember 7.  Memorial  services  were  held  on  Saturday, 
November  10,  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  in 
Worthington,  Ohio. 

"Why?  is  a  big  question,"  Bob  had  told  a  reporter 
a  few  months  earlier  while  he  was  a  patient  at  Pres- 
byterian Hospital  in  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico. 
"People  wonder  why  God  allows  bad  things  to 
happen.  They  think  good  people  should  be  able  to 
live  an  untroubled  life.  But  God  allows  bad  and  good 
things  to  happen. 

"Why?  For  His  honor  and  glory.  And  to  draw  us 
closer  to  Him." 

Bob  and  his  wife,  Valerie,  accepted  Christ  in  early 
1975  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Worthington. 
She  made  a  decision  on  their  first  visit,  and  Bob 
followed  a  few  weeks  later. 

"We  were  praying  at  the  end  of  the  service  and  I 
felt  a  tug  on  my  shoulder,"  she  recalled  during  an 
interview  shortly  after  their  arrival  in  New  Mexico. 
"Bob  said,  'I've  got  to  go  forward.'  I  burst  into  tears 


and  since  that  day,  our  lives  have  changed  a  lot," 
she  added.  "We  changed  and  rearranged  our  priori- 
ties and  we  ended  up  at  seminary." 

A  program  by  the  children  from  the  Grace  Breth- 
ren Navajo  Mission  School  sparked  an  interest  in 
serving  at  the  Mission.  As  they  investigated  the 
possibilities,  they  began  to  see  a  need  in  the  area  of 
church  planting.  A  visit  to  the  Mission  cemented  the 
decision  in  their  minds.  With  the  full  support  of  the 
Worthington  church,  the  couple  and  their  three  chil- 
dren were  on  their  way  to  work  at  the  Mission  in  the 
fall  of  1982. 

First  came  a  year  of  studying  the  difficult  lan- 
guage at  Farmington,  New  Mexico.  Then,  it  was  a 
move  to  the  Mission  compound  at  Counselor,  120 
miles  northwest  of  Albuquerque,  and  involvement  in 
the  work  there. 

On  Thursday,  April  12,  Bob  woke  up  with  what 
they  thought  was  a  case  of  the  flu,  suffering  vomiting 
and  fever.  That  night,  in  Farmington,  a  doctor  diag- 
nosed a  heart  infection.  By  Saturday,  he  was  on  the 
operating  table  at  Presbyterian  Hospital  in  Albuquer- 
que where  surgeons  replaced  a  defective  heart  valve. 

Since  that  time,  the  Lances  lived  in  the  face  of 
death.  Despite  six  more  major  surgeries,  they  con- 
tinued to  maintain  a  positive  testimony  of  their  faith 
to  those  around  them. 

"Everybody  at  the  hospital  keeps  asking  us  'Why?' 
I  don't  think  either  of  us  want  to  know,"  commented 
Valerie,  34,  in  mid-August.  "But  we  want  people  to 
know  we  had  hope  and  peace  even  with  this." 

A  native  of  New  Jersey,  Bob  graduated  from  Ohio 
Northern  University  in  Ada,  Ohio,  in  1972,  with  a 
Bachelor  of  Science  in  Civil  Engineering.  Through 
Valerie's  brother,  a  friend  of  Bob's,  the  couple  met 
and  were  married  in  December,  1970.  In  1982,  Bob 
received  a  Master  of  Divinity  degree  from  Grace 
Theological  Seminary  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana. 

He  is  also  survived  by  their  three  children— Brian 
(11),  Sarah  (10),  and  Rebeccah  (8).   ■ 


:GBHMC 


JANUARY  '85 


11  = 


by  Nathan  Leigh,  Pastor 

Grace  Brethren  Church 

Makakilo,  Hawaii 


The  Lord's 
Church 


Our  church,  I  am  sure,  is  not  and 
different  than  other  churches  in  thci 
Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Chur  I 
ches.  Makakilo  is  a  community  like 
many  others  in  our  country.  We» 
have  our  own  cultural  differences 
However,  like  most  other  areas,  wei 
also  have  a  general  coldness  towarc 
God. 

We   also   have    problems    in  the 
church   with   growth    and  faithful! 


and  the 
Lord's  People 


ness.  Yet,  we  have  seen  ourvictorie: 
in  those  areas. 

I  never  thought  the  Lord  wouk 
give  me  the  privilege  of  pioneerinc 
a  work,  but  in  His  grace  He  did,  anc 
in  doing  so  I  have  learned  two  as 
pects  about  church  growth  that  per 
haps  I  would  not  have  learnec 
otherwise. 

The  most  important  thing  that 
and  many  of  my  people  havi 
learned  is  that  this  church  is  God' 
and  we  should  submit  to  Him  an< 
allow  Him  to  do  things  His  way  i 
we  are  seeking  to  please  Him.  Tha 


=12 


JANUARY  '85 


GBHMC; 


+ 


lay  sound  like  it  should  already  be 
nderstood,  but  in  the  "success" 
riented  society  we  live  in,  it  is  easy 
3  try  to  force  a  church  to  grow 
our  way.  It  is  also  very  easy  to  put 
iour  trust  in  methodology  and 
nink  you  can  solve  the  problem 
/ith  a  new  program. 

I  believe  this  has  been  the  turn- 
ig  point  in  our  work— realizing 
lat  this  work  is  God's,  not  mine, 
ot  the  people  of  the  church,  not 
le  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
ouncil's.  We  have  been  given  a 
cewardship.  I  have  been  allowed  to 
e  the  overseer.  Home  Missions  has 
ne  responsibility  of  helping  the 
rork  with  guidance  and  support, 
nd  they  meet  that  calling  with 
reat  love  and  dedication. 

However,  the  church  is  God's 
I  rid  He  decides  when  and  how 
i lings  will  happen.  Many  times  His 
jrays  are  not  only  not  our  ways, 
jut  they  are  also  so  different  from 
('hat  we  think  that  we  wonder  if 
Ire  are  going  the  same  direction.  Of 
ourse,  He  has  a  perfect  plan  and  is 
tier  gently  leading  us  to  it. 

Let  me  give  you  a  prime  exam- 
le  that  will  illustrate  what  I  mean, 
am  a  firm  believer  in  personal  dis- 
ipleship.  Right  now  I  am  working 
'ith  "11  men,  some  together  but 
lostly  one-on-one.  The  Lord  has 
Iso  opened  the  door  for  me  to'dis- 
iple  seven  women,  whom  I  meet 
'ith  all  together.  They  in  turn  are 
linistering  to  the  other  ladies  in 
le  church,  allowing  me  to  stay  out 
f  some  difficult  counseling  circum- 
:ances. 

i  I  am  very  excited  about  all  of 
lis,  but  I  was  not  enthused  about 
ow  it  started.  I  had  been  praying 
>r  six  months  that  the  Lord  would 
:ad  a  man  to  me  to  disciple.  No 
lovement  had  come.  Then  on  a 
unday  night,  God  answered  my 
rayers.  I  arrived  at  church  that 
ight  prepared  to  preach  to  about 
5  people,  which  is  average.  I  was 
<cited  about  the  music  we  were 
Ding  to  have,  and  the  testimonies, 
knew  the  lesson  would  be  blessed 
/God. 

I  got  there  a  half-hour  early  and 
aited,  and  waited.  Sometime  after 

p.m.  one  man  came.  We  talked 
id  waited.  When  I  realized  he  was 
ie  only  one  coming,  I  grabbed  my 


Bible  and  sat  down  next  to  him. 
That  was  the  beginning  of  my  one- 
on-one  discipleship. 

We  have  never  had  another  Sun- 
day night  like  that  again.  But  that 
evening,  God  in  His  infinite  wisdom 
had  planned  the  beginning  of  a 
special  relationship  between  myself 
and  my  people. 

I  am  convinced  that  only  by 
how  well  we  continue  to  have  com- 
plete faith  and  trust  in  His  way  of 
doing  things,  will  we  see  our  work 
in  Makakilo  grow  the  way  He  wants 
it  to  grow. 

The  other  aspect  of  our  work  is 
one  I  feel  is  highly  overlooked.  I 
firmly  believe  our  work  does  and 
will  owe  much  of  its  success  to  the 
people  of  the  FGBC.  My  congrega- 
tion has  never  stopped  being  im- 
pressed by  the  fact  that  people  who 
might  not  even  know  how  to  pro- 
nounce Makakilo  are  praying  and 
giving  to  our  church. 

Let  me  share  with  you  quickly 
two  examples.  At  national  confer- 
ence. Pastor  James  Custer  encour- 
aged me  to  read  Undaunted  Hope, 
by  Florence  Gribble.  It  is  a  book 
about  Brethren  missions  by  a  Breth- 
ren author.  After  I  read  it,  I  was  so 
challenged  and  encouraged  that  I 
have  passed  the  book  on  to  mem- 
bers of  our  church.  I  see  the  same 
results  as  they  see  the  involvement 
of  Brethren  people  in  missions. 

I  recently  received  a  note  from  a 
church  that  I  attended  two  years 
(including  one  in  active  ministry) 
notifying  us  of  their  financial  sup- 
port of  Makakilo.  Here  is  a  church 
that  hardly  had  time  to  get  to  know 
me,  they  know  none  of  the  people 
in  my  church,  but  their  love  is  seen 
through  their  financial  gifts.  When  I 
was  part  of  the  church,  the  pastor 
was  always  caring  and  the  people 
made  me  feel  at  home.  Now  we  are 
out  from  their  flock  but  the  love 
and  support  are  still  there.  With  en- 
couragement like  this,  how  can  we 
but  win  for  Christ. 

We  have  great  visions  for  Maka- 
kilo, but  no  matter  what  God  may 
produce,  what  we  have  already 
learned  and  gained  is  eternal  in 
value.  Continue  to  pray  for  us  and 
be  prepared  to  continue  hearing  of 
great  things  being  wrought  by  God 
in  Hawaii. ■ 


Planting  Churches  in  Navajoland 

(Continued  from  page  10) 
to  establish  and  lead  their  own 
churches. 

The  church  which  is  to  be 
effective  among  these  people 
must  belong  to  them.    It  can- 
not compromise  its  biblical 
message,  yet  it  must  know  its 
people  and  the  tensions  which 
impel  and  repel  them  in  the 
activities  of  their  daily  lives. 
It  must  be  led  by  their  own 
people  who  understand  when 
they  hurt  and  yet  are  firm 
enough  in  matters  of  convic- 
tion to  discipline.  Their 
counsel  must  offer  real  help 
to  the  problems  which  are 
significant  to  their  percep- 
tions. 

Such  a  church  must  find  its 
center  among  the  people,  not 
in  the  mission  compound.   Its 
program  must  fit  the  lifestyle, 
expectations,  and  schedules  of 
the  people  who  make  it  up, 
not  an  outside  cultural  pattern. 
Its  pastor  must  be  unspoiled 
by  sophistication  which  is 
foreign  to  his  people.   His 
understanding  of  how  his 
people  perceive  life  must 
influence  his  delivery  of  the 
truth  of  God  to  them  so  as  not 
to  close  their  ears  with  need- 
less offense.  Yet,  he  must  be 
wise  enough  to  discern  when 
they  are  mishandling  the  truth 
in  order  to  compromise.   He 
must  be  a  man  of  the  Book  of 
God,  able  to  draw  the  necessary 
parallels  in  the  lives  of  his 
people  and  to  make  the  appli- 
cations which  will  lead  them 
to  maturity  in  Christ. 

The  preparation  of  this  kind 
of  pastoral  leadership,  with  a 
vision  to  proliferate  biblical 
churches  among  Navajo  people, 
is  the  great  challenge  to  the 
Christian  missionary  today.   It 
must  be  the  effective  answer 
to  the  problem  of  resurgent 
animism  among  Navajo 
people.  ■ 


GBHMC 


JANUARY  '85 


13. 


-C  ^, 


53   2 


c  w 


43  r 


BEING  A 'RADICAL' IN 

AN  INTERVIEW  WIThi 


(GBC  Christian  Education  editor's  note:  Dr. 
Howard  Hendricks  is  founder  and  former 
chairman  of  the  Christian  Education  Depart- 
ment at  Da/las  Theological  Seminary.  He 
continues  to  serve  as  a  professor  there.  In 
this  reprinted  article  from  the  NavLog,  Dr. 
Hendricks  discusses  evangelism  and  the 
Great  Commission.) 

Q.  Last  October  at  The  Navigators  Pastors 
Congress,  you  strongly  stated,  'The  greatest 
threat  to  Christianity  is  not  atheism,  com- 
munism, humanism  or  materialism,  but  it's 
Christians  trying  to  sneak  incognito  into 
heaven  without  sharing  their  faith  or  with- 
out ever  participating  in  the  most  significant 
work  on  planet  earth."  Could  you  elaborate? 

A.  I  feel  the  primary  problem  is  the  Chris- 
tian who  is  not  functioning  as  a  Christian. 
He  doesn't  share  his  faith,  doesn't  have  the 
vision  and  is  not  committed  to  reproducing 
disciples.  The  result  is  that  he's  constantly 
receiving  but  not  reproducing.  I  think  this  is 
eating  our  lunch  in  the  spiritual  realm.  You 
know  most  Christians  never  lead  another 
person  to  Christ. 

Q.  Why  is  that? 

A.  Well,  I  think  it's  true  for  a  number  of 
reasons.  For  one,  most  people  do  not  know 
how.  For  another  reason,  most  people  think 
that  evangelism  is  a  gift,  and  since  I  don't 
have  that  gift,  therefore  I  can't  do  it.  But 
fear  is  probably  the  greatest  inhibitor  to 
evangelism.  When  you  don't  know  what 
you're  doing,  you're  petrified  to  even  try. 
Then  also,  the  Church  has  professionalized 
evangelism  to  the  point  we  think  it's  only 
the  preacher's  or  evangelist's  responsibility 
to  do  the  evangelizing.  So,  we  bring  a  guy  or 
girl  to  church  and  let  the  preacher  hang  one 
on  him,  thinking  that's  where  he's  going  to 
come  to  Christ.  This  is  far  from  every  be- 
liever sharing  his  faith  in  his  network  of  re- 
lationships. 

Q.  What  then  can  help  turn  this  situation 
around,  where  people  are  enjoying  the  privi- 


lege of  leading  others  to  Christ? 

A.  This  is  why  I  am  committed  to  dis- 
cipleship.  Many  seek  to  lead  a  person  to 
Christ,  but  never  take  him  on  to  inform  him 
as  to  what  follows  his  entrance  into  the 
Christian  life.  That's  where  we  are.  Most 
people  have  never  been  discipled.  The 
second  thing  is  that  we  need  to  change  our 
concept  of  the  Church  and  realize  that  the 
pastor-centered  church  is  a  biblical  mon- 
strosity. God  gives  gifts  to  every  believer. 
Every  Christian  is  in  the  ministry.  I  would 
say  my  number  one  message  to  pastors  in 
1984  is  to  equip  the  saints  for  their  work  of 
ministry.  Get  out  of  the  ministry  of  addition 
and  into  a  ministry  of  multiplication.  God 
does  not  call  a  pastor  to  do  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  but  to  equip  the  saints  for  a  work 
of  ministry. 

Q.  What  do  you  think  it's  going  to  take  to 
accomplish  the  Great  Commission? 

A.  It's  going  to  take  a  drastic  change  in 
our  seminaries  and  training  schools,  in  terms 
of  their  philosophy  of  education— in  what 
they  are  really  equipping  their  students  to 
do.  I  also  believe  it's  going  to  take  a  drastic 
change  at  the  local  church  level.  The  boards 
of  local  churches  need  to  start  calling  men 
whose  distinct  task  is  not  to  come  here  and 
do  our  work  for  us,  but  to  equip  us  to  do 
the  work.  I  think,  thirdly,  it's  going  to  take 
individual  believers  who  will  not  only  under- 
stand that  philosophy  but  who  will  embrace 
it  for  themselves.  I  believe  the  average  lay- 
man is  just  screaming  for  someone  to  equip 
him  to  be  a  layman  who  can  function  the 
way  he  often  wants  to  function  but  doesn't 
know  how. 

Q.  Many  people  find  it's  a  little  hard  to 
share  their  faith  in  a  secular  context.  So,  we 
now  focus  on  friendship  evangelism.  Do  you 
think  it's  tougher  in  the  1980s  to  share  your 
faith  as  opposed  to  earlier  decades,  or  are  we 
copping  out  and  saying  it's  just  taking 
longer? 

A.  No,  I  don't  think  it's  tougher.  It  may 


0 


UR  UNPREDICTABLE  WORLD 


HOWARD  HENDRICKS 


ifhe  more  you  are 
Ice  your  society  the 
less  you  impact  it. 
lie  more  distinctive 
j'ou  are,  the  more 
you  impact  it. 


be  different,  or  it  may  call  for  a  different  ap- 
proach. I  think  the  network  of  human 
friendships  is  still  the  best  relay  of  truth,  and 
so,  you  are  right  that  evangelism  through 
friendships  may  demand  more  time.  A 
person  has  to  win  a  hearing  for  the  Gospel— 
whether  it's  by  professional  or  business  com- 
petency and  his  dedication  to  the  task, 
whether  it's  his  friendship  and  continuing 
love  and  concern  for  people  by  inviting  them 
over  to  his  home  or  apartment,  or  getting  in- 
volved with  the  person  outside  the  job.  But  I 
think  the  real  issue,  if  I've  put  my  finger  on 
it,  is  that  we  are  not  providing  a  sharp 
enough  contrast,  a  radical  lifestyle  that's  dif- 
ferent from  our  society  and  generation.  I 
think  the  more  you  are  like  your  society,  the 
less  you  impact  it.  The  more  distinctive  you 
are,  the  more  you  impact  it. 

Q.  How  then  can  we  become  most  dis- 
tinctive? 


A.  I  think  one  way  is  allowing  the  Spirit 
of  God  to  deliver  us  from  ourselves.  One  of 
the  characteristics  of  our  society  is  that  it's 
selfish,  focused  upon  ourselves,  what's  best 
for  me.  I  find  that  people  who  are  delivered 
from  themselves  are  truly  liberated  persons. 
Secondly,  I  think  we  communicate  by  genu- 
ine, unconditional  love  and  concern  for 
other  people  and  their  needs.  But  often, 
we're  interested  in  people  only  as  long  as 
they  are  interested  in  Jesus  Christ.  When 
they  say,  "I'm  just  not  interested  in  that 
jazz,"  then  we  lose  interest  in  them,  proving 
that  our  interest  was  very  superficial  to 
begin  with.  Another  way  we  do  it  is  by  how 
we  cope  with  the  realities  and  problems  of 
life.  In  other  words,  how  do  we  face  death 
and  disappointment,  failure,  a  handicapped 
child,  bankruptcy,  and  other  similar  situa- 
tions? Maybe  another  one  would  be  that  we 
are  living  for  something— committed  to  an 
eternal  cause  that  is  obviously  beyond  our- 
selves and  that  will  out-last  us  when  we're 
gone. 

Q.  When  Galatians  2:20  says,  ".  .  .  It's  no 
longer  I  who  live,  but  Christ  who  lives  in  me 
.  .  . ,"  how  can  we  really  grasp  hold  of  that 
truth  and  allow  Christ  to  live  in  us  totally? 

A.  I  like  to  put  it  this  way— that  I  become 
a  suit  of  clothes  the  Saviour  puts  on  to  ac- 
complish His  purpose.  A  great  error  we  make 
is  thinking  it's  what  we  do  for  God  that 
counts,  rather  than  our  willingness  to  allow 
God  to  live  His  life  through  us.  I. don't  know 
who's  going  to  walk  in  the  office,  who  I'm 
going  to  meet,  what's  going  to  happen  when 
I  go  home.  I  may  be  going  to  a  Dallas  Cow- 
boys practice,  and  I  don't  know  who  will 
corner  me  and  say,  "Hey,  Doc,  sit  down.  I've 
got  to  talk  to  you  about  something."  I'm 
just  a  suit  of  clothes  for  God  to  use.  I  want 
people  to  see  Jesus  Christ  in  me,  so  that  the 
only  explanation  that  I  have  for  my  life  is 
supernatural.  ■ 

Reprinted  by  permission  from  the  June/July  1984 
issue  of  NavLog,  bimonthly  magazine  of  the  Navi- 
gators. 


JANUARY  '85 


15 


O   £ 

e    c 

5  £ 


=    a; 


*    "O 


p    oo 


1985  Brethren 
National  Youth  Conference 


Estes  Park,  Colorado    August  10-16,  1985 
We're  Excited  About  1985! 


Being  excited  about  our  work  is  really  quite 
easy.  What's  more  exciting  than  seeing  God 
shape  young  livesl 

Whether  it's  through  Operation  Barnabas, 
Timothy  Teams,  Brethren  National  Youth  Con- 
ference, EMI,  TIME,  SMM  or  another  CE  ministry, 
our  staff  is  touching  many  lives,  both  young  and 
old. 

At  our  1984  Brethren  National  Youth  Con- 
ference, over  200  teens  made  public  decisions 
and  many  more  joined  them  in  fresh  com- 
mitments to  Christ.  That's  excitingl  This  year's 
youth  conference  brings  added  excitement  as 
Grace  Brethren  adults  join  us  at  Estes  Park,  Col- 
orado. We're  looking  forward  to  this  sharing  of 
adults  and  youth  in  the  impact  of  the  week.  Mark 
your  calendar  now  for  August  10-161 

April  8-12  is  approaching  fast.  That  week  will 
bring  Grace  Brethren  youth  pastors  and  workers 
from  across  the  country  to  Ridgecrest,  North 
Carolina,  for  CE's  National  Youth  Worker's  Con- 
ference. Youth  Workers  will  leave  the  week  with 
their  batteries  charged  and  practical  ideas  and 
strategies  to  implement.  Every  church  can  benefit 
from  this.  Write  us  for  more  details. 

Operation  Barnabas  is  always  exciting.  This 
summer  two  teams  will  travel  up  and  down  the 
West  Coast. 

The  impact  of  EMI  and  TIME  is  overwhelming 
as  about  40  people  will  be  challenged  this  year 
in  missions.  1985  will  be  exciting  in  another  way 
as  we  make  plans  for  a  1986  Latin  American  Mis- 
sions Institute,  a  new  ministry  to  prime  future  mis- 
sionaries for  our  southern  neighbors. 

Our  list  continues ...  but  we  don't  want  to  stop 
without  including  you.  Your  support  gives  us  ex- 
citement in  this  new  year.  Thanks  for  praying,  giv- 
ing and  sharing  in  our  ministry  of  challenging 
young  lives.  ^j 


TIME  Workers 
Prayer  List 

Please  join  us  in  praying  for  these  TIME 

workers  currently  serving  on  mission  fields.  In 

addition  to  praying  for  God's  direction  as  they 

consider  missions,  please  remember  other 

needs:  good  health,  safety,  financial  support 

and  effectiveness  as  they  minister  in  specific 

ways. 

Name/Field  of  Service/Home  Church/Dates  of 

Service 

Marilyn  Austin/France 

Winona  Lake,  IN  GBC/2-28-84  —  8-27-85 

Karen  Bartel/Central  African  Republic, 
Yaloke/Wooster,  OH  GBC/1 2-27-83  -  5-28-85 

Karen  Battls/Navajo  Mission/Elizabethtown, 
PA  GBC/6-01-84  -  6-01-85 

Chuck  Chappell/France/Winona  Lake,  IN 
GBC/1 0-1 -84  -  6-85 

Frank  Dawson/Central  African 
Republic/Mansfield,  OH  Woodville 
GBC/2-03-84  —  2-02-85 

Trlcla  Dlrka/Central  African  Republic,  Yaloke 
Kent,  WA  GBC/6-18-84  -  6-17-85 

Mark  Elllson/Navajo  Mission/Warsaw,  IN 
Community  GBC/6-15-84  —  6-15-85 

Jim  Johnson/North  BrazilAWooster,  OH 
GBC/7-01-84—  11-15-85 

Don  and  Lois  Rosa/France/Lititz,  PA 
GBC/2-28-84  -  6-27-85 

Mike  and  Amy  Volovakl/Central  African 
Republic/Duncansville,  PA  Leamersville 
GBC/7-01-84  —  9-01-85 

Joyce  Wenger/Navajo  Mission/Myerstown, 
PA  GBC/1 -15-85  -  8-15-85 

Brenda  Yoder/Germany/Lititz,  PA 
GBC/1 -16-84  -  1-15-85 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  The  Grace  Brethren  Hour,  a  radio  program  of  the 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Myerstown,  PA,  began  an 
international  outreach  on  November  6.  It  has  aired  do- 
mestically for  the  past  eight  years,  but  now  is  broad- 
cast to  cover  the  five  million- English-speaking  people 
of  the  Caribbean,  reaches  all  of  the  Caribbean 
Islands,  and  touches  even  the  northeast  coast  of 
South  America.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 

□  Make  plans  now  for  Brethren  National  Youth  Con- 
ference/FGBC  Adult  Conference.  Held  at  Estes  Park, 
CO,  August  10-16,  both  conferences  begin  check-in 
registration  at  7:00  p.m.,  Saturday,  August  10.  Con- 
ference facilities  do  not  permit  earlier  arrivals.  Both 
conferences  conclude  Friday,  August  16,  at  1 :00  p.m. 
The  cost  for  Brethren  National  Youth  Conference  is 
$198  per  person. 


REMEMBER   TO  PRAY   FOR  THESE 

FGBC  CHAPLAINS   IN   THE 

ARMED  FORCES 

Chaplain  (Capt.)  Charles  .Card,  HHD,  2nd  BT 
BDE,  Fort  Jackson,  SC  29207  /  Lieutenant 
John  L.  Diaz,  CHC,  USNR,  6810  Lancewood 
St.,  Orlando,  FL  32817  /  Commander  G.  J. 
Dickson,  CHC,  USN,  Office  of  the  Chaplains, 
Box  21,  USNAVCOMSTAPHIL,  FPO  San  Fran- 
cisco 96656  /  Chaplain  (Major)  James  T. 
Elwell,  Administration  Bldg.,  Presbyterian 
School  of  Christian  Education,  1205  Palmyra 
Ave.,  Richmond,  VA  23227  /  Chaplain  (Capt.) 
A.  Duane  Jones,  7921  Andrews  St.,  Lawton, 
OK  73505  /  Chaplain  (Lt.  Col.)  Emlyn  H. 
Jones,  US  Army  Tank  Automotive  Command, 
Support  Activity,  Selfridge,  Selfridge  Air 
National  Guard  Base,  Ml  48045  /  Chaplain 
(Major)  John  B.  Patrick,  810  N.W.  49th  St., 
Lawton,  OH  73505  /  Col.  (Chap.)  John 
Schumacher,  USA,  217-B  Marshall  Ridge, 
Carlisle  Barracks,  PA  17013  (US  Army  War  Col- 
lege. 


(Continued  on  page  36) 


The 


KMPeCaQOteQOWprogram 


GRACE  BIBLE  CONFERENCE 

February  12-15,  1985 

FEATURED  SPEAKERS 

DR.  WALTER  C.  KAISER,  JR. 
DR.  ANTHONY  T.  EVANS 
DR.  J.  HERBERT  KANE 

MINI-CONFERENCES 

WOMEN  AND  THE  WORD  OF  GOD 

Susan  T.  Foh 

MINISTERING  WITH   BLACK  AMERICANS 
Dr.  William  C.  Banks 

DISCOVERING  AND  MEETING   CHURCH  NEEDS 
Bob  Gilliam 


m 


Corporation 

RR  Donnelley  & 

Sons,  Inc. 
Victor  F.  Weaver,  Inc. 
Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass 
Textron 
ARA  Services 
United  Telephone 

Company  of  Indiana 
Texaco,  Inc. 
Eli  Lilly  &  Company 
Bethlehem  Steel 

Corporation 
Campbell's  Soups 


Employee 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Walter  Linn 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  George  Piatt,  Sr. 
Rev.  &  Mrs.  Edward  Wingard 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Larry  Mueller 
Miss  Beth  Curry 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenneth  Jones 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Ronald  Wales 
Dr.  &  Mrs.  Paul  Klink 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Robert  Hartwiger 
Mr.  Jay  Reimer 


OCTOBER   1984  HONOR   ROLL 


In  Memory  of: 

Terrill  McConnell 
Mrs.  Mabel  Smith 
Mrs.  Kenneth  Teague 

Mazie  Trapp 


Given  by: 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Clayton  Skellenger 
Mrs.  Elnora  L.  Schopp 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Greenwood 
Rev.  &  Mrs.  Ron  Thompson 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Chester  Elliott 


I  JANUARY  '85 


17, 


A  relationship,  not  promises 

.    and  words,  is  the  only 

thing  that  can  change 

lives.  And  that  requires 

trust. 


..;;■■.'■ 


Story  by:     ROB  WILKINS 
Photos  by:    LARRY  KAYSER 


) 


neon 


evening,  sweater-warm  and  marshmallows.  A  breeze  carries  children's  laughter 
>arn  window  light  casts  a  slow  yellow  slide  through  the  smoke  of  a  campfire 
tense  flies,  brilliant  and  climbing  and  dying. 

e  is  music,  the  voices  of  children  and  adults,  a  balance  of  energy  and  control: 
'es  me, 
sme, 

ells  me  so." 

ilk,  mostly  about  unconditional  love. 

:s,  like  many  of  the  children,  comes  from  a  background  of  trouble  and  hurt, 
it  kind  of  whip  they  used  on  Jesus?"  he  asks  the  children. 

use  Ministry  is  its  name,  because  names  are  convenient.  It  is,  more  than  any- 
ion.  Giving  and  taking.  Having  needs  and  meeting  needs.  It  is  as  simple  as  a 
s  a  broken  home. 

of  the  ministry  is  difficult.  It  is  more  than  about  50  "Christian  College  stu- 
th  about  15  "underprivileged  children,"  ranging  in  age  from  1 1  to  15.  Some  of 
from  families  without  much  money.  Some  come  from  single-parent  house- 
homes.  Some  have  parents  who  are  busy,  violent,  uncaring  and/or  not  there, 
ormal  homes,  whatever  normal  is. 

fit  individual  people.  A  broken  home  does  not  mean  a  child  is  unloved.  A 
in  be  filled  with  hate.  A  poor  family  can  be  rich  in  many  ways.  Cause  and 

:eiget  confused  by  categories. 

1  Lighthouse  Ministry,  in  any  case,  is  looking  for  a  friend.  Many  times  desper- 

t:j.ng  to  establish  identities,"  says  Gonzales,  a  counselor.  "They  are  looking  for 
t<|ook  up  to.  That's  why  you  get  the  Michael  Jacksons  and  the  movie  stars.  By 
reality,  I  know  these  kids  can  find  something  to  fill  that  void." 

(Continued  on  page  2 1) 


d  hoots  a  quick  glance  at  Toni  as  she  finishes  off  her  Cheerios. 


Toni  was  a  person  of  many  faces  at  the  retreat— grimacing 
as  she  catches  a  water  balloon,  giggling  as  a  cat  prowls 
toward  a  bowl  of  Cherrios. 

19 


JANUARY  '85 


RVICS 


Leaving  the 
Shuffleboard  Behind 


A  time  of  song  and  prayer  join  the  RVICS  team  before  beginning  a  day  of  labor 


November  15,  1984 
On    a    particular    morning    in    October,    Russell 
Wencker  had  a  choice. 

He  could  have  awakened  whenever  he  wanted  to  the 
mourning  cry  of  a  dove  in  the  home  he  built  on  Lake 
Ozark,  Missouri.  Or,  he  could  have  gotten  up  at  7:45  a.m. 
and  gone  to  work  in  a  town  squarely  in  the  cornfields  of 
Indiana.  He  could  have  kicked  his  feet  back  whenever  he 
felt  the  urge  on  the  plush  couch  of  his  carpeted  home.  Or, 
he  could  have  cramped  in  a  mobile  home. 

He  could  have  gone  fishing.  Or,  he  could  have  built  an 
environmentally-controlled  storage  room  for  paper. 

Russell  Wencker,  a  face  lined  with  character,  had  no 
trouble  making  up  his  mind.  Almost  before  the  sun,  he  was 
up  in  a  mobile  home  in  Warsaw,  Indiana,  thinking  about  a 
shed  for  paper. 

Wencker,  you  see,  wouldn't  have  it  any  other  way. 

J.  he  sun  skips  on  dew,  the  soft  light  of  an  October 
morning. 


RVICS  volunteers  eased 
the  load  on  Grace's  main- 
tenance department  for 
two  weeks  in  October. 


The  music,  at  times,  sounds  as  blue  as  the  sky. 
I'm  so  glad  that  I'm  part  of  the  family  of  God. 
It's  because  we  are  a  family 
And  these  folks  are  so  dear 
When  one  has  a  heartache, 
We  all  shed  a  tear. 
Up  until  a  couple  of  years  ago,  none  of  the  ten  or  so 
couples  knew  each  other.  Most  of  them  share  little— their 
backgrounds,  homes,  former  jobs,  and  incomes  vary. 

They  do  share,  however,  at  least  two  things— retirement 
and  a  love  of  the  Lord.  That  is  enough,  they  say,  to  call 
each  other  family. 

1  he  name  of  the  group  is  Roving  Volunteers  in  Christ's 
Service.  It  makes  a  lousy  acronymn.  RVICS— hard  to  pro- 
nounce, and  doesn't  make  a  word  or  even  sound  cute.  It  fits 
perfectly,  primarily  because  gimmick  is  not  the  group's 
focus. 

Substance  is. 

The  group,  composed  of  about  twelve  couples,  is  focused 
on  service— to  Christian  colleges,  seminaries,  schools,  con- 
ferences, boys  and  girls  homes,  prisons ...  to  the  Lord. 
They  travel  around  the  country  meeting  needs  wherever 
they  might  be.  In  early  October,  for  two  weeks,  it  was 
Grace  Schools. 

Richard  Barker  is  the  unofficial  leader  of  the  group.  He 
and  his  wife  joined  about  seven  years  ago.  He  believes  it  was 
one  of  the  best  decisions  he  has  made  in  his  life. 

"I  waited  around  for  years  for  retirement,"  Barker  says, 
"and  then  when  it  came  all  I  did  was  wait  around."  Barker, 
who  had  worked  for  A.C.  Auto  Parts  for  27  years,  says  he 
felt  like  he  was  losing  his  spark.  He  thought  the  abilities 
that  the  Lord  had  given  him  were  going  to  waste. 

"Retired  people  have  the  time;  we've  got  the  knowledge 
and  the  experience,  so  why  shouldn't  we  put  that  to  use?" 
After  reading  an  advertisement  about  RVICS  in  a  magazine, 
the  Barkers  bought  a  motor  home  and  hit  the  road.  The 
places  where  they  work  provide  them  with  a  hook-up  for 
electricity  and  plumbing.  Nothing  else. 

For  nine  months  of  every  year,  the  Barkers  live  in  a 
tiny,  tin  home  with  wheels  and  without  paychecks,  daily 
newspapers  and  boring  routines. 

"We  love  it,"  Barker  says.  "Every  minute  of  it." 

A  he  wives  congregate  around  a  long  table  in  the  bot- 
tom floor  of  Alpha  Hall.  They  are  making  drapes  for  some 
of  the  dorm  rooms-31/2  and  5/8,  that's  41/8,  isn't  it?" 
The  work  oftentimes,  is  not  that  exciting. 

"The  fringe  benefits  outweigh  the  work,"  says  Verda 
Graham,  who  with  her  husband  Earl  have  been  members 
for  five  years.  The  Grahams  always  wanted  to  figure  out  a 
way  to  travel.  They  heard  about  RVICS  and  after  an  "un- 
settling decision"  decided  to  join. 

It  was  a  decision  they  seldom  regretted. 

"What  makes  the  group  so  special,"  Verda  says,  "is  the 
family  attitude.  When  one  member  hurts;  the  others  do 
also.  When  another  rejoices,  so  do  the  rest."  Verda  says, 
"What  knits  it  all  together  is  that  we  all  love  the  Lord." 

Verda  says  that  because  of  her  travels,  she  now  has 
"friends  all  around  the  country."  But  more  than  the  travel 
and  the  friends,  perhaps,  is  a  sense  of  usefulness. 

"We  felt  there  must  be  something  more  than  shuffle- 
board  in  a  warm  climate,"  Verda  adds.  "We  wanted  to  do 
something  with  the  rest  of  our  lives  and  not  just  vegetate . 
We  wanted  to  be  doers  of  the  Word  and  not  just  hearers." 


J.  he  work  that  the  RVICS  do,  town  to  town,  state  to 
state,  is  invaluable.  At  Grace,  for  example,  the  jobs  they 
performed— anything  from  washing  laundry  to  carpentry- 
relieved  much  of  the  pressure  from  a  harried  maintenance 
department. 

But  for  the  members  of  RVICS,  the  work  is  part  of  an 
overall  joy.  Traveling  is  also  part  of  it:  "We  see  spring  three 
times  a  year."  It  might  be  dogwoods  in  North  Carolina,  or 
the  smell  of  wood  fires  in  the  valleys  of  Virginia. 

But  it's  something  more  than  all  of  that.  Something  hard 
to  define.  It  might  be  called  family. 

"We  know  everyone's  sorrow  and  success,"  Wencker 
says.  "We  know  whose  kids  are  in  trouble  and  who  is  going 
to  graduate  and  who  is  going  to  have  a  birthday  and  who 
had  a  grandchild.  We  are  like  a  family.  It's  special.  You've 
got  a  reason  to  get  up  in  the  morning." 

Even  if  that  morning  happens  to  be  in  the  cornfields  of 
Indiana.  ■ 


(Continued  from  page  19) 

v_yne  on  vJne 

The  ministry's  emphasis  is  on  Jesus  Christ  and  uncondi- 
tional love.  It  is  not  an  easy  love,  the  kind  you  see  in 
fantasies  or,  even,  many  marriages.  But,  oftentimes,  it  is 
hard,  painful  reality.  Giving  of  oneself,  regardless  of  the 
circumstance  and  the  cost,  is  never  easy. 

Words  almost  never  do  it,  only  actions. 

"The  whip,"  Gonzales  says,  "had  little  pieces  of  bone 
and  glass  in  it."  The  children  get  the  point,  of  course.  Christ 
loved.  Unconditionally.  So  should  we. 

What  the  ministry  is,  possibly,  is  a  Saturday  morning 
breakfast  of  Cheerios  and  no  sugar.  When  sunlight  is  lazy  in 
cornfields  and  dew.  When  October  birds,  ugly  enough  for 
winter,  sound  pleasant.  When  a  chainsaw  cuts  into  a  cool, 
blue  sky. 

What  it  is,  possibly,  is  11 -year-old  Toni.  Skinny, 
blonde,  giggles  at  kittens.  Oversize  hiking  boots  with  pink 
socks.  A  lower-middle  class  background,  parents  divorced, 
has  a  mother  who  cares  and  sisters  somewhere,  but  not  sure 
where. 

She  flips  straight  hair  from  her  eyes,  sometimes  with  a 
smile  that  devastates.  She  is  afraid  of  her  grandpa  dying, 
loves  to  cuddle,  and  is  prone  to  sulk. 

Sitting  down  at  a  picnic  table  with  her  bowl  of 
Cheerios,  she  reserves  a  spot  for  someone  special.  "Becky  is 
sitting  right  here, "  she  says  to  the  child  across  the  table. 
"Right  next  to  me. " 

What  the  ministry  is,  more  than  anything  else,  was  the 
smile  that  followed. 

JL  he  Lighthouse  Ministry  is  not  fun  and  games.  Not 
essentially. 

Anita  Conner  wants  to  make  that  very  clear.  Conner, 
with  the  direction  and  generosity  of  filmmaker  Ken 
Anderson,  is  responsible  for  starting  the  Lighthouse  Minis- 
try. 

Conner  says  what  makes  the  ministry  different,  and 
difficult,  is  commitment  on  a  one-on-one  basis. 

"If  we  are  just  here  to  show  these  kids  a  good  time  and 


(Continued  on  page  22) 


21 


JANUARY  '85 


& 


(Continued  from  page  21) 

v_yne  on  v_yne 

to  have  fun,"  Conner  says,  "then  we  haven't  accomplished 
anything.  They  will  go  home  thinking  we  are  fun  people 
and  that's  it.  We're  not  doing  this  for  the  fun  and  glory  and 
games  and  splendor  of  the  program,  but  to  have  an  impact 
on  the  way  these  kids  live  their  lives  and  how  they  treat 
others." 

Conner  says  the  only  way  to  have  impact  is  through 
commitment.  And  that  is  not  fun  and  games. 

"It  is  a  day-to-day  commitment  to  that  kid.  It's  not 
anything  magical.  I  don't  think  you  can  just  say  I  am  going 
to  be  committed  to  you  and  in  that  one  breath  have  a  com- 
mitment that  lasts  for  years." 

Conner  says  the  counselors  are  expected  to  spend  time 
with  the  child  at  least  once  a  week,  year  after  year:  "As 
long  as  they  are  in  the  area,  they  know  that  they  are  com- 
mitted to  that  kid's  growth  and  maturity  and  the  knowl- 
edge that  kid  gets  about  who  God  is." 

The  idea,  Conner  says,  is  to  reflect  God's  love  in  their 
lives.  "What  we  feel  these  kids  need  is  a  one-on-one  re- 
lationship with  the  counselor.  Because  really  that  is  all  that 
life  is  —  a  one-one  relationship  with  God.  We  want  to  re- 
flect God's  love  in  our  relationship  with  them." 

Decky  sits  down  at  the  spot  reserved  for  her.  Next 
to  Toni.  She  whispers  in  her  ear,  gets  a  smile,  and  spoons 
her  Cheerios. 

Becky  is  a  "counselor. "  The  label  is  used,  because 
labels  are  convenient. 

She  is  a  sophomore  at  Grace  College,  quiet  and  speaks 
with  a  voice  just  this  side  of  a  whisper.  She  has  soft  eyes. 

Becky  decided  to  get  in  the  ministry  because  of  her 
background.  "I've  lived  a  sheltered  life,"  she  says.  Both  of 
her  parents  were  Christians;  her  dad,  a  psychologist.  She 
says  she  had  never  dealt  with  much  hurt  before.  She  says 
she  needs  to  know  what  it  is  and  how  to  help  people  deal 
with  it.  So,  she  signed  up  and  fell  in  love.  With  Toni. 

"A  t  first,  I  didn  't  want  Toni  as  my  kid, "  she  says.  "The 
first  thing  that  struck  me  about  her  was  that  she  was  so 
skinny.  And  she  was  running  around  without  her  coat  on.  I 
fust  didn 't  think  she  would  be  the  kind  of  person  that  I 
would  get  along  with."  At  a  movie  at  one  of  the  weekend 
retreats,  however,  "something happened." 

"I  was  just  sitting  by  her  and  she  fell  asleep  in  my  lap, " 
Becky  says.  "She  seemed  to  stick  on  me  and  that  was  all 
right  because  I  really  fell  in  love  with  her. " 

Becky  and  Toni  now  see  each  other  at  least  once  every 
two  weeks.  You  can  tell  by  touches,  they  have  a  special  re- 
lationship. 

Like  after  breakfast,  without  a  word,  they  put  their 
arms  around  each  other. 

Anita  Conner  and  James  Gonzales  know  about  hurt. 
Anita  is  the  daughter  of  a  pastor.  Her  home,  she  says,  had 
the  appearance  of  perfection.  "Outside,  things  looked  per- 
fect," she  says.  "They  knew  the  Bible  backwards  and  for- 
wards. But  there  were  lots  of  things  going  on  behind  the 
scene  —  a  lot  of  selfishness,  a  lot  of  pride,  a  lot  of  bicker- 
ing." Her  parents  are  now  divorced. 

When  she  was  in  high  school,  she  says,  she  also  had  a 
bad  relationship  with  a  Christian  man.  "I  know  what  some 


22 


of  these  kids  are  going  through,"  she  says. 

Gonzales  grew  up  in  a  small  town  in  New  Mexico.  His 
father,  he  says,  was  an  alcoholic.  By  the  time  he  was  12,  he 
had  spent  time  in  a  detention  home. 

He  says  he  knows  what  it  is  like  to  live  in  hopeless- 
ness: "People  from  the  lower  classes  all  they  want  to  do  is 
get  out  of  school  as  soon  as  possible  and  get  a  job  to  sur- 
vive. That's  all  the  goals  they  have." 

Jesus  Christ  gave  both  of  their  lives  purpose. 

That  is  why  they  emphasize  a  relationship  with  Christ 
in  the  ministry.  It  is  the  only  way,  they  say,  to  achieve 
lasting  change . 

"We  try  to  emphasize  the  love  of  Christ  and  what  He 
has  done  in  our  lives,"  Gonzales  says.  "We  try  to  make  it 
have  an  effect  on  them  —  not  so  much  by  our  words,  but 
our  actions.  The  spiritual  emphasis  gives  them  a  picture  of 
where  we  are  coming  from.  Not  just  so  much  as  nice  guys 
or  nice  girls,  but  as  representatives  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Becky  and  Toni,  at  the  weekend  retreat  at  Ken 
Anderson  Treehouse  Farms,  never  once  had  a  theological 
discussion.  They  never  talked  about  predestination,  the 
foreshadowing  of  temple  sacrifices,  or,  even  for  that  matter, 
the  love  of  Christ. 

"But  that's  all  right;  words  are  easy.  There  are,  often- 
times, more  important  means  of  communicating  Christ," 
Becky  says. 

Like  finding  corncobs  together  as  light  falls  through 
the  cracks  of  a  barn.  Or  sharing  a  crazy  face  as  the  water 
balloon  breaks.  Or  gigling  up  the  ladder  of  a  treehouse.  Or 
holding  hands  through  a  path  in  the  woods. 

A  relationship,  not  promises  and  words,  is  the  only 
thing  that  can  change  lives.  And  that  requires  trust. 

"I  want  to  show  her,  first  of  all,  that  I  am  her  friend," 
Becky  says.  "I  want  to  show  her  that  I  love  her  and  that 
Jesus  loves  her.  No  matter  wliat  she  does,  we  are  still  going 
to  love  her.  We're  not  going  to  walk  out  on  her. " 

For  Becky  that  means  sacrifice,  worry,  possible  heart- 
ache, time,  and  pressure.  But,  she  says,  she  does  get  some- 
thing out  of  it  also.  "Toni  love, "  she  says. 

Ltet  us  fix  our  eyes  upon  Jesus,  the  author  and  per- 
fector  of  our  faith,  who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him 
endured  the  cross,  scorning  its  shame,  and  sat  down  at  the 
right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God"  (Heb.  12:2). 

The  Lighthouse  Ministry  makes  no  promises  of  happi- 
ness —  either  for  the  children  or  the  counselors.  Christianity 
is  not  a  bottle  of  giddiness  to  keep  in  a  brown  paper  bag. 
You  don't  hide  it  on  street  corners.  Unconditional  love  is  a 
touchstone  with  razor  edges. 

But  its  result,  when  handled  properly,  is  joy.  Not  a 
gooey  feeling.  Not  a  plastered  smile.  But  a  direction,  a 
steadfastness.  A  purpose  in  a  purposeless  world. 

"We  don't  want  to  peddle  fake  answers,"  one  of  the 
counselors  says.  "Most  of  these  children's  problems  aren't 
going  to  go  away  if  they  accept  Christ.  The  circumstances 
probably  won't  change." 

The  counselors  share  no  illusions.  They  look  at  Christ. 
He  healed  and  touched  and  wept.  Wherever  there  was  a 
need  was  where  He  was.  And  He  was  crucified. 

"You  have  to  hurt  to  love,"  Conner  says. 

The  hurt  of  sacrificing  a  night  out  with  the  girls  for  a 
game  of  catch.  The  hurt  of  worrying  how  a  child  might  be 
coping.  The  hurt  of  being  rejected.  The  hurt  of  a  soft  touch 
or  a  smile. 

The  hurt  of  bone  and  glass  and  joy.  ■ 


The  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 

SHORT  COURSE 


by  Nora  Macon 


You  are  about  to  learn  facts  about  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions  that  will  make  missions  more 
understandable  and  enjoyable.  This  course  will  acquaint 
you  with  GBFMS's  basic  tenets,  organization,  and 
programs. 


First  issue:  January,  1985 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 

P.O.  Box  588 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


23 


PURPOSE 


"The  purpose  of  this  Society  shall  be  to  carry  out  the  Great 
Commission  of  the  Lord  In  Matthew  28:19,20:  'Go  ye  therefore, 
and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  teaching  them  to  observe 
all  things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you;  and  lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.'  " 

—From  the  Constitution  of  the  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church 


HISTORY 


I        matter 


It  is  2  p.m.  on  a  hot  Tuesday  afternoon.  Fifty- 
three  determined  people  are  standing  on  a  knoll  be- 
neath the  spreading  boughs  of  a  friendly  oak.  The 
place  is  Winona  Lake,  Indiana;  the  date,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1900. 

Two  recent  events  have  drawn  these  people  to 
this  spot  and  confirmed  their  determination  to  do 
what  they  feel  must  be  done  if  God's  will  is  to  be 
fulfilled.  The  first  event  occurred  just  hours  before 
in  the  nearby  auditorium  where  the  Tenth  Breth- 
ren General  Conference  is  in  session.  One  of  the 
leading  elders,  Jacob  C.  Cassel,  polarized  the  dele- 
gates by  presenting  a  paper  on  a  most  relevant  sub- 
ject for  any  Christian  body. 

From  our  point  of  view,  almost  eighty-five  years 
later,  the  question  raised  by  Mr.  Cassel's  address 
drew  from  the  delegates  a  most  surprising  response. 
The  subject  of  the  message— "Are  we  ready  to 
enter  the  foreign  mission  field?"— seems  inoffensive 
enough  and  not  the  kind  of  topic  which  would 
excite  controversy. 

For  today's  committed  Christian  the  question  is 
hardly  debatable.  Yet,  discussion  immediately 
divided  the  delegates  into  the  pros,  the  cons,  and 
the  over-cautious. 

The   second   event   had   taken  place  when  the 

matter  was  presented  to  the  conference.  The  at- 

to  actually  form  a  foreign  mission  organiza- 


tion within  the  conference  itself  met  with  formida- 
ble resistance.  To  those  who  favored  such  an 
action,  it  was  finally  suggested  that  there  was 
"plenty  of  room  out  under  the  trees"  where  they 
could  begin  their  organization.  So  here  they  are 
making  history. 

Today  this  spot  is  identified  by  a  bronze  plaque 
just  beneath  the  tree. 

Presently  the  question  faced  by  the  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church  is  expressed  in  a  different  vein— one 
which  takes  into  account  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
the  Society  down  through  the  years.  Today  the 
question  which  not  too  patiently  awaits  an  answer 
is  this:  Are  we  ready  to  accept  the  responsibility 
for  the  immediate  opportunities  which  face  foreign 
missions? 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  has  come  a 
long  way  since  that  historic  day  in  1900.  Whether 
it  will  have  85  years  more  to  serve  the  Lord  is 
something  which  many  Christians  would  seriously 
doubt.  The  coming  of  the  Lord  seems  imminent. 

While  praising  God  for  His  blessings,  it  is  a  time 
to  reded icate  efforts,  for  the  challenges  at  hand 
seem  greater  than  ever.  May  the  determination, 
zeal,  foresight,  and  steadfastness  of  purpose  to 
carry  out  the  Great  Commission,  which  were  char- 
acteristics of  those  who  founded  the  Society,  still 
be  found  among  the  Brethren! 


*J 


H 1 

M      1.  200  foreign  missionaries  (presently 
121). 
2.  150  new  churches  overseas  (currently 
about  542). 

HI!        ^hdf     3.  125,000  baptized  believers  abroad. 
__l    ^P^S     4.  Active  missions  committees  in  all  GB 
man-  "   "Pr   I    i^T^  churches. 

2.  The  planting  of  !         V=      ,L    feflJS     5.  15,000  GBFMS  corporation  members.     » 
churches  and  the  |    K2fg     6.  A  $4,000,000  offering  in  1986  ($100 
multiplying  of  ;|    W**4Zi  per  Grace  Brethren  member). 
congregations.                          \  O      li  WLMfi** 

3.  The  development  of  H!— _~~ ImhS^ 

existing  congregations. 

4.  Fellowships  of  churches 
on  all  fields. 

5.  Mission  churches 
involved  in  mission 
outreach. 

6.  Preparation  and  ~ 
training  of  pastors  and       U 
leaders  for  local                  ' 
congregations 
(through  Bible 

Institutes  and  *  !l 

Seminary  programs).  |™7~~|fm\!KJlLlJkl  I^PI^Iil^fS, 

!       '  "       '  jf  1.2  million  dollar  offering  in  1980. 

2.  New  fields  opened  in  last  five  years: 
England,  Philippines,  Japan,  and  Spain. 

3.  Missionary  residence  in  Winona  Lake  built 
and  paid  for. 

4.  Missionary  biography  of  Estella  Myers  pub- 
lished. 

5.  100,000  baptized  members  overseas. 


Goals 


FACTS  and  FIGURES    \ 


/—Over  two  billion/people  have  never  he<  rd  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  \  \ 

—The  largest  non-Christian  religion  is  Islam,  with  an  estimated  700 
-Grace  Brethren  Fdreign  Missions  minister!  in  eleven  countries:  Argentina,  Brazil,  CentraJ  > 


/     Republic,  Chad,  England,  France,  Gem  any,  Japan,  MexicoAPhilippines,  and  Spam. 

/    —Grace  Brethren  churches  also  exist  in  Z  lire  and  the  Cameroon.  \ 

/    — FMS  is  directed  by  a  board  of  12  elected  men  and  the  DirectorW  the  Society.  \ 

/    — Yonon  Y.  Auraham  was  the  first  missionary  to  be  sent  to  the  field  by  FMS.  He  served  in  yrmia,  Persia. 

/    —Brethren  missions  points  also  existed  in  Montreal,  Canada  and  Kansu,  China.  \ 

/   —Argentina  is  the  oldest  mission  field  still  in  ex  stence.  \  -  \ 

/    —Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  offers  opporti  nities  for  200  more  missionaries  by  1990.  \ 


/  /grace  brethren  foreign  missions  office  staff     \ 

/    Rev.  John  W.  Zielaskb,  General  Director;  Re/.  Wendell  Kent,  Director  of  Church  Relations;^ev.  Ed  Lewis 

/     Director  of  Personnel*;  Mr.  Stephen  Mason,  Director  of  Finance;  Rev\.  Gordon  Austin,  Director  of  Audio 

/    visuals;  Miss  Nora  Macon,  Publications  Coordinator;  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter,  Administrative  Secretary;  Mrs.  Sharor 

/    Andersen,  Assistant  to  the  Director  of  Finance;  Ms.  Robena  Pannebaker,  Secretary  of  Finance  and  Aufiliovisuals 

Mrs.  Kathy  Herman,  Secretary  to  the  Director  of  Personnel;  Mr.  Roger  StoVer,  Materials  Secretary;  Mt.  Scotl 

Howington,  Audiovisual  Assistant;  Miss  Sally  Stover,  Mail  Clerk,  part  time.  \  \  Of 

/  \  JANUARY  '85  £.■%. 


Service  Programs 


EER 


A  career  missionary  is  one  who  is  completely  dedicated  to  the  missionary  task  over 
an  extended  time  period. 

This  position  is  the  backbone  of  the  missions  program.  It  takes  time  to  evangelize,  to 
teach  and  train  leaders,  and  to  plant  churches. 

This  is  our  greatest  personnel  need. 


TERM 


The  term  missionary  program  is  designed  for  those  who  are  desirous  of  dedicating  at 
least  four  years  of  their  lives  to  foreign  missions  service,  but  do  not  feel  called  to  a 
career  in  missions. 

At  the  end  of  four  years,  term  missionaries  will  be  given  the  opportunity  to  apply 
for  career  status. 


SOWers 


SOWers  is  a  new  program  featuring  a  two-year  term  of  missionary  intern- 
ship for  couples  or  groups  of  singles. 

Learning  some  of  the  language  previous  to  departure  is  required. 


Openings  available  in: 

France  Mexico 

Germany  C.A.R. 


Philippines 
South  Brazil 


TENT-M/1KE 


Tent-makers  are  people  willing  to  take  employment  on  the  mission  field  in  order  to 
use  their  free  time  to  help  in  mission  ministries. 

Opportunities  can  be  limited  due  to  governmental  regulations  or  high  unemploy- 
ment. 

Some  of  the  best  job  opportunities  are  with  American  firms  with  branches  in  other 
countries. 


26 


JANUARY  '85 


FMS 


Profile  of  a  Grace  Brethren  Missionary 

Here  are  some  traits  that  should  characterize  a  Grace  Brethren  missionary: 

1.  Has  had  a  born-again  experience. 

2.  Acknowledges  Jesus  Christ  as  Saviour  and  Lord  of  his  life. 

3.  Is  wholly  in  accord  with  the  Statement  of  Faith  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches. 

4.  Believes  that  evangelism  and  church  planting  are  the  priority  goals  of  missions. 

5.  Is  loyal  to  Brethren  organizations,  in  so  far  as  they  remain  loyal  to  Christ. 

6.  Is  willing  to  work  in  a  team  ministry.  Has  the  ability  to  relate  to  others. 

7.  His  motive  for  missions:  a)  obedience  to  Christ  (Matt.  28:19);  and  b)  conviction  that  outside  of  Christ,  men 
are  lost  (Acts  4:12). 

8.  Belongs  to  and  supports  a  Grace  Brethren  church. 

9.  Is  willing  to  disciple  those  with  whom  he  works  and  to  teach  them  what  he  knows. 

10.  Believes  strongly  that  he  has  been  called  to  the  ministry  and  especially  to  the  work  of  a  missionary. 

11.  Has  a  happy  home  life— husband  and  wife  have  no  serious  problems— husband  is  the  head  of  the  home. 

12.  Manifests  the  qualities  of  an  elder  as  outlined  in  1  Timothy  3. 

13.  Is  at  peace  with  himself. 

14.  Adaptable— he  can  say  with  the  Apostle  Paul,  "I  have  learned  in  whatsoever  state  I  am  to  be  content"  (Phil. 
4:11). 

15.  Knows  and  identifies  with  indigenous  missionary  principles. 

16.  Has  prepared  himself  well  for  his  assignment— education  and  experience. 


Steps  to  Becoming  a  FMS  Missionary 


1. 

Pray! 

9. 

Appointee  status 

2. 

Preliminary  application 

10. 

Raising  support 

3. 

Contact  with  FMS 

11. 

Commissioning 

4. 

Increased  role  in  local  church 

12. 

Language  school 

5. 

Final  application  (with  reference  checks) 

13. 

Field  orientation 

6. 

Candidate  school  (tests  and  interviews) 

14. 

Field  assignment 

7. 

Internship 

15. 

Missionary! 

8. 

Board  approval 

'This 

step  is  optional;  usually 

Society. 


Requirements  of  a  Career  Missionary 

The  requirements  for  a  person  to  become  a  career  missionary  vary  from  person  to  person.  Usually  the 
Society  bases  its  decisions  on  education,  experience,  and  character  development. 

1.  Education.  It  all  depends  on  where  a  person  is  headed  and  what  he  intends  to  do  as  to  how  much  is  re- 
quired. For  church-planters,  the  Society  normally  requires  a  Master  of  Divinity  degree  from  an  evangelical  semi- 
nary. For  single  women,  30  hours  of  Bible  classes  are  desired.  There  are  exceptions  to  these  requirements,  how- 
ever, depending  on  age,  family,  experience,  maturity,  and  so  forth.  Education  requirements  are  quite  different  for 
support  workers. 

2.  Experience.  It's  important  that  a  person  has  at  least  some  limited  involvement  in  ministries  here  in  the 
U.S.  before  going  into  foreign  missions.  Experience  in  evangelism,  discipleship,  or  teaching  is  normally  desired. 
Internship  opportunities  are  helpful,  but  not  always  required. 

3.  Character  Development.  Such  areas  as  faithfulness,  reliability,  and  positive  relations  fall  into  this  cate- 
gory. A  person  is  wise  to  set  goals  for  himself  and  attempt  to  allow  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  (Gal.  5:22-23)  to  in- 
fluence his  outlook  on  life. 

Overall,  it's  best  not  to  assume  what  the  requirements  for  each  person  would  involve.  Because  of  the  impor- 
tance of  individualized  attention,  each  person  is  considered  on  his  own  merits. 

FMS  JANUARY  '85  Z# 


OPPORTUNITIES 


ARGENTINA 


Church  planters 
Teachers  for  T.E.E. 
Youth  workers 
Children's  workers 
Tentmakers 

BRAZIL   (NORTH) 

Church  planters 
Teachers  for  T.E.E. 
Youth  workers 
Children's  workers 

BRAZIL   (SOUTH) 

Church  planters 
Youth  workers 
Children's  workers 
Secretaries 
SOWers  Program 

CENTRAL  AFRICAN   REPUBLIC 

Church  planters 

Evangelists  for  university  students 
Evangelists  for  pygmies 
Evangelists  for  Moslems 
Elder-Teachers  for  Seminary  and 

upper  level  Bible  Schools 
Teachers  for  T.E.E. 
Youth  workers 
Children's  workers 
High  School  Teachers  for  Christian 

School 
High  School  Teachers  for  Bible 

classes  in  Public  Schools 
Construction  workers/Maintenance 
Doctors 
Dentists 
Secretaries 

Business  Administrator 
Elementary  Teacher  for  one-room 

MK  School 
Mechanics/Maintenance 
SOWers  Program 

CHAD 

Church  planters 

Missionary  Evangelists  to  Moslems 

Teachers  for  T.E.E. 

Youth  workers 

Children's  workers 


ENGLAND 


Church  planters 
Youth  workers 


28 


JANUARY  '85 


Children's  workers 

FRANCE 

Church  planters 

Youth  workers 

Children's  workers 

Teachers  for  T.E.E. 

Construction  workers  (short  term) 

Tentmakers 

SOWers  Program 

GERMANY 

Church  planters 
Youth  workers 
Children's  workers 
Teachers  for  T.E.E. 
Secretary* 
Tentmakers 
SOWers  Program 
"Immediate  need 

JAPAN 

Church  planters 
Youth  workers 
Tentmakers 

MEXICO 

(Border  and  Mexico  City) 

Church  planters 
Youth  workers 
Children's  workers 
Construction  workers  (short  term 

on  border) 
SOWers  Program 
Tentmakers  (border) 

PHILIPPINES 

Church  planters 
Youth  workers 
Missionary  Evangelist  to  tribal 

groups 
SOWers  Program 

SPAIN 

Church  planters 
Youth  workers 
Tentmakers 

ZAIRE  AND  CAMEROON 

Pioneer  church  planters 

Teachers  for  T.E.E. 

Missionary  Evangelists  to  Moslems 

FMS 


Appointee— a  stage   in  the  process  o'. 
becoming    a    missionary.    An    ap<| 
pointee  has  filed  a  final  application 
gone     through     candidate    school 
passed     several     interviews,    taker 
some    psychological    and    language 
aptitude    tests,    and    has    received 
Board  approval.  People  in  this  stagt; 
are  raising  support  and  preparing  tc] 
leave    for    the    field    or    language 
study. 

Area  Director— a  person  (usually  e 
missionary)  who  has  the  oversight 
of  several  fields  in  near  proximity. 
For  example,  Tom  Julien  is  the! 
Europe  Director;  Marvin  Goodman' 
is  the  Africa  Director;  Dr.  Wayne! 
Beaver  (Board  member)  is  Latin 
America  Director;  and  Rev.  John; 
Zielasko  (General  Director)  is  the. 
Orient  Director. 

Board  of  Trustees— 12  elected  menj 
(both  clergymen  and  laymen)  com- 
prise the  Board.  The  General  Direc- 
tor is  a  member  ex  officio  (making 
13).  These  men  make  decisions 
concerning  strategy,  finances,  and 
personnel.  When  elected  by  the 
corporation  members,  they  serve 
three-year  terms. 

Candidate— a  stage  in  the  process  of 
becoming  a  missionary.  A  candidate 
is  one  who  has  filed  a  preliminary 
application  to  register  his  interest  in 
missions.  He  could  be  at  any  point 
along  the  way  to  becoming  an  ap- 
pointee. 

Candidate  School— a  time  when  candi- 
dates who  are  striving  to  reach  the 
field  within  two  years  gather  to- 
gether in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana, 
during  the  Christmas  break.  Classes 
taught  include  the  philosophy  of 
our  mission,  raising  support,  evan 
gelism,  language  learning,  time 
management,  discipleship,  mission- 
ary writing,  cultural  differences, 
relationships,  travel,  packing  and 
shipping,  photography,  and  the 
sending   church. 

Church  Planting— involves  evangelism, 
discipleship,  and  training  nationals 
in  order  to  establish  indigenous  na 
tional  churches. 


rrace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 

GLOSSARY 


orporation  Member— a  member  of  a 
Grace  Brethren  church  who  gives 
$50  a  year  to  Grace  Brethren  For- 
eign Missions.  Membership  is  re- 
newable each  year.  One  can  become 
a  life-time  corporation  member  by 
giving  $500  in  one  calendar  year. 

liscipleship— nurturing  and  encourag- 
ing growth  in  a  believer;  teaching 
Christians  the  message  and  truths  of 
the  Bible. 

vangelism—  the    presentation    of    the 
I    Gospel     to     unbelievers     and     the 
I    winning  of  personal   commitments 
to  Christ. 

1  ield— a  country  or  area  in  which 
missionaries  are  ministering  or 
which  has  been  approved  by  the 
Board  as  a  place  where  missionaries 

;    plan  to  establish  a  work. 

|  ield  Superintendent— a  person  (usual- 
i    ly  a  missionary)  who  has  the  over- 
:    sight    and    administrative    responsi- 
!    bilities  for  his  field.  For  example, 
1    Roger  Peugh   is  the  Field  Superin- 
tendent for  Germany;  Tom.Julien, 
France;  Tom  Stallter,  C.A.R.;  Earl 
Futch,     Argentina;     Walter     Haag, 
Mexico;    George    Johnson,     north 
Brazil;    Tim    Farner,   south    Brazil; 
Cecil  O'Dell,  Japan;  and  Phil  Steele, 
1    England. 

I  inal  Application-a  form  filled  out  by 


candidates  when  they  are  convinced 
that  missionary  service  is  God's 
will  for  them.  Personal  reference 
checks  are  made. 

FMS— an  abbreviation  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society;  another  way  to 
refer  to  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions. 

Furlough— a  leave  of  absence  from  the 
field  for  a  missionary,  giving  him 
time  to  go  to  his  homeland  to  re- 
port to  his  supporters  and  churches, 
plus  giving  him  time  for  physical 
and  spiritual  refreshment.  Length 
of  furlough  depends  upon  length  of 
time  spent  on  the  field  during  one 
term. 

GBFM— an  abbreviation  for  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missionary  Soci- 
ety. 

Indigenous— the  type  of  churches  FMS 
desires  to  plant!  An  indigenous 
church  is  the  church  of  the 
nationals.  It  is  their  church,  self- 
sustaining  and  engaging  in  evangel- 
ism and  missions.  Missionaries 
planting  indigenous  churches  are 
trying  to  work  themselves  out  of  a 
job. 

Missionary— a  Christian  answering  the 
call  of  God,  recognized  and  sent  by 
his  local  church,  crossing  cultural 
and  linguistic  barriers  to  perform  a 


special   ministry  of  evangelism  and 
church  planting. 

Preliminary  Application— a  form  filed 
with  FMS  by  a  person  indicating  his 
interest  in  foreign  missionary  serv- 
ice. There  is  no  obligation  to  either 
the  applicant  or  the  Society  when 
filed.  It  puts  him  in  closer  contact 
with  the  Society. 

T.E.E.  (Theological  Education  by  Ex- 
tension)—a  program  in  which  mis- 
sionaries travel  on  a  regular  basis  to 
a  village,  town,  or  city  and  hold 
theology  classes  for  national  lead- 
ers. Through  this  program,  leaders 
can  earn  diplomas  and  certificates. 

Third  World— non-aligned  nations  of 
the  world  (Africa,  Asia,  Latin 
America).  First  world  countries  are 
free,  capitalistic;  second  world 
countries  are  communistic. 

World  Christians— believers  who  have 
caught  a  world  vision.  They  have 
seen  the  world  as  God  sees  it— lost 
in  sin,  but  still  possible  of  being 
reached  with  the  message  of  salva- 
tion. They  have  kept  a  world  vision 
through  prayer.  World  Christians 
have  obeyed  a  world  vision  and  are 
actually  reaching  out  to  the  un- 
reached. 


TEST 


Now  that  you  have  read  and  studied  the  material  in  the  short  course,  here's  a  test  to  check  your  understanding.  Do  not 
look  back  in  the  material  to  find  answers.  Answer  all  questions  to  the  best  of  your  ability. 


1 .  Name  the  1 1  countries  in  which  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions  ministers. 


2.  What  does  church  planting  involve? 


3.  Who  is  the  field  superintendent  in  the  Central  African 
Republic? 


4.  What  are  Tentmakers? 


5.   In  what  year  was  FMS  begun?_ 


6.  Where  was  the  first  FMS  missionary  sent? 

7.  Name  three  of  the  goals  for  1990. 


(Continued  on  page  30) 


TEST  (Continued  from  page  29) 
8.  What  does  indigenous  mean? 


16.  What  is  the  largest  non-Christian  religion  in  the  world? 


17.  What  is  the  step   (in   becoming  a  missionary)  that  is 
right  before  raising  support?    


9.  How  much  education  must  an  FMS  missionary  have?  °-  Wnat  ls  T.E.E.. 


10.  What  kind  of  missionaries  is  FMS  needing  in  greatest 
numbers?  


11.  How  many  people  in  the  world  have  never  heard  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ? 

12.  Where  are  the  offices  of  GBFMS  located? 


19.  How  can  a  person  become  a  corporation  member  of 
GBFMS? 


20.  Are  you  a  World  Christian  and  why? 


13.  How  many  men  are  on  the  Board  of  Trustees? 

14.  What  are  Third  World  countries?      


15.  What  was  the  issue  that  divided  Brethren  National  Con- 
ference in  1900? 


After  you  have  completed  the  test,  look  back  in  the 
short  course  and  check  your  answers.  If  you  answered  all 
the  questions  correctly,  give  yourself  100  points.  For  each 
question  missed,  deduct  five  points. 

For  those  of  you  who  scored  95  or  better,  confer  the 
certificate  below  on  yourself  cum  laude  (with  honors).  If 
you  scored  80  or  above,  award  yourself  the  certificate.  If 
you  scored  below  80  points,  read  over  the  material  again 
and  consider  becoming  a  World  Christian. 


Now,  take  the 
ultimate  step  into 
understanding. 


Other  study  Bibles  help 
you  interpret  the  language. 

The  Oxford  NIV  Scofield 
Study  Bible  combines  the 
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in  context.  To  help  you 
interpret  meaning,  not  just 
language.  To  uncover  truths 
that  will  change  your  life. 

The  Oxford  NIV  Scofield 
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of  Scripture.  It  reveals  the 
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ity. For  you. 

Take  the  ultimate  step 
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Send  a  check  with  your  order  and  we  will  pay  the  postage. 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  or  call  toll  free  1-800-348-2756 


Women 

Manifesting 

Christ 


President:  Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  10  E.  Luray 

Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
First  Vice  President:  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman, 

2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado 

Springs,  CO  90810 
Second  Vice  President  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix, 

3314  Kenwick  Tr.  SW,  Roanoke,  VA 

24018 
Secretary:  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  R.  3,  La 

Porte  City,  IA  50651 
Assistant  Secretary:  Mrs.  Ginny  Sellers, 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  Ml 

49099 
Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Mrs.  Joyce 

Ashman,  602  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Ass't.  Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Mrs. 

Donna  Miller,  R.  8,  Box  277,  War- 
saw, IN  46580 
Literature  Secretary:  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter, 

R.  8,  Box  292,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Editor  Miss  Nora  Macon,  705  Terrace  Dr., 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Prayer  Chairman:  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams,  R.  4, 

Box  94-A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 


How     shall     ihey 

CALL 

on     Him    in     whom 
they     have    nol 


T 


How    shall     they 

BELIEVE 


How     shall     Ihey    """»™* 

PREACH 


How     shall    Ihey 

HEAR 


' , r— 7< '     •        *■■'.' 


—  ^ 


Mssionary  (Birthdays 


MARCH   1985 

(If  no  address  is  listed,  the  address  can  be  found  in  the  July /August 
issue  of  ECHOES.) 

Brazil 

Joe  Johnson March  25,  1975 

Evelyn  Pettman March  28,  1983 

Mrs.  Nancy  Green     March  31 

Central  African  Republic 

Miss  Carol  Mensinger March  6 

Jonathan  Austin March  10,  1975 

Emily  Kuns March  11,  1976 

France 

Rev.  Chris  Nord     March  7 

Lisa  Viers March  26,  1973 

Mrs.  Doris  Julien March  27 

Germany 

Christopher  Manduka March  1,  1982 

Mrs.  Kathy  Manduka March  25 

Philippines 

Raymond  Hulett March  14,  1983 

Language  Study 

Mr.  Marl  in  Weaver March  3 

Mrs.  Sue  Weaver March  12 

Mrs.  Faye  Hocking March  13 

Jenny  Hocking March  13,  1981 

Dr.  Dave  Daugherty March  18 

In  the  United  States 

Mr.  Al  Balzer March  1 

Mrs.  Mary  Hoyt March  12 

Ronnie  Burk March  15,  1972 

Rev.  Foster  Tresise March  20 

Mrs.  Dorothy  Maconaghy March  21 

Mrs.  Hattie  Sheldon March  21 

Miss  Gail  Jones March  31 


Offering  Opportunity 


GRACE  SCHOOLS 

Homelitics  Lab  equipment  (to  help  prepare  our  men 

for  the  pastorate  and  ministry) 

Goal:  $9,000 

Send  before  March  10, 1985 

Since  SMM  is  the  heart  of  WMC  .   .  . 
National  SMM  Offering 
This  offering  goes  toward  the  Girl-of-the-Year  Scholar- 
ship and  sponsorship  of  the  Director  of  SMM,  Miss  Sue 
Rike.  This  is  the  offering  that  we  continually  fall  very 
short  of  our  goal.  Let's  get  behind  our  SMM  program! 
Goal:  $7,00a,  or  $3.00  a  year  per  WMC  member 
Send  before  March  10, 1985 


JANUARY  '85 


WMC. 


24  October  1984 


Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  President 
National  WMC 

2507  Vancouver  Drive,  N.W. 
Roanoke,  VA   24012 


Dear  Mrs.  Devan, 

The  England  team  was  just  recently  notified  of  the  very  generous 
gift  to  us  from  the  National  WMC.   We  understand  that  this  has  gone 
towards  the  purchase  of  missionary  housing  here  in  England,  helping 
us  to  reduce  the  amount  initially  necessary  to  borrow  for  downpayment. 
Each  of  us  thanks  you  for  this  great  ministry  you  and  the  many  women 
in  America  who  are  active  in  the  Women's  Missionary  Council  have  had  in 
our  personal  lives  by  meeting  our  needs. 

It  was  not  an  easy  decision  to  purchase  missionary  housing  on  the  field, 
but  due  to  scarcity  -  virtually  nonexistence!  -  of  rental  property,  we 
came  to  this  final  conclusion.   The  first  house  was  purchased  last 
November  for  our  family  when  we  were  at  the  end  of  our  lease  on  our 
former  home  and  unable  to  renew  it.   We  were  thankful  to  find  a  moderately 
priced  semi-detached  (like  a  duplex)  house  in  a  neighborhood  convenient 
to  the  children's  schooling  and  shops.   We  have  made  inroads  in  several 
of  our  neighbours  lives  and  do  believe  that  God  led  us  to  this  particular 
home.   I  am  enclosing  a  photograph  so  that  you  may  see  what  you  had 
such  a  vital  part  in  allowing  us  to  obtain.   The  house  was  extended  by 
the  previous  owner  so  that  we  have  enough  bedrooms,  a  study  upstairs, 
and  ample  room  for  entertaining  many  English  couples. 

In  just  one  week   our  Harvest  Weekend  will  begin  with  Larry  and  Vicki 
DeArmey  coming  from  Lyon,  France  to  share  with  the  Grace  Brethren  Church 
in  Solihull.   The  highlights  of  our  weekend  include  a  Harvest  Banquet 
Friday  evening  and  a  Ladies  Coffee  Saturday  afternoon.   Our  people  are 
very  enthusiastic  and  have  invited  many  of  their  friends  to  come  along. 
We  would  appreciate  your  prayers  for  this  important  weekend. 

We  have  been  so  grateful,  since  our  arrival  in  England,  for  the  support 
of  the  ladies  in  WMC  through  their  faithful  prayers  and  correspondence. 
We  appreciate  your  leadership  of  this  outstanding  group  of  women.   Please 
extend  our  deep  thanks  to  them  for  us,  as  we  are  all. 


Together  in  His  grip. 


Phil  Steele 

for  the  England  Team 


Grace  Brethren  Church  Planting  (UK) 


WMC  JANUARY  '85  33 


24  Mai  sham  Court  Road.  Solihull.  West  Midlands  B91  2ET.  England.  021-705  8893 


MONEY   TALK    (Continued  from  page  5) 

cause  as  we  pursue  it,  we  fall  into  temptations  and 
snares.  Therefore,  the  effects  of  this  pursuit  are  un- 
safe and  trap  the  victim  who  follows  his  or  her  lusts, 
(see  James  1 :  14-1 5). 

2.  Verse  9  warns  us  of  the  many  foolish  and  harm- 
ful lusts.  We  should  be  afraid  and  ashamed  to  follow 
them  because  they  drown  us  in  destruction  and  per- 
dition. The  implication  of  the  context  is  that  these 
lusts  are  never  satisfied,  and  the  contentment  men- 
tioned in  verse  8  is  absent. 

3.  The  love  of  money  mentioned  in  verse  10  will 
drive  men  to  every  sort  of  sin.  However,  the  money 
itself  is  not  the  problem.  But  when  the  love  of  money 
is  given  a  higher  priority  than  godliness,  the  problem 
arises.  Also  present  in  this  verse  is  the  inclination 
some  will  have  to  deny  their  faith  and  cancel  the 
effect  of  their  ministry  as  Demas  did  (see  1  Tim.  4: 10). 

The  Charge 

In  Luke  16,  Christ  ends  His  explanation  of  the 
parable  with  a  conclusion  that  leaves  the  listeners 
around  Him  committed  to  either  serving  God  or 
mammon.  The  implication  is  that  it  does  not  become 
any  man,  especially  a  man  of  God  such  as  Timothy, 
to  set  his  heart  on  the  things  of  this  world.  Men  of 
God  should  rather  be  taken  up  with  the  things  of  the 
Lord.  Therefore,  while  you  cannot  serve  both  God 
and  mammon,  you  can  have  all  your  worldy  treasures 
committed  to  the  one  you  love.  So,  Paul  instructs 
Timothy  on  how  to  deal  with  this  problem  among  his 
people. 

1.  Verse  11  begins  by  instructing  the  man  of  God 
to  flee  these  things.  As  a  Chistian  grows  toward  ma- 
turity in  the  Lord,  he  is  to  gain  a  sensitivity  to  his 
heart's  desires  and  protect  himself  against  the  snares 
and  temptations  of  the  love  of  money. 

2.  Verse  1 1  further  warns  the  man  of  God  of  the 
love  of  the  world  and  instructs  him  to  follow  after 
righteousness,  faith,  love,  godliness,  patience,  and 
gentleness.  These  qualities  are  presented  as  a  new  goal 
diametrically  opposite  the  riches  of  verse  9.  Right- 
eousness describes  behavior  patterns  toward  men, 
and  godliness  as  an  attitude  toward  God.  Faith  and 
love  are  principles  for  living  that  will  require  patience 
and  a  gentle  spirit  to  accept  the  rebukes  of  God  and 
men. 

3.  There  is  a  reminder  in  the  charge  of  verse  12 
that  where  there  are  temptations  and  snares  there  will 
be  conflict.  The  exhortation  here  is  to  fight  the  good 
fight  of  faith.  It  is  a  good  fight,  for  it  is  a  good  cause; 
to  lay  hold  of  eternal  life  and  everlasting  rewards. 

4.  According  to  verses  13  through  14,  the  charge  is 
an  imperative.  Therefore,  our  choice  is  more  or  less 
one  of  obedience  and  not  preference.  We  are  not  to 
exercise  a  value  judgment  and  select  a  stand  consist- 
ent with  our  inclinations,  instead  we  are  to  keep  this 
commandment  without  spot,  blameless  until  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ's  appearing.  Christ  confessed  to 
Pontius  Pilate,  "My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world:  I 


am  come  to  bear  witness  unto  the  truth."  We,  too, 
must  agree  that  our  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world. 

The  Conclusion 

In  the  closing  three  verses  of  this  section,  there 
are  several  magnificent  exhortations.  When  we  con- 
sider where  our  hearts  rest  on  the  continuum  of  our 
lives'  endeavors,  from  the  love  of  money  to  the  pur- 
suit of  godliness,  let  us  not  overlook  or  dare  to  forget 
these  thoughts. 

1.  Verse  14  is  a  reminder  of  Christ's  second  ap- 
pearing. As  in  the  parable  of  the  talents,  we  will  be 
held  accountable  for  our  efforts  made  in  the  spirit  of 
God.  John  says,  "And  now  little  children,  abide  in 
Him,  that  when  He  appears,  we  may  have  confidence 
and  not  be  ashamed  before  Him  at  His  coming.  If  you 
know  that  He  is  righteous,  you  know  that  every  one 
that  does  righteousness  is  born  of  Him"  (1  John 
2:28-29).  We  are  to  continually  abide  in  Him,  in  the 
truth  relating  to  His  person,  and  be  allegient  to  Him. 
This  abiding  is  a  duty  of  perseverance  in  trying  times, 
and  is  encouraged  for  at  least  two  reasons.  First,  that 
we  might  not  be  ashamed  at  His  coming  and  depart 
from  our  allegience  to  Him.  Secondly,  because 
abiding  in  Him  bears  testimony  of  Him. 

2.  Verse  15  says  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
King  of  kings  and  the  Lord  of  lords.  The  powers  of 
earthly  princes  are  all  derived  and  dependent  on  Him. 
Jesus  Christ  is  also  found  as  the  blessed  and  only 
Potentate  in  verse  15,  and  as  the  source  of  all  hap- 
piness. Therefore,  it  is  from  Him  that  our  perspectives 
must  be  changed  and  maintained.  Yet,  do  our  hearts' 
commitments  beseech  Him  for  happiness,  or,  are  we 
content  to  pursue  mammon? 

3.  According  to  verse  16,  it  is  our  duty  to  ascribe 
all  power  and  honor  to  God,  although  the  nature  of 
the  sinful  heart  ascribes  power  and  honor  to  the 
dollar.  Let  us  love,  adore,  and  praise  the  great  God; 
for  "who  shall  not  fear  Thee,  O  Lord,  and  glorify  thy 
name,  for  thou  only  art  holy  .  .  .  (Rev.  15:4). 

Ray  O.  Jones  writes  that  money  talks,  or  so  we 
have  been  told  since  childhood.  Listen  to  this  dollar 
speak:  "You  hold  me  in  your  hand  and  call  me  yours, 
yet  may  I  not  as  well  call  you  mine?  See  how  easily  I 
rule  you?  To  gain  me  you  would  all  but  die.  I  am  as 
invaluable  as  rain,  and  as  essential  as  water.  Without 
me,  men  and  institutions  would  die.  Yet,  I  do  not 
hold  the  power  of  life  for  them;  I  am  futile  without 
the  stamp  of  your  desire.  I  go  nowhere  unless  you 
send  me.  I  keep  strange  company.  For  me,  men 
mock,  love,  and  scorn  character.  Yet,  I  am  appointed 
to  the  service  of  saints,  to  give  education  to  the  grow- 
ing mind  and  food  to  the  bellies  of  the  poor.  My 
power  is  terrific.  Handle  me  carefully  and  wisely,  lest 
you  become  my  servant,  rather  than  I  yours." 

Paul  closes  the  Book  of  1  Timothy  with  a  prayer, 
"Grace  be  with  you.  Amen."  Grace  is  the  beginning 
of  glory,  for  wherever  God  gives  grace,  He  will  give 
glory,  and  will  not  withhold  any  good  thing  from  him 
who  walks  uprightly  (Ps.  84:11).  ■ 


34 


JANUARY  '85 


BMH; 


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situation 


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The  perspective  of  his  long 
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(Continued  from  page  17) 


marriages 


A  six-month  subscription  to  the  Herald  is  given  to  newly  weds 
whose  addresses  are  supplied  by  the  officiating  minister. 

The  following  list  of  marriages  took  place  at  the  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church,  Long  Beach,  CA.  Richard  Mayhue,  pastor. 
Aurora  Garcia  and  Dean  Venanzi,  July  7 
Louise  Samuelian  and  Dan  Palmer,  August  17 
Maria  Ruiz  and  Robert  Fallon,  September  29 
The  following  list  of  weddings  took  place  at  the  Winona  Lake 
Grace  Brethren  Church,  Winona   Lake,  IN.  Charles  Ashman, 
pastor. 

Lynn  Brickel  and  David  Hudson,  September  29 
Brenda  Jones  and  Tom  Cody,  June  16 
Brenda  Miller  and  Brad  Green,  September  1 
Sally  Miner  and  David  Reuter,  September  8 
Jacqui  Roach  and  Tim  Rucker,  June  30 
Debbie  Routh  and  Jeff  Green,  July  14 
Linda  Stapleton  and  David  Koontz,  July  29 
Chris    Alonzo   and    Mark   Combs,  July    7.   Calvary    Brethren 
Church,  Kettering,  OH.  Dan  Pritchett,  pastor. 
Elizabeth  Bugg  and  David  Risser,  October  5.  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Myerstown,  PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 
Rebecca  Dinulos  and  Dean  Kline,  September  1.  Grace  Breth 
ren  Church,  Myerstown,  PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 
Benita  Easley  and  Mark  Haneke.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Kit 
tanning,  PA.  Richard  Cornwell,  pastor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matt  Foreman,  July  7.  Community  Grace  Breth 
ren  Church,  Warsaw,  IN.  David  Plaster,  pastor. 
Kimberly    Hammers   and    James   Setty,   Jr.,   September   28 
Grace    Brethren    Church,    Myerstown,    PA.    Luke    Kauffman 
pastor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Lawson,  November  3.  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Irasburg,  VT.  John  Snow,  pastor. 
Cynthia  Martin  and  Timothy  Yocum,  August  18.  The  bride's 
father,  Charles  Martin,  and  an  uncle,  Charles  Lawson,  offici- 
ated at  the  ceremony.  First  Brethren  Church,  Johnstown,  PA. 
Charles  Martin,  pastor. 

Linda  Mayer  and  Charles  Lawson,  June  30.  Trotwood  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Trotwood,  OH.  Charles  Lawson,  pastor. 
Denise  Paul  and  Scott  Miller.  Medina  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Medina,   OH.    Ike   Graham  officiated  at  the  ceremony.   Dan 
Najimian,  pastor. 

Kim    Ronk  and    Larry    Burk,   October  20.  Rosemont  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Martinsburg,  WV.  Carl  Baker,  pastor. 
Cindy   Rose  and  Mickey  Shaub,  September  22.   Ellet  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Akron,  OH.  Richard  Bell,  pastor. 
Julie  Umpleby  and  Brian  Evans,  September  1.  Bethel  Breth- 
ren Church,  Berne,  IN.  Larry  Edwards,  pastor. 
Karen  Van  Tassel  and  Wesley  Clark,  August  11.  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church,  Irasburg,  VT.  John  Snow,  pastor. 
Stacy  Wolfe  and   Michael  Stolitza.  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Kittanning,  PA.  Richard  Cornwell,  pastor. 
Diane  Yohn  and   Doug  Youngblood,  October  26.  Rosemont 
Grace  Brethren  Church,  Martinsburg,  WV.  Carl  Baker,  pastor. 


Bay  Community  Church  in  San  Jose,  CA  /  Pastoral 
Resignations— Jeff  Heim,  Lima,  OH;  Joe  Nass,  Lexing- 
ton, KY;  Darrel  Taylor,  Sidney,  IN;  Ray  Davis,  Meyers- 
dale,  PA;  Robert  Morton,  Parkersburg,  WV;  Dean 
Risser,  Lexington,  OH;  and  Ron  Warrick,  Conemaugh, 
PA  /  A  new  GBC  was  started  in  Vienna,  WV,  with 
Robert  Morton,  pastor  /  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chester  Monn 
(Galion,  OH)  celebrated  their  sixty-third  wedding 
anniversary  on  October  1 1  /  Bob  Thompson,  west- 
ern representative  for  GBC  Home  Missions,  had  triple 
bypass  surgery  Nov.  5  (recovering  very  well)  /  Ed 
Leech  (Bellflower,  CA)  had  his  twentieth  surgery. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Anderson  (Rittman,  OH) 
celebrated  their  wedding  anniversary  September  28  / 
Thurmond  Frost  (Dayton,  OH)  is  home  following 
heart  surgery. 

IT  PAYS  TO  READ  THE  HERALD 
EVERY  ISSUE 

Each  month  a  name  will  be  chosen  at  random  from  the 
Herald  subscription  list.  The  person  selected  will  receive  a 
very  special  gift.  This  month  the  fortunate  subscriber  will  re- 
ceive a  $150.00  Limited  Edition  Zondervan  Parallel  Bible.  It 
is  bound  in  calfskin  and  is  a  very  beautiful  Bible. 
The  name  of  the  winner  for  January  is: 


SC01621CLR 
Mrs.  Virginia  Clark 
421  Watson  Avenue 
Anderson, 


SC  29621 


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firm your  name,  we  will  ship  the  Bible  to  you  immediately. 

FEBRUARY  GIFT 
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DUNKER    REPRINTS  PRESENTS: 

Peter  Nead's  Theological  Writings  on  Various  Sub- 
jects, the  first  major  English  exposition  of  Brethren 
doctrine,  will  be  available  in  May  1985.  Pre-publication 
price  is  $9.95  postpaid.  Post-publication  price  is 
$12.95,  plus  55tf  postage  and  handling.  Send  orders 
to  Dunker  Reprints,  956  Everett-Hull  Rd.,  Cortland, 
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THIS  AND  THAT 

The  Rossmoor  and  the  Mis- 
sion Viejo  GBCs  in  California 
have  voted  to  withdraw  from 
the  Fellowship  /  Perry  White 
is  the  new  pastor  of  the  South 


BRETHREN    MISSIONARY    HERALD 

P.  O.  Box  544 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Nonpro 

U.  S.  P 

PA 


Address 

Correction 

Requested 


NARY 


RALD 


Feature  Article:  "The  Bible  and  Astronomy"  —  page  4 


Reflections    By    Still    Waters 


"Look,  Mom,  No  Hands 
I'm  Typing!" 


Enter  Talkwriters  . . . 
machines  changing 
speech  into  text. 

by  Charles  W.  Turner 
Editor 


The  wonders  of  the  new  elec- 
tronic  age  never  seem  to  cease. 
The  world  of  television  and 
movement  of  satellites  through 
space  is  something  that  I  have 
learned  to  follow  but  not  to  com- 
prehend. Part  of  my  life  and 
duties  have  been  taken  over  by 
the  use- of  computers  and  I  spend 
a  part  of  each  day  keeping  track 
of  my  personal  and  company 
records  by  punching  information 
into  a  computer  and  letting  it  do 
the  record  keeping  for  me.  When 
I  want  it  graphed  into  nice,  neat 
little  pictures,  the  push  of  a  key 
does  the  work  for  me.  I  still  do 
not  understand,  but  I  have  learn- 
ed to  live  with  and  to  accept  it  as 
part  of  my  life.  I  save  a  lot  of  time 
this  way,  although  I  am  not  cer- 
tain that  I  get  a  great  deal  more 
accomplished. 

Each  time  I  purchase  a  new 
gadget  and  begin  to  enjoy  its 
benefits.  I  read  about  another  one 
that  will  do  the  same  task  much 
faster.  I  can  tolerate  that,  but 
when  I  discover  it  costs  half  the 
price  of  my  recent  purchase,  I  am 
disturbed! 

A  recent  quiet  evening  was 
disturbed  when  I  read  about  a 
new  IBM  typewriter  which  takes 
dictation.  You  speak  into  it  and  it 
records  the  words  for  you.  At  the 
present  time  the  typewriter  is 


limited  in  its  knowledge  and  can- 
not be  taken  too  seriously.  It  on- 
ly understands  some  5,000  words 
which  is  a  small  fraction  of  the 
more  than  100,000  the  average 
adult  is  supposed  to  know.  I  use 
the  words  "supposed  to  know" 
because  I  have  always  considered 
myself  near  average,  but  to  list 
100.000  words  which  I  know  may 
place  a  strain  on  my  mind.  The 
new  typewriter  does  have  other 
limitations  as  well.  The  problem 
is  not  so  much  with  the  machine 
as  with  people.  While  the 
typewriter  is  listening  for  instruc- 
tions someone  might  cough,  rat- 
tle a  paper  or  sneeze  and  that 
would  confuse  a  computerized 
typewriter. 

Then  there  is  the  problem  of  in- 
flection —  the  people  in  Virginia 
do  not  always  say  things  the  same 
way  we  in  Indiana  say  the  same 
word.  The  computer  also  has  a 
problem  with  such  words  as 
"meet  her"  when  it  hears  "meter" 
or  as  the  Fortune  magazine  writer 
tells  us,  "this  guy"  can  become 
"the  sky".  But  the  problems  of 
technology  will  be  solved  and  in- 
stead of  sitting  in  front  of  the 
typewriter  using  two  fingers,  I  will 
some  day  sit  in  front  of  the 
machine  and  speak  and  it  will  be 
able  to  transcribe  each  word  of 
wisdom.  I  will  find  it  hard  to  be- 


lieve that  it  is  really  happening. 
Well,  not  really  because  I  tried  it 
at  a  recent  computer  show  and  it 
was  able  to  follow  me  and  get  a 
number  of  the  words  that  I  had 
spoken.  Marvel  of  marvels  — 
something  new?  No,  not  at  all! 
Really  something  very  old,  chang- 
ing the  power  of  the  word  into 
some  action. 

You  will  remember  it  all  started 
with  God  "In  the  beginning," 
before  there  was  mankind  or  a 
world  as  we  now  know  it.  God 
said,  "Let  there  be.  .  ."  and  there 
was.  He  can  make  His  commands 
become  reality.  I  have  always 
marveled  about  the  power  of  God 
and  his  mighty  abilities.  It  re- 
mains a  great  mystery  to  me  to  as 
to  how  He  can  do  it.  To  go  a  step 
further,  the  power  of  the  Word  is 
evidenced  in  THE  WORD.  When 
Christ  came  to  dwell  in  our  midst, 
He  was  called  "THE  WORD."  and 
the  Word  became  flesh  and  dwelt 
among  us. 

Although  we  are  impressed 
with  the  coming  day  when  we 
can  make  a  computerized 
typewriter  work  for  us,  remember 
such  great  steps  for  us  humans 
fall  far  short  of  making  planets, 
the  earth,  seas  and  sky.  We  still 
struggle  to  have  a  machine 
understand  which  "to",  "two",  or 
"too"  we  want  it  to  record. 


FEBRUARY  '85 


BMH 


BRETHREN 
MISSICNARy 


leralc 


Vol.47 


February  1985 


The  Brethren  Missionary 
Herald  is  published  monthly  by 
the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
Co..  P.O.  Box  544.  1104  Kings 
Highway,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590.  Subscription  prices:  $8.25 
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Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout.  Mike  Baker. 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
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CONTENTS 

8  Money  and  Finances 

11  Where  is  Clark  Kent  When  You  Need  Him? 
12-  Help  Is  Needed 

14  Separated 

15  FMS  News  Service 

16  The  "Mecca"  of  Home  Missions 

18  Being  Like  Christ 

19  Fresh  Hope  at  Hope 

20  Local  Churches  to  Receive  $250,000 

23  GBHMC  Update 

24  Facing  The  Music 
26  Plenty  of  Purpose 

30  Timothy  Teams  —  Two  Perspectives 
32  Worship:  The  Missing  Link 
34  Better  Cornbread 

BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters  2  • 

•  Feature  Article      4       •  BMH  News  Report      29       • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

Edward  Miller  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  at  the 
Winona  Lake  church.  Dr.  Paul  Bauman  returned 
home  after  his  trip  around  the  world  Russ  Ward  left 
the  pastorate  at  Cuyahoga  Falls  to  go  to  the 
Cleveland,  Ohio  church. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Village 
continued  to  work  in  the  Dayton  area  on  plans  for 
a  retirement  home.  Funds  were  needed  to  complete 

the  purchase  of  the  land The  first  services  of  the 

Kenai.  Alaska  Grace  Brethren  church  were  held  with 
14  in  attendance  for  Sunday  School.  Herman  Hein 
was  the  pastor. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Grace  Seminary  announced  the  formation  of  a 
Minority  Student  Scholarship  Committee  to  provide 
assistance   and    funding   for   students    to   enter 

Grace The   College   Bookstore   made   a   name 

change  and  will  now  be  known  as  the  Herald 
Bookstore,  with  40%  more  floor  space  added  to  the 
sales  area. 


Cover  photo  by  Nora  Macon 


LETTERS 

Dear  Editor: 

Greetings  in  Jesus'  name  from  NCO! 

Just  want  to  let  you  know  how  great 
I  think  your  new  way  is  of  sharing  hap- 
penings in  our  Fellowship.  Those  seem- 
ingly little  things  that  people  do  in'  our 
local  churches  that  are  really  so  very  im- 
portant in  the  overall  fulfillment  of  the 
Great  Commission  need  to  be  noticed. 
Man,  does  that  ever  encourage  the 
ranks!!  I  like  to  tell  our  people  they  hit 
the  national  FGBC  news! 

We  really  do  appreciate  all  you  and 
your  co-workers  are  doing  to  help  make 
our  ministries  much  easier  and  better. 

-Ohio 


BMH 


FEBRUARY  '85 


Feature  Article 


THE  BIBLE 
AND  ASTRONOMY 


By  John  C.  Whitcomb,  Th.D. 

Professor  of  Theology  and  Old  Testament  and  Director  of  Doctoral 
Studies,  Grace  Theological  Seminary 

Introduction 

The  written  Word  of  God,  the  Bible,  is  specifically 
designed  to  confront  man  with  his  desperate  need 
of  a  Saviour  from  sin  and  to  reveal  the  gracious  pro- 
vision by  the  Triune  God  of  full  and  free  salvation 
through  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  Jesus  Christ  the 
Lord,  and  His  death,  burial,  and  resurrection  on  our 
behalf. 

Many  biblical  truths,  when  taken  seriously,  come 
as  a  great  shock  and  offense  to  minds  that  have  been 
blinded  to  the  full  glory  of  God  as  evidenced  in  all 
of  His  works.  Perhaps  no  work  of  God  has  suffered 
more  distortion  by  fallen  mankind  than  His  creation 
of  the  sun,  the  moon,  the  planets,  and  the  stars.  Most 
men  since  the  Fall  have  worshipped  these  lifeless  ob- 
jects as  gods.  In  recent  generations,  in  the  academic 
communities  of  the  western  world  they  have  been 
explained  away  as  the  mere  end  products  of  mindless 
cosmic  evolutionism  through  billions  of  years  of 
chance  interactions  of  subatomic  particles.  In  either 
case,  the  God  of  Creation,  who  has  revealed  Himself 
in  Holy  Scripture,  has  been  effectively  excluded  from 
our  thoughts. 

The  purpose  of  this  brief  introduction  to  the  biblical 
perspective  on  astronomy  is  to  attract  attention  to 
what  God  has  actually  revealed  on  this  marvelously 
fascinating  subject  in  the  only  Book  He  has  ever  given 
to  mankind. 

If  God  is  pleased  to  use  this  article  to  help  some- 
one come  to  Jesus  Christ  our  Creator  and  Lord  and 
to  read,  believe,  and  obey  His  infallible  Word,  the 
author  will  be  abundantly  rewarded. 

"For  since  the  creation  of  the  world  His  invisible 
attributes,  His  eternal  power  and  divine  nature, 
have  been  clearly  seen,  being  understood  through 
what  has  been  made,  so  that  they  are  without  ex- 
cuse" (Romans  1:20  NASB). 

The  ultimate  purpose  and  significance  of  the 
astronomic  universe  is  theological  —  to  tell  us  vital- 
ly important  things  about  God  which  we  could  not 
otherwise  know  as  finite  creatures.  The  vast 
number  and  almost  infinite  diversity  of  celestial  ob- 
jects, and  their  utter  dependability  in  spite  of  con- 
stant change,  their  supernatural  origin  and  destiny 
all  point  unerringly  to  a  personal,  living  God  as  the 
supreme  Designer,  Creator,  and  Sustainer  of  the 
universe. 


God  Created  the  Universe 

Though  God  Himself  is  invisible  to  men  ("His  in- 
visible attributes"),  the  universe  He  created  ("what 
has  been  made")  is  so  effective  as  a  channel  of 
revelation  that  "His  eternal  power  and  divine 
nature"  can  actually  be  "clearly  seen"  and 
"understood"  by  men.  In  fact,  God  so  clearly  shows 
important  things  about  Himself  through  His 
universe  that  men  "are  without  excuse"  (Rom. 
1:20). 

We  do  not  need  special  instruments  such  as 
telescopes  to  discover  that  God  is  infinitely  power- 
ful as  Creator.  This  basic  truth  is  more  accessible  to 
us  than  our  hands  and  feet,  "because  that  which  is 
known  about  God  is  evident  within  [Greek:  en] 
them:  for  God  made  it  evident  ro  them  [Greek: 
autois]"  (Rom.  1:19). 

The  problem  men  have  always  had  with  the 
theological  implications  of  astronomy  is  nor  a  lack 
of  evidence,  facts,  data,  information,  truth,  or  light 
(general  or  natural  revelation) .  The  evidence  is 
everywhere  around  us.  We  are  simply  immersed  in 
it  at  all  times:  "the  heavens  are  telling  of  the  glory  of 
God;  and  their  expanse  is  declaring  the  work  of  His 
hands.  Day  to  day  pours  forth  speech,  and  night  to 
night  reveals  knowledge.  There  is  no  speech,  nor 
are  there  words;  their  voice  is  not  heard.  Their  line 
has  gone  out  through  all  the  earth,  and  their  ut- 
terances to  the  end  of  the  world"  (Psalm  19:1-4). 
"To  whom  then  will  you  liken  Me  that  I  should  be 
His  equal?  says  the  Holy  One.  Lift  up  your  eyes  on 
high  and  see  who  has  created  these  stars,  the  One 
who  leads  forth  their  host  by  number"  (Isa. 
40:25-26). 

Even  a  shepherd  boy,  tending  his  father's  flock 
by  night  3000  years  ago  in  Judea,  could  look  up 
and  see  God  through  His  celestial  handiwork: 
"when  I  consider  Thy  heavens,  the  work  of  Thy 
fingers,  the  moon  and  the  stars,  which  Thou  hast 
ordained;  what  is  man,  that  thou  dost  take  thought 
of  him?"  (Psalm  8:3-4) 

Therefore,  the  real  problem  has  never  been  the 
paucity  or  obscurity  of  the  evidence.  It  has  been 
man's  sinful  refusal  to  submit  to  the  evidence. 
Thus,  the  very  passage  in  Romans  1  that  assures  us 
of  mankind's  clear  knowledge  and  understanding 
of  God's  power  and  deity  through  the  effective 
testimony  of  natural  revelation,  also  insists  that  "the 
wrath  of  God  is  revealed  from  heaven  against  all 
ungodliness  and  unrighteousness  of  men,  who  sup- 
press the  truth  in  unrighteousness,  because  that 


FEBRUARY   85 


BMH 


which  is  known  about  God  is  evident  within  them; 
for  God  made  it  evident  to  them  ...  for  even 
though  they  knew  God,  they  did  not  honor  Him  as 
God,  or  give  thanks;  but  they  became  futile  in  their 
speculations,  and  their  foolish  heart  was  darkened. 
Professing  to  be  wise,  they  became  fools"  (Romans 
1:18,19,21,22). 

Thus,  because  men  "did  not  see  fit  to 
acknowledge  God,"  He  "gave  them  over  to  a 
depraved  mind"  (Romans  1:28).  Apart  from  the 
special  grace  of  God  through  the  death  and  resur- 
rection of  His  Son,  made  known  by  the  gospel 
("good  news") ,  the  witness  of  the  stars  remains  hid- 
den to  self-blinded  humanity  (1  Cor.  2:14;  Eph. 
4: 18) .  God  even  directs  Satan  to  confirm  this  willful 
blindness  so  that  the  light  of  the  Creator  no  longer 
effectively  penetrates  the  human  mind  and  heart  (2 
Cor.  4:3-4). 

This  was  my  own  condition  as  a  student  at 
Princeton  University  in  the  early  1940's.  I  gladly 
and  fully  accepted  as  my  own  the  materialistic  and 
evolutionary  philosophy  of  my  science  professors, 
as  we  studied  the  origin  of  the  world.  I  had  no  in- 
terest whatsoever  in  discovering  the  true  identity  of 
my  Creator.  I  had  no  desire  in  my  heart  to  submit  to 
Him  as  my  absolute  Lord  and  my  coming  Judge. 
As  far  as  I  could  tell,  this  attitude  was  shared  by  the 
entire  faculty  and  almost  all  of  the  student  body.  No 
one  in  my  family  encouraged  me  to  consider  the 
claims  of  my  God  and  Creator. 

Then,  by  the  amazing  and  mysterious  grace  of 
God,  two  or  three  students  invited  me  to  attend  a 
Bible  class  taught  by  a  Princeton  graduate  who  had 
served  as  a  missionary  in  India.  After  several 
months  of  hearing  the  claims  of  Jesus  Christ  ac- 
curately and  lovingly  presented,  I  came  to  the  point 
of  decision.  Once  again,  I  read  the  claim  of  Jesus 
Christ  my  Lord:  "I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and 
the  life;  no  one  comes  to  the  Father,  but  through 
me"  (John  14:6).  I  now  believed  what  I  read.  The 
Bible  suddenly  became  the  living  Word  of  God  to 
me.  "Old  things  passed  away"  and  "in  Christ"  I 
became  "a  new  creature"  (2  Cor.  5:17). 

Nothing  in  God's  universe  was  changed  at  that 
moment.  It  was  I  who  was  changed.  With  a  new 
and  God-given  perspective,  provided  through  the 
grid  of  special  revelation  in  Scripture,  I  now  had  a 
radically  different  view  of  the  realities  of  God's 
universe.  I  discovered  very  soon  that  while  God's 
written  revelation  is  obviously  not  a  textbook  of 
astronomy  in  the  technical  sense  of  that  term,  it  is 
very  much  a  divinely  authoritative  textbook  on  the 
philosophy  of  science  and  on  the  order,  duration, 
and  manner  of  events  by  which  God  created  and 
has  subsequently  directed  His  universe. 

What  does  God  actually  tell  us  in  His  Word  con- 
cerning astronomy  (Greek:  star-science)? 

The  Number  of  Stars 

First,  He  tells  us  that  the  number  of  stars  is,  from 
the  human  perspective,  infinite.  Even  though  the 
number  of  stars  visible  to  the  unaided  eye  is  only 


about  2,500,  yet  men  have  always  considered 
them  to  be  practically  countless.  Thus,  God  led 
Abram  one  night  out  under  the  open  sky  and  said, 
"Now  look  toward  the  heavens  and  count  the  stars, 
if  you  are  able  to  count  them  ...  So  shall  your 
descendants  be"  (Gen.  15:5).' 

Now  God  had  previously  told  Abram,  "I  will 
make  your  descendants  as  the  dust  of  the  earth;  so 
that  if  anyone  can  number  the  dust  of  the  earth, 
then  your  descendants  can  also  be  numbered" 
(Gen.  13:16).  Years  later,  He  promised  him,  "I  will 
greatly  multiply  your  seed  as  the  stars  of  the 
heavens,  and  as  the  sand  which  is  on  the  seashore" 
(Gen.  22:17;  compare  Jer.  32:22).  Thus,  God  told 
Abraham  what  no  ancient  or  medieval  astronomer 
could  ever  have  imagined,  namely,  that  the  order 
of  magnitude  of  the  number  of  stars  in  the  universe 
is  comparable  to  the  order  of  magnitude  of  the  par- 
ticles of  dust  on  the  continents  and  the  grains  of 
sand  on  all  the  seashores  of  the  world. 

From  the  human  perspective,  therefore,  the 
universe  is  infinite  in  size.  God  even  uses  this  fact  as 
a  challenge  to  those  who  would  deny  His  eternal 
covenant  with  Israel.  God  stated  through  Jeremiah, 
"if  the  heavens  above  can  be  measured  .  .  .  then  I 
will  also  cast  off  all  the  offspring  of  Israel  for  all  that 
they  have  done"  (Jer.  31:37). 

The  most  spectacular  biblical  claim  to  the  actual 
number  of  stars  in  the  universe  is  found  in  Psalm 
147:4-5:  "He  counts  the  number  of  stars  .  .  .  great 
is  our  Lord  .  .  .  His  understanding  is  infinite."  The 
obvious  point  here  is  that  one  of  God's  great  claims 
to  infinite  understanding  is  that  He  has  actually 
counted  the  number  of  stars.  No  one  else  can  ever 
match  this  achievement!  In  fact,  he  is  able  to  assure 
us  that  "not  one  of  them  is  missing"  (Isa.  40:26). 

The  Diversity  of  the  Universe 

Secondly,  God  tells  us  something  of  the  diversity 
of  His  universe.  Each  astronomic  unit  is  unique. 
While  it  may  appear  to  the  casual  human  observer 
that  all  stars  are  monotonously  similar,  yet  their 
Creator  assures  us  that  "star  differs  from  star  in 
glory"  (1  Cor.  15:41).  Each  star  is  glorious  because 
it  is  a  "hand-made"  and  thus  unique  product  of  the 
divine  Mind. 

But  there  are  different  levels  of  such  glory.  This  is 
made  very  clear  by  the  fact  that  God  not  only 


"What  does  God  actually  tell 

us  in  His  Word  concerning 

astronomy?" 


"counts  the  number  of  the  stars,"  but  also  "He  gives 
names  to  all  of  them"  (Psa.  147:4;  compare  Isa. 
40:26).  The  biblical  concept  of  assigning  a  "name" 
(Hebrew:  shem)  to  someone  or  something  is  very 
rich.  So  far  from  being  an  arbitrary  and  thus  essen- 
tially meaningless  designation  (as  is  so  often  the 


BMH 


FEBRUARY  '85 


case  in  "naming"  our  own  children),  it  involved  an 
understanding  of  the  basic  characteristics  and  at- 
tributes of  the  object.  Thus  Adam  was  involved  in  a 
highly  intellectual  and  meaningful  activity  when  he 
"gave  names"  to  each  kind  of  mammal  and  bird 
(Gen.  2:20).  Paul  bowed  his  knees  "before  the 
Father,  from  whom  every  family  in  heaven  and  on 
earth  derives  its  name"  (Eph.  3:15).  The  fact  that 
only  God  can  name  each  star  is  His  way  of  saying 
that  the  diversity  and  quality  of  the  stellar  universe 
is  an  adequate  physical  reflection  to  mankind  of  His 
omniscience. 

The  Processes  of  the  Universe 

Thirdly,  the  processes  of  the  universe  are 
likewise  revealing  and  instructive.  The  phases  of 
the  moon,  the  movements  of  the  planets  ("wander- 
ing stars"  from  the  Greek  verb  planeo,  "to  wander" 
-Jude  13),  the  rotation  of  the  earth,  the  orbits  of 
comets,  and  the  marvels  of  eclipses  are  all  given 
due  attention  in  Scripture.  Most  of  these  processes 


"Thus  the  heavens  and  earth 

were  completed  and  all  their 

hosts"  (Gen.  2:1) 


relate  to  man's  created  need  for  variations  of  light 
intensity  ("the  greater  light  to  govern  the  day,  and 
the  lesser  light  to  govern  the  night"),  and  time  in- 
dicators (Gen.  1:5,  14).  God  does  not  need  il- 
lumination or  clock-calendars,  but  human  beings 
definitely  do! 

How  does  the  Bible  describe  the  processes  of  the 
universe?  From  Genesis  to  Revelation  the  Bible 
consistently  avoids  (for  the  sake  of  effective  com- 
munication to  mankind)  highly  technical  teaching 
of  scientific  data  or  concepts.  Nevertheless  —  and 
this  is  crucial  to  the  entire  discussion  —  the  Bible 
provides  perfectly  accurate  descriptions  of  things  by 
the  use  of  the  language  of  appearance.  This  has 
been  frequently  challenged,  but  never  successfully. 

A  perfect  example  of  this  principle  is  the  account 
of  the  creation  of  the  sun  and  moon  in  Genesis 
1:16.  "And  God  made  the  two  great  lights,  the 
greater  light  to  govern  the  day,  and  the  lesser  light 
to  govern  the  night;  He  made  the  stars  also."  On  an 
absolute  scale,  of  course,  the  sun  and  moon  are  not 
"great  lights"  compared  to  many  of  the  giant  stars. 
In  fact,  the  moon  is  not  a  "light"  at  all  in  the  sense 
that  the  sun  is  a  light.  But  from  the  perspective  of 
earth-dwellers,  the  statement  is  vastly  more  mean- 
ingful than  a  technical  astronomical  analysis.  Fur- 
thermore, the  statement,  is  perfectly  accurate. 
There  are  only  two  great  lights  visible  to  the  unaid- 
ed eye,  not  three  or  ten. 

Another  outstanding  example  of  this  principle  is 
found  in  Revelation  7:1,  which  speaks  of  the  earth 
having  "four  corners."  This  does  not  suggest  that 
the  Bible  subscribes  to  the  flat-earth  concept,  for  the 


following  phrase  explains  that  "the  four  corners" 
refer  to  "the  four  winds  of  the  earth."  Even  today 
meteorologists  use  the  four  directions  of  the  com- 
pass to  describe  wind  movement,  without  thereby 
implying  that  the  earth  is  flat. 

Finally,  and  perhaps  most  famous  of  all,  are 
biblical  statements  that  refer  to  "the  rising  of  the 
sun"  (e.g.  Rev.  7:2  NASB,  compare  Psa.  19:4-6). 
Does  this  mean  that  the  Scriptures  teach  geocen- 
trism  (the  theory  that  the  earth  is  the  actual  physical 
center  of  the  solar  system)?  Not  at  all,  for  this  is  a 
language  of  appearance  so  appropriate  that  it  can- 
not be  improved  upon  even  by  astronomers  of  our 
day. 

Thus,  the  entire  seventeenth-century  debate  be- 
tween Galileo  and  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  as 
to  whether  or  not  the  earth  moves  around  the  sun 
was  biblically  irrelevant.  Both  Galileo  and  his 
church  were  woefully  ignorant  of  the  Bible's  own 
guidelines  to  its  proper  interpretation.  It  is  true  that 
the  Psalmist  stated  that  "the  earth  shall  not  be 
moved"  (Psalm  93:1  and  96:10).  Flowever,  the 
Psalmist,  speaking  of  himself,  also  asserted:  "I  shall 
not  be  moved"  (Psalm  10:6;  16:8,  36;  55:22; 
62:2;  66:9;  and  121:3).  The  obvious  point  is  that 
he  did  not  anticipate  being  swerved  from  the  path 
God  had  marked  out  for  him.  Likewise,  the  earth 
cannot  be  diverted  from  its  God-ordained  func- 
tions, such  as  its  orbital  movement  around  the  sun. 

The  Bible  also  states  that  there  is  a  universal  law 
of  degeneration  and  disintegration.  The  entire 
universe  is  moving  "vertically-downward"  to  chaos, 
not  "vertically- upward"  by  means  of  some  evolu- 
tionary, innovative  and  integrative  principle.  The 
total  amount  of  mass/energy  in  the  universe  re- 
mains constant,  for  God's  work  of  creation  was 
finished  at  the  end  of  the  sixth  day:  "thus  the 
heavens  and  the  earth  were  completed,  and  all 
their  hosts"  (Gen.  2:1).  Nothing  more  is  being  add- 
ed to  the  cosmos,  but  what  does  exist  is 
disintegrating  everywhere  and  always:  "The 
heavens  are  the  work  of  Thy  hands.  Even  they  will 
perish  .  .  .  and  all  of  them  will  wear  out  like  a  gar- 
ment; like  clothing  Thou  wilt  change  them  and  they 
will  change,  but  thou  art  the  same"  (Psalm 
102:25-27).  "Lift  up  your  eyes  to  the  sky  ...  for 
the  sky  will  vanish  like  smoke  .  .  .  but  my  salvation 
shall  be  forever"  (Isa.  51:6). 

In  spite  of  this  universal  flux  of  mass/energy  that 
drifts  ever  downward  in  quality,  there  is  never- 
theless a  basic  dependability.  Immediately  after  the 
Flood,  God  promised  to  Noah  and  to  all  postdilu- 
vian humanity:  "While  the  earth  remains,  seedtime 
and  harvest,  and  cold  and  heat,  and  summer  and 
winter,  and  day  and  night  shall  not  cease"  (Gen. 
8:22).  The  continuance  of  night  and  day  is  a 
guarantee  that  the  earth  will  continue  to  spin  on  its 
axis  in  reference  to  the  sun.  The  seasonal  changes 
assume  the  continued  tilt  of  the  earth's  axis  in 
reference  to  the  plane  of  its  orbit  around  the  sun. 
Note,  however,  that  this  "limited  uniformitari- 
anism"  of  geologic  and  astronomic  processes  con- 


FEBRUARY  '85 


BMH 


tinues  only  "while  the  earth  remains." 

This  very  important  biblical  principle  is  strongly 
confirmed  by  the  prophet  Jeremiah:  "Thus  says  the 
Lord,  who  gives  the  sun  for  light  by  day  and  the 
fixed  order  of  the  moon  and  the  stars  for  light  by 
night  ...  'If  this  fixed  order  departs  from  before 
Me,'  declares  the  Lord,  'then  the  offspring  of  Israel 
also  shall  cease  from  being  a  nation  before  me 
forever'"  (Jer.  31:35,  36).  "Thus  says  the  Lord,  'If 
you  can  break  My  covenant  for  the  day,  and  My 
covenant  for  the  night,  so  that  day  and  night  will 
not  be  at  their  appointed  time,  then  My  covenant 
may  also  be  broken  with  David  my  servant  that  he 
shall  not  have  a  son  to  reign  on  his  throne'"  (Jer. 
33:20-21).  "This  is  what  the  Lord  says:  'If  I  have 
not  established  my  covenant  with  day  and  night 
and  the  fixed  laws  of  heaven  and  earth,  then  I  will 
reject  the  descendants  of  Jacob  and  David  my  ser- 
vant'" (Jer.  33:25-26  NIV). 

It  seems  to  me  that  these  very  strong  assurances 
in  Genesis  and  Jeremiah  provide  for  us  the 
necessary  frame  of  reference  for  understanding  the 
sundial  miracle  in  the  days  of  king  Hezekiah  of 
Judah,  and  even  the  long  day  of  Joshua.  The  sign 
that  God  gave  to  Hezekiah  (2  Kings  20:8-11)  was 
certainly  one  of  the  most  spectacular  miracles  in 
Old  Testament  history.  In  the  courtyard  of  the 
palace  there  was  apparently  a  series  of  steps  (not 
necessarily  a  sundial  as  we  would  normally  think  of 
it)  so  arranged  that  the  shadow  cast  by  the  sun 
would  give  an  approximation  of  the  time  of  day.  At 
the  request  of  the  king,  and  doubtless  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  group  of  officials  (including 
foreign  ambassadors?),  the  shadow  moved 
backward  ten  steps  (or  "degrees")! 

How  did  God  actually  accomplish  this  miracle? 
Did  he  cause  the  earth  to  stop  its  rotation  and  turn 
backwards  a  little?  All  true  Christians  would  agree 
that  He  could  have  done  such  a  thing,  for  by  Him 
all  things  consist,  or  hold  together  (Col.  1:17).  But 
the  Bible  makes  it  rather  clear  that  this  was  not 
God's  method;  for  in  referring  to  this  miracle,  2 
Chronicles  32:24  states  that  Hezekiah  "prayed  to 
the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  spoke  to  him  and  gave  him 
a  sign  [Hebrew  mopheth]."  But  in  verse  31  we  are 
told  that  the  Babylonians  sent  ambassadors  to 
Hezekiah  "to  inquire  of  the  wonder  [mopheth]  that 
had  happened  in  the  land. "  Obviously,  then,  it  was 
a  geographically  localized  miracle,  which  did  not  in- 
volve a  reversal  of  the  earth's  rotation,  with 
shadows  retreating  ten  degrees  all  over  that  part  of 
the  world.  Instead,  the  miracle  occurred  only  "in 
the  land"  (of  Judea) ;  and,  to  be  even  more  specific, 
it  was  only  in  the  king's  courtyard  that  "the  sun's 
shadow  went  back  ten  steps  on  the  stairway  on 
which  it  had  gone  down"  (Isa.  38:8). 

It  is  my  conviction  that  a  proper  understanding  of 
the  nature  of  this  great  miracle  helps  in  our 
understanding  of  what  happened  in  the  miracle  of 
Joshua's  long  day  (Josh.  10:12-14).  Since 
Joshua's  need  was  for  a  prolongation  of  light  (not  a 


slowing  down  of  the  earth's  rotation),  his  need 
could  be  met  by  a  supernatural  continuation  of 
sunlight  and  moonlight  in  central  Palestine  for 
"about  a  whole  day"  until  Joshua's  army  could 
follow  up  its  great  victory  and  completely  destroy 
the  enemy.  This  was  indeed  a  stupendous  miracle 
of  God!  In  fact,  "there  was  no  day  like  that  before  it 
or  after  it,  when  the  Lord  listened  to  the  voice  of  a 
man;  for  the  Lord  fought  for  Israel"  (Josh.  10:14). 
It  was  no  less  miraculous  and  supernatural  for  God 
to  change  the  direction  of  solar  radiation  on  one 
battlefield,  or  even  one  sundial,  than  for  Him  to 
stop  the  rotation  of  the  earth.  Similarly,  it  was  no 
less  miraculous  and  supernatural  for  our  Lord  to 
raise  one  man  from  the  dead  than  to  raise  all  men 
from  the  dead  at  the  end  of  history  (John 
11:40-45;  compare  John  5:28,  29). 

The  Origin  of  the  Universe 

The  Bible  also  provides  for  mankind  the  only  in- 
fallible, authoritative  information  concerning  the 
origin  and  destiny  of  the  astronomic  uniuerse.  To 
the  Hebrew  mind,  the  concept  of  the  creation  of  the 
sun,  moon  and  stars  served  to  magnify  the  glory  of 
God  because  of  the  special  way  in  which  the  open- 
ing chapter  of  the  Hebrew  Bible  sets  forth  this 
cosmic  event.  The  traditional  Hebrew/Christian 
understanding  of  the  opening  chapter  of  Genesis 
has  been  simple  and  straightforward,  in  total  con- 
trast to  the  wide  spectrum  of  creation  concepts  that 
characterizes  modern  Christendom,  including  such 
views  as  theistic  evolutionism  (with  God  providen- 
tially directing  the  cosmos  towards  higher  and  more 
complex  forms  such  as  plants  and  animals  and 
finally  man  in  a  geologic  timetable  involving  billions 
of  years)  and  the  gap  theory  of  Genesis  1:1-2  (with 
God  creating  a  perfect  world  perhaps  billions  of 
years  ago,  destroying  it  at  the  fall  of  Satan,  and 
then  recreating  it  in  six  literal  days) . 

There  is  a  very  good  reason  for  this:  all  other 
historical  narratives  in  the  Bible  were  understood  in 
a  normal  manner  (technically  known  as  the 
historical/grammatical  method  of  hermeneutics, 
which  takes  into  full  account  not  only  the  context  of 


"The  Bible  provides  for 

mankind  the  only  infallible 

information  concerning  the 

universe." 

each  passage  but  also  all  the  nonliteral  figures  of 
speech) .  Since  there  is  no  evidence  of  poetry  in  the 
first  chapter  of  Genesis  it  seems  rather  obvious  that 
God  intended  the  chapter  to  be  understood  nor- 
mally. If,  on  the  other  hand,  we  abandon  the  God- 
honored  and  time-honored  method  of 
(continued  on  page  35) 

BMH    FEBRUARY  '85  7     = 


Where  does  FMS  get  its  money? 

We  are  very  dependent  on  churches  and  in- 
dividuals who  support  GBFMS.  Over  98%  of  last 
year's  income  was  derived  from  gifts  and  offerings. 
The  balance  of  last  year's  income  was  from  interest 
earned  and  miscellaneous  items. 

How  much  of  the  money  that  comes  in  for  mis- 
sionary support  is  used  for  the  administratrion 
of  the  home  office? 

The  answer  to  that  is  none!  The  only  exception  to 
that  would  be  if  you  would  consider  publicity 
items  which  come  out  of  the  home  office  (Herald, 
prayer  cards,  prayer  letters,  etc.).  But  as  far  as  the 
administration  itself,  none  of  the  missionary  sup- 
port dollars  are  used  for  administration. 


Missionary  &  Field 
78% 

Salaries  &  Benefits       45% 
Field  Budgets  21% 

Travel  &  Furlough  5% 

Miscellaneous  8% 

(language  school,  outfits,  etc.) 


\ 


■S69 

v  '^ 
OtheT<^ 

1% 

Total  Budget  Expenses 

8    FEBRUARY  '85  FMS  


<<y 


An  interview  with  Steve  Mason,  GBI 


MONEY 

How  Do  Yo 

Does  FMS  give  higher  salaries  to  more  experi- 
enced or  better-trained  missionaries? 

No.  Each  missionary  receives  the  same  base 
allowance  no  matter  what  his  experience  or 
background.  The  only  differential  built  into  the 
base  salary  is  for  years  of  missionary  experience 
with  GBFMS.  After  four  years  of  service,  mis- 
sionaries do  receive  a  small  yearly  increment  on 
their  salary. 

Do  all  missionaries  receive  the  same  salary? 

As  I  mentioned  before,  each  missionary  does 
receive  the  same  base  salary  with  a  small  adjust- 
ment based  on  years  of  service.  That  base  salary 
is  their  furlough  salary.  When  a  missionary  leaves 
for  the  field  he  might  receive  an  adjustment  to  his 
pay  based  on  the  cost  of  living  in  the  field  where 
he  serves.  Since  it  is  more  expensive  to  live  in  cer- 
tain countries  than  to  live  in  the  U.S.  (such  as 
Japan),  a  supplement  might  be  added  to  a  mis- 
sionary's salary  to  compensate  for  this  fact. 

Do  missionary  children  receive  support  money? 

Not  in  the  sense  that  the  parents'  salary  is  adjusted 
based  on  the  number  of  children  he  has.  A  family 
with  children  has  a  higher  support  level  than  a  cou- 
ple who  has  no  children.  The  reason  for  this  in- 
creased support  level  based  on  the  number  of 
children  is  that  there  are  additional  expenses  for 
transportation,  schooling  and  increased  housing 
needs  which  are  paid  in  addition  to  salary  and  this 
raises  the  cost  of  maintaining  a  missionary  family 
as  opposed  to  a  missionary  couple. 

When  a  person  sends  in  $100  for  a  missionary's 
support,  does  the  missionary  personally  receive 
that  full  $100? 

No.  Only  a  portion  of  a  missionary's  support  is  paid 
directly  to  the  missionary  in  the  form  of  salary.  A 
portion  of  that  $100  would  also  go  to  the  mis- 
sionary's medical  insurance,  retirement  program. 


;ctor  of  Finance,  answers  the  most-asked  questions  about  finance 


d  FINANCES: 

\ccount  for  That? 


travel  expenses  to  and  from  the  field,  housing, 
transportation  on  the  field,  and  other  ministry 
expenses. 

What  is  the  difference  between  a  new  mis- 
sionary's support  and  the  outfit  fund? 

The  outfit  fund  is  a  one  time  gift  which  helps  the 
missionary  in  the  transportation  and/or  purchase 
of  household  goods  which  he  will  need  to  set  up 
housekeeping  on  the  foreign  field.  A  missionary's 
support  is  an  ongoing  account  which  pays  the 
salary  and  other  ministry  expenses. 

Is  each  missionary  responsible  for  raising  his  or 
her  own  financial  support? 

Yes.  the  individual  is  responsible,  but  the  office  will 
give  help  and  direction  in  the  raising  of  support. 

What  happens  if  a  missionary's  support  does  not 
come  in?  For  example,  if  Roger  and  Nancy  Peugh's 
level  is  $28,500  and  only  $23,000  comes 
designated  for  their  support,  what  happens? 

First  of  all.  the  missionaries  are  not  penalized;  they 
do  not  receive  a  cut  in  salary  and  their  expenses 
are  covered.  Peughs,  for  example,  are  covered  by 
the  Germany  field  support  pool.  Perhaps  during 
the  previous  year  more  money  came  in  than  was 
needed  to  cover  their  expenses  or  another  mis- 
sionary on  that  field  received  more  than  their  sup- 
port level.  This  contributes  to  the  field  support 
pool. 

What  if  a  church  drops  a  missionary's  support 
while  the  missionary  is  on  the  field?  Suddenly 
the  missionary  would  be  under-supported. 

Basically,  the  home  office  and  the  missionary 
would  contact  his  other  supporting  churches  and 
suggest  an  increase  in  the  level  of  their  support. 
Other  churches  might  be  contacted,  also.  The  mis- 
sionary would  be  placed  on  a  list  designating  him 
as  under-supported  and  available  for  churches  to 


assume  support  for  him.  When  the  missionary 
comes  on  furlough,  one  of  his  tasks  is  to  raise  the 
support  that  he  is  lacking.  The  missionary  is  not 
allowed  to  return  to  the  field  until  he  is  fully  sup- 
ported. We  have  never  had  a  missionary  who 
couldn't  return  to  the  field  after  furlough  because 
of  being  under-supported. 

What  does  FMS  do  to  help  missionaries  when 
they  retire? 

Missionaries  receive  a  pension,  but  in  addition  to 
that  we  help  them  with  a  loan  to  purchase  a  car 
and  also  a  furnishings  fund  for  them  to  set  up 
housekeeping  here  in  the  States.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  missionaries'  home  church  will  take  an  active 
part  in  their  retirement  and  settling  here  in  the 
States.  Missionaries  are  also  included  in  the  Social 
Security  program  and  would  receive  those  benefits 
as  well. 

When  a  missionary  is  sick,  who  pays  the  bills? 

As  I  mentioned  in  a  previous  question,  a  portion 
of  a  missionary's  support  goes  to  a  medical  in- 
surance fund.  So  it  is  from  the  insurance  fund  that 
these  medical  bills  are  paid. 

What  do  the  General  Fund  offerings  go  toward? 

The  General  Fund  offerings  which  are  not 
designated  for  a  specific  missionary's  support  or 
to  a  special  project  would  go  to  help  cover  home 
office  administrative  expenses.  These  offerings 
cover  office  staff  salaries,  the  rental  of  office  space 
here  in  Winona,  telephone,  postage,  and  other  ad- 
ministrative expenses. 

Does  FMS  keep  any  financial  reserves  on  hand? 

We  do  try  maintain  a  positive  cash  flow,  but  if  the 
question  means  do  we  intentionally  build  up  a 
large  reserve,  the  answer  to  that  would  be  "no". 
From  time  to  time  we  do  have  excess  cash  on  hand 
which  is  invested  to  earn  interest,  while  at  other 


FMS 


FEBRUARY  '85 


times,  we  have  had  to  borrow  money  to  care  for 
current  expenses. 

What  happens  when  offerings  do  not  cover  the 
expenditures  and  FMS  goes  in  the  red  during  a 
year?  Who  makes  up  the  difference?  Where  does 
the  money  come  from? 

The  FMS  is  a  non-profit  organization;  however,  that 
does  not  mean  that  in  certain  years  there  will  not 
be  an  excess  of  income  over  expenditures  which 
in  a  sense  will  allow  a  reserve  to  build  up.  Hopeful- 
ly, those  years  will  precede  the  years  where  ex- 
penses are  over  income.  If  offerings  do  not  cover 
expenses  in  a  given  year  they  must  be  made  up 
in  following  years. 

Where  do  the  various  fields  get  their  field  budget 
monies  from? 

A  portion  of  each  missionary's  support  goes  toward 
his  field's  budget.  For  example,  all  the  missionaries 
in  France  must  raise  as  part  of  their  support  the 
field  budget  for  France.  These  field  budgets  cover 
such  things  as  housing,  vehicles  (purchasing, 
maintenance,  and  operating  costs),  and  other 
ministry  expenses. 

How  do  project  offerings  differ  from  all  other  of- 
ferings? How  much  of  the  money  for  a  specific 
project  is  actually  used  for  that  project? 


A  project  offering  is  placed  in  a  restricted  fund 
where  it  cannot  be  used  for  any  purpose  other 
than  its  designated  purpose.  All  of  that  money  is 
used  for  the  specific  project  to  which  it  was  given. 
There  is  nothing  deducted  for  administrative  costs, 
and  it  is  not  diverted  to  other  projects  without  the 
specific  approval  of  the  donor. 

When  a  missionary  desires  to  go  back  for  more 
training  (seminary,  perhaps),  who  pays  for  his 
schooling? 

The  missionary  is  responsible  for  his  schooling 
costs.  However,  after  a  missionary  has  served  for 
a  given  number  of  years,  there  is  a  furlough  study 
grant  which  is  available  which  will  pay  up  to  60% 
of  a  missionary's  tuition  costs,  in  an  approved 
course  of  study.  This  grant  is  given  with  the 
assumption  that  the  missionary  will  continue  his 
missionary  career. 

When  a  missionary  comes  to  the  States  when  it 
is  not  time  for  his  furlough,  who  pays  for  that? 

The  missionary  is  responsible  for  paying  those 
travel  costs  which  are  not  approved  furlough  travel. 
If  a  missionary  chooses  to  take  his  vacation  or  per- 
sonal leave  in  the  U.S.  or  any  country,  it  is  his 
responsibility  to  pay  for  those  travel  costs. 


Children's  Schooling    2% 

Missionary  Support  Expenses 


L=  10 


FEBRUARY  '85 


FMS 


Where  Is 

Clark  Kent 

When  You  Need  Him? 

by  Clay  Hulett 


You  face  the  Philippines  —  a 
nation  of  7100  islands  that  if 
put  together  would  be  equal  to 
the  size  of  Arizona.  You  face  a 
people  as  equally  diverse  as 
the  islands  —  from  the  conserv- 
ative Makati  Bankers  to  the 
head  hunters  of  Mindanano. 


Philippines 


Where  do  you  go?  Where  do 
you  start?  What  do  you  say? 

You  face  a  country  where  95% 
of  the  population  believe  they 
are  Christian  because  they  are 
baptized  Catholics  and 
celebrate  Christmas  longer 
than  any  other  country  in  the 
world.  Religious  slogans  and 
verses  are  everywhere. 


Kim.  Clay  and  Big  Ray  Hulett 


Where  do  you  go?  Where  do 
you  start?  What  do  you  say? 

You  face  a  nation  of  2.7 
million  Mango  trees,  thou- 
sands of  Jeepneys  and  tricycles, 
tons  of  rice,  60%  annual  infla- 
tion, 40%  unemployment,  with 
20  typhoons  every  year. 

Where  do  you  go?  Where  do 
you  start?  What  do  you  say? 

You  have  been  sent  to 
evangelize  and  plant  churches 
in  Manila,  one  of  the  largest 
cities  in  the  world.  Manila  has 
a  population  of  over  eight 
million  people  —  professionals, 
government  workers,  college 
students,  and  squatters. 

Where  do  you  go?  Where  do 
you  start?  What  do  you  say? 

You  face  all  these  things  .  .  . 
and  .  .  .  you  are  all  alone. 


Call  for  Clark  Kent  (alias 
Superman)?  No!  Who  needs 
Superman  when  you  have  the 
God  who  is  able  to  do  ex- 
ceedingly abundantly  beyond 
what  you  could  ask  or  think. 

As  your  team  in  the  Philip- 
pines, we  have  a  tremendous 
task  facing  us  (Clay  and  Kim 
Hulett)  in  1985.  We're  thankful 
for  another  missionary  couple, 
Ted  and  Vivien  Ruiz,  who  will 
be  joining  us  in  March. 


Ted  and  Vivien  Ruiz 

Think  of  us  as  we  face  many 
challenges  this  year.  We  won't 
be  looking  for  Clark  Kent,  but 
we  will  be  counting  on  God's 
help.  We  know  He  uses  people 
like  you  to  help  people  like  us 
as  we  face  each  task  every  day. 


FEBRUARY  '85 


This  map  indicates  the  needs  for  various  types  of  mis- 
sionaries at  several  stations  in  the  Central  African 
Republic  and  Chad.  Many  of  the  villages  listed  have  no 
missionary  representation  and  are  crying  for  mis- 
sionaries to  come  and  teach.  Another  great  need  not  in- 
dicated on  the  map  is  for  missionary  evangelists  who 
would  be  willing  to  live  a  nomadic  lifestyle  to  minister 
to  the  pygmies  of  northern  C.A.R.. 


CHAD 


HELP  IS 


Bassai  >  /BT 

"5J  Bellevue  *    #  Bossangoa  Qfl  •  Bouca 

Bozoum  •  • 


Batangalo 


r 


CENTRAL  AFRICAN  REPUBLIC 


•  Bossembele 


•  Boah 


12 


FEBRUARY  '85 


FMS 


j ,:  i       needed  for  a  ministry 
among  the  pygmies. 


sTEEDED! 


People.  That's  what  missions  is  all  about. 

The  aim  of  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  is  to  reach  people, 
evangelize  them,  disciple  them,  and  plant  churches  made  up  of  peo- 
ple. In  order  to  do  that,  missionaries  are  needed.  Who  are  missionaries? 
People. 

People  like  you  and  like  me. 

All  Grace  Brethren  mission  fields  are  pleading  for  more  people  to  come 
and  join  them.  "Therefore  beseech  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  out 
workers  into  His  harvest"  (Matthew  9:38). 

Some  think  that  because  we  have  more  missionaries  in  Africa  than 
anywhere  else,  no  more  missionaries  are  needed  in  that  area  of  the 
world.  Wrong!  African  pastors  are  begging  for  more  missionaries  to 
come  and  teach  them.  Many  unreached  people  groups  (pygmies,  Fulani) 
need  missionaries  who  are  dedicated  to  ministering  to  them.  The  mis- 
sionaries are  asking  for  support  personnel  to  help  them,  so  they  can 
concentrate  on  evangelism  and  discipleship.  More  help  is  needed. 

People  are  needed. 

Consider  your  role  in  the  personnel  needs  of  missions.  Could  God 
use  you  in  His  harvest? 


Key  to  the 

Map 

M    Discipler/Evangelist  (District  Elder) 

ft 

House  Parents 

1  Wn    Maintenance  worker 

m 

Builder 

J     Doctor/Medical  worker 

JL 

Secretary 

l**-~i    Dentist 

& 

Mechanic 

\jj    Professor/Teacher 

% 

Youth  worker/Children's  worker 

*   Business 

Manager 

Separated 

A  Missionary  Wife's  Prayer 


By  June  Immel 


***/*/ m  ><  i 


Sometimes  we  do  not  enjoy  being 
separated,  Lord. 

Separation  from  our  children  is  hard.  What 
are  they  doing  now?  Is  their  homework  com- 
pleted for  tomorrow?  Is  someone  tucking 
them  in  bed?  Kissing  them  goodnight? 

Assure  them  of  our  love  and  daily  prayers 
for  each  of  them.  Supply  their  physical,  emo- 
tional, and  spiritual  needs  in  a  way  that  on- 
ly You  can. 

Separation  from  friends  —  I  need  some 
woman  talk  today,  Lord.  Howard  would  en- 
joy some  man  talk.  We  love  our  African 
brothers  and  sisters,  but  cultural  differences 
separate  us  from  heart-to-heart  talks.  Even 
missionaries  are  separated  from  us  today. 
Lord.  Sometimes  living  on  a  mission  station 
by  ourselves  is  not  fun!  Give  our  friends  Your 
strength  and  encouragement  today,  Lord. 
Thanks. 

Separated.  Yes,  we're  apart  by  long 
distances  from  family  —  parents,  brothers, 
sisters,  in-laws.  Are  they  well?  Are  they  at 
peace  with  You?  Hear  and  answer  their 
prayers,  Lord.  Give  abundantly  of  Your  love 
to  them.  Thank  You  that  we  are  together 
through  You. 

We're  even  separated  from  our  church.  We 
are  lonesome  for  the  sharing,  singing, 
laughing,  and  praying  times  at  East  Side.  Con- 
tinue to  bless  the  church,  Lord. 

Thank  You  that  Howard  and  I  are  not 
separated.  We  are  together  —  willing  and 
ready  to  listen  to  each  other  —  laughing,  shar- 
ing, and  praying  together. 

And  now.  Lord,  since  I've  talked  this  over 
,  with  You,  we  are  not  really  separated  from 
children,  family,  friends,  and  church. 
Through  the  Holy  Spirit,  You  bring  content- 
ment, peace,  joy,  happiness,  and 
togetherness.  And  someday,  Lordn  (please 
make  it  soon)  we  will  ALL  be  together  with 
You,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith. 
Thanks,  Lord. 

FMS  Editor's  Note:  June  and  Howard  Immel  are  living 
at  M'Baiki.  a  station  out  in  the  bush  of  the  Central  African 
Republic.  Attending  high  school  in  Zaire,  Lisa.  Kirk,  and 
Karl  Immel  are  far  away  from  their  parents.  The  Immels 
are  members  of  the  Columbus,  Ohio.  East  Side  Grace 
Brethren  Church. 


14 


FEBRUARY  '85 


FMS 


?MS  NEWS  SERVICE  FMS  NEWS  SER 


THE  CHAD  -  Little  news  emerges  from  this  former 
French  colony.  The  civil  war  continues  to  stifle  mis- 
sionary activity  and  makes  the  missionary's 
presence  life-threatening.  Until  a  missionary's 
presence  is  accepted  without  hindrance  to  his'  ac- 
tivity or  threats  to  his  life,  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions  will  assign  missionaries  for  the  Chad  to 
other  duties. 

The  Les  Vnasdales  will  remain  in  the  Central 
African  Republic  assigned  to  the  training  of 
students  (including  some  from  Chad)  at  the 
Theology  schools.  Richard  and  Kathy  Harrell  are 
assigned  to  the  France  team  and  will  minister  in 
Le  Creusot  until  a  more  stable  political  climate  ex- 
ists in  Chad. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  recent  return  of  French  troops 
will  not  only  relieve  the  threat  of  Libya's  influence 
in  the  region  but  also  bring  a  measure  of  political 
stability  to  that  afflicted  land. 

WINONA  LAKE  -  1985  marks  the  85th  anniver- 
sary of  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions.  Anyone 
who  gives  a  $75  (or  more)  special  Anniversary  Gift 
to  GBFMS  will  receive  an  autographed,  com- 
plimentary copy  of  Estella  Myers:  Pioneer 
Missionary  by  Miss  Ruth  Snyder.  This  biography 
relates  the  exciting  story  of  one  of  our  pioneer  mis- 
sionaries to  Africa.  Special  anniversary  gifts  should 
be  sent  directly  to  FMS,  clearly  marked  "Anniver- 
sary Gift",  with  the  sender's  home  church 
mentioned. 

SPAIN  --  While  Marilyn  continues  with  language 
study  and  son  Jeff  concludes  his  senior  year  at  a 
Christian  academy  in  Madrid,  Bob  Salazar  con- 
tinues surveying  central  Spain.  He  is  investigating 
four  especially  needy  areas  in  an  effort  to  initiate 
a  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Bob  will  be  visiting 
Galicia  in  the  Northwest,  Vasco  in  the  northeast, 
the  Andalucia  area  in  the  southwest,  and  the 
Valencia  area  in  the  southeast. 

STUTTGART,  GERMANY  -  The  church  member- 
ship in  the  Stuttgart  congregation  grew  con- 
siderably in  1984.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year,  four 
people  were  members;  at  the  end  of  the  year,  19 
people  had  joined.  Two  of  these  members  have 
now  moved  to  northern  Germany  and  are  pray- 
ing for  missionaries  to  come  plant  a  church  in  their 
area.  Though  membership  is  small,  attendance  at 
Stuttgart  has  consistently  been  around  100. 


CENTRAL  AFRICAN  REPUBLIC  --  Latest  statistics 
from  this  field  show  remarkable  growth  in 
numbers.  There  are  now  539  churches.  Thirty  men 
were  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  1984.  making  the 
total  of  ordained  men  231.  At  Yaloke  High  School, 
119  students  are  enrolled.  Brethren  Biblical 
Seminary  at  Bata  reports  an  enrollment  of  23. 

SOLIHULL,  ENGLAND  -  Eighteen  believers  of 
Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Solihull  participated  in 
a  three-fold  communion  service  that  was  held  the 
last  Sunday  of  November.  There  were  three  new 
families  among  the  many  "first-timers"  to  realize 
the  meaning  and  impact  of  this  teaching  of  the 
Lord.  The  Spirit  was  evident  through  the  binding 
intimacy  of  the  fellowship  throughout  the  evening. 

MEXICO  CITY  --  On  Sunday,  September  2.  1984. 
the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Mexico  City  took 
another  step  forward  when  its  pastor,  Sergio  Lopez, 
was  ordained.  Sergio  was  saved  in  this  church 
through  Bible  studies.  After  several  years  of  work- 
ing in  the  banking  system  of  Mexico  City,  he  and 
his  family  moved  to  California  where  he  attended 
Talbot  Seminary.  Upon  his  graduation  in  1980.  he 
returned  to  take  the  pastorate  at  the  Mexico  City 
Grace  Brethren  Church. 

Sergio  was  examined  on  January  30,  1984,  by  Rev. 
Walter  Haag.  Rev.  Jack  Churchill,  and  Rev.  Phil 
Guerena.  Walter  Haag.  Mexico  Field  Superinten- 
dent, officiated  the  ordination  service  at  the 
church.  Dr.  Wayne  Beaver.  FMS  board  member, 
and  Rev.  John  Zielasko.  General  Director,  assisted. 

Praise  the  Lord  for  this  step  of  faith  in  Sergio's 
life.  Prayers  are  coveted  for  him  as  he  continues 
to  serve  the  Lord  in  Mexico  City. 


Rev.  John  Zielasko,  Dr.  Wayne  Beaver  and  Rev.  Walt  Haag  have 
the  prayer  in  Sergio  Lopez's  ordination  service. 


FMS 


FEBRUARY  '85 


15 


The  "Mecca"  of 
Home  Missions 


Mecca,  a  city  located  in 
western  Saudi  Arabia,  is  a  city 
that  could  be  described  as 
"very  religious"  (Acts  17:22).  You 
see.  this  city  was  the  birthplace 
of  a  man  named  Mohammed, 
who  became  the  father  of  the 
Mohammedan  religion.  To  this 
day.  Mecca  is  the  most  holy  ci- 
ty of  the  Islamic  world. 

Now,  you  may  be  asking 
yourself.  "What  does  this  have 
to  do  with  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions?"  Please  be  pa- 
tient and  read  on.  In  the  year 
1818,  a  small  settlement  was 
established  in  northeastern 
Ohio  to  which  the  name  Mec- 
ca was  given  (named  after  the 
ancient  Mohammmedan  holy 
city).  In  1835.  the  name  of  Mec- 
ca was  changed  to  Medina, 
after  another  Arabian  city,  (In- 
terestingly, Mohammed 
himself  was  born  in  Mecca  in 
570.  and  died  in  Medina  in 
632).  To  date,  this  northeastern 
Ohio  city  is  still  called  Medina. 

Medina.  Ohio,  actually 
became  a  city  in  1950.  Back 
then  it  had  a  population  of 
5.097.  As  of  the  1980  census, 
Medina's  population  was 
15,309.  or  triple  its  1950  popula- 
tion! This  growth  factor,  which 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  city 
(which  is  the  seat  of  Medina 
County)  is  both  strategically 
located  and  aesthetically  attrac- 
tive, makes  it  a  suitable  loca- 
tion for  a  Grace  Brethren 
Church. 

Not  unlike  its  ancient  Ara- 
bian namesakes.  Medina  is 
also  a  "very  religious"  city,  with 
more  than  twenty  churches. 
However,  despite  the  number 


By  Dan  Najimian,  Pastor 
Medina,  OH  Grace  Brethren  Church 

of  churches,  the  community 
desperately  needs  to  hear  the 
Gospel  of  salvation  through 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  that 
burning  spiritual  need  which 
prompted  the  decision  to 
establish  the  Medina  Grace 
Brethren  Church. 

The  Medina  work  began  as 
a  Bible  Study  in  the  winter  of 
1983  under  the  direction  of  Ike 
Graham  (who,  with  his  family, 
is  currently  in  language  study 
in  Japan,  preparing  for  a  church 
planting  ministry  with  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions). 
The  ministry  began  to  grow, 
and  by  summer,  the  people 
began  to  think  seriously  about 
forming  a  local  church.  It  soon 
became  evident  this  was  the 
direction  which  the  Lord  was 
leading  the  group  (most  of 
whom  were  already  commit- 
ted Grace  Brethren). 

That  fall  they  began  to  con- 
sider candidates  for  pastor.  At 
the  end  of  January,  1984  they 
voted,  and  "the  lot  fell  upon" 
Dan  Najimian.  Graham  stayed 
with  the  group  through  the 
first  Sunday  morning  service, 
which  was  held  on  March  11, 
1984. 


Perhaps  one  of  the  more 
noteworthy  aspects  of  the 
church  has  been  the  meeting 
places  themselves.  It  was  their 
desire  from  the  beginning  to 
hold  both  Sunday  morning 
and  evening  services,  as  well  as 
some  kind  of  midweek 
meeting. 

As  a  Bible  study,  the  group 
had  been  renting  an  old  Bap- 
tist church  building.  They  con- 
tinued to  meet  there  when 
Sunday  services  began,  using 
the  facility  on  Sunday  evenings 
for  prayer  meetings.  In  order  to 
avoid  additional  rental  charges, 
the  group  met  in  the  home  of 
Alex  and  Bertha  Caesar  for  Bi- 
ble studies  on  Wednesday 
nights. 

Things  began  to  change 
when  the  Baptist  church  sold 
their  building  to  the  City  of 
Medina.  At  the  beginning  of 
July,  the  city  announced  plans 
to  demolish  the  structure  to 
make  way  for  a  parking  lot. 
This  forced  the  Grace  Brethren 
congregation  to  begin  to  hold 
Sunday  morning  services  in  a 
local  elementary  school.  Sun- 
day evening  meetings  were 
held  in  the  pastor's  home  in 
order  to  avoid  prohibitive  ren- 
tal costs  (along  with  their  room 
rental  charge,  the  school  re- 
quires an  on-duty  custodian  at 
more  than  $14  hour). 

As  the  congregation  looked 
for  a  new  meeting  place,  a 
rather  promising  prospect  turn- 
ed up.  The  local  YMCA  had 
recently  purchased  a  house 
which  they  planned  to 
renovate  and  expand  with  a 
small  auditorium.  When  in- 


16 


FEBRUARY  '85 


GBHMC 


Members  of  the  Medina.  Ohio.  Grace  Brethren  Church 


quiry  was  made,  the  director 
said  they  would  be  pleased  to 
let  the  fledgling  church  use 
their  newly  acquired  building 
and  the  rental  fee  would  be 
very  reasonable.  Plans  were 
made  that  the  congregation 
would  begin  meeting  in  this 
new  location  in  early  1985. 

To  summarize  the  progress  of 
the  Medina  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  the  work  has  been 
slow.  Medina  is  a  friendly  com- 
munity, but  so  far  there  has 
been  no  overwhelming 
response  to  the  Gospel.  This 
fall  the  visitation  ministry  was 
stepped  up,  and  the  church  is 
praying  that  God  will  begin  to 
open  people's  hearts  to  His 
word. 

The  church  continues  to 
maintain  an  active  WMC 
group,  and  in  October  the 
pastor  began  a  discipleship 
ministry  with  Alex  Caesar  and 
Gene  High,  two  of  his  key 
men. 

The  following  have  been  the 
highlights  in  the  history  of  the 
Medina  Grace  Brethren 
Church. 

-  Baptismal  services  were 
held  at  the  Rittman.  Ohio 
Grace  Brethren  Church  on 
May  20,  (five  baptisms). 
and  September  23  (six 
baptisms). 


-  An  informal  "foreign 
missions  conference" 
with  Rev.  Jack  Zielasko,  of 
Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions,  as  the  guest 
speaker  was  held 
November  14. 

-  First  official  three  fold 
communion  service  was 
held  with  the  Elyria, 
Ohio.  Grace  Brethren 
Church  at  their  church. 
November  18. 

-  Special  missions  speak- 
ers, Jim  and  Pam  Mer- 
chant, radio  missionaries 
with  Trans  World  Radio 
were  present  on  Nov- 
ember 25. 


The  Medina  congregation 
has  also  appreciated  oppor- 
tunities to  fellowship  with 
some  of  the  other  established 
Grace  Brethren  Churches  in  the 
Northeast  Ohio  District. 

The  greatest  need  presently 
is  to  have  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest  raise  up  more  faithful 
workers  and  send  them  into 
the  harvest  fields  of  Medina 
with  us  (Matt.  9:38).  In  a  "very 
religious"  city  like  Medina,  it 
will  take  a  spirited  church 
made  up  of  people  with  a  vi- 
sion in  order  to  win  souls  for 
Christ  and  to  grow. 


Pastor  Dan  Najimian  and  church  member  Alex  Caesar  at  the  Ella  Canavan  Grade 
School  where  the  Medina  Grace  Brethren  Church  met  on  Sundays  earlier  this  year 


GBHMC 


FEBRUARY  '85 


17 


BEING  LIKE  CHRIS' 


Sermon 
Month  CQ 


By  Ernest  L.  Usher,  Pastor 

East  Atlanta  Grace  Brethren  Church 

Atlanta,  Georgia 


It  is  a  common  fact  that  we  as  Christians  desire  so  much  from  God.  Yet, 
I  often  wonder  how  many  times  we  stop  to  ask  ourselves  what  God  desires 
most  from  us. 

Many  answers  have  been  given  by  various  Christians  as  to  what  God  does 
desire.  We  are  told  He  wants  us  to  bring  Him  honor  and  glory:  to  evangelize 
the  world,  and  to  be  great  prayer  warriors.  And  the  list  goes  on  and  on. 

Unfortunately,  I  believe  that  for  many  of  us  these  are  just  pat  answers,  given 
without  much  thought  about  what  they  really  mean.  They  are  also  too 
general  and  too  broad  to  fully  answer  a  question  for  those  of  us  who  need 
a  specific  answer. 

But  is  there  a  more  specific  answer?  I  believe  there  is! 

Romans  8:29  reads.  "For  those  God  foreknew  He  also  predestined  to  be 
conformed  to  the  likeness  of  His  Son.  that  He  might  be  the  firstborn  among 
many  brothers."  I  John  3:2  tells  us  that  we  will  be  like  Christ  when  we  see 
Him.  II  Corinthians  3:18  also  informs  us  that  we  are  being  transformed  into 
Christ's  likeness.  These  and  like  verses  clearly  point  out  that  the  ultimate 
desire  of  God  for  Christians  is  that  we  become  like  Christ. 

This  is  not  some  pat  answer  because  in  His  word  God  has  given  us  a  specific 
picture  of  what  Christ  is  like.  We  see  Christ  Himself  in  the  gospels  and  His 
characteristics  are  noted  in  the  lives  of  various  people  in  the  Scriptures. 

In  Luke  2:25.  we  confront  Simeon,  who  I  believe  is  a  splendid  example 
of  Christlikeness.  Little  is  known  about  this  man.  The  only  mention  of  him 
is  in  this  passage,  yet  in  this  brief  appearance,  he  exhibits  four  characteristics 
of  Christlikeness. 

As  we  examine  this  passage  we  see  that  Simeon  was  a  righteous  man. 
I  believe  this  signifies  that  he  did  what  was  right  towards  other  men. 

Secondly,  he  was  like  Christ  in  that  he  was  devout.  This  word  means  to 
take  hold  of  something  well,  carefully  or  reverently.  Simeon  apparently  was 
a  man  who  was  careful  about  his  religious  duties.  Essentially,  he  was  careful 
to  see  that  he  obeyed  God. 

Thirdly,  we  notice  that  Simeon  was  a  man  of  hope.  He  was  waiting  for 
the  consolation  of  Israel.  The  pattern  of  words  conveys  the  idea  that  he  placed 
all  his  hopes  for  Israel  in  God's  promise  of  a  coming  Messiah.  He  was  ready 
to  believe  God's  promises  and  live  according  to  them,  although  many  Jews 
during  that  time  had  given  up  hope  of  a  coming  Messiah. 

Lastly,  we  observe  that  Simeon  was  like  Christ  in  that  he  was  a  Spirit-filled 
man.  This  last  element  probably  explains  to  a  large  degree  the  other  three 
elements  of  his  character.  Without  the  filling  of  the  Spirit,  it  is  almost  im- 
possible for  one  to  be  righteous,  devout,  or  convicted  of  a  Messianic  hope. 

It  is  time  for  Christians  to  realize  that  God  is  interested  in  developing 
character  in  our  lives.  God  desires  us  to  be  men  and  women  of  great  character 
Before  He  can  use  us  to  win  the  world  for  Christ,  we  must  first  be  Christians 
whose  character  speaks  louder  than  our  tongue. 

Are  we  committed  to  doing  what  is  right  toward  others,  regardless  of  who 
it  is  or  how  hard  it  is  to  do?  Are  we  careful  about  our  responsibilities  as  Chris- 
tians? How  concerned  are  we  about  our  church  attendance  or  about  our  devo- 
tional life?  Do  we  live  as  if  we  truly  believe  in  our  hope  of  a  returning  Lord 
and  Saviour?  And  most  importantly,  are  we  filled  with  the  Spirit?  Do  we  ex- 
hibit in  our  lives  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  —  love,  joy.  peace,  patience,  kind- 
ness, goodness,  faithfulness,  gentleness,  and  self-control?  (Gal.  5:22,23) 

How  we  answer  this  last  question  is  vastly  important  because  we  will  never 
develop  great  character  through  our  own  efforts.  We  can  only  develop 
character  to  the  same  degree  that  we  rely  upon  the  Spirit.  It  can  be  honestly 
said  that,  if  our  lives  as  Christians  are  to  be  pleasing  to  God  we  must  be 
righteous,  devout,  living  for  Christ's  second  coming,  and  filled  with  the  Spirit. 


Fresh  Hope  at  Hope 


Pastor  Jack  and  Judy  Galle 


by  Jack  Galle,  Pastor 

Grace  Brethren  Church 

Hope,  New  Jersey 

On  any  Sunday  morning,  at 
9:25.  in  Hope.  New  Jersey,  you 
may  witness  a  sight  that  was 
familiar  in  the  old  west-a  caravan. 
But  this  caravan  is  comprised  of 
late-model  cars,  not  covered 
wagons.  Believers  leave  their 
desert  experience  of  the  week  for 
an  oasis-Sunday  school  at  the 
Grace  Brethren  Church. 

By  9:30.  the  building  is  full  of  ex- 
citement and  warmth.  The  people 
exchange  some  small  talk  and 
then  go  to  their  classes.  With 
questions,  comments,  and  gen- 
uine care  being  exchanged.  The 
lesson  applies  to  life  as  it  really  is! 
When  the  teacher  is  finished,  the 
lesson  is  not.  Believers  share  with 
each  other  about  what  God  is  do- 
ing in  their  lives.  Struggles  and 
burdens  are  shared,  laughter  is 
soon  heard.  Fellowship  is  real  in 
the  lives  of  these  people 

After  Sunday  school,  everyone 
grabs  a  pastry  and  a  cup  of  coffee. 
Visitors  are  welcomed  as  they  get 
in  the  door.  A  real  effort  is  made 
to  be  cordial  and  helpful.  This  is 
people  reaching  out  to  people. 

During  the  service  you  can  feel 
these  people  have  assembled  to 
worship  the  King!  There  is 
warmth  about  the  service  that  is 
felt  by  all.  The  new  pastor,  Jack 
Galle,  challenges  the  people  to  be 
different.  During  the  prayer,  you 
grab  the  hands  of  the  people  on 
your  right  and  left,  showing  the 
unity  shared  as  a  body  of 
believers. 

Two  hours  later,  you  have  finish- 
ed a  great  barbecue  on  the  lake. 
Oh,  the  painful  memory  of  the  Bi- 
ble's teaching  about  gluttony. 
Well,  that  is  an  area  you  need 
growth— spiritual  growth,  that  is. 
The  physical  growth  is  obvious  at 
the  waistline.  The  pastor  is  in  the 

(continued  on  page  22) 


GBHMC 


FEBRUARY  '85 


19 


As  a  result  of  estate  planning  interviews  since 
National  Conference,  52  individuals  or  families 
have  made  decisions  to  include  their  local  chur- 
ches in  their  wills,  which  would  total  about 
$250,000  based  on  the  present  size  of  the  estates 
involved. 

Upon  coming  into  the  Stewardship  Ministry  in 
January  1984,  1  experienced  confusion  and 
frustration  with  knowing  what  specifically  was 
being  accomplished.  Even  though  we  were  able 
to  answer  questions  for  individuals  concerning 
what  should  be  done  about  their  wills,  some  of 
the  technical  points  to  be  considered,  how  they 
would  want  to  consider  God's  work  in  their  will, 
and  many  other  personal  questions,  there  didn't 
seem  to  be  any  meaningful  way  of  knowing  what 
was  accomplished.  In  talking  with  some  of  the 
other  former  Stewardship  representative's  wives, 
it  was  learned  that  they  too  had  experienced  the 
same  frustrations. 

Even  though  many  of  the  people  who  were 
counselled  had  signed  letters  indicating  their  in- 
tent to  include  God's  work  in  their  will,  many 
times  we  had  found  that  they  had  never  actual- 
ly completed  their  will.  Often  it  had  been  two, 
three,  or  more  years  since  they  had  met  with 
Stewardship  representative. 

In  searching  for  a  solution  to  help  the  people 
we  met  with  actually  complete  their  wills,  we 
discovered  a  system  used  by  several  other 
denominations  which  followed  the  four  P's  of 
estate  planning.  These  are,  the  PEOPLE  you  are 
interested  in,  the  PROPERTY  or  assets  that  would 
be  available  for  distribution  at  death,  what  are 
your  PLANS  for  distributing  the  property  to  the 
people.  And  finally,  who  are  the  PLANNERS  you 
need  to  help  you  effectively  carry  out  your 
PLANS. 


20 


FEBRUARY  '85 


GBHMC 


LOCAL  CHURCHES 

TO  RECEIVE 

$250,000 

by 

Russel  H.  Dunlap 

Stewardship  Director 


Usually  there  was  little  problem  with  the  PEO- 
PLE to  be  considered  in  the  will.  However,  when 
putting  in  the  new  system  immediately  follow- 
ing National  Conference  we  soon  learned  the 
PROPERTY,  or  the  net  assets  available  for 
distribution,  was  not  at  all  clear.  This  made  it  dif- 
ficult to  make  effective  PLANS.  In  examining 
numerous  wills,  we  are  finding  very  few  which 
really  represent  the  desires  of  the  people  once 
they  understand  the  possible  property  involved 
to  be  distributed.  This  information  was  learned 
through  the  estate  planning/will  interviews  with 
62  family  units  where  the  size  of  the  estate  in- 
cluding life  insurance  to  be  left  by  the  husband 
and  wife  or  single  person  average  about  $108,000. 

Of  the  62  family  units  completed  since  starting 
this  new  system,  all  have  wanted  to  include  God's 
work  in  their  will  at  an  appropriate  time.  Fifty- 
two  of  the  total,  from  12  different  churches,  in- 
dicated a  desire  to  include  their  local  church  in 
their  will.  Based  on  the  present  size  of  the  estates 
involved,  the  amount  to  be  left  to  the  local  chur- 
ches would  be  about  $250,000.  Fifty-six  families 
indicated  they  desire  to  include  Foreign  Missions 
in  their  wills  for  a  total  in  excess  of  $400,000. 
Home  Missions  will  be  included  in  50  of  the  wills 
for  about  $359,000.  Grace  Schools  and  other 
organizations  are  mentioned  in  16  of  the  wills  for 
over  $80,000.  In  total,  these  62  individuals  could 
eventually  leave  more  than  one  million  dollars 
to  God's  work  as  a  result  of  the  estate  plan- 
ning/will interviews. 

We  praise  God  for  the  response  and  generosi- 
ty of  the  members  and  friends  of  our  Grace 
Brethren  Churches.  One  couple  who  were  inter- 
viewed had  recently  completed  a  new  will  and 
expressed  a  desire  to  have  it  redone  to  include 
the  Lord  in  their  will.  Their  comment 

(continued  on  page  22) 


Build  A 
Nest  Egg 

For  God 


A  deposit  in  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 
will  not  only  help  you  meet  personal  financial  goals,  it 
will  create  a  nest  egg  to  help  in  the  Lord's  work.  Funds 
placed  in  the  GBIF  are  used  to  help  growing  Grace 
Brethren  churches  construct  new  facilities  and  purchase 
needed  equipment  —  at  a  cost  below  commercial  loan 
rates. 

Build  a  nest  egg  for  the  Lord  with  an  investment  in  the 
GBIF! 


Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 

Box  587  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
(219)  267-5161 


Fresh  Hope  at  Hope 

(continued  from  page  19) 

lake  with  a  husband  and  wife 
who  have  recendy  come  to  Christ. 
As  they  give  testimony  to  what 
God  has  done  in  their  lives,  their 
brothers  and  sisters  in  Christ  re- 
joice with  them.  They  are  baptiz- 
ed and  brought  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  church.  With 
their  jeans  soaking  wet,  everyone 
greets  them  with  an  embrace. 
Now  everyone  is  wet.  or  at  least 
a  bit  soggy.  There  is  real  joy  that 
permeates  this  day.  The  adults 
and  youth  spend  time  together 
swimming  in  the  lake,  playing 
badminton,  or  just  taking  a 
snooze  under  the  shade  tree. 

Congratulations!  You  have  just 
spent  a  day  with  a  group  of  grow- 
ing Christians  at  Hope,  located 
one  mile  off  Interstate  80.  Minutes 
away  from  famous  honeymoon 
resorts  in  the  Pocono  Mountains, 
this  is  a  beautiful  part  of  the 
Garden  State.  Forty  minutes  to 
the  east  is  the  World-Trade  Center. 
There  is  a  growing  population 
shift  away  from  New  York  City  to 
this  more  rural  area,  a  bedroom 
community  for  New  York  City.  It 
is  at  the  same  time  affluent,  due 
to  the  high  calibre  of  professional 
people;  and  also  poor,  due  to  the 
endless  liberal  churches  in  the 
area.  One  things  stands  assured: 
Jesus  said.  "I  will  build  my 
Church."  He  is  at  work. 

January  13  was  another  time  of 
celebration.  That  was  the  date 
that  the  church  celebrated  going 
self-supporting.  Ten  years  and 
four  pastors  after  its  founding, 
this  was  a  time  to  praise  God  for 
what  He  has  done,  and  to  believe 
that  He  will  continue  to  do  greater 
things  in  the  future.  We  thank 
God  for  using  the  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions  Council  and  the 
Northern  Atlantic  District  Mission 
Board.  They  have  been  invaluable 
to  the  church  during  those  times 
of  difficulty  that  every  church 
goes  through.  As  we  anticipated 
this  great  occasion,  we  were 
reminded  of  the  word  etched  in 
Nehemiah  2:18,  "Let  us  arise  and 
build." 

There  is  indeed  fresh  hope  at 
Hope! 


Ig^i 

1  M    -    " 

'j-  — JKv-                 

^^*  "I^VV^jj 

Speaks  To  College  Students  -  Pastor  William  Tweeddale,  of  the 
Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  —  Suntree,  Melbourne,  Fla., 
shares  about  his  ministry  during  chapel  services  at  Grace  Col- 
lege on  January  24.  as  part  of  a  special  Home  Missions  emphasis 
at  Grace  Schools,  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  Also  sharing  about  their 
church  planting  experiences  were  Pastor  Brian  Smith,  of  River- 
side, Calif..  Pastor  Warren  Tamkin,  of  Frederick,  Md.,  and  Dr. 
Lester  E.  Pifer,  executive  secretary  for  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions Council.  The  special  week  was  sponsored  by  the  Council. 


Port  Richey  Dedicates  Building  —  The  Gulf  View  Community 
Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Port  Richey,  Fla.,  recently  dedicated 
their  new  facility.  A  former  Home  Mission  point,  the  church  is 
located  near  the  Ja-Mar  Trailer  Park,  where  the  congregation  first 
met.  Rev.  James  Poyner  is  the  pastor. 


Local  Churches  Receive  $250,000 

(continued  from  page  20) 


was,  "We  just  didn't  think  about 
it!".  In  speaking  with  a  Christian 
attorney  in  one  of  the  eastern 
states,  he  stated  that  in  counsel- 
ling individuals  about  wills,  he 
sends  about  half  the  people  away 
with  the  indication  they  do  not 
really  need  a  will  as  the  states  ver- 
sion is  adequate  for  their  situa- 
tion. There  is  no  way  you  can 
honor  God  for  the  way  He  has 
blessed  you  in  your  life  without 
making  a  will  and  specifically  in- 


cluding a  portion  of  your  assets 
designated  for  your  local  church 
and  missions. 

Do  you  know  and  understand 
what  your  will  really  says?  I  find 
that  many  people  don't!  Also, 
have  you  adequately  honored 
God  in  your  will  for  His  blessings 
upon  your  life? 

Editors  Note  —  For  further  information 
regarding  the  content  of  your  will,  contact 
Russel  Dunlap.  Grace  Brethren  Missions 
Stewardship  Service.  Box  587.  Winona 
Lake.  Ind.  46590,  (219)  267-5161 


!=22 


FEBRUARY  '85 


GBHMC 


(Photo  by  Marian  Fenn 


ORANGE  CITY  BREAKS  GROUND 

The  Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Orange  City. 
Fla.,  broke  ground  on  October  27.  1984  for  their  new 
facility  on  Howland  Boulevard.  Rev.  Thomas  Hickey 
of  the  Ormond  Beach,  FL,  Grace  Brethren  Church  was 
the  guest  speaker.  Pictured  are  the  building  commit- 
tee with  the  plans  and  a  model  of  the  proposed 
building.  From  left  to  right  are  Mike  Luddeni,  con- 
tractor; Vern  Latham,  superintendent  of  job  and  coor- 
dinator-. Clay  Hadley-,  Barbara  Heckert.  treasurer;  Den- 
nis Heckert;  Bill  Matthews;  Bill  Tugend;  and  Pastor 
Kenneth  Koontz. 

WEDDINGS  ANNOUNCED 

Wedding  bells  have  sounded  for  several  individuals 
in  Home  Mission  ministries. 

Warren  Tamkin,  pastor  of  the  Home  Mission  work 
at  Frederick,  Md..  married  Lois  Pryor  on  November 
23  during  a  ceremony  at  Hagerstown.  Md,,  The 
newlyweds  are  residing  at  1412  Rolling  House  Drive, 
Frederick,  Md.,  21701. 

On  December  15.  Terrie  Peffley  and  Wayne  Aites, 
of  the  Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission  staff,  were  mar- 
ried at  Myerstown,  PA..  Her  pastor,  Rev.  Luke  Kauff- 
man,  who  is  also  president  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions  board  of  directors,  officiated  at  the 
ceremony. 

Terrie  has  been  supervising  the  girls'  dorm,  while 
Wayne  has  been  a  part  of  the  maintenance  staff.  Both 
will  continue  their  respective  ministries  at  the  mis- 
sion in  Counselor,  N.Mex.. 

REILLY  BEGINS  LEXINGTON  MINISTRY 

Pastor  Al  Reilly  has  begun  his  ministry  with  the 
Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Lexington,  Ky.  He  and  his 
family  arrived  on  the  field  in  mid-January. 

A  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Reilly  has  been  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  Suburban  Grace  Brethren  Church 
in  Hatboro,  Pa.,  while  a  student  at  Biblical  Theological 


Seminary,  also  located  in  Philadelphia.  He  has  also 
serve  with  Campus  Crusade  for  Christ  and  Lakeside 
Christian  Service,  and  as  a  youth  pastor. 

Reilly  is  also  a  graduate  of  Temple  University. 
Philadelphia.  Pa.,  with  a  B.A.  degree  in  sociology. 

He  and  his  wife.  Linda,  have  three  children. 
Elizabeth,  five,  Sarah,  two  and  Daniel,  two  months. 

PASTOR  FOR  FIRST  GBC  IN  MAINE 

The  first  Grace 
Brethren  church  in  the 
state  of  Maine  has  kick- 
ed off. the  new  year 
with  the  arrival  of  their 
first  full-time  pastor, 
Darrel  Taylor.  Taylor, 
the  former  pastor  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  at 
Sidney.  Ind.,  began  his  ministry  on  January  1. 

The  Brunswick  church  has  been  meeting  since  ear- 
ly July.  Rev.  Jim  Hunt,  missionary  church  planter  for 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions,  drove  each  week  to 
Brunswick  from  his  home  in  Saratoga  Springs,  NY. 
to  lead  the  services  in  rented  facilities  near  the 
downtown  area. 

In  addition  to  being  the  first  Grace  Brethren  Church 
in  the  Pine  Tree  State,  the  Brunswick  group  is  also 
the  first  new  point  to  receive  financial  support  in  1985 
from  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council. 
Also  assisting  in  the  support  of  the  church  is  the 
North  Atlantic  District  Mission  Board. 

Taylor  is  not  new  to  the  Brunswick  area,  having 
served  there  as  an  officer  with  the  U.S.  Navy  Corp  of 
Civil  Engineers  in  the  early  1970s. 

The  new  pastor  is  a  1971  graduate  of  Auburn  Univer- 
sity with  a  degree  in  civil  engineering.  In  1981,  he 
received  a  M.  Div.  degree  from  Grace  Theological 
Seminary.  Winona  Lake,  Ind.. 

He  pastored  the  Sidney  Grace  Brethren  Church  from 
1982  to  1984,  and  is  also  active  in  the  Navy  Reserve 
program. 

He  and  his  wife,  Carolyne,  have  two  children,  Jesse 
Nathanial,  eight;  and  Joshua  Aaron,  six. 

NEW  PASTOR  AT  LIMA 

Emory  R.  (Zeke)  Young  has  been  called  to  minister 
at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Lima,  Ohio.  He  began 
his  ministry  there  in  mid-January. 

Young  is  a  recent  graduate  of  Grace  Theological 
Seminary  in  Winona  Lake,  Ind..  For  the  last  year,  he 
has  served  as  administrative  assistant  at  the  Com- 
munity Grace  Brethren  Church,  Warsaw.  Ind.,  where 
he  was  also  a  member. 

A  native  of  Charleston.  W  Va.,  Young  received  a  B.A. 
degree  in  business  administration  from  St.  Andrews 
Presbyterian  College  in  Laurinburg.  N.C.  in  1975.  He 
received  a  M.  Div.  degree  from  Grace  Seminary. 

He  and  his  wife,  Marsha,  have  two  children.  Leah 
Nicole,  two  and  Allison  Michelle,  one. 


GBHMC 


FEBRUARY  '85 


23 


Ethel  Anderson  carries  it  in  her 
purse.  Smaller  than  a  fingertip,  it 
reminds  her  of  God's  greatness. 
Lighter  than  down,  it  speaks  of  a  heavy 
burden  removed.  As  delicate  as  tissue, 
it  tells  her  of  God's  everlasting 
promises. 

It  is  a  strange  thing  to  carry  in  a  purse. 
In  a  tube,  floating  in  liquid,  unlabeled, 
barely  visible.  Although  tiny  and 
umimposing,  it  used  to  be  no  small 
thing  with  Ethel  Anderson.  For  years 
and  years,  it  made  her  question  God. 

"Down-up.  down-up,  down."  Ethel 
Anderson  looks  over  thick  reading 
glasses.  She  is  caught  up,  as  so  often  is 
the  case,  in  music.  There  is  that  look 
in  her  eyes.  "Down-up.  down-up, 
down,"  she  says  over  the  voice  of 
violas.  "You've  got  to  get  that  pattern 
down  in  your  head.  Down-up,  down- 
up,  down." 

It  is  a  curious-looking  string  section  that 
Ethel  Anderson  is  conducting.  Some 


Ethel  prepares  for  Handel's   "Messiah" 


wear  gray  suit  vests.  Others  sweat 
pants.  Some  high-top  Nikes,  others 
argyle  socks.  Some  wear  paisley  shirts, 
others  Wranglers.  There  is  gray  hair 
and  cracking  voices,  grandmothers  and 
papergirls,  college  students  and  com- 
munity members. 

Together,  they  praise  the  Lord  with 
one  voice  or  bows  on  string.  The 
chords  from  Handel's  "Messiah"  fill 
the  room. 

Ethel  Anderson,  bold  as  her  red 
sweater,  is  in  her  element.  "Down-up, 
down-up.  down,"  she  shouts  over  a 
rising  sound.  "Listen  to  it." 

Ethel  Anderson  has  devoted  much  of 
her  life  to  music.  Before  being  saved, 
it  was  nearly  her  God.  After  her  con- 
version, and  only  gradually,  it  became 
a  gift  to  return  to  the  giver. 
Since  the  age  of  eight  when  her  first 
violin  cost  $25,  she  has  spent  coundess 
hours  with  priceless  music.  She  has 
performed  with  several  orchestras  on 


24 


FEBRUARY  '85 


GRACE 


he  east  coast,  as  well  as  Wheaton 
academy,  Illinois  All-State  and  Man- 
hester  to  name  a  few. 
a  college  two  important  events  took 
lace:  her  salvation  and  her  marriage 
d  Richard.  The  first  changed  her  at- 
tude;  the  second  her  location, 
he  moved  to  Winona  Lake  to  join  her 
usband,  a  seminary  student  at  Grace, 
ler  attitude  about  music  had  also 
hanged.  It  was,  she  says,  a  slow,  pain- 
rl  change. 

\  Christian  views  music  in  a  different 
erspective,"  she  says.  "To  a  Christian 
:  is  a  gift.  A  gift  not  only  to  be  enjoyed 
ut  to  give  honor  to  God.  I  find  music 
d  be  the  highest  form  of  that." 
lusic  she  says,  is  a  gift  of  great  value. 
Music  is  filled  with  great  energy  and 
motions,"  she  says.  "As  a  Christian  the 
lusic  revolves  around  your  relation- 
hip  with  the  Lord  —  where  do  you  get 
our  energy  and  what  reason  do  you 
ave  for  being  happy?  But  I  don't  often 
link  of  it  (music)  as  being  worshipful, 

guess    I'm   just   not   that   pious, 
ometimes  I  just  plain  enjoy  it  because 

speaks  of  existence." 


I'm  interested  in  an  orchestra 
tiat  is  going  to  be  used  to 
rain  performers  and  expose 
udiences  to  more  and  more 
f  the  great  music.  We  take 
tie  musicians  we  have  and 
ill  them  to  stretch." 

,nd  for  Ethel  Anderson,  it  was  a  gift 
lat  was  almost  taken  away, 
hortly  after  her  marriage,  an  ear 
pecialist  told  her  that  she  would 
ecome  deaf.  And  in  a  short  time.  An 
merited  disease  of  the  ears  was  get- 
ng  worse.  "He  said  I  just  wouldn't 
ear,"  Ethel  says.  "He  told  me  that  hear- 
lg  aids  wouldn't  do  me  any  good." 
thel  Anderson  was  angry.  Real  angry, 
t  remember  being  very  angry  with 
jpd,"  she  says.  "I  had  spent  so  much 
me  with  strings  and  it  meant  so  much 
3  me.  I  felt  that  God  had  goofed,  that 
e  really  didn't  know  what  he  was  do- 
lg  and  that  he  was  not  playing  fairly." 
or  a  while,  she  gave  up  music,  and 
?treated,    with    her    anger,    inside 


Ethel  conducts  with  emotion,  energy  and  enthusiasm. 

herself.  She  was,  she  says  becoming  bit- 
ter and  tense,  but  surviving.  Only  with 
the  encouragement  of  her  husband, 
Richard,  did  she  go  to  another  doctor 
to  be  tested  for  hearing  aids. 

The  doctor  said  the  hearing  aids  might 
work,  so  she  was  fitted  for  two  "huge" 
aids.  Although  the  sound  was  metallic, 
chemical,  and  filled  with  clatter,  she 
could  still  hear. 

Even  though  she  now  considers  it 
"rather  bold,"  she  continued  her  music 
and  styled  her  hair  over  her  ears. 

Ethel  Anderson  always  had  this 
dream.  Ever  since  she  started  teaching 
mathematics  and  music  at  Grace  in 
1968,  she  wanted  to  start  an  orchestra 
using  members  of  the  college  and  the 
community. 

Three  years  ago,  she  started  an  ensem- 
ble of  eight  people.  A  year  later,  she 
added  flutes  and  a  harp  and  sold  out 
the  Little  Theater.  Last  spring,  she  final- 
ly had  a  full  orchestra. 
It  was,  she  says,  a  difficult  task.  "It 
caught  on  slowly,"  she  says.  "People 
don't  think  about  orchestras  too  much 
here.  One  the  east  coast,  it  was  just  a 
way  of  life." 

Ethel  Anderson,  a  calculating  thinker, 
began  planning  to  sell  her  idea. 

One  lady  she  knew,  for  example,  was 
in  her  60s  and  used  to  play  the  violin 
years  and  years  ago.  Ethel  sugested  that 
she  might  try  the  viola  since  it  was  less 
difficult  to  play.  The  only  problem  was 
that  she  didn't  have  a  viola.  But  Ethel 
did.  She  traded  drapes  for  a  viola. 
She  lent  other  instruments  to  other 
community  members.  She  recruited  at 
junior  high  and  high  schools. 
The  idea  was  to  aim  for  profes- 
sionalism. But  that  was  not  the  main 
goal.  The  orchestra  was  to  provide 
music. 


"If  I  were  going  to  have  an  orchestra 
in  town  just  to  give  polished  perfor- 
mances, then  I  would  not  be  all  that  ex- 
cited about  it.  I'm  interested  in  an  or- 
chestra that  is  going  to  be  used  to  train 
performers  and  expose  audiences  to 
more  and  more  of  the  great  music.  We 
take  the  musicians  we  have  and  tell 
them  to  stretch." 

Ethel  Anderson  started  the  orchestra 
with  high  hopes  and  two  huge  hearing 
aids.  She  still  has  high  hopes.  The  hear- 
ing aids  are  gone. 

Last  January,  surgery  restored  Ethel 
Anderson's  hearing  in  one  ear.  In  a 
risky  surgery  that  had  better  chances  to 
fail  than  succeed,  doctors  removed  a 
tiny  diseased  stapes  bone  and  replac- 
ed it  with  a  piece  of  platinum.  She 
discarded  the  hearing  aids  she  had 
worn  for  about  30  years. 

It  was  the  end,  she  says,  of  a  struggle 
that  taught  her  many  lessons. 

First  of  all,  she  says.  Christians  have  no 
right  to  ask  for  only  comfort.  "We  have 
no  right  as  God's  children  to  say,  'Give 
me  all  the  good.'  We  had  a  daughter 
that  got  very  sick  and  they  thought  it 
might  be  leukemia.  The  tests  came 
back  negative  and  someone  said,  'Isn't 
the  Lord  gracious?'  I  thought  to  myself, 
'Would    the    Lord    have    been    less 


Gone  is  the  metallic,  clattered 
sound  of  the  hearing  aids. 
Here  to  stay  is  the  rhythm  of 
the  heart. 

gracious  if  it  would  have  been 
leukemia?'  Absolutely  not. 

"The  Lord  has  taught  me  many  things 
and  dealt  with  many  things  that  need- 
ed to  be  removed  from  my  life  —  pride, 
a  haughty  spirit  and  other  things  —  by 
the  things  that  I  have  been  through. 

"We  are  told  to  rejoice  in  our  sufferings. 
Well,  I  can't  say  that  I  rejoice  in  suffer- 
ing —  I  haven't  come  to  that  point  in  my 
spiritual  maturity  yet.  But  I  can  say, 
God,  I  know  you  are  going  to  work  this 
out  and  that  I  am  going  to  look  back 
at  it  and  say  'I  know  why  this  happen- 
ed.' If  not  in  this  life,  then  in  the  next." 

"God  is  a  gracious  God.  God  is  more  in- 
terested in  my  development  than  in  my 
(continued  on  page  28) 


GRACE 


FEBRUARY  '85 


25 


Niagara  Falls,  Canada,  to  Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania,  is  a  long  way 
for  lunch.  But  on  a  Monday  after- 
noon in  the  middle  of  fall,  that's 
exactly  what  Sterling  Gunn  and 
his  family  did. 

"We  enjoy  it  quite  a  bit,"  Gunn 
says.  "We've  been  here  three  or 
four  times.  The  food  is  great." 

Others  at  the  table  are  from  New 
Jersey,  New  York  and  Ohio. 

The  restaurant  is  known  as 
Good-N-Plenty.  It  is  big  business. 
A  seating  capacity  of  670,  more 
tables  than  a  school  cafeteria, 
about  as  many  square  feet  as  a 
football  field,  a  staff  of  280,  serv- 
ing up  to  2,000  meals  a  day,  a 


•urpose 


bakery  which  always  hints  of 
Shoo-Fly  pie,  a  gift  shop  which 
sells  everything  from  Smurfs  to 

We  want  to  make  people 
feel  like  family,"  Dolly 
says.  "Part  of  the  fun  is 
getting  to  know  the  peo- 
ple." 

pewter,  a  lobby  with  an  old-time 
fire  engine,  and  a  waiting  line, 
sometimes,  running  into  hours. 

But,  regardless  of  size,  the 
restaurant  reminds  one  of  home. 
Or  better,  Grandma's  home. 


There  is  not  a  piece  of  plastic  in 
sight,  only  bricks  and  fires. 
Styrofoam  is  unpardonable.  The 
smell  is  a  mixture  of  basted  beef, 
boullion  and  Aunt  Bea's.  Set  in 
Amish  country,  in  a  century-old 
Amish  house,  the  charm  is  as 
natural  as  apple  pie. 

And  about  the  Apple  pie.  And 
the  roast  beef.  And  the  noodles. 
And  the  corn.  And  the  ham.  And 
the  mashed  potatoes.  And  the 
chicken.  And  the  apple  butter. 
And  the  home-made  bread  .  .  .  and 
it  keeps  coming,  bowl  after  bowl, 
plate  after  plate,  and  one  gets  this 
picture  of  several  crazed  grand- 
mothers in  the  kitchen  who  refuse 


26 


FEBRUARY  '85 


GRACE 


to  stop  cooking. 

Chris  Lapp  used  to  be  a  farmer. 
He  had  no  degree  and  was  content 
working  the  land.  A  wife,  a  couple 
of  cows,  and  a  few  acres.  Perhaps 
while  planting,  a  seed,  a  thought, 
was  sown  in  his  head.  The  Lan- 
caster area,  rich  in  history  and 
beauty,  did  not  offer  enough  in  the 
way  of  tourism.  Chris  Lapp  left  his 
plows. 

Lapp,  a  trustee  of 
Grace  Schools, 

started  a'bus  tour  line 
in  1969.  After  10 
years  of  that,  he  saw 
that  a  restaurant 
might  succeed.  But  it 
had  to  be  the  right 
kind.  He  and  his  wife, 
Dolly,  knew  what 
they  wanted  --  a 
restaurant  in  a  family 
setting,  serving  as 
much  homestyle  food 
as  one  could  want, 
and  in  a  family  style. 
All  for  a  reasonable 
price. 

Not  much  to  ask. 

A  short  time  later, 
the  Lapps  learned  of 
the  Amish  home  for 
sale.  It  would  be,  they 
reasoned,  a  perfect 
setting  for  a  family- 
style  restaurant. 
They  were  right. 
They  opened  with 
about  40  employees 
and  a  seating  capaci- 
ty of  130  people.  "It 
seemed  to  succeed  right  from  the 
beginning,"  Chris  says. 

The  next  year  the  Lapps  ex- 
panded the  restaurant  to  seat  540. 
It  is  now  considered  one  of  the 
most  successful  and  popular 
restaurants  in  the  Northeast 
United  States. 

The  Lapps  have  a  number  of 
theories  for  the  restaurant's  suc- 
cess. "It's  because  people  get 
hungry,"  Chris  jokes.  But  it's 
more  than  the  food,  which  is  bet- 
ter than  most  mothers'.  It's  more 
the  atmosphere.  Food  is  served  to 
an  entire  table  which  seats  about 
25  people.  Before  the  food  is  serv- 
ed, introductions  are  made.  Joe 


and  Jenny  from  New  Jersey  meet 
Tom  and  Tina  from  Ohio.  And  so 
on. 

"We  want  to  make  people  feel 
like  family,"  Dolly  says.  "Part  of 
the  fun  is  getting  to  know  other 
people."  But  it's  more  than  the  at- 
mosphere. It's  more  the  attitude. 
If  hard  work,  charity  and 
thanksgiving  to  God. 


Chris  and  Dolly  Lapp 

During  the  first  few  years,  the 
Lapps  worked  hard  -  sometimes 
more  than  70  hours  a  week.  "The 
work  gets  very  tiresome,"  Chris 
says,  "but  it  is  also  very  reward- 
ing." 

The  Lapps,  however,  are  quick 
to  give  credit  where  credit  is  due 
for  their  success.  "As  far  as  I  am 
concerned  the  glory  goes  to  the 
Lord,"  Dolly  says. 

The  restaurant,  she  says,  was 
dedicated  to  the  Lord  when  it 
opened,  and  they  are  both 
dedicated  that  it  remain  that  way. 

Their  thanksgiving  to  God  is 
more  than  just  words,  however. 
They   are    intent   on    using   the 


restaurant  as  a  service  to  the  Lord. 
For  example,  all  the  food  that  is 
left  over  each  day  --  and  it  is 
voluminous  -  is  donated  to  local 
charities  to  help  feed  the  poor.  The 
food  goes  to  convalescent  homes, 
social  programs  for  the  poverty- 
stricken,  and  to  a  home  for  troubl- 
ed teenagers. 
The  Lapps  also  consider  the 
restaurant  to  be  a 
ministry  in  other 
ways.  Some  of  the 
employees  have  been 
saved  after  being 
hired.  "We  try  to  make 
time  for  them,"  Dolly 
says.  "We  want  to  just 
be  able  to  talk  to  them 
and  show  that  we 
care." 

The  success  of  the 
restaurant  has  also 
allowed  them  to  sup- 
port another  love  - 
Grace  Schools.  After 
sending  two  children 
to  Grace,  Chris 
became  very  '  in- 
terested in  the  schools. 
He  became  a  trustee 
and  also  has  been  a 
consistent  financial 
supporter  of  the 
schools. 

"Grace  Schools  as  I 
see  it,"  Lapp  says, 
"has  become  one  of 
the  top  Christian 
Schools  in  the  nation. 
The  difference  I  see  is 
the  consistency  of  leadership  and 
determination  to  keep  it  in  line 
spiritually  and  to  keep  it  Christ- 
like." 

In  one  of  the  corners  of  Good-N- 
Plenty  Restaurant,  there  is  a 
celebrity  corner,  of  sorts.  There 
are  pictures  there  of  Red  Skelton, 
Jerry  Falwell,  Archie  Campbell, 
Paul  Harvey,  James  Irwin  .  .  . 

They  are  nice,  Chris  says,  but 
not  to  be  blown  out  of  proportion. 
The  most  important  customer,  he 
says,  is  the  next  one  who  walks  in 
the  door.  Possibly  from  New 
Jersey  or  Canada  or  Ohio  or,  ac- 
cording to  Hebrews  13:2,  from  a 
place  even  further  away.  □ 


GRACE 


FEBRUARY  '85 


27 


(Continued  from  page  25) 
comfort.  That  comes  as  a  shock  to  a  lot 
of  Christians." 

Another  thing  that  the  ordeal  taught 
her  was  the  power  of  prayer.  "I  think 
we  should  tell  people  that  prayer 
works.  It  may  not  be  immediately  or 
how  you  think  it  should  be  answered 
or  it  might  even  be  a  downright  no.  But 
God  does  answer  prayer  and  it  is  in  the 
Christian's  best  interests." 

The  practice  session  of  the  Grace  Com- 


munity Orchestra  continues.  Ethel  is  in 
her  element.  Pointing  and  confident,  a 
voice  over  music,  directing  and 
shouting,  thick  reading  glasses  and  a 
red  sweater,  orchestrating  the  strings 
and  the  emotion  and  the  music. 

"Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain," 
Ethel  half-sings  over  music  and  then 
adds  in  a  spoken  voice,  "Believe  me." 

The  music  is  not  perfect.  But  to  Ethel 
Anderson  it  is  beautiful.  She  has  learn- 
ed, she  says,  an  appreciation  for  music 


beyond  anything  she  had  known 
before.  Gone  is  the  metallic,  clattered 
sound  of  the  hearing  aids.  Here  to  stay 
is  the  rhythm  of  the  heart. 

Ethel  Anderson  has  been  through  a 
long  trial.  She  hopes  that  she  will  never 
forget  the  overwhelming  greatness  of 
the  grace,  love  and  direction  God  has 
shown  her.  But  if  she  does,  a  reminder 
is  only  as  far  away  as  her  purse.  In  it 
is  her  stapes  bone  —  tiny,  diseased  and 
replaced  by  the  Grace  of  God.         □ 


The 

Program 

A  Blessing  to 
Grace  Schools 


CORPORATION 

Pittsburg  Plate  Glass  Industries 
Bristol  Myers 
Montgomery  Ward 
Ohio  Bell  Company 
G.D.  Searle  Company 
Bethlehem  Steel 


American  Broadcasting  Company, 

Inc. 

First  National  Bank  of  Warsaw 

Pepsico,  Inc. 

Whirlpool  Corporation 


EMPLOYEE 

Rev.  &  Mrs.  Ed  Wingard 

Mrs.  Darleen  Shepherd 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  William  Spurr 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Alan  Pietzsch 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  William  Youngmark 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Arthur  Boyer 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Richard  McDowell 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Robert  Hartwiger 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Donald  Markley 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Jack  Plunk 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Robert  Runion 

Miss  Annabelle  Snyder 
Mrs.  Elaine  Vandermark 
Mr.  Gary  Rowell 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Robert  Pollard 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Willis  Trumble 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Richard  Blosser 


LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
NOVEMBER  1984 


in 


Given  by: 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy  Trissel 
First  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Dayton,  OH 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Dean  McFadden 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  Bracker 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayton  Skellenger 


In  Memory  of: 

Mrs.  Mabel  Smith 

Gilbert  Onstott 
Mrs.  Arlene  L.  Sharp 
Robert  Lance 


28 


FEBRUARY  '85 


GRACE 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  The  Sebring,  FL,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Jay 
Fretz,  pastor,  was  dedicated  to  the  Lord  on  Dec. 
1.  Ray  Feather,  pastor  of  GBC  of  Okeechobee,  FL, 
delivered  the  dedication  message.  Others  who  took 
part  in  the  dedication  service  were:  Rev.  Bill  Byers, 
representative  of  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council;  Rev.  Ed  Lewis,  Jr.,  representative  of  the 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church;  Rev.  Charles  Turner,  editor  and  manager  of 
the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Company;  Mr.  Walter 
Fretz,  representative  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Invest- 
ment Foundation  and  father  of  the  pastor;  and  the 
Building  Contractor,  Mr.  Chris  Marine.  Special  music 
was  furnished  by  the  Brethren  Four  from  the  Okee- 
chobee church.  Over  200  persons  were  present  for  the 
service. 


Ed  Jackson  Ray  Sturgill  Don  Taylor 

□  At  a  recent  board  meeting  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Men  and  Boys,  the  Lord  led  in  the  expansion  of  their 
ministry  to  further  reach  out  in  various  men's  minis- 
tries. Those  elected  to  serve  were:  Ed  Jackson,  pastor 
of  the  GBC  in  Findlay,  OH,  will  serve  as  executive 
director.  He  will  be  coordinating  the  ministry  to  men 
and  boys  and  working  especially  with  the  new  "Yoke 
Fellow"  program.  Mr.  Ray  Sturgill  has  been  selected 
as  director  of  Men's  Ministries.  He  will  be  working  in 
the  areas  of  "52  League"  and  "Yoke  Fellow"  pro- 
grams. He  is  employed  by  Grace  Schools,  Winona 
Lake,  IN.  Don  Taylor,  pastor  of  the  GBC  of  Flora, 
IN,  has  been  selected  as  Interim  Director  of  Grace 
Brethren  Boys.  He  will  be  working  directly  with  the 
unit  commanders  through  the  contact  men. 

□  A  record  of  221  people  attended  the  Threefold 
Communion  Thanksgiving  Service  on  Nov.  18  at  the 
GBC  in  Seal  Beach.  Special  features  of  the  evening 
were  a  turkey  dinner  and  a  program  of  contemporary 
Christian  music.  Donald  Shoemaker,  senior  pastor. 

□  The  congregation  of  the  Ghent  GBC,  Roanoke, 
VA,  honored  Pastor  Jeff  Dunkle  with  a  surprise 
reception  following  the  evening  service  on  Nov.  11. 
Pastor  Jeff  is  beginning  his  sixth  year  as  associate  pas- 
tor at  Ghent.  Pastor  Kenneth  Teague,  senior  pastor. 


□  The  Temple  Hills  GBC  of  Greater  Washington  dedi- 
cated the  Surrattsville  campus/educational  unit,  lo- 
cated in  Clinton,  MD,  on  November  4. 

□  David  Rush,  member  of  the  Grandview,  WA,  GBC, 
was  ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry  by  the  Rim  of 
the  World  Community  Church,  Running  Springs,  CA. 
Garth  Lindelef,  pastor  of  the  Community  GBC  of 
Long  Beach,  CA,  was  the  main  speaker.  Ward  Miller, 
pastor  of  the  GBC  in  San  Bernardino,  CA,  gave  testi- 
mony of  God's  working  in  his  family's  life.  The 
ordination  service  took  place  on  Nov.  18. 

□  Rocky  Mountain  Grandeur  awaits  all  who  plan 
ahead  to  attend  our  national  conference  at  the  YMCA 
at  Estes  Park,  CO,  August  10-16,  1985. 

The  youth  and  adult  conferences  will  be  coordi- 
nated together  on  the  same  grounds. 

For  a  vacation  with  a  purpose,  plan  a  week  or  two 
to  attend  the  Brethren  conference  next  year. 

Mark  and  Jeanne  Flegge  (Columbus,  OH,  Grace) 
had  their  infant  daughter  dedicated  to  the  Lord  / 
Dawn  Langham  and  Michelle  Tippett  (Waterloo,  IA) 
were  welcomed  into  the  membership  /  Jim  Marshall 
(Dayton,  OH,  First  Grace)  spent  some  time  in  Vir- 
ginia deer  hunting  /  Mrs.  Denise  King  (Longview, 
TX)  had  surgery  recently  /  Jeff  Hatten  (Wooster, 
OH)  expressed  his  thanks  to  the  church  for  the  Wy- 
cliffe  Bible  Commentary  presented  to  him  /  Pauline 
Haymaker  (Winchester,  VA,  Blue  Ridge)  celebrated 
her  birthday  Nov.  11  /  Pauline  Kelbly  (Rittman, 
OH)  was  a  patient  in  the  Northwestern  Memorial 
Hospital  in  Chicago. 

Steve  Robison  (Whittier,  CA,  Grace)  served  as 
informant  on  the  Glass  Convention  held  at  the  Pasa- 
dena Convention  Center  /  Jimmy  Cooper,  Mark 
Lawhorn,  Herbert  Martin  and  W.  W.  McClammer 
(Roanoke,  VA,  Patterson  Memorial)  all  celebrated 
their  birthdays  on  Nov.  3  /  Dr.  Herman  A.  Hoyt 
was  the  special  speaker  at  a  Homecoming  Bible 
Prophecy  Conference  held  in  Accident,  MD,  Nov. 
7-11  /  Dave  Collins  (Columbus,  OH,  Grace)  is 
director  of  the  Worthington  Christian  High  School 
Choir. 

Tonya  Ostrander  (Taos,  NM)  "has  been  accepted 
by  the  Shriner's  Crippled  Children's  Hospital  in  Los 
Angeles  for  treatment.  About  once  every  three 
months  she  will  be  flown  to  L.A.  for  examination  and 
treatment  until  the  doctors  feel  she  is  ready  for 
surgery.  They,  then,  will  fuse  her  spine  and  implant 
two  steel  rods  in  her  back.  Normally  this  surgery 
would  cost  about  $50,000,  but  under  the  Shriner's  it 
is  absolutely  free."  The  Ostranders  are  praising  the 
Lord  for  the  way  He  provides. 


change  ycur annual 

Steve  Clifford,  Box  80,  E.  Middlebury,  VT  05740. 

=^^^=^^^^^^^=I   BMH    FEBRUARY  '85  29 


£  s 


\Q    o 


0    ± 


JS  -o 


■5   " 


TIMOTHY  TEAMS 


John  and  Linda  Holder,  playing  a  game  with  their  daughter. 
Timothy  Teams  brought  them  some  fresh  ideas  on  parenting. 


The  John  Holder  Family 

"We  didn't  know  what  to  expect." 

The  Holder  family  had  few  expecta- 
tions about  the  Timothy  Team's 
ministry.  Linda,  wife  and  mother,  was 
a  little  apprehensive  about  housing 
one  or  two  team  members.  She 
wondered  how  to  entertain  them  or 
if  her  family  would  feel  uncomfor- 
table. Alan,  the  teenage  son,  thought 
perhaps  he'd  hear  a  sermon  from  an 
overnight  guest. 


Even  with  those  butterflies,  Lloyd  Holder  and  his  family  looked  forward  to  the  team's 
arrival.  ltd  be  different. 

After  three  weekends  of  leaving  studies  behind  to  minister  to  the  Goshen,  Indiana,  Grace 
Brethren  Church  families,  this  Timothy  Team  left  their  mark  on  the  Holders. 

"We  loved  it,"  says  Linda.  "We  felt  very  comfortable  with  them.  My  son  liked  the  boy 
who  stayed  with  us  and  he  was  a  good  influence  for  our  son.  Our  daughter  is  pretty  young 
but  she  became  friends  with  the  girl  who  stayed  with  us." 

"I  was  surprised,"  Lloyd  says  of  the  team,  "that  there  wasn't  a  grouch  in  the  bunch.  That 
tells  me  someone  put  a  lot  of  effort  into  the  team. 

"They  also  seemed  like  a  part  of  the  church  ...  it  wasn't  like  we  were  being  invaded 
by  strangers.  I  was  amazed  how  they  blended  in  and  were  accepted." 

For  three  weekends  last  fall,  this  CE  Timothy  Team  held  Saturday  seminars  for  parents 
of  teens,  stayed  in  homes  Saturday  night  and  were  involved  in  Sunday  morning  services 
at  the  church.  Consisting  of  10  Grace  College  and  Seminary  students,  the  team  used  the 
fall  semester  to  train  team  members  for  spring  teams  .  .  .  and  also  minister  to  families: 
especially  parents. 

Lloyd  and  Linda  found  the  Saturday  parenting  seminars  helpful.  "When  you  get  to  be 
in  your  forties,"  Lloyd  says,  "it's  easy  to  get  set  in  your  ways.  It  was  refreshing  to  have 
someone  bring  in  new  ideas. 

"I  never  really  thought  about  the  emotional  needs  of  our  kids  before,"  Lloyd  continues. 
"I  suppose  it  crossed  my  mind  .  .  .  but  when  you  bring  it  out  in  black  and  white  and 
discuss  it  for  three  or  four  hours,  it  starts  making  sense." 

Linda  adds,  "The  seminars  helped  me  to  be  more  aware  of  some  of  the  problems  our 
kids  go  through.  Because  they  are  young  (the  team  members)  and  we  have  teenagers,  they 
were  able  to  share  with  us  a  lot  of  things  about  our  teenagers  that  our  kids  wouldn't  tell 
us.  It's  helped  me  to  have  a  little  more  patience  and  understanding  with  my  kids." 

During  the  last  weekend  at  Goshen,  the  Timothy  Team  and  GBC  families  traveled  to 
Michigan  for  a  family  retreat.  More  teaching,  family  sharing  and  games  characterized  the 
retreat.  It  pulled  the  other  two  weekends  together.  It  brought  families  together. 

Recalling  the  retreat,  Linda  says,  "We  had  a  family  prayer  time.  I  don't  think  our  family 
had  ever  done  that  before  —  all  of  us  praying  together  —  and  other  families  commented 
on  it  being  something  new,  too.  It  was  good  and  we  learned  some  of  the  things  that  are 
important  to  our  kids  and  that  they  feel  need  to  be  prayed  about." 

The  Holders  are  a  different  family,  now. 

Alan  says  his  dad  is  easier  to  get  along  with  and  wonders  if  the  Timothy  Team  had 
something  to  do  with  that.  Lloyd  says  he's  working  harder  at  listening,  both  with  his  ears 
and  eyes.  Linda  continues  to  think  about  unconditional  love,  and  wants  her  children  to 
know  they're  loved  no  matter  what  they  do.  And  Stephanie,  the  youngest  Holder,  remembers 
a  Timothy  Team  skit  where  she  learned  that  regardless  of  what  she  did,  she  could  tell 
her  parents  and  they'd  understand. 


WO  PERSPECTIVES 


A  Word 

About 

Timothy  Teams 

Timothy  Teams  is  a  GBC 
Christian  Education  ministry 
consisting  of  Grace  College 
and  Seminary  students.  A 
commitment  to  Timothy 
Teams  means  giving  up  three 
weekends  each  semester  to 
minister  in  a  Grace  Brethren 
church.  It  also  requires  team 
meetings  and  preparation. 

During  the  1984  fall 
semester,  two  Timothy  Teams 
ministered  at  two  Grace 
Brethren  Churches:  Goshen, 
Indiana  and  East  Side  Colum- 
bus, Ohio.  With  10-12 
members  per  team,  the  fall 
focus  of  the  ministry  was  to 
parents  of  teens  and  then 
discipling  the  team  members 
for  leadership  in  the  spring 
semester.  In  this  spring 
semester,  the  two  fall  teams 
are  now  divided  into  four 
teams,  each  working  with 
one  GBC  for  three  weekends. 
Veteran  Timothy  Team 
leaders  Steve  Garcia  and  Jay 
Firebaugh  led  the  fall  teams 
and  are  working  closely  with 
the  spring  leadership. 

Forty-eight  students  make 
up  our  spring  Timothy 
Teams.  With  a  ministry  focus 
now  geared  to  working  with 
teens,  the  teams  are  minister- 
ing at:  Goshen,  Indiana-,  Col- 
umbus, Ohio  (East  Side)-,  Nor- 
ton, Ohio-,  and  Akron,  Ohio 
(Ellet). 

Please  join  us  in  praying  for 
their  safety  and  effectiveness. 


Jim  Folsom 

"TT  has  helped  me  personally" 

Jim  Folsom  is  a  senior  seminary 
student  at  Grace.  He  also  is  a 
member  of  the  office  staff  at  GBC 
Christian  Education.  In  his  third 
year  with  Timothy  Teams,  Jim  was 
a  part  of  last  fall's  leadership  team 
that  ministered  at  the  Columbus, 
Ohio,  East  Side  GBC.  This  semester 
he  is  leading  a  team  of  12  students 
to  the  Akron,  Ohio,  Ellet  Grace 
Brethren  Church. 

It's  Jim's  first  chance  to  lead  a 
team  solo.  There's  a  certain  fear 
about  that. 

"I'm  scared  to  death!"  Jim  says. 
"But  I'm  looking  forward  to  being 
in  a  leadership  position  where  I'll 
either  sink  or  swim.  I've  never  been 
THE  leader  before.  Now  we're  going  to  see  if  I  can  be  a  leader  of  people." 

Fortunately,  his  past  experience  with  Timothy  Teams  has  prepared  him 
for  his  current  leadership. 

Jim  joined  Timothy  Teams  thinking  he'd  learn  about  puppets,  drama 
and  youth  work.  He  did  learn  that,  but  first  he  learned  a  lot  about  himself. 

"The  leadership  team  meetings  focus  on  our  own  lives.  We  go  through 
personal  characteristics  that  we  need  to  develop  or  refine  or  drop,"  Jim 
says. 

Students  involved  in  the  program  make  their  own  personal  growth  a 
priority  and  find  that  helps  them  minister  in  the  churches.  They're 
challenged  to  be  effective  servants  by  first  growing  spiritually  and  deal- 
ing with  personal  issues. 

Jim  continues,  "Timothy  Teams  has  helped  me  in  my  interpersonal  com- 
munication skills.  I've  been  able  to  listen  underneath  their  words  and 
maybe  find  some  hurts  they'd  like  to  communicate  but  are  afraid  to  bring 
into  the  open. 

"I'm  also  learning  to  develop  more  intimate  relationships  and  recognize 
that  people  are  the  most  valuable  commodity." 

The  parenting  emphasis  during  the  fall  semester  of  Timothy  Teams  is 
only  two  years  old.  It's  the  result  of  recognizing  that  teens  will  only  go 
as  far  spiritually  as  their  parents.  And  that  effective  youth  work  requires 
working  with  parents. 

The  response  from  the  parents  has  been  good  . 

"At  first  I  think  they  respond,  'Who  are  these  kids  telling  us  how  to 
raise  our  kids!'  But  after  the  initial  shock  is  over,  they  are  very  receptive 
and  find  it  helpful,"  says  Jim, 

And  how  does  Jim  feel  about  sharing  on  parenting  to  parents? 

"Pretty  good.  If  it  were  my  own  thoughts  .  .  .  that'd  be  different!  But 
we're  sharing  from  authorities,  men  like  Dr.  Larry  Crabb,  Dr.  Ross  Camp- 
bell, Kevin  Huggins  and  Gordon  MacDonald.  It's  good  stuff  that's  help- 
ing both  the  team  members  and  parents." 

Jim's  Timothy  Team  experience  is  helping  him  at  CE,  too. 

"I'm  better  at  getting  teams  out  on  time,"  he  says  smiling.  And,  more 
seriously,  "I  have  a  bigger  picture  of  what  we're  doing.  I'm  thinking  more 
about  what  we're  striving  to  accomplish  and  feel  like  I  can  be  more  ef- 
fective in  helping  meet  people's  needs." 


CE 


FEBRUARY  '85 


31 


3    S 


WORSHIP: 
THE  MISSING  LINK 

By  Roy  Halberg 


We  hear  lots  of  talk  about  "marks"  of  a  Christian 
—  qualities  or  characteristics  that  single  us  out  as  be-  j 
ing  genuinely  saved  people.  Magazines,  books,  Chris- 
tian radio  and  TV  ...  all  of  them  remind  us  that  we're 
to  be  different .  .  .  unique  .  .  .  marked  out  as  special 
in  some  way. 

The  Lord  recently  impressed  me  with  the  need  for 
a  supreme  mark  in  my  life.  A  priority  characteristic 
uniquely  marking  me  as  a  believer . . .  distinguishing 
me  from  unbelievers  .  .  .  becoming  the  priority  activi- 
ty of  my  life  .  .  .  it's  WORSHIP! 
Worship?  Yes,  worship! 
Honoring  God  .  ..  giving  Him  respect,  reverence,  homage,  acknowledging  Him  for  His  superior 
worth  and  value,  thanking  Him  and  praising  Him  for  who  He  is  and  what  He  does  .  .  . 

This  is  the  highest  calling  for  the  Christian.  And  sadly,  it's  the  missing  link  in  many  of  our 
lives  .  .  .  and  homes  .  .  .  and  churches! 

As  one  Christian  brother  in  India  observed,  "You  feel  sorry  for  us  in  India  because  of  our 
poverty  in  material  things.  We  who  know  the  Lord  in  India  feel  sorry  for  you  in  America  because 
of  your  spiritual  poverty  ...  In  our  churches  we  spend  four,  or  five  or  six  hours  in  prayer  and 
worship,  and  frequently  our  people  wait  on  the  Lord  in  prayer  all  night-,  but  in  America,  after 
you  have  been  in  church  for  one  hour,  you  begin  to  look  at  your  watches.  We  pray  that  God 
may  open  your  eyes  to  the  true  meaning  of  worship  .  .  ." 

His  words  brought  me  up  short.  They  startled  me.  They  angered  me.  Then,  they  convicted 
me  .  .  .  because  they  are  true. 

As  AW.  Tozer  called  it  several  years  ago,  worship  is  the  "missing  jewel  in  the  evangelical 
church." 

We  go  to  church  to  be  entertained,  to  "get  blessed,"  to  hear  the  Word  and  more  times  than 
not,  I  fear  ...  we  do  not  truly  worship  God. 

Too  often  we  go  to  "worship  services"  motivated  chiefly  by  a  special  speaker  or  a  special 
music  group  ...  or  seeking  to  be  with  special  friends  ...  or  seeking  to  have  a  need  met  — 
to  be  encouraged  ...  to  be  lifted  up  ...  to  be  "blessed." 

I  need  to  come  to  church  with  God  as  my  focus. 
Not  myself  .  .  .  nor  friends  and  fellowship  with 
them  . . .  nor  the  pastor  and  his  words  . . .  nothing 
but  GOD  -  the  SUPREMELY  HOLY  GOD  who 
desires  and  deserves  my  worship. 

I  need  to  come  into  His  presence  to  give  .  . .  not 
to  get.  To  give  worship,  praise,  honor,  reverence 
.  .  .  NOT  to  get  a  blessing  ...  or  to  be  taught  .  . 
or  anything  else. 

You  know  what  I've  found?  The  more  I  give  in 
worship,  the  more  I  am  given.  And  isn't  that  just 
like  God?  When  I  come  righdy  to  give  God  my  wor- 
ship, He  gives  me  all  I  need  . . .  plus  lots,  lots  more. 
Will  you  join  me?  Let's  link  up  with  God  .  .  .  let's 
truly  worship  Him. 


Roy  Halberg  is  the 
pastor  of  the  River  City 
Grace  Community 
Church  in  Sacramento, 
California,  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of 
Directors  for  GBC  Chris- 
tian Education. 


Lord,  who  can  truly 
worship  you?      Psalm  15 

Ten  qualifications  . . .  check  them  off,  one 
for  each  of  the  ten  fingers  on  our  hands 
.  .  .  let's  see  how  we  measure  up! 


1.  A  life  marked  by  integrity. 

2.  A  life  that  does  what  is  right. 

3.  A  life  that  always  speaks  truth. 

4.  A  life  that  doesn't  slander 
against  another. 

5.  A  life  that  does  no  evil  to 
other. 

6.  A  life  that  neither  gives  nor 
receives  evil  reports  about 
others. 

7.  A  life  that  carefully 
distinguishes  between  the 
ungodly  and  the  godly. 

8.  A  life  that  keeps  it's  word,  in- 
spite  of  the  consequences. 

9.  A  life  that  doesn't  take  advan- 
tage of  others'  misfortunes. 

10.   A  life  that  isn't  persuaded  by 
bribes. 


Women 

Manifesting 

ehrist 


President:  Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  10  E.  Luray 

Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
First  Vice  President:  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman, 

2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado 

Springs,  CO  90810 
Second  Vice  President:  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix, 

3314  Kenwick  Tr.  SW,  Roanoke,  VA 

24018 
Secretary:  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  R.  3,  La 

Porte  City,  IA  50651 
Assistant  Secretary:  Mrs.  Ginny  Sellers, 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  Ml 

49099 
Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Mrs.  Joyce 

Ashman,  602  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Ass't.  Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Mrs. 

Donna  Miller,  R.  8,  Box  277,  War- 
saw, IN  46580 
Literature  Secretary:  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter, 

R.  8,  Box  292,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Editor:  Miss  Nora  Macon,  705  Terrace  Dr., 

Winona  Lake,  IN.  46590 
Prayer  Chairman:  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams,  R.  4, 

Box  94-A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 


April  1985 


If  no  address  is  listed,  the  address  can  be  found  in  the  1985  Brethren 
Annual,  pages  38-40) 

Brazil 

Mary  Hannah  Green April  2,  1981 

Rev.  Norm  Johnson  April  1 5 

Miss  Barbara  Hulse April  27 

Mrs.  Sandy  Farner April  29 

Jonathan  Farner April  29.  1971 

Central  African  Republic 

Suzie  Mensinger April  9.  1969 

Steve  Vnasdale April  17.  1970 

Miss  Evelyn  Tschetter April  29 

France 

Nathan  Daugherty April  13.  1981 

Benjamin  Weaver April  28,  1978 

Germany 

Miss  Edna  Haak April  1 

Treleen  Craigen   April  6,  1970 

c/o  Black  Forest  Christian  Academy.  Postfach  1109.  7842  Kandern  1, 
West  Germany 

Daniel  Pappas April  16.  1981 

In  the  United  States 

Lois  Burk April  9.  1969 

Rev.  J.  Keith  Altig April  9 

Mrs.  Lenora  Williams  April  15 


Offering  Opportunities 


Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 

Sango  Literature  Fund 

Goal:  $10,000 

Send  before  June  10,  1985. 


This  offering  will  go  toward  the  printing  of  much-needed 
literature  written  in  Sango.  Some  of  the  literature  printed 
will  include  OTN  (WMC)  materials,  youth  work  material, 
lesson  books  for  SMM  and  the  boys'  work.  Our  African 
Brethren  are  crying  for  this  material. 

The  Birthday  offering  that  is  received  during  the  year 
needs  to  be  sent  before  June  10,  1985.  This  money  goes 
toward  the  support  of  the  WMC  Birthday  Missionaries.  Na- 
tional WMC  suggests  a  minimum  of  $1.50  a  year  per 
member. 


WMC 


FEBRUARY  '85 


33=! 


Better  Cornbread 

Do  you  make  cornbread?  From  scratch?  How  does 
it  turn  out? 

For  years  all  my  efforts  produced  a  kind  of 
crumbly  product  that  was  better  eaten  with  a  fork 
than  fingers.  I  could  have  given  up  and  used  a  fail- 
proof  mix,  but  I  was  convinced  that  there  must  be 
a  way  to  make  Better  Cornbread  from  scratch.  So 
I  experimented  with  recipe  changes  adding  more 
or  less  flour,  more  or  less  cornmeal,  two  eggs  in- 
stead of  one,  increasing  the  shortening,  decreas- 
ing the  sugar,  etc.  Nothing  except  the  extra  egg  real- 
ly helped  —  and  that  egg  didn't  bind  the  bread 
together  enough  for  us  to  abandon  forking  it. 

Then  one  day  I  accidentally  poured  in  more  milk 
than  all  the  recipes  said  was  the  right  amount.  In- 
wardly I  groaned  knowing  that  not  only  would  we 
be  unable  to  use  fingers  for  the  cornbread  but  that 
forks  wouldn't  do  either.  Spoons  would  have  to  be 
the  order  of  the  evening.  Since  all  hope  of  success 
with  that  particular  batter  was  lost,  I  recklessly 
turned  the  oven  up  to  425°  and  shoved  the  watery 
mess  into  the  furnace.  (Mother  had  always  baked 
cornbread  at  350°,  so  I  knew  that  the  425°  listed 
on  the  recipes  was  MUCH  too  hot.) 

Well,  as  you've  probably  guessed,  that  cornbread 
made  with  too  much  milk  and  baked  at  the  hot- 
test temperature  I'd  ever  used  turned  out 
marvelously  well.  We  didn't  have  to  use  spoons 
or  forks.  The  cornbread  was  a  deliciously  moist 
finger  food  with  only  a  few  crumbs  falling  to  keep 
my  pride  at  a  proper  level. 

As  I  feasted  on  the  Better  Cornbread,  I  could  not 
help  but  think  of  the  mix  of  believers  in  our  church 
(or  WMC)  struggling  to  hang  together  as  a  body. 
I  thought  of  how  often  we  crumble  apart  and 


wondered  if  more  milk  of  the  Word  in  each  of  our 
lives  (I  Peter  2:2)  and  additional  heat  of  persecu- 
tion would  bind  us  together. 

Since  church  history  indicates  that  each  of  these 
does  have  a  binding  effect,  I  wondered  if  we  might 
not  take  some  positive  action  towards  oneness. 
Certainly  we  could  increase  our  time  in  the  Word. 
Deliberately,  I  now  pour  additional  milk  into  every 
batch  of  cornbread. 

But  should  we  also  seek  persecution?  Since  we 
are  commanded  as  much  as  possible  to  "live 
peaceably  with  all"  (Romans  12:16),  it  didn't  seem 
we  should  seek  it  but  rather  live  godly  lives  that 
would  begat  the  heat  of  adversity  knowing  that  "all 
that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer 
persecution"  (II  Timothy  3:12). 

So  I  had  the  lesson.  Drink  deeply  of  the  milk  of 
the  Word;  live  soberly,  godly,  righteously,  and  grow 
into  a  better  church,  a  body  that  is  truly  one  in 
Christ. 

I  thought  I  was  finished  with  the  Better  Corn- 
bread  school,  but  then  I  learned  one  more  lesson 
from  the  last  batch  I  made.  We  didn't  eat  it  all  the 
day  I  baked  it  or  the  day  after  that.  But  we  did  en- 
joy the  leftovers  on  days  two  and  three. 

Then  on  day  four,  I  bit  into  the  final  piece  only 
to  discover  that  while  it  held  together  and  looked 
great,  it  was  SOUR.  Let  me  tell  you  that  Better 
Cornbread  gone  sour  is  abominable.  And  so  are 
better  churches  resting  on  their  laurels.  If  they  don't 
use  what  they  have  learned  through  the  milk  of 
the  Word  and  heat  of  persecution,  they  sour! 

Next  time  you  make  cornbread,  pray  that  your 
church  (or  WMC)  will  take  steps  to  stop  its  crumb- 
ling and  determine  to  keep  from  souring! 
—  Carolyn  Peak,  Whittier,  California 


NOTICE 

If  you  would  like  to  use  the 
WMC  Birthday  Missionary  slide 
set,  be  sure  to  write  far  enough  in 
advance  to  reserve  the  set.  Since 
the  Birthday  Missionaries  are  em- 
phasized during  the  next  few 
months,  scheduling  needs  to  be 
done  ahead  of  time.  You  can 
reserve  the  slide  set  through  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions,  P.O. 
Box  588.  Winona  Lake.  Indiana 
46590.  Be  sure  to  indicate  your  first 
choice  of  dates. 


34 


FEBRUARY  '85 


WMC 


The  Bible  and  Astromony 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

historical/grammatical  interpretation,  then  all  hope 
of  definitively  determining  what  the  opening 
statements  of  the  Bible  mean  must  be  abandoned. 
Now  it  is  essential  to  recognize  that  the  reason 
biblical  writers  praised  God  for  His  work  of  creating 
the  sun,  moon,  and  stars  is  that  they  did  under- 
stand the  Genesis  account!  At  least  two  things  can 
be  clearly  discerned  in  the  creation  record  that  un- 
veiled the  absolute  glory  of  the  Creator.  First,  the 
astronomical  bodies  were  created  suddenly,  thus 
establishing  the  overwhelming  uniqueness,  in  fact, 
the  absolute  ultimacy  of  God's  power  (om- 
nipotence). Secondly,  the  astronomical  bodies 
were  created  after  the  earth  and  plant  life  had  been 
created  thereby  eliminating  all  potential  competi- 
tion (in  terms  of  a  solar  or  lunar  deity  or  even  the 
modern  secular  "god"  of  cosmic  evolutionism)  for 
the  claim  of  final  sovereignty  and  thus  deity. 

The  Sudden  Creation  of  the  Universe 

The  creation  of  the  astronomical  universe  was 
not  only  ex  nihilo  (i.e.,  from  no  previously  existing 
matter,  as  stated  in  Heb.  11:3),  but  it  was  also,  by 
the  very  nature  of  the  case,  instantaneous.  Its  origin 
could  not,  therefore,  have  been  spontaneous  or 
self-acting.  The  evolutionary  concept  of  a  gradual 
buildup  of  heavier  and  heavier  elements 
throughout  billions  of  years  is  clearly  excluded  by 
the  pronouncements  of  Scripture. 

In  the  first  place,  the  immediate  effect  of  God's 
creative  word  is  emphatically  stated  in  Psalm 
33:6,9  —  "By  the  word  of  the  Lord  were  the 
heavens  made;  and  all  the  host  of  them  by  the 
breath  of  his  mouth  .- .  .  for  he  spake,  and  it  was 
done;  he  commanded,  and  it  stood  fast."  There  is 
certainly  no  thought  here  of  gradual  development, 
or  trial  and  error  process,  or  age-long,  step-by-step 
fulfillment.  In  fact,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  imagine 
any  time  interval  in  the  transition  from  absolute 
nonexistence  to  existence!  Similarly:  "And  God 
said,  Let  there  be  light:  and  there  was  light"  (Gen. 
1:3).  At  one  moment  there  was  no  light  anywhere 
in  the  universe;  the  next  moment,  there  was!  So 
spectacular  is  this  creation  event  that  the  New 
Testament  compares   it  to  the  suddenness  and 


"By  the  word  of  the  Lord  were 
the  Heavens  made"  (Psa.  33:6) 


supernaturalness  of  conversion  (2  Cor.  4:4-6;  cf. 
5:17).  It  may  be  confidently  asserted  that  the  idea 
of  sudden  appearance  dominates  the  entire  crea- 
tion account  (cf.  Gen.  1:1,  3,  12,  16,  21,  25,  27; 
2:7,  19,  22). 

This  leads  us  to  a  second  important  consideration 
pertaining  to  creation  of  the  astronomical  universe, 
namely,  the  analogy  of  God's  creative  works  in  the 


person  of  Christ  during  His  earthly  ministry  nearly 
two  thousand  years  ago  in  Palestine.  Since  the  New 
Testament  makes  it  clear  that  the  universe  was 
created  through  Christ,  the  Son  of  God  (John  1:3, 
10;  Col.  1:16;  Heb.  1:2),  and  that  the  miracles  He 
performed  while  on  earth  were  intended  to  reveal 
His  true  nature  and  glory  (John  1:14;  2:11; 
20:31),  it  is  deeply  instructive  to  note  that  these 
works  all  involved  sudden  transformations.  Thus, 
while  it  has  been  claimed  by  one  philosopher  that 
there  is  "no  strategy  as  slippery  and  dangerous  as 
analogy,"  the  biblical  analogy  of  Christ's  creative 
work  in  Genesis  and  in  the  Gospels  remains  ir- 
resistibly powerful. 

In  response  to  the  mere  word  of  Jesus  Christ,  for 
example,  a  raging  storm  suddenly  ceased,  a  large 
supply  of  food  suddenly  came  into  existence,  a 
man  born  blind  suddenly  had  his  sight  restored,  a 
dead  man  suddenly  stood  at  the  entrance  of  his 
tomb.  Of  the  vast  number  of  healing  miracles  per- 
formed by  Christ,  the  only  recorded  exception  to 
instantaneous  cures  is  that  of  the  blind  man  whose 
sight  was  restored  in  two  stages,  each  stage, 
however,  being  instantaneous  (Mark  8:25).  Such 
miracles  were  undeniable  signs  of  supernaturalism 
in  our  Lord's  public  claim  to  Messiahship,  and  we 
may  be  quite  sure  that  if,  in  His  healing  of  the  sick 
and  crippled  and  blind,  He  had  exhibited  "the  pro- 
digal disregard  for  the  passing  of  time  that  marks 
the  hand  of  him  who  fashions  a  work  of  art,"  no 
one  would  have  paid  any  attention  to  His  claims!  If 
the  Sea  of  Galilee  had  required  two  days  to  calm 
down  after  Jesus  said,  "Peace,  be  still,"  the 
disciples  would  neither  have  "feared  exceedingly," 
nor  would  they  have  "said  one  to  another,  'What 
manner  of  man  is  this,  that  even  the  wind  and  the 
sea  obey  him?'"  (Mark  4:39-41). 

The  profound  theological  implications  of  these 
facts  for  the  Christian  understanding  of  the  origin  of 
the  universe  can  be  recognized  in  the  comment  of  a 
prominent  British  evolutionist: 

The  theologian  attributes  certain  infinite 
properties  to  his  God;  he  is  described  as 
omnipotent,  omniscient,  and  of  infinite 
goodness.  Now  the  Mind  which  reveals 
itself  in  the  development  of  life  on  this 
planet  is  clearly  not  omnipotent,  otherwise 
it  would  have  assembled  perfectly  de- 
signed organisms  directly  from  the  dust  of 
the  earth  without  having  to  go  through  the 
long  process  of  trial  and  error  which  we  call 
evolution. 

Every  effort  to  modify  the  suddenness  and  super- 
naturalness  of  creation  events  to  make  them  more 
acceptable  to  the  "modern  mind"  only  results  in  the 
long  run  in  minimizing  and  obscuring  the  true  at- 
tributes of  the  God  of  Creation.  This  has  been  a  dif- 
ficult lesson  for  many  Christians  to  learn. 

In  the  third  place,  the  fact  that  God's  work  of 
creation  was  completed  in  six  literal  days  clearly 
demonstrates  that  the  creative  work  of  each  day 


BMH 


FEBRUARY  '85 


35=! 


was  sudden  and  supernatural.  In  view  of  the 
widespread  resistance  to  this  concept,  even  in  some 
Christian  circles,  it  may  be  surprising  to  many  peo- 
ple to  learn  how  strong  are  the  biblical  arguments  in 
its  support,  if  the  indispensable  historical/gram- 
matical system  of  biblical  hermeneutics  be  ac- 
cepted: 

(1)  Although  the  Hebrew  word  for  "day  (yom) 
can  refer  to  a  time  period  longer  than  24  hours 
(e.g.,  "day  of  the  Lord"),  its  attachment  to  a 
numerical  adjective  restricts  its  meaning  to  24  hours 
("second  day,"  etc.,  cf.  Num.  7:12-78). 

(2)  The  formula  "evening  and  morning"  indicates 
a  24-hour  cycle  of  the  earth  rotating  on  its  axis  in 
reference  to  a  fixed  astronomic  light  source  (not 
necessarily  the  sun).  The  same  phrase  appears  in 
Dan.  8:26  (cf.  8:14  ASV)  where  it  must  refer  to 
literal  days. 

(3)  No  Israelite  would  have  understood  God's 
days  of  creation  to  be  longer  than  24  hours, 
especially  because  of  the  clear  analogy  with  man's 
weekly  cycle  of  work  and  rest  (Exod.  20:11; 
31:15-17).  Six  "days"  (plural)  cannot  be  figurative. 

(4)  The  "days"  of  Genesis  1: 14  must  be  literal  or 
the  word  "years"  in  the  same  verse  would  be  mean- 
ingless. 

(5)  The  "day"  of  2  Peter  3:8  must  be  a  literal  day 
in  order  for  the  contrast  with  "a  thousand  years"  to 
be  protected.  God  can  do  in  a  very  short  time  what 
men  or  "nature"  would  require  a  very  long  time  (if 
ever)  to  accomplish.  This  is  why  sinful  mankind 
would  naturally  prefer  to  stretch  God's  days  of  crea- 
tion to  cover  vast  periods  of  time. 

(6)  Since  the  "day"  of  Genesis  2:4  lacks  the 
numerical  adjective,  it  could  refer  either  to  the  first 
day  or  to  the  entire  creation  week.  Or  the  phrase 
could  simply  mean  "when." 

(7)  Nothing  is  really  gained  by  lengthening  the 
creation  days  to  accommodate  the  evolutionary 
timetable  of  earth  history,  for  the  revealed  events 
are  often  in  reverse  order  from  that  which  evolu- 
tionism requires  (e.g.  earth  before  sun;  whales 
before  land  mammals;  birds  before  reptiles). 

The  Sun,  Moon,  and  Stars  Were  Created 
After  the  Earth  and  Plant  Life 

It  has  not  been  generally  understood  that  the 
order  of  events  in  Genesis  1  is  deliberate  and  mean- 
ingful, and  that  all  alternative  views  to  the  tradi- 
tional view  of  a  comparatively  recent  creation  week 
share  a  common  denial  of  this  divine  order.  While 
claiming  to  allow  the  opening  chapter  of  the  Bible 
to  speak  for  itself,  proponents  of  these  alternative 
views  are  in  reality  reversing  the  created  order  of 
the  earth  and  of  the  stellar  universe  to  accom- 
modate the  uniformitarian  consensus  among  con- 
temporary astronomers.  One  result  of  this  reversal 
is  the  tragic  eclipse  of  a  profound  message  that 
permeates  the  entire  Old  Testament:  the  Creator  is 
infinitely  superior  to  the  creation,  including  the 
astronomical  creation.  Therefore  no  visible  heaven- 
ly body  may  be  worshipped. 

^=    36    FEBRUARY  '85  BMH     ^^=^^=^=^^= 


This  profound  theological  principle  is  confirmed 
and  demonstrated  biblically  by  the  fact  that  the  stars 
were  directly  and  instantaneously  brought  into  ex- 
istence apart  from  preexistent  materials  by  a  mere 
spoken  word  of  the  absolutely  unique,  omnipotent, 
omniscient,  holy  and  transcendent  God  of  the 
universe,  the  Lord  of  Israel  and  the  Church,  who 


".  .  .  The  order  of  events  in 

Genesis  1  is  deliberate  and 

meaningful." 


alone  is  to  be  worshipped  by  men.  Furthermore  — 
and  this  neglected  fact  is  theologically  crucial  —  the 
infinite  inferiority  of  the  stars  to  the  true  God  of 
creation  is  fixed  by  their  having  been  created  after 
the  creation  of  the  earth  and  its  vegetation.  In  the 
words  of  a  prominent  student  of  the  history  of 
science: 

In  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis  it  is  made 
evident  that  absolutely  nothing,  except 
God,  has  any  claim  to  divinity;  even  the 
sun  and  moon,  supreme  gods  of  the 
neighboring  peoples,  are  set  in  their  places 
between  the  herbs  and  the  animals  and  are 
brought  into  the  service  of  mankind. 

Idolatry  is  far  more  subtle  in  our  generation  —  and 
to  that  extent  less  "honest"  and  open  —  than  in  the 
ancient  world.  Therefore  a  study  of  the  worship  of 
the  sun  and  moon  in  the  "cradle  of  civilization"  and 
a  survey  of  the  Old  Testament  denunciation  of  that 
worship  may  seem  to  be  utterly  irrelevant  and 
remote  to  the  modern  reader.  It  is  clear  to  discern- 
ing students,  however,  that  while  the  forms  or  ob- 
jects of  pagan  worship  may  change  through  the 
centuries,  the  underlying  rejection  of  the  witness  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  to  the  human  heart  through 
general  and  special  revelation  remains  the  same. 
Modern  minds,  no  less  than  ancient  minds,  sense 
that  the  Creator  who  is  revealed  in  the  opening 
chapter  of  the  Bible  is  vastly  different  in  His  at- 
tributes and  in  His  demands  upon  men  than  any 
other  god  ever  imagined.  This  is  why  our 
understanding  of  the  manner  and  the  relative 
chronology  of  the  creation  of  the  astronomic 
universe  can  never  be  a  peripheral  issue,  even  to 
"modern"  men. 

The  Destiny  of  the  Astronomic  Universe 

The  basic  dependability  of  the  sun,  moon  and 
stars  is  not  contradicted  but,  in  a  sense,  confirmed 
by  the  biblical  references  to  their  future  fluctuations 
of  light  intensity.  The  very  fact  that  the  sun,  moon, 
and  stars  will  not  shine  during  the  Day  of  the  Lord, 
with  its  global  judgments,  is  set  forth  as  an  incom- 
parably great  wonder  of  history,  which  gains  in  sign 
value  in  exact  proportion  to  its  normal  dependabili- 
ty. This  is  characteristic  of  all  biblical  sign-miracles. 


They  do  not  destroy  but,  rather,  presuppose  a  basic 
uniformity  of  natural  and  historical  processes. 

Eight  centuries  before  Christ,  the  prophet  Joel 
announced  concerning  the  divine  judgment  that 
shall  immediately  precede  the  Second  Coming  of 
Christ:  "The  sun  and  the  moon  grow  dark,  and  the 
stars  lose  their  brightness  ...  the  day  of  the  Lord  is 
indeed  great  and  very  awesome,  and  who  can  en- 
dure it?"  (Joel  2:10-11,  cf.  3:15).  God  Himself 
warned  the  world:  "I  will  display  wonders  in  the  sky 
.  .  .  The  sun  will  be  turned  into  darkness,  and  the 
moon  into  blood,  before  the  great  and  awesome 
day  of  the  Lord  comes"  (Joel  2:30-31;  quoted  by 
Peter  in  Acts  2:19-20).  Ezekiel  applied  this  coming 


"Psalm  115  focuses  our 

attention  on  the  uniqueness  of 

God  and  Controller  of  the 

universe." 


global  judgment  to  Egypt  in  particular:  "I  will  cover 
the  sun  with  a  cloud,  and  the  moon  shall  not  give  its 
light"  (Ezek.  32:7). 

Building  upon  these  warnings  of  celestial 
judgment-signs  at  the  end  of  this  age,  Christ 
predicted  that  "there  will  be  signs  in  the  sun  and 
moon  and  stars,  and  upon  the  earth  dismay  among 
nations,  in  perplexity  .  .  ."  (Luke  21:25).  More 
specifically:  "Immediately  after  the  tribulation  of 
those  days  the  sun  will  be  darkened,  and  the  moon 
will  not  give  its  light  .  .  .  and  the  powers  of  the 
heavens  will  be  shaken  (Matthew  24:29;  cf.  Mark 
13:24-25). 

Sixty  years  later,  the  apostle  John,  exiled  to  a 
lonely  island  in  the  Aegean  Sea,  was  granted  a  vi- 
sion of  these  unique  end-time  events:  "And  the 
fourth  angel  sounded,  and  a  third  of  the  sun  and  a 
third  of  the  moon  and  a  third  of  the  stars  were  smit- 
ten, so  that  a  third  of  them  might  be  darkened  and 
the  day  might  not  shine  for  a  third  of  it,  and  the 
night  in  the  same  way"  (Rev.  8: 12;  compare  6: 12) . 

Following  the  Great  Tribulation  with  its  unique 
and  astounding  suspension  of  solar  and  lunar  func- 
tions in  reference  to  earth-dwellers  (compare 
Joshua  10:12-31;  Hab.  3:11;  Luke  23:44-45),  the 
great  Kingdom  Age  will  dawn  at  last.  So  marvelous 
will  be  the  glory  of  the  King  of  Kings  at  His  first  ap- 
pearance upon  the  earth  since  His  ascension  1900 
years  ago,  that  "the  moon  will  be  abashed  and  the 
sun  ashamed,  for  the  Lord  of  hosts  will  reign  on  Mt. 
Zion  and  in  Jerusalem"  (Isa.  24:23).  From  another 
perspective,  however,  the  Kingdom  Age  will  be 
such  a  contrast  to  the  dreadful  darkness  that  will  im- 
mediately precede  it,  that  "the  light  of  the  moon  will 
be  as  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  the  light  of  the  sun 
will  be  seven  times  brighter,  like  the  light  of  seven 
days,  on  the  day  the  Lord  binds  up  the  fracture  of 
His  people  and  heals  the  bruise  He  has  inflicted" 
(Isa.  30:26). 


The  apostle  John  describes  the  final  destiny  of 
the  astronomic  universe:  "And  I  saw  a  great  white 
throne  and  Him  who  sat  upon  it,  from  whose 
presence  earth  and  heaven  fled  away,  and  no  place 
was  found  for  them  .  .  .  and  1  saw  a  new  heaven 
and  a  new  earth;  for  the  first  heaven  and  the  first 
earth  passed  away,  and  there  is  no  longer  any  sea. 
And  I  saw  the  holy  city,  new  Jerusalem,  coming 
down  out  of  heaven  from  God  .  .  .  and  the  city  has 
no  need  of  the  sun  or  of  the  moon  to  shine  upon  it, 
for  the  glory  of  God  has  illumined  it,  and  its  lamp  is 
the  Lamb  .  .  .  For  there  shall  be  no  night  there" 
(Rev.  20:11;  21:1-2,  23,  25;  compare  Isa. 
60:19-20). 

Thus  the  sun,  moon  and  stars  will  continue  to 
fulfill  their  three  God-ordained  purposes  of  il- 
luminators, time  regulators,  and  signs  (Gen.  1:14) 
as  long  as  the  earth  remains  (compare  Gen.  8:22), 
even  into  the  Kingdom  Age,  with  an  eschatological 
emphasis  upon  their  sign  function.  But  these 
celestial  bodies  are  not  essential  to  human  ex- 
istence. And  they  are  certainly  not  gods  to  be  wor- 
shipped! Beautiful,  complex  and  functionally  im- 
portant though  they  may  be  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  earth,  they  are  infinitely  inferior  to  the  God  who 
created  them! 

The  Purpose  of  the  Universe 

Finally,  the  Bible  alone  can  tell  us  the  ultimate 
purpose  of  the  universe.  Most  astronomers  today 
insist  that  we  never  will  find  a  clue  to  the  purpose  of 
the  universe  until  we  can  establish  contact  with  in- 
telligent physical  beings  from  other  galaxies.  It 
seems  biblically  certain,  however,  that  this  door  is 
tightly  shut,  because  God  has  created  life  on  this 
planet  and  nowhere  else. 

There  are  a  number  of  biblical  indications  that 
point  clearly  in  the  direction  of  the  absolute  unique- 
ness of  physical  life  on  the  earth.  Psalm  115  focuses 
our  attention  on  the  uniqueness  of  God  as  Creator 
and  Controller  of  the  universe  in  total  contrast  to 
the  man-made  deities  that  characterize  pagan 
religions.  The  psalmist  climaxes  his  message  with 
this  statement:  "The  heavens  are  the  heavens  of 
the  Lord;  but  the  earth  He  has  given  to  the  sons  of 
men"  (verse  16) .  A  valid  implication  of  this  inspired 
statement  is  that  those  who  truly  know  the  Lord 
cannot  possibly  be  threatened  by  whatever  is  in  the 
universe  beyond.  In  other  words,  the  only  "extra- 
terrestial  intelligence"-  men  need  to  be  deeply  con- 
cerned about  is  the  intelligence  of  God  Himself,  as 
revealed  in  His  Word. 

Isaiah  45:18  adds  significant  light  to  this 
fascinating  question:  "for  thus  says  the  Lord,  who 
created  the  heavens  (He  is  the  God  who  formed 
the  earth  and  made  it,  He  established  it  and  did  not 
create  it  a  waste  place,  but  formed  it  to  be  in- 
habited), 'I  am  the  Lord,  and  there  is  none  else.'" 
Since  the  Hebrew  word  tohu,  translated  here  "a 
waste  place,"  also  appears  in  Genesis  1:2,  this 
statement  in  Isaiah  45:18  has  frequently  been  used 


BMH 


FEBRUARY  '85 


37  =! 


to  support  the  so-called  Gap  Theory  interpretation. 
This  view  maintains  that  God  created  an  originally 
perfect  earth  (Gen.  1:1)  which  later  became  a 
"waste  place"  because  of  the  fall  of  Satan.  Then, 
millions  or  billions  of  years  later,  the  earth  was 
recreated  in  six  literal  days.  However,  this  is  really 
not  the  thrust  of  Isaiah's  statement.  Isaiah  is  saying 
that  God  did  not  create  the  earth  to  be  a  waste 
place,  but  created  it  to  be  inhabited  (in  contrast  to 
all  other  planets).  As  we  turn  to  Genesis  1,  we 
discover  that  is  the  way  the  earth  was  created.  It 
was  not  created  to  remain  empty,  but  within  six 
brief  days  to  be  inhabited  by  all  kinds  of  living 
things. 

In  comparing  the  statement  of  Isaiah  45:18  with 
Genesis  1:2,  a  prominent  Old  Testament  scholar 
pointed  out  that  "Isaiah  does  not  deny  that  the 
earth  was  once  a  tohu;  his  point  is  that  the  Lord  did 
not  create  the  earth  to  be  a  tohu,  for  the  earth  of 
tohu  is  one  that  cannot  be  inhabited,  and  does  not 
fulfill  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  created.  The  pur- 
pose rather  was  that  the  earth  might  be  inhabited." 

If  intelligent  physical  life  exists  only  on  the  earth, 
the  question  must  be  asked,  "why  do  countless 
stars  and  galaxies  exist  throughout  the  universe?" 
Many  Christians  have  asked,  "why  would  God  go 
to  all  the  work  of  creating  billions  of  galaxies  and 


"There  is  no  legitimate  way  to 

harmonize  cosmic 

evolutionism  with  a  Christian 

theistic  view." 


then  put  life  on  only  one  comparatively  small 
planet?"  In  answer  to  this  question,  it  must  be 
recognized,  first  of  all,  that  it  required  no  more  ex- 
ertion of  energy  for  God  to  create  a  trillion  galaxies 
than  to  create  one  planet.  "Do  you  not  know? 
Have  you  not  heard?  The  Everlasting  God,  the 
Lord,  the  Creator  of  the  ends  of  the  earth,  does  not 
become  weary  or  tired.  His  understanding  is  in- 
scrutable. He  gives  strength  to  the  weary  and  to 
him  who  lacks  might  He  increases  power"  (Isa. 
40:28-29). 

God  has  condescended  to  give  to  men  three 
basic  reasons  for  His  work  of  creating  the  stellar 
universe.  "Let  them  be  for  signs,  and  for  seasons, 
and  for  days  and  years;  and  let  them  be  for  lights  in 
the  expanse  of  the  heavens  to  give  light  on  the 
earth"  (Gen.  1:14-15).  The  three  stated  purposes 
for  the  existence  of  the  universe,  as  far  as  man  is 
concerned,  are:  (1)  signs,  (2)  a  clock-calendar 
system,  and  (3)  illumination  by  day  and  by  night  for 
earth  dwellers.  A  fourth  purpose  is  conspicuous  for 
its  absence,  namely,  that  there  might  be  celestial 
platforms  for  extra-terrestial  intelligent  beings!  The 
stupendous  sign-value  of  the  celestial  lights  is  clear- 
ly emphasized  in  Psalm  8,  Psalm  19:1-2  and 
Romans    1:18-19.    Since    God    apparently    con- 


sidered these  three  basic  purposes  to  be  sufficient 
for  the  creation  of  the  stellar  universe,  it  is  therefore 
unnecessary  to  multiply  reasons  beyond  God's 
statements  in  Scripture. 

The  most  significant  biblical  evidence  of  unique- 
ness of  life  on  the  earth  is  doubtless  the  incarnation 
and  second  coming  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  The 
second  Person  of  the  triune  God,  through  whom 
the  entire  universe  was  brought  into  existence 
(John  1:1-3;  Col.  1:16-17;  Heb.  1:1-2),  became  a 
permanent  member  of  the  human  race  by  incarna- 
tion (John  1:14).  The  staggering  implications  of  this 
fact  dare  not  be  minimized  by  those  who  profess  to 
be  Bible-believing  Christians. 

There  is  not  a  shred  of  evidence  in  Scripture  that 
the  first  coming  of  Christ  was  a  comparatively  in- 
significant event  in  the  career  of  the  Son  of  God, 
stopping  briefly  on  earth,  as  it  were,  on  His  way  to 
other  planets  and  galaxies  to  carry  on  a  cosmic 
ministry  of  revelation  and  redemption.  The  great 
Creator  who  became  our  Savior  also  told  us  to 
pray:  "Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be 
Thy  name.  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done, 
in  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven"  (Matt.  6:9-10).  The 
earth,  not  some  other  planet,  will  be  the  location  of 
Christ's  kingdom. 

In  isolation,  not  one  of  these  biblical  evidences  is 
sufficient  in  itself  to  demonstrate  the  uniqueness  of 
life  on  earth.  However,  in  a  book  that  professes  to 
give  to  men  all  that  is  necessary  for  our  under- 
standing of  life  and  the  universe,  it  is  highly  signifi- 
cant that  not  one  word  is  given  that  would  support 
the  concept  of  extra-terrestrial  intelligent  life. 
Secular  scientism  may  be  haunted  by  the  fear  that 
we  are  totally  alone  in  the  universe.  But  this  is  not 
the  biblical  perspective  at  all.  Many  millions  of  spirit 
beings,  called  "angels"  (i.e.,  "messengers"),  are 
deeply  involved  in  the  affairs  of  men  (e.g.  Dan. 
10:20;  Luke  20:36;  Heb.  1:14).  Infinitely  above  all 
of  these  invisible  and  powerful  creatures,  however, 
is  God,  the  Creator  of  all  things,  who  has  revealed 
Himself  to  men  as  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

The  Creator  Alone  Can  Meet  Our  Needs 

God  created  men  in  such  a  way  that  they  cannot 
find  full  and  deep  satisfaction  apart  from  Him.  Ut- 
terly frustrated  by  the  inequities  and  cruelties  of  this 
life,  a  psalmist  by  the  name  of  Asaph  entered  into 
the  sanctuary  of  God,  and  thus  gained  a  totally  new 
perspective  on  the  world  (Psa.  73:17).  He  conclud- 
ed with  these  inspired  words:  "With  Thy  counsel 
Thou  will  guide  me,  and  afterward  receive  me  to 
glory.  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  Thee?  And 
besides  Thee,  I  desire  nothing  on  earth"  (Psa. 
73:24-25).  The  ultimate  tragedy  of  cosmic  evolu- 
tionism is  that  it  virtually  ignores  the  very  God  who 
created  us  to  find  our  fulfillment  in  Him  alone.  The 
secular  scientific  establishment,  with  its  big-bang 
cosmogony,  has  deliberately  rejected  the  Christ  "in 
whom  are  hidden  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge"    (Col.    2:3).    In   all   of  their   vaunted 


!=  38 


FEBRUARY  '85 


BMH 


brilliance,  men  are  bypassing  the  Son  of  God  "in 
whom  all  the  fullness  of  the  Deity  dwells  in  bodily 
form,"  for  "in  Him,"  the  apostle  Paul  asserts,  "you 
have  been  made  complete,  and  He  is  the  head  over 
all  rule  and  authority"  (Col.  2:9-10).  To  the  Chris- 
tian, the  universe  is  neither  purposeless  nor  mean- 
ingless. Adequate  directions  are  available.  We  are 
not  alone. 

There  is  no  legitimate  way  to  harmonize  cosmic 
evolutionism  with  a  Christian  theistic  view.  Chris- 
tian theism  presupposes  the  authority  and  infallibili- 
ty of  the  Bible.  An  honest  and  consistent  applica- 
tion of  hermeneutical  principles  in  analyzing  the 
biblical  record  of  ultimate  origins  leads  one  to  a 
complete  impasse  in  accommodating  it  with  the 
most  popular  cosmogonical  theory  of  our  genera- 
tion. To  be  sure,  "theistic"  evolutionists  speak 
much  of  God  (or  "a  god") ;  but  they  have  apparent- 
ly not  heard  the  clear  message  of  His  written  Word. 

In  contrast  to  the  six-day  creation  period  of 
Genesis  1  and  Exodus  20,  for  example,  cosmic 
evolutionism  in  all  of  its  currently  popular  forms 
(atheistic,  deistic,  and  theistic,)  envisions  the  stars 
forming  hundreds  of  millions  of  years  after  the 
cosmic  event  that  first  launched  the  universe,  and 
the  planets  of  our  solar  system  appearing  still  later. 
How  can  this  be  reconciled  with  the  declaration  of 
God  that  the  planet  earth  was  created  before  the 
stars? 

Cosmic  evolutionism  postpones  man's  ap- 
pearance on  the  earth  until  at  least  twenty  billion 
years  of  apparently  purposeless  natural  processes 
have  run  their  course.  But  the  Genesis  record 
depicts  man  as  the  true  king  of  the  earth  at  the  very 
beginning  of  earth  history,  exercising  dominion 
over  all  animals,  including  those  in  the  depths  of 
the  seas  (Gen.  1:26-28;  compare  Psa.  8:5-8), 
within  a  matter  of  hours  of  their  creation.  Even  the 
stars  of  the  heavens  antedated  man  by  the  space  of 
only  two  days  (Gen.  1:19,  31;  compare  Exod. 
20:11),  for  they  had  no  independent  purpose  of 
existence.  They  were  created  for  the  Son  of  God 
(Col.  1:16)  and  for  those  who  have  been  created 
and  renewed  in  His  image  (1  Cor.  3:21-23;  Col. 
3:10).  They  did  not  wait  billions  of  years  to  ac- 
complish what  they  were  created  for,  namely,  to 


serve  as  "signs"  to  men  of  God's  creative  wisdom 
(Gen.  1:14;  Rom.  1:20).  Only  by  denying  the  clear 
testimony  of  the  chronological  sequences  of 
Genesis  can  one  speak  in  terms  of  "theistic"  evolu- 
tionism. 

Four  thousand  years  ago  God  asked  Job: 
"Where  were  you  when  I  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
earth!  Tell  Me,  if  you  have  understanding  .  .  .  Can 
you  bind  the  chains  of  the  Pleiades,  or  loose  the 
cords  of  Orion?  Can  you  lead  forth  a  constellation 
in  its  season,  and  guide  the  Bear  with  her  satellites? 
Do  you  know  the  ordinances  of  the  heavens,  or  fix 
their  rule  over  the  earth?"  (Job  38:4,  31-3).  In  as- 
tounding contrast  to  the  characteristically  proud 
and  secular  twentieth-century  mind,  "Job 
answered  the  Lord,  and  said,  I  know  that  thou 
canst  do  all  things,  and  that  no  purpose  of  Thine 
can  be  thwarted  .  .  .  Therefore  I  have  declared  that 
which  I  did  not  understand,  things  too  wonderful 
for  me,  which  I  did  not  know  ...  I  have  heard  of 
Thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear;  but  now  my  eye 
sees  Thee;  therefore  I  retract,  and  I  repent  in  dust 
and  ashes"  (Job  42:2-6). 

Our  ultimate  choice  is  either  to  believe  that  the 
universe  is  the  product  of  random  and  meaningless 
chance,  or  that  it  was  created  by  a  personal  living 
God.  But  these  alternative  faith  commitments  can- 
not be  equal  options  for  men  who  bear  the  image  of 
God  indelibly  imprinted  upon  their  innermost  be- 
ing. The  God  of  creation  simply  will  not  allow 
Himself  to  be  compared  with  any  other  "deity,"  in- 
cluding evolutionary  time/chance:  "To  whom 
then  will  you  liken  Me  that  I  should  be  his  equal?' 
says  the  Holy  One.  'Lift  up  your  eyes  on  high  and 
see  who  has  created  these  stars,  the  one  who  leads 
their  host  by  number.  He  calls  them  all  by  name; 
because  of  the  greatness  of  His  might  and  the 
strength  of  His  power  not  one  of  them  is  missing 
.  .  .  'Turn  to  Me,  and  be  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth;  for  I  am  God,  and  there  is  no  other'"  (Isa. 
40:25-26;  45:22). 

(This  article  has  been  taken  from  the  booklet  The  Bible 
and  Astronomy  by  Dr.  John  C.  Whitcomb.  Copies  may 
be  ordered  from  the  Herald  Bookstore,  P.O.  Box  544, 
Winona  Lake,  Indiana  46590.  Price:  $2.25  each  plus 
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BRETHREN  MISSIONARY 


"And  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Noah,  so  shall 
it  be  also  in  the  days  of  the  Son  of  Man." 

(Luke  17:26) 


Yokefellow  .  .  .  Men  in  Missions  —  page  4 
Persistence  Results  in  New  England  Church  —  page  8 
Brooklyn's  Good  ol'  Boy  —  page  18 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


Changing  Habits 

and 
Unchanging  Needs 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 


It  seems  that  very  few  things  or  people  escape 
change.  The  circumstances  around  us  make 
change  a  reality.  This  is  clearly  shown  in  a  recent 
report  by  a  conference  board  study  of  United 
States  consumers.  The  study  indicates  the 
interests  of  people.  The  fact  that  more  women 
are  working  today  has  brought  about  many  of 
these  changes.  We  are  tending  to  eat  our  meals 
away  from  home  more  than  ever  before.  It  is 
shown  in  the  statistics  that  in  the  60s,  17 
percent  of  our  food  dollar  was  spent  on  meals 
away  from  home.  Now,  32  percent  of  the  food 
dollars  go  that  way. 

The  average  American  family  spends  four 
times  as  much  on  pet  food  as  they  do  on  baby 
food,  and  25  times  as  much  on  alcoholic  prod- 
ucts. To  look  good,  Americans  spend  twice  as 
much  on  hair  care  and  dental  care  as  they  do  on 
baby  food. 

There  is  a  change  in  the  spending  habits  of  the 
average  American  as  time  goes  by,  but  the 
change  is  not  as  great  as  we  may  think.  We  spend 
on  those  items  that  we  feel  are  of  some  value  to 
ourselves.  In  the  spending,  there  may  be  ele- 
ments of  self-destruction.  This  is  clearly  shown 
in  the  increase  of  alcoholic  beverages,  but  it  also 
appears  in  the  increasing  expenditure  on  drugs. 
The  rapid  increase  of  drug  abuse  in  this  country 
and  in  the  world  is  one  of  the  greatest  moral 
problems  facing  society  today.  The  huge  profits 
have  made  it  a  worldwide  industry.  This  willing- 
ness of  people  to  destroy  their  lives  will  be  with 
us  for  many  years. 

The  more  habits  seem  to  change,  the  more 
they  are  the  same.  However,  the  needs  remain 


the  same— the  need  of  purpose  in  life  and  the 
reason  for  life  itself.  The  need  of  having  purpose 
cannot  be  separated  from  the  reason  why  we  are 
here  on  earth.  God  created  mankind  and  with- 
out God  in  the  life,  there  is  only  selfish  purpose. 
When  we  become  involved  only  in  the  material 
things  of  life,  we  miss  the  true  reason  of  our 
being. 

The  church  has  a  purpose— that  of  making  its 
message  clear  to  the  world.  The  message  is  the 
need  to  return  to  the  Creator  who  is  the  Re- 
deemer. Habits  may  change,  but  they  all  end  up 
being  the  same— self-destruction.  Without  re- 
demption there  is  no  help  or  hope.  It  is  often 
easy  for  the  church  to  stand  back  and  see  and 
understand  the  sins  of  man.  This  is  not  difficult. 
The  true  difficulty  is  to  make  contact  with  and 
make  possible  the  change  of  lives. 

It  may  be  necessary  to  make  some  changes  in 
our  own  attitudes.  We  often  find  the  confines  of 
our  little  world  much  too  comfortable  to  leave 
it.  To  seek  and  save  the  lost  is  a  commitment  to 
which  the  Lord  Himself  pledged.  It  is  also  a 
commission  which  has  been  passed  on  to  us. 
However,  seeking  and  saving  involves  going— 
not  just  sitting  and  waiting.  The  unsaved  people 
have  pledged  their  priorities  and  shown  their 
restlessness  by  constantly  changing  them.  It  is 
our  time  to  establish  our  priorities  in  carrying 
out  the  commission  of  Christ  to  bring  the  world 
back  to  God. 

Though  the  Lord  never  changes— the  same 
yesterday,  today,  and  forever— nor  has  He 
changed  His  commitment,  we  need  to  reestablish 
our  priority— that  of  seeking  and  saving  the  lost! 


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The  Brethren  Missionary 
Herald  is  published  monthly  by 
the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
Co..  P.O.  Box  544.  1104  Kings 
Highway,  Winona  Lake.  IN 
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Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor.  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker. 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko.  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A,  Kent  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Lester  Pifer.  Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 

8  Persistence  Results  In  New  England  Church 

10  Conversion.  .  .  To  Judaism? 

11  GBHMC  Update 

12  On  The  Job  Training  In  Church  Building 
14  Hungry  For  Literature 

16  Pre-med  Potential 

18  Brooklyn's  Good  ol'  Boy 

22  Midlife  Crisis  to  Midlife  Blessing 

25  And  the  People  Responded! 

26  Commitment  is  the  Key 

29  Long  Haul  Perfume 

30  Short-Term  Program— Long-Term  Result 
32  Don't  Talk  To  Strangers 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters  2  • 

•  Feature  Article      4       •  BMH  News  Report      35 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

Foreign  Missions  announced  a  goal  of 
$150,000  for  their  offering  to  care  for  the 
needs  of  60  missionaries— almost  half  of 
this  number  were  children.  Three  fields 
are  open  with  a  prospect  of  a  fourth.  . 
.  Long  Beach.  CA.  began  their  third  year 
of  day  school  activities. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Orange,  CA. 
broke  ground.  L.L.  Grubb,  pastor.  .  . 
James  Morrison,  a  Grace  graduate,  was 
named  young  educator  of  the  year  by  the 
Warsaw.  Ind..  Jaycees. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Warren  Tamkin  announced  the  com- 
pletion of  his  ministry  at  Hatboro,  Pa. 
and  assumed  the  pastorate  at  Island 
Pond.  Vermont. 


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YOKEFELLOW 


Foreign  Missions 


Home  Missions 


by  Ed  Jackson,  Exec.  Dir., 

National  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Men 

and  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Find/ay,  Ohio 

(former  Home  Missions  pastor,  missionary  to  Alaska) 

The  term  "true  yokefellow,"  as  Paul  used  in  his  letter 
to  the  Philippians,  is  as  meaningful  for  us  today  as  it  was 
in  that  day. 

It  was  in  1974  that  a  call  came  to  pastor  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  in  Kenai,  Alaska,  which  I  accepted. 

Due  to  the  hazards  of  the  trip  up  the  Alcan  High- 
way, which  was  then  covered  only  with  gravel,  a  major 
problem  might  be  incurred.  The  continual  striking  of  the 
gas  tank  by  the  gravel  made  it  necessary  to  protect  the 
metal  with  a  covering  of  rubber  or  some  other  substance 
to  prevent  the  possibility  of  making  holes  in  the  tank. 

Ben  Kramer  had  just  what  was  needed  and  was  willing 
to  share  it  and  take  the  time  and  trouble  to  install  it. 
Through  this  labor  of  love,  a  true  yokefellow  was  born! 
This  relationship  has  lasted  for  10  years  and  is  growing 
richer  each  day. 

Ben  is  a  businessman  and  a  member  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  in  Worthington,  Ohio.  He  and  his  wife, 
Ruth,  have  three  children— Doug,  Cindy,  and  Brad,  and 
together  they  journeyed  to  Kenai  in  the  summer  of  1975 
to  survey  the  work,  and  as  a  result  became  very  much 
involved  in  the  mission  work— clearing  the  land  for  a  new 
church  building  or  whatever  needed  to  be  done. 

During  this  visit  I  suggested  to  Doug,  then  about 
16,  that  he  spend  a  year  in  Alaska  between  high  school 
and  college  and  help  build  our  new  building,  which  was 
then  only  in  the  planning  stage.  Doug  and  his  parents 
felt  that  this  might  be  a  possibility. 

Of  course,  to  build  a  structure  in  Alaska  presents  a 
unique  problem  of  getting  the  necessary  materials  and 

4    MARCH  '85  BMH 


having  them  on  hand  at  the  proper  time.  After  much 
prayer  about  all  the  problems  involved,  I  shared  this 
with  Ben,  my  true  yokefellow.  With  about  eighteen 
months  to  plan  for  our  new  church  building,  we  would 
seek  to  locate  a  semitrailer  box.  We  made  a  list  of  all  the 
items  that  would  be  needed  and  had  them  shipped  to 
Home  Missions  headquarters  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana. 

Again,  Ben  came  through  by  locating  a  semitrailer 
box  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  which  could  be  dropped  in  An- 
chorage, Alaska,  when  it  had  served  its  purpose  for  us. 
The  equipment  gathered  at  the  Winona  Lake  offices— ten 
ton  of  it,  was  then  loaded  by  my  friend  Ben  and  others 
he  recruited  to  assist  him.  The  equipment  was  then 
pulled  to  Seattle,  Washington,  where  Ben  had  made  ar- 
rangements for  the  trailer  and  all  to  be  loaded  on  an 
ocean-going  container  ship— headed  for  Anchorage,  160 
miles  from  Kenai,  the  final  destination. 

By  this  time  the  church  structure  (or  shell)  had  been 
built,  and  when  the  semitrailer  arrived  we  just  opened 
the  front  doors  and  offloaded  the  contents.  Some  four- 
teen months  had  passed  in  the  process. 

Praise  the  Lord  for  all  those  who  assisted,  but  all  this 
could  not  have  been  completed  if  it  were  not  for  my 
true  yokefellow— Ben. 

The  Kramers  have  been  such  an  encouragement  to  us 
over  the  years,  that  I  feel  every  missionary— foreign  and 
home— needs  a  true  yokefellow,  who  is  always  there 
when  needed  with  a  phone  call  or  letter,  or  other  means 
of  assistance.  Such  as,  the  Kramer  home  was  always 
open  for  hospitality,  with  transportation  provided,  upon 
my  return  to  the  lower  48  for  national  conference  or 
board  meetings.  A  true  yokefellow  does  not  only  assist 
in  a  tangible  way,  but,  also,  all  his  help  and  encourage- 
ment is  bathed  in  prayer.  What  an  assurance  to  know 


that  someone  loves  and  prays  for  you  daily— all  out  of 
love  for  his  Lord!  With  a  true  yokefellow,  you  can  laugh 
together,  weep  together,  pray  together,  be  anxious  to- 
gether, shiver  together  and  rejoice  together. 

It  is  my  prayer  that  this  challenge  will  encourage  you 
men  to  become  "true  yokefellows"  to  a  foreign  mission- 
ary or  a  home  missions  pastor.  It  tells  us  in  Ecclesiastes 
4:9-12  that  "Two  are  better  than  one,  because  they  have 
a  good  reward  for  their  labour;  for  if  they  fall,  the  one 
will  lift  up  his  fellow:  but  woe  to  him  that  is  alone  when 
he  falleth;  for  he  hath  not  another  to  help  him  up. 
Again,  if  two  lie  together,  then  they  have  heat;  but  how 
can  one  be  warm  alone?  And  if  one  prevail  against  him, 
two  shall  withstand  him;  and  a  threefold  cord  is  not 
quickly  broken." 

We  are  looking  for  a  few  good  men!  Why  not  accept 
the  challenge  and  join  the  ranks  of  the  true  yokefellow? 

by  Ben  Kramer 

Christian  Businessman,  Worthington,  Ohio 
(the  other  half  of  the  yoke) 

In  the  summer  of  1974,  my  wife,  Ruth,  was  the  mis- 
sionary lady  for  DVBS  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Columbus,  Ohio.  They  established  a  goal  of  raising  $500 
to  send  Ed  and  Polly  Jackson  to  Kenai,  Alaska.  We  had 
never  met  the  Jacksons  prior  to  this  time  as  we  were 
rather  new  in  the  faith.  Our  entire  family  came  to  know 
the  Lord  in  the  summer  of  1972  at  Word  of  Life.  We  had 
just  started  attending  the  Grace  church  in  December  of 
1973. 

Life  really  began  for  us  at  forty,  and  for  our  three 
children-Doug  (16),  Cindy  (14),  and  Brad  (9).  Little  did 
we  know  that  the  relationship  with  the  Jacksons  would 
enrich  the  life  of  each  member  of  our  family. 

While  talking  to  Ed  at  the  church  one  evening,  I 
learned  that  he  needed  to  get  his  truck  and  passenger  car 
ready  to  make  the  5,000  mile  journey  to  Alaska,  and  so 
our  relationship  began.  The  vehicles  were  made  ready. 
We  had  the  Jacksons  in  our  home  for  dinner  one  evening 
and  in  a  day  or  two  they  were  on  their  way  to  Alaska, 
by  way  of  national  conference  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana. 

As  we  said  goodbye,  I  remember  thinking,  "Wouldn't 
it  be  special  if  our  family  could  do  this  same  thing  some 
day!"  The  thought  came  so  quickly  and  involuntarily 
that  it  rather  surprised  me.  Reality  swiftly  returned  and 
I  realized  that  as  the  owner  of  a  small  business,  with 
three  children  in  school,  and  no  preparation  to  pastor  a 
church,  there  would  need  to  be  some  other  plan. 

God  is  more  than  faithful!  Over  the  past  ten  years.  He 
has  encouraged  a  relationship  between  the  Jacksons  and 
the  Kramers  far  beyond  our  imagination.  Praise  the 
Lord,  it  had  only  begun.  Through  tears  of  joy  and  hard 
times,  we  have  learned  to  minister  to  one  another— to 
sense  when  encouragement,  support,  or  a  listening  ear 
was  needed.  Prayer  for  each  other  and  members  of  the 
families  cemented  us  together  in  Jesus  Christ  and  we  give 
Him  all  the  praise  and  glory. 

Ed  had  not  been  in  Alaska  more  than  a  few  months 
when  a  need  arose  for  a  four-wheel-drive  truck.  Jim 
Welborn,  one  of  the  men  in  the  Kenai  congregation, 
wanted  to  purchase  a  vehicle  and  use  it  for  himself  and 
as  a  ministry  to  plow  the  snow  from  the  church  parking 
lot.  Four  wheelers  in  Alaska  often  cost  several  thousand 
dollars  more  than  in  the  lower  48.  Ed  asked  if  I  would 


purchase  the  truck  and  make  arrangements  to  have  it 
driven  through  or  shipped  to  Kenai.  What  followed 
turned  out  to  be  the  beginning  of  a  great  adventure  for 
the  Kramer  family.  We  ordered  the  truck,  outfitted  it 
with  a  nine-  and  a  half-foot  truck  camper,  and  our  entire 
family  left  July  2,  1975,  to  tour  the  northwest  on  our 
way  to  Kenai,  Alaska.  It  took  us  two-  and  a-half  weeks 
to  make  the  trip  and  we  spent  three  weeks  working 
around  the  new  church  property  by  tearing  down  old 
homesteads,  tar  paper  sheds,  and  clearing  brush.  When 
time  came  to  leave  we  wondered  what  disposition  should 
be  made  of  the  camper  as  we  had  tried  to  sell  it  previous- 
ly. God  had  a  plan  for  the  camper,  for  it  has  been  used 
over  and  over  again  by  visitors  and  workers  at  Kenai  and 
Homer  as  the  church  buildings  were  being  constructed. 

We  flew  home  in  late  August  with  the  joy  of  the  Lord 
in  our  hearts  having  had  a  great  experience  and  a  small 
part  in  what  was  happening  in  Kenai.  Doug  had  been 
challenged  to  return  the  next  summer  to  help  with  the 
construction  of  the  new  building  and,  as  we  contem- 
plated the  opportunity,  Ed  and  I  began  to  consider  how 
we  might  save  shipping  costs  and  whether  or  not  it 
would  be  feasible  to  gather  all  the  finishing  items  for  the 
new  church  and  ship  them  to  arrive  in  the  time  the 
building  would  be  under  roof. 

The  following  summer  of  1976,  Doug  winged  his  way 
north  to  be  a  part  of  the  construction  crew  and  Ed  and 
I  continued  the  gathering  of  all  the  finishing  items. 
Cindy,  our  daughter,  had  been  asked  to  go  along  with 
Doug  to  serve  as  the  cook  for  the  construction  crew  but 
was  unable  to  accept  the  opportunity.  Connie  Day,  a 
pretty  dark-haired  young  lady,  accepted  the  challenge 
and  made  the  journey.  Doug  and  Connie  fell  in  love  and 
were  married  in  May  1979. 

Shortly  after  Doug  returned  from  Alaska,  the  truck- 
load  of  interior  finish  goods  was  ready  for  shipment. 
Truckers  Harrison  Cady,  Ed's  half-brother,  and  Joe 
Randel  made  the  trip  to  Seattle  with  a  willing  and  co- 
operative spirit.  God  using  men  and  their  professions 
began  to  be  an  evident  part  of  all  that  was  being  accom- 
plished. Darwin  Thompson,  carpet  layer  from  Alto, 
Michigan,  laid  the  carpet  and  tile.  Don  Sellers  and  Earl 
Funderburg  headed  up  the  construction  crew  and 
men  from  the  Kenai  church  used  their  heating  and 
electrical  skills.  The  list  could  go  on  and  the  concept 
began  to  form. 

To  further  experience  this  concept  firsthand,  I  re- 
turned to  Kenai  on  February  16,  1977,  for  the  purpose 


"Missionaries    and    missionary 

families  are  in  need  of  help  that 

you  alone  can  provide/' 


of  decorating  the  church  interior.  Arriving,  I  found  that 
the  drywall  was  just  being  hung  and  no  chance  for 
interior  work  to  begin  for  nearly  two  weeks.  My  plan 
was  to  return  to  Ohio  March  2  or  3,  but  God  had  an 
alternate  plan  that  began  to  unfold  on  February  18. 
Warm  weather  and  rain,  and  then  the  bright  sun— the 
beginning  of  ten  days  of  absolutely  beautiful  weather- 
cold  at  night  but  warm  enough  to  work  outside  during 


BMH 


the  day.  We  were  able  to  complete  the  outside  painting 
on  the  building,  finishing  up  the  windows  under  the  high 
overhang  in  the  beginning  of  a  eight-inch  snow  storm. 
The  timing  was  perfect,  the  exterior  work  was  now  done, 
the  dry  wall  contractor  had  completed  his  work  so  the 
volunteer  paint  crew  went  to  work  full  tilt  getting  the 
interior  surfaces  ready  to  prime  and  finish.  March  22 
rolled  around  and  two  weeks  had  stretched  into  five  but, 
praise  the  Lord,  the  entire  building  was  nearly  done.  I 
left  for  the  lower  48  on  March  25  with  my  head  filled 
with  all  sorts  of  thoughts  and  ideas  of  men  using  their 
God-given  talents  to  serve  the  Lord.  I  will  forever  be 
humbly  thankful  for  this  opportunity  and  experience. 

Ed  and  Polly  moved  to  Florida  in  May  of  1979,  ar- 
riving in  June  to  begin  the  work  of  rejuvenating  the 
Orlando  GBC.  The  congregation  was  small,  the  facility 
in  need  of  cleaning  up  and  repair,  but,  as  time  passed, 
God  provided  the  increase  and  repair. 

The  Kramer  family  made  several  trips  to  Florida  dur- 
ing the  next  two  years,  working  on  the  yard,  sprinkler 
system  and  adding  a  little  in  the  way  of  outside  mainte- 
nance to  the  building.  Doug  and  Connie  took  on  the  job 
as  house  parents  at  a  ranch  across  the  street  from  the 
Jackson  home  and  were  able  to  visit  them  periodically. 
This  added  to  the  yokefellow  relationship  and  it  really 
became  apparent  as  we  grew  more  committed  in  our  re- 
lationship. There  needs  to  be  an  openness  and  willing- 
ness on  both  sides  of  this  relationship  to  make  the  yoke- 
fellow concept  work. 

The  Jacksons  were  called  back  to  Homer,  Alaska, 
to  start  a  church,  using  property  that  had  been  pur- 
chased several  years  earlier  while  Ed  was  pastoring  in 
the  Kenai  church.  Our  youngest  son,  Brad,  was  invited, 
along  with  several  other  young  men,  to  help  in  the 
clearing  of  land  surrounding  the  church.  He  gained  a  per- 
spective that  we  pray  will  serve  him  the  rest  of  his  life. 
He  was  able,  also,  to  use  his  electrical  talent  the  Lord  has 
given  to  him  to  install  equipment  in  the  Jacksons'  boat. 

Ed  and  Polly  answered  the  call  to  start  a  new  church 
in  North  Pole,  just  north  of  Fairbanks,  Alaska.  The  prog- 
ress was  slow  due  to  the  bitter  cold  40  and  60°  below 
zero  weather  and  a  period  of  discouragement  brought  on 
a  season  of  intercessory  prayer  which  strengthened  the 
now-growing  yokefellow  relationship.  The  Jacksons  and 
the  Kramers  have  reached  the  point  that  where  if  one  is 
cut,  the  other  bleeds.  If  tears  well  up  they  are  no  longer 
wiped  away  in  haste.  We  seem  to  know  when  the  other 
needs  his  spirits  lifted— a  short  note,  a  phone  call.  Shar- 
ing our  needs  and  prayer  requests  openly  and  seeing  God 
answer  prayer  after  prayer  makes  the  bond  grow  stronger 
(1  Cor.  12:24-27). 

With  the  North  Pole  church  well  established  with  land 
and  building,  and  now  pastored  by  Gary  Hable,  the 
Jacksons  answered  a  call  to  pastor  the  GBC  in  Findlay, 
Ohio.  After  a  lengthy  discussion  with  the  Jacksons  at 
national  conference  in  August  of  1984,  I  flew  to  Alaska 
and  drove  one  of  the  vehicles  back  to  Findlay.  Polly 
used  the  other  half  of  my  round-trip  ticket— bound  for 
Findlay— to  get  the  house  ready  for  occupancy  when  the 
furnishings  arrived.  The  Jacksons'  ministry  continues  to 
blossom  in  Findlay  and  so  is  our  yokefellow  relation- 
ship. What  a  blessing! 

Blessings  and  a  yokefellow  relationship  are  awaiting 
you!  I  have  told  my  story  that  you  may  be  encouraged 

6    MARCH  '85  BMH 


to  get  involved.  Missionaries  and  missionary  families  are 
in  need  of  the  help  that  you  alone  can  provide.  You 
need  no  special  training.  The  catalyst  that  makes  this 
yokefellow  relationship  work  is: 

The  bond  of  the  precious  faith  in  Jesus  Christ 
and  a  faithfulness  to  pray  for  one  another. 

A  willing  spirit  to  minister  and  be 
ministered  unto  by  both  families  or  individuals. 

A  pastor  who  is  willing  to  ask  for  assistance, 
sharing  his  ministry  with  a  layman  who  in  turn 
is  willing  to  supply  whatever  the  needs  may  be. 
God  has  uniquely  equipped  you  with  special  talents 
that  you  use  every  day  to  provide  a  living.  Why  not  dedi- 
cate these  talents  to  God  and  allow  Him  to  use  you  as  a 
yokefellow  (1  Cor.  12:4-6). 

The  DVBS  missionary  goal  of  $500  at  the  GBC  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  the  rubber  I  put  on  the  tanks  to 
send  the  Jacksons  to  Kenai  have  been  multiplied  more 
than  a  hundredfold  and  only  eternity  will  reveal  the  net 
results  of  their  missionary  vision. 

YOKEFELLOW  QUESTIONNAIRE 

NAME 


ADDRESS 


OCCUPATION 


Yes,  I  am  interested  in  being  a  yokefellow  to  a  for- 
eign missionary. 

Circle  if  you  have  a  field  preference: 

1.  Argentina,  Brazil  2.  Africa 

3.  Europe  (England,  4.  Japan 

France,  Germany,  Spain)      5.  Philippines 
If  still  available,  I  would  like  to  be  a  yokefellow  to: 


Yes,  I  would  like  to  be  a  yokefellow  to  a  home  mis- 
sion pastor.  Name 


(Alaska  and  the  Hawaiian  Islands  are  under 
Home  Mission  supervision.) 

Please  mail  to  National    Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Men,  Box  416,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590. 


Upon  receipt  of  the  above  questionnaire,  we  will  at- 
tempt to  assign  you  your  missionary  if  you  name  a 
preference.  Along  with  your  assigned  missionary,  we  will 
also  send  you  a  "How  To"  manual  with  log  sheets  to 
assist  you  in  your  ministry  as  a  yokefellow.  An  offering 
to  help  with  administration,  mailing  and  postage  is  not 
required  but  will  be  deeply  appreciated.  Make  your 
checks  payable  to:  National  Fellowship  of  Grace  Breth- 
ren Men  (Yokefellow).  All  gifts  are  tax  deductible. 


JEER  FRENDLV 


o'\ 
io' 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 

1:6 

a:.i 

a! 
o  I 
o| 
o 
o 

Q 


Walter  Fretz, 

Financial  Secretary 


The 
Grpce 
Brethren 
nvestment 
Foundation 


We're  not  an  impersonal  computer 
assigning  loans  to  faceless  corporations 
or  sending  interest  to  meaningless  in- 
dividuals. We  are  people  serving  people 
in  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches.  We  lend  money  exclusively  to 
growing  Grace  Brethren  Churches  at 
three  to  five  percent  below  the  commer- 
cial rate.  Our  depositors  are  committed  to 
using  their  funds  to  reaching  the  world  for 
Christ.  You  see,  we're  user  friendly.  We 
take  a  personal  interest  in  each  of  our 
customers,  whether  through  the  mail  or  in 
person.  Invest  in  the  FGBC.  Invest  in  the 
Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation. 

Box  587,  Winona  Lake,  In  46590 
(219)  267-5161 


Persistence  Results  1 


By  Jorja  L.  Day  With  Dale  Jenks,     Pastor,  Grace  Bret 


A  dedicated  Christian  lady  in 
North  Hatley,  Quebec,  fervently 
witnessed  to  a  25-year-old  man 
who  had  come  to  her  home  to  in- 
stall cable  television.  What  she  said 
made  the  man  uneasy  and  he 
wished  to  be  done  with  his  work 
and  be  gone,  but  as  the  Lord  would 
have  it,  his  work  required  a  second 
visit  to  the  home  of  this  'strange' 
lady. 

Her  persistence  resulted  in 
changed  lives  for  many  and  a 
flourishing  Grace  Brethren  church 
in  Island  Pond,  Vt.,  now  led  by 
Pastor  Dale  Jenks. 

Jacques  Marcoux,  presently  a 
full-time  evangelist  based  in  Mon- 
treal and  leader  of  the  largest 
crusade  for  Christ  in  Quebec,  was 
the  young  cable  installer.  After  the 
lady  had  roused  Jacques'  interest 
in  Christ,  she  referred  him  to  her 
pastor.  He  sought  out  the  minister 
and  ultimately  trusted  Christ  as  his 
Savior. 


As  a  new  Christian,  his  heart 
became  burdened  with  the  spiritual 
warfare  of  those  closest  to  him,  He 
was  determined  to  share  the  'Good 
News'  he  had  discovered  with  his 
Catholic  family  in  Island  Pond,  Vt.. 

As  the  family  gathered  for 
Christmas  that  year  in  the 
mid-1960s,  Jacques  began  to  teach 
them.  Slowly  and  with  much  ap- 
prehension, he  introduced  a  whole 
new  activity  —  studying  the  Bible 
—  to  them.  He  continued  for  a  year 
without  giving  up.  Finally,  his 
father-in-law  believed,  then 
brothers,  and  sisters,  until  most  of 
his  family  were  won  to  the  Lord.* 

With  this  humble  beginning,  a  Bi- 
ble study  was  begun  in  the  home 
of  Jacques'  brother,  Claude.  The 
group  grew  in  number,  and  they 
soon  arranged  to  use  the  facilities 
of  an  old  school  house,  forming  the 
first  Gospel-preaching  church  in  the 
community  for  years.  They  called 
it  the  Evangelical  Baptist  Church, 


and  it  was  pastored  by  Jules 
Mailloux,  a  student  at  Bethel  Bible 
Institute  in  Lennoxville,  Quebec. 

Originally,  the  services  were  in 
French,  as  that  was  the  native 
language  of  most  of  the  congrega- 
tion and  the  pastor.  However, 
recognizing  the  spiritual  need  of  the 
area,  they  soon  began  to  use 
English. 

The  congregation  outgrew  the  lit- 
tle school  house,  so  they  rented  the 
first  floor  of  a  huge  apartment 
building.  This  was  to  become  the 
meeting  place  for  years  to  come, 
until  Satan  struck  a  death-blow. 

The  new  church  was  gaining  so 
much  attention,  it  also  attracted 
some  individuals  of  charismatic 
persuasion.  The  result  was  a  split  in 
the  church,  damage  to  its 
testimony,  and  its  eventual  demise. 

In  God's  timing,  missionary  Jim 
Hunt  arrived  in  the  area.  (Hunt  is 
presently  missionary  church  planter 
with  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions and  pastor  of  the  Saratoga 
Springs,  N.Y.  Grace  Brethren 
Church.) 

Under  the  leadership  of  Hunt, 
the  flickering  Light  was  rekindled. 
The  testimony  that  had  been 
damaged  was  repaired  and  the 
Gospel  message  continued  through 
the  establishment  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  The  new  con- 
gregation   was    begun    in     1980 


Jorja  Day  was 
saved  more 
than  a  year 
ago  at  the 
Island  Pond 
Grace  Breth- 
ren Church. 
She  and  her 
husband,  Robin,  first  attended  the  church  to 
view  a  special  film  series,  and  as  a  result, 
learned  of  the  saving  grace  of  Jesus  Christ. 
They  are  now  active  members  of  the  church. 


Church  service  at  Island  Pond. 


8    MARCH   85  GBHMC 


New  England  Church 


ch   Island  Pond,  Vt. 


Island  Pond  Grace  Brethren  Church 


through  the  cooperative  efforts  of 
the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council  and  the  North  Atlantic 
District  Mission  Board.  Today,  ap- 
proximately 70  people  meet  each 
Sunday  to  worship  in  their  new 
building  west  of  the  village. 

What  caused  the  Light  to  flicker, 
and  what  makes  Island  Pond  a  uni- 
que place  to  minister? 

The  answer  to  both  questions  are 
found  in  three  major  factors  —  the 
religion,  the  isolation,  and  the  peo- 
ple of  the  area. 

Island  Pond  is  really  a  typical, 
quaint  little  Vermont  village.  It  is 
cradled  among  majestic  mountains, 
which  form  a  backdrop  for  a 
beautiful  lake  with  an  island  in  it! 

Located  in  northeastern  Ver- 
mont, only  15  miles  from  Canada, 
the  Canadian  influence  on  the  area 
in  language,  culture,  and  religion  is 
great.  Many  of  the  approximately 
1,600  residents  are  Catholic. 


Others  belong  to  a  long-standing 
Congregational  Church. 

Because  of  the  isolation,  there  is 
not  a  lot  of  reason  for  people  to 
move  to  the  community.  Once  a 
thriving  railroad  town  with  13  sets 
of  tracks  and  250  employees,  the 
railroad  now  employs  approximate- 
ly 12  individuals  and  works  only 
two  sets  of  tracks. 

The  people  who  live  in  Island 
Pond  are  most  likely  to  have  been 
there  for  some  time.  For  that 
reason,  they  tend  to  be  set  in  their 
ways  and  resistant  to  change.  One 
local  resident  spoke  the  sentiment 
of  many  townspeople  at  a  recent 
town  meeting,  "We  have  three  old 
established  churches  in  Island 
Pond.  People  ought  to  be  able  to 
have  their  needs  met  by  these  chur- 
ches. We  don't  need  any  more 
churches." 

Add  to  this  a  400-member  cult, 
the  Northeast  Community  Church, 


national  media  attention,  and  over- 
zealous  reporters,  and  the  result  is 
a  community  who  suspects  evil  in 
anything  new. 

It  is  a  real  challenge  to  the 
members  of  the  Island  Pond  Grace 
Brethren  Church  to  be  such  bright 
lights  as  to  attract  many  of  these 
people  who  are  set  in  their  ways. 
But  they  are  doing  it  through  be- 
ing available  when  needed  and  by 
having  a  servant's  heart. 

Jesus  said,  "I  will  build  My 
church  and  the  gates  of  Hell  will  not 
prevail  against  it."  The  testimony  of 
the  Island  Pond  Grace  Brethren 
Church  bears  witness  to  those  pro- 
phetic words,  and  to  the  faithful 
witness  of  a  godly  woman  in  North 
Hatley,  Quebec.  □ 

'From  the  moment  of  his  salvation,  Rev.  Jac- 
ques Marcoux  has  had  a  special  concern  for  the 
town  of  Island  Pond.  It  was  very  fitting  that  during 
special  meetings  at  the  church  in  April,  1984,  at 
which  he  spoke,  that  nine  people  prayed  to  receive 
Christ  as  Savior. 


GBHMC 


conuersion... 


To  Judaism? 

by  Isobel  Fraser 


Calling  door-to-door  one  time,  1  was  the  recipient  of  a  good 
bawling  out  by  an  elderly  Jewess  who  told  me  in  no  uncer- 
tain terms  that  she  resented  my  coming  to  the  Jewish  people. 

"You  don't  find  any  of  us  trying  to  convert  you,"  she  said. 

In  the  past,  I  would  have  had  to  agree,  but  taken  the  op- 
portunity to  point  out  that  if  the  Jewish  people  believed  they 
had  the  only  spiritual  truth,  they  should  seek  to  take  it  to  the 
Gentiles.  God  had  told  Israel  they  were  to  be  His  witnesses 
that  He  is  God  (Isa.  43:10,11). 

No  longer,  however,  can  Jewish  people  make  this  claim 
regarding  attempts  to  reach  non-Jews.  This  I  learned  at  one 
of  our  Bet  El  meetings  some  time  ago.  Besides  the  regular 
Bible  study,  items  that  others  bring  are  welcome  and  discuss- 
ed in  light  of  the  Bible. 

One  lady  brought  an  article  from  a  Jewish  publication  tell- 
ing of  an  effort  to  convert  Gentiles  to  Judiasm.  It  quotes  a 
published  pamphlet  by  Rabbi  Maggal,  the  founder  of  The  Na- 
tional Jewish  Information  Service.  .  .  "For  The  Conversion 
of  Gentiles  to  Judaism."  The  pamphlet  asked  a  number  of 
questions  and  gave  the  rabbi's  answer,  which  I  will  paraphrase. 

1.  What  is  the  definition  of  a  Jew?  A  Jew  is  one  who  has 
either  been  born  into  the  Jewish  peoplehood  or  by  conver- 
sion has  accepted  the  Jewish  faith. 


2.  Can  the  Jews  be  called  the  Chosen  People?  They  are 
indeed.  The  Scriptures  not  only  testify  to  this  but  reaffirm  it 
many  times.  For  example,  Deuteronomy  7:6  says:  "For  thou 
art  a  holy  people  unto  the  Lord  thy  God.  The  Lord,  thy  God 
has  chosen  thee  to  be  His  own  treasurer,  out  of  all  the  peoples 
that  are  upon  the  face  of  the  earth."  It  was  to  bring  the  message 
of  the  one  God  to  the  world  that  they  were  chosen. 

3.  Is  it  possible  for  anyone  to  become  a  part  of  the  chosen 
people?  The  rabbi's  answer  was  affirmative.  Whoever  is  will- 
ing to  learn  what  Judaism  stands  for  and  live  accordingly  is 
welcome.  No  one  is  excluded  because  of  birth,  nationality, 
or  race  from  full-fledged  membership  among  the  Jewish  peo- 
ple. According  to  the  Talmud:  "The  convert  is  like  a  new-born 
Jew  with  respect  to  all  his  privileges  and  obligations." 

4.  What  is  the  Jewish  Bible?  The  Jewish  Bible  consists  of 
the  Old  Testament  only.  Judaism  has  no  New  Testament; 
therefore,  Jews  do  not  call  their  Bible  the  Old  Testament.  It 
is  called  The  Holy  Scriptures. 

5.  According  to  Jews,  is  Judaism  the  only  true  religion?  Yes. 
Because  of  this  belief,  they  have  suffered  martyrdom  for  more 
than  two  thousand  years  for  their  faith.  It  is  the  world's  only 
pure  mono-theistic  religion. 

6.  What  is  the  basic  doctrine  of  their  faith?  It  is  found  in 


10 


GBHMC 


Deuteronomy  6:4:  "Hear,  O  Israel  Adonoy  (the  Eternal)  is 
Dur  God;  Adonoy  is  One."  The  teaching  of  Judaism  is  that 
God  is  One.  .  .  invisible  and  indivisible. 

7.  Are  the  Jewish  people  still  waiting  for  the  Messiah?  Yes, 
[hey  are.  The  Messiah,  who  will  be  a  person  (not  a  god),  will 
create  through  his  wisdom  and  the  right  time,  complete  peace 
in  the  world.  The  real  Messiah,  a  person,  will  abolish  war  and 
the  fear  of  war  forever. 

8.  What  is  the  attitude  of  the  Jewish  people  toward  Jesus? 
Just  as  Christianity  finds  no  significance  of  meaning  for 
Mohammed  or  Budda,  so  Jesus  has  no  place  in  Judaism. 

9.  Salvation  —  is  it  a  Jewish  problem?  No,  it  is  not  a  Jewish 
problem  because  the  central  issue  in  Judaism  is  the  good 
deed.  Despite  man's  imperfections,  faults,  and  sin,  Judaism 
teaches  that  man  is  heading  toward  the  Kingship  of  God  here 
on  the  earth. 

10.  Heaven  and  hell,  are  they  Jewish  beliefs?  According 
to  Judaism,  there  is  no  hell.  There  is  no  reference  in  the  Jewish 
scriptures  to  such  a  place.  Each,  through  his  own  behaviour, 
makes  his  own  heaven  or  hell  in  his  life. 

11.  Does  Judaism  oppose  science?  No,  because  it  is  a 
religion  of  reason.  Nothing  in  Judaism  contradicts  the  findings 
of  science. 

12.  Does  Judaism  have  any  missionary  movements?  Yes. 
The  National  Jewish  Information  Service  serves  this  purpose 
—  a  Jewish  missionary  organization  to  bring  the  message  of 


Judaism  to  the  world,  and  also  seeks  to  convert  non-Jews 
to  Judaism.* 

This  will  give  you  an  idea  of  some  Jewish  religious  views 
and  the  barriers  that  many  of  them  are  to  the  Gospel. 
Remember,  however,  that  these  answers  would  not  be  ac- 
ceptable to  all  Jewry.  Judaism  in  the  main,  has  three  distinct 
groups:  Orthodox,  Conservative,  and  Reform.  Even  as  a 
modernist  and  a  fundamentalist  would  not  agree  on  the 
answer  to  questions  on  Christianity,  so  you  would  find  dif- 
ferences in  the  various  Jewish  groups.  Nevertheless,  all  need 
your  prayers  that  God  might  open  many  hearts  to  the  Gospel 
and  to  faith  in  Christ  Jesus. 

'On  a  recent  Jewish  program  on  television,  it  was  stated  that 
several  thousand  Gentiles  converted  to  Judaism  in  the  past 
year.  □ 


>  aESiVl 

Miss  Isobel  Fraser  is  currently  the 

only  staff  member  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Messianic  Testimony  in 

'  ~/~*jF 

Los    Angeles,    Calif.    She    has 

gft 

been  involved  in  the  ministry 
there  since  1951. 

Pastor  Dean  and  Diane  Smith  —  Hemet,  Calif. 

NEW  PASTOR  BEGINS  AT  HEMET 

Dean  Smith  has  assumed  the  pastorate  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at  Hemet,  Calif.  He  began  his  ministry  on 
March  1. 

Dean  is  a  1978  graduate  of  Westmont  College  in  Santa  Bar- 
bara, California  with  a  B.A.  degree  in  psychology.  He  re- 
ceived a  M.  Div.  degree  with  a  pastoral  concentration  from 
Western  Conservative  Baptist  Seminary,  Portland,  Ore.,  in 
1983. 


For  nearly  the  past  two  years,  he  has  been  on  the  staff  of  the 
North  Long  Beach  Brethren  Church  in  California.  It  was  at 
that  church  he  accepted  Christ  at  age  six,  and  later  rededicated 
himself  during  high  school. 

In  addition  to  his  pastoral  experience,  Dean  has  also  worked 
as  a  counselor  in  a  half-way  house  for  convicted  criminals. 

Dean  is  married  to  the  former  Diane  Gentry,  and  the  cou- 
ple is  expecting  their  first  child  this  spring. 

Diane  is  a  graduate  of  Mt.  Hood  Community  College  with 
a  degree  in  graphic  arts. 

RISSER  GOES  TO  MARION,  OHIO 

Veteran  Grace  Brethren  pastor  Dean  Risser  has  assumed 
the  pulpit  at  the  Grace  Brethren  church  in  Marion,  Ohio.  He 
has  been  ministering  there  since  February  12. 

Dean  has  been  a  Grace  Brethren  pastor  since  1954.  He 
has  led  congregations  at  Johnson  City,  Tenn.,  Pompano 
Beach,  Fla.,  Coraopolis,  Pa.,  and  most  recently,  at  Lexington, 
Ohio.  During  his  ministries  at  Johnson  City  and  Pompano 
Beach,  those  churches  went  self-supporting. 

A  native  of  Ashland,  Ohio,  Dean  is  a  graduate  of  Bryan 
College,  Dayton,  Tenn.,  and  Grace  Theological  Seminary, 
Winona  Lake  Ind. 

He  is  married  to  the  former  Ella  Lee  Hall.  They  have  three 
grown  children  —  a  son  and  two  daughters,  and  three 
grandchildren. 


GBHMC 


11 


On  The  Job  Traininl 

m 


By  Steve  Jarrell     Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church    Charlotte,  North  Carolina 


It  was  a  difficult  four  and  one-half 
years,  but  finally,  in  May  1980  my 
Master  of  Divinity  degree  became 
a  reality.  The  struggles  and 
pressures  of  seminary  life  were 
over,  and  the  new  Home  Mission 
church  in  Charlotte,  N.C.  was 
beckoning.  Now,  in  my  naive  think- 
ing, it  was  just  a  matter  of  ap- 
propriating all  my  newly  acquired 
knowledge  and  eagerness  toward  a 
problem-free,  flourishing  ministry. 

In  the  beginning,  everything  was 
new.  We  were  full  of  joy  and  expec- 
tations as  we  anticipated  our  future 
together  in  Christ. 

Our  size  didn't  seem  important, 
only  that  we  existed  and  that  we 
had  a  purpose.  The  small  con- 
ference room  at  Horner's  Motor 
Lodge  became  our  sanctuary  for 
worship  during  our  first  year.  Our 
name  and  credibility  were  under 


suspicion,  but  our  message,  motive, 
and  conduct  helped  establish  our 
sincerity,  as  visitors  appeared  at  our 
services. 

We  became  the  'church  on  the 
move,'  relocating  to  Valleydale  High 
School  due  to  a  need  for  extra 
space.  We  worshipped  the  Lord  in 
the  school  cafeteria,  always  leaving 
it  cleaner  than  we  found  it. 

Due  to  scheduling  conflicts  with 
the  school,  in  less  than  a  year,  the 
church  was  forced  to  move  again. 
The  next  four  weeks  found  us  wor- 
shipping in  the  garage  of  Van  and 
Alma  Masters,  the  couple  who  had 
had  the  initial  vision  and  burden  for 
a  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  North 
Carolina.  During  this  time,  two  new 
families  became  a  part  of  our 
group,  confirming  once  again  the 
sovereignty  of  God. 

The  Lord  gave  us  a  very  special 


blessing  in  the  Master's  garage, 
however,  the  need  for  additional 
space  again  necessitated  relocation. 
After  much  fruitless  effort  and 
frustration,  a  stranger  suggested  the 
YMCA.  And,  for  the  past  two 
years,  that  has  been  our  church 
home. 

The  past  year  has  proved  to  be 
the  most  difficult  and  yet  most  pro- 
fitable in  our  church's  history.  With 
the  so-called  'honeymoon'  long 
over,  the  real  pastor  and  congrega- 
tion emerged.  Now  that  we  had  liv- 
ed with  each  other  as  'bride  and 
bridegroom'  for  three  years,  we 
were  confronted  with  the  issue  of 
being  obedient  and  willingly  loving 
one  another  (regardless  of  personal 
feelings).  Or,  we  could  submit  to 
sinful  pride  and  call  it  quits. 

It  was  painfully  difficult  for  both 
pastor  and  congregation  to  face  the 


Land  Is  Paid  Off  —  Pastor  Steve  Jarrell  stands  on  the  property  that  the  Charlotte.  N.C.  Grace  Brethren  Church  purchased  last  fall.  Plans 
are  now  being  made  for  the  construction  of  their  first  building. 


12 


GBHMC 


n  Church  Building 


truth  about  their  respective  inade- 
quacies. (Remember  we  were  new 
in  every  way,  with  so  much  to  be 
learned).  However,  God,  in  His 
grace,  was  causing  us  to  grow  in- 
ternally, and  to  consider  the 
weightier  matters  of  loving,  serving, 
caring,  and  understanding  each 
other's  concerns  and  tensions.  No 
longer  did  we  simply  agree  with 
these  matters  intellectually,  they 
became  experientially  realized 
through  prayer  and  application. 

As  pastor,  I  learned  that  a  preoc- 
cupation with  numerical  church 
growth  leads  to  just  the  opposite.  It 
also  fosters  internal  spiritual  decay. 
The  Lord  has  also  shown  me  that 
servanthood  means  vastly  more 
than  preaching  a  faithful  message. 
Serving  is  work  (often  unap- 
preciated) and  self-denial  that  is 
done  for  the  glory  of  God. 

The  congregation  has  learned  a 
seminary  does  not  produce  robot- 
like preachers  who  disseminate 
truth,  are  always  spiritually  suffi- 
cient, and  have  no  feelings  or  prob- 
lems. Now  they  understand  to  a 
much  greater  extent  the  meaning  of 
Proverbs  27:17,  that  one  man 
sharpens  another.  They  have  also 
come  to  realize  their  personal 
responsibility  for  making  the 
pastor's  ministry  joyful  (Heb. 
13:17). 

Through  the  darkest  hours,  it 
was  a  great  comfort  to  know  God 
understood  my  feelings.  My  heart 
was  in  this  church,  but  I  kept 
wondering  if  I  had  lost  my  influence 
here  and  if  I  should  consider 
another  ministry.  The  answer  had 
to  be  as  clear  as  my  own  salvation 
experience,  because  leaving  prema- 
turely might  prohibit  both  the  con- 
gregation and  myself  from  learn- 
ing  the    important    lessons    God 


Charlotte  WMC  -  The  WMC  at  the  Charlotte  Grace  Brethren  Church 
meets  regularly  to  study  the  Bible  and  learn  about  missions. 


wanted  to  teach  us. 

God,  in  His  perfect  timing,  com- 
pelled me  to  stay  and  submit  to  His 
hand  of  tooling.  The  Lord  is  truly 
gracious  in  that  He  often  turns  a 
negative  situation  into  something 
positive. 

The  result  is  that  the  Charlotte 
Grace  Brethren  Church  is  growing 
spiritually,  and  in  numbers,  too! 


In  November,  our  people  com- 
pletely eliminated  the  land  debt, 
and  our  building  committee  is  in- 
volved in  preliminary  planning  for 
our  first  unit!  We  are  learning  that 
what  makes  a  church  great  in  God's 
eyes  is  not  its  size,  or  how  much  ac- 
tivity it  has  but  true  spirituality,  strip- 
ped of  all  phoniness. 


Rev.  Stephen  Jarrell  has  been  the  pastor 
of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Charlotte, 
NC,  since  1980.  He  is  a  graduate  of  In- 
diana State  University  and  Grace  Seminary 
and  is  married  to  the  former  Linda  Shirley. 

GBHMC 


13 


Team  Spirit  (for  the  Lord) 


"Go  Blue  .  .  .  Go  White  ....  Go  Eagles— Fight, 
Fight  Fight!" 

"Now,  how  does  that  other  new  cheer  go?" 


We  have  two  daughters  who  are  cheerleaders  this 
year.  Our  ninth  grader  is  cheering  for  her  high  school 
boy's  basketball  team,  and  our  fourth  grader  cheers 
for  her  sister's  basketball  team. 

Our  living  room  has  been  the  scene  of  much  thum- 
ping, bumping,  and  jumping  as  Beth  and  Jenni  learn 
and  practice  new  cheers  daily.  Even  80  year  old 
"Grandpa"  Schaffer  gets  in  on  the  action  with  a  "1 

-  2  -  3  -  4  -  Who  Are  We  For?" 

It  is  easy  for  all  of  us  to  get  "in  the  team  spirit"  with 
such  vivacious  activities  going  on. 

But  then,  I  thought  of  one  of  our  Lord's,  cheers 

—  "Let  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  say  so,"  Psalm 
107:2. 

Am  I  then  to  be  quiet  when  with  others?  Or  am 
I  to  proclaim  His  good  news?  Just  as  our  daughters 
lead  the  crowd  in  cheering  on  their  teams,  I  am  to 
lead  lost  souls  to  God  by  cheering  (witnessing)  for 
my  Lord. 

Help  me,  Lord,  get  in  your  "Team  Spirit"  and  tell 

the  world  joyously,  "I  am  redeemed  by  you  blood." 

—  Barbara  Waters,  Kenai,  Alaska 


Hungry  for  Literature 


How  does  a  mission  function 
without  books?  How  does  the 
Church  expand  and  reach  out 
—  what  do  they  give  to  the  new 
converts  —  other  than  with  the 
written  Word  and  Christ- 
centered  literature?  How  does 
literature  get  in  the  hands  of 
people  unless  it  is  printed? 

That  is  the  responsibility  of 
Christians  who  have  so  much  — 
sharing  with  those  who  don't! 

"What  a  joy  it  is  to  see  the 
delight  and  gratitude  of  a  grow- 
ing National  Christian  when  he 
is  able  to  buy  a  book  of  his  own 
to  help  him  in  his  Christian 
walk!"  Lila  Sheely  relates.  "I  say 
'buy'  because  that  is  the  way  the 
program  is  set  up.  We  must  pro- 
vide the  funds  to  print  literature 
that  the  people  can  buy." 

At  this  point  in  time,  there  is 
no  way  the  Grace  Brethren 
Churches  of  the  Central  African 
Republic  can  come  up  with  the 
necessary  funds  to  print  a  stock 
of  literature:  Bibles,  song  books, 
OTN  material,  Lumiere  books, 
laymen's  helps,  pastors'  study 
helps,  Sunday  School  lessons, 


readers,  tracts,  etc.!  Our  mission 
in  the  C.A.R.  needs  them  all. 

The  people  will  buy  them. 
They  are  hungry  for  literature 
and  devour  whatever  they  get. 
Let's  fill  their  hands  with  good, 
biblical  literature  instead  of  what 
they  might  find  through  other 
sources. 

"This  subject  is  close  to  my 
heart,"  Lila  shares.  "I  can't  begin 
to  estimate  the  value  of  Christian 
literature  in  my  own  life  and 
walk.  But  I  do  know  I  have  fed 
on  'good  stuff  over  the  years 
that  the  African  people  know 
practically  nothing  about.  How 
I  would  love  to  share  some  of 
this  with  them.  I  am  trusting  that 
there  are  others  who  would  like 
to  be  a  part  of  that,  too." 

Here's  our  opportunity  to 
help,  WMC  ladies.  Our  Foreign 
Missions  Offering  for  1985  is  for 
the  Central  African  Republic 
Literature  Fund.  Our  goal  — 
$10,000.  We  didn't  meet  last 
year's  goal.  Let's  respond  and 
give  to  this  fund  which  is  so 
desperately  needed. 

Our  mission  is  the  C.A.R.  is 


counting  on  our  help.  So  are  the 
Africans.  Here  is  a  letter  from  the 
African  pastor  who  is  the  na- 
tional supervisor  of  the  Lumiere 
(SMM)  program  in  the  C.A.R.: 

"My  heart  is  filled  with  hap- 
piness to  write  this  letter  to  you 
because  of  your  great  love  which 
you  have  shown  to  us  in  promis- 
ing to  give  $10,000  to  help  in  the 
ministry  of  literature  distribution 
for  the  Eglise  Evangelique  des 
Freres  in  the  RCA.  (our  mission 
in  the  CAR). 

"It  is  because  of  this  great 
love,  which  you  have  shown  in 
extending  your  hand  to  us  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  I  know  now 
that  you  are  really  thinking  of  us. 
I  thank  you  very  much  for  your 
love.  I  greet  you  all  in  the  name 
of  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ." 

Let's  pray  for  our  African 
brothers  and  sisters  as  they  strive 
for  growth  in  their  spiritual  lives. 
And  let's  meet  our  commitment 
in  the  Foreign  Missions  Offering 
this  year. 

The  written  word  plays  an  im- 
portant role  in  the  growth  and 
life  of  the  Christian. 


14 


WMC 


Women 

Manifesting 

ehrist 


President:  Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  10  E.  Luray 

Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
First  Vice  President  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman, 

2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado 

Springs,  CO  90810 
Second  Vice  President  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix, 

3314  Kenwick  Tr.  SW,  Roanoke,  VA 

24018 
Secretary:  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  R.  3,  La 

Porte  City,  IA  50651 
Assistant  Secretary:  Mrs.  Cinny  Sellers, 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  Ml 

49099 
Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Miss  Joyce 

Ashman,  602  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Ass't.  Financial  Secretary  Treasurer  Mrs. 

Donna  Miller,  R.  8,  Box  277,  War- 
saw, IN  46580 
Literature  Secretary:  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter, 

R.  8,  Box  292,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Editor:  Miss  Nora  Macon,  705  Terrace  Dr., 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Prayer  Chairman:  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams,  R.  4, 

Box  94-A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 


May  1985 

If  no  address  is  listed,  the  address  can  be  found  in  the  1985  Brethren 
Annual,  pages  38-40) 

Argentina 

Rev.  Stan  Nairn  May  1 5 

Brazil 

Mrs.  Susan  Miller May  1 

Mrs.  Dorothy  Hodgdon  May  13 

Central  African  Republic 

Mrs.  Denise  Skeen May  1 

Nathan  Stalker May  3,  1979 

Mrs.  Berta  Kuns May  1 1 

Sheri  Vnasdale May  19.  1968 

Mrs.  Martha  Hines May  23 

France 

Mrs.  Vicki  DeArmey May  5 

Rev.  Larry  DeArmey May  9 

Rev.  John  Viers May  21 

West  Germany 

Mrs.  Becky  Pappas May  1 

In  Language  Study 

Jay  Hocking May  1.  1979 

Mrs.  Mary  Lou  Moeller May  4 

Rev.  Clay  Hulett May  14 

In  the  United  States 

Sy  Belohlavek May  6.  1980 

Michael  Hoyt May  9.  1975 

Kathryn  Hoyt May  13.  1974 

Philip  Hoyt May  16.  1971 


K 


ffifferittg  ffipporhmtttes 


Foreign  Missions  Offering 

Goal:  $10,000 

For  the  Central  African  Republic 

Sango  Literature  fund 

Send  before  June  10,  1985. 

Also, 

The  Birthday  Missionary  Offering  emphasis  is  hap- 
pening now.  We  suggest  a  minimum  of  $1.50  a  year 
per  member. 
Send  before  June  10,  1985. 


WMC 


15 


Pre-med 
Potential 


^H  reputation  is  something  that 
JLM  must  be  earned.  It  takes  per 
m  m.  severance,  quality  and 
talent  to  achieve.  It's  not  something 
that  can  be  had  by  talking.  It  requires 
action  and  results. 

The  Grace  College  Science  Depart- 
ment is  earning  its  reputation. 

The  department  recently  has  had 
an  impressive  track  record  in  prepar- 
ing students  for  graduate  work  at  other 
schools,  most  notably  in  the  field  of 
medicine. 

Rick  Liston  has  been  accepted  into 
the  University  of  Utah  School  of 
Medicine  on  an  early  admission  basis. 
Liston,  a  senior  at  Grace,  will  be  the 
first  Grace  graduate  to  be  accepted  in- 
to medical  school. 

However,  the  school  has  a  number 
of  other  students  in  other  medically- 
related  graduate  schools.  For  example, 
Russ  Woda  and  Dave  Benson  are  cur- 
rently enrolled  in  the  Ohio  University 


Rick  Liston,  Grace  pre-med  student,  on  duty  in  the  local  hospital's  emergency  room. 


College  of  Osteopathic  Medicine. 
Woda  is  a  sophomore  and  Benson  is 
a  freshman. 

Ron  Roddy  is  currently  enrolled  at 
Ohio  State  University  School  of  Den- 
tistry. Also,  Alan  Mumaw,  a  senior  at 
Grace,  has  been  interviewed  for  ac- 
ceptance into  Ohio  State  University's 
Medical  School. 

Not  bad  for  a  school  with  only  about 
750  students. 

Test  scores  from  Grace  students  tak- 
ing the  Medical  College  exam  "com- 
pete very  favorably"  with  most  major 
schools  around  the  nation,  says  Dr. 
Richard  Jeffreys. 

Armed  with  the  department's  track 
record,  Dr.  Jeffreys  would  like  to  erase 
some  misconceptions. 

Misconception  No.  1:  Grace  College 
is  only  a  Bible  college  and  cannot  pro- 
vide adequate  education  for  graduate 
schools  of  medicine. 

"We  are  considered  to  be  only  a  Bi- 


Biology  labs  offer  a  wide  variety  of  learn- 
ing experiences. 


16 


GRACE 


ble  school  and  we're  not.  We  are  also 
a  highly  credible  academic  institution 
in  the  sciences." 

Misconception  No.  2:  If  you  want  to 
go  to  graduate  school,  go  to  a  major 
college  or  university.  "I  don't  know  a 
single  student  from  Grace  who  wanted 
to  get  into  graduate  school,  who 
couldn't,"  Jeffreys  said. 

Misconception  No.  3:  Grace  does 
not  have  a  pre-med  program.  "All 
medical  schools  in  the  United  States 
tell  what  their  requirements  are  for  ad- 
mission," he  says.  "We  can  meet  those 
requirements." 

Misconception  No.  4:  Grace  does 
not  have  adequate  facilities.  Jeffreys 
says  that  with  the  completion  of  the 
Science  Building  and  its  modern 
equipment,  Grace  facilities  compete 
with  many  major  universities. 

In  fact,  Jeffreys  insists,  the  oppor- 
tunity for  a  well-rounded  education  is 
higher  at  Grace  than  most  other 
schools.  The  combination  of  sound 
academics,  student-faculty  interaction, 
and  spiritual  emphasis  is  a  powerful 
combination. 

Rick  Liston  agrees.  Liston,  who  will 
be  in  medical  school  in  the  fall,  says 
his  education  at  Grace  was  "excellent." 

When  Liston  transferred  to  Grace 
from  Grand  Rapids  School  of  Bible 
and  Music,  he  was  not  sure  what  he 


wanted  to  do. 

"I  thought  about  going  overseas  to 
the  mission  field  to  teach,"  Liston  says. 

However,  after  taking  a  few  science 
courses,  he  quickly  became  interested 
in  medicine.  He  says  he  got  much 
guidance    and    personal    interaction 


Dr.    Richard   Jeffreys,    head    of   Grace's 
Biology  Department 

from  Dr.  Raymond  Gsell  and  Dr. 
Jeffreys. 

After  deciding  to  pursue  admission 
into  medical  school,  Liston  says  he 
was  told  "several  times  by  several  peo- 
ple" to  transfer  to  another  school. 

Liston  says  he  thought  about  it. 

Instead,  he  declared  a  major  in 
chemistry  and  stayed  at  Grace.  It  was 
a  decision  he  says  he  never  regretted. 

Liston  says  he  has  compared  his 


education  program  with  friends  in 
other,  larger  schools.  "It  is  very  com- 
parable." 

Liston  says  he  did  not  receive  the 
academic  training  in  a  vacuum.  It  was 
given  perspective,  he  says,  by  the 
school's  spiritual  emphasis.  "I  really 
desired  to  be  in  this  kind  of  spiritual 
atmosphere,"  Liston  says. 

The  preparation,  both  spiritual  and 
academic,  will  provide  an  excellent 
background  for  his  career.  He  says  the 
medical  field  is  crowded  with  ethical 
questions  and  academic  answers  are 
not  enough. 

Liston  says  he  would  like  to  become 
a  doctor  and  minister  on  the  mission 
field. 

But,  there  are  at  least  seven  years 
of  intense  study  ahead  of  him.  And 
four  years  behind  him. 

"Because  the  school  didn't  have  a 
pre-med  reputation,"  Liston  says,  "I 
really  had  to  apply  myself."  However, 
Liston,  says,  that  the  school  is  on  the 
verge  of  having  earned  its  reputation. 

"I  think  it  takes  two  things  to  have 
a  good  pre-med  program,"  Liston 
says.  "First  of  all,  you  have  to  have  a 
good  faculty  and  curriculum.  There's 
no  question  we  have  that.  The  second 
thing  is  that  you  have  to  attract  quali- 
ty students  who  are  interested  in  go- 
ing into  medicine."  □ 


CORPORATION 

EMPLOYEE 

The 

Pittsburg  Plate  Glass 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ed  Wingard 

The  NCR  Foundation 
Chessie  System  Railroads 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anthony  Alonzo 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Tyre 

mma& 

Allied  Corporation 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  Johnson 

R.  R.  Donnelley  &  Sons,  Inc. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Young 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myron  Jones 

SOW 

Bethlehem  Steel  Corporation 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hartwiger 

Honeywell 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  Abbitt 

Program 

LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
DECEMBER  1984 

Given  by: 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Beach 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roger  Gowl 
Grace  Brethren  Church 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Skellenger 

Mrs.  Wavelene  Hoppes 


In  Memory  of: 

Mrs.  Jeanette  Beach 

Mrs.  Kenneth  Teague 

Mr.  Robert  Wilcoxson 

Mr.  Anton  Skellenger 

and 
Mr.  Lyle  W.  Marvin,  Sr. 

Mr.  R.  Clyde  Hoppes 

and 
Conrad  Hoppes 


GRACE 


17 


't  would  not  be 
entirely  accurate  to  call  John  Chestnut  a  good 
ol'  boy.  Stereotypes,  like  homespun  sweaters, 
never  seem  to  fit  perfectly. 

Yet,  Chestnut  does  have  some  distinctly 
southern  characteristics:  a  slow  drawl,  a  quick 
wit  and  an  easy  temperament. 

Raised  on  ham  and  grits,  he  stands  6-feet-5 
in  size  15  shoes.  He  likes  jeans  and  boots  bet- 
ter than  pinstripes.  He  looks  as  if  he  would 
feel  even  more  comfortable  with  a  chaw. 

None  of  this,  of  course,  is  surprising.  He 
was  reared  in  a  small,  coastal  town  in  North 
Carolina.  What  is  surprising,  however,  is 
where  he  lives  now  —  New  York  City. 

So  what's  a  good  ol'  boy  like  John  doing 
in  a  place  like  this? 

Underground.  Brooklyn,  New  York,  on 
the  B  train.  Saturday  night. 

It's  where  John  Chestnut  likes  to  take  out- 
of-town  visitors.  "You  can  get  a  feel  for  the 
city  on  the  subway,"  he  says,  standing  among 
the  graffiti,  the  derelicts,  the  foreign 
newspapers. 

The  contrast  is  obvious.  The  riders  of 
routine  —  sullen,  of  single  stares,  silent, 
frozen-boned.  And  John  Chestnut,  in  his 
Tarheels  hooded  sweat  shirt,  saying  things 


In  dead  winter,  in  the  biggest 
city  in  America,  among  cold 
hearts,  John  Chestnut,  from 
North  Carolina,  says  he  has 
found  the  warmest  spot  in 
the  world  —  God's  will. 


like  "UNBELIEVABLE!"  and  "AMAZING!", 
laughing  like  a  bassoon,  chattering  over  the 
monotone  of  steel  on  steel  about  architects, 
spring  and,  of  all  things,  God. 

"I'm  thrilled  to  be  here,"  Chestnut  says.  "I 
know  this  is  where  God  wants  me."  In  dead 
winter,  in  the  biggest  city  in  America,  among 
cold  hearts,  John  Chestnut,  from  North 
Carolina,  says  he  has  found  the  warmest  spot 
in  the  world  —  -  God's  will. 

A  couple  of  years  ago,  the  furthest  thing 


&$£& 


GRACE 


19 


from  John  Chestnut's  mind  was  New 
York  City.  He  carried  a  lifetime  of 
apathy  for  it. 

"I  knew  that  Billy  Cunningham  was 
from  Brooklyn  and  he  played  for  the 
Tarheels,  "Chestnut  says.  "And  there 
was  the  Thanksgiving  Day  parade. 
And  Macy's.  That's  about  all  I  knew." 

He  had  little  desire  to  know  more. 
"I  thought  that  only  fools  and  nuts  liv- 
ed in  New  York  City,"  Chestnut  says. 
A  couple  of  years  ago,  Chestnut,  by 
his  own  definition,  became  either  a 
fool  or  a  nut. 

He  became  a  pastor  in  Brooklyn. 

Chestnut  says  it  would  have  been 
easier  for  him  to  go  to  Africa:  "At  least 
there  would  have  been  things  I 
recognized  there,"  he  says. 

Despite  the  seemingly  enormous 
obstacles.  Chestnut  says  the  decision 
to  go  was  not  a  difficult  one.  It  never 
is  when  there  is  only  one  option. 

After  graduating  from  Grace 
Theological  Seminary  in  1979,  John 
Chestnut  wanted  to  become  a  pastor 
in  one  of  the  following  locations  — 
North  Carolina,  the  southeast,  or  the 
south. 

"I  was  in  Indiana  during  the  three 
worst  winters  in  history,"  Chestnut 
says.  "I  can  remember  standing  on  the 
back  bumper  of  my  car  and  the  snow 
coming  up  to  my  chest.  It  was  not  a 
pleasant  sight." 

Chestnut  got  his  wish.  He  became 
pastor  of  a  church  in  Redsville,  North 
Carolina. 

"I  thought  it  was  an  ideal  town," 
Chestnut  says.  "It  had  about  18,000 
people  —  small  enought  to  live  in  and 
big  enough  to  have  a  McDonald's." 

The  only  problem,  Chestnut  says, 
was  the  church.  "They  had  no  real 
spiritual  interest."  After  three  years  and 
time  for  lots  of  personal  growth, 
Chestnut  knew  it  was  time  to  leave. 

A  few  possibilities  presented 
themselves.  Chestnut  candidated  for 
a  church  in  Asheville,  North  Carolina. 
Although  the  location  was  ideal,  the 
church  was  not.  He  did  not  take  the 
job.  Two  years  later,  the  church 
disbanded. 

Another  opportunity  came  in  Fayet- 
teville,  North  Carolina:  "This  seemed 


to  be  perfect."  There  was  only  one  pro- 
blem: "I'm  still  waiting  to  hear  back 
from  them,"  he  jokes. 

And  then  the  doors  began  to  shut 
around  John  Chestnut.  "There  just 
wasn't  much  available."  he  says. 


John's  expository  preaching  meets  the  needs  of 
a  congregation  tired  of  shallow  sermonizing. 

Except  for  this  job  in  New  York  City. 

A  friend  called  to  tell  him  the  First 
Evangelical  Free  Church  in  Brooklyn 
was  looking  for  a  pastor. 

"He  said  that  I  should  call," 
Chestnut  says.  "I  hung  up  the  phone 
and  said,  no  way,  huh-uh,  he's  crazy. 
I  just  would  never  consider  a  place  like 
Brooklyn.  Even  the  name  of  the  city 
sounded  bad,  sort  of  like  a  Hebrew 
guttural." 

Because  of  a  lack  of  options, 
Chestnut  decided  to  visit  the  church. 
It  was  the  second  week  in  January. 

"I  can  remember  flying  into  Newark 
and  all  you  could  see  was  cars  and 
traffic  and  it  was  so  cold.  It  was  about 
10  degrees  and  I  stepped  off  the  plane 
and  immediately  froze." 


The  possibility  for  ministry  at  the 
church  warmed  his  heart. 

"I  asked  them  what  do  you  consider 
my  top  five  priorities?  I  remember  this 
one  guy  who  seemed  like  the 
stereotype  of  a  typical  New  Yorker 
took  off  these  little  half  glasses  and 
pointed  them  at  me  and  said:  'If  you 
come  here,  you  have  one  priority. 
We're  tired  of  McDonald's.  We  are 
tired  of  Kentucky  Fried  Chicken.  We're 
tired  of  junk  food.  We  want  you  to 
come  here  and  feed  us  the  Word  of 
God.  We  want  filet  mignon.' 

Chestnut  returned  for  a  second  visit 
with  his  wife,  Patty,  also  a  Carolina 
native.  Together  they  decided  to  move 
to  New  York  City  with  their  two  pre- 
school children. 

John  calls  it  cultural  shock.  It's  not 
that  New  York  City  is  as  bad  as  most 
people  imagine  it  to  be.  There  are  not 
people  hanging  around  every  street 
corner,  wearing  black  stocking  caps, 
flashing  knives.  It's  nothing  like  that. 

"It  is  not  like  the  Cross  and  Switch- 
blade." Chestnut  says.  "I'm  not  at  all 
afraid  of  living  in  New  York  City.  But 
that  doesn't  mean  I'm  foolish  either. 
There  are  certain  places  I  stay  away 
from  at  certain  times." 

The  real  difference,  he  says,  are  the 
attitudes.  The  pace  of  life  is 
phenomenal.  Chestnut  seldom 
receives  phone  calls  after  10  p.m.  in 
North  Carolina.  Because  of  the  size  of 
the  city,  people  tend  to  be  isolationists, 
clannish. 

They  build  massive  walls. 

In  Brooklyn,  they  search  for  identi- 
ty. They  find  it,  mainly,  in  ethnic 
groups.  Within  10  blocks  or  so  of 
Chestnut's  church  at  66th  St.  and  6th 
Ave.,  there  are  dozens  of  ethnic  groups 
—  Greeks,  Norwegians,  Koreans, 
Latinos,  Chinese,  Haitians,  Costa 
Ricans.  .  .  . 

Chestnut,  often,  has  a  hard  time 
deciding  what  to  eat.  He  has  to  choose 
between  souvlaki,  rigotoni,  egg 
rolls.  .  .  About  the  only  thing  he  can't 
find  is  grits. 

"You  go  into  the  fruit  store  and  there 
is  a  Korean  guy  there,"  Chestnut  says, 
"You  go  into  the  meat  market  and  the 
guy  is  Italian.  The  neighbors  on  both 


20 


GRACE 


&/ 


sides  are  Jewish.  Across  the  street  they 
are  all  Irish.  Over  here  there  are 
Chinese.  It's  just  so  different.  I  can't 
really  tell  you  how  different  it  really  is." 

Chestnut's  church,  for  example,  has 
had  as  many  as  16  different  ethnic 
groups  represented  at  one  time. 

Sometimes,  it  leads  to  humorous 
mistakes.  "It's  great  to  use  World  War 
II  illustrations  in  sermons.  But  all  of  a 
sudden  you  are  talking 
about  the  dirty  Nazis  and 
you  look  out  and  you  see  a 
German  couple  sitting  in  the 
front  row." 

But  what  it  is,  mainly,  is 
challenging.  John  Chestnut 
has  to  minister  to  an  over- 
whelming variety  of 
backgrounds  and  per- 
sonalities: 

—  to  George,  a  Scan- 
danavian,  who  played  on 
the  1952  CCNY  basketball 
team  and  is  an  engineer 
with  the  New  York-New 
Jersey  Port  Authority; 

—  to  the  Sandiballs,  a 
Costa  Rican  couple  who 
live  in  a  Jewish  section  of 
town  and  speak  very  little 
English  and  work  hard  to  buy  VCRs 
for  a  lower-class  apartment; 

—  to  Danny  Russo,  an  Italian,  who 
was  introduced  to  Christ  by  his 
Chinese  girlfriend,  who  was  formerly 
a  Buddhist. 

—  to  Dennis,  a  black,  a  graduate  of 
Cornell  University. 

What  I  have  learned,  more  than 
anything,"  Chestnut  says,  "is  my  own 
inadequacy.  I  am  completely  reliant  on 
the  Lord  for  my  ministry." 

The  church  is  unique.  During  a 
Sunday  morning,  there  are  two 
messages  being  presented 
simultaneously.  Chestnut  preaches  in 
English  for  those  who  can  understand. 
Another  pastor,  in  a  separate  sanc- 
tuary, preaches  in  Norwegian.  Sunday 
afternoon,  the  church  is  used  to  pre- 
sent a  Korean  message. 

The  language  and  ethnic  barriers 
are  frustrating,  Chestnut  says. 

There  are  many  people  within  the 
surrounding  blocks  of  the  church  who 
cannot  attend:  "You  go  into  a  store 


and  there  is  a  Chinese  person.  You  ask 
him  to  come  to  church  and  he  gives 
you  this  blank  look.  He  doesn't 
understand  what  you  are  saying.  How 
do  you  reach  these  people?  Christ 
died  for  them  too." 

There  are  also  more  subtle 
frustrations. 

"Each  ethnic  group  does  things  their 
way."  Chestnut  says.  "If  you  set  down 


The  Chestnuts:  Patti,  Robert,  Joshua  and  John. 


and  talk  to  someone  who  is  Arabic,  for 
example,  you  have  to  have  coffee 
first." 

Chestnut  spends  a  good  deal  of  his 
time  breaking  down  barriers.  He  em- 
phasizes the  difference  between  world- 
ly heritage  —  the  background  and  at- 
titude of  different  ethnic  groups  —  and 
spiritual  heritage,  the  oneness  of  the 
family  of  God. 

"The  common  bond  is  Christ," 
Chestnut  says.  "He  can  break  down 
all  barriers." 

There  has  been  growth  in  John 
Chestnut's  church.  The  membership  in 
the  English  section  has  increased  from 
about  50  to  nearly  115.  That  is  nice, 
Chestnut  says,  but  what  really  pleases 
him  is  the  spiritual  growth  of  the  in- 
dividuals and  the  body. 

"When  I  came  here,"  Chestnut  says, 
"they  had  so  very,  very  hard  lines 
drawn  (between  some  of  the  groups). 
I  think  it  was  a  relatively  cold  church. 
What  pleases  me  is  that  I  think  we 
have  become  a  caring  church.  There 


is  real  warmth  and  love  and  concern. 
They  are  beginning  to  really  incor- 
porate the  Word  into  their  lives." 

Along  with  the  joy,  John  Chestnut 
has  acquired  a  tremendous  burden. 
One  that  sinks  deep  into  his  heart. 

On  a  day-to-day  basis,  whether  on 
the  subway  or  a  walk  to  church,  he 
sees  spiritual  decay  and  darkness.  He 
sees  hungry  hearts  going  unfed.  He 
sees  blank  stares  and 
junkies  and  breakdowns 
and  the  tangled  traffic  of 
unregenerated  minds. 

He  can  count  the  number 
of  fundamental  churches  in 
New  York  City  on  two 
hands.  He  says  it  is  an  ugly 
black  eye  for  the  church  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

"This  city  is  absolutely 
barren,"  Chestnut  says. 
"There  is  nothing  here.  It  is 
a  desert.  Who  is  doing 
anything  to  reach  these 
people?  There  are  areas 
where  the  gospel  is  not  be- 
ing preached  at  all." 

"There  are  all  these  peo- 
ple that  are  hungry  and  that 
are  hurting  and  that  are  needy.  We  as 
Christians  have  said:  No  way,  I'm  not 
going  to  go.  I  can't  go  there.'  And  the 
city  dies. 

"Who  in  their  right  mind  would 
want  to  come  and  live  in  a  pit  like  this? 
I  know  that's  what  the  average  Chris- 
tian thinks.  That's  what  I  thought.  I 
don't  know  why  God  sent  us  here.  I 
really  don't.  Maybe  it  was  because  we 
were  foolish  enough  to  come." 

And  foolish  enough  to  care  when 
no  one  else  seems  to. 

"Now  don't  get  me  wrong," 
Chestnut  says.  "I  don't  go  to  the  top 
of  the  World  Trade  Towers  and 
scream:  'O  God,  let  me  reach  New 
York  City.'  There's  no  way  one  person 
is  going  to  do  that.  All  I  would  like  to 
do  is  reach  the  20-block  area  where 
our  church  is." 

In  the  numbing  winter  of  a  cold  ci- 
ty, John  Chestnut,  the  good  ol'  boy, 
is  spreading  the  warm  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Like  a  few  rays  of  North 
Carolina  sunshine,  it  melts  hearts.  □ 


GRACE 


21 


How  can  God 
use  a  couple 
when  their  world 
crumbles  around  them? 


Midlife  Crisis 

to  Midlife  Blessing 


by  Lois  Ross 


Physical  pain.  Family  problems. 
Unexpected  death.  Sudden  loss  of 
job. 

Everything  crashed  at  once. 

The  pain  and  trauma  were  great. 
What  would  you  do  if  your  carefully 
built  world  toppled  as  you 
watched? 

My  husband  and  I  thought  we 
had  every  good  reason  to  weaken 
and  lose  heart  in  the  summer  of 
1983.  Our  lives  were  shattered  by 
a  series  of  events. 

A  siege  of  lower  back  pain 
plagued  my  husband,  Don.  It  re- 
quired months  of  extensive  treat- 
ment and  hospitalization.  On  top  of 
this,  years  of  deep-seated  family 
problems  which  taxed  our  spiritual 
and  emotional  reserves  seethed  to 
the  surface.  The  sudden  death  of 
both  of  our  fathers  made  our  hearts 
ache. 

To  ease  the  unrelenting  anguish 
of  our  souls  and  spirits  we  plunged 
deeper  into  Bible  study,  prayer,  and 
church  fellowship.  Then  the  final 
blow  in  this  mid-life  crisis  hit.  After 
33  years  of  service,  Don  was  re- 
leased from  his  management  posi- 
tion. 

Except  for  the  intervention  of  the 
Lord,  we  could  have  been  crushed 
by  these  painful  burdens. 

In  the  midst  of  our  despair  the 
Lord  sent  Marlin  and  Sue  Weaver 
into  our  lives.  The  Weavers  had  just 
returned  to  our  church  (the  Lititz 
Grace  Brethren  Church)  after  at- 
tending the  EuroMissions  Institute 
(EMI)  that  summer. 

After  their  first  Sunday  back  at 
church,  Don  and  I  were  sharing 
with  Marlin  and  Sue  about  their 
EMI  experiences.  The  Weavers 
spoke  fervently  about  their  time  at 
the  Chateau  de  St.  Albain  in 
France. 

In  the  course  of  the  conversation 
Don  interjected  that  he  had  been 
released  from  his  job  due  to  the 
economic  recession.  Jokingly  Don 
asked  Marlin  if  the  Chateau  could 
use  someone  with  his  skills.  Marlin 
didn't  laugh  at  this  remark.  Instead 


he  outlined  the  Chateau's  dire  need 
of  someone  with  varied  building 
and  maintenance  skills.  This  casual 
conversation  sparked  a  flame  of 
interest. 

We  began  to  pray,  which  fanned 
the  flame.  Soon  we  decided  to  pur- 
sue the  idea  futher.  A  phone  call  to 
Tom  Julien  in  France  confirmed  the 
need. 

The  slow  step-by-step  process  of 
preparation  started. 

We  engaged  a  tutor  for  our  in- 
troduction into  the  French 
language.  In  order  to  expand  our 
insights  in  discipleship,  we  joined 
Pastor  Young's  Grow  Class.  We  at- 
tended a  Bill  Gothard  seminar  to 
learn  some  of  the  biblical  principles 
that  apply  to  daily  relationships. 
Becoming  active  in  the  children's 
church  was  a  heartwarming 
experience. 

GBC  Christian  Education  ac- 
cepted our  application  for  service 
in  France  and  placed  us  in  the 
TIME  program.  The  red  tape  un- 
wound but  we  completed  all  the 
paperwork  necessary  for  this  ven- 
ture into  France.  We  were  granted 


a  long-term  visa  (after  we  each  sub- 
mitted eight  forms  filled  out  in 
French).  The  next  step  was  to  gain 
the  necessary  support  for  our  ser- 
vice. The  Lititz  church  graciously 


FMS 


23 


adopted  an  elephant  for  this  task! 
Pastor  Jerry  Young  encouraged  the 
congregation  that  if  the  Rosses 
were  willing  to  serve  in  France,  then 
the  church  body  should  try  to  meet 
their  support.  He  added  that  due 
to  other  missionary  commitments 
this  would  be  an  elephantine  job, 
and  the  only  way  to  eat  an  elephant 
was  in  small  bites.  Thus,  the 
Elephant  Fund  was  born.  It  was  this 
fund  that  sent  us  to  France. 

We  waited  upon  the  Lord  and 
He  renewed  our  strength.  We 
found  ourselves  in  France.  Don's 
lower  back  pain  did  not  return  as 
he  busied  himself  with  the 
multitudinous  tasks  at  the  Chateau. 
Our  inner  heartaches  subsided  as 
we  met  each  day's  challenges. 

The  Lord  gave  us  an  example  of 
tireless  energy  in  ministry  in  the 
lives  of  Tom  and  Doris  Julien.  We 
have  witnessed  what  it  means  to  be 
a  servant  of  the  Lord  on  a  daily 
basis  on  hostile  soil. 


The  religion  of  France  is  Roman 
Catholicism  —  85%  of  the  people 
profess  to  be  Catholics.  Yet,  only 
5%  attend  church  regularly.  The 
majority  of  people  are  without  faith 
in  God.  The  reformation  that  swept 
Europe  was  a  failure  in  France.  The 
"Age  of  Enlightenment"  propelled 
France  into  a  philosophic  thought 
that  gave  birth  to  godless  beliefs. 

It  is  in  this  atmosphere  that  the 
Juliens  have  been  striving  to  build 
a  bridge  based  on  the  Gospel  of 
Christ.  The  Chateau  de  St.  Albain 
is  the  physical  vehicle  for  this 
bridge.  And  here  we  are. 

With  the  many  activities  that  take 
place  at  the  Chateau,  our  time  is 
always  occupied.  Many  retreats  are 
held  here.  Seminary  Extension 
studies  are  held  here  in  the  spring. 
June  brings  EMI.  Many  weekend 
events  take  place  on  a  monthly 
basis.  These  all  add  up  to  hours  of 
work. 


Our  inner  heartaches 
subsided  as  we  met 
each  day's  challenges. 


That's  where  we  came  in. 

Although  the  work  here  is 
demanding  and  constant,  it  is  also 
very  satisfying,  much  appreciated, 
and  full  of  blessing.  The  French 


people  have  been  open  to  us  and 
have  helped  us  to  adapt  to  the 
language  and  cultural  differences. 

Each  day  we  awaken  and  realize 
that  we  are  truly  needed  and  that 
we  are  serving  in  His  vineyard.  He 
brought  us  here. 

He  turned  our  mid-life  crisis  into 
blessing.  □ 


24 


FMS 


And  the  People  Responded! 


by  Russel  H.  Dunlap 
Stewardship  Director 


Did  you  know  that  David  was  in- 
volved in  raising  funds  in  the  Old 
Testament? 

David  spoke  to  a  congregation 
about  his  endeavor  to  obtain  the 
resources  to  build  the  temple  which 
was  later  completed  by  Solomon. 
In  1  Chronicles  29:1-5,  David 
speaks  of  his  great  effort  to  raise  the 
funds  for  the  building.  Since  he 
loved  the  house  of  his  God  so 
much,  he  gave  his  own  personal 
offerings  of  silver  and  gold  which 
would  amount  to  about  one  billion 
dollars  in  today's  values.  Quite  an 
example! 

David  challenged  the  congrega- 
tion to  consecrate  themselves  to  the 
Lord  concerning  this  project. 

The  people  responded.  The  of- 
ficers and  leaders  of  the  house  of 
Israel  soon  gave  willingly  of  their 
gold,  silver,  bronze,  and  iron.  All 
those  who  had  precious  stones 
gave  them  to  the  treasury  for  the 
house  of  the  Lord. 

Much  rejoicing  was  the  order  of 
the  day  because  the  people  had 
willingly  given.  King  David  also  re- 
joiced greatly  in  this  final  great  ef- 
fort in  his  life. 

In  our  stewardship  ministry  we 
are  rejoicing  as  the  Grace  Brethren 
people  with  whom  we  meet  willing- 
ly want  to  include  God's  work  in 
their  wills.  Since  National  Con- 
ference, 1984,  we  have  counseled 
over  70  family  units  to  the  point  of 
having  their  estate  analyzed  and 
the  information  ready  for  the  at- 
torney to  complete  their  wills. 
Every  family  has  wanted  to  include 
God's  work  in  its  will! 

During  the  course  of  our  work, 
we  have  opportunities  to  examine 
many  wills  which  have  already 
been  completed.  Sometimes  ar- 
rangements have  been  made  to  in- 
clude God  in  the  will,  many  times 
as  a  result  of  counseling  of  former 
stewardship  representatives. 
However,  most  Christians  have  not 


included  God  in  their  wills,  not 
because  of  a  lack  of  interest  or 
desire  but  merely  because  they  had 
not  thought  about  it  or  considered 
it  when  having  their  wills 
completed. 

It  is  so  obvious  from  this  passage 
in  1  Chronicles  that  great  joy  and 
rejoicing  comes  from  properly 
honoring  God  with  the  resources 
He  has  put  into  our  hands.  David 
lifted  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving  and 
praise  for  the  abundance  which 
they  had  to  build  God  a  house  for 
His  holy  name.  Recognizing  over 
and  over  again  that  everything  he 
and  the  people  had  came  from 
God,  David  knew  they  could  give 
nothing  back  to  God  except  what 
He  had  already  given  to  them. 

There  is  no  indication  that  there 
were  any  in  the  land  of  Israel  who 
had  not  contributed,  and  everyone 


apparently  gave  willingly  toward 
the  building  of  the  temple.  But  sup- 
pose there  were  some  folks  who 
didn't  give.  How  do  you  think  they 
felt  as  the  whole  congregation  was 
rejoicing  with  the  victory  and  suc- 
cess of  this  great  project? 

I  am  convinced  that  those  who 
fail  to  include  God  in  their  wills  in 
a  generous  and  meaningful  way 
will  miss  a  great  blessing  from  God. 
Have  you  adequately  considered 
what  God  would  have  you  do  in 
your  will?  If  you  need  help,  please 
contact  me  at  the  Grace  Brethren 
Missions  Stewardship  office. 

Remember  King  David  and  the 
nation  of  Israel  as  they  honored 
God  by  their  willing  offering.  Don't 
miss  out  in  the  rejoicing  and  joy 
that  comes  from  voluntarily  giving 
out  of  what  the  Lord  has  entrusted 
to  you.  □ 


FMS 


25 


Comm 


An  Interview  wi 


Dan:  What  were  some  of  the  goals  and  desires  that  you 
had  when  you  came  to  Brazil? 

Dave:  One  of  the  goals  I  had  was  to  be  able  to  use  some 
of  my  talents  in  whatever  way  I  possibly  could,  knowing 
there  was  a  language  barrier;  using  what  I  know  in  music 
and  also  speaking  abilities  in  whatever  capacity  I  possibly 
could.  Another  goal  was  to  really  develop  a  devotional  life. 
That's  something  that  sometimes  just  gets  ignored  at  home. 

Dan:  How  do  you  feel  that  you  did  in  accomplishing  these 
goals? 

Dave:  I  feel  pretty  pleased  that  I've  reached  them  by  the 
end  of  our  time  in  Uberlandia.  Every  Sunday  I  was  play- 
ing the  guitar  at  the  church  and  also  at  youth  meetings. 
Every  time  they  needed  me  in  music  I  was  playing.  That 
really  helped  me  a  lot.  I  improved  my  skills  tremendously 
from  where  I  was  when  I  arrived.  Also  I  felt  that  I  was  able 
to  use  my  speaking  ablilities  in  studies  there  in  Brasilia  and 
here  with  the  young  people  and  in  the  Sunday  evening 
services,  being  able  to  give  testimonies  and  preach.  It's  the 
kind  of  thing  I  like  to  do.  I  felt  very  good  in  accomplishing 
that.  As  for  my  devotional  life,  it's  more  regular  now.  I  took 
on  the  task  of  reading  through  the  Old  Testament  and  I've 
been  doing  rather  well  at  it. 

Dan:  What  were  some  of  the  goals  and 
desires  that  you  had,  Gail? 
Gail:  One  of  the  goals  I  had  that  was  the 
same  was  developing  a  better  devotional 
life.  It's  always  been  a  struggle  for  me. 
And  I've  felt  pretty  successful  at  that.  It's 
been  regular  and  I've  had  a  closer  walk 
with  God.  I  am  pleased  with  that.  I  guess 
when  you're  thown  into  an  unfamiliar 
situation,  you  don't  know  the  people  and 
you  don't  know  the  culture,  you  tend  to 
rely  on  God  more,  out  of  necessity.  But 
that's  good.  I've  felt  more  free  to  send  up 
prayers.  It's  more  than  just  a  formal 
prayer  time.  It's  sending  up  prayers  all 


through  the  day.  I  feel  closer  to  God  and  that's  been  a  real 
help  to  me.  I  also  wanted  to  do  some  reading,  both  on 
the  Bible  and  general  subjects.  I've  been  able  to  do  that. 
I  also  wanted  to  be  able  to  develop  friendships. 

You  just  never  know  how  that  is  going  to  work  when 
you  can't  talk  to  people.  I've  been  able  to  have  a  Bible  study 
with  Adriana.  The  language  barrier  is  there.  There's  no 
doubt  about  it.  I  had  my  dictionary  ready  so  when  she  got 
stuck  on  English  and  I  got  stuck  on  Portuguese,  we  went 
to  the  dictionary.  It  was  a  slow  process.  And  as  far  as  the 
Bible  study,  I  was  really  surprised  that  she  wanted  to  con- 
tinue because  she  said  she  was  getting  a  lot  out  of  it.  It's 
hard  to  see  how,  when  my  ability  was  so  limited.  But  I  think 
that  the  friendship  was  the  key  factor.  We  joked  about  it. 
When  we  get  to  heaven  there  won't  be  any  language  bar- 
rier and  we'll  be  able  to  talk  about  what  we  studied.  What 
was  unique  about  the  friendship  was  that  the  relationship 
was  probably  closer  than  with  someone  who  could  speak 
English. 

Dan:  You  are  our  first  TIME  missionaries  to  stay  for  six 
months.  Would  you  recommend  this  experience  to  others? 
And  if  so,  to  who? 


26 


FMS 


ment  is  the  Key 

ave  and  Gail  Rosner  by  Dan  Green 


Gail:  It  was  something  that  we'd  thought 
about  before  we  came.  We  were  in- 
terested in  a  longer  period  than  the  one 
month  or  three  month  experience.  We 
wanted  to  experience  more  of  a  reality. 
With  just  a  summer,  it  can  be  easily 
romanticized  as  a  summer  that  was  spent 
in  Brazil.  I  think  that  the  goal  was  ac- 
complished in  that  we've  really  seen  a 
picture  of  what  the  life  is  like  here,  what 
missionaries  go  through.  I  wouldn't 
recommend  it  for  someone  who  is  not 
really  interested  in  missions,  meaning 
someone  who  is  possibly  interested  in 
returning  to  the  field.  Someone  who  just 
wants  to  find  out  about  missions  should 
take  the  shorter  three  month  period. 

Dan:  Do  you  think  that  you  can  grasp  the  reality  of  the 
mission  lifestyle  and  cultural  adjustments  in  six  months  or 
can  what  you've  done  be  experienced  in  less  time? 
Dave:  You  go  through  the  different  phases  of  cultural  ad- 
justment just  like  we  were  told  in  the  beginning.  I  think  that 
through  the  six  months  we  went  through  each  one  of  those 
phases  and  I'm  just  wondering  if  the  time  was  cut  shorter, 
you  might  cut  out  some  of  that  process  and  not  be  able 
to  work  through  it  completely. 

Gail:  If  we'd  stayed  only  for  the  normal  three  months  we 
would  have  had  a  very  negative  attitude  toward  the  culture. 
So  the  added  time  helped  us  work  through  the  adjustments 
and  develop  more  friendships. 

Dave:  If  it  was  going  to  be  shorter  than  six  months,  I'd  say 
no  less  then  five. 

Dan:  Dave,  how  has  your  knowledge  and  appreciation  of 
the  Brazilian  culture  developed  over  your  stay  here? 
Dave:  One  of  my  first  impressions  was  that  Brazilians  value 
people  more  than  they  do  their  schedule.  Meetings  started 
late  and  a  lot  of  times  they  wouldn't  even  come  to  church 
because  someone  dropped  by  to  visit.  That  sort  of  floored 
me  at  first  that  they  wouldn't  speak  up  and  say,  "I've  got 
church  tonight.  Why  don't  you  come  along  with  me?"  or 


BpreaWflJI 

Bill   ^ 

^  ii      ii 

something  like  that.  As  time  went  on  I  began  to  appreciate 
their  emphasis  on  friendships  more  and  more.  There  is  a 
necessary  balance  to  strike  between  friendship  and  respon- 
sibilities, but  I  think  that  Americans  often  look  to  the  other 
side  and  don't  place  enough  importance  on  people. 
Brazilian  coffee  is  another  difference.  I  was  shocked  at  first, 
but  I  love  it  now. 

Gail:  I  agree  with  Dave  and  I've  also  been  impressed  with 
the  hospitality  that  is  shown  here  that  goes  along  with  the 
emphasis  on  friendships.  They  are  such  a  loving  people. 
Dan:  Did  it  strike  you  odd  when  you  first  came  that 
everyone  always  hugs  each  other? 
Gail:  Yes.  The  women  kissing  each  other  and  the  men 
hugging  each  other  seemed  awkward  at  first. 
Dave:  I've  really  grown  to  appreciate  that.  I  told  Gail  the 
other  day  Brazilians  know  how  to  greet  each  other.  I  think 
when  I  go  back  I'll  want  to  hug  friends  when  I  see  them. 

Dan:  In  what  way  has  your  TIME  experience  affected  your 
relationships  with  Christ,  spouse  and  family? 
Dave:  I  feel  like  it  has  drawn  me  closer  to  Christ.  Being 
thrown  into  a  different  situation  I've  had  to  depend  on  Him 
a  lot  more.  I'm  catching  a  vision  for  lost  souls  and  seeing 
the  situation  through  His  eyes.  My  relationship  with  Gail 


FMS 


27 


has  definitely  strengthened.  There  were  a  lot  of  times  when 
she  was  the  only  person  I  could  talk  to.  Our  communica- 
tion has  improved  and  strengthened.  In  terms  of  family  rela- 
tionships, it  has  drawn  us  closer  to  them.  By  being  apart 
we  are  writing  letters  and  sharing  with  them  what  is  hap- 
pening in  our  lives  here.  We're  apart  from  them  in  the 
States,  but  here  it  is  so  far  away.  They  in  turn  have  en- 
couraged us  a  lot. 

Gail:  Dave  and  I  have  seen  each  other  in  different  situa- 
tions that  we've  never  seen  each  other  in  before.  Through 
the  different  struggles  we've  seen  new  things  about  each 
other  and  we've  gotten  to  know  each  other  better. 

Dan:  What  are  some  of  the  needy  areas  for  prayer  you 
have  observed  among  Brazilian  Christians  in  general  and 
among  Brazilian  Grace  Brethren  Churches? 
Gail:  I  think  it's  important  to  pray  that  the  Brazilian  Chris- 
tians would  be  willing  to  make  a  strong  commitment  to  the 
Lord  and  that  they  would  really  dedicate  their  lives  to  Him. 
The  extreme  poverty  that  some  of  the  people  experience 
is  a  difficult  thing.  Some  of  them  just  don't  have  food  to 
put  on  the  table  and  in  the  same  church  you  have  people 
who  are  very  comfortable  in  comparison.  Uniting  those  two 
groups  of  people  is  difficult.  Even  planning  activities  that 
everyone  can  afford  to  do  is  a  practical  need  to  pray  for; 
wisdom  in  planning  activities  to  not  exclude  those  who  have 
less. 

Dave:  Pray  for  unity  within  the  church  between  these  two 
groups.  There  is  a  tendency  not  to  mix  and  sometimes 
there  is  a  bit  of  tension.  Also,  even  though  some  of  these 
people  have  made  professions  of  faith,  a  lot  of  times  they 
are  still  searching  in  other  areas,  trying  to  mix  spiritism  and 
a  relationship  with  Christ  together.  Pray 
that  Brazilian  Christians  would  be 
dedicated  to  God  and  His  Word  alone. 

Dan:  Are  there  any  prayer  requests 
specifically  for  the  Brethren  works  here? 
Dave:  One  request  for  the  church  here 
in  Uberlandia  is  for  those  who  are  in  the 
Evangelism  Explosion  training  class  that 
they  will  begin  to  take  the  initiative 
themselves  to  lead  people  to  Christ.  They 
have  led  some  to  the  point  of  making  a 
decision  but  they  let  Pastor  Tim  pray  with 
the  person,  as  they  still  are  unsure  of 
themselves.  They  know  how  to  do  it  but 
they  are  afraid  to.  They  need  boldness. 
In  Brasilia  I  am  burdened  for  Parsondas. 


He  is  such  a  likable  person  —  fun  loving 
and  easy  to  be  around.  He'd  be  such  an 
asset  to  the  church  but  hasn't  made  that 
profession  to  be  united  with  the  church. 
He  hasn't  said  yet  that  he  is  a  believer. 
Gail:  I  have  a  burden  for  Parsondas  also 
because  of  a  burden  I  have  for  his  wife. 
She  can't  reach  her  full  potential  if  he 
doesn't  accept  the  Lord.  It  would  be  neat 
to  see  them  united  in  Christ  as  a  family. 

Dan:  Have  your  romantic  ideas  about 
missionaries  burst  and  if  so,  in  what  ways? 
Gail:  Even  though  we  knew  it  and  had 
been  told  so  many  times,  the  thing  that 
sticks  out  in  my  mind  is  the  fact  that  mis- 
sionaries are  people.  We  forget  that  they 
are  just  ordinary  people  and  that  they  face  the  same  strug- 
gles and  go  through  life  just  like  we  do.  If  you  don't  know 
how  to  pray  for  a  missionary,  just  pray  for  the  same  strug- 
gles you  go  through  to  start  with.  They  have  more  because 
of  the  cultural  differences.  They  aren't  super  people.  They 
are  just  like  us. 

Dave:  We  both  agree  on  that.  And  one  of  my  romantic 
ideas  of  the  missionary  was  that  he  spends  his  entire  life 
visiting  and  preaching.  I've  come  to  realize  that  there  are 
bills  to  pay,  groceries  to  buy,  all  kinds  of  things  that  I  never 
really  realized  that  a  missionary  has  to  do.  It's  easy  to  ig- 
nore all  of  that  when  you  hear  the  word,  "missionary."  It's 
easy  to  think  of  someone  walking  around  with  a  Bible 
under  his  arm  all  of  the  time. 

Dan:  What  are  some  of  the  characteristics  of  a  missionary 
that  you  have  observed  are  essential  to  do  a  great  work 
for  God  here  in  Brazil? 

Dave:  One  that  I  have  seen  that  is  essential  is  that  though 
you  may  differ  with  the  culture,  you  have  to  accept  it.  You 
can't  try  to  change  it  or  say,  "I'll  do  it  my  way  and  they 
can  do  it  their  way."  I  just  think  in  terms  of  doing  the  dishes. 
They  wash  their  dishes  differently  than  we  do.  By  insisting 
on  doing  something  your  way  you  can  easily  offend  a 
Brazilian.  Even  though  you  may  not  agree  with  the  ideas 
it  is  so  necessary  to  adapt  to  their  culture. 
Gail:  I  see  that  you  have  to  be  persistent.  You  just  don't 
give  up  and  give  in  to  discouragement,  because  in  the 
beginning  the  process  is  slow  —  finding  dedicated  people. 
But  if  you  want  to  win  and  disciple  people  to  the  Lord, 
the  process  is  slow. 
Dan:  Do  you  have  any  suggestions  for  anyone  to  consider 


28 


FMS 


Long  Haul  Perfume 

Reflections  on  an  Eighty-Fifth  Anniversary 


by  Wendell  Kent 


American  business,  always 
alert  to  the  possibility  of  tapping 
new  markets  with  unusual  pro- 
ducts, has  done  it  again.  This 
time  the  trucker,  that  macho 
man  who  delivers  the  goods,  is 
the  target  of  a  new  sales  promo- 
tion. At  selected  truckstops 
across  the  country  I  understand 
that  a  hot  seller  is  the  new  Long 
Haul  Perfume. 

Apparently  someone  realized 
that  after  a  long  day  in  the  cab 
of  their  eighteen-wheelers,  these 
kings  of  the  road  have  a  bit  of  a 
problem.  A  few  minutes  under 
a  hot  shower  would  be  the  ideal 
solution,  but  when  that  luxury  is 
not  available  a  stopgap  measure 
is  needed.  Enter  the  newcomer, 
Long  Haul  Perfume.  Designed 
especially  for  truckers,  it  pro- 
mises to  keep  that  weary  traveler 


both  socially  acceptable  and  able 
to  live  with  himself  for  longer 
stretches  of  time. 

We  at  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Mission's  are  now  celebrating 
eighty-five  years  of  existence. 
That's  a  fairly  long  haul  by 
anybody's  measurement.  We 
who  have  the  assignment  of 
communicating  the  news  and 
promoting  the  work  of  the 
Society  are  very  much  con- 
cerned about  how  we're  coming 
across  to  the  dear  people  who 
so  faithfully  support  us. 

Do  we  need  some  Long  Haul 
Perfume  to  make  us  more  ac- 
ceptable? Not  if  it's  just  a  cover- 
up  to  hide  some  embarrassing 
situations.  We  believe  we're 
more  likely  to  come  out  smell- 
ing like  a  rose  after  eighty-five 
years  if  we  make  a  sincere  effort 


to  be  open  and  frank  about  the 
problems  and  difficult  decisions 
we  face  all  the  time.  We  tell  our 
missionaries  to  be  positive  about 
their  reports  to  the  churches  but 
also  to  be  honest.  We  feel  we 
owe  the  churches  this. 

In  eighty-five  years  we've 
made  a  few  mistakes.  We've  sent 
some  folks  overseas  who  should 
never  have  gone  and  we've  no 
doubt  rejected  some  who  would 
have  made  great  missionaries. 
We've  poured  money  into  pro- 
jects that  were  ill-advised  and 
withheld  funds  from  places  that 
might  have  been  productive. 
We've  closed  some  doors  that 
we  might  have  tried  harder  to 
open  and  we've  pressed  into 
areas  where  hindsight  would  tell 
us  we  should  have  moved  more 
slowly.  As  we  stand  aside  and 
look  back  at  eighty-five  years, 
we  know  we  could  have  done 
more  —  but  we're  so  thankful 
that  at  least  we  didn't  do 
nothing. 

The  trust  our  supporters  have 
in  us  is  something  we  never 
want  to  violate.  If  there  is  any 
Long  Haul  Perfume  to  be  wafted 
from  offices  and  fields  of  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions,  may 
it  always  be  the  "sweet  smelling 
savor"  of  sincere  obedience  to 
the  Great  Commission. 


before  applying  to  be  a  TIME  missionary  in  Brazil? 
Dave:  A  couple  deciding  to  come  needs  to  face  the 
fact  that  they're  going  to  have  to  give  up  some  in- 
dependence and  find  themselves  once  again  in  a  fami- 
ly type  situation  where  there  is  always  supervision. 
That  was  hard  for  us  to  adjust  to.  We've  really  come 
to  accept  that  now.  If  we  had  it  to  do  all  over  again, 
we  would  like  to  have  spent  a  little  more  time  at  home 
preparing  in  Portuguese  before  we  came.  Before  we 
left  we  really  didn't  see  the  urgency  of  learning  as  much 
as  we  could  but  that  would  have  been  a  great  help. 
Gail:  Preparing  yourselves,  too,  for  the  cultural  dif- 
ferences is  important.  It  is  good  to  find  out  what  some 


of  the  differences  are  by  talking  to  people  who  have 
been  here  or  finding  Brazilians  who  are  in  the  States 
so  that  it  isn't  such  a  shock  —  or  at  least  so  it  doesn't 
show  on  your  face.  You  need  to  decide  ahead  of  time 
that  you  are  going  to  be  flexible.  You  have  to  be  aware 
that  a  lot  of  things  are  going  to  go  against  your  grain 
just  because  they  are  things  that  are  different  than  you 
are  used  to.  You  have  to  go  with  the  flow  and  not  get 
uptight. 

Dan:  Thanks  for  your  insights  and  reflections.  I'm  sure 
they  will  be  helpful  to  those  interested  in  the  TIME  pro- 
gram and  the  south  Brazil  field  in  particular.  D 


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After  three  months  on  a  TIME  pi 


Jeannie  Miller  at  her  desk  in  France. 


When  Jeannie  Miller  first  went  to  France  in 
1979,  it  was  for  three-and-a-half  months.  Not 
much  time  to  get  a  feel  for  missions.  Or  so  we 
might  think. 

She  joined  three  other  collegians  in  forming 
a  TIME  (Training  In  Missionary  Endeavor)  team 
from  the  CE  office.  Serving  at  the  Chateau, 
European  headquarters  for  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions,  the  team  spent  much  of  their 
time  painting,  redecorating,  wallpapering  and 
raking  leaves.  The  closest  they  came  to  "mis- 
sionary work"  was  stuffing  tracts  in  mail  boxes. 

But  they  also  had  time  to  see  a  lot  of  coun- 
tryside (on  the  way  to  mail  boxes)  and  to  meet 
French  people  and  missionaries.  Two  weeks 
were  spent  living  with  French  Christians  and 
for  another  two  weeks,  the  team  members  liv- 
ed with  missionaries.  For  the  later  two  weeks, 
Jeannie  was  matched  with  missionaries  Tom 
and  Doris  Julien. 

It  was  in  the  homes  and  with  the  Juliens  at 
the  Chateau  where  the  team  was  impacted. 

"I  learned  what  a  real  mission  field  is,"  says 
Jeannie.  "Through  some  structured  teaching, 
Tom  Julien  shared  why  France  is  a  mission  field 
.  .  .  most  people  think  that  because  it's  civilized, 
it's  Christian.  I  also  learned  about  the  every- 
day life  of  a  missionary;  how  they  make  con- 
tacts and  how  they  fill  their  day." 

This  first  taste  of  missions  culminated  for 
Jeannie  a  few  months  ago.  In  January  of  1985, 
Jeannie  arrived  back  in  France  as  a  term  mis- 
sionary. She's  one  of  two  TIME  veterans  from 
that  1979  team  to  return  as  a  missionary. 


"I  knew  I  would  return,"  Jeanie  says  of  tha 
first  trip.  "I  just  didn't  know  how  or  in  wha 
capacity." 

It  took  another  TIME  experience  to  provid< 
the  answer. 

Following  the  1979  TIME  trip,  Jeannie  com 
pleted  college  and  returned  home  to  Coloradc 
Springs,  Colorado.  Thoughts  of  France  stayec 
with  her.  She  kept  in  touch  with  Tom  and  Dori: 
and  on  one  occasion  considered  a  challeng( 
to  return  to  help  in  church  planting.  But  it  didn' 
click. 

Then  in  1982,  she  received  a  letter  fron 
Tom. 

"It  was  out-of-the-blue,"  says  Jeannie.  "H< 
wrote  how  he  needed  secretarial  help  and  ask 
ed  if  I'd  be  interested.  When  he  listed  the  area; 
of  responsibilities,  it  was  like  a  perfect  descrip 
tion  of  what  I  had  in  the  back  of  my  mind  anc 
what  I  really  wanted  to  do.  I  was  so  grateful  fo 
the  opportunity." 

In  February  of  the  next  year  Jeannie  arrivee 
in  France  as  a  personal  secretary  to  Tom  Julien 
Under  the  TIME  program  again,  she  served  fo 
almost  a  year-and-a-half  at  the  Chateau.  "I  wa 
full-time  in  the  office,  except  when  I  mowed  th( 
lawn,"  she  says. 

Jeannie  was  the  first  secretary  at  tht 
Chateau.  There  was  a  lot  to  be  done. 

First  she  had  to  find  a  place  to  work.  The 
library,  one  of  those  rooms  she  painted  in  1979 
became  her  office.  Next  came  work  on  a  filinj 
system  and  organizing  the  files  for  the  Bible  In 
stitute.   Tom's   correspondence,   requests  fo 


n  —  Long-Term  Result 

in  France,    Jeannie  knew  she'd  return. 


literature  and  tapes,  and  buying  stamps  and  office  supplies 
consumed  more  time. 

EMI  came  next. 

Jeannie  tells  how  she  used  to  discuss  with  Connie  Whit- 
comb,  another  TIME  worker,  the  EMI  (Euro-Missions  In- 
stitute) schedule  and  work  load.  "We  tried  to  figure  out," 
she  says,  "how  they  made  it  in  the  first  EMI  without  sup- 
port help.  I  can't  imagine  Tom's  time  spent  selling  stamps 
and  postcards,  helping  make  phone  calls  and  being  a 
translator.  Doris  would  have  been  involved  in  the  same 
things. 

"Both  Connie  and  I  were  incredibly  busy  during  EMI. 
We  had  so  many  errands.  Travel  arrangements  took  a  lot 
of  time.  Just  typing  and  photocopying  the  syllabus  is  an 
immense  job.  And  then  there's  collecting  and  filing  evalua- 
tion forms." 

The  term  "support  help"  accurately  describes  Jeannie's 
ministry  to  Tom.  As  she  assumed  more  responsibility,  Tom 
was  able  to  concentrate  on  what  he  does  best.  During  the 
week  of  EMI,  that  meant  more  time  for  personal  interviews, 
one-on-one  counseling  and  preparation  for  his  messages. 

While  serving  in  this  way,  Jeannie  began  to  think  beyond 
her  commitment  to  the  TIME  program. 

It  was  during  a  Julien  furlough  to  the  states  that  she  pic- 
tured herself  staying  in  France.  "I  floated  around  helping 
the  different  missionaries,"  she  says.  "While  I  was  in  Lyon, 
I  stayed  with  Rich  and  Kathy  Harrell  and  every  day  took 
a  bus,  a  subway  and  a  bus  to  Larry  and  Vicki  DeArmey's 
house.  After  a  day  of  work,T'd  take  a  bus,  subway  and  bus 
back  to  the  Harrell's.  I  felt  like  That  Girl.'  I  began  to  see 
myself  living  in  France  on  my  own.  And  I  saw  how  many 
different  directons  I  could  go  in  the  ministry." 

Jeannie  isn't  one  to  jump  into  a  decision.  Several  months 
passed  before  she  considered  her  future  again.  As  her 
TIME  experience  was  coming  to  a  close  and  departure 
dates  had  to  be  set,  Jeannie  realized  how  committed  she 
was  to  the  ministry  in  France.  She  wanted  to  be  a  part  of 
it.  She  wanted  to  come  back  for  four  years  as  a  term 
missionary. 

One  "obstacle,"  though,  had  to  be  worked  through. 

"I  had  always  thought  when  I'd  go  back  to  France  I'd 
be  married,"  says  Jeannie.  "Being  single  was  a  very  real 
issue  because  I  thought,  Til  be  30  when  I  get  home!'  Maybe 
that's  not  horrible,  but  'these  are  the  prime  years  of  my  life!'" 

It's  not  that  Jeannie  was  discontent  with  being  single. 
She's  just  honest.  She'd  like  to  be  married.  And  being  mar- 
ried better  fit  her  picture  of  her  role  as  a  missionary. 

She  may  have  put  the  term  missionary  thought  on  hold 
if  it  wasn't  for  a  Bible  study  Tom  shared.  Tom  talked  to 
Jeannie  and  Connie  once  about  God's  will.  It  was  a  dif- 
ferent approach,  emphasizing  that  we  needed  to  be  more 
concerned  about  our  lives  being  for  God's  will,  rather  than 
us  "finding  God's  will."  Tom  outlined  God's  will  for 
creation — that  everything  would  come  in  subjection  to 
Christ  and  that  Christ's  church  would  be  built.  He  chal- 


lenged the  girls  to  be  a  part  of  that  plan. 

"There  was  a  point  when,"  Jeannie  shares,  "I  started 
looking  at  Europe  and  all  the  things  God  wants  to  do,  the 
world  and  how  great  His  plan  is  and  how  He  wants  to  bring 
everything  under  the  authority  of  Christ,  and  how  He  wants 
His  church  to  be  growing  and  building  and  how  He  wants 
a  spirit  of  revival  to  spread  across  France  with  people 
turning  to  Him  and  becoming  His  disciples  and  infiltrating 
society  .  .  .  when  I  looked  at  all  that  and  the  vision  of  our 
(missionary)  team — all  the  great  and  mighty  things  and  big 
things  God  wants  to  do — I  thought,  'So  what  if  I'm  not  mar- 
ried? What  does  that  have  to  do  with  anything?' 

"It's  not  that  the  desire  isn't  there  or  that  I'm  pretending 
it  doesn't  exist,  but  when  you  put  it  into  perspective,  it's 
awful  small  compared  to  the  greatness  of  what  God  wants 
to  do  and  the  deepness  of  my  desire  to  be  involved  in  that." 

Jeannie's  a  part  of  the  European  missionary  team,  now. 
She  lives  in  Macon,  France,  home  for  four  other  Grace 
Brethren  missionaries  and  about  ten  miles  from  the 
Chateau.  Half  of  her  time  is  spent  as  secretary  to  Tom 
Julien,  sharing  the  responsibility  with  Patty  Morris.  The 
other  half  of  her  time  is  given  to  areas  of  evangelism  and 
discipleship. 

She's  living  out  a  dream  ...  a  dream  of  assisting  the 
Juliens  and  being  a  part  of  what  God  is  doing  in  France. 
It's  a  dream  that  was  planted  on  a  three-and-a-half  month 
breeze  through  France  in  1979. 


Being  on  the  TIME  program  wasn't  all  work.  There  were  opportunities 
to  develop  friendships  and  chances  to  minister. 


CE 


31 


J 


s  w 


win 

o  ffl 


I^rfT  Talk  To  Strang, 

Sharing  Jesus  With  A  Hurting  Generatioi 

By  John  Dawson 


If  there's  ever  a  time  when  it's  easy  to  talk 
to  people  about  spiritual  things,  it's  now  in  the 
1980's.  It's  time  to  begin  boldly  speaking  about 
the  wonderful  relationship  all  men  can  have 
with  their  heavenly  Father. 

So  many  times  we've  been  reminded  of  our 
duty  and  obligation  to  evangelize  the  lost. 
Flashing  into  our  mind  comes  a  picture  of  a  dy- 
ing race  stumbling  on  in  hurt  and  depravity.  We 
must  tell  people  about  God's  broken  heart  and 
His  plan  to  save  them. 

Most  Christians  contemplate  evangelism  with 
a  heavy  heart  and  a  fear  of  rejection,  but  a 
twinge  of  guilt  reminds  them  that  their  obliga- 
tion is  plain. 

Why  should  we  share  Jesus?  Because  peo- 
ple need  him?  Because  we  look  at  strangers 
and  just  love  them  so  much?  Because  of  duty 
and  obligation?  There  should  be  three  main 
reasons  why  we  share  the  Gospel  with  others. 

Three  Reasons  For  Sharing 

1.  Healing  the  heart  of  God. 

If  you  love  someone,  you'll  seek  to  comfort 
them  and  help  them  at  the  point  of  their 
greatest  hurt.  We  have  a  broken-hearted  Father 
Who  has  entrusted  us  with  an  awesome 
responsibility  and  privilege:  the  expression  of 
His  love  to  a  hurting  generation. 


CE  Editor's  Note 

Articles  like  "Do  Talk  to  Strangers"  are 
reprinted  here  as  a  result  of  our  recogni- 
tion that,  as  Grace  Brethren,  personal 
evangelism  needs  to  become  a  natural 
part  of  our  lives.  Last  fall  our  CE  staff  met 
with  several  GBC  pastors  and  discussed 
the  needs  of  our  Fellowship  of  churches. 
We  identified  what  we  believe  are  our 
four  greatest  needs:  combatting  apathy, 
fulfilling  our  evangelistic  responsibility, 
coming  back  to  the  basics  (prayer,  Bible 
study,  worship,  evangelism),  and 
developing  true  fellowship  with  believers. 
Throughout  this  year  we  hope  to  provide 
help  in  these  four  areas. 


Jesus  said,  "As  My  Father  sent  Me,  even  si 
send  I  you."  (John  20:21)  Our  very  name  i: 
the  "Body  of  Christ."  This  means  that  ou: 
hands  must  become  His  hands,  our  eyes  shin* 
with  His  love,  and  our  voices  speak  His  words 
As  His  people  we  represent  Jesus  to  the  world 
Where  else  will  they  see  him? 

I  have  three  children.  I  love  to  hold  them 
comfort  them,  and  teach  them.  I  can't  imagine 
what  it  would  be  like  to  have  no  arms  to  hole 
them  and  no  voice  to  comfort  them  when  thev 
experience  pain,  but  God  has  entrusted  us  with 
the  tremendous  privilege  of  expressing  Hi! 
heart  of  love  to  His  own  wayward  children 
How  vulnerable  God  has  made  Himself  to  us 
We  cannot  fail  His  trust.  We  cannot  ignore  Hi! 
broken  heart  over  millions  who  still  walk  in  ig 
norance  of  His  plan  of  reconciliation. 

Can  You  Love  The  Lost"? 

We  often  hear  preachers  talk  about  i 
"ministry  of  reconciliation,"  and  evangelism  i! 
literally  that.  When  you  see  strangers  walking 
down  the  street,  you  don't  immediately  love 
them — actually,  you  can't  love  them.  Have  yoi 
ever  wondered  what  it  feels  like  to  have  a  "love 
for  the  lost"?  This  is  a  term  we  use  as  part  ol 
our  Christian  jargon.  Many  believers  search 


"Don't  wait  for  a  feeling  of  love  in  order 
to  share  Christ  with  a  stranger.  \bu  already 
love  your  heavenly  Father,  and  you  know 
that  this  stranger  is  a  child  of  His,  separated 
from  Him,  so  take  those  first  steps  in 
evangelism  because  you  love  God." 

their  heart  in  condemnation,  looking  for  the  arrival  of  some 
feeling  of  benevolence  that  will  propel  them  into  bold 
evangelism.  It  will  never  happen.  It's  impossible  to  love  "the 
lost."  You  can't  feel  deeply  for  an  abstraction  or  a  concept. 
You'd  find  it  impossible  to  deeply  love  an  unfamiliar  per- 
son in  a  photograph,  let  alone  a  nation  or  a  race  or 
something  as  vague  as  "all  lost  people." 

You  may  have  read  the  testimonies  of  praying  mis- 
sionaries who  wept  with  loving  compassion  for  the  peo- 
ple of  their  calling,  but  don't  forget  that  this  experience  is 
a  result  of  God's  emotions  being  shared  with  a  human  heart 
in  the  intimate  place  of  intercession.  God  doesn't  relate  to 
commodities  and  abstractions.  In  His  omnipresence,  He 
does  not  see  a  conglomerate  such  as  the  nation  of  China, 
as  much  as  He  sees  every  Chinese  person,  whom  He  has 
known  intimately  since  conception. 

Don't  wait  for  a  feeling  of  love  in  order  to  share  Christ 
with  a  stranger.  You  already  love  your  heavenly  Father, 
and  you  know  that  this  stranger  is  a  child  of  His,  separated 
from  Him,  so  take  those  first  steps  in  evangelism  because 
you  love  God.  It's  not  out  of  a  primary  compassion  for  man 
that  we  share  our  faith — it's  first  of  all  love  for  God.  The 
Bible  says  in  Ephesians  6:7-8,  "With  good  will  render  ser- 
vice, as  to  the  Lord,  and  not  to  men,  knowing  that 
whatever  good  thing  each  one  does,  this  he  will  receive 
back  from  the  Lord,  whether  slave  or  free."  The  fact  is:  man- 
kind doesn't  deserve  the  love  of  God  any  more  than  you 
or  I  did.  We  should  never  be  Christian  humanists,  taking 
Jesus  to  poor  sinful  man  and  reducing  Him  to  some  kind 
of  product  that  will  better  the  lot  of  mankind.  Men  deserve 
to  be  damned,  but  Jesus,  the  suffering  Lamb  of  God, 
deserves  the  reward  of  His  suffering:  which  would  be  that 
none  perish,  but  that  all  are  reconciled  to  the  Father. 

When  you  do  open  your  mouth  to  testify  to  others  as 
a  love  response  to  God,  you'll  be  amazed  at  the  change 
that  comes  in  your  feelings  and  emotions.  This  brings  us 
to  the  second  point. 

2.  The  love  of  Christ  controls  us. 

Evangelism  involves  a  strategy  of  both  saturation  and 
penetration.  Saturation  in  that  every  person  needs  to  hear 
the  good  news  (as  in  literature  distribution  to  every  home), 
and  penetration  in  that  we  must  intensely  disciple  as 
many  as  we  can  through  personal  relationship.  We  need 
to  do  both:  to  make  disciples  and  evangelize  masses. 

A  great  many  opportunities  to  share  the  Lord  are  a  result 
of  contact  with  our  acquaintances  in  our  work,  school,  or 
neighborhood.  Unsaved  family  members  are  also  an  im- 
portant opportunity  and  responsibility,  but  we  must  press 
beyond  the  frontiers  of  routine  contact.  There  are  millions 
who  will  never  be  reached  unless  we  take  our  courage  in 


hand  and  share  with  a  stranger.  Some  of  the  most  dramatic 
and  rewarding  experiences  that  I've  had  in  ministry  have 
been  a  result  of  approaching  a  stranger  with  the  Gospel. 
There's  even  a  time  when  we  should  organize  in  a  militant 
way  and  set  aside  time  for  a  planned  outreach.  The  reason 
this  type  of  ministry  is  less  popular  is  because  we  have  to 
deal  with  our  own  insecurity  and  fear  of  rejection. 

This  leads  us  again  to  the  question  of  motivation.  The 
strongest  motivation  in  the  world  is  the  indwelling  love  of 
Christ.  01  Cor.  5:14) 

"Follow  Me" 

What  if  Jesus  suddenly  appeared  in  the  flesh  in  front 
of  you,  calling  you  away  from  your  friends  and  beckoning 
you  to  follow  Him?  Where  would  He  take  you?  Jesus  is 
not  attracted  to  pleasant  places  and  popular  people,  as 
much  as  He  is  drawn  by  His  great  compassion  to  the  dark 
and  lonely  places  where  people  are  shut  away  from  the 
eyes  of  the  crowd. 

In  a  way,  we  have  the  advantage,  the  emotional  protec- 
tion, that  comes  with  the  limitation  of  our  five  senses.  We 
are  boxed  in.  There's  always  a  horizon  to  our  vision  and 
a  limit  to  our  hearing.  We  don't  see  our  fellow  man  in  all 
his  pains  unless  tragedy  intrudes  into  our  personal  world. 
But  God  sees  it  all.  He  who  is  more  sensitive  and  com- 
passionate than  any  human  parent  has  to  witness  all  the 
cruelty  and  despair  of  this  dying  planet. 

"We've  been  clearly  commanded  to  share, 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  with  every  per- 
son on  earth.  It's  not  an  option  or  a  special 
ministry  for  a  few,  but  a  normal  activity  in 
the  life  of  every  believer." 

If  you  followed  Jesus  out  the  door,  I  believe  you'd  find 
yourself  following  Him  into  the  wards  of  a  hospital,  into 
the  bedroom  of  an  abused  child,  or  simply  to  the  side  of 
a  someone  bewildered  by  his  personal  emptiness. 

This  doesn't  mean  that  following  Jesus  always  takes  us 
to  strangers,  but  the  fact  is  that  most  of  the  unfinished  task 
of  world  evangelism  lies  among  cultures  and  people  un- 
familiar to  us.  Having  taken  the  initial  step  of  contacting 
a  stranger,  you'll  be  amazed  at  the  ability  of  the  indwelling 
Christ  to  arouse  within  you  compassion  and  empathy  for 
the  people  you  talk  to.  Don't  sit  around  asking  God  for  love. 
He  IS  love  and  He  dwells  within  you.  If  you  will  just  obey 
Him  in  making  the  initial  contacts,  His  love,  wisdom, 
power,  and  knowledge  will  be  poured  out  through  you. 

The  Apostle  Paul  testified  to  the  super-natural  enabling 
power  of  God  in  his  ministry.  "And  my  message  and  my 
preaching  were  not  in  persuasive  words  of  wisdom,  but  in 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power,  that  your  faith 
should  not  rest  on  the  wisdom  of  men,  but  on  the  power 
of  God."  (Cor.  2:4-5) 

After  13  years  as  an  evangelizing  Christian,  I  still  grap- 
ple with  fear  and  inadequacy  in  sharing  the  Lord  with 
others,  but  this  human  weakness  only  serves  to  remind  me 
that  soul-winning  can  only  be  accomplished  in  total 
dependence  on  Jesus,  the  Savior. 

"So  everywhere  we  go  we  talk  about  Christ  to  all  who 
will  listen,  warning  them  and  teaching  them  as  well  as  we 


CE 


33 


know  how.  We  want  to  be  able  to  present  each  one  to  God, 
perfect  because  of  what  Christ  has  done  for  each  of  them. 
This  is  my  work,  and  I  can  do  it  only  because  Christ's 
mighty  energy  is  at  work  within  me."  (Col.  1:28-29,  LB) 

3.  Obedience:  We  were  born  to  reproduce. 

Jesus  said,  "If  you  love  Me,  keep  My  commandments." 
(John  14:15)  We've  been  clearly  commanded  to  share  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  with  every  person  on  earth.  (Matt. 
28:19-20)  It's  not  an  option  or  a  special  ministry  for  a  few, 
but  a  normal  activity  in  the  life  of  every  believer.  Just  as 
any  marriage  naturally  brings  forth  children,  we  were  born 
again  through  vital  union  with  Jesus. 

"The  fact  is  that  most  of  the  unfinished  task 
of  world  evangelism  lies  among  cultures 
and  people  unfamiliar  to  us.  Having  taken 
the  initial  step  of  contacting  a  stranger, 
you'll  be  amazed  at  the  ability  of  the  in- 
dwelling Christ  to  arouse  within  you  com- 
passion and  empathy  for  the  people  you 
talk  to." 

Some  Practical  Steps 

It  is  important  to  clearly  know  the  Gospel  message  and 
develop  skill  in  communicating  it,  but  let's  not  be  in- 
timidated by  our  lack  of  training.  By  all  means,  get  trained 
where  possible,  but  don't  miss  the  many  obvious  things  you 
could  be  doing.  Let  me  ask  you  about  a  few: 

1.  Do  you  have  a  supply  of  favorite  tracts  that  you  carry 
with  you  in  your  handbag  or  briefcase? 

2.  Have  you  ever  rented  one  of  the  many  excellent  Chris- 
tian films  and  shown  it  to  a  non-Christian  audience?  Every 
American  high  school  student  should  at  least  have  the  op- 
portunity to  see  the  film  The  Cross  and  the  Switchblade. 

3.  Do  you  invite  people  to  Christian  concerts  or  services? 

4.  Have  you  ever  purchased  gripping  testimony  books 
like  The  Hiding  Place  or  God's  Smuggler  to  give  away  to 
non-Christian  acquaintances? 

5.  Do  you  join  with  the  programs  of  your  church  that 
reach  out  to  the  poor  or  the  institutionalized? 

6.  When  you  use  public  transportation,  do  you  share 
Christ  with  those  around  you? 

These  are  all  simple  things,  but  even  using  these  obvious 
methods  can  turn  each  day  into  a  supernatural  adventure. 
God  will  take  the  little  loaves  and  fishes  that  we  offer  Him 
and  multiply  them  in  the  feeding  of  a  surprisingly  great 
multitude. 

Remember,  the  only  hope  millions  of  people  have  is  that 
some  obedient  Christian  will  cross  a  language,  cultural,  or 
even  psychological  barrier  to  bring  them  the  "Good  News" 
of  God's  love. 

My  wife  went  through  all  her  school  years  here  in 
America  without  anyone  explaining  the  details  of  God's 
plan  of  salvation.  When  she  first  heard  a  clear  presenta- 
tion of  who  Jesus  was  and  what  He  had  done,  she  eager- 
ly accepted  Him  as  her  Savior  and  within  a  year  was  engag- 
ed in  missionary  service.  There  are  people  all  around  you 
who  need  the  knowledge  of  God  that  you  have. 


You're  sure  some  of  them  would  never  listen  so  you  don't 
even  try.  Don't  try  to  decide  how  they  will  respond,  let  them 
decide  by  giving  them  the  opportunity. 

We  never  know  what  work  the  Spirit  of  God  has  been 
doing  in  drawing  a  person  to  Jesus. 

Look  For  Divine  Appointments 

I'm  reminded  of  a  time  walking  through  the  International 
Airport  at  San  Juan,  Puerto  Rico,  when  God  impressed 
me  to  share  Jesus  with  a  man  standing  alone  on  the  obser- 
vation deck.  I  went  upstairs  and  walked  around  the  obser- 
vation deck  praying  until  I  became  convinced  that  it  was 
God's  appointment.  We  struck  up  a  conversation  and  I 
began  to  share  my  testimony.  Within  minutes  we  were  pray- 
ing together.  He  was  very  vulnerable  at  that  moment  hav- 
ing just  experienced  divorce.  His  heart  was  crying  out  in 
loneliness,  pain,  and  confusion,  when  a  stranger  appeared 
at  his  side  and  brought  a  message  from  heaven  itself.  "God 
loves  you,  He  has  lovingly  pursued  you  all  your  life,  and 
even  now  wants  to  forgive  you,  heal  you,  and  reveal 
Himself  to  you." 

I'll  never  forget  the  gratitude  of  that  lonely  man  when 
we  finally  parted.  It  had  dawned  on  him  like  a  thunder  clap 
that  he  had  a  heavenly  Father.  "God  was  alive  and  could 
be  known!"  The  thing  that  touched  him  most  deeply  was 
my  story  of  divine  direction  to  him  out  of  all  the  people 
there  that  day. 

People  without  Christ  are  empty  vessels  living  in  emo- 
tional turmoil  and  spiritual  poverty.  Don't  be  afraid  of  them. 
The  exterior  may  be  intimidating,  but  all  people  struggle 
with  guilt,  hurt,  and  a  need  for  real  love.  Look  past  that 
veneer  of  self-sufficiency  and  the  hollow  mask  of  human 
pride.  Underneath  is  a  child  who  needs  a  father.  A  sinner 
needing  grace.  Tell  them  what  Jesus  has  become  to  you, 
and  invite  them  home  to  the  Father's  house.  Give  them 
the  GOOD  NEWS. 


John  Dawson  is  a 

dynamic  communicator  who 
travels   and   teaches   world- 
wide. He  is  also  Director  of 
the   Southwestern    U.S.   for 
Youth  With  A  Mission,  and 
Executive  Director  for  Cen- 
trum of  Hollywood,  Cali- 
fornia 

bjl 

■fr-V   m 

Copyright:  1984  Last  Days  Ministries/Box  40/ Lindale,  Texas 
75771-0040/AII  rights  reserved.  This  is  an  excerpt  of  an  article 
reprinted  from  the  Last  Days  Newsletter.  If  you  would  like  a  copy 
of  the  complete  article  in  tract  form,  please  write  to  Last  Days 
Ministries  and  ask  for  LD  #68.  A  free  subscription  to  the  Last 
Days  Newsletter,  a  small,  colorful  magazine,  is  also  available  upon 
request  (write  to  above  address). 


34 


CE 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


D  Wedding  Bells  rang  for  Warren  Tamkin,  pastor  of 
the  Frederick  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Frederick, 
MD,  and  Lois  V.  Pryor  on  November  23  at  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  of  Hagerstown,  MD. 

□  Pastor  Robert  Holmes  was  given  a  unanimous  call 
to  begin  his  thirty-fifth  year  of  ministry  at  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  of  Homerville,  OH. 

□  Rocky  Mountain  Grandeur  awaits  all  who  plan 
ahead  to  attend  our  national  conference  this  year  at 
the  YMCA  at  Estes  Park,  CO,  August  10-16. 

The  youth  and  adult  conferences  will  be  coordi- 
nated together  on  the  same  grounds. 

For  a  vacation  with  a  purpose,  plan  to  spend  some 
time  in  Colorado  this  year  and  enjoy  the  conference 
sessions. 

D  Philip  Teran  has  resigned  as  minister  of  evangelism 
and  church  growth  at  the  East  Side  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Blacklick,  OH.  He  is  seeking  the  Lord's  lead- 
ing as  to  his  future  ministry. 


□  "Fifty  years  ago,  Rev.  Arnold  R.  Kriegbaum  began 
his  ministry  in  the  Grace  Brethren  Church.  He  was 
licensed  to  the  ministry  by  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Long  Beach,  CA,  in  1935;  and  was  or- 
dained in  1940.  He  served  his  first  pastorate  in 
Sterling,  OH,  and  is  presently  pastoring  the  Ocala 
GBC  at  Silver  Springs,  FL."  During  the  period  of  Sep- 
tember 1,  1953,  to  August  31,  1961,  he  served  as 
editor  of  the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  and  general 
manager  of  the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Company. 


□  "Over  900  people  attended  four  Christmas  '84  per- 
formances of  The  Host'  at  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  in  Seal  Beach,  CA.  The  play  was  a  Renaissance 
musical  drama  highlighting  Christ's  spirit  of  servant- 
hood.  It  was  written  and  directed  by  Verne  VanBus- 
kirk,  member  of  the  Seal  Beach  church,  and  performed 
by  members  of  the  congregation."  —  Donald 
Shoemaker,  pastor 


WE  ARE  SO  PRONE  TO  FORGET 


Send  your  offerings  and  contributions 
to  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Retirement 
Benefits  in  care  of  Pastor  Clair  E. 
Brickel,  14319  Brookville-  Pyrmont 
Rd„  Brookville,  Ohio  45309. 
Please  Don't  Forget! 


.  .  .  that  pastor  who  served  so  faithfully  for  thirty  or 
forty  years  in  the  pastorate  at  a  salary  that  was  so  close 
to  the  poverty  level. 

.  .  .  that  if  it  were  not  for  faithful  pastors  yesterday  in 
the  local  church  supporting  our  missionary  projects  we 
would  not  have  the  base  for  our  missionary  activity  of 
the  present  day. 

.  .  .  that  our  educational  and  evangelistic  enterprises 
today  were  nurtured  and  encouraged  in  the  begin- 
ning by  faithful  pastors  who  struggled  to  make  ends 
meet. 

.  .  .  that  these  pastors  died  and  left  widows  with  not 
enough  financial  backing  to  maintain  a  comfortable  life. 

.  .  .  that  credit  needs  to  be  given  to  those  who  were 
faithful  in  the  past  as  well  as  to  those  who  are  doing 
the  job  today. 

.  .  .  that  there  is  a  board  appointed  by  National  Con- 
ference to  care  for  the  needs  of  those  who  have  ser- 
ved yesterday. 


BMH 


35 


BMH 


deaths 


NEWS  REPORT 


□  The  four  Hawaiian  Grace  Brethren  churches  are 
looking  forward  to  fellowship  with  the  Grace  Alumni 
Tour  which  takes  place  this  month. 

Guests  who  attended  the  Waipio  GBC  in  January 
were:  Mrs.  Alice  Deal,  Accident,  MD;  Virginia 
of  Lanham,  MD;  and  John  and  Inez  Burns  from 
Winona  Lake,  IN.— Submitted  by  Dave  Mitchell 

D  Dave  Troxel, 
pastor  of  the  New 
Albany,  IN,  GBC, 
was  ordained  to 
the  Christian 
ministry  on  Octo- 
ber 21.  Pictured  at 
left  are  Pastor 
Quentin  Matthes 
(Southwest  GBC  of 
Columbus,  OH) 
who  preached  the 
ordination  mes- 
sage, along  with 
Fred  Nieter  (far 
left),  lay  elder, 
who  also  partici- 
pated in  the  service. 
Dave  was  led  to  the 
Lord  ten  years  ago   in   Fort  Wayne,   IN,   by   Pastor 
Matthes.  A  carry-in  dinner  was  held   in  the  Troxel 
home  following  the  service. 


marriages 


A  six-month  subscription  to  the  Herald  is  given  to  newlyweds 
whose  addresses  are  supplied  by  the  officiating  minister. 

Deanna  Gabel  and  Donald  Kratz,  September  15,  Penn  Valley 

Grace  Brethren  Church.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 

Lorna   Freed  and  Jeff  Halfinger,  September  22,  Penn  Valley 

Grace  Brethren  Church.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 

Peggy  Kunco  and  Gary  Gillespie,  Conemaugh  Grace  Brethren 

Church,  Conemaugh,  PA.  Ron  Warrick,  pastor. 

Sandra    Nye   and   Mark  Allem,  September  2,   First  Brethren 

Church  of  the  Brethren  of  Wyomissing  Hills,  Wyomissing,  PA. 

Roger  Wambold  was  the  officiating  minister. 

Laurie  Dudte  and  Craig  Wellert,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Ash- 
land, OH.  John  Teevan,  pastor. 

The  following  weddings  took  place 
in  Ashland,  OH.  John  Teevan,  pastor: 

Laurie  Dudte  and  Craig  Wellert 

Sarah  Eberhardt  and  Kent  Carman 

Donna  Force  and  Don  Dawson 

Nancy  Keener  and  Rob  Thorne 

Theda  Kline  and  Ron  Neer 

Robin  Nichols  and  Jeff  Bee 

Barbara  Sharpe  and  Gary  Gorton 

Vicki  Wellert  and  Mike  Welch 


the  Grace  Brethren  Church 


Death  notices  must  be  submitted  in  writing  by  the  pastor. 

Hawn,  Ward,  February  16,  1984.  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Osceola,  IN.  Keith  Shearer,  pastor. 

Keaffaber,  Dale,  69,  December  11.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Winona  Lake  (IN)  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Charles  Ashman, 
pastor. 

Lee,  Emma,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Portis,  KS.  Clarence 
Lackey,  pastor. 

McCollum,  Mary,  November  27,  Cherry  Valley  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church,  Beaumont,  CA.  Robert  Whited,  pastor. 
Plunk,    Mildred,     August     5,     Conemaugh     Grace     Brethren 
Church,   Conemaugh,   PA.  Pastor  Don  Rager   (Retired)  con- 
ducted the  funeral  service  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor.  Pastor 
Ron  Warrick,  who  was  attending  national  conference. 
Sharpe,    Mrs.    Glen    (Arlene),    October    22,    Grace   Brethren 
Church,    Osceola,    IN.    Pastors    Keith    Shearer   and    Gordon 
Bracker  officiated  at  the  memorial  service. 
Simmons,  Ruth,  May  1984,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Osceola, 
IN.  Keith  Shearer,  pastor. 

Smith,  Mabel  D.,  80,  October  24.  She  was  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Forrest  Jackson  and  Bill  Smith,  and  a  member  of  the 
Winona  Lake  (IN)  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Charles  Ashman, 
pastor. 

Statler,  Mary,  December  15,  Conemaugh  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Conemaugh,  PA.  Pastor  Don  Rough  conducted  the 
memorial  service  at  the  Riverside  Grace  Brethren  Church. 
Sybert,  Marie  L.,  wife  of  James  O.  Sybert,  September  7, 
Grace  Brethren  Church,  Cypress,  CA.  Randy  Senior,  pastor. 
Wolf,  Ed,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Portis,  KS.  Clarence 
Lackey,  pastor. 

change  yt  ur  annual 

George  Christie,  P.O.  Box  449,  Prosser,  WA  99350  / 
Gary  Crandall,  520  S.  Columbia,  Warsaw,  IN  46580  / 
Vernon  J.  Harris,  104  Dianne  Circle,  Willow  Street,  PA 
17584  /  James  R.  Hines  (on  pg.  39),  B.P.  240,  Bangui, 
Central  African  Republic  /  Doyle  Miller,  P.O.  Box 
480218,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90048  (Tel.  213/852-0928)  / 
Joseph  IMass,  45  W.  St.  Charles  St.,  Grafton,  WV  26354 
/  Milton  Ryerson,  P.O.  Box  141327,  Spokane,  WA 
99214  /  Robert  Salazar,  Calle  de  la  Rioja  17,  B.F., 
Madrid,  22,  Spain  28042  /  Norman  Schrock,  6744  Boer 
Ave.,  Whittier,  CA  90606  /  John  Smith,  1715  Montour 
St.,  Corapolis,  PA  15108  /  Kenneth  Teague,  1525 
Maiden  Lane,  Roanoke,  V A  24015  /  Robert  Thompson 
(inside  front  cover),  the  telephone  number  should  be: 
213/434-5220  /  Ron  Warrick,  112  Beachley,  Meyers- 
dale,  PA  15552  /  Gene  Witzky,  4521  W.  Uniontown 
St.,  Broken  Arrow,  OK  74012  /  The  Recording  Secre- 
tary for  the  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown, 
MD,  should  be:  Mr.  Harry  T.  Barger,  Jr.,  408  Englewood 
Rd.,  Hagerstown,  MD  21740  (Tel.  301/739-1 129). 


BRETHREN 

MISSIONARY 

HERALD 

P.  O.  Box  544 

Winona  Lake, 

IN  46590 

Address 

Correction 

Reauested 

Nonprofi' 
U.  S.  Po: 

PAH 


BRETHREN  MISSIONARY 


Outstretched  Hands— page  16 

A  Pastor's  Heart  to  Heart  Talk  About  Abortion— page  4 

Sharon  Strickling's  Team  Ministry— page  32 

Doc  Uphouse's  Real  Estate— page  10 


Reflection  By  Still  Waters 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 


It  happens  just  about  every  year  in  Indiana.  An 
early  bird  that  looks  for  a  worm  and  finds  an 
Indiana  snowstorm.  It  just  does  not  look  right, 
because  robins  are  a  sign  of  spring  and  hope  that 
the  end  of  winter  is  near.  This  winter  has  not 
been  good  to  us  and  there  were  days  of  cruel 
winds  and  heavy  snow.  It  seems  that  when  winter 
is  back  and  the  snow  is  deep  and  the  temperature 
is  way  below  zero,  a  friend  or  soon-to-be  former- 
friend  telephones  me  from  California  or  Florida 
just  to  let  me  know  how  warm  the  world  can  be. 
But  that  is  one  of  the  prices  that  must  be  paid  for 
not  being  smart  enough  to  get  out  of  Indiana. 

But  the  sight  of  the  first  robin  tells  me  the  time 
has  come.  The  time  for  spring— warm  sunshine 
and  yellow  dandelions  in  my  lawn.  Just  as  hope 
reaches  its  greatest  level,  then  comes  the  last 
spring  snow  and  there  is  a  poor  robin  sitting  on  a 
snowy  lawn.  Pity  alone  cannot  help,  but  an  extra 
piece  of  bread  might  be  just  the  thing  to  let  the 
robin  know  you  care. 

Spring  is  the  return  of  life  to  the  bleak  country- 
side. The  tulips  are  pushing  through  the  ground 
and  there  are  a  few  buds  on  the  barren  trees.  The 


fruit  trees  push  forth  in  white  and  pink  and  the 
lawn  begins  to  turn  green.  The  robin  was  right, 
even  though  he  was  a  little  early.  However,  there 
is  another  sound  in  the  land  that  tells  me  it  is  the 
time  of  hope  and  cheer.  It  is  the  coming  of  the 
Easter  Season  and  to  the  Christian  it  is  the  sound 
of  hope  and  reality. 

The  message  is  clear,  because  He  lives  we,  too, 
shall  live.  He  is  the  first  fruit  of  our  hope.  The 
world,  with  its  troubles  and  pain  and  sorrow,  re- 
flects the  effects  of  sin.  Because  he,  Adam,  sinned 
and  we  followed  in  his  line,  we  have  about  us  a 
world  in  travail  and  pain.  Certainly  there  are  few 
things  as  beautiful  as  a  sunrise  or  sunset,  but  what 
must  they  have  been  like  before  sin  cursed  the 
world! 

The  lonely  robin  sitting  in  the  midst  of  the 
snow  offers  a  picture  of  the  hope  of  escape  from 
the  problems  of  the  passing  winter.  However,  a 
cross,  the  Son  of  God  dying  and  an  open  tomb, 
offers  to  us  the  ultimate  hope.  The  hope  of  for- 
giveness, the  reality  of  a  new  life,  and  the  future 
of  dwelling  in  the  presence  of  God  for  an 
eternity.  □ 


BMH 


ORETHPEN 
MISSIONARY 


heralc 


Vol.  47  No.  4  April  1985 

The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co.. 
P.O.  Box  544,  1104  Kings  Highway, 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590. 
Subscription  prices:  $8.25  per 
year;  foreign,  $10.00;  special  rates 
to  churches.  Printed  by  BMH 
Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back  issues 
are  available.  One  copy.  $2.00; 
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Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker, 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
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CONTENTS 


7  Promising 

10  Doc  Uphouse's  Real  Estate 
16  Outstretched  Hands 
18  Trustbusters 

21  '84  Foreign  Missions  Giving  Record 
24  From  Dream  to  Dedication 

26  Ministering  In  A  'Haven  of  Rest' 

27  New  Executive  Named 

28  The  Forgotten  Key  To  Victory 

29  Is  God  Mad  At  You?? 

32  Sharon  Stricklings  Team  Ministry 
34  Living  In  "Red  Ink" 
36  Less  Squeet 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters  2  • 

Feature  Article      4       •  BMH  News  Report      38       • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

Groundbreaking  was  held  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  and  about  100  people  were  in  atten- 
dance for  the  special  day  .  .  .  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
James  Marshall  received  their  permanent 
visas  to  enter  Argentina. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Pastor  Jesse  Deloe  announced  plans  to 
go  to  Whittier,  Calif,  to  assume  the 
pastorate  at  the  First  Brethren  Church.  He 
had  been  ministering  at  North  Riverdale, 
Dayton,  Ohio  .  .  .  Atlanta,  Ga.  broke 
ground  for  a  new  church,  Pastor  William 
Byers. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

The  Herald  Company  introduced  their 
new  "800"  toll-free  number  and  the  first 
call  came  from  Sunnyside,  Wash.  .  .  Dean 
Walter  was  the  commencement  speaker 
for  Grace  Schools  Baccalaureate  services. 


LETTERS 


Dear  Readers: 

Two  words  of  thanks  to  you:  First,  for 
your  patience  during  a  time  of  change.  We 
installed  new  MCS  Compugraphic  typeset- 
ting equipment  at  the  first  of  the  year.  It 
involves  a  major  step  forward  in  prepar- 
ing copy  for  printing.  But,  like  all  new 
equipment,  it  is  taking  some  time  to  make 
the  transition.  Thus,  the  magazine  has 
been  quite  late  in  making  its  appearance. 

The  second  word  of  thanks'  is  your 
response  to  the  changes.  We  have  receiv- 
ed some  very  nice  letters  about  appearance 
and  content.  We  appreciate  the  fact  that 
you  did  notice!  We  are  seeking  to  get  the 
scheduling  back  to  normal.  The  changes 
will  make  the  delay  worthwhile  —  in  time, 
savings,  and  quality. 

CWT 


COVER  PHOTO:  Werner  Kammler 
ministers  to  Fulani  Moslems  in  the  CAR. 
(Photo  by  Jesse  Deloe.) 


BMH 


BMH  Feature  Article 


A  Pastor's  Heart-to-Heart  Talk  on 

ABORTION 


by  Dr.  Donald  P.  Shoemaker 

Dr.  Shoemaker  is  Senior  Pastor  of  Grace 
Community  Church  in  Seal  Beach, 
California.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Protes- 
tant ministers  to  be  involved  in  the  Right- 
to-Life  movement  and  has  spoken  nation- 
wide and  in  Canada  on  pro-life  issues.  He 
has  served  as  a  Professor  of  Biblical  Studies 
at  Biola  University,  has  done  doctoral-level 
graduate  studies  in  theology  and  ethics  at 
Fuller  Theological  Seminary,  and  also  was 
the  chairman  of  the  Sanctity  of  Life  Com- 
mittee for  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches. 

Copyright  1985,  Dr.  Donald  P.  Shoemaker 


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Illustration  courtesy  of  Kosciusko  County  Right  to  Life. 


As  a  Pastor,  I  have  to  struggle  through  many  spiritual  and 
moral  questions.  The  role  of  the  Christian  in  society,  the  im- 
portance of  clear  demonstrations  of  love  in  the  Christian  com- 
munity, the  need  for  careful  biblical  doctrine— all  these  have 
been  matters  of  deep  personal  concern  to  me.  But  in  recent 
years  our  society's  acceptance  of  abortion  as  a  proper  solu- 
tion to  a  problem  pregnancy  has  become  an  equal  concern 
for  me.  And  if  you  are  a  practicing  Christian,  I  think  the 
changes  in  law  and  attitude  toward  abortion  ought  to  be  a 
concern  to  you  as  well. 

I  confess  that  when  I  first  heard  the  phrase  "abortion 
reform"  several  years  ago  I  did  not  even  know  what  an  abor- 
tion was.  Since  I  have  always  counted  myself  in  with  those 
who  favored  things  truly  "progressive,"  I  set  out  to  investigate 
this  issue.  What  I  learned  is  that  "abortion  reform"  (more  cor- 
rectly: "permissive  abortion")  has  been  unjustly  placed 
alongside  the  great  movements  toward  human  dignity  in  our 
time. 

I  hope  that  this  short  discussion  will  add  to  your  informa- 
tion on  this  subject.  Don't  be  the  uninformed  Christian  I  once 
was! 

ABORTION  TODAY 

Before  1967  there  was  no  "abortion  reform"  as  we  now 
know  it.  One  by  one,  however,  states  began  changing  their 
laws  more  or  less  to  an  "abortion-on-demand"  position.  Then, 
on  January  22,  1973,  the  United  States  Supreme  Court's 
"Roe  vs.  Wade"  decision  gave  a  great  victory  to  the  efforts 
of  pro-abortionists  to  rid  the  law  books  of  all  restrictions 
against  abortion.  That  decision  created  total  abortion  rights 
during  the  first  three  months  of  a  pregnancy  and  very  broad 
abortion  rights  in  the  remaining  six  months.  The  practical 
result  is  that  today  there  are  virtually  no  restrictions  against 
abortion — even  up  to  the  time  of  birth. 


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In  the  twelve  years  since  that  court  decision  there  have 
been  over  12  million  abortions  in  the  United  States.  Each 
year  there  are  about  a  million  and  a  half  abortions.  Ap- 
proximately 100,000  of  these  are  after  the  first  three  months 
of  pregnancy. 

Should  this  trend  concern  Christians?  Or,  should  we  ig- 
nore it  as  nothing  or  as  something  wrong  but  "a  private 
choice"  which  we  have  no  right  to  try  to  change?  If  we  as 
Christians  oppose  abortion,  are  we  truly  seeking  the  best 
interests  of  God  and  humanity?  Or  are  we  narrow,  out-of- 
date  and  judgmental? 


"If  we  as  Christians  oppose  abortion, 
are  we  truly  seeking  the  best  interests 
of  God  and  humanity?" 


I  believe  that  abortion— ending  the  life  of  the  unborn  for 
reasons  other  than  saving  the  mother's  life— must  be  a  mat- 
ter of  deep  concern  to  Christians.  Since  Jesus  tells  us  we 
are  the  "salt  of  the  earth",  I  also  think  we  have  a  duty  not 
only  to  hold  strong  opinions  on  this  vital  issue,  but  also 
to  speak  out  and  work  for  change— just  as  strongly  as  if 
the  issue  was  rape  prevention,  child-abuse,  drunken  driv- 
ing, racial  prejudice  or  other  sins  against  our  fellow  human 
being  who  is  made  in  God's  image.  I  am  to  love  my 
neighbor  as  myself,  Jesus  said.  This  means  living  by  and 
applying  God's  commandments  that  protect  my  neighbor. 
And  what  neighbor  is  closer  to  us  than  the  child  within  the 
womb? 

WHEN  DID  YOU  BECOME  "YOU"? 

There  is  really  no  serious  doubt  as  to  when  human  life 
begins.  I  was  taught  in  my  secular  high  school  biology 
classes  what  nearly  everyone  knows— separate,  distinct 
human  life  begins  at  conception. 

A  good  example  of  this  understanding  of  human  life 
(before  legalized  abortion  became  widespread)  can  be  seen 
in  the  Life  magazine  feature  article  "Life  Before  Birth"  (April 
30,  1965).  That  article  said,  "The  birth  of  a  human  life  really 
occurs  at  the  moment  the  mother's  egg  cell  is  fertilized  by 
one  of  the  father's  sperm  cells."  In  other  words,  we  are  all 
separate  human  lives  from  conception  through  develop- 
ment in  our  mother's  womb  through  infancy  and 
throughout  the  rest  of  our  lives. 

What  I've  just  said  has  nothing  to  do  with  religious  beliefs. 
You  can  know  these  things  without  having  any  religious 
faith  at  all.  In  fact,  what  requires  "faith"  is  to  say  that  human 
life  begins  at  some  point  after  conception,  like  at  some 
vague  point  when  the  "soul  enters",  or  at  birth.  Saying 
things  like  that  takes  more  faith  than  I've  got! 

How  then  does  our  Christian  faith  help  us?  Well,  science 
can  tell  us  what  is  human  life,  but  science  cannot  tell  us 
if  that  life  is  valuable.  It  takes  a  value  system,  a  philosophy 
of  living,  a  religious  faith  if  you  please,  to  tell  you  that.  And 
the  way  of  thinking  about  the  value  of  human  life  that  is 
held  by  those  who  make  and  judge  laws  and  who  provide 
us  medical  care  is  the  way  of  thinking  which  will  control 
our  lives. 


My  value  system  comes  from  the  Hebrew-Christian 
Scriptures  (someone  else's  value-system  may  come  from 
his  "humanism"  or  simply  his  "playboy"  lifestyle).  My 
system  teaches  me  that  human  life  is  precious  to  God  and 
should  be  to  us.  The  loss  of  any  human  life,  whether  by 
natural  death,  accident,  violent  attack  or  sickness,  should 
be  seen  as  tragedy.  Even  what  we  might  call  "justified  kill- 
ing" should  be  seen  as  tragedy  and  such  killing  has  to  bear 
the  burden  of  proof  that  it  was,  indeed,  justified.  If  we're 
going  to  make  a  mistake,  let's  make  a  mistake  on  the  side 
of  life! 

THE  VALUE  OF  "PERSONS" 

Sometimes  I'll  hear  someone  say,  "Yes,  I  know  life  in 
the  womb  is  'human'  life,  but  is  it  a  'person'?"  That  ques- 
tion also  gets  asked  when  we  think  of  someone  terribly 
deformed  or  maimed,  or  in  a  coma  or  kept  alive  by 
machines.  Answers  don't  come  easy  for  some  of  these 
cases,  but  there  is  one  great  difference  between  life  in  the 
womb  and  the  other  cases.  Life  in  the  womb  almost  always 
requires  only  ordinary  care  (breath,  warmth  and  nourish- 
ment) to  continue  developing  normally.  Nothing  "heroic" 
is  needed,  just  the  same  basic  care  you  and  I  need  every 
day.  Yes,  it  is  "dependent"  life,  but  all  of  us  will  find 
ourselves  "dependent"  human  life  many  times  throughout 
life.  We  don't  lose  any  of  our  value  by  being  "dependent." 

It  is  very  dangerous  to  separate  "personhood"  from 
biological  human  life.  If  you  hear  someone  make  "per- 
sonhood" dependent  on  whether  or  not  human  life  reaches 
a  certain  level  of  health  or  intelligence  or  freedom  from 
dependency,  or  on  whether  or  not  that  one  human  life  is 
"wanted",  that  person  is  creating  a  philosophical  standard 
which  is  arbitrary  and  dangerous.  And  that  standard  is  also 
unChristian! 

Christianity  puts  value  on  each  and  every  human  life, 
whether  dependent  or  independent,  smart  or  dull,  witty 
or  senile,  healthy  or  terminally  ill,  wanted  or  unwanted, 
even  whether  good  or  very  evil.  Christianity  is  certainly  in- 
terested in  what  some  call  the  "quality  of  life."  But  this  must 
be  a  quality  of  life  for  everyone,  not  a  quality  of  life  for 
some  at  the  expense  of  the  right  to  life  for  others. 

WHAT  DOES  THE  BIBLE  SAY  ABOUT  ABORTION? 

Of  course,  you  will  not  find  the  word  "abortion" 
anywhere  in  the  Bible,  nor  are  you  explicitly  told  that  abor- 
tion is  right  or  wrong.  This  does  not  automatically  make 
abortion  an  issue  without  moral  concern,  however,  for 
Scripture  does  not  specifically  forbid  wife-beating,  slavery, 
segregation  or  vandalizing  cars  either. 

What  you  do  find  is  that  Scripture  values  human  life  and 
that  certain  scriptures  speak  of  human  life  before  it  is  born. 
No  distinction  is  made  between  life  before  or  after  birth  as 
far  as  value  is  concerned.  It  would  be  correct  to  give  to 
unborn  human  life  the  same  protection  and  value  we 
should  give  to  all  human  life. 

Let's  briefly  talk  about  a  few  important  verses.  You  will 
want  to  look  these  up  in  your  Bible. 

Genesis  2:7  says  that  God  breathed  into  man's  nostrils 
the  breath  of  life,  and  man  became  a  living  soul  (or  be- 
ing). I've  heard  people  say  this  proves  that  the  unborn  can- 
not be  "human  beings",  for  they  have  not  taken  their  first 


BMH 


breath.  But  that  isn't  so.  From  conception  onward,  that  new 
life  has  required  the  breath  of  life,  and  the  only  question 
is  how  it  comes.  At  birth  there  is  a  change  in  how  the  breath 
of  life  reaches  us.  There  is  also  a  change  if  you  have  a 
tracheotomy  or  you  are  connected  to  a  heart-lung  machine. 
Certainly,  the  breath  of  life  need  not  come  only  through 
the  "nostrils"  for  you  to  be  human. 

Also,  this  verse  is  only  talking  of  the  first  man,  Adam. 
Not  Eve,  not  you,  not  me,  not  anyone  else.  Adam's  case 
was  not  typical,  and  this  verse  cannot  be  used  to  say  that 
the  rest  of  us  become  human  at  some  moment  after  God 
formed  us.  If  anything,  the  verse  would  argue  that  if  the 
breath  of  life  is  present  in  human  flesh,  you  have  a  "per- 
son." And  that  would  make  abortion  the  killing  of  a  human 
person. 

Exodus  21:22-25  might  give  the  impression  that  abor- 
tion is  not  a  serious  matter.  After  all,  if  a  woman  had  a 
"miscarriage"  (according  to  the  New  American  Standard 
Bible)  after  a  man  struck  her  the  man  was  merely  fined. 
But  if  the  mother  died,  the  penalty  was  much  more  serious. 
Doesn't  this  show  that  the  unborn  is  of  lesser  value  than 
life  after  birth? 

Not  at  all!  If  you  said  that,  you  would  also  have  to  say 
that  slaves  are  not  human  beings  in  light  of  verses  20  and 
21.  In  one  case,  a  master  who  hurt  his  slave  is  not  punish- 
ed if  the  slave  dies  "for  he  is  his  property."  Also,  you  need 
to  see  that  the  verse  talking  about  the  "miscarriage"  is 
speaking  about  an  instance  of  accidental  abortion,  not  a 
deliberate,  willful  one.  So,  the  verse  could  not  be  used  to 
justify  abortion-on-demand. 

But  I  think  there  is  a  better  way  to  understand  this 
passage.  In  the  Hebrew,  the  phrase  "so  that  she  has  a 
miscarriage"  literally  says,  "so  that  her  children  come  out" 
(an  expression  used  elsewhere  to  speak  of  birth).  A 
premature  birth,  not  a  miscarriage,  is  meant.  The  New  In- 
ternational Version  is  correct  in  translating,  "she  gives  birth 
prematurely."  If  this  is  the  extent  of  the  results  of  being 
struck,  the  assailant  is  fined.  But  if  there  is  any  loss  of  life 
(to  mother  or  child),  the  assailant's  penalty  is  "life  for  life." 
Exodus  21:22-25  therefore  suggests  equal  worth  of  unborn 
and  mother  in  light  of  the  equal  penalty  if  either  should  die. 


"I  am  convinced  from  the  whole  of 
Scripture  that  God  views  abortion  as 
the  unjust  taking  of  human  life  ..." 


Psalm  139:13-16  is  Scripture's  most  extensive  account 
of  God's  presence  with  us  when  we  were  in  our  mother's 
womb.  In  fact,  God  is  not  only  present,  he  is  very  busy — 
hard  at  work  fashioning  this  new,  independent  life.  He  even 
beholds  us  when  we  are  "unformed  substance"  (v.  16),  that 
is,  a  tiny  embryo,  without  distinguishable  human  form.  Try 
to  find  such  a  high  view  of  unborn  life  among  those  sup- 
porting the  right  to  abortion  today! 

The  New  Testament  is  no  different  from  the  Old  Testa- 
ment on  this  issue.  The  unborn  possess  personhood,  and 
there  is  no  basic  difference  in  value  between  born  and  un- 
born human  life.  Luke  1:15,41,44  shows  that  as  an  un- 
born child  (his  mother  was  six  months  pregnant)  John  the 


Baptist  could  experience  the  human  emotion  of  "joy."  Even 
more,  it  is  probable  that  John  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit 
while  yet  unborn.  Luke  also  calls  John  before  he  is  born 
a  "babe"— a  word  used  other  places  in  the  New  Testament 
to  describe  young  Timothy  (II  Timothy  3:15),  the  baby 
Jesus  (Luke  2:12,16)  and  even  the  newborn  babies 
Pharoah  slaughtered  (Acts  7:19)! 

Many  other  Scriptures  consistent  with  what  I  have  said 
could  be  discussed  if  space  permitted.  I  am  convinced  from 
the  whole  of  Scripture  that  God  views  abortion  as  the  un- 
just taking  of  human  life— a  violation  of  the  Sixth 
Commandment. 

WHAT  SHOULD  YOU  DO? 

Once  we  see  abortion  as  God  sees  it,  we  as  Christians 
must  be  burdened  and  concerned.  We  must  weep  and  pray 
for  a  society  which  has  seared  its  conscience.  God  judges 
even  "secular"  societies  for  neglecting  the  basic  rights  and 
needs  of  their  people  (Ezekiel  16:49). 


"Christianity  puts  value  on  each  and 
every  human  life  .  .  .  ,! 


Then  we  must  get  off  our  knees  and  get  busy.  Christian 
duty  to  society  does  not  end  with  prayer  and  "soul- 
winning."  You  need  to  be  involved  politically  in  support  of 
pro-life  legislation  candidates  (who  are  otherwise  qualified 
to  serve  you).  You  and  your  church  should  be  involved 
in  direct  ministry  to  women  with  problem  pregnancies.  This 
may  include  sidewalk  witnessing  outside  abortion  facilities 
and  setting  up  a  pro-life  counseling  center  and  home  for 
unwed  mothers.  After  a  child  is  born,  continued  emotional 
and  financial  support  may  be  needed.  Adoption  ar- 
rangements may  be  necessary. 

You  and  your  church  should  put  out  an  ongoing,  ex- 
tensive educational  effort  to  keep  Christians  informed  about 
pro-life  concerns.  Speak  out  with  words  seasoned  by  con- 
viction and  love.  And  with  all  your  convictions  be  ready 
to  forgive,  "even  as  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  has  forgiven  you" 
(Ephesians  4:32).  □ 

RECOMMENDED  READING: 

Bajema,  Clifford  E.  Abortion  and  the  Meaning  of  Personhood. 

Nathanson,  Bernard  N.  Aborting  America. 

National   Right   to   Life    News.    An    informative    bi-weekly 

newpaper.  Write  to  Suite  402,  419-1 7th  St.  N.W.,  Washington, 

D.C.  20004 

Nilsson,  Lennart.  A  Child  is  Born. 

Shoemaker,  Donald  P.  Abortion,  the  Bible  and  the  Christian. 

Thielicke,  Helmut.  "Why  the  Holocaust?"  Christianity  Today. 

Jan.  27,  1978.  (Explains  that  the  Holocaust  became  possible 

in  Germany  once  the  leaders  changed  their  thinking  on  the 

value  of  human  life  from  a  definition  of  intrinsic  worth  to  one 

of  functional  worth.) 

Willke,  John  C.  Handbook  on  Abortion. 

Young,  Curt.  The  Least  of  These. 


BMH 


W_J  efore  a  rehearsal  of  the 
M~~^  Promise  Players.  There 
^^^  is  a  mirror.  In  one 
sense,  it  is  imaginary;  in  another 
sense,  real.  It  is  flesh  —  one  face 
reflected  to  another.  One  mood 

—  anger  or  joy  or  silliness  or 
wonder  —  to  another.  One  look 

—  goofball  or  wide-eyed  or  pen- . 
sive  —  to  another. 

It  is  an  exercise,  a  mental 
calisthenic,  of  sorts.  They  say  it 
takes  concentration.  The  reflec- 
tions, sometimes,  look  silly. 

Mike  Boze,  the  Promise 
Players'  advisor  and  a  Grace 
College  speech  teacher,  has  this 
soliloquy.  About  drama,  Latin, 
and  somewhere  during  the  Mid- 
dle Ages,  mysticism  and 
secularism,  and,  of  course, 
liturgies  and  Shakespeare.  He 
sounds  like  he  knows  what  he  is 
talking  about. 

The  bottom  line,  he  says,  is 
that  drama,  and  the  arts  in 
general,  have  become  foreign  to 
the  church. 

That's  too  bad,  he  says. 

To  bludgeon  (bluj'en,  inf.,  to 
strike  repeatedly  with  a  short, 
heavy  club;  ie,  sometimes 
synonymous  with  certain  forms 
of  preaching)  is  not  always  the 
best  way  to  communicate,  he 
adds. 

Then,  subtly,  he  begins  talk- 
ing about  subtlety. 

the  rehearsal  has  begun. 
Steve  is  the  armpit. 


"Okay,  God.  1  get  the  picture."  Promtse  Players  Rosemary  Russell 
and  Kip  Normand  in  a  variation  on  the  theme  of  Jonah. 


He  hears  it  from  the  nose, 
aka,  Phil.  "Stop  acting  so  snoo- 
ty," says  Funnybone,  of  course. 
Ba-dump!  The  eyeballs  address 
The  Chairman,  who  is  a  brain. 
"You'd  make  a  spectacle  of 
yourself,"  quips  a  familiar  voice. 
Ba-dump!  Funnybone  again. 
Soon  there  is  confusion.  The 
Chairman  tries  to  bring  order.  A 
foot,  alias  Allyn,  protests. 
Something  about  the  brain  com- 
ing down  and  spending  time  in 
leather  saunas  and  letting  a  foot 
run  things  for  a  while.  "The  way 
you  run,  you'd  be  a  real  lame 
brain,"  Ba-dump!  Guess  who. 
And  then  Stomach  starts  to 
churn  —  too  many  milkshakes 
—  and  the  teeth  go  on  strike  for 
better  working  conditions,  and 
the  nose  blows  it.  Hysteria. 

The  Chairman  pounds  the 
gavel.  Heart  takes  the  floor. 

A  speech  similar  to  1  Corin- 
thians 12.  "We  all  are  many 
parts  of  one  body  and  because 
we  all  make  up  the  same  body, 
we  must  work  together.  We 
need  each  other." 

By  all  the  body's  parts,  the 
heart's  message  is  received. 

Laughter,  says  Boze,  is  part 
of  what  the  Promise  Players  are 
after.  There  is  nothing  wrong 
with  a  snicker.  Entertainment,  in 
fact,  is  an  essential  ingredient. 

The  sketches  are  creative. 

"What  we  want  to  do  is  catch 
the  audience  by  surprise,"  Boze 


GRACE 


Promising 


The  parable  of  the  Good  Punk  Rocker  sheds  fresh  light  on  Luke  10 

stage,  the-jazz-in-feet.  Chhh.  Chhh. 


says.  "We  want  to  make  the  package 
enjoyable  to  watch  and  listen  to. 
Hopefully,  we  are  creating  visual  and 
verbal  pictures  .  .  .  recordings  maybe, 
that  they  will  play  back  in  their  minds." 

The  sketches  pump  energy. 
Rhythmic,  visual,  clicking,  unconven- 
tional, flowing. 

High  Voltage. 

Says  Allyn  Decker,  one  of  the 
players:  "Because  it  is  visual  and  you 
have  real  people  up  there  acting  out 
Biblical  stories  in  a  fresh  way,  it  adds 
a  new  dimension." 

And,  in  the  church,  comes 
something  curious.  Giggles. 

"Too  often,"  says  Allyn,  "we  get  this 
idea  that  we  need  to  put  on  this  stoic 
personality  when  we  go  into  church. 
We  need  to  recognize  the  holiness  of 
God  and  worship  him,  but  I  don't  think 
we  have  to  discard  our  personalities 
and  be  something  other  than  what  we 
are." 

The  sketches,  at  times,  hint  of  a 
parade.  With  the  same  sort  of  visual 
playfulness.  On  Main  Street,  it  brings 
people  to  the  front  porch  step.  Mostly 
curious. 

Distracted,  the  back  door  goes 
unguarded. 

Chhh.  Chhh.  Somewhere  from 
out  of  sight.  Chhh.  Chhh.  Rhythm 
and  click.  Chhh.  Chhh.  Blow  through 
open  doors.  Chhh.  Chhh.  Onto  the 


The  subway  moves,  a  pulse  of  voice. 
Chhh.  Chhh. 

"A  man  was  on  a  train  from 
Brooklyn  to  Queens.  (Chorus) 
Brooklyn  to  Queens.  Brooklyn  to 
Queens.  Brooklyn  to  Queens. 
Brooklyn  to  Queens.  (Chhh.  Chhh.) 
And  as  he  sat  down  to  read  the 
newspaper,    he  fell  among  football 

The  message  is  most  ef- 
fective when  it  sneaks. 
Cloaked  in  images,  tied 
to  senses,  looking  for 
thought,  it  slips  through 
the  back  door. 

fans.  (Chorus)  Sock  'em  in  the  kisser! 
Sock  'em  in  the  jaw!  Send  'em  to  the 
cemetery,  Rah!  Rah!  Rah! 

-Chhh.  Chhh.- 

"Who  had  just  seen  their  team  lose 
the  big  game.  Boo-hiss-what-a-load- 
of -trash!" 

And  so  on,  chhh,  chhh,  .  .  .  (  a 
break  to  paraphrase)  .  .  .  the  man  gets 
mugged,  a  social  service  worker  sucks 
on  smoke,  phhoo-whoo,  ("I  really  care 
about  the  kids");  in  the  restroom,  a 
preacher  prays.  But  no  one  helps. 

Until.  Chhh.  Chhh.  'And  also  on 


that  train  was  the  leader  of  a  punk  rock 
group.  (Ooool!  Ehh!)  Chhh.  Chhh. 
(Electric  guitar  riff.)  And  he  stopped 
the  train.  (Screeching  brakes). 
Chhhhhhhhhh  .  .  .  Phoned  the  am- 
bulance. Doo-roo!  Doo-roo!  Doo-roo- 
Doo-roo!  Left  him  twenty  bucks  for  a 
new  coat  (awwh)  and  sent  him  off  to 
the  hospital  .  .  .  Doo-roo!  Doo-roo! 
Doo-roo!  Doo-roo! 

A  speech  by  the  narrator  follows. 
Luke  10  with  energy. 

The  message  is  most  effective  when 
it  sneaks.  Cloaked  in  images,  tied  to 
senses,  looking  for  thought,  it  slips 
through  the  back  door. 

"The  message  is  the  bottom  line," 
Boze  says.  "If  the  message  doesn't  get 
across,  there  is  no  communication." 

The  entertainment  —  the  sensory 
images,  however,  can  be  an  effective 
channel.  If  it  trips  the  imagination. 

"If  you  truly  want  to  engrain  a 
message  on  the  mind,  you  have  to 
stimulate  the  imagination,"  Boze  says, 
"you  have  to  make  them  think." 

The  idea  is  to  make  it  seem  some- 
one's own  idea. 

"If  you  can  get  somebody  to  think 
of  something  as  being  their  own  idea, 
then  it  works,"  says  Kip  Normand,  one 
of  the  players.  "If  you  can  get  people 
to  laugh  at  themselves  and  get  them 
to  see  some  of  the  things  that  they  do 
by  acting  it  out,  they  can  see  how 
ridiculous  we  all  act  sometimes.  It  kind 
of  helps  to  open  their  eyes." 

The  ultimate  goal  is  not  entertain- 
ment. Roller  skating,  if  that  were  the 
case,  would  be  as  helpful.  God's  truth 
should  never  be  used  frivolously.  But 
rather,  presented  with  subtle  style,  it 
is  a  bone-and-marrow  sword. 

Narrator's  voice,  mellow  alto, 
haunting.  "Vanity  of  vanities,  says  the 
preacher,  all  is  vanity."  Fade  to 
movements  —  slow,  fluid  and  charg- 
ed. The  shopkeeper  dresses  a  mani- 
quin  with  a  jacket.  And  a  sign, 
"STATUS."  Everyday  Joe  passes  by. 
He  gets  possessed  with  the  idea  of 
possessing  that  jacket;  but  reaching  in- 
to his  pockets,  he  realizes  he  doesn't 
have  enough  money.  A  look  of 
perplexity,  followed  by  an  idea. 

Two  pennies,  he  remembers,  in  his 
penny  loafers.  Just  enough.  The  sign 


GRACE 


is  sold  with  the  jacket.  STATUS.  In 
capital  letters.  Bold-faced. 

Everyday  Joe  is  not  everyday 
anymore,  and  out  the  store,  Rooster 
Strut. 

Three  women  fawn.  Goofhead 
smile.  The  look  is  Life  Is  Good,  the 
kind  on  Michelob  commercials. 

Until.  Him.  With  the  jacket,  a  little 
bit  brighter,  a  little  better  material,  a  lit- 
tle better  fit. 

And  the  sign,  "EVEN  MORE 
STATUS." 

The  man  strikes  a  J.  C.  Penney 
pose.  The  women  leave  for  him. 

Temporarily,  there  is  distress.  But 
gradually,  through  the  feel  of  the 
jacket,  by  the  punch  of  the  word,  with 
a  few  ideas  of  illusion,  he  recovers  to 
a  tap  on  his  shoulder. 

Another  woman,  he  thinks.  He 
turns  with  a  look  of  anticipation,  ain't 
I  bad,  and  finds  a  gun  in  his  face. 

The  thief  steals  his  jacket. 

And  the  sign. 
Everyone    ignores    him,    even    the 
policeman. 

The  cold.  He  realizes  it,  tense  body, 
arms  folding,  tight  knot,  alone  on  who 
knows  what  street  corner.  The  cold. 
Fade  to  narrator:  "Do  not  store  up  for 
yourselves  treasures  on  earth,  where 
thieves  break  in  and  steal.  But  store  up 
for  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven." 

On  stage,  the  man's  head  drops. 


"Zacchaeus,  today  salvation  has  come  to  you."  The  Promise  Players  in  "Zaccs  For  Tax." 


The  Promise  Players,  the  nine  of 
them,  are  committed  to  spreading  the 
word  of  Jesus  Christ.  They  practice  at 
least  twice  a  week.  They  put 
themselves  into  their  acting.  They 
worry  about  every  move,  every  word. 

They  believe  that  what  they  are  do- 
ing —  communicating  God's  message 
through  drama  —  can  be  effective. 
They  don't  advocate  the  abolition  of 
preaching.  Far  from  it.  They  don't  see 
things  in  categories.  Good  preaching 
usually  contains  elements  of  good 
drama.  And  vice  versa. 

But  what  they  would  like  to  do,  and 


see  others  do,  is  widen  the  scope  of 
communication  in  the  church.  God's 
people,  of  all  people,  should  be 
creative. 

So,  whenever  they  get  asked,  they 
hit  the  road.  Maybe,  a  church  in 
Michigan  or  Ohio  or  Indiana  or 
wherever. 

They'll  stay  a  day  or  so,  put  on  their 
sketches,  and  go  home. 

What  they  leave  behind,  usually  by 
way  of  the  back  door,  are  images. 
Something  like  a  mirror.  Imaginary,  in 
one  sense.  □ 


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Grace  Schools 

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GRACE 


Doc  knew  what  was  important.  Soil 

and  Soul  With  a  shovel  or  a  story,  he 

planted  seeds  in  both. 

doc  urnousE's 

HEAL  "ESTATE 


Editor's  Note:  Dr.  Norman  Uphouse  was  a 
man  with  energy.  He  was  active  in  the  Warsaw, 
Indiana  community  and  at  Grace  Schools.  He 
accomplished  1,002  things.  Nearly  two  months 
ago,  at  a  circus,  he  died.  This  story,  based  on 
interviews  with  several  of  his  friends,  is  a  tribute 
to  his  unending  energy. 

Two  weeks  after  his  death,  it  was  a 
strange  rain  that  fell  in  February.  The 
tractors,  with  their  cartoon  eyes  and 
rusty  throats,  stood  still.  The  paint  was  chip- 
ped, one  yellow,  one  blue,  one  orange  — 
rude  eruptions  in  white  snow  and  gray  sky. 

Down  the  road,  an  endless  trail  of  rub- 
ber, wood,  steel  and  rust.  Bald  tires,  broken 
tools,  bike  frames,  3-wheel  lawnmowers, 
leaning  huts,  props,  jimmies,  duct  tape. 
Junk  art. 

What  was  missing  was  the  energy.  The 
steel-gut  wrench  of  horsepower  —  air  and 
fuel  and  fire.  The  still-breaking  voices  of  the 
boys  who  always  seemed  to  be  around 
him.  The  spit  of  hammers  on  wood  and 
iron  in  dirt.  No  blare,  no  bang,  no  bark. 

The  only  voice  belonged  to  a  slow  rain. 
On  the  steel  of  dead  tractors,  it  shouted  a 
strange  refrain. 

What  was  missing  was  Doc  Uphouse. 

We  stand  corrected.  We  never  expected 


Dr.  Norman  Uphouse  to  die.  Even  though 
he  was  78,  it  never  crossed  our  minds. 
Even  though  Hebrews  9:27  is  underlined 
in  our  Bibles,  we  were  taken  by  surprise. 

It's  just  that  he  always  had  one  more 
thing  to  do.  One  more  garden  to  plow.  One 
more  story  to  tell.  One  more  drive  to  clear. 
One  more  cause  to  champion.  One  more 
hand  to  give. 

And  we  always  expected  him  to  do  it. 

Death  seemed  an  antonym  for  his 
name.  He  was  preoccupied  with  life.  He 
invested  his  time,  and  there  was  never 
enough  of  that,  in  growing  things.  He  knew 
flowers  by  name.  He  loved  cows.  He 
stooped  for  children.  He  gave  blood.  He 
barked  at  and  embraced  His  Boys. 

The  land,  more  than  anything  else,  was 
his  lifeblood.  He  liked  the  feeling  of  dirt 
under  his  fingernails.  He  always  seemed 
to  be  carrying  a  shovel,  or  pulling  a  plow, 
or  stripping  some  weeds.  Wherever  he  saw 
a  bare  patch  of  ground,  he  planted. 

"I  think  that  he  felt  like  the  king  of  the 
world  when  he  was  in  the  seat  of  a  trac- 
tor," says  one  of  his  neighbors. 

From  the  dirt,  he  knew,  sprung  life. 
Strawberries  and  beans  and  carrots  and 
tomatoes  —  from  brown,  brilliant  reds  and 
greens  and  oranges. 


Illustration  By  Terry  Julien 


1  OAPRIL  85  GRACE 


GRACE  APRIL  f85  i  t 


He  looked  at  people  the  same  way. 
He  invested  his  time  and  life  in 
planting  seeds.  Digging  with  an  idea, 
or  plowing  with  a  story,  or  raking  with 
a  joke,  or  stripping  with  a  twisted 
cliche,  he  worked  hearts. 

John  12:24  was  probably  one  of  his 
favorite  verses. 

"Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Ex- 
cept a  grain  of  wheat  falls  into  the 
ground  and  die,  it  abideth  alone:  but 
if  it  die,  it  bringeth  forth  much  fruit." 

And  fruit,  that  tangy  burst  of  dirt, 
was  what  grew  all  around  where  Doc 
Uphouse  lived. 

—  A  plowed  field,  no  more  than 
a  few  years  ago.  Dr.  Norman 
Uphouse,  well  into  his  70s,  was  on  his 
moped.  He  stopped  by  one  of  his  bulls 
for  a  little  tease.  The  bull  got  angry. 

Dirt  trailing,  bull  chasing,  goatee  fly- 
ing, Doc  Uphouse  was  on  the  move. 

—In  another  field,  a  short  time  later. 
Lady  Ruffian  was  a  horse  that  no  one 
could  break.  No  one  even  wanted  to 
try  anymore. 

Except  Doc.  There  was  that  look  in 
his  eyes  as  he  pulled  her  in.  The  Lady 
bucked  and  brayed  but,  finally,  faced 
the  fact  of  a  stronger  will.  She  was 
broken. 

—About  the  same  time.  On  an  ice- 
covered  roof,  making  a  few  repairs.  He 
slipped  and  fell  about  10  feet  to  the 
ground.  Doc  rubbed  his  arm  for  a  sec- 
ond and  climbed  back  up  the  ladder. 

—Maybe  a  year  or  so  earlier.  On  the 
Matterhorn.  Doc  looked  down. 

Some  people  called  Doc  Uphouse 
an  eccentric. 

But  that's  only  the  label  people  use 
when  other  labels  won't  stick.  There 
was  no  neat  little  category  in  which  to 
put  Dr.  Norman  Uphouse.  At  one  time 
or  another,  he  was  a  preacher, 
teacher,  businessman,  counselor  and 
farmer. 

But  that  was  not  all  he  did.  "He  had 
his  finger  and  mind  in  almost 
everything,"  says  one  friend.  He  was 
a  champion  of  causes  —  the  Red 
Cross,  Lakeland  Child  Evangelism, 
Dr.  Carl  Mclntyre  .  .  .  He  served  on 
boards,  committees  and  councils. 

"He  didn't  have  101  things  to  do, 
but  1,001,"  says  one  friend. 

As  a  natural  outcome  of  his  intensi- 
ty, he  fell  into  paradoxes.  On  the  sur- 
face, he  was  disorganized.  No  one 


remembers  him  writing  anything  down 
—  rent  payments,  appointments  or 
checks.  He  kept  things  in  his  mind. 

He  never  used  blueprints.  From  his 
mind  came  the  random  layout  of 
Fairlane  Trailer  Court.  From  his  hands 
came  leaning  barns,  huts  and 
undefinable  wooden  structures. 

He  was  the  Great  Improviser.  "If  he 
could  get  something  to  work  or  to 


We  don't  know  what 
heaven  is  like.  Our  Bible 
doesn't  tell  us  much.  We 
are  sure,  though,  that  if 
there  are  shovels,  Doc 
has  one  in  his  hand.  And 
if  there  are  children,  Doc 
is  stooping  down.  And  if 
there  are  flowers,  Doc  is 
learning  their  names. 


stand,  that  was  the  bottom  line,"  says 
one  friend. 

At  times,  he  would  seem  absent- 
minded.  His  conversation  often  would 
switch  gears  without  warning.  From 
the  state  of  strawberries  to  Dr.  Carl 
Mclntyre.  From  the  counseling  tech- 
niques according  to  Gustad  to  the 
Johnstown  Flood. 

He  repeated  (and  repeated)  his  fun- 
ny little  sayings:  "I'll  never  tell  you  an 
untruth,  but  this  is  truer  than  most  of 
my  stories,"  and  "every  person  should 
develop  two  skills  in  one  skull." 

A  master  of  impromptu  and  illustra- 
tion, he  was  easily  distracted.  But  rare- 
ly to  the  point  of  dilly-dally. 

Despite  the  "hayseed"  appearance 
of  a  farmer,  Dr.  Uphouse  was  brilliant. 
Although  he  did  not  have  a  high 
school  degree,  he  had  nearly  every 
other  degree  that  it  was  possible  to 
earn.  His  mind  was  unquestionably 
inquisitive. 

The  brilliance,  couched  in  an  out- 
ward banality,  took  people  aback.  On 
a  trip  to  London,  in  his  farmer  jeans, 
he  reeled  off  the  history  of  Troy. 

More  than  anything,  the  seeming 
paradoxes  were  a  reflection  of  his  at- 
titude. A  man  of  deep  convictions,  he 


knew  what  was  important  and  what  he 
wanted  to  accomplish. 

He  knew  that  flesh  was  like  the  grass 
that  withers.  He  fought  for  eternal 
goals. 

He  had  the  fortitude  to  stand  behind 
what  he  believed.  For  example,  he  was 
once  the  pastor  of  a  United  Brethren 
Church  near  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  The 
United  Methodist  denomination 
wanted  to  merge.  For  a  long  time, 
Uphouse  fought  and  held  his  con- 
gregation together.  Finally,  the 
Methodists  moved  in.  Uphouse  and 
most  of  the  congregation  moved  out 
to  start  a  new  church. 

Time  seemed  his  great  enemy.  We 
always  have  this  picture  of  him  mov- 
ing. With  a  book,  with  a  shovel,  with 
a  bale  of  hay.  Never  empty  handed. 
He  had,  always,  one  more  thing  to  get 
to. 

So,  Dr.  Uphouse  set  up  priorities. 
Maybe  it  wasn't  even  a  conscious  ef- 
fort. The  Bible  told  him  what  was  im- 
portant and  what  was  not.  And  the  Bi- 
ble was  engrained  in  his  mind. 

Material  things,  essentially,  were 
not.  "He  looked  at  material  things  as 
being  important  only  if  they  could 
meet  the  needs  of  others."  So,  the 
leaning  barns  gave  shelter  to  other 
people's  horses.  The  jimmied  and  jux- 
taposed tractors  plowed  other  people's 
drives. 

But  for  Norman  Uphouse,  material 
possessions  seemed  of  little  value. 

A  couple  of  years  ago,  Uphouse 
was  eating  out.  He  came  back  to  the 
trailer  court  and  saw  a  fire.  His  house 
was  burning.  A  friend  who  was  with 
him  was  surprised  by  his  reaction. 
"It's  only  wood"  were  his  words. 

We  are  not  so  much  amazed  at 
the  things  that  Doc  attempted,  but  that 
which  he  accomplished. 

Seemingly  distracted,  disoriented 
and  disheveled,  he  very  seldom  fail- 
ed. He  succeeded  at  1,002  things. 

He  teased  the  bull,  he  broke  the 
horse,  he  climbed  the  Matterhorn, 
and,  more  than  anything  else,  cared 
for  people. 

The  word  that  comes  to  mind  is 
servant. 

"No  matter  how  busy  he  was  and 
how  in  a  hurry  he  seemed,"  says  a 
friend,  "he  always  had  time  for  you. 
You  might  have  to  walk  somewhere 


12 


GRACE 


with  him,  but  he  always  was  there." 

Charity  begins  at  home.  His  rela- 
tionship with  his  wife  was  a  unique 
one.  In  stark  contrast,  Miriam  is 
dignified,  upright  and  impeccable  in 
appearance.  Yet,  together,  they  en- 
couraged one  another.  By  Doc's  sug- 
gestion, she  earned  a  college  and 
master's  degree. 

"He  was  always  bringing  her  up  to 
a  higher  plane,"  says  a  friend. 

He  gave  constantly  of  himself.  He 
used  to  say  that  there  were  only  three 
things  that  he  would  not  lend  out:  His 
toothbrush,  his  power  tools,  and  his 
wife.  And  in  that  order. 

His  trailer  court,  although  not 
aesthetically  perfect,  helped  many 
young  families  get  their  start.  When  a 
beloved  professor  was  dying  of  ter- 
minal cancer,  he  was  at  his  bedside. 
Day  after  day  after  day.  He  would 
plow  three  acres  of  field  for  $10.  He 
would  give  or  lend  out  shovels,  rakes, 
sugar,  blood,  land  and  vehicles. 

He  plowed  innumerable  drives,  dug 
an  eternity  of  holes,  shared  infinite 
stories  and  helped  an  endless  number 
of  people. 

"He  lived  the  Christian  life,"  says  a 
friend.  "Everyone  who  knew  him 
knew  that  he  loved  people.  No  one 
ever  questioned  that." 

We  at  Grace  can  still  hear  the 
barking. 

Somewhere  in  his  trailer  court, 
maybe  next  to  a  strawberry  patch,  or 
by  a  leaning  barn,  or  in  a  field  of  hay, 
Doc  and  His  Boys. 

By  the  yelling,  we  always  knew  that 
something  special  was  going  on.  No 
one  can  talk  about  Doc  Uphouse 
without  talking  about  His  Boys. 

They  weren't  really  His  Boys.  He 
had  three  daughters.  But,  in  another 
very  real  sense,  they  were. 

"He  felt  he  had  a  responsibility  to 
them,"  says  one  friend.  "He  was  very 
hard  on  them  one  minute,  but  the  next 
minute  he  would  have  his  arm  around 
them." 

On  the  one  hand,  they  were  cheap 
labor  —  $2  an  hour,  max.  On  the 
other  hand,  Doc  Uphouse  invested  his 
life  in  theirs. 

His  Boys  often  complained  about 
their  wages.  But,  they  knew  that  what 
he  gave  them  was  of  eternal  value. 

"He  had  a  tremendous  impact  on 


my  life,"  says  one  teenager.  "He  taught 
me  what  it  was  to  be  a  Christian  and 
to  have  Christian  values." 

No  job  that  His  Boys  did  was  ever 
well  done.  There  was  always 
something  that  could  have  been  done 
better.  "That's  the  worst  job  I've  ever 
seen  in  my  life"  was  a  common  refrain. 

They  threw  a  lot  of  manure.  Baled 
a  lot  of  hay.  Burnt  a  lot  of  fires.  Felt 


a  lot  of  dirt.  Heard  a  lot  of  stories. 
Learned  a  lot  of  principles. 

"He  taught  us,  in  his  unique  way, 
what  was  really  important." 

Like  the  time  when  one  of  His  Boys 
found  a  nest  of  garter  snakes.  Without 
thinking,  he  threw  one  of  the  baby 
snakes  into  a  nearby  fire. 

Doc  exploded.  "I  never  saw  him  so 
angry  in  all  my  life."  Before  he  got 
paid,  he  had  to  write  out  six  times:  "I 
will  not  harm  little,  green  snakes." 

The  boys  were  also  attracted  by 
Doc's  seeming  inconsistency,  his 
peculiarities. 

Like  the  time  he  lost  his 
"humungous,"  white,  clumsy  cat.  He 
and  His  Boys  formed  a  search  party. 
Before  going  out,  Doc  lectured  His 
Boys:  "Now  whatever  you  do,  don't 
try  to  call  the  cat.  She's  deaf,  she  can't 
hear  anything.  So,  it  won't  do  any 
good."  The  lecture  lasted  at  least  10 
minutes. 

The  party  broke  up,  the  boys  agree- 
ing not  to  call  the  cat.  A  few  minutes 
later,  one  of  His  Boys  saw  Doc  com- 
ing around  a  corner,  stooped  over, 
calling,  "Here  kitty,  kitty,  kitty." 


They  loved  his  stories  .  .  .  about  the 
mama  camel  and  the  baby  camel, 
about  hay  and  Proverbs,  and  anything 
at  all  .  .  .  and  they  loved  his  energy 
...  his  fascination  with  mopeds  and 
basketball  and  moving. 

But  most  of  all,  they  loved  his  love. 

"Despite  the  way  he  acted 
sometimes,  we  knew  he  loved  us  and 
that  he  was  trying  to  teach  us 
something.  I  looked  up  to  him  as  a 
model  Christian.  He  just  gave  and 
gave." 

Although  he  gave  himself  —  in- 
vested himself  —  in  all  of  His  Boys,  he 
had  a  special  care  for  those  who  had 
little  in  the  way  of  a  home. 

One  of  them  came  from  a  broken 
home  —  one  divorce  and  an  unstable 
second  marriage. 

"He  knew  that  I  really  didn't  have 
a  father,"  says  the  boy.  "So,  he  kind 
of  took  me  under  his  wing.  I  think  that 
because  of  my  background,  he  had  a 
special  love  for  me." 

The  boy  worked  for  two  years  with 
Doc.  The  last  time  he  saw  him  was  last 
summer  at  the  Flagpole. 

"He  said  to  me  that  I  had  grown  up 
a  lot.  And  then  he  just  sat  back  and 
smiled." 

It  was  appropriate  that  Doc  Uphouse 
died  at  a  circus,  a  place  of  energy  and 
animals  and  children. 

He  never  slowed  down.  That  morn- 
ing he  had  plowed  several  driveways. 
He  decided  to  go  to  the  circus  because 
he  had  only  seen  an  elephant  once. 

He  died  on  the  move,  bending  over 
the  car  that  was  to  take  him  home. 

And  home  is  where  he  went. 

We  don't  know  what  heaven  is 
like.  Our  Bible  doesn't  tell  us  much. 
Maybe  it's  because  we  couldn't  fathom 
it.  We  are  sure,  though,  that  if  there 
are  shovels,  Doc  has  one  in  his  hand. 
And  if  there  are  children,  Doc  is  stoop- 
ing down.  And  if  there  are  flowers, 
Doc  is  learning  their  names. 

Eternity,  we  are  sure,  would  be  a 
perfect  place  for  Doc.  He  will  always 
have  the  time  to  do  one  more  thing 
in  the  service  of  His  Master. 

It  was  a  bitterly  cold  February  day 
when  they  buried  Dr.  Norman 
Uphouse.  His  Boys  were  the 
pallbearers.  They  lowered  his  body  in- 
to the  dirt  that  he  loved. 


GRACE 


13 


Given  by: 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Schaffer 

WMC  Meyersdale 

Grace  Brethren  Church 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenneth  Kohler 


Rev.  and  Mrs.  John  J.  Burns 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ralph  Burns 

Miss  Evelyn  Kohler 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chester  Elliot 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ralph  Burns 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  McKeefery 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Hammers 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Ashman 

Mrs.  Louise  Garber 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Moore 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  George  Ros 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  Wayne  Snider 

Mrs.  Lucille  Stookey 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ned  Titus 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernest  Ringler 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Woodring 


LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
FEBRUARY  1985 

In  Memory  of: 

Mrs.  Herman  Schumacher 

Mrs.  Ruth  Bowser 

Herbert  Mays 
Mrs.  Alvera  Clark 
Richard  Lotter 
Mrs.  Gertrude  O'Neill 

Richard  Lotter 

Richard  Lotter 

Mrs.  Gertrude  O'Neill 

Dr.  Norman  Uphouse 


Living  Memorials, 

200  Seminary  Drive, 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Wtf 


PARENTS  OF  1984  GRADUATES 


A  reminder  to  the  parents  of  this  year's  graduates  that 
a  special  picture  package  of  your  student  receiving  his  or 
her  diploma  can  be  available  for  you.  The  package  includes 
two  5x7  prints  in  folders  and  four  wallet  size  prints,  all  in 
color,  for  just  $10.00.  (Add  $1.00  extra  to  receive  the 
negative.)  The  package  will  be  mailed  to  your  home  a  few 


weeks  after  commencement.  If  you  are  interested,  you  may 
order  the  photos  in  advance  by  sending  the  name  of  the 
graduate  (indicate  whether  seminary  or  college),  your  mail- 
ing address,  and  a  check  for  $10  made  payable  to  Grace 
Schools.  Send  your  request  to  Grace  Schools  Public  Rela- 
tions, 200  Seminary  Drive,  Winona  Lake,  Indiana  46590. 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


Marriages 


Connie  Eggeman  and  Tim  Moomaw,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Wooster,  OH.  Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Kimberly  Gegner  and  Robert  Payne,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Greater  Washington,  Temple  Hills,  MD.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed by  the  bride's  father,  Associate  Pastor  Larry  Gegner  and 
was  assisted  by  Pastor  James  Dixon. 

Ami  Haywood  and  Keith  Gregory,  Community  Grace  Brethren 
Church,   Warsaw,    IN.    The  groom's  father,  John  Gregory  who  is 


pastor  of  the  Leamersville  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Duncansville, 

PA,  performed  the  ceremony.  Allen  Edgington,  pastor. 

Monica  lannucci  and  Charles  Mansfield,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Greater  Washington,  Temple  Hills,  MD.  James  Dixon,  pastor. 

Henrietta    Martin    and    Glen    Stealy,    Grace    Brethren    Church, 

Osceola,  IN.  Keith  Shearer,  pastor. 

Elaine    Nettleton    and    Bruce    Ressler,    Grace    Brethren    Church, 

Wooster,  OH.  Pastor  Bud  Olszewski  (Rittman,  OH)  performed  the 

ceremony.  Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Beverly  Ressler  and  Sam  Rose,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Wooster, 

OH.  Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Paula  Ressler  and  Tom  Wenger,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Wooster, 

OH.  Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Deanna  Smith  and  Ken  Buck,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Osceola,  IN. 

Keith  Shearer,  pastor.  Pastor  Dan  Jackson  performed  the  wedding 

ceremony. 

Christine  Snarey  and  Robert  Kelley  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Greater  Washington,  Temple  Hills,  MD,  of  which  James  Dixon 
is  pastor,  were  united  in  marriage  in  Lambertville,  Ml. 
Cindy    Lou  Walter  and  Timothy   L.   Flaugh,   Leamersville  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 


14 


mm^^emCe 


19&5 


Outstretched  Hands 


by  Werner  Kammler 


Thousands  and 
thousands  of  hands 
are  stretched  out  in 
Central  Africa.  They 
beckon.  They  ask 
for  attention,  love, 
and  care.  They  cry 
for  help. 

In  many  areas 
south  of  the  Sahara 
Desert  the  rainy 
season  was  too  short 
to  ripen  the  people's 
crops.  Many  organ- 
izations are  working 
to  give  a  hand  to 
these  needy  coun- 
tries that  are  going 
through  a  great 
famine. 

The  media  have  publicized  this 
news  again  and  again.  People  all 
around  the  world  have  heard  and 
even  seen  pictures  of  starving  children 
and  adults.  Hearts  have  been  moved 
toward  these  people  in  great  need. 

But  there  is  something  worse  than 
a  body  without  food! 

One  day  as  a  missionary  in  the  Cen- 
tral African  Republic,  I  was  talking  to 
a  group  of  Fulani  people.  They  were 
listening  in  a  very  thoughtful  way  to 
the  message  of  the  Gospel  for  the  first 
time.  Then  one  of  them  commented, 
"If  only  we  would  have  heard  this 
years  before." 

Even  though  these  people  had 
food,  they  were  starving — spiritually 
starving. 

One  Fulani  Moslem  heard  from  a 
missionary  that  there  are  millions  of 
Christians  in  the  world  and  that  there 
are  many  in  his  own  country.  Upon 
hearing  this  he  wondered  aloud,  "But 
if  they  believe  it  really,  why  didn't  they 
tell  us?  No,  you  Christians,  you  are  not 
believing  really  what  you  tell  us. 
Otherwise  you  would  have  told  us 
sooner." 

Mohammed  has  taught  his  followers 
to  do  a  lot  of  work  in  order  to  become 

Werner  and  Nelly  Kammler  serve  with  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions  in  the  Central  African 
Republic.  Currently  on  extended  furlough,  the 
Kammlers  are  from  Switzerland.  Werner  is  one 
of  the  few  missionaries  who  can  speak  the  Fulani 
language  fluently. 


acceptable  to  Allah.  As  a  missionary, 
I  have  seen  them  in  their  prayers  and 
giving  of  alms,  in  their  fasting  month, 
and  in  their  pilgrimage  to  Mecca.  I 
have  met  many  nomadic  Fulani  peo- 
ple who  have  gone  on  the  pilgrimage. 
One  woman  told  us  that  she  has  been 
to  Mecca  three  times.  Did  she  find 
salvation  and  forgiveness  of  sin  by  her 
costly  works? 

The  Fulani  people  make  up  an 
unreached  people  in  the  C.A.R.  They 
are  very  religious,  but  nevertheless, 
they  do  not  know  the  way  of  salvation 
and  Jesus  Christ.  They  do  not  know 
the  joy  of  forgiveness.  They  are 
starving. 

The  Fulani  people  live  in  all  of  the 


countries  south  of 
the  Sahara,  but  their 
origin  is  Semitic. 
Some  historians  say 
that  they  traveled 
north  from  Ethiopia 
and  then  south 
down  the  west  coast 
of  Africa.  About  150 
years  ago  they  came 
to  Nigeria  and  the 
Cameroon  where 
they  conquered 
some  very  mighty 
kingdoms. 

The  Fulani  world 
is  manifold,  but  it  is 
easy  to  recognize  the 
svelt  figure  of  a 
Fulani  who  is  more 
like  an  Arab  rather  than  an  African. 
Most  of  the  Fulani  people  are 
established  in  communities.  The 
nomadic  ones  are  called  Mbororos. 
These  people  live  for  their  herds. 

Indeed,  the  Mbororos  are  specialists 
in  keeping  and  herding  cattle.  The 
settled  Fulani  and  Arabs  voluntarily 
give  their  herds  to  the  Mbororos  to  be 
taken  care  of  by  them.  It's  a  common 
sight  to  view  an  Mbororo  man  stand- 
ing with  his  hands  heavily  resting  on 
a  long  staff  as  he  contemplates  the 
cattle. 

During  the  last  20  years  the  Fulani 
have  come  by  the  hundreds  to  the 
C.A.R.  As  the  drought  and  famine 
causes  the  Sahara  to  creep  southward, 


16 


APRIL  '85 


FMS 


©      W 


—   o    T 


iv^ii-r  £^4j*^ 


John  3:16-17  in  Ajamiya,  the  Fulani  language. 


the  Fulani  (especially  the  Mbororos) 
come  hunting  pasture  for  their  herds. 

The  countries  from  which  they 
come  are  strongly  Islamic,  and  they 
were  carefully  watched  over  by  their 
fellow  believers  and  religious  leaders. 
However,  in  the  C.A.R.  they  are 
strangers  without  a  home  or  religious 
care. 

It  is  urgent  that  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  is  brought  to  these  people. 

As  I  was  driving  home  to  Bata  from 
Boguila,  I  stopped  in  a  village  to 
deliver  a  letter.  A  Fulani  approached 
me  and  asked  for  a  lift.  Traveling 
alone,  I  was  happy  to  have  the  com- 
panionship. But  how  does  one  start  an 
evangelistic  conversation  with  a 
Moslem? 

"Have  you  heard  about  the  tragic 
epidemic  disease  striking  the  cattle  in 
the  Chad  and  in  the  north?"  I  asked 
him. 

Oh,  yes  he  had  heard  about  it. 
Hundreds  of  cows  were  the  victims  of 
this  terrible  plague.  So  I  asked  him  if 
he  had  heard  about  the  Fulani  man 
who  lost  all  of  his  200  cows  in  just  a 
few  days'  time  and  then  committed 
suicide. 

He  had  heard  that,  too.  My  pas- 
senger listened  intently  as  I  told  him 
that  material  things  (even  cows)  are 
not  able  to  hold  us  up.  Only  God  can. 

Do  we  put  our  trust  in  the  multitude 


of  our  cattle  or  in 
God? 

I  was  able  to  tell 
him  about  the  Good 
Shepherd  who 
voluntarily  came  to 
give  His  life  to 
redeem  His  sheep. 
My  rider  was  amaz- 
ed to  hear  that 
Christ  was  coming 
again  and  that  He 
has  all  judgment  in 
His  hands — even  for 
a  Moslem. 

An  Mbororo  man 
who  came  to 
know  Christ  ex- 
pressed his  joy  like 
this:  "As  a  Moslem, 
I  learned  that  Jesus 
will  judge  the  whole 
world.  Now  the 
Great  Judge  is  my 
Savior." 

Many  Fulani  have 
been  touched  by  the 
Gospel  in  the  bush 
at  their  camps,  at  the 
hospital  and  dispen- 
saries, and  at  the 
market  places.  I  wish 
that  you  could  see 
their  faces  as  they 
listen    to    the    old, 


old  story  of  the  Savior's  love.  Many 
hands  stretch  out  of  the  darkness  to 
receive  portions  of  the  Word  of  Life  in 
Fulani  or  Arabic. 

I  am  in  Switzerland  now.  It  is  good 
to  be  on  furlough,  but  when  I  think  of 
these  unreached  people,  I  would 
rather  be  among  them!  A  spiritual  bat- 
tle is  being  waged  for  the  souls  of  these 
Moslem  people. 

The  constant,  daily  spiritual  strug- 
gles in  the  villages  and  towns  of  the 
C.A.R. ,  Chad,  and  Cameroon  is  no 
ordinary  one.  God,  in  His  purpose, 
has  linked  it  with  praying  people  in  the 
States. 

The  Lord  is  calling  you  and  me  to 
take  up  the  battle.  Let  us  engage  in  this 
unseen  conflict  by  stretching  out  our 
hands  in  prayer  to  God  that  He  may 
be  exalted  and  the  enemy  routed. 

God  wants  Fulani  people  "built  in- 
to" His  body,  the  Church.  Don't  let 
them  spiritually  starve. 


FMS 


17 


TRUSTBUSTGRS 


by  Margaret  Hull 


I  sat  staring  morosely  across  the 
breakfast  table  at  Marthe,  hoping  the 
hot  coffee  would  rejuvenate  me  from 
another  restless,  sleepless  night.  The 
early  morning  sun  slanting  in  through 
the  lone  window  of  our  African  house 
illuminated  her  dark,  irregular  features. 

We  were  going  through  the  usual 
morning  routine;  she  was  reciting  her 
dreams  from  the  previous  night.  My 
mind  was  only  half  on  her  story,  as  her 
dreams  ran  pretty  much  the  same, 
usually  being  preoccupied  with  food. 
I  was  more  concerned  with  the  day's 
schedule.  My  watch  said  6:30,  and  in 
45  minutes  I  would  have  to  be  over 
at  the  church  for  roll  call. 

We  were  in  the  midst  of  bush  camp 
for  girls,  and  Marthe  was  carrying 
about  half  the  teaching  load.  I  was 
grateful  for  her  help,  but  sometimes 
these  endless  recitations  on  dreams 
got  a  bit  old. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  Marthe  was 
really  anxious  about  food,  that  the 
thought  of  having  to  go  hungry  almost 
possessed  her  at  times.  I  wondered 
why  it  was  so  difficult  for  her  to  trust 
God  to  supply  her  needs. 


I  thought  of  God's  faithfulness  to  her 
during  the  years  I  had  known  her. 
How  He  had  raised  her  up  from  her 
death  bed,  had  apparently  cured  her 
of  leprosy,  had  restored  her  health  to 
an  amazing  degree;  how  He  had  given 
her  many  friends  who  loved  her  and 
cared  for  her  and  who  were  generous 
with  their  gifts.  I  thought  of  the  nice 
house  she  had,  not  thatched,  but  with 
a  permanent  aluminum  roof,  supplied 
through  friends  in  America  and  mis- 
sionaries in  the  Central  African 
Republic. 

I  was  thinking,  "Marthe,  why  can't 
you  trust  God.  He  has  proven  to  you 
over  and  over  again  that  He  is  big 
enough  to  take  care  of  you." 

As  though  she  could  read  my 
thoughts,  Marthe  said,  "I  know  I 
should  trust  God  for  my  food.  I  know 
the  Bible  says  that  the  birds  don't  make 
garden,  and  yet  they  don't  go  hungry. 
But  somehow  I  can't  make  that  apply 
to  myself,  because  birds  can  flit  and  fly 
around,  but  my  swollen  legs  keep  me 
from  walking  very  far,  I  can't  search  for 


food  the  way  the  birds  do." 

I  knew  this  was  something  very  real 
to  Marthe.  She  had  sometimes  gone 
for  more  than  one  day  without  food. 
When  she  had  worked  with  me  in 
classes  three  months  previous  to  the 
present  camp,  she  had  been  thin.  She 
and  many  people  in  her  area  had 
gone  without  adequate  food  because 
of  the  lack  of  rain  on  their  gardens.  But 
now  she  looked  her  normal  self,  and 
I  thought,  "This,  too,  should  prove  to 
her  that  God  can  take  her  through  the 
tough  times.  God  has  proven  His 
faithfulness.  She  should  be  able  to 
trust." 

And  then  I  realized  that  I  should  be 
applying  the  judgment  of  lack  of  trust 
to  my  own  life.  I  should  be  able  to 
trust.  I  had  walked  with  God  through 
twenty  years  on  the  mission  field,  and 
God  had  time  and  time  again  proven 
His  faithfulness  and  loving  care  to  me. 
Why  didn't  I  trust? 

For  example,  why  had  I  had  two 
sleepless  nights  at  Boguila  before  I  had 
left  for  girl's  camp?  Anxiety.  I  was  wor- 
ried about  the  bandits  that  came  down 
from  the  Chad  to  the  area  near  the 
border  where  we  were  to  have  camp. 


God  had  time  and  time  again 
proven  His  faithfulness  and  lov- 
ing care  to  me.  Why  didn't  I  trust? 


18 


FMS 


It  was  only  a  flat  rear 
tire,  but  I  recognized  it 
as  an  omen  of  many 
terrible  things  to  come. 


I  had  heard  stories  about  how  they 
had  burned  houses  and  storage  bins, 
how  they  had  beaten  whole  families 
and  taken  all  their  possessions.  I,  a 
white  person,  would  surely  be  a  target 
for  such  action. 

I  worried  about  the  isolation  of  the 
location.  What  if  I  should  fall  ill,  who 
would  evacuate  me?  What  if  my  car 
broke  down  on  the  rocky  lonely  stretch 
of  road?  One  truck  traveled  that  road? 
One  truck  traveled  that  road  every 
other  day,  hauling  cotton  from  the 
villages  to  the  gin.  How  would  I  know 
if  something  happened  to  my  family 
in  the  States?  I  would  be  two  weeks 
without  any  communication  with  the 
mission.  How  would  I  tolerate  the  terri- 
ble heat  this  time  of  year,  especially  in 
an  African  hut  with  few  windows 
which  were  always  tightly  closed  at 
night? 

All  these  worries. 
And  I  was  unable  to 
commit  them  to  my 
Heavenly  Father. 

Sure  enough,  one 
hour  into  our  trip  it 
looked  like  my  fears 
were  going  to  be- 
come reality.  The  car 
gave  a  lurch  which 
almost  took  us  off 
the  road.  I  realized 
something  was  dras- 
tically wrong  and 
brought  the  Toyota  Stout  to  a  quick 
halt.  It  was  only  a  flat  rear  tire,  but 
I  recognized  it  as  an  omen  of  many 
terrible  things  to  come.  My  worrying 
had  not  been  in  vain. 

We  couldn't  get  the  jack  to  work 
right,  and  after  an  hour  of  struggling, 
I  sat  there  in  the  middle  of  the  road, 
covered  with  fine  white  dust,  and 
prayed,  "Okay,  God  of  Constant 
Presence,  just  as  I  feared,  the  situation 
is  beyond  me.  Please  take  over."  We 
tried  the  jack  again,  and  perhaps  the 


valve  was  finally  tight  enough  or  an 
angel  held  the  jack  up;  anyway,  the 
pressure  had  held,  and  we  were  able 
to  get  the  tire  changed. 

When  I  reached  the  town  of  Paoua, 
I  had  learned  that  the  ferry  which  ser- 
viced the  road  to  Beny  was  still  out  of 
order,  and  sure  enough  I  would  have 
to  take  the  long  way  around  on  the 
cotton  hauling  route.  While  in  Paoua, 
I  had  gone  to  a  German -sponsored 
aid  station  which  ran,  among  other 
things,  a  large  garage.  A  nice  Chris- 
tian man  had  fixed  the  tube  and  put 
two  boots  in  the  poor  old  split  tire.  The 
head  man  of  the  garage  also  had 
made  a  tool  for  me  to  use  to  wind 


We  reached  Beny  at  4:30  that  after- 
noon. We  were  to  stay  in  the  pastor's 
house.  He  had  a  chair  brought  outside 
and  I  gratefully  plopped  into  it,  realiz- 
ing my  tiredness.  In  7V2  hours'  time 
we  had  traveled  87  miles.  We  had  ar- 
rived. We  were  safe.  The  pastor's  wife 
brought  me  a  strong,  very  sweet  cup 
of  tea. 

Marthe  continued  her  recitation 
unperturbed,  but  I  was  jerked  from  my 
private  reverie  as  a  fat  brown  mouse 
scampered  across  the  floor.  I  smiled 
grimly  as  I  thought  of  the  lady  who 
had  told  me  in  the  States,  "I  could 
never  be  a  missionary.  I  can't  stand 
bugs  and  mice  and  snakes." 

That's  what  I  had  told  the  Lord  four 
days  previously  when  as  the  pastor 
was  showing  us  where  to  put  our 
things,  I  had  seen  three  mice  dash 
around  the  perimeter  of  the  room. 
"Oh  no,  Lord,  not  mice.  You  know  I 
can't  stand  mice.  You  know  I'm  always 
the  first  one  to  screech  and  jump  for 
higher  levels.  No,  Lord,  not  mice.  Not 
on  top  of  everything  else." 

No  newcomer  to  bushwork,  I  had 
brought  along  a  mouse  trap.  After  we 
got  things  settled,  Abel,  my 
househelper,  set  the  trap.  In  about  two 
hour's  time  he  had  caught  ten  mice. 


How  much 
did  I  need 
would  take 


more  proof 
that  God 
care  of  me? 


down  the  spare  tire  stored  under  the 
truck  bed.  The  regular  handle  had 
been  stolen  in  Bangui.  I  had  felt  much 
better  as  I  left  Paoua  with  two  usable 
spare  tires. 

How  much  more  proof  did  I  need 
that  God  would  take  care  of  me?  Yet 
I  was  full  of  anxiety  as  I  drove  over  the 
next  stretch  of  road  realizing  how 
deserted  and  isolated  it  was,  wincing 
at  all  the  sharp  rocks  on  the  road, 
thinking  of  my  two  nearly  bald  back 
tires. 


I  thought  we  would  surely  have  them 
wiped  out  soon.  But  then  a  terrible 
thing  happened.  The  trap  broke.  I  sat 
outside  while  Abel  manned  the  trap. 
But  the  hour  inevitably  came  when 
everyone  else  had  gone  to  bed,  and 
so,  I,  too. 

As  I  walked  into  the  house  I  could 
hear  the  scurrying  of  the  mice  as  they 
ran  in  several  directions.  Marthe  was 
already  in  bed  in  the  cot  next  to  mine. 
She  wondered  if  I  would  be  willing  to 


FMS 


19 


Before  I  could  teach  that 
lesson  to  the  girls,  God  and  I  had 
to  come  to  terms  over  the  mice. 


let  her  use  my  mosquito  net,  as  the 
mice  were  running  across  her  bed. 
With  a  firm  "No,"  I  tucked  myself 
securely  under  the  net. 

With  taut  nerves  I  listened  many 
hours  to  the  mice  scampering  and 
gnawing.  Two  or  three  times  I  got  up 
to  move  things.  Finally,  about  4  a.m. 
they  quieted  down,  and  I  drifted  off  to 
sleep,  to  be  awakened  by  the  bell  for 
morning  prayers  an  hour  and  a  half 
later. 

The  second  night  was  a  repeat  of 
the  first.  Sometimes  I  dozed  off  only 
to  be  awakened  as  a  mouse  pinged  his 
feet  on  the  metal  legs  of  my  cot  as  he 
scampered  underneath. 

I  prayed,  "Lord,  I  know  you  could 
make  the  mice  leave.  You  have  that 
kind  of  control  over  nature  that  you 
could  drive  them  all  away.  But  I  don't 
ask  you  to  do  that.  I  only  ask  you  to 
stop  my  ears  so  I  can't  hear  them."  I 
rolled  onto  my  side  and  stuffed  a 
finger  into  my  ear.  But  I  continued  to 
hear  them  and  to  feel  the  vibrations  of 
the  bed  as  the  mice  bumped  the  legs. 

On  the  third  night  I  decided  to  sleep 
outside.  I  fixed  my  cot  under  the 
varanda  of  the  house  but  the  brilliance 
of  the  moon,  the  chasing  of  goats  and 
barking  of  dogs  gave  me  a  restless 
night.  I  decided  anything  was  better 
than  mice  and  prepared  to  sleep  out 
again  the  fourth  night. 

It  wasn't  that  simple,  however. 

Abel  was  shocked  that  I  had  slept 
outside  alone  and  determined  to  sleep 
out  with  me.  Evidently  the  pastor  was 
nervous  about  the  idea  as  well  and 
made  several  trips  outside  during  the 
night  to  check  on  me.  I  realized  I 
couldn't  disrupt  so  many  people  and 
knew  it  would  have  to  be  back  indoors 
for  the  sleeping. 


So  there  I  sat  Friday  morning,  drink- 
ing coffee  and  watching  Marthe  as  she 
drew  her  recitation  to  a  close.  It  was 
clear  to  me  that  if  Marthe  needed  to 
trust  God  about  food,  there  were  also 
some  things  that  I  needed  to  trust  God 
for.  God  and  I  needed  to  come  to 
terms  about  the  mice. 

After  breakfast  I  reviewed  the  Bible 
lesson  I  was  to  give  in  a  few  minutes. 
The  girls  were  enjoying  these  lessons 
on  Moses.  Today  we  were  to  hear 
about  the  Jew's  rejection  of  Moses 
after  Pharaoh  had  increased  their 
workload. 

I  read  Exodus  chapters  5  and  6. 
Moses,  at  the  end  of  himself,  a  broken 
man,  wondering  why  God  didn't  do 
what  He  had  promised  to  do,  had  ask- 
ed God  frankly  why  He  had  sent  him 
back  to  Egypt.  God  gave  a  wonderful 
answer.  He  said  He  was  the  Lord,  the 
God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob. 
They  had  been  willing  to  trust  Him, 
even  when  they  did  not  fully  know  the 
meaning  of  His  name.  Had  Moses 
forgotten  the  meaning  of  "Jehovah"? 
Did  not  Moses  realize  that  God  was 
sufficient  for  all  His  needs?  Couldn't 
Moses  trust  Him  during  the  hour  of 
trial?  God  wanted  Moses  to  learn  to 
a  fuller  degree  the  meaning  of  His 
name— the  All  Powerful  One.  God 


20 


FMS 


I  realized  that  I  should  be  ap- 
plying the  judgment  of  lack  of 
trust  to  my  own  life. 


was  going  to  reveal  to  an  un- 
precedented degree  His  might  and 
power.  But  it  was  not  to  be  preventing 
trials  and  hard  times.  Moses  and  the 
Israelites  were  to  experience  God's 
power  as  He  took  them  through  in- 
credibly hard  places. 

I  closed  my  Bible  and  realized  that 
before  I  could  teach  that  lesson  to  the 
girls,  God  and  I  had  to  come  to  terms 
over  the  mice.  That  is,  I  needed  to 
come  to  God's  terms.  I  told  God  I 
would  trust  Him  to  keep  my  sanity 
during  the  next  week  of  living  among 
mice,  and  I  would  trust  Him  to  give  me 
sleep  in  the  midst  of  mice. 

Such  a  small  issue — mice.  They 
were  nothing  compared  to  what  mis- 
sionaries had  endured  in  order  to 
spread  God's  light  to  every  corner  of 
the  earth.  During  the  first  week  of 
camp  I  had  been  reading  some  mis- 
sions histories.  I  had  gotten  a  real  in- 
feriority complex  as  I  read  about  these 
pioneer  missonaries.  But  I  imagine  if 
the  truth  were  known,  they  had  their 
"mice  lessons",  too. 

Each  of  us  must  daily  commit  our 
mice  to  Jehovah  God,  the  All  Mighty 
One.  We  need  to  know  in  a  deep  per- 
sonal way  the  meaning  of  His  name. 


1984  Record 

of  Giving  to  Grace 

Brethren  Foreign  Missions 


ALLEGHENY  DISTRICT 

Accident,  MD $  20.00 

Aleppo,  PA 975.00 

Boswell,  PA 1,210.74 

Coolville,  OH 717.60 

Coraopolis,  PA 2,155.05 

Cumberland,  MD   3,602.58 

Grafton,  WV 2,564.25 

Jenners,  PA   2,973.00 

Listie,  PA   6,853.52 

Meyersdale,  PA  (Grace)    13,488.77 

Meyersdale,  PA  (Summit  Mills)  3,233.92 

Parkersburg,  WV 5,496.00 

Uniontown,  PA 13,162.11 

Washington,  PA   7,451.03 

Westernport,  MD 415.00 

Allegheny  District  Misc 388.40 

TOTAL $64,706.97 

FLORIDA  DISTRICT 

Brooksville,  FL $      3,571.80 

Ft.  Lauderdale,  FL 18,313.59 

Ft.  Myers,  FL 8,108.00 

Lakeland,  FL   668,50 

Maitland,  FL 2,859.00 

Melbourne,  FL   300.00 

Okeechobee,  FL 4,908.27 

Orlando,  FL 2,712.47 

Orange  City,  FL 438.17 

Ormond  Beach,  FL 2,400.00 

Palm  Harbor,  FL 242.64 

Pompano  Beach,  FL 300.50 

Port  Richey,  FL 675.00 

Sebring,  FL 1,379.83 

St.  Petersburg,  FL 4,369.30 

TOTAL $51,257.07 

HAWAII  DISTRICT 

Aiea,  HI  (Waimalu) $     2,062.00 

Ewa  Beach,  HI  (Rainbow) ....  459.42 

Makakilo,  HI 130.20 

Wahiawa,  HI  (Waipio) 3,795.00 

TOTAL $6,446.62 


INDIANA  DISTRICT 

Berne,  IN  $   21,489.30 

Clay  City,  IN 665.00 

Columbia  City,  IN 223.90 

Elkhart,  IN    9,574.00 

Flora,  IN 2,973.63 

Ft.  Wayne,  IN  (First) 21,305.17 

Ft.  Wayne,  IN  (Grace) 10,168.15 

Goshen,  IN 3,775.07 

Hartford  City,  IN 1,268.50 

Indianapolis,  IN 8,963.24 

Kokomo,  IN  (Indian  Heights)    .  5,489.86 

Kokomo,  IN  (North)   6,050.00 

Leesburg,  IN 2,530.00 

New  Albany,'  IN    475.00 

Osceola,  IN 14,180.63 

Peru,  IN   8,606.61 

Sidney,  IN 6,425.80 

South  Bend,  IN    25,610.96 

Warsaw,  IN 33,243.63 

Winona  Lake,  IN    50,869.07 

Indiana  District 413.17 

TOTAL $234,300.69 

IOWA-MIDLANDS  DISTRICT 

Cedar  Rapids,  IA $  793.81 

Dallas  Center,  IA    4,386.00 

Davenport,  IA 1,762.74 

Des  Moines,  IA 2,502.13 

Garwin,  IA  6,017.88 

Leon,  IA 5,970.85 

Longview,  TX 1,686.00 

Morrill,  KS   52.00 

North  English,  IA 555.00 

Omaha,  NE 600.00 

Udell,  IA 2,256.88 

Waterloo,  IA 23,771.40 

Winona,  MN 778.03 

TOTAL $21,648.18 

MICHIGAN  DISTRICT 

Alto,  MI $     11,993.65 

Hastings,  MI 479.50 

Lake  Odessa,  MI 2,989.00 


Lansing,  MI    1,377.73 

New  Troy,  MI 4,037.00 

Ozark,  MI 746.30 

Michigan  District  Misc 25.00 

TOTAL $21,648.18 

MID-ATLANTIC  DISTRICT 

Alexandria,  VA $      5,469.44 

Chambersburg,  PA 1,710.19 

Frederick,  MD 732.00 

Hagerstown,  MD  (Calvary)  .  .  .  1,854.41 

Hagerstown,  MD  (Grace) 20,950.48 

Hagerstown,  MD  (Maranatha)  7,171.50 

Hagerstown,  MD  (Valley) 2,134.25 

Lanham,  MD 6,144.76 

Martinsburg,  WV   11,778.00 

Temple  Hills,  MD 19,748.00 

Waynesboro,  PA 11,677.05 

Waldorf,  MD 1.000.00 

Winchester,  VA  (Grace) 13,692.73 

Winchester,  VA  (Blue  Ridge)   .  3,543.18 

Mid-Atlantic  District  Misc 238.70 

TOTAL $107,844.69 

MOUNTAIN-PLAINS  DISTRICT 

Arvada,  CO $      3,225.50 

Beaver  City,  NE 396.02 

Cheyenne,  WY 500.00 

Colorado  Springs,  CO 1,628.95 

Denver,  CO 1,821.50 

Portis,  KS 4,483.32 

Wichita,  KS   708.50 

TOTAL $12,763.79 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  DISTRICT 

Bethlehem,  PA $      5,759.89 

Dillsburg,  PA 14,901.72 

Elizabethtown,  PA 8,881.00 

Ephrata,  PA 6,348.00 

Gettysburg,  PA 432.00 

Harrisburg,  PA 13,073.75 

Hatboro,  PA 2,758.75 

Hope,  NJ 1,304.00 


FMS 


21 


1. 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11. 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

.20 

21. 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

Top  Thirty  Chu 

in  Giving  to 
Grace  Brethren  Foreign 

rches 

Missions 

$     168,314.91 
122,485.83 
82,433.70 
55,702.65 
52,795.30 
50,869.07 
49,576.17 
44,995.00 
39,322.44 
33,886.00 
33,24363 
29,706.84 
26,64137 
25,610.96 
25,218.72 
24,481.17 
24,260.81 
23,771.40 
22,132.45 
21,489.30 
21,316.76 
21,305.17 
20,950.48 
20,652.09 
20,435.00 
19.748.00 
19.579.21 
19,278.04 
18,485.43 
18,313.59 

Long  Beach,  California  (Grace) 

Wooster,  Ohio 

Whittier,  California  (Community)    .... 

Telford,  Pennsylvania 

Winona  Lake,  Indiana 

Long  Beach,  California  (North) 

Bellflower,  California 

South  Bend,  Indiana 

Kittanning,  Pennsylvania  (Grace) 

Myerstown,  Pennsylvania  (Grace)   .... 

Hagerstown,  Maryland  (Grace) 

Lancaster,  Pennsylvania  (Grace) 

Columbus,  Ohio  (East  Side) 

Temple  Hills,  Maryland  (Grace) 

Sunnyside.  Washington  (Grace)    

Modesto,  California  (Grace)    

Fort  Lauderdale,  Florida  (Grace) 

Irasburg,  VT $        703.73 

Island  Pond,  VT 896.75 

Lancaster,  PA  (Grace) 20,652.09 

Lancaster,  PA  (Southern) 4,290.00 

Lititz,  PA 24,481.17 

Loysville,  PA 144.00 

Manheim,  PA 5,809.35 

Mt.  Laurel,  NJ 2,522.00 

Myerstown,  PA 22,132.45 

Newark,  DE 600.00 

New  Holland,  PA 12,428.13 

Newport,  VT 179.17 

Palmyra,  PA 6,101.79 

Philadelphia,  PA  (First) 13,094.60 

Philadelphia,  PA  (Third) 3,814.34 

Pine  Grove,  PA 1,794.65 

Royersford,  PA 100.00 


Saratoga  Springs,  NY 357.00 

Staten  Island,  NY 30.05 

Telford,  PA 52,795.30 

Wrightsville,  PA 1,132.35 

York,  PA 11,060.06 

North  Atlantic  District  Misc.   .  .  165.00 

TOTAL $238,743.09 

NORTHERN  CALIFORNIA  DISTRICT 

Auburn,  CA $  2,712.07 

Grass  Valley,  CA   200.00 

Modesto,  CA  (Big  Valley)  ....  19,278.04 

Modesto,  CA  (La  Loma) 9,880.77 

Placerville,  CA 367.80 

Ripon,  CA 6,848.16 

Sacramento,  CA 3,405.50 


San  Jose,  CA 3,878.78 

Stockton,  CA 617.31 

Tracy,  Ca 1,650.00 

TOTAL $48,838.45 

NORTH  CENTRAL  OHIO  DISTRICT 

Ankenytown,  OH $     11,663.75 

Ashland,  OH  (Grace) 44,995.00 

Ashland,  OH  (Southview)    .  .  .  8,612.28 

Bowling  Green,  OH 2,922.71 

Columbus,  OH  (East  Side)  .  .  .  20,435.00 

Columbus,  OH  (Southwest)  .  .  1,739.00 

Danville,  OH    1,585.00 

Delaware,  OH 3,300.00 

Findlay,  OH 900.00 

Fremont,  OH  (Chapel) 900.00 

Fremont,  OH  (Church) 10,079.87 

Galion,  OH    5,760.00 

Lexington,  OH 24,260,81 

Lima,  OH 714.00 

Mansfield,  OH  (Grace) 26,641.37 

Mansfield,  OH  (Maranatha)   .  .  375.96 

Mansfield,  OH  (Woodville)  .  .  .  7,384.19 

Marion,  OH 337.88 

Marysville,  OH 973.88 

Mifflin,  OH 1,147.38 

Mt.  Vernon,  OH 1,460.00 

Pataskala,  OH 12,065.66 

Toledo,  OH 600.00 

Walbridge,  OH 1,537.18 

Worthington,  OH 168,314.91 

North  Central  Ohio  District  Misc.  767.49 

TOTAL $359,473.32 

NORTH  EAST  OHIO  DISTRICT 

Akron,  OH  (Ellet) $     10,183.00 

Akron,  OH  (Fairlawn) 6,020.00 

Canton,  OH 29,706.84 

Cuyahoga  Falls,  OH 921.00 

Elyria,  OH 1,706.90 

Homerville,  OH 11,539.13 

Lyndhurst,  OH 450.00 

Middlebranch,  OH 13,219.60 


22 


FMS 


Medina,  OH 300.00 

Minerva,  OH    3,701.50 

Norton,  OH 9,015.93 

Orrville,  OH 6,935.88 

Rittman,  OH 15,684.23 

Sterling,  OH 1,743.97 

Wooster,  OH   82,433.70 

North  East  Ohio  District  Misc.  320.61 

TOTAL $193,882.29 

NORTHWEST  DISTRICT 

Anchorage,  AK $      3,435.70 

Beaverton,  OR 2,491.65 

Eagle  River,  AK 7,743.84 

Goldendale,  WA 1,361.00 

Grandview,  WA   4,005.00 

Harrah,  WA 7,088.10 

Homer,  AK 252.51 

Kenai,  AK 1,525.00 

Kent,  WA 13,469.46 

North  Pole,  AK 300.00 

Prosser,  WA 699.06 

Spokane,  WA 803.47 

Sunnyside,  WA 19,579.21 

Toppenish,  WA 1,541.59 

Troutdale,  OR 500.00 

Yakima,  WA 9,520.00 

TOTAL $74,315.59 

SOUTHEAST  DISTRICT 

AltaVista,  VA $  505.00 

Boones  Mill,  VA 100.00 

Buena  Vista,  VA 10.00 

Covington,  VA 2,929.60 

Radford,  VA 527.18 

Richmond,  VA 2,733.00 

Riner,  VA 393.50 

Roanoke,  VA  (Clearbrook)  .  .  .  2,241.35 

Roanoke,  VA  (Garden  City)  .  .,  663.25 

Roanoke,  VA  (Ghent) 8,964.30 

Roanoke,  VA 

(Patterson  Memorial) 4,695.85 

Roanoke,  VA 

(Washington  Heights) 45.00 

Salem,  VA 448.10 

Troutville,  VA 80.00 

Virginia  Beach,  VA 816.00 

Willis,  VA 100.00        

TOTAL $25,252.13 

SOUTHERN  DISTRICT 

Aiken,  SC $      6,081.99 

Anderson,  SC 686.00 

Atlanta,  GA 21,316.76 

Atlanta,  GA  (East)   510.05 

Charlotte,  NC 1,304.00 

Johnson  City,  TN 603.00 

Telford,  TN 5,822.00 

TOTAL $36,323.80 

SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA- 
ARIZONA  DISTRICT 

Alta  Loma,  CA $      2,850.00 

Anaheim,  CA 16,275.00 

Beaumont,  CA 6,690.09 


Bell,  CA 5,303.63 

Bellflower,  CA   39,322.44 

Covina,  CA  4,141.63 

Cypress,  CA 2,356.43 

Glendora,  CA 101.00 

Hemet,  CA 1,415.00 

La  Mirada,  CA 4,595.20 

La  Verne,  Ca 13,750.58 

Long  Beach,  CA  (Community)  4,707.59 

Long  Beach,  CA  (Grace) 122,485.83 

Long  Beach,  CA  (Los  Altos)    .  5,337.96 

Long  Beach,  CA  (North)   ....  49,576.17 

Los  Alamitos,  CA 7,675.00 

Los  Angeles,  CA   3,010.16 

Montclair,  CA 600.00 

Norwalk,  CA   5,097.39 

Orange,  CA 4,834.55 

Phoenix,  AZ  (Grace)   11,999.66 

Phoenix,  AZ  (Northwest)   1,171.31 

Rialto,  CA 2,645.25 

Riverside,  CA 3,600.00 

San  Bernardino,  CA 315.00 

San  Diego,  CA 2,573.18 

San  Ysidro,  CA 80.00 

Santa  Maria,  CA    1,410.24 

Seal  Beach,  CA 1,030.00 

Simi  Valley,  CA 18,068.00 

South  Pasadena,  CA 2,752.55 

Temple  City,  CA 2,135.30 

Torrance,  CA 312.00 

Tucson,  AZ 570.25 

Ventura,  CA 4,442.56 

Westminster,  CA 2,259.65 

Whittier,  CA  (Community)  .  .  .  55,702.65 

Whittier,  CA  (Grace)    33,886.00 

Yucca  Valley,  CA 515.00 

Southern  California/ 

Arizona  District  Misc 65.73 

TOTAL $445,659.98 

SOUTHERN  OHIO  DISTRICT 

Brookville,  OH $     13,857.00 

Camden,  OH 75.00 

Centerville,  OH    5,130.00 

Clayhole,  KY 1,070.24 

Clayton,  OH 2,487.00 

Dayton,  OH  (Basore  Road)   .  .  2,270.12 

Dayton,  OH  (Calvary)   1,031.99 

Dayton,  OH  (First) 18,485.43 

Dayton,  OH  (North  Riverdale)  3,660.66 

Dryhill,  KY 241.30 

Englewood,  OH 3,739.85 

Lexington,  KY   230.00 

Sinking  Spring,  OH 750.00 

Trotwood,  OH   5,387.00 

Troy,  OH   1,011.65 

Union,  OH 2,150.00 

West  Alexandria,  OH 159.33 

TOTAL $61,736.33 

SOUTHWEST  DISTRICT 

Albuquerque,  NM  (Grace)   ...  $  224.98 

Albuquerque,  NM  (Heights)  .  .  448.00 

Counselor,  NM 3,328.00 

Taos,  NM 3,246.21 

TOTAL $7,247.19 


WESTERN  PENNSYLVANIA  DISTRICT 

Altoona,  PA  (First) $  100.00 

Altoona,  PA  (Grace) 7,414.65 

Armagh,  PA 2,733.00 

Avis,  PA 750.00 

Conemaugh,  PA  (Grace)   ....  17,515.72 

Everett,  PA 6,030.86 

Everett,  PA  (Community)  ....  518.00 

Hollidaysburg,  PA 6,809.96 

Hopewell,  PA 943.00 

Johnstown,  PA  (First) 10,353.66 

Johnstown,  PA  (Geistown)  .  .  .  4,645.00 

Johnstown,  PA  (Pike) 15,751.59 

Johnstown,  PA  (Riverside)  .  .  .  7,698.86 

Johnstown,  PA  (Singer  Hill)  .  .  6,850.90 

Kittanning,  PA  (Grace) 25,218.72 

Kittanning,  PA  (North  Buffalo)  3,400.64 

Leamersville,  PA 9,325.65 

Martinsburg,  PA 15,378.61 

Milroy,  PA 693.00 

TOTAL $142,131.82 

MISCELLANEOUS 

National  Fellowship  of  Grace 

Brethren  Churches $       1,130.54 

National  SMM   700.00 

National  WMC 27,198.78 

Miscellaneous 229,156.68 

TOTAL $258,186.00 

GRAND  TOTAL $2,441,890.96 


1984  Ends 
in  the  Black 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 
ended  1984  in  the  black.  Praise  the 
Lord!  Our  income  for  1984  was 
$2,321,400;  our  expenses  were 
$2,280,500.  We  therefore  had 
$40,900  income  over  expenses.  This 
took  care  of  1983's  deficit  of  $26,180. 
We  praise  the  Lord  for  the  good  of- 
ferings and  financial  support  in  1984. 


Hospitality 
Fund 

Funds  are  needed  by  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions  to  host 
overseas  pastors  at  National  Con- 
ference. The  National  Churches  are 
paying  their  expenses  to  and  from  the 
United  States.  U.S.  Brethren  are  their 
hosts  during  Conference  week. 

If  you  would  like  to  have  a  share  in 
hosting  these  national  representatives, 
please  send  gifts  to  our  offices  mark- 
ed "Hospitality  Gift".  Thank  You. 


FMS 


23 


With  construction  equipment  still  gracing  the  landscape,  the  new  Multi-purpose 
Building  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission  stands  boldly  against  the  New 


Mexico  sky.  The  building  was  completed  last  fall  and  dedication  services  were  held 
in  December,  the  day  this  photograph  was  taken. 


FROM  DREAM  TO  DEDICATION 


By  Larry  Wedertz,  Superintendent 

Grace  Brethren  Nauajo  Mission 

Counselor,  New  Mexico 


"Think  big!"  That  was  the  challenge 
my  pastor,  Leo  Polman,  gave  me 
when  I  was  a  teenager.  After  I  came 
to  Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission  I 
decided  to  give  his  challenge  a  try  and 
trust  God  for  big  things.  So  I  asked  the 
Polmans  to  come  from  California  and 
provide  special  music  for  our  area- 
wide  tent  crusade.  They  did!  But  a 
spring  windstorm  tore  the  tent  to 
shreds  on  the  third  day  of  the  crusade 
and,  although  we  were  able  to  com- 
plete the  week  of  meetings,  my  en- 
thusiasm for  thinking  big  was  dampen- 
ed just  a  little. 

To  think  big  for  God  and  His  work 
requires  more  than  just  daydreaming 
about  what  God  in  His  greatness  can 
do.  Faith  requires  a  response.  It  re- 
quires stepping  into  the  Jordan  River 
and  beginning  to  walk.  Through  the 
years  here  at  the  Grace  Bre.thren 
Navajo  Mission  we  have  seen  the 
results  of  our  little  steps  of  faith.  God 
has  blessed  with  programs,  buildings, 
and  changed  Navajo  lives. 

Our  new  gym/multi-purpose 
building  in  Navajoland  began  as  a 


dream  five  years  ago.  In  February, 
1980,  I  met  with  several  members  of 
the  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council 
in  Whittier,  California.  We  had  just 
concluded  three  days  of  inspiration 
and  challenge  in  the  Home  Missions 
workshop  for  pastors  and  their  wives. 
Everyone  felt  compelled  to  attempt 
great  things  for  God  and  three  areas 
of  new  direction  at  Grace  Brethren 
Navajo  Mission  were  laid  out  at  that 
meeting.  One  was  for  an  assistant 
superintendent  and  director  of  church 
planting  ministries.  Another  was  the 
beginning  of  a  high  school  for  Navajo 
youth  who  desired  to  further  their 
Christian  training  upon  completion  of 
their  elementary  years  at  Brethren 
Navajo  Mission  School.  The  third  was 
for  a  multi-purpose  building  that 
would  provide  space  for  large  gather- 
ings as  well  as  a  recreation  center  for 
Navajo  youth  —  students  in  our 
elementary  and  high  schools  as  well 
as  other  youth  with  whom  the  mission 
has  contact. 

By   the   fall   of    1980,    God   had 
brought  to  pass  the  first  two  objectives: 


Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission  had 
expanded  its  ministry  to  include  a  high 
school  and  Bud  and  Mary  Thompson 
were  on  the  field  directing  the  ministry 
of  Navajo  church  planting.  But  the 
plans  for  a  new  multi-purpose  building 
remained  only  a  dream.  The  year 
1981  passed  with  little  apparent  prog- 
ress toward  the  realization  of  the 
dream. 

But  there  were  occasional  en- 
couragements. While  attending  Grace 
Schools  board  meetings  in  Winona 
Lake,  Indiana,  I  shared  the  dream  of 
a  multi-purpose  building  with  Pastor 
Tom  Inman  of  Colorado  Springs, 
Colo,  and  Lowell  Miller  of  Denver, 
Colo,  and  before  our  conversation 
ended,  the  first  designated  offerings 
were  set  aside  for  the  project.  Other 
people  began  to  show  interest  and  we 
were  encouraged  that  God  would  pro- 
vide this  needed  facility.  A  special  gift 
of  $1,000  was  given  by  the  First 
Brethren  Church  of  Taos,  New  Mex- 
ico, even  though  they  were  raising 
money  for  their  own  new  gym.  By  Na- 
tional Conference  time  in  the  summer 


24 


GBHMC 


of  1982  preliminary  plans  were  drawn 
up  and  additional  offerings  were  start- 
ing to  come  in.  Then  in  the  fall  and 
winter  of  1983-84  interest  from  local 
churches  began  to  pick  up.  With  the 
encouraging  response  of  Brethren 
people,  the  Home  Missions  Council 
gave  their  final  go-ahead  in  March, 
1984. 

Immediate  needs  shifted  from  the 
supply  of  financial  resources  to  the 
assembling  of  a  volunteer  work  force. 
It  was  our  dream  that  all  our  finances 
could  be  used  for  the  purchase  of 
materials  and  that  all  labor  would  be 
contributed.  But  to  complicate  this 
dream,  the  State  of  New  Mexico  in- 
sisted that  our  general  contractor  and 
all  sub-contractors  be  licensed  in  the 
state.  How  God  arranged  for  all  of  this 
and  provided  the  necessary  help  is  tru- 
ly a  miracle  of  His  grace. 

Ralph  Hall  of  Grace  Brethren 
Building  Ministries  received  a  letter 
from  Tom  McDonald  of  Cartwright, 
Oklahoma  indicating  he  had  been  a 
licensed  contractor  for  twenty-five 
years  in  the  State  of  California.  In  ad- 
dition, he  had  spent  two  years  in 
Bangladesh  as  a  volunteer  on  a  mis- 
sionary construction  project.  He  said 
he  and  his  wife,  Olline,  would  be 
available  for  the  six  or  seven  months 
necessary  to  see  a  building  project 
through  to  completion. 

God  had  provided  the  contractor. 
But  how  could  he  be  licensed  in  the 
State  of  New  Mexico?  We  shared  this 
concern  with  Ray  Calcote,  a  Christian 
man  from  Farmington,  New  Mexico 
who  had  done  a  great  deal  of  earth 
moving  for  the  mission  with  his 
bulldozer.  He  suggested  that  we  con- 
tact his  pastor  who  held  a  New  Mex- 
ico contractor's  license,  to  see  what 
might  be  worked  out.  I  made  an  ap- 
pointment to  meet  with  Rev.  Robert 
Jacques  in  Farmington  and  before  I 
could  finish  telling  him  all  of  our  plans 
and  expectations  he  asked  me  if  we 
would  like  to  work  under  his  license. 
I  could  hardly  contain  myself  for  the 
joy  welling  up  in  me.  God  had  helped 
us  over  another  great  hurdle,  but  there 
were  more  obstacles  on  the  horizon. 
Could  He  do  the  same  thing  in  sup- 
plying a  Christian  electrical  contractor 
and  plumbing  contractor? 

He  did!  Marvin  Intermill,  a 
journeyman  electrician,  retired  from 
the  John  Deere  tractor  plant  in 
Waterloo,  Iowa,  said  he  could  do  the 
electrical  work.  God  raised  up  an 
electrical  contractor  in  Cuba, 


Rev.  Larry  Wedertz  leads  dedication  services  at  the 


nultipurpose  facility 


just  thirty-five  miles  from  the  mission, 
who  gave  Marvin  permission  to  work 
under  his  license. 

Rev.  Jacques  mentioned  a  member 
of  his  church  who  was  a  licensed 
plumber.  I  contacted  Bart  lies  who  said 
he  would  give  us  a  good  price  on  the 
plumbing  and  that  he  would  be  will- 
ing to  come  and  stay  at  the  mission 
during  the  week,  eliminating  travel 
time  and  cost.  It  was  evident  that 
God's  hand  was  on  our  building  pro- 
ject, but  His  leading  and  answers  to 
prayer  had  only  begun. 

While  collecting  bids  for  the  steel 
superstructure  and  roof,  I  nearly  gave 
up  on  contacting  a  small  construction 
firm  in  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico.  But 
I  finally  made  contact  with  Cliff  De- 
Went  and  discovered  he  was  a  born 
again  Christian.  His  bid  reflected  his 
love  for  the  Lord  and  we  saved  nearly 
six  thousand  dollars.  In  addition,  his 
involvement  with  Youth  for  Christ 
eventually  made  available  to  us  a 
ministry  in  white-water  rafting  as  a 
means  for  reaching  teenagers  for 
Christ. 

With  contractors  lined  up,  permits 
obtained,  and  supplies  on  hand,  we 
were  ready  to  build.  Week-by-week 
throughout  the  summer  and  fall 
months  of  1984,  God  raised  up  peo- 
ple who  came  to  help  for  a  few  days 
or  a  few  weeks.  Cse  and  Ruth  Blake, 
from  California,  volunteered  to  help 
with  cooking  and  keeping 
records  on  the  workers. 

Space  does  not 
allow  us  to 
mention 


the  nearly  150  people  who  came  from 
near  and  far  to  lend  a  hand.  Three 
times  a  group.came  from  Pennsylvania 
in  the  Spicklers'  converted  Greyhound 
coach.  Some  folks  flew,  others  drove. 
Husbands  left  their  families  to  come 
and  work.  Sometimes  families  came 
along  and  everyone  helped  out.  When 
fall  came,  the  work  crews  gradually 
grew  smaller  until  we  began  to  think 
we  would  not  be  able  to  meet  our 
dedication  date.  But  God  continued  to 
care  for  needs  and  the  Lester  Keysers 
arrived  to  bolster  our  spirits  and  get  the 
building  ready  for  occupancy. 

At  last  dedication  day  came  on 
December  2,  1984,  and  the  dream 
was  realized.  The  service,  in  true 
Navajo  style,  was  over  three  hours 
long  and  climaxed  five  exciting  days  of 
special  meetings,  ball  games,  and 
other  activities  that  demonstrated  the 
versatility  of  the  building  for  varied 
ministries. 

Dr.  Lester  Pifer,  executive  secretary 
of   Grace    Brethren   Home   Missions 
Council,    brought    the    dedication 
message  and  several  of  the 
Christian  contractors  and 
sub-contractors  shared 
their  testimonies. 
Special  music 
abounded 


GBHMC 


Ministering 

In  A 

'Haven 

of  Rest' 


By  Kurt  Miller 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Palm  Harbor,  Fla. 


More  than  100  years  ago,  a  family 
headed  south,  seeking  a  haven  of 
relief  from  the  cold  northern  United 
States  for  health  reasons.  They 
discovered  the  beauty  of  the  St. 
Joseph  Sound  and  started  a  settle- 
ment in  the  beautiful  rolling  area  that 
runs  along  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  on  the 
western  shore  of  Florida  and  sur- 
rounds a  large  inland  lake,  Lake  Tar- 
pon. This  area  is  now  known  as  Palm 
Harbor,  a  large  unincorporated  area  in 
North  Pinellas  County,  Florida. 

This  community  has  a  short,  but 
rich  history,  a  prosperous  present  and 
a  most  promising  future.  From  its  ear- 
ly population  of  a  few  hardy  souls  ex- 
isting on  fishing  and  citrus,  Palm  Har- 
bor has  blossomed  into  one  of  the 
fastest  growing  residential  areas  in  the 
country.  Thirty  minutes  from  the  Tam- 
pa International  Airport,  residents  can 
enjoy  all  the  advantages  of  a  major 
metropolis  while  living  in  a  rural 
setting. 

Although  there  are  a  number  of 
posh  resorts,  a  few  motels,  and  several 
travel-trailer  and  camping  parks,  Palm 
Harbor  is  not  basically  a  tourist  town. 
A  well-balanced  economy  has  firm 
roots  in  retail  business,  financial  institu- 
tions, the  building  trades,  and  the 
commerce  necessary  to  support  a 
residential  community. 

Believing  Palm  Harbor  to  be  an 
ideal  location  to  live,  Vauldine  and 
Jean  Curtis  felt  led  in  1977  to  begin 
a  Bible  study  in  their  home  with  the 
hopes  of  establishing  a  Grace  Brethren 
Church.  At  the  time,  they  were  atten- 
ding the  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  St. 
Petersburg,  Fla.,  some  20  miles  away. 
With  the  support  and  aid  of  Pastor 
William  Tweeddale,  then  pastor  at  St. 
Petersburg,   the   group   grew   and   a 


commitment  was  made  to  support  a 
new  Grace  Brethren  Church. 

Following  the  first  official  meeting  on 
May  30,  1977,  the  group  contacted 
the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council  regarding  their  need  of  a 
pastor  and  financial  support.  When 
the  new  church  was  adopted  by  the 
Council,  Pastor  Marion  Thomas  arriv- 
ed to  lead  the  young  congregation. 
Later,  Dan  Younger  was  called  as 
pastor. 

Currently,  leading  the  flock  is  Kurt 
Miller,  former  pastor  of  a  Home  Mis- 
sion work  in  Richmond,  Va.,  and  also 
of  an  established  church  at  Everett,  Pa. 

The  Palm  Harbor  church  has  not 
been  without  struggles.  Yet  God  has 
a  time  and  a  season  for  responsiveness 
to  the  Gospel.  Though  the  church  is 
realizing  tremendous  victories,  it  has 
many  hurdles  yet  to  cross. 

During  the  months  of  November 
and  December,  1984,  the  church  con- 
ducted a  "Birthday  Gift  For  Jesus" 
drive  to  raise  $5,500  to  satisfy  the 
mortgage  on  their  property.  On 
December  30,  the  total  received  was 
$5,575!  God  supplied  the  need  "ac- 
cording to  His  riches  in  glory!"  The 
church  had  also  realized  excess  giving 
for  the  year  exceeding  its  projected 
goals  by  nearly  $2,500! 

When  Pastor  Miller  arrived  in  late 
1983,  the  church  was  unable  to  pay 
any  of  his  support  for  the  first  quarter, 
while  Home  Missions  was  paying  the 
total  salary.  A  year  later,  the  church  is 
now  contributing  one-half  of  the 
salary. 

One  apparent  obstacle  is  the  ob- 
vious "sun-and-fun"  factor  of  the  Sun- 
coast  of  Florida.  The  climate  is  con- 
ducive to  year-around  outdoor  ac- 
tivities on  the  beaches,  in  the  many 


The  Palm  Harbor  Congregation  hopes  to  build  on  this  property  this  summer. 


^5&*^ 


26 


GBHMC 


beautiful  parks,  and  endless  sight- 
seeing and  tourist  attractions  close  at 
hand.  Though  this  makes  living  in 
Palm  Harbor  a  virtual  "haven  of  rest," 
it  makes  building  a  church  difficult.  But 
irregular  attendance  and  lack  of  com- 
mitment seem  to  be  typical  of  the  area. 
Not  only  has  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  experienced  these  problems, 
but  many  other  churches  of  varying 
religious  persuasions  note  the  same 
difficulties.  It  has  not  been  easy  to 
build  a  Grace  Brethren  Church  here, 
but  it  is  beginning  to  succeed, 

On  June  1,  1985,  the  church  will 
break  ground  with  the  hopes  of  begin- 
ning construction  of  their  building 
around  July  1.  There  are  many  things 
to  be  done  between  now  and  then. 
Although  the  future  appears  bright, 
the  need  for  souls  saved,  discipleship, 
and  sanctification  are  imperative. 

The  greatest  need  of  the  Palm  Har- 
bor Grace  Brethren  Church  is  for 
God's  people  to  pray:  for  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  increase  each  member  and  at- 
tenders  knowledge  and  love  for  Christ; 
for  a  responsiveness  to  the  Gospel 
message  by  those  who  are  being  con- 
tacted with  the  Gospel  in  their  homes; 
for  the  pastor  in  his  spiritual  life  as  he 
wrestles  in  the  ministry  against  forces 
that  would  like  to  destroy  the  ministry 
of  the  Word  in  this  "haven  of  rest." 


Rev.  Kurt  Miller 
has  been  pastor  of 
the  Palm  Harbor, 
Fla.,  Grace  Brethren 
Church  since  the  fall 
of  1983.  Prior  to 
that,  he  pastored 
Grace  Brethren 
churches  in  Richmond,  Va.,  and  Everett, 
Pa.  He  and  his  wife  Anecia  have  three 
daughters,  Mindi,  Juli,  and  Kristi. 


New  Executive  Named 


Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson  has  been  nam- 
ed executive  secretary  designate  of  the 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council.  He 
will  assume  the  position  of  executive 
secretary  on  July  1  when  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer 
retires  after  more  than  30  years  in  Home 
Missions  ministries. 

The  announcement  of  Dr.  Thompson's 
appointment  was  made  by  Rev.  Luke  E. 
Kauffman,  president  of  the  GBHMC  board 
of  directors,  on  Wednesday,  March  13,  dur- 
ing the  spring  meetings  of  the  board. 

"My  biggest  burden  is  to  see  the  Grace 
Brethren  church  grow,"  said  Dr.  Thompson 
following  the  announcement.  "Our  job  as  the  Council  is  to  promote  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  and  see  us  grow  as  a  Fellowship." 

Since  1965,  he  has  served  as  western  field  secretary  for  the  Council.  Prior 
to  that,  he  pastored  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Westminster,  Calif.,  then 
a  home  mission  point. 

He  is  a  graduate  of  Biola  College  and  has  taken  additional  graduate  work. 

He  and  his  wife,  Betty,  have  two  children  — Mrs.  John  (Linda)  Shields, 
who  is  the  music  director  of  the  Bellflower  (Calif.)  Brethren  Church,  and 
Daniel  Thompson,  who  is  associate  pastor  at  the  Ft.  Myers,  Fla.  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  They  also  have  five  grandchildren. 

The  Thompsons  currently  reside  in  Long  Beach,  Calif.  They  will  be  mov- 
ing to  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  this  summer.  D 


Tour  Planned  To  Navajo  Mission 

Individuals  attending  the  national  conference  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches  this  summer  in  Colorado  may  wish  to  extend  their  trip 
a  few  days  to  visit  the  Indian  lands  of  New  Mexico. 

The  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council  and  the  Grace  Brethren 
Navajo  Mission  is  sponsoring  a  five-day  tour  which  includes  a  visit  to  the 
Mission  in  Counselor,  N.  Mex.,  a  tour  of  Chaco  Canyon  National  Monu- 
ment, a  visit  to  the  Plaza  in  Taos,  as  well  as  the  Grace  Brethren  Church 
and  the  Indian  Pueblo  there,  and  sight  seeing  in  Sante  Fe. 

The  tour  will  leave  from  Estes  Park,  Colo.,  on  Friday  afternoon,  August 
16,  and  fly  from  Denver,  Colo.,  to  Albuquerque,  N.Mex.,  that  day.  It  will 
conclude  on  Tuesday,  August  20,  with  a  return  flight  from  Albuquerque  to 
Denver.  Arrangements  may  be  made,  however,  to  return  to  your  home  from 
Albuquerque.  (Those  who  are  not  attending  the  conference,  but  wish  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  tour  may  meet  the  group  in  either  Denver  or  Albuquerque.) 

Cost  of  the  trip  is  $249  per  person  for  a  couple;  $272  for  a  single;  $241 
per  person  for  three  people;  or  $238  per  person  for  four  people.  Included 
in  the  price  is  round  trip  air  transportation  from  Denver  to  Albuquerque  via 
Continental  Airlines,  one  way  motorcoach  transportation  from  Estes  Park 
to  Denver  Stapleton  Airport,  motorcoach  transportation  from  Albuquerque 
to  Counselor,  to  Taos  and  back  to  Albuquerque  to  the  airport,  two  meals, 
hotel  accommodations  at  the  Holiday  Inn  in  Taos,  baggage  handling,  and 
three  nights  lodging  and  meals  at  the  Navajo  Mission. 

All  arrangements  have  been  made  by  Travel  Specialists,  Inc.,  in  coopera- 
tion with  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions.  For  additional  information,  con- 
tact Liz  Cutler,  at  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions,  Box  587,  Winona  Lake, 
IN,  46590,  or  call  (219)267-5161. 

Those  persons  who  wish  to  drive  to  Counselor  to  participate  in  the  special 
activities  on  Saturday,  August  17  and  Sunday,  August  18  are  welcome  to 
do  so.  However,  reservations  should  be  made  in  advance,  particularly  if  meals 
or  housing  is  desired.  □ 


GBHMC 


27 


Sermon 
of  the 
Month 


"To  be  great,  it  is  necessary  to  suf- 
fer." This  was  the  favorite  expression 
of  Enrico  Caruso,  the  great  opera 
singer.  Another  has  said  that  success 
and  suffering  are  closely  linked.  If  you 
succeed  without  suffering,  it  is  because 
someone  else  has  suffered  before  you. 
It  is  not  surprising  that  we  should  find 
the  same  principle  in  Scripture:  "If  we 
suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  Him  . 
.  ."  (2  Tim.  2:12). 

This  Easter  Season,  as  we 
remember  Christ's  death,  the  perfect 
payment  for  our  sins,  let's  not  forget 
that  He  also  suffered  before  He  died, 
and  in  so  doing,  left  a  pattern  for  us 
to  follow. 

Early  Friday  morning,  Christ  stood 
before  Caiaphas,  the  High  Priest,  and 
the  other  Jewish  leaders.  The  events 
that  took  place  in  that  scene  teach  us 
two  crucial  lessons  about  suffering. 

The  testimony  that  was  used  against 
our  Lord,  was  the  statement  that  He 
had  made  toward  the  beginning  of  His 
ministry,  "Destroy  this  temple  (mean- 
ing His  body)  and  in  three  days  I  will 
raise  it  up"  (Jn.  2:19).  The  false 
witnesses  twisted  that  statement  and 
said  that  Christ  claimed  He  was  able 
to  tear  the  temple  down,  thus  making 
Him  a  defamer  or  slanderer  of  the 
temple  (Matt.  26:59-61).  In  short,  He 
was  being  accused  of  something  He 
had  never  said  nor  done. 

Has  this  ever  happened  to  you?  If 
you  are  walking  with  Christ,  it  is  almost 
inevitable.  Our  Savior  promised  His 
disciples  that  since  He,  the  Master,  was 
wrongfully  called  "Satan,"  they,  the 
members  of  His  household,  should  ex- 
pect the  same  type  of  untrue  slander 
(Matt.  10:25).  Godly  men  and  women 
through  history  have  been  slandered 


The  Forgotten 
Key  To  Victory 


By  Doug  Sabin,  Pastor 
Grace  Brethren  Church,  Milroy,  Pa. 


time  and  again.  The  great  preacher, 
Charles  Spurgeon,  was  criticized  ter- 
ribly in  his  ministry,  with  his  sermons 
being  called  "trashy"  and  many  doub- 
ting whether  he  was  even  saved! 

Christ  gives  us  some  encourage- 
ment as  we  face  this  type  of  trial.  He 
said,  "Blessed  are  you  when  men  cast 
insults  at  you,  and  persecute  you  and 
say  all  kinds  of  evil  against  you  false- 
ly, on  account  of  me.  Rejoice  and  be 
glad,  for  your  reward  in  heaven  is 
great."  (Matt.  5:12-13a) 

The  inevitable  question  is  possibly 
coming  to  mind.  If  I  can  expect  to  take 
part  in  Christ's  suffering  unjustly,  what 
should  my  reaction  be? 

When  Albert  Einstein  was  asked  for 
his  formula  to  success,  he  replied, 
"X+Y+Z  =  Success.  X  stands  for 
work;  Y,  for  play;  and  Z,  for  keeping 
your  mouth  shut!" 

When  Christ  stood  before  that  com- 
pany of  men  and  their  lies,  it  was  one 
of  the  biggest  injustices  of  the  ages. 
There,  the  Creator  of  the  universe 
stood,  being  judged  by  His  own  crea- 
tion, and  they  were  lying  at  that! 
Notice  His  response:  "But  Jesus  kept 
silent"  (Matt.  26:63a).  Three  other 
times,  Christ  responded  in  the  same 
way:  when  He  appeared  before  Pilate, 
when  Herod  questioned  Him,  and 
when  He  hung  on  the  cross. 

During  these  crucial  times  of  silence 
in  the  face  of  unjust  criticism,  Christ 
was  fulfilling  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah 
53:7,  "He  was  oppressed  and  afflicted, 
yet  He  did  not  open  His  mouth."  At 
the  same  time,  He  was  laying  down 
an  extremely  important  principle  for 
us:  We  can  honor  God  by  responding 
to  unjust  criticism  with  silence. 

Notice  what  Peter  declared, 

"For  you  have  been  called  for  this 
purpose,  since  Christ  also  suffered  for 
you,  leaving  you  an  example  for  you 
to  follow  in  His  steps.  While  being 
reviled,  He  did  not  revile  in  return; 


while  suffering,  He  uttered  no  threats, 
but  kept  entrusting  Himself  to  Him 
who  judges  righteously"  (1  Peter 
2:21,23). 

Clearly,  one  of  the  hardest  tasks  for 
any  Christian  is  to  take  unjust  criticism 
without  retaliating,  or  driving  it  down 
inside. 

Christ  stands  before  us  as  a  perfect 
example  of  One  who  left  the  business 
of  settling  accounts  to  God.  We  can- 
not dare  to  do  any  less. 

The  forgotten  key  to  victory?  It  is 
suffering  silently  in  the  face  of  unjust 
criticism.  Ask  God  to  prepare  you  now 
so  that  the  next  time  you  face  this  type 
of  trial,  you  will  "suffer  silently."  If  you 
do,  "great  will  be  your  reward  in 
heaven."  □ 


Doug  Sabin  has  been 
the  pastor  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at 
Milroy,  Pa.,  since  early 
1984.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
Montclair  State  College 
in  New  Jersey,  and 
Grace  Theological  Sem- 
inary, Indiana.  He  and 
his  wife,  Barbara,  have 
two  daughters,  Merry  Jo 
and  Jannelle. 


28 


GBHMC 


Is  God  Mad  At  You?? 

By  Russ  Dunlap 

Director,  Grace  Brethren  Missions 

Stewardship  Service 


When  I  was  a  young  lad  on  an  Ohio  farm,  a  neighbor's  house 
caught  fire.  Some  of  the  neighbors  were  able  to  get  there  but  they 
were  only  able  to  remove  some  of  the  contents  and  that  was  all. 
In  the  process,  one  small,  slight  fellow  picked  up  a  large  cast  iron 
coal  heating  stove  weighing  way  beyond  his  normal  ability  to  lift, 
set  it  on  a  window  ledge,  and  three  fellows  on  the  outside  carried 
it  away. 

After  the  fire  the  men  were  trying  to  figure  out  how  the  man  was 
able  to  lift  that  stove  by  himself.  Under  normal  circumstances,  he 
would  never  have  even  tried  to  lift  that  stove  by  himself.  But  due 
to  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  he  had  the  extra  human  strength 
to  lift  it.  He  had  no  time  to  think  of  excuses. 

You  have  probably  heard  it  said,  "God  will  never  ask  you  to  do 
something  without  giving  you  the  ability  to  accomplish  it."  I  am 
reminded  of  this  when  I  read  the  story  of  Moses  in  Exodus. 

As  God  talked  with  Moses,  he  said,  "So  now,  go.  I  am  sending 
you  to  Pharaoh  to  bring  my  people  the  Israelites  out  of  Egypt."  But 
Moses  had  his  excuses  why  he  could  not  do  what  God  was  telling 
him  to  do. 

First,  Moses  said  he  was  a  nobody  and  didn't  consider  himself 
a  likely  candidate  for  the  job.  He  wasn't  up  to  dealing  with  Pharaoh. 
God  had  to  convince  Moses  that  He  would  supply  the  resources 
to  complete  the  job. 

Then  Moses  argued  with  God  that  when  he  went  to  the  Israelites, 
they  wouldn't  listen  to  him,  then  what  would  he  do?  God  instructed 
Moses  and  assured  him  Israel  would  listen!  Next,  Moses  was  afraid 
the  people  wouldn't  believe  him,  just  as  if  to  say,  "God,  this  won't 
work.  They  won't  believe  me!"  But  God  then  convinced  Moses  that 
He  was  able  to  do  everything  that  was  needed  for  the  occasion. 

Finally,  Moses  told  God  that  he  had  a  speech  problem  and  knew 
he  could  not  do  the  job.  Some  have  thought  Moses  stuttered  and 
therefore  felt  inadequate  to  do  what  God  was  telling  him  to  do. 

Even  after  God  tried  to  convince  Moses  He  would  help  him  to 
speak  and  would  tell  Moses  what  to  say,  Moses  said,  "Please  Lord, 
send  someone  else  to  do  it."  Exodus  4:14  "Then  the  Lord's  anger 
burned  against  Moses." 

How  often  has  God  been  "mad"  at  you  and  me  for  making  ex- 
cuses as  to  why  we  cannot  do  what  He  has  asked  us  to  do? 

Moses'  brother  Aaron  got  in  on  the  blessings  of  this  opportunity 
because  Moses  wouldn't  trust  God  to  help  him.  Has  God  asked 
you  to  do  something  which  you  do  not  want  to  do  or  feel  you  can 
not  do?  Trust  God,  He  will  supply  the  talents,  time,  and  treasures 
you  need.  Jesus  never  fails! 

I  find  there  are  people  that  need  to  care  for  matters  of  their  will 
and  financial  planning.  I  am  sure  each  has  their  reasons  (excuses) 
for  not  doing  what  they  know  God  would  want  them  to  do.  If  you 
know  you  should  do  something  about  your  will  and  haven't,  don't 
delay  any  longer.  Don't  wait  until  God  gets  "mad"  at  you  and  gives 
someone  else  blessings  that  belong  to  you.  God  wants  to  help  you. 
Write  and  we  will  assist  you  —  Grace  Brethren  Missions  Stewardship 
Service,  Box  587,  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  56590  or  call  (219)  267-5161. 


VH    *  •  - 

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S  ..-■V'Kv  '  -it-     ■",«    j'jl       a?' 


GBHMC 


Dream  To  Dedication 

(Continued  from  page  25) 

with  the  ministry  of  Angi  lies,  Ray 
Calcote,  Tony  Luna,  Rick  Petitta,  Deb- 
bie Pueschel,  Ben  Stoner,  The  Living 
Spring  Gospel  Singers,  and  our  own 
high  school  choir. 

Dreams  come  to  an  end.  But  our 
dreams  for  the  future  of  the  new  multi- 


Rev.    Larry    Wederte 
has  been  on  the  staff 

of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Navajo        Mission, 
Counselor,   N.   Mex. 
since   1958.   He  has 
been   superintendent 
since  1966,  with  the 
exception  of  1977  to 
1979.    He    and    his 

ka^fl 

wife,  Jonnie  Lou,  who 
teaches  kindergarten 
at  the  Mission,  have 
four  grown  children. 

purpose  building  in  Navajoland  do  not 
end  with  the  dedicaton  ceremony. 
There  are  yet  several  hundred  hours 
of  work  needed  to  complete  the 
building  itself.  Equipping  the  building 
will  involve  a  great  deal  of  money  and 
effort.  But  already  God  has  answered 
prayer  and  half  of  the  bleachers  have 
been  supplied  as  well  as  individual 
lockers  for  the  locker  rooms.  We  have 
a  pressing  need  for  floor  covering  and 
we  know  that  God  will  supply. 

Our  greatest  dreams  center  in  the 
use  of  the  building  in  the  days  to  come 
and  God's  supply  of  a  person  who  will 
direct  the  ministry  that  this  building 
makes  possible.  It  will  be  exciting  to  see 
how  God  brings  these  dreams  to 
reality.  U 


Tom  and  Olline  MacDonald,  left,  of  Cartwright, 
Okla.,  are  recognized  for  their  contribution  to  the  con- 
struction of  the  Multi-Purpose  Building  at  the  Grace 
Brethren  Navajo  Mission  during  dedication  services  in 
December.  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer,  right,  executive  secretary 
of  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions,  presented  them 
with  a  Bible  and  an  engraved  plate  Also  looking  on 
is  Lloyd  Wenger,  Dallas  Center,  Iowa,  a  member  of 
the  GBHMC  board  of  directors. 


Ocala  Is  Latest 
Home  Mission  Point 

Ocala,  Florida  is  the  newest  point 
for  Grace  Brethren  Missions.  Financial 
support  for  this  new  Grace  Brethren 
Church  was  approved  during  the 
March  meeting  of  the  GBHMC'board 
of  directors. 

This  new  group  was  started  in  the 
Chelsea  Estates  area  east  of  Ocala  by 


Rev.  Arnold  Kreigbaum, 
Grace  Brethren  minister 
and  former  dean  of 
students  at  Grace  College. 
Many  of  the  members  are 
Grace  Brethren  people 
who  have  moved  from  the 
northern  states  to  retire  or 
semi-retire  in  the  area. 

Rev.  Kreigbaum  is 
leading  the  group  until 
they  call  a  pastor.  When  a 
full  time  pastor  arrives  on 
the  field,  financial  support 
from  the  Council  will 
begin. 

The  group  presently 
meets  in  the  Kreigbaum  home, 
although  they  are  looking  for  a  wor- 
ship site  on  Baseline  Road,  south  of 
Silver  Springs  and  east  of  Ocala.  They 
are  also  exploring  the  purchase  of  pro- 
perty in  the  area.  □ 

GBIF  Approves  Loan 

A    loan    of    $240,000    to    the 
Tiadaghton   Valley   Grace    Brethren 


Church,  Avis,  Pa.,  was  approved  dur- 
ing the  March  meeting  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Invest- 
ment Foundation  and  the  Grace 
Brethren  Home  Missions  Council. 

The  funds  will  be  used  when  the 
Home  Mission  point  begins  construc- 
tion on  their  first  unit  this  spring.  Pat- 
terned after  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  at  Pine  Grove,  Pa.,  the 
Tiadaghton  Valley  building  was 
designed  by  Ralph  Hall,  of  R.E. 
Nelson  and  Associates,  Bradenton, 
Fla.  The  6,000  square  foot  facility  will 
be  in  colonial  style  and  will  contain  a 
125-seat  sanctuary  with  overflow 
seating  to  accomodate  another  60 
people.  Also  in  the  plans  are  a 
fellowship  hall,  kitchen,  nursery  and 
toddler  rooms,  and  a  church  office  and 
pastor's  study. 

Total  cost  of  the  building  is  estimated 
at  $300,000,  some  of  which  the 
church  already  has  on  hand,  accor- 
ding to  Walter  Fretz,  financial  secretary 
for  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment 
Foundation.  □ 


30 


GBHMC 


Build  A 
Nest  Egg 

For  God 


A  deposit  in  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 
will  not  only  help  you  meet  personal  financial  goals,  it 
will  create  a  nest  egg  to  help  in  the  Lord's  work.  Funds 
placed  in  the  GBIF  are  used  to  help  growing  Grace 
Brethren  churches  construct  new  facilities  and  purchase 
needed  equipment  —  at  a  cost  below  commercial  loan 
rates. 

Build  a  nest  egg  for  the  Lord  with  an  investment  in  the. 
GBIF! 


Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 

Box  587  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
(219)  267-5161 


life-'1 


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m  >- 


7=    5 


o  Sj 


O     DO 


Sharon  Strickling's  Te 

She's  in  charge  of  a  big  ministry,  but  is 


Sharon  coordinates  the  SMM  program  for  the  Ashland,  Ohio,  GBC.  Here  she  discusses  a  project  with  a 
young  girl. 

They  call  her  SMM  Coordinator.  It's  a  big  responsibility,  involving  about  18  adult  workers  and 
70  girls.  Sharon  Strickling  is  in  charge  of  the  Serving  My  Master  program  for  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Ashland,  Ohio. 

A  blend  between  Girl  Scouts  and  Sunday  school,  SMM  at  Ashland  happens  each  Wednesday 
night  for  young  girls  in  grades  first  through  sixth. 

For  Sharon,  that  means  setting  aside  time  each  week  to  plan  activities,  set  goals,  meet  with  leaders, 
prepare  lesson  materials  and  coordinate  facilities. 

Fortunately  she's  not  in  this  alone. 

"The  thing  that  gives  me  the  most  pleasure,"  Sharon  says,  "is  when  a  lady  comes  up  to  me 
and  says,'Is  there  any  way  I  can  help  with  SMM?'" 

What  is  a  dream  for  many  church  leaders,  happens  regularly  to  Sharon. 

"It  might  be  someone  I've  never  seen  before,"  Sharon  continues,  "or  someone  who  left  the  pro- 
gram and  now  misses  it.  Just  when  there's  a  vacancy  and  I'm  wondering  what  to  do  and  I  don't 
have  the  time  to  make  a  lot  of  phone  calls,  someone  will  call  and  ask  how  they  can  help." 

Visible  throughout  Sharon's  four  years  of  leading  this  ministry  has  been  God's  partnership.  It 
started  in  the  very  beginning. 

When  Sharon  was  first  asked  to  coordinate  the  church's  SMM  program,  she  wanted  to  do  it 
all.  She  felt  like  she  had  to  know  how  to  do  everything.  It  was  humbling  when  she  finally  admitted 
that  she  needed  help. 

"I  looked  at  the  needle  work  in  particular,"  she  says,  "and  was  overwhelmed.  I  didn't  even  know 
how  to  do  cross-stitch  and  that  was  the  easiest  skill." 

In  that  moment  of  desperation,  her  silent  partner  took  over. 

A  woman  approached  Sharon  and  said  she  wanted  a  ministry  in  the  church.  She  asked  if  she 
could  help  in  the  girls'  program.  Sharon  said  sure  and  asked  her  to  describe  her  interests.  As  if 
she  were  reading  from  an  SMM  handbook,  the  woman  said  she  enjoyed  crocheting,  embroidering 
and  knitting;  during  weekdays  she  taught  needle  work  at  a  resident  home  for  handicapped  people. 

"The  Lord  sent  her,"  Sharon  says.  "He  brought  home  to  me  that  I  didn't  have  to  know  how 
to  do  everything,  that  I  have  a  wealth  of  people  around  me  who  know  how  to  do  the  things  I 
can't.  I  just  have  to  be  open  to  sharing  the  ministry  with  others." 

And  when  Sharon  did  that,  the  Lord  provided  lots  of  knitters.  Other  women  in  the  church 
volunteered  and  the  needle  work  training  expanded  to  include  one  lady  for  every  two  girls. 

"I  just  said,  Thank  you  Lord;  thanks  for  showing  me  I  don't  have  to  do  it  all  myself,'"  recalls  Sharon. 

God  has  helped  with  other  staffing  needs,  too.  Like  one  year  when  Sharon  was  trying  to  match 
women  and  girls  in  a  kind  of  "big  sister"  or  friend  relationship.  Two  weeks  before  the  big  event 


32 


CE 


Ministry 


tig  it  solo. 


when  these  relationships  would  be  announced,  Sharon 
wanted  to  dump  the  whole  idea.  She  had  fifteen  ladies 
committed  to  the  program,  but  needed  thirty-five  more. 

Then  she  received  a  phone  call  from  a  woman  who  had 
hurt  her  back  and  was  temporarily  confined  at  home.  The 
caller  asked,  "Wouldn't  you  like  me  to  call  everyone  I  can 
think  of  and  see  if  we  can  find  more  Maxi's  (SMM  jargon 
for  a  big  sister)?"  It  was  Sharon,  then,  who  almost  hurt  her 
back  as  she  was  "floored." 

The  friend  made  the  phone  calls  and  the  program  was 
a  success. 

Through  a  ministry  involving  70 
young  girls,  God  is  teaching  Sharon 
that  He  will  provide  her  ministry 
needs. 

Even  in  the  little  things,  that  seem  important  only  to 
Sharon,  God  gets  involved.  This  last  year,  when  the  Mini- 
Maxi  program  now  needed  70  women  to  befriend  the  girls, 
Sharon  was  thrilled  with  the  strong  response  from  the 
women.  She  felt  so  good  about  the  matching  .  .  .  until, 
on  the  day  of  the  Mini-Maxi  party,  when  the  relationships 
would  be  announced,  Sharon  realized  she  left  out  one  girl's 
name. 

"It  may  seem  like  a  little  thing  to  others,  but  it  was  a  big 
thing  to  me,"  recalls  Sharon.  "And  it  would  have  been  a 
big  thing  for  that  little  girl,  too." 

In  less  than  half-an-hour,  Sharon  received  another  one 
of  those  phone  calls.  A  woman's  voice  said,  "My  husband 
reminded  me  that  1  better  call  you  to  see  if  you  needed 
any  more  Maxi's." 

"That  kind  of  thing  gives  me  goose  bumps,"  says  Sharon. 
"It  makes  me  feel  special  in  the  Lord's  sight  because  He 
honored  my  concern  for  that  girl  and  He  honored  the 
worth  of  this  program." 

Sharon  knew  very  little  about  the  SMM  program 
four  years  ago.  As  a  mother  of  two  daughters,  she 
was  beginning  to  see  a  void  in  her  girls'  lives.  She 
wanted  them  to  be  in  a  club  like  Girl  Scouts  where 
they  would  learn  some  special  skills  and  be  among 
peers. 

The  church  recognized  the  same  kind  of  needs 
in  other  families  and  had  begun  an  SMM  program. 
Sharon,  a  veteran  children's  worker,  was  asked  if 
she  would  coordinate  the  program. 

"All  you  have  to  do  is  prove  to  me  that  it's  wor- 
thwhile," Sharon  said. 


Sharon  believes  she  can  best 
serve  her  SMM  leaders  by  par- 
ticipating in  their  groups.  Each  year 
she  works  with  a  different  age  group. 


After   her   own   research,    Sharon   was   sold   on   the 
program. 
Photos  by  Joe  Dove  "ft  js  Girl  Scouts  and  Bible  memory  and  how  to  live  a 

Christian  life  and  how  to  grow  spiritually  and  how  to  teach 
girls  about  the  things  they'll  need  to  go  through  in  grow- 
ing up,"  says  Sharon. 

Her  next  step  was  to  be  sold  on  being  the  coordinator. 

"The  thought  was  scary,"  says  Sharon,  "but  when  I  saw 

how  well  CE  organized  the  program  and  how  many  ladies 

were  already  committed  to  helping,  it  was  less  frightening." 

Sharon  takes  her  ministry  seriously.  "Wholeheartedly" 

is  the  word  she  likes  to  use. 

Each  year  she  participates  in  a  different  SMM  age  group, 
sometimes  teaching  other  times  helping  the  teacher.  She 
says  it's  essential  for  her  to  have  a  handle  on  each  age 
group  and  understand  the  whole  program.  It  also  enables 
her  to  be  a  better  helper  to  her  age-level  leaders. 

Working  part-time  as  a  nurse,  Sharon  wisely  uses 
available  time  for  SMM  planning.  There's  not  a  conflict  bet- 
ween SMM  time  and  family  time,  especially  since  her  two 
daughters  are  in  the  program.  Her  husband,  Rich,  is  ac- 
tive in  the  church  choir  on  Wednesday  night  so  their 
schedules  mesh  well. 

If  you  were  a  teacher  in  Sharon's  program,  she'd  talk  to 
you  about  lifestyle.  She's  committed  to  modeling  the  Chris- 
tian life  before  the  young  girls.  Titus  2:3-5  is  her  theme: 
Older  women  likewise  are  to  be  reverent  in 
their   behavior,    not   malicious   gossips,    nor 
enslaved  to  much  wine,  teaching  what  is  good, 
that  they  may  encourage  the  young  women  to 
love  their  husbands,  to  love  their  children,  to 
be  sensible,  pure,  workers  at  home,  kind,  be- 
ing subject  to  their  own  husbands,  that  the  word 
of  God  may  not  be  dishonored. 
Her  motherhood  reinforces  what  she  says  as  a  leader. 
"As  I  look  at  the  women  who  are  helping  in  SMM,"  says 
Sharon,  "I  tell  them  I'm  glad  my  daughters  got  to  see  their 
lives  reflected  this  year.  Each  lady  is  unique  but  they  all 
have  something  special  about  them  and  if  my  daughters 
can  pick  up  one  good  thing  a  year,  that's  fantastic." 

Sharon  Strickling  shares  a  big  ministry.  It's  touching  many 
young  lives  and  challenging  some  older  lives,  too.        D 


CE 


33 


^  o 


-> 


o   £ 


CJ   y 


Living  In  "Red  Ink"  ByD™***. 

"Insufficient  funds."  That  two-word 
indictment  from  the  local  bank  put 
an  instant  damper  on  my  free- 
wheeling approach  to  finances. 
That  unwelcomed  (and  expensive) 
reminder  forced  me  to  backtrack 
through  the  chaos  of  my  desk  cor- 
ner, where  the  financial  records 
were  stored  amidst  the  "someday" 
pile.  There  I  found  my  problem— 
not  deliberate  prodigality,  just  a  few 
checks  I  had  forgotten  to  enter,  a 
couple  of  monthly  balance 
statements  I  had  meant  to  recon 
cile  (that's  why  they  were  in  the  "someday"  pile!),  and  a  checkbook  that  revealed  a  pattern  of  sub- 
tracting that,  well,  let's  just  say  that  at  times  I  wasn't  even  close. 

I  discovered  that  the  chaos  on  my  desk  was  reflected  in  the  condition  of  my  checkbook.  The 
bank  was  right — my  account  had  run  dry! 

"Insufficient  funds."  The  friendly  financial  institution  is  not  the  only  source  of  that  grim  verdict. 
Sometimes  we  find  the  same  two-word  warning  being  issued  a  little  closer  to  home. 

The  emotional  deposits  and  debits  of  our  lives  create  a  bank-like  account  at  our  core.  We  are 
accustomed  to  approaching  that  account  with  confidence,  knowing  that  the  necessary  reserves 
will  be  available  and  accessible.  There  are  times,  however,  when  we  can  approach  the  emotional 
bank  account  to  make  a  needed  withdrawal  and  receive  the  unwelcome  news  that  the  account 
is  overdrawn.  Instead  of  finding  emotional  reserves  enough  to  share,  we  find  the  emotional  cup- 
boards are  bare.  And  true  to  form,  we  receive  a  notice  of  insufficient  funds,  a  notice  that  is  usually 
composed  of  one  word:  "apathy." 

The  dictionary  defines  apathy  as,  "lack  of  passion,  emotion  or  excitement."  Most  of  us  know 
apathy  as  a  bad  case  of  the  blahs— a  zero  where  the  zip  used  to  be.  And  apathy  is  most  tragic 
when  we  care  little  for  that  which  counts  most. 

Where  does  apathy  come  from?  Apathy  may  be  the  emotional  bank's  warning  of  insufficient 
funds  due  to  the  infrequency  of  deposits.  When  the  Lord  Jesus  spoke  about  choosing  treasuries, 
He  indicated  that  our  care  was  drawn  to  where  our  cash  had  gone  (Matthew  6:21).  Apathy  is  the 
indicator  of  no  "care"  where  there  is  no  "cash."  Feeling  apathetic?  Check  your  deposits!  It's  unlikely 
that  we'll  care  deeply  for  that  which  comes  cheaply.  If  you're  not  investing  yourself— if  you're  not 
giving  of  your  time,  energy  and  resources — then  don't  expect  to  care!  That  holds  true  whether 
the  issue  is  our  relationship  with  Christ,  our  church  involvement,  our  family,  our  jobs,  or  our  friends. 
When  we're  not  making  personal  investments  that  cost,  the  deficiency  of  deposits  may  lead  to 
insufficient  funds  and  apathy. 

Sometimes  apathy  appears  from  the  other  side  of  the  ledger.  We  make  our  usual  deposits  in 
the  emotional  bank,  but  we  subject  the  account  to  such  intense  or  such  immense  withdrawals  that 
we  receive  a  warning  of  insufficient  funds.  In  this  case  apathy  is  not  the  result  of  caring  too  little, 
but  of  caring  too  much,  for  apathy  can  at  times  be  a  synonym  or  a  symptom  for  "burnout."  Elijah 
on  the  "day  after"  knew  painfully  well  the  feeling  of  being  too  worn-out  to  continue  and  too  weary 
to  care  (I  Kings  19).  And  the  Biblical  precedent  for  personal  "time-outs"  and  retreats  needs  to  be 
observed  and  obeyed. 

Feeling  apathetic?  Check  your  withdrawals!  Maybe  there  are  some  that  need  to  be  delayed  or 
even  deleted.  Maybe  the  next  withdrawal  needs  to  be  your  own,  alone  with  the  Lord— lingering, 
listening,  learning,  loving. 

Apathy,  a  notice  of  insufficient 
funds  in  the  emotional  bank  of  our 
lives,  an  indicator  that  demands 
more  than  recognition— it  demands 
response.  How's  the  balance  in 
your  account  these  days?  If  the 
balance  is  up  you're  probably  en- 
joying the  dividends  of  enthusiasm 
and  excitement.  If  the  balance  is 
down,  it  may  be  time  for  a  little  per- 
sonal accounting  as  you  look  at  the 
pattern  of  deposits  and  with- 
drawals. No  better  "emotional/ 
financial"  advice  was  offered  than 
Solomon  to  his  son:  "Watch  over 
your  heart  with  all  diligence,  for 
from  it  flow  the  springs  of  life." 
(Proverbs  4:23)  □ 


Dave  Belcher  is 
pastor  of  the  LaVerne, 
Calif.,  Grace  Brethren 
Church.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  board  of 
directors  for  GBC 
Christian  Education. 


34 


CE 


All-new  1985 
Standard  Publishing 
VACATION 
BIBLE  SCHOOL 
COURSE 


REPRODUCE  THE  MODEL! 

This  call  to  commitment  forms  the  basis  of  another  power- 
ul  VBS  course  from  Standard  Publishing.  In  the  Footsteps  of 
lesus  is  a  series  of  studies  from  the  Book  of  Matthew  that 
ocus  in  on  Jesus,  My  Example.  Each  exciting  VBS  lesson 
:onf  ronts  the  student  with  the  challenge  to  be  like  Jesus.  The 
■xploration  leaves  no  doubt  in  the  student's  mind:  Jesus  is 
he  magnificent  Son  of  God;  He  IS  the  One  to  follow. 

RESEARCH  THE  WORD! 

In  the  Footsteps  of  Jesus  has  only  one  source  of  inspira- 
ion:  God's  Word.  Every  lesson  is  deeply  anchored  in  Scrip- 
ure  and  offers  a  healthy  balance  of  Bible  teaching  and 
heme-related  pupil  activities.  More  than  100  tools  are  ready 
o  help  the  VBS  leader  reinforce  important  Bible  truths. 

DELATE  THE  LESSONS  TO  LIFE! 

While  the  Bible  stories  chosen  for  this  series  are  familiar 
ind  much  loved,  each  one  is  given  an  abundance  of  fresh,  new 
earning  activities  to  help  the  student  gain  precious  insights 
nto  the  meaning  of  life.  Come  along  if  you  want  to  grow! 

REFLECT  CHRIST,  THE  PERFECT  EXAMPLE . . . 

. . .  His  was  a  love  that  caused  Him  to  suffer  for  us,  leaving 
js  an  example,  that  we  should  follow  in  His  steps  (1  Peter 
2:21).  In  the  Footsteps  of  Jesus  is  everything  you  want  in  a 
/BS  course . . .  because  Jesus  is  everything  you  want. 


Gentlemen: 

Enclosed  is  $ for  which  please  send  1985 

VBS  Information  (or  charge  acct.  # ) 

D  9500.  10-Day  Introductory  Kit  $18.95 

□  9501.  5-Day  Introductory  Kit  $16.95 

□  Free  Planbook  (a  copy  included  in  each  Kit) 

Name 

Church 

My  Position 

Address 

City 

State  


Zip. 


Herald 
*    Bookstore 

P.O.  Box  544, 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


The  Vacation  Bible  School  leader. . .  with  a  bigger  following  every  year! 


Less  Squeet 


"Hey,  jeetjet?" 

"Naw,  jew?" 

"Nope,  less  squeet." 

"Wear  jew  wannago?' 

"Dunno." 

"Lezgo  ear." 

"Okay." 

Is  this  a  conversation  in  a  foreign  language?  Did  it  take 
place  overseas?  Could  it  be  the  speech  of  an  alien  creature 
from  a  science  fiction  epic? 

Actually,  this  dialog  (or  one  similar)  takes  place  across 
the  United  States  everyday:  two  people  are  making  plans 
for  lunch. 

Confused?  Here,  allow  me  to  translate: 

"Hey  (or  hello),  did  you  eat  yet?" 

"No,  did  you?" 

"No,  let's  go  eat." 

"Where  do  you  want  to  go?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"Let's  go  here." 

"Okay." 

Our  English  has  become  slurred  and  inarticulate. 
It  doesn't  matter  from  what  part  of  the  country  we  are; 
we've  become  sloppy  with  our  speech.  Sometimes  it's  dif- 
ficult to  understand  someone  when  he  runs  all  his  words 
together,  uses  poor  grammar,  and  tosses  in  a  few  slang 
words. 

I'm  guilty  of  it.  Often  I  become  so  hurried  that  I 
runallmywordstogether.  I  forget  that  I'm  trying  to  com- 
municate with  someone,  and  they  might  not  understand 
me. 

My  prayer  life  tends  to  reflect  this  pattern,  too.  I  rush  in- 
to the  presence  of  God  and  rattle  off  my  prayers,  often- 
times forgetting  to  praise  God  for  who  He  is  or  thanking 
Him  for  His  care  and  concern  for  me.  In  my  sloppiness 
I  omit  details  and  pray  almost  generically. 

I'm  glad  He  understands  in  spite  of  my  slipshod  com- 
munication. Even  when  I  don't  know  what  to  say  or  how 
to  pray  for  a  situation,  God  understands.  The  Holy  Spirit 
serves  as  a  sort  of  an  interpreter  for  us. 

"In  the  same  way,  the  Spirit  helps  us  in  our  weakness. 
We  do  not  know  how  we  ought  to  pray,  but  the  Spirit 
himself  intercedes  for  us  with  groans  that  words  cannot  ex- 
press. And  he  who  searches  our  hearts  knows  the  mind 
of  the  Spirit,  because  the  Spirit  intercedes  for  the  saints 
in  accordance  with  God's  will."  Romans  8:26-27  NIV 

How  wonderful  to  have  open  communication  with  God! 
Our  slurred  or  inadequate  speech  is  no  hindrance.  But  I 
still  need  to  strive  to  improve  my  prayer  life.  Instead  of 
dashing  in  and  praying  in  a  flash,  I  need  to  take  quality 
time  with  my  Father. 

Lord,  help  me  not  to  speed  into  Your  presence  and  "bless 

miss'ries  in  the  fornfields  and  pray  Yule  heala  sick."  May 

I  be  more  conscious  and  deliberate  in  my  prayer  life.  D 

—  Nora  Macon,  Winona  Lake  Indiana 


—  The  Lake  Odessa,  Michigan,  WMC  has 
an  annual  Spring  Breakfast  at  their  church  for 
all  the  women  and  girls  instead  of  their  regular 
meeting.  The  group  has  a  very  good  turn-out 
for  this  event  which  features  a  special  speaker 
or  group. 

—  The  Summit  Mills,  Pennsylvania,  Jr. 
WMC  enjoyed  cookouts  before  their  monthly 
summer  meetings. 

—  A  fun  way  to  emphasize  missions  at  a 
WMC  meeting  is  to  serve  refreshments  that  are 
typical  to  the  mission  field  you  are  studying. 
You  might  want  to  try  them  with  your  family 
as  you  pray  for  missionaries  in  that  area.  A 
recipe  booklet  is  available  from  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions,  and  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Missions  would  send  some  Navajo  or  Jewish 
recipes. 

—  In  order  to  emphasize  the  15th  Day  of 
Prayer,  the  Alto  and  Lake  Odessa,  Michigan, 
WMCs  met  together  at  a  restaurant  for 
breakfast.  The  ladies  who  attended  had  a  sweet 
time  of  fellowship  and  prayer. 

—  The  Covington,  Virginia,  Jr.  WMC  shares 
a  year-long  project  idea:  "We  have  a  missionary 
Christmas  stocking  which  each  member  con- 
tributes to  every  month,  giving  a  nickle  for  each 
month  of  the  year.  For  example,  one  nickle  in 
January,  two  nickles  in  February,  etc.  This  is 
used  as  a  special  missionary  offering  at  the  end 
of  the  calendar  year." 


36    APRIL   85  WMC 


Women 

Manifesting 

ehrist 


President  Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  10  E.  Luray 

Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
First  Vice  President  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman, 

2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado 

Springs,  CO  90810 
Second  Vice  President  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix, 

3314  Kenwick  Tr.  SW,  Roanoke,  VA 

24018 
Secretary:  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  R.  3,  La 

Porte  City,  IA  50651 
Assistant  Secretary:  Mrs.  Cinny  Sellers, 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  Ml 

49099 
Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Miss  Joyce 

Ashman,  602  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Ass't  Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Mrs. 

Donna  Miller,  R.  8,  Box  277,  War- 
saw, IN  46580 
Literature  Secretary:  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter, 

R.  8,  Box  292,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Editor:  Miss  Nora  Macon,  705  Terrace  Dr., 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Prayer  Chairman:  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams,  R.  4, 

Box  94-A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 


June  1985 

(If  no  address  is  listed,  the  address  can  be  found  in  the  1985  Brethren 
Annual,  pages  38-40) 

Argentina 

Rev.  Earl  Futch June  10 

Brazil 

Rev.  Dan  Green June  16 

Central  African  Republic 

Mrs.  Dorothy  Goodman June  12 

Rev.  Martin  Garber June  14 

Dr.  Jim  Hines June  14 

Lynda  Garber June  15,  1969 

Miss  Diana  Davis June  29 

France 

Rev.  Tom  Julien June  27 

Miss  Patty  Morris June  28 

Germany 

Rev.  Roger  Peugh June  17 

Mrs.  Nancy  Peugh  June  17 

Monica  Pappas June  18.  1976 

In  the  United  States 

Rev.  Les  Vnasdale  June  1 1 

Rev.  Dan  Pettman June  14 

Rev.  Roy  Snyder June  15 

Miss  Marie  Mishler  June  19 

Mrs.  June  Immel June  24 


Offering  (©pporhmtttes 


Foreign  Missions  Offering 

Goal:  $10,000 

For  the  Central  African  Republic 

Sango  Literature  fund 

Send  before  June  10,  1985. 

Also, 

The  Birthday  Missionary  Offering  emphasis  is  hap- 
pening now.  We  suggest  a  minimum  of  $1.50  a  year 
per  member. 
Send  before  June  10,  1985. 


WMC 


37 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


D  Mike  Brubaker,  pastor  of  the  First  Brethren  Church, 
Philadelphia,  PA,  was  ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry 
April  1,  1984.  Pastor  Roger  Wambold  (Penn  Valley  GBC, 
Telford,  PA)  delivered  the  sermon  and  Pastor  Ronald 
Guiles  (Lehigh  Valley  GBC,  Bethlehem,  PA)  moderated 
the  service.  Along  with  other  pastors,  the  father-in-law  of 
Pastor  Brubaker,  Dr.  Charles  Y.  Furness,  was  also  involved 
in  the  service.  Following  the  service,  a  very  fine  fellowship 
meal  was  enjoyed  in  the  lower  auditorium  of  the  church. 

□  Harold  Dunning,  associate  pastor  of  the  GBC  of  Long 
Beach,  CA,  observed  50  years  in  the  gospel  ministry  with 
an  after-church  celebration  in  his  honor.  As  part  of  the 
celebration,  he  and  his  wife.  Marguerite,  left  in  early 
January  for  a  three-month  stay  in  the  Central  African  Re- 
public visiting  friends  and  spending  some  time  with  their 
daughter  and  her  family,  Paul  and  Roberta  Kuns.  The 
Dunnings  had  served  as  missionaries  to  the  C.A.R.  for 
many  years. 


Deaths 


The  following  list  of  deaths  occurred  during  June  to  September  at 
the  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Long  Beach,  CA.  Richard  Mayhue, 
pastor: 

James  Eckstrom,  July  28 

Lyle  Marvin,  August  23 

Harriet  Mellen,  June  9 

Ethel  Ryan,  in  July 
Ashton,    Delia,     May     21.     Rosemont    Grace    Brethren    Church, 
Martinsburg,  WV.  Carl  Baker,  pastor. 

Ballantine,  James,  82,  February  7  (1984).  He  was  a  faithful 
member  of  the  First  Brethren  Church,  Philadelphia,  PA.  Mike 
Brubaker,  pastor. 

Bowman,  Emma,  77,  November  18.  Meyersdale  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Meyersdale,  PA. 

Bowser,  Ruth  F.,  84,  February  18.  She  was  a  faithful  servant  at  the 
Meyersdale  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Meyersdale,  PA.  Ron  Warrick, 
pastor. 

Conner,  Sadie,  80,  June  28.  Leamersville  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 

Cramer,  Art.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Wooster,  OH.  Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Crowder,  Waldo  W.,  83,  February  16.  He  was  a  longtime  member 
of  the  Silverbell  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Tucson,  AZ.  Ken  Curtis, 
pastor. 

Diehl,    Gary,    31,    December    24.    Leamersville    Grace    Brethren 
Church,  Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 
Donnelly,  Paul,   44,   November   26.  Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Telford,  PA.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 
Eicher,  D.   Ross,   58,  September  6.   Leamersville  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 
Hess,  James,  December  14.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  First 
Brethren  Church,  Johnstown,  PA.  Charles  Martin,  pastor. 
Hochstetler,  Ivan.   He  was  a  faithful  attender  at  the  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church  of  Wooster,  Ohio.  Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 
Klucker,  Mrs.  Lillian,  October  14.  She  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  First  Brethren  Church,  Johnstown,  PA.  Charles  Martin,  pastor. 


Lamberson,  William,  61,  December  6.  Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Telford,  PA.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 
Miller,  Ovid,   72,   December  8.   Calvary   Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Alto,  Ml.  Richard  Placeway,  pastor. 

Nikos,  Mary,  90,  October  7.  LaLoma  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Modesto,  CA.  Joel  Richards,  pastor. 

O'Neal,  Glenn,  66,  February  18.  He  was  a  member  of  the  North 
Long  Beach  Brethren  Church,  Long  Beach,  CA;  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  Board  of  the  Fellow- 
ship of  Grace  Brethren  Churches.  A  memorial  service  was  held  at 
the  Biola  University  commemorating  his  years  of  service  as  a 
professor  at  Talbot  Theological  Seminary. 

Plunk,  Millie.  Conemaugh  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Conemaugh, 
PA.  Ron  Warrick,  pastor. 

Rowe,  Albert,  84,  April  11  (1984).  He  regularly  attended  the  First 
Brethren  Church,  Philadelphia,  PA,  for  the  past  14  years.  Rev. 
Donald  Shackleton,  minister  to  senior  adults,  officiated  at  the 
funeral  service. 

Schumacher,  Mrs.  Herman,  81,  February  2.  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Osceola,  IN.  The  memorial  service  was  conducted  by 
pastors  Keith  Shearer,  Scott  Weaver,  and  Gordon  Bracker. 
Sell,  John,  January  24.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  First 
Brethren  Church,  Johnstown,  PA.  Charles  Martin,  pastor. 
Sise,  Eunice,  October  5.  LaLoma  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Joel 
Richards,  pastor. 

Trapp,  Mazie,  October  22.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Homerville, 
OH.  Robert  Holmes,  pastor. 

Triggs,  Frances,  September  29.  Rosemont  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Martinsburg,  WV.  Carl  Baker,  pastor. 

Uphouse,  Dr.  Norman,  77,  February  1 .  He  served  as  a  pastor  in 
various  churches  since  1930,  and  on  the  faculty  of  Grace  College, 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  from  1954  to  1975,  when  he  retired  from  the 
teaching  field.  He  was  also  very  active  in  community  affairs,  some 
of  which  were:  chairman  of  the  board  for  Lakeland  Christian 
Academy,  Warsaw,  IN;  chairman  of  the  American  Association 
of  Retired  People;  and  for  more  than  30  years  as  a  volunteer  in  the 
American  Red  Cross  Association,  having  been  named  Indiana's 
Outstanding  Red  Cross  Volunteer  in  1975.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Winona  Lake  (IN)  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Charles  Ashman, 
pastor. 

Walls,  Ambrose,   81,   November  6.    Leamersville   Grace   Brethren 
Church,  Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 
Walls,  Frances,  79,  April  18  (1984).  Leamersville  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 
Whisman,    Dorothy,    October    1 1 .    Penn    Valley    Grace    Brethren 
Church,  Telford,  PA.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 
Wolfe,  Dorothy,  83.  June  12.  Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church. 
Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 


Change  \bur  Annual 

Thomas  Bailey,  Shamrock  Motor  Home  Park,  No.  110, 
Warsaw,  IN  46580  /  William  Crabbs,  R.  2,  Box  345, 
Johnstown,  PA  15904  /  Lee  Dice,  Unit  101,  2500  Cleve- 
land Rd.,  Wooster,  OH  44691  (Tel.  216/345-7826)  / 
Jeffrey  Heim,  6777  Laird  Ave.,  Reynoldsburg,  OH 
43068  /  Jon  Richard  Jacobson,  c/o  I  SOT,  P.  0.  Box 
50015,  San  Bernardino,  CA  92412  /  Richard  McCarthy's 
telephone  number  is  814/749-8758  /  John  Pappas, 
Liebigstr.  7/1,  7080  Aalen-Unterkochen,  West  Germany  / 
Mitchell  Picard,  1523  E.  Newport  Rd.,  Lititz,  PA  17543  / 
Victor  Rogers,  7363  Palomar  Ave.,  Yucca  Valley,  CA 
92284  /  Ronald  Smals,  Lincoln  Apt.  No.  10,  1600  E.  Ft. 
Wayne  St.,  Warsaw,  IN  46580  /  Emery  (Zeke)  Young, 
104  E.  Main  St.,  Elida,  OH  45807  /  The  new  phone  num- 
ber for  the  Foreign  Missionary  Bethany  Residence, 
Winona  Lake,  IN  (inside  front  cover)  is:  219/267-7050. 


38 


BMH 


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HERALD 
BOOKSTORE 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


"Go 
tell  it 
on  the 
Moun 


FGBC  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

At  YMCA  OF  THE  ROCKIES,  Estes  Park,  Colorado  with  the  Youth  Conference 
on  the  same  grounds 

August  11-16,  1985  •  Celebrating  the  85th  Anniversary  of  Grace  Brethren 

Foreign  Missions 

Guest  Speakers— Nationals  From: 

•  Brazil— Ivanildo  Trindade  •  Germany— Rainer  Ehman 

•  Africa— Pierre  Yougouda  •  Navajos— Tally  Butler 


For  YMCA  grounds  lodging-meal  package  plan  in- 
formation write:  F.G.B.C.  Conference  Coordinator, 
Charles  Ashman,  P.O.  Box  386,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590.  Please  include  a  self-addressed  stamped 
envelope.  For  tourist  information  including  motels, 
campgrounds,  cabins,  RV  parks,  etc.: 

Estes  Park  Chamber  of  Commerce 

Box  3050D 

Estes  Park,  CO  80517 

Phone:  1-800-621-5888 

and/or 

Rocky  Mountain  National  Park 
Estes  Park,  CO  80517 
Phone:  303-586-2317 

NOTE:  Our  conference  will  NOT  operate  a 
Children's  Conference  Child-care  Program.  Child- 
care  programs  will  be  operated  by  the  Y.M.C.A.  on 
the  conference  grounds.  Write  to  the  FGBC  Con- 
ference Coordinator,  P.O.  Box  386,  Winona  Lake, 
IN  46590  and  request  a  complete  description  and 
rate  sheet.  Please  include  a  self-addressed  stamped 
envelope. 


Other  On-ground 
Services: 

Bowling,  Crafts,  Grocery  store, 
Snack  bar.  Gift  shop.  Hiking, 
Laundry,  Horse-back  Riding, 
Mini-Golf,  Tennis,  Volleyball, 
Basketball,  Swimming,  and 
many  others! 


FGBC  AIRFARE  SPECIAL 

Through  a  special  arrangement  with  United 
Airlines  and  HMHF  (Hamilton,  Miller,  Hudson 
and  Fayne)  Travel  Corporation  of  Southfield, 
Michigan;  Grace  Brethren  attending  our  National 
Conference  in  Estes  Park  this  summer  may  get 
special  discounts  on  airfare  from  anywhere  in  the 
states.  Travel  must  be  between  August  7  and  19, 
1985.  By  naming  HMHF  as  the  Official  Agency 
of  Record  and  by  designating  United  Airlines  as 
the  Official  Carrier,  the  following  benefits  and  ser- 
vices will  be  provided  to  FGBC  and  its 
membership: 

A  toll-free  nationwide  line  for  booking  flights 
(l-800-521-9883),(In  Mich:  1-800-482-7270) 

Discount 

1.  If  over  a  Saturday  night— 10%  off  the  best 
weekend  Supersaver  BE  70  rate. 

2.  If  not  over  a  Saturday  night— 25%  off  coach 
fare. 

(Both  of  the  above  include  $100,000  flight  in- 
surance at  no  extra  cost.) 

When  making  your  reservations,  identify 
yourself  as  attending  the  Grace  Brethren  Con- 
ference and  ask  for  the  conference  discount  rates. 


BRETHREN    MISSIONARY    HERALD 

P.  0.  Box  544 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Nonprofi' 
U.  S.  Poi 

PAII 


Address 

Correction 

Requested 


BRtlHRtN  MISSIONARY 


RALD 


•  The  12 -Year  Road  To  Self-Support 
•  Grammar  and  Grandpa 
Four  Misconceptions  About  the  "Call"  to  the  Ministry 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


A  Castle  To  Confuse  a  King 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 


(Where  the 
hospitality  is  free!) 


There  are  not  many  kings  left  in  this  world, 
though  there  still  remains  a  number  of  castles.  To 
the  travelers  of  this  world  there  is  a  strange  and 
unusual  group  of  castles.  They  are  called  White 
Castle,  and  to  the  people  of  certain  select  parts  of 
the  country  they  are  part  of  the  culture.  My  con- 
tact with  them  is  in  Southern  Ohio  or  in  Indiana- 
polis, Indiana;  but  I  have  been  told  they  can  be 
found  in  Chicago,  Detroit,  St.  Louis,  and  even  in 
New  York  City.  To  those  not  yet  introduced  to 
them,  they  belong  to  a  chain  of  restaurants. 

The  White  Castles  were  established  in  1921  and 
the  buildings  will  attest  to  that  fact.  They  can  be 
best  described  as  Early  or  Mid-Depression  times. 
They  are  white-stark-white  with  a  metallic  or 
plastic  look.  But  once  inside  you  find  a  strange 
attraction— the  price  of  the  product.  The  ham- 
burgers are  priced  at  28cf  apiece,  and,  not  being 
one  of  the  biggest  spenders  of  our  time,  I  find 
that  appealing.  The  customers  range  all  the  way 
from  a  lady  in  a  fur  coat  to  a  less  expensive  dress. 
You  can  also  buy  the  hamburgers  frozen  for  the 
same  low  cost,  and  always  have  a  supply  close  to 
you  when  the  desire  for  a  "White  Castle"  attack 
hits  you  in  the  middle  of  the  night. 

How  to  order  the  hamburger  is  a  problem  be- 
cause you  know  a  28«5  hamburger  may  be  a  little 
short  of  a  full  meal.  So  when  I  visited  one  recent- 
ly I  stepped  back  to  see  what  others  would 
do.  Not  a  very  brave  gesture,  but  I  have  found  it 
to  be  a  safe  one.  To  my  surprise,  the  first  cus- 
tomer—a big  truck-driver  type,  ordered  "Eighteen 
Whites,  please."  There  had  to  be  some  mistake,  so 
the  next  customer— a  petite,  young-mother  type- 
stepped  up  and  said,  "Twenty-four,  please,  to 
go."  Then  a  couple  of  teenagers  came  through 
and  they  settled  for  six  apiece. 

I   was  ready  for  "Two  White  Castles,  please 

2    MAY  '85  BMH 


some  onion  chips  and  a  Coke."  I  did  my  best  to 
look  like  a  regular  customer,  just  one  of  the 
crowd.  The  little  waitress  announced  my  order  in 
a  big  voice  and  everyone  in  the  place  knew  I  was 
new.  The  total  bill  came  to  a  mind-snapping 
$1.33— hardly  enough  for  a  tip  elsewhere.  She 
put  the  hamburgers  in  little  boxes,  which  I  found 
later  was  to  protect  the  poor  little  things.  An- 
other purpose  was  to  help  me  find  them  in  the 
sack.  Had  they  been  alone  I  would  have  lost  them 
under  the  sales  slip  which  was  bigger  than  the 
hamburgers.  They  were  good— real  good  and  my 
heart  now  belongs  to  White  Castle.  I  only  go  to 
the  Yellow  Arches  when  there  is  a  special  oc- 
casion like  an  anniversary  or  a  birthday. 

A  part  of  the  menu  board  does  remain  in  my 
mind  every  time  I  think  about  White  Castle.  The 
final  item  after  the  sandwiches  and  the  beverages, 
down  on  the  lower  right  hand  side,  reads  "Hos- 
pitality Free."  There  are  only  a  few  bargains  left 
in  this  world.  You  might  not  put  a  28d  hamburger 
in  that  category,  but  there  is  hospitality  which 
does  not  cost  a  penny. 

There  is  a  smile  which  you  can  give  to  a  friend 
or  a  hello  to  a  person  you've  just  met.  There  are  a 
few  moments  of  your  time  that  you  can  give  free 
to  someone  who  needs  those  moments  more  than 
anything  else.  You  can  pass  on  a  cheerful  word  in- 
stead of  some  problem.  When  you  encounter  a 
person  with  a  day  that  has  only  difficulties,  resist 
the  temptation  to  add  to  their  problems. 

As  a  Christian,  we  are  salt  and  light  as  well  as 
an  emerging  saint.  We  are  to  be  givers  not  get- 
ters—a balm  in  Gilead— not  a  bomb  of  verbal  hurt. 

Remember  those  people  at  White  Castle  who 
give  their  hospitality  free.  How  about  us  in  the 
Church?  What  do  we  people  with  the  Bread  of 
Life  have  to  offer?  n 


BRETHREN 
MISSION/*!^ 


heralc 


Vol.  47  No.  5  May  1985 

The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co., 
P.O.  Box  544,  1104  Kings 
Highway,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590.  Subscription  prices:  $8.25 
per  year;  foreign,  $10.00;  special 
rates  to  churches.  Printed  by  BMH 
Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back  issues 
are  available.  One  copy,  $2.00; 
two  copies,  $3.00;  three  to  ten 
copies.  $1.50  each;  more  than  ten 
copies,  $1.25  each.  Please  include 
your  check  with  order.  (Prices  in- 
clude postage  charges.) 

NEWS  ITEMS  contained  in 
each  issue  are  presented  for  infor- 
mation, and  do  not  indicate 
endorsement. 

MOVING?  Send  label  on  back 
cover  and  your  new  address. 
Please  allow  four  weeks  for  the 
change  to  be  made. 

TOLL-FREE  NUMBER  for  mer- 
chandise orders:  1-800-348-2756. 


Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker. 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Lester  Piter,  Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 

6  Of  General  Concern 

9  Grammar  and  Grandpa 

12  Finding  Our  Lives 

14  Self-Support  NO  WAY! 

16  God  Wants  Your  Thought  Life 

18  The  12-Year  Road  To  Self-Support 

22  Who  Murdered  Mighty  Mediocrity? 

24  CE  News 

27  Beginnings  in  France 

30  Beginnings  in  England 

32  Beginnings  in  Germany 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters  2  • 

•  Feature  Article     4     •  BMH  News  Report     34,36 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

A  contract  was  signed  for  the  construction  of 
the  new  Grace  Seminary  building  at  Winona 
Lake,  Ind.  This  was  the  first  home  for  the 
Seminary  that  they  were  able  to  call  their  own. 
To  date  all  facilities  have  been  rented  from 
others.  .  .  Dedication  of  the  Johnson  City,  Tenn. 
Grace  Brethren  Church  was  held  under  leader- 
ship of  Pastor  Russell  Ogden. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Meyerstown,  Pa  broke  ground  for  their  new 
building.  There  were  136  in  the  morning  wor- 
ship service,  Luke  E.  Kauffman,  pastor.  .  . 
Chaplain  John  Schumacher  reported  baptizing 
3  persons  in  the  Dak  Bla  River  in  Vietnam.  They 
had  recently  made  a  profession  of  faith  in  Christ. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Grace  Schools  announced  a  $4.96  million 
budget  and  approved  a  promotion  in  rank  to 
Dan  Snively  to  assistant  professor.  Dr.  Weston 
Fields  and  William  Gordon  were  advanced  to 
the  rank  of  associate  professor. 


LETTERS 


Dear  Editor: 

Congratulations  on  the  March  issue  of 
the  Herald  Magazine.  It  is  the  most  time- 
worthy  issue  yet.  The  stories  are  more  in- 
depth  and  more  easily  identified  with  by 
the  reader.  They  are  varied  enough  in  their 
sources  to  be  interesting,  but  are  not  so 
obscure  as  to  be  "unreal"  or  remote. 

The  people  involved  —  such  as  Steve 
Jarrell  —  are  not  portrayed  as  white  plaster 
idols.  They  are  human,  complete  with 
mistakes,  and  the  stories  are  written  to  help 
the  reader  benefit  from  those  mistakes.  1 
think  people  need  to  see  that  our  contem- 
porary Brethren  heroes  are  human;  this 
refocuses  our  goal  on  God  instead  of 
ourselves,  and  isn't  that  the  real  purpose 
of  any  Christian  work? 

—  Indiana 

COVER  PHOTO:  A  leaded  glass  facsimile  of  the 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  logo,  made  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wendal  Cram  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  in  Portis,  Kansas.  (Photo  by 
Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer) 


BMH 


BMH  Feature  Article 


Four  Misconceptions  About  the 
"Call"  to  the  Ministry 


By  Dan  L.  Gillette 


Dan  L.  Gillette  is  a  1984  graduate  of 
Grace  Theological  Seminary.  He  is  cur- 
rently serving  as  pastor  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Covington,  Virginia. 
This  article  is  a  summation  of  a  chapter 
from  his  M.Div.  thesis  titled  The  "Call"  to 
the  Ministry:  External  and  Verifiable,  and 
is  used  by  permission.  The  entire  thesis  is 
available  at  the  Grace  Theological 
Seminary  library. 


"I  will  build  my  church"  (Matt.  16-18)  echoes  from  heaven. 
On  earth  God  uses  people  to  do  it.  Yet  the  problem  of  the 
"call"  to  the  ministry  is  who  should  do  it.  A  common  approach 
says  the  "call"  is  internal  and  mystical.  Four  views  branching 
from  that  basic  approach  will  be  examined  in  the  light  of  the 
biblical  data  and  found  wanting. 

The  "Call"  Is  Like  Falling  In  Love 

A  student,  young,  confused  on  the  subject  and  boldly 
honest,  asked  a  pastor  to  explain  the  "call."  A  long  pause  was 
followed  by  an  unsure  voice  of  the  red-faced  man  saying,  "It's 
like  falling  in  love."  Hearing  himself  say  it  must  have  given  him 
more  confidence  as  he  elaborated,  "Yes,  it's  kind  of  like  when 
you  find  the  woman  you  want  to  marry.  You  just  know  she 
is  the  one.  You  just  feel  it." 

However,  the  biblical  definition  of  love  in  marriage  is  that 
it  is  a  covenanted  relationship  and  feelings  are  the  by-product, 
not  the  basis  of  the  commitment.  No  biblical  passage  com- 
mands one  to,  or  suggests  that  one  love  or  marry  because  of 
a  feeling  (1  Cor.  13;  Eph.  5:22-23). 


BMH 


The  "Call"  Is  Mystical  Like  The  Salvation  Experience 

Proponents  of  this  view  cite  a  direct  emotional  encounter 
with  God  as  the  ultimate  proof  of  salvation  and  the  "call." 
The  problem  with  this  view  is  that  there  is  no  way  to  judge 

"There  are  many  who  think  that  they 
are  called  simply  because  in  a 
meeting  they  were  conscious  of  a 
rush  of  feelings  ..." 

the  validity  of  any  truth  claim.  The  result  is  that  a  person 
can  say  that  he  is  saved  and  "called"  to  the  ministry  by 
a  mystical  experience  and  no  one  has  the  right  to  ques- 
tion or  examine  him. 

Yet  assurance  of  salvation  is  derived  from  its  fruit  (Matt. 
7:15-20)  and  the  saint's  perseverance  in  the  faith  to  the 
end  of  his  life  (2  Tim.  4:7-8).  For  the  Christian  to  regularly 
examine  himself  along  the  way  to  see  if  he  is  "in  the  faith" 
(2  Cor.  13:5;  1  Cor.  9:27)  is  entirely  in  order.  Likewise 
the  one  "called"  to  the  ministry  must  prove  it  by  having 
fruit  in  the  ministry  and  by  passing  the  examinations  given 
in  the  Pastoral  Epistles  (1  Tim.  3:1-7;  Titus  1:5-9)  as  ad- 
ministered by  God's  people,  regardless  of  any  mystical 
experience. 

The  "Call"  Is  By  Feelings,  Impressions  and  "Voices" 

This  misconception  of  the  "call"  is  that  there  is  no  audi- 
ble voice  or  visible  sign,  but  simply  a  feeling  of  intuition 
about  God's  leading.  There  is  a  tendency  to  look  on  intui- 
tion as  an  infallible  channel  of  God's  speaking.  Christians 
often  find  the  tendency  to  regard  intuition  as  a  foolproof 
channel  of  guidance.  To  question  intuition  is  to  question 
God  Himself.  There  are  many  who  think  that  they  are  call- 
ed simply  because  in  a  meeting  they  were  conscious  of  a 
rush  of  feelings,  of  an  intense  action  of  their  own  mind  and 
so  insist  that  they  are  called  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  teach. 

Psychologist  Dr.  James  Dobson  states  that  one  of  the 
objectives  of  Satan  is  to  get  the  Christian  to  lean  totally  on 
his  impressions,  accepting  them  uncritically  as  the  absolute 
voice  of  God.  When  this  occurs,  the  devil  has  achieved 
all  he  wants.1 

There  is  no  clear  statement  in  the  Old  or  New  Testament 
telling  us  that  we  should  attempt  to  discern  God's  will 
through  intuition.  "I  can  find  no  examples  in  either  the  Old 
or  New  Testament  where  it  is  clear  that  someone  discern- 
ed God's  will  through  inward  guidance.  This  may  seem  sur- 
prising but  I  would  challenge  the  reader  to  find  such  an 
instance."2  I  tried  and  failed. 

Concerning  the  call,  "There  is  no  verse  in  the  Bible  to 
suggest  that  Christians  are  to  wait  for  a  "call"  before  they 
make  plans  to  serve  God."3  We  must  conclude  that  there 
is  no  biblical  basis  for  the  notion  that  intuition  should  be 
regarded  as  an  indication  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  leading, 
generally  in  anything  and  specifically  concerning  the  "call." 

The  "Call"  Is  By  Visions,  Prophecies  and  Fleeces 

Some  think  that  they  should  be  the  recipients  of  super- 
natural guidance  because  supernatural  guidance  occurred 
in  the  Scripture.  It  is  true  that  God  actually  "called"  some 


people  to  the  ministry  by  this  means.  Therefore  should 
every  (or  any)  preacher  today  receive  a  supernatural  "call" 
to  the  ministry? 

When  all  the  instances  of  such  guidance  are  considered, 
the  sparsity  of  them  in  the  early  Church  and  the  Old  Testa- 
ment is  very  telling.  It  seems  that  in  the  great  majority  of 
decisions  there  were  no  experiences  of  supernatural 
guidance.  Consider,  for  example,  the  non-frequency  of 
miracles,  or  supernatural  interventions  by  God  during  the 
time  between  the  first  Adam  and  the  second  Adam.  Enoch's 
translation  was  the  only  miracle  in  over  1,700  years  be- 
tween Adam  and  the  Flood.  For  centuries  Israel  suffered 
in  Egypt  with  no  special  voice  from  heaven.  Only  rarely 
did  a  miracle  occur  during  the  centuries  from  Joshua  to 
David.  For  centuries  before  Christ  came,  God  withheld  all 
miracles.4  Also  in  the  New  Testament,  the  apostle  Paul  liv- 
ed to  see  the  passing  of  miracles. 

Concerning  the  "call"  to  the  ministry,  Dr.  Friesen  sees 
only  three  such  occurences  in  the  New  Testament  and  the 
apostle  Paul  did  not  see  his  calling  as  providing  a  pattern 
for  other  ministers.5 

Regarding  prophecy,  there  is  no  instance  of  a  prophecy 
being  regarded  as  guidance  in  the  New  Testament  after 
Pentecost  with  the  exception  of  Acts  21:4.  "Prophecies" 
in  which  one  tells  someone  else  he  is  "called"  to  the  ministry 
are  to  be  disregarded. 

Referring  to  fleecing,  is  it  valid  today  for  someone  con- 
sidering the  ministry  to  ask  for  a  "yes"  or  "no"  answer 
relating  to  whether  he  is  "called?"  This  approach  as  the 
other  approaches  are  not  viewed  as  appropriate  for  the 
Church  Age  and  it  cannot  be  considered  normative  for  the 
present  economy. 

.  .  ."the  call'  to  the  ministry  is  not  in- 
ternal or  mystical." 

Dr.  Hoyt  summed  it  up  well  by  saying,  "The  canon  of 
Scripture  is  closed,  and  apart  from  the  Bible  we  may  not 
speak  of  an  infallible  indication  of  God's  will."6 

Examination  of  the  specific  common  views  of  this  general 
approach  reveals  no  biblical  support.  "Feelings"  are  not  now 
and  never  were  any  indication  of  God's  will  on  any  topic, 
including  the  "call"  to  the  ministry.  Supernatural  revela- 
tions did  occur.  Yet  they  were  extremely  rare,  never  stated 
or  implied  as  a  prerequisite  for  the  minister  and  do  not  oc- 
cur in  this  Church  Age  in  any  form.  These  common  inter- 
nal and  mystical  views  of  the  "call"  are  biblically  found  want- 
ing, because  the  "call"  to  the  ministry  is  not  internal  or 
mystical.  "  D 

'James  Dobson,  Emotions:  Can  You  Trust  Them?  (Ventura.  Calif. :Regal 
Books,  1980),  p.  122. 

2M.  Blaine  Smith,  Knowing  God's  Will  (Downer's  Grove.  Ill:  lntervar- 
sity  Press,  1979),  p.  80. 

]CharIes  R.  Smith,  Can  You  Know  God's  Will  for  Your  Life?.  The  BMH 
Discusssion  Series,  6  (Winona  Lake.  Ind.:  BMH  Books.  1977).  p.  3. 

Mohn  C.  Whitcomb,  Does  God  Want  Christians  to  Perform  Miracles 
Today?.  BMH  Discussion  Series,  1  (Winona  Lake.  Ind.:  BMH  Books. 
1973).  pp.  5-6. 

■■Garry  Friesen  with  J.  Robin  Maxson,  Decision  Making  and  the  Will 
of  God:  A  Biblical  Alternative  to  the  Traditional  View  (Portland.  Oreg.: 
Multnomah  Press.  1980).  p.  313. 

'Herman  A.  Hoyt,  "The  Divine  Call  to  the  Ministry  of  Jesus  Christ." 
Grace  Journal  14  (1973):9. 


BMH 


A  1959  graduate  of  Grace  College.  Amos  Good  now  works  in  the  Pentagon. 


GRACE 


Grace  Editor's  Note  —  Amos  Good  was  elected 
the  1985  Grace  College  Alumnus  of  the  Year  We 
thank  him  for  representing  our  Lord  so  faithfully 
through  his  career. 


Minute  by  minute, 
Amos  Good  is  never 
sure  what  might  ap- 
pear on  his  desk. 

It  might  be  information  about  a 
brush  fire  in  Central  America.  Or 
maybe  a  request  for  boots  in  Tel 
Aviv.  Or,  possibly,  a  terrorist  attack 
in  Lebanon. 

"Something  new  comes  in  the 
in-box  about  every  15-minutes," 
Good  says.  "It's  kind  of  like  putting 
out  little  fires  all  over  the  world." 
Maybe  routine.  Maybe  a  crisis. 

The  job,  Good  says,  could  make 
a  rubber  room  your  home.  "It  could 
be  a  very  pressure-filled  job  if  you 
let  it.  It's  very  important  because  it 
could  have  repercussions  for  the 
world  we  live  in,"  Good  says. 

But  for  Amos  Good,  that's  where 
perspective  comes  in.  "There  are  a 
lot  more  important  things  than  my 
job,"  he  says  with  a  smile. 

Amos  Good's  job  title  is  chief  ad- 
ministrative assistant  to  the  chair- 
man of  the  joint  chiefs  of  staff. 
Compressed  and  translated:  the 
right  hand  man  of  the  highest  rank- 
ing general  in  the  country. 


That  may  sound  impressive,  but 
really  it's  nothing  when  put  in 
perspective.  Get  this,  Good  says: 
He  is,  and  only  by  grace,  a  son  of 
God.  The  friend  of  the  right  hand 
man  of  God. 

Amos  Good  sort  of  blows  away  the 
perception  of  a  man  who  works  in 
the  Pentagon.  The  images  of  a 
cigar-smoking,  quick-talking, 
impatient-Strangelovish  bully  of 
Commies  disappear  with  the  first 
word.  A  tape  recorder  can  hardly 
find  his  voice.  He  has  the  white  hair 
of  someone  you  respect.  He  talks 
with  reverence,  possibly  fear,  of 
God's  power  and  nuclear  war. 

He  quotes  the  apostle  Paul 
almost  constantly. 

He  looks  too  composed,  almost 
sanguine,  for  a  man  who  works 
mostly  12-hour  days  in  a  mega  G- 
force  job.  "The  thing  you  have  to 
realize  is  that  God  is  sovereign." 

Good's  job,  which  begins  before 
the  sun,  is  a  varied  one.  Routine 
and  crisis.  Local  and  global. 
"Basically  it  (the  job)  is  to  keep  the 
paperwork  flowing.  The  govern- 
ment has  tons  of  paperwork.  The 
requests  that  come  in  for  action  we 
have  to  determine  what  is  to  be 
done,  where  they  should  be  sent, 
and  how  much  time  is  needed  for 
action." 


i mm     *      *      *      *      * 

GENERAL 
CONCERN 


GRACE 


•**•• 


Good's  job,  essentially,  is  to  get  the 
necessary  information  to  people  who 
make  the  decisions.  That  information 
varies  —  from  requests  for  equip- 
ment to  troop  movements  to  hostage 
crises.  The  location  also  varies. 

"We  have  worldwide  command  — 
we  have  a  Pacific  command,  a  Euro- 
pean command,  a  Central  American 
command,  a  Middle  East  com- 
mand," Good  says.  "Constantly 
throughout  the  day  we  have 
messages  or  memorandums  coming 
in  throughout  the  world.  They  tell  us 
about  problems  and  what  conditions 
are  like." 

For  example,  Good  says,  he  could 
get  a  memorandum  about  troop 
movements  in  Honduras  or  possible 
terrorist  activity  in  Lebanon.  Judging 
by  the  size  of  the  world,  he  says,  he 
is  almost  always  dealing  with  some 
crisis. 

"There  is  almost  always  a  crisis," 
Good  says.  "When  you  have  to  deal 
with  the  whole  world,  there's  always 
bad  trouble  somewhere.  Even  when 
there  aren't  any  crises,  you  have  to 
stay  on  top  of  a  situation  to  deter- 
mine what  you  would  do  if  there  was 
one." 

Amos  Good,  a  1959  graduate  of 
Grace  College,  says  his  job  is  impor- 
tant. "The  ramifications  are  so  much 
greater  now  than  they  were  a  few 
years  ago,"  Good  says.  "Then,  one 
nation  could  not  destroy  another  na- 
tion with  one  blast.  The  implications 


are  much  broader.  Two  people  could 
have  an  altercation  in  some  remote 
part  of  the  world  and  it  could  end  up 
having  widespread  political  ramifica- 
tions." 

At  times,  Good  says,  the  amount 
of  information  can  almost  be  over- 
whelming. For  example,  the 
pressure,  hours  worked  and  informa- 
tion during  the  Iran  hostage  crisis  was 


"You  find  a  lot  of  key 
people  and  high  level 
people  who  are  very  in- 
terested in  spiritual 
things." 


tremendous.  Good  does  not  go  into 
details. 

"It  was  hectic,"  he  says. 

In  his  desk  drawer,  reserved  for 
times  when  things  get  crazy,  is  the  Bi- 
ble of  Amos  Good's  father.  Philip- 
pians  is  looking  a  little  ragged. 

"Be  anxious  for  nothing,  but  in 
everything  by  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion with  thanksgiving  let  your  re- 
quest be  made  known  to  God.  And 
the  peace  of  God,  which  surpasses 
all  comprehension,  shall  guard  your 
hearts  and  minds  in  Jesus  Christ." 

Amos  Good  could  probably  not 


handle  his  job  if  it  weren't  for  his  rela- 
tionship with  Jesus  Christ,  he  says. 
"I  know  a  lot  of  people  who  the  job 
is  the  most  important  thing  for  them. 
You  can  usually  tell  right  away  who 
they  are,"  he  says. 

Amos  Good's  job  is  at  least  third 
on  his  priority  list.  His  relationship 
with  Christ,  he  says,  comes  first;  his 
family,  second,  and  then  maybe  the 
job.  He  says  he  needs  to  keep  the 
spiritual  balance  to  maintain  the  rest 
of  his  life.  "Like  Paul  says,  the  most 
important  thing  is  to  be  faithful," 
Good  says. 

Surprisingly,  perhaps,  Good's 
spirituality  is  not  that  unusual  in  the 
Pentagon. 

"There  are  at  least  a  dozen  Bible 
study  groups  at  the  Pentagon,"  Good 
says.  "You  find  a  lot  of  key  people 
and  high-level  people  who  are  very 
much  interested  in  spiritual  things.  A 
lot  of  people  here  acknowledge  that 
there  is  a  God  and  that  we  are 
responsible  to  Him." 

Down  a  piece  of  the  17  miles  of 
corridor,  Amos  Good,  the  one-time 
church  furniture  salesman,  walks  in- 
to his  office  at  the  Pentagon.  In  his 
in-box  there  is  a  piece  of  paper  mark- 
ed 'Top  Secret.' 

To  the  rest  of  the  world,  it's  like  a 
scene  from  a  high-drama  spy  thriller. 
To  Good,  it  could  be  just  a  routine 
piece  of  work. 

And  if  not,  there's  always  his  dad's 
Bible,  ragged  at  Philippians.         □ 


LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
MARCH  1985 


In  Memory  of: 

Dr.  Glenn  O'Neal 
Mr.  Harry  N.  Duff 
Dr.  Norman  Uphouse 


Given  by: 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Clayton  Skellenger 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Charles  Kilgore 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  William  Reichelt 
Rev.  William  H.  Schaffer 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Milton  Marshall 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Dewey  Melton 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Alynn  Snyder 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Robert  C.  Landy 


8  MAY '85  GRACE 


Dr.  James  Boyer,  retired  Grace  Seminary  professor  and  developer  of  GRAMCORD 


Wmim  &  GR/MNDFA 


Dr.  James  Boyer,  contrary  to  his 
trappings,  is  not  the  retiring  sort. 

Pay  no  attention  to  his  winter  home 
in  Florida.  Or  his  plans  to  buy  a  fishing 
boat.  Or  the  sign  that  hangs  on  his 
wall:  Lucky  To  Have  a  Grandpa  Like 
You. 

Dr.  Boyer,  for  the  most  part,  is  not 
living  a  life  of  horseshoes  and 
hammocks. 

Since  his  retirement  six  years  ago  as 
a  professor  at  Grace  Theological 
Seminary,  Dr.  Boyer  has  done 
anything  but  fade  away. 

He  sometimes  works  14  hours  a 
day,  typing  and  loading  and  beeping 


his  256  K  Compaq  computer  in  the 
corner  of  his  living  room. 

And  what  Dr.  Boyer  has  done  and 
is  doing,  without  being  asked  or  paid, 
is  remarkable. 

Perhaps,  revolutionary. 

Dr.  Boyer  calls  it  GRAMCORD,  a 
catchword  for  a  grammar  concor- 
dance. It  is  the  result  of  years  and  years 
of  work. 

GRAMCORD  allows  a  user  to 
search  out  different  grammatical  con- 
structions in  New  Testament  Greek 
much  the  same  way  a  concordance 
allows  for  individual  word  studies. 

Dr.  Boyer  said  he  became  convinc- 


ed of  the  need  for  a  grammar  concor- 
dance when  he  was  still  teaching 
Greek  at  Grace. 

"Language  is  grammar,"  Dr.  Boyer 
says.  "Grammatical  constructions 
become  the  means  of  language.  We 
put  sentences  together  in  grammatical 
constructions.  You  change  the  struc- 
ture and  you  change  the  meaning. 

"We've  always  known  about  these 
constructions  and  how  important  they 
were  but  we  have  had  no  way  up  un- 
til now  of  getting  them  together  for 
comparative  study.  Now  we  can." 

The  reasons  for  the  breakthrough? 
New  technology  and  old-fashioned 


GRACE 


hard  work. 

For  a  couple  of  years,  Dr.  Boyer 
has  been  working  on  a  database  for 
the  system.  That  involved  catalogu- 
ing each  of  the  more  than  138,000 
words  in  the  New  Testament.  For  ex- 
ample, nouns  were  parsed  according 
to  gender,  number  and  case.  Verbs 
identified  with  tense,  voice,  person, 
number  and  mood.  Something  as 
seemingly  simple  as  a  conjunction 
would  be  broken  down  as  to  kind  — 
purpose,  result  or  source  and  so  on. 

Every  type  of  grammatical  unit 
was  identified  —  participle,  infinitive, 
genitive  absolute,  preposition  .  .  . 
whatever. 

Boyer  gave  his  work  to  Paul  Miller, 
a  computer  programmer  and  now  a 
staff  member  at  Trinity  Evangelical 
Divinity  School.  Miller  wrote  a  pro- 
gram to  store  the  database.  The  com- 
puter will  also  display  verses, 
chapters  or  sections  in  the  New 
Testament  with  each  word 
catalogued  according  to  its  gram- 
matical function. 

The  printouts  from  the  database 
piled  more  than  eight  inches  high. 

Miller  then  worked  out  programs 
to  sort  and  retrieve  individual  gram- 
matical units.  For  example,  say  a  per- 
son wanted  to  find  and  compare  all 
of  the  infinitives  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment. A  series  of  commands  could 
be  written  and  the  computer  would 
print  out  all  infinitives. 

Context  can  also  be  controlled. 
The  computer  will  list  however  many 
words  of  context  (before  and  after) 
that  are  desired.  Also,  individual 
books  of  the  Bible  or  sections  of  that 
book  can  be  specified. 

Different  types  of  infinitives  could 
also  be  broken  down.  The  computer, 
for  example,  lists  the  infinitives  with 
nominative  articles  or  genitive  ar- 
ticles. After  the  infinitives  are  listed, 
the  computer  counts  the  number  of 
constructions  and  breaks  them  down 
by  books  of  the  Bible. 

Infinitives  are  just  an  example.  The 
same  can  be  done  with  every  gram- 
matical unit  —  genitive  absolutes,  ac- 
cusatives of  general  reference,  par- 
ticiples, relative  clauses,  and  so  on. 
In  fact,  Boyer  says,  the  possibilities 


are  endless: 

"There  is  no  end  as  to  what  can 
be  done  with  this  program,"  Boyer 
says.  "As  soon  as  you  set  up  a  cer- 
tain number  of  constructions  and 
show  them,  another  scholar  can 
name  that  many  more  and  do  a 
study  on  them.  There  is  no  such 
thing  as  completing  the  GRAM- 
CORD  program  and  having  it  done. 

"It  is  really  a  tool.  It's  like  a  ham- 
mer. The  job  of  a  hammer  isn't  done 
when  you  finish  building  a  particular 
house.  It  can  be  used  to  build  other 


GRAMCORD  allows  a 
user  to  search  out  dif- 
ferent grammatical 
constructions  in  New 
Testament  Greek  much 
the  same  way  a  concor- 
dance allows  for  in- 
dividual word  studies. 


houses.  This  tool  will  be  around  and 
available  when  anyone  runs  into  a 
problem  anytime." 

Boyer  does  not  think  GRAM- 
CORD  will  redefine  the  meaning  of 
the  New  Testament. 

"I  think  it's  going  to  make  it  possi- 
ble to  check  things  and  answer  some 
of  the  borderline  questions  that 
before  couldn't  be  answered,"  Boyer 
says.  "In  any  case  it  will  make  us 
more  confident.  We  can  say  that  this 
is  how  a  construction  is  used." 

For  example,  Boyer  recently  used 
GRAMCORD  to  complete  a  study  of 
a  purpose  clause  that  appears  in  1 
Peter  3:1. 

The  passage  refers  to  a  wife  win- 
ning an  unbelieving  husband  to  the 
Lord  by  her  actions.  The  purpose 
clause  in  this  passage  uses  the  in- 
dicative mood  —  one  which  implies 
certainty.    Normally,    the    purpose 


clause  uses  the  subjunctive  —  a 
mood  of  contingency  (doubt  to  the 
outcome). 

Because  of  this  construction,  some 
have  said  the  passage  guaranteed  an 
unbelieving  husband's  conversion. 

The  GRAMCORD  allowed  Boyer 
to  examine  and  compare  other  pur- 
pose clauses  used  in  a  similar  man- 
ner elsewhere  in  the  New  Testament. 
His  finding?  A  purpose  clause  with 
the  indicative  does  not  always  mean 
certainty.  Therefore,  there  is  no 
guarantee  that  an  unbelieving  hus- 
band will  be  saved. 

Boyer  has  also  done  studies  on  the 
use  of  imperatives,  participles  and  in- 
finitives. He  says  the  results  have  sur- 
prised him:  "I've  learned  some  things 
that  I  had  not  been  aware  of  even 
after  30  years  of  teaching  Greek." 

Currently,  the  program  is  just 
beginning  to  be  used.  Grace  and 
Trinity  have  installed  the  program  in- 
to their  main  computers  and  are  of- 
fering courses. 

The  program  has  also  been  leased 
out  to  other  schools.  Also,  some  of 
the  leading  scholars  in  New  Testa- 
ment studies  have  shown  interest  in 
the  program,  Boyer  says. 

Software  is  available  on  a  limited 
basis  through  Trinity  Evangelical 
Divinity  School.  For  qualified 
scholars  with  access  to  a  computer 
with  256  K  memory,  the  program 
can  be  purchased  for  about  $500. 
Eventually,  it  is  hoped  the  program 
will  be  marketed  by  a  software  com- 
pany which  supplies  pastors  and 
churches. 

GRAMCORD  is  not  without  its 
limitations.  Its  database,  for  the  most 
part,  is  based  only  on  Boyer's 
opinion.  However,  there  has  been 
some  comparison  with  another 
database  and  other  scholars  have 
checked  "trouble  words." 

Also  the  program,  at  times,  is  dif- 
ficult to  run:  "Some  of  the  com- 
mands are  rather  cumbersome," 
Boyer  says. 

There  is  one  final  limitation.  If  one 
could  call  it  that.  "It  still  only  supplies 
a  list  a  raw  data,"  Boyer  says.  "You 
still  have  to  do  the  studying."       □ 


10 


GRACE 


Corporation 

Given  By: 

The 

Gannett  Foundation 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  James  Williamson 

m&m® 

Bristol  Myers 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Donald  Cole 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Norman  Roberts 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Gary  Tanner 

SOW 

Caterpillar  Tractor 
G.D.  Searle 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Emmanuel  Baer 
Mr.  Clayton  Hans 

Program 

Sperry  Rand 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Wayne  Walther 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Stanley  Makofka 

AMP,  Inc. 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Ken  Sanders 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Steven  Watkins 

A  Blessing  to 

Hunt  Manufacturing 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Willaim  Spilman 

Grace  Schools 

Morton  Thiokol,  Inc. 
SYVA 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Carl  Jentes 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  John  Cottrell 

General  Foods,  Inc. 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Jeff  Bowling 

Preferred  Risk 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Gordon  Knight 

A  Second  Volume  in 

The  MACARTHUR  New 

Testament  Commentary 

by  JOHN  MACARTHUR,  JR. 


BMH  BOOKS  is  co-publishing 
the  MacARTHUR'S  New  Testament 
Commentary  with  Moody  Press. 
The  second  in  the  series  is  now 
available  —  1  Corinthians. 


JOHN  MACARTHUR  JR.  is  pastor  of  Grace  Community  Church  of  the 
Valley,  Panorama  City,  California.  He  is  known  to  Brethren  people  through  his 
appearances  at  national  conference  and  as  a  speaker  at  the  Grace  Bible 
Conferences.  He  is  heard  often  as  a  radio  speaker. 

SPECIAL  INTRODUCTORY  OFFER 

1  Corinthians,  reg.  price  $14.95,  special  at  $11.95.  (If  you  would  also  like  to 
purchase  Hebrews,  the  first  volume  in  this  series,  it  is  priced  at  $12.95.) 
BONUS  OFFER!  1  CORINTHIANS  AND  HEBREWS,  $24.00 

Please  include  a  check  with  your  order  and  we  pay  postage. 


Pastor  John  MacArthur,  Jr. 


Herald  Ministries 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
BMH    MAY 


11 


Finding 
Our  Lives 


by  Sue  Weaver, 
Missionary  to  France 


Being  in  language  school  has  taught  me  not  only  zillions 
of  French  nouns,  pronouns,  and  verbs,  but  how  much  we 
use  language— writing  checks,  reading  food  labels,  using 
recipes,  understanding  road  signs,  and  talking  to  my  kids' 
school  teachers  all  require  French. 

Not  being  able  to  do  these  things,  well,  makes  me  feel 
like  I'm  not  a  very  smart  person!  It's  embarassing  at  age 
31  to  have  to  ask  the  man  at  the  bookstore  how  to  spell 
"sixteen"  so  you  can  write  it  on  your  check. 

Though  we  speak  French  all  day  at  school,  we  are  speak- 
ing it  to  other  students  who  have  had  the  same  vocabulary 
lessons  and  dialogues  that  we've  had.  When  we  go 
downtown,  the  people  don't  always  use  the  words  we  have 
studied! 

We  ask  people  to  repeat  things  for  us,  and  we  are 
asked  to  repeat  things,  too.  Sometimes  we  are  so  pleased 
that  we've  communicated  so  well.  Then  there  are  days  it 
seems  we  will  never  get  the  language  right. 

After  one  particularly  discouraging  weekend,  during 
which  it  seemed  that  neither  my  professor  nor  the  Albert- 
ville  merchants  were  understanding  my  French,  it  "got  to 
me."  I  had  a  good  cry.  The  Lord  brought  to  my  mind  the 
verse  that  says,  "Whoever  loses  his  life  for  My  sake  will 
find  it." 

I  think  we  all  sometimes  feel  like  we  are  losing  our  lives 
in  the  lives  of  our  husbands  or  children  or  friends,  or  in 
some  other  job  God  has  given  us  to  do.  But,  He  has  pro- 
mised that  if  we  lose  our  lives  for  His  sake,  we  will  find 
them. 

And  He  is  faithful  to  His  promises.  □ 


Beginnings  in  Germany  — 

(Continued  from  page  33) 

of  evangelism  and  God's  clear  working  through  other  chan- 
nels, contact  was  gained  with  a  group  of  believers  in  a  near- 
by city  who  were  interested  in  establishing  a  New  Testa- 
ment local  church. 

These  indications  of  God's  special  working  demonstrates 
God's  love  and  patience  with  His  Church  in  Stuttgart. 

Progress  is  being  made.  It  seems  obvious  that  this  group 
will  reach  maturity  as  an  indigenous  church  if  God's  peo- 
ple continue  to  pray  urgently  for  such  a  working. 

Now  when  you  hear  the  word  "Germany",  think  of  a 
country  where  God  is  working  and  planting  His  Church. 


—  The  Florida  District  WMC  held  training 
sessions  at  its  Fall  Rally  for  local  officers  and 
leaders.  The  respective  district  officers  lead  the 
sessions. 


—  One  WMC  circle  rented  a  local  gym  for 
an  evening  and  invited  the  SMM  girls.  The 
women  and  girls  enjoyed  a  fun  evening  of  play- 
ing volleyball  and  other  games.  Plus,  it  was  a 
good  opportunity  for  both  groups  to  get  to 
know  one  another  better. 


—  If  you  haven't  read  the  reading  circle 
books  for  this  year,  be  sure  you  do!  The  stories 
are  very  interesting  and  will  have  an  impact  on 
your  life. 


—  The  New  Troy,  Michigan,  WMC  took  a 
trip  to  many  places  of  the  world  during  one  of 
their  meetings.  When  they  arrived  at  the 
church,  big  arrival  and  departure  signs  were 
posted.  Each  lady  was  given  a  ticket  with  the 
Bible  verse  on  the  back.  Their  "plane"  was  ar- 
ranged with  three  seats  on  each  side  of  the  ai- 
sle with  red,  white,  and  blue  streamers  down 
the  outside  of  the  plane.  Many  had  never  flown 
before. 


12 


WMC 


Women 

Manifesting 

ehrist 


President  Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  10  E.  Luray 

Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
First  Vice  President:  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman, 

2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado 

Springs,  CO  90810 
Second  Vice  President  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix, 

3314  Kenwick  Tr.  SW,  Roanoke,  VA 

24018 
Secretary:  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  R.  3,  La 

Porte  City,  IA  50651 
Assistant  Secretary:  Mrs.  Cinny  Sellers, 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  Ml 

49099 
Financial  Secretary  Treasurer  Miss  Joyce 

Ashman,  602  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Ass't  Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Mrs. 

Donna  Miller,  R.  8,  Box  277,  War- 
saw, IN  46580 
Literature  Secretary:  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter, 

R.  8,  Box  292,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Editor:  Miss  Nora  Macon,  705  Terrace  Dr., 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Prayer  Chairman:  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams,  R.  4, 

Box  94-A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 


July  1985 

(If  no  address  is  listed,  the  address  can  be  found  in  the  1985  Brethren 
Annual,  pages  38-40) 

Argentina 

Elizabet  Hoyt July  4,  1978 

Brazil 

Jonathan  Miller July  10,  1983 

Stephanie  Miller  July  16,  1978 

Rev.  Earle  Hodgdon July  18 

Central  African  Republic 

Mrs.  Karen  Daugherty   July  4 

Miss  Carolyn  Kodear July  7 

Sean  Daugherty July  8.  1983 

Miss  Cheryl  Kaufman July  10 

Dr.  Don  Hocking July  15 

Miss  Marian  Thurston  July  24 

Rev.  Tom  Stalker July  26 

Miss  Margaret  Hull July  27 

England 

Erica  Kowalke  July  28.  1983 

France 

Mrs.  Kathy  Harrell July  20 

Mrs.  Soni  Viers July  20 

Rev.  Jim  Hocking July  20 

Ryan  Hobert July  29,  1978 

Mrs.  Susie  Hobert July  3 1 

Germany 

Miss  Jane  Fretz July  8 

Kristina  Ramsey July  27,  1983 

Japan 

Seth  Graham  July  14.  1978 

Mexico 

Rev.  Tom  Sharp July  19 

Rev.  James  Schaefer  July  29 

Philippines 

Rev.  Ted  Ruiz July  14 

In  the  United  States 

Mrs.  Donna  Walker July  1 

Rev.  Bob  Williams July  15 

Mark  Austin July  23.  1968 

Lisa  Immel July  26,  1966 

ffiffermg  ©pportmttttes 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 

Sango  Literature  Fund 

Goal:  $10,000 

Send  before  June  10,  1985 

This  offering  will  go  toward  the  printing  of  much-needed 
literature  written  in  Sango.  Some  of  the  literature  printed 
will  include  OTN  (WMC)  materials,  youth  work  material, 
lesson  books  for  SMM  and  the  boys'  work.  Our  African 
Brethren  are  crying  for  this  material. 

The  Birthday  offering  that  is  received  during  the  year 
needs  to  be  sent  before  June  10,  1985.  This  money  goes 
toward  the  support  of  the  WMC  Birthday  Missionaries.  Na- 
tional WMC  suggests  a  minimum  of  $1.50  a  year  per 
member. 


WMC 


13 


Self-Support?  NO  WAY! 


by  Don  Soule 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

Anderson,  S.C. 

When  asked  to  write  an  article  on  going  self-support, 
my  mind  immediately  began  to  consider  the  term  "self- 
support."  1  thought  yes,  in  one  sense  we  do  want  to  be 
self-support;  but  there  is  another  part  of  me  that  says  "No 
Way!"  What  I  mean,  of  course,  is  that  a  child  of  God  is 
never  "self-support,"  but  for  lack  of  a  better  term  we  use 
it  to  describe  a  church  being  weaned  from  financial 
assistance  from  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council. 

Let  me  share  with  you  a  brief  history  of  the  church  in 
Anderson.  S.C.,  and  what  "self-support"  does  and  doesn't 
mean  to  us. 

In  the  fall  of  1972,  a  Bible  class  was  started  in  the  home 
of  Jack  and  Jane  Broyles.  Then,  in  November  1973,  Pastor 
Marion  Thomas  and  his  wife,  Yvonne,  came  to  Anderson 
to  lead  the  work.  An  organizational  business  meeting  was 
held  on  November  11,  1973,  and  the  result  was  the 
establishment  of  the  first  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  South 
Carolina! 

In  1978,  my  wife  and  I  came  to  Anderson  to  get  our 
"feet  wet"  in  the  pastoral  ministry,  working  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Rev.  Ray  Feather.  Since  that  time,  God  has  taught 
us  much  about  ourselves  and  the  ministry.  In  April  1983, 
the  church  called  me  to  become  the  senior  pastor  and 
God's  grace  has  been  sufficient  over  these  last  two  years 
to  keep  us  going  for  Him.  (Rev.  Ralph  Burns  has  also 
ministered  here.) 

What  Self-Support  Does  Mean 

First,  it  means  that  by  faith  we  as  a  local  church  are  go- 
ing to  trust  God  to  provide  our  material  needs.  We  claim 


1  Timothy  6:17  that  we  do  not  trust  in  uncertain  riches  but 
in  the  living  God,  who  giveth  us  richly  all  things  to  enjoy. 
We  are  not  trusting  in  our  ability  to  bring  in  the  necessary 
funds  to  keep  the  church  operating,  but  rather  in  the  God 
who  gives  us  the  ability  to  get  wealth  (Deut.  8:18).  We  have 
never  had  an  over-abundance  of  wealth,  but  God  has 
always  met  our  need  in  some  way  or  another.  I  am  so 
thankful  to  God  for  the  financial  closeness  of  our  church 
because  it  keeps  us  close  to  Him. 

Secondly,  "self-support"  means  that  we  as  members  of 
the  local  church  are  willing  to  trust  God  by  giving  sacrificial- 
ly.  It  is  nothing  to  give  to  God  what  we  can  easily  do 


Groundbreaking  at  Anderson  on  June  13,  1976 


Anderson,  S.C.,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


without,  but  a  true  heart  of  thankfulness  will  give  sacrificial- 
ly.  I  am  amazed  at  the  sacrificial  giving  on  the  part  of  many 
of  our  people  here  in  Anderson. 

Thirdly,  going  self-support  means  we  can  concentrate 
more  on  giving  than  receiving-.  We  have  always  stressed 
the  importance  of  giving  to  missions,  but  now  we  will  see 
the  funds  that  came  to  us  from  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions and  the  Southern  District  Mission  Board  channeled 
into  other  new  works  which  will  proclaim  the  word  in  those 
communities. 

In  addition  to  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions,  the  former 
Southeast  District  and  the  current  Southern  District  have 
faithfully  supported  us  in  Anderson.  Now  as  we  go  self- 
support,  we  desire  to  become  more  involved  in  planting 
new  churches  in  our  district.  The  Southern  District  is  young 
and  small  in  church  numbers,  but  large  in  potential.  We 
cover  four  states  with  only  seven  churches,  two  of  which 
are  home  mission  churches,  with  only  about  500  members 
in  the  entire  District.  With  this  room  for  growth,  we  at 
Anderson  want  to  be  a  contributing  factor  to  the  develop- 
ment of  new  Grace  Brethren  Churches  throughout  the 
south. 

What  Self-Support  Does  Not  Mean 

Going  self-support  does  not  mean  separating  ourselves 
from  the  wisdom  and  counsel  of  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Missions.  We  have  profited  from  their  support  and  we  in- 
tend to  keep  close  contact  with  them. 

Becoming  self-support  does  not  mean  that  we  become 
prideful  and  say,  "Look  what  we  have  done,"  because  it 
is  all  the  Lord's  working.  We  are  laboring  in  vain  if  this  is 
man's  work. 

Self-support  does  not  mean  we  become  independent 
of  the  support  of  other  churches  and  believers  within  our 
Fellowship.  The  encouragement  of  others  in  the  Fellowship 
of  Grace  Brethren  Churches  is  so  important— we  feel 
separated  from  them  due  to  distance.  We  constantly  need 


the  prayer  support  of  believers  across  this  Fellowship  and 
that  is  important  now  more  than  ever. 

We  also  want  to  be  an  encouragement  to  other  Grace 
Brethren  people.  Let  us  beware  that  we  do  not  become 
independent  of  each  other  for  then  we  may  fail  to  see  and 
meet  the  need  of  other  believers  or  churches. 

Self-support?  Financially  from  the  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Mission  Council  and  the  Southern  District  Mission  Board? 
Yes. 

From  the  fellowship  of  other  believers  and  Grace 
Brethren  Churches  and  from  God?  No  Way! 


Don  Soule  has  been 
pastor  of  the  ■  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at 
Anderson,  S.C.  since 
June,  1983.  Prior  to  that,  he  served  as  assistant 
pastor  on  a  voluntary  basis.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
Washington  Bible  College  and  is  married  to  the 
former  Cindy  Robey.  The  Soules  have  one  daughter, 
Carrie  Ann. 


GBHMC 


15 


Sermon 
Month  CD 


16    MAY  '85  GBHMC 


by  Gary  Nolan,  Former  Pastor 

Coast  Community  Grace  Brethren  Church 

Laguna  Niguel,  Calif. 


Psychology  teaches  us  the  tremendous  significance  of 
the  thought  life  in  determining  who  we  are  and  what  we 
are  becoming.  We  are  learning  that  a  person  can  literally 
think  his  way  to  success  or  failure.  You  think  about 
something  hard  enough  and  long  enough  and  you  are  just 
liable  to  do  it. 

The  amazing  thing  to  me  is  that  the  Bible  has  been  say- 
ing this  for  thousands  of  years.  Long  before  psychology 
made  the  scene,  the  Bible  was  informing  us  of  the  tremen- 
dous importance  of  the  thought  life.  For  example  the 
Bible  says: 

"For  as  he  thinks  within  himself  so  he  is."  (Proverbs  23:7 
NASB) 

"Watch  over  your  heart  with  all  diligence  for  from  it  flow 
the  springs  of  life."  (Proverbs  4:23  NASB) 

The  Bible  uses  the  word  "heart"  in  a  sense  of  "the  heart 
of  the  matter,"  or  "the  core  of  man's  being."  Out  of  this  core 
of  being  emanates  man's  mental  activity,  emotions  and 
feelings. 

Out  of  your  thought  life  are  the  issues  of  life  is  what  the 
verse  is  saying.  A  rudder  on  a  ship  is  a  very  small  part  of 
the  total  bulk  of  the  ship,  and  yet  the  direction  of  the  rud- 
der determines  the  direction  of  the  entire  ship.  When  the 
rudder  turns,  the  whole  ship  turns.  By  the  same  token;  your 
thoughts  determine  the  direction  of  your  life.  What  you  say 
with  your  mouth,  what  you  do  with  your  hands  and  where 
you  go  with  your  feet.  It's  what  causes  you  to  act  the  way 
you  do.  Matthew  12:34  states,  "...  for  the  mouth  speaks 
out  of  that  which  fills  the  heart",  and  Matthew  15:18  and 
19  reveals  that,  "the  things  that  proceed  out  of  the  mouth 
come  from  the  heart.  .  .  for  out  of  the  heart  come  evil 
thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  fornications,  thefts,  false 
witness,  slanders." 

You  will  never  be  the  type  of  person  you  want  to  be  or 
would  be  until  you  learn  to  control  your  thoughts.  It  takes 
a  discipline  of  the  mind,  a  guarding  against  the  thoughts 
that  defile  you  mentally  before  you  can  be  the  Christian 
God  wants  you  to  be.  I  would  like  to  suggest  three  things 
to  help  you  discipline  your  mind: 

1.  Challenge  —You  have  to  want  it!  No  one  wants 
discipline  normally.  But  you  have  to  want  to  be  above  the 
normal.  If  you  are  tired  of  being  guilty  for  what  you  have 
done  and  thought,  you  feel  that  you  have  not  accomplish- 
ed much  for  God  in  your  life.  If  you  are  tired  enough  to 
want  to  change  and  are  willing  to  do  what  is  necessary, 
then  you  are  ready  for  the  challenge. 

2.  Commitment—  The  challenge  is  to  commit  yourself 
to  God  because  He  is  the  one  who  changes  lives.  The  way 
you  commit  yourself  to  God  is  to  commit  your  thoughts, 
your  mind.  This  commitment  is  found  in  Romans  12:1-2: 

J  urge  you  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God, 
to  present  your  bodies  a  living  and  holy  sacrifice,  accep- 


table to  God,  which  is  your  spiritual  service  of  worship. 
And  do  not  be  conformed  to  this  world,  but  be  transform- 
ed by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  you  may  prove  what 
the  will  of  God  is,  that  which  is  good  and  acceptable  and 
perfect."  (NASB) 

"To  present  yourself  to  God"  speaks  of  commitment. 
"Present"  carries  the  idea  of  turning  yourself  over  to 
another.  We  are  to  present  our  bodies  to  Him  by  decisive 
action.  Your  "body"  in  this  statement  involves  your  total 
person  which  includes  your  mental  machinery  since  it 
specifies  "living."  It  is  in  the  active  voice  so  it  is  talking  about 
something  that  is  to  be  done.  "Do  not  be  conformed.  .  . 
but  be  transformed"  in  verse  two  are  in  the  passive  voice 
so  they  are  being  acted  upon.  This  means  if  we  meet  the 
condition  of  presenting  our  bodies  and  minds  to  God  then 
we  will  not  be  allowing  the  world  to  conform  us,  but  rather 
will  be  allowing  the  Holy  Spirit  to  transform  us.  We  have 
two  possibilites  each  day.  Either  the  world  is  conforming 
us,  or  the  Holy  Spirit  is  transforming  us.  If  you  are  in  a 
state  of  commitment,  you  are  being  transformed,  and  if 
you  are  not  in  a  state  of  commitment  you  are  being  con- 
formed to  the  world.  This  is  taking  place  in  the  "renewing 
of  the  mind"  as  your  thought  life  is  committed  to  God. 

3.  Contemplate  — You  must  spend  time  concentrating  on 
the  things  of  God.  It  means  to  consider,  give  continued 
attention  to,  to  meditate  on  the  presence  of  God  in  your 
life  and  allow  Him  to  teach  you  and  mold  you  through  His 
Book,  the  Bible,  and  in  turn  you  sharing  your  life  with  Him 
through  Prayer. 

In  Philippians  4:7,  Paul  says  "And  the  peace  of  God, 
which  surpasses  all  comprehension,  shall  guard  your  hearts 
and  your  minds  in  Jesus  Christ."  He  then  lists  things  that 
have  Godly  excellence,  are  worthy  of  praise,  and  on  which 
we  are  to  "Let  our  mind  dwell  on."  Paul  is  saying  to  be  con- 
tantly  thinking  about  the  truths  of  God  because  in  verse 
9  he  promises,  ".  .  .  and  the  God  of  peace  shall  be  with 
you." 

The  disciples  on  the  road  to  Emmaus,  after  they  realiz- 
ed Jesus  Christ  had  been  walking  with  them,  reflected  on 
the  delightful  experience  by  saying,  ".  .  .  Were  not  our 
hearts  burning  within  us  while  He  was  speaking  to  us  on 
the  road,  while  He  was  explaining  the  Scripture  to  us?" 
Jesus  Christ  is  still  burning  hearts  today  but  only  those 
hearts  and  minds  that  are  willing  to  give  him  contemplative 
time. 

This  world  is  throwing  out  everything  possible  to  con- 
form us  to  its  ways.  Unless  we  are  willing  to  accept  the 
challenge  and  make  the  commitment  of  giving  our  thought 
life  to  God,  we  will  not  experience  Christianity  the  way  God 
intended  it  to  be  lived.  "For  whatever  that  has  overcome 
the  world— our  faith"  (I  John  5:4  NASB).  'So  faith  comes 
from  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  Christ"  (Romans 
10:17  NASB). 

God  wants  to  change  our  lives.  He  wants  us  to  be  more 
like  Him,  but  most  of  all  He  wants  our  minds — our  thought 
life.  When  we  give  it  to  Him  He  fills  us  with  His  Spirit  and 
gives  us  the  abundant  life  He  has  promised.  D 


GBHMC 


17 


It's  been  a  long  time  coming,  but  after  12  years  and  a 
false  start,  the  Santa  Maria,  Calif.,  Grace  Brethren  Church 
is  self-supporting!  As  of  January  1,  the  local  congregation 
has  taken  the  full  responsibility  of  their  financial  obligations. 

But  the  trek  hasn't  been  easy. 

Originally  founded  in  1966,  the  church  was  a  part  of 
Home  Missions  until  1974.  At  that  time,  they  went  self- 
supporting,  only  to  find  themselves  in  difficult  straits  in  1977 
and  back  under  the  support  of  the  Council.  Under  the 
ministries  of  Rolland  Coburn  and  now  Ralph  Schwartz,  the 
church  is  recovering  and  beginning  to  grow.  But  even 


then,  times  have  been  tough. 

The  road  to  self-support  status  has  been  a  rocky  one, 
as  the  congregation  struggled  toward  their  goal.  Insurance 
premiums  for  the  pastor  and  his  family  rose,  payments 
on  their  used  church  building  were  sometimes  difficult  to 
reach,  and  then,  a  few  families  left  the  congregation,  mak- 
ing the  financial  picture  even  bleaker. 

"I'd  say  we  lost  15  members,"  recalled  Schwartz  recent- 
ly. "Evidently,  the  Lord  wasn't  too  upset  with  that,  because 
He's  given  us  other  people  and  our  finances  really  haven't 
been  hurt,  to  speak  of,"  he  added.  "The  Lord's  been  with 
us  through  it  all,  and  we're  excited  about  being  self- 
supporting.  I  think  the  goal  was  there  for  so  long,  that  we 
didn't  know  if  we  were  going  to  make  it." 

The  congregation  purchased  their  facility  from  another 
church  in  1975.  And  that  even  is  a  drawback  at  times. 

"Our  sanctuary  is  too  big  for  us,"  the  pastor  admitted. 
"It  makes  new  people  feel  like  something  has  died  here. 
We  try  always  to  explain  that  we  were  able  to  purchase 
this  building  from  another  church  that  moved  out."  But  the 
rest  of  the  building,  he  said,  "just  fits." 

The  Santa  Maria  Grace  Brethren  Church  is  one  of  a 
handful  of  evangelical  congregations  in  the  community  of 


The  12 

To  Set 


b 
Promc 


18    MAY   85GBHM 


34,000  people  which  are  attempting  to  meet  the  needs  of 
the  area,  according  to  Schwartz. 

"As  I  came  here  to  this  very  beautiful  area  of  the  central 
California  coast,  I  saw  a  tremendous  need,"  he  recalled  his 
first  visit  to  the  field  in  1980.  "I  looked  at  the  church  ads 
in  the  newspaper  and  realized  there  were  only  a  couple 
of  churches  that  I  would  even  think  of  attending,"  the 
former  missionary  to  Brazil  added.  "As  I've  ministered  here, 
1  realize  that  it's  still  the  case.  There  are  very  few  Bible 
teaching  and  preaching  churches." 

Contacts  with  unbelievers  are  made  through  visiting  new 
parents  or  new  residents  in  the  community,  and  by  en- 
couraging church  members  to  evangelize  their  neighbors. 

"Our  challenge  is  to  mobilize  our  people  to  recognize 
the  opportunity  and  to  begin  to  tap  it,  for  the  Lord  and 
for  the  ministry  here,"  said  the  pastor.  "I  think  our  self- 
support  status,  at  least  on  the  part  of  many  of  them,  is  an 
encouragement  to  do  that,"  he  added. 

For  1985,  the  congregation  has  adopted  seven  goals 
which  focus  on  the  spiritual  and  social  growth  of  the  church, 
and  sets  some  specific  suggestions  for  reaching  the  com- 
munity of  Christ.  Various  committees  have  been  formed 
to  address  each  of  the  goals. 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


Ralph  and  Martha 
Schwartz,  pastor 
of  the  Santa 
Maria  Grace 
Brethren  Church. 


r  Road 
jpport 


r 
retary 


GBHMC   MAY  85  19 


The  12-Year  Road 

(Continued  from  page  19) 

"The  committees  are  to  use  the  people  of  the  church," 
explained  the  pastor.  "Anyone  who  wants  to  be  involved 
can  serve  on  a  committee,"  he  added.  Even  non-member 
attenders  are  permitted  to  serve.  "We  want  to  spread  that 
responsibility  and  feeling  of  belonging  as  widely  as  we 
possibly  can." 

Schwartz  is  confident  the  self-support  step  is  in  God's 
timing.  "As  a  result,"  he  said,  "We  have  every  intention  of 
making  it."  d 


Santa  Maria's  Goals 


The  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Santa  Maria,  Calif, 
has  established  seven  goals  for  1985  for  spiritual  and 
social  growth  within  the  congregation  and  their  com- 
munity. The  foundation  of  their  plan  is  based  on 
Isaiah  54:2,  "Enlarge  the  place  of  your  tent." 

1.  Men's  and  women's  Bible  study  groups  which 
will  encourage  the  spiritual  and  social  growth  of  the 
church  body. 

2.  The  attaining  and  maintaining  of  the  self-support 
status  of  Grace  Brethren  Church  with  the  goal  of 
assuming  the  total  mortgage  on  our  building. 


3.  That  an  outreach  program  to  contact  new  peo- 
ple be  established  and  that  we  ask  God  to  help  us 
reach  five  new  families  this  year. 

4.  That  our  Sunday  School  teachers  have  both  the 
opportunity  and  responsibility  to  be  exposed  to  a 
teacher  training  and  development  program. 

5.  That  we  recognize  the  importance  of  music  in 
the  praise  and  worship  of  God  and  seek  ways  to 
develop  a  strong  music  ministry  including  prayer  for 
a  music  director. 

6.  That  we  seek  ways  to  maintain  and  improve  our 
church  facility  including  new  carpeting  when  feasible. 


7.  That  youth  programs  be  developed  to  attract 
and  retain  the  interest  of  our  young  people. 


20 


GBHMC 


Build  A 
Nest  Egg 

For  God 


A  deposit  in  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 
will  not  only  help  you  meet  personal  financial  goals,  it 
will  create  a  nest  egg  to  help  in  the  Lord's  work.  Funds 
placed  in  the  GBIF  are  used  to  help  growing  Grace 
Brethren  churches  construct  new  facilities  and  purchase 
needed  equipment  —  at  a  cost  below  commercial  loan 
rates. 

Build  a  nest  egg  for  the  Lord  with  an  investment  in  the 
GBIF! 


Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 

Box  587  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
(219)  267-5161 


J 


3  CO 


an 


Who  Murdered  Mighty  Mediocrity? 


—a  GBC  Murder  Mystery- 

by  Paul  Mutchler 


Mighty  Mediocrity  (they  called  him  Mighty  because  he  had  such  a  powerful  and  predominate 
personality)  is  dead.  Not  a  charter  member,  Mighty  was,  nevertheless,  a  normal  person  in  the  ministry 
of  his  church  and  first  cousin  to  another  stalwart  member,  I.M.  Apathy.  Mr.  Mediocrity  was  noted 
for  his  witty  sayings:  "It'll  do  .  .  .  it's  for  the  church!"  and  "That  doesn't  sound  half-bad  .  .  .  It's  OK!" 

Mighty  Mediocrity  was  murdered  —  in  warm  blood.  But,  his  church  will  not  prosecute  ...  in 
fact,  rather  than  a  funeral,  they're  having  a  celebration!  The  truth  is  —  some  of  his  own  fellow 
Christians  are  the  ones  who  did  poor  Mighty  Mediocrity  in!  Following  are  descriptions  of  the  most 
likely  suspects  .  .  .  see  if  you  can  determine  whodunnit! 

Suspect  *1:  Barny  Encouragement.  Always  so  positive,  always  promoting  faithfulness.  Barny 
was  always  pointing  out  people's  strengths  and  good  qualities  to  Mighty.  In  fact,  Barny  would  always 
tell  other  believers'  their  own  strengths  and  abilities.  Barny  kept  encouraging  Mighty  to  not  be  con- 
tent with  average  ...  it  was  as  though  Barny  didn't  like  the  Mediocrity  family.  The  only  time  Barny 
was  ever  sad  was  when  Mighty  wouldn't  share  in  one  of  the  church  services,  and  then  he  would 
call  or  visit  Mighty  to  show  how  he  felt.  Pretty  sneaky  fellow.  Barny  was  no  good  for  Mighty  Mediocri- 
ty ...  he  kept  trying  to  stir  up  love  and  good  deeds.  On  the  whole,  though,  Barny  Encouragement 
just  doesn't  seem  strong  enough  to  murder  Mighty  Mediocrity.* 

Suspect  #2:  Tim  Example.  Always  so  pure  and  right,  always  such  good  deeds.  Tim  just  wasn't 
normal  ...  it  was  as  though,  his  understanding  and  appreciation  of  Christ  had  hit  him  so  hard 
it  left  an  imprint  on  his  life.  Tim  would  always  tail  Mighty,  talking  with  him,  working  with  him,  pray- 
ing with  him,  probably  trying  to  win  Mediocrity's  trust  and  confidence.  Tim  was  one  of  those  fellows 
who  would  swoop  down  on  a  guy  with  a  lifestyle  of  faith,  love,  and  purity.  He  was  such  a  bad 
influence  on  Mighty  that  Mighty  would  often  slip  into  Tim's  way  of  life.  Too  bad — a  good  case  of 
"bad  company  corrupts  good  morals."  And  yet,  Tim  Example  just  doesn't  seem  strong  enough 
to  have  murdered  Mighty  Mediocrity.** 

Suspect  #3:  Paul  Excellence.  Always  pushing,  always  pursuing  a  better  way.  Paul  seemed  to 
march  to  the  tune  of  a  different  drummer— much  different.  He  wasn't  very  friendly  to  Mighty 
Mediocrity— even  seemed  to  show  open  contempt.  It  was  like  Paul  was  always  trying  to  "one  up" 


22 


CE 


Mighty  in  the  church  .  .  .  tension  was  always  highest  around  the  Christmas  play  and  choir  rehearsals  ...  he  did  do 
things  well,  though.  Paul  kept  harassing  Mighty  with  Bible  studies  and  new  music  (modern  stuff  .  .  .  you  know  .  .  .  "He 
Touched  Me").  He  kept  questioning  Mighty  as  to  his  motives  for  ministry  ("Are  you  doing  your  best?  Does  this  bring 
glory  to  the  Lord?")  Paul  nearly  drove  Mighty  crazy.  However,  by  himself,  Paul  Excellence  hardly  seemed  able  to  murder 
Mighty  Mediocrity.*** 

OK  .   .   .  Who  did  it?    

Barny  Encouragement?  Nope  .  .  .  Mighty  excused  himself  from  Barny's  attacks.  Tim  Example?  Wrong  .  .  .  Mediocrity 
stared  him  down.  Paul  Excellence?  Wrong  again  .  .  .  Mighty  escaped  him  by  giving  Paul  honors  and  awards  for  his  hard 
work!  So,  who  did  it?  All  three!  Barny  Encouragement,  Tim  Example,  and  Paul  Excellence  ganged  up  on  Mighty  Mediocrity 
and  he  died,  passed  away.  But  .  .  .  from  that  life-less  lump  of  Mighty  Mediocrity  came  a  tragic  person— John  Love— he 
actually  enjoyed  being  with  those  guys!  Mediocrity  died  and  Love  took  over.  They  were  last  seen 
together — Barny  Encouragement,  Tim  Example,  Paul  Excellence,  and  John  Love  .  .  .  heading  for  the  home  of  another 
helpless  victim  .  .  .  that's  right  .  .  .  I.  M.  Apathy.  Pray  for  Apathy— he  doesn't  stand  a  chance.**'  □ 


Hebrews  10:24-25 
I  Timothy  4:12  cf. 
Proverbs  20:6-11 
Colossians  3:16-17,  23-24 
I  John  4:11 


Paul  Mutchler  is 
pastor  of  the  Ft. 
Lauderdale,  Florida 
Grace  Brethren 
Church  and  Vice 
President  of  the  GBC 
Christian  Education 
board  of  directors. 


Resource  Help 
For  Every  Sunday  School  Teacher! 


Here's  help  for  Sunday  school  teachers,  children's  ministries 
leaders,  SMM  and  youth  workers,  and  adult  teachers! 

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teachers,  has  packaged  their  best  Bible  learning  activities  into 
easy  to  use  reference  books.  With  50-100  learning  activities  per 
book,  these  generic  resource  books  provide  valuable  ideas  that 
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Buy  one  or  more  of  these  volumes  for  your  own  resource 
library.  It's  our  way  of  providing  excellent  resource  material  to 
help  you  polish  your  ministry. 

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All  orders  must  include  payment.   Make  checks 
payable  to:  GBC  Christian  Education. 


How  To  Do  Bible  Learning  Activities  Series: 

Each  book  is  priced  at  $6.25  (includes  postage) 

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Mail  to  GBC  Christian  Education,  Box  365.  Winona  Lake, 
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.2  • 


NEWS 


Skidding  On  Ice  Was  No  Accident— The  Akron,  Ohio,  Timothy  Team  had  a  close  call  in  March 
when  they  began  to  return  to  Winona  Lake  from  a  weekend  ministry  at  the  Ellet  Grace  Brethren 
Church.  Finding  the  highways  glazed  with  ice  and  water,  they  maneuvered  their  van  around  spin- 
ning cars,  bounced  off  a  guard  rail  and  managed  to  slide  to  a  stop  behind  a  car  that  was  not  so 
fortunate.  Being  a  Good  Samaritan  to  the  driver  of  the  smashed  Honda,  the  team  invited  the  driver 
into  their  van  and  helped  him  locate  a  wrecker.  In  the  process,  they  shared  the  Gospel  and  the 
driver  accepted  Christ.  Jim  Folsom,  the  Timothy  Team  leader,  said,  "It  was  exciting  to  see  how 
God  timed  our  leaving  the  church  and  being  delayed  in  the  slowest  line  at  McDonalds  to  bring 
us  onto  1-76  at  the  time  of  that  accident  so  we  could  share  Christ  with  Tom." 

TIME  Worker  Announces  Engagement  — 

Jim  Johnson,  TIME  worker  to  North  Brazil,  has 
enjoyed  working  with  his  parents,  Grace 
Brethren  missionaries  George  and  Evie 
Johnson.  He's  also  enjoyed  building  a  friend- 
ship with  Ruth  da  Graca  Lobato.  The  couple 
was  engaged  in  February.  Ruth  grew  up  in  the 
Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Macapa,  where  the 
Johnsons  served  for  two  years  in  the  '60s.  She 
is  a  graduate  of  the  University  in  Belem  with 
degrees  in  piano  and  economics.  Congratula- 
tions, Jim  and  Ruth!  Jim  Johnson  and  fianCee,  Ruth  da  Graca  Lobato. 

Keeping  Busy  in  Navajoland  —  Joyce  Wenger,  from  the  Myerstown,  PA,  GBC,  has  had  a  busy 
spring  as  a  TIME  worker  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission.  Working  in  the  high  school  pro- 
gram, Joyce  teaches  biology,  chemistry,  girls'  physical  education  as  well  as  three  physical  educa- 
tion classes  in  the  lower  grades.  She  also  coaches  the  girls'  varsity  and  junior  varsity  basketball 
teams.  Much  of  her  free  time  is  spent  with  Navajo  young  people.  Joyce  calls  herself  a  "sports  nut" 
and  finds  the  mission's  new  gym  a  good  place  to  build  relationships.  "They  seem  really  free  to 
talk  to  me,"  Joyce  writes,  "and  I've  seen  some  of  their  magazines,  words  to  songs  and  symbols 
they  have  which  represent  Satan  and  other  images."Concerned  about  the  influences  of  these  things 
in  the  lives  of  the  Navajo  young  people,  Joyce  asks  for  prayer  as  she  talks  and  works  with  these  teens. 

New  TIME  Workers  —  Please  pray  that  God  will  work  in  the  lives  of  these  TIME  workers  as  they 
seek  His  direction  concerning  a  future  in  missions  and  are  challenged  through  specialized  service: 


Name 

Bruce  and  Lisa  Triplehorn 
Dan  Leadham 
Lorraine  Owens 


Field 

North  Brazil 
Navajo  Mission 
Navajo  Mission 


Dates  of  Service 

March  24-June  17,  1985 
May  10-August  10,  1985 
June  20-August  15,  1985 


Home  Church 

Wooster,  Ohio  GBC 
Norwalk,  Calif.  GBC 
Waldorf,  Md.  GBC 


Silent  Scream  Video  Now  Available —The  pro-life  film  that  has  appalled  the  nation  is  now 
available  through  GBC  Christian  Education.  Silent  Scream,  through  an  ultrasound  recording, 
documents  the  abortion  of  a  10-week  old  preborn  child.  The  moving  video  is  now  available  for 
church  or  home  viewing.  A  $10.00  donation  helps  CE  to  develop  a  video  library  and  covers  the 
postage  both  ways.  Call  our  office  to  reserve  the  VHS  video. 

LAMI  Program  to  Begin— A  new  TIME  program  is  scheduled  for  the  summer  of  1986.  A  com- 
bined effort  with  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions,  CE's  Latin  America  Missions  Institute  will  ex- 
pose young  adults  to  the  missionary  opportunites  and  needs  of  Latin  America.  The  institute  will 
feature  two  weeks  of  training  in  North  Brazil  by  Grace  Brethren  missionaries  and  national  pastors. 
Following  the  classroom  experience,  participants  will  be  able  to  have  a  two-week  internship  with 
GBC  missionaries  serving  in  Latin  America.  The  program  is  designed  to  help  young  adults  evaluate 
their  future  in  Latin  American  missions.  For  more  information,  write  GBC  Christian  Education. 

EMI  Prayer  Request  — Please  remember  our  Euro-Missions  Institute  program  as  it  begins  May 
31.  Over  20  young  adults  will  spend  the  month  of  June  asking  God  for  direction  as  they  consider 
involvement  in  European  missions.  The  first  two  weeks  of  the  program  will  be  at  the  Chateau  of 
Saint-Albain.  The  following  two  weeks  with  GBC  missionaries. 


24 


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It 


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■■■■■t  *■■■■! 


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!■■■■■*"  ♦ 


■••• 


rn 


•♦::::■ 


Putting  the  P 

Together 


Beginnings  in  France 


by  Tom  Julien 


When  I  tell  most  people  that  I  am 
a  missionary  to  France,  I  get  a  puz- 
zled stare. 

"France?  Why,  I  was  just  there  last 
summer.  Fascinating  place.  Paris,  the 
Cote  d'Azur,  the  Alps,  the  castles  on 
the  Loire.  .  .the  whole  bit.  And  the 
people.  .  .well,  that's  another  story.  Tell 
you  one  thing,  though  when  you  get 
out  of  Paris,  they  can  be  downright 
friendly." 

"Did  you  see  any  churches?" 

"Sure,  everywhere!  Steeples  and 
stained  glass  and  statues  all  over  the 
place.  My  wife  must  have  dragged  me 
into  a  hundred  of  them!" 

"You  don't  understand.  I'm  not  talk- 
ing about  historical  monuments,  but 
churches— families  of  God's  people 
who  love  Him  and  gather  together  to 
pray  and  hear  His  word." 

"Well,  can't  say  that  I  did  see  any 
of  those.  But  can't  say  I  was  looking 
for  any  either.  Missionary  to  France! 
They  don't  seem  poor  enough  to  have 
missionaries." 

Yes,  there  are  missionaries  in 
France,  as  well  as  in  other  European 
countries.  Grace  Brethren  mis- 
sionaries. 

They  are  there  because  a  mission 
field  is,  by  definition,  not  a  poverty- 
stricken  country,  but  a  place  where  the 
church  is  too  weak  to  evangelize  its 
own  generation — either  numerically, 
doctrinally,  or  spiritually.  It  must  have 
outside  help  to  fulfill  the  Great 
Commission. 

The  first  missionaries  in  France  ar- 
rived in  the  second  century  and 
planted  churches  in  the  Rhone  valley. 
In  the  centuries  following,  France 
became  a  leading  power  of 
Christendom. 

But  France's  spiritual  history  is  one 
of  the  world's  greatest  tragedies. 

The  church  that  began  by  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  soon  became 
the  official  the  official  religion  of  the 
empire.  The  masses  entered  the 
church  by  force,  taking  with  them  most 
of  their  pagan  beliefs. 

Two  things  happened  to  the  church. 
It  became  a  powerful  political  force, 


eventually  owning  half  of  France,  and 
its  teaching  drifted  farther  and  farther 
from  the  truth  as  tradition  was 
substituted  for  revelation.  Salvation 
came  through  the  church  and  its 
sacraments  rather  than  being  a  free  gift 
of  God's  grace  to  all  who  believe. 

Later,  people  began  to  read  the 
Word  of  God  and  discover  its 
message.  But  the  French  who  broke 


France's  spiritual  history 
is  one  of  the  world's 
greatest  tragedies. 


with  the  official  church  faced  rising 
persecution.  One  of  the  blackest  nights 
of  human  history  was  the  massacre  on 
the  eve  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Day — 
the  treacherous  slaughter  of  thousands 
of  Christians  all  over  France. 

Finally,  by  one  stroke  of  his  pen, 
King  Louis  the  14th  stripped  away  the 
liberties  of  his  Protestant  subjects,  driv- 
ing them  out  of  the  country  by  hun- 
dreds of  thousands.  Someone  said, 
"The  soul  departed  from  France, 
never  to  come  back." 

Thirsty  for  freedom  from  oppression 
of  all  kinds,  the  French  turned  against 


both  king  and  church  and  adopted  a 
new  religion — rationalistic  humanism. 
All  the  pent-up  intellectual  energy  that 
could  have  produced  some  of  the 
world's  greatest  Christian  thinkers  in- 
stead marked  western  civilization  with 


jll'H ."*"! 


•X   .    ■■  ^^vh? 


FMS 


27 


the  godless  philosophy  of  which  we 
continue  to  reap  the  results. 

Yes,  France  is  a  mission  field,  one 
of  the  world's  most  needy,  where  few 
of  its  towns  and  villages  have  any 
Christian  witness.  Its  cities  are  vast 
spiritual  deserts. 

France  is  also  one  of  the  world's 
hardest  fields,  where  indifference  and 
cynicism  effectively  insulate  most  from 
the  message  of  Christ. 

Many  missionaries  gradually  come 
to  the  same  conclusions  about  France 
that  we  did  over  20  years  ago.  One  is 
that  the  gulf  between  the  world  and 

Effective  evangelism 
must  grow  out  of  people 
relating  to  others  in  a 
personal  way. 

the  struggling  little  evangelical  chur- 
ches is  so  great  that  few  Frenchmen 
can  make  the  leap.  Another  is  that  the 
methods  that  missionaries  import  with 

left:   Tom   Julien   leads  a   session   during  an 
evangelistic  outreach  at  the  Chateau, 
bottom:  God  is  using  the  Chateau  in  His  work 
in  France. 


them  are  often  too  impersonal  to  be 
effective,  becoming  barriers  rather  than 
bridges. 

The  conclusions  led  to  the 
rediscovery  of  a  basic  principle  of 
evangelism:  God's  method  is  the  per- 
son and  effective  evangelism  must 
grow  out  of  people  relating  in  a  per- 
sonal way. 

This  is  the  main  reason  that  the 
Chateau  of  Saint-Albain  came  into  the 
picture  for  Grace  Brethren  Missions  in 
France.  The  Chateau  is  a  bridge  be- 
tween Christians  and  unbelievers,  a 
place  where  people  could  know  Christ 
in  lives  as  well  as  hear  about  Him  in 
messages. 

As  people  accepted  Christ  and 
began  to  grow,  the  Chateau  fulfilled 
other  purposes.  It  became  a  bridge 
between  evangelism  and  the  first  few 
converts  and  the  yet-future  churches 
by  providing  a  place  where  their  faith 
could  be  matured.  And,  of  course,  it 
became  an  identity  factor  for  the 
Grace  Brethren  ministries,  both  in 
France  and  in  America. 

The  initial  ministries  of  the  Chateau 
attracted  mainly  youth.  It  was  hard.  It 
was  during  the  sixties  when  unbeliev- 
ing young  people  were  revolting 
against  all  the  accepted  values  and  the 


28    MAY  '85  FJVIS 


ones  who  were  saved  tried  to  copy  the 
American  Jesus  people. 

Gradually,  the  number  of  Christians 
began  to  grow  and  to  take  root  in  the 
Word  of  God.  The  beginning  of  a 
church  was  coming  together  in  the  ci- 
ty of  Macon,  just  ten  miles  to  the 
south. 

Though  some  of  our  American 
brethren  began  to  despair  in  the  early 
days,  the  goal  of  Grace  Brethren  mis- 
sions in  France  has  always  been  the 
same— to  evangelize  and  teach  with 
the  purpose  of  planting  churches.  If 
the  original  target  group  was  young 
people,  it  is  because  they  were  the 
ones  most  open  to  the  gospel  and 
ready  to  change. 

Since  then  the  youth  work  has 
merged  into  the  total  picture  and 
represents  just  one  facet  of  the 
ministry. 

Today,  the  Chateau  still  serves  as  a 
bridge.  It  has  also  become  the  base  of 
other  ministries  for  the  mission  and  the 
churches  that  have  grown  out  of  those 
feeble  beginnings. 

One  of  the  most  important  of  these 
ministries  is  the  Decentralized  Bible  In- 
stitute, offering  to  local  Christians  a 
three-year  course  of  systematic  train- 
ing in  the  Bible,  theology,  practical 


The  role  of  that  old  14th 
century  fortress  in  the 
hills  of  southern 
Burgundy  has  only 
begun. 


studies,  and  the  ministry. 

Other  new  and  exciting  ministries 
are  on  the  horizon,  giving  the  impres- 
sion that  the  role  of  that  old  14th  cen- 
tury fortress  in  the  hills  of  southern 
Burgundy  has  only  begun. 

There  is  a  growing  spirit  of  expec- 
tancy, a  belief  that  revival  for  France 
is  not  far  away.  □ 

top:  Personal  involvement  in  the  French  peo- 
ple's lives  is  an  important  factor  in  evangelism, 
bottom:  The  first  outreach  of  the  Chateau  was 
to  young  people. 


FMS    MAY  '85  29 


England  has  always  captured  the 
imagination  and  attention  of  the 
world.  Much  of  what  has  happened  to 
and  affected  this  island  is  because  of 
its  physical  features. 

Britain  is,  in  fact,  a  whole  ar- 
chipelago of  islands,  extending  from 
the  Channel  Islands,  a  few  miles  off 
the  coast  of  France,  all  the  way  to  the 
Shetland  Islands,  which  lie  on  the 
same  latitude  as  the  Hudson  Bay  in 
Canada.  England  is  a  part  of  the  coun- 
try officially  known  as  the  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain:  England, 
Wales.  Scotland,  and  Northern 
Ireland. 

Being  separated  from  the  European 
continent,  Britain  has  developed  a 
sense  of  standing  apart.  For  many  cen- 


Beginning 


The  meeting  place  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Bible  Fellowship. 


turies  this  feeling  of  isolation  from 
Europe  was  reinforced  by  her  links 
with  the  rest  of  the  world.  It  is  only 
relatively  recently  that  political  and 
economic  events  have  turned  her  eyes 
toward  Europe. 

The  people  of  Scotland,  Northern 

"England  has  ceased  to 
be  Christian  or  God- 
fearing." 

Ireland,  and  Wales,  while  regarding 
themselves  as  British,  still  cherish  their 
own  separate  histories,  traditions,  and 
ways  of  life.  For  example,  the  troubles 
in  Northern  Ireland  are  a  direct  reflec- 
tion of  this  mentality. 

The  English  are  a  very  amiable  peo- 
ple, but  when  the  subject  of  religion  is 
mentioned,  this  sense  of  isolation 
becomes  all  too  evident.  They  are  very 
tolerant  of  other  religions,  even 
teaching  comparative  religion  in 
school.  This  tends  to  work  against  a 
positive  response  to  the  presentation 


of  the  gospel. 

In  a  local  English  newspaper  a  con- 
tributor wrote:  "Those  who  know  the 
real  meaning  of  Christianity  would 
confirm  categorically  that  this  country 
has  ceased  to  be  Christian  or  God- 
fearing." In  a  country  that  once  held 
the  Light  of  Truth  for  all  the  world  to 
see,  this  prevailing  darkness  is  a  great 
sadness. 

Evangelists  and  preachers  such  as 
Charles  Spurgeon,  G.  Campbell 
Morgan,  F.  B.  Meyer,  John  Wesley, 
and  D.  Martin  Lloyd-Jones  have  come 
from  this  country.  Many  missionary 
works  started  here. 

As  one  Englishman  said,  "We  used 
to  pray  that  one  day  these  heathen 
countries  to  whom  we  were  sending 
missionaries  would  be  revived  and  be 
in  a  position  to  send  other  missionaries 
throughout  the  world.  Little  did  we  ex- 
pect that  they  would  be  coming  to  this 
country  to  preach  to  us!" 

The  first  team  of  Grace  Brethren 
missionaries,  the  Dave  Kowalkes  and 
Phil  Steeles,  arrived  on  British  soil  in 
1982.  That  day  gave  birth  to  a  new 


30 


FMS 


l.  England 


by  Dave  Kowalke  and  Phil  Steele 


hope  and  wider  vision  for  the  creation 
of  a  British  Grace  Brethren  Fellowship 
of  Churches. 

Having  conducted  an  intense 
survey  in  the  year  prior  to  their  arrival, 
the  England  team  determined  to  con- 
centrate their  focus  on  the  town  of 
Solihull.  Located  in  the  south  fringe  of 
the  vast  greater  Birmingham  metro- 
polis, Solihull  offered  many  of  the 
characteristics  common  to  the  area 
which  is  most  receptive  to  the  church- 
planting  missionary.  It  is  a  growing 
community,  economically  stable,  with 
a  warm  family  atmosphere.  Geo- 
graphically at  at  the  heart  of  England, 
Solihull  boasts  of  a  transit  and  com- 
munication network  second  only  to 
London. 

Laying  the  foundation  and  early 
evangelism  in  Britain  worked  best  by 
using  the  Grace  Bible  Fellowship 
established  in  Solihull. 

Grace  Bible  Fellowship  began  as  the 
first  attempt  to  create  a  kind  of  week- 
ly Bible  study  and  evening  outreach 
where  contacts  could  be  exposed  to 
the  claims  of  Christ.  It  became  the 


movement  toward  the  establishment 
of  the  local  church. 

The  home  fellowship,  or  house 
church,  is  growing  in  popularity  in 
England  and  so  provides  a  method  by 
which   significant   advances   can   be 

A  growing  company  of 
British  Christians  stand 
committed  to  the  nur- 
ture of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church. 

made.  It  is  planned  to  establish  a 
number  of  these  dependent,  but  self- 
propagating  Grace  Bible  Fellowships 
which  will  continue  to  give  further  ex- 
pression to  the  local  church  and  as 
well  promote  the  importance  of 
mutual  care  and  evangelism  in  a  more 
intimate  and  informal  atmosphere. 

While  the  Grace  Bible  Fellowship 
lends  a  practical  expression  to  the 
church,  in  turn  the  church  offers  the 
Grace  Bible  Fellowship  a  clear  identi 


ty  through  an  establish  purpose  and 
set  of  complementary  goals. 

In  the  future,  plans  involve  the 
establishing  of  a  cluster  of  Grace 
Brethren  churches  near  Birmingham 
metropolis.  Only  as  God  raises  up 
teams  of  trained  men  and  women  with 
a  heart  for  church  planting  in  England 
will  any  further  advance  to  needy 
communities  and  villages  be  possible. 

The  birth  of  Grace  Brethren  Mis- 
sions in  Great  Britain  has  become  a 
reality.  A  growing  company  of  British 
Christians  stand  committed  to  the  nur- 
ture of  this  first  born  assembly. 

The  anticipation  for  the  future  can 
only  be  measured  by  the  confident 
hope  in  Jesus'  promise  to  build  His 
church  in  England.  □ 


FMS    MAY  '85  3  1 


Beginninc 


Germany.  The  word  is  capable  of 
eliciting  an  astonishing  array  of 
responses. 

The  music  lover  delights  in  realizing 
that  much  of  the  world's  greatest  music 
is  the  product  of  German  composers. 
The  thinker  appreciates  the  German 
philosophers  and  systems  of  thought 
which  have  profoundly  affected  the 
lives  of  millions  of  people. 

The  efficiency  expert  is  impressed 
by  the  precision  of  a  society  which 
allows  more  than  60,000,000  people 
to  live  together  in  a  country  the  size 
of  the  state  of  Oregon  and  yet 
preserves  a  high  degree  of  orderliness. 
The  economist  is  amazed  at  the  hard- 
working determination  and  indus- 
triousness  of  the  people,  and  with 


an  economic  system  which  has  wiped 
out  poverty  and  has  produced  a  level 
of  prosperity  virtually  unmatched  by 
any  other  country  in  this  world. 

The  historian's  imagination  is  stirred 
at  the  sound  of  such  names  and  places 
as  Cologne,  Munich,  Worms,  Nurem- 
burg,  Marx,  Durer,  Luther,  Bismark, 
Bach,  Hitler,  Wagner,  and  Goethe. 
The  traveler  is  pleased  with  the  ex- 
tremely   reliable    rail    and    highway 

The  Reformation  heri- 
tage has  been  largely  re- 
jected or  forgotten. 

systems  which  make  possible  smooth 
and  efficient  transport  to  any  location 
in  the  country.  He  is  also  awed  by  the 
cleanliness  and  natural  beauty  of  the 
landscape  and  the  quaintness  of  the 
numerous  villages  dotting  the 
countryside. 

The  World  War  II  veteran  reflects  on 
the  tenacity  of  the  foe  or  on  the  relief 
and  thankfulness  of  a  people  when 


they  were  released  from  the  horrors  of 
war  even  when  it  meant  defeat  for 
their  army.  The  politician  recognizes  a 
strong  U.S.  ally  and  a  democratic 
system  which  preserves  the  basic  rights 
of  each  individual. 

The  technician  values  the  world- 
renowned  quality  and  reputation  of 
"Made  in  Germany"  products,  from 
cameras  and  cars  to  the  space  lab.  The 
educator  respects  a  compulsory 
education  system  which  provides  the 
basics  for  everyone  and  an  opportuni- 
ty for  the  gifted  to  receive  some  of  the 
finest  and  most  intense  technical  train- 
ing in  the  world. 

The  Christian  is  appreciative  of  the 
great  Reformation  heritage  but  cannot 
close  his  eyes  to  the  fact  that  this 
heritage  has  been  largely  rejected  or 
forgotten.  He  is  dismayed  by  blatant 
demonstrations  of  immorality,  by  ram- 
pant materialism,  and  by  an  almost 
universal  escape  to  alcohol  or 
sedatives  to  drown  out  the  problems 
of  a  stress-filled  and  hectic  lifestyle. 

He  recognizes  that,  though  the 
Catholic  and  Protestant  arms  of  the 


Stuttgart 

Plieningen 
Fasanenhof 

^E  Kelley  Barracks 


Tubingen 


J^L. 


32 


FMS 


1  Germany 


by  John  Pappas  and  Roger  Peugh 


State  Church  claim  a  membership  of 
nearly  90%  of  all  Germans,  only  10% 
of  these  are  regularly  active  in  church- 
life.  This  demonstrates  a  failure  to 
meet  the  real  needs  of  the  people. 

Finally,  he  feels  compassion  and 
love  for  this  frustrated,  insecure,  and 
for  the  most  part,  spiritually  lost 
generation  of  Germans  and  is  moved 
to  fervent  prayer  for  God's  grace  and 
mercy  on  their  behalf. 

The  fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches  committed  itself  to  seeking 
the  spiritually  lost  of  Germany  in 
1968,  when  it  was  decided  to  enter 
that  land  to  plant  churches.  Our 
Fellowship,  which  has  always  had 
more  than  a  passing  interest  in  the 
land  of  its  beginnings,  sent  Roger  and 
Nancy  Peugh. 

Stuttgart  was  chosen  as  the  area  to 
begin  the  propagation  of  the  gospel. 
A  small  group  of  believers  began 
forming  and  soon  about  10-15  were 
gathering  for  worship  services. 

In  1974,  the  Lord  granted  a  special 
breakthrough  with  a  number  of 
families.    Soon    a    men's   leadership 


group  was  formed. 

There  was  excitement  within  this 
group  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  but  it 
became  apparent  that  though  these 
men  were  committed  to  some  aspects 
of  the  Scriptures,  most  were  strongly 
opposed  to  believer's  baptism, 
threefold  communion,  and  the  actual 
forming  of  a  New  Testament  church. 

Progress  is  being  made 
in  Stuttgart  through 
God's  special  working. 

These  tensions  surfaced,  and  in 
1980,  a  very  sad  rupture  took  place 
within  this  body.  The  remainder  of  the 
year  was  spent  struggling  through  the 
hurt  that  this  rupture  caused. 

Healing  began  to  take  place,  and 
God  brought  some  new  people  to  the 
congregation  who  had  had  no  contact 
with  the  past  group. 

In  1982,  the  youth  group  began 
dynamically  moving  forward  through 
their  tearoom  ministry — an  informal 


gathering  for  the  purpose  of  sharing 
testimonies  and  reaching  out  in  a  per- 
sonal way  with  the  message  of  the 
Christ. 

The  next  year  God  worked  in  very 
clear  ways  to  unite  the  congregation 
once  again.  This  unity  of  spirit  was 
manifested  through  the  congregation's 
desire  to  refurbish  its  own  facilities  at 
great  expense  of  their  personal  time 
and  money. 

Following  this  renovation,  there  was 
deep  involvement  in  a  week-long 
evangelistic  thrust.  The  year  closed 
with  a  large  number  of  people  com- 
mitted to  believer's  baptism  and  a 
growing  sense  of  commitment  to  each 
other.  In  addition,  through  this  week 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


FMS    MAY  '85  33 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


Marriages 


Gwen  Goodling  and  Daniel  Shenk,  Myerstown  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Myerstown,  PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor, 
Theresa  Peffley  and  Wayne  Aites,  Myerstown  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Myerstown,  PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 
Debra  Shepley  and  Douglas  Monahan.  Maranatha  Brethren 
Church,  Hagerstown,  MD.  Pastor  Jack  K.  Peters,  Sr.,  officiated  at 
the  ceremony. 

Lynda  Shepley  and  Steve  Placeway,  Carmel  Methodist  Church,  In- 
dianapolis, IN.  The  father  of  the  groom,  Richard  Placeway,  per- 
formed the  ceremony. 

Barbara  Zeller  and  David  Mumma,  Myerstown  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Myerstown,  PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 

□  The  Grace  Brethren  Chapel,  Fremont,  OH,  will  be 
celebrating  Homecoming  services  July  4  through  July  7. 
Special  speakers  will  be  former  pastors,  along  with  Dr. 
Lester  E.  Pifer,  executive  director  of  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions,  and  the  present  pastor,  Tim  Waggoner. 
Former  pastors  were:  Granville  Tucker,  Marion  Thomas, 
Tom  Bailey,  and  Lee  Burris. 

□  Stephen  Paul  Peters,  former  youth  pastor  of  the  Mara- 
natha Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown,  MD,  was  ordained  to 
the  Christian  ministry.  His  father,  Pastor  Jack  Peters,  Sr., 
delivered  the  ordination  sermon.  He  served  as  minister  of 
youth  at  the  Maranatha  church  for  five  and  a  half  years 
and  has  begun  his  ministry  as  the  senior  pastor  of  the 
Community  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Union,  OH. 


Pictured  in  the  photo  above  are  some  of  the  Brethren 
pastors  who  also  participated  in  the  service— Russell 
Ogden  (Lanham,  MD),  Larry  Sowers  (Hagerstown,  MD— 
Maranatha),  and  Larry  Humberd  (Hagerstown,  MD— 
Grace).  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer,  executive  director  of  the 
Brethren  Home  Missions  Council,  Winona  Lake,  IN,  pre- 
sented the  ministerial  charge. 

□  Dr.  Nathan  Meyer,  Salem,  VA,  will  conduct  a  Bible 
Prophecy  Conference  in  the  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Ash- 
land, OH,  May  19-23.  John  Teevan,  pastor. 


□  Brian  and  Kathy  King  completed  five  years  of  ministry 
as  caretakers  of  the  Northwest  District  camping  facility. 
Clear  Lake  Grace  Brethren  Camp.  The  Kings  went  to 
Washington  state  from  Alaska  where  they  were  members 
of  the  Anchorage  church.  They  had  a  very  positive  influ- 
ence for  Christ  among  their  mountain  neighbors.  The 
Clear  Lake  GB  Camp  Trustees  presented  them  with  an 
engraved  plaque  recognizing  their  contribution  to  the 
camp.  A  money  gift  was  also  given  to  them.  The  Kings 
will  reside  in  Ripon,  CA. 

Ron  and  Jodi  Rods  of  Hillside,  CO,  have  accepted  the 
challenge  to  serve  as  caretakes  of  the  camp.— Submit  ted 
by  Chuck  Winter 

□  Congratulations  to  the  following  young  people  from 
the  Mid-Atlantic  District  who  placed  in  their  achievement 
competition: 

Yolanda  Lewis—  1st  place  in  the  Vocal  Solo  1  and  II- 

Heather  Holiday— 2nd  place 

Trish  Trader— 3rd  place 

David  Hasker—  1st  place  in  Vocal  Solo  II  (Men)  and  in 

Piano  Solo 
Trish    Trader    and    David    Hasker—  1st  place  in  Small 

Vocal  Ensemble 
Youth  Choir  "Promise"—  1st  place 
David  Finkbeiner— 1st  place  in  Teen  Challenge  Speaker 
Temple  Hills—  2nd  place  in  Large  Drama 
Angie  Potts  and  Bryan  Robinson— 8th  and  10th  place, 

respectively,  in  Bible  Quizzers 

David  Hasker  and  the  Youth  Choir  are  qualified  to  repre- 
sent the  Mid-Atlantic  District  at  the  National  Youth  Con- 
ference in  Colorado. 


THE  BOARD  OF 

MINISTERIAL  RETIREMENT 

BENEFITS  .  .  . 

has  the  responsibility  that  rightfully 
belongs  to  the  local  church  of  caring  for 
the  retirement  of  pastors  that  served  in 
their  pulpits  in  years  gone  by.  The  business 
world  has  been  forced  to  face  up  to  this 
kind  of  commitment  by  a  strong  union 
with  the  power  they  have  at  their  com- 
mand. Our  board  can  only  appeal  to  the 
Christian  graces  which  should  be  found 
in  the  Lord's  work  to  meet  their  respon- 
sibility to  former  employees  (pastors).  It  is 
not  just  a  local  church  obligation  but  a 
denominational  obligation  to  those  who 
have  served  faithfully  in  denominational 
work.  We  can  meet  the  need  but  we 
need  the  help  of  everyone.  Send  your 
contributions  to  Pastor  Clair  E.  Brickel, 
143 19  Brookville-Pyrmont  Rd.,  Brookville, 
Ohio  45309. 


34 


BMH 


TWO  SIGNS  OF  GROWING  CHURCHES 


Stewart  church  signs  do  more 
than  sit  on  your  front  lawn. 
Much  more. 

They  communicate.  Your 
church's  vision  is  shared  power- 
fully with  everyone  in  your  com- 
munity...even  if  they  never  step 
inside  your  doors,  never  hear  you 
preach. 

With  a  Stewart  sign  your  church 
can  be  a  voice  of  hope,  of  chal- 
lenge, of  consolation.  It  can  be  a 
witness  of  the  love  of  Christ,  24 
hours  a  day.  The  only  thing  your 
church  cannot  be  is  ignored. 

Stewart  church  and  Christian 
school  signs  are  only  for  one  kind 
of  church— the  church  that 
wants  to  grow. 

PASTORS  AGREE 

"Within  weeks  we  began  to  have 
telephone  and  walk-in  responses 
to  it." 

Missouri  Pastor 

"Two  young  men  stopped  me  and 
spoke  of  reading  it  each  week." 
California  Pastor 

"...people   have   come   into   the 
church  challenged  by  the  attrac- 
tive sign." 

California  Pastor 


ASK  ABOUT  OUR  NEW 

UNBREAKABLE 

CHRISTIAN  SCHOOL  SIGNS 


The  J.M.  STEWART 
Corporation 

P.O.  Box  2668 
Sarasota,  Fl  33578 

NATIONAL  TOLL  FREE 
1-800-237-3928 

Florida  1-813-365-9304  Collect 


Qu*\d-  &<♦**  tid**t*vtL*' 


NEW  3  YEAR 

WARRANTY 

Have  you  ever  driven  down  the  main 
street  of  your  hometown  late  at  night?  Did 
you  notice  how  many  of  those  big.  bright 
signs  have  big,  bright  holes  in  them. 

That  won't  happen  with  your  new 
Stewart  church  or  Christian  school  sign. 
Our  Lexan  sign   faces  have  proved   so 
strong  that  we  now  guarantee  them  from 
breakage  for  an  incredible  3  years. 

You  can  have  confidence  that  the  sign  you 
buy  will  be  the  sign  your  community  ad- 
mires for  vears  to  come. 


EVANGEL 


ARCHITECTURAL 
METAL  LETTERS 

No  sign  medium  presents-  a  more  durable 
image  than  cast  architectural  metal 
letters. 

Stewart  has  a  variety  of  styles  and  sizes  in 
bronze  or  aluminum  metal  letters  for 
maximum  design  versatility.  Call  or  write 
for  more  information. 


CALL  TOLL  FREE 

TODAY 

1-800-237-3928 


YES 


f        Please   send    me   more   information   about   Stewart 
,        church  and  Christian  school  signs. 


MAIL  TO:  THE  J.M.  STEWART  CORPORATION 

P.O.  BOX  2668,  SARASOTA,  FL  33578 


CHURCH  NAME 

CHURCH  ADDRESS. 
PASTOR'S  NAME  _ 

REQUESTED  BY 

CITY 


_TEL. 


STATE 


ZIP. 


OUR  INTEREST  IS  IN: 
n  Illuminated  Lawn  Sign 

□  Wood  Sign 

□  Architectural  Metal  Letters 

n  Dedication  and  Memorial  Plaques 
n  Interior  Signage 


OUR  PLANS  ARE: 

□  New  Church  Building 
a  Addition 

□  School 

a  Second  Sign 

a  Replace  Old  Sign 

□  Other 


OUR  NEED  IS: 
o  Immediate 
n  3-6  Months 
□  7-12  Months 
a  Over  One  Year 


Or  CALL  TOLL  FREE  1-800-237-3928 

In  Florida  Call  Collect  1-813-365-9304 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  The  Seal  Beach,  CA,  church  has  changed  its  name  to 
Grace  Community  Church  of  Seal  Beach.  Donald 
Shoemaker,  pastor. 

□  PASTORAL  POTPOURRI-Scott  Franchino  (formerly 
of  Winona  Lake,  IN)  is  the  new  associate  pastor  of  the 
Peninsula  GBC  of  Soldotna,  AK  /  Sheldon  Perrine  has  re- 
signed from  the  Hemet,  CA,  GBC  /  Dave  Atkins  (from 
Northcentral  Ohio  District)  is  now  pastoring  a  church  in 
Kitchener,  Ontario,  Canada.  He  plans  to  maintain  his  ties 
with  our  Fellowship  /  Dean  Risser  has  accepted  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Marion,  OH,  GBC  /  Lee  Dice  has  accepted  the 
position  of  associate  pastor  at  the  GBC  of  Wooster,  OH  / 
William  Willard  completed  his  ministry  at  Brooksville,  FL. 
He  is  open  to  the  leading  of  the  Lord  /  Dan  Gillette  has 
accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  GBC  in  Covington,  VA  / 
Dean  Smith,  formerly  on  the  staff  of  the  North  Long 
Beach  Brethren  Church,  has  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the 
Hemet,  CA,  GBC.  /  Edmund  DeZago,  pastor  of  the 
Grace  Brethren  Bible  Church,  Fort  Myers,  FL,  was  or- 
dained to  the  Christian  ministry. 

After  twenty-one  years,  Richard  Placeway  has  returned 
to  his  former  pastorate,  the  Parkersburg,  WV,  GBC  /  Paul 
Mutchler,  pastor  of  the  Fort  Lauderdale,  FL,  GBC,  was 
able  to  take  his  wife  on  a  two-week  cruise  of  the  Carib- 
bean by  serving  as  chaplain  of  the  ship  for  the  cruise  / 
/  John  Sturley  is  serving  as  interim  pastor  at  Montclair, 
CA,  while  he  is  completing  his  seminary  training  at  Talbot 
Seminary. 

□  Kevin  Huggins,  chaplain  of  Grace  College,  has  resigned 
effective  at  the  end  of  the  school  year.  He  will  join  the 
staff  of  University  Park  Chapel  in  Akron,  OH. 

□  Jon  Jacobson  will  be  concluding  his  ministry  in  South 
Africa  this  summer  under  Campus  Crusade  and  will  re- 
turn to  the  U.S. 

□  Arthur  Carey,  who  has  retired  at  least  twice  in  the  past, 
has  come  out  of  retirement  again.  He  and  his  wife,  Leah, 
are  serving  with  the  Central  American  Mission  in 
Guatemala  as  Special  Service  Personnel  in  CAM's  Rest 
Center  in  Panajachel.  One  of  their  seven  children  is  a  mis- 
sionary under  Wycliffe  in  Guatemala. 

□  NEEDED:  qualified  chairman  of  the  nursing  depart- 
ment at  Grace  College  with  master's  degree.  If  interested, 
contact  Dean  Vance  Yoder,  Grace  College,  200  Seminary 
Dr.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  (Tel.  219/372-5105). 


□  FILM  RENTALS  for  Christian  films  may  be  reserved 
through  the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  offices.  The 
Herald  Co.  is  able  to  secure  films  produced  by  all  the 
Christian  film  companies.  For  information  and  reserva- 
tions, call  toll-free  1-800-348-2756. 

□  Clair  Brickel  has  joined  the  staff  of  the  North  Riverdale 
GBC,  Dayton,  OH.  He  will  serve  as  minister  of  music  and 
visitation.  "He  is  directing  the  choir  and  congregational 
singing  as  well  as  assisting  in  home  visitation." 

□  BROOKVILLE,  OH.  The  Grace  Christian  Schools 
will  be  expanding  their  educational  program  this  coming 
fall.  Through  this  expansion,  the  curriculum  will  include 
four-year-olds  in  the  kindergarten  through  grade  three. 
(Gleaned  from  The  Trumpeter,  Dayton,  OH) 


Deaths 


Daily,  Clarence  "Pete,"  73.  Bethel  Brethren  Church,  Berne,  IN. 
Larry  Edwards,  pastor. 

DeBolt,  Ethel,  84.  Bethel  Brethren  Church,  Berne,  IN.  Larry 
Edwards,  pastor. 

Fetters,  Iva,  89.  Bethel  Brethren  Church,  Berne,  IN.  Larry 
Edwards,  pastor. 

Henny,  Hazel,  90.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Lake  Odessa,  Ml. 
Pastors  Michael  Rockafellow  (a  grandson)  and  Bill  Stevens  offi- 
ciated at  the  memorial  service. 

Lortz,  Rilla.  Pleasant  Grove  Grace  Brethren  Church,  North 
English,  IA.  Arthur  McCrum,  pastor. 

Rich,  Greg,  18  (died  as  a  result  of  an  automobile  accident  in 
Florida).  A  memorial  service  was  held  in  Florida  and  at  his  home 
church,  the  Bethel  Brethren  Church,  Berne,  IN.  Larry  Edwards, 
pastor. 


Change  \bur  Annual 


Evan  Adams,  Rummel  Mill,  Benedict  Rd.,  R.  1,  Butler, 
OH  44822  /  Steve  Clifford,  4181  Cheryl  Dr.,  Flint, 
Ml  48506  /  Benjamin  Collins,  5416  E.  Los  Angeles 
Ave.,  No.  88,  Simi  Valley,  CA  93063  /  Gary  Crandall, 
R.  5,  Box  321,  Warsaw,  IN  46580  /  Leland  Friesen  is 
temporarily  away  from  his  address  in  Fremont,  OH  / 
Dan  Gillette,  115  Phillips  St.,  Covington,  VA  24426  / 
Roy  Halberg,  c/o  Big  Valley  Grace  Community  Church, 
605  Standiford  Ave.,  Modesto,  CA  95350  /  Daniel 
White,  1035  SE  190th,  Boring  OR  97233  /  The  zip 
code  for  Lloyd  Woolman  should  be  98043  /  The 
address  for  the  Frederick  GBC,  Frederick,  MD,  should 
be:  1412  Rolling  House  Dr.,  Frederick,  MD  21701. 


THIS  AND  THAT 
Brad  and  Margie  Hull  (Long  Beach, 
CA— North)  were  featured  in  their 
church's  Family  News  recently  /  Craig 
Cordell  (Waynesboro,  PA)  furnished  a 
special  music  number  /  Judy  Tingle 
(Winchester,  VA-Blue  Ridge)  was  the 
director  and  pianist  for  the  Easter 
Cantata   "No  Other   Lamb". 


BRETHREN   MISSIONARY    HERALD 

P.  O.  Box  544 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


PAII 


Address 
Correction 


BRETHREN  MISSIONARY 


ffje  wmmmoj 


Maturity  or  Middle  Age 


•  Spain:  The  Country  and  Its  People 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


Trouble, 


Trouble, 


Trouble! 


Life's  Potholes 

Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 

Whether  it  be  in  Holy  Writ  or  in  the  writing  of 
the  philosophers— or  even  in  the  experiences  of 
life— man  is  born  to  trouble  as  the  sparks  fly  up- 
ward. Sparks  do  fly  upward,  and  that  is  a  cer- 
tainty. Problems  and  troubles  come  in  all  manner 
of  disguises.  Friends  as  well  as  enemies  can  bring 
them  to  the  threshold  of  your  life.  Once  having 
arrived,  troubles,  as  visitors,  tend  to  stay  for  pro- 
longed periods— much  like  an  unwanted  relative 
or  long-forgotten  friend.  But  they  do  go  away  and 
calm  returns  to  the  heart  and  life.  Troubles  are 
just  the  potholes  of  life  and  we  who  drive  autos 
know  what  that  means.  As  we  move  along  the 
avenues  of  life  we  are  confronted  with  those  sud- 
den jolts  and  bangs  and  that  can  mean  big 
problems. 

I  am  not  certain  who  it  is  that  makes  all  of  the 
surveys  that  are  produced,  but  someone  has  come 
up  with  the  following  information.  This  spring  it 
was  reported  that  the  nation's  drivers  faced  a  road 
of  life  filled  with  some  56  million  potholes— an 
awesome  thought.  But  that  is  not  all  The  Road 
Information  Program  reported.  The  physical  de- 
scription of  an  average  pothole— 16  inches  wide 
and  5  inches  deep  that  will  need  110  pounds  of 
filler  at  an  average  cost  of  $5.20.  If  you  are  not 
already  filled  with  information,  here  is  a  little 
more.  It  takes  8  to  1 2  minutes  to  fill  one. 

It  came  as  no  surprise  to  me  as  a  native  Buck- 
eye to  find  that  there  are  more  potholes  in  Ohio 
than  in  any  other  state-6,800,000.  That  comes 
out  to  29  pits  per  mile.  Having  been  born  in  Ohio 
and  learning  to  drive  there  takes  a  special  skill.  I 
used  to  call  them  gopher  holes— you  hit  one  and 
then  go  for  another  one.  Rhode  Island  carries  the 
nation  with  the  least-only  13,559  identifiable 
potholes. 

One  last  tidbit  of  trivia  about  potholes.  It  costs 

2   JUNE  '85  BMH 


the  average  driver  $187  a  year  in  damages  caused 
by  the  potholes.  For  some  people— they  live  in 
the  state  of  Ohio  when  it  comes  to  life,  for  the 
potholes  are  many  and  constant.  Other  people 
seem  to  live  in  the  less  troublesome  state  of 
Rhode  Island  and  have  far  fewer  incidents  of 
troubles.  The  origin  of  troubles,  of  course,  began 
with  the  curse  and  the  fall  of  mankind.  But  our 
immediate  problems  can  find  several  sources- 
some  of  course  of  our  own  making— disobedience 
and  not  using  wisdom.  We  also  fall  into  the  pot- 
holes of  trouble  just  walking  down  the  road  to 
duty.  The  self-created  problems  are  ones  with 
which  we  must  deal  with  openly  and  a  solution 
must  be  found  before  they  are  repeated.  Dis- 
obedience must  be  solved  by  confession  and  acts 
of  lack  of  wisdom  should  be  eliminated  by  learn- 
ing by  experience. 

But  there  is  extreme  difficulty  in  the  matter  of 
falling  into  a  pothole  of  troubles  in  the  per- 
formance of  duty.  This  is  when  we  are  most  vul- 
nerable to  the  cry  of  "Why  me,  Lord?"  Our  self- 
righteousness  reaches  full  maturity  when  we  feel 
we  have  done  the  best  we  can  only  to  be  hurt. 
Peter  lends  a  great  deal  of  insight  into  the  subject 
in  his  epistle.  When  we  suffer  for  our  own  sins 
that  is  just  what  we  deserve.  We  accept  that  pun- 
ishment. But  when  suffering  comes  with  an  open 
Bible  in  hand  and  a  heart  warm  to  serve,  we 
should  accept  that  as  well  and  not  think  that  some 
strange  event  has  singled  us  out  for  troubles. 

The  troubles  and  potholes  of  life  are  headed 
your  way  and  my  way.  May  you  not  be  a  fellow 
Ohioian  and  face  6,800,000  of  them,  but  may 
your  potholes  of  troubles  be  few  just  like  little 
Rhode  Island.  May  it  be  true  of  all  of  us  that  we 
do  learn  from  the  experiences  and  grow  with  them 
to  a  higher  level  of  Christian  maturity. 


EEETHREN 
HI\M<  V\l\ 


The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co.. 
EO.  Box  544.  1104  Kings  Highway. 
Winona  Lake.  IN  46590. 
Subscription  prices:  $8.25  per 
year;  foreign,  $10.00;  special  rates 
to  churches.  Printed  by  BMH 
Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back  issues 
are  available.  One  copy.  $2.00'-. 
two  copies.  $3.00;  three  to  ten 
copies.  $1.50  each;  more  than  ten 
copies,  $1.25  each.  Please  include 
your  check  with  order.  (Prices  in- 
clude postage  charges.) 

NEWS  ITEMS  contained  in 
each  issue  are  presented  for  in- 
formation, and  do  not  indicate 
endorsement. 

MOVING?  Send  label  on  back 
cover  and  your  new  address. 
Please  allow  four  weeks  for  the 
change  to  be  made. 

TOLL-FREE  NUMBER  for  mer- 
chandise orders;  1-800-348-2756. 


Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker, 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Lester  Pifer,  Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 

4  Maturity  or  Middle  Age 

8  Spain:  The  Country  and  Its  People 

10  The  Challenge  of  Europe 

12  FMS  News 

14  Their  Lives  Exemplify  Service 

16  Bibles  and  Bluegrass 

18  A  Classic  Renaissance 

20  Go  Tell  It  On  the  Mountains 

22  Where  Are  You  Going? 

24  Angel's  Story 

26  Austin  Joins  Home  Missions 

27  New  England  Breakthrough 

28  Teaching  Children  Financial  Discipline 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters      2      • 
•  BMH  News  Report        20     • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Sr.,  of  Grace  Seminary, 
had  the  privilege  of  awarding  the  B.  D.  degree 
to  his  son  Homer  at  the  Seminary  Commence- 
ment. Homer  Jr.,  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors.  .  .Groundbreaking  services  were  held 
at  Alexandria.  VA,  for  a  new  church. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Maynard  Tittle  left  the  Defiance,  OH,  church 
to  become  pastor  of  the  GBC  church  in  Galion, 
OH.  .  .  John  Whitcomb  and  Chet  Kammerer 
received  the  Grace  Seminary  and  Grace  Col- 
lege Alumnus  awards,  respectively. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Bud  Olszewski  was  ordained  to  the  Christian 
ministry  at  Wooster,  OH.  .  William  W.  Smith 
joined  the  staff  of  the  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council  as  a  personal  assistant  to  Dr.  Lester  E. 
Pifer. 


LETTERS 


Dear  Readers: 

We  seem  to  have  awakened  in  some  of  you  a 
new  set  of  words— 'warts  and  all" 

Several  articles  have  brought  responses,  both 
positive  and  negative,  about  material  in  the  Herald 
The  compliments  have  been  regarding  a  frankness 
in  dealing  with  personal  experiences  and  per- 
sonalities- They  have  been  balanced  the  other  way 
by  responses  that  indicate  persons  have  been  hurt 
by  the  "warts  and  all"  approach.  Though  we 
originate  only  a  small  portion  of  the  material  in  the 
Herald,  we  nevertheless  feel  a  responsibility  to  have 
the  magazine  be  a  place  where  a  "warts  and  all" 
approach  will  not  hurt  and  add  a  burden  to  the 
already  difficult  experiences  of  life.  Thank  you  for 
the  expressions  of  interest— ail  in  good  taste  and 
in  the  warmest  spirit  of  Christian  understanding 
A  dialogue  between  the  contributors  to  the  Herald 
and  the  Herald  staff  is  an  ongoing  effort  to  present 
matters  in  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  edification.  I 
am  carefully  avoiding  the  specific  circumstances. 

Thanks  for  your  continued  interest  in  the  growth 
of  the  Fellowship  and  the  individual  persons  in 
it.-CWT 

Cover  Photo  by  H.  Armstrong  Roberts. 


BMH 


-c  J5 


Maturity 

or 

Middle 

Age? 

by  Jean  Fleming 


Last  year  I  decided  that,  by  God's  Grace,  I  would  not  become  a  middle-aged  Christian.  If  wit! 
a  knowing  smile  you  are  attributing  my  vow  to  over-forty  touchiness,  you're  mistaken.  Physica 
age  has  nothing  to  do  with  this  condition. 

A  ten-year-old  child  who  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  Bible  can  rattle  off  the  right  answe 
in  Sunday  school.  But  if  he  has  lost  all  sense  of  wonder  before  God's  truth,  he  is  a  middle-agec 
Christian.  So  is  the  college  student  or  young  adult  who,  in  preparing  to  lead  others  through  lessor 
one  of  a  basic  Bible  study  series,  stifles  a  yawn  and  approaches  the  study  hopelessly  content  wit! 
his  current  level  of  understanding  of  the  Deity  of  Christ. 

In  fact,  a  new  believer  can  be  a  middle-aged  Christian  as  easily  as  someone  who  received  Chris 
forty  years  ago.  The  qualificatons  are  simple:  be  satisfied  with  your  current  level  of  spiritual  ex 
perience  and  then  sit  back  and  get  comfortable. 

Dangerously  Safe  Ground 

I've  been  a  Christian  for  twenty-some  years.  I  have  enough  knowledge  to  keep  from  makin< 
a  fool  of  myself  in  Christian  circles.  I'm  proficient  enough  in  Christian  jargon  to  understand  am 
be  understood  in  most  religious  gatherings;  usually,  I  can  find  Nahum  before  the  last  person  stop 
shuffling  pages.  I've  attended  conferences  and  seminars  and  spoken  at  a  few  myself.  Most  of  mi 
brothers  and  sisters  in  Christ  consider  me  a  reputable  fellow  believer. 

I'm  on  dangerously  safe  ground. 

It  seems  to  me  the  Pharisees  stood  on  such  ground.  They  carried  their  religious  aura  comfor 
tably:  they  were  respected,  satisfied,  complacent.  They  knew  enough  not  to  make  fools  o 
themselves,  enough  to  make  themselves  look  very  good.  Once  they  reached  this  comfortable  level 
they  rested  contentedly  in  their  ecclesiastical  hammocks.  They  were  happy  to  appear  spiritual  rathe 
than  to  be  spiritual.  The  Pharisees  felt  safe  in  preserving  their  status  quo;  actually,  they  were  01 
very  dangerous  ground. 

I  fear  getting  comfortable— relating  to  the  Lord  in  a  benign,  but  nevertheless  calloused,  way 
I  want  to  expose  myself  to  God  in  a  vulnerable  and  ruthless  way  so  He  can  change  me. 

A  middle-aged  Christian  is  content  to  live  on  "safe"  ground  because  he  doesn't  see  the  fata 
incongruity  of  it.  Safety  is  the  antithesis  of  Christian  experience. 

Faith  is  another  way  of  saying  risk,  stretching,  growth. 

Without  faith  no  one  can  please  God  (Heb.  11:6).  God's  plan  for  His  people  does  not  includi 
safe,  middle-aged  coasting.  To  the  end  Abraham,  Moses,  and  Paul  pressed  toward  the  mark  (Phil 
3:14).  They  never  drew  a  line  and  said,  "I've  experienced  enough  of  God  to  satisfy  me.  I  thinl 
I'll  just  rest  on  what  I've  learned."  To  the  end  Paul  had  the  spirited  enthusiasm  and  commitmen 
of  a  zealous  new  believer.  Although  probably  in  his  sixties  when  martyred,  he  never  becaim 
middle-aged. 

Neither  did  Caleb.  When  Moses  sent  twelve  men  to  spy  out  the  promised  land,  ten  brough 
back  a  middle-aged  report— they  recommended  dying  in  the  desert  or  returning  to  slavery  in  Egyp 
rather  than  hazarding  a  dangerous  conquest,  even  though  the  God  who  parted  the  Red  Sea  wa 
leading  them.  But  Caleb  and  Joshua  gave  an  enthusiastic  report  and  strongly  encouraged  the  peopli 
to  embrace  the  venture,  risk  and  all.  Risk  was  not  a  bottomless  pit  to  Caleb,  because  as  he  pro 

4    JUNE  '85  CE 


claimed,  "the  LORD  is  with  us"  (Num.  14:9). 

Scripture  repeatedly  describes  Caleb  as  a  wholehearted 
follower  of  God.  This  characteristic  kept  him  from  becom- 
ing a  middle-aged  spy  at  forty  and  enabled  him  to  say,  at 
age  eighty-five,  "I  am  still  as  strong  today  as  the  day  Moses 
sent  me  out;  I'm  just  as  vigorous  to  go  out  to  battle  now 
as  I  was  then"  (Josh.  14:11). 

Stay  On  The  Heights 

Paul  and  Caleb  inspire  me,  but  what  motivates  me  is  a 
healthy  fear  of  falling  away— gradually,  imperceptibly. 

I  fear  fooling  myself  by  continuing  to  do  all  the  right 
things  externally,  all  the  while  bankrupt  of  any  inner 
reality — picking  and  choosing  which  Scriptures  speak  to 

WANT  TO  be  middle-aged?  Be 
satisfied  with  your  current  level  of 
spiritual  experience  and  then  sit  back 
and  get  comfortable. 


me  but  crediting  God  with  leading  me,  conveniently  clos- 
ing my  ears  to  Christ's  hard  sayings  or  explaining  them 
away  in  terms  of  my  culture  and  personal  preferences.  "The 
Lord  says:  'These  people  come  near  to  me  with  their  mouth 
and  honor  me  with  their  lips,  but  their  hearts  are  far  from 
me.  Their  worship  of  me  is  made  up  only  of  rules  taught 
by  men'"  (Is.  29:13). 

Obvious  sins  warrant  an  all-out,  frontal  attack,  but  it  is 
the  little  foxes  I  fear— silent,  subtle,  just-tainted  spoilers  that 
sneak  in  as  slightly  distorted  perceptions,  mild  self- 
righteousness,  little  acts  of  obedience  left  undone,  small 
"short-comings"  overlooked,  tiny  foibles  indulged.  The 
foxes  go  unnoticed  at  first.  Too  late  I  find  my  garden  has 
been  gutted. 

Fortunately,  in  Christ  there  is  an  inexhaustible  treasure 
house  to  explore.  Vital  Christianity  is  as  exciting  as  an  ex- 
pedition into  virgin  territory — but  we  have  the  security  of 
a  well-trodden  historical  path,  because  Moses  and  Elijah 
and  John  Wesley  have  passed  before.  Life  in  Christ  has 
no  dead  ends,  no  final  peaks,  no  interminable  deserts,  no 
irreversible  swamps.  Behind  every  dark  cloud,  formidable 
foe,  besetting  sin,  or  prickly  thorn,  God  stands  ready  to 
enrich  our  knowledge  of  Himself  and  delight  us  with  new 
discoveries.  Tragically,  when  we  decide  not  to  go  higher 
and  further,  we  limit  not  only  our  growth  but  also  our  thrills. 

The  danger  is  clear.  "We  must  pay  more  careful  atten- 
tion, therefore,  to  what  we  have  heard,  so  that  we  do  not 
drift  away"  (Heb.  2:1). 

How  does  this  tragic  process  happen?  It  takes  no  effort 
to  become  a  middle-aged  Christian.  The  culture  in  which 
we  live  wears  away  our  sharp  perceptions,  dampens  our 
zeal,  and  extinguishes  our  fire.  Slogging  through  daily  life 
can  blur  realities  until  the  material  world  seems  more  real 
and  desirable  than  His  Kingdom.  But  perhaps  our  greatest 
enemy  is  the  Christian  culture  we  unknowingly  design  for 
ourselves. 

How  do  we  avoid  substituting  this  self-made  culture  for 
Christianity?  We  can  start  by  identifying  the  danger  signs 
that  signal  a  slide  into  complacent  middle  age.  Following 
are  some  of  the  most  common.  Do  you  see  them  yourself? 


Domesticating  Jesus 

During  the  great  revival  of  the  1700's,  the  men  God 
used  had  the  same  message:  "If  Jesus  is  not  Lord  of  all, 
He's  not  Lord  at  all."  The  practical  Lordship  of  Jesus  Christ 
is  essential  to  a  vigorous  faith. 

A  one-time  "Lordship  decision"  is  not  enough:  I  must 
defer  to  Jesus  daily  as  He  brings  issues  to  my  attention. 
For  example:  Will  I  ask  forgiveness  in  a  messy  situation? 
Am  I  ready  to  endure  hardship  and  inconvenience  to  get 
further  help  in  my  Christian  life?  Am  I  willing  to  leave 
behind  a  new  dining  room  set  to  go  to  the  mission  field? 
In  my  job,  will  I  deal  honestly  even  though  I  may  lose  salary 
advances,  promotions,  or  even  the  job  itself? 

Questions  like  these  and  hundreds  more  surface 
throughout  life,  requiring  that  I  make  choices  based  not 
on  personal  considerations,  but  on  obedience  to  Jesus 
Christ:  "Why  do  you  call  me,  'Lord,  Lord,'  and  do  not  do 
what  I  say?"  (Lk.  6:46). 

In  his  fiction  series  The  Chronicles  ofNarnia,  C.S.  Lewis 
said  of  Asian,  his  central  character  and  Christ  figure,  "he 
is  not  a  tame  lion."  Jesus  cannot  be  domesticated  and 
brought  indoors  like  a  house  cat.  Jesus  is  Lord,  Master, 
God  — not  our  pet  or  buddy  (Mai.  1:6). 

Although  Jesus  is  totally  approachable,  available,  and 
ever  watching  over  us  in  love,  we  must  relate  to  Him  as 
Lord,  not  Genie.  Prayer  is  not  rubbing  a  magic  lamp  to 
call  down  His  blessing  on  our  plans  and  desires.  We  are 
His  servants  that  His  will  might  be  done. 

It  is  absolutely  crucial  that  I  not  moderate  and  mute  Jesus- 
to  be  more  comfortable  with  Him.  He  must  never  become 
a  fabrication  of  my  design.  I  cannot  cleave  to  Him  as 
Shepherd  but  deny  Him  as  Judge,  exult  in  His  love  but 
ignore  His  wrath.  "...  a  time  is  coming  and  has  now  come 
when  the  true  worshipers  will  worship  the  Father  in  spirit 
and  truth,  for  they  are  the  kind  of  worshipers  the  Father 
seeks"  (Jn.  4:23). 

Shortly  after  I  committed  my  life  to  Christ,  someone  with 
whom  I  shared  the  gospel  said  to  me,  "Jean,  I  know  it's 
changed  your  life,  but  I  can't  believe.  It  sounds  like  a  fairy 
tale."  The  gospel  does  indeed  sound  like  a  fairy  tale — or 
science  fiction.  Yet  a  middle-aged  Christian  may  be  unable 
or  unwilling  to  be  amazed,  shocked,  or  thrilled  at  God's 
truth.  Has  the  familiar  gospel  lost  its  impact  on  you? 

"Familiarity  breeds  contempt,"  it's  been  said.  In  the  Chris- 
tian life,  familiarity  breeds  callousness,  cataracts,  and  a  false 
and  deadly  sense  of  well-being.  By  its  nature  it  often  goes 
undetected,  draining  off  vigor  even  as  it  assures  that  all  is 
well.  Have  you  ever  hit  a  portion  of  Scripture  in  your  quiet 
time  and  thought,  "I  know  what's  here.  I've  read  it  before, 
heard  my  pastor  preach  on  it,  even  studied  it  in  Sunday 
school"?  This  kind  of  attitude,  although  it  stops  short  of 
claiming  to  know  it  all,  dulls  receptivity  and  invites  com- 
placent satisfaction. 

Study  the  life  of  Jesus.  No  ruts.  All  His  living  was  vital 
and  vibrant.  Those  who  take  Jesus'  words  seriously  and 
expose  themselves  to  Him  in  a  vulnerable  way  are 
guaranteed  an  exciting  life. 

Although  Jesus  was  consistent— His  life  perfectly  ex- 
pressed the  will  of  the  Father,  completely  representing  what 
is  right,  just,  and  good  — He  was  also  unpredictable.  His 
closest  followers  stood  scratching  their  heads  half  the  time, 
wondering  what  He  would  do  next.  Jesus'  teachings  kept 
everyone  off  balance.  Imagine  a  Jew  saying,  "Drink  my 


CE 


blood"!  He  forced  people  to  stay  alert  because  he  didn't 
always  speak  plainly. 

Jesus'  unpredictability  is  perhaps  the  greatest  indictment 
of  our  sinful  condition.  The  problem  of  familiarity  arises 
not  because  of  limitations  in  Jesus'  life  or  in  the  Scriptures, 
but  because  we  approach  this  amazing  man  and  this  inex- 
haustible book  impassively.  I  pray  that  the  great  truths  of 
the  Bible  might  increasingly  grip  my  life,  that  the  familiar 
wonders  of  grace,  mercy  and  the  sacrificial  death  of  Christ 
would  never  become  tired  fare.  Handling  the  Word  of  God 
should  cause  me  to  tremble,  not  yawn.  It  grieves  me  that 
I  know  so  little  of  trembling. 

"That  Doesn't  Apply  To  Me" 

How  often  we've  been  warned,  "Don't  take  it  personal- 
ly." That  may  be  good  advice  for  the  thin-skinned  in  in- 
terpersonal relationships,  but  it  is  disastrous  advice  for  our 
relationship  with  God.  Failure  to  "take  it  personally"  leads 
to  hypocrisy — such  as  adults  who  express  grave  concern 
over  the  lack  of  spiritual  commitment,  evangelistic  zeal,  and 
faithful  Bible  study  among  the  youth  of  the  church,  all  the 
time  overlooking  the  same  lack  in  themselves. 

Remember  the  Pharisees?  Unless  Jesus  got  their  atten- 
tion with  a  jab  to  the  jaw  they  assumed  He  was  speaking 
to  others— those  who  needed  it.  This  attitude  is  a  fatal  flaw 
of  the  spiritually  middle-aged. 

Our  walk  with  Christ  demands  personal  receptivity. 
When  God  speaks  through  Scripture  in  my  devotions, 
through  my  pastor,  or  in  the  rebuke  of  a  friend,  I  must  res- 
pond, "Lord,  are  you  speaking  to  me?  Is  there  something 
I  must  confess?  Something  I  must  change?"  Throughout 
the  Bible,  God  warns  us  to  keep  an  attentive  eye  to 
ourselves,  to  scrutinize  and  test  our  lives.  In  Dt.  4:9  He 
warns,  "Only  be  careful,  and  watch  yourselves  closely  so 
that  you  do  not  forget  the  things  your  eyes  have  seen  or 
let  them  slip  from  your  heart  as  long  as  you  live." 

The  followers  of  Jesus  must  be  fully  conscious  of  their 
own  vulnerability,  careful  they  don't  deceive  themselves  by 
holding  an  unrealistic  self-estimate.  They  should  test  their 
actions  and  examine  their  motivations  (Gal.  6:1-4).  The 
challenge  is  to  stay  humble.  So,  if  you  think  you  are 
standing  firm,  you  may  already  be  a  middle-aged  Christian. 

A  Slowly  Cooling  Heart 

All  Christians  experience  periods  of  dryness  in  their  walk 
with  God.  But  a  slowly  cooling  heart  is  a  slowly  dying  heart. 

Our  Lord  speaks  of  the  ebbing  of  fervent  love  as  a  critical 
concern,  one  requiring  repentance  and  diligent,  specific  ac- 
tion. "Yet  I  hold  this  against  you:  You  have  forsaken  your 
first  love.  Remember  the  height  from  which  you  have  fallen! 
Repent  and  do  the  things  you  did  at  first.  If  you  do  not 
repent,  I  will  come  to  you  and  remove  your  lampstand  from 
its  place"  (Rev.  2:4-5). 

What  is  this  first  love?  In  Jer.  2:2  the  Lord  says,  "I 
remember  the  devotion  of  your  youth,  how  as  a  bride  you 
loved  me  and  followed  me  through  the  desert,  through  a 
land  not  sown."  Bride  love.  First  love.  Tender  devotion. 

Bride  love  is  evidently  high  and  lofty,  because  Jesus  tells 
us  to  remember  the  height  from  which  we  have  fallen.  It 
is  a  love  that  follows  the  beloved  not  through  a  land  of  milk 
and  honey  but  through  a  desert,  a  land  unsown.  To  be  with 
the  loved  one  is  enough. 

Middle-aged  love,  however,  is  more  like  the  couple  who, 
grown  used  to  each  other,  have  accepted  a  quiet  stagna- 


tion, who  endure  conversationless  meals,  who  linger 
wearied  in  boredom,  who  with  expressionless  eyes  stare 
past  the  stranger  they  promised  to  love  "till  death  do  us 
part."  No  Joy.  No  thrill.  No  warmth  or  pleasure.  Middle- 
aged  love  can  happen  to  anyone — and  will  happen  to 
anyone  who  neglects  to  fan  the  flame. 

If  you  intend  to  light  a  fire,  consider  your  fuel.  Well- 
seasoned  wood  is  easily  ignited  with  a  spark,  damp  or 
green  wood  requires  care  and  effort  to  blaze  with  flame. 
A  cool  heart,  like  green  wood,  requires  constant  blowing. 

Growing  Out  of  Middle  Age 

How  do  you  fan  a  smoldering  ember  into  the  fire  of  bride 
love?  Court.  Plan  time  to  cultivate  your  relationship  with 
Christ,  to  give  attention  to  your  Lord,  to  receive  His  ex- 
pressions of  love  as  well  as  to  learn  how  to  express  more 
fully  your  love  to  Him. 

To  avoid  middle-aged  love,  or  to  grow  out  of  it,  try 
something  new:  take  a  walk  alone  with  the  Lord  to  pray 
or  reflect  on  a  verse;  try  a  new  posture — kneel  beside  your 
couch  as  you  read  the  Bible,  lie  face  down  before  God 
and  recommit  your  life  to  Him;  take  a  hymnbook  to  a 

BRIDE  LOVE.  .  .follows  the  beloved 
not  through  a  land  of  milk  and  honey, 
but  through  a  desert,  a  land  unsown. 
To  be  with  the  loved  one  is  enough. 

solitary  place  and  sing  praises  to  God;  go  out  for  tea  and 
make  a  list  of  God's  goodnesses  to  you  (start,  "Lord,  I 
remember  when  You  supplied  the  money  for  conference, 
when  You  helped  my  little  girl,  .  .  .");  set  aside  time  just 
to  listen  ("Lord,  speak — I'm  listening");  approach  the  Bi- 
ble in  different  ways — read  the  Gospel  of  Luke  in  a  quiet 
time,  go  through  Proverbs  during  your  lunch  break  listing 
the  characteristics  of  a  learner,  read  a  Psalm  each  night 
before  retiring. 

Don't  Play  It  Safe 

Living  as  Christ  desires  but  also  playing  it  safe  is  impossi- 
ble. Faith  presumes  risk.  What  risks  are  you  taking? 

Growing  in  your  relationship  with  God  may  mean  tell- 
ing someone  about  Christ  even  though  you're  scared 
speechless  or  leaving  a  secure  culture  to  serve  Christ 
overseas.  If  you're  shy,  it  will  mean  introducing  yourself 
to  a  visitor  at  church .  The  element  of  risk  may  present  itself 
in  little  scary  packages  or  in  big  scary  packages.  The  key 
to  embracing  it  is  the  lesson  we  learn  from  Caleb;  risk  is 
safe  because  God  is  with  us. 

Examine  your  life.  Look  for  opportunities  to  exercise 
your  faith.  Express  your  fears  to  the  Lord,  ask  Him  to  help 
you. 

You  will  grow  older,  but  you  don't  have  to  become 
middle-aged.  Let  God  stretch  your  faith  as  you  expose 
yourself  to  His  changing  love.  Secure  in  His  grace,  take 
risks  that  open  your  life  to  fresh  and  vital  experiences  with 
Him.  D 


JEAN  FLEMING  is  a  Navigator  staff  member  in  Seattle,  Washingto 
husband  Roger  is  regional  director  for  The  Navigators. 


Reprinted  from  Discipieship  Journal  issue  24,  •  1984  by  The  Navigators,  Used 
by  permission,  all  rights  reserved. 


6 


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Preparing  for  the  Climb 
A  cair  for  revived  living. 


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Together 


Spain: 

The  Country 

and  Its  People 


by  Buzz  Inboden 


Spain — a  land  of  beauty,  a  land  of  friendliness,  a  land 
of  mystery,  a  land  of  tradition,  and  a  land  of  uncertainty. 
Spain  is  the  land  of  the  Moors,  the  Conquistadores,  and 
the  Inquisition.  It  is  a  land  known  for  delicious  foods,  sun- 
drenched beaches,  towering  mountains,  and  artful 
metalware. 

Spain  has  bustling  cities,  breathtaking  cathedrals,  and 
over  37  million  people,  most  of  them  hopelessly  lost 
without  God. 

Who  is  the  Spaniard?  No  one  quite  knows  for  sure. 

A  Spaniard  would  claim  to  be  Catholic  (over  95%  of 
the  population  would  make  such  a  claim),  although  he 
probably  does  not  attend  mass  more  than  a  couple  times 
a  year.  He  would  assert  a  pride  in  his  ever-increasing  stan- 
dard of  living,  but  would  probably  cast  a  longing  eye  toward 
more  industrialized  European  countries  or  the  United 
States. 

He  would  recall  the  Spanish  Civil  War  when  about  40 
years  ago,  Spaniard  turned  against  Spaniard  and  against 
much  of  the  world  as  well-  He  would  admit  that  he  was 
marked  by  the  ensuing  years  of  dictatorship,  but  would  ex- 
press optimism  with  the  emerging  democracy  and  be 
delighted  that  he,  the  common  Spaniard,  can  finally  have 
a  hand  in  selecting  his  leaders. 

The  Spaniard  is  a  magnificent  person— very  friendly  yet 
self-conscious.  He  or  she  is  very  clean  in  appearance,  very 

Traditional  beliefs  and  practices  are  no 
longer  sufficient. 


proud  in  action,  very  traditional  in  practice,  and  very  bold 
in  thought. 

The  Spaniard  is  also  very  lost. 

Reformation  ideas  never  entered  Spain.  Neither  did  the 
Enlightenment.  Spain's  neutrality  kept  it  out  of  the  com- 
munity that  formed  as  Europe  was  rebuilding. 

Now,  however,  Spain  is  emerging.  Its  eyes  are  on  Latin 
America,  and  its  resources  are  being  heavily  invested  in 
the  outside  world.  Spain  is  taking  seriously  its  role  as  leader 
in  the  Spanish-speaking  world. 

The  Spaniard's  new  awareness  of  the  world  is  exciting 
and  frustrating  for  him.  Traditional  answers  no  longer 
satisfy.  Traditional  beliefs  and  practices  are  no  longer 
sufficient. 


This  is  the  Spaniard  the  missionary  will  encounter.  The 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  and  abundant  life  that  He  offers  will 
transform  the  lives  of  the  Spanish  people  just  as  it  trans- 
formed the  lives  of  people  the  world  over.  The  Spaniard 
has  learned  that  treasures  on  earth  are  easily  corrupted. 
He  has  learned  that  thieves  do  break  through  and  steal. 

This  is  the  hour  to  take  the  good  news  to  Spain  so  that 
the  Spanish  people  can  lay  up  for  themselves  treasures  in 
heaven. 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  entered  Spain  in  1984, 
when  Bob  and  Marilyn  Salazar  entered  the  country.  This 
year  the  Salazars  will  be  moving  to  Valencia  to  begin 
church-planting  ministries. 

They  need  help. 

We  dare  not  miss  this  opportunity.  Spaniards  are  mov- 
ing all  through  the  Spanish-speaking  world  as  business  op- 
portunities expand.  Each  business  man  could  also  be  a  mis- 
sionary. Spain  is  the  gateway  to  the  Moslem  world  of  North 
Africa,  too. 

Many  additional  parts  of  the  world  could  indeed  be  con- 
fronted with  the  gospel  if  Grace  Brethren  people  take  the 
challenge  of  reaching  the  people  of  Spain  for  Jesus  Christ. 


FMS    JUNE  '85  9 


The  Challenge  of  Europe 


Discerning  Christians  agree  that  we 
have  entered  a  significant  period  of 
human  history — in  some  ways  the 
most  significant  that  the  world  has  yet 
seen. 

Most  would  also  agree  that  Western 
Europe  is  destined  to  play  a  strategic 
role  in  the  world  of  the  next  two 
decades.  Those  who  know  Europe  are 
painfully  aware  of  its  tragic  spiritual 
lethargy.  Some,  however,  are  begin- 
ning to  peer  beyond  her  present  indif- 
ference and  catch  a  vision  of  what 
could  happen  if  Europeans  would 
once  again  turn  to  God. 

Some  believe  that  we  are  entering 
the  first  of  what  could  be  three  distinct 
phases  in  a  moving  of  God's  Spirit  in 
Europe  in  this  time  of  its  history. 

A  Period  of  Preparation 

Two  things  are  becoming  more  and 
more  evident.  The  first  is  that  God  is 
laying  on  the  hearts  of  people  in  wide- 
ly scattered  places  a  burden  to  pray  for 
a  spiritual  awakening  in  Europe.  The 
second  is  that  an  increasing  number 
of  dedicated  Christians  are  expressing 


the  conviction  that  God  is  choosing 
them  to  be  a  part  of  His  team  on  that 
continent. 

It  would  appear  that  more  spiritual 
energy,  in  the  form  of  intercessory 
prayer,  is  being  focused  on  Europe 
now  than  at  any  other  time  in  recent 
history.  Christians  in  many  lands  are 
praying  that  Europe's  churches  will  be 
revived,  that  the  forces  of  evil  will  be 
restrained,  and  that  the  preaching  of 
the  Word  will  fall  on  ears  made 
spiritually  sensitive. 

If  it  is  true  that  the  prayers  of  God's 
people  are  stored  up  to  be  poured  out 
at  a  precise  time  of  history  (Rev.  5:8), 
there  is  hope  that  Europe  will  again 
awaken  to  the  message  of  God.  To  be 
sure,  no  amount  of  praying  can 
guarantee  revival;  God  is  sovereign. 
But  periods  of  intense  prayer  have 
often  been  followed  by  periods  of  turn- 
ing to  God. 

A  Period  of  Awakening 

Perhaps  the  pieces  are  not  quite  in 
place  for  a  significant  movement  of  the 
Spirit  in  Europe.  If  the  winds  of  revival 


10j 


FMS 


by  Tom  Julien 


would  sweep  across  this  continent  to- 
day, much  spiritual  energy  would  be 
dissipated  in  an  emotionalism  having 
few  roots  in  the  Word  of  God. 

Yet,  a  widening  network  of  people 
and  churches  are  already  awakening 
to  the  significance  of  the  time.  There 
is  a  spirit  of  expectancy. 

When  this  network  of  Christians — 
prepared,  tested,  and  awakened — is  in 
place,  the  Spirit  of  God  could  once 
again  move  across  parts  of  the  conti- 
nent of  Europe,  putting  flesh  on  the 
dry  bones  of  churches  deadened  by 
worldliness,  lack  of  vision,  and  inter- 
nal strife. 

A  Period  of  Opposition 

No  one  knows  whether  Europe  will 
experience  a  spiritual  awakening 
before  the  return  of  the  Lo.rd.  Phase 
two  remains  in  God's  good 
providence. 

If  a  spontaneous  moving  of  God's 
Spirit  should  occur,  however,  bringing 
Europeans  to  repentance  and  faith  in 
the    Lord    Jesus    resulting    in    the 


multiplication  of  believers'  churches, 
then  this  period  of  opposition  would 
be  inevitable. 

The  reason  for  this  is  evident.  The 
growing  movement  towards  religious 
unity,  based  on  a  pluralism  of  beliefs, 
is  seen  by  some  as  the  only  effective 
response  to  a  continuing  disintegration 
of  our  civilization.  The  search  for 
spiritual  unity  will  be  increasingly 
motivated  by  political  and  philosoph- 
ical considerations. 

A  revival  of  biblically-rooted  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ,  the  only  way  of  salvation, 
would  come  immediately  in  conflict 
with  the  popular  religion  of  our  day. 
It  would  be  seen  as  a  threat  to  what 
some  would  consider  mankind's  only 
hope  for  averting  world  catastrophe. 

Opposition  would  be  inevitable, 
conceivably  leading  to  another  disper- 
sion of  a  segment  of  Europe's  popula- 
tion. In  this  case,  it  would  not  be  the 
Jews  but  rather  transformed  believers 
courageous  enough  to  preach  the  ab- 
solute truths  of  God's  Word  to  a 
generation  of  people  committed  to 
religious  syncretism.  (Continued  on  page  13) 


FMS 


11 


FMS  NEWS  FMS  NEWS  FMS  NEWS 


The  Chad— This  African  country  is  now  classed  as  the 
poorest  country  in  the  world.  The  average  annual  income 
in  the  Chad  is  $80.00.  Salaried  employees  are  paid  one 
month  out  of  three,  if  they  are  paid  at  all.  This  includes 
government  employees  and  soldiers. 

Manila,  Philippines— An  article  appearing  in  the  Los 
Angeles  Times  on  December  12,  1984,  stated  that  the 
Pope  had  issued  an  "apostolic  exhortaton"  to  dismiss  the 
"widespread  idea  that  one  can  obtain  forgiveness  directly 
from  God"  and  exhorted  Catholics  to  confess  more  often 
to  their  priests.  This  goes  against  what  one  Catholic  Filipino 
man  told  Clay  Hulett.  The  man  believed  that  he  could  con- 
fess his  sins  to  God  right  in  his  own  home.  He  was  very 
surprised  when  Clay  shared  the  Pope's  exhortation  with 
him. 

Buenos  Aires,  Argentina— Over  1,300  Mormon  mis- 
sionaries live  in  Argentina  today.  They  are  frequently  seen 
in  the  greater  Buenos  Aires  area.  Several  of  their  temples 
are  being  constructed  with  building  programs  that  would 
be  the  envy  of  most  Grace  Brethren  churches  in  the  United 
States.  The  Mormons'  appeal  seems  to  be  mostly  with  the 
middle  and  upper  middle  class  citizens.  As  is  normal  with 
most  cults,  they  are  syphoning  many  people  from  existing 
Protestant  groups,  but  also  they  have  gained  from  disillu- 
sioned Catholics.  Prayer  is  being  requested  that  God  might 
prevent  the  continued  rapid  growth  of  the  cults  in 
Argentina. 

Uberlandia,  Brazil— The  missionaries  in  Uberlandia 
began  requesting  prayer  for  strong  Brazilian  leadership  in 
the  church  several  years  ago.  Many  similar  requests  have 
been  shared  since  then,  including  one  for  the  training  of 
Sunday  school  teachers.  Today  Sabastiao  is  in  his  third  year 
of  study  at  the  Word  of  Life  Bible  Institute  preparing  to  serve 
the  Lord  as  a  pastor.  Several  men  are  taking  turns  leading 


weeknight  meetings  as  believers  gather  in  three  different 
neighborhoods  for  Bible  study  and  prayer.  One  man  is  will- 
ing to  preach  when  Tim  Farner  is  away.  Also,  five  Brazilians 
are  presently  teaching  Sunday  School  and  four  ladies  are 
involved  in  a  teacher  training  course.  These  things  did  not 
"just  happen."  God  is  answering  prayers. 

Lyon,  France— Dr.  Dave  and  Karen  Daugherty  lived  in 
Lyon,  France  to  strengthen  their  French  language  skills 
before  moving  to  the  Central  African  Republic  to  begin  a 
dental  program.  While  there,  Dave  met  with  five  faculty 
members  at  the  Lyon  dental  school.  One  of  the  men,  Dr. 
Hirlemann,  hopes  to  visit  the  Daughertys  after  they  are 
settled  in  the  C.A.R.  A  committed  Christian  dentist  in 
Alsace,  France,  has  promised  to  help  with  the  ordering  of 
dental  supplies  from  France.  The  Daughertys  arrived  in  the 
C.A.R.  on  May  21.  They  will  actually  begin  the  dental  pro- 
gram this  fall  after  Sango  language  study. 

Argentina— On  November  28,  1984,  Hill  and  Dorothy 
Maconaghy  saw  the  realization  of  a  dream  of  eight  years. 
Since  their  retirement,  they  had  wished  to  return  to  the 
field  of  Argentina  where  they  had  served  as  Grace  Brethren 
missionaries  for  38  years.  Alighting  from  the  plane  at 
Buenos  Aires,  they  were  greeted  by  many  old  friends. 

The  Maconaghys  did  not  go  just  for  a  vacation,  but  also 
to  serve  during  their  stay.  Hill  preached  several  times  in 
the  three  Buenos  Aires  churches,  spoke  at  a  pastor/leader 
conference,  led  a  baby  dedication  service,  and  helped  with 
the  work  of  an  evangelistic  film  series.  The  Maconaghys 
traveled  to  the  Cordoba  province  accompanied  by  Solon 
and  Kathryn  Hoyt.  There  they  visited  most  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  churches. 

Time  passed  quickly  for  them,  and  on  February  11,  it 
was  time  for  them  to  return  to  the  States.  The  missionaries 
bade  them  farewell,  very  grateful  for  the  help  and  en- 
couragement that  only  veteran  missionaries  can  give. 

La  Verne,  California— Ted  and  Vivien  Ruiz  were  com- 
missioned by  their  home  church  in  March.  The  Ruizes  are 
being  sent  as  missionaries  to  the  Philippines.  Ted  and  Viv 
were  supposed  to  leave  in  March,  but  couldn't  since  they 
did  not  have  their  visas.  The  visas  are  approved,  but  red 
tape  will  delay  them  from  receiving  the  visas  until  May  or 
June.  They  missed  their  April  language  school,  so  they  will 
begin  in  August  instead. 

Until  their  departure,  Ted  and  Vivien  will  stay  in  La 
Verne,  California,  helping  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  in 
whatever  they  can.  Viv  will  seek  to  help  the  missions  com- 
mittee to  solidify  its  goals  and  direction.  Ted  will  continue 
to  coordinate  the  visitation  program,  work  with  a  singles' 
ministry,  and  encourage  the  new  staff  member. 

Ted  and  Vivien  Ruiz  are  commissioned  for  service  in  the  Philippines. 


12 


FMS 


NEWS  FMS  NEWS  FMS  NEWS  FMS 


Belem,  Brazil— Brazilian  Brethren  National  Conference 
was  held  in  Belem  this  year  at  the  Bible  Institute  building. 
Many  Brethren  attended.  The  evening  services  were  held 
in  a  different  Brethren  church  in  Belem  each  night.  In  the 
afternoons,  a  group  of  young  people  would  go  door-to- 
door  in  the  neighborhood  of  each  church  and  invite  peo- 
ple to  attend  the  evening  services.  Unusual  for  a  national 
conference?  Yes,  but  a  few  people  were  reached  for  the 
Lord! 

St.  Albain,  France— Approximately  25  participants  ar- 
rived at  the  Chateau  on  May  31  for  this  year's  Euro- 
Missions  Institute  (EMI).  Their  first  two  weeks  were  spent 
at  the  Chateau  learning  about  the  European  strategies  and 
hearing  speakers  talk  about  such  topics  as  the  will  of  God 
and  church-mission  relationships.  John  Teevan  from 
Ashland,  Ohio,  will  share  about  the  local  church.  The  sec- 
ond two  weeks  will  give  a  more  practical  view  as  the  EMIers 
stay  in  the  homes  of  the  missionaries  in  France,  England, 
Germany,  and  Spain  and  have  more  contact  with  nationals. 
A  special  visitor  this  year  will  be  George  Johnson,  mis- 
sionary to  Brazil,  who  will  be  observing  the  Institute  to  help 
prepare  for  the  Latin  American  Missions  Institute  (LAMI). 

Brasilia,  Brazil— In  April  the  young  people  of  the  Brasilia 
Bible  study  participated  in  a  local  campout  sponsored  by 
the  Bible  Study.  The  main  -emphasis  was  on  the  first  steps 
in  the  Christian  life.  The  15  young  people  (ages  9-14)  were 
greatly  challenged  to  grow  in  their  maturity  in  the  Chris- 
tian walk.  One  young  person  made  a  personal  decision 
for  Christ. 

France — French  national  television  showed  the  film  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  during  Easter  week,  and  since  then  many 
testimonies  have  been  heard  from  Christians  on  how  that 
event  gave  them  open  doors  to  share  their  faith  in  Christ. 
At  least  one  girl  has  accepted  Christ  as  a  result. 

Karuizawa,  Japan — God  is  opening  many  doors  for  an 
effective  and  fruitful  church  planting  effort  in  Japan,  even 
though  our  missionaries  are  still  in  language  study.  Ike  and 
Nancy  Graham  have  had  the  opportunity  to  witness  to 
neighbors  and  to  make  friends  with  some  Christians.  One 
church  planting  possibility  exists  with  Nagahatta-san  and 
his  family.  They  are  open  to  beginning  a  Grace  Brethren 
church. 


Nagahatta-san  and  family. 


Continued  from  page  11 

God  could  choose  to  use  Europeans  once  again  pushed 
away  from  their  boundaries,  to  bring  the  Good  News  to 
other  parts  of  the  world  in  a  20th  century  missionary  move- 
ment which  would  burst  out  of  the  structured  missionary 
societies  of  our  day. 

If  Western  Europe,  a  sleeping  giant  of  20  centuries  of 
spiritual  heritage,  should  awaken,  the  world  would  not  re- 
main the  same. 


Winona  Lake— The  Buena  Vista,  VA,  First  Brethren 
Church  gave  $9,063.58  to  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Mis- 
sions in  1984  (not  $10.00  as  reported  in  the  April  Herald). 
Their  offering  was  received  shortly  after  the  January 
deadline,  so  this  amount  will  be  shown  in  the  1985  report. 

Chad— The  problem  facing  President  Habre  is  the  loss  of 
French  backing.  If  he  tries  to  occupy  the  north,  he  faces 
insurrection  in  the  south.  Correspondents  tell  of  large-scale 
killings  by  Habre  s  troops  in  the  south.  On  top  of  that,  there's 
grave  famine.  An  estimated  90,000  Chadians  have  fled  to 
Sudan,  looking  for  food. 

The  massacres  occured  becaused  the  south  has  never 
really  been  pacified.  Rebels  have  been  exploiting  the  in- 
security there  to  their  own  ends.  Some,  no  doubt,  get  help 
from  Libya,  while  others  are  remnants  of  old  independence 
movements. 

Valencia,  Spain— Valencia  has  been  designated  as  the 
first  city  into  which  our  Grace  Brethren  missionaries  in 
Spain  will  enter.  Bob  and  Marilyn  Salazar  are  praising  God 
for  his  guidance  in  seeking  and  selecting  a  starting  point 
to  initiate  the  work.  The  team  in  Spain  will  grow  this  fall 
as  Ralph  and  Carolyn  Robinson  and  family  join  the 
Salazars. 


FMS 


13 


Their  Lives  E> 
Mike  Alexande 


— «r-~:rr":-':  ■  I  Mike  in  his  office  at  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions. 


Ministries: 

Walk  Thru  the  Bible  Ministries, 
1978-84.  Executive  Vice  President, 
1982-84. 

Grace  College  and  Seminary, 
1976-78,  Controller. 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions, 
1972-76,  Financial  Secretary. 

Warsaw  Community  Grace 
Brethren  Church;  served  as 
moderator,  recording  secretary, 
deacon,  pulpit  committee  member, 
and  Board  member  of  Warsaw 
Christian  School. 

Perimeter  Presbyterian  Church; 
served  as  an  adult  teacher,  and 
chairman  of  finances. 

Grace  Brethren  Retirement 
Homes;  chairman  of  business  ad- 
ministration committee.  Fellowship 
of  Grace  Brethren  Churches;  na- 
tional treasurer  and  chairman  of 
hospitality  committee. 

Awards  and  Activities 

1984  Who's  Who  in  the  South 
and  Southwest 

1977  Outstanding  Young  Men  of 
America 

Roswell,  Georgia,  Little  League 
Coach 

Optimist  Club  (Warsaw,  Ind); 
chairman  of  finance  committee  and 
member  of  Board  of  Directors. 

Education 

University  of  Nebraska 
Grace  Theological  Seminary 
Bowling  Green  State  University 
Sinclair  Community  College 


The  news  that  Mike  Alexander  died  suddenly  at  the  age  of  37,  stunned  Grace 
Brethren  missionaries  and  members  of  the  home  office  staff  with  whom  he  had 
worked.  Mike  went  to  be  with  the  Lord  on  February  8,  1985. 

Mike  came  to  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  at  a  time  when  the  Society  was 
in  need  of  his  expertise.  During  the  four-year  period  (1972-76)  that  he  was  the 
Finance  Department's  head,  he  was  instrumental  in  revising  the  missonary  salary 
system  to  allow  for  a  cost-of-living  index  and  helped  in  the  establishing  of  a  qualified 
retirement  program. 

His  interest  in  missions  extended  beyond  this  time  spent  with  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions  and  because  of  his  heart  for  missions,  a  memorial  fund  in  his 
memory  has  been  established.  One  of  Mike's  goals  was  "To  know  Christ  and  to 
make  Him  known"  here  in  the  United  States  and  across  the  world.  This  memorial 
will  help  to  continue  this  life  goal. 

The  monies  from  the  memorial  will  furnish  a  study  room  in  the  Missionary 
Residence  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana.  Missionaries  on  furlough  often  need  a  place 
to  prepare  sermons,  write,  or  study.  The  study  room  will  be  just  that,  plus  part 
of  the  room  will  have  a  cubicle  for  listening  to  and  practicing  with  language  tapes. 
Gifts  for  the  memorial  fund  should  be  clearly  marked  and  sent  to  GBFMS,  P. 
O.  Box  588,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590. 

GBFMS  is  thankful  to  the  Lord  for  the  role  Mike  has  had  in  foreign  missions. 
Our  deepest  sympathies  are  extended  to  his  wife,  Anne,  and  his  children,  Jay 
and  Julie.  □ 


14 


FMS 


Dlify  Service 
lenn  O'Neal 


Phoebe  and  Glenn  O'Neal  chat  with  some  men  at  EMI 


The  GBFMS  Board  of  Trustees  was  in  session  (February,  1985) 
when  word  was  received  that  Dr.  Glenn  O'Neal  passed  away. 
Dr.  O'Neal  was  member  of  the  Board  from  1952  to  1984  and 
presided  as  its  president  for  many  years  until  illness  prevented 
him  from  attending  Board  sessions. 

He  and  his  wife,  Phoebe,  along  with  John  Zielasko,  General 
Director,  made  trips  to  the  mission  points  in  South  America  and 
Africa.  In  1977,  they  traveled  together  in  the  Orient  in  the  in- 
terest of  seeking  new  opportunities  where  new  Grace  Brethren 
works  might  be  established.  As  a  result  of  that  survey,  church 
planting  ministries  were  initiated  in  the  Philippines  and  Japan. 

The  O'Neals  also  attended  and  spoke  at  the  Euro-Missions 
Institute  one  summer.  Dr.  O'Neal  had  a  great  influence  on  many 
students  as  he  taught  at  Talbot  Seminary  and  also  served  as  dean. 

Glenn  was  a  good  friend  and  supporter  of  missions.  His  in- 
terest in  and  knowledge  of  the  mission  program  made  him  a 
valuable  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  The  office  staff  and 
missionaries  of  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  will  miss  him 
greatly.  □ 


Dr.  O'Neal  was  actively  involved  with 
Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions. 
(Clockwise,  from  2nd  right):  The  O'Neals 
and  the  Zielaskos  join  a  group  of  Africans 
while  visiting  villages  in  the  Central  African 
Republic. 

Glenn  and  Phoebe  and  Jack  and  Jean 
travel  together  to  another  mission  field  to 
survey  the  progress  and  encourage  our 
missionaries. 

As  president  of  the  board.  Dr.  O'Neal 
leads  one  of  its  sessions. 

While  in  Europe,  Glenn  teaches  one  of  the 
seminars  at  the  Euro-Missions  Institute  as 
Dave  Griffith  listens. 


*— 

FMS    JUNE  '85   1  5 


fifes 
anil 

Bluegrass 


"I  think  people  are  surprised  more  than  anything,"  says 
Dr.  David  Turner  on  the  combination  of  bluegrass  and 
seminary  professors. 


, 


n  the  basement  of  a  seminary. 
A  hallway  of  mostly  uncirculated  air 
and  colors  without  breath.  The  print 
shop  is  deserted,  and  you  get  the 
feeling  that  someone's  Bible  is  prob- 
ably opened  to  I  Chronicles  .  .  . 
Bukki  his  son,  Uzzi  his  son,  Zerahiah 
his  son  .  .  . 

A  distant  office  bleeds  fluorescent 
light  into  the  darkness  of  a  gray  Fri- 
day afternoon  in  the  basement  of  a 
seminary  hall  .  .  .  Shebuel  the  son 
of  Gershom,  the  son  of  Moses  was 
officer  over  the  treasures  .  .  . 

Mostly  silence,  a  hum  over  wires, 
a  fan's  wheeze,  water  swirling  in  pipes 
.   .   .  Johanan  the  eighth,  Elzabad 


the  ninth  .  .  . 

And  then,  unexpectedly,  a  banjo. 

The  music  breaks  the  blandness. 

"1  saw  the  light!  I  saw  the  light! 

No  more  in  darkness,  no  more  in 
night. 

Now  I'm  so  happy  — 

Praise  the  Lord.  I  saw  the  light!" 

The  instruments  are  packed  with 
emotion:  the  banjo  like  cool  water; 
the  bass,  a  warm  breeze;  the  guitar, 
rain  on  tin  roofs.  Together  it  is 
bluegrass,  as  bitter  and  as  sweet  as 
listening  to  a  thunderstorm  in  a  dis- 
tant valley. 

In  the  office  filled  with  Old  Testa- 
ment commentaries  and  books  on 


16 


GRACE 


victorious  Christian  living,  the  three 
staff  members  have  just  finished  a 
song.  A  student  has  dropped  in  with 
a  bag  of  M&Ms:  "I  heard  the  music 
out  in  the  hall,"  she  says.  "Man,  you 
guys  are  really  good." 

I  think  people  are  surprised 
more  than  anything,"  says  Dr.  David 
Turner  on  the  combination  of 
bluegrass  and  seminary  professors. 
Turner  and  Dr.  Gary  Meadors,  both 
assistant  professors  of  New  Testa- 
ment and  Greek,  play  the  guitar  and 
banjo  respectively.  David  Brown, 
director  of  field  services,  plays  the 
bass.  Dr.  Rick  Lovelady,  chairman  of 
the  college  English  department,  often 
joins  in  with  a  guitar.  Together  they 
are  known  as  Afterclass. 

"I  think  the  thing  that  got  it 
started,"  explains  Turner,  "Is  when  I 
noticed  a  bumper-sticker  on  Gary's 
car  that  said,  'Have  you  hugged  your 
banjo  today."  Soon,  Turner  drug  his 
guitar  out.  Brown  then  stopped  by 
and  started  to  play  Meadors' guitar 
and  then  bass. 

A  few  bluegrass  tunes  later  and 
they  were  a  band. 

They  now  play  for  area  churches 
and  socials,  mostly  on  a  volunteer 
basis.  They  have  also  added  singers 
from  the  college  and  seminary. 

Bibles  and  banjos  are -not  exactly 
hamburger  and  ketchup.  At  first,  they 
may  seem  an  unsettling  combina- 
tion. "I  think  people  find  it  novel 
rather  than  strange,"  Meadors  says. 
"There  has  been  only  one  person," 
Meadors  says,  "who  thought  it  was 
strange.  And  he  was  from  Germany." 

Meadors,  however,  says  that 
bluegrass  has  some  of  its  roots  in  the 
church.  "I  think  the  Gospel  enters  in 
because  a  lot  of  bluegrass  singers 
came    out   of   Virginia   and    North 


Upeaking  to  one  another  in  psalms 
and  hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  sing- 
ing and  making  melody  with  your 
heart  to  the  Lord."  —  Ephesians  5:19 


Carolina  and  their  roots  were  in 
church.  Bluegrass  really  began  in 
church  basements  with  a  fiddle  and 
a  banjo." 

The  members  of  the  group  see  it 
as  a  throwback  to  a  time  before 
television,  before  automobiles,  before 
the  pace  of  today's  society. 

"Most  bluegrass  was  invented 
before  the  television  era,"  Meadors 
explains,  "when  families  got  together 
and  played  and  sang.  I  make  this 
analogy:  Country  music  is  barroom 
and  bluegrass  is  backporch." 

The  group  members  also  believe 
that  the  Gospel  and  bluegrass  have 
other  similarities.  The  music,  like 
many  passages  in  the  Bible  speaks 
of  paradoxes:  Of  joy  and  suffering, 
of  laughter  and  tears,  of  defeat  and 
victory.  The  feeling  of  a  bluegrass 
train  song,  for  example,  is  similiar  to 
I  Corinthians  1:5. 

"Overall  it  is  a  happy  sound," 
Meadors  adds.  "It's  uplifting.  There 
is  a  lot  of  sad  music  in  bluegrass  too 
but  even  when  you  play  that,  the  sad 
is  pretty" 

Afterclass,  however,  is  not  trying 
to  make  any  statements  with  their 


music.  They  don't  play  because 
Bluegrass  is  socially  significant  or 
because  Bill  Monroe  came  from  a 
small  town,  or  even  because  it  could 
have  some  spiritual  impact.  Nothing 
that  deep. 

"We  play  because  its  fun,"  Turner 
says. 

Kick-off-your-shoes-loosen-your- 
tie  fun.  Pickin-wildwood-flowers-on- 
a-country-road  fun.  Singin;praise-to- 
the-Lord  fun. 

In  the  dark  basement  the  music 
draws  a  person  to  the  office  light. 

"Oh,  the  land  of  cloudless  day! 

Oh,  the  land  of  an  uncloudy  sky! 

Oh,  they  tell  me  of  a  home  where 
no  storm  clouds  rise. 

Oh  they  tell  me  of  an  uncloudy 
day." 

Down  the  hall  the  music  flows,  a 
challenge  to  monotony.  Someone's 
Bible  may  be  open  to  another  book. 
Possibly  Psalms  .  .  . 

It  is  a  curious  combination,  this 
darkness  and  this  music  .  .  .  "Those 
who  sow  in  tears,  .  .  ."  this  song  of 
hope  and  this  basement  .  .  .  "shall 
reap  with  joyful  shouting."  □ 


Given  by: 

In  Memory  of: 

Virginia  District  Ministerium 

Pastor  George  Hall 

LIVING  MEMORIAL 

Rev.  Dave  Mitchell 

Mrs.  Loraine  Mitchell 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Harold 

Peugh 

Mr.  Glenn  O'Neal 

HONOR  ROLL 

Mr.  Stanley  Nairn 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Teofilo 

Mr.  Gertrude  O'Neill 
Mrs.  Mildred  Nairn 

APRIL  1985 

Alemania 

Dr.  Norman  Uphouse 
In  Honor  of: 

Rev.  Dave  Mitchell 

Mr.  Lawrence  Mitchell 

GRACE 


17 


Classic 
Renaissance 


Dr.  Edgar  Lovelady,  head  of  the  Grace  College  English  Department. 


Jg  t    one    time    Dr.    Edgar    J. 

U  Lovelady,  when  confronted 
with  Joyce,  would  have  pro- 
bably thought  of  a  wooden,  suppor- 
ting beam.  Hawthorne,  a  tree  that 
blossoms  in  spring.  Blake,  a  master 
of  slapstick. 

Now  they  are,  in  some  mysterious 
way,  his  everyday  companions.  They 
sit  still  on  his  shelf,  shout  from  an 
open  page,  or  jump  into  his 
consciousness. 

It  was  a  backward  journey,  of 
sorts,  that  brought  Lovelady  to  them 
and  the  other  masters  of  the  English 
language  and  the  human  psyche. 
After  graduating  from  Grace 
Theological  Seminary  in  1966,  he 


had  been  accepted  into  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan's  graduate  school. 
He  was  to  study  Near-Eastern 
languages.  He  never  made  it. 

Three  years  later,  he  was  teaching 
in  the  English  Department  of  Grace 
College. 

'The  Lord  gets  you  into  a  lot  of 
things  through  the  back  door,"  says 
Dr.  Lovelady.  "1  guess  I'm  one  of  the 
original  back-door  men." 

Dr.  Edgar  J.  Lovelady  is  unique, 
both  in  personality  and  experience. 
His  parents  were  traveling 
evangelists.  "I  remember  44  straight 
nights  on  the  road  and  sleeping  in  44 
different  places."  Because  of  the 
travel,   Lovelady  never  received  a 


high  school  diploma. 

He  has  earned  a  Doctorate  of 
Theology  degree. 

Like  his  father  before  him,  he  is  a 
talented  musician.  He  plays  a  wide 
variety  of  instruments,  including  the 
classical  guitar.  He  has  only  had  a 
handful  of  music  lessons  in  his  life. 

He  loves  horses. 

A  receding  hairline  betrays  an 
otherwise  young  face  --  easy  smile, 
gentle  eyes,  quick  speech. 

Spiritually,  he  has  learned  to  stop 
taking  things  for  granted.  He  em- 
braces the  Biblical  answers  because, 
in  part,  he  has  studied  the  questions. 

He  understands  the  human  con- 
dition and  speaks  of  it  often.  He  has 


18 


GRACE 


studied  art. 

He  used  to  think  that  he  wanted 
to  be  a  pastor  or  an  evangelist  or  a 
missionary.  Just  so  it  was  "full-time 
Christian  service."  He  became 
frustrated  at  times,  because  he  did 
not  know  what  to  do  with  his  life. 

And  then  the  unexpected  happen- 
ed. On  the  edge  of  a  dilemma,  he 
found  the  cutting  edge  of  God's  will 
and  the  sharp  questions  of  acid  pens. 

In  1963  Dr.  Lovelady  ran  out  of 
money.  He  needed  a  temporary  job 
to  get  enough  money  to 
attend  graduate  school  at        ^_^ 
the       University       of 
Michigan. 

By  "chance,"  there 
were  two  job  openings  at 
Cromwell  School.  One 
was  for  a  fifth-grade 
teacher;  another  was  for 
a  high  school  English 
teacher. 

A  friend  of  Lovelady 's 
who  also  needed  a  tem- 
porary job,  took  the  fifth- 
grade  position.  Lovelady        

was  left  with  high-school 
English. 

"My  English  background  was 
miserable,"  Lovelady  said.  He  had 
had  the  12  hours  of  required 
courses.  Moby  Dick  and  Comp  1 
and  Oedipus  Rex  .  .  .  that  sort  of 
thing.  Edgar  J.  Lovelady  wasn't  ex- 
actly thrilled. 

"I  was  interested  in  Biblical 
scholarship,"  Lovelady  said.  "I 
thought  all  other  areas  were  intellec- 
tually inferior." 

Lovelady  was  quickly  humbled. 
Maybe  by  Dostoyevsky.  Maybe  by 
Milton.  Maybe  by  C.  S.  Lewis.  Cer- 
tainly by  God's  will. 

Once  he  started  searching  the 
classics,  Lovelady  was  "compelled." 
As  a  Christian,  he  says  he  always 
knew  the  answers.  The  trouble  was 
that,  he  had  never  really  considered 
the  questions. 

Lovelady  changed  his  plans.  He 
enrolled  at  St.  Francis  in  Fort  Wayne 
for  a  master's  degree  in  English. 

What    Lovelady    found    in    the 


classics  was  something  spiritual, 
some  kind  of  intense  longing,  a  great 
vacuum  of  soul  and  earth,  the  in- 
complete human  heart. 

"They  all  essentially  speak  of  one 
thing,"  Lovelady  explains,  "and  that 
is  this  God-shaped  blank." 

There  are  never  easy  answers. 
Even  the  dynamic  Christian  writers 
--  Blake,  Dostoyevsky,  Tolkein, 
Lewis,  Keats,  Browning,  Kempis, 
Milton,  Montgomery,  Tolstoy  and  so 
on  --  did  not  see  in  the  black  and 


fwhat  Lovelady  found  in  the  classics 
was  something  spiritual,  some  kind 
of  intense  longing,  a  great  vacuum 
of  soul  and  earth,  the  incomplete 
human  heart. 


white.  They  bled  their  ink. 

Like  Job  and  Solomon,  they 
wrestled  with  the  questions  of  ex- 
istence: the  celebration,  the  despair, 
eternity  and  death.  They  framed 
their  questions  in  the  answers  that 
God  gives  through  the  Bible 

"They  were  not  writing  as 
preachers  and  propogandists," 
Lovelady  says.  "These  were  people 
who  had  absorbed  Christianity  into 
their  lives.  It  was  a  natural  outcome 
that  it  should  come  out  in  their 
writings. 

Even  with  writers  who  did  not 
adhere  to  Christianity.  Lovelady  finds 
hints  of  God. 

"The  great  literature  of  the  world 
presents  an  apologetic  view," 
Lovelady  says.  "There  are  so  many 
evocative  ideas,  tie-ins  and  parallels 
with  the  Bible.  A  common  theme  is 
that  hearts  are  restless  and  waiting  to 
rest  in  something.  That's  the  same 
thing  that  the  Bible  says." 

The  great  literature  has  forever 


changed  Lovelady's  Christianity.  No 
longer  is  it  purely  didactic  and  super- 
ficial. It  is  also  human. 

"Christ  knew  what  was  in  man," 
Lovelady  says.  "To  a  lesser  extent,  so 
did  the  great  writers.  They  were  great 
psychologists.  It  is  important  for 
Christians  to  know  what  it  is  to  be 
human  and  what  others  have  said 
about  being  human." 

By  grappling  with  the  human  con- 
dition, Dr.  Lovelady  finds  more  value 
in  Divine  grace.  The  greatest  of  all 
literature   is   that   which 
^^^m  provides   answers.    The 

Bible  is  at  the  center  of 
lovelady's  life.  One 
greater  than  Hawthorne 
is  the  Holy  Spirit. 

"Man  without  Christ  is 
hopeless  and  miserable," 
adds  Dr.  Lovelady.  "By 
reading  the  classics,  you 
find   that   man    without 
God  does  not  have  any 
answers.  I've  looked  at 
philosophy  and  the  great 
themes  and  the  evolu- 
tionary       arguments. 
There  wouldn't  be  anything  without 
Christ." 

Dr.  Lovelady  sits  at  his  desk  in  a 
tight  office.  Behind  him  are  his 
degrees:  Bachelor's,  Master  of  Divini- 
ty, Master  of  Arts,  Doctorate,  Master 
of  Theology. 
They  are  paper. 

He  has  a  unique  perspective  --  a 
vast  knowledge  of  English  literature 
and  Biblical  languages.  It  gives  him 
insights  into  the  great  questions  and 
the  great  answers.  He  teaches  both. 
But  knowledge.  Dr.  Lovelady  says, 
should  never  be  lifeless.  Human 
questions  and  Divine  answers  are  a 
volatile  mixture,  a  formula  for  change 
and  worship.  It  demands  ministry. 
Dr.  Lovelady  explains  that 
"ministry  is  a  term  often 
misunderstood.  It  isn't  just  a  preacher 
and  an  altar  call.  Or  a  missionary 
with  a  Bible.  Or  an  exposition  of 
Psalm  22." 

It  could  be  one  insight.  Tolstoy, 
perhaps,  and  a  young  mind.  A  sin- 
gle question  that  cries  for  God.  □ 


GRACE 


19 


Go  Tell  It 

On  The 
Mountains! 


by  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer 

1985  Moderator 

Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 


Have  you  ever  stood  at  the  edge  of 
the  cliff  and  wanted  to  shout  to  the 
world  below?  Last  Fall,  my  wife  and 
1  gazed  at  the  city  of  Montreal,  Canada 
from  the  top  of  a  nearby  mountain.  As 
we  viewed  the  city  below,  my  heart 
leaped  at  the  thought  of  shouting  the 
Good  News  of  the  Gospel  to  all  the 
people  in  that  metropolis. 

The  national  conference  of  the 
Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Chur- 
ches will  be  held  high  in  the  beautiful 
Rocky  Mountains  of  Colorado  on 
August  11  through  16  at  the  YMCA 
Camp  of  the  Rockies  near  Estes  Park. 
This  site,  which,  is  eight  to  nine  thou- 
sand feet  above  sea  level,  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  recreational  spots  in  the 
area. 

Though  we  may  want  to  shout  the 
Gospel  from  that  vantage  point,  the 
primary  concern  will  be  reaching  the 
mountains  of  people  in  the  mission 
fields  of  the  world.  As  we  celebrate  the 
85th  anniversary  of  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions,  our  guest  speakers 
will  be  nationals  from  foreign  and 
cross-cultural    home    mission    fields. 


Ivanildo  Trindade  (Brazil),  Pierre 
Yougouda  (Africa),  Rainer  Ehmann 
(Germany),  and  Tully  Butler  (Navajo) 
will  bare  the  needs  and  tell  of  the  prog- 
ress of  the  Gospel  in  their  respective 
areas. 

The  Moderator's  Address  on  Sun- 
day evening  will  center  upon  the  state 
of  our  Fellowship  and  the  challenges 
which  lay  before  us.  Vice  moderator. 
Dr.  John  Mayes,  will  bring  his  message 
at  the  Tuesday  morning  Bible  hour. 
Music  at  all  the  sessions  will  be  pro- 
vided by  Grace  Brethren  young  peo- 
ple and  adults. 

This  conference  promises  to  be  one 
of  the  best  inspirational  times  of 
fellowship  we  have  ever  enjoyed. 
Every  effort  is  being  made  to  make  this 
a  family  conference,  with  plenty  of 
time  for  fun,  in  addition  to  challeng- 
ing instruction.  Special  tours  and 
sightseeing  trips  are  planned  through- 
out the  week. 

It  will  be  a  special  privilege  to  have 
the  Grace  Brethren  National  Youth 
Conference  held  simultaneously  on 
the  same  grounds.  The  young  peo- 


Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer 

pie  will  join  the  adults  for  several 
meetings. 

The  conference  will  be  preceded  by 
a  seminar  for  foreign  missionaries  and 
a  Home  Missions  pastor's  conference 
at  The  Inn  at  Estes  Park  on  Friday  and 
Saturday,  August  9  and  10.  The 
Christian  Education  convention  will 
convene  on  Sunday  and  Monday, 
August  11  and  12. 

Many  of  our  ministers  and  laity  have 
expressed  the  need  for  revival  in  our 
Fellowship.  We  are  praying  for  a  great 
movement  of  the  Holy  Spirit  during 
and  after  this  conference.  Surely,  if  we 
are  to  see  our  local  churches  prosper 
spiritually,  our  vision  and  compassion 
increase  for  the  lost,  and  our  mis- 
sionaries reach  the  fields  of  the  work, 
it  must  be  a  genuine  work  of  God  in 
all  of  our  hearts.  □ 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


D  PASTORAL  POTPOURRI-Joe  Bishop,  former  associ- 
ate pastor  of  the  GBC  of  Lititz,  PA,  has  accepted  the 
chaplaincy  position  at  Grace  Schools  /  Rick  Clark, 
former  associate  pastor  at  Ankenytown,  OH,  has  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  Manheim  (PA)  GBC  /  Harold  Combs 
is  the  new  pastor  of  the  GBC  at  Clayhole,  KY  /  Michael 
Funderburg  (Cumberland,  MD),  has  resigned  and  has  ac- 
cepted the  pastorate  at  Alto,  Ml  (Prayer  is  requested  for 
the  Cumberland  congregation  as  they  seek  the  direction  of 
the  Lord  in  the  selection  of  a  pastor.)   / 


Change  Your  Annual 


Robert  Belohlavek,  B.P.  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 
Republic  /  Edward  Bowman,  Grace  Village,  P.  0.  Box 
337,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  /  Dave  Daugherty,  B.  P. 
240,  Central  African  Republic  /  Lynn  Hoyt,  Calle  22, 
No.  2350,  Parquefield,  2000,  Rosario,  Santa  Fe,  Argen- 
tina, South  America  /  Christophe  Nord,  18,  Rue  des 
Martyrs  de  la  Resistance,  71 100  Chalon  Sur  Saone,  France 
/  Sheldon  Perrine,  7430  Crescent  Ave.,  Apt.  101,  Buena 
Park,  CA  90620  /  Jack  Peters,  Jr.,  2826  Forestbrook  Dr. 
N,  Lakeland,  FL  33803  /  Dan  Pettman,  3517  Headleys 
Mill  Rd.,  c/o  GBC,  Pataskala,  OH  43062  /  John  Sholly, 
215  Liberty  St.,  Jonesville,  Ml  49250. 


20 


BMH 


BMH 


deaths 


NEWS  REPORT 


Marriages 


The  following  marriages  took  place  in  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Long  Beach,  CA,  during  November  1984,  to  March  1985. 
Richard  Mayhue,  pastor. 

Lori  Amyrauld  and  Jim  Hedges 

Karen  Chaplin  and  Russ  Schaible 

Lynnel  Grubbs  and  Steve  Gilley 

Yolanda  Gomez  and  Tim  Sivils 

Julie  Harris  and  Tony  Loya 

Karen  Kaufman  and  Robert  Rudd 

Julie  Quinn  and  Tim  Crabtree 
Shawna    Kay    Cavanaugh    and    Frank    Corbett,  Jr.,  Valley   GBC, 
Hagerstown,  MD.  Dan  Eshleman,  pastor. 

Lauri  Guillard  and  Michael  Guessford,  Valley  GBC,  Hagerstown, 
MD.  Dan  Eshleman,  pastor. 

Mary  Jones  and  Michael  Gamby,  Valley  GBC,  Hagerstown,  MD. 
Dan  Eshleman,  pastor. 

Tina  Leahy  and  Mark  Overmyer,  GBC  of  Columbus,  OH.  James 
Custer,  pastor. 

Sharon   Trump   and    Kevin    Tschudy,   GBC  of   Lititz,   PA.  Jerry 
Young,  pastor. 


The  following  deaths  occurred  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Long  Beach,  CA,  between  January  7  and  March  3.  Richard 
Mayhue,  pastor. 

Charles  Belt  Michael  Dyer 

Jean  Brakeman       Eva  Simms 
Messner,  Thelma,  77,  a  member  of  the  Southview  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Ashland,  OH.  She  was  the  mother  of  Richard  Messner, 
who  for  many  years  had  served  the  Lord  through  Grace  Schools. 
Stouffer,  Margie,  a  charter  member  of  the  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Hagerstown,  MD.  Dan  Eshleman,  pastor. 


□  Position  opening  for  Christian  person:  Riverwood 
Ranch  Group  Home  for  boys  is  open  for  an  executive 
director.  Full  time,  salary  negotiable.  Qualifications: 
Four-year  college  degree  in  social  services  or  related  field; 
four-year  working  experience  in  human  services.  Send 
resume  to:  Robert  A.  Ashman,  P.O.  Box  1282,  Warsaw, 
IN  46580,  or  call  219/267-5988. 

□  Mike  Prentovich,  an  employee  of  the  Brethren  Mission- 
ary Herald  Company,  Winona  Lake,  IN,  has  been  licensed 
to  the  Christian  ministry  by  his  home  church  in  Rittman, 
OH. 

□  Warren  Tamkin,  former  pastor  of  the  Frederick  (MD) 
GBC,  has  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Hope  GBC  in 
Dillsburg,  PA.  He  began  his  new  ministry  in  June. 


□  Dr.  Richard  Kriegbaum,  has  been  ap- 
pointed the  new  president  of  Fresno 
Pacific  College,  Fresno,  CA,  beginning 
his  duties  July  1.  He  received  his 
bachelor's  degree  in  Spanish  from 
Wheaton  College,  his  master's  from  Ball 
State  University,  and  his  doctorate  in 
higher  education  from  the  State  Uni- 
versity of  New  York  in  Buffalo.  He  was 
director  of  planning  and  research  at 
Wheaton  prior  to  his  acceptance  of  the 
Fresno  position. 

Richard  is  the  son  of  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
Arnold  Kriegbaum  of  Silver  Springs,  FL. 
The  entire  Kriegbaum  family  is  very 
educational  minded.  The  father  had 
served  as  college  dean  at  Grace  College 
(also,  previously  had  been  editor  and 
general  manager  of  the  Brethren  Mis- 
sionary Herald,  Winona  Lake,  IN);  his 
mother  had  been  a  schoolteacher;  his 
sister,  Karen,  a  school  administrator; 
and  a  brother.  Ward,  an  academic  vice 
president  of  Wheaton  College. 

□  Woodie  and  Bill  Woods  (Dayton,  OH) 
journeyed  to  Dryhill,  KY,  and  installed 
a  new  furnace  in  the  Victory  Mountain 
Grace  Brethren  Chapel.  It  took  two 
days  to  complete  the  installation,  and 
the  work  was  done  without  charge  to 
the  church.—  Submitted  by  Sam  Baer, 
pastor 


You've  seen  films  that  show  how  the  Lord  has  used  the 
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Why  did  God  put  the  ordinary 
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ordinary  guy  who  has  made 
Christ  the  Lord  of  his  "religion" 
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BMH 


21 


Sermon 
of  the  r 
Month  U 


Perhaps  the  most  important  question  in  life  for  everyone 
of  us  is:  "When  you  get  where  you  are  going,  where  will 
you  be?" 

Everyone  is  going  somewhere.  So,  what  is  your  goal? 
What  is  the  purpose  of  your  existence? 

I  hope  it  is  to  be  like  Jesus.  In  Philippians  2:5,  Paul  says, 
"Have  this  attitude  in  yourselves  which  was  also  in  Christ 
Jesus." 

When  Paul  wrote  this,  he  was  in  prison  at  Rome  and 
he  was  being  hurt  by  others.  Through  this  treatment,  he 
was  learning  to  be  like  Jesus.  Out  of  his  experience,  he 
shares  what  we  are  to  be  like,  too.  In  Philippians  1:15-17 
and  2:3-4,  Paul  tells  us  the  problems  we  face  in  our  Chris- 
tian life.  "Some,  to  be  sure,  are  preaching  Christ  even  from 
envy  and  strife,  but  some  also  from  goodwill;  the  latter  do 
it  out  of  love,  knowing  that  I  am  appointed  for  the  defense 
of  the  gospel;  the  former  proclaim  Christ  out  of  selfish  am- 
bition, rather  than  from  pure  motives,  thinking  to  cause 
me  distress  in  my  imprisonment.  .  .  Do  nothing  from 
selfishness  or  empty  conceit,  but  with  humility  of  mind  let 
each  of  you  regard  one  another  as  more  important  than 
himself;  do  not  merely  look  out  for  your  own  personal  in 


terests,  but  also  for  the  interests  of  others." 

First  there  is  "envy"  and  "strife"  and  "selfish  ambition." 
Paul  says  men  were  preaching  Christ  in  this  way.  They  were 
trying  to  hurt  him.  He  tells  us  in  chapter  2  that  there  was 
"empty  conceit"  and  everyone  was  looking  after  his  "own 
interests." 

Envy  says,  "Hey,  are  we  not  all  created  equal,  with  cer- 
tain inalienable  rights?  I  don't  want  anymore  than  so  and 
so,  but  .  .  ." 

So  "envy"  grasps  and  takes.  "Strife"  won't  submit.  It  is 
disobedient  and  wants  its  own  way.  "Selfish  ambition" 
doesn't  just  want  what  everyone  else  has,  it  wants  more, 
and  that  means  others  must  have  less.  "Empty  conceit" 
loves  things  where  it  finds  it  is  important  or  it  looks  to  its 
own  self.  "Own  interests"  is  only  concerned  with  doing 
what  is  good  for  itself. 

When  these  are  the  attitudes  of  our  life,  Paul  says  this 
is  what  you  miss:  "If  therefore  there  is  any  encouragement 
in  Christ,  if  there  is  any  consolation  of  love,  if  there  is  any 
fellowship  of  the  Spirit,  if  any  affection  and  compassion, 
make  my  joy  complete  by  being  of  the  same  mind,  main- 
taining the  same  love,  united  in  spirit,  intent  on  one  pur- 


22 


GBHMC 


pose."  (Phil.  2:1-2) 

First,  you  miss  the  encouragement  of  Christ  and  the  con- 
solation of  love.  Encouragement  means  "one  who  comes 
along  side  of."  You've  pushed  Jesus  away.  Consolation  is 
to  speak  soothing  words  and  you  can't  hear  them  because 
you've  hardened  your  heart.  The  partnership  of  God's 
Spirit  cannot  be  experienced  because  He  is  grieved  and 
real  pity  and  compassion  will  not  be  yours  when  trials 
come. 

So  Paul  says  be  like  Jesus.  Was  He  envious? 

Phil.  2:6  says,  "Who  although  He  existed  in  the  form 
of  God,  did  not  regard  equality  with  God  a  thing  to  be 
grasped."  Jesus  was  in  very  nature  God,  but  He  was  not 
envious.  He  was  not  grasping. 

Was  Jesus  filled  with  selfish  ambition? 

Paul  says  in  verse  7,  "but  emptied  Himself."  Literally,  "He 
made  himself  nothing." 

How  about  empty  conceit? 

Paul  notes  in  verse  7  that  He  took  the  form  of  a  bond- 
servent  and  was  made  in  the  likeness  of  man.  In  verse  8, 
he  tells  us  that  He  humbled  Himself. 

Did  Jesus  stir  up  strife? 

Paul  says,  no,  in  verse  8.  "He  humbled  Himself  by 
becoming  obedient.  .  ." 


How  about  own  interest? 

Phil.  2:8  says,  "By  becoming  obedient  to  the  point  of 
death,  even  death  on  a  cross."  Did  Jesus  die  for  His  own 
interests?  Jesus,  the  just,  died  for  the  unjust.  He  died  for 
others. 

Is  it  your  desire  to  be  like  Jesus?  If  it  is,  you  are  going 
to  have  to  die  to  yourself  on  that  cross.  Where  are  you  go- 
ing? When  you  get  there,  where  will  you  be? 

Many  Christians  today  are  not  like  Jesus.  They  are  fill- 
ed with  envy,  strife,  selfish  ambition,  empty  conceit,  and 
own  interests.  I  bet  you  are  thinking  of  someone  else  like 
that  right  now.  It  couldn't  be  you,  could  it? 

How  could  I  put  away  these  things  from  my  life?  You 
need  to  go  to  Him  daily  in  His  word  so  He  can  speak  to 
you;  and  you  need  to  pray  so  you  can  ask  Him  to  help 
you  obey  what  He  has  said.  And  then  you  need  to  do  it. 
II  Cor.  3:18  says,  "But  we  all,  with  unveiled  face  beholding 
us  as  in  a  mirror  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  being  transform- 
ed into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory,  just  as  the  Lord, 
the  Spirit." 

Is  it  that  simple? 

Yes!  It  isn't  easy,  but  if  you  do  it,  you  will  change  "from 
glory"  (what  you  are  now)  "to  glory"  (like  Him). 

Has  anyone  ever  asked  you,  "Are  you  Him?"  □ 


Make  a  hit  for  church  growth! 


Invest  in  the 
Grace  Brethren 
Investment  Foundation 

1401  Kings  Highway 
Winona  Lake,  Ind.  46590 
(219)  267-5161 


GBHMC 


23 


^Angcl  5 


Story 


by  Angel  Acosta 


I  awoke  and  found  myself  on  the  operating  table.  The 
room  was  ice  cold.  Naked  and  helpless,  with  my  body 

| ,JJ$  strapped  to  the  table,  I  felt  so  frightened  and  alone.  I  wasn't 

sure  whether  or  not  I  would  be  alive  the  next  morning.  I 
tried  to  ignore  the  pain,  but  it  was  so  great  it  was  almost 
unbearable.  Faces  wearing  masks  hovered  all  around  me. 

Someone  covered  my  own  face  with  a  mask.  Immediate- 
ly, I  felt  nauseated  and  I  realized  if  I  vomited,  I  would  suf- 
focate. No  one  seemed  to  understand  my  moaning  and 
groaning  until,  finally,  I  screamed  out.  A  young  nurse  rush- 
ed over,  tore  the  mask  off,  and  held  a  pan  beside  my  face. 
\  I  felt  so  miserable.  I  begged  Jesus  to  help  me.  .  . 

I  had  always  considered  myself  to  be  a  pretty  good  per- 

*  son.  I  never  did  anything  really  terrible  according  to  my 

_,  definition  of  the  word,  or,  at  least,  not  anything  that  any 

a  ordinary  person  wouldn't  do.  I  firmly  believed  in  God  and 

,  His  Son,  Jesus  Christ.   In  my  early  childhood  on  the 

'0$  W%  southwest  side  of  Chicago,  I  would  spend  several  minutes 

I — j    each  night  repetitiously  praying  words  which  had  little 

meaning.   I  was  somewhat  familiar  with  the  Bible  and 

especially  enjoyed  reading  the  Book  of  Revelations  trying 

to  imagine  Heaven  and  all  of  its  beauty.  My  life  seemed 

to  be  that  of  any  typical,  middle-class,  "all  American"  girl 

in  the  Midwest. 

One  Sunday  morning  when  I  was  in  the  fifth  grade,  my 
best  friend,  Eileen,  and  I  decided  to  attend  the  morning 
worship  service  at  a  local  Baptist  church  rather  than  Mass 
at  the  Catholic  church.  Despite  their  dismay,  our  parents 
agreed  and  allowed  us  to  miss  Mass  that  particular 
morning. 

The  children's  service  we  attended  was  so  very  different 
than  anything  we  had  ever  experienced.  We  sang  happy 
songs  that  I  had  never  before  heard. 

After  the  service,  a  dark-haired  woman  invited  Eileen 
and  I  to  the  back  room  to  accept  Jesus  Christ  in  order  to 
have  eternal  life.  We  eagerly  prayed  and  asked  the  Lord 
into  our  lives.  Heaven  was  definitely  the  place  I  wanted 
to  be. 

I  never  attended  that  church  again,  and  I  did  not  realize 
the  significance  of  that  day  until  many  years  later. 

My  spiritual  life  deteriorated  as  I  grew  older.  Family  rela- 
tionships also  fell  apart  as  I  felt  misunderstood  and  I  sought 
pleasure  and  happiness  through  dare-devil  excitement. 

Things  continually  grew  worse,  and  I  became  more 


GBHMC 


unhappy  as  time  passed.  Twice  I  seriously  contemplated 
suicide.  After  one  terrible  fight  with  my  parents,  I  was 
grounded  in  my  room  for  three  of  the  longest  months  of 
my  life  with  no  telephone  or  television,  and,  of  course, 
friends  were  not  allowed  to  visit. 

During  those  three  months,  I  planned  my  great  get-away 
to  California.  Oh,  how  I  longed  to  be  there,  even  though 
it  was  a  place  1  had  only  read  about.  I  bought  maps  and 
books  and  spent  much  of  my  time  dreaming  about  my 
future  there  someday. 

After  graduating  from  high  school,  I  was  hired  as  a  legal 
secretary  trainee  at  the  Attorney  General's  office  for  the 
State  of  Illinois.  For  the  next  four  months,  I  managed  to 
save  $1,000  and  receive  the  training  I  would  need  to  get 
a  job  in  California.  One  month  before  my  18th  birthday, 
I  bought  a  one-way  train  ticket  to  Los  Angeles. 

I  did  not  share  my  plans  with  my  family  until  one  week 
before  my  departure  date,  then  I  quietly  packed  all  my 
worldly  possessions,  took  the  remaining  $800  from  my  sav- 
ings, and  ventured  to  the  West  Coast,  leaving  my  family 
and  friends  in  order  to  fulfill  a  long-awaited  dream. 

Arriving  at  Union  Station  in  Los  Angeles  on  Sunday, 
September  8,  1980,  I  made  my  way  to  the  Clark  Hotel 
in  the  heart  of  the  city  with  the  help  of  an  Amtrak  employee 
and  two  taxicabs.  As  the  two  drivers  unloaded  my  belong- 
ings, I  went  to  register  for  a  room.  To  my  dismay,  the  clerk 
told  me  I  could  not  stay  because  I  was  a  minor.  I  literally 
fell  to  pieces,  but  one  of  the  cab  drivers  came  to  my  rescue 
and  talked  the  clerk  into  letting  me  stay  for  one  night. 

Within  the  hour,  I  began  my  search  for  an  apartment. 
By  the  next  day,  I  was  at  home  in  Bell,  a  city  approximately 
eight  miles  away.  My  bachelorette  apartment  was  nothing 
to  brag  about,  but  it  suited  me  just  fine,  and  it  was  better 
than  nothing. 

That  same  week,  I  found  a  job  working  as  a  legal 
secretary.  I  was  ecstatic.  I  called  my  frantic  mother  and  pro- 
udly announced  I  had  found  a  job  making  $1,100  a  month 
and  an  apartment  with  a  swimming  pool.  I  did  not  tell  her 
I  had  to  borrow  $10  to  get  back  and  forth  to  work  and  that 
I  would  be  existing  on  peanut  butter,  bread,  and  milk  until 
I  received  my  first  paycheck.  (That  $800  didn't  even  last 


one  week.)  But,  my  fears  subsided.  I  felt  that  I  could  do 
anything  and  everything. 

I  became  involved  with  "friends"  who  synonymously  us- 
ed the  word  work  with  hustling,  stealing,  and  selling  drugs. 
I  fell  in  love  with  a  young  man  who  had  alcohol  and  drug 
addictions.  He  abused  me  both  verbally  and  physically,  and 
yet,  I  allowed  it  to  go  on  for  more  than  a  year.  My  dream 
of  life  in  California  was  shattering. 

When  he  left  me  for  another  woman,  and  I  ended  up 
in  the  hospital  with  an  extopic  pregnancy  and  nearly  died 
from  internal  hemorrhaging.  I  awoke  as  1  was  being  wheel- 
ed from  intensive  care  to  the  hospital  room,  yet  I  wasn't 
sure  whether  I  was  happy  to  be  alive. 


I  had  always  considered  myself  to  be 
a  pretty  good  person.  I  never  did 
anything  really  terrible.  .  . 


The  next  six  weeks  I  spent  at  home  recuperating.  I  was 
so  disillusioned.  I  spent  many  hours  walking  around  my 
neighborhood  in  Bell  begging  God  for  His  help. 

Several  months  after  I  was  back  to  work,  I  had  an  op- 
portunity to  buy  a  cute,  silver  Volkswagon  Scirocco.  I 
wanted  this  car  so  desperately  I  prayed  to  God  on  my  . 
hands  and  knees.  He  allowed  me  to  have  it,  but  I  was 
unaware  how  He  would  use  it  to  lead  me  to  reaffirm  that 
decision  I  had  made  many  years  before. 

1  had  read  a  step-by-step  article  in  a  magazine  on  how 
to  drive  a  stick  shift,  so  1  confidently  stepped  into  the  car 
and  drove  off.  But  only  four  days  later,  I  burnt  out  the 
clutch,  thanks  to  the  informative  article. 

Since  the  City  of  Bell  does  not  allow  street  parking  bet- 
ween 2  and  5  o'clock  in  the  morning.  1  left  the  car  in  the 
parking  lot  of  a  church  on  the  corner  until  I  could  save 
enough  money  to  have  it  repaired.  It  remained  there  for 
more  than  a  month.  Then,  one  night,  I  noticed  a  note  writ- 
ten in  Spanish  attached  to  the  windshield.  My  fears  that 
someone  had  been  watching  me  were  dispelled  as  one  of 
my  roommates  translated  it.  Feeling  the  need  for  friend- 
ship, I  called  the  number  on  the  note  and  was  invited  to 
a  Wednesday  evening  prayer  service  and  coffee  afterwards 
at  the  home  across  the  parking  lot  of  the  church. 

That  night,  I  committed  my  life  to  Christ  in  the  home 
of  Pastor  Phil  and  Amy  Guerena.  (It  was  Amy  who  had 
written  the  note.) 

It  has  been  more  than  two  years  since  that  night  and 
my  life  has  changed  drastically.  I  can  only  praise  God  and 
thank  Him  for  his  faithfulness  and  lovingkindness  even 
when  I  have  shown  Him  very  little  faith.  I  know  that 
through  Christ  there  is  hope  for  anyone  and  I  can  truly 
experience  happiness  in  my  life.  He  displays  His  love  and 
mercy  to  me  day  after  day,  and  that  is  all  the  reassurance 
I  need.  □ 

(Editor's  Note— The  church  where  Angel  left  her  car  was  the  Bell,  Calif., 
Brethren  Church-  She  is  now  is  a  member  of  that  church  and  is  involved 
in  the  music  ministry  and  teaches  Sunday  School  She  is  still  a  legal 
secretary  and  now  lives  in  Hollywood,  Calif.) 


Angel  Acosta 


GBHMC 


25 


•  Longview 


The  church  members  enjoy  fellowship. 


Joins 

Home  Missions 


Pastor  Fenton  and  Judy  McDonald 


The  capital  of  Texas  is  the  newest  point  for  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions!  On  May  1,  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Greater  Austin,  with  Fenton  McDonald  as  pastor,  joined  the 
Home  Missions  family. 

Feeling  a  burden  for  this  central  Texas  city,  Pastor  McDonald 
and  his  family  moved  to  Austin  in  June  of  1984  from  San 
Jose,  Calif.,  where  he  had  pastored  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  there.  A  couple  from  the  San  Jose  church,  Jerry  and 
Jana  Langford  and  their  small  son,  Matthew,  joined  them  in 
the  move  to  help  in  the  new  ministry. 

Pastor  McDonald  found  secular  employment  while  he 
began  to  plant  a  church.  By  October,  Sunday  worship  ser- 
vices and  Thursday  evening  Bible  studies  were  being  held  in 
their  northeast  Austin  home.  Soon,  two  Bible  studies  were 
being  held  in  different  locations  in  the  city. 

By  early  February,  church  attendance  averaged  25  a  week, 
and  the  congregation  voted  to  pay  the  pastor's  salary  one  day 
a  week.  In  early  April,  they  voted  to  increase  his  salary  and 
request  adoption  by  the  Council,  since  they  would  now  be 
able  to  contribute  one-third  of  the  total  support.  The  Iowa- 
Midlands  District  has  also  adopted  the  point. 

McDonald  is  a  graduate  of  Moody  Bible  Institute  and  Biola 
University.  He  has  also  attended  Talbot  Theological  Seminary. 

He  met  his  wife,  the  former  Judy  Eberline,  while  they  were 
students  at  Moody,  and  they  were  married  in  1969.  The  cou- 
ple has  three  daughters,  Rachel,  twelve;  Michelle,  nine;  and 
Hannah,  seven. 

The  North  Long  Beach,  Calif.,  Brethren  Church  is  home 
for  McDonald.  Growing  up  there,  he  served  as  youth  pastor 
from  1969-74.  He  served  at  San  Jose  from  1974-84. 

His  father,  Tom,  supervised  the  construction  of  the  new 
multi-purpose  building  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission, 
Counselor,  New  Mexico,  last  summer. 

Austin  is  located  in  the  heart  of  Texas  and  is  within  a 
300-mile  radius  of  89  percent  of  the  population  of  the  state. 
Seventy  percent  of  the  population  is  within  200  miles,  mak- 
ing this  a  strategic  point  for  the  development  of  a  Grace 
Brethren  Church. 

The  community  boasts  353  churches,  which  represent  45 
denominations.  But  there  is  a  strong  need  for  a  Bible-teaching 
church,  according  to  the  pastor.  "Church  is  a  social  function 
for  many,"  he  says. 

The  city  itself  has  an  estimated  population  of  367,550,  with 
an  estimated  450,000  people  in  the  surrounding  county.  By 
1990,  it  is  expected  to  reach  a  population  of  461,000  in  the 
city,  and  574,699  in  the  county. 

In  addition  to  the  120  state  and  62  federal  agencies  located 
in  the  capital  city,  Austin  is  home  to  the  University  of  Texas, 
Bergstrom  Air  Force  Base,  and  many  computer  companies. 

The  new  church  at  Austin  is  the  second  Grace  Brethren 
Church  in  the  Lone  Star  State.  The  other  is  located  at 
Longview.  A  Grace  Brethren  Bible  study  is  also  being  held 
in  the  Dallas-Fort  Worth  area. 


26  june  85  GBHMC 


More  than  40  years  ago,  Dr.  L.L.  Grubb,  then  executive 
secretary  of  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions,  called  a  high 
level  strategy  meeting  with  four  eastern  Pennsylvania 
pastors  about  church  expansion.  This  initiative  brought 
about  the  birth  of  new  churches  at  Harrisburg,  York, 
Palmyra,  and  Hatfield.  In  the  succeeding  years,  the  Nor- 
thern Atlantic  District  was  born  and  major  expansion  for 
the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Church  was  seen  in  Lan- 
caster and  nearby  counties. 

In  the  last  decade,  the  Northern  Atlantic  District  Mission 
Board  and  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council, 
Inc.  have  helped  expand  Grace  Brethren  ministries  into  the 
New  England  sector  of  our  Nation.  For  years,  it  was  our 
desire  to  plant  churches  in  this  staunch  Ivy  League  environ- 
ment. Liberalism  characterized  the  staid  churches  and  it 
seemed  virtually  impossible  to  break  through  that  invisible 
wall  of  opposition.  The  barrier  that  faced  the  Grace 
Brethren  movement  was  also  shared  by  almost  every  con- 
servative Bible-teaching  church  organization. 

Our  breakthrough  came  in  Vermont  where  Rev.  James 
Hunt,  a  returned  missionary  from  Africa,  was  ministering. 
Though  he  was  working  with  another  missionary  organiza- 
tion, he  desired  to  plant  Grace  Brethren  churches.  Soon 
the  council  and  the  North  Atlantic  District  Mission  Board 
began  to  support  his  church-planting  efforts  financially. 

The  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Irasburg,  Vermont,  was 
born.  Pastor  John  Snow  came  and  Jim,  and  his  wife,  Mary, 
expanded  their  Bible  classes  to  other  areas.  Within  five 
years,  the  Irasburg  church,  with  a  new  building  and  Chris- 
tian school,  arrived  at  the  self-support  status.  The  "five  year 
plan"  had  worked  in  our  first  New  England  ministry!  Their 
strong  stand  for  the  Word,  doctrine,  and  the  Christian  life, 
set  up  a  high  standard  for  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches  in  this  new  territory. 

The  missionary  church-planting  efforts  of  the  Hunts  turn- 
ed to  Island  Pond,  approximately  20  miles  to  the  east. 


Backed  again  by  the  missionary  vision  of  the  Northern 
Atlantic  District,  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Coun- 
cil, and  now  the  Irasburg  church,  a  new  church  in  this  com- 
munity was  soon  organized. 

It  has  been  five  years  since  Rev.  Warren  Tamkin  and  his 
family  began  their  ministry  at  Island  Pond.  His  experience 
in  home  mission  work,  his  ability  at  teaching  the  Word  and 
his  organizational  skills  soon  produced  an  aggressive  church 
body.  A  ten-acre  site  was  chosen  and  a  first  unit  building 
was  constructed. 

This  year,  the  church,  now  under  the  leadership  of  Rev. 
Dale  Jenks,  arrived  at  self-support  status.  My  wife,  Genny 
and  I  were  present  for  the  celebration  of  the  occasion, 
which  was  held  in  the  beautifully  decorated  auditorium  of 
the  local  high  school,  during  which  we  showed  some  home 
mission  slides  of  the  work  in  its  early  history.  A  meal  was 
prepared  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  Leclaire  and  served  by 
an  active  group  of  young  people.  We  were  thrilled  to  hear 
the  testimonies  of  these  dear  people,  many  of  whom  came 
from  French  Roman  Catholic  backgrounds  and  who  to- 
day have  a  vibrant  testimony  for  Christ.  The  gratefulness 
of  these  dear  people  for  their  salvation,  their  church,  and 
their  fellowship  was  warmly  expressed  to  the  Grace 
Brethren  people  everywhere. 

The  breakthrough  in  New  England  continues  as  the  body 
of  Christ  expands.  Jesus  said,  "I  will  build  my  church.  . 
.  "  He  is  using  His  Spirit,  dedicated  servants  of  the  Cross, 
and  the  power  of  His  word  in  touching,  changing  lives,  and 
saving  souls.  Churches  are  starting  at  Stowe,  Vermont; 
Saratoga  Springs,  New  York;  and  Brunswick,  Maine. 

This  breakthrough  will  continue,  for  Jesus,  our  com- 
mander in  chief  said,  "Go  into  all  the  world.  .  .  reach  every 
creature.  .  .  "  Grace  Brethren  people,  through  their  mis- 
sionary outreach  ministries,  have  a  mandate  to  continue 
to  reach  our  land  for  Christ  in  these  great  days  of 
opportunity.  □ 


New  England  Breakthrough 


by  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer 
Executive  Secretary 


GBHMC  june  85  27 


Teaching 
Children 
Financial 
Discipline 


by  Larry  Burkett 


One  of  the  most  neglected  areas  in  family  life  involves 
teaching  children  financial  discipline.  Even  in  homes  where 
Bible  study  and  prayer  are  an  established  way  of  life, 
finances  are  rarely,  if  ever  discussed.  Is  it  any  wonder  that 
so  many  young  couples  suffer  because  of  financial 
mismanagement? 

But  whose  responsibility  is  it  to  teach  children  about 
money?  In  most  high  schools  today,  a  consumer  economics 
class  simply  teaches  students  how  to  complete  a  credit  ap- 
plication, and  not  necessarily  how  to  budget  and  save.  If 
schools  can't  or  won't  teach  our  children  the  rules  of  money 
management,  who  will? 

Often  the  most  effective  teachers  are  Mom  and  Dad,  and 
the  best  lessons  are  learned  at  home.  It  is  at  home,  wat- 
ching his  parents'  example,  that  a  child  establishes  lifetime 
habits.  If  he  learns  to  manage  money  as  he  learns  other 
skills,  he  will  be  spared  many  costly  mistakes  as  an  adult. 

Before  parents  teach  their  children  how  to  manage 
money,  they  should  master  the  lessons  themselves.  If  they 
continually  buy  luxuries  on  impulse,  their  children  will  come 
to  expect  the  same  privileges.  If  Mom  and  Dad  have  not 
learned  how  to  balance  a  checkbook,  they  should  not  be 
surprised  that  their  son  or  daughter  lacks  the  same  skill. 

The  reason  is  simple:  Kids  have  an  instinct  for  detecting 
insincerity,  and  they  mimic  bad  habits  much  quicker  than 

28    JUNE   85GBHMC 


the  good  ones.  Why?  Because  being  slothful  and  un- 
disciplined requires  less  effort.  Children,  like  adults,  will 
usually  seek  the  path  of  least  resistance.  For  that  reason, 
parents  must  establish  a  positive,  balanced  example. 

If  too  much  discipline  is  harmful,  too  little  is  disastrous. 
A  boy  or  girl  who  is  given  a  high-powered  sports  car  at 
16  will  not  learn  the  concept  of  working  for  a  reward.  And 
can  the  young  person  who  regularly  uses  a  credit  card  to 
buy  gas  be  expected  to  understand  the  principle  "owe  no 
man"? 

As  you  decide  what  money  management  lessons  your 
children  should  learn,  establish  rules  to  enforce  your  prin- 
ciples. This  is  sometimes  difficult  to  do,  but  in  order  for 
discipline  to  be  effective,  it  must  be  firm.  Don't  "cover" 
financial  responsibilites  for  your  child  simply  to  avoid 
confrontation. 

Be  sure  you  are  not  expecting  more  than  the  child  is 
capable  of  achieving.  But  if  guidelines  are  violated,  con- 
sequences should  follow.  Remember,  the  value  system  you 
establish  in  your  child's  early  years  will  last  a  lifetime. 

A  simple  rule  of  thumb  in  being  fair  with  children  is  to 
remember  that  God  is  to  parents  as  parents  are  to  children. 
Therefore,  don't  establish  a  harsher  set  of  rules  for  your 
children  than  you  would  like  God  to  have  for  you.  He  does 


not  expect  us  to  be  mature  Christians  instantly.  Apply  the 
same  loving  patience  with  your  children. 

In  addition  to  enforcing  rules  parents  should  develop  a 
reward  system  that  makes  financial  discipline  fun.  The  very 
young  child  who  is  not  old  enough  to  work  outside  the 
home  can  associate  a  job  well  done  with  a  monetary  reward 
as  he  tackles  small  jobs  around  the  house.  The  chores  can 
range  from  washing  the  car  to  mowing  the  lawn — or 
whatever  task  the  child  can  manage  for  his  age. 

Lessons  in  financial  discipline  will  be  more  effective  if 
both  husband  and  wife  agree  on  the  approach.  A  good 
time  to  define  money  management  goals  for  the  family  is 
during  a  quiet  weekend  alone.  When  you  disagree,  be  will- 
ing to  compromise. 

The  next  step  is  a  family  session  where  the  children  can 
offer  their  ideas  and  objections.  The  following  guidelines 
on  how  to  budget,  tithe,  save,  and  borrow  responsibly  can 
be  used  to  stimulate  your  family's  discussion  and  help  set 
realistic  goals. 

Budget 

When  a  child  first  begins  to  earn  money,  he  or  she  should 
be  on  a  budget.  For  a  very  young  child  this  may  simply 
consist  of  a  portion  given  to  God  and  the  remainder  ra- 
tioned during  the  week.  Once  again,  consequences  are  a 
very  good  teacher.  If  Susan  has  spent  all  her  allowance 
on  Monday,  there  will  be  none  left  for  an  ice  cream  cone 
on  Saturday. 

During  adolescence,  the  money  can  be  divided  into  set 
categories,  such  as  tithe,  clothes,  entertainment,  college, 
and  others.  A  teenager  should  be  ready  to  manage  both 
a  checking  and  savings  account,  with  all  their  related 
bookkeeping. 

By  graduation  from  high  school,  parents  should  be  ful- 
ly confident  that  their  children  can  function  in  a  paper 


money  society  without  borrowing  to  exist. 

Tithe 

The  Bible  describes  a  tithe  as  a  voluntary  act  of  worship 
and  obedience.  Children  should  be  encouraged  but  not 
forced  to  tithe.  They  need  to  understand  why  God  asks 
us  to  tithe,  and  how  we  are  blessed  in  giving  to  a  specific 
family  or  missionary  and  then  help  him  to  write  or  call  the 
recipient. 

Savings 

As  in  tithing,  your  child  will  be  more  willing  if  he  can 
touch  the  benefits  of  his  effort.  When  saving  is  tied  to  a 
future  event  or  purchase,  such  as  a  summer  trip  or  bike, 
your  child  will  be  more  motivated  to  save.  And  after  the 
goal  is  reached,  he  can  enjoy  the  results  of  his  financial 
discipline. 

Borrowing 

Your  child  will  probably  borrow  money  at  some  time  in 
his  adult  life.  But  before  he  does,  you  can  teach  him  the 
realities  of  debt.  Allow  him  to  borrow  a  small  amount  of 
money  from  you.  Then  set  up  a  rigid  repayment  plan,  with 
interest.  Remember  that  if  you  don't  teach  him  the 
discipline  of  monthly  payments,  a  creditor  possibly  will. 

These  first  lessons  in  money  management  are  simple, 
but  they  establish  habits  many  adults  never  learn.  When 
you  give  your  child  solid  financial  guidelines,  you  give  him 
a  future  that  will  be  free  from  the  bonds  of  excessive  debt. 
No  parent  can  insure  that  his  child  will  always  be  wise  in 
money  matters,  but  every  parent  can  teach  their  children 
sound  principles  of  financial  management. 


Reprinted  with  permission  from  Focus  On  The  Family 


FLASH— The  Mifflin,  Ohio,  Grace  Brethren  Church  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council.  Financial  support  to  the  church  began  on  June  1. 

The  church  began  in  November,  1983  as  several  families 
sought  to  be  involved  in  a  new  mission  outreach.  Pastor 
Charles  Barnhill  was  called  to  serve  as  their  pastor. 

Since  their  beginning  more  than  a  year  ago,  the  group 
has  grown  from  23  charter  members  to  the  current 
membership  of  44.  But  attendances  have  reached  even 
higher.  Presently,  the  congregation  meets  in  rented  facilities, 
but  as  their  size  increases,  the  building  and  parking  area 
is  becoming  inadequate.  Land  purchase  is  now  being  pur- 
sued in  anticipation  of  building  their  own  worship  center. 

Mifflin  is  located  east  of  Mansfield,  Ohio  and  is  within 
easy  driving  distance  of  Ashland  and  Wooster.  Manufac- 
turing is  a  main  industry  in  the  area,  as  well  as  the  Plea- 
sant Hill  State  Recreation  Area,  which  is  nearby. 

Barnhill  is  a  native  of  the  Mansfield,  Ohio,  area  and  is 
a  graduate  of  Ashland  Theological  Seminary. 

He  and  his  wife,  Lauretta,  have  three  children.         □ 


Pastor  Charles  and  Lauretta  Barnhil 


GBHMC 


29 


Women 

Manifesting 

ehrist 


President:  Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  10  E.  Luray 

Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
First  Vice  President:  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman, 

2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado 

Springs,  CO  90810 
Second  Vice  President:  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix, 

3314  Kenwick  Tr.  SW,  Roanoke,  VA 

24018 
Secretary:  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  R.  3,  La 

Porte  City,  IA  50651 
Assistant  Secretary:  Mrs.  Ginny  Sellers, 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  Ml 

49099 
Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Miss  Joyce 

Ashman,  602  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Ass't.  Financial  Secretary  Treasurer:  Mrs. 

Donna  Miller,  R.  8,  Box  277,  War- 
saw, IN  46580 
Literature  Secretary:  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter, 

R.  8,  Box  292,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Editor:  Miss  Nora  Macon,  705  Terrace  Dr., 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Prayer  Chairman:  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams,  R.  4, 

Box  94- A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 


How     shall     they 

CALL 

:    How    shall     they 

on     Him    in     whom 
lh«y     have     not 

BELIEVE 

in    Him    of    whom 

believed    ? 

7 

they    have     not 

7 

How    shall    they   **" 

_ 

PREACH 

except     they 

|            How     shall    the 

HEAR 

be    sen,  \ 

without 

9 

I                  a    preacher    ! 

jj 

-J                              ? 

^^—^'^ 

August  1985 

(If  no  address  is  listed,  the  address  can  be  found  in  the  1985  Brethren 
Annual,  pages  38-40) 

Argentina 

Jackie  Nairn August  3.  1971 

Mrs.  Betty  Nairn August  18 

Brazil 

Rev.  Bill  Burk  August  5 

Mrs.  Evelyn  Johnson August  10 

Jeffrey  Farner August  20,  1967 

Central  African  Republic 

Jeffrey  Skeen August  4.  1980 

Mrs.  Lois  Belohlavek :  August  29 

England 

Kristin  Kowalke August  16.  1979 

France 

Miss  Trudy  Kauffman August  2 

Julie  Weaver August  2,  1981 

Matthieu  DeArmey August  8,  1982 

Stephanie  Nord  August  11.  1983 

Ginette  DeArmey August  12.  1970 

Rev.  Dave  Griffith  August  26 

Jonathan  Nord August  27,  1980 

Terry  Julien August  27 

Germany 

Rev.  Dave  Manduka August  10 

Japan 

Mrs.  Debbie  O'Dell August  21 

Mexico 

Rev.  Jack  Churchill August  20 

Philippines 

David  Ruiz August  5.  1984 

Mrs.  Kim  Hulett August  23 

Spain 

Rev.  Bob  Salazar August  20 

Mrs.  Marilyn  Salazar August  20 

In  the  United  States 

Mrs.  Kristen  Kirnbauer August  14 

Toby  Waggoner August  17,  1983 

Miss  Ruth  Kent August  21 

Dr.  Jake  Kliever  August  2 1 

Jason  Crandall  August  22,  1974 

Kirk  Immel August  26,  1968 


©ffermg  ffipportuntt^ 

WMC  Operation  and  Publication  offering 

Goal:  $10,000 

Send  before  Sept.  10,  1985 

This  offering  is  vital  to  the  ongoing  of  WMC.  Last  year 
a  special  offering  was  taken  to  help  WMC  get  out  or  the 
reel.  Please  continue  to  support  this  fund.  WMC  depends 
on  you. 


30 


WMC 


Next  to  Your  BiBLE,This  Could  Be  the 
IostImportantBookYouilEver  Own. 


^^^th 


ThEESSEI 

Study  Book  for 
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ie  New  Unger's  takes  you  anywhere  in  the 
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So  before  you  buy  your  next  study  book, 

pick  up  the  New  Unger's.  See  for  yourself  why 

next  to  the  Bible,  nothing  else  comes  close. 
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(Please  add  $1.50  for  postage  and  handling,  total  cost  $26.45) 


HERALD 
BOOKSTORE 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


ao 


TZLL  IT 


0MTti£- 


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BRETHREN    MISSIONARY    HERALD 

P.  O.  Box  544 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Address 
Correction 


u    O 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


A  HERALD  UPDATE 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 

Our  thanks  to  the  ones  who  help  in  the  work 
of  the  printed  page.  For  some  45  years  the  Breth- 
ren Missionary  Herald  has  been  involved  in  the 
ministry  of  distributing  the  Word  of  God.  This 
ministry  has  been  increasing  in  nature  and  scope 
during  the  past  several  years.  We  would  like  to 
share  with  you  a  report  of  this  progress.  Our  sales 
have  tripled  during  the  past  10  years,  and  the  in- 
come has  been  increasing  sharply  as  well. 

We  are  at  the  end  of  the  first  six  months  of 
1985  and  we  want  to  let  you  know  how  things 
are  going. 

Christian  Publications 

There  has  been  dramatic  growth  in  Christian 
publications  over  the  period  of  time  mentioned 
above.  But  the  past  several  years  have  brought 
changes— major  publishers  are  reporting  their 
operations  in  the  red  during  the  year  1984.  This 
includes  the  two  largest— Zondervan  Corporation 
and  Thomas  Nelson.  Many  small  bookstore 
outlets  are  also  faced  with  the  same  problem.  The 
days  of  rapid  growth  in  Christian  publishing  has 
now  peaked.  We,  at  the  Herald,  have  seen  a  peak- 
ing in  some  areas  of  activity.  Two  changes— the 
decline  of  interest  in  Sunday  school  and  the  num- 
ber of  students  in  school  have  brought  some 
stagnation  in  sales,  but  other  areas  have  increased. 

BMH  Books 

At  the  present  time  we  have  over  200  books 
carrying  the  BMH  imprint.  This  year  will  bring 
the  largest  number  of  new  titles  in  our  history.  Of 
significance  is  the  imprint  program  with  Moody 
Press  and  the  John  MacArthur  New  Testament 
Commentary  Series.  Three  books  have  been  re- 
leased—Hebrews, 1  Corinthians,  and  Matthew  1-7. 
The  book  on  Ephesians  will  come  later  in  the 
year.  By  the  end  of  the  year  we  will  have  three 
books  by  Charles  Lee  Feinberg.  Also,  we  have 
produced  or  will  soon  release  Daniel  by  Dr.  John 
Whitcomb,  Ordinances  by  Rev.  David  Plaster, 
The  Love  of  God  by  the  late  Dr.  Bernard 
Schneider,  and  1  and  2  Thessalonians  by  Dr. 
Raymond  Gingrich.  Several  other  releases  will  be 
announced  soon.  The  future  of  BMH  Books  is 
very  good. 


Herald  Magazine 

We  are  in  a  period  of  transition  with  the  maga- 
zine. At  the  present  time,  we  basically  "rent  out" 
pages  to  the  Brethren  boards  and  they  present  in 
those  pages  the  items  that  they  want  to  empha- 
size. With  the  January  1986  issue,  there  will  be  an 
attempt  to  bring  some  unified  theme  to  each  issue 
of  the  Herald.  A  coordinator  employed  by  the 
Herald  will  work  with  the  boards  and  together 
there  is  the  desire  of  improving  quality  and  con- 
tent of  the  magazine.  A  copy  of  the  Herald  is  sent 
to  an  average  of  4.5  members  of  the  Fellowship. 
This  is  a  high  ratio  according  to  most  denomina- 
tional standards,  but  not  high  enough  to  meet  the 
needs  of  the  Fellowship.  We  have  sought  to  find 
out  what  the  members  of  the  Fellowship  want  in 
a  magazine.  Many  want  it  to  remain  as  an  infor- 
mation magazine,  as  is;  others  want  more  devo- 
tional content,  much  like  Moody  Monthly;  and 
another  group  wants  it  to  become  more  involved 
in  discussion  of  issues  that  are  related  to  the 
Fellowship.  Being  Brethren,  we  are  glad  there  are 
at  least  three  opinions.  So,  it  is  obvious  that 
whatever  direction  we  take  in  publication,  we  will 
have  many  who  want  something  else.  But  it 
remains  that  the  Herald  magazine  serves  to  bring 
information  to  the  Brethren  as  no  other  channel. 

Production  and  Future 

The  production  and  printing  area  of  the  work 
peaked  about  five  years  ago  and  has  been  in  de- 
cline. The  great  cost  of  equipment  and  keeping 
up  with  technology  changes  has  brought  us  to  the 
conclusion  that  we  had  to  decide  whether  to  put 
funds  into  Christian  literature  or  steel  and  bricks. 
This  is  not  a  hard  decision  to  make,  because  our 
purpose  for  being  has  been  clearly  set.  We  have 
moved  into  electronic  equipment  which  is  the 
wave  of  the  future.  We  now  have  the  capacity  to 
use  telecommunication  and  optical  character 
reading  with  page  layout  and  design  being  done 
by  computer.  This  will  be  followed  by  new  forms 
of  printing  by  laser  and  jet  inking. 

The  Lord  has  blessed  with  the  necessary  funds 
to  help  with  the  needed  expenses  for  inventory 
build-up  with  new  books.  We  are  confident  of  the 
future  growth  as  a  publication  firm.  Lives  are 
being  changed  with  the  material  we  produce  and 
distribute-nearly  2,000,000  "Life's  Most  Impor- 
tant Question"  tracts  have  been  distributed.  We 
look  to  the  future  for  greater  works  for  the  Lord 
and  the  national  Fellowship.  As  time  and  oppor- 
tunities come,  we  will  seek  to  enter  the  open 
doors.  We  will  be  changing  the  methods  of  doing 
things  as  well.  However,  the  message  of  God's 
saving  grace  will  be  the  theme  of  the  work.  D 


BMH 


BRETHREN 
MISSIONARY 


ieralc 


Vol.  47  No.  7  July  1985 

The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co., 
EO.  Box  544.  1104  Kings  Highway. 
Winona  Lake.  IN  46590. 
Subscription  prices:  $8.25  per 
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Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker, 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Lester  Pifer,  Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 

4  A  Lifetime  of  Service 

8  Giving  Thanks  At  Sebring 

10  Allowing  God  Control  In  Every  Situation 

11  People  and  Prayer 

14  It's  Sort  of  Sad,  Lord 

15  Heed  the  Need 

18  The  One  Month  Missionary 

21  Allen  Bennett:  One  Solitary  Life 

22  Refocus 

25  Dr.  Kent  To  Step  Down 

28  Dirty  Christianity 

31  Letters  to  the  Editor 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters     2     • 
•  BMH  News  Report  12,  13  • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

At  the  13th  Annual  Graduation  Service  of 
Grace  Theological  Seminary,  Winona  Lake, 
Incl.,  Charles  Ashman.  Jr.;  Ralph  Gilbert;  and 
Homer  Kent,  Jr.;  received  honor  awards  dur- 
ing the  service  .  .  .  Revival  came  to  Clayhole 
Ky.  More  than  450  people  attended  the  final 
service  and  some  50  people  were  baptized. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Ron  and  LaDona  Picard  began  a  new  ven- 
ture of  visitation  evangelism  as  they  traveled 
from  church  to  church  aiding  Home  Missions 
churches  establish  effective  soul  winning  pro- 
grams .  .  .  Thomas  Inman  completed  17 
years  of  ministry  at  Denver,  Colo,  and 
pioneered  a  new  work  at  Colorado  Springs, 
Colo. 


5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Kent    and    Becky    Good    began 


their 


language  study  at  Albertville,  France  .  .  . 
Over  245  persons  attended  the  dedication 
service  of  the  new  church  in  Anchorage, 
Alaska,  Larry  Smithwick,  pastor. 


LETTERS 

Dear  Readers: 

Due  to  limited  space  on  this  page,  you'll 
find  the  Letters  to  the  Editor  feature  on 
page  31  of  this  issue. 

CWT 


This  month's  cover  is  an  architect's 
rendering  of  the  proposed  indepen- 
dent living  units  at  Grace  Village, 
Winona  Lake,  Indiana.  This  new  IIV2 
acre  development  will  feature 
duplexes  and  quadplexes  .  .  .  look  for 
more  information  in  the  August 
Herald. 


BMH 


A  Lifetime 
of  Service 


By  Liz  Cutler 
Promotional  Secretary 


Lester  E.  Pifer 


Lester  Pifer  recalls  waiting  to  be  baptized  on  June  6,  1940 
at  the  First  Brethren  Church  in  Rittman,  Ohio. 

"An  elderly  man  in  his  late  70s  was  also  in  line.  He  turn- 
ed to  me  and  asked  how  old  I  was.  I  told  him  I  was  20. 
He  said  to  me,  'Lester,  I've  wasted  my  life.  I  don't  have 
much  longer  to  live.  But  you  have  your  whole  life  ahead 
of  you.  Why  don't  you  serve  Him?' 

"I'll  never  forget  those  words,  because  they  really  drove 
home  to  me  that  I  had  a  life  to  live  for  the  Lord,"  he  says, 
his  hazel  eyes  brimming  with  excitement  as  if  he  were  still 
that  young  man  with  a  lifetime  to  serve  for  God. 

He  went  at  his  commitment  with  a  deep  determination 
that  has  characterized  his  life,  including  more  than  30  years 
with  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council.  This 
month,  he  retires  after  20  years  as  executive  secretary. 

"He  goes  into  everything  he  does  wholeheartedly,"  says 
Genny  his  wife  of  43  years. 

While  the  pastor  of  the  First  Brethren  Church  in  Fremont, 
Ohio,  in  the  early  1950s  he  had  a  radio  program,  discipl- 
ed  new  believers,  led  Bible  classes  in  other  communities, 
and  even  was  president  of  the  local  PTA  (Parent  Teachers 
Association)  one  year,  in  addition  to  his  pastoral  ministry. 

He  was  determined  to  reach  the  community  for  Christ 
and  set  out  to  do  it  in  any  way  he  could. 

"We  didn't  have  anyone  coming  from  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  city,"  he  recalls,  leaning  back  in  his  chair,  his 
hands  behind  his  head.  He  approached  the  local  Child 
Evangelism  director  and,  much  to  her  surprise,  asked  for 
an  assignment  in  that  area.  Soon  he  was  leading  a  Wednes- 
day afternoon  class  in  a  store  room  near  one  of  the  elemen- 
tary schools. 

"In  a  matter  of  weeks,  we  were  having  upwards  of  35 
to  40  kids  coming,"  he  says.  "One  afternoon,  I  looked  out 

4  july  85  GBHMC 


and  saw  the  principal  of  the  school  sitting  in  the  midst  of 
the  kids.  I  knew  he  was  there  for  a  purpose,  but  I  didn't 
know  what  the  purpose  was."  Undaunted,  the  minister 
went  ahead  with  the  afternoon's  program,  including  Gospel 
songs  and  a  Bible  story.  When  it  was  over,  the  principal 
approached  him. 

"He  said  to  me,  i  could  not  understand  why  these  kids 
couldn't  wait  to  get  to  this  class  when  school  was  out.  I 
must  confess,  I  thought  something  was  going  on  over  here 
that  was  not  good.  I  have  my  answer,'  He  said.  'I  want  to 
come  to  your  church,  too.'" 

"The  next  Sunday  morning,  that  man  and  his  family 
were  sitting  in  my  congregation,"  he  said. 

While  at  Fremont,  the  congregation  voted  to  finish  con- 
struction of  the  building  in  which  they  were  already  meeting 
in  the  basement.  Pifer  went  to  17  different  banks  to  seek 
financing,  all  without  success. 

"I  didn't  know  where  I  was  going  to  get  $40,000  to  put 
up  that  building,"  he  says.  On  the  advice  of  a  friend,  he 
went  to  see  the  vice  president  of  the  Cleveland  Trust  Com- 
pany, one  of  the  biggest  lenders  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  With 
briefcase  in  hand,  he  walked  vigorously  into  the  main  of- 
fice on  Euclid  Avenue  and  announced  his  intentions  to  the 
receptionist.  She  directed  him  to  the  man's  office  where 
he  was  ushered  into  the  walnut  paneled  office  of  H.  R. 
Templeton. 

He  explained  his  problem.  The  man  studied  the  plans 
then  looked  across  the  desk  at  the  pastor. 

"Young  man,"  he  said  incisively.  "Why  do  you  want  to 
build  a  building  in  Fremont?" 

"I  felt  that  was  my  cue  to  give  my  testimony  for  the  Lord," 
recalls  Pifer.  "I  proceeded  to  tell  him  I  believed  everybody 
was  lost  and  all  men  and  women  needed  a  Saviour.  We 


were  a  Bible  teaching  church  and  needed  to  reach  lost  peo- 
ple for  the  Lord.  I  was  committed  to  that  ministry  and  I 
needed  that  building  not  only  for  a  place  of  worship  and 
training,  but  as  a  place  of  fellowship  for  people  who  would 
come  to  know  the  Lord." 

The  banker  hesitated  a  moment  then  asked  what  the 
Brethren  believed.  As  Pifer  finished  telling  him,  the  older 
man  leaned  across  the  desk. 

"It  may  interest  you  to  know  that  as  a  lad,  I  went  to  a 
Brethren  Sunday  School."  With  those  words,  he  spun 


'I'll  never  forget  those  words,  because 
they  really  drove  it  home  to  me  that 
I  had  a  life  to  live  for  the  Lord.' 


around  in  his  leather  chair  and  pressed  a  button.  Three 
men  walked  into  the  office. 

"Sit  down  with  this  young  man  and  go  over  these  plans," 
he  told  the  men.  "We're  going  to  loan  them  $40,000  for 
a  building." 

The  call  to  serve  with  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions Council  came  in  1953,  and  it  was  a  challenge  Pifer 
readily  accepted.  As  the  assistant  to  then  executive 
secretary,  Dr.  L.  L.  Grubb,  he  worked  in  areas  of  promo- 
tion, speaking  in  churches,  and  some  administration  until 
1965  when  Grubb  retired. 

During  the  national  conference  of  the  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches  that  summer  when  he  was  ap- 
proached about  assuming  the  position  which  Grubb  had 
just  vacated.  But  the  Coun- 
cil's large  financial  deficit  con- 
cerned him. 

On  their  knees  that  even- 
ing in  their  room  at  the 
Lafayette  Hotel  in  Long 
Beach,  California,  he  and 
Genny  prayed  about  the 
situation.  A  short  time  later, 
the  phone  rang.  It  was  the 
Council's  bookkeeper,  Louise 
Blankenship.  She  reported 
that  an  annuitant  had  died 
and  left  the  organization 
$24,000. 

"I  had  my  answer  in  that, 
that  the  Lord  was  going  to 
overcome  that  deficit,"  he 
said.  He  accepted  the  leader- 
ship of  the  Council  the  next 
day. 

The  position  meant  long 
hours  in  the  office,  and  even 
longer  ones  on  the  road.  At 
one  point,  he  traveled  70,000 
miles  a  year,  often  piloting  in 
the  small  Tri-Pacer  airplane 


which  the  Council  owned.  Other  times,  it  was  by  car,  train, 
or  commercial  airline. 

It  also  meant  being  gone  from  home  for  weeks  on  end. 
With  three  children  at  home,  Genny  was  often  the  one  who 
kept  the  home  fires  burning,  and  there  were  times  when 
it  seemed  a  toss-up  between  who  came  first — the  family 
or  the  ministry. 

"The  family  and  I  realized  his  ministry  was  first,"  says 
Genny,  a  sturdy  woman  with  dark  wavy  hair  and  soft 
brown  eyes.  "We  accept  him  as  he  is  and  we  all  go  along 
with  it." 

Even  so,  family  time  at  home  became  important.  "The 
children  went  through  all  their  lives  celebrating  their  birth- 
days when  their  dad  was  home,"  she  recalls.  Every  effort 
was  made  to  make  the  day  important,  with  a  special  meal, 
decorations,  or  guests. 

His  children  were  special.  Genny  recalls  his  delight  at 
their  first-born,  Beth.  "He  was  so  proud  of  her  that  it  was 
almost  embarrassing  to  me,"  she  says.  "Everything  had  to 
be  the  best  for  her." 

Each  of  the  couple's  children  is  active  in  some  form  of 
Christian  service.  Beth,  who  works  with  the  Board  of  Trade 
in  Chicago,  is  active  in  her  local  church.  Mark  teaches  at 
a  Christian  School.  Debbie  also  teaches  at  a  Christian 
school  in  Florida  and  is  the  wife  of  a  Home  Mission  pastor, 
Jack  Peters. 

"I've  always  set  full  time  Christian  service  as  a  high  call- 
ing of  Christ  Jesus,"  he  says.  "I  did  not  automatically  re- 
quire it.  I  wanted  God  to  call  them  as  He  would." 

He  met  his  wife  in  the  living  room  of  his  family's  home 
in  the  late  1930s,  while  she  was  visiting  his  sister.  Over 
a  game  of  Chinese  Checkers,  they  became  acquainted. 

"Before  the  night  was  over,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I 


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The  Pifer  family  gathered  to  celebrate  Lester  and  Genny's  40th  anniversary  in  1982.  Standing,  left  to  right  are  Jack  Peters, 
Jr.,  Deborah  Peters,  Beth  Pauley,  Maryann  Pifer,  H.  Mark  Pifer.  Seated  are  Genny  and  Lester  Pifer,  surrounded  by  five  of  their 
grandchildren  (left  to  right),  John  Peters,  Rachel  Peters.  Tarah  Peters.  Aaron  Pifer,  and  Nathan  Pifer  A  sixth  grandchild,  Bethany 
Pifer,  was  born  in  1984.  —  DL|i|^  ^ 

UBH/VIL.    JULY   85  3 


wanted  to  see  more  of  that  girl,"  he  recalls.  For  the  next 
two  years,  he  would  drive  past  her  home  near  Rittman, 
working  up  the  courage  to  stop.  "I  knew  she  was  a  Chris- 
tian and  probably  would  not  go  with  me,"  he  says.  "I  believe 
the  Lord  was  in  that  and  used  that  in  a  real  way  to  bring 
me  to  a  point  where  I  saw  my  need  for  the  Saviour  first, 
then  after  I  was  saved,  we  did  begin  to  date." 

The  couple  was  married  in  1941.  "His  love  for  the  Lord 
was  predominant  in  my  mind,"  recalls  Genny.  They  began 
to  prepare  for  the  ministry  by  enrolling  in  Bryan  College 
in  Dayton,  Tennessee.  Later  came  three  years  at  Grace 
Theological  Seminary  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana,  and 
ultimately  the  pastorate. 

"I  don't  think  he  could  have  been  successful  if  I  hadn't 
given  him  completely,"  notes  Genny  with  a  soft  smile.  "I 
think  my  willingness  to  do  that  has  been  my  contribution 
to  his  ministry,"  she  adds. 

During  seminary  years,  she  would  often  visit  her  home 
in  Ohio  with  their  newborn  baby.  "Every  time  I'd  come 
home,  he'd  have  something  special  fixed  for  me,"  she  says. 
Even  in  later  years,  as  he  traveled,  he  would  bring  her  a 
small  gift,  whether  it  be  a  program  of  a  service,  or  a  favor 
from  from  a  banquet.  "We  used  to  call  them  peace  offer- 
ings," she  says  with  a  laugh. 

Pifer's  spacious  Winona  Lake  office  is  crowded  with 


"I've  always  set  full  time  Christian  ser- 
vice as  a  high  calling  of  Christ  Jesus." 


momentos  of  his  travels.  A  fur  parka-clad  Alaskan  Eskimo 
doll,  ivory  trinkets,  and  a  small  Indian  totem  pole  stand 
guard  on  the  counter,  while  an  Aztec  sun  calendar  shines 
down  from  the  wall.  Photos  he  has  taken  throughout  the 


In  the  early  days  of  his  ministry  with  Home  Missions,  Pifer  piloted  the 
Council's  plane  during  his  coast-to-coast  travels. 

world,  including  the  Egyptian  pyraminds  and  the  Holy 
Land  share  space  with  Navajo  paintings,  a  brightly  woven 
Indian  rug,  and  other  momentos  of  his  ministry,  including 
his  certificate  of  ordination,  his  honorary  Doctor  of  Divini- 
ty degree  given  by  Grace  Theological  Seminary  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  years  of  leadership  at  the  Council,  and  recogni- 
tion in  Who's  Who  in  Religion. 

Under  the  glass  on  his  desk  lies  a  map  of  the  United 
States  and  a  photo  of  President  Ronald  Reagan  and  Vice 
President  George  Bush— visual  reminders  of  his  commit- 
ment to  reach  the  United  States  for  Christ  and  to  pray  for 
our  leadership. 

Across  the  room,  Pifer  is  seated  at  a  round  table.  He 
gazes  intently  across  the  table.  His  face  is  lined  from  the 
years,  almost  like  furrows  in  a  freshly  plowed  field  and  he 
brushes  his  thinning,  gray  hair  back  from  his  face  with  a 
sweep  of  his  large,  gentle  hands. 

"I've  told  everybody  that  I  am  not  retiring,"  he  says  with 
a  slight  smile.  "I'm  retiring  from  this  job,  but  I  hope  to  be 
used  somewhere  else."  □ 


In  1971,  Pifer  and  Rev.  Jack  Zielasko  laid  the  cornerstone  for  the  Missions  Building  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana. 

6  july  as  GBHMC 


Mary,  Mary, 


How  does  your  garden  grow? 


With  lots  of  sunshine  and  the  right 
amount  of  rain,  Mary's  garden  is  probably 
in  full  bloom  by  now.  And  while  her 
flowers  reach  to  the  sky  her  account  in  the 
Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation  is 
also  growing.  Her  regular  deposits  earn  her 
6.5  percent  interest  (and  6.72  percent  with 
continuous  compounding)  and  she  has  the 


satisfaction  of  knowing  her  funds  are  help- 
ing churches  in  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches.  Grow  with  much  need- 
ed construction  loans. 

How  does  your  garden  grow?  Why  not 
plan  a  few  seedlings  for  the  Fellowship, 
even  now.  Invest  in  the  Grace  Brethren  In- 
vestment Foundation. 


Grace  Brethren  Investment  foundation,  Inc. 


Box  587,  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  46590 
(219)  267-5161 


Giving  Thanks  At  Sebring 


By  Jay  Fretz,  Pastor 

Grace  Brethren  Church, 

Sebring,  Florida 


Thankful.  That  would  be  a  good  word  to  describe  the 
people  at  Sebring,  Fla.  Grace  Brethren  Church.  In  a  little 
more  than  a  year,  we  have  seen  God  take  dreams  and 
make  them  realities;  and  take  prayers  and  fulfill  them 
beyond  our  greatest  hopes. 

When  I  arrived  as  pastor  December,  1983,  I  found  a 
group  of  sincere  people  looking  for  the  Lord's  guidance. 
More  than  anything  else,  they  unitedly  wanted  to  see  a 
Grace  Brethren  Church  established  in  their  community. 

Their  dream  was  to  construct  a  building  as  a  worship 
and  learning  center.  For  some  time,  they  had  been  meeting 
in  a  local  Christian  school  on  Sunday,  and  in  member's 
homes  on  Wednesday  nights.  They  wanted  a  facility  they 
could  call  their  own. 

Plans  for  a  building  had  been  drawn,  and  the  people 
had  a  mind  to  work.  But  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions Council,  our  parent  organization,  stipulated  that  the 
building  could  begin  only  after  the  pastor  had  been  on  the 
field  for  six  months. 

God  used  those  six  months  in  a  special  way  as  a  time 
of  getting  better  acquainted;  a  time  of  loving  and  sharing; 
a  wedding  of  pastor  and  people  in  plans  and  dreams  for 
the  future  work  at  Sebring.  It  was  a  time  of  growth  in 
fellowship  and  mutual  confidence  for  all.  Enthusiasm  for 
building  the  church,  both  physically  and  spiritually,  began 
to  grow. 

Plans  took  shape  for  ground  breaking  to  be  held  in  late 
March.  The  corner  lot  on  Thunderbird  Road  and  Thunder- 
bird  Hill  Road  became  an  important  spot  for  pastor  and 
people  as  that  day  approached.  A  sign  on  the  five  acres 
joyously  proclaimed— "Future 
Home  of  the  Sebring  Grace 
Brethren  Church."  The  dream  was 
getting  closer. 

Problems  of  ground  clearing, 
water  access  and  electricity  oc- 
cupied our  time  and  thoughts.  But 
those  pale  into  insignificance  as  we 
remember  the  blessings  and 
thankfully  recount  how  God  work- 
ed out  all  the  details  so  that  on 
March  31,  1984,  ground  breaking 
took  place  at  3626  Thunderbird 
Road  just  northwest  of  Sebring. 
The  hopes  and  dreams  of  all  of  us 
began  to  be  realized  as  each  shovel 
full  of  earth  was  turned. 

Friends  and  relatives,  including 
those  from  other  Grace  Brethren 
Churches  in  the  Florida  District, 


were  invited.  Rev.  Paul  Mutchler,  from  the  Fort  Lauder- 
dale, Fla.,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  brought  the  message. 
With  each  shovel  of  dirt,  we  realized  that  God  would  see 
us  through  to  the  completion  of  the  project. 

By  this  time,  the  plans  had  been  completed.  The  Home 
Missions  Council  had  verified  their  approval  of  the  design 
and  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation  had  set 
aside  $100,000  to  finance  the  building.  In  retrospect,  it  was 
the  prayers  of  God's  people  in  many  places  across  the 
country  that  have  been  the  backbone  and  sustaining  sup- 
port of  this  work. 

Many  of  our  winter  residents  soon  left  to  return  to  their 
homes  in  the  North  for  the  summer.  They  did  not  see  the 
slab  poured,  the  walls  put  up,  or  the  trusses  and  the  roof 
put  on.  For  those  of  us  who  watched  the  building  take  on 
form  and  substance,  there  was  much  to  be  thankful  for. 
We  had  a  good  Christian  contractor,  the  work  had  begun 
systematically,  and  the  Lord  was  guiding  the  work. 

One  evening  after  the  foundation  was  dug,  the  building 
committee  met  on  the  property.  They  looked  at  the  size 
of  the  building  and  decided  to  extend  the  overall  length 
15  feet.  It  was  a  decision  we  never  regretted.  Yet,  because 
of  it,  we  were  concerned  about  finances.  Would  we  still 
be  able  to  build  it  for  the  projected  $100,000? 

He  gently  reminded  us.  God  never  fails!  As  we  follow- 
ed His  guidance  in  expansion  He  blessed  us  in  the  cost 
of  the  building. 

God  gave  reasons  for  rejoicing  in  the  process  of  con- 
struction. One  day  the  contractor  reported  that  the  com- 
pany that  was  going  to  make  the  trusses  would  not  be  able 


8 


GBHMC 


Rafters  go  up  on  the  new  building. 


Dedication  day  arrived,  with  an  overflow  crowd  in  attendance. 

to  supply  them  on  time.  He  would  look  for  another  com- 
pany, but  the  cost  would  probably  be  increased,  not  to 
mention  the  additional  eight  trusses  which  would  be  need- 
ed for  the  15  feet  of  building  not  in  the  original  bid. 

How  thankful  we  were  when  we  learned  he  had  found 
a  company  that  would  make  all  the  trusses  on  time  for 
several  dollars  less  than  the  original  bid.  Our  Lord  was  wat- 
ching over  us,  doing  what  we  could  not.  God's  providence 
and  care  is  better  than  man's  best  planning. 

By  now,  the  inside  walls  were  ready  for  beautification. 
For  two  days,  we  worked,  applying  two  coats  of  paint  to 
the  interior.  The  next  day,  we  worked  on  the  outside,  begin- 
ning at  9  a.m.  At  2  p.m.  and  two  coats  of  paint  later,  we 
had  completed  the  project.  No  longer  was  the  building  just 
grey  stucco,  but  now  it  was  a  sparkling  ivory  white. 

The  dream  of  having  our  own  building  was  nearing  reali- 
ty.  Plans  were   made  to  move  in  the  first  Sunday  in 


September,  hoping  to  be  out  of  the  Christian  school  before 
their  classes  were  underway. 

By  the  first  week  in  October,  everything  inside  the 
building  was  essentially  complete.  Only  a  few  things,  mostly 
landscaping,  remained  to  be  done.  In  anticipation  of 
dedication  in  early  December,  we  planted  shrubbery  and 
flowers,  put  down  sod,  and  erected  a  large  cross  given  to 
us  by  the  Okeechobee,  Fla.  Grace  Brethren  Church. 

By  Dedication  Day  on  December  1,  all  was  ready.  Rev. 
Ray  Feather,  a  long  time  friend  of  the  church  and  pastor 
at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Okeechobee  challenged 
the  congregation  to  continue  to  reach  their  community  with 
the  Gospel.  The  Brethren  Four  Quartet,  also  from 
Okeechobee,  presented  special  music.  Representatives 
from  national  Grace  Brethren  organizations  also  conveyed 
special  greetings. 

A  capacity  crowd  of  more  than  200  people  filled  the 
church  with  music  and  praise  to  a  loving  Father  who  had 
been  so  faithful,  and  presented  an  offering  that  day  of  more 
than  $4,000. 

The  final  indebtedness  for  the  building  was  only 
$80,000.  (Remember,  we  had  expected  to  incur  a 
$100,000  debt.)  We  can  only  attribute  it  to  a  loving  God 
who  guided  each  step  of  construction. 

Since  Dedication,  attendances  have  continued  to  in- 
crease. Each  week,  new  faces  appear  in  the  congregation. 
During  the  first  quarter  of  1985,  we  averaged  105  in  Sun-  . 
day  morning  attendance.  We  have  not  experienced  a  time 
of  depression  that  some  might  expect  following  a  high  point 
such  as  a  building  program. 

Is  it  any  wonder  that  a  good  description  of  the  Sebring 
Grace  Brethren  Church  is  "thankful'— thankful  for  what 
God  had  done  and  for  what  He  is  doing.  □ 


Western  Consultant  Named 


Pastor  Brian  Smith,  Riverside,  Calif, 
has  been  named  a  consultant  for  the 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Coun- 
cil. He  will  represent  the  Council  in 
Grace  Brethren  Churches  throughout 
the  western  part  of  the  United  States 
beginning  in  July. 

Smith  has  been  pastor  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at  Riverside  since 
1979.  During  his  tenure,  he  has 
developed  the  church  from  a  Bible 
study  to  a  self-supporting  congragation. 

A  native  of  Long  Beach,  Calif.,  Smith 
is  a  graduate  of  Long  Beach  State  Col- 


lege with  a  B.A.  degree  in  Speech.  He  was  also  graduated  from 
Grace  Graduate  School,  Long  Beach,  with  a  M.A.  in  Biblical 
Studies. 

Brian  and  his  wife,  Kathy,  have  two  children,  Jason,  age  10, 
and  Kari,  9.  Q 

Corporation  Meetings 

The  corporation  meetings  of  The  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions Council  Inc.  and  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Founda- 
tion, Inc.  will  be  held  at  9:15  p.m.,  August  13  at  Estes  Park,  Colo. 
They  will  be  held  in  conjunction  with  the  annual  conference  of 
the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches  and  will  take  place 
following  the  8:45  p.m.  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Challenge 
Hour. 


GBHMC 


9 


Sermon 
Month  CQ 


Allowing  God 

Control  In 
Every  Situation 


by  Nathan  Leigh,  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Makakilo,  Hawaii 

It  has  always  been  interesting  to  me  that  Christians 
always  seem  to  find  some  areas  of  theology  that  they  just 
refuse  to  deal  with.  Each  one  of  us  has  our  own  individual 
problem  areas.  However,  I  have  found  that  for  the  most 
part  we  all  seem  to  have  one  area  of  common  ground  — 
the  Sovereignty  of  God. 

We  all  try  and  figure  out  how  much  of  God's  sovereign- 
ty is  used  compared  to  how  much  freedom  of  choice  given. 
Some  make  God  out  to  be  almost  a  mere  spectator  while 
some  see  Him  like  the  man  who  once  gave  a  sermon  at 
a  picnic  on  how  the  drumstick  he  was  holding  had  been 
predestined  to  be  hatched,  raised,  killed,  and  fried  to  be 
his  lunch  that  day.  It  seems  we  are  always  trying  to  put 
everything  at  a  level  we  can  understand,  even  an  infinite 
God. 

The  saddest  part  about  all  this  is  that  I  believe  the  Chris- 
tian is  really  missing  one  of  the  most  comforting  and 
reassuring  facts  about  the  sovereignty  of  God.  That  is — 
He  is  in  total  control!  No  matter  what  you  believe  about 
sovereignty,  you  must  agree  that  our  God  allows  every  oc- 
curence to  happen.  That  makes  Him  in  control.  And  that, 
to  me  is  very  comforting. 

When  I  am  willing  to  deal  with  the  sovereignty  of  God 
then  I  can  really  apply  "In  everything  give  thanks;  for  this 
is  the  will  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  concerning  you."  (I  Thess. 
5:18)  In  EVERYTHING,  not  just  the  good  things!  It  seems 
we  find  ourselves  rationalizing  the  "bad  things"  away  in- 
stead of  accepting  them  as  allowed  by  God.  "WHY!"  we 
ask.  I  do  not  know  why  some  things  happen,  but  I  do  know 
who  allows  them  to  happen.  When  I  give  Him  thanks 


Nathan  Leigh  has  been 
pastor  of  the  Makakilo, 
Hawaii,  Grace  Brethren 
Church  since  its  inception  in 
October,  1982.  He  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  University  of 
Hawaii  and  Washington  Bible 
College.  He  and  his  wife, 
Armida,  have  one  son, 
Christopher,  age  2. 


for  those  situations,  I  learn  that  my  trust  is  in  Him.  This 
frees  me  from  having  to  focus  on  the  lesson  He  is  trying 
to  teach  me. 

I  once  heard  it  stated,  "Ronald  Reagan  does  not  con- 
trol the  economics  of  God's  church,  God  does!"  When  I 
dealt  with  that  truth,  I  learned  how  to  apply  Phil.  4:19— i'Fbr 
my  God  shall  supply  all  your  needs  according  to  His  riches 
in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus. 

You  see  we  talk  about  God  being  in  control,  but  when 
things  start  to  go  in  a  direction  which  was  not  on  our  growth 
chart  or  according  to  our  program,  we  push  in  and  try  to 
figure  out  what  went  wrong.  But  if  we  would  deal  with  His 
sovereignty  we  could  experience  such  freedom  to  move 
and  minister.  If  we  would  realize  that  no  matter  what  the 
circumstances,  He  has  allowed  it.  If  it  is  "bad"  than  work 


I  do  not  know  why  some  things  hap- 
pen, but  I  do  know  who  allows  them 
to  happen.  When  I  give  Him  thanks 
for  those  situations,  I  learn  that  my 
trust  is  in  Him. 


through  it  until  He  turns  it  to  good.  (Rom.  8:28)  If  it  is 
"good"  then  receive  the  blessing  and  bear  fruit. 

Even  in  my  sin,  I  see  His  total  control  at  work.  I  know 
it  is  not  His  will  for  me  to  sin,  but  He  did  allow  me  to  step 
into  it.  Now  if  I  can  deal  with  that,  then  I  have  hope  that 
even  in  this  defeat  I  can  glorify  God.  How?  By  confessing 
my  sin  and  learning  from  it  in  such  a  way  that  next  time 
I  won't  step  into  it  or  if  I  meet  someone  who  is  headed 
for  that  same  fall,  I  can  minister  to  that  person  because  I 
have  been  down  that  path. 

When  I  deal  with  the  practicality  of  God's  sovereignty 
there  are  no  accidents,  mistakes  do  not  have  to  be  un- 
profitable, everything  I  do  has  an  eternal  perspective  and 
investment,  and  I  can  leave  the  worrying  to  my  God.  This 
is  peace!  (Phil.  4:6-7) 

This  freedom  that  comes  when  you  understand  that  God 
is  in  control  is  an  experience  every  Christian  should  have. 
You  begin  to  view  your  world  as  one  in  which  "To 
everything  there  is  a  season,  a  time  for  every  purpose  under 
heaven."  Learn  to  live  under  the  comfort  of  Deut.  29:29. 
"The  secret  things  belong  to  the  Lord  our  God."  D 


10j 


GBHMC 


People 

and 

Prayer 


by  Isobel  Fraser 

Grace  Brethren  Messianic  Testimony 

Los  Angeles,  Calif. 


"Continue  in  prayer,  and  watch  in  the  same 
with  thanksgiving;  Withal  praying  also  for  us, 
that  God  would  open  unto  us  a  door  of  ut- 
terance, to  speak  the  mystery  of  Christ." 

Colossians  4:2,3 

The  axiom  "It's  easier  said  than  done,"  applies  so  aptly 
to  perseverance  in  prayer.  Yet  how  needful  it  is  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  ministry  of  the  Lord.  Probably  the 
greatest  example  of  a  servant  of  the  Lord  for  us  to  pattern 
our  lives  after  is  the  Apostle  Paul.  He  wrote  to  fellow 
believers  asking  them  to  continually  pray  for  an  effective 
ministry  for  him.  In  Ephesians  6:18,  19,  his  request  is  very 
similar  to  the  scripture  quoted  above.  What  joy  when  there 
is  response  in  the  lives  of  others  because  of  persistent 
prayer. 

Sometimes  this  persistence  in  prayer  has  to  be  for  years. 
In  the  case  of  Barney,  it  was  about  30  years.  His  wife,  Ann, 
was  a  wonderful  Christian  and  a  real  asset  to  our  ministry. 
Not  only  was  she  faithful  in  attending  our  various  meetings, 
but  she  and  I  did  visitation  together  at  least  once  a  week 
for  many  years.  Many  of  the  people  we  visited  were  those 
whom  she  had  first  contacted.  In  fact,  our  ministry  to  blind 
Jewish  people  began  through  a  contact  she  made  on  the 
street  in  front  of  her  home. 

As  we  had  prayer  for  those  we  were  to  call  on,  Barney 
was  always  remembered.  There  were  opportunities  to  share 
with  him  occasionally  and  at  times  he  would  attend  social 
meetings  at  the  mission.  Both  of  their  sons  had  accepted 
Jesus  as  Messiah  and  Saviour,  but  the  younger  one  really 
yielded  his  life  to  the  Lord. 

A  few  years  ago,  the  Lord  called  Anne  to  her  heavenly 
home  without  the  joy  of  having  seen  her  husband  receive 
Christ.  She  did  not  know  that  she  would  meet  him  in  Gan 
Eden  (Heaven). 

Just  a  few  months  ago,  Barney  went  through  a  traumatic 
experience.  He  had  to  have  his  left  leg  amputated.  Through 
this,  his  son  was  able  to  lead  him  to  an  acceptance  of  Christ 


Jesus  as  Saviour.  Presently,  he  is  in  a  convalescent  hospital 
learning  how  to  use  an  artificial  foot.  Continued  prayer  is 
needed  for  his  growth,  first  in  the  Lord  and  then  physical- 
ly so  that  he  can  resume  a  normal  life. 

In  Philippians  1:9,  Paul  wrote,  "And  this  I  pray,  that  your 
love  may  abound  yet  more  and  more  in  knowledge  and 
in  all  judgment."  This  is  my  prayer  for  Edyee,  who  has 
acknowledged  Jesus  as  Saviour  but  needs  to  be  confirm- 
ed in  her  faith  and  grow  in  the  knowledge  of  Him. 
However,  I  was  encouraged  recently  when  I  was  ill  to 
receive  a  beautiful  booklet  of  selections  from  the  Psalms 
from  her.  At  the  end  she  wrote:  "No  man  is  free  unless 
he  is  master  of  himself.  Fear  says  'Faith  is  dead.'  God  dried 
my  tears,  and  chased  away  those  fears!  Count  your  bless- 
ings daily.  He  breathed  life  into  my  soul  and  made  me 
whole.  And  the  Lord  reached  out  His  hand  and  led  me 
to  the  Promised  Land." 

At  our  prayer  request  time  in  the  Shalom  meetings,  Dena 
invariably  asked  that  the  Lord  might  restore  her  sight.  Blind 
since  childhood,  she  was  very  self-reliant.  She  lived  alone, 
did  her  own  shopping,  took  the  bus  to  go  to  the  doctor 
and  care  for  other  matters,  and  was  a  pleasant  person  to 
be  with— quite  knowledgeable  and  with  a  sense  of  humor. 

Dena  was  among  those  who  attended  the  Shalom  group 
in  the  early  days.  Later  she  stopped  coming,  and  when 
she  returned  several  years  ago,  there  was  obvious  change 
in  her  life  and  attitude.  She  had  really  grown  in  the  Lord. 
I  could  depend  on  her  to  share  in  discussion.  Her  beautiful 
singing  voice  often  complimented  our  song  service. 

Dena's  prayer  has  been  answered.  Today  she  has  her 
sight— though  not  exactly  the  way  she  had  anticipated.  On 
Easter  Sunday,  the  Jewess  went  home  to  see  her  Lord  and 
Saviour.  Her  entrance  into  heaven  was  through  a  severe 
heart  attack,  which  was  quite  a  shock  as  she  had  not  had 
any  heart  problems  up  to  that  time.  Though  we  will  miss 
her  very  much,  yet  there  is  rejoicing  on  her  behalf  that  she 
did  not  linger  incapacitated.  She  is  in  the  Lord  Christ's 
presence  and  one  day  we  shall  see  her  again.  Then  she 
will  be  able  to  see  us  too.  □ 


GBHMC 


11 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  The  Lake  Odessa,  Ml,  GBC  surprised  Pastor  and  Mrs. 
Bill  Stevens  with  an  engraved  plaque  in  the  shape  of  the 
state  of  Michigan  in  honor  and  recognition  of  ten  years  of 
service  to  the  church.  Also  received  were  flowers,  cards 
and  other  gifts. 

□  "At  the  District  Conference  of  the  Northeastern  Ohio 
Churches,  Pastor  Bob  Holmes  and  his  wife,  Alice,  were 
honored  for  their  special  service  to  the  district.  They  have 
served  faithfully  at  the  Homerville  GBC  for  35  years. 
The  moderator,  Pastor  Bud  Olszewski,  awarded  them  with 
a  plaque  marking  this  accomplishment."—  Submitted  by 
Bud  Olszewski 

□  The  Yucca  Valley  (CA)  GBC  is  praising  the  Lord  for  a 
gift  of  a  deluxe  Dodge  15-passenger  van  with  only  32,000 
miles.  —Submitted  by  Roger  Mayes,  pastor 


Pastor  Barnhill  is  kneeling.  From  left  to  right:  John  Teevan, 
Gary  Miller  (hidden  from  view),  J.  Hudson  Thayer,  Robert 
Russell,  Edward  Jackson,  Maynard  Tittle,  and  Richard  DeArmey 
(with  back  to  camera). 

□  An  ordination  service  was  held  for  Pastor  Charles 
Barnhill  of  the  Mifflin  GBC,  Mifflin,  OH,  on  April  14. 

Rev.  M.  L.  Myers,  pastor  of  the  Blue  Ridge  GBC  in 
Winchester,  VA,  delivered  the  ordination  message.  Area 
pastors  who  took  part  in  the  service  were:  Gary  Miller 
(Southview  GBC,  Ashland,  OH),  J.  Hudson  Thayer  (Mans- 
field, OH,  Grace),  Edward  Jackson  (Findlay,  OH,  GBC), 
Robert  Russell  (Mansfield,  OH,  Woodville),  John  Teevan 
(Ashland,  OH,  GBC),  Richard  DeArmey  (Columbus,  OH, 
Grace),  and  Maynard  Tittle  (Galion,  OH,  GBC). 

□  Mike  Morrow  and  Deven  Murti  each  won  a  second 
place  trophy  in  a  "pinewood  derby"  held  at  the  LaLoma 
GBC  in  Modesto,  CA.  Mike  won  his  in  the  Builder's 
division,  and  Deven  in  the  Sentinal  division.— Gleaned 
from  the  LaLoma  Lighthouse,  May  issue 

□  David  Guiles,  assistant  pastor  at  the  Community 
GBC  of  Warsaw,  IN,  was  inadvertently  omitted  from 
the  1985  Grace  Brethren  Annual.  He  was  licensed  May 
6,  1984.  Please  insert  his  name  on  page  103. 

□  Daniel  White,  former  pastor  of  the  GBC  in  Troutdale, 
OR,  concluded  his  ministry  there  in  June. 


□  Pictured  above  are  three  girls  who  were  honored  at 
the  Florida  district  conference  which  was  held  on  April 
20. 

Vivian  Niederhelman  (left)  was  chosen  as  the  Girl  of 
the  Year  (Lumieres  group),  Danielle  Thompson  (center) 
was  selected  as  the  Amigas  Princess,  and  Rebecca 
Niederhelman  (right)  earned  the  title  of  Little  Princess.— 
Submitted  by  Pamela  Elders,  SMM  district  coordinator 

□  The  Blue  Ridge  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Winchester, 
VA,  which  was  organized  in  September  of  1983,  broke 
ground  on  June  2  for  their  first  all-purpose  building  at  a 
cost  of  $325,000.  A  larger  sanctuary  structure  is  planned 
to  be  erected  later  as  the  membership  has  already  grown 
to  130  with  an  average  attendance  of  approximately  145 
at  the  morning  worship  services. 

One  hundred  and  five  enthusiastic  people  attended  the 
ground-breaking  service  which  was  conducted  by  the 
pastor,  M.  Lee  Myers.  Messrs.  Ken  Bonner,  architect,  and 
Charles  Heath,  contractor,  also  spoke.  The  Scripture  was 
read  by  Richard  Sudduth  and  each  member  of  the  deacon 
board  led  in  prayers  of  dedication. 

The  building  committee  is  comprised  of  Robert  Roper 
(chm.),  Kenneth  Unger,  Willard  Baker,  Perry  Duvall,  Roy 
Duncan,  Marshall  Patterson  and  the  pastor.—  Submitted  by 
Pastor  Myers 

□  Jeffrey  Gill,  pastor  of  the  GBC  of  Delaware,  OH,  was 
ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry  June  2. 

□  Tom  Mahaffey,  a  former  associate  pastor  of  the  GBC 
in  Temple  Hills,  MD,  has  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the 
GBC  in  Waynesboro,  PA.  He  began  his  ministry  there  in 
June. 

□  The  Clear  Lake  Grace  Brethren  Camp,  near  Harrah, 
WA,  broke  ground  for  the  new  multi-purpose  lodge  build- 
ing. The  special  speaker  was  Rodger  Williams,  pastor  of 
the  GBC  at  Mabton,  WA,  and  comments  were  made  by 
Norm  Anderson  of  the  U.S.  Forestry  Service. 

□  Pastor  David  Mitchell  of  the  Waipio  GBC,  Wahiawa, 
HI,  extends  a  special  invitation  to  visit  his  church  to  any 
of  the  brethren  who  might  be  visiting  on  the  island.  For 
directions  from  Honolulu  or  transportation  to  the  church, 
call  623-0418. 

Visitors  during  the  month  of  May  were:  Miss  Sue  Ellen 
O'Connor  (Eagle  River  GBC,  AK),  the  Ray  Holland  family 
(Ghent  GBC,  Roanoke  VA),  the  Ralph  Ratliff  family 
(Ghent  GBC,  Roanoke,  VA),  Lawrence  Mitchell  (father  of 
the  pastor),  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeff  Green,  (Community  GBC, 
Warsaw,  IN),  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ed  Shuff  (GBC),  Long 
Beach,  CA. 


12 


BMH 


□  Rick  Clark,  former  assistant  pastor  at  the  Ankenytown 
(OH)  GBC,  has  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Manheim 
(PA)  GBC.  He  began  his  ministry  there  on  April  28. 

D  Pastor  and  Mrs.  (Carol)  Ronald  Warrick  announce  the 
birth  of  a  "bouncing  baby  boy"  on  Mother's  Day,  May 
12.  Luke  Nathanael  joined  their  three  other  children. 


Marriages 


Cari  Castle  and  Robert  C.  Pfister,  June  1.  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Columbus,  OH.  James  Custer,  pastor 

Sheryl  Cottrell  and  Paul  Hoehner,  May  4,  at  the  Immanuel 
Lutheran  Church  in  Baltimore,  MD.  (Gleaned  from  the  Greater 
Washington-Temple  Hills,  MD— Newsletter) 

Pamela  Dissinger  and  Ronald  Snavely,  May  25,  at  the  Swatara 
Church  of  God.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Luke  Kauffman, 
pastor  of  the  GBC  of  Myerstown,  PA. 

Michele  Fedora  and  Philip  Long,  April  20,  in  the  GBC  of  Myers- 
town,  PA.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Robert  Kern,  minister 
of  counseling.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor 

Sandie  Hoover  and  Mitchell  Kinsinger,  May  25,  at  the  GBC  of  Lan- 
ham,  MD.  Russell  Ogden,  pastor 

Lee  Ann  Huff  and  Douglas  Waller,  May  11,  at  the  GBC  of  Lan- 
ham,  MD.  Russell  Ogden,  pastor 

Kathy  Kent  and  Mark  McCarthy,  May  18,  in  the  Winona  Lake 
GBC,  Winona  Lake,  IN.  Kevin  Huggins,  chaplain  at  Grace  Schools, 
officiated  at  the  ceremony.  Charles  Ashman,  pastor 
Monica  Ann  Knudsen  and  Dale  Tyson,  Jr.,  April  20.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  at  the  York  Gospel  Center  by  Kenn 
Cosgrove,  pastor  of  the  GBC  in  York,  PA. 

Vicky  Konyha  and  Paul  Gard,  May  25,  were  married  at  Port 
Huron,  Ml.— Submitted  by  Russell  Ogden,  pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Lanham,  MD 

Wendy  Marshall  and  Robert  Adams,  May  18.    The  ceremony  was 
performed  in  the  Stone  Church,  Yakima,  WA,  by  Chuck  Winter, 
pastor  of  the  Harrah  Brethren  Church,  Harrah,  WA. 
Becky    Nicholson    and    David    Nicklow,    May   4,   in   the   GBC  of 
Meyersdale,  PA.  Ron  Warrick,  pastor. 

Michele  Reed  and  Michael  Krick,  May  4.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed by  Robert  Kern,  minister  of  counseling,  Myerstown  GBC 
of  Myerstown,  PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor 

Lenise  Sturgill  and  Jonathan  Walter,  May  4,  at  the  Grace  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  Winona  Lake,  IN.  (Gleaned  from  the  Greater 
Washington— Temple  Hills,  MD— Newsletter) 

Tami  Tischer  and  Brian  Stahl,  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Lake 
Odessa,  Ml.  Bill  Stevens,  pastor 

Priscilla  Wentzel  and  Kevin  Garthwaite,  May  11,  in  the  Myerstown 
GBC,  Myerstown,  PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor 
Anne  Wheeler  and  David  Broyles,  May  18,  in  the  GBC  of  Ander- 
son, SO  Don  Soule,  pastor 


Deaths 


Botdorf,  Robert,  May  24.  He  was  a  member  of  the  GBC  in  Homer- 

ville,  OH,  for  44  years.  Robert  Holmes,  pastor. 

Bowser,  Grace,  83,  April  29.  Leamersville  GBC,  Duncansville,  PA. 

John  Gregory,  pastor. 

Crusan,   Minnie.    Grace   Brethren   Church,   Lanham,   MD.   Russell 

Ogden,  pastor. 

DeMoss,  Lula,   66.   She  was   a   longtime  member  of  the  Harrah 

Brethren  Church,  Harrah,  WA.  Charles  Winter,  pastor. 

Dively,   Ray,  69,  April  21.  Faithfully  attended  the  Leamersville 

GBC,  Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 


Freeze,  Irene,  82.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown,  MD.  Ray 
Davis,  pastor. 

Hopkins,  Roy  V.  He  had  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  Homerville 
(OH)  GBC  for  64  years.  Robert  Holmes,  pastor. 
Hoover,  Solon,  73,  May  16.  Leamersville  GBC,  Duncansville,  PA. 
John  Gregory,  pastor. 

Houser,  Markwood,  69.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown,  MD. 
Ray  Davis,  pastor. 

Irving,  Ethel,  78.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown,  MD.  Ray 
Davis,  pastor. 

Keister,  Herbert,  70,  May  6.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  GBC 
of  York,  PA.  Kenn  Cosgrove,  pastor. 

Koontz,  Gladys,  66.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown,  MD. 
Ray  Davis,  pastor. 

Locke,  Ethel,  May  30.  First  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Dayton,  OH. 
Forrest  Jackson,  pastor. 

Long,  Jere,  90,  May  31,  faithfully  attended  the  Leamersville  GBC, 
Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 

Longnecker,  Barbara,  73.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown, 
MD.  Ray  Davis,  pastor. 

McCracken,     Randolph     "Petie,"   75,    of    the    Aleppo    Brethren 
Church,  Aleppo,  PA.  G.  Douglas  Witt  (former  pastor)  assisted  the 
pastor  at  the  memorial  service.  Stephen  Knierim,  pastor. 
Munch,  Margaret.   Grace  Brethren  Church,  Lanham,  MD.  Russell 
Ogden,  pastor. 

Murray,  Anna  K.,  87.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown,  MD. 
Ray  Davis,  pastor. 

Peters,  Robert.  First  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Dayton,  OH.  Forrest 
Jackson,  pastor. 

Pryor,  Lena.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Lanham,  MD.  Russell  Ogden, 
pastor. 

Rogers,  Elma  B.,  99.  A  memorial  service  was  held  in  Yucca  Valley, 
CA,  with  her  oldest  grandson,  Sherwood  Lingenfelter,  as  speaker. 
Another  service  was  held  in  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  in 
Leamersville,  PA,  with  Pastors  John  Gregory  and  Homer  Lingen- 
felter officiating.  Mrs.  Rogers'  husband,  George  Rogers,  had 
founded  the  Leamersville  church  in  1936  and  pastored  there  until 
his  decease  in  1938. 

Mrs.  Galen  Lingenfelter  (Fort  Wayne— First),  and  Victor 
(associate  pastor  of  the  Yucca  Valley  Grace  Community  Church) 
are  two  of  the  five  surviving  children. 

Shumaker,  John  H.,  72.  Meyersdale  GBC,  Meyersdale,  PA.  Ron 
Warrick,  pastor. 

Thomas,  llo  M.,  88.  She  was  a  longtime  member  of  the  Lake 
Odessa,  Ml,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Bill  Stevens,  pastor. 
Weltmer,  Elizabeth,  81,  May  14.  She  was  the  mother  of  Donald 
Weltmer  (pastor  of  the  Melrose  Gardens  GBC,  Harrisburg,  PA). 
She  was  a  faithful  listener  and  supporter  of  the  radio  ministry 
of  the  Leamersville  GBC,  Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 
Zook,  Angie,  94,  April  27.  River  City  Grace  Community  Church, 
Roy  Halberg,  pastor. 


Change  \bur  Annual 

Rick  Clark,  333  E.  High  St.,  Manheim,  PA  17545  /  Alan 
Clingan,  6176  Sumter  Rd.,  Brooksville,  FL  33512  / 
Allen  Edgington,  903  Roy  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  / 
Lon  Karns,  Grace  Brethren  Village,  1010  Taywood  Rd., 
Englewood,  OH  45322  /  Paul  Lindberg,  8233  Krim  Ave., 
N.E..  Albuaueraue.  NM  87109  /  Doyle  Miller,  P.O.  Box 
480210,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90048  /  Dean  Risser,  815  S. 
Prospect,  Marion,  OH  43302  (Tel.  614/383-4197)  / 
Victor  Rogers,  7363  Palomar,  Yucca  Valley,  CA  92284  / 
Ron  Welsh,  711  W.  Wenger  Rd.,  Apt.  153,  Englewood, 
OH  45322  /  Daniel  White,  1035  S.E.  190th  Ave.,  Port- 
land, OR  97233 


BMH 


13 


It's  Sort  of  Sad,  Lord 


by  June  Immel 


It's  sort  of  sad  today,  Lord,  as  I  sort  through  kitchen 
utensils,  dispensing  of  items  I'll  not  need  next  term. 

Animal  cookie  cutters  and  Donald  Duck  and  Yogi  Bear 
cake  pans.  With  Lisa  not  returning  to  the  Central  African 
Republic  and  my  boys  maturing,  no  longer  desiring  Ginger 
Bread  Boys  or  bunny  rabbits,  what  do  I  do? 

What  do  I  do  with  little  toy  cars,  an  Indian  village,  and 
decorator  dolls?  I  know,  I'll  give 
them  to  a  mother  of  younger  children. 

There  are  teens  in  our  home,  Lord.  How  incredible!  Me,  a 
mother  of  three  teens!  Oh,  Lord,  make  me  fit. 

I've  heard  teenagers  keep  a  person  young.  Then,  Lord,  why  do 
I  feel  so  tired?  As  I  looked  in  the  mirror  this  morning,  I  noticed  streaks 
of  gray  and  wrinkles  under  my  eyes. 

Lord,  give  me  an  understanding  heart  and  love.  Love  as  recorded  in  1  Cor-  ' 
inthians  13:4-5.  Is  it  possible  Lord  with  that  type  of  love  in  my  life,  I  could  bet-    ' 
ter  understand  our  teens?  I  believe  so. 

It's  sort  of  sad  today,  Lord.  Lisa  is  leaving  M'Baiki  to  return  to  Zaire  for  her  last 
semester  of  high  school.  Is  she  prepared  for  the  challenges  that  await  her  at  Grace 
College? 

As  we  return  to  the  United  States  for  furlough,  will  our  teens  once  again  suffer 
culture  shock?  I  probably  will. 

What  styles  are  being  worn?  What's  the  latest  teen  lingo?  Will  my  children  be  laughed 
at  or  criticized  when  they  talk  to  other  teens?  How  do  I  equip  them  for  life  in  the  USA?  I 
don't  know,  Lord. 

I  ask  for  wisdom,  understanding.  I  feel  so  out  of  it.  I  desire  to  return  home  but  I  fear  non- 
acceptance.  J  know  I'm  accepted  by  You,  always!  But  I  sense  that  our  value  system  is  different,     ' 
our  speech  foreign  and  accented,  our  style  of  living  behind  the  times.  Help,  Lord!  We  need  You. 

Oh,  God,  we  desire  to  be  used  to  bring  honor  and  glory  to  Your  name.  But  we  are  tired.  Today 
I  don't  feel  like  being  on  display  in  our  supporting  churches.  Oh,  God,  help  the  people  at  home  to 
realize  that  we  are  human.  We  have  problems  like  everyone  else.  We  are  not  super-Christians.  We 
need  You  daily. 

It's  sort  of  sad  today,  Lord,  as  we  contemplate  furlough.  In  a  few  weeks  we  will  leave  the  Central 
African  Republic  to  return  to  the  U.S.  What  will  happen  to  the  churches  in  the  Boda-M'Baiki  districts?  I 
know  we  are  not  indispensible.  But  we've  begun  a  good  work  and  there's  no  missionary  available  to  con- 
tinue it. 

Are  there  people  that  should  be  here  and  aren't?  Is  there  no  one  to  fill  the  gap  because  someone  did  not 
listen  to  Your  voice?  Why,  Lord? 

It's  sort  of  sad,  no,  it  is  sad!  Discouraging.  Even  frustrating.  At  times  we've  sown  in  tears.  We  know  we  shall  reap  in 
joy  because  You  are  in  control. 

We  need  not  be  sad.  Lord.  Forgive  me  for  these  negative  reflections.  Give  me  a  positive  attitude  as  I  return  to  the 
good  61'  USA.  Thanks  for  the  privilege  of  serving  You,  and  may  others  desire  to  be  included  in  Your  work  in  the  Central 
African  Republic. 


1  4    JULY   85  FMS 


Heed  the  Need 


by  Mrs.  Lois  Miller 


Three  men. 

All  with  different  abilities  and  backgrounds.  Yet  they 
banded  together  to  produce  a  desperately  needed  tool  for 
missions. 

Literature.  Why  would  three  men  care  so  much  about 
books  and  pamphlets  and  tracts?  The  United  States  is 
saturated  with  literature.  Why  the  big  concern? 

Take  Leonard  Kuns  and  his  wife  Betty.  The  Kuns  seized 
the  opportunity  to  visit  the  Central  African  Republic  where 
their  children,  Paul  and  Berta  Kuns,  serve  as  career  mis- 
sionaries. (Seeing  their  two  grandchildren,  Adam  and  Emi- 
ly, added  to  the  incentive.) 

Leonard  and  Betty  visited  every  active  mission  station 
in  the  C.A.R.  They  observed  the  everyday  life  of 
missionaries — the  frustrations,  the  joys,  the  sorrows,  the 
victories.  But  one  hindrance  haunted  their  minds.  The  mis- 
sionaries did  not  have  literature  for  the  Africans. 

"How  can  we  build  up  our  people  without  having 
materials  that  will  help  them  understand  the  Word  of  God?" 
echoed  from  the  missionaries'  mouths  again  and  again  in 
the  Kuns'  memories. 

As  they  thought  about  this  lack  of  literature,  Leonard  and 


Betty  felt  a  heavy  burden  creep  over  their  beings.  How 
could  they  help  get  literature  for  Christians  in  a  country 
where  they  couldn't  speak  the  language  and  didn't  know 
the  culture.  What  could  they  possibly  do? 

Enter  Don  and  Lois  Miller.  The  Millers  were  missionaries 
in  the  C.A.R.  for  over  30  years.  One  of  their  first  jobs  on 
the  field  was  to  help  teach  the  Africans  to  read  in  Sango. 
At  that  time  not  many  people  knew  how  to  read,  but  now, 
what  a  change!  (The  new  generation  of  Africans  is  desirous 
of  being  educated.) 

The  Kuns  knew  the  Millers  and  also  knew  of  their  latest 
interest  in  the  impact  of  literature  on  the  lives  of  Africans. 
When  the  Kuns  arrived  back  in  the  States  after  their  C.A.R 
visit,  they  grabbed  a  few  hours  of  sleep  to  lessen  the  jet 
lag  and  then  jumped  in  their  car  to  call  on  the  Millers. 

Don  and  Lois  were  glad  to  see  the  Kuns  and  discuss  their 
trip  to  Africa.  As  the  Kuns  began  to  tell  their  concern  for 
getting  literature  to  the  nationals,  the  conversation 
intensified. 

"What  can  we  do  to  help?  How  can  we  help  care  for 
this  situation?"  Leonard  asked. 

"Well,  it  all  depends,"  Don  answered.  "How  serious  are 


FMS 


15 


you?  Are  you  interested  in  launching 
a  literature  for  Africa  program  here  on 
the  West  Coast?" 

While  telling  Leonard  what  all 
would  be  involved  in  such  a  program, 
they  grew  more  and  more  excited. 
Don  mentioned  that  it  would  take 
money  to  initiate  the  program. 

Responding  enthusiastically, 
Leonard  related  how  the  Lord  had 


blessed  them  and  that  they  would  like 
to  use  some  of  the  money  to  help  put 
needed  literature  into  the  hand  of  the 
Africans. 

Don  immediately  envisioned  a 
triangular  effort  for  this  printing  pro- 
gram. Harold  Ball  came  to  mind. 

Harold  and  his  wife  Janice  had 
ministered  as  missionary  printers  in  the 
C.A.R.  for  several  years.  It  all  began 


They  became  more  and 
more  excited  as  they 
discussed  what  was  in- 
volved in  the  program. 


when  Harold  attended  a  men's  retreat 
where  Simon  Pierre  Nambouzouina, 
an  African  pastor,  told  of  the  need  for 
literature  among  his  people.  Mis- 
sionary Wayne  Beaver  made  an  ap- 
peal for  a  printer  for  Africa. 

After   the    meeting    Harold    (who 


1.  Harold  Ball  looks  at  some  of  the  newly 
printed  booklets. 

2.  Their  trip  to  the  C.A.R.  impressed  the 
urgent  need  for  literature  upon  Leonard 
and  Betty  Runs. 

3.  Some  Chadian  men  pour  over  their 
worn  lesson  books  during  a  Bible  Institute 
class. 


owned  his  own  printing  business)  chat- 
ted with  Wayne  about  the  need. 

Things  moved  fast. 

The  Balls  sold  their  business  and  left 
for  the  C.A.R.  where  Harold  used  his 
printing  skills  to  help  provide  literature. 
When  the  Balls  returned  to  the  States 
to  live,  missions  still  burned  in  their 
hearts.  They  attended  missionary  con- 
ferences and  kept  hearing  about  the 
need  for  literature.  Mary  Cripe's  words 
particularly  impressed  them— while 
holding  classes  for  girls,  she  didn't 
have  sufficient  literature  even  to  teach. 

So  the  need  was  fresh  in  their  minds 
when  Don  phoned  Harold. 

Don  explained  the  proposed 
literature  program  to  Harold.  He 
asked  if  Harold  would  be  interested. 

"Let's  meet  someplace  to  discuss  the 
possibilities,"  was  Harold's  immediate 
and  affirmative  response. 

Harold's  reply  was  a  lift  to  Leonard 
Kuns.  Maybe  it  would  be  possible  to 
help. 

Within  the  next  few  weeks,  the  three 
men  met  for  lunch.  At  that  meeting 
plans  were  formulated  for  the  begin- 
ning of  the  West  Coast  Literature  for 
Africa  program. 

It  just  happened  (in  God's  perfect 
timing)  that  Marvin  Goodman  and 
Tom  Stallter,  missionary  administrators 
in  the  C.A.R.,  were  in  the  States  for 
meetings  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana. 
Marvin  and  Tom  readily  agreed  to  ac- 
cept an  invitation  to  fly  to  California 
to  make  plans  with  the  trio. 

They  named  the  printing  enterprise 


Wescola  (no,  it's  not  a  new  soft  drink). 
Wescola  represents  West  Coast 
Literature  for  Africa. 

The  program  was  approved. 

Harold  is  part  owner  of  Valley  Film 
Service,  a  pre-press  trade  house.  He 
has  contacts  with  printers  in  the 
southern  California  area  who  are  help- 
ing by  printing  materials  at  minimal 
costs.  As  more  funds  become 
available,  a  print  shop  will  be  set  up 
in  the  Ball's  garage  for  printing 
literature  for  Africa. 

These  three  men  and  their  wives  are 
excited  as  they  see  God's  hand  leading 
and  already  giving  fruits  from  the 
presses.  Marie  Mishler  and  Rosella 
Cochran,  retired  missionaries  living  in 
the  Midwest,  are  working  on 
manuscripts.  Margie  Morris,  an  ap- 
pointee to  the  C.A.R.,  helped  make 
corrections  for  the  press.  All  these 
hands  keep  the  presses  rolling. 

The  program  has  been  launched 
and  the  need  heeded.  Other  hands 
will  be  required  to  continue  to  meet 
the  cries  for  literature.  Wouldn't  you 
like  to  know  that  your  African  brothers 
and  sisters  are  learning  and  growing 
because  you  helped  put  the  written 
work  in  their  hands? 

"This  all  came  out  as  a  unique  blend 
of  abilities:  Harold  with  his  printing 
skills  and  trade  contacts,  Don  with  his 
African  field  contacts  and  knowledge 
of  its  needs,  and  me  with  my  financial 
sources,"  Leonard  Kuns  remarked.  "It 
takes  all  three  and  more  to  accomplish 
the  work,  but  only  as  God  makes  it 


possible    and    only    as    He    gives 
strength." 

You  could  be  used,  too.  Like  these 
three  men.  □ 

1.  Many  OTN  women  do  not  have  their 
own  books,  so  they  share  with  each  other. 

2.  Harold  Ball,  Leonard  Kuns,  and  Don 
Miller  discuss  what  literature  to  prepare 
next  for  printing. 

3.  The  young  people  of  the  C.A.R  are 
eager  to  learn  and  to  read. 


<*•&•&  ■&•&•£*■&•&{* -A  titVA -A  titVA -At*  ?i?>tVAi5 


FOREIGN  MISSION 

EVENTS  AT 

NATIONAL 

CONFERENCE 


—'Awakening  the  Sleeping 
Beauty"— an  all  missions 
celebration  teaming  with 
Brethren  Home  Missions.  Sun- 
day, August  11,  2:00  p.m. 

— Commissioning  Service  for 
new  missionaries  Tuesday, 
August  13,  6:45  p.m. 

—'We've  a  Story  to  Tell".  Cor- 
poration meeting,  slide  show,  in- 
terviews. Thursday  August  15, 
6:00  p.m. 

—Pastors  from  other  countries. 
Pierre  Yougouda,  C.A.R. 
Rainer  Ehmann,  W.  Germany 
Gerard  Sangoy,  France 
Sergio  Lopez,  Mexico 
Ivanildo  Trindade,  Brazil 

—  28  furloughed  missionaries 
present  all  week. 


rt3tirtrta?*?»aa?*?>:*?>iitft>{jT»Tl?*Ti{i!> 


FMS 


17 


He  never  made  it 

to  his  destination,  yet  his 

life  had  an  impact  on  many  lives. 


■ 


''  m 


'/y 


j€\   -  .  &*■/ 


y 


.-*5 


7 


•■■  H  Kg 


The  One  Month  Missionary 


(with  lasting  results) 


by  K.  Owen  White 


I  have  on  the  shelf  in  my  office  in 
Houston  a  picture  of  a  young  man 
who  gave  it  to  me  many,  many  years 
ago.  It  is  inscribed  in  white  ink,  "Allen 
L.  Bennett,  II  Corinthians  6:10." 

Allen  and  I  were  fellow  students  at 
Biola  University.  Both  of  us  came  from 
very  poor  homes,  and  we  worked  our 
way  through  school.  I  worked  down 
in  the  sub-basement  in  the  shipping 
room.  He  had  a  little  better  job  work- 
ing in  the  basement  in  the  press  room. 
We  both  made  the  same  tremendous 
salary  of  $9.00  a  week. 

One  day  Allen  came  through  the 
room  where  I  was  working,  pushing 
before  him  a  little  cart  filled  with  paper 
and  string  and  trash  from  the  press 
room.  He  paused  and  asked,  "How 
are  you,  White?" 

I  replied,  "I'm  fine,  Allen,  how  are 
you  doing?" 

"Well,  I'm  doing  fine,  but  I  have  a 
problem."  He  hopped  up  on  the  table. 

"What's  your  problem,  Allen?"  I 
said. 

"Well,  what  does  a  man. do  when 
it's  only  midway  in  the  semester  and 
he  has  just  one  suit  of  clothes  and  the 
pants  are  worn  so  thin  that  he's  almost 
afraid  to  go  out  in  the  morning  lest  he'll 
not  get  back  safely  at  night?  I  make  on- 
ly $9.00,  and  it  costs  me  $9.50  for 
board  and  room." 

"I  don't  know,  Allen,"  I  commented, 
"but  I'll  be  able  to  join  you  in 
the  problem  before  the  ses- 
sion is  over." 

He  laughed  and  went  on 
his  way.  He  was  a  semester 
ahead  of  me. 

One  morning  two  of  us 
were  standing  in  the  lobby  of 
the  school  when  Allen  came 
down  the  steps  with  a  big 
suitcase  in  either  hand. 

"Allen,  where  are  you  go- 
ing?" I  asked. 

"Why,  I'm  going  to  New 
York,  then  I'm  going  on  to 
France.  I'm  on  my  way  to  the 
mission  field  in  Africa." 

Other  students  had  made 
it  known  that  they  were  go- 


ing to  the  field,  and  a  large  group  of 
their  fellow  students  had  gone  down 
to  the  station  with  them,  to  sing  and 
to  say,  "God  speed  you  on  your  way." 
But  here  was  Allen,  at  seven  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  slipping  down  the 
steps  with  his  suitcases. 

My  friend  and  I  grabbed  the  suit- 
cases, jumped  on  the  streetcar  with 
Allen,  and  went  down  to  the  Santa  Fe 


Here  was  Allen,  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning, 
slipping  down  the  steps 
with  his  suitcases. 


depot.  We  put  the  bags  up  in  the  rack 
in  the  day  coach,  since  he  was  going 
to  ride  all  the  way  from  Los  Angeles 
to  New  York  in  the  day  coach;  he 
didn't  have  enough  money  for  a 
Pullman. 

After  a  few  days  I  received  a  card 
saying,  "Dear  K.  O.,  I'm  taking  such 
and  such  a  ship  tomorrow  for  France." 
Some  weeks  went  by,  and  I  got 
another  card.  Allen  said,  "Dear  K.  O., 
I'm  studying  the  language.  Sometimes 
I  think  I'm  getting  the  best  of  it,  but 
mostly  I  think  it's  getting  the  best  of 
me.  Pray  for  me." 


Then  silence  for  a  long  time. 

One  day  I  came  up  from  the  sub- 
basement  where  I  was  working  and  I 
met  a  fellow  student. 

"Have  you  heard  about  Allen  Ben- 
nett?" 

"No,"  I  answered. 

"Why,"  he  exclaimed,  "word  came 
today  that  he  died." 

"What  in  the  world  happened?" 

"We  don't  know  yet." 

Word  arrived  that  after  six  months 
of  language  study,  Allen  had  taken  a 
ship  for  Equatorial  French  Africa,  and 
after  landing,  he  had  taken  a  river  boat 
to  go  inland  to  his  station.  About  the 
second  day  he  was  stricken  with  some 
strange  jungle  fever.  He  rapidly  grew 
worse,  and  within  two  days  he  died. 

Some  people  lamented  when  they 
heard  about  it,  "What  a  shame!  He  just 
threw  away  his  life,  he  never  even 
reached  his  mission  field.  He  must 
have  been  mistaken.  Evidently  the 
Lord  didn't  intend  him  to  go." 

That  wasn't  true.  I  was  told  that 
when  word  came  to  his  church,  and 
his  pastor  preached  and  told  the  story, 
a  dozen  young  people  came  forward 
and  said,  "We  will  go  wherever  God 
wants  us  to  go.  We  will  take  Allen's 
place." 

I  was  present  in  the  student  body 
when  the  story  was  told  at  the  Bible 
school,  and  I  saw  more  than  40  young 


Allen  Bennett 
chats  with  some 
Africans  at  the 
Bangui  Market 
on  Christmas 
Day,  1922. 


FMS 


19 


The  One  Month  Missionary 

(Continued  from  page  19) 


people  gather  around  the  platform 
and  each  one  said,  "I  will  go  wherever 
God  wants  me  to  go.  I'll  take  Allen's 
place." 

Then  I  looked  at  the  picture  he  had 
given  me  and  for  the  first  time  looked 


up  the  verse  he  had  inscribed  on  it,  2 
Corinthians  6:10:  "As  sorrowful,  yet 
always  rejoicing;  as  poor,  yet  making 
many  rich;  as  having  nothing,  and  yet 
possessing  all  things."  I  told  myself, 
"Well,  Allen,  this  was  prophetic." 

Later  I  learned  some  things  about 
him  that  I  had  not  known  previously. 
I  discovered  that  shortly  before  he 
entered  school,  there  had  been  a  tragic 

He  was  stricken  with 
some  strange  jungle 
fever. 


automobile-train  wreck  in  which  a  few 
members  of  his  family  were  killed  and 
he  was  injured  so  that  he  always  had 
a  limp.  Yet  he  was  not  bitter  but  was 
the  happiest  Christian  I  think  I  ever 
knew. 

At  one  time  he  wrote  a  little  thumb- 
nail autobiographical  sketch,  and 
among  other  things  he  penned,  "Went 
through  school  on  a  combination  of 
faith  and  works— mostly  works,  but 
the  Lord  stood  with  me  and  brought 
me  through." 

"As  poor,  yet  making  many  rich," 
His  church,  the  student  body,  his 
fellow  students,  multitudes  of  others 
were  enriched  by  the  testimony  of  his 
life  and  death.  "As  having  nothing, 
and  yet  possessing  all  things." 

I  suppose  that  lonely,   unmarked 


grave  has  been  forgotten.  It  may  be 
that  no  human  being  could  find  it.  But 
I  would  rather  be  Allen  Bennett,  as 
poor  as  any  boy  could  be,  and  lay 
down  my  life  for  God  than  to  be  one 
of  Texas'  multimillionaires  with  two 
Cadillacs,  too  much  money  to  count, 
and  no  knowledge  of  God  or  hope 
beyond  the  grave. 

The  Royal  Highway  led  Allen  Ben- 
nett to  Africa.  He  never  reached  his 
mission  station,  but  I  think  that  he  ac- 
complished the  purpose  that  God  had 
in  mind  for  him.  □ 

Reprinted  from  "Moody  Founder's 
Week  Conference  Messages,  1960." 
This  was  part  of  a  sermon  given  by  Dr. 
White  on  February  7,  1960.  Some 
statements  in  the  article  are 
inaccurate  —  facts  about  Allen's  life  are 
in  the  biography  to  the  right. 


Allen  Bennett  and  Dr. 
Gribble  conduct  an 
evangelistic  service 
among  the  Banu  tribe 
at  Yaloke. 


20 


FMS 


Allen  Bennett:  One  Solitary  Life 


Allen  Bennett  served  as  a  missionary  with  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions.  He  was  born  in  1899  in  southern 
California. 

When  Allen  was  17,  his  cousin  died  in  an  accident.  With 
his  grandfather,  mother,  and  aunt,  he  set  out  to  attend  the 
funeral.  During  the  trip,  their  car  collided  with  a  fast  train. 
His  grandfather,  mother,  and  aunt  were  killed  instantly. 
Allen  was  carried  800  feet  on  the  cowcatcher  of  the 
locomotive  before  the  train  could  stop. 

Allen  spent  a  full  year  in  the  hospital.  Various  bones  were 
rebroken  several  times.  A  steel  plate  was  inserted  in  his  leg 
but  was  later  removed.  Thus,  he  limped. 

While  in  the  hospital,  Allen  met  a  young  nurse,  Myrtle 
Mae  Snyder.  She  was  on  her  way  to  French  Equatorial 
Africa  to  serve  as  a  missionary  with  the  Brethren  Church. 
Through  her  influence,  he  decided  to  enter  Christian  work. 

As  a  student  at  the  Bible  Institute  of  Los  Angeles  (Biola), 
Allen  heard  that  Miss  Snyder  had  died  of  malaria  in  Africa. 
Her  death  caused  him  to  consider  missions  and  he  was 
led  to  consecrate  his  life  to  Africa. 

Allen  sailed  for  France  in  1922.  After  six  months  of 
language  study,  he  met  Dr.  Florence  Gribble  in  Antwerp, 
Belgium,  and  boarded  a  ship  to  travel  to  Africa  in  October, 
1922. 

Allen  became  ill  several  times  along  the  way  but  was  well 
when  the  traveling  party  was  met  by  James  Gribble  in 
Bangui.  The  day  after  Christmas,  the  Gribbles  and  Allen 
started  their  long  overland  journey  to  Bassai  —  site  of  the 
Brethren  mission  station. 

Young  Bennett  became  ill  with  pneumonia  at  Guezali, 
a  small  village.  Soon  meningitis  set  in.  In  spite  of  the  earnest 
care  he  received,  Allen  died  ten  days  later  on  January  17, 


1923.  His  last  words  were,  "There  is  nothing  between  my 
Lord  and  me." 

There  in  front  of  the  little  mud  hut  in  which  he  died, 
the  Gribbles  laid  the  body  to  rest.  A  bronze  marker  was 
later  erected  at  his  grave,  one  hundred  miles  from  Bassai. 

The  marker  still  stands  today.  Located  next  to  it  is  a 
Brethren  church.  And  on  the  other  side  is  a  medical 
dispensary. 

This  devoted  young  man  left  behind  a  carefully  written 
diary  of  his  journey  and  many  beautiful  poems. 
Characteristic  of  his  poems  was  the  expression  of  his  hope 
of  heaven. 

Allen  Bennett's  life  and  death  did  affect  many  people. 
Including  future  missionaries. 

While  Allen  was  attending  Biola,  he  would  visit  the 
friendly  home  of  the  Kerstings.  The  Kerstings  had  a  five 
year  old  daughter  named  Elsie  who  was  greatly  im- 
pressed with  Allen.  When  he  left,  he  became  Elsie's  mis- 
sionary hero  and  she  prayed  daily  for  him. 

After  the  news  of  Allen's  death  reached  the  Kerstings, 
Elsie  grieved  for  him.  A  little  later  Elsie  decided  to  be  a 
missionary  to  Africa. 

Many  years  passed  and  Elsie  married.  Her  husband 
became  a  successful  contractor.  One  day  they  heard  about 
a  need  for  a  builder  in  Africa.  Al  and  Elsie  Balzer  offered 
their  lives  for  service. 

Elsie  was  influenced  by  Allen  Bennett.  In  Africa  she  had 
an  evangelistic  fervor  and  many,  many  Africans  came  to 
know  Jesus  Christ  through  her. 

Allen's  life  was  not  in  vain  or  wasted.  God  worked 
through  him  to  accomplish  His  purpose.  □ 


FMS 


21 


SEMINARY 


REFOCUS 


TOWARD 


A    L    A    N    C    E 


BY  Rob  Wilkins 


I  here  is  no  recipe  for  the  making  of 
a  successful  pastor.  Two  shakes  of  exegesis,  a  pound  of  theology,  and 
a  dash  of  homiletics  won't  do  it. 

By  themselves,  they  are  essential  ingredients,  but  useless  without 
the  oven  of  practical  experience. 

"For  too  long,"  says  Dr.  William  Male,  dean  of  Grace  Theological 
Seminary,  "we  have  put  our  emphasis  on  what  we  want  our  students 
to  know  and  not  what  we  want  them  to  be." 

The  academic  studies,  Male  says,  have  been  superb;  the  oppor- 
tunities for  practical  experience  have  been  lacking. 

That  will  change,  he  says. 

In  coordination  with  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions,  a  revamped 
pastoral  ministry  department  of  Grace  Seminary  will  expand  and  vary 
opportunities  for  practical  experience. 

Under  the  new  plan,  a  seminary  student  will  be  able  to  make  a 
choice.  Internships  will  be  available  in  established,  usually  larger,  chur- 
ches, smaller  churches  moving  toward  self  sufficiency,  and  urban,  inner- 
city  ministries. 

The  experience,  Male  says,  will  be  invaluable  and  something  that 
could  not  be  taught  in  a  classroom. 

The  graduates,  will  be  going  out  so  much  better  prepared,"  Dr.  Male 
says.  "They  will  know  the  challenges  that  they  will  face  and  they  will 
know  that  they  are  not  unusual.  They  will  not  be  afraid  of  getting  their 
hands  dirty." 

The  change  in  the  intern  program  is  part  of  an  overall  shift  of  em- 
phasis in  the  pastoral  ministry  department,  says  David  Plaster,  who 
has  been  hired  to  coordinate  the  department. 

"We  want  the  student  to  get  an  overview  of  their  ministry,"  Plaster 
says.  "We  want  them  to  develop  a  philosphy.  In  the  past,  there  has 
been  no  consistency.  A  lot  of  times  students  have  not  thought  through 


22  july  85  GRACE 


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REFOCUS 


what  they  are  doing  and  why  they  are 
doing  it.  We  want  them  to  develop 
goals  and  strategies." 

The  changes  in  the  department  are 
sweeping,  Plaster  says,  but  necessary: 
"A  lot  of  people  came  to  the  same 
conclusion  at  the  same  time.  Change 
was  needed." 

Some  of  the  courses  in  pastoral 
ministries  have  been  restructured.  For 
example,  the  introductory  course, 
Christian  Education  and  Evangelism, 
has  been  changed  to  the  Biblical 
Philosophy  of  Ministry. 

"We  want  the  students  to  be  able  to 
develop  a  broad  perspective  of 
ministry  from  the  theology  that  they 
have  learned,"  Plaster  says. 

Other  required  courses  will  also  be 
changed. 

The  major  change,  however,  is  in 
the  internship.  Previously  about  all  that 
was  available  was  an  internship  with 
major,  established  churches  —  usual- 
ly in  the  Warsaw-Winona  Lake  area. 
Partly  the  reason  was  financial,  Male 
says;  partly,  an  oversight. 

The  results  were  limiting  both  in 
terms  of  numbers  of  internships 
available  (usually  about  two  to  three 
a  summer)  and  their  fruits. 

"Most  of  the  guys  who  were  involv- 
ed in  the  larger  churches  (as  interns) 
had  a  very  artificial  view  of  church  life 
in  America.  They  were  involved  in 
multi-staffed  churches  where  each  per- 
son had  one  specific  responsibility. 
They  would  have  several  hundred 
members.  But  that's  not  the  average 
church  in  America." 

Starting  next  summer,  internships 
will  also  be  available  in  small,  develop- 
ing churches.  The  seminary,  working 
with  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions, 
will  place  students  in  any  one  of  42 
Grace  Brethren  churches  across  the 
country. 

Larry  Chamberlain,  administration 
coordinator  of  the  Home  Missions  pro- 
gram, says  that  the  churches  range  in 
size  from  50  to  75.  All  of  the  churches 
are  working  toward  self  support. 


Chamberlain  says  he  likes  the  idea 
of  internships  in  the  smaller  churches 
for  a  number  of  reasons. 

"Some  people  when  they  graduate 
have  had  a  fear  of  the  ministry," 
Chamberlain  says.  "They  have  a  real 
fear  of  being  a  senior  pastor  in  a 


Th, 


I  he  academic  studies, 
Male  says,  have  been 
superb;  the  oppor- 
tunities for  practical  ex- 
perience have  been 
lacking. 

That  will  change. 


church  planting  situation  or  in  a  small, 
growing  church.  The  full  responsibili- 
ty of  developing  that  kind  of  church  is 
very  awesome.  If  the  student  has 
never  experienced  that  before,  he  will 
tend  to  be  afraid  of  it." 

The  idea,  Dr.  Male  says,  is  for 
students  to  get  their  "hands  dirty."  The 
student  will  be  expected  to  do  a  little 
bit  of  everything. 

"They  will  be  going  through  the  ear- 
ly pioneer  struggle  of  a  church," 
Dr.  Male  says.  "Anything  that  needs  to 
be  done  —  bulletins  to  be  run,  chairs 
set  up,  preaching,  a  baptism  —  they 
will  be  involved  in." 

Dr.  Male  says  that  working  an  in- 
ternship in  a  small  church  will  better 
prepare  a  student  for  what  he  might 
face  after  graduation. 

"I  am  burdened  that  we  have  some 
seminary  graduates  who  are  sitting 
around  Winona  Lake  waiting  for  the 
perfect  church  to  open  up.  We  want 
our  graduates  to  be  self  starters, 
creative,  willing  to  get  heavily  involved. 
That   might   mean    starting   a   Bible 


study  or  using  someone's  basement  or 
renting  a  storefront.  We  need  to  give 
them  that  kind  of  experience." 

Plaster  says  one  of  the  main  advan- 
tages of  the  small  church  internship  is 
the  one-to-one  relationship  be- 
tween the  pastor  and  intern. 

"There  will  be  a  heavy  emphasis  on 
discipleship,"  Plaster  says.  "We  want  a 
person  to  be  with  a  pastor,  get  to  know 
his  ministry,  and  catch  his  vision  for  a 
ministry." 

Each  of  the  churches,  which  must 
be  approved  by  Home  Missions  for 
internship,  will  also  benefit,  Cham- 
berlain says.  The  churches,  generally, 
are  not  yet  self  supporting  and  short 
of  staff.  Summer,  he  says,  is  also  a 
time  of  extra  duties  for  a  pastor  —  con- 
ferences, workshops  and  the  "summer 
slump." 

Because  the  churches  are  small, 
money  must  be  raised  by  the  intern, 
Chamberlain  says.  Support,  he  says, 
can  be  generated  through  a  home 
church,  friends  or  relatives. 

Plaster  feels  that  a  student's  home 
church  should  become  increasingly 
more  responsible  for  providing  prac- 
tical experience. 

"The  local  church  should  take 
seriously  the  responsibility  of  putting 
men  in  the  ministry.  They  can't  just 
shove  them  off  to  some  seminary. 
They  have  to  give  him  good,  hands- 
on  practical  experience  as  part  of  his 
education." 

Knowledge  and  experience.  The 
balance,  Dr.  Male  says,  has  been 
tipped  in  favor  of  knowledge.  The 
seminary,  along  with  others  across  the 
country,  has  been  criticized  for  it. 

The  new  approach  to  pastoral  in- 
ternships, Dr.  Male  hopes,  will  help 
put  things  back  into  a  proper 
perspective. 

"The  thing  that  Grace  is  concerned 
about,"  Dr.  Male  says,  "is  that  we  have 
a  combination  of  serious  scholarship 
—  knowledgeable  minds  —  and  a 
development  of  a  concern  for  souls  — 
warm  hearts."  □ 


24 


GRACE 


Dr.  Kent 

To  Step  Down 


On  May  eleventh,  at  the  1985 
Grace  Faculty  and  Staff  Recognition 
Banquet,  Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
President  of  Grace  College  and 
Theological  Seminary,  announced  his 
plans  to  relinquish  the  presidency  at 
the  end  of  the  1985-86  school  year. 

In  a  letter  to  the  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  Dr.  Kent  said  his 
decision  came  as  the  result  of  time 
spent  reevaluating  "the  special  needs 
of  the  institution  for  the  years  ahead, 
as  well  as  my  own  desires  for  the  re- 
maining years  of  my  professional  life." 

Dr.  Kent  desires  to  return  to  full-time 
teaching  in  the  institution  —  a  position 
he  held  with  tenure  when  he  was 
asked  to  assume  his  present  role  in 
1976. 

Grace  Schools'  administration, 
faculty,  staff  and  students  can  look 
back  on  the  nine  years  of  Dr.  Kent's 


presidency  with  satisfaction  and  ad- 
miration for  a  job  well  done.  The 
Schools  have  experienced  the  largest 
enrollment  in  its  history.  Regional  ac- 
creditation was  achieved  for  the 
seminary,  and  was  reaffirmed  for  the 
college  for  five  years  and  later,  for  ten 
years.  The  nursing  program  was 
begun,  as  well  as  new  graduate  pro- 
grams in  missions  and  in  Biblical 
counseling.  The  science  building  was 
completed,  the  dining  hall  was  enlarg- 
ed, Colonial  Hall  was  significantly 
remodelled,  and  six  tennis  courts  were 
constructed. 

In  finances,  the  largest  gift  to  date 
was  given  to  Grace  during  the  present 
year.  Grace's  first  capital  campaign 
ever  to  exceed  one  million  dollars 
reached  that  level  a  few  years  ago,  and 
institutional  indebtedness  has  been 
substantially   reduced.    Each   of   the 


preceding  eight  fiscal  years  had  ended 
with  a  balanced  budget. 

As  President  of  Grace  Schools,  Dr. 
Kent  has  had  to  face  the  many  dif- 
ficulties and  pressures  that  are  com- 
mon to  small,  liberal  arts  colleges  and 
institutions  of  higher  education  such  as 
adapting  to  demographic  changes  and 
successfully  reacting  to  the  budget 
crunch. 

With  the  planning  that  has  been 
typical  of  Dr.  Kent's  time  as  president, 
he  is  making  his  plans  known  now  to 
allow  the  Board  of  Trustees  ample 
time  to  establish  guidelines  for  a  search 
committee  and  to  avoid  hasty 
decisions. 

Grace  Schools  have  benefitted  from 
his  wise  counsel,  foresight,  and  love 
for  the  students  and  will  continue  to 
draw  from  these  qualities  in  the  future 
in  his  continued  role  of  professor.  □ 


LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
July  1985 


In  Memory  of: 

Florence  Moore 
Dr.  Glenn  O'Neal 
Dr.  Norman  Uphouse 
Dr.  Norman  Uphouse 


Given  by: 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Ralph  Burns 
Rev.  William  Schaffer 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don  Ogden 
Mrs.  Pauline  Hartman 


GRACE 


25 


1985-86 


WMC 
RGhDING  CIRCLG 


ESTELLA  MYERS,  PIONEER  MISSIONARY  IN  CENTRAL  AFRICA  by  Ruth  Snyder,  BMH  Books 

The  biography  of  Estella  Myers  portrays  an  remarkable  woman — and  the  story  of  this  pioneer  Brethren 
missionary  reminds  us  that  God  can  work  wonders  through  one  unpretentious  life.  (One  copy  of  this  book 
is  being  donated  to  each  WMC  circle  by  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions,  and  an  additional  copy  may 
be  purchased  for  postage  and  handling  charges). 

BROTHER  OF  THE  BRIDE  by  Donita  Dyer,  Tyndale  House  Publishers. 

This  sequel  to  The  Bride's  Escape  tells  of  the  faith  of  a  proud,  Armenian  people  whose  Christian  heritage 
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THE  VALLEY  IS  BRIGHT  by  Nell  Collins  and  Mary  Beth  Moster,  Thomas  Nelson  Publishers. 

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revealed  cancer.  You  will  cheer  Nell  each  step  of  the  way  as  she  recounts  her  experiences  in  this  unusual  book. 


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ehrist 


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Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
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2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado 

Springs,  CO  90810 
Second  Vice  President  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix, 

3314  Kenwick  Tr.  SW,  Roanoke,  VA 

24018 
Secretary:  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  R.  3,  La 

Porte  City,  IA  50651 
Assistant  Secretary:  Mrs.  Ginny  Sellers, 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  Ml 

49099 
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Lake,  IN  46590 
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saw, IN  46580 
Literature  Secretary:  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter, 

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Box  94-A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 


September  1985 

(If  no  address  is  listed,  the  address  can  be  found  in  the  1985  Brethren 
Annual,  pages  38-40) 

Argentina 

Scott  Nairn Sept.  20,  1977 

Brazil 

Mrs.  Grace  Pettman Sept.  8 

Mrs.  Eileen  Miller Sept.  18 

Jay  Farner Sept.  19.  1974 

Central  African  Republic 

Erin  Stalker Sept.  8,  1981 

Mrs.  Betty  Hocking Sept.  11 

Ethan  Hines Sept.  21,  1981 

Mrs.  Amy  Volovski Sept.  25 

Aaron  Hines , Sept.  28,  1984 

Miss  Lila  Sheely Sept.  30 

France 

Dr.  Trevor  Craigen Sept.  1 

David  Viers Sept.  3,  1976 

Emilie  Hobert Sept.  13.  1984 

Mrs.  Ruth  Ann  Cone Sept.  23 

Germany 

Mrs.  Denise  Ramsey Sept.  23 

Sara  Ramsey Sept.  24.  1981 

Mexico 

Mrs.  Alys  Haag Sept.  11 

In  the  United  States 

Miss  Rosella  Cochran Sept.  1 

Miss  Ruth  Snyder  Sept.  8 

Mrs.  Loree  Sickel Sept.  10 

Brian  Wainwright Sept.  20,  1978 


ffiffertng  ffipporttrnttij 


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WMC 


27 


Dirty 
Christianity 


by  Gordon  Aeschliman 


28 


CE 


A  challenge  to  an 
American  heresy 

We  need  a  much  dirtier  Christiani- 
ty. The  kind  that  rubs  shoulders  with 
people  who  might  disturb  us— people 
who  hang  out  in  places  that  saturate 
our  hair  with  cigarette  smoke  and 
permeate  our  clothes  with  the  smell  of 
beer. 

We  need  some  of  these  people  on 
our  "personal  friends  list"— 
homosexuals,  prostitutes,  adulterers, 
fornicators,  cheats,  swindlers,  welfare- 
abusers,  sophisticated  tax  evaders,  and 
capitalistic  oppressors.  You  know  the 
type — your  basic  sinner. 

So  much  of  our  American  Chris- 
tianity has  become  a  white,  dry- 
cleaned  religion  that  both  separates 
and  insulates  itself  from  the  world. 
And  the  amazing  fact  is  that  this  is  ex- 
actly opposite  to  what  Christianity  is 
all  about. 

The  gospel  isn't  something  that 
somehow  protects  us  from  the  evil 
world.  Rather,  once  it  has  taken  effect 
in  our  lives,  it  is  supposed  to  catapult 
us  back  into  the  world  to  become  the 
means  for  Christian  love  and 
righteousness  to  change  that  world. 

The  Pharisees  had  trouble  with  this. 
They  really  thought  they  could  destroy 
Jesus'  reputation  by  pointing  out  to 
people  that  he  always  hung  around 
sinners  and  publicans.  His  friends  were 
people  like  Zaccheus,  a  man  who  was 
notorious  for  robbing  others,  Mary  the 
prostitute,  and  many  others  like  them. 

But  the  Pharises'  "accusation" 
backfired  because  Jesus'  behavior  was 
just  what  the  world  needed  to  see. 
What  use  was  a  self-righteous  band  of 
people  or  a  club  that  people  could  join 
only  when  they  were  good  enough? 
Sick,  hurting,  sinning  people  can't  do 
right.  They  know  it,  and  they  aren't 
helped  when  those  who  know  the 
Righteous  One  withdraw  from  them. 

Too  many  of  my  "unclean"  friends 
have  been  hurt  by  Christians  who  re- 
jected them  because  of  their  sin,  in- 
stead of  loving  them  with  the  revolu- 


tionary love  of  our  Lord.  These  "clean" 
Christians  withheld  the  only  thing  that 
could  set  my  friends  free  from  their  sin. 

John  was  a  friend  I  met  in  the 
bathroom  of  a  restaurant.  Somehow 
we  got  talking  about  God,  and  he  im- 
mediately dismissed  Christians  as  a 
bunch  of  hypocrites.  As  I  got  to  know 
John  better  I  discovered  that  he  was 
bisexual,  although  his  preference  was 
homosexual.  All  his  encounters  with 
Christians  had  very  quickly  turned  in- 
to verse-down-the-throat  sessions 
about  how  he'd  better  repent  and  give 
up  his  sinful  lifestyle.  They  might  as 
well  have  been  telling  a  starving  Ethio- 
pian that  he  had  better  eat  or  he'd  die. 
John  had  no  more  resources  available 
for  doing  good  than  the  Ethiopian  has 
access  to  food.  Only  as  he  became  a 
child  of  God  would  he  truly  live  and 
live  righteously. 

John  needed  someone  who  didn't 
focus  on  the  dirt,  but  instead  loved  the 
sinner  enough  to  link  his  hand  with  the 
One  who  died  to  take  away  the  sin. 

Dayira  was  young:  a  prostitute,  drug 
addict,  and  alcoholic.  I  think  of  all  the 
nights  a  friend  and  I  spent  with  her, 
just  trying  to  befriend  her  and  care  for 
her.  She  couldn't  understand  why  we 
wouldn't  get  involved  with  her  sexual- 
ly. One  night  we  told  her  that  it  was 
because  we  love  her  with  the  love  of 
Christ.  We  didn't  want  to  abuse  her  in 
any  way  but  only  to  do  what  was  good 
for  her. 

Her  initial  reaction  was  anger. 
Anger  at  us  because  we  were  part  of 
the  church  to  which  she  had  gone  in 
her  lowest  moments  of  desperation— 
after  an  unsuccessful  suicide  attempt. 
The  church  rejected  her  publicly,  say- 
ing that  the  sanctuary  should  not  be 
defiled  by  a  sinner  like  her. 

We  spoke  with  the  pastor  about  it 
and  found  he  was  very  proud  that  he 
kept  his  church  "clean  from  the  world." 
I  have  to  believe  that  Jesus  weeps 
when  he  sees  the  church  shutting  out 
people  that  he  died  for  because  they 
are  sick  with  the  very  thing  he  came 
to  heal — sin. 

Too  often  American  Christianity 
smacks  of  the  prayer  of  the  Pharisee 
who  stood  up  in  the  temple  and  ar- 
rogantly raised  his  hands  to  heaven, 
saying,  "God,  I  thank  you  that  I  am 


not  like  all  other  men — robbers, 
evildoers,  adulterers— or  even  like  this 
tax  collector.  .  .  "  The  tax  collector 
could  not  even  look  up  to  heaven.  In- 
stead, he  beat  his  chest  and  said, 
"God,  have  mercy  on  me,  a  sinner." 

Jesus  said  it  was  the  tax  collector 
that  went  home  justified. 

We  need  to  be  reminded  that  the 
only  real  difference  between  us  and 
the    man    next    door    or   the    pimp 

"It  is  not  the  healthy 
who  need  a  doctor,  but 
the  sick.  .  .  I  have  not 
come  to  call  the 
righteous,  but  sinners." 
Jesus 


downtown  is  the  grace  of  God.  We 
have  been  fortunate  enough  to  be 
forgiven  of  our  sins  and  to  be  declared 
free  of  any  condemnation.  We  are  to 
follow  the  example  of  Jesus  who  gave 
up  all  for  our  sakes.  He  not  only  mix- 
ed with  the  sinners,  but  died  the 
shameful  public  death  of  a  low-down 
thief  and  murderer. 

The  church  doesn't  exist  for  itself, 
and  its  members  are  not  supposed  to 
gauge  their  actions  by  what  other 
Christians — who  are  already  sealed  for 
eternal  bliss — think  about  them. 

What  counts  is  what  the  church  is 
doing  to  bring  sinners  to  Christ.  And 
that  is  the  standard  by  which  we  must 
measure  our  friendships  and  activities. 

Let's  hear  it  for  dirty  Christianity  that 
reached  scum  like  me,  an  enemy  of 
God  and  doer  of  evil — a  dirty  Chris- 
tianity that  got  down  in  the  gutter  and 
grime  and  allowed  the  love  of  God  to 
explode  into  my  heart  and  turn  me  in- 
to a  brand  new  creation. 

The  Pharisees  accused  Jesus  of  lov- 
ing dirty  people,  and  they  put  him  on 
a  cross,  but  God  the  Father  placed  him 
at  his  right  hand.  Let's  trade  our  clean 
Christianity  for  the  kind  that  God 
values. 


This  article  was  written  by  Gordon  Aeschliman. 
Reprinted  by  permission  from  World  Christian 
Magazine,  copyright  1985.  Volume  4,  number 
2.  World  Christian  Magazine,  Box  40010, 
Pasadena,  Calif.  91104. 


CE 


29 


1985  National  CE  Convention 

Preparing  for  the  Climb 


August  11-12,  1985 
Estes  Park,  Colorado 


Speakers: 


Join  us  for  a  very  special  challenge  on 
personal  revival. 

Our  1985  National  CE  Convention  is 
like  no  other.  We've  set  aside  our  yearly 
emphasis  on  methods  and  ideas  to  stop 
and  focus  on  the  most  important  aspect  of 
Christian  education:  the  life  of  the  teacher. 
The  teacher's  message  is  only  as  effective 
as  the  teacher's  life. 

Through  Sunday  and  Monday,  we  join 
the  FGBC  moderator's  emphasis  on  the 
need  for  revived  living.  Our  Fellowship  of 
churches  needs  that  challenge. 

This  year's  convention  and  conference 
could  be  one  you'll  remember  for  years  to 
come.  Join  us  for  this  special  emphasis  on 
prayer  and  personal  revival! 


Luke  Kauffman,  pastor  of  the 
Myerstown,  Pennsylvania,  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  As  a  past  moderator 
of  the  FGBC  and  current  president  of 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions,  Luke 
will  share  his  personal  burden  for  the 
FGBC  through  a  Bible  message  on 
Sunday. 

Keith  Merriman,  pastor  of  the  Orrville, 
Ohio,  Grace  Brethren  Church.  His 
ministry  is  characterized  by  an  intense 
commitment  to  evangelism,  discipleship 
and  prayer.  Keith  will  challenge  our 
prayer  life  on  Monday. 


\ 


Jim  Custer,  pastor  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  In  addition 
to  sharing  his  heart  for  the  Fellowship  on 
Sunday,  Jim  will  challenge  us  on  Mon- 
day with  what  true  commitment  means. 


Dave  Breese,  president  of  Christian 
Destiny,  Wheaton,  Illinois.  As  an  inter- 
nationally known  author,  lecturer  and 
radio  broadcaster,  Dave  will  enlarge  our 
vision  through  a  personal  session  with 
pastors  and  church  leaders  on  Thursday 
afternoon. 


The  National  GBC  Christian  Education  Convention  is 
held  in  conjunction  with  the  FGBC  National  Conference. 
See  the  FGBC  National  Conference  program  for  a  com- 
plete schedule  of  the  National  CE  Convention.  The  1985 
National  CE  Convention  is  free  of  charge  to  all  FGBC  Na- 
tional Conference  attenders. 


30 


CE 


PLUS  sixteen  workshops  to  help  you  revive  specific 
life  areas  and  aid  you  in  ministry! 


Letters  to  the  Editor 


ISSUE  DATE:  March  1985 
GROUP:  Grace  Schools 
ARTICLE  AND  PAGE: 

"Brooklyn's  Good  ol'  Boy",  page  18 

Dear  Bro.  Turner: 

As  always  we  enjoyed  receiving  the 
issues  of  the  Herald.  One  of  the  articles  in 
the  March  issue,  however,  left  me  very 
disappointed.  It  was  called  "Brooklyn's 
Good  ol'  Boy."  It  left  a  very  wrong  impres- 
sion of  New  York  City  and  the  Christian 
work  here. 

Granted,  this  city  of  5  boroughs  with  7.5 
million  people  (with  each  housing  project 
holding  more  people  than  all  of 
Meyersdale,  Pa.)  has  an  incredible  need  for 
a  greater  and  stronger  Christian  witness. 
But  when  John  Chestnut  said  he  could 
"count  the  number  of  fundamental  chur- 
ches on  two  hands"  and  "there  is  nothing 
here  .  .  ."  that  was  an  outright  lie.  (Notice 
the  yellow  pages  from  Brooklyn  enclosed) . 
Granted,  all  the  churches  listed  are  not 
what  they  could  be  or  should  be  but  there 
is  a  Christian  community.  He  is  not  the  on- 
ly one.  Bay  Ridge  Baptist  Church  is  only 
4  city  blocks  away  from  his  Free  Church, 
and  it  has  a  burdened,  hard-working  Bob 
Jones  graduate  for  a  pastor.  I  was  invited 
and  attended  a  church-planting  pastors' 


meeting  in  Queens  where  at  least  50 
pastors  were  present  who  have  begun  a 
mission  work  in  different  parts  of  N.Y.C 

Another  obvious  misrepresentation  was 
the  first  photo  in  the  article.  Chestnut's 
church  is  located  in  one  of  the  better  sec- 
tions of  Brooklyn  — middle  class — of  which 
the  train  station  is  not  representative, 
despite  his  little  statement  that  it  would 
have  been  easier  "to  go  to  Africa."  If  a  pic- 
ture of  him  had  been  taken  in  front  of  his 
church  or  home,  one  would  see  how 
misleading  this  picture  is.  His  congregation 
owns  a  beautiful  building  with  two  sanc- 
tuaries and  a  huge  basement  hall.  This  is 
a  city  like  any  other  with  upper,  middle  and 
lower  classes.  It  is  not  all  slum. 

All  five  boroughs  of  N.Y.C.  have  their 
own  atmosphere  and  in  each  borough  are 
many  "villages"  with  their  own  ethnic  per- 
sonalities. All  five  boroughs  have  some 
Christian  witness  with  a  few  churches  really 
on  fire,  certainly  more  than  ten.  They  on- 
ly scratch  the  surface  with  so  many  peo- 
ple here,  and  we  do  need  more  people  to 
pray  for  and  work  in  this  huge  city,  but  God 
honors  truthfulness. 

Bro.  Turner,  the  Herald  owes  New  York 
City  an  apology  for  not  checking  out  the 
truthfulness  of  this  article. — New  York 


ISSUE  DATE:  April  1985 
GROUP:  Grace  Schools 
ARTICLES  AND  PAGE: 

"Promising",  page  7 

Dear  Editor: 

I  want  you  to  know  that  I  am  appalled 
at  the  article  in  the  April  Brethren  Mis- 
sionary Herald,  "Promising." 

I  do  not  understand  how  in  the  world 
any  Christian  person  could  think  that  "The 
Parable  of  the  Good  Punk  Rocker"  could 
even  begin  to  relate  to  God's  Holy  Word. 
(Luke  10) 

Why,  why,  would  anyone  want  to  bring 
God's  Holy  Word  down  to  such  a 
humanistic  level. 

Satan  is  truly  working  overtime  in  the 
lives  of  many  Christians  and  many  chur- 
ches today  in  luring  us  away  from  the  true 
worship  of  God. 

Oh  that  people  would  wake  up  to  the 
subtle  ways  of  Satan  and  what  he  is  doing 
in  the  lives  of  Christians.  He  is  blinding 
them,  causing  them  to  focus  on  entertain- 
ment and  glorification  of  man  rather  than 
glorifying  God. 

God  help  us  all  to  wake  up  to  what  is 
happening  today. 

1  can't  believe  that  your  magazine  would 
even  print  such  a  disgusting  article  and  I 
for  one  just  closed  the  pages  up  and  didn't 
even  finish  reading  it,  I  was  so 
upset. —  California 


A  Third  Volume  in 

The  MACARTHUR  New  Testament  Commentary 
by  JOHN  MACARTHUR,  JR. 


BMH  BOOKS  is  co- publishing  the 
MacARTHUR'S  New  Testament 
Commentary  with  Moody  Press. 
The  third  in  the  series  is  now 
available  —  Matthew  1—7. 


JOHN  MACARTHUR  JR.  is  pastor  of  Grace  Community  Church  of  the 
Valley,  Panorama  City,  California.  He  is  known  to  Brethren  people  through  his 
appearances  at  national  conference  and  as  a  speaker  at  the  Grace  Bible 
Conferences.  He  is  heard  often  as  a  radio  speaker. 

SPECIAL  INTRODUCTORY  OFFER 

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The  perspective  of  his  long 
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•  War  and  Separation 
•  Returning  To  A  First  Love 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


Celestial  Travel! 
Going  Up? 


By  Charles  W.  Turner, 
Editor 

For  centuries  Christians  have  been  going  up  and  the  non- 
Christians  have  been  concerned  about  travel  in  the  reverse 
direction.  However,  there  has  been  a  new  force  in  play  dur- 
ing the  past  15  or  20  years— the  temporary  space  travelers. 
They  may  be  classified  as  those  that  are  going  up,  but  they 
may  not  stay  up  permanently.  I  must  admit,  though,  that 
some  have  done  quite  well.  The  first  group  went  into  space 
for  a  few  moments.  However,  they  were  merely  pioneers 
of  yet  more  ambitious  followers. 

The  moon  walkers  came  next  and  we  all  watched  on 
TV  and  then  walked  out  into  the  dark  of  night  and  looked 
up.  Could  it  really  be  happening?  Yes,  it  was;  and  they 
made  it  back  to  walk  with  other  mortals  again.  Now  it  is 
the  space  shuttle  and  they  are  working  up  a  schedule  much 
like  the  old  train  schedule.  A  recent  group  made  the  trip. 


A  senator  went,  too,  but  then  a  number  of  them  have  been 
out  in  space  for  years!  A  teacher  will  be  going  soon,  and 
I  trust  will  find  a  place  of  safety  from  the  ever-dangerous 
student. 

But  wait  just  a  moment.  You,  too,  can  go  if  you  are  both 
patient  and  rich.  Theodore  Swartz  will  make  it  all 
possible — that  is  if  you  want  to  believe  Theodore.  The  first 
scheduled  trip  has  been  set  for  October  12,  1992.  It  just 
happens  that  will  be  the  five  hundredeth  anniversary  of 
another  very  famous  trip  —  Columbus'  voyage  to  the  new 
world.  If  you  have  been  to  Europe  and/or  the  Holy  Land 
and  are  bored  with  the  thought  of  another  trip  to  Hawaii, 
this  is  for  you! 

To  prove  that  there  is  a  market  for  just  about  everything 
for  the  adventuresome  and  the  rich,  Mr  Swartz  advertised 
the  three-day  orbit  trip  at  a  cost  of  one  million  dollars  a 
seat  for  this  space  vacation.  Being  a  hopeful  man,  he 
prepared  to  take  care  of  the  couple  hundred  folks  that 
might  be  interested.  Four  weeks  later,  more  than  2,000  in- 
quiries have  flooded  his  mail  box,  and  are  still  arriving  to 
ask  questions  about  the  trip.  Mr.  Swartz  says  so  many  want 
to  go  that  he  is  cutting  the  price  to  $50,000  per  seat  for 
the  first  trips  and  only  $25,000  per  seat  when  the  volume 
picks  up.  Now  that  is  a  real  drop  in  price  and  a  savings 
of  some  $950,000.  Frequent  flyers  will  probably  get  a 
special  mileage  discount.  He  is  ready  to  buy  a  private  space 
vehicle  at  a  cost  of  some  $200  million.  I  rather  imagine 
this  fine  gentleman  might  even  let  you  in  on  a  deal  to  be 
part-owner  of  one  of  the  space  ships  as  well.  He  just  strikes 
me  as  being  that  interested  in  humanity. 

Now  I  consider  myself  a  rather  forward-looking  person 
and  there  is  nothing  in  the  whole  story  that  is  impossible 
to  accomplish.  After  all,  years  ago,  I  made  hundreds  of  trips 
from  my  front  room  rug  while  living  in  Akron,  Ohio. 
However,  it  was  not  Theodore  Swartz  who  was  making 
the  flights.  It  was  Flash  Gordon  and  I  was  only  about  ten 
years  of  age  at  the  time.  Ray  guns  fought  off  the  enemy 
and  every  trip  was  carried  out  with  excitement  and  the 
journey  ended  in  a  safe  return.  Now  it  is  Star  Wars,  and 
even  our  president  wants  to  get  into  the  action. 

I  have  a  better  idea.  For  a  flawless  and  no-cost  trip,  may 
I  suggest  a  scheduled  but  as  yet  an  unannounced  flight. 
By  grace  through  salvation  in  Jesus  Christ,  one  can  enter 
the  ranks  of  a  group  of  future  space  travelers.  The  distance 
will  leave  the  moon  far  behind,  for  this  will  be  a  heaven- 
bound  flight.  Salvation  being  a  free  gift,  it  insures  a  seat 
for  the  trip.  The  Lord  is  keeping  this  scheduled  but  unan- 
nounced flight  a  secret.  He  knows  when  the  call  will  come 
for  the  saints  to  get  on  board  for  this  flight.  He  has  not  told 
anyone  yet  about  the  departure  time.  This  will  be  much 
better  than  a  three-day  trip  into  space  with  limited  capaci- 
ty. The  real  flight  will  last  much  longer  and  will  be  much 
better.  Make  your  reservations  soon,  if  you  have  not  already 
done  so.  You  will  not  want  to  miss  this  trip! 


BMH 


BRETHREN 
MISSIONARY 


herald 


August  1985 


The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co., 
P.O.  Box  544,  1104  Kings 
Highway,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590.  Subscription  prices:  $8.25 
per  year;  foreign,  $10.00;  special 
rates  to  churches.  Printed  by  BMH 
Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back  issues 
are  available.  One  copy,  $2.00; 
two  copies,  $3.00;  three  to  ten 
copies,  $1.50  each;  more  than  ten 
copies,  $1.25  each.  Please  include 
your  check  with  order.  (Prices  in- 
clude postage  charges.) 

NEWS  ITEMS  contained  in 
each  issue  are  presented  for  infor- 
mation, and  do  not  indicate 
endorsement. 

MOVING?  Send  label  on  back 
cover  and  your  new  address. 
Please  allow  four  weeks  for  the 
change  to  be  made. 

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chandise orders:  1-800-348-2756. 


Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker, 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Lester  Pifer,  Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 


4  Taking  the  Less  Traveled  Road 

8  War  and  Separation 

10  1985  New  Missionaries 

13  Returning  To  A  First  Love 

16  A  View  From  The  Top 

18  A  Missionary  Picture 

20  The  Lordship  of  Christ 

26  Prayer— Your  Lifeline  to  the  Father 

31  GBC  Christian  Education 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters     2      • 
•  BMH  News  Report    28,  29    • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

The  work  continued  on  the  new  Grace 
Seminary  building— McClain  Hall.  The  steel 
floor  was  installed  for  the  chapel  wing  .  .  .  Paul 
Dick  accepted  the  call  to  the  Winchester,  Va., 
church  to  serve  as  the  pastor  for  the  tenth  year. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Paul  Mohler,  pastor  at  Grafton,  W.  Va.,  was 
given  the  keys  to  the  new  parsonage  .  .  . 
Raimundo  Cardoso,  Brazilian  pastor  from 
Icoraci,  was  the  first  believer  from  that  field  to 
visit  the  Brethren  churches  in  the  United  States. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

The  Foreign  Missionary  Society  celebrated  the 
eightieth  anniversary  with  a  meeting  "under  the 
trees"  at  Winona  Lake,  Ind.,  where  the  society 
was  born  .  .  .  The  new  Christian  Education 
headquarters  observed  open  house  at  Winona 
Lake,  Ind. 

COVER  PHOTO:  Rocky  Mountain  National 
Park  scene,  by  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer. 


LETTERS 

Dear  Editor: 

1  am  responding  to  a  letter  published  in  the  July 
edition  of  the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald,  in  which 
the  writer  expressed  disdain  at  your  printing  the 
"Promising"  article.  The  article  pertained  to  the 
drama  ministry  of  the  Promise  Players. 

The  person's  concern  focused  around  the 
description  of  one  of  the  Player's  sketches:  The 
Parable  of  the  Good  Punk  Rocker. 

The  accusation  was  that  the  Players  were  bring- 
ing God's  Word  down  to  a  humanistic  level  by  set- 
ting Jesus'  parable  in  a  modern  day  motif.  But  our 
only  intent  in  illustrating  Scripture  dramatically  is 
to  put  its  principles  into  flesh  and  blood  situations, 
hoping  that  people  will  see  the  universality  of  Jesus' 
teachings. 

The  intent  of  our  rendition  of  the  original  Good 
Samaritan  parable  is  the  same:  those  whom  we 
despise  often  put  us  pious  Christians  to  shame  by 
showing  compassion  to  those  with  whom  we  are 
often  too  busy  to  get  involved. 

I  hope  that  in  the  future  this  person  takes  the 
time  to  get  all  the  facts  and  to  realize  that  Scrip- 
ture was  written  for  humans.  Although  cultures  may 
differ,  the  Scripture's  principles  are  universal  and 
timeless. 
— Allyn  Decker,  leader  of  the  Promise  Players 


BMH 


When  one  spouse 
is  committed  to  missionary 
service  and  the  other  is  not, 
how  can  God  use  the  couple? 


FMS 


Taking  the  Less  Traveled  Road 

by  Nora  Macon 


M< 


Lost  people  view  a  missionary 
with  a  little  awe  and  some  admiration 
(and  a  quick,  thankful  sigh  that  they 
weren't  called  to  be  one). 

There's  sort  of  a  mystical  quality  to 
the  "call"  of  a  missionary.  What  a 
supernatural,  ultra-spiritual  ex- 
perience, resplendent  with  blinding 
flashes  of  light,  a  persuasive  dream, 
heavenly  voices,  or  a  sudden,  intense 
burden  for  some  area  of  the  world! 

What  a  misconception! 

Even  though  some  missionaries 
have  had  dramatic  calls,  God  guides 
most  missionaries  just  like  He  guides 
other  Christians.  And  sometimes  it 
takes  years. 

"I  clearly  decided  that  home  in  the 
United  States  was  where  I  belonged. 
The  most  I  could  do  was  to  fill  the 
needs  in  the  home  church  because  I 
was  familiar  with  them.  I  could  do  that 
well.  I  felt  I  had  no  ability  to  transfer 
myself  to  another  culture." 

Do  these  sound  like  the  words  of  a 
missionary?  They  are. 

While  reflecting  on  her  call  to 
France,  Soni  Viers  also  commented, 
"In  the  church  I  was  beginning  to 
emerge  from  mothering  two  young 
kids  to  the  roles  that  were  available  to 
play,  Sunday  School  teaching, 
DVBS — the  things  that  go  on  in  the 
church.  That's  where  my  heart  was." 

How  could  God  call  someone  who 
was  so  firmly  planted  in  the  United 
States?  Surely  a  lightning  bolt  was  re- 
quired! But  John  and  Soni  Viers  never 
mention  any  extraordinary 
experiences. 

The  Viers  were  saved  after  they 
were  married  and  were  discipled  by 
Campus  Crusade.  A  change  of  jobs 
led  them  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  they 
began  to  attend  the  First  Brethren 
Church. 

John  started  working  with  Sonny 
Thayer  in  the  youth  ministry.  "It  was 
in  those  years  that  the  Lord  began  to 
speak  to  me,"  John  noted.  The  Lord 
used  II  Timothy  2  and  II  Timothy 
4:1-2. 

It  wasn't  long  after  these  words 
pricked  my  heart  that  we  made  a  deci- 
sion to  pursue  training  for  the  full  time 


ministry." 

John  became  a  youth  minister  at 
the  Mansfield,  Ohio,  GBC,  while  tak- 
ing classes  at  Ashland  Seminary.  The 
success  with  the  youth  was  tremen- 
dous. During  their  eight  years  there, 
they  became  familiar  with  many  Grace 
Brethren  missionaries.  For  the  most 
part  they  were  missionaries  from 
Africa. 

"While  yet  in  Dayton,  both  of  us 
had  the  opportunity  to  meet  Dr.  Or- 
ville  Jobson.  I  visited  him  from  time 
to  time.  Dr.  Jobson  had  quite  an  in- 
fluence on  my  life  as  he  shared  his  vi- 
sion for  world  missions,  particularly  for 
Africa,"  John  reminisced.  "I'll  never 
forget  the  discussions  we  had.  Once 
he  told  me  that  God  needed  men  such 
as  myself  on  the  mission  field  and  that 
he  would  pray  that  God  would  move 
in  our  hearts.  I  didn't  realize  the  im- 
pact of  those  words  until  many  years 
later." 

The  Viers  became  very,  very  sen- 
sitive to  the  needs  of  the  mission  field, 
particularly  Africa. 

"Most  always  when  a  missionary 
was  in  our  church,  I  felt  a  strong  af- 
finity and  a  responsiveness  in  my  heart 
to  respond  to  the  need.  I  suppose  that 
is  what  led  us  to  investigate  the 
possibility  of  our  serving  on  the  African 
field." 

But  what  was  going  on  in  Soni's 
mind  during  this  time? 

"I  know  that  Africa  burned  in  John's 
heart,  but  I  didn't  share  the  same 
desire.  The  emotional  desire  to  obey 
or  to  submit  every  time  the  plea  was 
read  from  Scripture  was  there.  I  was 
always  touched  and  ready  to  respond, 
but  it  was  purely  emotional.  I  knew 
that  John  had  that  burden,  and  I  didn't 
want  to  hold  back.  But  I  knew  the  at- 
tachment I  had  to  the  church  and  my 
country.  I  really  had  a  hard  time  mak- 
ing the  decision  on  an  emotional 
basis." 

"The  bottom  line  was  that  submis- 
sion or  obedience  for  me  became  a 
matter  of  riding  on  John's  coattails.  So 
the  decision  was  yes — 1  was  in  com- 
plete agreement  for  going  under  the 
TIME  program." 


But  complications  set  in.  John's 
father  died  unexpectedly.  Their  son, 
David,  had  a  severe  accident.  The  tim- 
ing was  bad. 

"I  had  little  understanding  as  to  why 
the  door  was  suddenly  closing,"  Soni 
confessed.  "I  wondered  if  it  were  a 
matter  of  my  own  heart  being  disobe- 
dient or  was  that  the  Lord's  will?  It 
caused  a  great  question  in  my  mind 
because  we  had  been  in  forward  mo- 
tion at  a  rapid  pace.  Right  after  the 
death  of  John's  dad,  we  were  debating 
whether  to  go  to  Africa  because  of 
David's  health  condition.  We  were  ad- 
vised not  to  go  by  both  his  doctor  and 
Sonny  Thayer." 

John's  role  grew  fuller  in  the  capaci- 
ty of  evangelism  and  discipleship.  It 
equipped  John  for  the  work  he  could 
do  as  a  church  planter. 

Then  Tom  Julien  came  to  Mansfield 
and  shared  about  the  needs  of 
Europe. 

Soni  remembers,  "He  stayed  in  our 
home  and  spent  a  good  deal  of  time 
with  us  that  week.  That's  when  God 
planted  the  seed  and  defined  our 
focus  for  what  kind  of  spiritual  needs 
there  were  in  France." 

"When  Tom  visited  that  year,  he 
didn't  know  Soni  and  I  were  very  sen- 
sitive and  praying  about  the  Lord's  will 
for  our  lives  respecting  missions,"  John 
mused.  "Yet,  one  evening,  he  turned 
to  us  and  with  a  sort  of  smile  on  his 
face,  his  fingers  extended  toward  Soni 
and  said,  'God  wants  you  in  France.'" 

"I  nearly  dropped  my  pie,"  Soni 
laughed.  "In  our  home  he  had 
repeatedly  expressed  the  need  as  it 
related  to  people  like  us  having  ex- 
perience in  the  ministry,  discipleship, 
and  evangelism.  Sharing  his  burden 
with  us  he  always  drew  a  direct  rela- 
tionship to  the  role  we  could  play  per- 
sonally." 

From  that  time  on,  the  Viers  began 
to  pray  and  become  more  informed 
about  the  work  in  France.  They  were 
not  convinced  that  they  should  be  in 
France,  but  they  were  very  concerned 
about  the  things  Tom  had  shared. 

"Actually  it  was  the  first  time  we  had 
been    exposed    to    the    tremendous 


FMS 


spiritual  needs  that  exist  in  France  and 
most  European  countries,"  John 
recalls.  "I  was  ready  to  make  a  com- 
mitment, but  I  sensed  Soni  didn't  feel 
the  same  and  didn't  have  the 
understanding.  She  was  not  at  all  con- 
vinced at  the  time  I  was  ready  to  make 
a  commitment." 

"My  attraction  to  missions  was  on 
an  emotional  level  and  I  was  unable 
to  make  a  decision  concerning  mis- 
sions on  any  other  level,"  injected 
Soni.  "My  reasons  were  never  based 
on  a  clear  knowledge  of  Scripture. 
That's  when  I  decided  home  in  the 
United  States  was  where  I  belonged. 
The  only  thing  I  understood  was 
John's  call  to  the  ministry,  and  I  could 
only  see  that  fitting  in  the  church  ex- 
perience in  the  States." 

John  realized  that  they  couldn't  go 
to  a  foreign  country  and  make  the 
commitments  that  would  be  required 
unless  both  were  committed.  They 
began  to  pray  together. 

"I  remember  a  few  occasions  where 
I  wept  before  the  Lord  asking  Him  to 
bring  Soni  to  the  same  understanding 
that  I  felt  He  had  brought  me  to." 

But  that  was  done  in  private,  not  in 
front  of  Soni. 

"I  think  it  was  gracious  of  John  not 
to  put  pressure  on  me  at  that  point. 
Had  he  wept  in  front  of  me  in  his 
prayers,  I  would  have  said,  'That's  it. 
I'm  going.  There's  no  question.  There's 
no  problem.  I'll  go.  That's  fine.'  His  love 
for  me  was  very  deep  and  his  desire 
to  follow  the  Lord  was  wholehearted. 
And  I  think  it  was  good  of  the  Lord  to 
give  him  that  much  wisdom  and  that 
much  love  to  be  able  to  wait  for 
another  two  years." 

The  Viers  did  begin  to  pray  about 
the  Lord's  will  in  their  lives.  They  were 


sensing  that  it  was  time  to  leave  the 
Mansfield  church.  They  received  a 
phone  call  one  evening  from  the 
Centerville,  Ohio,  church.  The  pulpit 
committee  invited  them  to  come  and 
meet  with  it  and  be  considered  for  the 
senior  pastorate.  It  was  the  first  call  in 
eight  years,  so  they  couldn't  deny  it 
since  they  had  prayed  about  a  new 
ministry.  The  call  was  extended  to  ac- 
cept the  pastorate  in  the  Centerville 
church. 

John  sees  his  time  at  Centerville  as 
a  growing  experience  where  he 
became  more  aware  of  himself.  "After 
one  year  of  ministry,  I  began  to 
understand  the  meaning  of  God's  call. 
I  realized  that  my  calling  was  not  so 
much  as  a  pastor  but  as  an  evangelist. 
I  began  to  realize  that  there  is  a  dif- 
ference between  these  two  offices.  It 
took  the  two  year's  ministry  at  Center- 
ville for  me  to  understand  the  real  call- 
ing of  the  Lord  in  my  life.  But  it  was 
progressive  understanding.  Yet  we 
were  committed  to  that  ministry  and 
had  no  intentions  of  leaving  it." 

During  this  entire  time,  Soni  had 
clung  to  a  dream.  She  had  not  com- 
pleted her  degree  in  English  Secon- 
dary Education  before  she  had  had 
their  first  child,  Lisa.  Having  very  little 
to  finish  before  she  could  receive  that 
degree,  she  always  held  the  dream  of 
teaching. 

"The  more  I  was  around  Christian 
schools  and  good  Christian  teachers, 
I  felt  that  that  was  going  to  be  my  role. 
That  desire  became  a  goal." 

Soni's  plans  didn't  all  fall  together 
like  she  anticipated.  The  first  day  they 
were  in  the  new  church,  they  were  in- 
volved in  a  car  accident.  Soni  found 
herself  in  a  cast  and  on  crutches. 

"I  had  a  lot  of  physical  suffering  like 


I  had  never  had  before.  It  led  me  into 
questioning  at  a  different  level  where 
was  God  in  relationship  to  me  at  that 
point.  After  getting  angry  and  hurt, 
staying  up  late  at  night  and  being  a 
wreck,  I  turned  to  the  Word.  I  tried  to 
discover  the  reasons— was  there  sin  in 
my  life?  What  was  God  doing  in  my 
life?  What  I  was  I  to  do?  What  was  my 
response  to  be?  The  experience  real- 
ly taught  me.  I  had  a  greater  sense  of 
my  own  personal  walk  with  the  Lord 
and  the  importance  of  that." 

"The  problem  was  I  still  held  to  that 
dream  of  teaching  and  I  still  pursued 
the  goal  of  finishing  my  degree.  I 
couldn't  give  up  the  idea,  even  though 
God  was  impressing  me  about  obe- 
dience to  what  Tom  Julien  had  placed 
in  our  lives.  Going  to  field  versus  stay- 
ing in  the  States — that's  the  point  God 
kept  taking  me  back  to.  I  kept  running 
from  that  point.  I  wanted  to  pursue  my 
goal." 

Soni  saw  herself  fully  capable  of  be- 
ing both  the  Christian  God  wanted  her 
to  be  as  John's  wife,  the  pastor's  wife, 
and  being  Soni  Viers,  the  teacher  at 
the  Christian  school.  When  she  had 
her  last  cast  removed,  she  started  tak- 
ing her  courses  at  a  renewed  pace. 

Just  a  month  and  a  half  into  her 
schoolwork,  Soni  had  an  extremely 
serious  car  accident.  "That  time  sent 
me  to  the  pits.  At  those  times  in  your 
life  when  God  spares  you,  you  have 
to  say,  why  did  You  do  that?  Why  am 
I  here?  What  do  You  want  me  to  do? 
God's  answers  come  very  seriously 
and  pierce  every  level." 

One  day  Soni  gazed  around  the  kit- 
chen. She  saw  a  stack  of  Shakespeare 
and  umpteen  various  versions  of  every 
kind  of  lit  book  and  on  the  other  side 
of  the  table,  her  Bible. 


FMS 


"I  realized  I  planned  to  play  a  game 
with  the  Lord  in  bargaining  to  have  my 
own  way  in  order  to  teach.  I  think 
teaching  was  an  honorable  and  a  fine 
goal,  but  as  my  dream,  it  became  self- 
consuming.  School  was  taking  up 
every  bit  of  my  working  hours.  When 
I  looked  at  the  stacks  of  books  on  the 
table  and  the  unbalanced  lifestyle  of 
priorities  I  was  developing,  I  realized 
it  would  get  worse  once  I  was  in  the 
professional  world  that  I  was  dream- 
ing of.  That  came  caving  in  on  me 
forcing  me  to  face  myself  and  where 
I  was  going." 

Soni  had  some  physical  problems  as 
a  result  of  the  second  accident.  God 
was  taking  her  to  the  point  of  yielding 
and  submitting  and  obeying.  God  was 
asking  her  to  be  a  good  steward  of  her 
life. 

"Life,  as  I  saw  it  after  two  car  ac- 
cidents, can  be  very  brief,  and  death 
comes  as  an  intruder." 

When  National  Conference  came 
around,  the  theme  verse  was  "Awake 
unto  righteousness,  for  some  have  not 
the  knowledge  of  God."  That's  the 
verse  that  God  used  to  actually  call 
Soni  to  the  field. 

"The  missionary  call  became  very 
real  in  my  life  when  I  heard  those  con- 
ference messages.  The  understanding 
I  gained  for  the  purpose  of  the  church 
reaching  out  to  the  world  implanted 
John's  vision  for  the  world  into  me.  I 
became  willing  to  be  a  co-laborer  with 
him". 

John  remembers  leaving  con- 
ference in  California  and  driving 
home.  "On  our  way  back  Soni  looked 
at  me  and  said,  'Don't  you  think  we 
should  be  available?'  I  said,  'Available 


to  what?'  And  she  said,  Available  to 
the  call  that  Roger  Peugh  gave, 
available  to  serve  the  Lord  in  Europe 
and  in  France,  in  particular.'" 

God  had  challenged  them  to  mis- 
sions. They  knew  from  their  ex- 
perience with  Tom  Julien  that  it  wasn't 
Africa.  God  had  narrowed  the  place 
down  through  Tom  sharing  his  vision 
and  the  burden. 

John  said  to  Soni,  "Well,  haven't  we 
been  available?" 

"No,  I  haven't  been." 

The  Viers  talked  about  it  all  the  way 
to  Ohio.  John  remembers  "driving  in- 
to our  driveway  and  saying  to  Soni, 
'Well,  we  can't  go  now.  It's  too  late. 
We've  made  a  commitment  to  the 
Centerville  church.  The  Lord  has 
called  us  into  this  ministry  and  we 
have  work  to  do  here.  We  simply  can- 
not go.'  That  was  my  decision.  I  felt 
strongly  that  that  was  a  commitment 
that  had  not  been  completed  as  yet. 
That  was  my  decision  and  we  didn't 
talk  about  it  again." 

Until  three  weeks  later.  John  was 
preaching  a  message  and  it  hit  him 
that  Paul  left  an  immature  church  (the 
Corinthian  church). 

"I  was  committed  to  staying  in  the 
Centerville  church  because  I  felt  as  if 
the  church  had  not  yet  reached 
maturity,  particularly  respecting  its 
mission  to  the  world  and  the  local 
community.  I  came  home  that  day 
and  said,  'My  reason  for  staying  is  not 
good  enough.'  I  was  convinced  that  I 
was  not  the  only  man  who  could  carry 
on  that  mission  in  the  Centerville 
Church." 

At  that  point,  submission  and  obe- 
dience became   a  thing  of  cost.   A 


change  of  minds  can  go  against  the 
tide  of  popular  opinion.  It  can  hurt  un- 
til the  understanding  becomes  clearer. 
The  Viers  wanted  their  going  to  be 
confirmed  through  the  church. 

After  a  few  months,  the  church 
began  to  sense  this  vision  and  the 
leadership  decided  they  wanted  to  be 
involved.  The  church  decided  to  send 
the  Viers  as  its  missionaries.  What  an 
expansion  of  its  vision!  The  field  ap- 
proved them,  and  FMS  approved 
them.  Their  full  support  was  raised  in 
four  or  five  months.  They  left  in  the 
fall  of  1983  for  France. 

"I  have  known  without  any  doubt 
that  this  is  where  He  wants  me  to  be," 
Soni  now  assuredly  states.  "This  is 
where  I  belong.  The  Lord  has  served 
to  encourage  us  through  the  openness 
and  response  of  the  French  to  us,  the 
ready  adaptation  of  our  kids,  and  our 
transferral  of  culture  and  language." 

"I  experienced  such  confusion, 
resistance,  and  fear  to  follow  the  Lord," 
Soni  continues.  "Churches  can  pro- 
vide a  comfort  zone  and  a  club-like 
Christianity  where  the  pastor's  wife  is 
the  homecoming  queen.  A  flurry  of 
committees  and  activities  can  give  the 
impression  that  you  are  up  to  your 
earlobes  in  serving  the  Lord.  For  me, 
submission  and  obedience  became 
personal  rather  than  assuming  that 
because  I  followed  John  that  was  suf- 
ficient." 

Soni's  favorite  poem  sums  up  her 
feelings.  "Two  roads  diverged  in  a 
yellow  wood,  And  sorry  I  could  not 
travel  both  and  be  one  traveler,  long 
1  stood  .  .  .  Two  roads  diverged  in  a 
wood,  and  I— I  took  the  one  less 
traveled  by,  And  that  has  made  all  the 
difference  ..."  □ 


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War  and  Separation 


by  Les  Vnasdale 


War.  Just  the  word  evokes  fear,  uncertainty,  and  a  feel- 
ing of  separation. 

War  has  convulsed  the  country  of  Chad  into  turmoil  and 
unrest.  Its  present  agitated  state  has  barred  Grace  Brethren 
missionaries  from  returning  to  this  field. 

In  August  of  1981,  Les  and  Ruth  Vnasdale  left  for  French 
language  study  to  prepare  themselves  for  missionary  ser- 
vice in  the  Chad.  It  is  now  1985  and  time  for  the  Vnasdales' 
first  furlough,  yet  they  still  have  not  served  in  the  Chad. 
What  happened? 

When  language  school  was  completed,  it  was  deter- 
mined not  to  send  the  Vnasdales  to  the  Chad  until  Richard 
Harrell  returned  from  his  furlough.  This  wise  decision  was 
made  because  of  continuing  unrest  in  the  Chad  and  the 
greenness  of  the  missionaries  fresh  out  of  language  school. 

When  Richard  married  Kathy  in  1982,  mission  regula- 
tions required  that  they  stay  in  the  States  for  a  year  of  ad- 
justment. Then  came  language  study  in  France  for  Kathy. 

The  time  finally  arrived  for  the  Harrells  to  enter  their  field 
of  service.  The  war  in  the  Chad  had  escalated  making  re- 
entry   very    dangerous.    The    Harrells    committed 


themselves  to  serve  in  France  until  December,  1985. 

Four  years  had  passed  since  a  Grace  Brethren  missionary 
had  been  stationed  in  the  Chad. 

But  what  happened  to  the  Vnasdales?  What  happens 
to  new  missionaries  who  do  not  get  to  serve  in  the  coun- 
try of  their  choice? 

Les  and  Ruth  began  ministering  in  the  Central  African 
Republic  after  language  study.  Bata,  site  of  the  Brethren 
Biblical  Seminary  and  School  of  Theology,  became  their 
home.  They  were  rapidly  immersed  in  teaching,  distribu- 
tion of  literature,  and  some  accounting. 

Among  the  43  students  at  Bata  are  six  Chadian  couples, 
three  of  whom  are  Grace  Brethren.  God  gave  the 
Vnasdales  a  ministry  to  Chadians.  Even  though  Les  and 
Ruth  were  blocked  from  entering  their  chosen  field,  they 
became  involved  in  preparing  pastors  and  their  wives  for 
Chadian  churches. 

These  three  couples  are  separated  from  their  families  and 
their  homeland.  Yet  they  are  faithfully  studying  so  they  can 
return  and  minister  in  the  Chad. 

The  first  of  these  couples,  Samuel  and  Dina,  have  been 


8 


FMS 


Christians  since  early  youth.  He  is  the  son  of  a  Brethren 
pastor.  While  waiting  for  a  year-long  suspension  of  school 
to  end,  Samuel  received  some  School  of  Theology 
literature  from  Richard  Harrell.  Samuel  decided  to  finish 
his  formal  education  in  Bible  training.  He  had  dreamed 
of  full-time  Christian  service  for  years. 

Samuel  was  married  to  Dina  and  their  two  sons  were 
born  at  Bata.  War  has  still  had  its  effect  on  this  family  even 
in  the  C.A.R.  They  have  often  gone  many  months  without 
news  from  their  families.  This  hardship  has  caused  them 
to  trust  God  to  care  for  their  loved  ones. 

The  second  couple  have  been  believers  for  many  years. 
Joseph  and  Marionnette  have  experienced  some  hard 


Joseph,  Les  Vnasdale,  Samuel,  and  Elie  go  over  a  lesson. 

blows  while  in  the  C.A.R.  Joseph  was  ready  to  enter  the 
12th  grade  in  Bangui  when  he  sensed  the  Lord's  leading 
to  complete  his  studies  at  the  School  of  Theology.  He  gave 
up  the  possibility  of  earning  his  high  school  degree,  which 
could  have  led  to  a  lucrative  career,  to  attend.  Their  first 
child  died.  Joseph's  brother  was  shot  and  killed  in  northern 
C.A.R.  Nevertheless,  they  kept  going.  Now  they  have  one 
son. 

Joseph  asks  Christians  to  pray  for  what  he  considers  the 
greatest  need  in  the  Chad — missionaries  who  can  train 
Chadian  teachers  for  a  French  language  Bible  School  in 
that  country.  He  asks  prayer  that  the  Chadian  Brethren 
will  remain  faithful  to  God's  Word  and  will  not  beome 
discouraged  because  of  the  lack  of  missionaries. 

Both  of  these  couples  were  graduated  in  June.  They 
desire  to  return  to  the  Chad  if  conditions  will  allow  them 
to  do  so.  The  pastors  want  Joseph  and  Samuel  to  be  the 
first  teachers  in  a  new  Bible  Institute. 

Elie,  the  third  Chadian  student,  will  receive  his  master's 
degree  in  1986.  He  was  raised  in  a  Christian  family.  His 
wife,  Berthe,  was  raised  Roman  Catholic  and  came  to  know 
Christ  through  the  testimony  of  Elie  and  another  friend. 
Elie  and  Berthe  have  three  children. 

Elie  spent  14  years  in  school  and  became  a  public  school 


Joseph  reviews  his  notes. 

teacher.  He  taught  for  ten  years,  rising  to  the  directorship 
of  an  elementary  school.  The  last  three  years  he  worked 
without  salary  because  of  the  political  unrest  in  the  Chad. 

Elie  sensed  God's  call  in  his  life  when  he  took  one  year 
from  his  schooling  to  work  in  the  Young  Christian  Union. 
He  joined  the  first  class  at  the  Brethren  Biblical  Seminary. 

All  three  couples  have  had  financial  struggles  as  the  war 
in  Chad  has  often  made  it  hard  for  their  churches  to  col- 
lect and  send  them  money  for  food.  But  they  continued 
to  trust  God  and  have  faithfully  continued  their  schooling. 

War  has  had  its  impact  on  missionaries  and  nationals 
alike.  It  has  separated  missionary  from  field  and  nationals 
from  family.  Yet,  God  provides. 

Why  do  these  folks  continue?  What  makes  the  Vnasdales 
press  on,  training  others,  even  though  they  aren't  in  their 
choice  field?  What  compels  the  nationals  to  keep  study- 
ing and  training? 

War. 

A  great  spiritual  war  is  being  waged  in  Chad.  Though 
the  battle  has  been  won,  these  people  want  more  Cha- 
dians  to  be  on  the  winning  side.  They  care  about  their  souls. 

And  so  they  continue.  □ 


Ruth  and  Les  Vnasdale  work  with  Chadian  students:  Joseph, 
Marionnette,  Berthe,  Elie,  Dina,  and  Samuel  and  their  families. 


FMS 


1985    Newi 


Support  Level:  $12,500 


Home  Church 
Grace  Brethren 
Support  Level:  $25,000 


Winona    Lake,    Indiana, 


Margie  Morris 

Destination: 

Central  African  Republic 


Projected  Departure: 
Fall,  1985 
Home  Church: 


Projected  Departure 
August,  1985 
Home  Church: 
Macon,  Franco, 


Projected  Departure:  Fall,  1985 
Home  Church: 


Worthington,  Ohio,  Grace  Drethren  (Tom) 

New  Holland,  Pa.,  Grace  Brethren  (Mary  Ann) 
Support  Level:  $25,000 


Mike  and  Amy  Volovski 
Destination:  Central  African  Republ 


Grace  Brethren 
Support  Level :  $12,500 


10, 


FMS 


Projected  Departure:  Fall,  1985 

Home  Church: 

Leamersville  Grace  Brethren, 

Duncansville,  Pa. 

Support  Level:  $34,000 


lissionanes 


Ted  and  Kristen  Kirnbauer 

Destination:  Japan 

Projected  Departure:  Fall,  1986 


Destination:  Central  African  Republic 
Projected  Departure:  Fall,  1985 
Home  Church: 
Grace  Brethren  Chapel,  Fremont,  Ohio 


Home  Church: 

Long  Beach,  Calif.  Grace  Brethren 

Support  Level:  $35,000 


Barb  Wooler 

Destination: 

Central  African  Republic 
Projected  Departure: 
Fall,  1985 


Home  Church: 

Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren 

Telford,  Pa. 

Support  Level:  $18,000 


Ralph  and  Carolyn  Robinson 
Children:  Jeff,  14;  Greg,  13 
Destination:  Spain 


Lorrie  Shaver 
"DestJnaTforiT  l-rance" 
Projected  Departure: 
Fall,  1985 
Home  Church: 


Projected  Departure:  Fall, 
Home  Church: 

Orlando,  Fla.  Grace  Brethren 
Support  Level:  $32,000 


Ft.  Lauderdale,  Fla. 
Grace  Brethren 
Support  Level :  $15,000 


Pray  for  Them 


Jack  and  Marilyn  Wainwright 
Children:  Brian,  6;  Timmy,  5;  Philip,  2 
Destination:  Central  African  Republic 


Destination:  Mexico 
Projected  Departure: 
Fall,  1985 
I  lome  Church: 


Projected  Departure:  Fait,  1986 
Home  Church: 

First  Brethren,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Support  Level:  $37,000 


Goshen,  Ind.  Grace  Brethren1 
Support  Level:  $14,000 


FMS> 


11 


1985-86 

WMC 


RGhDING  CIRCLG 


ESTELLA  MYERS,  PIONEER  MISSIONARY  IN  CENTRAL  AFRICA  by  Ruth  Snyder,  BMH  Books 

The  biography  of  Estella  Myers  portrays  an  remarkable  woman— and  the  story  of  this  pioneer  Brethren 
missionary  reminds  us  that  God  can  work  wonders  through  one  unpretentious  life.  (One  copy  of  this  book 
is  being  donated  to  each  WMC  circle  by  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions,  and  an  additional  copy  may 
be  purchased  for  postage  and  handling  charges). 

BROTHER  OF  THE  BRIDE  by  Donita  Dyer,  Tyndale  House  Publishers. 

This  sequel  to  The  Bride's  Escape  tells  of  the  faith  of  a  proud,  Armenian  people  whose  Christian  heritage 
stretched  back  for  centuries.  A  story  of  separation,  victory  and  reunion.  (Limited  supply —  order  early!) 

THE  VALLEY  IS  BRIGHT  by  Nell  Collins  and  Mary  Beth  Moster,  Thomas  Nelson  Publishers. 

This  book  is  a  heart-to-heart  success  story  of  a  woman  who  turned  her  runaway  life  around.  Nell  Collins 
was  lonely  and  miserable,  out-of-sync.  Her  sense  of  hopelessness  was  underscored  when  a  mole  biopsy 
revealed  cancer.  You  will  cheer  Nell  each  step  of  the  way  as  she  recounts  her  experiences  in  this  unusual  book. 


Send  to:  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co.  •  P.O.  Box  544  •  Winona  Lake,  Indiana  46590 
Please  include  your  check  or  money  order  and  BMH  pays  postage  charges. 

Please  send  me  the  following: 

□  Estella  Myers  by  Ruth  Snyder,  $6.95  regular  retail;  limit  one  per  council  for  $1.00 

postage  and  handling 

□  Brother  of  the  Bride  by  Donita  Dyer,  $2.95  regular  retail. 

□  The  Valley  Is  Bright  by  Nell  Collins  and  Mary  Beth  Moster,  $4.95  regular  retail. 

□  Purchase  all  three  WMC  books  for  the  special  price  of  $9.50  ($14.85  regular  retail) 

bject  to  change  if  book  publishers  increase  prices.  If  only  one  book  is  ordered,  please  add  $1,00  for  postage) 


ORDER   FORM  FOR  WMC  BOOKS  AND  POSTER 


_  State. 


.Zip. 


ORDER  FORM  FOR  THE  WMC  1985-86  STUDY  BOOK 


Holy  Ground  by  Kirkie  Morrissey.  The  regular  retail  price  is  $4.95;  however 
of  five  or  more  copies.  Please  include  your  check  or  money  order  and  send 
address  above. 


For  other  WMC  literature  remember  to  use  the  WMC  order  blank  and  send  it  to  the  WMC  literature  secretary. 


(Pastor  Brian  Smith  shared  these  thoughts  on  church 
planting  with  the  Southern  California— Arizona  District. 
They  can  very  easily  be  applied  to  our  entire  Fellowship 
of  churches. 

Much  of  what  has  made  up  the  history  of  the  Southern 
California— Arizona  District  has  been  generated  from  the 
local  family  of  believers  at  the  Long  Beach  Grace  Brethren 
Church.  At  the  Southern  California  District  Conference  in 
Los  Angeles  in  1911,  Niels  C.  Nielson,  requested  the 
District  Mission  Board,  of  which  he  was  the  President,  to 
support  an  evangelistic  tent  meeting  in  Long  Beach.  As 
always,  he  backed  his  request  with  a  portion  of  his  own 
money  to  help  fund  the  efforts. 

On  Sunday,  October  13,  1912,  evangelist  Louis  S. 
Bauman  began  the  first  Brethren  services  ever  to  be  held 
in  Long  Beach,  in  a  tent  on  the  corner  of  Tenth  Street  and 
Walnut  Avenue.  As  a  result  of  this  meeting,  71  people  step- 
ped forward,  and  49  of  them  expressed  a  willingness  to 
enroll  as  members  of  the  First  Brethren  Church  of  Long 
Beach.  At  the  close  of  this  meeting,  members  and  friends 
contributed  $5,600  toward  the  purchase  of  a  permanent 
location.  Two  lots  were  subsequently  purchased  at  the  cor- 
ner of  5th  and  Cherry  for  $3,000.  On  Sunday,  April  6, 
1913,  Louis  S.  Bauman  preached  his  first  sermon  as  pastor 
of  First  Brethren  Church  of  Long  Beach,  now  known  as 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Long  Beach. 

Many  Southern  California  churches,  of  various  affilia- 
tions, trace  their  roots  to  this  great  church  and  its  members. 
The  history  of  this  church  reveals  a  long-standing  "equip- 
ping and  sending"  ministry  of  Pastors,  missionaries,  and 
spiritually  mature  lay  couples. 

In  Jesus'  letter  to  the  Ephesian  Church  in  Revelation 
2:1-5,  He  tells  Apostle  John: 

"To  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Ephesus  write: 
The  One  who  holds  the  seven  stars  in  His  right 
hand,  the  One  who  walks  among  the  seven 
golden  lamp  stands,  says  this:  'I  know  your 
deeds  and  your  toil  and  perseverance,  and  that 
you  cannot  endure  evil  men,  and  you  put  to 


the  test  those  who  call  themselves  Apostles, 
and  they  are  not,  and  you  found  them  to  be 
false;  and  you  have  perserverance  and  have 
endured  for  My  name's  sake,  and  have  not 
grown  weary.  But  I  have  this  against  you,  that 
you    have    left   your   first    love.    Remember, 
therefore  from  where  you  have  fallen,  and  re- 
pent and  do  the  deeds  you  did  at  first;  or  else 
I  am  coming  to  you,  and  will  remove  your 
lampstand  out  of  its  place  — unless  you  repent." 
Ephesus  was  a  great  church.  They  were  doctrinally 
straight,  ecclesiastically  sound,  and  morally  pure.  However, 
in  Revelation  2:4  Jesus  tells  them  "But  I  have  this  against 
you,  that  you  have  left  your  first  love." 

What  was  that  "first  love"  that  the  Ephesian  believers  had 
left?  Paul  possibly  gives  us  an  idea  in  his  letter  to  this  church 
in  Ephesians  1:15-17. 

"For  this  reason  I  too,  having  heard  of  the  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  which  exists  among 
you,  and  your  love  for  all  the  saints,  do  not 
cease  giving  thanks  for  you,  while  making  men- 
tion of  you  in  my  prayers;  that  the  God  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Father  of  glory,  may  give 
to  you  a  spirit  of  wisdom  and  of  revelation  in 
the  Knowledge  of  Him." 
Thirty  years  later,  Jesus,  through  the  pen  of  the  Apos- 
tle John,  compliments  them  for  their  knowledge  and 
wisdom,  and  rebukes  them  for  leaving  their  first  love  for 
each  other.  Jesus  warns  them  that  unless  they  repent  and 
return  to  their  first  love,  the  radiant  influence  of  that  church 
in  the  community  would  be  turned  off. 

Unfortunately,  that  church  failed  to  heed  the  warning 
of  Christ.  Marvin  R.  Vincent,  in  his  Greek  commentary, 
writes  that  Ephesus'  "candlestick  has  been  for  centuries 
removed  out  of  its  place;  the  squalid  Mohammedan  village 
which  is  nearest  to  its  site  does  not  have  one  Christian  in 
its  insignificant  population;  its  temple  is  a  mass  of  shapeless 
ruins;  its  harbor  is  a  reedy  pool  ..." 

No  sharper  words  of  criticism  could  cut  deeper  in  any 


Returning  To  A  First  Love 

By  Brian  C.  Smith 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Riverside,  California 


relationship  than  to  hear  that  the  "first  love"  has  vanished. 

Imagine  how  tragic  it  would  be  for  a  married  couple  to 
be  celebrating  their  diamond  anniversary  and  to  discover, 
that  though  they  still  live  together  and  eat  together,  their 
love  for  each  other  has  grown  cold. 

Christ  gives  a  simple  solution  to  the  Ephesian  problem. 
He  tells  them  in  verse  5  "Remember,  therefore  from  where 
you  have  fallen,  and  repent  and  do  the  deeds  you  did  at 
first." 

"Remember."  "Repent."  That  was  the  prescription  Christ 
shared  with  the  Ephesians  in  order  for  them  to  reclaim  their 
first  love. 

This  passage  gives  some  important  lessons  that  we  also 
need  to  learn  to  return  to  our  first  love. 

First  we  need  to  Remember.  I'm  not  so  young  as  to  not 
remember  the  "heydays"  of  our  District.  When  conference 
time  arrived  it  was  a  gala  celebration  of  love,  excitement, 
and  enthusiasm.  Reports  would  ring  out  in  District  Con- 
ference of  new  churches  wishing  to  be  added  and  new 
delegates  wishing  to  be  recognized. 

By  the  way  of  comparison  the  waters  have  cooled 
somewhat  in  recent  years.  The  cause  of  this,  I  believe,  is 

No  sharper  words  of  criticism  cut 
deeper  in  any  relationship  than  to 
hear  that  the  "first  love"  has  vanished. 

the  same  that  gave  rise  to  Christs'  judgement  of  the  Ephe- 
sian Church.  We  have  left  our  first  love.  I  do  not  mean  our 
love  of  God's  word,  or  our  commitment  to  saving  souls, 
or  our  loving  fellowship  as  members  of  the  Body  of  Christ. 
We  are  still  in  the  heat  of  passion  in  these  areas.  I  am  refer- 
ring to  our  "first  love"  as  a  District  and  that  was  planting 
churches. 

The  basic  premise  of  a  district  centers  upon  a  united 
geographic  emphasis  on  evangelism,  discipleship,  and 
church  planting.  The  final  words  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
prior  to  his  ascension  into  Heaven  are  these:  ".  .  .  but  you 
shall  receive  power  when  the  Holy  Spirit  has  come  upon 
you;  and  you  shall  be  my  witnesses  both  in  Jerusalem,  and 
in  all  Judea  and  Samaria,  and  even  to  the  remotest  part 
of  the  earth."  We  as  a  District  are  taking  care  of  our 
Jerusalem,  and  the  remotest  parts  of  the  earth.  It's  our 
Judea  and  Samaria  that  is  often  overlooked. 

We  need  to  Remember.  We  also  need  to  Repent.  In 
other  words,  turn  back,  go  back  to  where  we  left  off.  Do 
the  deeds  we  did  at  first.  Return  to  doing  those  things  that 
made  our  district  a  great  district — and  not  just  a  corporate 
name. 

But  some  may  ask,  "Why  even  plant  new  churches  in 
Southern  California?"  The  Southern  California  of  today 
is  not  like  it  was  75  years  ago.  Farms  and  bean  fields  have 
turned  into  housing  tracts  and  Burger  Kings.  Everyone  is 
freeway  close  to  large  churches,  lead  by  dynamic,  world 
famous  pastors.  With  land  and  building  costs  so  high  — 
why  not  just  consolidate  new  churches  into  the  large  mega- 
churches?  A  prominent  Southern  California  pastor  stated 
recently  that  there  is  really  no  need  to  plant  new  evangelical 
churches  in  areas  where  there  is  already  a  number  of  them 
ministering. 

There  are  four  reasons  why  I  disagree  with  that  position: 

The  first  has  to  do  with  the  definition  of  an  evangelical 


church.  What  doctrinal  positions  are  essential  and  non- 
essential to  be  "evangelical?"  When  Jesus  gave  the  Great 
Commission  in  Matthew  28,  He  concluded  by  declaring 
our  obligation  to  teach  "all"  that  He  commanded  us.  Add 
to  that  Paul's  admonition  in  II  Timothy  2:15  to  "handle  ac- 
curately" God's  truth,  and  we  have  quite  an  undertaking. 

It  seems  as  we  continue  to  focus  more  clearly  our 
microscope  of  Biblical  exegesis,  we  become  accountable 
to  obeying  and  teaching  it  "all"  in  our  local  churches. 

I  planted  a  Grace  Brethren  Church  not  because  of  tradi- 
tion, but  because  of  Biblical  conviction.  As  a  pastor,  I  will 
not  change  my  Church  practices  unless  my  Biblical  con- 
victions change.  That  is  why  there  is  always  room  for  one 
more  evangelical  church  — if  its  Biblical  convictions  differ 
from  the  churches  in  its  area. 

Secondly,  I  believe  we  will  always  need  to  be  planting 
new  churches  because  of  the  millions  of  unreached  peo- 
ple in  Southern  California.  Take  your  own  neighborhood. 
How  many  of  your  neighbors  are  born  again  and  are  even 
attending  an  evangelical,  Bible  teaching  church?  Though 
the  "mega-churches"  may  boast  of  two,  three,  four,  or  even 
six  thousand  Sunday  worshipers,  that  still  leaves  unreached 
millions  of  others. 

When  I  planted  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  River- 
side five  years  ago— there  were  many  large  evangelical 
churches  already  established  in  that  city.  Yet  the  great 
percentage  of  the  250  people  who  now  call  our  church 
home  were  unchurched  when  I  arrived.  We  could  plant 
five  more  Grace  Brethren  Churches  in  Riverside  and  never 
cross  each  others  paths  in  reaching  the  unchurched,  nor 
rob  a  large  evangelical  church  of  any  of  its  members. 

Thirdly,  church  size  has  much  to  do  with  whom  you 
reach.  When  the  Riverside  Church  had  a  congregation  of 
25,  people  who  joined  us  thought  that  25  was  the  perfect 
size  for  a  church.  People  then  joined  us  when  we  had  50 
people  because  they  thought  50  was  the  perfect  size  for 
a  church.  People  join  churches  of  100,  200,  300,  6,000 
because  each  of  those  sizes  are  perfect  for  certain  people. 

The  fourth  reason  why  I  believe  we  need  to  always  be 
planting  new  churches  in  Southern  California  is  because 
of  the  Christian  ministry  opportunities  it  provides.  People 
in  large  churches  often  having  trouble  finding  an  adequate 
ministry,  or  even  having  their  gifts  noticed. 

Church  planting  provides  many  opportunities  for  multi- 
ple ministries.  When  the  Riverside  church  began  five  years 
ago,  100  percent  of  all  the  adults  were  active  in  ministry. 
Of  course,  when  you  are  dealing  with  a  total  of  four 
families,  that  was  more  by  necessity  than  by  choice.  Yet 
today,  with  a  church  family  of  250,  more  than  70  percent 


14 


GBHMC 


of  all  our  adults  are  active  in  either  our  nine  children's  Sun- 
day School  departments,  our  facilities  coordination,  or  our 
music  ministry.  "Equipping  the  saints"  is  not  just  a  catchy 
phrase — but  an  absolute  necessity  for  church  planting. 

I  believe  we  will  always  need  to  be  planting  new  Grace 
Brethren  Churches  in  Southern  California.  As  our  popula- 
tion continues  to  grow,  and  our  neighborhoods  continue 
to  expand,  we  as  a  District  of  Churches  need  to  grow  with 
them. 

Once  a  district  is  committed  to  church  planting  the  next 
important  question  must  be  answered:  "Who  do  we  send 
to  plant  churches?"  Some  might  believe  that  all  is  needed 
is  to  send  a  pastor  to  a  promising  location.  They  reason: 
"God  did  it  with  the  Apostle  Paul,  He  can  do  it  with  a 
dedicated  pastor  today."  But  the  Apostle  Paul  had  help. 

Two  of  the  Apostle  Paul's  co-laborers  were  Aquila  and 
Priscilla.  They  were  Jews,  apparently  a  man  and  his  wife, 
perhaps  of  some  means,  who  made  it  their  business  to  go 
to  different  places  and  help  Paul  with  his  work. 

Aquila  and  Priscilla  would  fall  under  our  classification 
of  laymen.  They  were  theologically  sound.  They  were  oc- 
cupationally  mobile,  able  to  relocate  and  start  into  business 
as  the  leading  of  God's  Spirit  would  indicate  need.  And 
they  were  materially  generous,  exhibited  not  only  by  the 
use  of  their  house  for  church,  but  also,  I'm  sure,  by  their 
financial  support  of  the  growing  churches. 

Not  all  of  the  people  Paul  reached  were  Aquila's  and 
Priscilla's.  God  doesn't  call  all  Christians  to  be  church 
planters,  any  more  than  He  gives  all  Christians  the  ability 
to  teach,  to  administer,  or  evangelize. 

Two  hundred  years  ago  there  were  many  brave  families 
who  moved  in  covered  wagons  West  into  virgin  wilderness, 
to  establish  towns  and  cities  for  the  masses  who  would 
come  later.  So  too,  there  must  be  many  potential  local 
church  planters  in  our  own  congregations  who  are 
theologically  sound,  occupationally  mobile,  and  material- 
ly generous,  that  God  can  use  to  build  a  ministry  from 
scratch. 

What  needs  to  be  done  in  order  for  our  district  to 
revitalize  its  church  planting  ministry?  Let  me  make  five  sug- 
gestions I  feel  need  to  be  considered  if  our  district  is  going 
to  make  a  concerted  effort  in  returning  to  its  "first  love." 

1.  In  order  for  a  district  of  churches  to  be  effective  in 
church  planting,  they  must  be  unified  in  theology  and 
philosophy  of  ministry.  When  five  Grace  Brethren  families 
from  five  separate  Grace  Brethren  churches  move  to  a  new 
area — and  each  of  those  original  five  churches  are  at  a 
variance  with  each  other  in  denominational  distinctives  and 
philosophy  of  ministry — it  is  practically  impossible  to  har- 
moniously unite  those  families  in  a  concerted  church  plan- 
ting effort.  Often  their  conflict  lies  more  in  semantics  than 
in  any  real  areas  of  substance.  Each  church  needs  to 
reevaluate  its  commitment  to  our  identity  as  Grace  Brethren 
Churches  planting  Grace  Brethren  Churches. 

2.  We  need  to  financially  commit  ourselves  to  assisting 
new  works  with  the  overwhelming  burden  of  land  pur- 
chases and  facility  construction.  Land  costs  and  building 
codes  prohibit  the  construction  of  new  churches  unless 
there  is  generous  financial  backing  by  a  strong  Fellowship 
organization.  Our  spirit  as  independent  churches — though 
protecting  our  autonomous  existence — causes  us  at  times 
to  become  narrow  minded  and  short  sighted  as  to  local 
and  regional  obligations  to  church  planting. 

3.  We  need  to  re-program  the  thinking  of  many  of  our 


Grace  Brethren  people.  Often,  when  they  move  to  a  new 
area,  they  seek  out  a  church  which  mirrors  their  former 
one  in  size  and  facility  comforts,  often  in  another  denomina- 
tion. We  need  to  enlighten  people  to  the  excitement  of 
planting  something  new  and  watching  it  grow. 

4.  We  as  local  churches  need  to  be  more  flexible  in  our 
definition  of  "worship  service."  As  long  as  we  continue  to 
define  our  auditoriums  as  "sanctuaries,"  and  emphasize  the 
"worshipful"  atmosphere  generated  by  large  choirs,  organs, 
and  pianos— then  very  few  of  our  members  will  be  willing 
to  be  part  of  a  church  planting  situation — for  no  Christian 
wants  to  stop  worshipping  God! 

At  times  the  local  church  has  unconsciously  brainwash- 
ed its  congregation  into  believing  that  true  worship  cannot 

...  we  are  taking  care  of  our 
Jerusalem  and  the  remotest  parts  of 
the  earth.  It's  our  Judea  and  Samaria 
that  is  often  overlooked. 

take  place  without  beautiful  facilities,  magnificent  choirs, 
and  elaborate  orchestras.  But  that  wasn't  true  during  the 
first  centuries  of  Christianity.  The  churches  met  in  homes, 
or  rented  facilities  to  hold  their  worship  services. 

Some  of  my  greatest  hours  of  worship  have  not  taken 
place  in  a  large  church  facility,  or  as  the  result  of  an  emo- 
tionally stirring  musical  ministry,  but  in  a  barren,  hot,  dry, 
meeting  hall  shared  with  pioneer  church  planters. 

5.  The  local  church  needs  to  develop  a  way  of  identifying 
and  preparing  potential  church  planters.  Particularly 
those — like  Aquila  and  Priscilla— who  may  have  the  occu- 
pational mobility  to  move  to  a  new  area.  Often  the  people 
a  local  church  can  least  afford  to  lose  are  the  ones  that  must 
go.  King  David's  calamity  as  recorded  in  I  Samuel  22:2 
("everyone  who  was  in  distress  and  everyone  who  was  in 
debt,  and  everyone  who  was  discontented  gathered  to 
him.  .  .")  should  not  be  the  norm  for  church  planting. 
Bible  study  leaders,  musicians,  financially  secure  indivi- 
duals, are  needed  most,  and  often  the  least  available  for 
church  planting.  These  are  the  individuals  that  should  be 
identified  and  prepared  for  productive  church  expansion. 

I  challenge  you  to  consider  being  Aquila's  and  Priscilla's. 
No  matter  what  your  age  or  occupation,  or  what  your 
spiritual  gifts  may  be,  present  yourselves  available  and  if 
God  would  so  choose,  to  be  willing  to  move  and  be  used 
in  planting  new  Grace  Brethren  Churches;  to  reach  the  un- 
churched in  those  communities  for  Jesus  Christ.  You  are 
saying  nothing  more  and  nothing  less  than— "God,  here 
I  am  .  .  .  send  me."  □ 


This  article  is  excerpted  from  the 
moderator's  address  given  by  Rev.  Brian 
Smith  on  May  2  at  the  Southern 
California— Arizona  District  Conference  in 
Long  Beach,  California.  Smith  is  the  pastor 
of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  at  Riverside. 
California,  a  former  Home  Mission  church 
which  went  self-supporting  in  1984.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  pastoral  responsibilities,  Pastor 
Smith  serves  as  the  West  Coast  Consultant 
for  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions. 


GBHMC 


AUGUST  '85 


15 


A  View 
From  The  Top 


By  Dr.  Robert  Thompson 

Executive  Secretary 

Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 


The  path  angled  sharply  upward  as  we  trudged  toward 
the  top.  Breathing  was  difficult  in  the  hot  summer  air  and 
exhaustion  was  imminent  for  a  number  in  the  party.  The 
campers  appeared  to  be  doing  well  but  it  was  quite  evi- 
dent that  the  counselors  were  totally  unaccustomed  to  such 
strenous  effort.  But  the  end  was  in  sight  .  .  .  just  ahead 
one  could  see  the  angular  outline  of  the  ranger's  station 
perched  precariously  on  the  summit.  Old  Glory  rose  pro- 
udly into  the  cloudless  sky  and  waved  gently  in  the  subtle 
currents  that  swirled  around  the  pinnacle. 

The  last  few  hundred  feet  seemed  endless  but  at  last, 
with  sides  heaving  from  the  added  exertion  we  stood  pro- 
udly at  the  rail  overlooking  the  scene  before  us.  For  the 
uninitiated  it  was  pure  ecstasy  to  view  the  hills  and  valleys, 
with  homes  and  towns  and  busy  thoroughfares  stretched 
out  like  a  giant  patchwork  quilt.  In  the  distance  one  could 
see  the  various  points  of  interest  which  our  guide  had 
meticulously  pointed  out  as  we  left  the  cabin  early  in  the 
morning.  A  brief  glance  behind  us  revealed  the  twisted  and 
tortuous  trail  that  had,  but  a  few  moments  before,  been 
such  a  challenge  but  now  seemed  to  amble  lazily  down 
the  mountain  side. 

Tahquitz  Peak  isn't  much  of  a  challenge  for  experienced 
alpine  climbers  but  for  some  of  us  in  Southern  California 
who  spent  our  summers  at  Camp  Tahquitz,  it  offered  an 
escape  from  the  mundane,  an  opportunity  to  expand  our 
vision,  and  be  released  from  the  commonplace  world  in 
which  we  lived.  A  view  from  the  top  brings  to  light  an  en- 
tirely new  perspective  of  places  and  circumstances  which 
in  the  normal  course  of  events  remain  obscure  and 
undefined. 

The  executive  office  in  Winona  Lake  may  lack  some  of 
the  scenic  beauty  of  the  San  Jacinto  mountains  but  I  must 
admit  the  view  from  the  top  presents  a  startling  panorama 
of  detail.  First  and  foremost  is  the  sobering  fact  of  the  vast 
horizon  of  responsibility  which  falls  within  the  classification 
of  Home  Missions.  From  the  familiar  shores  of  Cook  Inlet 
in  Alaska  to  the  sandy  beaches  of  Florida  in  the  South; 
from  the  intimate  and  familiar  details  of  Southern  Califor- 
nia to  the  strange  and  historical  environment  of  New 
England,  all  this  territory  just  waiting  for  those  brave  enough 
and  courageous  enough  to  claim  it  for  the  Master,  the  Lord 
of  the  Harvest.  This  is  our  Jerusalem  and  we  must  give 
an  account  of  our  stewardship. 

A  view  from  the  top  reveals,  also,  a  special  and  singular 
ministry  afforded  our  Fellowship.  We  do  have  something 
to  share,  a  cause  around  which  to  rally.  The  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches,  with  its  unique  association  of 
churches,  provides  a  extraordinaryily  designed  vehicle  for 
accomplishing  church  growth  in  America.  Although  loosely 
knit,  there  is  a  common  denominator  which  supplies  the 


cohesive  element  so  necessary  for  expansion.  We  must 
commit  ourselves,  again,  to  "reproducing  after  our  kind." 
Such  an  environment  of  commonality  and  unanimity  make 
a  fertile  field  for  outreach  and  development.  Being  "Grace 
Brethren"  is  more  than  a  name  to  bear,  it's  a  ministry  to 
share. 

A  view  from  the  top  discloses  a  program  for  such  growth. 
It's  not  enough  to  agree  on  certain  points  of  doctrine  or 
even  to  possess  desire  to  propagate  them  but  one  must 
have,  also,  the  engine  with  which  to  power  the  entire  opera- 
tion. Within  our  Fellowship,  there  are  three  significant  en- 
tities, each  able  to  perform  a  distinct  and  separate  func- 
tion in  church  growth.  There  is  the  local  church  which, 
alone,  must  bear  the  brunt  of  supplying  men  and  money. 
It,  likewise,  must  be  seen  as  holding  the  key  to  outreach, 
for  it  is  only  as  the  local  church  is  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  Missions  can  we  hope  to  extend  our  borders.  The  District 
and  National  Home  Missions  organizations  are  there  to 
assist  the  local  church  but,  alone  are  powerless  to  achieve 
any  worthwhile  progress  in  the  divine  mandate  to  disciple 
this  "nation."  Cooperation  must  be  the  watch  word  for  all 
those  engaged  in  the  cause  of  church  growth. 

A  view  from  the  top  with  its  monocular  vision,  however, 
does  allow  for  the  development  of  a  strategy  and  plann- 
ing so  necessary  if  we  are  all  to  pull  together.  Without 


Cooperation  must  be  the 
watch  word  for  all  those 
engaged  in  the  cause  of 
church  growth. 


some  coordinating  influence  it  would  be  too  easy  to 
overemphasize  certain  available  targets  but  in  so  doing 
neglects  other  equally  needy  sections  of  America  because 
of  their  obscurity  and  inaccessibility.  The  1985  Grace 
Brethren  Annual  lists  just  307  churches  in  only  33  of  the 
50  states  which  suggests  that  we  are  far  from  the  mark 
which  our  Lord  has  set  before  us. 

A  view  from  the  top  furthermore  reveals  the  incredible 
opportunites  that  are  present  with  us  today.  In  no  other 
generation  have  we  had  the  tremendous  population  ex- 
plosion which  bloats  our  cities  with  candidates  for  the 
gospel.  The  uniqueness  of  our  citizens,  with  its 
heterogenous  diversity,  makes  our  own  land  a  virtual 
Foreign  Mission  field.  Like  other  areas  of  endeavor,  we  now 
must  "specialize"  in  the  field  of  growth. 

Church  development  in  America  once  was  pretty  much 
characterized  by  a  WASP  philosophy.  We  must  now  ac- 
cept the  fact  that  people  do  not  melt  into  one  great 
homogeneous  unit  upon  arrival  in  the  United  States,  but 
tend  to  retain  much  of  their  social  and  cultural  background. 
If  we  as  a  Fellowship,  are  to  make  significant  inroads  into 
these  culturally  isolated  cul  de  sacs,  we  must  rethink  our 
methods  and  our  philosophy.  We  must  be  prepared  to 
change,  not  only  our  thinking,  but  our  programming  as 
well. 

Perhaps,  more  startling  than  all  else  in  our  view  from 
the  top  is  the  realization  that  from  "up  here,"  it  is  all 


perspective  and  vision.  The  action  lies  back  down  in  the 
valley!  A  pause  at  the  summit  allows  for  a  careful  perusal 
of  the  full  picture  but  no  crisis  is  ever  solved  from  such  a 
vantage  point.  What  is  needed  at  this  juncture  in  our  history 
is  a  personal  and  individual  assessment  of  our  response 
to  the  Great  Commission.  Such  an  analysis  will  certainly 
result  in  a  renewed  determination  for  each  one  to  become 
involved  in  our  Lord's  program. 

It  is  wonderful  to  read  in  the  Word  how  the  early 
believers  went  everywhere  preaching  the  Word  and  as  a 


We  must  be  prepared  to 
change,  not  only  our  think- 
ing, but  our  programming  as 
well. 


result  new  churches  sprung  up  throughout  the  known 
world,  but  we  must  not  rest  upon  the  laurels  of  yesterday. 
We  have  no  persecution  to  thrust  us  out  into  new  areas 
but  must  rely,  totally,  upon  personal  commitment.  This 
necessitates  an  ongoing  emphasis  on  church  planting  in 
America.  We  live  in  a  world  of  "instant"  everything  but 
churches  are  neither  incidental  nor  accidental,  they  are  the 
result  of  carefully  planned  strategies  and  prayerfully  sup- 
ported programs. 

The  planting  and  establishing  of  new  churches  is  not  just 
the  historic  record  of  yesterday's  efforts  but  it  is  today's  task 
and  tomorrow's  hope.  The  planting  and  establishing  of  new 
churches  is  everybody's  business.  It  must  not  be  delegated 
to  any  organization  or  institution  but  must  remain  a  priori- 
ty in  every  believer's  life.  This  admonition  has  been 
humorously  but  eloquently  expressed  in  the  following  lines 
of  wit: 

There  was  an  important  job  to  be  done  and  everybody  was 
sure  somebody  would  do  it.  Anybody  could  have  done 
it  but  nobody  did  it.  Somebody  got  angry  about  that, 
because  it  was  Everybody's  job.  Everybody  thought 
Anybody  could  do  it  but  Nobody  realized  that  Everybody 
wouldn't  do  it.  It  ended  up  that  Everybody  blames 
Somebody  but  Nobody  did  what  Anybody  could  have 
done.  □ 


Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson  has 
been  executive  secretary  of  the 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council  since  July.  Prior  to  that, 
he  served  as  Western  Field 
Secretary  for  the  Council.  He  and 
his  wife,  Betty,  live  in  Warsaw, 
Indiana. 


GBHMC 


17 


■  ■  ■  ■ 


■  ■■■■■■■■■■III 


\  Ministry  Picture- The  Grace  B 


The  Bible  is  an  intricate  part  of  the  curriculum. 


hreii  Navajo  Mission  and  School 


Graduates  are  honored  at  a  special  banquet 


How  do  you 

fit  into  the 

picture? 


—Would   you   help   sponsor   a   Navajo 
student? 

—Would  you  volunteer  as  a  skilled  worker 
for  a  short  or  long  term? 

—Would  you  pray  regularly  for  the  staff, 
the  students,  and  their  families? 

For  more  information,  write  Supt.  Larry 
Wedertz,  Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission, 
Counselor,  New  Mexico  87018  or  phone 
(505)  568-4454. 


SSSsSSSfe^™, ;; 


GBHMC   AUGUST  85  1  9 


Sermon 
Month  CO 


Thtj 
rLordship 
°>  Christ 


By  William  F.  Tweeddale 

Pastor,  Community  Grace  Brethren  Church— Suntree 

Melbourne,  Florida 

Early  in  April  1985,  I  was  invited  to  celebrate  the  20th 
anniversary  of  the  establishment  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  at  Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania.  Having  had  part 
in  the  establishment  of  that  congregation,  it  was  a  joy  for 
me,  a  home  missionary,  to  be  invited  back  for  such  a 
wonderful  time  of  fellowship. 

One  highlight  of  the  service  was  on  Sunday  morning, 
when  the  choir  sang  "He's  Alive."  Every  fiber  of  my  being 
was  enthralled  at  the  thought  of  Christ  being  alive,  and  I 
worshipped  with  the  choir,  thanking  God  for  the  way  they 
expressed  to  Him  what  I  felt. 

There  is  something  magnificent  about  those  moments 
of  high  collective  worship,  and  the  recognition  of  Christ 
being  Lord.  However,  what  about  those  of  us  who  labor 
with  congregations  that  are  not  even  as  large  as  a  church 
choir;  can  we  also  express  His  lordship  collectively?  This 
is  somewhat  of  a  dilemma  with  the  small  evangelical 
church.  If  lordship  and  feeling  go  together,  we  can  unders- 
tand the  words  of  Nathan  Hatch,  associate  professor  of 
history  at  the  University  of  Notre  Dame: 

"Clearly  a  trend  in  the  last  ten  years  (among 
evangelicals)  are  to  take  liturgy  more  seriously."  At 
the  same  time,  he  said,  many  Catholics  are  moving 
in  a  more  evangelical  direction.1 

An  article  in  Christianity  Today  describes  the  agony 
Thomas  Howard  went  through  in  his  conversion  to  Roman 
Catholicism.  (Howard  is  a  professor  of  English  at  Gordon 
College,  the  son  of  Philip  Howard  of  Sunday  School  Times 
fame,  and  the  brother  of  Elisabeth  Elliot.)  He  came  to  a 
place  in  his  life  where  he  appreciated  the  liturgy,  and  the 
indentification  of  something  monumental  on  earth,  like  the 
Catholic-Church,  with  the  Lordship  of  Christ. 

I  was  disturbed  as  this  scholar  continually  opted  to  the 
statements  of  men  for  answers  to  difficult  questions.  One 
question  concerned  a  period  of  time  in  church  history  when 
three  men  vied  for  the  office  of  the  pope.  Howard's  reply 
was  "I  would  refer  you  to  a  canon  lawyer  on  that  question."2 

Seeking  final  authority  for  the  states  of  our  soul  in  the 
writings  of  men  or  the  dictates  of  the  church  trouble  those 
of  us  who  believe  in  the  "Living  Word."  We  feel  that  only 


our  Lord  can  govern  such  matters,  and  our  appeal  is  always 
to  Him.  This  is  what  the  Lordship  of  Christ  is  all  about. 

A.  W.  Tozer's  "An  Anthology"3  does  not  even  list  a  main 
reference  to  the  Lordship  of  Christ  because  of  his  many 
subjects,  from  "activity"  to  "youth,"  imply  the  Lordship  of 
Christ.  It  is  an  appeal  to  the  Word  of  God  rather  than  to 
experience. 

George  Duncan  in  a  sermon,  "If  I  Wash  Thee  Not,"4 
touches  the  heart  of  the  matter  of  Lordship  in  describing 
what  happened  when  Christ  instituted  the  feet  washing  ser- 
vice. I  want  to  share  some  thoughts  from  this  great  ser- 
mon on  John  13:2-10. 

Firstly,  Peter  was  a  man  with  "Defiled  Feet."5  We  must 
reflect  for  a  moment  on  Peter  who  had  reached  a  place 
of  privilege  having  been  with  the  Lord.  Yet  it  was  this  man 
that  the  Lord  told  needed  his  feet  washed  for  he  had  pick- 
ed up  defilement  along  the  road.  Only  as  we  recognize  our 
own  unworthyness  can  we  really  know  the  need  for  Christ 
being  Lord  of  our  lives.  If  we  think  we  can  handle  it  "very 
well,  thank  you,"  we  will  never  totally  recognize  Christ  as 
Lord. 

Secondly,  Peter  was  a  man  with  a  "Defiant  Heart."6  Peter 
said  "not  my  feet."  We  see  the  same  kind  of  pride  that  keeps 
every  one  of  us  from  allowing  Christ  to  be  absolute  Lord 
of  our  lives.  It  is  His  word,  His  life,  His  being  that  we  desire 
even  in  some  of  those  things  which  may  even  be  unseem- 
ly to  the  world. 

Peter's  fight  with  the  absolute  Lordship  of  Christ  in  his 
life  was  a  continual  battle.  Many  years  after  the  incident 
in  the  upper  room,  the  Lord  gave  him  a  vision  of  the  things 
that  God  allowed  him  to  eat.  Peter  cried  out,  "Not  so  Lord" 
(Acts  10:14). 

Someone  said  this  is  an  impossible  combination  of 
words,  for  either  Peter  would  have  to  cross  out  "not  so," 
or  Lordship  does  not  receive  response  from  feelings,  or 
traditions,  or  theological  ideas.  Lordship  must  have 
response  in  the  believer  to  the  Word  of  God  alone. 

Lastly,  Duncan  says  Peter  was  a  man  with  a  "Desperate 
Cry."7  "Lord,  not  my  feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  my 
head." 

Just  think  what  went  through  the  mind  of  Simon  Peter 
when  he  heard  "no  part  with  me."  The  true  believer  has 
the  same  response.  Can  we  claim  that  Christ  is  our  Lord? 
Do  we  look  to  Him  for  direction  in  our  lives?  Is  He  really 
Lord? 

Christ  is  not  only  Lord  in  collective  matters  of  church 
worship,  he  is  Lord  in  those  little  places  of  life.  He  is  Lord 
in  our  families,  in  our  quiet  times,  in  those  solitary  places 
of  ministry.  As  Tozer's  Anthology  implies,  there  is  not  special 
reference  for  the  Lordship  of  Christ  for  it  permeates  every 
fiber  of  our  being.  □ 

1.  Randy  Frame,  "Well-Known  Evangelical  Author  Thomas 
Howard  Converts  to  Catholicism,"  Christianity  Today,  May  17, 
1985,  page  46. 

2.  Ibid.,  page  55. 

3.  H.  Verploegh,  ed.,  A.  W.  Tozer  —  An  Anthology,  (Camp 
Hill,  Pennsylvania:  Christian  Publications,  1984.) 

4.  Rev.  George  B.  Duncan,  ///  Wash  Thee  Not,  ed.  Herbert 
Stevenson  Keswick's  Authentic  Voice,  (Grand  Rapids:  Zonder- 
van  Publishing  House,  1959),  pages  239-244. 

5.  Ibid.,  page  240. 

6.  Ibid.,  page  241. 

7.  Ibid.,  page  243. 


20 


GBHMC 


1 


was  this  —  that  they  never 
set  anything  to  rights  but  destroyed  it  instead.  When  a  dish  was 
dirty  they  did  not  wash  it,  they  broke  it;  and  when  their  clothes 
were  dirty  they  burned  them."  —  C.S.  Lewis'  Pilgrim's  Regress. 

It  seems  a  normal  basement  —  bare  bulb  light  caught  in 
cobwebs,  the  singular,  patient  (and  almost  sad)  smell  of 
moisture  and  cement;  long  sunless  shadows  practicing  impossi- 
ble angles;  the  thick,  brown  arms  of  an  unfired  furnace,  asbestos 
snakes. 

But  Kip  Normand  knows  that  this  is  no  normal  room.  He's 
no  casual  observer.  As  historical  consultant  for  the  Winona  Lake 
Christian  Assembly,  he  has  lost  hours,  even  summer  days  in 
this  cellar. 

"You  don't  often  find  places  like  this  anymore."Normand  says. 
"It's  kind  of  like  Tutankhamen's  tomb  down  here." 

"If  there  is  anything  that  makes  me  sick,  it  is  to  have  some 
red- nosed,  buttermilk-eyed,  beetle-browed,  peanut-brained, 
stall-fed  old  saloon  keeper  say  that  he  wouldn't  be  in  business 
if  it  were  not  for  the  church  members  voting  for  him.  Hell  is 
so  full  of  such  church  members  that  their  feet  are  sticking  out 
of  the  windows."  —  from  a  sermon  by  Rev.  Billy  Sunday. 

Billy  Sunday,  Kip  Normand  thinks,  was  shy.  Really.  This,  the 
evangelist  who  spoke  to  an  estimated  100  million  people  over 
a  40-year  ministry.  The  preacher-acrobat  who  needed  a  rub- 
down  after  every  sermon. 

"The  impression  I  get  is  that  when  he  was  by  himself  that 
he  was  quiet,  shy  and  nervous.  He  didn't  act  very  well  in  the 
company  of  strangers." 

But  give  Sunday  a  Bible  and  a  stage  and  a  couple  of  thou- 
sand of  people  and  things  would  change. 

"He  was  electric,"  Normand  says. 

Or  so  he  thinks.  It's  impossible  to  know  for  sure.  Billy  Sun- 
day is  dead.  What  are  left  are  hints,  scattered  mostly  in  Winona 
Lake,  Indiana  where  his  home  still  stands.  Hints  from  the  elderly 


Billy  Sunday  was  a  man  who  made  an  im- 
pact. On  the  community,  on  the  nation,  its 
moral  and  spiritual  fibre,  and,  above  all,  on 
individual  souls,  forever. 


Kip  Normand,  a  recent  Grace  College  grad,  gains  practical  experier 


22 


GRACE 


iseum  curator  at  the  Billy  Sunday  home. 


GRACE 


23 


^UNDAVjAST 


folk  who  recall  childhood  memories; 
hints  from  biographies  of  the 
"glorious  saint;"  hints  from  Sunday's 
study,  which  contains  a  near  Who's 
Who  of  autographed  pictures  and  at 
least  one  letter  from  Billy  to  his 
daughter  which  begins:  "Dear 
Lambie  Pie;"  hints  from  Billy's  ser- 
mon outlines  written  in  his  own 
handwriting. 

And,  of  course,  hints  from  a  mus- 
ty basement. 

lAJhat  is  knowledge  too  but 
recorded  experience,  and  a  product 
of  history:  of  which,  therefore, 
reasoning  and  belief,  no  less  than  ac- 
tion and  passion,  are  essential 
materials?"  —  Thomas  Carlyle. 

Kip  is  unusual.  He  drives,  when  he 
can  get  it,  a  black  MG  —  the  kind 
with  cartoon  headlights.  He  owns  a 
Victrola.  He  wears  Coke  bottle  spec- 
tacles. He  probably  wouldn't  know 
Mr.  T  from  all  the  tea  in  China.  He 
wants  to  be,  one  day,  the  curator  of 
a  museum. 

He  gets  excited  by  Confederate 
dollar  bills  or  a  ticket  to  the  1932 
Olympics  or  a  dust-covered  Lind- 


bergh medallion.  The  past  plays  a 
major  role  in  his  present. 

He  wearies  of  television  and  pom- 
pus  attitudes  and  the  neglect  of  our 
heritage.  History,  he  says,  is  not 
something  to  destroy  or  ignore,  but 
to  enrich. 

"I  guess  most  people  have  the  im- 
pression that  people  in  the  past  were 
stupid,"  he  says.  "That  they  didn't 
know  as  much  as  we  do  because 
they  didn't  have  computers." 

Eventually,  Kip  would  like  to 
become  a  history  teacher:  "I  would 
like  to  go  out  on  a  bit  of  a  crusade 
against  boring  history  teachers,"  Kip 
says. 

This  fall,  Kip  plans  to  further  that 
desire.  Having  received  his  BA  in 
speech  from  Grace  College  this  past 
May,  he  will  begin  studying 
American  history  and  museum  work 
on  the  graduate  level  in  the 
American  Studies  Program  at  Notre 
Dame  University. 

So,  when  the  job  came  open  for 
a  temporary  curator  at  the  Billy  Sun- 
day Home,  Kip  jumped  at  the 
chance.    Kip   has  always  been   in- 


terested in  the  rich  history  of  Winona 
Lake;  he  now  had  the  opportunity  to 
study  one  of  its  claims  to  fame. 

"This  job  is  perfect,"  Kip  says, 
standing  in  the  middle  of  a  basement 
on  a  sunny  summer  day. 

^ome  of  the  biggest  lies  ever 
told  are  to  be  found  on  gravestones." 
—  Rev.  Billy  Sunday. 

Billy  Sunday's  living  room  is  quiet. 
Late  afternoon  sun  in  window 
streams,  slow  dust  traps.  A  pair  of 
Billy's  spectacles,  throws  a  shadow 
into  the  past.  The  clocks,  tapping 
monotones,  don't  agree.  10:40,  the 
one.  12:42,  another.  3:47,  a  third.  At 
least  two  are  deceptions. 

The  Victrola  waits.  Doodle-Doo- 
Doo-Fox-Trot  (La,  Ra,  La,  La)  by  the 
Benson  Orchestra  of  Chicago  is  not 
spinning.  There  are  floral  prints  on 
the  furniture,  olive  grays  and  dark 
greens  and  browns.  The  sun  settles 
in.  Wood  and  felt  and  crystal  and 
shadows. 

The  silence  is  the  color  of  old 
paper,  It  is  mostly  fragile  and 
unbroken. 

There  are  hints  of  screams  from 


WELCOME   TO 

BILLY  SUNDAY 

HOME 

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MISSION 


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Kip  gives  tours  of  the  Sunday  home  and  Winona  Lake  during  the  summer. 


24 


GRACE 


distant  voices.  In  black-and-white,  in 
a  desk  drawer,  Billy  preaching,  yell- 
ing, jumping.  In  his  study,  a  sermon 
outline:  Something  about  a  "Frizzle 
headed  sizzie."  On  a  hallway  wall, 
Ma's  painting  of  three  horses,  pop- 
ped veins  and  sunken  light.  In  a  col- 
lection, a  autographed  picture  from 
Cecil  B.  Demille:  "To  the  only  man 
that  works  harder  than  I  do."  Next  to 
Teddy  Roosevelt,  John  D.  Rockfeller, 
Bob  Jones,  Homer  Rodeheaver. 

A  recipe  for  hoarseness:  V2  cup  of 
good  apple  vinegar,  a  lump  of  but- 
ter the  size  of  a  bantam  egg,  3A  teas- 
poon black  pepper  ...  A  picture  of 
the  Sundays  in  a  parade  to  burn  the 
Kaiser  in  effigy  .  .  .  Billy's  Chicago 
White  Stockings  uniform,  the  year 
they  won  the  pennant  in  1885  .  .  . 
A  reply  from  John  Wanamaker:  "In- 
to our  silent  home/  the  stillest  ever 
—  came  quickly,  /  your  comforting 
message  of  remembrance,  /  which 
helped  us  to  bear  the  /  unutterable 
sorrow  of  our  hearts."  A  newspaper 
clipping  about  the  sawdust  trail:  135 
cities,  38  states,  80  million  people; 
"in  his  favorite  game  of  soul  winn- 
ing." 

Every  Bible  is  open  to  Isaiah  61:1; 
"The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon 
me  because  the  Lord  has  annointed 
me  to  bring  good  news  to  the  af- 
flicted; he  has  sent  me  to  bind  up  the 
broken-hearted,  to  proclaim  liberty  to 
the  captives,  and  freedom  to 
prisoners;" 

For  those  who  have  an  ear  for 
history,  the  house  shouts  of 
knowledge. 

1/  men  could  learn  from  history, 
what  lessons  it  might  teach  us!  But 
passion  and  party  blind  our  eyes, 
and  the  light  which  experience  gives 
is  a  lantern  on  the  stern,  which  shines 
only  on  the  waves  behind  us!"  — 
Coleridge. 

Kip  Normand  is  looking,   more 


"The  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
God  is  upon  me  because 
the  Lord  has  annointed  me 
to  bring  good  news  to  the 
afflicted;"  Isaiah  61:1 


history,  but  made  it.  Partly  because 
he  was  part  of  a  fascinating  and 
beautiful  time  in  Winona  Lake's 
history.  Partly  because  of  the  elec- 
tricity he  generated.  Partly  because 
of  the  people  he  touched. 

He  doesn't  want  his  image 
glorified  or  horrified.  He  wants  to 
know  him,  as  much  as  it  is  possible, 
as  he  was. 

"The  impression  that  I  get  of  Billy 
was  that  he  was  very  earthy,"  Kip 
says,  "He  really  seemed  to  have  a 
passion  for  people." 

There  is  a  story  that  impressed  Kip 
about  Sunday.  After  finishing  a  series 
of  meetings  in  New  York,  Sunday 
was  making  a  deposit  to  a  skeptical 
teller.  Of  the  thousands  of  dollars  in 
deposits,  there  was  a  $5  check  from 
an  old  widow.  The  teller  refused  to 
cash  the  check,  stating  that  the  old 
widow's  account  was  already  over- 


drawn and  that  she  owed  $1,500  on 
a  mortgage.  He  wanted  to  embarrass 
Billy.  Calmly,  Sunday  wrote  on  a 
piece  of  paper,  which  he  handed  to 
the  teller.  It  was  a  check  for  $1,500. 
The  teller  was  bewildered:  "What  is 
this  for?"  he  asked.  "Friend,"  Billy 
says,  "have  you  never  read  in  the 
great  book  of  what  a  man  of  means 
is  supposed  to  do  about  orphans  and 
widows?"  Billy  left. 

The  man  was  later  converted. 

But  Billy  wasn't  perfect.  One  of  his 
children,  who  had  served  on  the 
evangelistic  team,  started  drinking 
and  later  committed  suicide.  For 
Billy,  the  hurt  lasted  until  the  grave. 

Billy  Sunday  was  a  man  who 
made  an  impact.  On  the  communi- 
ty, which  was  known  at  the  time  as 
the  "Christian  Resort"  of  the  coun- 
try; on  the  nation,  its  moral  and 
spiritual  fibre,  and,  above  all,  on  in- 
dividual souls,  forever. 

Kip  Normand  would  like  to  know 
him.  He  digs  up  images  instead  of 
bones. 

"I  consider  myself  a  bit  of  an  ar- 
chaeologist," Kip  says,  "there  is  a 
sense  of  mystery  in  what  I  do.  You 
never  know  what  could  be  in  the 
next  box  I  open  or  the  next  closet  I 
look  into.  It  is  fascinating." 

Kip  Normand  is  in  the  base- 
ment. Outside,  the  sun  collects 
frisbees.  Kip  sorts  through  a  box. 
Maybe  junk.  Maybe  a  glimpse.  The 
damp  stones  of  a  foundation  sur- 
round him.  D 

Tburs  of  the  Billy  Sunday  Home 
are  available  from  1  to  5  p.m. 
weekdays.  Appointments  for  tours 
can  also  be  made  by  calling  Ron 
Busch  (219-372-5239)  or  the  Billy 
Sunday  Home  (219-372-5286). 
Cost  for  the  tour  is  $1.25'per  per- 
son. The  home  is  located  at  111 
Sunday  Lane,  Winona  Lake, 
Indiana. 


Given  By: 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Neil  Paden 
Harrah  Brethren  Church 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Harry  H.  Shipley 
Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dean  McFadden 
Harold  Peugh 


In  Memory  of: 

Mr.  Verne  Ferguson 
Mr.  Verne  Ferguson 
Michael  Alexander 
Mr.  Everette  Smith 
Mr.  Verne  Ferguson 
Lula  De  Moss 


GRACE 


25 


Prayer  — 
Your  Lifeline 
to  the  Father 


by  Nora  Macon 


Prayer. 

It's  something  we  all  know  we 
should  do.  Not  only  that,  we  should 
want  to  do  it.  We  should  look  forward 
to  times  of  prayer.  We  should  be  in  an 
attitude  of  prayer. 

Yet  praying  is  often  the  very  last 
thing  we  do.  It's  difficult  to  discipline 
ourselves  to  pray.  What  a  sad  paradox. 

Oh,  we'll  take  the  time  to  whisk  off 
a  prayer  before  meals  (which  in  public 
can  be  accompanied  by  dropping  a 
napkin  or  rubbing  the  eyes).  We'll 
sometimes  even  pray  before  we  go  to 
bed.  But  usually  it's  for  Aunt  Bessie's 
arm  or  "all  the  missionaries"  or  for  a 
good  day  tomorrow. 

And  those  aren't  bad  things  to  pray 
for,  in  and  of  themselves.  But  do  we 
really  care? 

Prayer  is  our  lifeline  to  God.  When 
you  don't  communicate  with  some- 
one, the  relationship  slackens,  falters, 
and  even  dies.  How  often  do  we  tell 
God  how  we're  feeling,  what's  going 
on  in  our  lives,  how  we  need  His  help? 
How  many  times  do  we  pray  about 
another  person's  needs,  struggles,  and 
desires?  That  takes  time! 

Prayer.  A  lifeline. 

What  is  a  lifeline?  Picture  a  moun- 
tain climber  rapelling  down  a  sheer 
cliff.  Only  a  rope  holds  him  as  he 
swings  out  above  the  valley.  His  safe- 
ty (even  his  life)  is  dependent  upon 
that  rope.  If  it  should  fray  or  be  worn 
thin  on  a  jagged  rock,  it  could  break 
and  the  mountain  climber  would 
plunge  to  an  almost  certain  death.  His 
lifeline  had  broken. 

Or  what  about  a  patient,  pale  on 
hospital  sheets,  connected  to  a 
breathing  apparatus.  The  thin  plastic 
tubing  carries  the  essential  oxygen  to 
his  lungs.  That  is  his  lifeline,  for  if  the 
tubing  was  removed,  he  would  stop 
breathing. 

This  year  in  WMC,  we  will  be  study- 
ing prayer.  It's  an  important  issue  to  us 
all.  Just  think  what  would  happen  if 
all  the   WMC   ladies  in  the   States 


banded  together  and  began  to  pray, 
earnestly  pray.  What  an  impact  on  our 
churches,  on  our  Fellowship,  on  the 
world! 

Our  mission  studies  will  convey  the 
importance  of  personal  prayer  in  our 
missionaries'  lives.  They  will  be  shar- 
ing personal  prayer  needs  and  specific 
answers  to  prayer.  These  could  help 
your  circle  develop  an  active  growing 
prayer  ministry  for  a  missionary. 

On  Holy  Ground,  by  Kirkie  Mor- 
rissey,  is  our  study  book.  She  deals 
with  the  various  aspects  of  prayer  and 
how  it  can  change  our  (and  others') 
lives. 

Let  this  new  WMC  year  be  a 
challenge  to  you.  Be  open  and 
vulnerable.  God  has  some  great  things 
in  store  for  you. 

And  let  us  take  our  theme  verse  and 
make  it  a  reality  in  our  lives.  Prayer 


does  make  a  difference! 

"Devote  yourselves  to  prayer,  keep- 
ing alert  in  it  with  an  attitude  of 
thanksgiving"  Colossians  4:2.         □ 

WMC  Operation  and  Publication 

Expenses 

Goal:  $10,000 

This  is  the  offering  that  keeps  WMC 
running!  Even  though  National  WMC 
does  not  have  office  headquarters,  it 
does  have  office  expenses.  Stationary, 
paper,  phone  calls,  some  travel,  etc. 
is  all  needed  to  keep  WMC  going. 

Last  year  a  special  offering  was 
taken  to  get  this  fund  back  in  the  black. 
Help  us  keep  in  the  black  by  faithfully 
giving  to  the  Operation  and  Publica- 
tion Fund. 

Send  this  offering  before  September 
10,  1985. 


26 


WMC 


—  The  Southern  California-Arizona  District 
WMC's  newsletter  is  called  the  Write  Up.  Now 
this  district  is  producing  the  Mini  Write  Up— a 
shortened  (usually  one  page),  monthly  version. 
What  a  great  way  to  keep  WMC  ladies  in- 
formed on  what's  currently  happening!  The 
"mini"  version  contains  a  brief  word  from  the 
District  President,  current  prayer  and  praise  re- 
quests, updates  on  district  projects,  SMM  news, 
news  from  local  WMC's,  and  advertisements 
for  the  fall  retreat. 

—  When  you  hear  about  a  missionary  or 
special  guest  who  will  be  speaking  in  your  area, 
contact  that  person  and  see  if  he/she  would  be 
able  to  meet  with  your  WMC  group.  Then, 
organize  a  meeting  for  your  ladies,  even  though 
it  might  not  be  on  your  regular  meeting  night. 
Take  advantage  of  visiting  speakers! 

—  At  your  Fall  District  Rally,  consider  hav- 
ing training  sessions  (15  minutes)  for  local  of- 
ficers. Have  the  respective  district  officers  lead 
the  sessions.  The  Florida  District  has  done  this 
and  says  it  is  a  great  help  to  local  ladies. 

—  The  Mid  Atlantic  District  WMC  sponsors 
a  family  night  every  year.  Various  themes 
(Hawaiian,  Western,  etc.)  are  featured,  and  the 
costumes,  food,  and  program  revolve  around 
the  theme.  It's  a  great  way  to  introduce  your 
family  to  WMC. 


No  One  Can  Be  Found 


Ever  feel  like  giving  up? 
Life  really  isn't  fair 
People,  people  come  and  go 
But  no  one  gives  a  care. 

You  miss  friendships  of  the  past, 
They  just  let  you  down. 
Try  to  find  a  person's  help 
But  no  one  can  be  found. 

There's  One  who  feels  your  hurt, 
One  who's  always  near. 
He  can  mend  your  broken  heart 
From  all  the  worldly  fear. 

Call  on  Jesus — He's  the  One 
To  come  running  to  your  aid, 
Pull  you  from  the  nagging  hurt 
That  only  Satan  made. 
—  Karl  Immel 

Karl  Immel  is  one  of  our  MKs  in  the  Central 
African  Republic.  His  poem  expresses  a  feel- 
ing that  everyone  has  at  various  times  in  his 
life.  But  Karl  has  found  the  answer— Jesus 
Christ. 


^Missionary  ^itrtfjbaus 
October  1985 

(If  no  address  listed,  the  address  can  be  found 
in  the  1985  Brethren  Annual,  pages  38-40.) 
Brazil 

Rev.  Tim  Farner Oct  1 

Rev.  George  Johnson Oct  5 

Rev.  Ed  Miller,  Jr. Oct  8 

Mrs.  Imogene  Burk Oct  18 

Central  African  Republic 

Mrs.  Sharon  Stalker  Oct  8 

Rev.  Marvin  Goodman   Oct.  22 

Japan 

Rev.  Cecil  O'Dell  Oct  1 

Mrs.  Nancy  Graham  Oct  10 

Mexico 

Mrs.  Rosa  Churchill Oct  4 

Philippines 

Mrs.  Vivien  Ruiz  Oct  2 

In  the  United  States 

Cristi  Sharp Oct  11.  1983 

Aaron  Green Oct  12,  1983 

Rev.  J.  Paul  Dowdy  Oct  18 

Mrs.  Ruth  Snyder Oct  20 

David  Crandall Oct  26.  1970 

Rev.  Bob  Skeen Oct  31 


WMC 


27 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


Change  \bur  Annual 


Charles  Flowers,  7777  St.  Route  No.  127,  Camden,  OH 
4531 1  /  Michael  Funderburg,  13626  84th  St.,  S.E.,  Alto, 
Ml  49302  /  Thomas  Goossens,  1 15  Oak  St.,  Conemaugh, 
PA  15909  /  Kevin  Huggins,  85  Goodhue  Dr.,  Akron,  OH 
44313  /  Nathan  Leigh,  952044  Waikalani  PI.,  No.  C202, 
Wahiawa,  HI  96786  /  Thomas  Mahaffey,  250  Philadel- 
phia Ave.,  Waynesboro,  PA  17268  /  Paul  Mutchler,  616 
N.W.  21st  St.,  Wilton  Manors,  FL  33311  /  D.  Richard 
Robbins,  101  Diamond  Mill,  Clayton,  OH  45315  /  Ralph 
Robinson,  R.  1,  Box  195,  Nebo,  NC  28761  /  John 
Schumacher,  Post  Chapel,  Fort  Richardson,  AK  99505  / 
Robert  Smoker,  P.O.  Box  1232,  Stowe,  VT  05672  / 
Greg  Stamm,  1410  Sheridan  Dr.,  Apt.  16B,  Lancaster,  OH 
43130  /  Warren  Tamkin,  8  Seasons  Dr.,  Memphord 
Estates,  Dillsburg,  PA  17019  /  J.  Ward  Tressler,  5230 
Greencroft  Dr.,  Dayton,  OH  45426  /  Scott  L.  Weaver, 
3235  Rue  Voltaire,  Apt.  922,  South  Bend,  IN  46615  / 
William  Willard,  1020  Lititz  Pike,  Lititz,  PA  17543  /  All 
mail  for  the  GBC  of  Denver,  CO,  should  be  sent  to  700 
S.  Federal  Blvd.,  Denver,  CO  80219  /  The  new  address 
for  the  Eagle  Creek  Grace  Brethren  Church  is:  7001  W. 
46th  St.,  Indianapolis,  IN  46254  /  All  mail  for  the 
Frederick,  MD,  church  should  be  sent  to:  Mr.  Wayne 
Tucker,  416  Biggs  Ave.,  Frederick,  MD  21701. 


Marriages 


Deaths 


Clark,  Alvera,  80.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Mt.  Laurel,  NJ.  Robert 
Spicer,  pastor. 

Denlinger,  Mary,  63.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  St.  Petersburg,  St. 
Petersburg,  FL.  Randy  Weekley,  pastor. 

Fosbenner,  Paul,  76.  Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Tel- 
ford, PA.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 

Harbaugh,  Blanche,  98.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown,  MD. 
Ray  Davis,  pastor. 

Kearns,  Janice,  51.  Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Telford, 
PA.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 

Lynn,  Mrs.  Artie  M.,  95.  She  was  the  widow  of  the  late  Rev. 
Archie  Lynn  who  had  served  in  pastorates  in  Pennsylvania, 
Virginia,  and  California.  The  memorial  service  was  held  at  the  First 
Brethren  Church  of  Buena  Vista,  VA,  with  Pastors  Lester  Kennedy 
and  Ron  Thompson  officiating. 

Mills,  Harry,  87.  He  had  served  as  an  usher,  trustee  and  deacon  of 
the  Patterson  Memorial  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Roanoke,  VA. 
Ron  Thompson,  pastor. 

Parr,  Marcus,  82.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Bethel  Brethren  Church 
in  Berne,  IN,  where  Larry  Edwards  serves  as  pastor.  The  memorial 
service  was  held  in  the  Winona  Lake  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Winona  Lake,  IN.  Charles  Ashman,  pastor,  officiated  at  the 
service. 

Schaadt,  Luella,  76.  Bethel  Brethren  Church  in  Berne,  IN.  Larry 
Edwards,  pastor. 


Christine  Frank  and  Steven  Moyer,  June  22.  Penn  Valley  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Telford,  PA.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 
Anne   Goodman  and   Robert   Hoy,  June  29.   Community   Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Warsaw,  IN.  Allen  Edgington,  pastor. 
Jan   Hawley  and  Charles  Deatherage,  June  29.  River  City  Grace 
Community  Church,  Sacramento,  CA.  Tom  Lynn,  pastor. 
Jeanette  Sowers  and   Tom   Flanagan.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
St.  Petersburg,  FL.  Randy  Weekley,  pastor. 

Audra  Travis  and  Rob  Hagar,  June  29.  Penn  Valley  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church,  Telford,  PA.  Roger  Wambold,  pastor. 
Connie  Whitcomb  and  Mark  Rosendahl,  April   13.  Winona  Lake 
Grace  Brethren  Church,  Winona  Lake,  IN.  Connie  is  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  John  C.  Whitcomb.  Charles  Ashman,  pastor. 

□  The  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Waldorf,  MD,  dedicated 
their  new  facility  on  June  15. 

□  Dave  Johnson,  Yakima  County  Sheriff  Deputy  and 
member  of  the  Harrah  Brethren  Church,  Harrah,  WA,  was 
alerted  by  a  plea  for  help  coming  from  his  patrol  car's 
CB  radio  early  one  morning.  The  plea  was  coming  from 
a  husband  rushing  his  wife  to  the  local  hospital  for  the 
delivery  of  a  child.  It  was  obvious  the  husband  would 
never  make  it  in  time  so  Mr.  Johnson  ordered  the  husband 
to  stop  and  in  less  than  three  minutes  a  healthy  baby  boy 
was  born  in  their  pickup  cab. 

Just  the  week  before,  Dave,  a  certified  E.M.T.,  had 
decided  to  stow  all  his  medical  supplies  and  gear  in  the 
trunk  of  his  new  patrol  car,  so  everything  was  there  when 
needed.  This  is  the  second  "on  the  road"  delivery  made 
by  Dave— Submitted  by  Pastor  Chuck  Winter 


□  David  K.  Hobert  was  ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry 
at  the  Winona  Lake  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Winona  Lake, 
IN,  on  May  9.  Pastor  Charles  Ashman  presided  at  the  serv- 
ice and  Dave's  father-in-law.  Rev.  Raymond  Thompson 
from  the  Navajo  Mission,  gave  the  message.  Others  partici- 
pating in  the  service  were:  Ron  Kinley,  Dave's  brother-in- 
law;  Larry  Chamberlain,  Rev.  Wendell  Kent  and  Rev. 
John  Zielasko.  Rev.  Donald  Ogden  and  Mrs.  Miriam 
Pacheco  provided  special  music. 

□  Jonathan  Hutching  and  Richard  Martin  graduated  from 
the  Ohio  University.  Jonathan  received  the  Bachelor  of 
Arts  in  Political  Science  (with  honors),  and  Richard  the 
Bachelor  of  Science  in  Communications.  They  both  re- 
ceived commissions  as  Second  Lieutenants  in  the  Army.— 
Submitted  by  Percy  Miller,  pastor.  West  Alexandria,  OH 


28 


BMH 


D  Steve  Burns  has  resigned  from  his  position  of  associate 
pastor  of  the  First  Brethren  Church  of  Buena  Vista,  VA, 
and  has  moved  to  Sunnyside,  WA,  to  take  up  his  work 
for  the  Lord  at  that  place.  Anyone  interested  in  the 
position  at  Buena  Vista,  VA,  should  contact  the  church 
at  100  E.  29th  Street,  Buena  Vista,  VA  24416. 


□  Pictured  above  are  the  participants  in  the  groundbreak- 
ing service  held  for  the  new  Clear  Lake  Camp  facility 
which  is  located  near  Harrah,  WA.  Left  to  right:  Pastor 
Richard  Cron,  Mr.  Lyle  Taylor,  Pastor  Chuck  Winter, 
Pastor  Dale  Hostetler,  Mr.  Mel  Curfman,  Mr.  Don  Cowles 
and  Mr.  Ron  Curfman  with  his  son. 

□  The  Florfda  District  of  our  Fellowship  has  decided  to 
divide  their  district  into  three  at  their  conference  in 
April.  Their  plan  will  be  presented  for  approval  at  the 
national  conference  in  Colorado. 


□  Alan  Mangum  has  resigned  at  the  Third  Brethren 
Church  of  Philadelphia,  PA.  Therefore,  the  church  "is 
looking  for  a  pastor  who  would  be  called  by  God  to  an 
innercity  work." 

□  Ron  Smals  was  ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry  at 
the  Community  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Warsaw,  IN. 
Pastor  Ron  Guiles  (Bethlehem,  PA,  and  father-in-law  of 
Ron  Smals)  officiated  at  the  service. 

□  "J.  Norman  Mayer,  senior  pastor  of  the  Calvary  GBC  in 
Hagerstown,  MD,  has  announced  the  appointment  of  two 
men  of  that  church  as  licensed  ministers.  With  the  excel- 
lent cooperation  of  the  examination  committee  of  the 
Mid-Atlantic  District  ministerium,  J.  William  Kesecker, 
Jr.,  and  Robert  O.  Bitner  were  received  into  their  new 
roles  in  March  and  June,  respectively. 

Mr.  Kesecker,  a  graduate  of  Asbury  College  and  Trinity 
Evangelical  Divinity  School  with  graduate  studies  at  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  has  been  serving  for  two  years  as  the 
assistant  pastor  with  special  emphasis  on  youth  ministries. 
Mr.  Bitner,  an  alumnus  of  Houghton  College  and  Dallas 
Seminary,  has  served  as  a  missionary  to  Haiti  for  over 
20  years  with  Unevangelized  Fields  Missions.  Presently  on 
leave  of  absence  from  that  society,  he  continues  to 
minister  to  migrant  Haitian  farm  workers  in  the  four-state 
area  surrounding  Hagerstown,  and  also  serves  as  vice 
moderator  of  the  church."— Submitted  by  the  Calvary 
GBC  of  Hagerstown,  MD 


The  Scriptures  Command . . . 


.  .  .  that  our  Fellowship  support  the  Board 
of  Ministerial  Emergency  and  retirement 
benefits!  Well,  at  least  it  does  say  that  the 
ministry  conducted  by  this  conference  ap- 
pointed board  should  be  done. 

Paul  reminds  us  in  I  Timothy  5:8  "but  if  any  provide  not 
for  his  own,  and  specially  for  those  of  his  own  house,  he  hath 
denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse  that  an  infidel."  Out  retired 
pastors  still  have  their  membership  in  our  Fellowship.  They 
belong  to  us.  This  certainly  is  saying  that  we  are  to  take  care 
of  their  needs.  They  have  spent  many  years  treading  out  the 
corn  and  now  are  worthy  of  their  reward. 

The  Apostle  James  trumpets  that  same  cause  when  he 
says  "pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God  and  the  Father 
is  this,  to  visit ...  the  widows  in  their  affliction  ..."  It  would 
appear  that  one  of  their  greatest  afflictions  is  that  of  having 
their  material  needs  met  during  the  time  of  old  age  and  retire- 
ment. Much  is  said  in  scripture  about  taking  care  of  the 
widows.  Someone  needs  to  do  the  job.  Our  board  can  do  it 
if  you  will  help.  Send  your  contributions  for  these  ministries 
to  Pastor  Clair  Brickel,  14319  Brookville-Pyrmont  Rd., 
Brookville,  Ohio  45309. 


BMH 


29 


A  Third  Volume  in 

The  MACARTHUR  New 

Testament  Commentary 

by  JOHN  MACARTHUR,  JR. 


BMH  BOOKS  is  co-publishing  the 
MacARTHUR'S  New  Testament 
Commentary  with  Moody  Press. 
The  third  in  the  series  is  now 
available  —  Matthew  1—7. 


Pastor  John  MacArthur,  Jr. 


JOHN  MACARTHUR  JR.  is  pastor  of  Grace  Community  Church  of  the 
Valley,  Panorama  City,  California.  He  is  known  to  Brethren  people  through  his 
appearances  at  national  conference  and  as  a  speaker  at  the  Grace  Bible 
Conferences.  He  is  heard  often  as  a  radio  speaker. 

SPECIAL  INTRODUCTORY  OFFER 

Matthew  1—7,  reg.  price  $14.95;  special  at  $11.95. 

Vol.  2  in  the  series,  1  Corinthians,  reg.  price,  $14.95,  special  at  $11.95. 

Vol.  1,  Hebrews,  reg.  price,  $12.95,  special  at  $11.95. 

BONUS  OFFER!  ALL  THREE  VOLUMES 

(Matthew,  1  Corinthians,  Hebrews)  $35.00 
Please  include  a  check  with  your  order  and  we  pay  postage. 


HERALD 
BOOKSTORE 

RO.  Box  544 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


*■ 


Many  times  they're 
young  people.  Teens 
looking  for  direction. 
Full  of  enthusiasm. 
So  eager  to  live  for 
Christ. 

Sometimes  they're 
senior  saints.  Not 
wanting  to  be  forgot- 
ten. Still  anxious  to 
minister  and  serve. 

Hardly  a  month 
passes  that  we  don't 
help  pastors.  Sharing 
fresh  ideas.  Bringing 
encouragement. 
Listening.  Assisting. 

We're  GBC  Christian 
Education.  Ministry  is 
our  middle  name.  We 
help  teens,  col- 
legians, husbands 
and  wives,  families, 
children,  Sunday 
school  teachers,  and 
church  leaders  and 
workers. 

We're  growing.  Im- 
proving. Stepping  out 
in  faith.  Allowing  God 
to  expand  our  vision. 
We're  excited.  And 
we're  doing  all  of  this 
with  you  in  mind. 
We're  hoping  to  help 
you  .  .  .  and  your 
ministry. 


Touching    liveg    is    what    our 
ministry  is  all  about. 


>\v 


•*  -.1 


/inona  Lake,  Indiana 


Sc 


>omething  exciting  happened 
to  CE  on  May  1,  1985.  After  19 
months  of  prayer  and  planning  and  a 
unanimous  vote  by  the  CE  board  of 
directors,  Ed  Lewis  was  appointed 
executive  director. 

"Ed  was  the  choice  of  many  board 
members  back  in  1983  when  we  first 
considered  names  for  executive  direc- 
tor," says  Brad  Skiles,  administrator 
for  CE.  Skiles,  who  worked  closely 
with  the  board  in  this  decision,  adds, 
"When  we  first  approached  Ed,  the 
timing  wasn't  right.  I  think  it  took  us 
this  long  to  identify  our  needs  and 
for  God  to  lead  Ed  in  this  direction, 
too.' ' 

Known  throughout  the  Fellowship 
of  Grace  Brethren  Churches  for  his 
work  with  youth,  Ed  has  ministered 
in  almost  every  Grace  Brethren 
church.  Following  four  years  as  assis- 
tant pastor  and  youth  director  at  the 
Winona  Lake  Grace  Brethren  Church 
and  graduation  from  Grace  Seminary, 
Ed  joined  the  CE  staff  in  1973.  As 
Director  of  Youth  Ministries,  Ed  led 
in  the  expansion  of  the  TIME  pro- 
gram, Brethren  National  Youth  Con- 
ference, Operation  Barnabas  and  Na- 
tional Achievement  Competition. 
Through  his  vision  and  leadership, 
ministries  like  Nehemiah  Missions, 
Euro- Missions  Institute,  Timothy 
Teams,  CE  Youth  Programs  and  Na- 
tional Youth  Worker's  Conference 
have  been  started. 

In  1982,  after  recognizing  the 
number  of  Operation  Barnabas  alum- 


Welcome  to  our  Future! 


With  the  new  appointment  of  Ed  Lewis 

as  Executive  Director,  exciting  changes  are 

happening  at  CE.  But  one  thing  hasn't 

changed.  We're  still  hoping  to  help! 


ni  and  TIME  veterans  who  were 
entering  careers  in  missions,  Ed 
responded  to  God's  leading  by  join- 
ing the  staff  of  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions.  Serving  in  a  half- 
time  arrangement  with  both  CE  and 
FMS,  Ed  has  developed  a  unique 
ministry  of  motivating  young  people 
toward  missions  through  his  work  at 


CE  and  then  working  with  many  of 
those  same  people  as  Director  of  Per- 
sonnel for  FMS. 

With  his  new  position  as  executive 
director,  Ed  continues  his  half-time 
arrangement  with  FMS.  His  respon- 
sibilities at  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions  have  not  changed  and  con- 
tinue to  complement  his  CE  ministry. 

A  half-time  executive  director  is 
not  a  new  situation  for  CE.  But  with 
Ed's  move  into  areas  of  children  and 
adult  ministries— becoming  responsi- 
ble for  the  entire  vision  and  ministry 
of  CE— reciprocal  changes  are  occur- 
ring throughout  the  Christian  Educa- 
tion office  and  ministry. 

"I  feel  good  about  continuing  half- 
time  with  both  boards,"  says  Ed. 
"With  Brad's  help  as  administrator 
and  the  addition  of  a  director  in 
youth  leadership,  it  will  work.' ' 

As  executive  director,  Ed  will  still 
oversee  some  youth  areas.  He  con- 
tinues to  be  responsible  for  Opera- 
tion Barnabas  and  will  travel  with 
these  ministry  teams  during  the 
summer  months.  The  Training  In 
Missionary  Endeavor  (TIME)  program 
and  Brethren  National  Youth  Con- 
ference also  remain  under  his  direct 
leadership.  Since  all  three  ministries 
are  administrated  by  others,  Ed  will 
have  the  freedom  to  develop  and  im- 
prove helps  for  pastors,  Sunday 
school  teachers,  children's  workers, 
lay  leaders  and  others  who  are 
touched  by  CE  ministries. 

The  gap  that  Ed  leaves  in  youth 
areas  is  filled  by  Dave  Atkins.  As 
Director  of  Youth  Leadership,  Dave's 
primary  ministry  is  working  with 
youth  pastors  and  lay  youth 
sponsors. 

Known  in  the  Northcentral  Ohio 
district  for  his  seven  years  as  youth 
pastor  at  the  Mansfield,  Ohio,  Wood- 
ville  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Dave 
has  a  successful  track  record  in 
youth  ministry. 

"At  Mansfield,"  Ed  says,  "Dave 
started  with  almost  no  kids  and  grew 
the  ministry  to  over  100  youth  and 
staff. 

"He  has  a  heart  for  God.  He  verb- 
alizes his  faith.  His  ministry  is  'out 
there'  with  kids.  And  he  will  make  a 
great  director  of  youth  leadership  in 
helping  us  stimulate  our  Fellowship 
to  growth." 

More  than  leadership  positions  are 
changing  at  CE.  So  is  the  vision. 


32 


CE 


Vision  Comes  From  God 


J. hen,  leaders  make  it  happen. 

Maybe  it's  a  desire  for  excellence 
that  makes  them  want  to  improve 
ministries.  Certainly,  it's  a  deep  com- 
mitment to  give  God  free  rein  in 
their  lives.  To  place  no  limits  on  how 
God  can  work  through  their  lives 
and  ministry,  that's  their  goal. 

Ed,  Dave  and  Brad  are  leading 
their  staff  in  looking  for  ways  to  im- 
prove, expand,  excel  and  help. 

"Our  potential  is  great,"  says  Ed 
Lewis,  executive  director  for  CE. 
"People  want  to  back  a  program 
with  goals  and  vision.  Vision  is  the 
key  and  God  is  developing  that  in 
our  office  staff.  Our  staff  is  strong  in 
having  a  heart  for  God  and  there's 
an  inner  core  that  is  evident." 

At  an  early  hour  each  week,  as 
travel  schedules  permit,  the  three  CE 
directors  meet  for  a  time  of  prayer. 
They  pray  for  each  other,  CE  staff 
and  ministries,  other  boards  and  the 
Grace  Brethren  Fellowship.  That's 
where  they  find  their  vision. 

"Ed  and  I  started  praying  together 
like  this  in  December  of  last  year,' ' 
says  Brad  Skiles.  "It's  changed  my 
life  and  I've  seen  Ed  grow,  too.  It 
knitted  our  hearts  and  was  the  best 
thing  for  our  ministry.  When  Dave 
came  in  July  we  began  the  same 
kind  of  prayer  schedule  and  already 
have  seen  God  use  that  in  our  lives." 

The  vision  they  are  running  with 
includes  an  evangelism  thrust.  "We 
recognize  that  even  though  we  have 
outstanding  youth  ministries,"  says 
Ed,  "they  are  all  geared  to  church 
kids.  Yet  in  America,  this  is  the  first 
'post-Christian  generation'  where 
kids  are  completely  ignorant  of  the 
Gospel  and  don't  know  the  truth 
about  the  Lord.  We  need  to  make 
some  changes  in  our  ministries  and 
set  the  pace  for  thinking  evangelism 
and  vision  and  stimulating  our 
churches  in  those  areas." 

Like  the  quality  programs  CE  has 
developed  for  youth  and  pastors,  the 
staff  is  anxious  to  expand  their  work 
to  include  ministries  to  grass- root 
church  leaders  and  workers.  In  the 
works  are  teacher  training  helps  for 
Sunday  schools,  specialized  training 
and  certification  for  professional  and 


Ed  Lewis 

Executive  Director 

'  'I  believe  God  has  an  ex- 
citing future  ahead  for  us. 
This  office  belongs  to  Him. 
If  we  really  believe  that, 
it'll  affect  everything  we 
do." 


lay  youth  workers,  and  a  video 
library  for  teaching  and  training  at 
home  as  well  as  in  churches. 

Wanting  to  build  on  the  successful 
programs  already  in  existence,  the 
CE  leaders  are  approaching  additions 
carefully.  The  fall  months  will  be 
strategic  as  priority  time  will  be 


Dave  Atkins 

Director  of  Youth  Leadership 

'  T  look  back  on  my  life  and 
see  how  God  has  prepared 
me  for  this  ministry.  I'm 
thrilled  to  be  a  part  of  this 
team  and  God's  plan." 


given  to  planning,  evaluating  and 
organizing. 

"We  have  big  dreams  that  God  has 
given  us,"  says  Ed.  "But  we  also 
recognize  our  limitations  with  time, 
staff  and  resources.  As  we  expand 
and  improve,  we're  committed  to 
only  starting  what  we  can  finish  and 
keeping  the  quality  of  all  our  pro- 
grams strong.  Many  of  our  dreams 
require  a  lot  of  prayer  and  faith  as 
we  trust  God  to  provide  the 
necessary  resources  for  this  expand- 
ing ministry." 


Brad  Skiles 

Director  of  Administration 

"I'm  so  pleased  with  Ed's 
leadership  and  the  addition 
of  Dave.  These  changes 
have  been  a  great  en- 
couragement and  challenge 
to  me  and  our  staff." 


CE 


33 


"This  new  direction  is  great!  You're  a 
personal  challenge  to  me,  Ed,  and  will 
be  a  tremendous  executive  director.  I'm 
glad  you're  keeping  your  Foreign  Mis- 
sions tie.  That's  such  an  important  link 
for  youth.  And  as  a  youth  pastor,  I  can't 
wait  to  draw  from  Dave.  His  heart  for 
evangelism  and  fresh  ideas  are  exactly 
what  I  need." 

Dan  Allan,  Youth  Pastor 

Ashland,  Ohio 


Comments  We've  Received 


"Ed's  our  man!  He  was  our  first  choice 
and  I'm  glad  we  waited  for  God's  timing. 
He  has  great  ideas  for  what  God  can  do 
through  CE.  These  are  going  to  be  ex- 
citing years  ahead!" 

Paul  Mutchler,  Pastor 

Chairman  of  CE  Executive  Search 
Committee 


"The  board  has  made  a  good  choice,  Ed. 
You're  the  right  man!  This  means  a  lot 
to  me  personally,  just  in  relation  to  con- 
fidence in  the  department  and  in  your 
ministry  being  extended  even  wider.  It  is 
a  joy  because  of  how  I  respect  your 
ministry  spirit  and  abilities  and 
character! ' ' 

Knute  Larson,  Pastor 

Former  Executive  Director 


"I  rejoice  that  Ed  has  accepted  the 
challenge  of  directing  the  CE  ministry.  It 
has  been  my  thought  for  some  time  that 
Ed  would  make  a  natural  leader  for  us. 
He  has  proven  himself  a  visionary  leader 
of  workers.  I  believe  the  Lord's  timing  is 
perfect  and  rejoice  we  are  making  this 
move.' ' 

Ray  Feather,  Pastor 

CE  Board  Member 


"I  was  elated  to  hear  of  your  selection 
as  Executive  Director  of  CE.  Your  en- 
thusiasm for  touching  the  lives  of  young 
and  old,  and  the  solid  relationships  you 
have  established  through  the  years 
should  really  help  to  solidify  the 
ministry  there.  May  God  help  you,  Ed, 
to  continue  to  dream  greater  dreams  of 
what  He  can  do  through  you." 

Ken  Brown,  Pastor 

Akron,  Ohio  (Fairlawn) 


CE  Office  Staff 

Ed  Lewis 

Executive  Director 

Dave  Atkins 

Director  of  Youth  Leadership 

Brad  Sidles 

Director  of  Administration 

Sue  Rike 

SMM  Coordinator 

Joe  Bishop 

Timothy  Teams  Coordinator 

Bruce  Barlow 

CE  Youth  Programs  Editor 

Dan  Thornton 

BNYC  Assistant  Director 

Jim  Folsom 

Administrative  Assistant 

Linda  Phelps 

Administrative  Assistant 

Steve  Garcia 

Timothy  Teams  Assistant  Coordinator 

Karen  Werner 

Financial  Assistant 

Valerie  Byers 

Receptionist/Administrative  Assistant 

Georgia  Marshall 

Production  Assistant 

Rosella  Cochran 
Resource  Room  Secretary 

We  recognize  that  your  prayer  support 
is  your  most  valuable  contribution  to  our 
ministry  and  essential  to  our  expansion. 
Thank  you  for  sharing  our  vision  and 
concerns. 

Please  Pray  for  .  .  . 

1.  Ed  as  he  leads  the  staff  in  refining 
current  ministries  and  expanding  into 
new  areas. 

2.  Linda,  Dan  and  Brad  as  they  work 
with  Ed  in  specific  areas,  helping  him 
balance  his  CE  and  FMS  work. 

3.  Dave  as  he  begins  his  new  ministry. 
Pray  for  him  as  he  develops  new  ways 
for  CE  to  assist  youth  workers  and 
strengthen  local  church  youth  ministries. 

4.  Our  entire  staff  as  we  ask  God  to 
mold  us  into  the  men  and  women  He 
desires  us  to  be  and  then  as  we  seek  to 
be  used  by  Him  in  effective  ministry. 

5.  Thousands  of  prayer  partners  to  join 
us  in  our  vision  for  aggressively  reaching 
young  people  and  shaping  their  futures. 
Pray  that,  as  a  team,  our  staff  and 
prayer  partners  will  have  the  faith  to 
allow  God  to  work  without  limits  in 
enabling  CE  to  help  church  and  youth 
ministries. 


34 


CE 


ANOTHER  BMH  -  MOODY  IMPRINT! 

Introducing  a  Publishing  Landmark  That  Will 
Forever  Change  The  Way  You  Read  Your  Bible. 


Imagine  climbing  the  jagged  bluffs  that  Moses 
ascended  on  Mount  Sinai.  Or  wandering 
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Christ  was  tempted.  Or  even  tracing  Paul's 
footsteps  through  Turkey,  Greece,  and  Italy. 

In  Hoe  Moody  Atlas  of  Bible  Lands, 
these  familiar  images  take  on  a  whole  new 
dimension  and  significance  as  you  discover 
how  God  used  the  geography  of  His  chosen 
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TO  APPRECIATE  THE 

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THE"WHERE." 

The  Moody  Atlas  adds  clarity  and  detail  to 
ever}'  Bible  event. 

You'll  learn  the  geographical  factors 
that  made  David's  escape  from  Saul  an 
astounding  success,  and  how 
;eography 
contributed 
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Baptist's  rug- 
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Discover  why  Jesus  centered  his  public  ministry 
in  the  city  of  Capernaum.  And  how  an  earth- 
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FROM  THE  GARDEN 

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Dr.  Barry  J.  Beitzel,  one  of  the  world's  leading 
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no  stone  unturned.  You'll  explore  every  Bible 
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The  Moody  Atlas  brings  an  entire 
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after  page  of  vivid  photography,  and  100 
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distinguish  color. 

There's  a  fascinating  chapter  on 
the  history  of  biblical  mapmaking.  And  a 
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HERALD  BOOKSTORE 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Grace  Village  Announces 
New  Independent  Living  Apartment  Homes 


As  Grace  Village  celebrates  its  11th  anniversary,  the 
Board  of  Directors  and  staff  are  pleased  to  announce 
plans  for  a  IOV2  acre  independent  living  apartment  home 
complex.  These  homes  will  be  duplex  and  quadplex 
type,  and  will  be  located  east  of  the  present  20-acre  retire- 
ment center. 

These  apartment-homes  will  contain  a  range, 
refrigerator,  washer,  dryer,  garbage  disposal,  automatic 
garage  door  opener,  carpet,  drapes,  and  vinyl  floor  cover- 
ing in  the  kitchen  and  bathroom.  Other  furnishings  will 
be  the  responsibility  of  the  resident. 

The  area  will  be  fully  landscaped  with  trees  and 
shrubs.  There  will  be  walking  paths,  and  access  to  the 
area  will  be  on  a  private  residential  street  with  limited 
vehicle  traffic. 


The  financial  arrangements  for  the  apartment-homes 
will  include  a  resident  deposit  invested  with  Grace 
Village  and  a  monthly  service  charge.  This  service  charge 
will  care  for  insurance,  building  and  appliance 
maintenance,  redecoration,  lawn  care,  snow  and  trash 
removal,  use  of  lounges  and  all  planned  activities  of  the 
main  building.  Other  services  which  may  be  needed  will 
be  available  at  a  nominal  charge. 

From  the  initial  days  of  operation,  the  philosophy  of 
Grace  Village  has  been  to  provide  Christian  friends  a 
place  of  fellowship  during  the  maturing  years.  Our  staff 
is  dedicated  to  a  ministry  of  concern  . .  .  and  these  new 
independent  living  units  will  add  another  dimension  to 
retirement  living.  Write  or  phone  for  further  information. 


Yes! 


Please  send  more  information 
concerning  the  following: 

□  Independent  Living  Units 

□  Available  Apartments 

□  Gifts  and  Annuities 

□  Health  Care  Facilities 

□  Cost 

Name 


Address 


City/State 


Zip 


frzc& 


iua&e> 


Christian  Retirement  Center  and  Health  Care  Facility 

Rev.  Sherwood  Durkee,  Administrator 
P.O.  Box  337  •  Winona  Lake.  Ind.  46590  •  Phone:  219/269-2499 


Brethren  Missionary  Herald 

P.O.  Box  544 

Winona  Lake.  Ind.  46590 


Nonprofit  Org. 

U.S.  Postage 

PAID 

Winona  Lake.  Ind 

Permit  No.  13 


Address 

Correction 

Requested 


BRETHREN  MISSIONARY 


*\* 


\s*     **>< 


■>'< 


\    !  '  -\ 


V3 


W 


>fiw>  - 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


Down 


from 


the 

Mountain 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 


The  final  notes  of  the  last  song  had  ended  and 
the  Brethren  began  their  descent  from  the  moun- 
tain. In  the  history  books  it  will  be  listed  as  the 
Ninety-sixth  Annual  Conference  of  the  Brethren, 
but  I  think  it  will  be  much  more  than  that.  Hope- 
fully, it  will  be  the  renewal  of  our  work  as  Breth- 
ren. 

The  main  thrust  of  the  planning  of  the  confer- 
ence centered  around  the  celebration  of  our  years 
as  a  missionary-minded  group.  Our  visitors  at  con- 
ference this  year  came  from  the  whole  globe- 
England,  France,  Germany,  Africa,  Argentina, 
and  Brazil. 

It  was  appropriate  that  the  moderator  was  Dr. 
Lester  E.  Pifer  who  has  served  so  well  as  leader  of 
the  Home  Missions  Council  for  so  many  years. 
This  being  the  year  of  his  retirement  from  his 
Home  Missions  responsibilities,  it  was  good  to 
have  him  in  the  place  of  honor  as  moderator  at 
the  conference. 

The  setting  for  the  conference  was  beautiful. 
That,  however,  comes  from  someone  who  thinks 
the  state  of  Colorado  was  one  of  God's  special 
gifts  to  America.  So,  I  am  a  bit  partial.  If  you 
have  not  visited  there,  you  have  seen  pictures 
of  lakes  and  mountains  in  their  very  special 
beauty.  So,  each  morning  and  each  day  brought 
an  extra  touch  of  feeling  that  it  is  good  to  be  on 
God's  beautiful  earth. 

There  was  overhanging  the  conference  this  year 
the  memory  of  someone  who  did  not  make  it  to 
national  conference.  Just  a  few  days  prior  to  the 
conference.  Miss  Lorrie  Shaver  was  a  passenger  on 
Flight  191  for  Dallas.  She  with  133  other  passen- 
gers died  in  that  crash  on  Friday  evening.  Lorrie 
was  a  graduate  of  Grace  College  and  was  headed 


for  Colorado  from  her  home  in  Fort  Lauderdale, 
Florida.  She  was  to  have  been  commissioned  on 
Wednesday  evening  of  conference  to  go  to 
France.  A  vacant  chair  with  her  picture  was  in 
evidence  that  night.  She  had  already  finished  her 
work  on  earth  when  the  rest  of  us  thought  she 
was  just  beginning.  She  had  indeed  ascended  the 
mountain. 

There  is  something  special  about  mountains  in 
the  Word  of  God.  Throughout  the  Bible  there 
were  great  events  that  took  place  in  the  high 
places.  The  Law  of  God  came  from  a  mountain 
and  there  was  thunder  and  lightning  and  truth 
that  has  echoed  through  the  centuries.  Moses  saw 
the  Promised  Land  from  a  mountain!  One  of  the 
great  Bible  heroes,  Caleb,  asked  for  a  mountain 
for  his  inheritance  and  the  privilege  to  remove  the 
enemy  and  to  possess  it.  Elijah  had  a  mountain- 
top  experience.  In  the  New  Testament  the  feeding 
of  the  5,000  was  on  a  mount  overlooking  Galilee. 
The  transfiguration  of  Jesus  took  place  on  a 
mountain.  The  message  of  prophecy  references  to 
conquest  and  possession  of  God's  rights  speaks  of 
Mountain  of  God. 

It  is  difficult  to  come  down  from  the  mountain 
and  to  head  back  to  the  daily  routine.  But  very 
few  have  the  privilege  of  living  on  the  mountains. 
The  rest  of  us  live  on  great  stretches  of  flat  land 
and  some  in  the  noise  of  the  city.  But  that  is  where 
we  do  our  work  and  hopefully  fulfill  the  will  of 
God  for  our  lives. 

Conference  has  ended— a  few  of  the  Brethren 
had  the  privilege  of  being  on  the  mountain  and 
enjoying  the  fellowship  with  the  Brethren.  We 
trust  that  the  period  of  refreshment  and  renewing 
will  result  in  a  blessing  to  many. 


SEPTEMBER  '  85 


BMH 


BRETHREN 
MISSIONARY 


herald 

Vol.  47        No.  9        September  1985 


The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co., 
PO.  Box  544,  1104  Kings  Highway, 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590. 
Subscription  prices:  $8.25  per 
year;  foreign,  $10.00:  special  rates 
to  churches.  Printed  by  BMH 
Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back  issues 
are  available.  One  copy.  $2.00; 
two  copies.  $3.00;  three  to  ten 
copies,  $1.50  each;  more  than  ten 
copies.  $1.25  each.  Please  include 
your  check  with  order.  (Prices  in- 
clude postage  charges.) 

NEWS  ITEMS  contained  in 
each  issue  are  presented  for  in- 
formation, and  do  not  indicate 
endorsement. 

MOVING?  Send  label  on  back 
cover  and  your  new  address. 
Please  allow  four  weeks  for  the 
change  to  be  made. 

TOLL-FREE  NUMBER  for  mer- 
chandise orders:  1-800-348-2756. 


Editor,  Charles  Turner 

Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 

Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker, 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson 
Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 


4  Unlimited  Potential 

9  Is  Jesus  Lord  in  The  Bad  Times? 

12  Living  on  the  Cutting  Edge 

16  Pygmies  —  Kings  of  the  Jungle 

19  Guatemala  —  The  Land  of  Striking  Distinctions 

20  My  Interrupted  Letter 
22  We  Saw  Beautiful  Feet 

24  National  WMC  President's  Address,  1985 

26  Touch  the  World  Through  Church  Planting 

28  Planting  A  Church  in  the  Bible  Belt 

31  How  to  Get  Your  Prayers  Answered  —  Every  Time! 

32  The  Prayer  Book 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters      2     • 
•  BMH  News  Report  15,  34  • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 

35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

The  newly  elected  officers  of  the  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Board  were:  Chairman,  Charles  W. 
Mayes;  Vice  Chairman,  W.  A.  Ogden;  Secretary, 
Homer  A.  Kent,  Sr.;  Treasurer,  Louis  S.  Bauman 
.  .  .  The  Portland,  OR,  campaign  of  Billy 
Graham  reported  that  384,500  persons  heard 
him  speak. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Ground-breaking  services  were  held  at 
Englewood,  Ohio,  at  the  site  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Village.  The  speaker  was  Dr.  Russell 
Barnard  .  .  .  There  was  a  record-breaking  at- 
tendance of  164  at  the  morning  worship  service 
of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Myerstown,  PA. 
Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Raymond  Thompson  joined  the  staff  of  the 
Brethren  Navajo  Mission  after  having  served  for 
13  years  as  administrative  assistant  for  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions  .  .  .  Stan  Nairn  was  ordained 
to  the  Christian  ministry  at  Middlebranch,  Ohio. 


LETTERS 

Dear  Readers: 

In  our  July  editorial,  we  mentioned  the 
matter  of  some  changes  to  be  made  this 
winter  in  the  Herald  magazine.  We  appreciate 
the  response  to  this  item.  At  national  con- 
ference in  Estes  Park,  Colorado,  many  of  you 
mentioned  your  concern  about  this  subject. 
Your  expressions  of  concern  centered  main- 
ly on  "too  much  change"  and  "a  move  away 
from  from  the  past  purposes  of  the  Herald." 
Please  rest  assured  that  the  changes  will  be 
for  the  best!  There  will  be  continuing  infor- 
mation from  and  about  the  boards  of  the 
Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches,  as 
well  as  news  from  people  and  churches.  The 
magazine  will  continue  to  be  the  source  of 
information  about  the  entire  fellowship. 

Thanks  for  your  comments  and  concern, 
I  am  glad  you  care  so  very  much! 

CWT 

Cover:  Marvin  Goodman  tells  a  group  of  Cen- 
tral African  pygmies  about  Jesus  Christ.  Photo 
by  John  W.  Zielasko. 


BMH 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


(J    .    N    .    L    .    I    .    M    .    I    .    T 


D 


POTENTIAL 


by  Rob  Wilkms 


In  the  lobby  of  a  large 
Arizona  motel,  shut  inside  a 
phone  booth,  Tom  Roy  lost 
control. 

"I  didn't  just  sob,"  Roy 
says,  "I  cried  uncontrollably 
for  about  15  minutes." 

His  dream  of  being  a  pro- 
fessional baseball  player  had 
just  been  crushed.  The  San 
Francisco  Giants  organiza- 
tion had  released  him  after 
he  hurt  his  arm. 

Tom  Roy  had  committed 
his  life  to  baseball.  During  long  childhood 
winters  in  Milwaukee,  he  played  every  day 
in  the  snow.  Eddie  Matthews,  Warren  Spahn 
and  Hank  Aaron  stared  at  him  from  his 
bedroom  wall.  He  kept  statistics  on  earned 
run  averages,  batting  averages,  homeruns, 
steals  and  anything  else  that  seemed  im- 
mensely important. 

"I  was  a  fanatic,"  Roy  says.  "I  lived 
baseball." 

And  now  the  realization  came  hard.  The 
dream  had  become  a  vapor. 

Seventeen  years  later,  Tom  Roy  stands  on 
a  baseball  diamond  near  Detroit.  Profes- 
sional athletes  surround  him.  In  the  stands 
are  children.  An  endless  chain  of  licorice, 
mitts,  gum,  hats,  bubbles  and  whispers. 

"Is  Parrish  coming?"  "Are  you  left  hand- 
ed?" "\bu  can  be  Johnny  Grubb  then." 
"Can  we  get  autographs?"  "Where's  Lance?" 

Tom  Roy  loves  the  sight.  Partly  because 


Tom  Roy,  Director 
of  Unlimited  Potential 


of  the  energy  and  respect. 
Partly  because  he  sees  his 
own  childhood  reflected.  But 
mostly  because  he  has  the 
opportunity  to  share  with  the 
children. 

About  baseball,  yes,  and 
something  more  important. 
For  years  Tom  Roy  had 
nothing  to  live  for.  The 
dream  of  baseball  was  gone. 
Forever,  he  thought. 

"I  had  no  purpose,"  Roy 
says.  "None  at  all.  I  was  ab- 
solutely destroyed.  I  really  gave  up  on  life." 
He  partied  because  there  was  nothing  else 
to  do.  He  had  gone  to  school  to  become  a 
radio  announcer.  Just  before  he  was  to  leave 
to  take  a  job,  he  went  out  on  a  date  that 
changed  his  life. 

"She  brought  a  Bible  along.  I  just  about 
fell  out  of  the  car.  It  was  sort  of  like  —  get 
that  thing  out  of  here,"  Roy  says,  crossing 
his  fingers. 

Tom  Roy  says  he  had  no  use  for  God.  He 
had  been  very  religious  —  sang  in  the  choir, 
served  as  altarboy,  went  through  confirma- 
tion .  .  .  that  sort  of  thing.  And  God,  he  says, 
had  honored  him  by  denying  him  his  dream. 
After  understanding  that  salvation  wasn't 
based  on  works,  Tom  Roy  accepted  Christ 
nearly  IV2  years  later.  A  personal  relation- 
ship with  God  began  to  fill  his  life  with 
purpose. 

On  the  recommendation  of  his  pastor. 


"We  really  care  about  these  kids,"  Roy  explains.  "And  we  feel 
we  have  something  important  to  tell  them." 


GRACE 


SEPTEMBER  '85  , 


Roy  decided  to  come  to  Grace  Col- 
lege. He  had  planned  on  becom- 
ing a  pastor. 

God's  will  would  have  it 
differently. 

The  baseball  clinic  was  beginn- 
ing. On  this  particular  day,  it  is  in 
Detroit. 

There  are  "stations"  scattered 
over  the  outfield.  A  couple  of  the 
Toronto  Blue  Jays,  in  town  to  play 
the  Tigers,  are  at  the  clinic. 

Jesse  Barfield,  an  outfielder,  is 
giving  a  talk  on  hitting:  "To  get  a 
proper  grip,"  he  explains,  "is  just  like 
you  are  watering  the  lawn."  Tony 
Fernandez,  the  Blue  Jays'  short- 
stop, is  watching  the  kids'  forms  as 
they  field  a  baseball.  He  struggles 
with  his  English:  "Pretend  it's  a 
whopper.  How  do  you  say  it?  A 
Burger  King  Whopper." 

Two  of  the  Tigers  are  also  on 
hand  —  Frank  Tananna  and 
Johnny  Grubb.  Tananna,  the 
recently  acquired  left  hander  from 
Texas,  is  giving  a  demonstration  on 
pitching:  "What's  important  for  a 
pitcher?"  he  asks.  "To  throw 
strikes."  Children  listen  intently,  the 
energy  of  wide  eyes  underneath 
baseball  caps.  At  another  station 
they  practice  running,  arms  pum- 
ping —  "ear  to  backpocket,  ear  to 
backpocket."  The  laughter  carries, 
like  it  will  on  summer  days. 


It  is  obvious  that  Roy  and  the 
players  love  the  children.  There  is 
no  gimmick.  They  are  not  in- 
terested in  building  fan  clubs.  There 
is  no  element  of  greed  —  the  clinic 
is  free. 

"We  really  care  about  these  kids," 
Roy  explains.  "And  we  feel  we  have 
something  important  to  tell  them." 

Tom  Roy  never  lost  his  love  for 
baseball. 

Even  when  his  dream  of  playing 
it  professionally  died.  Even  when 
he  tried  to  pursue  becoming  a 
pastor.  Even  when  there  seemed  to 
be  no  practical  reason  for  that  in- 
tense love. 

"I  really  loved  the  game  too 
much,"  Roy  says.  "It  was  still  close 
to  being  number  one  in  my  life.  I 
really  had  a  heart  for  spiritual 
things,  but  I  knew  baseball.  I  didn't 
really  know  the  Bible.  And  so  when 
push  came  to  shove,  I  took 
baseball." 

The  people  at  Grace  College, 
however,  had  a  tremendous  impact 
on  his  life. 

"It  was  a  dramatic  change  for 
me,"  Roy  says.  "Role  models  were 
probably  the  biggest  change.  I  had 
been  used  to  baseball  types  (as  role 
models)  and  that  kind  of  life  —  the 
self-centeredness.  I  was  very  goal 
oriented,  but  I  saw  men  at  Grace 
who  had  purpose  in  their  lives. 


Christian  major  league  baseball  figures  play  an  important  role  in  U.P's  success. 

6   SEPTEMBER '85  GRACE 


Their  lives  were  moving  in  a  direc- 
tion. I  came  to  an  understanding  of 
servanthood." 

He  also  continued  to  be  involv- 
ed with  sports.  During  his  college 
years  at  Grace,  Tom  was  the  assis- 
tant softball  coach.  With  Karen's  in- 
come, (the  girl  with  the  Bible  in  the 
car  and  now  his  wife),  the  Roys 
were  able  to  survive  financially. 

In  addition,  Roy  was  beginning 
to  see  that  sports  and  ministry 
could  be  effectively  combined. 

At  the  time,  however,  he  never 
anticipated  the  unlimited  potential 
of  the  ministry. 

Tom  Roy  steps  to  the 
microphone  near  home  plate.  The 
kids  are  in  the  stands,  anxious  to 
hear.  "The  real  reason  we  are  here 
is  to  tell  you  about  the  person  of 
Jesus  Christ." 

Roy  then  asks  each  of  the  players 
to  give  a  quick  testimony  of  what 
Christ  has  meant  in  each  of  their 
lives. 

"Things  aren't  always  easy  in 
baseball,"  Barfield  says.  "There  are 
a  lot  of  pressures.  But  I  tell  you 
what,  it  makes  it  a  whole  lot  of  fun 
when  you  can  look  up  and  say, 
'Hey,  I  went  0-for-4,  but  somebody 
still  loves  me.'  " 

Tananna,  who  signed  with  the 
California  Angels  in  1974,  said  he 
became  a  Christian  after  tasting  the 
best  of  what  the  world  had  to  offer. 

"I  was  single  at  the  time,  and  I 
was  living  a  life  that  everyone  said 
should  produce  happiness.  I  had  all 
the  money,  I  had  a  real  nice  home, 
I  partied  all  the  time,  And  from  the 
magazines  that  I  was  reading  at  the 
time,  I  was  a  success.  Boy,  wouldn't 
everyone  like  to  be  Frank  Tananna? 

"On  the  outside,  that's  the  way 
it  looked.  On  the  inside  I  was  bar- 
ren. There  was  nobody  home." 
Christ,  Tananna  goes  on  to  explain, 
filled  the  inner  void. 

"I  have  the  love  of  Christ  in  my 
heart,"  says  Fernandez,  "and  I  want 
to  tell  you  something  —  God  loves 
me.  And  because  he  loves  me  — 
I  love  you.  God  sent  his  son,  Jesus 


Christ  to  die  for  you  and  me  and  for 
all  our  sins.  Not  because  we  deserve 
it,  but  because  of  his  mercy." 

Ernie  Harwell,  long-time  radio 
voice  of  the  Tigers,  finished  the 
testimony  time. 

"Jesus  Christ  has  put  my  life  in 
the  right  priority,"  Harwell  says. 
"Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  all  these  things  will  be  done  un- 
to you.  I  know  that  the  first  thing 
and  the  most  important  thing  to  me 
is  how  I  walk  with  the  Lord." 

Tom  Roy  follows  and  gives  an  in- 
vitation. He  compares  salvation 
with  rounding  the  basepaths:  first 
base  is  knowing  of  the  love  of  God; 
second  base,  knowing  your  own 
sin;  third  base,  knowing  that  by 
faith,  you  are  saved  and  not  by 
good  works;  and  home  base,  put- 
ting your  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  and 
his  work  on  the  cross. 

After  college,  Tom  Roy  was 
satisfied  with  his  coaching  job  at 
Grace.  He  was,  he  says,  discipling 
young  men.  That  was  before  the 
Billy  Graham  crusades. 

For  two  consecutive  years  Roy 
attended  the  crusades  and  worked 
with  professional  baseball  stars  in  an 
evangelistic  outreach."  They  had 
great  success. 

Roy  was  beginning  to  feel 
convicted. 

"God  was  beginning  to  speak  to 
me  through  circumstances  and 
people,  about  using  my  abilities  to 
share  the  plan  of  salvation,"  he 
explained. 

After  the  second  crusade  in 
1980,  Roy  incorporated  an 
evangelistic,  non-profit  baseball 
ministry.  For  the  first  couple  of 
years,  the  work  was  part-time.  For 
the  last  year-and-a-half,  it  has  been 
full  time. 

Roy  chose  an  appropriate  name 
for  the  ministry  —  Unlimited 
Potential. 

We  had  dreams  of  what  it  was 
going  to  be  like  and  the  success  we 
could  achieve,"  Roy  says.  "So  far  it 
has  exceeded  those  dreams." 

Working  through  churches  sur- 
rounding  the    ministry   sites   and 


Tom  Roy's  love  for  Christ  is  expressed  to  hundreds  of  kids  each  month  through  this  ministry 


Baseball  Chapels,  Roy  coordinates 
a  series  of  clinics  in  major  and 
minor  league  cities  throughout  the 
country.  Since  going  full-time,  Roy 
has  had  a  number  of  opportunities 
to  take  the  ministry  into  foreign 
countries  —  China,  Puerto  Rico, 
San  Salvador,  Canada,  Africa  and 
others.  He  also  works  closely  with 
his  contacts  for  follow-up  ministry. 

The  ministry  sounds  glamorous 
—  professional  athletes,  travel,  ex- 
citement. What  it  is,  Roy  insists,  is 
hard  work. 

"It  was  glamorous  for  the  first 
month  and  nice  the  second  month. 
After  that,  it  became  ministry." 

Ministry  can  be  anything  but  fun: 
"If  you  do  it  every  day,  it  really  gets 
to  be  more  of  a  reality.  It  gets  to  be 
a  tough,  tough  thing  to  do." 

Two  years  ago,  he  was  on  the 
road  270  days.  Last  year,  170  days. 
Being  away  from  family  and  friends 
is  the  worst  part. 

"There  are  a  lot  of  intensely  lone- 
ly moments  on  the  road,"  Roy  says. 
"There  are  a  lot  of  tough  decisions 
to  be  made,  a  lot  of  tensions,  a  lot 
of  spiritual  opposition.  On  my  own, 
I  couldn't  handle  it.  But  God  has 
given  me  a  super  wife  with  a  super 
attitude  and  has  given  me  His 
Word." 

Commitment,  Roy  adds,  is  not 


an  easy  word. 

Roy  says  he  remembers  one 
point  in  his  ministry  when  he 
wondered  if  it  was  worth  it.  He  was 
sitting  in  the  top  row  of  the  bleacher 
seats  in  Puerto  Rico  A  clinic  had 
just  been  rained  out.  The  sun  was 
shining  on  a  empty  and  puddled 
field. 

I  was  talking  to  God  and  1  was 
mad,"  Roy  recalls.  "I  was  sitting 
there  going:  Why?  Why.  God.  bring 
me  all  the  way  over  here  —  away 
from  my  family  and  friends  —  and 
then  this  happens?  And  then  the 
answer  came  to  me  from  God: 
'Sure,  you  want  to  be  with  me 
when  things  are  going  well,  but 
when  things  are  going  badly,  you 
don't.'  I  can't  tell  you  how  that  has 
affected  me." 

But  don't  get  Roy  wrong.  The 
ministry,  he  emphasizes,  is  laced 
with  joy.  The  lonely  nights,  the 
tedious  details,  the  endless  phone 
calls,  the  worry  over  support,  the 
rain-outs,  the  spiritual  oppression, 
the  long  trips  and  the  homeless 
feelings  are  nothing  when  put  into 
an  eternal  perspective. 

At  Detroit,  the  clinic  is  over.  For 
a  dozen  or  so  children,  eternal  life 
with  Christ  has  just  begun. 

Tom  Roy  needs  to  say  nothing 
about  his  joy.  □ 


GRACE 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
August  1985 


Living  Memorials, 

200  Seminary  Drive, 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


MX 


Given  by: 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Clayton 
Skellenger 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Dewey  Melton 
Rev.  &  Mrs.  Gordon  Bracker 


Mr.  &  Mrs.  James  Woods 
Rev.  William  Schaffer 
Mrs.  Nancy  Brath 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Carl  Long 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Wes  Miller 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Charles  Thomas 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Greg  Weimer 
Mrs.  Allen  L.  Custer 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Marvin  Good 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Phillip  Griswold 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  H.  V.  Johnson 
Mr.  Bill  Fulkerson 
Mr.  Gregory  E.  Taylor 

Majorie  Carper 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Charles 

Dougherty 

Rev.  &  Mrs.  Don  Ogden 

Florida  Power  &  Light  Co. 

Mr.  T.  W.  Harrison 

Mr.  R.  F.  Poole 

Mr.  M.  Catani 

Mrs.  Thelma  M.  Gilbert 

Mr.  Fred  Hughes 

Mr.  D.  O.  Lee 

Mr.  K.  Nance 

Mr.  B.  P.  Cordell 

Mr.  L.  P.  Delegal 

Mr.  J.  Engwiller 

Mr.  T.  L.  Patton 


In  Memory  of: 

Walter  Wedertz 
Steven  Plant 
Majorie  Sollenberger 
Owen  Baer 
Mildred  Kinsey 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Mildred  Kinsey 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Mildred  Kinsey 
Michael  Alexander 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Irene  Eckert 
Mildred  Kinsey 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Garris  Taylor 
Mildred  Kinsey 

Lorrie  Shaver 
Mildred  Kinsey 
Lorrie  Shaver 


The 

Corporation 

Given  By: 

American  Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc. 
AMP,  Inc. 

Mrs.  Lu  Ann  Inman 
Miss  Donna  Fluke 
Mr.  Kenneth  Sanders 

Program 

Appleton  Papers,  Inc. 
Campbell  Soup  Company 

Mr.  Harold  Reffner 
Mr.  Delmar  Foor 
Mr.  Jay  Reimer 

Columbus  and  S.  Ohio  Electric 

Mr.  Raymond  Heimann 

Dresser  Foundation 

Mr.  Ervin  Walvatne 

A  Blessing  to 
Grace  Schools 

Eli  Lilly  and  Company 
Firestone  Tire  and  Rubber  Co. 

First  Interstate  Bank 

Dr.  Paul  Klink 

Mr.  Harold  Henderson 

Mr.  Dwight  Stair 

Mr.  Charles  Doyen 

SEPTEMBER  '85 


GRACE 


by  Max  Anders 


One  of  my  favorite  stories  growing  up  was  "Old  Yeller,"  the  story  of  a  pioneer  family 
carving  out  an  existence  on  the  wild  edge  of  wilderness,  who  adopt  a  huge  "old  yeller" 
dog  after  it  saves  their  boys  from  a  pack  of  wild  pigs.  The  dog  lives  as  a  beloved  member 
of  the  family  until  one  day  it  again  saves  their  lives  from  an  attack  by  a  rabid  wolf. 

In  the  process,  however,  Old  Yeller  contracts  rabies  himself,  and  the  lovable  lop-eared 
mutt  is  reduced  to  a  snarling,  mindless  set  of  slashing  teeth.  And  the  son  who  owned 
Old  Yeller  was  faced  with  the  incomprehensible  responsibility  of  shooting  the  dog  which 
had  twice  saved  his  life. 

In  a  tear-jerking  scene,  the  father  comes  out  to  console  the  son  in  the  loss  of  his 
dog  ...  a  blow  which  the  whole  family  felt.  I'll  never  forget  the  tender  words  of  wisdom 
his  father  gave:  "Son,  sometimes  life  just  hauls  off  and  socks  you  one  right  in  the 
stomach  .  .  .  and  there's  no  explaining  it.  And  all  you  can  do  is  hang  on  until  you  catch 
your  breath,  and  then  start  livin'  again." 

When  life  hauls  off  and  socks  you  one  right  in  the  stomach  .  .  .  when  you  stand  there, 
immobilized  by  the  searing  pain,  doubled  over,  mouth  agape,  unable  to  breath  spiritual- 
ly or  emotionally,  one  question  dominates  the  horizon:  "Is  Jesus  still  Lord  of  your  life?" 
It's  easy  for  Jesus  to  be  Lord  in  the  good  times.  But  is  He  also  Lord  in  the  bad?  It's  easy 
to  have  faith  in  Him  during  the  good  times,  but  do  we  have  faith  in  Him  during  the 
bad?  How  easy  it  is  when  the  river  of  life  is  flowing  our  way  .  .  .  when  everything's  com- 
ing up  roses.  But  when  the  river  of  life  slows  to  a  trickle,  how  is  it  then?  Is  He  Lord  in 


CE 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


the  bad  times,  or  only  the  good? 

Perhaps  C.S.  Lewis  said  it  best  in  his  book,  A  Grief 
Observed:  "When  you  are  happy,  so  happy  that  you  have 
no  sense  of  needing  Him,  so  happy  that  you  are  tempted 
to  feel  his  claims  upon  you  as  an  interruption,  if  you 
remember  yourself  and  turn  to  Him  with  gratitude  and 
praise,  you  will  be — or  so  it  feels — welcomed  with  open 
arms.  But  go  to  him  when  your  need  is  desperate,  when 
all  other  help  is  vain,  and  what  do  you  find?  A  door  slamm- 
ed in  your  face,  and  a  sound  of  bolting  and  double  bolting 
on  the  inside.  After  that,  silence.  You  might  as  well  turn 
away." 

A  Christian  must  be  able  to  stand  nose  to  nose  with  this 
mind-bending  truth  and  not  blink:  A  good  God  allows  His 
children  to  suffer.  Period.  We  can  discuss  why.  We  can 
ponder  the  consequences.  We  can  debate  the  rationale. 
But  the  two  towering  truths  remain  unchanged:  God  is 
good.  And  His  children  suffer. 

Until  both  truths  are  embraced,  a  Christian  will  never 
go  beyond  spiritual  infancy;  for  the  road  to  transformation 
always  goes  through  the  tunnel  of  trials.  So  be  honest.  How 
do  you  do  in  the  bad  times? 

The  central  passage  in  all  the  Scripture  on  this  matter 
is  perhaps  James  1:2-4,  where  we  read:  "Consider  it  all 
joy,  my  brethren,  when  you  encounter  various  trials,  know- 
ing that  the  testing  of  your  faith  produces  endurance.  And 
let  endurance  have  its  perfect  result,  that  you  may  be 
perfect  and  complete  lacking  in  nothing." 

TRIALS  ARE  UNAVOIDABLE:  There  are  three  major 
observations  we  can  make  from  this  passage.  The  first  is 
that  trials  are  unavoidable.  They  WILL  happen!  James  said 
count  it  all  joy  "when,"  not  "if."  When  trials  come  our  way, 
instead  of  counting  it  all  joy,  we  usually  respond  with  the 
knee-jerk  reaction,  "Why  me?!?" 

Chuck  Swindoll  tells  the  story  of  a  man  who  was  on  his 
way  home  from  work  on  the  subway.  He  was  prone  to  mo- 
tion sickness,  he  had  had  a  big  lunch  which  didn't  agree 
with  him,  he  had  worked  hard  all  afternoon  in  a  smoke 
filled  conference  room,  and  he  boarded  the  subway  with 


When  life  hauls  off  and  socks  you 
one  right  in  the  stomach  .  .  .  when 
you  stand  there,  immobilized  by  the 
searing  pain,  doubled  over,  mouth 
agape,  unable  to  breath  spiritually  or 
emotionally,  one  question  dominates 
the  horizon:  "Is  Jesus  still  Lord  of 
your  life?" 


an  already  upset  stomach.  He  was  jammed  onto  the  train, 
the  last  one  to  be  able  to  get  on,  and  the  automatic  door 
closed  right  at  the  end  of  his  nose.  And  so  as  he  was  stan- 
ding there,  facing  out  the  closed  doorway,  things  were 
flashing  by  ninety  miles  an  hour,  and  the  longer  he  stood 
there,  the  sicker  he  got. 

The  train  pulled  up  to  the  next  stop,  but  he  did  not  want 
to  get  off.  However,  the  train  was  so  full,  no  one  could 


get  on,  even  though  a  small  crowd  was  pressed  up  near 
the  slowing  train.  The  lurching  and  jerking  of  the  stopping 
train  was  the  last  straw  for  the  fella's  motion  sickness.  The 
door  opened  ...  up  came  his  lunch,  all  over  the  man  stan- 
ding on  the  platform  waiting.  The  door  closed  without 
anyone  getting  on  or  off,  and  the  train  sped  on  down  the 
track.  The  unfortunate  man  who's  chest  had  become  the 
depository  for  the  sick  man's  lunch  turned  to  the  person 
standing  next  to  him,  raised  his  palms  to  the  heavens  and 
cried,  "Why  Me!?!" 

Sooner  or  later,  the  doors  of  life  open,  and  someone's 
lunch  is  deposited  on  our  chest,  and  we  cry,  "Why  me?!? 
Why  this!?!?  Why  now?!?" 

And  that  is  what  James  is  trying  to  answer.  But  the  first 
observation  we  make  is  that  troubles  are  unavoidable.  They 
WILL  come.  And  we  will  gain  little  headway  in  overcom- 
ing them  by  asking  "Why  me?"  More  instructive  is  for  us 
to  follow  with  the  next  two  observations. 

TRIALS  MAKE  US  SPIRITUALLY  STRONG:  James 
says  consider  it  all  joy  .  .  .  knowing  that  the  "testing  .  .  ." 
We  must  look  at  the  word  for  testing.  The  Greek  word  is 
peirazein.  It  does  not  suggest  a  solicitation  to  moral  evil 
(as  the  word  "temptations"  in  KJV  might  be 
misunderstood),  but  rather  a  test  designed  to  validate  the 
finished  product,  or  to  refine  the  finished  product. 

We  might  say  that  gold  is  "peirazein-ed"  in  the  refine- 
ment process. 

A  young  bird  is  said  to  ''peirazein"  its  wings. 

The  Queen  of  Sheba  was  said  to  have  come  to  "peira- 
zein" Solomon. 

God  was  said  to  "peirazein"  the  faith  of  Abraham  when 
he  appeared  to  be  demanding  the  life  of  Isaac. 

In  his  commentary  on  James,  William  Barclay  writes: 
"All  kinds  of  experience  will  come  to  us  to  purify  and 
validate  us.  There  will  be  the  test  of  the  sorrows  and  disap- 
pointments which  seek  to  take  our  faith  away.  There  will 
be  the  test  of  the  seductions  which  seek  to  lure  us  from 
the  right  way.  There  will  be  tests  of  the  dangers,  the 
sacrifices,  the  unpopularity  which  the  Christian  way  must 
so  often  involves.  But  they  are  not  meant  to  make  us  fall: 
they  are  meant  to  be  defeated.  They  are  not  meant  to  make 
us  weary:  they  are  meant  to  make  us  stronger.  Therefore 


10 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


CE 


we  should  not  bemoan  them:  we  should  rejoice  in  them. 
The  Christian  is  like  the  athlete.  The  heavier  the  course 
of  training  he  undergoes,  the  more  he  is  glad,  because  he 
knows  that  it  is  fitting  him  all  the  better  for  victorious  effort." 

TRIALS  ARE  MEANT  TO  COMPLETE  US  IN  CHRIST: 
Finally,  we  are  to  learn  endurance,  which  shall  make  us 
mature  .  .  .  complete.  The  word  for  endurance  is 
"hupomone,"  meaning  "to  remain  under."  In  his  commen- 
tary on  James,  Spiros  Zohiates  writes:  "Have  you  ever  seen 
a  blacksmith  work  with  a  piece  of  iron?  He  holds  it  in  the 
fire  to  soften  it  up  and  make  it  pliable.  That  is  exactly  why 
God  permits  the  testing  of  our  faith  by  trials.  He  wants  us 
to  acquire  patience,  to  acquire  pliability.  If  you  and  I  are 
constantly  out  of  the  fire  of  affliction,  we  become  stiff  and 
useless.  God  wants  to  reshape  us  according  to  His  image, 
for  in  the  fall  of  Adam  we  lost  our  divine  image,  or  divine 
shape." 

The  one  who  is  "hupomone"  remains  under  God's 
refinement  ...  in  God's  fire  until  God's  work  in  him  is  done. 
If  Jesus  is  Lord  of  our  life  even  in  the  bad  times,  we  must 
lean  into  the  pain,  remain  spiritually  sensitive,  obedient, 
faithful.  Whatever  the  test,  it  must  be  gone  through  God's 
way.  What  is  the  pain,  what  is  the  difficulty,  what  is  the 
test  you  are  facing?  Is  it  a  difficult  marriage,  disappointing 
family  relationships,  financial  difficulties,  physical  pain, 
emotional  turmoil,  moral  temptations,  anxiety  about  the 
future  .  .  .  ?  If  we  fail  to  go  through  it  God's  way,  we  hurt 
ourselves,  we  hurt  those  around  us,  and  we  hurt  the  cause 
of  Christ. 

We  can  bolt  from  the  ranks  if  we  choose,  and  squirm 
out  of  God's  fire  ...  or  we  can  refuse  to  be  softened  even 
though  we  remain  in  the  fire.  But  then  we  lose  twice:  once 
because  of  the  pain,  and  twice  because  we  lose  God's  best 
for  us.  The  refining  pot  is  for  silver  and  the  furnace  for  gold, 
but  the  Lord  refines  the  heart  (Pr.  17:3). 

Again,  we  quote  C.S.  Lewis  who  wrote:  "Imagine 
yourself  as  a  living  house."  God  comes  in  to  rebuild  that 
house.  At  first,  perhaps,  you  can  understand  what  He  is 


If  Jesus  is  Lord  of  our  life  even  in 
the  bad  times,  we  must  lean  into  the 
pain,  remain  spiritually  sensitive,  obe- 
dient, faithful.  Whatever  the  test,  it 
must  be  gone  through  God's  way. 


doing.  He  is  getting  the  drains  right  and  stopping  the  leaks 
in  the  roof  and  so  on  .  .  .  But  presently  He  starts  knocking 
the  house  about  in  a  way  that  hurts  abominably  and  does 
not  seem  to  make  any  sense.  What  on  earth  is  He  up  to? 
The  explanation  is  that  He  is  building  quite  a  different  house 
from  the  one  you  thought  of — throwing  out  a  new  wing 
here,  putting  on  an  extra  floor  there,  running  up  towers, 
making  courtyards.  You  thought  you  were  going  to  be 
made  into  a  decent  little  cottage:  but  He  is  building  a  palace. 
He  intends  to  come  and  live  in  it  Himself." 

This  is  a  tough  one.  We  believe,  but  Oh,  Lord  .  .  .  please 
help  our  unbelief!  When  dispair  clutches  like  a  banchee  at 
our  ankles,  grant  that  we  might  not  be  doomed  to  drag 
it  through  life  with  us  like  Marley's  chains.  Grant  that  by 


your  grace,  through  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  might 
grab  ahold  of  these  truths  with  sanctified  tenacity,  and  never 
let  them  go:  that  you  are  good  .  .  .  that  trials  make  us 
strong  .  .  .  that  your  will  never  take  us  where  your  grace 
will  not  keep  us  .  .  .  and  with  hope  fixed  in  heaven,  may 


we  count  it  all  joy  when  we  encounter  various  trials,  know- 
ing that  the  testing  of  our  faith  produces  endurance,  and 
that  we  may  let  endurance  have  its  perfect  result,  that  we 
may  be  perfect,  mature,  and  complete,  lacking  in  nothing. 
May  Jesus  be  Lord  in  the  bad  times,  as  well  as  in  the  good. 
□ 


Dr.  Max  Anders  is  pastor  of  the  Grace  Com- 
munity church,  Marietta,  Georgia,  and  a  visiting 
professor  in  Christian  Education  at  Grace 
Theological  Seminary  and  Dallas  Theological 
Seminary.  He  has  been  a  key  speaker  at  GBC 
Christian  Education's  National  CE  Convention. 


CE 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


11 


Living 

on  the 

Cutting 

Edge 


Bob  Nicholson,  youth  pastor  at  the  North  Kokomo,  Indiana,  GBC. 


Two  years  ago  Bob  Nicholson 
struggled  with  an  inner  tension.  Begin- 
ning his  freshman  year  at  Grace  Col- 
lege, he  wanted  to  be  involved  in 
ministry. 

A  growing  youth  ministry  in  his 
home  church  and  a  summer  on 
Operation  Barnabas  primed  him  for 
service.  He  was  still  on  a  mountain  top 
when  he  came  to  Grace. 

Something  was  happening  inside  of 
Bob  that  made  him  dream  about  a 
particular  kind  of  ministry.  He  wasn't 
satisfied  "just  to  fit  in  somewhere." 

"I  wanted  to  be  on  the  cutting  edge 
of  ministry,  "  says  Bob.  "I  desperately 
wanted  to  be  in  charge  of  some  young 
people  and  to  be  their  pastor.  I  wanted 


to  be  in  a  place  where  I  could  put  into 
practice  what  I  knew  about  youth 
ministry." 

Though  that  was  Bob's  desire,  he's 
quick  to  admit  that  it  wasn't  long 
before  he  buried  himself  in  school  ac- 
tivity and  his  strong  ministry  desire 
waned. 

Then  a  phone  call  came  from 
Kokomo,  Indiana.  Duke  Wallace, 
pastor  of  the  North  Kokomo  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  challenged  Bob  to 
be  his  youth  pastor.  Wallace,  who  had 
been  Bob's  pastor  at  the  Mansfield, 
Ohio,  Woodville  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  knew  that  Bob  had  the 
necessary  qualities  and  experience  to 
lead  20  teens. 


In  February  of  1984,  Bob  began 
what  many  would  see  as  a  long  grind. 
Every  Friday  afternoon  he'd  drive  90 
minutes  to  Kokomo  and  have  a  full 
afternoon  and  evening  of  meeting  with 
teens  for  one-on-one  discipleship. 
Somewhere  around  11:30  p.m.  he'd 
make  it  to  bed.  The  next  day  his 
schedule  began  at  7:30  a.m.  and 
brought  him  back  to  the  Wallaces' 
home  around  8:30  p.m.  Sunday 
would  be  packed  with  meetings.  He 
usually  returned  to  his  Grace  dorm 
after  midnight.  Then  it  was  the 
discipline  of  classes  and  homework 
throughout  the  week  so  he  could 
devote  Friday  afternoon  through  Sun- 
day to  a  group  of  kids  at  Kokomo. 


12 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


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After  three  semesters  and  two  sum- 
mers, Bob  regularly  ministers  to  about 
45  high  school  and  junior  high  teens. 
When  Joy  Explosions  provide  church 
kids  a  special  opportunity  to  invite 
friends,  the  numbers  grow  past  100 
with  an  additional  30  adult  leaders. 

Bob  leads  a  group  of  10  youth 
sponsors,  ranging  in  age  from  17  to 
47,  and  has  a  full  program  for  discipl- 
ing  young  people  and  giving  them 
ministry  opportunities.  His  Gospel 
Team,  a  singing  and  ministry  group  of 
16  youth,  recently  completed  a  tour 
that  included  ministry  in  Canada. 

From  a  brief  overview  of  his  grow- 
ing ministry,  it's  obvious  that  this  21 
year-old  has  had  several  years  of  train- 
ing in  youth  ministry.  That  schooling 
began  at  the  Woodville  GBC  in  the 
spring  of  1980. 

A  new  resident  of  Mansfield,  Ohio, 
Bob  shopped  around  for  churches. 
Not  happy  with  what  he  found,  his 
spiritual  life  went  dormant. 

From  his  first  commitment  to  Christ 
two  years  earlier,  Bob  knew  that  he 
wanted  to  be  a  pastor.  He  enjoyed 
solid  growth  in  a  church  in  Nashville, 
Tennessee.  But  then  he  moved  to 
Ohio  at  age  16  and  now  nothing  was 
clicking  spiritually. 

About  the  time  he  had  given  up  on 
church  hunting  a  friend  at  school  told 
Bob  about  his  dad's  church.  Bob 
joined  Greg  Wallace  in  attending  a 
Wednesday  night  youth  celebration. 

"I  was  astounded  by  the  commit- 
ment of  the  young  people  and  by 
pastor  Dave's  teaching,"  recalls  Bob. 

Referring  to  Dave  Atkins,  then 
youth  pastor  for  the  Woodville  GBC, 
Bob  continues,  "He  had  everyone's  at- 
tention. There  were  over  90  kids  there 
and  I  couldn't  believe  how  hungry  they 
were  for  the  truth  and  how  serious 
they  were  about  it." 

That  was  Bob's  first  exposure  to  the 
Grace  Brethren  Church.  His  search  for 
a  church  home  stopped.  "It  was  exact- 
ly what  I  wanted  in  a  church,"  says 
Bob.  "I  wanted  to  sit  down  with  the  Bi- 
ble and  really  study  it  and  have  some- 
one teach  me  how  to  integrate  it  into 
my  life.  1  had  no  idea  how  to  do  that." 

The  Bible  teaching  he  received  at 
the  GBC  met  his  need.  "I  started 
eating  up  the  Word.  It  changed  my  life. 
The  Grace  Brethren  Church  really 
lives  up  to  its  motto  about  the  Bible 
(the  Bible,  the  whole  Bible  and 
nothing  but  the  Bible),"  he  concludes. 

Most  significant  to  his  growth  was 


Kokomo's  Gospel  Team,  a  ministry  team  Bob  has  developed  in  his  youth  group.  This  summer 
they  ministered  to  churches  in  Michigan,  Ohio  and  Canada. 


his  personal  contact  with  Dave  Atkins. 

"This  is  awesome,"  Bob  says.  "The 
second  time  I  went  to  Woodville  Dave 
invited  me  out  for  a  Coke.  We  went  to 
a  restaurant  in  Mansfield  and  he  lis- 
tened to  me  describe  my  life  and  we 
talked  back  and  forth  for  four-and-one 
-half  hours.  At  the  end  of  our  conver- 
sation, he  said.'Bob,  1  believe  you  are 
searching  to  get  into  the  Word  and  find 
some  answers  ...  I  have  a  follow-up 
program  I'd  love  to  take  you  through.'" 

The  seven-week  course  Dave  used 
with  Bob  stretched  to  more  than  36 
weeks.  A  record,  according  to  Bob. 
They  covered  subjects  like:  salvation, 
baptism,  quiet  times  in  the  Word,  shar- 
ing your  faith,  how  to  have  godly  boy/ 
girl  relationships  and  other  spiritual 
growth  issues  related  to  young  people. 

"It  was  so  amazing  because  I  had  all 
these  questions  and  God  was  using 
Dave  and  other  people  to  trim  off  my 
loose  ends,"  says  Bob. 

On  the  final  night  of  their  "seven- 
week"  course,  Dave  had  a  special  an- 
nouncement. "He  came  in  all  excited," 
recalls  Bob.  "'Bob,'  he  said,  'I  can't 
think  of  a  better  night  to  do  this  .  .  . 
I  just  talked  with  Ed  Lewis  and  he 
wants  me  to  pick  two  guys  from  our 
youth  group  for  Operation  Barnabas. 
I'm  picking  you.'" 

Dave's  push  toward  Operation  Bar- 
nabas was  what  Bob  needed.  In  the 
weeks  that  followed.  Bob  saw  God 
provide  for  his  financial  needs  and  he 


was  soon  on  his  way  to  California  to 
travel  for  six  weeks  with  about  30 
other  high  schoolers.  Their  goal 
throughout  the  summer  would  be  to 
minister  to  churches  in  anyway  they 
could.  Sometimes  that  would  be 
through  door-to-door  evangelism, 
puppet  programs,  singing  or  working 
around  the  church. 

"Operation  Barnabas  was  the  turn- 
ing point  of  my  life,"  says  Bob.  "Ed 
Lewis  was  amazing.  I  saw  his  heart  for 
Christ  and  his  vitality  and  was  en- 
couraged to  get  moving  and  start 
ministering." 

"It  was  like  God  gave  me  six  weeks 
to  see  what  really  goes  on  with  peo- 
ple and  how  to  effectively  minister.  I 
was  so  in  contact  with  people  and  their 
needs.  Late  night  talks  gave  me  op- 
portunities to  talk  with  people  about 
their  spiritual  lives  and  how  we  could 
apply  what  we  were  learning  from  the 
Word  to  our  lives  and  ministry." 

One  key  lesson  Bob  learned  from 
the  Barnabas  team  was  the  need  to 
minister  even  when  you  don't  feel  like 
it.  Bob  remembers  one  particular  Sun- 
day when  their  team  had  four  perfor- 
mances. "About  the  third  program  we 
were  really  beat,"  says  Bob.  "The 
leaders  kept  encouraging  us  and  we 
encouraged  each  other.  We  prayed 
about  our  need  for  strength  and  the 
Lord  came  through  and  helped  us 
with  that  fourth  service." 

Meeting  peers  who  were  dedicated 


CE 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


13 


to  Christ  and  being  involved  in 
evangelism  were  highlights  of  his  sum- 
mer. "I  loved  sharing  Christ  door-to- 
door,"  says  Bob.  "We  shared  Christ  in 
a  mall,  in  parks  and  through  our  pup- 
pet programs.  One  day  we  went  to  a 
park  and  had  a  game  festival.  There 
must  have  been  100  kids  who 
swamped  us.  That  was  a  super  oppor- 
tunity to  have  fun  and  then  talk  to 
them  individually  about  Christ. 

"I  would  go  back  on  Barnabas  a 
million  times.  It's  a  great  experience  to 
be  in  ministry  and  to  be  on  fire  for 
Christ  with  other  young  people." 

When  he  returned  from  his  summer 
of  ministry  in  1982,  his  youth  pastor 
offered  him  a  leadership  role  in  their 
youth  ministry.  For  the  next  year,  Bob 
continued  meeting  with  Dave  for  Bible 
studies;  was  a  member  of  the  traveling 
ministry  team,  Harvest;  joined  other 
youth  workers  in  training  as  youth 
sponsors;  and  led  a  ministry  team  of 
11  junior  highers  called  "Sunshine." 

His  year  at  home  in  Mansfield 
before  leaving  for  college  was  key  in 
preparing  him  for  his  ministry  at  North 
Kokomo.  Seen  throughout  his  current 
ministry  are  reflections  of  Mansfield, 
Dave  Atkins  and  Operation  Barnabas. 

Bob  gives  God  the  credit  for  the  ef- 
fectiveness of  his  youth  ministry.  But 
beyond  God's  role,  Bob's  natural  en- 
thusiasm and  hard  work  and  a  suppor- 
tive pastor  and  congregation  have 
been  the  ingredients  that  have  produc- 
ed big  results.  What  has  been  impor- 
tant to  him  personally,  is  important  in 
his  ministry.  When  23  North  Kokomo 
youth  received  certificates  for  com- 
pleting Bob's  seven-week  follow-up 
program,  he  had  personally  discipled 
19  of  those  teens.  Spending  time 
building  deeper  relationships  with  his 
youth  and  giving  more  responsibilities 
to  the  adult  youth  sponsors  are  his  cur- 
rent priorities. 

Now,  beginning  his  junior  year  at 
Grace,  Bob  really  does  look  forward 
to  his  weekend  trips  to  Kokomo.  "1 
wouldn't  trade  it  for  the  world,"  he 
says.  "I  think  I'm  too  attached  to  those 
kids.  1  love  them  so  much." 

Bob's  age  hasn't  stopped  him  from 
dreaming  big  dreams  .  .  .  and  fulfill- 
ing them.  God  is  giving  him  an  exciting 
ministry  while  gaining  experience  in 
youth  work.  □ 


14 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


CE 


New  Help  For  Youth  Workers 


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^v  j. 


'*!\!^S* 


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and  resources  for  a  complete 
youth  program.  Designed  for 
senior  high  school  youth,  the 
material  is  easily  adaptable  for 
junior  high  school  teens. 
Cost:  $59.95  for  six  months. 


No-Risk  Trial  Offer: 

Purchase  The  Date  Book  and/or  The  Student  Body  and 
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tion •  Box  365  •  Winona  Lake,  Indiana  46590  •  phone 
219/267-6622. 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  ECHOES  from  National  Conference:  The  officers  for 
the  next  year  will  be  John  Mayes,  moderator;  Tom  Julien, 
moderator  elect.  Fellowship  Council— Eastern  Area  Repre- 
sentatives: Russell  Ogden,  Ron  Thompson,  R.  Paul  Miller, 
and  Jerry  Young;  Central  Area:  Howard  Mayes,  J.  Hudson 
Thayer,  David  Plaster,  and  Jesse  Deloe;  Western  Area: 
Donald  Eshelman,  David  Marksbury,  Donald  Byers,  and 
James  Kennedy.  Kenneth  Koontz  will  serve  as  secretary. 
Larry  Chamberlain  as  treasurer,  and  Sherwood  Durkee 
as  statistician. 

Pastoral  changes^James  Willett,  resigned  at  the  Walker 
Road  GBC  at  Beaverton,  OR;  Gene  Klinger  has  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  Fremont  (OH)  GBC;  William  Willard 
has  joined  the  staff  of  the  Lititz  (PA)  GBC;  David  Quick 
was  recently  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Sidney  (IN)  GBC; 
Gene  Witzky  has  accepted  the  call  of  the  Lexington  (OH) 
GBC;  Mike  Johnson  (former  pastor  of  the  Indian  Heights 
GBC  in  Kokomo,  IN,  has  accepted  the  challenge  of  the 
Virginia  Beach,  VA,  GBC  to  reestablish  the  church  in  a 
new  location;  Tom  Hughes  has  joined  the  staff  of  the  GBC 
in  Long  Beach,  CA;  and  Roy  McCoy  is  now  serving  as 
pastor  of  the  GBC  in  Cumberland,  MD. 

D  Eldon  Grubb  has  accepted  the  position  of  pastor  of 
youth  and  adults  at  the  Garden  City  GBC,  Roanoke,  VA. 
He  began  his  ministry  there  on  September  1. 

Eldon's  name  was  inadvertently  omitted  from  the 
Annual,  having  been  licensed  in  May  of  1984.  Please  add 
his  name  in  your  Annual. 


□  Larry  Humberd,  associate/youth  pastor  at  the  GBC 
in  Hagerstown,  MD,  "was  ordained  to  the  Christian  minis- 
try in  November  1984. 

"Participating  in  the  service  were  Pastors  Ray  Davis 
and  Bob  Dell,  and,  also,  Harold  Henry,  vice  moderator. 
Pastors  from  the  Mid-Atlantic  District  present  were:  Dean 
Walter,  Carl  Baker,  Warren  Tamkin,  Dan  Eshleman,  and 
Larry  Gegner.  Also,  Kenn  Cosgrove  and  U.  L.  Gingrich 
from  Larry's  home  church  (Waynesboro,  PA)  were  pres- 
ent." 


Marriages 


Jeanette  Araki  and  James  Nielson,  Waimalu  GBC,  Aiea,  HI.  James 

Kennedy,  pastor. 

Gerraine  Asato  and  Neal  Niiyama,  Waimalu  GBC,  Aiea,  HI.  James 

Kennedy,  pastor. 

Natalie    Au    and    Stuart    Hara,   Waimalu    GBC,    Aiea,    HI.   James 

Kennedy,  pastor. 

Kathryn  Bateson  and  Jim  Marshall,  Bellflower  Brethren  Church, 

Bellflower,  CA.  Ed  Cashman,  pastor. 

Beverly   Beltzer  and  Phil  Ronco,  Lehigh  Valley  GBC,  Bethlehem, 

PA.  Ron  Guiles,  pastor. 

Linda  Carter  and  Ronald  Tschudy,  Myerstown  GBC,  Myerstown, 

PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 

Laura   Clymer   and  Randall   Cobbs.  Gleaned  from  the  Longview, 

TX,  Family  News. 

Veisa    Dingus  and   Cliff  Staton,  Lehigh  Valley  GBC,  Bethlehem, 

PA.  Ron  Guiles,  pastor. 

Paula  Dissinger  and  Joseph  Lamm,  Myerstown  GBC,  Myerstown, 

PA.  Luke  Kauffman,  pastor. 

Mary   Durham   and   Jeff  Workman,  Wooster  GBC,  Wooster,  OH. 

Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Stephanie  Hanshew  and  Kurt  Van  Meeveren,  Bellflower  Brethren 

Church,  Bellflower,  CA.  Ed  Cashman,  pastor. 

Ginny  Haywood  and  Jay  Boyle,  Winona  Lake  GBC,  Winona  Lake, 

IN.  Charles  Ashman,  pastor. 

Shelly   Johnson   and   Keith    Eberly,  Wooster  GBC,  Wooster,  OH. 

Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Cary  Jones  and  Chris  Deloe,  Winona  Lake,  GBC,  Winona  Lake,  IN. 

Chris    is   the   son   of  Jesse  and   Gladys   Deloe.   Charles   Ashman, 

pastor. 

Mary   Knowles  and  George  Barchie,  Bellflower  Brethren  Church, 

Bellflower,  CA.  Ed  Cashman,  pastor. 

Sherrye  LeTourneau  and  Steve  Coles.  Gleaned  from  the  Longview, 

TX,  Family  News. 

Beth  McKinley  and  Scott  Hottle.  Gleaned  from  the  Longview,  TX, 

Family  News. 

Sally  Miller  and  Jeffrey  Miller,  Meyersdale  GBC,  Meyersdale,  PA. 

Ron  Warrick,  pastor. 

Susan    Miller   and    Ed    Nettleton,   Wooster    GBC,   Wooster,    OH. 

Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Sandy    Quinonez  and    Paul    Taylor,    Bellflower   Brethren  Church, 

Bellflower,  CA.  Ed  Cashman,  pastor. 

Pat    Reed    and    Hanford   Thomas,   Wooster    GBC,  Wooster,   OH. 

Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Jan    Shiroma    and    David    Lee,    Waimalu    GBC,    Aiea,    HI.   James 

Kennedy,  pastor. 

Sally  Stover  and  Todd  Ruhl,  Labbee  Ranch,  Harrah,  WA.  Charles 

Winter,  pastor. 

Lynn  Wagner  and   Forrest  Harvey,  Meyersdale  GBC,  Meyersdale, 

PA.  Ron  Warrick,  pastor. 

Karen    Winey    and    Sam    Steiner,   Wooster    GBC,   Wooster,    OH. 

Robert  Fetterhoff,  pastor. 

Maria  Zancofsky  and  John  Ruth,  Lehigh  Valley  GBC,  Bethlehem, 

PA.  Ron  Guiles,  pastor. 

□  There's  a  new  church  in  the  state  of  Texas,  located  at 
Austin.  The  pastor  is  Fenton  McDonald,  who  wrote  "Our 
new  Brethren  church  is  moving  right  along  with  30  mem- 
bers now  and  30-40  in  attendance."— Gleaned  from  Long- 
view,  TX,  Family  News 

□  Kurt  Miller,  pastor  of  the  Palm  Harbor,  FL,  GBC  has 
been  named  chaplain  of  the  Dunedin,  FL,  Police  Depart- 
ment. Pastor  Miller,  a  former  police  office,  acted  as  chap- 
lain of  the  Chesterfield  County  Police  Department  in  Vir- 
ginia while  pastoring  the  Richmond,  VA,  GBC. 


BMH 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


15 


Pygmies  — 
Kings  of  the  Jungle 


by  John  W.  Zielasko 


a 


'eep  in  the  heart  of  the  African  jungle  live  an  incredi- 
ble people  —  the  pygmies.  Along  with  Marvin  Goodman 
and  Vernie  Abbitt,  I  visited  pygmy  territory  in  June,  1985. 

It  was  the  adventure  of  a  lifetime. 

When  the  western  traveler  encounters  the  pygmies  in 
their  small  family  unit  villages,  they  appear  gentle,  passive, 
and  submissive  —  but  meet  them  in  their  natural  element, 
the  forest,  and  they  are  immediately  transformed  into  self- 
confident  "kings  of  the  jungle". 

The  word  "Pygmy"  comes  from  a  Greek  word,  "pugme", 
meaning  "fist"  or  the  measurement  between  the  elbow  and 
the  knuckles.  For  the  average  man,  that  is  about  13V2  in- 
ches. The  pygmies  bear  the  name  because  they  average 
about  four  of  these  units  of  measurements,  or  4V2  feet  in 
height.  Although  they  are  shorter,  it  is  their  facial 
characteristics  more  than  their  height  that  distinguishes 
them  from  their  African  neighbors. 

Their  homes  can  hardly  be  called  homes  at  all.  At  first 


sight,  they  appear  more  like  a  giant  bird's  nest  turned  up- 
side down.  A  better  description  might  be  to  picture  an 
Eskimo  igloo,  but  instead  of  constructing  it  with  blocks  of 
snow,  the  branches  of  trees  are  bent  to  shape  and  then 
covered  with  leaves  to  keep  out  the  elements. 

When  in  the  forest,  in  contrast  to  living  along  the  side 
of  the  public  roads,  the  pygmies  live  in  these  shelters  for 
about  a  month  at  most,  then  they  move  and  build  a  new 
one.  We  Americans  just  move  the  furniture  around 
occasionally. 

The  pygmies  seldom  lie  or  fight  among  themselves.  The 
men  spend  much  of  their  time  in  hunting  and  bartering 
with  their  African  neighbors,  trading  animal  meat  for  fruit 
and  vegetables. 

But  how  many  pygmies  are  there?  That  is  hard  to  deter- 

While  on  their  journey,  the  missionary  group  met  a  pygmy  hunting 
party  armed  with  nets  and  spears.  John  Zielasko  poses  with  the  group 
in  a  dense  section  of  jungle. 


16 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


FMS 


mine  since  the  pygmies  don't  stay  in 
one  place  long  enough  for  the  cen- 
sustaker  to  arrive. 

It  is  estimated,  however,  that  from 
15  to  20  thousand  live  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  jungle  that  we  visited  —  where 
the  Cameroun,  Central  African 
Republic,  and  Congo  borders  meet. 
This  is  not  a  large  population  com- 
pared to  the  great  mass  of  humanity 
—  perhaps,  not  even  worth  mention- 
ing —  but,  then,  how  does  one  value 
the  worth  of  even  one  human  soul? 

Little  mission  work  is  being  done 
among  the  pygmies  and  with  civiliza- 
tion crowding  them  out  of  their  natural 
habitat,  it  is  doubtful  that  their  culture 
will  remain  intact  very  long.  There  has 
never  been  a  more  opportune  time  to 
reach  these  spiritually  deprived  peo- 
ple for  Christ. 

New  roads  penetrating  their  territory 
and  their  small  villages  built  alongside 
public  roads  make  it  easier  to  contact 
them.  They  are  within  access  of  our 
mission  work  and  even  closer  to  the 
national  church  ministries,  so  a  joint 
mission  venture  with  our  African 
church  is  a  real  possibility. 

What  will  it  take  to  reach  them  for 
Christ?  At  this  point,  we  don't  have  all 
the  answers  but  there  are  some  opi- 
nions that  seem  reasonable,  and,  at 
the  moment,  this  the  way  we  see  the 
situation. 

A  base  will  need  to  be  established, 
manned  by  a  couple  so  that  the  mis- 
sionary will  not  have  to  travel  great 
distances  to  make  contacts  with  the 
pygmies.  A  couple  is  needed  who  will 
care  for  the  base  and  perhaps  work 
with  the  local  African  church. 


Compare  the  facial  characteristics  of  the 
pygmy  (left)  to  the  CAR  believer  (below)  and 
differences  in  structure  are  apparent. 


As  for  the  missionary  to  work  with 
the  pygmies,  we  will  not  rule  out  the 
possibility  of  a  married  couple.  It  needs 
to  be  kept  in  mind  that  it  would  have 
to  be  a  very  special  couple.  Tremen- 
dous sacrifices  need  to  be  made  which 
are  not  conducive  to  an  ordinary  mar- 
riage relationship.  Both  husband  and 
wife  must  be  willing  to  make  sacrifices. 
So  you  see,  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions  is  searching  for  a  rare  breed 
of  missionary  when  it  comes  to  work- 
ing with  pygmies. 

Where  among  the  readers  of  this  ar- 
ticle will  be  found  a  person  or  persons 
with  the  following  qualifications? 

Candidates  must  be  willing  to  learn 
the  pygmy  language.  It  is  a  tribal 
language,  different  from  Sango.  As  far 
as  we  know  it  has  not  yet  been  re- 
duced to  writing.  The  missionaries  will 
spend  lots  of  time  away  from  creature 
comforts  such  as  electric  lights,  beds 
with  mattresses,  running  water,  etc.  In 
other  words,  they  must  enjoy  the  out- 
door life  and  have  a  willingness  to 
travel  on  roads  that  require  a  four- 


^ — ^ 

■kglL,     ijii,    ■jfrlflfc^  JmmM\~tim»Wm\ 

mm  '     '   1    -     ■ 

».      mmmM  1*' 

-- 

wheel  drive  vehicle.  Roads  are  bad 
and  sometimes  no  more  than  a  path, 
so  the  missionary  can  only  get  as  close 
as  possible  by  truck  and  will  need  to 
hike  the  rest  of  the  way. 

And,  lest  one  becomes  unrealistic  as 
to  the  qualifications,  I  should  mention 
some  things  that  I  feel  would  disqualify 
a  person  for  this  type  of  ministry. 

Youth  is  a  must  for  this  venture.  The 
older  one  gets,  the  larger  the  obstacles 
seem  and  the  harder  it  is  to  put  up 
with  the  inconveniences.  Furthermore, 
this  is  no  place  for  children  since  the 
mother  usually  finds  the  sacrifice  of 
raising  children  under  these  conditions 
too  great.  Only  singles  or  a  married 
couple  without  children  will  be  able  to 
stay  the  course  for  this  missionary  task. 

So  you  see.  evangelism  and  church 
planting  among  the  pygmies  isn't  easy 
—  whoever  heard  of  a  pygmy  church? 
But  the  difficulties  are  not  with  the 
pygmies  themselves.  They  are  friend- 
ly, attentive,  and  responsive.  It  is  in  the 
physical  realm  that  the  problems  are 
the  most  formidable.  Yet  missionaries 
of  former  years  made  similar  sacrifices 
in  order  to  reach  the  unreached.  I 
believe  that  today's  young  Christians 
are  just  as  eager  to  serve  Christ  and 
just  as  willing  to  endure  the  hardships 
that  this  type  of  missionary  work  re- 
quires in  order  to  obey  the  Great 
Commission. 

And  of  course  there  are  the  tremen- 
dous spiritual  obstacles.  CS.  Lewis 
once  remarked,  "There  is  no  neutral 

The  homes  of  the  pygmies  look  like  leaf- 
covered  igloos. 


FMS 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


17 


ground  in  the  universe.  Every  square 
inch,  every  split  second  is  claimed  by 
God  and  counter-claimed  by  Satan." 
Satan  will  not  give  up  his  holdings 
without  a  fierce  struggle  and  we 
should  not  expect  an  easy  battle.  But 
it  is  the  Lord's  battle  and  final  victory 


is  assured. 

The  Apostle  Peter  tells  us  that  the 
Lord  is  "not  willing  for  any  to  perish 
but  for  all  to  come  to  repentance" 
(2  Peter  3:9).  The  pygmies  are  in- 
cluded in  that  wish  —  but  they  along 
with  others  of  the  human  race  will 
perish  unless  they  believe.  They,  too, 
should  have  the  opportunity  to  hear 
the  Good  News  in  Christ  Jesus  the 
Lord. 

Who  among  us  will  go  and  tell 
them?  □ 


The  pygmies  are  very  responsive  to  the 
Gospel  and  are  attentive  listeners.  Every  time 
missionaries  go  to  them  and  share  with  them, 
the  pygmies  are  friendly,  willing  to  listen,  and 
desirous  to  hear  more.  Cults  (especially  Mor- 
mons) are  beginning  to  go  in  and  talk  to  the 
pygmies,  and  they  are  open  to  hear.  Only  the 
Good  News  of  Jesus  Christ  can  provide  eter- 
nal life  and  release  them  from  sin.  Who  will  go 
and  tell  them? 


The  Challenge 

of 

It  All 

by  Linda  Mensinger 

While  traveling  among  various 
villages  doing  bush  work,  we  visited 
a  Brethren  church  in  Bayanga, 
which  is  very  isolated  from  any  other 
group.  We  taught  reading  and  Bible 
to  the  people  there. 

One  day  after  class,  I  decided  to 
wander  around  a  bit  to  get  some  ex- 
ercise. On  the  way  back  to  the 
village,  I  became  lost. 

I  took  the  wrong  path  and  ended 
up  right  in  the  middle  of  a  pygmy 
village.  They  were  as  shocked  to  find 
me  there  as  I  was!  I  greeted  them  all, 
shook  hands,  and  then  asked  where 
the  mission  road  was.  They 
understood  and  pointed  the  way. 
-  As  we  saw  many  groups  of  these 
people,  we  realized  that  we  need  to 
have  an  active  work  among  them. 
Yes,  we  talked  to  them  and  passed 
out  tracts,  but  that  always  leaves  me 
a  bit  cold. 

What  the  pygmies  need  is  some- 
one to  live  among  them  and  show 
them  what  the  love  of  Christ  is  all 
about. 

One  might  wish  she  were  20 
years  younger.  However,  after  a 
week  in  the  damp  forest,  several  of 
us  realized  that  living  there  any 
length  of  time  could  become  a 
rather  painful  experience  for  us  who 
are  old  enough  for  arthritis. 

We  pray  that  it  won't  be  long  un- 
til some  robust  youth  will  respond 
to  the  challenge  of  evangelizing  the 
pygmies.  □ 


18 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


FMS 


Guatemala  — 
The  Land  of  Striking  Distinctions 


by  Alys  Haag 


VJuatemala  — a  land  that  leaves 

visitors  with  vivid  impressions. 
The  fireworks  noisily  boom  from 

five  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  mid- 
night. Every  event  is  celebrated  with 

fireworks,  so  there  are  frequent  out- 
bursts from  long  packs  of  firecrackers, 

the  louder  the  better. 

Brilliant   colors   delight   the    eyes. 

Flowering    trees    and    shrubs    grow 

everywhere    displaying   bright   hues. 

The    dark-skinned    inhabitants    are 

beautifully    dressed    in    deep    reds, 

yellows,    and    greens.    The    Indian 

population  combine  all  these  colors 

and  throw  in  a  few  more  shades  when 

they  make  the  cloth  for  their  clothes. 

The  evergreen  folliage  and  blue,  blue 

skies  form  a  backdrop  that  accentuates 

it  all. 

When  we  visited,  the  two  distinct 

cultures  caught  my  attention  next.  The 

Indians  who  populate  the  rural  areas  contrast  with  the  Ladinos  who  live  in  cities.  The  Ladinos  speak  Spanish  and 

are  a  proud  people.  Being  such  a  patriotic  group,  they  really  don't  like  the  Mexicans  or  other  Latin  Americans  very 

well.  In  fact,  a  few  years  ago,  they  eliminated  all  foreigners  from  their  country.  The  Indian  still  speaks  his  tribal  language 

and  several  groups  exist, 

Guatemala  is  also  a  land  of  an  advancing  evangelistic  testimony.  On  Sunday  mornings  more  than  half  of  the  folks 

on  buses  and  walking  the  sidewalks  can  be  seen  carrying  Bibles.  It  is  believed  that  more  than  30%  of  the  Ladinos 

are  professing  Christians.  The  Indians  are  beginning  to  believe  as  they  get  Scriptures  in  their  own  tongue. 
Why,  then,  start  another  church  in  Guatemala? 

It  is  already  started.  The  church  is  asking  the  spiritual  help  and  guidance  of  the  Grace  Brethren  church.  A  nucleus 

of  young  people  have  been  attracted 
to  the  distinctive  doctrines  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  and  believe  them  to  be  what 
the  Bible  really  teaches. 

This  group  wants  to  be  a  local 
church  and  join  us  in  fellowship. 

We  visited  them  and  were  impress- 
ed and  encouraged.  There  were  26 
present  on  Sunday  morning.  The  peo- 
ple live  and  meet  in  a  new  suburb  of 
Guatemala  City  that  has  no  other 
church.  They  are  good  teachers  and 
diligent  visitors  in  reaching  others  in 
the  neighborhood.  Their  goal  is  to 
have  20  baptized  members  by  the  end 
of  1985. 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  is 
excited  by  this  group.  These  people 
were  taught  by  a  Grace  Brethren  man 
living  in  their  city.  Won't  you  support 
them  in  prayer? 


FMS 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


19 


My  Interrupted 
Letter 


Tf 


by  Elizabeth  Schaefer 


his  afternoon  started  out  to  be 
an  afternoon  of  great  accomplish- 
ments. My  primary  task  was  to  write 
a  letter  to  our  supporting  churches,  but 
I  was  interrupted  by,  well,  read  on,  and 
you'll  see  .  .  . 

Dearest  family  and  friends  at  GBC, 

Nolo,  wait  just  a  minute. 

Wait  a  minute,  yourself!  What's  go- 
ing on  here? 

Every  time  I  turn  around  you  start 
whacking  away  at  my  keys  to  some- 
one back  on  the  "home  front."  What's 
so  important  about  writing  all  those 
people? 

Well,  1  do  believe  you  have  a  good 
question,  faithful  typewriter.  Truly,  if  it 
were  not  for  those  on  our  "home 
front,"  James  and  I  wouldn't  be  here 
and  (may  I  remind  you)  neither  would 


Oh!  That  sounds  rather  serious.  But 
what  exactly  do  you  mean? 

Our  GBC  family  at  home  has  had  , 
a  great  influence  on  our  lives,  and  God 
used  them  to  help  mold  and  prepare 
us  for  our  present  ministry.  Now  that 
we  are  here  in  Mexico  City,  our  GBC 
families  hold  us  up  in  prayer 
support— something  I  have  never  ex- 
perienced in  such  a  powerful  way 
before  we  moved  here.  And  of  course 


20 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


FMS 


their  financial  backing  has  just  been 
tremendous.  For  all  these  reasons  and 
more  I  am  responsible  to  keep  them 
informed  of  how  God  is  blessing  us  so 
greatly  here. 

Well,  maybe  you  are  right  and  they 
do  need  to  hear  from  you.  But,  tell 
me,  what  kind  of  blessings  do  you 
have  to  write  about,  huh? 

Oh,  lots  and  lots!  Just  for  instance, 
James  and  I  have  experienced 
physical  blessings.  It  may  seem  strange 
to  some  folks  that  missionaries  receive 
these  kind  of  blessings,  but  I  for  one 
am  thrilled  at  all  God  has  given  us  or 
allowed  us  to  have. 

What  in  the  world  are  you  talking 
about? 

Oh,  silly  typewriter!  Look  around 
you!  Our  home  is  furnished  with  Mex- 
ican furniture— the  first  time  we've  had 
anything  matching!  Also,  and  more 
importantly,  God  is  blessing  us  with  a 
new  little  Schaefer — a  wonderful 
answer  to  prayer. 

Well,  that's  all  well  and  fine,  but  fur- 
niture doesn't  sound  to  me  like  the 
kind  of  stuff  to  write  home  about! 

Perhaps  not,  but  I  sure  have  plenty 
more  blessings  to  write  about!  God  has 
blessed  me  in  my  emotional  life  as 
well.  Being  in  God's  will— where  He 
wants  you  and  doing  what  He  wants 
you  to  do— is  the  most  joyous  task  in 
the  world.  I  am  truly  happy  here  in 
Mexico  City.  I'm  not  homesick — can 
you  imagine  that?  I'll  be  frank  with 
you.  When  James  and  I  left  our  home 
area  so  that  he  could  attend  seminary, 
it  took  me  awhile  to  really  adjust. 
However,  when  we  moved  to  Mexico 
City,  it  was  an  easy  transition!  I  was 
ready;  God  had  prepared  me.  It's 
simply  a  joy  to  be  a  missionary. 

I  suppose  that  would  be  something 
to  write  home  about.  Maybe  it  will  en- 
courage young  people  in  the  GBC's 
to  truly  consider  being  a  missionary  — 
it's  not  "all  that  bad." 

No!  It's  great!  The  greatest  blessings 
of  all  are  the  heart-felt  spiritual  bless- 
ings. A  minister  of  the  Gospel  may 
become  discouraged  because  he 
doesn't  see  results,  but  the  key  is  to 
learn  to  lean  that  much  more  on  God 
and  His  strength.  As  a  result,  spiritual 
growth  takes  place. 

You  sure  are  talking  generalities  .  .  . 

What  I  mean  is  that  I,  too,  have  had 
to  learn  to  lean  more  on  God  this  year 
while  I'm  learning  Spanish  and  trust 
Him  for  the  results  of  my  fledgling 
ministry  here. 


Take  Time  to  Consider  .  .  . 

Mexico  City  is  now  considered  to  be  the  largest  city  in 
the  world,  yet  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  has  only 
one  career  missionary  family  working  there  as  well  as  a  fami- 
ly stationed  there  temporarily.  Won't  you  pray  and  serious- 
ly consider  what  part  you  could  have  in  this  church  planting 
ministry? 

Consider: 

—  Being  a  SOVVer.  If  you  have  a  good  working  knowledge 
of  Spanish  and  would  be  committed  to  a  two-year  ministry, 
perhaps  this  is  the  program  for  you. 

— Becoming  a  part  of  a  team  ministry  in  Mexico  City  as 
a  career  missionary  church  planter. 

— Sending  your  pastor  to  visit  Mexico  City  so  he  can  ex- 
perience first-hand  the  vast  needs  there  and  return  to  your 
church  better  equipped  to  encourage  more  laborers  to  go 
to  this  field. 

—  Praying  regularly  for  this  city  of  people  who  are  blinded 
by  their  traditions  as  well  as  materialism  and  do  not  know 
what  it  means  to  have  a  personal  relationship  with  Jesus 
Christ. 

—  Praying  regularly  for  more  laborers  to  go  to  Mexico  City. 
This  is  a  vast,  ripe  harvest,  but  the  laborers  are  few. 


Do  you  think  He  has  been  using 
you? 

Well,  yes,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  I  do. 
James  and  I  have  befriended  the  folks 
in  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  here. 
We've  ministered  by  way  of  Christian 
example  and  by  encouraging  them  to 
become  more  involved  in  their  church. 
As  well,  we've  opened  our  home  to 
them  and  have  ministered  simply  with 
love.  Maybe  I  can't  speak  fluently  quite 
yet,  but  I  can  sure  let  Christ  love  others 
through  me.  Serving  coffee,  sharing 
our  TV.  with  them  around  bowls  of 
popcorn,  joking  here,  singing  there,  a 
hug,  a  prayer  together,  spending  a 
whole  afternoon  with  them  to  help 
make  pinatas  (which  we  could  have 
bought  ready-made)  or  sharing  a  tear 
when  they  cry — all  of  this  has  been  our 
ministry  of  love. 

Well,  it  sounds  like  you  do  have 
things  to  write  home  about  after  all.  I 
realize  now  that  you  should  tell  folks 
at  home  about  all  this  so  they  keep 
praying  for  God  to  use  you  and  con- 


tinue to  equip  you  for  your  ministry 
in  years  to  come.  So,  I  guess  I'll  con- 
tinue to  submit  my  keys  to  you.  But, 
don't  talk  about  tears  anymore,  okay? 

Why? 

Because  you're  starting  to  make  me 
cry. 

But  typewriters  can't  cry. 

They  can't  talk  either,  can  they? 


James  and  Elizabeth  Schaefer 

FMS    SEPTEMBER  '85  2  1 


We  Saw 
Beautiful 


by  Marguerite  Gribble  Dunning 


1  am  very  glad  we  made  the 
journey! 

God  allowed  us  to  return  to  the 
Central  African  Republic  where  we 
had  been  missionaries  for  25  years 
between  1940  and  1970.  This  visit 
was  the  loving  gift  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  of  Long  Beach. 

After  a  four-day  delay  during  our 
flight,  we  finally  arrived  at  Bangui  on 
January  10.  There  were  at  least  six 
very  glad  people  when  the  Kuns  (our 
children)  and  the  Dunnings  (us)  saw 
each  other. 

Then  our  working  trip  started. 

Our  happy  group  flew  by  MAF 
plane  to  the  Bible  Center  near 
Bozoum.  How  nice  to  fly,  especially 
since  we  remembered  so  many  earlier 
trips  by  foot,  bicycle,  and  auto. 

Harold,  my  husband,  spent  much 
of  his  time  teaching  in  the  Brethren 
Biblical  Seminary  at  Bata  and  con- 
ducting seminars  for  pastors  in  various 
other  locations.  These  were  thrilling 
days  for  Harold  and  for  the  Africans, 
too.  Many  of  the  pastors  had  been  his 
students;  others  felt  they  knew  him 
from  having  heard  about  him. 

One  pastor  expressed  his  apprecia- 
tion by  a  typically  African  word  picture. 
"Your  coming  to  us,"  he  said,  "has 
been  like  a  nail  pounded  into  a  wob- 
bly chair  at  just  the  spot  of  weakness, 
so  that  the  chair  is  strong  and  firm 
again  and  can  hold  a  burden  or  weight 
placed  on  it." 

All  of  February  and  March  was 
spent  visiting  the  various  mission 
stations.  We  met  many  old  friends. 

Maurice  was  a  lad  in  a  loin  cloth  at 


Harold  spoke  to  groups  of  pastors  like  these. 
22    SEPTEMBER  '85  FMS 


Bossembele  when  we  moved  there  to 
begin  that  work  after  our  first  furlough. 
Now  he  is  Pastor  Molekpo  Maurice.  It 
is  understandable  why  he  is  such  an 
excellent  pastor,  for  even  as  a 
youngster  he  had  a  genuine  single- 
heartedness  for  the  spread  of  the 
gospel  in  Africa. 

We  were  delighted  to  meet  again 
Elizabeth,  third  of  Pastor  Volongou's 
five  daughters.  This  dear  old  pastor 
helped  teach  us  Sango  at  Yaloke.  He 
used  to  call  Harold  "son"  because 
Harold  was  the  age  his  own  son  would 
have  been  had  he  lived. 

Elizabeth  had  come  to  help  me  take 
care  of  our  little  two-month  old 
daughter  until  her  family  had  to  move 
to  a  government  post.  This  teenager 
and  our  little  girl  had  loved  each  other 
greatly.  Now  Elizabeth  is  a  very  hand- 
some matron,  dressed  beautifully, 
even  by  European  standards.  Her 
father,  Volongou,  has  been  in  heaven 
several  years. 

It  was  exciting  to  visit  M'Baiki,  a  sta- 
tion where  we  were  the  first  mis- 
sionaries. It  was  started  by  two 
Africans,  Mobongaina  Maurice  and 
Fango  Francois,  who  moved  there  to 
work  in  1937  (the  year  we  were  mar- 
ried). They  had  already  trusted  Christ 
and  set  out  at  once  to  tell  all  the  peo- 
ple they  met  about  Jesus. 

When  Harold  went  to  M'Baiki.  as  a 
new  missionary  in  1942,  there  was 
already  a  large  group  meeting  regular- 
ly. Fango  has  been  with  the  Lord  for 
some  time,  and  Pastor  Maurice  is  not 
well.  He  was  unable  to  attend  the  ser- 
vice the  Sunday  morning  Harold 
preached,  but  sat  outside  his  house 
not  far  away  and  said  he  could  hear 
it  all. 

Maurice's  wife  told  me  of  an  earlier 
name  the  Africans  had  given  Harold: 
"Na-mbagu-na-mbague,"  when  means 
"this  side,  that  side"  or  more  loosely, 
"hither  and  yon."  They  called  him  this 
because  of  his  constant  practice  of  tak- 
ing the  gospel  all  over  his  assigned 
area  of  25,000  square  miles.  Thank 
God,  there  are  now  three  mission  sta- 
tions and  more  missionaries  to  work 
in  that  part  of  the  field. 

At  M'Baiki  we  saw  another  old 
friend.  Nguengo  Paul  served  us  well 
all  our  years  at  Boda  and  M'Baiki  and 
also  the  missionaries  after  us.  During 
more  recent  years  when  there  was  no 
missionary  living  at  M'Baiki  (before  the 
Immels),  he  faithfully  guarded  the 
property  and  helped  the  missionaries 
who  occasionally  visited. 


We  did  not  get  to  see  everybody  we 
would  have  liked  to  see,  but  we  were 
so  happy  to  see  so  many  dear  friends. 

When  we  left  Bangui,  it  was  90°  in 
the  shade  at  8  a.m.  When  we  arrived 
in  Amsterdam  there  was  snow  on  the 
ground.  We  spent  five  days  with  the 
Luebs,  missionary  friends  from  our 
church.  In  rapid  succession  we  pro- 
ceeded to  visit  Schwarzenau,  Ger- 
many (the  birthplace  of  Brethrenism) 
and  to  have  wonderful  fellowship  with 
the  Peughs,  the  Craigens,  the  Juliens, 
the  Goods,  and  other  Grace  Brethren 
missionaries  in  Germany  and  France. 

What  a  great  privilege  it  was  to  be 
able  to  visit  the  missionaries  in  Europe! 
In  the  past  we  were  always  too  busy, 
rushing  to  speaking  engagements  or 
conferences  in  the  States  or  back  to 
our  jobs  in  Africa. 

All  too  soon,  though,  our  trip  of  ex- 
actly three  months  had  to  come  to  an 
end. 

April  4,  we  flew  non-stop  to  Los 
Angeles  arriving  there  about  an  hour 
and  a  half  later!  That  apparently  short 
time  covered  a  ten-hour  flight.  It  was 
daylight  all  the  way,  even  though  we 
left  in  the  evening  and  arrived  after 
dark. 

"What  did  you  see?"  people  ask  us. 
I  answer  that  we  went  to  see  beautiful 
feet,  and  I  start  naming  missionaries. 
God  says  their  feet  are  beautiful  as 
they  go  about  spreading  the  Good 


Pastor  Maurice  Molekpo 


News,  publishing  "glad  tidings,  tidings 
of  peace,  tidings  of  Jesus,  redemption 
and  release"  (Isaiah  52:7). 

Indeed,  it  was  beautiful  to  see  the 
activity  for  the  Lord  of  the  Africa  and 
Europe  missionaries,  to  see  them 
bringing  the  beauty  of  holiness  to  lives 
ruined  by  sin.  We  thank  them  for 
gracious  hospitality.  We  apologize  to 
them  for  interruptions  we  caused.  We 
promise  to  pray  specifically  because  of 
having  seen  their  beautiful  feet. 

I  am  very  glad  we  made  the 
trip. 


The  Dunnings  during  their  early  ministry  in  the  CAR 

FMS    SEPTEMBER  '85  23 


"How  Shall  They  Hear?"  —  the 
why  and  how  of  missions  has  been 
our  theme  this  year.  In  our  Bible 
studies,  we've  looked  at  the  biblical 
basis  for  missions  and  have  seen  how 
spreading  the  good  news  of  salvation 
has  been  part  of  God's  plan  from  the 
very  beginning  of  man's  time  on 
earth. 

The  author  of  our  study  book,  G. 
Christian  Weiss,  believes  that  the 
"master  key"  to  the  entire  Bible  is  a 
missions  text,  Luke  24:45-48:  "Then 
opened  he  their  understanding,  that 
they  might  understand  the  scripture, 
And  said  unto  them,  Thus  it  is  writ- 
ten, and  thus  it  behoved  Christ  to 
suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the  dead  the 
third  day:  And  that  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins  should  be  preached 
in  his  name  among  all  nations, 
beginning  at  Jerusalem.  And  ye  are 
witnesses  of  these  things."  Weiss  ex- 
plains, "It  is  to  be  observed  that  Jesus 
pointed  out  two  cardinal  truths  to  the 
disciples  as  He  opened  their 
understanding  of  the  Scriptures. 

First,  'It  behoved  Christ  to  suffer, 
and  to  rise  from  the  dead.' 

Second,  'Repentance  and  remis- 
sion of  sins  should  be  preached  .  .  . 
among  all  nations.' 

"These  are  the  two  basic 
truths,  or  facts,  of  the  Bible.  If 
you  read  the  Bible  without  recogniz- 
ing the  divine  necessity  of  the  aton- 
ing death  of  the  Son  of  God  or  the 
divine  necessity  of  the  evangelization 


National  WA/IC 

President's 
Address,  1985 

by  Mrs.  Fred  W.  Devan,  Jr. 


of  the  world  by  the  Church  of  God, 
you  miss  its  essential  message." 

Recognizing  the  necessity  for  the 
atoning  death  of  Jesus  should  be 
quite  easy  for  us  today.  The  evidence 
of  the  depravity  of  man  smacks  us 
in  the  face  constantly.  We  would 
have  to  go  through  life  wearing  blind- 
folds and  ear  plugs  not  to  be  aware 
of  it. 

As  I  prepared  this  in  June, 
America  was  caught  up  by  the  TWA 
hostage  crisis  and  the  allegations  of 
the  Walker  spy  ring.  Both  of  these 
incidents  show  us  how  little  regard 
many  people  today  have  either  for 
the  laws  of  men  or  the  laws  of  God. 
Human  life  increasingly  seems  to 
have  less  value.  The  accounts  of 
rapes,  murders,  and  robberies  which 
we  read  in  the  newspaper  and  see 
on  TV  news  daily  should  fill  us  with 
fright,  but  are  now  such  com- 
monplace things  that  we  hardly  take 
notice  unless  someone  we  know  is 
involved. 

This  became  very  real  to  me  a 
couple  of  years  ago  when  a  dear 
friend  in  her  eighties,  a  member  of 
my  home  church,  was  robbed  in  her 
own  home,  beaten  severely,  and  left 
for  dead.  The  robbers  took  little  of 
value  materially,  and  through  God's 
grace  she  has  recovered  physically, 
but  this  woman  and  her  family  and 
friends  were  robbed  of  peace  of  mind 
and  a  feeling  of  security  in  their 
homes. 


Three  years  ago  it  was  our 
privilege  to  visit  with  Walt  and  Alys 
Haag  and  see  a  bit  of  their  ministry 
on  the  Mexican  border.  That  short 
visit  did  more  to  make  me  aware  of 
the  need  for  missions  than  all  the 
missionary  speakers,  slides,  books, 
and  curios  ever  could.  Many 
memories  fill  my  mind,  but  one  that 
stands  out  is  of  little  four  and  five 
year  old  children,  all  alone,  begging 
on  the  streets,  and  selling  packs  of 
chewing  gum  at  the  border  crossing. 
When  I  expressed  my  surprise  at  the 
children  wandering  around  seeming- 
ly all  alone  to  Alys,  her  reply  was, 
"Life  is  cheap  here."  How  sad! 

Unfortunately,  I'm  afraid  the  same 
philosophy  is  growing  in  our  own 
country.  I'm  sure  each  of  you  could 
share  a  tale  of  horror  that  has  hap- 
pened in  your  own  area  of  the  coun- 
try. Yes,  man  is  very  depraved  and 
in  great  need  of  a  Savior,  Jesus 
Christ.  The  necessity  of  the 
evangelization  of  the  world  by  the 
church  should  be  a  natural 
outgrowth  of  our  awareness  of  man's 
sinfulness.  I  am  thrilled  each  year  as 
we  see  young  people,  and  some  not 
so  young,  commissioned  for  service 
in  foreign  missions.  I  am  also  excited 
each  year  as  we  hear  of  the  funds 
needed  for  sending  these  mis- 
sionaries to  the  field  gradually  being 
met  as  individuals  and  churches 
pledge  financial  and  prayer  support. 

Recently,    Grace    Brethren    mis- 


24   SEPTEMBER  '85  WMC 


sionaries  have  entered  three  new 
fields:  Japan,  Spain,  and  the  Philip- 
pines. That's  exciting  progress.  Chur- 
ches planted  on  other  fields  continue 
to  grow.  This  year  we  have  22  new 
missionary  appointees. 

A  special  letter  from  Roger  Peugh, 
addressed  to  the  National  Women's 
Missionary  Council  came  to  my 
home  in  December.  Let  me  share 
that  with  you. 

"Greetings  in  Christ's  Wonderful 
Name! 

Nancy  and  I  want  you  to  know 
how  much  we  deeply  appreciate 
your  involvement  in  our  ministry. 
Through  the  years  the  faithful 
prayers  of  hundreds  and  hundreds 
of  ladies  across  the  United  States  for 
our  ministry  here  in  Germany  has 
been  evident  to  us.  We  have  re- 
ceived literally  thousands  of  letters 
in  fifteen  years  from  WMC  groups  in- 
dicating that  they  have  been  pray- 
ing for  us.  We  are  deeply  confident 
that  God's  working  here  in  this 
needy  place  has  been  in  large 
measure  due  to  the  fact  that  you 
have  faithfully  prayed  for  His  work- 
ing here. 

The  things  which  God  has  been 
doing  here  within  the  last  two 
months  stagger  our  ability  to  com- 
prehend and  fully  appreciate.  Three 
people  that  we  know  of  have  con- 
fessed faith  in  Christ  and  are  con- 
sidering baptism,  as  well  as  a  number 
of  other  people  who  have  been 
Christians  for  some  time  and  are 
struggling  through  the  statements  of 
Scripture  regarding  baptism.  We 
know  you  will  continue  to  pray  that 
God  may  get  the  victory  in  these 
people's  lives. 

Thank  you  so  much  once  again 
for  your  faithful  support  and  for 
every  expression  of  your  love  to  us. 
We  wish  you  God's  richest  blessing." 

I  am  sure  you  share  my  joy  in  this 
report  of  God's  working  in  Germany. 
1  was  so  pleased  to  know  that  so 
many  WMC  women  have  cor- 
responded with  the  Peughs,  assur- 
ing them  of  our  support.  I'm  sure  the 
same  thing  would  be  true  of  many 
other  missionaries.  Let's  continue  to 
uphold  them  and  their  ministries 
before  our  God. 

Another  exciting  letter,  a  first  for 
me,    came   from    Pastor   Baguene 


Henri,  General  Supervisor  of  the  Na- 
tional Lumiere  in  the  Central  African 
Republic.  He  had  been  informed  by 
our  missionaries  that  WMC  would  be 
giving  $10,000  for  a  revolving  fund 
for  the  printing  of  Christian  literature 
in  Sango.  Listen  to  the  excitement  in 
his  letter: 

"My  heart  is  filled  with  happiness 
to  write  this  letter  to  you  because  of 
your  great  love  which  you  have 
shown  to  us  in  giving  $10,000  to 
help  in  the  ministry  of  Literature 
Distribution  for  the  Eglise  Evangeli- 
que  des  Freres  in  the  R.C.A. 

It  is  because  of  this  great  love, 
which  you  have  shown  in  extending 
your  hand  to  us  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  I  know  now  that  you  are  real- 
ly thinking  of  us.  I  thank  you  very 
much  for  your  love.  I  greet  you  all 
in  the  name  of  our  Savior,  Jesus 
Christ." 

Christian  literature  is  just  not 
available  in  the  CAR  because  funds 
are  not  available  to  print  it.  The  peo- 
ple are  hungry  for  it  and  will  eager- 
ly buy  it  when  possible.  Bibles,  song 
books,  Lumiere  books,  laymen's 
helps,  pastors'  study  helps,  Sunday 
school  materials,  tracts  are  all  need- 
ed. Can  you  imagine  how  our  chur- 
ches would  function  without  these 
items? 

Have  we  responded?  Our  goal 
was  $10,000  and  that  is  the  amount 
Pastor  Baguene  so  kindly  thanked  us 
for.  However,  as  of  June  30,  the  end 
of  our  fiscal  year,  only  $7359  had 
come  in  for  this  project.  I  feel  very 
strongly  that  we  should  not  disap- 
point our  Brethren  in  the  CAR.  We 
have  so  much  Christian  literature 
available  to  us  and  their  need  is  so 
great  that  I  believe  we  must  meet  this 
commitment. 

Over  the  years,  WMC  women 
have  been  very  interested  in  the 
Home  Mission  work  at  Dryhill,  Ken- 
tucky. Many  things  have  been  done 
to  assist  in  this  work.  Several  years 
ago,  the  Victory  Mountain  Grace 
Brethren  Chapel  became  self- 
supporting  but  in  the  last  year,  pro- 
blems in  the  church  prompted  Pastor 
Sam  Baer  to  again  call  on  Home 
Missions  for  financial  help.  When  the 
National  WMC  Board  heard  of  this 
last  summer,  we  felt  very  strongly 
that  our  Home   Missions  offering 


should  go  to  meet  that  need.  Recent- 
ly Pastor  Baer  wrote  to  me,  express- 
ing his  thanks  for  our  help.  Let  me 
share  an  excerpt  from  his  letter. 

"We  are  just  now  starting  to 
rebuild  and  there  seems  to  be  a  good 
spirit  among  our  people.  Finances 
are  picking  up  some  and  so  is  atten- 
dance for  which  we  are  very  grateful. 
At  first,  we  thought  we  would  have 
to  get  through  this  year  without  any 
insurance,  which  is  a  real  risk,  hav- 
ing six  children,  but  thanks  to  you  all, 
we  are  having  a  great  year. 

Please  give  the  National  WMC 
our  thanks  and  gratitude  for  standing 
with  us  during  a  real  trial.  We  ap- 
preciate it  so  very  much.  God  has 
done  some  mighty  great  things 
through  you  ladies.  Keep  up  the 
good  work." 

I'm  sure  that  you  appreciate  these 
letters  of  thanks  as  much  as  I  do.  It 
is  a  real  encouragement  to  me  to 
know  that  God  can  take  the  small 
amount  of  money  that  each  of  us  is 
able  to  give  and  use  it  to  meet  the. 
needs  of  our  missionaries  and  na- 
tional Christians. 

Continued  next  month 


Offering 
Opportunities 

Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions 


Project:  IBM  personal  computer  and 
supplies  for  the  promotional  department 

Goal:  $9,000 

Send  before  December  10.  1985 

This  micro  computer  would  be  a  great 
asset  to  the  efficiency  of  the  Home  Mis 
sions  office.  It  would  be  compatible  with 
the  IBM  36  computer  system  which  was 
recently  installed  in  the  building  and 
would  add  to  the  capability  of  that 
system. 

Project:    Thank    offering    for    Grace 
Brethren  Jewish  Missions 

Goal:  $1.50  a  year  per  member 

Send  before  December  10,  1985 

Even  though  the  Jewish  work  in  Los 
Angeles  is  being  closed  next  year.  Isobel 
Fraser  is  still  ministering  there  and  com- 
pleting final  details.  Isobel  will  retire  next 
year. 


WMC   SEPTEMBER '85  25 


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«e\ 


•jn 


Touch  the 
World  Through 
Church  Planting 


By  Rev.  William  Smith 


Church  planting.  That  term  has  become  an  important 
buzz  word  in  evangelical  circles  today.  Yet  to  the  average 
layman,  it  evokes  images  of  seminary  trained  men  perfor- 
ming mystical  motions  to  begin  a  church.  But  that  isn't 
necessarily  so. 

Almost  anybody  can  begin  a  church.  You  don't  even 
have  to  be  a  spiritual  giant  to  do  it. 

Successful  church  planting  is  not  merely  the  opening  of 
new  churches.  It  is  actual  extension  of  Christ's  kingdom 
through  true  community  evangelization  and  is  possible 
through  spiritual  pioneers. 

The  entire  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 
should  become  involved  in  church  planting  through  pro- 
ducing pioneering  Christians  who  are  willing  to  respond 
to  God's  call.  It  is  a  relatively  simple  process  and  one  which 
is  easily  followed. 

Producing  pioneers  is  the  secret  of  church  planting.  At 
the  same  time  it  is  a  testimony  to  genuine  spiritual  life.  The 
spiritual  climate  in  the  local  church  controls  the  produc- 
tion of  such  pioneers.  Where  the  Spirit  of  God  is  permit- 
ted to  work,  there  young  men  will  receive  visions.  (Acts 
2:17) 

Where  the  spirit  of  pioneering  and  sacrifice  are  lacking 
in  the  pastor  and  congregation,  pioneers  will  not  likely  be 
produced.  The  spirit  of  pioneering  is  a  spirit  of  vision,  con- 
cern, sharing,  and  commitment. 

True  spiritual  life  manifests  itself  in  two  ways  —  action 
and  reproduction.  There  is  an  eternal  "go"  in  God's  plan 
for  His  people  and  those  who  have  Him  must  go.  Pioneer- 
ing Christians  must  be  willing  to  respond  to  this  call. 

These  individuals  have  several  characteristics  in  com- 
mon. Their  calling  is  not  human,  but  divine.  They  are  more 
interested  in  souls  than  salary  and  depend  more  on  prayer 
than  popularity.  Their  concern  is  more  with  the  will  of  God 
than  the  will  of  man,  and  they  are  ready  to  serve  rather 
than  be  served. 

It  may  be  that  the  Lord  has  put  His  hand  on  you  in  a 
special  way  to  help  pioneer  a  new  church  for  His  name's 
sake.  Are  you  willing  to  go? 

Scripture  sets  for  a  pattern  for  church  planting.  Little 
question  exists  that  the  Jerusalem  church  was  a  pioneer- 
ing congregation.  However,  the  first  pioneering  of  the 
church  was  unintended.  Acts  8:1  states  —  "there  was  a 
great  persecution  against  the  church  which  was  at 
Jerusalem;  and  they  were  all  scattered  abroad  throughout 


the  regions  of  Judea  and  Samaria,  ex- 
cept the  apostles." 

It  seems  clear  that  motivated  by  fear 
of  devastating  persecution,  they  scat- 
tered in  every  direction.  Banished,  ex- 
iled, homeless  wanderers,  they 
allowed  God  to  turn  their  loss  to  gain 
as  they,  going  "everywhere  preaching 
the  Word,"  gave  wider  distribution  to 
the  Gospel. 

To  the  credit  of  the  Jerusalem 
church,  it  should  be  noted  that  they 
were  faithful  to  foster  the  life  of  newly- 
born  congregations  such  as  those  at 
Samaria  and  Antioch.  Sending  good- 
will ambassadors,  they  rejoiced  in 
them  and  confronted  them  in  the 
truth. 

It  remained  for  the  church  at 
Antioch  to  provide  us  the  greatest  ex- 
ample of  a  pioneering  congregation. 
Some  of  the  persecuted  Cyprian  and 
Cyrenian  Christians,  having  been 
forced  out  of  Jerusalem  by  the 
persecution,  came  to  Antioch.  Here 
they  preached  the  Lord  Jesus  and  a 
great  number  believed.  Barnabus  was 
dispatched    from     Jerusalem    to 

"The  dynamic  Christian 
church  of  the  first  century  and 
thereafter  was  to  be  formed  of 
pioneering  congregations, 
each  of  which  would  set  fires 
of  Christian  witness  all  about 
its  place  .  .  .  until  the  whole 
world  would  know  the  power 
of  the  resurrected  Christ." 

Antioch.  He  remained  and  brought 
Paul  there  from  Tarsus  to  work  with 
him.  This  was  to  set  the  stage  for  the 
Antioch  church  to  later  show  brilliance 
in  a  requiring  hour.  Acts  13:1-3  states, 
"there  were  at  Antioch  prophets  and 
teachers  —  and  while  they  were 
ministering  to  the  Lord  and  fasting,  the 
Holy  Spirit  said,  'set  apart  for  me  Bar- 
nabus and  Saul  for  the  work  to  which 
I  have  called  them.'  When  they  had 
fasted  and  prayed  and  laid  their  hands 
on  them,  they  sent  them  away." 

Thus,  the  Antioch  congregation  was 
first  to  take  deliberate  action  to  send 
workers  out  as  heralds  of  truth.  In  this 
way,  Antioch  assumed  the  lead  as  the 
missionary  center  for  Christianity.  In 
reaching  out  to  share  its  witness,  the 
base  at  Antioch  retained  its  glow  and 


Smith  Resigns  as  Field  Secretary 


William  W.  Smith,  eastern  field 
secretary  for  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Missions  since  1980,  has  resigned 
effective  early  September. 

He  will  be  pursuing  another,  as  yet 
unnamed,  ministry. 

Smith  joined  the  staff  of  Home  Mis- 
sions first  as  a  consultant  in  church 
and  later  was  named  eastern  field 
secretary  with  responsibilities  for 
overseeing  new  Grace  Brethren  works 


in  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Maryland,  Vermont,  Maine, 
and  other  eastern  states. 

He  previously  pastored  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at  North  Kokomo, 
Ind.,  and  also  had  a  successful 
evangelism  and  Bible  conference 
ministry. 

He  and  his  wife,  Phyllis,  will  remain 
at  their  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  home.Ll 


Orange  City  Dedicates  Building 


The  Calvary  Grace  Brethren 
Church  in  Orange  City,  Fla.  dedicated 
their  new  facility  on  Saturday, 
September  7. 

Construction  of  the  building,  which 
is  their  first  unit,  began  in  May.  A 
multi-purpose  room,  which  will  be  us- 
ed initially  as  a  sanctuary,  four 
classrooms,    nursery,    kitchen,    and 


pastor's  study  are  included  in  the 
78-by-60-foot  building.  The  sanctuary 
will  seat  approximately  120  people. 

The  church  is  located  on  Howland 
Boulevard  between  Orange  City  and 
Deltona. 

Kenneth  Koontz  is  the  pastor  at 
Orange  City. 


vitality.  Gentiles  were  being  converted 
to  the  faith  and  brought  into  the 
church. 

The  pattern  was  clear.  The  dynamic 
Christian  church  of  the  first  century 
and  thereafter  was  to  be  formed  of 
pioneering  congregations,  each  of 
which  would  set  fires  of  Christian 
witness  all  about  its  place,  which 
would  spread  until  the  whole  would 
know  of  the  power  of  the  resurrected 
Christ. 

Several  elements  are  necessary  for 
successful  church  planting. 

A  prayerful  attitude  must  be  listed 
first.  We  dare  not  be  vocal  on  the  need 
for  prayer  and  then  short  on  perfor- 
mance. Prayer  is  absolutely  essential 
to  the  development  of  a  new 
congregation. 

Self-denying  response  is  portrayed 
by  the  pioneering  church  planter. 

Acts  4:32  characterizes  the  New 
Testament  church  planter  —  "They 
were  of  one  heart  and  soul,  and  not 
one  of  them  claimed  that  anything 
belonging  to  him  was  his  own." 

Careful  instruction  in  the  Word  of 
God  follows  as  an  essential  element. 

Paul  exhorted  Timothy  to  "preach 
the  Word"  (II  Timothy  4:2).  Preaching 
has  been  God's  primary  way  of  con- 


veying His  Word  to  men.  Whenever 
the  church  or  the  pastor  minimizes  this 
ministry  they  lose  their  power  with 
God  and  with  the  people.  The  Bible 
is  our  guidebook. 

Deep  concern  for  the  lost  must  also 
be  demonstrated.  When  we  plant  new 
churches,  the  great  objective  of  the 
Kingdom  of  God  is  accomplished  — 
souls  are  saved.  We  can  give  to  others 
what  has  been  given  to  us  —  a  church 
in  which  to  worship  and  serve  the 
Lord,  and  where  they  can  invite  others 
to  come  and  find  Jesus  Christ  as  their 
Savior.  □ 


Rev.  William  Smith  served  as  eastern 
field  secretary  for  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Missions  from  1981  until  his  resignation 
in  September  1985.  He  has  also  been 
a  Home  Mission  pastor. 


GBHMC 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


27 


Planting  A  Church  in  the  Bible  Belt 


By  Liz  Cutler 
Promotional  Secretary 


Pastor  Dave  Troxel  surveys  the 
scene  before  him.  From  the  grassy 
knoll  where  the  New  Albany,  Ind. 
Grace  Brethren  Church  meets,  he 
watches  as  people  gather  for  a  wed- 
ding at  a  Methodist  church  across  the 
street.  Holstein  cows  in  the  field  beside 
it  are  calmly  chewing  their  cuds, 
oblivious  to  the  world  around  them. 
In  the  distance,  the  southern  Indiana 
community  of  New  Albany  is  visible. 

"There  are  so  many  people  out 
there  who  need  Christ,"  he  says,  the 
summer  sun  streaming  through  the 
window  and  illuminating  his  face. 

"What  pains  me  most  are  the  ones 
that  don't  have  the  time  to  hear  the 
Gospel,  or  they  would  rather  not  talk 
about  it."  He  gets  a  far  away  look  in 


his  eye. 

He  recalls  meeting  a  teenager  at  the 
Harvest  Homecoming,  an  annual 
festival  held  in  October  in  New  Albany. 

"She  was  about  13,"  he  recalls. 
"Had  real  scraggly,  blonde  hair.  She 
was  watching  her  younger  brother  and 
sister." 

They  stopped  at  the  church's  display 
to  see  Sera,  Troxel's  ventriloquist  dum- 
my giraffe. 

"I  started  talking  to  them  about  go- 
ing to  church.  She  had  on  a  T-shirt 
with  a  marijuana  leaf  on  the  front  and 
a  belt  with  a  Playboy  bunny  on  it.  I 
started  talking  to  her  about  the  Lord. 
She  said,  "We  don't  go  to  church,"  and 
she  pulled  her  little  brother  away  and 
they  walked  on. 


"There  I  was.  I  was  in  the  booth.  I 
couldn't  leave.  And  there  went  a  soul 
down  the  road." 

He  stops  for  a  moment  as  if  he  were 
watching  the  girl  and  her  siblings 
disappear  into  the  crowd  again. 

"Oh,  that  just  broke  my  heart." 

Reaching  people  for  Christ  in  this 
Bible  belt  community  where  there 
almost  as  many  churches  as  there  are 
gas  stations  may  not  be  as  easy  as  it 
seems. 

Located  on  the  edge  of  the  hills  of 
Kentucky,  life  in  southern  Indiana 
takes  on  a  much  slower  pace  than  it 
does  a  few  hundred  miles  north.  In 
fact,  to  the  uninitiated  ear,  southern 
Hoosiers  may  talk  more  like  someone 
from  the  Blue  Grass  State  than  a  resi- 


28 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


GBHMC 


dent  of  the  midwest.  (New  Albany  is 
located  on  the  Ohio  River  and  is  a 
bedroom  community  for  Louisville, 
Ky.) 

"A  preacher  is  someone  you  don't 
want  to  offend,"  explains  Troxel,  who 
admits  he  experienced  a  bit  of  culture 
shock  when  he  moved  here  from  the 
northern  part  of  the  Hoosier  state  in 
1982.  "Most  people  will  tell  you  what 
they  think  you  want  to  hear." 

So,  a  positive  response  to  an  invita- 
tion to  attend  church  may  not  mean 
the  individual  will  show  up  the  next 
Sunday. 

"It  a  takes  longer  to  build  relation- 
ships," he  says. 

But  in  the  three  and  one-half  years 
that  Troxel  has  been  in  the  pulpit  of  this 
Home  Mission  church,  the  congrega- 
tion has  doubled  from  an  average  at- 
tendance of  20  to  more  than  40  on 

"There  I  was.  I  was 
in  the  booth.  I  couldn't 
leave.  And  there  went 
a  soul  down  the  road 
.  .  .  that  just  broke  my 
heart." 

Sunday  morning.  Offerings  have  in- 
creased and  they  are  looking  toward 
going  self-supporting  yet  this  year. 

"We  have  a  monthly  need  of 
$1,809,  we  have  exceeded  that  five  of 
the  last  nine  months,"  he  says.  They 
also  hope  to  have  their  property  on  St. 
Joseph  Road  paid  off  in  the  next  few 
months. 

And  they  continue  to  look  ahead. 

"If  the  Lord  really  blesses,  we'll 
break  ground  next  year." 

The  church  currently  meets  in  a 
century-old  school  house  outside  of 
New  Albany.  The  location,  while  a 
highly  visible  one,  may  also  have  its 
drawbacks. 

"I  sometimes  have  the  feeling  the 
people  think  because  we're  in  that  lit- 
tle schoolhouse  there  that  we're  some 
kind  of  weirdos  or  something  where 
we've  got  an  offbeat  type  of 
denomination,"  says  Louie  Forcht,  a 
middle-aged  truck  driver  with  a  plea- 
sant southern  drawl.  "It  doesn't  bother 
us,  but  I  think  it  bothers  some  people." 

To  quell  any  uneasy  feelings  a  visitor 
might  have  about  the  location,  church 
members  and  attenders  do  their  best 


to  make  them  feel  at  home. 

"This  church  is  so  comfortable," 
remarks  Bob  Cool,  a  New  Albany 
funeral  director  who  began  to  attend 
the  church  last  April. 

"The  people  here  were  never 
strangers.  From  the  first  day  we  walk- 
ed in,  they  were  never  strangers." 

Another  unique  feature  of  the 
church  is  the  blend  of  Brethren 
backgrounds  found  in  the  congrega- 
tion. Several  members  came  from  a 
local  Church  of  the  Brethren  after  it 
closed  its  doors.  Others  are  from  an 
Ashland  Brethren  background. 

In  fact,  it  may  be  one  of  only  two 
Brethren  churches  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  state. 

"You  just  don't  go  too  far  in  nor- 
thern Indiana  without  seeing  a 
Brethren  church,"  says  Forcht.  "But 
down  here,  it  doesn't  seem  like  its 
caught  on  as  much.  Look  at  the  size 
of  Louisville  and  there's  not  a  Brethren 
church  at  all  over  there.  To  me,  the 
door's  wide  open  for  this  kind  of  a 
church  down  here." 

But  the  factor  that  seems  to  attract 
the  majority  of  the  people  to  the  New 
Albany  Grace  Brethren  Church  is  the 
Bible  teaching. 

"He  (Pastor  Dave)  really  preaches 
the  Gospel,"  says  Jo  Ann  Forcht. 
"There  are  just  not  many  preachers 
around  who  do,  not  around  here 
anyways." 

"I  took  a  survey  of  the  congrega- 
tion," notes  Troxel.  "The  people  were 
most  impressed  by  the  fact  that  we 
preach  the  Bible,"  he  adds.  "That  tells 
me  I  don't  need  to  get  social  to  be  in- 
teresting . 

Earlene  Hendricks,  a  vivacious 
mother  of  two,  echoes  that  sentiment. 
"It's  hard  to  find  a  good  church  around 
here." 

That  was  one  of  the  reasons  Fred 
and  Dot  Neiter  became  involved  in 
beginning  the  church  in  1978. 
Transferred  to  the  New  Albany  area 
from  South  Bend,  Ind.  because  of  his 
work,  the  couple  saw  a  need  for  more 
evangelical,  fundamental  works  in  the 
area. 

"We  feel  the  Lord  brought  us  down 
here  to  help  start  the  church,"  says 
Fred,  who  is  in  charge  of  maintenance 
at  the  Pillsbury  Company  in  New 
Albany. 

For  about  six  months,  Fred  com- 
muted to  the  area  weekly  while  his 
wife  remained  in  South  Bend  so  their 
son,  Rod,  could  finish  high  school.  It 
was  during  that  time,  he  noticed  an 


item  about  church  extension  in  Indiana 
in  the  bulletin  from  his  home  con- 
gregation, the  Ireland  Road  Grace 
Brethren  Church. 

"I  read  there  that  the  district  mission 
board  was  thinking  about  starting  a 
work  in  New  Albany." 

At  that  point,  the  Neiters  weren't 
sure  they  wanted  to  be  involved.  But 
after  conferring  with  their  pastor  in 
South  Bend,  Rev.  Scott  Weaver,  and 
Rev.  Rollin  Sandy,  then  president  of 
the  district  mission  board,  and  spen- 
ding time  in  prayer,  they  became  com- 
mitted to  beginning  a  Grace  Brethren 
work  there. 

Even  then,  it  was  more  than  a  year 
before  Pastor  Russ  Simpson  arrived  on 
the  field  to  begin  the  church. 

"He  saw  a  vision  for  a  chance  to 
start  off,"  recalls  Neiter.  "But  it  was  all 
a  leading  of  the  Lord,  things  worked 
together  so  well." 

Being  one  of  the  founding  families 
meant  total  involvement. 

"I  really  had  to  change  some  at- 
titudes toward  the  church,"  recalls 
Rod,  who  moved  with  his  parents  to 
the  Ohio  River  community  after  he 
completed  high  school.  "Instead  of  be- 
ing someplace  to  go,  it  was  someplace 
in  your  life." 

As  financial  secretary,  Mrs.  Neiter 
has  kept  an  eye  on  the  church's  books 
through  the  years.  She  admits  there 


Pastor  Dave  Troxel 

GBHMC    SEPTEMBER  '85  29 


Charter  member  Fred  Neiter  greets  Jo  Ann  Forcht  following  the  worship 
service. 


were  times  when  she  lost  sleep  over 
the  financial  condition  of  the  church. 

"I'd  get  home  and  look  at  the  offer- 
ings, and  she'd  say,  'Hey,  you  know, 
we  only  got  this  much  in  .  .  .  and  here 
are  the  bills  that  we  have  to  pay.  How 
are  we  going  to  do  it?'"recalls  Fred. 
"We'd  pray  about  it!" 

With  the  help  of  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions,  the  church  got 
through  those  tough  financial  times. 
And  as  attendances  have  improved, 
so  have  the  offerings.  Now  the  Neiters 
are  looking  ahead  to  seeing  the  church 
go  self-supporting  and  construct  their 
own  building.  And  even  as  they  plan 
their  first  unit  building,  the  congrega- 
tion is  anticipating  planting  another 
Grace  Brethren  work. 

"We  would  like  to  have  our  church 
family  be  of  an  adequate  size  to  start 
another  church  here  in  the  area,"  notes 


Fred.  "There  is  only  one  other  fun- 
damental church  in  the  area."         □ 


Liz  Cutler  has  been  promotional  secretary 
for  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council  since  December,  1982.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  Grace  College  and  will  receive 
a  M.A.  degree  in  Journalism  from  Ball  State 
University  this  December.  Liz  lives  near  War- 
saw, Ind.,  and  professes  a  great  weakness 
for  any  kind  of  ice  cream. 


Tour  Takes 
Visitors  To  Mission 

"I  thoroughly  enjoyed  everything" 
was  one  comment  from  a  guest  on  the 
recent  Indianlands  Tour  to  the  Grace 
Brethren  Navajo  Mission  and  other 
points  of  interest  in  New  Mexico.  The 
tour  was  held  August  16  through  20. 

Eighteen  individuals  gathered  at  the 
airport  in  Albuquerque,  N.  Mex.  Friday 
afternoon,  August  16  for  a  whirlwind 
tour  of  Indian  highlights  and  Grace 
Brethren  ministries  in  the  state.  Follow- 
ing dinner  in  the  Old  Town  area  of 
Albuquerque,  the  group  left  by  motor 
coach  for  the  Grace  Brethren  Navajo 
Mission,  two  hours  away  at  Counselor. 

Saturday  and  Sunday  were  spent 
observing  the  ministries  of  the  Mission 
and  seeing  sights  within  driving 
distance  of  Counselor. 

On  Saturday,  Carson  Trading  Post, 
which  has  served  the  Navajo  Indians 
since  the  early  part  of  the  century,  was 
the  first  stop  followed  by  the  Chaco 
Canyon  National  Historical  Park. 

Sunday  morning  found  guests  bum- 
ping their  way  along  dusty  roads  to  at- 
tend the  service  at  the  Cedar  Hill 
Navajo  Community  Grace  Brethren 
Church.  Pastor  Butler  and  his  congre- 
gation warmly  welcomed  the  visitors, 
there  was  plenty  of  time  after  the  ser- 
vice to  get  to  know  one  another. 

A  Thanksgiving  service  was  held 
Sunday  evening  in  the  new  multi-pur- 
pose facility  on  the  Mission  compound. 

Following  the  service,  a  carry-in  din- 
ner with  the  Navajo  people  was  held 
in  the  dining  room  at  the  Mission. 

Monday  was  spent  visiting  Taos.  N. 
Mex.,  beginning  with  a  Spanish  meal 
at  the  Canon  First  Brethren  Church. 
A  stop  at  the  Taos  Pueblo  and  a  visit 
to  the  Plaza  (Old  Town)  was  made 
before  calling  it  a  day. 

After  breakfast  and  devotions,  the 
group  left  Tuesday  morning  for  Albu- 
querque and  their  return  flights  home. 
Stopping  in  Sante  Fe,  the  capital  of 
New  Mexico,  individuals  had  an  op- 
portunity to  see  the  Governor's  Palace, 
the  Plaza,  and  other  sights  in  one  of 
the  oldest  communities  in  the  country. 

The  Indianlands  Tour  was  the  first 
time  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions Council  and  the  Grace  Brethren 
Navajo  Mission  have  joined  forces  to 
bring  a  group  of  people  to  see  the 
work  of  the  Mission  first  hand.  Ten- 
tative plans  are  being  made  for  a  se- 
cond tour  to  be  held  sometime  during 
1986.  For  more  information,  contact 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions.  Box 
587,  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  46590.    □ 


30 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


GBHMC 


rayer  may  take  different  forms:  adoration,  reflec- 
ting on  the  person  of  God;  confession,  admitting  our  sins 
to  God;  thanksgiving,  ascribing  credit  to  God  for  all  that 
he  has  given.  Prayers  that  center  upon  one  of  these  areas 
are  not  uttered  with  an  expectation  of  a  response,  an 
answer.  Their  purpose  is  accomplished  while  we  pray:  God 
is  glorified,  we  are  forgiven,  etc. 

There  is  another  area  of  prayer,  one  that  quite  often 
dominates  our  times  of  prayer,  that  does  expect  an  answer. 
This  area  of  prayer  is  supplication  —  making  specific  re- 
quests for  ourselves  and  others.  And  if  I  may  emphasize 
the  obvious  for  a  moment,  there  is  an  overriding  reason 
why  we  ask  God  for  things:  it  is  to  receive  something  from 
God.  Everytime  we  make  a  request,  we  hope  for  a  100 
percent  success  rate  in  receiving  that  for  which  we've  asked. 

However,  if  your  prayer  life  is  anything  like  mine,  you 
fall  far  short  of  that,  as  all  Christians  seem  to.  For  many, 
the  fact  that  not  all  their  prayers  are  answered  can  be 
tremendously  discouraging.  They  reason,  "Didn't  Jesus  say, 
'Everyone  who  asks  receives?'  It  sounds  so  simple  —  just 
believe  and  receive.  Why  is  it  that  every  request  we  bring 
before  the  'throne  of  grace'  is  not  immediately  answered? 
Aren't  we  children  of  the  King? 

Our  misconceptions  about  prayer  need  to  be  resolved 
in  order  to  see  how  God  deals  with  our  prayers.  Prayer 
is  not  the  quarter  that,  when  placed  in  the  slot  machine, 
hits  the  jackpot  everytime.  Prayer  is  not  the  genie  in  the 
lamp  or  a  new  all-purpose  snake  oil,  guaranteed  "to  take 
care  of  what  'er  ails  ya'."  Ideas  such  as  these  on  prayer 


How  to  Get  Your 

Prayers  Answered 

—  Every  Time! 


reduce  God  the  Father,  the  all-powerful,  all-knowing  God 
of  the  universe,  to  a  waiter,  standing  in  the  wings  with  a 
tray  of  steaming  hot  food,  waiting  anxiously  for  our  order. 

Each  of  these  ideas  of  prayer  fail  on  one  major  point: 
they  see  God  as  the  only  active  party  in  the  answering  of 
prayers.  Making  the  supplication  is  just  the  beginning.  We 
have  an  important  role  in  seeing  the  prayer  itself  answered. 

This  may  be  likened  to  a  baseball  game.  When  we  make 
a  request  to  God,  we  pitch  the  ball.  God,  receiving  the  re- 
quest, hits  the  ball  (since  He's  perfect,  He  never  misses!). 
Then,  in  order  to  catch  the  ball  (receive  an  answer  to  our 
request),  we  must  move  toward  the  request.  Baseballs  are 
rarely  hit  directly  toward  the  centerfielder.  We  must  move 
toward  the  ball,  to  the  right  or  the  left.  So  too  must  we 
be  active  in  order  to  have  our  requests  answered. 

So  what  kind  of  activity  is  required  of  us  to  have  our 
prayers  answered?  Put  very  simply,  obedience!  God  desires' 
to  give  His  children  "good  gifts"  (Matthew  7:9-11),  yet  we 
must  live  lives  of  obedience  in  order  to  move  us  toward 
those  good  gifts  He  desires  to  give.  God  has  prepared  a 
tray  of  steaming  hot  food,  but  it's  a  "to  go"  order!  "Come 
and  get  it"  by  conforming  your  life  to  His  commands. 

The  following  is  an  exercise  designed  to  show  you  from 
God's  Word  how  to  get  your  prayers  answered  —  every 
time! 

1.  Refer  to  the  following  verses  and  list  the  important 
conditions  for  answered  prayer. 

a.  John  15:7 


I  John  3:21, 
I  John  5:14, 


22. 
15. 


2.  As  we  are  obedient  to  God,  what  is  the  character  of 
his  responses  to  our  prayer? 

a.  Ephesians  3:20 

b.  Jeremiah  33:3   

3.  What  must  we  avoid  in  order  to  assure  that  our  prayers 
are  answered? 

a.  James  4:3 

b.  Psalm  66:18  


■  •**  p 

Dean  Smith  has  pastored  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at  Hemet,  Calif,  since 
March,  1985.  He  is  a  graduate  of  West- 
mont  College  and  Western  Conservative 
Baptist  Seminary.  Dean  met  his  wife, 
Diane,   while  working  in  a  market  in 
Portland,  Ore.  He  admits  to  checking  her 
out  instead  of  her  groceries!  The  couple 
now  has  one  son,  Ryan,  who  was  born 
in  April. 

GBHMC 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


31 


This  month,  Jewish  people  observe  their  most  solemn 
of  holy  days,  known  as  "The  Ten  Days  of  Penitence."  Other 
names  for  the  period  are  "Days  of  Awe"  or  "High  Holidays." 
It  begins  with  Rosh  Heshanah  (New  Year)  and  concludes 
with  Yom  Kippur  (Day  of  Atonement) .  In  1985,  this  period 
is  from  September  15  to  25. 

Prayer  comprises  a  great  portion  of  the  services  that  ac- 
company these  special  days.  In  fact,  the  book  used  is  a 
special  prayer  book. 

Since  Judaism  has  three  main  divisions,  orthodox,  con- 
servative, and  reform,  each  has  its  own  prayer  book.  I  have 
a  copy  of  the  one  used  by  most  conservative  congrega- 
tions entitled  "High  Holiday  Prayer  Book." 

I  found  this  quotation  from  the  Talmud  very  interesting: 
"Even  when  the  gates  of  heaven  are  shut  to  prayer,  they 
are  open  to  tears.  Prayer  is  Israel's  only  weapon,  a  weapon 


inherited  from  our  fathers,  tried  and  tested  in  a  thousand 
battles." 

A  large  portion  of  the  prayer  book  is  composed  of  the 
Psalms.  We  usually  think  of  the  book  of  Psalms  being 
Israel's  hymnal,  which  is  of  course  true;  but  it  is  also  the 
forerunner  of  the  prayer  book.  A  psalm  has  been  assigned 
to  each  day  of  the  week  and  for  special  days.  Quite  ap- 
propriately the  psalm  for  Yom  Kippur  is  Psalm  32  which 
begins:  "How  blessed  is  he  whose  transgression  is  forgiven, 
whose  sin  is  covered!" 

The  Prayer  Book  also  contains  many  poems  and 
thoughts  for  meditation.  The  following  is  a  supplication 
which  was  composed  in  the  Middle  Ages  by  one  called  a 
Hazen  (Reader). 

Behold,  in  deep  humility 

I  stand  and  plead  before  thee,  God  on  high, 


The  Prayer  Book 


Great  God  who  are  enthroned  above  all  praise, 

0  harken  and  give  heed  unto  my  prayer. 
Though  unworthy  of  my  sacred  task, 
Though  imperfect,  too,  and  filled  with  awe, 

1  bow  before  thy  holy  Presence  here, 
To  crave  compassion  for  my  erring  folk. 
O  God  of  Israel's  Patriarchs, 

Their  children's  children  send  me  as  their  voice 

To  supplicate  Thy  pardon  and  Thy  grace. 

To  ask  Thy  mercy,  Thy  continued  love. 

Though  unworthy  of  my  mission  Lord, 

Though  I  stand  not  flawless  in  Thy  sight, 

Condemn  Thou  not  my  people  for  my  faults, 

Consider  but  their  virtues,  Righteous  Judge. 

Forgive  us  our  iniquities. 

And  turn  our  afflictions  into  joy. 

Thou  great,  exalted  God  who  hearest  prayer, 

Hear  ours,  and  bless  us  all  with  life  and  peace. 

Perhaps  the  best  known  prayer  is  the  Kol  Nidre,  chanted 
by  the  cantor  on  the  eve  of  Yom  Kippur  just  before  suset. 
This  solemn  prayer,  dating  back  to  the  eighth  century,  asks 
God  to  annul  all  vows  and  oaths  of  the  coming  year.  A 
controversial  prayer,  some  say  this  is  only  between  the  in- 
dividual and  God.  Others  point  out  that  it  grew  out  of  oaths 
and  vows  Jews  were  forced  to  make,  such  as  during  the 
Inquisition. 

Prayer  is  a  vital  part  of  our  Christian  worship;  however, 
not  in  the  amount  of  time  given  to  it  in  our  worship  ser- 
vices, and  not  in  the  use  of  recorded  prayers,  no  matter 

Judaism  has  a  blessing  for  almost 
every  phase  of  one's  life. 


how  beautiful.  Ours  is  mafniy  a  personal  time  alone  with 
the  Lord  and  is  praying  in  our  own  words. 

Judaism  has  a  blessing  for  almost  every  phase  of  one's 
life.  Recorded  or  personal,  one  condition  must  be  met  ...  a 
clean  heart.  And  only  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  avails  so 
our  prayers  are  acceptable  to  the  Holy  God  of  Israel. 

I'm  always  thankful  that  Jewish  people  who  are  not 
believers  permit  me  to  pray  for  them  after  I  have  visited 
with  them  and  shared  the  Word.  But  it  has  always  been 
disconcerting  to  look  up  and  find  that  they  have  not  closed 
their  eyes. 

Next  to  the  joy  of  leading  a  Jewish  person  to  the  Lord 
is  that  of  seeing  growth  in  the  grace  and  knowledge  of 
Messiah  Jesus  and  to  hear  the  first  prayer.  This  was  my 
privilege  recently  with  a  former  Jewish  neighbor  who  had 
wavered  back  and  forth  between  Jesus  and  Judaism. 

The  other  day  after  our  time  of  sharing  and  my  prayer, 
this  in  essence  was  her  prayer:  "I  love  you  Lord  Jesus.  I'm 
not  going  to  ask  much  from  you.  I'm  accepting  your  will. 
Your  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven." 

She  also  gave  me  a  pocket  notebook  and  in  the  first  five 
pages  she  had  written  some  quotes  she  had  read  and  also 
some  of  her  own  thoughts.  Her  last  thought  was  this: 

"Blessed  is  thy  name  in  all  the  universe 

Praise  thee,  praise  thee 

Eternal  life  with  thee  so  pure  and  free 

Miracle  of  miracles 


Thou  has  bestowed  upon  me 

Oh  Lord  Jesus,  I  love  you  with  my  heart  and  soul 

For  'tis  you  that  breathed  life  into  me  and  made  me 

whole 
I  do  solemnly  vow  never  more  to  stray 
Thy  precious  blood  cleanseth  me 
Now,  I  can  chase  Satan  away. 
I  give  you  my  very  life  to  keep 
Until  it's  time  for  you  to  put  me  to  sleep 
Thy  will  be  done." 

Her  reference  to  "Thy  will  be  done"  both  times  is  regar- 
ding some  very  serious  physical  problems  that  she  has 
which  makes  her  very  unsure  of  the  future. 

A  special  benediction  from  the  "High  Holiday  Prayer 
Book"  is  recited  and  the  "Ten  Days  of  Penitence"  ends  with 
the  blowing  of  the  shofar  (ram's  horn).  It  reminds  me  that 
one  day  the  trumpet  will  sound  and  as  the  hymn  "Sweet 
Hour  of  Prayer"  says:  "And  shout,  while  passing  thro'  the 
air,  Farewell,  farewell,  sweet  hour  of  prayer."  □ 


Isobel  Fraser  has  served  with  the 
Grace  Brethren  Messianic  Testimony  in 
Los  Angeles.  Calif,  since  1951.  Now 
residing  in  the  mission  residence  on 
North  Kings  Road,  she  enjoys  inviting 
friends  in  for  an  evening  of  table  games. 


Graces 

Home 
Missions 


Council,  Inc. 


Church  Planting  In  Norlh  America 


New  Logo  Released 

A  new  logo  for  The  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council,  Inc.  has  been  unveiled. 

First  reviewed  at  the  August  meetings  of  the  Council's 
board  of  directors,  the  logo  will  be  used  throughout  the 
Fellowship  to  symbolize  the  national  church  planting  pro- 
gram of  the  FGBC,  according  to  Dr.  Robert  W.  Thomp- 
son, executive  secretary  of  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions. 

The  logo  features  a  Colonial  style  steeple  emerging  from 
an  open  Bible.  The  steeple  is  also  framed  with  a  circle, 
almost  in  the  form  of  a  rising  sun. 

The  new  symbol  was  designed  by  Tim  Kennedy  of  Ken- 
nedy Design,  Warsaw,  Ind.  (He  is  the  son  of  Pastor  Jim 
Kennedy,  of  the  Waimalu  Grace  Brethren  Church  in 
Hawaii.)  It  will  be  used  on  stationery  and  promotional 
material  for  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions.  □ 


GBHMC 


SEPTEMBER   85 


33 


Deaths 


Backus,  Elizabeth,  68.  Bellflower  Brethren  Church,  Bellflower, 
CA.  Ed  Cash  man,  pastor. 

Butts,  Paul.  Rosemont  GBC,  Martinsburg,  WV.  Carl  Baker,  pastor. 
Delozier,  George,  81.  Vicksburg  GBC,  Hollidaysburg,  PA.  Robert 
Griffith,  pastor. 

Gidner,  Roy  Dean.  GBC  of  Lake  Odessa,  Ml.  Bill  Stevens,  pastor. 
Hammond,    Ruth.    First   GBC,    Dayton,  OH.  G.   Forrest  Jackson, 
pastor. 

Kinsey,  Mildred,  80.  Winona  Lake  GBC,  Winona  Lake,  IN.  She 
was  the  stepmother  of  Mrs.  Gerald  Polman.  Charles  Ashman, 
pastor. 

Kliever,  Freda,  77.  GBC  Middlebranch,  OH.  Freda  and  her  hus- 
band, Jake,  served  for  40  years  as  missionaries  under  the  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  Central  African  Republic 
and  the  Republic  of  Chad.  A  memorial  service  was  held  August  25. 
Wesley  Haller,  pastor. 

Ramsey,  Thurston,  First  Brethren  Church,  Buena  Vista,  VA. 
Lester  Kennedy,  pastor. 

Smith,  Michael,  44.  Harrah  Brethren  Church,  Harrah,  WA.  Charles 
Winter,  pastor. 

Staton,  Marcella.  First  Brethren  Church,  Buena  Vista,  VA.  Lester 
Kennedy,  pastor. 


Change  \bur  Annual 


David  Atkins,  2703  Sharon  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  (Tel. 
219/267-2160)  /  Dennis  Beach,  1925  Wickford  PL,  Spring- 
field, OH  45503  /  Joseph  Bishop,  812  Charles  Dr.,  Winona 
Lake,  IN  46590  (Tel.  219/269-4324)  /  Arthur  Burk, 
P.O.  Box  6592,  Anaheim,  CA  92806  /  Carlton  Fuller, 
R.  2,  Box  257,  Unicoi,  TN  37692  /  Ralph  Hall,  6611 
Heritage  Lane,  Bradenton,  FL  33529  /  Chris  Hayes, 
P.O.  Box  875445,  Wasilla,  AK  99687  /  Paul  Hoffman, 
12630  Racquet  Ct.,  Auburn  CA  95603  /  Tom  Hughes 
is  now  pastor  of  evangelism  at  the  GBC  in  Long  Beach, 
CA  (his  address  remains  the  same)  /  Larry  Humberd,  R. 
9,  Box  110,  Hagerstown,  MD  21740  /  Doug  Jensen, 
3521  Williamson  Rd.,  Stow,  OH  44224  /  Gerald  Kyser, 
707  Carnegie  Ave.,  Akron,  OH  44314  /  Stanley  Norwick, 
1467  Osprey  Lane,  College  Place,  WA  99324  /  John 
Patrick,  1351  Brownsboro  Rd.,  Eaglepoint,  OR  97524  / 
Gary  Patterson,  1125  N.  Standish  Ave.,  Oklahoma  City, 
OK  73117  /  Jack  Peters,  Jr.,  2804  Forestgreen  Dr.,  S., 
Lakeland,  FL  33803  /  Roberto  Salazar  Gutierrez,  Valle 
de  La  Bellesters  35,  4a,  46015  Valencia,  Espana  /  J. 
Ward  Tressler,  5230  Greencroft  Dr.,  Dayton,  OH  45426 
(Tel.  513/837-3341)  /  The  zip  code  for  the  Palm  Harbor 
GBC,  Palm  Harbor,  FL,  is  34273. 

□  Dan  Travis,  formerly  of  Des  Moines,  IA,  has  joined  the 
staff  of  the  North  Long  Beach  Brethren  Church  as  as- 
sistant pastor  in  the  area  of  Christian  education. 


DThe  Coast  Community  GBC  at  Laguna  Niguel,  CA, 
pastored  by  Gary  Nolan,  has  been  closed.  Gary  has  ac- 
cepted a  full-time  position  with  Gospel  Light  and  is  now 
Southwest  Regional  Manager  of  Church  Curriculum 
Services. 

□  Garth  Lindelef  has  been  approved  for  ordination  by  the 
Southern  California  District  Examining  Board.  He  is 
serving  as  pastor  of  the  Community  GBC  of  Long  Beach, 
CA. 

DThe  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Virginia  Beach,  VA,  has 
been  closed  and  the  building  sold.  Efforts  are  in  progress 
to  reopen  at  a  new  location. 

□  Tom  Lynn,  formerly  on  the  staff  of  the  GBC  of  Long 
Beach,  CA,  has  accepted  the  call  of  the  River  City  Grace 
Community  Church  of  Sacramento,  CA,  to  become  her 
pastor.  He  began  his  ministry  there  on  July  1. 


□  North  Long  Beach  (CA)  church  burns  mortgage-"On 
June  23,  during  the  evening  service,  Pastor  David  Miller 
and  Pastor  Emeritus  George  Peek  joyfully  torched  the 
mortgage  on  their  present  church  building.  The  structures 
were  dedicated  in  1958  and  1961,  and  are  currently 
valued  at  more  than  2  million. 

"The  church  is  still  seeking  suitable  property  for  a  re- 
location east,  as  the  Lord  opens  the  door,  and  has  over  2 
million  in  cash  toward  such  a  move.  Suitable  properties  in 
the  area  desired  carry  price  tags  three  times  that  amount, 
however." 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  Grace  Schools  has  estab- 
lished a  Search  Committee  to  seek  a  new  president  in 
light  of  Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent's  resignation.  The  commit- 
tee will  be  comprised  of  1 1  advisors:  two  members 
each  of  the  Seminary  faculty,  College  faculty,  and 
national  ministerium;  one  representative  from  each  of 
the  following:  Seminary  student  body,  Seminary 
alumni,  College  student  body,  College  alumni,  and 
a  community  representative. 

Any  suggestions  to  be  made  to  this  committee 
should  be  sent  to: 

Jerry  R.  Young,  Chairman 

Presidential  Search  Committee 

501  W.  Lincoln  Avenue 

Lititz,  PA  17543 


34 


SEPTEMBER  '85 


BMH 


ANOTHER  BMH  -  MOODY  IMPRINT! 


Introducing  a  Publishing  Landmark  That  Will 
Forever  Change  The  Way  You  Read  Your  Bible. 


magine  climbing  the  jagged  bluffs  that  Moses 
jiscended  on  Mount  Sinai.  Or  wandering 
ihrough  the  barren  wilderness  of  Judea  where 
birist  was  tempted.  Or  even  tracing  Paul's 
footsteps  through  Turkey,  Greece,  and  Italy. 

In  Tloe  Moody  Atlas  of  Bible  Lands, 
:hese  familiar  images  take  on  a  whole  new 
dimension  and  significance  as  you  discover 
bow  God  used  the  geography  of  His  chosen 
land  to  chart  the  course  of  history. 

TO  APPRECIATE  THE 

"HOW"AND"WHY,"YOU 

HAVE  TO  UNDERSTAND 

THE"WHERE" 

The  Moody  Atlas  adds  clarity  and  detail  to 
every  Bible  event. 

You'll  learn  the  geographical  factors 
that  made  David's  escape  from  Saul  an 
astounding  success ,  and  how 
geography 
contributed 
to  John  the 
Baptist's  rug- 
ged lifestyle. 


Discover  why  Jesus  centered  his  public  ministry 
in  the  city  of  Capernaum.  And  how  an  earth- 
quake fault  line  shaped  an  entire  nation. 

FROM  THE  GARDEN 

OF  EDEN  TO  THE  VALLEY 

OF  ARMAGEDDON. 

Dr.  Barry  J.  Beitzel,  one  of  the  world's  leading 
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BRETHREN    MISSIONARY    HERALD 

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Correction 

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•  1985  National  Achievement  and  Competition  Winners 

•  Touch  The  World  Through  Evangelism 
And  the  Drums  Boom  On 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


<-  ^ 


The  Cloud 

the  Size 

of  a  Man's  Handl 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 


The  little  cloud  on  the  horizon  has  become  the 
symbol  of  an  approaching  change.  We  often  think 
of  the  time  in  the  Old  Testament  when  the  cloud 
appeared  to  bring  the  long-awaited  rain.  Then  it 
was  the  time  of  blessing  and  hope.  We  are  in  great 
need  of  a  small  cloud  that  promises  blessing,  be- 
cause there  are  a  great  host  of  dark  clouds  over- 
head right  now. 

A  story  that  appeared  in  the  business  news  last 
month  is  one  of  the  little  cloud  stories.  Many  of 
you  are  just  now  adjusting  to  the  ATMS.  That  is 
short  for  the  automatic  teller  machines  used  at 
many  banks.  It  is  a  computerized  device  that 
works  for  24  hours  a  day  for  the  price  of  three 
average  bank  tellers.  Well,  it  seems  that  one  of  the 
ATMS  in  Pittsburgh  broke  down  and  refused  to 
surrender  the  plastic  cards  that  were  inserted.  In 
two  hours  a  failure  of  the  computer  system  and 
the  machine  took  2,000  cards  from  customers. 
The  computer  was  unable  to  recognize  the  cards 
and  thought  they  were  counterfeits,  so  it  just 
would  not  give  them  back.  The  bank  apologized 
later  for  the  conduct  of  their  misguided  and 
mischievous  computer. 

Not  only  are  the  credit  cards  disappearing,  but 
so  is  the  money  in  this  country.  As  a  nation,  we 
are  moving  with  the  greatest  speed  in  history  to- 
wards some  form  of  disaster.  Never  in  our  history 
have  we  so  mortgaged  our  future  to  pay  the 
bills  of  our  seeming  luxuries.  The  dark  clouds  of 
debt  are  growing  so  fast  there  is  no  way  to  even 
evaluate  it  by  any  standard  that  can  be  compre- 
hended in  our  normal  lives. 

The  time  this  was  written  a  Farm  Aid  program 
was  being  conducted  to  call  attention  to  the  con- 
tinued demise  of  the  traditional  small  farm.  The 
year  1985  has  already  witnessed  the  collapse  of 
the  largest  number  of  banks  since  the  Depression. 

National  debt  is  growing  so  fast  that  it  took 
about  200  years  to  build  the  first  trillion  dollars 
of  federal  debt  and  only  58  months  to  add  the 
second  trillion.  For  the  first  time  since  1914,  the 


United  States  owes  the  rest  of  the  world  more 
than  they  owe  us-debtor  nation  status.  We  are 
living  on  borrowed  funds  and  there  is  no  plan  to 
repay. 

It  is  easy  to  find  this  as  a  non-related  issue  in 
our  Christian  world.  There  are  so  many  really  big 
issues  around  us  in  the  battle  that  are  not  flesh 
and  blood  but  principalities  and  powers.  But  the 
actions  of  the  material  world  do  impact  us  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.  What  about  those  trained  and 
prepared  Brethren  missionaries  that  are  waiting  to 
go  to  the  field?  They  await  support  money  and 
national  conference  has  come  and  gone  without 
the  needed  pledges  of  support,  which  were 
usually  secured  there.  We  are  only  months  away 
from  another  large  group  who  wants  to  go  in 
1986— maybe  25  more. 

The  boards  are  in  need  of  support  for  fresh 
building  of  a  support  base  in  the  form  of  new 
churches.  Educational  institutions  stand  in  need 
of  help  to  prepare  the  workers  of  our  tomorrows. 
The  funds  are  existent,  but  what  about  our 
priorities?  There  are  no  doubt  enough  funds  are 
in  the  possession  of  the  Brethren,  but  is  the  will 
present  to  see  the  material  possessions  reach  the 
Gospel  priorities? 

To  those  who  were  present  at  national  confer- 
ence and  heard  the  reports,  there  remains  no 
question  that  we  are  coming  to  a  decision  time  in 
our  Fellowship.  Churches,  membership,  attend- 
ance at  services  all  dropped  in  1984  for  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  our  national  Fellowship. 
The  task  can  be  accomplished,  but  it  will  not  be 
completed  unless  there  is  a  change  in  our  plans 
and  desires.  It  is  still  not  too  late  to  begin  to  turn 
things  around,  but  the  clouds  of  debt  and  dismay 
are  rapidly  gathering.  It  will  be  done  when  we 
recognize  the  need  and  are  willing  to  do  some- 
thing about  it.  Possibly  our  greatest  problem  now 
is  that  we  have  not  yet  seen  the  clouds  that  prom- 
ise either  refreshing  rain  or  untold  problems. 


OCTOBER  '85 


BMH 


EEETHEEN 
MISSIONARY 


heralc 


Vol.  47         No.  10         October  1985 

The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co., 
EO.  Box  544.  1104  Kings  Highway. 
Winona  Lake.  IN  46590. 
Subscription  prices:  $8.25  per 
year;  foreign.  $10.00;  special  rates 
to  churches.  Erinted  by  BMH 
Erinting. 

EXTRA  COEIES  of  back  issues- 
are  available.  One  copy.  $2.00; 
two  copies,  $3.00;  three  to  ten 
copies.  $1.50  each;  more  than  ten 
copies.  $1.25  each.  Flease  include 
your  check  with  order,  prices  in- 
clude postage  charges.) 

NEWS  ITEMS  contained  in 
each  issue  are  presented  for  in- 
formation, and  do  not  indicate 
endorsement. 

MOVING?  Send  label  on  back 
cover  and  your  new  address. 
Elease  allow  four  weeks  for  the 
change  to  be  made. 

TOLL-FREE  NUMBER  for  mer- 
chandise orders;  1-800-348-2756. 


Publisher,  Charles  Turner 
Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 
Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker. 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson, 
Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 


4  Touch  the  World  Through  Evangelism 

6  Boholniihii  —  Boss,  Chief,  Dictator,  Lord 

8  How  Shall  The  World  Know 

10  Developing  Future  Funds  For  The  FGBC 

12  And  the  Drums  Boom  On 

14  A  Tale  of  Two  Lives 

16  How  God  Taught  Me  To  Give 

18  TIME*  for  What? 

21  Thank  You  For  Praying  .  .  . 

22  BNYC  Competition  Winners  and  Scholarships 
24  Conducting  Registration 

26  WMC  President's  Address  (Part  2) 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters     2     • 
•  BMH  News  Report       11       • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

Grace  Schools  reported  a  record  enroll- 
ment for  the  fall.  There  were  165  students, 
which  was  an  increase  of  20  over  last  year. 
The  breakdown  was  122  students  in  the 
seminary  and  43  in  the  collegiate  division. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Merton  Lambert  had  resigned  as  the  assis- 
tant to  the  director  of  Christian  Education 
Department.  He  joined  the  staff  at  Whittier 
First  Brethren  Church  in  California.  .  .  Rev. 
Charles  W.  Turner  had  been  named  as  the 
new  executive  editor  and  general  manager 
of  the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Larry  Chamberlain  was  named  the  ad- 
ministrative coordinator  of  the  Brethren 
Home  Missions  Council.  Larry  had  been  with 
Home  Missions  for  two  and  a  half  years.  This 
was  a  new  added  responsibility. 


LETTERS 


Dear  Editor: 

Just  a  note  to  say  how  much  I  appreciate 
the  Herald  and  the  interesting  articles.  We 
receive  ours  almost  a  month  late,  I  guess 
due  to  the  place  we  live,  but  it  is  still  pack- 
ed with  informative  articles.  Another  idea 
that  I  believe  would  be  interesting  would 
be  a  monthly  Pastor's  Profile  which  includ- 
ed a  brief  history  with  some  facts  concer- 
ning his  years  in  the  ministry,  his  favorite 
verse  and  how  he  came  to  know  the  Lord. 
Also  included  could  be  some  human  in- 
terest facts  even  what  his  hobbies  might  be. 
This  is  not  to  build  up  the  man  but  simply 
draw  our  Fellowship  a  little  closer  by  let- 
ting others  know  a  little  about  some  of  our 
Pastors.  Just  a  thought  .  .  . 

Thanks  again  for  all  the  work  being  done 
to  provide  our  Fellowship  with  a  magazine 
that  is  dedicated  to  further  the  work  of 
Christ  within  our  Fellowship. 

—  Hawaii 


Cover  photo:  Fred  Sieb  Photography. 


BMH 


OCTOBER  '85 


- 


Touch  the 
World  Through 
Evangelism    \ 

(Second  in  a  series  of  three) 


By  Rev.  William  Byers 
Southern  Field  Secretary 


Decide  upon  something  that  seems  to  be  the  best. 
Choose  a  method  to  communicate  it  to  the  most  people 
in  the  shortest  time  possible.  Engulf  it  with  the  gusto  of 
perpetual  enthusiasm  — and  you  have  the  world's 
occupation — the  pursuit  of  success! 

The  above  prescription  for  life's  complete  fulfillment  is 
also  a  good  one  for  the  truly  born  again  believer  if  what 
he  decides  upon  as  his  life's  priority  seeks  to  follow  God's 
instruction  for  eternal  values.  The  whole  of  God's  message 
to  man  from  Genesis  to  Revelation  finds  its  climax  where 
Jesus  gave  his  commission  to  his  children  as  he  said,  "Go 
into  all  the  world."  This  phrase  can  only  be  interpreted  in 
one  way:  His  wording  "all  the  world"  is  the  ultimate  in  en- 
thusiasm (enthusiasm  means  literally  God  through  us)  and 
his  saying  to  us  "go"  reveals  our  responsibility,  but  even 
more  the  glorious  partnership  with  him  in  building  his  eter- 
nal family. 

Touching  the  world  through  evangelism  involves  only 
two  efforts  both  which  makes  up  the  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Mission  ministry.  The  first  and  primary  effort  is  being  there. 
The  other  effort  is  telling  the  message. 

Our  Lord  did  not  give  us  this  commission  to  "go  into 
all  the  world"  without  living  before  us  an  exact  example. 
When  man  saw  this  he  called  it  evangelism!  It  was  Jesus' 
practice  while  he  was  visually  on  earth  to  be  a  living  ex- 
ample of  all  the  truths  he  taught.  When  he  taught  salva- 
tion he  was  baptized  by  water  to  show  identification  to  what 
caused  this  "from  death  to  life"  experience.  When  daily 
cleansing  from  sin  was  needful  to  be  taught,  he  washed 
the  disciples'  feet  to  illustrate  his  cleansing  for  man's  walk 
in  this  life.  The  love  feast  was  a  precious  moment  with  his 
followers  to  speak  of  their  future  glorious  experiences.  Last 
but  not  least,  he  died,  paying  the  greatest  price  in  order 
that  all  men  of  all  time  could  have  eternal  life.  Even  his 
death  became  a  living  experience  when  he  arose  from  the 
tomb  victorious.  All  truth  was  made  clear  by  His  example. 
(Of  course  He  was  more  than  an  example.  He  was  God!) 

Jesus'  living  example  of  evangelism  as  he  witnessed  to 
the  Samaritan  woman  at  the  well  showed  exactly  step  by 
step  how  we  can  successfully  lead  people  to  Him. 

It  is  the  goal  of  all  Home  Mission  personnel  to  follow 
this  evangelism  example  of  our  Lord  as  it  is  recorded  in 
the  fourth  chapter  of  the  Gospel  of  John.  Let  us  follow 


together  the  phenomenal  pattern  of 
soul  winning  our  Lord  set  down  for  us 
in  this  account. 

The  woman  of  Samaria  said  to 
Jesus,  "How  is  it  that  thou,  being  a 
Jew,  askest  drink  of  me,  who  am  a 
woman  of  Samaria?  For  the  Jews  have 
no  dealings  with  the  Samaritans." 
There  was  no  human  reasoning  that 
this  woman  understood  that  could 
cause  a  Jew  to  talk  to  a  Samaritan. 
Jesus,  being  there,  defying  all  man's 
reasonings,  even  the  disciples'  think- 
ing, knew  that  this  was  where  God 
could  meet  a  spiritual  need.  Genuine 
church  pioneering  is  motivated  by  this 
burning  desire — the  first  effort  of 
evangelism:  being  there.  The  com- 
munity that  seems  to  have  the  greatest 
need  for  reaching  people  for  Christ 
and  Christian  maturity  is  where  we 
must  endeavor  to  build  organized 
churches. 

When  the  Atlanta,  Georgia,  area 
was  first  pioneered  for  the  Grace 
Brethren  Fellowship,  the  municipal 
authorities  there,  like  the  woman  at  the 
well,  could  not  understand  the  con- 
cept of  winning  people  spiritually  in 
order  to  build  a  church.  For  that 
reason,  they  turned  down  three  zon- 
ings  for  building  locations.  It  was  totally 
beyond  their  reasoning  powers  to 
think  that  we  would  want  to  build  a 
church  where  there  were  so  few  peo- 
ple that  were  named  Brethren.  It  was 
only  when  a  community  was  physical- 
ly built  with  interested  Brethren 
families  that  these  authorities  began  to 
permit  church  location  in  their 
thinking. 

The  Grace  Brethren  Church  is 
building  our  new  ministries  primarily 
through  evangelism  by  people  not  by 
groups  of  church  people  in  separate 
locations.  Some  Brethren  churches 
may  begin  this  way,  but  the  heart  of 
inner  church  strength  is  the  momen- 
tum of  new  saints  in  preparation  for 
service.  Our  Home  Mission  pastors  in 
the  development  of  the  early  period 
of  church  growth  are  asked  to  spend 
more  than  50  percent  of  their  work- 
ing ministry  with  new  people  seeking 
opportunities  to  win  them  to  the  Lord. 
This  is  what  Jesus  was  doing  there  at 
the  well.  Yes,  being  there  is  the  first 
priority  to  touching  the  world  through 
evangelism. 

The  second  great  effort  in 
evangelism  is  telling  the  message. 
Here  again  we  have  the  living  exam- 


ple of  our  Lord  as  he  illustrated  to  us 
through  his  experience  with  the 
woman  at  the  well  every  basic  ap- 
proach needed  to  win  a  person  whose 
heart  has  been  prepared  by  God. 
Although  there  are  almost  limitless 
areas  of  help  the  Lord  gives  us  on  this 
occasion  to  aid  us  in  personal  witness, 
I  will  choose  to  mention  only  five  that 
seem  to  stand  out  very  clearly  as  he 
told  the  message.  Every  successful 
communicator  whether  he  be  a 
teacher,  sales  person,  or  preacher, 
employs  all  of  these  approaches.  "He 
that  believeth  on  me  .  .  .  greater  works 
than  these  shall  he  do  ...  "  John 
14:12.  These  are  great  words  of  en- 
couragement to  us  as  we  develop  His 
style  of  evangelism. 

1.  Getting  the  person's  attention  — 
ask  them  for  something.  Jesus  said  to 
the  woman,  "Give  me  a  drink,"  (John 
4:7)  or  he  could  have  simply  com- 
plimented the  woman  about 
something.  A  person  earns  his  right  to 
be  more  personal  when  he  builds 
upon  that  which  is  constructive.  Our 
Home  Mission  pastor  at  Charlotte, 
North  Carolina,  Steve  Jarrell,  relates 
an  experience  with  a  dear  Christian  in 
his  church.  When  Pastor  Steve  first  ap- 
proached this  man  with  the  claims  of 
Christ,  he  said  he  was  interested 
because  he  did  not  want  to  die  and  go 
to  hell.  Pastor  Steve  immediately  built 
on  the  positive  by  assuring  him  that  it 
was  good  that  he  was  willing  to  see 
Christ  as  his  way  for  eternal  life  and 
then  he  asked  if  this  man  would  share 
his  lovely  home  for  a  time  when  they 
both  could  study  God's  word  together. 
Today,  this  businessman  is  a  growing 
Christian  in  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Charlotte,  seeking  whatever 
avenue  through  which  he  can  to  serve 
the  Lord  in  that  church. 
2.  Stir  up  interest  —  Jesus  said  to  the 
woman  at  Sychar  (summarizing  his 
statement),  "If  you  knew  who  1  am 
you  would  ask  me  for  water  for  I  could 
give  you  water  that  would  last  forever 
—  it  would  mean  life  for  evermore." 
(John  4:10) 

Our  statement  from  a  personal 
testimony  that  gives  assurance  of  eter- 
nal life  will  arouse  most  anyone's 
interest. 

3.  Awaken  desire  —  Jesus  used 
water  to  illustrate  everlasting  life.  He 
said,  "My  water  that  I  give  you  will  be 
eternal  life."  (John  4:14)  A  Christian 
lady  in  the  Home  Mission  church  at 


Palm  Harbor,  Florida,  presented  the 
plan  of  salvation  to  a  friend  for  the  first 
time  since  she  had  become  a  Chris- 
tian. To  her  amazement,  telling  the 
message  awakened  the  desire  for 
Christ  in  her  friend's  life  and  she 
trusted  Jesus  as  her  Savior. 

4.  Prepare  concern  for  a  personal 
need  (conviction).  Jesus  asked 
the  Samaritan  woman  to  get  her  hus- 
band. When  she  said  she  did  not  have 
one,  Jesus  revealed  his  knowledge  of 
her  sinful  life.  (John  14:17,  18)  Em- 
phasizing the  scripture  that  points  to 
everyone's  need,  since  all  have  been 
born  with  a  sinful  nature,  will  bring 
conviction  to  an  unsaved  person  about 
his  sinful  life. 

5.  Enlisting  commitment  to  a  per- 
manent solution.  When  this  sinful 
woman  confessed  her  desire  to  accept 
the  coming  Messiah,  Jesus  said,  "I  that 
speak  unto  thee  am  he."  (John  4:26) 
Even  though  this  woman  tried  to  side- 
track our  Lord,  as  people  do  when 
you  discuss  spiritual  things,  (John 
4:21)  he  brought  her  to  the  point.  He 
sensed  her  attention,  interest,  desire, 
conviction,  and  therefore  assumed  her 
commitment.  This  woman  made  the 
commitment  to  trust  Christ  for  eternal 
life. 

The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
magazine  is  accomplishing  a  goal  that 
its  name  suggests  —  communicating 
to  you  the  news  of  progress  and  the 
needs  ever  present  in  our  work 
together  in  missions.  Our  Home  Mis- 
sion churches  and  our  pastors  are  for 
the  most  part  doing  a  good  job  at 
"Touching  The  World"  in  evangelism. 
It  would  be  good  if  we  had  space  to 
relate  to  you  all  the  exciting  ex- 
periences of  our  pioneering  pastors 
with  their  people.  You  must  know  how 
much  these  people  and  our  Home 
Mission  staff  appreciate  your  gifts  and 
prayers. 

Another  great  burden  of  ours  is  to 
reach  out  with  Grace  Brethren 
testimonies  into  many  metropolitan 
cities  in  states  where  we  have  no  chur- 
ches. Brethren,  please  pray  for  us  as 
we  co-labor  to  "Touch  The  World" 
more  through  added  ministries  in 
these  places.  The  world  is  hungry  for 
our  kind  of  evangelism  and  teaching 
as  Jesus  taught  it.  When  we  build 
these  new  churches  in  the  great 
U.S.A.,  they  will  in  turn  "Touch  The 
World"  with  this  kind  of  mission 
endeavor. 


GBHMC 


BOUOLIMIIMII  *  - 

Boss.  Chiel.  Dictator.  Lord 


by  Raymond  W.  Thompson 


Riddle:  What  one  word  is  used  by  the  Scriptures  to 
describe  each  of  the  following  personages:  Abraham, 
Jacob,  David,  Isaiah,  Daniel,  Peter,  Paul,  Christ? 

Answer:  (Don't  peek  until  you've  had  a  go  at  it.)  The 
word  is  servant! 

The  concept  of  an  ideal  servant— a  person  submitted  to 
another  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  other's  benefit — is 
praised  in  both  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  "Servant" 
implies  that  there  must  be  a  master— one  who  exercises 
command.  An  authority  whose  unquestioned  word  evokes 
an  immediate  affirmative  response  — Lord!  Boholniihii,  as 
our  Navajo  brethren  express  it. 

Paul  tells  us  "If  you  confess  with  your  mouth  'Jesus  is 
Lord'  and  believe  in  your  heart  that  God  raised  Him  from 
the  dead,  you  will  be  saved"  (Romans  10:9,  NIV). 

Peter  uses  a  similar  expression  to  admonish,  "In  your 
hearts  set  apart  Christ  as  Lord"  (I  Peter  3:15  NIV). 

Recent  surveys  indicate  that  a  high  percentage  of  peo- 
ple in  the  United  States  consider  themselves  to  be  "Chris- 
tian." And  even  an  impressive  number  attest  to  having  been 
"born  again."  Why,  then,  do  crime  and  abortion  figures  ap- 
pear to  be  escalating  off  the  top  end  of  the  charts?  Can 
it  be  that  few  who  call  themselves  Christian  have  ever  ful- 
ly recognized  Jesus  as  Lord?  How  many  significant  deci- 
sions in  the  average  Christian  home  are  made  after  con- 
sulting the  will  of  the  Lord  Jesus?  How  is  His  will  even 
determined?  Perhaps  by  some  vague  emotion  in  which  one 
senses  what  God  wants.  Certainly  not  after  any  intense 
search  for  what  God  has  revealed  in  His  Word. 

This  lack — or  failure  to  give  unique  commitment  to  the 
Lordship  of  Jesus  Christ— troubles  the  entire  Christian  com- 

*  (Bo-ho-nee-hee) 


munity  today.   And  it  is  no  less  a  problem  to  Navajo 
Christians. 

Sometimes  in  cross  culture  ministry  we  can  misinterpret 
as  spiritual  insubordination  preferences  based  merely  upon 
cultural  heritage  — hair  style,  dress,  form  of  worship.  And  i 
we  must  be  continually  on  guard  lest  we  become  critical 
in  matters  of  legitimate  personal  choice.  Attitudes,  however, 
which  reflect  individualism  in  opposition  to  the  will  of  our 
Lord  can  wreak  havoc  within  the  body  of  believers  and  so 
weaken  the  church  as  to  destroy  its  testimony.  A  few  il- 
lustrations from  Navajo  life  may  shed  some  light  on  this 
problem. 

The  Navajo  Family 

Traditionally  matrilineal,  with  dependence  upon  govern- 
ment help  for  subsistence,  the  place  of  the  Navajo  father 
has  been  reduced  far  below  the  Biblical  standard  for  his 
position  as  the  responsible  leader  in  the  home.  To  recognize 
Jesus  as  Lord,  a  Christian  Navajo  father  must  step  into  an 
unusual  role  and  assume  his  place  as  spiritual  leader,  in- 
structor, and  example.  This  may  create  extreme  tensions 
until  all  the  family  recognizes,  "We  are  Christian,  the  Bible 
is  our  guide,  Jesus  is  our  Lord,  and  father  is  our  leader." 

Marriage  customs  are  very  casual.  Often  a  man  and 
woman  who  merely  begin  living  together  are  said  to  be  hus- 
band and  wife.  Problems  arise  when,  even  after  the  arrival 
of  children,  the  relationship  is  terminated  just  as  casually. 
This  kind  of  marriage  is  spoken  of  as  "Navajo  way"  and 
appears  to  be  acceptable  to  some  Christians  as  well  as  to 
non-Christian  people. 

Jesus  our  Lord  is  very  clear  about  His  purpose  in  Chris- 
tian marriage,  the  seriousness  with  which  it  is  entered  into 


OCTOBER  '85 


GBHMC 


and  its  permanence.  To  name  Him  as 
Lord  demands  we  accept  His  way  in 
every  case  where  He  has  spoken 
clearly. 

Customs 

Navajo  people  love  occasions  which 
bring  them  together  for  feasting  and 
enjoyment.  Traditionally  they  have 
many  ceremonies  or  "ways"  which 
satisfy  this  desire.  A  baby's  first  smile 
is  an  occasion  for  celebration  and  may 
be  regarded  more  highly  than  his  birth 
date.  Puberty  rites  to  celebrate  the 
child's  approach  to  adulthood  are 
widely  celebrated  with  yeibichai, 
(yay-bi-chay)  or  Night  Way 
ceremonies.  The  celebrated  Navajo 
sand  paintings  are  important  elements 
in  many  of  these  activities.  Beautiful 
intriguing  folk  art,  yes,  and  highly 
regarded  by  the  people.  Yet  these  oc- 
casions are  deadly  to  Christian  life  and 
testimony.  The  ceremonies  are  infus- 
ed with  the  acknowledgements  of 
spirits  to  be  reverenced,  and  accom- 
panied by  drinking  and  practices  con- 
trary to  our  Lord's  commands. 

But  a  Navajo  who  does  not  par- 


ticipate is  accused  of  abandoning  his 
family— not  caring  for  them.  He 
desires  to  be  with  his  people,  and  he 
is  abused  for  refusing  to  participate  in 
family  ceremonies.  Yet  his  commit- 
ment to  Jesus  as  Lord  requires  him  to 
abstain.  Here  is  an  area  in  which  the 
fellowship  of  the  church  can  bring 
great  encouragement  to  a  believer. 

Religion 

Dine,  (de-neh)  or  "The  People,"  as 
the  Navajos  call  themselves,  are 
religious  folk.  They  have  complex 
stories  which  recount  how  the  Holy 
People  created  mankind  and  taught 
skills  and  rituals  which  are  still  to  be 
observed.  The  sun  and  moon  are 
sacred  objects  of  reverence  and  may 
be  petitioned  for  blessing.  Certain 
mountains  and  natural  features  are 
held  in  awe,  and  care  must  be  taken 
not  to  desecrate  them.  The  People  feel 
a  harmonic  relationship  to  nature  and 
animals  may  be  prayed  to  lest  they 
bring  harm.  Medicine  men  and  hand 
shakers  (diviners)  are  important  com- 
munity figures.  Death  is  feared  and  the 


spirits  of  the  dead  must  be  honored 
lest  they  become  angry  with  their 
relatives  and  bring  a  curse  upon  them. 

How  different  is  the  Christians' 
salvation  by  grace  through  faith  in 
Jesus.  Therefore,  for  a  Navajo  to 
become  Christian  involves  a  major 
change  in  all  his  religious  activity.  The 
study  of  the  Bible,  prayerful  worship, 
learning  Christian  hymns,  and 
fellowshipping  with  other  believers,  all 
become  vitally  important  in  enabling 
him  to  bridge  the  cavernous  gap  and 
begin  to  mature  as  a  part  of  the  body 
of  Christ. 

There  can  be  no  syncretism  here. 
Worship  of  Christ  must  involve  sub- 
mission to  His  Lordship  with  unques- 
tioned obedience  to  His  Word. 

Do  you  see  parallels  between  the 
needs  of  Navajo  believers  and  of  other 
Christians?  The  significant  people  of 
the  Bible  were  servants.  Christ  became 
a  Servant.  The  church  is  a  fellowship 
of  servants.  And  we  all  have  One 
Lord  — Boholniihii! 


Pastors  Recognized 

Seven  pastors  were  honored  by  the  Grace 
Brethren  Home  Missions  Council  during  the  Home 
Missions  Challenge  Hour  at  the  National  Conference 
of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches  at  Estes 
Park,  Colorado  in  August. 

Recognized  for  outstanding  pastoral  leadership  in 
their  Home  Mission  churches  during  1984  were 
Charles  Barnhill,  Mifflin,  Ohio;  Michael  Clapham, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Dave  Troxel,  New  Albany,  Ind.; 
Paul  Hoffman,  Auburn,  Calif.;  Jim  Jackson,  Homer, 
Alaska;  Kurt  Miller,  Palm  Harbor,  Fla;  and  Jay  Fretz, 
Sebring,  Fla. 

The  recognition  was  given  at  the  recommendation 
of  the  field  secretary  in  each  area  of  the  country. 
Among  the  criteria  considered  were  evangelism  and 
calling  program,  lay  leadership  development,  effec- 
tive organization  and  delegaton  of  responsibility, 
maintenance  of  building  and  grounds,  cooperative 
spirit,  effective  problem  solving  and  decision  mak- 
ing, church  giving  patterns  and  fund  management, 
and  public  preaching  and  teaching  ministries.      □ 


Charles  Barnh 


Michael  Ciaph 


Jay  Fretz 


GBHMC 


OCTOBER  '85 


tfr 


'How  Shall  The  World  Know" 

'Proving  the  Resurrection' 

Romans  1:1-6 

by  former  Pdstor  Gary  R.  Hable 

G.B.C.  North  Pole  Alaska 

We  live  in  a  scientific  world,  a  world  in  which  people  no  longer  accept  things  by  faith. 
People  continue  to  cry  out  for  everything  to  be  tested  and  proven,  the  "show  me"  syndrome. 

The  Word  of  God  records  that  a  certain  man,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who  walked  the  sur- 
face of  this  planet  was  actually  God  manifested  in  the  flesh.  But  to  a  world  such  as  ours 
that  has  rejected  God's  Word,  how  shall  they  know  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  fact  who  He 
claims  to  be  .  .  .  that  He  actually  has  been  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power 
by  the  fact  of  His  resurrection? 

One  method  by  which  you  can  prove  something  to  be  true  is  the  "scientific  method". 
This  method  makes  use  of  experiments  to  prove  its  assumption.  For  example,  to  prove 
that  Ivory  Soap  floats,  you  would  set  up  an  experiment  where  you  could  test  one  thou- 
sand bars  of  soap  to  see  if  they  float.  Then  based  upon  the  results  of  that  experiment  you 
would  state  that  Ivory  Soap  does  float. 

Well,  immediately  you  can  see  that  it  is  impossible  to  prove  the  resurrection  by  using 
the  scientific  method.  But  there  is  another  method  by  which  you  can  prove  something 
to  be  true,  and  that  is  by  the  "legal  method".  This  is  the  method  that  our  court  system 
uses.  It  employs  the  use  of  testimonies  and  eye-witness  accounts  to  legally  establish  the 
validity  of  something  that  once  took  place.  Well,  God,  in  His  sovereignty,  has  chosen  to 
use  the  "legal  method"  to  testify  to  the  world  the  reality  of  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  The  question  one  might  ask  then  is:  "How  has  He  chosen  to  accomplish  this?" 

We  know  that  God  has  chosen  the  preaching  of  His  Word  to  be  the  means  by  which 
He  draws  people  to  Himself,  and  it  is  our  responsibility  as  ambassadors  for  Christ  to  carry 
forth  the  gospel  message.  But  there  is  more  to  it  than  that.  Romans  1:18-20  declares  that 
God  is  clearly  seen  through  that  which  He  has  made:  "For  the  wrath  of  God  is  revealed 
from  heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and  unrighteousness  of  men,  who  suppress  the  truth 


in  unrighteousness,  because  that 
which  is  known  about  God  is  evident 
within  them;  for  God  made  it  evident 
to  them.  For  since  the  creation  of  the 
world  His  invisible  attributes.  His  eter- 
nal power  and  divine  nature,  have 
been  clearly  seen,  being  understood 
through  what  has  been  made,  so  that 
they  are  without  excuse."  The  things 
"made"  is  the  Greek  word  "poiema" 
from  which  we  get  our  English  word 
"poem".  And  a  poem  is  a  rhythmic 
composition  which  expresses  the 
thoughts  of  its  author.  God  has 
created  a  poem,  His  creation,  that  ex- 
presses Himself  and  can  be  read  by  the 
world. 

Well,  as  we  think  of  all  that  God  has 
created,  we  also  see  that  His  people 
are  also  His  creation,  we  are  His  "new 


creation"  in  Christ  (2  Cor.  5:17).  We 
too,  are  part  of  the  overall  poem  that 
can  be  read  by  the  world.  As  a  matter 
of  fact  Ephesians  2:10  says  that  "we 
are  His  workmanship,  created  in  Christ 
Jesus  for  good  works,  which  God 
prepared  beforehand,  that  we  should 
walk  in  them."  Here  again  the  word 
"workmanship"  is  the  Greek  word 
"poiema";  we  are  God's  poem, 
created  in  Christ  Jesus  for  good  works. 
The  point  is  this,  there  are  people 
around  us  who  do  not  know  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  God  has  sovereign- 
ly placed  us  in  their  midst.  We  have 
friends,  neighbors,  relatives,  and  other 
people  whom  we  are  in  contact  with 
on  a  regular  basis.  And  these  people 
are  reading  your  life.  As  progress  is 
made  in  your  sanctification,  by  God's 


grace,  your  life  then  adds  credibility  to 
the  message  that  you  are  proclaiming 
to  them.  You  are  the  light  that  they  see 
and  the  poem  that  they  read  in  the 
midst  of  this  great  darkness. 

How  does  this  all  tie  into  the  reality 
of  the  resurrection?  Well,  it  is  only 
because  of  our  Lord's  resurrection  that 
we  have  been  made  His  workman- 
ship. It  is  only  because  of  His  resurrec- 
tion that  God's  people  have  a  message 
to  carry  to  a  lost  world.  And  it  is  only 
because  of  the  resurrection  that  God's 
people  are  being  sanctified,  that  their 
lives  are  being  transformed  before  the 
watching  eyes  of  the  world.  All  of  this 
testifies  to  the  world  that  God  the 
Father  has  indeed  sent  His  Son. 

What  message  is  your  life  giving  to 
those  around  you?  □ 


Saving  for  a  new  car? 
A  college  education? 
A  special  vacation? 

PLAN  AHEAD 

An  account  with  the  Grace 
Brethren  Investment  Foundation 
might  be  the  answer  to  your 
needs.  Your  funds  earn  6.5  per- 
cent (6.72  percent  with  con- 
tinous  compounding)  from  day 
of  deposit  to  day  of  withdrawal. 
And  all  the  while,  it  is  helping 
provide  low-interest  growth  loans 
to  Grace  Brethren  Churches. 

Plan  ahead  with  an  account  in 
the  Grace  Brethren  Investment 
Foundation. 

The  Grace  Brethren 
Investment  Foundation 

Celebrating  30  years  of 
Serving  the  FGBC! 

Box  587 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(219)  267-5161 

For  Information  Call  Collect 


OCTOBER  '85 


Developing  Future 

Funds  For  The  FGBC 


By  Russel  Dunlap 
Stewardship  Director 


More  than  two  million  dollars  has  been  set  aside  for 
Grace  Brethren  ministries,  according  to  a  report  released 
at  the  national  conference  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches  last  August  in  Estes  Park,  Colorado. 

In  reporting  to  the  conference,  Russel  Dunlap,  director 
of  Grace  Brethren  Missions  Stewardship  Service,  noted  that 
in  the  last  year,  he  has  worked  with  199  family  units  in 
estate  planning.  Of  that  number,  125  families  have  in- 
dicated their  desire  to  include  Grace  Brethren  Missions  and 
their  local  church  in  their  estate  plans. 

Those  125  families  have  a  total  estate  value  of 
$16,075,000  in  assets,  including  insurance,  and  have  in- 
dicated total  charitable  future  interests  of  $2,857,000. 

More  than  $800,000  has  been  set  aside  for  the  local 
church  and  district  church  extension  work.  Nearly 
$800,000  has  been  designated  for  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions,  while  nearly  $700,000  has  been  earmarked  for 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions.  Grace  Schools  and  other 
organizations  are  slated  to  receive  more  than  $500,000. 

The  total  future  interest  recorded  is  $2,856,640,  or  an 
average  of  $22,900  per  family  unit. 

Dunlap  stated  it  is  the  goal  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Mis- 
sions Stewardship  Service  to  promote  good  stewardship 
within  our  fellowship  of  churches  and  to  assist  members 
and  friends  with  their  financial  and  estate  planning,  review 
and  preparation  of  wills,  trusts,  and  other  means  of  ac- 
complishing their  desired  financial  plans. 

He  quoted  a  survey  conducted  by  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer, 
moderator  of  the  FGBC  for  1984-85,  noting  it  revealed 
that  387  members  had  died  during  the  last  three  years  in 
the  143  churches  which  responded.  Of  that  number,  39, 
or  ten  percent,  of  the  individuals  named  the  local  church 
in  their  will,  leaving  a  total  of  $168,167  for  that  ministry. 
The  average  size  of  the  bequest  to  the  churches  was 
$4,800. 

Normally,  charitable  bequests  are  made  when  the  se- 
cond spouse,  or  a  single  person,  dies.  So,  in  effect,  the 
above  represents  about  20  percent  of  the  family  units  who 
are  making  a  bequest  to  the  local  churches,  he  added. 

In  stewardship  conferences  in  the  past  year,  117  of  125 
family  units,  or  93.6  percent,  wanted  to  make  some  type 
of  charitable  bequest.  Of  that  number,  97,  or  78  percent, 
wanted  to  include  the  local  church.  That  figure  was  almost 
four  times  the  number  which  the  survey  indicated. 

Dollars  of  future  interest  are  determined  by  estate  plans 
of  the  individuals  who  have  been  counseled  through  the 
Stewardship  Service.  These  monies  will  come  to  various 
organizations  via  bequests  (wills),  trusts,  annuities,  in- 
surance, or  other  arrangements.  The  dollar  amounts  are 
based  on  the  present  estate  and  present  plans,  both  of 
which  are  subject  to  change. 


Stewardship  Activities 

REPORT  PERIOD:  August  1,  1984  to  June  30,  1985 

Total  Estate  Planning  Interviews  199  Family  Units 

Completed  as  of  June  30,  1985  125  Family  Units 


Total  Estate  Vali 
(assets    plus   in 


Total    Charitable    Future    Interest 


125  Families  -  $16,075,000 
$2,857,000  (17.8%) 


Breakdown  of  Future  Interest  for  125 

Family  Units: 

APPROX. 

AVERAGE 

LOCAL  CHURCH  & 

PER  125 

TOP  10  CHURCHES            DISTRICT  WORK 

FAMILIES 

1.  Ashland  GBC.  OH 

$269,850 

2  Irasburg.  VT 

101.500 

3.  La  Mirada.  CA 

52,950 

4.  Osceola.  IN 

49,960 

5.  San  Jose,  CA 

49,600 

6  Ft.  Myers,  FL 

44,200 

7.  Leamersville,  PA 

31.370 

8.  Ft.  Lauderdale,  FL 

31.300 

9.  York,  PA 

30,300 

10.  Altoona,  Juniata.  PA 

28.800 

SUB  TOTAL 

$689,830 

17  Other  Churches 

131,300 

TOTAL  CHURCH/DISTRICT 

$821,130 

$6,600 

FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

797,830 

6.400 

HOME  MISSIONS 

683,830 

5,500 

GRACE  SCHOOLS/OTHERS 

553,850 

4.400 

TOTAL  FUTURE 

INTEREST  RECORDED 

$2,856,640 

Average  per  family  unit 

$22,900 

10 


OCTOBER  '85 


GBHMC 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  Pastor  Foster  Tresise,  former  pastor  of  the  Waipio 
GBC  and  now  retired,  is  actually  far  from  retiring.  Pastor 
Dave  Mitchell  reports  that  "This  fine  couple  is  continuing 
to  serve  the  Lord  in  the  church.  Mrs.  Tresise  is  our 
organist  and  active  in  C.E.F.,  while  Pastor  Tresise  does 
whatever  is  needed  from  ushering  and  welcoming  attend- 
ee to  leading  singing  and  teaching  from  time  to  time. 
Truly  the  Lord  is  still  using  this  couple  in  a  very  impor- 
tant way  at  the  Waipio  GBC." Submitted  by  Dave 
Mitchell,  pastor. 

DThe  Waipio  GBC  of  Hawaii,  pastored  by  Dave  Mitchell, 
"held  their  fourth  publc-beach  baptismal  service  this  year. 
Many  of  the  congregation  turned  out  for  the  service,  as 
well  as  many  onlookers.  Several  took  this  opportunity  to 
share  with  others  about  Christ  and  the  meaning  of  bap- 
tism." 


Pictured  above  is  Mike  Prentovich  (kneeling).  From  left  to  right: 
Pastor  Bud  Olszewski,  Pastor  Doug  Jensen  (pastor  of  GBC  of 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  OH),  Gene  Moine,  and  George  Allenbaugh.  The 
picture  was  taken  at  Mike's  licensure  service  in  the  Rittman,  OH, 
Grace  Brethren  Church. 

DThe  First  Brethren  Church  of  Johnstown,  PA,  pastored 
by  Charles  Martin,  has  changed  its  name  to  the  Johnstown 
Grace  Brethren  Church. 

□  Philip  Teran  is  the  new  pastor  of  the  GBC  in  San  Diego, 
CA.  He  will  began  his  ministry  there  November  1. 

□  Charles  Flowers  (former  pastor  of  the  GBC  of  West 
Alexandria,  OH)  was  honored  by  the  presentation  of  a 
plaque  as  he  was  voted  pastor  emeritus  of  this  church 
which  he  pastored  from  1951  to  1960.  A  special  "Bro. 
Flowers'  Day"  was  held  in  his  honor.  Percy  Miller,  pastor. 

□  New  churches  received  into  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches  at  national  conference  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

Wasilla  GBC,  Wasilla,  AK;  Ocala  GBC,  FL;  Down  East 
GBC,  Brunswick,  ME;  Wauseon  GBC,  Archbold,  OH; 
Trinity  GBC,  Reynoldsburg,  OH;  Toledo  Innercity  GBC, 
Toledo,  OH;  GB  of  Greater  Austin  Area,  Austin,  TX;and 
the  Community  GBC,  Vienna,  WV. 


□  "CALLING  ALL  GBC  HAMS.  We  would  like  to  update 
the  mailing  list  for  our  GBC  amateur  radio  operators.  This 
master  list  will  be  helpful  to  the  several  GBC  missionaries 
who  are  licensed  to  operate  in  their  respective  countries 
and  may  also  provide  the  opportunity  of  reestablishing 
the  'GBC  Net.' 

"Please  take  a  moment  to  jot  down  your  name,  call 
sign,  address,  telephone  number,  and  operating  privileges 
(general,  advanced,  etc.).  Send  this  to:  ARS:  N7AAG, 
Pastor  Chuck  Winter,  P.  O.  Box  69,  Harrah,  WA  98933." 

□  Application  was  made  to  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Chuches  national  conference,  held  at  Estes  Park, 
CO,  for  the  division  of  the  present  Florida  District.  The 
application  was  approved  and  the  present  Florida  District 
has  been  divided  as  follows: 

East  Central  Florida  District— 

Maitland,  Melbourne,  Ocala,  Orange  City,  Orlando,  and 
Ormond  Beach 
Florida  Suncoast  District— 

Brooksville,  Lakeland,  Palm  Harbor,  Port  Richey,  and 
St.  Petersburg 
South  Florida  District— 

Ft.  Lauderdale,  Ft.  Meyers,  North  Lauderdale,  Okee- 
chobee, Pompano  Beach,  and  Sebring 


Deaths 


Shaver,  Lorrie  Ann,  born  January  2,  1956,  and  died  August  2, 
1985,  in  a  plane  accident  in  Texas.  Lorrie  was  on  her  way  to  the 
National  Conference  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Chur- 
ches in  Estes  Park,  CO,  and  following  that  she  was  to  leave  for  the 
mission  field. 

The  following  deaths  occurred  among  the  membership  of  the  First 
Brethren  Church,  Johnstown,  PA,  Charles  Martin,  pastor: 

Mrs.  Margaret  Cannon,  age  82 

Mr.  Thomas  Fisher,  age  7 1 

Mrs.  Ruth  Reese,  age  89 

Mrs.  Frances  Ruth,  age  80 

Mrs.  Essie  Schmucker,  age  86 

Mr.  Carl  Sigg,  age  75 

Mrs.  Catherine  Stauffer,  age  67 

Mrs.  Arvilla  Wynn,  age  84 


Change  Your  Annual 


Charles  Flowers,  P.  0.  Box  132,  Clarksville,  Ml. 48815  / 
Jeffrey  Gill,  361  Troy  Rd.,  Delaware,  OH  43015  /  Robin 
Green,  1903  Thornton  Dr.,  Ft.  Washington,  MD  20744 
(Tel.  301/292-4262)  /  Jon  Jacobson,  P.O.  Box  2835, 
Blue  Jay,  CA  92317  (Tel.  714/336-2387)  /  Duane 
Jones,  1230  Bob  Pennell,  Ft.  Sill,  OK  73503  /  Dan 
Moeller,  Chez  Mme.  Messonnier,  8  Av.  Gen.  De  Gaulle,  B, 
69300  Caluire,  France  /  Tony  Sanchelo,  8435  E. 
Laprada,  No.  2072,  Dallas,  TX  75228  /  Roger  Sauer, 
P.O.  Box  312,  Killbuck,  OH  44637  /  William  Schaffer, 
31 1  Kulila  Place,  Kenai,  AK  9961 1  /  John  Schumacher, 
68  Perch  Hill  Dr.,  Ft.  Richardson,  AK  99505  /  Philip 
Teran,  3490  Atlas  St.,  San  Diego,  CA  92111  (Tel.  617/ 
278-3715)  /  The  new  address  for  the  GBC  of  Kenai, 
AK,  is  406  McCullom,  Kenai,  AK  9961 1 


BMH 


OCTOBER  85 


11 


And  the  Drums  Boom  On 


by  Elsie  Wiley 


Drums!  Drums!  Unforget- 
table drums! 

In  one  of  Ike  Graham's  first 
prayerletters  he  said  the 
drums  haunt  him  day  and 
night.  Every  evening  from 
7:30  to  8:30  those  awful 
drums!  When  I  was  in  Japan, 
I  tried  never  to  go  to  my 
bedroom  in  the  evening  as 
the  drums  boomed  louder 
there. 

"What  kind  of  drums?" 
you  ask.  Drums  to  drive  away 
the  spirits.  In  enlightened, 
well-educated  Japan? 

Yes,  even  though  the 
literacy  rate  is  over  99%,  the 
Japanese  still  make  straw 
figures  of  dead  ancestors  and 
bow  down  to  worship  them. 
A  huge  Shinto  shrine  stands 
right  next  to  the  language 
school  that  the  Grahams 
attend. 

Although  less  than  1%  of 
the    Japanese    people    are 
Christians,  they  admire  the 
American  people  so   much 
that  they  think  it  is  very  im- 
portant to  study  Christianity 
since  it  is  the  religion  of  the 
western   culture.    Some   people   say 
40%  of  the  people  are  interested  in 
Christianity,  especially  young  people 
and  young  marrieds. 

I  was  blessed  to  be  able  to  go  to 
Japan  to  help  the  Graham  family 
while  Nancy  had  surgery  and 
recuperated.  What  an  opportunity  to 
observe  one  of  our  missionary  families 


urning  incense  for  a  dead  ancestor  is  a  form  of  worship  in  Japan 


firsthand!  Every  Brethren  family 
should  know  as  much  as  possible 
about  their  missionaries. 

Ike  and  Nancy  are  very  dedicated 
to  their  Lord  and  to  their  call  to  the 
great  mission  field  of  Japan.  From  the 
time  of  Ike's  conversion  he  felt  he  must 
tell  everyone  that  the  Lord  Jesus  died 
for  them.  He  felt  the  same  Lord  who 


called  Isaiah  of  old,  call  him 
to  the  Orient. 

It  is  not  easy  to  be  a  mis- 
sionary in  Japan.  Language 
is  the  first  battle  to  overcome. 
Do  you  realize  they  have 
42  Hirogans  and  42 
Katakana  characters  to  learn 
(while  we  have  only  26  letters 
in  our  alphabet).  Add  to  that 
nearly  4000  Kanji  characters 
which  are  borrowed  from  the 
Chinese.  All  are  interwoven 
into  the  language.  Many 
young  missionaries  from 
other  denominations  give  up 
after  six  months  to  a  year  of 
such  difficult  study. 

The  image  of  Ike  sitting 
Japanese  fashion  on  the  floor 
before  a  foot-high  Japanese 
table  in  concentrated 
language  study  still  burns  in 
my  mind.  Even  when  Nancy 
went  to  Toyko  for  her  surgery, 
she  took  language  study 
tapes  and  headphones. 
Every  cent  that  you  have 
given  for  your  missionaries  to 
Japan  is  very  well-spent,  and 
every  moment  you  have 
spent  in  prayer  for  them 
means  more  than  you'll  ever  know. 
Although  Ike  is  a  very  tall,  broad- 
shouldered  man,  he  is  a  very  soft- 
spoken,  godly  husband  and  father. 
Every  morning  at  the  breakfast  table 
Ike  has  exceptionally  well-planned 
devotions  for  his  children.  They  pray 
for  our  missionaries  from  the 
"Through  the  Month  With  Our  Mis- 


The  Grahams  and  some  Japanese  friends. 


12 


OCTOBER  '85 


FMS 


sionaries. 

Ike  and  Nancy  walk  to  their 
language  school  with  two  of  their 
children.  Ben  (9)  and  Seth  (7)  attend 
a  one-room  class  for  all  six  grades. 
Thirteen  children  of  language  school 
students  from  various  denominations 
go  to  school  here.  However,  they 
desperately  need  to  enter  the 
Japanese  school  system,  but  must 
learn  the  92  Japanese  characters  and 
400  of  the  Kanji  mentioned  above  to 
qualify  for  entrance. 

Rachel  (5)  and  Joel  (3)  put  their  lit- 
tle yellow  lunch  bags  around  their 
shoulders  and  go  off  to  Yochien 
(nursery  school)  every  morning.  In 
their  lunch  bags  are  a  container  of  rice, 
a  package  of  seaweed  and  the  very 
important  folding  toothbrush. 

The  Graham  children  are  obedient, 
well-behaved,  happy,  well-adjusted 
children  and  they  also  love  Japan.  The 
family  lives  in  Karuizawa — a  small 
town  high  up  in  the  mountains  (about 
a  five-hour  drive  north  of  Tokyo). 

Our  other  Grace  Brethren  mis- 
sionary family  in  Japan  is  Cecil  and 
Debbie  O'Dell.  They  are  just  as 
dedicated  to  learning  the  languages 
and  planting  churches  in  Japan  and 
just  as  precious  as  the  Grahams. 
Already  both  families  are  "mis- 
sionaries" with  what  language  they 
know. 

Both  families  and  I  had  one 
weekend  together.  Wanting  to  cook 
them  an  American  meal,  I  decided  on 
roast  beef  which  cost  about  $30  for  a 
roast  for  six  to  eight  people.  It  was  the 
first  mashed  potatoes  they  had  had 
since  Thanksgiving.  Meat  is  extreme- 
ly      expensive       and       potatoes 


are  usually  out  of  the  question.  Rice 
is  their  main  staple  and  they  are  hap- 
py with  it. 

The  Japanese  are  a  beautiful 
people— very  loving,  gracious,  polite, 
trusting,  hard-working,  and  intelligent. 
When  they  become  Christians,  they 
are  willing  to  sacrifice  far  more  than  we 
are  to  live  the  Christian  life.  A  good 
example  of  this  sacrifice  is  found  in  the 
lives  of  the  Grahams'  language  school 
teachers.  Let  me  tell  you  about  them. 

The  Nagahatas  have  three  children. 
Mr.  Nagahatas  mother  lives  with  them 
and  soon  his  wife's  mother  and  aunt 
will  join  them.  They  live  in  a  small 
double  house. 

Both  the  husband  and  wife  are 
university  graduates  and  could  earn 
much  more  money  in  other  jobs,  but 
they  are  willing  to  sacrifice  to  teach 
missionary  students.  Such  dedication! 
Such  possibility!  Machiko  has  a  music 
major  from  the  university.  When  she 
plays  the  piano  and  sings  "My  Jesus, 
I  Love  Thee,"  her  face  glows  with  love 
for  her  Lord. 

Etsuko  is  a  very  beautiful  27  year 
old  language  school  teacher  whose 
name  means  "Joy."  For  years  she 
wondered  why  she  should  have  that 
name  when  she  had  no  joy  at  all.  But 
since  the  Lord  Jesus  gained  control  of 
her  life,  she  says  she  has  true  joy.  Her 
beautiful,  radiant  face  beams  with  that 
joy  that  only  comes  from  the  Lord 
Jesus. 

Etsuko  sacrifices  so  much  to  teach 
in  that  missionary  language  school 
when  she  too  could  earn  a  high  salary 
at  secular  work.  She  rides  a  bike  to 
school  even  in  the  pouring  rain  and 
snow  and  ice  and  can  only  afford  to 


turn  on  the  hot  water  in  the  evening 
a  little  bit. 

Kawabatta-san,  as  Ike  and  Nancy 
call  him  (the  "san"  means  Mr.),  lives 
in  a  little  cement-block  house  in  the 
Grahams'  yard  and  is  a  29  year  old 
teacher  in  their  language  school.  He 
came  to  know  Christ  when  he  lived  in 
Tokyo  and  kept  walking  past  a  church 
which  had  a  big  sign  "Free  English 
Lessons."  As  he  Learned  English,  he 
also  came  to  know  and  love  our  Lord. 

This  university  graduate  desires  to 
come  to  Grace  Seminary  and  be  part 
of  Grace  Brethren  Church  planting  in 
Japan.  When  you  live  on  such  small 
wages,  though,  there  is  no  way  to  earn 
enough  money  to  come  to  the  United 
States  to  attend  Grace — unless  some- 
one who  could  sacrifice  a  little,  helps 
him. 

These  Japanese  are  dedicated  to 
helping  spread  the  Gospel  in  Japan. 
So  are  our  missionaries. 

In  spite  of  great  cultural  and 
linguistic  differences,  the  Grahams  and 
the  O'Dells  are  faithful  to  the  Lord.. 
They  are  adapting  to  the  culture.  They 
are  learning  to  communicate.  They 
love  the  Japanese  people.  They  are 
sharing  the  Good  News  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

The  Grahams  and  O'Dells  are  ask- 
ing for  more  people  to  join  them  in 
reaching  people  for  Christ.  The  need 
is  great.  Millions  of  Japanese  are 
heading  for  eternal  death  and  separa- 
tion from  God,  because  they  do  not 
know  about  salvation  through  Jesus 
Christ. 

And  the  drums  continue  to  pound, 
pound,  pound  in  Japan.  □ 


Shinto  shrines  and  places  of  worship  are  found  all  over  Japan. 


Nagahata-san  and  his  family  sacrifice  many  things  to 
teach  at  the  language  school. 

FMS    OCTOBER  '85   1  3 


A  Tale  o 


Freda  Kliever 


In  1937,  a  young  man  and  his  wife  set  sail  for  the  conti- 
nent of  Africa.  One  year  was  devoted  to  French  language 
study  in  France  before  they  finally  arrived  at  their 
destination. 

There  were  no  jet  planes  to  take  them  quickly  and  in 
air-conditioned  comfort.  It  was  a  long  voyage  by  ship.  No 
modern  conveniences  made  their  living  easier  in  the  begin- 
ning. Electricity,  running  water,  refrigerators,  and  other  ap- 
pliances were  luxuries  to  appear  later. 

Besides  the  threat  of  tropical  diseases,  unhygienic  liv- 
ing conditions,  parasites,  and  poisonous  snakes  known  on- 
ly to  the  tropics  were  only  a  few  of  the  unconquered 
dangers  they  faced. 

Besides  all  that,  political  unrest  in  Europe  made  World 


War  II  an  imminent  possibility. 

Yet,  they  went. 

Jake  and  Freda  Kliever  arrived  at 
Bozoum,  French  Equatorial  Africa  on 
November  6,  1938.  They  served 
together  in  Africa  for  40  years.  They 
retired  together  in  Middlebranch, 
Ohio,  still  faithfully  serving  in  their 
home  church. 

Then  the  Lord  took  Freda  to  be  with 
Him  on  August  12,  1985. 

Freda  Neufeld  was  born  in  Wanda 
Sask,  Cananda,  in  1908.  Her  family 
moved  to  Oregon  when  she  was  a 
child.  At  age  17,  during  a  conference 
at  Second  Brethren  Church  in  Los 
Angeles,  she  was  converted  and  gave 


I  miss  Freda,  Lord  ...  I  know  she 
was  ready  for  heaven,  and  in  your 
mercy  you  ended  her  earthly  suffer- 
ing .  .  .  but  I  still  miss  her  .  .  . 

She  was  one  of  the  first  missionaries 
I  met  when  I  was  a  child.  I  remember 
the  Klievers  being  in  our  home,  and 
I  remember  when  Anne  and  Donna 
stayed  in  America  to  go  to  school  as 
Jake  and  Freda  went  back  to  Africa. 
A  few  years  later  I  was  amazed  that 
they   remembered   me   when   I  met 


her  life  to  Christ. 

After  her  graduation  from  the  Bible 
Institute  of  Los  Angeles  (Biola),  she 
and  Jake  were  married.  Seven  years 
later  they  left  for  missionary  service 
where  she  served  with  distinction. 

For  many  years  Bekoro  was  the 
Klievers'  station.  Then  Dr.  Kliever 
became  Field  Superintendent.  Upon 
their  return  to  the  field  in  June,  1966, 
after  furlough,  Jake  and  Freda  took 
over  new  responsibilities  in  caring  for 
the  mission  work  in  the  Chad. 

During  their  time  on  the  field,  Freda 
taught  Bible  School  classes,  seminars 
at  conferences,  and  reading  classes. 
But  most  of  all  she  lived  a  life  that 

I  Miss  Her,  Lord 

by  Jan  Kelley 

them  at  Grace  College. 
After  ten  years  in  a  pastorate  in 
Michigan,  we  were  called  to  Mid- 
dlebranch, Ohio.  What  a  joy  it  was  to 
really  be  part  of  their  missionary  team! 
Every  day  we  prayed  for  Jake  and 
Freda  with  our  children.  When  they 
came  home  for  furlough,  Janelle 
asked  them  if  they  really  got  all  that 
money  we  sent  them  in  Africa. 

It  was  always  fun  when  they  came 
to  our  house.  They  didn't  like  you  to 


demonstrated  how  much  she  loved 
God,  Jake,  and  the  Africans.  Her 
sweet  spirit  impressed  everyone. 

Jake  and  Freda  always  helped  each 
other,  built  each  other  up,  loved  each 
other,  and  loved  Jesus  Christ. 

And  their  love  was  far  reaching. 

Freda  left  behind  her  beloved  hus- 
band and  two  married  daughters.  She 
left  behind  much  physical  suffering 
from  cancer.  She  also  left  a  solid 
testimony  and  the  memory  that  she 
could  not  rest  content  until  those  who 
had  not  heard  the  Gospel  had  the  op- 
portunity to  hear. 

Freda's  was  a  life  of  dedication  and 
glory  for  the  Lord.  □ 


fuss  over  them,  but  they  appreciated 
being  part  of  the  family.  I  wondered 
how  they  survived,  living  out  of  a  suit- 
case so  much  of  the  time,  but  Jake 
said  Freda  always  unpacked,  even  if 
they  were  only  there  one  night,  and 
she  made  wherever  they  were  staying 
seem  like  home.  One  time  Freda 
taught  us  to  make  makalas  —  African 
doughnuts. 

Just  a  few  years  ago  Freda  went 
with  us  to  pick  strawberries,  and  she 

(Continued  page  17) 


14 


OCTOBER  '85 


FMS 


wo  Lives 


Lorrie  Shaver 


Miss  Lorrie  Shaver,  a  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 
appointee  to  France,  was  killed  in  a  plane  crash  in  Dallas, 
Texas.  Only  two  weeks  before  her  commissioning,  Lorrie 
was  one  of  133  people  aboard  Delta  Flight  191  who  died 
on  August  2. 

Lorrie  was  born  in  Fort  Lauderdale,  Florida,  on  January 
2,  1959.  She  was  adopted  into  the  Shaver  family,  which 
(at  an  older  age)  helped  her  "understand  in  a  more  per- 
sonal way  the  believer's  adoption  and  what  it  means  to  be 
in  God's  family. 

At  age  seven,  Lorrie  accepted  Christ  as  her  Savior.  Yet 
she  felt  her  life  took  a  more  dramatic  change  at  age  20 
when  she  renewed  her  commitment— an  "intellectual  deci- 
sion which  reflected  a  deeper  commitment." 


Growing  up  in  Florida,  Lorrie  at- 
tended the  Fort  Lauderdale  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  where  she  was  a 
member.  After  high  school,  she  at- 
tended Grace  College  from  which  she 
was  graduated  with  a  degree  in 
Behavioral  Science. 

During  college  while  corresponding 
with  Kent  and  Becky  Good  about 
France,  Lorrie  became  personally 
aware  of  the  spiritual  needs  of  the 
country.  In  1983,  she  went  to  the 
Euro-Missions  Institute.  While  there, 


Lorrie  realized  that  God  was  challeng- 
ing her  to  step  out  and  become  in- 
volved in  a  personal  way  with  evan- 
gelism, discipleship,  and  church 
planting. 

France  needs  the  Gospel,  not 
because  she  is  better  or  worse  than 
other  nations,  but  because  she  is  com- 
posed of  men  and  women  who  are 
lost  without  Christ.  This  statement  was 
what  compelled  Lorrie  Shaver  to  ac- 
tively pursue  a  ministry  in  France. 

After  a  missionary  internship  in  the 


Fort  Lauderdale  church,  Lorrie  was 
anticipating  National  Conference 
where  her  commissioning  would  take 
place.  After  that,  it  would  have  been 
on  to  Albertville,  France,  for  language 
study. 

But  Lorrie  realized  how  her  walk 
with  Christ  was  a  day-to-day  process. 
She  was  concerned  that  she  be  faithful 
to  the  daily  ministries  God  gave  her. 

Lorrie  is  with  her  Lord,  but  her  en- 
thusiasm, dedication,  and  sweet  spirit 
continues  to  impact  others'  lives.   □ 


Obedient  in  Today's  Call 


The  following  is  an  excerpt  from  a 
cassette  sent  by  Lorrie  to  missionary 
Jeannie  Miller  shortly  before  Lorries 
death. 

"I  think  anyone  who  might  be  hear- 
ing this  tape  would  know  about  mixed 
emotions  that  are  going  on  right  now. 
You  know,  you're  excited  about  going 
and  leaving  the  country,  but  at  the 
same  time  it  's  hard  to  bring  those 
things  up  to  friends  and  even  family 
members  because  they  see  it  as  your 
leaving. 

"Of  course,  I  see  it  as  my  leaving, 
too,  and  it  gets  hard.  I  don't  know  if 
it  will  get  easier  or  if  it  just  gets  more 


difficult.  It's  already  hard  enough, 
breaking  ties  with  people  even  though 
you  know  that  if  they  are  of  the  Lord 
and  they  do  have  a  relationship  with 
Him,  it's  not  a  final  thing. 

"Yet,  we  just  don't  realize  how  short 
our  lives  really  are.  I  think  that's  been 
the  thing  I've  learned  the  most  when 
sharing  with  people  in  churches  .  .  . 
just  how  finite  we  really  are  and  how 
much  we  have  to  commit  our  lives  dai- 
ly to  Him.  It's  not  a  tomorrow  thing- 
it's  daily  living  your  life  for  Him. 

"It's  something  I've  been  trying  to 
share  with  the  high  school  kids  that  I 
have  been  able  to  talk  to  .  .  .  just  the 


fact  that  they  have  an  opportunity  now 
to  live  for  God  and  they  can't  bank  on 
tomorrow. 

I'm  looking  toward  tomorrow,  the 
future,  to  come  to  Europe,  but  I  need 
to  realize  today  I  need  to  live  for  Him. 
What  really  matters  for  God  is  if  I  am 
obedient  in  today's  call.  I've  been  really 
learning  a  lot  about  that. 

"I  think  .  .  .  that  these  last  few 
months  of  preparation  have  brought 
me  closer  to  Him,  because  my  en- 
couragement really  does  come  from 
Him.  I  guess  I'm  seeing  it  in  a  clearer 
way,  a  much  clearer  way  than  I  have 
in  the  last  year."  □ 


FMS 


OCTOBER  '85 


15 


How  God  Taught  me 


To  Give 


by  Dr.  Oswald  J.  Smith 


I  shall  never  forget  how  God  taught 
me  to  give.  I  had  been  pastor  of  a  large 
church  in  the  city  of  Toronto,  but  one 
day  I  resigned  and  on  the  first  Sunday 
of  January  became  pastor  of  a  church 
which  knew  how  to  give  in  a  way  I  had 
never  known.  I  commenced  this 
pastorate  at  a  time  when  the  church 
was  holding  its  annual  missionary 
convention. 

Now  1  knew  nothing  about  a  mis- 
sionary convention.  I  had  never  seen 
one  in  all  my  life.  I  didn't  know  the  first 
thing  to  do.  So  I  just  sat  there  on  the 
platform  and  watched. 

The  ushers  went  up  and  down  the 
aisles  giving  out  envelopes.  To  my 
amazement,  one  had  the  audacity  to 
walk  right  up  and  hand  me— the 
pastor! — an  envelope.  I  sat  there 
holding  it  in  my  hand.  I  can  still 
remember  that  moment  as  though  it 
were  yesterday. 

As  1  held  the  envelope  I  read,  "In 
dependence  upon  God  I  will  endeavor 
to  give  toward  the  missionary  work  of 

the  Church  $  during  the  coming 

year."  I  had  never  read  such  a  state- 
ment before.  1  did  not  know  that  God 
was  going  to  deal  with  me  that  morn- 
ing and  teach  me  a  lesson  that  I  was 
never  to  forget — a  lesson  that  1  was  to 
teach  to  hundreds  of  others  all  over 
the  country  in  the  years  to  come. 

I  started  to  pray.  I  said,  "Lord  God, 
I  can't  do  anything.  You  know  I  have 
nothing.  I  haven't  a  cent  in  the  bank. 
I  haven't  anything  in  my  pocket.  This 
church  only  pays  me  $25.00  a  week. 
I  have  a  wife  and  child  to  keep.  We  are 
trying  to  buy  our  home,  and 
everything  is  sky  high  in  price."  All  that 
was  true.  The  First  World  War  was  on. 

"I  know  that,"  the  Lord  seemed  to 
answer  me.  "I  know  you  are  only  get- 
ting $25.00  a  week.  I  know  you  have 
nothing  in  your  pocket  and  nothing  in 
the  bank." 

"Well,  then,"  I  said,  relieved,  "that 
settles  it.  1  have  nothing  to  give  and 
I  cannot  give  anything." 

It  was  then  the  Lord  spoke  to  my 
heart.  I  shall  never  forget  it. 

"I  am  not  asking  you  for  what  you 


have,"  He  said. 

"You  are  not  asking  me  for  what  I 
have,  Lord?"  I  replied.  "Then  what  are 
you  asking?" 

"I  am  asking  you  for  a  faith  offer- 
ing. How  much  can  you  trust  Me  for?" 

"Oh,  Lord,"  I  exclaimed,  "that's  dif- 
ferent. How  much  can  I  trust  Thee 
for?" 

Now,  of  course,  I  knew  nothing  at 
all  about  a  faith  offering.  I  had  never 
given  such  an  offering.  But  I  knew  the 
Lord  was  speaking.  I  thought  He 
might  say  $5.00,  or  perhaps  even 
$10.00.  Once,  as  minister  of  another 
church,  I  had  given  $5.00  for  missions. 
Once  in  my  life  I  had  given  $3.00. 
Also,  once  I  had  given  $2.00.  But 
never  at  any  time  had  I  given  more 
than  $5.00.  I  almost  trembled  as  I 
awaited  the  answer. 

Presently  it  came.  Now  I  am  not  go- 
ing to  ask  you  to  believe  that  God 
spoke  to  me  in  an  audible  voice,  but 
He  might  just  as  well  have.  I  was 
scarcely  conscious  of  the  congregation 
as  I  sat  there  with  my  eyes  closed, 
listening  to  the  voice  of  God. 

"How  much  can  I  give?"  I  asked. 


"Fifty  dollars." 

"Fifty  dollars!"  I  exclaimed.  "Why, 
Lord,  that's  two  weeks'  salary!  How 
can  I  ever  get  $50.00?" 

But  again  the  Lord  spoke  and  it  was 
still  the  same  amount.  It  was  just  as 
clear  to  me  as  though  He  had  spoken 
out  loud. 

My  hand  trembled  as  I  signed  my 
name  and  address  and  wrote  in  the 
amount— $50.00. 

How  I  ever  paid  that  amount,  I  ! 
don't  know  to  this  day.  All  I  know  is 
that  every  month  I  had  to  pray  for 
$4.00.  And  every  month  God  sent  it 
to  me  in  some  marvelous  way.  At  the 
end  of  the  year  I  had  given  $50.00. 

But  this  is  what  I  want  to  make  clear. 
There  came  to  my  heart  such  a 
fullness  of  the  Spirit,  that  as  I  paid  the 
final  amount  I  realized  I  had  received 
the  greatest  blessing  that  had  ever 
come  into  my  life! 

I  had  trusted  God  for  a  certain 
amount  and  He  had  met  it.  So  great 
was  the  spiritual  blessing  that  the  next 
year  at  the  convention  I  doubled  the 
amount  and  gave  $100.00.  Then,  at 
another   convention    I   doubled   the 


16 


OCTOBER  '85 


FMS 


My  hand  trembled  as  I  signed 
my  name  and  address  and 
wrote  in  the  amount  of  my  first 
faith  gift! 


amount  again  and  gave  $200.00.  At 
another  convention  I  doubled  it  once 
more  and  gave  $400.00.  Then  later 
doubled  it  again  and  made  it  $800.00. 

From  that  day  to  this  I  have  been 
increasing  the  amount  and  sending  it 
to  the  Bank  of  Heaven  year  by  year. 
If  I  had  waited  until  I  had  it,  I  never 
would  have  given  it  because  I  never 
would  have  received  it.  But  I  gave  it 
when  I  didn't  have  it.  I  gave  a  faith  of- 
fering and  God  honored  it. 

That  was  the  first  time.  I  say,  that  I 
had  ever  given  what  I  call  a  scriptural 
offering,  a  Pauline  offering.  Paul,  you 
will  remember,  often  took  up  "faith 
promise  offerings."  He  would  get  the 
church  to  promise  a  certain  amount 
and  then  he  would  give  the  church  a 
year  to  pay  it.  Then,  you  remember, 
as  the  year  drew  to  a  close,  he  Would 
send  someone  to  remind  the  church 
of  the  promise  that  had  been  made  so 
he  would  not  be  ashamed  when  he  ar- 
rived (see  II  Cor.  9).  He  wanted  to  be 
sure  it  would  be  paid.  A  faith  promise 
offering  is  a  scriptural  offering,  it  is  a 
Pauline  offering,  and  God  blesses  it. 

Have  you  only  given  cash  offerings? 
It  doesn't  require  any  faith  to  give  a 
cash  offering.  If  I  have  a  dollar  in  my 
pocket,  all  I  do  is  to  tell  my  hand  to 
go  into  my  pocket,  find  the  dollar,  take 
it  out  and  put  it  on  the  plate.  I  don't 
have  to  trust  Him  for  any  definite 
amount.  I  just  have  it  and  give  it. 

But  it  is  entirely  different  with  a  faith 
promise  offering.  I  have  to  pray  and 
ask  God  how  much  He  would  have 
me  give,  then  trust  Him  for  it.  Month 
by  month  I  go  to  Him  in  prayer  and 
ask  Him  for  the  amount  promised.  I 
must  wait  upon  Him  until  it  comes  in. 
That  is  the  offering  that  brings  blessing. 

For  well  over  a  quarter  of  a  century 
now,  that  it  the  kind  of  offering  I  have 
taken  for  missions.  In  our  annual  mis- 
sionary convention  we  never  get  more 
than  six  or  seven  thousand  dollars  in 
cash,  but  we  get  a  quarter  of  a  million 
or  more  in  faith  promises!  And  it 
always  comes  in!  More  comes  in  than 
the  amount  promised! 


It  is  customary  in  many  churches  to 
simply  divide  between  various  mis- 
sionary societies  whatever  cash  offer- 
ing is  given.  If  it  comes  in,  they  give 
it.  But  since  there  is  no  need  to  exer- 
cise faith,  there  is  no  burden,  no 
responsibility.  I  have  no  use  for  that 
kind  of  giving.  I  believe  that  every  in- 
dividual church  should  obligate  itself 
in  faith  before  God  for  a  certain 
definite  amount,  and  pray  until  that 
amount  has  been  received. 

Now  I  am  not  talking  about  pledges. 
I  have  never  taken  up  a  pledge  offer- 
ing. There  is  all  the  difference  in  the 
world  between  a  pledge  offering  and 
a  faith  promise  offering.  A  pledge  of- 
fering is  between  you  and  a  church, 
or  missionary  society.  Some  day  the 
deacons  may  come  along  and  try  to 
collect  it,  or  you  may  receive  a  letter 
reminding  you  of  it.  You  can  be  held 
responsible  for  a  pledge  offering. 

A  faith  promise  offering  is  between 
you  and  God.  No  one  will  ever  ask 
you  for  it.  No  official  will  ever  call  on 
you  to  collect  it.  No  one  will  ever  send 
you  a  letter  about  it.  It  is  a  promise 
made  by  you  to  God,  and  to  God 
alone.  If  you  are  unable  to  pay  it,  all 
you  have  to  do  is  to  tell  God  about  it. 
Give  Him  your  reason.  If  He  accepts 
it,  you  are  free. 

This,  my  friend,  is  the  greatest  in- 
vestment you  can  make.  You  should 
be  in  business  for  God.  You  should 
make  money  for  Him,  use  what  you 
need  to  live  on  and  give  as  much  as 
you  can  for  the  work  of  evangelization. 
Put  your  money  where  it  will  ac- 
complish the  most  for  God.  Put  it  into 
the  getting  out  of  the  gospel  or  into  the 
souls  of  men.  Use  it  for  those  who 
never  yet  have  heard  the  message. 

Perhaps  God  would  have  you  sup- 
port a  missionary  of  your  own — and 
then  another,  and  another.  Make  a 
faith  promise  offering  unto  Him,  then 
trust  Him  to  help  you  meet  it. 
Unmeasurable  blessing  will  be  yours. 

FMS  Editor's  Note:  This  article  originally  ap- 
peared in  Moody  Monthly  magazine  and  was 
reprinted  by  permission.  D 


I  Miss  Her,  Lord 

(continued  from  page  14) 

out-picked  us  all!  She'd  laugh  about 
her  berry-picking  days  of  her 
childhood  in  Oregon  where  she  got 
chased  by  a  bear.  She  always  had  a 
story,  and  Jake  always  had  a  trick  or 
a  joke.  It  was  like  having  an  extra  set 
of  grandparents,  and  we  know  many 
other  families  felt  the  same  way! 

After  our  move  to  Pennsylvania,  we 
made  arrangements  for  the  Klievers  to 
visit  us  several  times.  One  year  they 
helped  us  with  VBS.  Another  time 
Jake  went  to  camp  with  Jerry  and 
Janelle,  and  Freda  stayed  with  Jody 
and  me.  We  did  summer  houseclean- 
ing  that  week  and  we  talked  .  .  .  and 
talked  .  .  .  and  talked.  It  was  one  of 
the  best  weeks  of  my  life.  I  learned  so . 
much,  yet  she  said  she  was  learning 
from  me! 

Freda  told  stories  about  their  years 
in  Africa  and  shared  tips  on  living.  I 
always  appreciated  her  readiness  to 
serve.  She  encouraged  everyone  to  do 
their  best,  look  nice  and  neat,  give  a 
hard  day's  work,  and  to  be  honest. 
She  talked  about  responsibility  and 
she  expected  a  lot  from  herself  and 
others.  Freda  was  serious  about  the 
Lord's  work  at  home  and  abroad.  At 
the  same  time,  she  always  made  you 
feel  you  were  special,  she  helped  to 
make  things  fun,  and  she  loved  you 
even  if  she  didn't  agree  with  you. 

We  didn't  see  them  often  the  past 
few  years  .  .  .  yet  when  we  got  to- 
gether it  was  special!  She  really  cared 
and  she  was  an  encouragement  to  me 
...  I  really  miss  her,  Lord. 

Maybe  sometime  in  heaven  You 
could  plan  a  little  time  for  us  to  be 
together.  I  know  I  can't  go  to  Africa  to 
take  her  place,  but  I  hope  you  can  use 
me  as  a  prayer  warrior  and  as  an  en- 
courager  to  someone  else  as  Freda 
was  to  me.  □ 

Jan  is  the  wife  of  Pastor  Gerald  Kelley.  They 
are  currently  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Kokomo, 
Indiana,  Indian  Heights  Grace  Brethren  Church. 


FMS 


OCTOBER  '85 


17 


TIME*  for  What? 


"Training  In  Missionary  Endeavor 


by  Cheryl  Kaufman 


TIME?  What's  that? 

TIME  for  what?  Training!  You  mean  to  be  a  missionary? 
Ugh!  Me,  a  missionary?  You've  got  to  be  kidding! 

Training  reminds  me  too  much  of  discipline.  And 
disciplined,  I'm  not. 

And  that  word  missionary — that  word  is  a  turn-off  itself. 
People  have  this  weird  concept  of  what  a  missionary  is, 
and  I'm  not  made  out  of  that  "mold." 

Then  it's  ended  with  "endeavor."  That's  just  another  word 
for  work! 

TIME  for  what?  Things  like  teaching  English  to  Central 
Africans  in  the  High  School! 

TIME  for  what?  Working  with  students  on  a  one-to-one 
basis! 

TIME  for  what?  Playing  sports  with  or  teaching  guitar 
to  those  African  students! 

TIME  for  what?  Teaching,  discipling,  living  a  life  before 


people  who  watch  constantly! 

TIME  for  what?  Encouraging  and  helping  fellow  mis- 
sionaries in  their  work! 

That  was  only  part  of  the  exciting  ministries  that  Karen 
Bartel  and  Tricia  Dirks  had  this  past  year  at  Yaloke,  Cen- 
tral African  Republic!  Then,  there  was  Frank  Dawson!  Frank 
took  TIME  to  use  his  gifts  and  talents  in  a  somewhat  dif- 
ferent way  which  was  badly  needed.  How  we  need  those 
dedicated  "fix-it"  men  to  keep  a  station  going! 

TIME  for  what?  One  year  of  training  in  a  different  culture! 

TIME  for  what?  Telling  people  and  teaching  people  about 
Jesus  Christ  and  reflecting  the  inner  reality. 

TIME  for  what?  Training.  Well,  I'm  always  game  to  learn 
new  stuff.  Me,  a  missionary?  Me?  Yes,  I've  thought  about 
it.  And  endeavor  reminds  me  of  adventure  and 
stick-to-itiveness. 

How  about  you?  Do  you  have  TIME? 


Above:  Tricia  Dirks  poses  with  two 
of  her  students  from  the  James 
Gribble  High  School. 

Left:  An  African  student  enjoys  sing- 
ing while  Karen  Bartel  accompanies 
him.  Tricia  and  Karen  spent  a  year 
in  the  Central  African  Republic 
under  the  TIME  program  teaching 
in  the  high  school. 


18 


OCTOBER  '85 


FMS 


VIS  NEWS  FMS  NEWS  FMS  NEWS  F 


Moundou,  Chad  —  After  a  several 
years'  wait,  Richard  and  Kathy  Harrell 
have  arrived  in  the  Chad.  Improved 
conditions  in  this  country  made  their 
return  possible.  They  will  be  living  at 
Moundou  under  the  wing  of  TEAM 
missionaries  for  one  year.  During  that 
time,  the  Harrells  will  determine  if  it 
will  be  possible  to  reestablish  a  ministry 
at  Bessao  where  Rich  ministered 
before.  Conditions  now  indicate  that 
a  move  to  Bessao  would  not  be  likely. 

Estes  Park,  Colorado  —  The  Grace 
Brethren  Church  of  Mansfield,  Ohio, 
was  named  1985  Mission  Church  of 
the  Year  at  National  Conference. 
Pastor  Sonny  Thayer  and  Missions 
Chairman  Dave  Harvey  accepted  the 
award  on  behalf  of  the  church. 

The  Mansfield  GBC  identifies 
everything  connected  with  missions 
with  a  special  logo  —  a  butterfly  with 
the  words  "World  Hope  Evangelism." 
20.4%  of  its  money  is  budgeted  for 
foreign  missions,  and  the  church' sup- 
ports 13  Grace  Brethren  missionaries. 

A  very  active  missions  committee 
meets  at  least  12  times  a  year.  Pastor 
Thayer  and  his  wife  were  sent  by  the 
church  to  visit  Europe  and  Africa  in 
1984.  Dave  Harvey  has  also  visited 
several  mission  fields. 

The  Mansfield  church  has  claimed 
Macon,  France,  as  a  sister  church  and 
maintains  special  interest  and  contact 
with  the  people  there. 

Les  and  Ruth  Vnasdale  are  con- 
sidered part  of  the  church's  overseas 


Dave  Harvey  receives  the  Mission  Church  of 
the  Year  plaque  from  Wendell  Kent  as  Pastor 
Sonny  Thayer  and  missions  committee  member 
Victoria  Page  look  on. 

ministry  staff  and  are  absorbed  into  the 
home  ministry  while  on  furlough.  The 
WMC  outfitted  a  house  for  the 
Vnasdales. 

These  and  many  other  exciting 
ideas  and  programs  contributed  to  the 
judges'  selection  of  this  church.  The 
Mansfield  Grace  Brethren  Church  was 
presented  a  plaque  and  $1,000  to  go 
toward  a  visit  to  a  mission  field  by  the 
pastor  or  chosen  representative. 

Mexico  City  —  After  the  devastating 
earthquake  shook  Mexico  City,  news 
was  received  that  James  and  Elizabeth 
Schaefer  came  through  the  disaster 
with  only  shaken  nerves.  The 
Schaefers  were  awakened  in  their  third 
story  apartment  as  the  quake  began. 
At  the  time  of  printing,  the  Schaefers 
were  without  water,  electricity,   and 


phone  service. 

The  apartment  that  Walt  and  Alys 
Haag  were  to  move  into  (and  the 
Guerenas  lived  in  for  many  years)  was 
destroyed.  Pray  for  the  Mexican 
Brethren  as  they  rebuild  and  reach  out 
to  others  during  the  clean-up  process. 

Estes  Park,  Colorado  —  Also 
awarded  at  conference  was  the  Ex- 
panding Vision  Award.  River  City 
Grace  Community  Church  of 
Sacramento,  Calif.,  received  this 
honor.  The  pastor  during  most  of 
1985  was  Rev.  Roy  Halberg.  Receiv- 
ing the  award  for  the  church  was  cur- 
rent pastor,  Tom  Lynn,  who  then 
called  upon  long  time  members  of  the 
church,  the  Zooks,  to  join  him. 

The  River  City  Grace  Community 
Church  has  done  an  exceptional  job 
and  was  awarded  a  plaque. 

Albertville,  France  —  Four  new 
Grace  Brethren  missionaries  have 
begun  French  language  study  in  this 
little  town  nestled  in  the  Alps.  Tim  and 
Jan  Waggonner,  Margie  Morris,  and 
Barb  Wooler  started  classes  on  time. 

Because  the  Waggonners  and  Barb 
Wooler  lacked  support  commitments, 
it  was  unsure  whether  they  would  be 
able  to  go  or  not.  The  Lord  provided, 
however,  and  they  arrived  in  time. 

All  four's  final  destination  is  the 
Central  African  Republic.  Dr.  Mike  and 
Amy  Volovski  also  received  their  sup- 
port, so  they  are  now  at  Bata,  Central 
African  Republic. 


Fourteen  missionaries  were  commissioned  at  Grace  Brethren  National  Conference  in  August.  A  photograph  of  Lorrie  Shaver,  whose  death  occurred 
shortly  before  conference,  was  placed  on  the  chair  where  she  would  have  knelt. 


FMS 


OCTOBER  '85 


19 


'£$*&■ 


*wiiW* 


Thank  You  R>r  Praying  .  .  . 

A  sampling  of  BNYC  decisions 


Yesterday  morning  I  totally  commit- 
ted myself  to  God.  Tonight  I'm  giving 
my  life  for  His  use  in  full-time  Chris- 
tian service.  The  Lord  has  been  work- 
ing in  my  life  about  this  and  I  want  to 
serve  Him  completely  starting  today. 

I'm  preparing  for  a  full-time  music 
ministry  to  youth.  I  felt  God's  Spirit  tug 
me  for  a  public  testimony  of  my 
sincerity  in  wanting  to  fight  the  good 
fight  for  God  and  my  Savior  Jesus 
Christ. 

I  will  follow  You,  no  matter  how  it  may 
appear  to  others.  This  includes 
witnessing,  praying  (in  a  public  place), 
being  kind  to  others,  being  friendly  to 
strangers  in  the  church,  and  helping 
others  to  grow. 

I  want  to  give  my  entire  life  to  the  Lord 
not  just  part,  but  everything;  my  goals, 
priorities,  drama,  popularity,  etc. 

To  commit  myself  to  serve  the  Lord 
always  and  to  realize  and  see  the  need 
of  Christ  in  this  world. 

I  have  not  witnessed  as  I  should  have. 
I  want  to  win  others  to  Christ  and 
spread  the  feeling  I  have  among  my 
Christian  friends. 


To  be  a  witness  to  my  dad  so  that  he 
will  become  a  Christian  and  that  I  can 
be  a  witness  to  my  friends. 

I  was  on  Operation  Barnabas  this  year 
and  I  see  a  lot  of  things  in  my  life  that 
are  wrong.  My  leaders  were  great  and 
told  me  about  these  things  and  I  just 
wanted  to  change  them,  to  make  that 
final  commitment  for  Christ.  I  also  feel 
that  God  is  calling  me  into  missionary 
work  and  I'm  ready  to  go! 

I've  made  a  commitment  to  carry  out 
my  goal  of  becoming  a  pastor. 


I  just  want  to  live  out  everything  I 
know  is  right  like  witnessing  to 
everyone  and  reading  the  Bible  and 
having  a  closer  walk  with  God. 

I  want  to  let  God  have  His  way  in  my 
life  and  do  whatever  He  wants  with 
me.  I  want  to  take  a  stand  for  God 
everywhere  I  go.  I  want  God  Lord  of 
my  life! 

I  just  reinstated  a  former  commitment 
to  give  myself  to  the  Lord  for  whatever 
He  would  want  me  to  do— whether  it 
be  overseas  or  here  in  the  states. 

I  want  to  go  into  total  service  for  God 
and  be  able  to  lead  others  to  the  sav- 
ing knowledge  of  Christ. 

I  want  to  be  used  by  the  Lord  in  mis- 
sion work  (Spain). 

Tonight  I  opened  up  my  life  to 
whatever  Christian  service  God  may 
have  in  store  for  me,  whether  it  would 
be  in  France,  England  or  America. 
Whatever  it  is,  I  want  God  to  be  able 
to  show  me  the  direction! 

I  want  to  be  a  missionary  to  the 
Navajos. 

I  have  decided  to  accept  the  Lord  as 
my  Savior  and  to  do  what  He  wants 
me  to  do. 


CE 


OCTOBER  '85 


21 


(Manorial  /vcnievement  competition 
Winners  and  Scholarships 


DIVISION 

Interpretive  Scripture 
Memorization 

Teen  Challenge  Speaker 

Teen  Evangelist  Speaker 

Teen  Teacher 

Original  Art  —  Painting 
Original  Art  —  Drawing 

Orig    Art   —  Photography 

Original  Poetry 

Piano  Solo 

Instrumental  Solo 

Instrumental  Ensemble 

Vocal  Solo  I  -  Men 

Vocal  Solo  I  -  Women 

Vocal  Solo  II  -  Men 

Vocal  Solo  II  -  Women 

Large  Vocal  Ensemble 

Youth  Choir 

Small  Vocal  Ensemble 

Puppetry 

Dramatic  Arts  —  Small 

Dramatic  Arts  —  Large 

Mime/Clowning 

Christian  Writing 
Group  Song  Leader 
Keyboard  Duet 

Pre-Tuned  Instr   Solo 

Media 

NAC  Sports 
Basketball 

Basketball 

Mixed  Volleyball 

Sportsmanship  Award 
Basketball  —  Guys 
Basketball  -  Girls 
Mixed  Volleyball 


WINNER,  PLACE, 
DISTRICT 

Beth  Gross,  NCO  1st 
Tina  Carpenter,  MAD  2nd 
Philip  Leppert,  FL  1st 
Chris  Harris,  SOH   2nd 
David  Woodward,  FL  1st 
Scott  Fetter,  NEO  2nd 
David  Woodward,  FL  1st 
Leianne  McMartin,  N  Atl.  2nd 
Michele  Tokuno,  FL  1st 
David  Thomas.  VA  1st 
Polly  Hicks.  IN  2nd 
Marie  Burkhart.  IN  1st 
Marie  Burkhart,  IN  2nd 
Rebecca  Ausband,  N  Atl.  1st 
Scott  Thomas.  MAD  2nd 
David  Hasker.  MAD  1st 
Jim  Miller.  NEO  2nd 
Matt  McCoy.  MAD  1st 
Cyndi  Hoy,  IN  2nd 
Northern  Atlantic  1st 
Grace  Handbells,  MAD  2nd 
Jim  Martin,  N  Atl    1st 
Scott  Thomas,  MAD  2nd 
Suzy  Leach.  W  Penn    1st 
Janelle  Kelley,  IN  2nd 
Lonnie  Long.  N.Atl    1st 
David  Woodward.  FL  2nd 
Yolanda  Lewis,  MAD  1st 
Doree  Light,  N  Atl   2nd 
"His  WorkmanshipTV  Atl   1st 
"His  Believers,"  IN  2nd 
"Promise."  MAD  1st 
"Alethia."  N  Atl   2nd 
"New  Life,"  N  Atl    1st 
Baird,  Commons.  Cosson,  NCO 
"Puppets  of  Praise,"  NCO  1st 
"Praise  Pals  I,"  N  Atl   2nd 
Jackie  Gelsinger,  N  Atl   1st 
Cosson,  Irvin,  NCO  2nd 
Riverside,  WPenn    1st 
Myerstown,  N  Atl   2nd 
Scott  Thomas,  MAD  1st 
"His  Servants,"  IN  2nd 
Michele  Calvosa,  N  Atl.   1st 
Phillip  Leppert.  FL  1st 
Jeffries  and  Jeffries,  WPenn.  1st 
Brezeale  &  Light,  N Atl   2nd 
Phillip  Leppert,  FL  1st 
Michelle  Williams,  NCO  2nd 
Marie  Burkhart,  IN  1st 
Mark  Kern,  N  All  2nd 

Guys,  NEO  1st 
Guys.  WPenn    2nd 
Girls.  NW  1st 
Girls,  NEO  2nd 
Northern  Atlantic 
Northeastern  Ohio 

Dan  Pacheco,  IN 
Laura  Middour,  NEO 
Tim  Embaugh.  NEO 


SCHOLARSHIP 

DONOR 

AMOUNT 

BIBLE  QUIZZING 

Ken  Russel  Memorial 

$100.00 

Quiz  Team  -  1st  Place 

Grace  College 

$  50.00 

Northcentral  Ohio 

National  Ministenum 

$500.00 

Coach:  Floyd  Waggoner 

National  Ministerium 

$350.00 

Quizzers:  Tim  Cleveland.  Deb- 

GBC  Christian  Education 

$500.00 

by  Musser,  Danny  Treier,  Sherri 

GBC  Christian  Education 

$350.00 

Friesen,  Moe  Cleveland,  Aaron 

H.  Etling  Memorial  (CE) 

$175.00 

Frier 

H.  Etling  Memorial  (CE) 

$  75.00 

(Team    receives    $3000   from    GBC 
Christian  Education  for  a  missionary 
trip  or  a  $500  scholarship  to  each 
quizzer  to  Grace  College 

Breth    Miss    Herald  Co 


Grac 
Grac 


College 
College 
College 
College 


David  Tittle  Memorial 

Leila  Polman  Scholarship 
Leila  Polman  Scholarship 
Leo  Polman  Memorial 
Leo  Polman  Memorial 
Grace  College 
Grace  College 


$250.00 
$125.00 
$250.00 
$120  00 


$100  00 
$  50.00 
$100.00 
$  50.00 
$100.00 
$  50.00 


Breth.  Miss    Herald  Co.  $250.00 

Breth.  Missions  Council  $100.00 


Grace  College 


Quiz  Team  -  2nd  Place 

Northeastern  Ohio 

coach:  Elsie  Wiley 

Quizzers:     Charles     Steiner, 

Mary  Miller,  Steve  Taylor,  Brenda 

Libengood,  Darlene  Kear,  Murray 

Stafford 

(Each  recieves  $25.00  gift  certificate 
from  BMH) 

All  Star  Quizzers 
Danny  Treier,  NCO 
Bill  Matthews.  FL 
Moe  Cleveland,  NCO 
Dave  Little.  N.Atl 
Tim  Myers.  WPenn 

Quiz  Coach  of  the  Year 

Mrs.  Patty  Bruce, 

Huber  Heights.  OH  (SOH) 

Spitshine  Award 

(best  quiz  uniforms) 

Virgina 

SMM  Girl  of  the  Year 
Cathy  Curtis.  NEO 

National  WMC  $500.00 
Grace  College  Scholarship 

SMM  Runner-up 
Michelle  Hertzog.  N.Atl. 

National  WMC  $  50.00 
Grace  College  Scholarship 

Youth  Group  of  the  Year 
Myerstown.  PA  (N.Atl.) 


National  Achievement  Competition  is  an  incentive  program  to  help 
Grace  Brethren  young  people  develop  skills  and  talents  for  local  church 
ministries. 

Through  local  church,  district,  and  then  national  competition,  par- 
ticipants polish  skills  in  drama,  music,  writing,  art,  sports,  and  even  in 
communicating  spiritual  challenges. 

It's  a  great  program  that  not  only  honors  their  efforts,  but  also  proves 
valuable  in  the  growth  and  development  of  the  contestants'  ministry  skills. 


22 


OCTOBER    85 


CE 


The 

Program 


Drag 


schools 


200  Seminary  Drive 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Montgomery  Ward  Foundation 

The  NCR  Foundation 

Rohm  and  Haas  Company 

The  Upjohn  Company 

Victor  F.  Weaver,  Inc. 

Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass 

Bristol-Myers  Fund 

The  Hershey  Foundation 

Corning  Glass  Works 

Rockwell  International 

Atlantic  Richfield  Foundation 

Howmet  Turbine  Components 

Corp. 

AMOCO  Foundation.  Inc. 

First  National  Bank 

S.  California  Gas  Company 

CIGNA  Foundation 

TEXACO,  Inc. 

Bristol-Myers  Fund 

United  Telephone  Co.  of  Indiana 

Gates  Rubber  Company 

IBM  Corporation 

Rockwell  International 

North  American  Phillips  Corp. 

Texas  Eastern  Corporation 

ABEX  Foundation,  Inc. 

ARA  Services 

American  Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc. 

AMP,  Inc. 

Rockwell  International 

United  Technologies  Corporation 

Whirlpool  Corporation 

Chevron 

R.  R.  Donnelley  and  Sons,  Inc. 

Firestone  Tire  and  Rubber  Co. 

Allied  Foundation 

NCR  Foundation 

Victor  F.  Weaver,  Inc. 

Armstrong  Cork  Company 


Mr.  William  Spurr 
Mr.  Anthony  Alonzo 
Mr.  Albert  Nuessle 
Mr.  Lucian  Garber 
Mr.  George  Piatt 
Rev.  Edward  Wingard 
Mr.  Douglas  Mayer 
Mrs.  Katie  Martin 
Mrs.  Cynthia  Goetz 
Mr.  Francis  Brill 
Mr.  Philip  Beckett 

Mr.  William  Kemp 
Mr.  C.  W.  Lane 
Mr.  John  Elliott 
Mr.  Victor  Meyers 
Mr.  Harry  Fields 
Mr.  Jeff  Mahon 

Mr.  Ronald  Wales 
Mr.  Gary  Tanner 
Mr.  Phil  Zimmerman 
Mrs.  Betty  Stewart 
Mr.  Ron  Tanglin 
Mr.  Roger  Moore 
Mr.  Jack  Hoey 
Mr.  John  Mohr 
Mr.  Lynn  Gerig 
Mr.  Desmond  Conlan 
Mr.  Arthur  Hughes 
Mr.  C.  B.  Painter 
Miss  Beth  Curry 
Mrs.  O.  W.  Conlan 

Mr.  Ken  Sanders 
Mr.  Steven  Watkins 

Mr.  Paul  Carter 

Mr.  John  Boroff 

Mr.  Charles  Boyer 

Mr.  Richard  Blosser 

Mr.  John  Coykendall 

Mr.  Donald  Kispert 

Mr.  Dwight  Stair 

Mr.  David  Young 

Mr.  Anthony  Alonzo 

Mr.  George  Piatt 

Mr.  Dane  Rapp 


GRACE  OCTOBER  85  23 


smrnim 

IIWIS1MIBII 


/t  is  an  odd  job  for  an  artist. 
Statistics  and  computers  and 
deadlines  and  certificates  and 
records  and  so  on.  Even  the  name 
sounds  unspectacular  --  the 
Registrar. 

But  that's  what  Jim  Shipley  has 
been  doing  for  the  last  12  years.  Jim 
Shipley,  who  wanted  at  various  times 
in  his  life  to  be  a  scientist,  teacher  or 
musician.  Something  that  involved 
an  artistic  touch.  Shipley  plays  the 
trumpet,  was  a  former  music  teacher, 
and  directs  the  Warsaw  Community 
Grace  Brethren  Church  choir. 

"1  didn't  know  the  first  thing  about 
what  a  registrar  was,"  Shipley  says. 

He  knows  more  than  that  now.  He 
knows  the  ins  and  outs,  the  ups  and 
downs,  the  highs  and  lows  of  being 
a  registrar.  Surprisingly,  there  is 
rythym. 

"I  feel  there  is  a  sense  of  orchestra- 


tion in  this  job,"  Shipley  says.  "There 
are  some  similarities  between  music 
and  this  job.  The  office  is  very  cyclical 
--  it  is  very  interesting  to  observe  as 
a  musician." 

But,  Shipley  says,  the  analogy  can 
only  be  stretched  so  far.  Sometimes, 
the  job  is  monotonous.  Eventually, 
Shipley  would  like  to  try  to  find  his 
way  back  to  music  as  a  career. 

In  the  meantime,  Shipley  says,  he 
is  content. 

"I  used  to  think  that  God  had  a 
lockstep  approach  for  everyone," 
Shipley  says.  "Basically,  God's  will  is 
for  you  to  exhibit  the  fruits  of  the 
spirit  and  be  under  God's  control. 
Outside  of  that,  God  does  not  say  to 
you  'all  you  can  do,  Jim  Shipley,  is 
music'  God  is  not  that  limited." 

Part  of  his  contentment  comes 
from  the  fact  that  he  knows  that  God 
led  him  to  the  job.  In  1973,  Shipley, 


a  graduate  of  Grace  College,  quit  his 
job  as  music  director  at  an  area  junior 
and  senior  high  school. 

"I  had  a  problem  with  the  dis- 
cipline aspect,"  Shipley  says.  "I'm  not 
sure  that  I  have  a  gift  of  working  with 
kids." 

So  Shipley  quit.  Cold  turkey.  He 
had  no  job.  He  wanted  to  find  a  job 
in  music  in  a  high  school  or  college. 
None  were  available.  Then  he 
thought  he  would  take  a  job  with  a 
savings  and  loan  company.  The  day 
he  was  supposed  to  hear  about  the 
job,  the  president  of  the  company 
died.  The  job  was  gone. 

"We  were  really  getting  nervous," 
Shipley  says.  Then,  when  things 
looked  their  worst,  Grace  Schools 
called.  A  job  was  open  as  assistant 
registrar. 

Shipley  took  the  job  partly  as  an 
opportunity  to  go  to  seminary. 


24 


OCTOBER  '85 


GRACE 


ith   a   fierce 


Shipley  says  he  didn't  know  what 
he  was  getting  into.  A  few  years  later, 
he  became  registrar.  It  was  a  job  with 
many  responsibilities  including: 
registration,  class  scheduling, 
organization  of  curriculum,  student 
certification,  records,  statistics, 
athletic  eligibility,  records  retention 
and  security. 

It  was  a  long  way  from 
John  Philip  Sousa. 

For  the  most  part, 
Shipley  likes  the  job.  The 
variety,  involvement  in 
decision  making,  the 
professionalism,  and  the 
opportunity  to  serve 
Grace  Schools  is  ex- 
citing, he  says. 

He  does  his  job 
commitment. 

"I  am  a  very  demanding  person," 
Shipley  says.  "I  think  that  God 
deserves  our  best  in  whatever  we  do 
even  if  it  may  not  be  our  first  love." 

Another  reason  for  his  content- 
ment comes  from  a  far  different 
reason.  Two  years  ago,  he  had  a 
malignant  tumor. 

The  doctor  was  not  af  all  subtle. 

"He  came  in  and  said  that  I  had 
a  tumor  and  that  it  was  malignant 
and  that  he  wanted  to  operate  this 
week,"  Shipley  said.  "That  was  it.  I 
didn't  really  have  a  chance  to  react." 
That  was  the  Shipley's  second  sur- 
prise of  the  year.  Earlier,  they  learn- 
ed that  Jim's  wife,  Pam,  was  preg- 
nant for  the  third  time.  The  surprise 
was  that  it  was  nearly  seven  years 
since  the  last  child. 

Shipley  did  not  have  much  time  to 
think  about  the  cancer.  The  disease 
was  diagnosed  Tuesday;  the  opera- 
tion was  Thursday. 

"I  was  in  shock,"  Shipley  says.  "1 
was  dumbfounded  that  all  of  a  sud- 
den this  had  come  into  my  life." 

"It  was  flat  out  fear,"  Shipley  says. 
"I  don't  intend  to  spiritualize  it  at  all. 
I  was  scared." 

Looking  back  and  "99  percent 
cured,"  Shipley  can  see  many 
positive  aspects  of  having  cancer: 
"I'm  certainly  not  sitting  here  asking 


God  to  bring  me  another  Cancer  ex- 
perience. But  I  did  learn  a  lot." 

It  was,  he  says,  a  humbling  ex- 
perience, especially  for  one  who  had 
always  been  susceptible  to 
self-sufficiency. 

"I  have  the  make-up  that  wants  to 
say  that  I  am  in  control,"Shipley  says. 
"When  you  are  laid  down  and  that 


"It  (the  bout  with  cancer)  has  helped  my 
level  of  commitment,  "  Shipley  says.  "It  has 
strengthened  my  desire  to  be  effective 
before  God.'1 


close  to  death,  you  realize  how  frail 
and  human  you  are. 

"No  one  has  a  corner  on  God's 


program  and  I  realized  that  I  was  ex- 
pendable for  his  purposes." 

The  ordeal  also  taught  Shipley  the 
need  for  empathy  with  those  suffer- 
ing and  the  foolishness  of 
materialism. 

In  the  end,  Shipley  says,  it  taught 
him  the  need  for  excellence  and 
commitment. 

"It  (the  bout  with 
cancer)  has  helped  my 
level  of  commitment," 
Shipley  says.  "It  has 
strengthened  my  desire 
to  be  effective  before 
God.  Mediocrity  doesn't 
cut  it.  There's  too  much 

at  stake." 

"God's  will  deserves 
better,"  Shipley  says,  "whether  it  be 
orchestrating  music  or  conducting  a 
registration." 


Living  Memorials, 

200  Seminary  Drive, 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


kw 


LIVING  MEMOPRIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
October,  1985 


Given  by: 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earl  Gannaway 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  Bracker 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chester  Elliott 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rex  Morris 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Zana 
Winn  Dixie  Store 
Eleanor  G.  Clark 
Harrah  Brethren  Church 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Peush 


In  Memory  of: 

Lorrie  Shaver 
Mrs.  Freda  Kliever 
Chet  Braham 
Gene  Martin 
Michael  Alexander 
Chet  Braham 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Lorrie  Shaver 
Majorie  K.  Barham 
Ethel  Lucille  Ferguson 
Mrs.  Verne  Ferguson 


GRACE 


OCTOBER  '85 


25 


Last  year  at  Conference,  I  shared 
with  you  a  big  concern  of  mine  — our 
SMM  offering  year  after  year  has  been 
far  short  of  our  goal.  In  1983-84.  it 
was  $2500  short.  A  special  letter  went 
out  to  each  council  asking  for  a  united 
effort  to  meet  this  goal  this  year.  1  am 
very  happy  to  report  to  you  that 
although  we  didn't  quite  meet  the 
goal,  we  came  within  less  than  $500 
of  it,  an  increase  of  $2100.  I  think 
that's  an  excellent  response  and  I 
thank  each  of  you  for  your  coopera- 
tion and  giving.  Perhaps  next  year  we 
can  keep  up  the  good  work  and  go 
over  the  top  on  this  offering. 

Sue  Rike  is  doing  an  excellent  job 
of  directing  our  SMM  work,  working 
with  district  and  local  patronesses, 
rewriting  and  updating  the  program 
materials.  I'm  sure  this  increase  in  our 
offering  will  reassure  Sue  of  our 
support. 

Another  bit  of  good  news — for  the 
second  year  in  a  row,  our  Operation 
and  Publication  Expense  account 
operated  in  the  black.  After  several 
years  with  low  offerings  and  high  costs, 
last  year  we  eliminated  our  deficit  and 
have  kept  up  with  expenses. 

Please  encourage  your  ladies  to 
keep  giving  to  this  fund.  Your  National 
Officers  try  very  hard  to  keep  expenses 
to  a  minimum  so  another  deficit  will 
be  avoided,  but  as  you  know,  the  cost 
of  everything  continues  to  escalate. 
Looking  over  the  past  WMC  year,  I 
feel  that  it  has  been  a  good  one  and 
the  Lord  has  blessed. 

Much  has  been  done  as  districts  and 
local  councils  have  completed  projects 
for  our  home  and  foeign  missionaries. 
It  is  interesting  to  me  how  much  we 
are  able  to  accomplish  as  we  serve  the 


WMC  President's 
Address  ^21 


by  Margie  Devan 
National  President 


Lord  together.  It  is  also  a  pleasure  for 
me  to  realize  how  much  WMC  is 
counted  on— by  our  missionaries,  our 
National  boards,  and  our  pastors. 
When  something  needs  to  be  done, 
many  think  first  of  WMC.  1  hope  that 
we  will  always  be  worthy  of  the  trust 
they  have  placed  in  us. 

In  order  to  help  pastors  be  aware  of 
what  WMC  is  and  what  we  are  doing, 
our  National  Executive  Committee  in- 
structed me  to  write  to  them,  explain- 
ing our  purposes,  program,  and  pro- 
jects. I  received  some  very  positive  let- 
ters from  pastors  thanking  me  for  the 
information  and  expressing  their  sup- 
port of  WMC.    One  pastor  likened 
WMC  to  glue,  wire,  and  a  pitch  pipe. 
I  thought  that  was  an  interesting  com- 
parison and  I  would  like  to  quote  from 
his  letters: 
WMC  is  glue.  Not  the  kind  that 
comes  in  bottles,  jars  and  tubes, 
but  the  sort  that  is  found  in  lives 
bonded  together  in  the  love  of 
Christ  as  women  walk  and  work 
effectively  for  His  glory  and  the 
good  of  their  own  church.  This 
stickum  also  holds  these  involved 
ladies  to  the  overall  program  of 
the  church,  since  they  are  a  vital 
part  of  their  own  particular  phase. 
The  local  council  is  also  wire,  the 
kind     used     in     telephone    or 
telegraph  cables— for  the  WMC 
becomes  one  of  the  most  effec- 
tive    communications     tools 
available.  There  are.   obviously, 
possibilities  that  this  can  become 
destructive  rather  than  construc- 
tive, but  with  godly  women  in- 
volved in  the  Lord's  work,  doing 
His  will,  the  safeguards  are  built 
in.  The  resulting  network  of  public 


relations  operatives  is  beyond 
price.  It  also  seems  to  me  that  the 
WMC  is  a  pitch  pipe  to  help 
things  run  harmoniously.  We  are 
not  in  unison  in  the  church,  for 
many  tasks  are  being  undertaken 
concurrently.  The  tendencies  for 
discord  will  be  all  too  discernible 
in  such  cases.  Providing  the 
forum  for  inter  action  between 
children's,  youth  and  adult  ac- 
tivities in  and  out  of  the  church 
facility  are  the  ladies,  humming 
along.  Individual  WMC  members 
may  serve  as  cook,  gardener, 
maid,  janitor,  chauffeur,  or  almost 
any  other  functionary  in  the 
household  of  faith,  but  they 
blend,  beautifully. 
I  like  that.  I  think  it's  a  lovely  descrip- 
tion of  WMC  women.  Thank  you, 
Pastor  J.  Norman  Mayer,  for  your 
thoughts. 

I  am  so  grateful  to  our  Lord  for  the 
lovely  group  of  ladies  who  serve  with 
me  on  our  National  WMC  Executive 
Committee.  Each  one  is  a  very  busy 
person  who  is  committed  to  the  Lord 
and  gives  sacrificially  of  her  time  to  ef- 
ficiently serve  you  in  WMC.  When  we 
meet  together  for  Executive  Commit- 
tee meetings,  we  have  a  great  time  of 
fellowship,  laughing  and  enjoying  one 
another,  being  concerned  with  each 
other's  personal  needs,  as  well  as  con- 
ducting WMC  business.  These  are 
very  special  people  and  I  am  honored 
to  count  them  as  friends  and  serve 
with  them. 

I  also  praise  the  Lord  for  some  other 
special  women  who  receive  very  little 
recognition  for  the  volume  of  work 
they  do — our  Program  Packet  Com- 
mittee. These  women  meet  together 


26 


OCTOBER  '85 


WMC 


twice  a  year  for  two  days  at  WMC  ex- 
pense, but  do  the  majority  of  their 
work  at  home  throughout  the  year.  If 
you  are  familiar  with  the  program 
packet,  you  are  aware  of  how  much 
work  goes  into  it.  Did  you  know  that 
they  not  only  work  on  one  packet,  but 
on  three  at  a  time,  preparing  three 
years  in  advance?  Can  you  imagine 
the  organizational  ability  and  amount 
of  time  that  must  take?  I  would  like  to 
publicly  thank  Janet  Minnix,  our  pre- 
sent Program  Chairman,  and  Triceine 
Custer,  her  predecessor,  for  their  ex- 
cellent guidance  in  this  area.  Our  cur- 
rent Program  Committee  members  are 
Shirley  Stevens,  Jeanne  Hopkins,  and 
Linda  Michael.  Thank  you,  ladies,  for 
your  service  to  the  Lord  and  to  us. 

1  must  also  thank  my  husband  and 
our  children  for  the  help  and  support 
they  have  given  to  me.  I  would  never 
be  able  to  keep  up  with  my  respon- 
sibilities without  their  assistance.  Very 
often  I  come  home  from  school  and 
find  that  Fred  has  cleaned  the  whole 
house  and  done  the  laundry.  How's 
that  for  encouragement? 

Also  special  thanks  to  Mama  who 
was  visiting  with  me  and  took  over 
much  of  my  housework  so  that  I  could 
work  on  this  address  and  other  WMC 
responsibilities.  When  I  feel  like  I'll 
never  get  everything  done  and  there's 
not  much  use  to  try,  their  support  and 
love  enable  me  to  go  on.  Thanks  also 
to  each  of  you  who  supported  me  with 
your  prayers. 

During  the  coming  year,  we  will  be 
following  the  theme,  "Prayer-Your 
Lifeline  to  the  Father."  This  is  a  study 
which  should  help  us  all  to  com- 
municate more  and  communicate  bet- 
ter with  our  Heavenly  Father.  I  hope 
we  will  all  become  aware  of  how 
desperately  we  need  His  help  and 
guidance  as  we  live  in  these  perilous 
days. 

Our  study  book  will  be  "On  Holy 
Ground"  by  Kirkie  Morrissey.  Our  mis- 
sion studies  will  show  the  importance 
of  personal  prayer  in  a  missionary's  life 
and  share  specific  answers  to  prayer, 
either  for  the  missionary  or  for  a  na- 
tional Christian.  Included  is 
biographical  information  on  each  mis- 
sionary as  well  as  pictures. 

Sounds  like  a  neat  way  to  get  to 
know  them  better,  doesn't  it? 

I  hope  that  the  coming  WMC  year 
will  be  a  profitable  one  for  each  of  you 
and  for  the  ladies  of  your  council  as 
we  serve  our  Lord  together,  serve  and 
support  our  missionaries,  and  serve  in 
many  aspects  in  our  churches.       □ 


IDEA  NOOK 


To  encourage  better  attendance 
at  District  Rallies,  the  Indiana 
District  WMC  gives  a  gift  certificate 
for  the  reading  circle  books  to  the 
WMC  who  has  the  most  women 
present  at  the  rally. 

In  many  districts  the  distance  be- 
tween churches  is  great.  The  North- 
west District  has  that  problem  and 
many  ladies  are  hampered  from  at- 
tending rallies  because  of  the 
journey  involved.  To  help  solve  this, 
churches  in  area  of  the  rally  provide 
overnight  lodging  for  ladies  who 
desire  it.  This  is  a  great  encourage- 
ment for  long-distance  attenders. 

In  southern  California  there  are 
several  bi-lingual  churches,  so  at  the 
district  WMC  rallies,  some  of  the 
sessions  or  seminars  are  in  Spanish. 

At  the  Iowa  WMC  district  retreat, 
the  ladies  held  a  sew-a-thon  of  baby 
sacques  for  C.A.R.  medical  work 
and  the  Navajo  work. 

The  Southern  Ohio  district  WMC 
wanted  to  stress  the  national  Home 


Missions  project  at  their  district  ral- 
ly. So  everyone  could  be  involved, 
they  called  Betty  Baer  (after  mak- 
ing arrangements  ahead  of  time) 
and  broadcasted  the  conversation 
over  the  PA  system. 

So  their  families  could  become 
better  acquainted  with  WMC  and 
enjoy  a  special  weekend,  the 
Michigan  WMC  had  a  family  retreat 
for  one  of  their  rallies. 

The  Artie  District  has  a  district 
prayer  chain.  The  district  prayer 
chairman  calls  local  prayer 
chairmen  to  begin  the  chain.  Then 
they  can  all  unite  in  prayer  together. 

The  Hawaii  District  WMC  had  an 
apron  parade  at  one  of  its  rallies. 
The  ladies  decorated  aprons  with 
different  themes,  and  the  best  one 
received  a  prize. 

In  the  Allegheny  District,  one  of 
its  retreats  is  a  prayer  retreat.  This 
really  draws  the  ladies  together  in 
a  special  bond. 


1985-86  National 
WMC  Officers 


President  -  Mrs.  Margie  Devan/10  E.  Luray 
Ave./Alexandria.  VA  22301 
(Tel.  703/548-8359) 

1st  Vice  Pres.  —  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman/2244 
Fernwood  Dr. /Colorado  Springs,  CO  80910 
(Tel.  303/597-2620) 

2nd  Vice  Pres.   —  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix/3314 
Kenwick  Trail  S.W./Roanoke,  VA  24018 
(Tel.  703/774-4078) 

Secretary  —  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh/Route  3/La 
Porte  City.  IA  50651/ (Tel.  319/342-3166) 

Asst.  Sec.   -  Mrs.  Betty  Ogden/8400  Good 
Luck  Rd./Lanham,  MD  20706 
(Tel.  301/552-9660) 

Financial  Sec.-Treas.  —  Miss  Joyce  Ashman 
602  Chestnut  Ave./Winona  Lake.  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-7588) 

Asst.  Fin.  Sec.-Treas.   -  Mrs.  Ella  Risser/815  S. 
Prospect/Marion.  OH  43302 
(Tel    614/383-4197) 

Literature  Sec.   —  Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter/Rt.  8,  Box 
292/Warsaw,  IN  46580/ (Tel.  219/267-5513) 

Prayer  Chairman  -  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams/RD 
-4  Box  93-A/Kittanning,  PA  17201 
(Tel.  412/763-3497) 

Editor  —  Miss  Nora  Macon/705  Terrace 
Dr./Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
(Tel.  219/267-7527) 

Coordinator  oj  Girls  Ministries  —  Miss  Sue 
Rike/Rt.  8  Box  138/Warsaw.  IN  46580 
(Tel.  219/267-3437) 


Offering 
Opportunities 

Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions 

Project:  IBM  personal  computer  and 
supplies  for  the  promotional  department 

Goal:  $9,000 

Send  before  December  10,  1985 

This  micro  computer  would  be  a  great 
asset  to  the  efficiency  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sions office.  It  would  be  compatible  with 
the  IBM  36  computer  system  which  was 
recently  installed  in  the  building  and 
would  add  to  the  capability  of  that 
system. 

Project:    Thank    offering    for    Grace 
Brethren  Jewish  Missions 

Goal:  $1.50  a  year  per  member 

Send  before  December  10.  1985 

Even  though  the  Jewish  work  in  Los 
Angeles  is  being  closed  next  year,  lsobel 
Fraser  is  still  ministering  there  and  com- 
pleting final  details.  lsobel  will  retire  next 
year. 


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HERALD 
BOOKSTORE 

P.O.  Box  544 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


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BRETHREN    MISSIONARY    HERALD 

P.  0.  Box  544 

Winona  Lak9,  IN  46590 


Address 

Correction 

Requested 


BRETHREN  MISSIONARY 


•  Love  Lorrie 

•  Dreams  Near  Reality  at  Dryhill 

•  Land  of  the  Rising  Sun  Needs  the  Risen  Son 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


Anything 
eallv  America 


aiii^iHi^iWW'^MaiJt.r..1.^.~:-u— --^.. 


Fall  has  settled  over  the  state  of  Indiana;  and  if 
there  is  any  real  reason  to  live  in  Indiana,  it  is 
Fall!  Cool  days  of  sunshine  and  cooler  evenings 
combine  to  make  good  sleeping  weather.  But  that 
is  not  all— the  maples,  the  hickory  nuts,  and  the 
oaks  put  on  their  performance.  What  a  perform- 
ance it  is— breathtaking  and  awesome  at  its  best. 

Such  a  Saturday  morning  found  me  out  on  my 
regular  routine  trying  to  find  a  copy  of  the 
Chicago  Tribune  (I  only  read  it  on  the  weekends). 
As  I  drove  towards  Warsaw,  I  looked  up  in  the 
sky  and  there  was  a  blimp— a  familiar  sight  for  an 
old  Akron,  Ohio,  boy.  Though  my  family  only 
worked  for  Goodrich  (the  people  without  the 
blimp),  there  is  still  an  element  of  pride  to 
know  that  a  blimp  is  the  property  of  another 
Akron  concern— Goodyear. 

I  remember  with  pride  the  days  in  the  first 
grade  when  we  went  out  onto  the  school  play- 
ground with  much  excitement.  We  were  told  the 
Macon  (or  was  it  the  Akron?)  would  make  her 
maiden  flight  over  the  city  of  Akron.  The  teacher 
did  not  have  to  tell  us,  for  we  had  known  it  for 
weeks.  What  a  sight!  It  was  not  a  blimp,  but  it  was 
a  real  dirigible!  If  you  have  never  seen  one,  you 
have  never  seen  grace  and  beauty  airborne. 

A  blimp  over  Winona  Lake?  This  does  not 
happen  every  day!  People  had  parked  their  cars 
and  had  gotten  out  looking  up  into  the  sky.  Owen's 
Super  Market  parking  lot  was  filling  up  quickly. 
Goodyear  blimps  only  goto  big  football  games  and 
here  it  was  over  our  small  town.  Had  they  come 
to  televise  the  Annual  Duck  Walk  from  the 
Winona  Hotel  to  the  Billy  Sunday  Tabernacle? 
This  is  a  big  event,  but  is  it  big  enough  for  ABC  or 
Goodyear? 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 


Then  it  happened!  I  could  not  believe  my  eyes 
as  the  blimp  moved  into  position.  There  on  itsi 
side,  printed  in  green  letters,  were  the  words 
FUIJI  FILM.  Many  are  the  disappointments  in 
life,  but  this  one  was  for  real— an  Akron  boy 
whose  spirt  was  briefly  crushed. 

There  are  Japanese  cars,  TVs,  VCRs,  radios, 
Walkmen  and  Talkmen,  and  all  of  the  other 
products.  Now  there  on  the  blimp  were  words  of 
almost  desecration— not  Goodyear,  not  Kodak, 
but  Fuiji.  Is  there  anything  really  American  left 
except  debt? 

But  all  is  not  lost!  Yes,  there  are  a  few  really 
American  traditions  left.  One  of  the  great  ones  is 
Thanksgiving.  A  time  and  a  season  to  be  thankful 
and  a  time  to  gather  together  as  families.  Accord- 
ing to  tradition,  it  was  all  started  hundreds  of 
years  ago  by  a  band  of  foreigners  who  came  to 
America  to  find  freedom  of  religion  and  to  be  re- 
moved from  the  powers  of  restricting  tryanny. 

It  was  not  easy  then  (and  it  is  not  easy  now) 
to  carve  out  and  preserve  basic  freedom  without 
oppressing  someone  else.  But  the  early  fathers 
had  enough  common  sense  to  see  that  without 
God,  they  just  could  not  make  it.  They  also 
knew  that  what  they  had  was  a  gift  from  their 
Creator  and  so  they  decided  to  say  Thanks  to 
Him.  We  call  it  American,  like  apple  pie,  but  it 
should  be  Christian  as  well. 

So,  this  year  we  will  again  gather  for  that 
great  American  and  Christian  day  called  Thanks- 
giving and  feast  and  say  thanks  to  God  and  each 
other.  We  might  even  take  a  few  family  pictures! 
However  we  celebrate  the  Thanksgiving  Season, 
let's  leave  the  Fuiji  film  at  home,  please.  Then 
maybe  we  will  get  our  blimp  back. 


NOVEMBER  '85 


BMH 


EEETHEEN 


i 


herald 


Vol.  47       No.  11        November  1985 


The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co., 
P.O.  Box  544,  1104  Kings 
Highway,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590.  Subscription  prices:  $8.25 
per  year;  foreign,  $10.00;  special 
rates  to  churches.  Printed  by  BMH 
Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back  issues 
are  available.  One  copy,  $2.00; 
two  copies,  $3.00;  three  to  ten. 
copies,  $1.50  each;  more  than  ten 
copies,  $1.25  each.  Please  include 
your  check  with  order.  (Prices  in- 
clude postage  charges.) 

NEWS  ITEMS  contained  in 
each  issue  are  presented  for  infor- 
mation, and  do  not  indicate 
endorsement. 

MOVING?  Send  label  on  back 
cover  and  your  new  address. 
Please  allow  four  weeks  for  the 
change  to  be  made. 

TOLL-FREE  NUMBER  for  mer- 
chandise orders:  1-800-348-2756. 


Publisher,  Charles  Turner 
Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 
Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker, 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christian  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson 
Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 


4  Land  of  the  Rising  Sun  Needs  the  Risen  Son 

6  Pray  .  .  .  Pray  Earnestly.  Pray  Fervently. 

7  And  It  Started  With  A  Child 

8  The  Power  Is  Broken 

9  Reflections  from  a  Short  Term  Missionary  in  France 
14  Love  Lorrie 

20  Reaching  People  With  No  Time  For  God 

22  Dream  Nears  Reality  at  Dryhill 

24  Building  A  Bridge  To  Touch  The  World 

26  Having  Control  of  Our  Public,  Prayer,  and  Private  Lives 

BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters    2    • 
•  BMH  News  Report  12,  13  • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

The  Brethren  church  of  Martinsburg,  was  dedicated,  Lee  Myers  was  pastor  .  .  . 
The  announcement  of  the  home-going  of  Dr.  Louis  S.  Bauman.  He  was  pastoring 
in  Washington  D.C.  His  death  came  just  five  days  following  his  75th  birthday. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Terrance  Taylor,  Pastor  of  GBC  of  Lexington,  OH  was  ordained  to  the  Christian 
ministry  .  .  .  Jerry  Young  was  chosen  as  president  of  the  Grace  College  Alumni  and 
Dan  Pacheco  was  vice  president.  The  treasurer  was  Ed  Lewis. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Foreign  Missions  reports  that  in  1970  it  took  $4,522  to  support  a  missionary  and 
in  1980  that  figure  had  moved  to  $13,155  .  .  .  The  1970  gift  of  a  dollar  was  worth 
only  35  cents. 

COVER  PHOTO:  Swinging  bridge  near  Victory  Mountain  Grace  Brethren  Chapel, 
Dryhill,  Kentucky. 


BMH 


NOVEMBER    85 


Land  of  the  Rising  Sun 
Needs  the  Risen  Son 


by  Cecil  O'Dell 


J 


apan.  Just  the 
name  evokes 
defined 
images. 

Gracious  people  with  a  great  respect 
for  tradition.  Ornamental  temples  with 
sharply  peaked  roofs.  Cherry 
blossoms.  Great  advances  in  manufac- 
turing and  industry.  A  prosperous  and 
beautiful  country. 

People  are  everywhere  you  look. 
Nearly  120  million  people  live  on 
Japan's  four  islands.  Tokyo  is  one  of 
the  three  most  densely  populated  ur- 
ban areas  in  the  world.  But  less  than 
one  percent  of  Japan's  people  claim 
Christianity  as  their  faith. 

Shinto  and  Buddhist  customs  live 
on  in  Japan.  Some  people  continue 
to  offer  homage  to  their  ancestors,  take 
their  infants  to  the  priest  for  blessing, 
and  pray  at  shrines  and  temples. 
Others  just  perform  the  familiar 
religious  practices  out  of  habit. 

Watching  a  busy  street  in  downtown 
Tokyo  reveals  a  very  different  element 
of  Japanese  society.  Here  life  is 
rushed,  a  far  cry  from  any  ideal  of 
Buddhist  serenity.  Displays  in  store 
windows  reflect  Japan's  affluence  and 
the  people's  search  for  the  good  life  of 
ease  and  enjoyment.  For  many  of 
them  the  established  beliefs  seem 
remote,  and  they  choose  to  focus  on 
what  life  can  offer  them  now. 

These  two  sides  of  life  in  Japan  co- 
exist since  traditional  ways  are  still  firm- 
ly woven  through  the  new.  Yet  neither 
one  provides  an  escape  from  the 
system  of  society-imposed  ethics 
which  circumscribes  each  person. 

Loyalty  to  family,  friends,  and  com- 
pany dictates  one's  actions  and 
demands  conformity  to  what  they  see 


4    NOVEMBER  '85  FMS 


as  proper.  Any  favor  given  by  another 
person  necessitates  a  slightly  better 
favor  in  return.  Thus  a  web  of  obliga- 
tions gradually  thickens  around  each 
Japanese,  making  him  less  free  to 
follow  any  other  course  but  the  vain 
one  society  lays  out  for  him. 

Japanese  young  people  have  large- 
ly turned  away  from  the  beliefs  of  their 
forefathers.  When  asked  their  religion, 
they  will  likely  reply,  "None."  Although 
they  are  attracted  by  a  secular  lifestyle, 
many  are  seeking  a  more  meaningful 
way  of  life,  which  they  can  find  only 
through  Jesus  Christ. 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 
has  been  working  in  Japan  since 
1984,  to  provide  an  alternative  for 
these  people  who  are  searching 
beyond  lifeless  religion  or  materialism. 
Patience  is  needed  because  a 
Japanese  carefully  weighs  the  implica- 


tions of  following  Jesus  Christ.  He 
knows  that  belief  in  Christ  will  demand 
breaking  away  from  cultural  patterns 
of  conformity  and  cause  possible  re- 
jection by  family,  friends,  or  business 
associates. 

Nevertheless,  God  is  still  at  work  in 
Japan  building  His  Church.  Our 
Japan  missionary  team  is  looking  for 
a  variety  of  dedicated  young  mis- 
sionaries willing  to  give  their  lives  in 
ministry  designed  to  build  and 
strengthen  the  Church  in  Japan. 

Cecil  and  Debbie  O'Dell  and  Ike 
and  Nancy  Graham  are  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions'  mis- 
sionaries in  Japan.  Currently  they  are 
involved  in  Japanese  language  study. 

As  a  new  missionary  begins  his 
ministry  in  Japan,  he  is  first  engaged 
in  two  years  of  learning  a  difficult  but 
not  impossible  language.  During  this 


time  of  study,  the  missionary  has  the 
exciting  opportunity  of  learning  and 
experiencing  many  of  the  customs  and 
the  culture  of  Japanese  life. 

The  Grahams  have  discovered 
many  excellent  education  options 
available  for  missionary  children  — 
international  Christian  schools  as  well 
as  opportunities  through  the  Japanese 
school  system. 

When  language  training  comes  to 
an  end,  the  new  missionary's  ministry 
begins  as  he  is  placed  on  a  team  with 
other  missionaries  and  Japanese  na- 
tionals. And  then  the  church  planting 
effort  starts. 

National  pastors  and  church  leaders 
are  asking  for  more  missionaries  from 
overseas.  Because  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary is  not  as  bound  by  society's 
structure  as  a  Japanese  would  be,  he 
or  she  is  able  to  reach  people  on  every 
level  of  society. 

With  99%  of  the  Japanese  still 
without  Christ,  the  need  for  more 
workers  is  great. 

Consider  what  part  God  might  have 
you  play  in  furthering  the  growth  of 
the  church  in  Japan.  Your  prayers  and 
financial  support  are  essential.  Beyond 
these,  pray  about  joining  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions  as  a  career 
or  short-term  missionary. 

And  when  you  think  of  Japan,  think 
of  the  millions  of  people  who  do  not 
know  Jesus  Christ.  And  pray.        □ 


FMS 


NOVEMBER  '85 


Pray  Earnestly. 

Pray  Fervently. 


H 


igh  on  a  hill 
overlooking 
Lyon,  France, 
stood  career  mis- 
sionary Patty  Morris  with  my  husband, 
Dick  and  me.  "Way  over  there  to  the 
left,"  she  pointed,  "just  beyond  that  tall 
building  is  the  apartment  where  the 
DeArmeys  live." 

As  I  looked  that  direction  and  saw 
thousands  of  homes  and  apartments 
housing  greater  Lyon's  million  in- 
habitants, I  mused,  "How  impossible 
the  task  that  faces  DeArmeys  and  their 
co-workers,  the  Viers!  In  this  mega-city 
how  can  two  tiny  families  plant  a 
church?" 

Swiftly  the-  answer  came,  "They 
can't,  but  God  can.  With  Him  nothing 
is  impossible.  Pray.  Pray  fervently. 
Often.  Specifically." 

We  were  in  Europe  visiting  Brethren 
mission  fields  as  a  result  of  Whittier 
Community  Grace  Brethren  winning 
the  1984  Missions  Church  of  the  Year 
Award.  The  rules  of  the  contest  had 
said  that  the  prize  of  $1,000  was  to  be 
used  by  either  the  pastor  or  the  mis- 
sions chairman  to  visit  a  Grace 
Brethren  foreign  mission  field. 

As  it  worked  out,  to  our  amazement 


by  Carolyn  Peak 

and  delight,  Dick,  as  local  missions 
chairman,  received  the  money  and  we 
were  off  to  visit  missionaries  supported 
by  our  church  (Richard  and  Kathy 
Harrell  and  Patty  Morris)  as  well  as 
others. 

Not  only  did  we  visit  Lyon  but 
Macon,  St.  Albain,  Le  Creusot,  and 
Montceau-les-Mines  as  well  as 
Solihull,  England,  and  a  tiny  village  in 
Scotland.  Let  me  share  some  of  the 
reflections  that  were  mine  as  we  visited 
each  of  them. 

At  the  Chateau  de  St.  Albain, 
thanks  to  Patty's  initiative,  the  local 
missionaries  and  the  seminary 
students  put  on  a  picnic  in  our  honor. 
As  I  looked  at  that  group  of  over  30 
and  knew  that  there  were  many  other 
Brethren,  both  French  and  American, 
in  other  places  in  France,  I  could  not 
help  but  recall  a  1966  visit  to  France 
and  the  Chateau.  If  I  remember  cor- 
rectly, there  was  only  one  missionary 
family,  the  Juliens.  One  family,  one 
crumbling  Chateau,  a  big  vision,  and 
an  even  bigger  God. 

A  lot  had  happened  in  two  decades: 
nearly  20  career  missionaries  on  the 
field;  TIMEers,  EMIers,  and  SOWers 
coming    and    going;    established 


churches  and  others  in  the  making; 
Grace  Seminary  Extension  in  Europe; 
a  renovated  Chateau— all  that  plus  an 
expanding  vision.  The  missionaries  still 
trust  God  to  do  exceedingly  abundant- 
ly above  all  that  is  asked  or  even  im- 
agined. How  dare  we  forget  to  pray, 
to  ask,  to  lay  hold  on  what  God  wants 
to  give! 

In  the  newly  decorated  offices  at 
Macon,  Trevor  Craigen  shared  his 
plans  for  the  Seminary.  At  that  mo- 
ment it  already  boasted  students  from 
several  countries  and  two  full  sessions 
of  summer  classes. 

Across  the  hall,  Tom  Julien  talked 
with  us  about  his  vision  for  Europe  and 
expanded  support  ministries  for  those 
of  us  in  the  U.S.  He  shared  a  copy  of 
the  Euro-Missions  Council  1985 
publication,  A  World  Mission  Church. 
I  tried  to  blink  enough  jet  lag  from  my 
eyes  to  concentrate.  It  was  impossible 
at  the  moment,  but  at  home  I've  had 
time  to  read  and  to  see  that  our  chur- 
ches can  do  much  more  to  work  as 
partners  with  and  through  our 
missionaries. 

In  Le  Creusot  and  Montceau  we 
learned  firsthand  about  the  ever- 
present   resistance   to   the    gospel— 


NOVEMBER  '85 


FMS 


resistance  because  of  a  long  religious 
heritage  that  overlooks  "Ye  must  be 
born  again."  Resistance  also  comes 
because  of  the  normal  small-town 
reluctance  to  accept  newcomers, 
especially  foreigners. 

Richard  Harrell  translated  for  us  the 
testimonies  of  a  young  couple  who 
told  of  strong  family  opposition  to  their 
stand  for  Christ — barriers  that  only 
God  can  break.  As  we  saw  the  love  of 
Christ  reflected  on  their  faces,  we 
believed  that  just  as  God  had  broken 


Carolyn  and  Dick  Peak  were  in  Europe  visiting  Brethren  m 
sion  fields  as  a  result  of  Whittier  Community  Grace  Brethren  wi 
ning  the  1984  Missions  Church  of  the  Year  Award 


through  their  resistance,  He  could 
break  through  that  of  others. 

In  Montceau-les-Mines  we  heard 
Dave  Hobert,  newly  returned  from 
furlough,  preach  to  a  congregation  of 
three  (plus  Americans),  and  we 
learned  that  upon  Dave  Griffith's 
return  to  Le  Creusot,  he  will  have  to 
start  all  over  again.  Most  of  his  con- 
tacts had  moved  or  for  some  other 
reason  are  no  longer  with  the  group. 

The  weather  was  cold  in  these  two 
French  cities.  As  we  shivered  down 
the  streets  looking  at  gray  stone 
houses  with  closed  doors,  I  caught  a 
new  appreciation  of  the  challenge  our 
missionaries  in  France  must  face  every 
day  and  the  need  for  home  folks  to 
pray.  Through  prayer,  three  can 
become  33,103,  and  more.  Through 
prayer  to  the  God  who  can  create 
something  out  of  nothing,  a  congrega- 
tion of  zero  can  become  many. 

In  affluent  Solihull  1  found,  to  my 


delight,  that  not  only  could  I  read  the 
road  signs  but  could  also  understand 
what  the  people  were  saying.  No  in- 
terpreter needed! 

What  I  heard  was  a  great  apprecia- 
tion for  the  summer  Decentralized  Bi- 
ble Institute  classes  taught  by  Robert 
Harrell.  I  saw  a  people  using  their  af- 
fluence for  God's  glory.  More  than 
that,  they  sat  attentively  for  an  hour 
and  half  mid-week  Bible  study  led  by 
Dave  Kowalke  followed  by  a  time  of 
refreshments  and  fellowship. 

As  I  mentally  concluded 
that  these  people  really 
didn't  need  my  prayers, 
missionary  Dave  looked  our 
way  and  requested,  "Pray 
for  us."  He  didn't  give 
specifics  but  I  can  imagine 
that  they  might  have  to  do 
with  trying  to  evangelize  a 
people  who  are  rich  and 
think  they  have  need  of 
nothing. 

Leaving  Solihull  we 
drove  north  to  Edinburgh 
and  then  farther  up  to 
Laurencekirk  to  visit  a 
cousin  of  mine.  Although 
we  have  no  Grace  Brethren 
work  in  these  areas,  the 
need  for  one  is  obviously 
great. 

Our  tour  guide  in  Edin- 
burgh pointed  to  a  church 
on  a  hill  and  said,  "See  that 
church.  Technology  has 
moved  in,  and  God  has 
moved  out.  It  now  houses  the  elec- 
trical power  company." 

As  I  saw  empty  cathedrals  in 
Scotland,  England,  and  France,  it  did 
seem  as  if  God  had  moved  out. 

Then  I  learned  from  my  cousin  that 
although  every  Scottish  child  takes 
regular  courses  in  religious  education 
along  with  his  other  subjects,  the  at- 
tendance at  the  local  kirk  with  a 
membership  of  400  is  only  50.  Accor- 
ding to  him,  the  people  see  the  church 
as  primarily  for  marriages,  christen- 
ings, and  funerals. 

Again  and  again  through  my  mind 
rang  the  words  of  John  Knox,  "Give 
me  Scotland  or  I  die."  And  I 
wondered,  "Dare  we  Brethren  pray  so 
fervently?  For  England?  And 
Scotland?  Could  Solihull  expand  to 
Edinburgh  and  beyond?" 

Pray.  Pray  earnestly.  Often. 
Specifically.  □ 


And  It  Started 
With  A  Child 

by  Sandy  Farner 

Every  evening  it  was  the  same  thing. 

Right  after  supper,  Helton's  mom  and 
dad  went  into  the  bedroom  and  locked 
the  door.  No  matter  how  hard  Helton  and 
his  two  brothers  and  one  sister  tried,  their 
parents  wouldn't  let  them  in. 

"Go  away,"  his  mom  called.  "Can't  we 
even  read  the  Bible  and  have  devotions 
without  all  you  kids  bothering  us?" 

As  new  Christians,  Helton's  parents 
were  learning  exciting  new  things  about 
God's  Word,  but  they  had  not  learned 
that  God's  Word  is  important  for  children, 
too.  Reading  the  Bible  together  as  family 
was  an  unknown  concept. 

While  Mom  and  Dad  were  reading  and 
praying.  Helton  and  the  three  younger 
ones  would  play,  watch  television  and 
sometimes  fight  until  one  by  one  they 
would  fall  asleep. 

One  day  Helton  took  a  long  look  at  his 
brothers  and  sister  and  the  confusion  they 
created  while  no  one  was  watching  them 
in  the  evening.  Although  he  was  only 
nine  years  old,  Helton  decided  to  do 
something.  He  called  his  siblings  into  the 
bedroom  they  shared,  made  them  sit 
down,  and  talked  to  them. 

"You  know,  we're  like  a  herd  of  wild 
horses.  We  just  eat  and  run  and  play  and 
then  we  lay  down  and  go  to  sleep  without 
even  thinking  about  God  or  talking  to 
Him.  Starting  right  now,  we're  going  to 
read  the  Bible  together  every  night  before 
we  go  to  sleep." 

And  so  it  began  without  Mom  and  Dad 
even  knowing  about  it. 

Days  later  when  their  mom  was  clean- 
ing up  around  the  house,  she  stopped  in 
the  bedroom.  There  she  heard  Helton 
and  Elaine  discussing  heaven. 

"But  what  will  we  eat  in  heaven?"  four- 
year  old  Elaine  wanted  to  know. 

Helton  replied,  "I  don't  know  for  sure. 
But  it  will  be  good." 

"Apples?"  Apples  were  the  best  food 
Elaine  could  think  of. 

"Probably." 

"How  many  apple  trees  are  in  heaven?" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know,  Elaine.  But  there  are 
enough.  Why  do  you  want  to  know 
anyway?"  Helton  was  getting  impatient 
with  his  sister's  questions. 

"Because  we're  all  going  to  heaven. 
Mom  and  Dad,  the  pastor,  and  all  the 
people  from  the  church  are  going,  too. 
There  better  be  lots  of  apple  trees!" 

Their  parents  learned  a  big  lesson  that 
day— children  want  to  read  and  learn 
God's  Word,  too.  Age  doesn't  matter. 

Today  this  Brazilian  family  is  growing 
together  in  Jesus  Christ.  God  is  teaching 
them  many  truths  through  their  family 
devotions.  And  it  started  with  a  child. 

"Suffer  little  children  and  forbid  them 
not  to  come  unto  me  .  .  ." 


FMS 


NOVEMBER    85 


The 
Power 

Is 
Broken 


by  Alice  Peacock 


T 


I  he  most  important  national  hero  of 
Argentina  is  General  Jose  San  Mar- 
tin. Argentine  school  books  are  full  of 
history  which  always  includes  a  story 
about  the  adventures  of  this  famous  South  American 
general. 

What  did  he  do  to  become  so  famous?  Credited  with 
freeing  the  countries  of  Argentina,  Chile,  and  Peru  from 
the  rule  of  Spain  many  years  ago,  he  is  the  "George 
Washington"  of  Argentina. 

Though  San  Martin  was  born  in  Argentina,  he  moved 
at  the  age  of  nine  to  Spain  where  he  was  educated  in  a 
military  school  and  rose  rapidly  through  the  ranks  to  Lieute- 
nant Colonel.  Having  a  good  job,  he  and  his  family  lived 
well  in  Spain.  Yet  he  decided  to  give  it  all  up  and  return 
to  Argentina. 

His  dream  was  to  free  South  America  from  the  rule  of 
Spain. 

It  would  not  be  easy,  as  Spain  was  a  powerful  country 
at  that  time.  In  his  attempt  to  accomplish  this,  San  Martin 
endured  much  hardship.  He  didn't  win  all  the  battles. 

San  Martin  was  a  sickly  man  and  had  to  be  carried  on 
a  stretcher  at  times,  but  he  never  gave  up  in  the  battles. 
Finally  his  plan  succeeded  and  Peru,  Chile,  and  Argen- 
tina were  free  to  rule  themselves.  Spain's  power  over  them 
was  broken! 

The  life  of  San  Martin  makes  me  think  about  the  life  of 
a  missionary.  A  missionary,  too  had  to  leave  his  job,  home, 
and  family  behind  to  serve  in  another  country.  At  times 
there  are  hardships,  failures,  and  discouragement  but  he 
perseveres.  He  is  fighting  against  Satan  and  his  troops  so 
people  can  experience  and  know  the  freedom  from  sin  that 
Christ  offers. 

"For  our  struggle  is  not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but 
against  the  rulers,  against  the  powers,  against  the  world 
forces  of  this  darkness,  against  the  spiritual  forces  of 
wickedness  in  the  heavenly  places"  (Ephesians  6:12). 

Satan  is  a  much  stronger  enemy  than  Spain  ever  was. 
But  God  is  stronger  than  Satan.  He  has  already  won  the 
battle.  We  can  pray  to  our  Lord  to  overcome  Satan  so  that 
victories  can  be  won  daily. 

I  know  that  this  is  true  because  I  am  a  missionary.  I  left 
my  job,  my  home,  and  my  family  as  San  Martin  did  to  fight 
for  the  spiritual  freedom  of  Argentina. 

Few  believers  live  here.  Satan  has  many  Argentines  in 
his  grip.  He  has  them  enslaved  to  bad  habits,  things, 
money,  religion,  and  other  gods.  Argentines  do  not  seek 
the  true  God  because  it  isn't  convenient  or  popular  or  for 
some  other  excuse  that  Satan  has  given  them. 

Though  it  is  discouraging  at  times,  I  do  not  look  back 
and  regret  leaving.  I  know  that  God  has  called  me  to  fight 
in  an  important  spiritual  battle  for  the  souls  of  Argentines. 

Since  Argentina  is  a  modern  country,  there  are  no 
physical  hardships  here.  Perhaps  more  inconveniences  exist 
than  in  the  United  States.  But  I  continue  in  the  war. 

I  know  too  well  that  I  cannot  win  the  battle  by  myself. 
Satan  is  stronger  than  I.  You  and  I  can  pray  to  the  One 
who  is  stronger  than  Satan  and  who  has  already  defeated 
him  at  the  cross. 

Prayer  is  the  key.  If  we  all  pray,  then  missionaries  can 
see  Satan  defeated  in  Argentina  and  souls  won  to  Christ. 

Like  San  Martin's  victory,  we  could  say:  "Satan's  power 
over  them  was  broken!" 


NOVEMBER  '85 


FMS 


10:00  p.m.  and  it's  still  light  outside.  I  love  long  summer 
days— they  let  you  think  you  have  more  time  on  your 
hands. 

I'm  going  to  miss  this  view  from  my  Chateau  window. 
It  reminds  me  of  a  song.  "For  the  beauty  of  the  earth,  for 
the  glory  of  the  sky.  For  the  love  which  from  our  birth 
over  and  around  us  lies.  Lord  of  all  to  Thee  we  raise,  this 
our  hymn  of  grateful  praise." 

Funny.  I  was  never  wild  about  that  particular  hymn. 
Just  goes  to  prove  that  it's  true— 'Out  of  the  overflow  of 
the  heart,  one's  mouth  speaks"  Luke  6:45. 

Sometimes,  I  wish  I  could  stay  here  in  France  forever. 
There's  a  certain  security.  But  it's  time  to  move  on. 

God,  I  know  you  have  something  in  mind  for  me.  I  have 
certain  ideas,  but  do  they  match  Yours?  I  am  looking  for- 
ward to  seeing  my  folks,  friends,  and  eating  some  Mex- 
ican food. 

I  sure  feel  uniguely  privileged  to  have  spent  one  and 
a  half  years  doing,  seeing,  and  experiencing  what  I 
have— but  the  responsibility  that  goes  along  with  it  scares 
me  to  death. 

It's  been  profitable  and  revealing  to  have  had  good 
serious  thinking  time  by  viewing  my  life  and  my  society 
from  the  outside  in. 

It's  been  enjoyable  to  be  part  of  a  strongly  committed 
Europe  team  of  missionaries.  There's  admiration  in  my 
heart  for  them  and  a  love  that  will  always  be  there,  too. 

People  think  that  living  in  Europe  is  so  glamorous.  It's 
been  nice  to  enjoy  the  peculiarities  of  the  continent,  obser- 
ving people,  sites,  and  traditions.  But,  God,  You  have  not 
hidden  from  me  the  ugly  effects  that  sin  has  accomplish- 
ed. Pornography  is  so  prevalent  that  sometimes  I  don't 
know  which  way  to  lookl  The  busy  drive-up  prostitution 
right  on  the  national  highway  makes  me  drive  by  in 
disbelief.  And  I  have  to  drive  past  it  daily. 

Lord,  I'm  thankful  for  the  training  You  are  putting  me 
through  in  everyday  living.  I'm  becoming  more  mature 
in  certain  areas.  Even  the  areas  that  have  really  hurt  to 
work  through,  I  thank  You  because  I  know  You  care.  I  get 
excited  about  new  days  and  fresh  starts. 

I  have  a  deeper  appreciation  for  my  family  who  have 
been  so  supportive  and  so  far  away.  During  this  ex- 
perience, I've  become  more  convinced  than  ever  of  the 
importance  of  maintaining  good  communication. 

The  combination  of  being  able  to  see  strong  Christian 
examples  as  well  as  observing  the  extremes  of  what  hap- 
pens to  those  who  will  not  submit  to  your  authority,  God, 
has  caused  me  to  desire  a  deeper  commitment  to  follow 
You  faithfully. 

Thank  you,  Lord,  for  my  experience. 

Marilyn  Austin  spent  a  year  and  a  half  under  the  TIME 
program  working  and  ministering  at  the  Chateau  in  St.  Al- 
bain,  France.  She  cooked,  laundered,  and  cleaned  for 
several  large  groups.  It  wasn't  unusual  to  find  her  painting 
or  wall  papering.  Plus,  Marilyn  found  time  to  spend  with 
people  and  share  with  them.  Arriving  in  the  States  in  mid- 
September,  Marilyn  is  back  home  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana. 


Reflections 
To  God 
from  a 
Short  Term 
Missionary 
in  France 

by  Marilyn  Austin 


FMS    NOVEMBER  '85  9 


FMS  NEWS  FMS  NEWS  FMS  NEWS 


Canada  de  Gomez,  Argentina  —  A  new  Bible  study 
has  been  started  in  Canada  de  Gomez,  a  city  of  30,000 
located  45  miles  from  Rosario.  The  nucleus  is  composed 
of  four  young  persons  who  have  been  meeting  for  prayer 
together  for  over  two  years.  They  had  been  attending  a 
church  in  their  city,  but  were  very  bothered  by  the  liberal 
teaching.  One  of  the  young  people  was  saved  in  a  Brethren 
Church  and  had  kept  contact  with  the  Lynn  Hoyt  family 
through  the  years.  When  the  situation  became  unbearable, 
he  requested  Lynn's  help.  Plans  are  being  made  for  an 
evangelistic  effort  in  the  city,  with  the  purpose  of  planting 
a  church. 

Solihull,  England  —  The  Grace  Brethren  Church  in 
Solihull  has  chosen  to  host  a  Harvest  Weekend  this  year 
on  October  10-13.  Last  year's  event  was  a  successful 
learning  and  growing  experience.  The  church  will  continue 
to  establish  their  relationship  with  the  group  of  believers 
in  Lyon,  France,  by  flying  John  and  Soni  Viers  to  Solihull. 
The  Viers  will  be  sharing  about  the  ministry  in  Lyon. 

Lyon,  France  —  The  Dan  Moeller  and  Jim  Hocking 
families  moved  to  Lyon  in  August  after  completing  French 
language  study  at  Albertville.  Both  families  will  continue 
their  French  study  for  an  additional  six  months  before  go- 
ing on  to  Central  African  Republic.  While  in  Lyon,  the 
Moellers  and  the  Hockings  will  be  working  in  the  context 
of  the  local  church  planting  ministry  and  improving  their 
language  skills. 

este,  Argentina  —  On  October  19,  the 
Argentina  missionaries  will  be  showing  the  film,  "Jesus," 
which  is  based  on  the  Gospel  of  Luke.  The  missionaries 
feel  that  it  is  the  most  authentic  film  on  His  life  because 
it  was  made  by  believers,  the  script  is  almost  totally  Scrip- 
ture, and  it  was  filmed  in  Israel. 

With  the  completion  of  their  first  year 
of  service  in  Spain,  Bob  and  Marilyn  Salazar  are  thankful 
for  the  Lord's  provision  during  field  investigation,  language 
study,  and  cultural  adjustment.  They  are  now  settled  in 
Valencia  to  begin  a  church  planting  ministry.  Along  with 
getting  acquainted  with  their  neighbors  and  local  business 
people,  the  Salazars  are  proceeding  with  efforts  to  contact 
their  target  group.  Bob  and  Marilyn  are  anticipating  the  ar- 
rival of  Ralph  and  Carolyn  Robinson,  which  will  double 
their  team. 

Yaloke,  Central  African  Republic  The  annual  TTN 
(laymen's)  camp  was  held  in  August  at  Yaloke.  The  ses- 
sions were  for  the  overseers  of  the  laymen's  work  and  had 
21  pastors  in  attendance.  The  Evangelism  Explosion  pro- 
gram (which  has  been  translated  and  adapted  into  Sango) 


was  explained.  Materials  were  distributed  to  each  pastor 
who  took  them  enthusiastically.  Each  afternoon  following 
the  meetings,  the  program  was  put  into  practice. 

Mexico  City  —  James  and  Elizabeth  Schaefer  were 
"rolled"  out  of  bed  one  morning  in  September,  1985,  as 
the  most  powerful  earthquake  ever  registered  there  hit 
Mexico  City.  The  Schaefers  are  fine  and  their  apartment 
building  suffered  little  damage,  inside  and  out.  All  the 
members  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  are  fine,  also,  even 
though  a  few  of  them  were  in  the  metro  (subway)  when 
the  quake  rocked  the  city. 

Now  there  is  more  economic  hardship  among  the  church 
members,  as  well  as  for  thousands  more  across  the  city. 
Many  people  are  without  jobs  because  their  buildings  are 
either  destroyed  or  located  in  restricted  areas. 

Church  members  have  been  giving  what  they  can  to  pro- 
vide for  the  many  needs.  They  have  also  grown  very  bold 
in  witnessing  about  their  confidence  in  God  in  front  of  un- 
saved friends.  Church  youth  group  members  have  been 
volunteering  their  time  and  energy  in  digging  out  people 
and  manually  excavating  fallen  buildings.  They  expressed 
their  concern  for  the  earthquake  victims  as  well  as  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  whole  world  by  sponsoring  an  all- 
night  prayer  meeting. 


a  —  Rev.  John  Zielasko,  General 
Director  of  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions,  recently 
returned  from  an  extended  visit  to  many  of  our  fields.  Rev 
Zielasko,  accompanied  by  his  wife  Jean  and  board  member 
Mr.  Lenard  Moen  and  his  wife,  visited  our  missionaries  in 
Japan,  the  Philippines,  France,  Germany,  Spain,  and 
England.  The  purpose  of  the  trip  was  for  encouragement, 
discussion  of  strategy,  and  insight  into  various  situations. 


10 


NOVEMBER  '85 


FMS 


"FAMILY  ISSUES" 

Some  thoughts  shared  with  you  .  .  . 
by  Elizabeth  Schaefer 

Today  I  attended  a  lecture, 

or  better  yet,  a  conference 

that  discussed  issues  of  the  family— 

the'families  that  live  in  our  midst. 

The  families  of  Mexico— oh,  how  diverse, 

and  yet  so  much  the  same; 

all  from  different  backgrounds  and  even  languages, 

yet  coming  here  to  get  gain. 

What  do  they  search  for,  these  families 
of  Mexico's  "middle  class?" 
And  why  do  they  think  that  the  answers  lie 
among  this  city's  great  mass? 

They  seek  to  better  themselves— 
to  rise  above  their  sinking  ground; 
but  find  that  because  of  the  "crisis" 
hard  feelings  and  even  hunger  abound. 

Perhaps  there  remain  no  answers 

in  politics  or  economics; 

but  the  needs  remain,  and  they  are  deep, 

much  deeper  than  perhaps  one  recognizes. 

But  I  have  a  Book— a  gift  of  my  Father, 
written  for  all  to  understand. 
It's  not  just  for  this  class  or  for  that, 
but  for  all  who  come  and  respond. 

So  I  come  to  the  District,  Mexico's  capital, 
but  I  come  for  a  different  reason: 
not  to  better  my  life  or  seek  "security," 
but  to  offer  the  love  of  God's  Son. 

So  do  pray  for  me,  you  at  home, 

and  for  those  here  who  are  seeking  — 

that  "issues  of  the  family"  might  not  simply  be  discussed, 

but  that  God's  family  might  be  expanding. 

Elizabeth  and  James  Schaefer  are  missionaries  in  Mexico 
City.  Their  own  family  expanded  in  October  with  the  birth 
of  their  first  child,  Thomas. 


Offering  Opportunities  Home  Missions 

Project:  IBM  personal  computer  and  supplies  for  the  promotional 

department 

Goal:  $9,000 

Send  before  December  10,  1986 

This  micro  computer  would  be  a  great  asset  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
Home  Missions  office.  It  would  be  compatible  with  the  IBM  36  com- 
puter system  which  was  recently  installed  in  the  building  and  would 
add  to  the  capability  of  that  system. 


Project:  Thank  offering  for  Grace  Brethren  Jewish  Missions 
Goal:  $1.50  a  year  per  member 

Send  before  December  10,  1986 

Even  though  the  Jewish  work  in  Los  Angeles  is  being  closed  next 
year,  Isobel  Fraser  is  still  ministering  there  and  completing  final  details. 
Isobel  will  retire  next  year. 


—  The  Northeastern  Ohio  District  WMC  had 
"A  Mid-Winter  Day's  Travelogue."  To  give  them 
a  tour  of  the  fields  they  incorporated  various 
TIME  workers,  missionary's  relatives,  visitors  to 
mission  fields  and  missionaries.  The  ladies  can 
pray  more  effectively,  now  that  they  have 
"visited"  the  countries. 

—  The  Dallas  Center,  Iowa,  WMC  had  an 
unusual  gift  exchange.  Each  lady  brought  a  gift- 
wrapped  coffee  mug  which  was  to  represent 
something  about  themselves  (character,  work, 
or  hobby).  After  the  devotional  meeting,  each 
woman  picked  a  present,  opened  the  mug,  and 
attempted  to  guess  who  had  brought  it.  That 
person  was  then  the  womans's  prayer  partner. 

—  Some  councils  are  planning  a  dinner  each 
year  to  which  their  members  can  bring  unsaved 
ladies  or  non-WMC  church  friends.  They  are 
making  it  as  special  as  they  can  with  attractive 
tables  and  decorations  and  a  hostess  at  each 
table.  The  program  includes  skits,  singing, 
special  music  and  a  short  devotional  with  a 
gospel  presentation.  A  nice  feature  is  to  have 
a  small  gift  that  each  woman  can  take  home. 
What  a  good  opportunity  to  invite  the  women 
back  to  WMC  and  church! 

—  Another  idea  from  WMC  circles  are 
showers  for  the  church  kitchen,  nursery  or 
other  areas.  Make  a  party  of  it!  Several  weeks 
ahead  of  time,  post  a  check  list  of  needed  items. 
This  will  help  to  avoid  duplicates.  Some  ladies 
might  want  to  go  together  to  purchase  larger 
items. 


WMCnOVEMBER  '85   1   1 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


DThe  Virginia  Beach,  VA,  GBC  is  alive  and  well!  The 
church  is  growing  and  four  acres  of  property  have  just 
been  purchased.  The  congregation  is  meeting  at  a  tempo- 
rary place  of  worship  and  plans  are  being  made  to  build  a 
new  worship  center.  The  amount  of  $340,000  is  in  the 
bank  for  a  down  payment.  Mike  Johnson  is  pastoring  the 
work. 


□  Alan  Jones,  pastor  of  the  New  Troy  (Ml)  GBC,  was 
ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry.  Gerald  Polman,  pastor 
of  the  GBC  of  Lansing,  Ml,  delivered  the  ordination  ser- 
mon. Brethren  pastors  assisting  in  the  service  were:  Bill 
Stevens  (Lake  Odessa,  Ml)  and  Russ  Simpson  (Boswell, 
PA).  Church  lay  elders  participating  were:  Clarence 
Taylor,  Cecil  Stice,  and  Robert  Mensinger. 

□  "The  GBFMS  has  appointed  a  search  committee  to  seek 
a  replacement  for  Mr.  Jack  Zielasko  who  will  turn  65  next 
May.  The  committee,  consisting  of  Pastors  Dean  Fetter- 
hoff,  Ed  Cashman,  and  John  Teevan  (chairman),  invites 
comments  and  suggestions  from  Grace  Brethren  people. 
There  is  no  fixed  deadline  in  this  search  for  a  new 
director."  (Submitted  by  John  Teevan). 

□  Dedication  Day  was  celebrated  on  October  20  by  the 
Longview,  TX,  congregation  for  the  new  addition  to  their 
building  providing  about  6,000  additional  square  feet 
of  beautiful  and  functional  space. 

Dr.  Raymond  Gingrich  (Clearwater,  FL),  the  first 
pastor,  and  Alan  Jones  (New  Troy,  Ml),  the  second 
pastor,  planned  to  be  present  for  the  day.  Dr.  Paul  R. 
Bauman  also  assisted  Dr.  Gingrich  in  the  early  days  of  the 
church  (both  were  busy  full-time  professors  at  Le- 
Tourneau  College  at  that  time). 

□  Rick  Battis,  associate  pastor  of  the  GBC  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  PA,  is  one  of  the  teachers  for  the  Bible  and  Litera- 
ture course  at  the  Middle  School  in  that  town. 

□  Herman  Fletcher  was  ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry 
on  October  6  in  the  Community  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Union,  OH.  He  has  taken  a  full-time  position  with  the 
Good  News  Mission  Jail  and  Prison  Ministries.  He  is 
serving  as  chaplain  at  Anne  Arundel  in  Maryland. 


□  Help  plant  a  Grace  Brethren  church  in  the  Southern 
Ohio  District. 

Grace  Brethren  churches  in  the  greater  Dayton  area  are 
cooperating  in  an  effective  district  mission  program.  Many 
churches  in  this  district  supported  this  program  financially 
by  designating  their  entire  Sunday  school  offering  on  Sep- 
tember 29  for  this  purpose.  Others  will  want  to  designate 
special  gifts  for  this  purpose  through  their  church 
treasury. 

□  Iowa  Sunday  School  Convention  for  1985  was  held 
on  November  7-9  in  the  Des  Moines  Convention  Center. 

□  November  2  was  the  first  day  of  the  District  National 
Achievement  Competition  for  the  Northern  Atlantic 
District. 

□  The  District  Men's  Rally  was  held  November  9 
at  the  First  Brethren  Church  in  Philadelphia,  PA.  Speaker 
for  the  rally  will  be  Judge  Joseph  Bruno,  prominent  judge 
in  the  Philadelphia  Common  Pleas  Court.  Special  music 
will  be  provided  by  a  group  from  the  Philadelphia  College 
of  Bible. 

□  The  ladies  of  the  Northern  Atlantic  District  met  at 
High  Point  Camp  and  Conference  Center  in  Geigertown, 
PA.  Mrs.  Jesse  Deloe,  Winona  Lake,  IN,  was  the  speaker 
for  the  meeting.  Music  was  furnished  by  Mrs.  Betty 
Mumma. 

□  Dr.  Herman  A.  Hoyt,  former  president  of  Grace 
Schools,  Winona  Lake,  IN,  was  the  speaker  for  the  Bible 
Prophecy  Conference  held  in  the  GBC  of  Elizabethtown, 
PA,  October  27-30. 

□  Sound  Investment,  a  musical  group  from  Grace  College, 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  presented  a  program  on  October  27  in 
the  Martinsburg  GBC,  Martinsburg,  PA. 

□  The  Quiz/NAC  Rally  of  the  Western  Pennsylvania  Dis- 
trict met  on  October  19  in  the  Martinsburg  GBC,  Martins- 
burg, PA.  On  October  26,  the  Fall  District  Rally  was  held 
at  Camp  Mantowagen.  Sound  Investment,  a  musical  group 
from  Grace  College,  Winona  Lake,  IN,  presented  a  con 
cert,  followed  with  a  campfire  and  challenge  from  Tim 
Boal,  pastor  of  the  Community  GBC,  Everett,  PA. 

□  The  Southern  California  Grace  Brethren  Men  District 
Outreach  Dinner  was  held  October  25  at  Knott's  Berry 
Farm,  at  7  p.m.  The  meeting  provided  fellowship  for 
the  men  from  all  GBC  district  churches,  and  gave  an 
opportunity  to  take  a  unsaved  friend.  The  message  was 
evangelistic.  This  was  the  perfect  event  to  invite  a  friend 
from  work  or  neighborhood. 

□  A  seminar— Truth  About  Rock,  was  held  on  October 
22,  at  7:30  p.m.  in  the  Fisher  Auditorium  on  the  campus 
of  OAR  DC.  Steve  Peters,  part  of  a  nationally  known  team 
of  experts  on  rock  music,  conducted  a  powerful  seminar 
on  rock  music.  The  GBC  of  Wooster,  OH,  sponsored  the 
event. 

□  The  First  District  National  Achievement  Competition 
rally  for  the  Northeastern  Ohio  District  was  held  October 
26. 


12 


NOVEMBER  '85 


BMH 


DA  ROUND  ROBIN  Conference  with  men  from  Grace 
Schools  was  held  October  20-24,  at  7  p.m.  each  eve- 
ning. The  conference  covered  various  subjects. 

□  Roy  Roberts,  former  pastor  and  now  associated  with 
Chuck  Colson's  Prison  Fellowship,  was  the  speaker  at  the  9 
and  10:30  a.m.  services  and  the  p.m.  service  at  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  of  Columbus,  OH,  on  October  13. 

At  the  6:30  p.m.  service,  the  singing  was  led  by  Glenn 
&  Co.,  and  the  special  music  was  the  Eternal  Praise 
Singers. 

□  A  Bible  Conference  was  held  October  6  at  the  First 
Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Dayton,  OH,  pastored  by  G. 
Forrest  Jackson.  Dr.  Robert  Gromacki  from  Cedarville, 
OH,  was  the  special  speaker. 

□  An  SMM  Rally  for  the  Mid-Atlantic  District  was  held 
on  September  14  at  the  GBC  in  Chambersburg,  PA. 

DA  Competition  Rally  for  the  Mid-Atlantic  District  was 
held  September  28  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Greater  Washington  in  Temple  Hills,  MD. 

DA  Southern  California/Arizona  District  Women's  Re- 
treat was  held  October  18-20  at  Arrowhead  Springs, 
CA. 

DOn  September  17,  Ron  Picard,  executive  director  of 
the  Brethren  Board  of  Evangelism,  "had  surgery  at  a 
Dayton  hospital  and  a  malignant  tumor  was  successfully 
removed  from  his  colon.  Lymph  nodes  removed  from  the 
same  area  were  benign.  However,  the  colon  cancer  was 
also  found  to  be  in  the  liver.  Humanly  speaking,  this  con- 
dition is  noncurable  and  nonoperable.  Ron  is  recovering 
from  the  surgery  and  looking  to  God  for  direction. 

"The  'DEO-80's'  Seminars  for  Laity  along  with  other 
meetings  this  Fall  have  had  to  be  cancelled  due  to  Ron's 
illness."— Submitted  by  Ron  Thompson,  president  of  the 
Brethren  Board  of  Evangelism 

DThe  1986  Grace  Brethren  Annual  will  be  mailed  in 
December.  Churches,  pastors,  and  those  who  have  re- 
quested copies  will  automatically  receive  them. 


Change \bur  Annual 


Arthur  Burk,  1580  W.  Juno  Ave.,  No.  3,  Anaheim,  CA 
92802  /  Jeffrey  Davis,  1870  Florida  Ave.,  Palm  Harbor, 
FL  33563  /  Jesse  Deloe,  P.  O.  Box  696,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590 


Marriages 


Deaths 


Engle,  Alleda.  Jenners  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Jenners,  PA.  Max 

DeArmey,  pastor. 

Frisby,  Carl.  First  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Dayton,  OH.  G.  Forrest 

Jackson,  pastor. 

Jordan,  Edward.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Greater  Washington, 

Temple  Hills,  MD.  James  Dixon,  pastor. 

Martin,    Lorraine.    Grace    Brethren    Church,    Osceola,    IN.    Keith 

Shearer,  pastor. 


Karen  Ball  and  Joseph  Buzzilla,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Simi 
Valley,  CA.  Officiating  at  the  ceremony  were  Pastor  Tomilson 
(associate  pastor),  and  Chris  Ball  (brother  of  the  bride).  John 
Mcintosh,  pastor. 

Peggy  Bechtel  and  Joseph  Toth,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Minerva, 
OH.  Galen  Wiley,  pastor. 

Jeannie  Boone  and  Bill  Keely,  Maranatha  Brethren  Church, 
Hagerstown,  MD.  Larry  Sowers,  pastor. 

Michelle  Hughes  and  Tracy  German,  Maranatha  Brethren  Church, 
Hagerstown,  MD.  Larry  Sowers,  pastor. 

Dawn  Stamm  and  Barry  Allman,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Colum- 
bus, OH.  Officiating  ministers  were  Pastor  Greg  Stamm  and  Pastor 
Jim  Custer.  Jim  Custer,  pastor. 

The  following  marriages  were  gleaned  from  the  Temple  Hills,  MD., 
Grace  Brethren  Church's  newsletter,  Jim  Dixon,  pastor: 

Bridget  Downs  and  David  Anzivino 

Lisa  Franklin  and  Dave  Fish 

Anna  Norfolk  and  Ron  Castaneda 

Holly  Shoup  and  Ken  Gentry 

Patricia    Barbee   and  Jerome   Joyner.    Grace    Brethren    Church   of 
Greater    Washington,    Temple    Hills,    MD.    Pastor    Larry    Gegner 
officiated  at  the  ceremony.  James  Dixon,  pastor. 
Laura  Clymer  and  Randy  Cobbs.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Long- 
view,  TX.  John  Mayes,  pastor. 

Marjorie  Coburn  and  William  Haack.  Community  Brethren 
Church,  Los  Angeles,  CA.  The  bride's  father,  Frank  Coburn,  per- 
formed the  ceremony  and  was  assisted  by  Mike  McGinnis  (GBC  of 
Los  Altos,  CA).  Frank  Coburn  pastor. 

Martha  Dunaway  and  Karl  Weaver  were  married  in  Nashville,  TN. 
Gleaned  from  the  Temple  Hills,  MD,  church  bulletin.  James 
Dixon,  pastor. 

Andrea  Hughes  and  Kevin  Border.  Community  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Everett,  PA.  Tim  Boal,  pastor. 

Catherine  Lambert  and  Jack  Stillwell.  Gleaned  from  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  of  Greater  Washington's  church  bulletin,  Temple 
Hills,  MD.  James  Dixon,  pastor. 

Stephanie  Snyder  and  Tim  Rice.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Greater  Washington,  Temple  Hills,  MD.  James  Dixon,  pastor. 


□  Theodore  H.  Epp,  founding  director  of  Back  to  the 
Bible  Broadcast,  Lincoln,  NE,  died  October  13  at  the 
Bryan  Memorial  Hospital.  He  was  being  treated  for  a 
steadily  worsening  heart  condition.  He  was  78  years  old. 

DTim  Placeway,  minister  of  youth  and  music,  passed  his 
licensure  examination  and  was  approved  by  the  Bethel 
Brethren  Church,  Berne,  IN,  on  Oct.  9.  Tim  is  the  son  of 
Pastor  Richard  Placeway,  pastor  at  Parkersburg,  WV. 

DThe  congregation  of  Rittman,  OH,  church  extended  a 
call  to  Mike  Prentovich  to  join  the  church  staff  as  assistant 
pastor.  Pastor  Mike  began  his  pastoral  ministry  on 
November  1. 

DThe  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Uniontown,  PA, 
honored  their  pastor  and  wife,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  True  L. 
Hunt,  on  Sunday,  August  25,  for  their  25  years  of  minis- 
try at  the  Uniontown  church. 

□  Herman  Fletcher  was  ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry 
at  the  Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Union,  OH, 
on  Oct.  13.  Dr.  Harry  Fletcher  delivered  the  ordination 
message. 


BMH 


NOVEMBER  '85 


13 


% 


've  realized  ..  '.  just  how  finite  we  really  are 
and  how  much  we  have  to  commit  our  lives  to  Him. 
It's  not  a  tomorrow  thing.  I'm  looking  towards  tomor- 
row, the  future,  to  come  to  Europe;  but  I  need  to  realize 
today  I  need  to  live  for  Him,  and  what  really  matters 
to  God  is  if  I  am  obedient  in  today's  call" 

—  Ldrrie  Shaver  in  a  tape  recorded  message  shortly  before  her. death,  to 
a  missionary  in  France. 


14 


NOVEMBER  '85 


GRACE 


Story  by:  Rob  VJh 
Illustration  by:  Terry  Ju 


GRACE    NOVEMBER'  "85   15 


The  phone  rang  in  Patty 
Bender's  house  about  10  p.m., 
Aug.  2.  It  startled  her  out  of  a  nap. 
She  fought  the  slow  haze  that  follows 
half-sleep.  The  television  pulsating 
impossible  shadows;  the  movie  she 
couldn't  remember,  the  kids  were  in 
bed. 

She  heard  her  husband,  Phil, 
answer  the  phone:  "Oh,  hi!"  She 
knew,  by  the  tone  of  his  voice,  it  was 
her  mom.  Probably  just  wanted  to 
chat.  Phil  wasn't  talking  a  lot,  just  uh- 
huhs  and  yeahs.  "Let  me  have  the 
phone,"  Patty  said.  Her  husband  said 
no.  

"OK,"   he   said   into  the   

phone,    "we'll  talk  to  you 
tomorrow."  He  hung  up. 

"What's    wrong?"    Patty   ^^  Q^  Jet  ^/S  happen   to  Lome. 
asked.     Lorries  been  in  a 

plane  accident"  was  the  She  was  getting  ready  to  go  to  France 

"We  don't  know  if 


They  giggled  a  lot.  The  stars, 
sometimes,  made  them  talk  of  God. 
And  they  shared  problems;  Patty 
couldn't  even  remember  them  .  .  . 
they  seem  so  insignificant  now.  What 
she  does  remember,  more  than 
anything  else,  was  that  Lorrie  was 
always  there. 
Always  loving. 

After  the  news,  Patty  fell  asleep 
in  an  uneasy  mixture  of  anger  and 
love.  She  dreamed  of  a  plane 
accident. 

"I  remember  a  horrible  explosion 
and  kept  seeing  fire." 


"I   kept   screaming    Why?'    Why 


answer 

she's  a  survivor  or  not." 

Lorrie  —  the  girl  who 
was  always  up  to  old  tricks. 
Patty  remembered  the  time 
in  high  school  when  she  told  Lorrie 
she  was  going  out  on  a  date  and  the 
places  they  were  going.  Lorrie  got 
the  gang  together.  At  the  movie,  at 
the  restaurant,  on  the  road,  Patty  and 
her  date  were  being  followed.  Lorrie 
never  made  a  sound.  Patty  could  feel 
the  laughter. 

That  was  Lorrie.  Always  having  a 
good  time. 

After  the  phone  call,  Patty 
Bender  was  hysterical.  They  watch- 
ed the  news  —  an  L-1011,  Delta 
Flight  191,  had  crashed  in  Dallas. 
The  pictures  were  horrible.  The  only 
survivors,  the  anchor  man  dead- 
panned,  were  in  the  smoking 
section. 

Patty  got  mad.  Real  mad.  She  had 
lost  a  life-time  friend.  Her  husband 
tried  to  comfort  her;  he  prayed. 

"I  kept  screaming  'Why?'  Why 
could  God  let  this  happen  to  Lorrie. 
She  was  getting  ready  to  go  to 
France  and  serve  Him.  Why?  How 
could  God  do  this?" 

It  wasn't  that  Patty  didn't  believe 
the  answer  —  heaven.  The  answer 
wasn't  the  problem.  The  question 
was. 

Lorries  old  tricks.  Patty  can 
remember  countless  walks  on  the 
Florida  beach  near  their  childhood 
homes.  They  listened  to  the  waves. 


and  serve  Him.    Why?  How  could 
God  do  this?" 


1  he  eye  is  the  lamp  of  the  body.  If 
your  eyes  are  good,  your  whole 
body  will  be  full  of  light."  —  Matthew 
6:22 

Lorrie  Shaver  was  not  spectacular 
in  appearance.  She  was  overweight. 
She  wore,  for  the  most  part,  pullover 
shirts,  cordouroy  jeans,  and  work 
boots.  Her  hands  were  sliced  and 
stained  and  calloused,  fingernails 
short,  and  stubby  —  such  were  the 
hands  of  a  girl  who  worked  with 
boxes  at  a  Florida  grocery  store.  Her 
eyes  were  small.  She  had  freckles. 

The  same  is  true  of  her  actions. 
Nothing  spectacular.  She  never  sav- 
ed anyone  from  drowning;  she  work- 
ed hard  for  grades  at  Grace  College; 
she  wasn't  creative,  she  had  few 
original  ideas. 

"She  was  as  average  a  girl  as  they 
come,"  says  her  pastor,  Paul  Mut- 
chler.  "She  was  totally  vanilla.  There 
were  no  special  gifts  or  talents  —  ex- 
cept for  one.  And  that  was  love.  She 
loved  people  specifically.  And  that 
made  her  very  special." 

She  loved,  her  friends  say,  not 
because  it  was  a  special  gift.  She  lov- 
ed because  she  worked  hard  at  it. 
Seldom  did  her  love  ask  for  a 
spotlight. 

"Lorrie  was  a  person  that  entered 
into  your  life  by  the  back  door,"  one 
friend  says.  "She  didn't  come  on  real 


strong,  but  she  made  her  presence 
known.  She  is  not  imposing;  she 
does  not  require  your  time,  and  she 
is  just  there,  and  becomes  your 
friend." 

That  commitment  showed  itself 
daily.  In  "little"  things.  She  had  an 
instinct  of  knowing  when  people 
were  hurting. 

The  time  when  one  of  her  friends 
was  new  in  Florida  and  her  parents, 
who  lived  in  another  state,  had  just 
divorced.  It  was  Christmas.  Lorrie 
and  her  jeep  came  to  visit.  On  a  drive 
to  the  beach,  Lorrie  said  little.  She 
^^^     listened  a  lot. 

The  first  anniversary  of 
the  death  of  a  friend's 
father,  Lorrie  would  write  a 
note.  The  second  anniver- 
sary, a  phone  call. 

Lorrie  seemed  to  have  a 
gift  for  making  the  com- 
monplace uncommon: 
Spotting      strangers      in 

church;  making  well-timed 

phone  calls;  giving  friends 
rides  in  her  jeep;  listening  to  an 
endless  procession  of  problems  .  .  . 
Day  after  day.  Over  and  over. 

"She  had  the  uncanny  ability  to 
make  people  feel  special,"  says  one 
friend. 

Lorrie  loved  with  a  laugh.  She  en- 
joyed life. 

"You  could  usually  tell  when  she 
arrived  somewhere  even  if  you 
couldn't  see  her,"  says  a  former  youth 
pastor  of  Lorries.  "There  was  usual- 
ly a  ruckus  in  the  area  around  her 
because  she  was  always  clowning 
around  with  everyone." 

She  laughed  a  great  deal. 

When  she  threw  a  friend  into  the 
ocean.  When  they  couldn't  get  the 
VCR  to  work.  When  she  went  to  the 
store  and  her  friends  acted  like  they 
were  from  New  Zealand.  Putting  the 
top  down  on  her  jeep  when  it  was 
30  degrees. 

"I  may  forget  a  lot  of  things  about 
Lorrie,"  says  one  friend.  "But  I'll 
never  forget  her  laugh." 

"I  can  still  picture  Lorrie  coming  in- 
to the  office  and,  cocking  her  head 
back,  saying  "Hi,  pastor."  She  had 
that  look  that  I  never  knew  if  she  was 
coming  in  with  a  prayer  request  or 
a  bucket  of  water." 

That  was  Lorrie. 

The  soft  touch  of  calloused  hands. 
The  bright  sparkle  of  small  eyes. 


16 


NOVEMBER  '85 


GRACE 


Old  tricks. 
"No  sorrow  will  ever  disturb  me, 
no  trial  ever  disarm  me,  no  cir- 
cumstance will  ever  cause  me  to  fret, 
for  I  shall  rest  in  the  )oy  of  my  Lord." 
—  from  a  plaque  on  Lorrie  Shaver's 
bedroom  wall. 

Lorrie  Shaver  told  her  parents  she 
loved  them  even  more  because  she 
was  adopted.  She  was  premature  at 
birth,  weighing  three  pounds. 

Her  father,  Fred,  remembers  his 
first  trip  to  the  hospital  to  see  Lorrie. 

"I  noticed  a  real  little  tiny  thing 
over  in  the  corner  and  pointed  it  out 

to  my  wife.  Well,  it  turned  

out  that  it  was  a  syringe  with  

a  blanket  over  it." 

An  then  he  did  see  Lor- 
rie, and  fell  in  love.  "She  no  special  gifts  or  talents  —  except  for 

The  love  grew.  Fred  can't  One.    And   that   WCIS   loVC    She   hued 
recall  any  special  times,  just  /e    sped//ca//„      /\ncf    tnat    ma(\e 

a    steady,    unquestioning,  l  '  i  j 

always  growing  love.  her   Very   Special." 

"Her  mom  and  her  had  a  

special   relationship,"   Fred 


sionaryr 

Becky  remembers  one  conversa- 
tion lasting  until  two  in  the  morning. 

Later,  Lorrie  went  to  France  to  at- 
tend the  Euro-Mission  Institute. 
While  attending  the  institute,  she  saw 
the  tremendous  spiritual  need  in  the 
country.  By  the  time  the  conference 
had  ended  she  had  made  a  decision: 
She  wanted  to  be  a  missionary  to 
France. 

Despite  their  love  for  Lorrie,  Kent 
and  Becky  had  reservations.  They 
thought  she  would  have  problems 
with  the  language. 


"She  was  totally  vanilla.  There  were 


says. 

Lorrie  and  her  mom.  They  shared 
devotions  together.  They  shared 
dreams  together.  And,  more  than 
anything,  love.  Lorrie  made  her  silly 
little  drawings  in  school.  They  were 
art  to  her  mom. 

Her  mom  was  proud  of  Lorrie. 
Especially  in  college.  She  would  call 
and  tell  her  so,  and  encourage  her 
in  her  school  work. 

The  love  grew. 

During  her  sophomore  year  in  col- 
lege, Lorries  mom  died. 

Lorrie  loved  the  beach.  That  was 
where  she  went  to  weep  for  her 
mother.  Alone,  as  the  waves 
whispered  eternal  rhythms,  she 
broke  down. 

The  hurt  of  missing  her  mom 
never  completely  vanished. 

More  than  anything,  Lorrie 
Shaver  wanted  to  do  some  small 
things  for  the  Lord. 

Kent  and  Becky  Good,  who  grew 
up  in  her  home  church,  were  Grace 
Brethren  missionaries  to  France.  She 
began  to  seek  them  out. 

"During  missions  conference  1 
stayed  in  Lorries  dorm  room,"  says 
Becky  Good.  "She  began  asking  me 
some  serious  questions  about 
France.  Could  I  be  used  as  a  mis- 


Becky  filled  out  a  recommenda- 
tion for  Lorrie  for  the  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missions  Board.  She  stated 
their  reservation. 

The  Goods,  however,  were  aware 
of  Lorries  strong  point:  Her  ability  to 
love.  While  she  was  in  France  she 
had  communicated  that  love  without 
the  language. 

"She  left  behind  more  people  that 
knew  her  and  still  ask  about  her  than 
any  of  the  others  who  have  come 
through  EMI,"  Kent  says.  "There  is 
a  shopkeeper  in  Chalon  who  still 
asks  about  her:  And  how's  —  I  can't 
remember  her  name.  You  know,  the 
girl  with  the  laughing  eyes." 

A  few  days  after  filling  out  the 
recommendation,  Becky  Good  call- 
ed the  foreign  missions  board. 

The  girl  with  the  laughing  eyes 
would  probably  make  a  wonderful 
missionary.  That  was  the  gist  of  what 
she  said.  A  short  time  later,  she  was 
appointed  a  missionary  to  France. 

Lorrie  Shaver  was  looking  for- 
ward to  the  future.  She  was  excited 
about  France.  Almost  obsessed.  Her 
friends  remember  her  passion. 

They  had  to  stop  and  buy 
croissants.  And  look  at  an  endless 
number  of  French  posters.  And  then, 
she  would  say,  "this  is  what  they  do 


in  France."  She  wrote  to  missionaries 
and  friends  in  France  often. 

"She  made  me  realize  that  to  be 
a  missionary,  the  people  have  to 
consume  your  thoughts.  They  must 
pull  you,"  says  a  friend. 

But,  if  Lorrie  Shaver  gave  a  con- 
scious message  in  the  last  few 
months  of  her  life,  it  was  not  one 
centered  on  the  future. 

That  message,  by  words  and  ac- 
tions, was  simply:  Today,  live  for  the 
Lord. 

On  deputation,  when  Lorrie  talk- 
ed about  her  plans  to  the  people  in 
^^^     the  churches,  she  played  a 

recording     of     a     song, 

"Tomorrow."  A  line  of  the 
lyrics  goes: 

I'll  give  my  life  tomorrow. 
What  about  today? 

Lorrie  Shaver  hated 
good-byes.  They  made  her 
nervous,  jumpy  for  the  right 
words. 

Leaving  for  France  would 
be  difficult. 

I  am  excited  about  leaving  for 
France,"  Lorrie  said  in  a  tape  to  a  mis- 
sionary in  Europe,  "but  at  the  same 
time,  it's  hard  to  bring  those  things 
up  to  friends  and  family  members. 
Breaking  ties  with  people  (is  hard)  — 
even  though  you  know  that  if  they 
are  of  the  Lord  it's  not  a  final  thing." 

Saying  good-bye  to  family  would 
be  the  toughest.  But  Lorrie  found 
consolation  in  one  fact:  Her  brother 
and  sister-in-law  were  supposed  to 
have  their  baby  before  Lorrie  was  to 
leave  for  France. 

She  already  had  a  card  picked  out 
for  the  new  mom  and  dad.  On  the 
outside  was  a  picture  of  a  beaver. 
Goofy,  buck-teethed  smile.  Inside 
was  the  caption,  "Congratulations  on 
the  little  shaver." 

It  was  the  first  time  Lorrie  was  to 
be  an  aunt.  She  told  a  friend  that  she 
couldn't  wait  to  touch  a  little  hand. 

A  few  weeks  before  she  was  to 
leave  for  France,  Lorrie  was  to  be 
commissioned  as  a  missionary  at  the 
Grace  Brethren  National  Con- 
ference. She  booked  a  plane  for 
Denver  with  a  layover  in  Dallas. 

She  was  to  leave  about  a  week 
before  the  conference  was  to  start.  It 
would  give  her  time  to  visit  a  high 


GRACE    NOVEMBER   85   1  7 


school  friend,  who  was  struggling 
some  spiritually.  And  she  could  also 
surprise  Kent  and  Becky  Good,  who 
were  scheduled  to  speak  in  the 
Denver  Grace  Brethren  Church 
about  missionary  work  in  France. 

That  was  Lorrie. 

Old  tricks. 

A  few  days  before  she  left  for 
National  Conference,  Lorrie  Shaver 
was  at  the  beach  with  a  friend.  That 
was  nothing  new.  She  loved  the 
beach. 

Lorrie  told  her  friend  that,  in  all  of 
her  life,  she  never  felt  as  much  in 
God's  will  as  she  did  then.  As  the 
waves  found  the  shore,  Lor-  ■■mmm 
rie  said  she  was  certain  she 
was  doing  exactly  what  God 
wanted  her  to  do. 

She    said    she    was    at 
peace. 

bred  Shaver  took  com 


He  remembered  they  had  hugged 
and  the  glasses  that  he  had  in  his 
pocket  jabbed  Lorrie. 

They  laughed. 

And  Lorrie  told  him  that  she  lov- 
ed him.  She  always  did  that,  Fred 
says,  and  she  always  meant  it.  She 
walked  away  with  that  same  grin, 
And,  looking  over  her  shoulder,  said: 
"Bye,  Dad.  I'll  see  you  later." 

The  lady  in  Dallas  had  gone  to 
check  the  list  of  survivors.  Fred  had 
waited  a  few  minutes,  and  she  came 
back  shaking  her  head.  Lorrie  wasn't 
on  the  list. 

It  was  evening  now  —  the  sky  a 


Lorrie  told  her  friend  that  in  all  of 
her  life  she  never  felt  as  much  in 
God's  will  as  she  did  then.  As  the 


changed  her:  "She  taught  me  what 
was  really  important  in  life." 

And  as  the  sound  of  laughter 
filtered  through  a  Florida  summer 
night,  so  did  Patty's  anger. 

Old  tricks. 

i  he  grass  withers,  the  flowers 
fade,  when  the  breath  of  the  Lord 
blows  upon  it;  surely  the  people  are 
grass.  The  grass  withers,  the  flower 
fades,  but  the  word  of  our  God 
stands  forever."  —  Isaiah  40:7-8. 

"For  the  wages  of  sin  is  death,  but 
the  free  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  in 

Christ  Jesus  our  Lord."  — 

Romans  6:23. 

Fred  Shaver  is  a  solid 
man,  quiet,  white-haired,  a 
chuckler.  He  works  for  an 
electric  company. 

He  is  a  man  familiar  with 


fort   in   the  fact  that  they    Waves  found    the    shore,    Lorrie    Said     9rief.  Before  Lorries  death 
,        ,  r  he  and  his  wife  lost  an  infant 

found  some  money  on  Lor-      ,  .  ,     .  ....      T,  , 

rie  shaver's  body.  she  was  certain  she  was  doing  exact-     !         : 

"That    meant    that    she    i  i_     ,    /->       i  ,       i    i  ,         > 

wasn't  completely  burned,"   fr    what   God   Wanted   her  to   do. 

he  says. 


An  excerpt  of  a  letter  written  by 
Lorrie  Shaver,  to  a  friend  who  had 
lost  her  father: 

"I  know  how  it  is  at  first,  everyone 
is  around,  everyone  is  concerned, 
then  as  weeks  go  by  people  forget 
—  not  because  people  are  insensitive 
but  it  isn't  them  that  are  going 
through  it.  I  know  for  a  while  that 
was  the  first  thing  I  thought  of.  And 
if  I  let  it,  my  mind  would  wander 
back  to  the  phone  call,  the  grave  site 
and  the  reality  of  the  fact  that  she 
(my  mom)  was  gone.  It  seems  that 
feeling  I  had  in  the  pit  of  my  stomach 
would  not  go  away  .  .  .  Debbie,  I 
care,  even  though  I  am  not  around 
in  person  to  tell  you.  Debbie,  I  want 
you  to  know  that." 

He  causes  His  sun  to  rise  on 
the  evil  and  the  good,  and  sends  rain 
on  the  righteous  and  the 
unrighteous."  —  Matthew  5:45. 

Fred  Shaver  had  been  to  Dallas. 
He  had  flown  over  the  crashed 
plane.  He  had  met  with  the  airline. 
He  had  received  the  final  devastating 
report.  Now,  he  was  driving  back 
from  the  Fort  Lauderdale  airport. 
The  same  airport  where  he  had  last 
seen  his  daughter  a  few  days  earlier. 


soft  flame,  and  Fred  was  driving 
Sunset  Strip.  He  was  thinking  about 
Lorrie  —  the  way  she  laughed,  the 
people  that  she  cared  about,  the  lit- 
tle baby  who  seldom  cried,  the  prac- 
tical jokes. 

Fred  remembers  looking  out  his 
car  window.  Scattered  along  the 
sidewalk,  were  random  stumblings, 
bums. 

tiejoice  with  those  who  rejoice; 
mourn  with  those  who  mourn."  — 
Romans  12:15. 

After  the  memorial  service,  Patty 
Bender  went  to  the  Shaver's  house. 
The  service  was  standing  room  on- 
ly; now  it  was  a  handful  of  Lome's 
closest  friends. 

They  reminisced  until  nearly 
midnight. 

They  laughed  and  laughed. 

During  the  evening,  Patty,  for  the 
first  time  since  the  accident,  was 
joyful. 

"It  was  there  that  it  hit  me  — 
Lorries  in  heaven,"  Patty  says.  "And 
heaven  meant  something  to  me 
then." 

She  couldn't  explain  the  whys. 
She  knew  that  her  friend's  death  had 


were 
miscarriages. 

And       then        Lorrie. 

Adopted  into  a  family  that 

loved  her  with  all  they  had. 
They  had  many  years  of  memories. 

And  then  Fred's  wife  died.  Time 
had  made  the  hurt  bearable. 

And  then  the  plane  crash.  Lorrie, 
the  lady  in  Dallas  said,  was  not  on 
the  list. 

He  has  no  answers  to  why.  He 
doesn't  even  pretend.  He  doesn't 
have  a  theological  mind,  only  a  sim- 
ple and  trusting  faith.  He  hopes 
some  good  will  come  out  of  Lorries 
death.  He  has  heard  about  personal 
commitments  and  revival.  He  hopes 
it's  true. 

The  grief,  he  says,  has  taught  him 
one  thing  above  all  else: 

All  you  can  do  is  depend  on  your 
reward  in  heaven  —  we'll  be  back 
together  again  in  the  presence  of  the 
Lord.  It's  got  to  be  beautiful.  I  don't 
know  how  you  live  without  that 
thought.  There  is  nothing  around  this 
world  that  has  any  permanence  to  it. 
Nothing." 

ror  my  thoughts  are  not  your 
thoughts,  neither  are  your  ways  My 
ways,'  declares  the  Lord.  For  as  the 
heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth, 
so  are  My  ways  higher  than  your 
ways,  and  my  thoughts  than  your 


18 


NOVEMBER  '85 


GRACE 


thoughts."  —  Isaiah  55:8-9. 
"Jesus  wept."  —  John  11:35 

After  the  graveside  services,  the 
Shaver  family  walked  the  short 
distance  to  the  grave  of  Lorries  mom. 

Fred  Jr.  and  Brenda,  noticeably 
pregnant. 

And  Johnny,  Lorries  younger 
brother,  who  had  to  deal  with  the 
death  of  his  mother  and  sister.  All 


before  the  age  of  18. 

And  Fred. 

Lorries  with  you  now.  Rejoicing  in 
the  presence  of  the  Lord.  That's  what 
they  said. 

And  then  they  wept. 

Whenever  a  woman  is  in  travail 
she  has  sorrow,  because  her  hour 
has  come:  but  when  she  gives  birth 
to  the  child,  she  remembers  the 
anguish  no  more,  for  joy  that  a  child 


has  been  born  into  the  world. 
Therefore  you  too  now  have  sorrow: 
but  1  will  see  you  again,  and  your 
heart  will  rejoice,  and  no  one  takes 
your  joy  away  from  you."  —  John 
16:21-22. 

A  couple  of  weeks  after  Lorries 
death,  her  nephew  was  born.  Fred 
Shaver  marvelled  at  the  child's 
beauty.  □ 


LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
November  1985 


Given  by: 

Harry  Shipley 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Wilton  M.  Brown 

Southeast  District  Ministerium 

Mrs.  Earl  Tomshek 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Orville  Prime 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Boyd  Shaver 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  James  Shaver 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Wayne  Raymond 

Mrs.  C.W.  Hammers 

Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dean  Walter 


Living  Memorials, 

200  Seminary  Drive, 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


In  Memory  of: 

Stan  Meyers 

Mrs.  Hattie  Wartanian 

Mrs.  Artie  Lynn 

Mr.  Earl  Tomsheck 

Lorrie  Shaver 

Lorrie  Shaver 

Lorrie  Shaver 

Lorrie  Shaver 

Mr.  Bernard  Lehman 

Mrs.  Alleda  Engle 


Jtact 


The 

mMM$ 

Donor 

Mr.  William  Kemp 

Company 

Howmet  Turbine  Components  Corp. 

w$ 

Mr.  Erwin  Heiman 

Abbott  Laboratories  Fund 

Miss  Annabelle  Snyder 

American  Broadcasting  Company,  Inc. 

Program 

Mr.  Ralph  McConahay 

Phillips  Petroleum  Foundation 

Rev.  Edward  Wingard 

Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass 

Mr.  Jay  Reimer 

Campbell  Soup  Company 

Mr.  Fred  Mills 

Union  Oil  of  California  Foundation 

A  Blessing  to 

Mr.  Edwin  Pond 

R.R.  Donnelley  &  Sons,  Inc. 

Grace  Schools 

Mr.  Ron  Wales 

Texaco,  Inc. 

GRACE 


NOVEMBER  '85 


19 


Reaching  People  With 
No  Time  For  God 


By  Ed  Trenner 


Was  there  ever  a  time  in  your  life 
when  persona]  concerns  .  .  .  career, 
home  repairs,  family  outings  .  .  .  left 
no  time  for  God  or  church? 

What  sparked  your  interest  in  God? 
Who  made  the  difference  ...  a  friend, 
a  family  member,  someone  at  work, 
a  neighbor,  a  pastor?  Someone  took 
the  time  to  reach  out  and  touch  your 
life  and  mine.  My  guess  is  we  all  had 
big  walls  around  us  that  someone  had 
to  lovingly  break  down  before  we 
could  see  the  Savior  and  respond  to 
Him. 

Joe  Taylor  owned  a  thriving  archi- 
tectural firm  in  Fort  Lauderdale, 
Florida.  He  and  his  wife,  Kay,  and 
their  two  sons  never  lacked  for  things 
to  do.  Their  lives  were  full .  .  .  working 
five  to  six  days  a  week,  remodeling  the 
house  on  the  weekend,  sometimes 
taking  their  boat  out  for  a  cruise.  On 
rare  occasions,  they  even  went  to  a 
church  service. 

A  few  blocks  from  their  home  a  new 
building  was  going  up.  Because  of  the 
round,  arched  roof,  Joe  and  Kay 
thought  it  was  a  roller  rink.  To  their 


Joe  had  all  kinds  of 
reasons  why  they 
couldn't  possibly  attend. 


surprise  and  disappointment  they 
discovered  it  was  a  church. 

One  Saturday  afternoon  there  was 
a  knock  at  their  door.  Joe  yelled  to 
Kay  to  answer  it. 

She  responded,  "I'm  on  a  ladder, 
cleaning.  Can  you  get  it?" 

Joe  sighed  and  went  to  the  door. 
He  was  warmly  greeted  by  the  pastor 
of  the  new  "roller  rink"  church  down 
the  street,  a  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Mission  point. 


Joe  and  Kay  Taylor 


Pastor  Ralph  Colburn  indicated  his 
interest  in  meeting  the  neighbors  who 
lived  around  the  church  and  asked  if 
he  could  come  in.  Joe  was  intrigued 
by  the  minister's  warm,  friendly  smile. 
There  was  some  small  talk  and  an  invi- 
tation to  church. 

Joe  had  all  kinds  of  reasons  why 
they  couldn't  possibly  attend,  "Sunday 
is  the  only  day  I  have  to  get  things 
done  around  the  house.  It's  the  only 
day  I  have  to  do  something  with  the 
family.  You  understand  that!  Besides, 
we're  members  of  a  church  already." 

Somehow  all  those  reasons 
sounded  more  like  excuses  .  .  .  and 
weak  ones  at  that.  But,  Pastor  Colburn 
kept  praying  and  stopping  by  to  say 
hello.  Reflecting  back  on  those  days, 
Joe  remembers,  "Pastor  Colburn  had 
a  winning  way  about  him.  He  never 
made  us  feel  dumb  for  questions  we 
asked  about  church,  the  Bible.or  God. 
He  patiently  told  us  about  spiritual 
things  in  ways  we  could  understand." 

A  year  later  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  conducted  a  Sunday  School 


attendance  contest.  There  were  many 
prizes  and  activities  that  excited  the 
children.  Joe  and  Kay's  sons  attended. 

The  church  started  sending  out  a 
weekly  mailer  announcing  coming  ac- 
tivities and  news  about  the  church  and 
its  people.  One  of  the  announcements 
caught  Kay's  attention  ...  a  sermon 
series  on  "What  are  the  good  things 
of  heaven?" 

Joe  wasn't  interested  ...  he  was  too 
busy,  but  Kay  was  determined  to  learn 
about  heaven.  She  was  at  church  the 
next  Sunday  morning.  "I  heard  things 
that  morning  I  had  never  heard 
before,"  Kay  recalls  with  a  smile. 

Joe  was  taken  back  by  Kay's  avid  in- 
terest in  reading  the  Bible  and  going 
to  church.  She  would  come  home 
from  church  with  sermon  notes  and 
start  looking  up  the  passages  in  her 
Bible.  She  didn't  regard  herself 
religious  .  .  .  just  interested. 

When  a  church  building  addition 
was  needed,  Pastor  Colburn  asked 
Joe  if  he  would  assist.  Since  his  wife 
and  sons  were  attending  the  church  he 


20 


NOVEMBER  '85 


GBHMC 


felt  some  obligation  to  help.  Besides, 
it  made  him  feel  good  to  be  needed. 
While  working  on  the  addition  Joe 
had  his  eyes  opened  to  the  reality  of 
the  Gospel.  He  saw  young  and  old, 
poor  and  wealthy,  common  and 
sophisticated  folks  all  working  side  by 


Kay  was  determined 
to  learn  something 
about  heaven. 


side.  Even  the  pastor  was  out  there 
with  a  hammer  and  nails.  He 
discovered  they  were  very  normal 
people.  The  only  difference  was  they 
were  going  to  heaven  and  knew  it. 

A  few  months  later  Joe  went  to 
church  with  Kay  on  a  Sunday  morn- 
ing. It  was  a  morning  to  be 
remembered  for  eternity. 

Before  leaving  for  church,  Kay  had 
determined  she  was  going  to  respond 
to  the  invitation  to  receive  Christ.  Joe 
had  put  an  ad  in  the  paper  to  sell  his 
boat.  About  nine  o'clock  a  man  came 
by  to  look  at  it.  Joe  told  him,  "The 
boat  is  still  for  sale,  but  come  back  at 
1:00.  I'm  leaving  for  church  right 
away.  I  have  some  business  to  do 
there." 

Not  knowing  what  each  other  was 


thinking,  both  Joe  and  Kay  had  deter- 
mined to  "get  right  with  God."  On  the 
third  verse  of  the  closing  hymn, 
"Almost  Persuaded",  Joe  and  Kay 
stepped  out  into  the  aisle  and  walked 
to  the  front  of  the  church.  Choked  by 
the  emotion  of  the  moment,  tears  run- 
ning down  their  faces,  Joe  and  Kay 
were  overwhelmed  with  the  awareness 
of  God's  forgiveness.  Pastor  Colburn 
was  noticeably  touched,  too,  as  Joe 
and  Kay  professed  their  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ. 

Two  people  .  .  .  too  busy  for  God 
.  .  .  too  busy  for  church  .  .  .  resistant 
to  the  many  attempts  of  the  church  to 
reach  out.  Who  would  have  ever 
thought  God  was  preparing  their  heart 
for  this  moment?  God  sees  the  things 
we  keep  missing  ...  we  see  what  is, 
He  sees  what  can  be!  □ 


Touch 

The 

World 


m 


Since  that  day  in  the  mid-1950s 
when  Joe  and  Kay  Taylor  accepted 
Christ  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Fort  Lauderdale,  Fla.,  they  have 
been  active  in  their  church.  Joe  has 
also  been  involved  in  building  several 
Grace  Brethren  churches  and  now 
serves  on  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
Council.  The  Taylor's  story,  along 
with  that  of  the  Fort  Lauderdale 
church,  is  featured  in  a  new  Grace 
Brethren  Home  Missions  movie 
which  is  now  available  for  use  by 
local  churches.  Contact  the  promo- 
tional department  of  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions  for  scheduling 
information. 


Ed  Trenner  is  a 
member  of  the 
Orange,  Calif..  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  A 
freelance  writer  and 
media  producer,  he  is 
also  involved  in  per- 
sonal, corporate,  and 
church  consulting.  He 
and  his  wife,  Carla, 
have  three  daughters. 


Shooting  For  The  Sky  In  Florida 

From  his  back  yard,  Pastor  William  Tweeddale  can  watch 
NASA  launch  shuttles  into  space.  But  the  pastor  claims  that 
NASA  is  not  the  only  organization  that  is  seeing  great  ac- 
complishments along  the  "space  coast"  of  Florida. 

"We  almost  tripled  our  attendance  over  a  year  ago  in 
our  Sunday  School,"  reports  Tweeddale,  who  pastors  the 
Suntree  Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Melbourne, 
Florida 

The  church  also  recently  saw  14  individuals  baptized. 

November  30  is  self-support  day  for  this  young  con- 
gregation. Beginning  in  December,  they  will  be  released 
from  the  financial  support  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Home 
Missions  Council. 

Their  next  goal  is  the  construction  of  a  new  building  on 
their  property  in  the  residential  development  of  Suntree. 


"We  are  trusting  the  Lord  for  a  special  offering  over  and 
above  $10,000  by  the  first  of  the  year,"  notes  the  pastor. 
In  the  meantime,  they  continue  to  reach  their 
neighborhood  for  Christ.  "We  are  rejoicing  in  the  way  that 
the  Lord  is  blessing  the  work  here  in  the  Space  Coast,"  con- 
cludes the  pastor. 

North  Pole  Pastor  Resigns 

Pastor  Gary  Hable  has  resigned  the  pastorate  of  the 
Grace  Brethren  Church  at  North  Pole,  Alaska.  He  is 
presently  seeking  another  ministry. 

Pastor  Hable's  resignation  brings  the  number  of  Home 
Mission  Churches  without  a  pastor  to  four.  Also  seeking 
leadership  are  the  Grace  Brethren  Churches  at  Hartford 
City,  Indiana,  Ocala,  Florida  and  Shermans  Valley, 
Pennsylvania. 


GBHMC 


NOVEMBER  '85 


21 


Dream  Nears  Reality 
at  Dryhill 


by  Liz  Cutler 
Promotional  Secretary 


It  started  as  a  dream. 

"A  year  after  we  arrived  here,  our 
church  won  our  division  in  the  Sun- 
day School  contest"  recalls  Pastor 
Sam  Baer  of  the  Victory  Mountain 
Grace  Brethren  Church,  Dryhill,  Ken- 
tucky. "We  were  averaging  around  80 
or  90  in  Sunday  School.  One  month, 
January,  we  even  averaged  100." 

Space  at  the  little  mountain  chapel 
was  at  a  premium.  The  auditorium 
was  crowded  for  services,  there  was  no 
place  for  the  teenager's  Sunday 
School  class  to  meet,  and  the  nursery 
was  in  the  Baer's  living  room! 

"Then,  when  we  would  have  carry- 
in  meals,  it  seemed  like  we  were  get- 
ting more  crowded  all  the  time,  and 


It  seemed  as  if  the 
dream  was  going  to 
become  a  reality! 


we  really  didn't  have  a  place  for  special 
youth  gatherings,"  he  adds. 

Plans  began  to  be  made  for  a 
24-by-20  foot  extension  which  would 
allow  expansion  of  the  sanctuary,  pro- 
vide the  much  needed  fellowship  hall, 
and  even  include  a  study  for  Pastor 
Sam.  Rev.  Randy  Maycumber,  a 
Grace  Brethren  pastor  and  a  former 
missionary  to  Brazil,  volunteered  his 
time  to  put  in  the  foundation.  It 
seemed  as  if  the  dream  was  going  to 
become  a  reality! 

Then  a  nearly  devastating  split 
shook  the  congregation.  Nearly  half 
the  families  chose  to  leave  and  that 
began  one  of  the  most  difficult  times 
during  Sam's  ministry  at  Dryhill. 

"It  was  hard  because  the  one  guy 


you  kind  of  poured  your  life  into,  and 
trusted  the  most,  was  the  one  who 
betrayed  you,  and  was  the  one  who 
led  the  others  astray,"  says  Sam  quiet- 
ly. "And  now,  come  to  find  out,  he's 
the  only  one  who  is  attending  church 
anywhere.  The  others  have  dropped 
by  the  wayside  and  aren't  really  going 
to  church  anywhere." 

During  the  months  that  followed  the 
split,  attendances  at  services  dropped 
and  the  Wednesday  evening  prayer 
meeting  was  canceled  for  lack  of 
interest. 

That  was  two  years  ago,  and  only 
within  the  last  few  months  have  things 
begun  to  pick  up. 

"People  are  beginning  to  ask  for 
Wednesday  night  back,"  he  says, 
"which  is  encouraging  in  that  area." 
Sam  is  now  reinstating  the  midweek 
service,  with  a  special  emphasis  on 
prayer. 

As  attendance  dropped,  so  did  in- 
terest in  the  proposed  addition.  The 
foundation  remained  as  a  barren 
reminder  of  the  hopes  and  dreams 
which  once  characterized  the  Victory 


Mountain  Grace  Brethren  Chapel. 
And  the  soil  around  it  began  to 
harden,  perhaps  much  like  people's 
hearts  do  when  they  become  disil- 
lusioned with  dreams. 

But  the  dream  was  still  alive  and 
Pastor  Sam  continued  to  talk  about  it 
with  fellow  pastors  in  the  Southern 


The  fellowship  hall  is  up  the  steps  on  the  south 
side  of  the  building. 


The  new  addition  (far  left)  provides  Sunday  School  space,  a  pastor's  study  and  a  fellowship  hall. 


22 


NOVEMBER  '85 


GBHMC 


Ohio  District  and  nationwide.  Funds 
began  to  come  in  until  there  was 
nearly  $7,000  designated  toward  the 
construction,  including  $4,000  from 
Grace  Brethren  people  around  the 
country. 

Early  in  1985,  a  young  contractor 
from  Columbus,  Ohio  caught  hold  of 
the    Dryhill    church's    dream    and 


The  construction  has  add- 
ed some  excitement  to  the 
sleepy  little  neighborhood. 

decided  to  do  something  ahout  it. 
Working  with  Marion  Forrest,  the 
missions  pastor  at  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Greater  Columbus,  Mike 
Cheeseman  gathered  eight  other  men 
to  form  a  construction  crew  to  help 
build  the  addition.  In  three  short  days 
over  the  Fourth  of  July  weekend,  the 
men  roughed  in  the  building,  did  initial 
wiring,  and  installed  doors  and  win- 
dows. (See  accompanying  story.) 

A  month  later,  aluminum  siding  was 
placed  on  both  the  new  addition  and 
the  original  building.  Now  all  that 
needs  completion  is  the  interior. 

The  construction  has  added  some 
excitement  to  the  sleepy  little 
neighborhood  surrounding  Victory 
Mountain  Chapel. 

"This  is  the  first  visible  construction 
we've  had  here  in  more  than  30 
years,"  says  the  pastor.  His  eyes  brim 
with  enthusiasm  like  a  youngster 
watching  his  first  baseball  game. 

It  has  also  created  an  air  of  expec- 
tancy. "We  just  sense  something  is 
about  to  happen.  The  last  three 
months,  we  have  had  an  increase  in 
Sunday  School  over  last  year,  which 
we  have  been  real  encouraged  about. 
It  has  been  about  the  same  way  for 
church,  too.  I  think  it's  like  we  are  get- 
ting something  ready  for  something 
good  to  happen."  □ 


New  addition  from  the  road. 


From  L  to  R:  Standing  Dave  Walker.  Carl  Cooke. 
Pastor  Marion  Forrest, Tracy  Westfall.Ear]  Johnson. Tim 
Butts;  Kneeling:  Alan  Pietzsch.  Ed  Strouse.  Sammy 
Baer.  Jr.,  Rod  Spencer.  Sam  Baer.  Mike  Cheeseman. 
(Not  pictured:  Robert  Gertler} 


Columbus  Church  Lends  Hand 


It  took  one  announcement  from 
the  pulpit  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Greater  Columbus  to 
gather  a  crew  for  a  special  ministry 
at  Dryhill,  Kentucky.  The  task  at 
hand  was  the  construction  of  an  ad- 
dition to  the  35-year  old  building  at 
Victory  Mountain  Grace  Brethren 
Chapel.  The  foundation  was  already 
laid.  Funds  were  set  aside  for  the 
construction.  The  only  thing  lacking 
was  manpower. 

Mike  Cheeseman,  a  contractor 
from  the  Columbus,  Ohio  area  and 
a  member  of  the  church,  examined 
the  blueprints  for  the  proposed  two- 
story  addition  and  compiled  a  shop- 
ping list  of  supplies  for  Pastor  Sam 
Baer  to  take  to  the  area  lumberyard. 
Cheeseman  also  volunteered  to  take 
necessary  equipment  that  the  Dryhill 
church  might  not  have  on  hand. 

Nine  other  men,  including  Mission 
Pastor  Marion  Forest,  volunteered  for 
the  expedition.  The  Fourth  of  July 
weekend  was  set  aside  for  the  trip. 

"It  rained  all  day  Wednesday  on 
the  trip  down,"  recalls  Pastor  Forest. 
"It  was  still  raining  Thursday  morning 
while  we  ate  breakfast  at  six  o'clock. 
So  we  went  into  the  church  and  held 
a  prayer  meeting.  Within  fifteen 
minutes,  the  rain  had  subsided  and 
the  sun  began  to  shine.  We  went  out, 
uncovered  the  materials,  and  began 
to  assign  jobs." 

That  was  the  first  time  within  four 
hours  that  God  would  specifically 
answer  prayer.  The  second  occasion 
came  as  the  men  began  to  raise  a 
32-foot  beam  into  place. 


"We  had  four  good  stepladders 
and  about  11  men,"  recalled  Forest. 
"Before  we  placed  that  beam,  we 
had  a  prayer  meeting.  God  placed 
that  beam  real  easy  in  about  15 
minutes  without  anyone  being  hurt." 

But  the  trusses  were  another  story. 

"We  had  prayed  they  would  arrive 
by  Friday  noon.  At  noon,  they  were 
not  there,"  notes  Forest.  Pastor  Baer 
and  Marion  drove  into  nearby 
Hazard  to  pick  up  some  other 
materials  and  saw  the  trusses  sitting 
on  a  truck  at  the  toll  booth.  After 
some  investigation,  they  discovered 
the  driver  had  gone  with  another 
man  to  deliver  trusses  elsewhere. 
Baer  and  Forest  got  permission  to 
take  their  trusses  with  them  and  by 
9:30  p.m.  the  supporting  rafters  were 
in  place. 

Saturday  morning  the  rain  started 
in  again.  "The  wood  became  so  slick 
we  couldn't  handle  it,"  recalls  Forest. 
Again  the  group  entered  the  chapel 
for  a  prayer  meeting  and  again  with- 
in 15  minutes  the  rain  had  stopped 
and  a  gentle,  drying  breeze  began  to 
blow. 

By  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
the  project  was  finished.  The  build- 
ing was  roughed  in,  wiring  installed, 
the  doors  and  windows  in  place. 

That  night  the  men  watched 
Pastor  Sam  carry  a  Bible  and  a  card 
table  across  the  lawn  to  the  new 
structure. 

"We  sneaked  up  and  there  he  was 
in  his  office,  studying,"  says  Forest 
with  a  smile.  "He  said  he  just 
couldn't  resist  going  up  there."     □ 


GBHMC 


NOVEMBER  '85 


23 


Building  A  Bridge 

To  Touch  The 

World 


3rd  in  a  series  of  3 
By  Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson 

Executive  Secretary 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 

The  term  "world"  has  become  prominent  in  20th  cen- 
tury vocabulary.  "Small  world,"  "world  wars,"  "third  world," 
and  "world  travelers"  are  all  common  expressions  in  our 
modern  communications.  Perhaps  this  is  because  the  globe 
has  seemingly  grown  smaller  in  the  light  of  modern  com- 
munications. Satellites  make  immediate  dissemination  of 
current  events  from  every  point  of  the  compass  possible. 
Pictures  beamed  back  from  astronauts  on  their  explosive 
flight  into  space  has  put  the  planet  in  a  new  perspective. 

In  spite,  however,  of  this  shrinking  process  the  world  still 
remains  the  number  one  challenge  for  believers.  Our  Lord's 
injunction  to  take  His  message  into  "all  the  world"  still  re- 
mains an  unaccomplished  fact  even  after  two  thousand 
years  of  missionary  activity. 

We  do  want  to  touch  this  world  in  some  significant  way 
in  our  lifetime.  To  do  so  will  require  a  view  through  the 
eyes  of  our  Lord.  Unfortunately,  our  perspective  has  been 
grossly  distorted  by  the  propaganda  of  secular  media.  The 
emphasis  on  physical  suffering,  political  unrest,  economic 
inequities,  and  cultural  distinctives,  has  blurred  our  vision 
until  we  no  longer  see  the  world  as  the  center  stage  for 
God's  great  redemptive  program. 

The  world  is  the  object  of  God's  love.  Not  the 
geographical  terrain  blighted  by  draught,  nor  the 
sophisticated  advantages  of  western  society,  not  even  the 
political  systems  which,  today,  promise  more  than  they  can 
deliver,  but  people!  The  published  accounts  of  social  in- 
justices throughout  the  world  have  so  dulled  our  spiritual 
senses  that  we  reshape  our  theology  in  order  to  justify  our 
involvement  in  some  remedial  action.  We  want  so 
desperately  to  correct  the  evils  of  man's  actions  that  we 
substitute  means  other  than  that  described  in  the  Bible  as 
being  the  sole  solution  to  man's  spiritual  plight  —  the 
Gospel! 

If  we  are  to  touch  the  world  we  must  not  resort  to  a 
bushel  of  grain  for  a  starving  peasant  or  a  cleverly 
engineered  dam  designed  to  provide  irrigation  for  a  thirsty 
land.  Our  priority  must  be  the  seeds  of  truth  sown  in  the 
fertile  soil  of  hungry  hearts  and  nourished  by  that  spiritual 
water  that  promises  to  "spring  up  into  a  fountain  of 
everlasting  life." 

An  inventory  of  personal  assets  makes  clear  the  fact  that, 
individually,  we  stand  little  hope  of  making  significant  im- 
pact on  such  a  world.  Like  the  disciples  of  Jesus'  day  when 


faced  with  the  feeding  of  the 
multitudes  with  five  barley  loaves  and 
two  small  fishes,  we  must  conclude 
"What  are  they  among  so  many?"  As 
much  as  I  desire  to  touch  those  far  off 
places,  I  am  doomed  to  failure  if  left 
to  accomplish  the  task  alone.  The  job 
is  simply  too  great!  We  can  only  do  so 
by  building  a  bridge  that  spans  the  dis- 
tance from  the  homeland  to  the  far 
corners  of  the  world  which  can  pro- 
vide an  avenue  for  channeling  the  ef- 
forts of  many  into  strategic  points. 

Recently  while  crossing  the  San 
Francisco  Bay,  I  was  impressed  with 
the  tremendous  amount  of  traffic  that 
surges  in  and  out  of  the  city  each  day 
across  the  high  suspension  bridge.  The 
bridge's  ability  to  handle  the  Herculean 
task  is,  essentially,  rooted  in  the  im- 
mense abutments  to  which  the  span 
is  anchored.  One  can  see  the  massive 
steel  cables  disappearing  into  the  con- 
crete bunkers  which  reach  deep  into 
the  bowels  of  the  earth.  These  fortress- 
like structures  driven  deep  into  solid 
rock  provide  a  stable  foundation  for 
the  massive  weight  of  the  bridge  itself, 
in  addition  to  the  traffic  it  carries. 

We  need  a  bridge  if  we  are  to  effec- 
tively touch  the  world  with  the  mes- 
sage of  hope.  Like  this  eighth  wonder 
of  the  world  which  spans  the  Bay  of 
San  Francisco,  it  must  be  anchored  in 
a  support  system  which  can  bear  the 
weight  of  responsibility  placed  upon  it. 
That  anchor  is  the  church  in  America. 
With  every  new  congregation,  we  bol- 
ster and  firm  up  our  support  system. 

A  close  evaluation  of  the  giving 
records  of  two  former  home  mission 
churches  in  1984  dramatizes  this  truth. 
These  two  congregations  developed 
for  a  mere  $15,000  provided  through 
the  Home  Missions  offering  a  few 
years  ago  returned  a  total  of  $310,000 
missionary  dollars  to  our  Fellowship 
last  year  alone!  No  other  missionary 
investment  that  I  know  of  could  return 
such  dramatic  financial  dividends 
which  will  continue  to  multiply. 

There  are  other  important  factors 
that  keep  that  great  bridge  in  San 
Francisco  in  top  working  order  and 
open  to  the  traffic.  The  secret  of  its 
longevity  is  a  program  of  continual 
maintenance.  The  corrosive  elements 
that  swirl  around  the  super  structure 
would  make  it  a  useless  mass  of  rusty 
steel  and  sagging  cable  without  daily 
inspection  and  restoration.  Crews  of 
workmen  swarm  over  the  bridge  in 
tiny  bosun  chairs  carefully  inspecting 


every  inch  for  signs  of  metal  fatigue  or 
corrosion.  Immediate  action  is  taken 
to  correct  any  signs  of  deterioration. 
Our  bridge,  likewise,  needs  atten- 
tion. A  careful  inspection  reveals  some 
dangerous  flaws  that,  if  left  unat- 
tended, will  eventually  halt  that  flow 
of  missionary  service  which  it  was 
designed  to  carry.  There  are  the  early 
signs  of  minute  stretching  in  the  cable 
of  truth  that  makes  our  Fellowship 


"We  need  ...  a 
bridge  if  we  are  to 
effectively  touch 
the  world  with  the 
message  of  hope 
.  .  .  it  must  be  an- 
chored in  a  sup- 
port system  .  .  ." 


what  it  is.  These  are  the  early  signs  of 
ecumenism.  This  dread  malady  does 
not  appear  under  its  old  cloak  of 
deception  which  included  an  invitation 
for  us  to  "all  get  together."  But  now  it 
appears  in  a  more  subtle  dress,  that  of 
"tolerance"  for  those  that  are  "dif- 
ferent." We  should  all  be  grateful  for 
every  witness  for  Christ  which  results 
in  the  transformation  of  lives.  On  the 
other  hand  we  should  not  be  lured  into 
some  kind  of  alliance  which  demands 
that  someone  (you  can  guess  who?) 
must  give  us  some  truth  or  doctrine 
which  previously  was  considered 
precious.  Keep  in  mind  that  Paul's  in- 
junction to  the  Ephesian  church  was 
a  desire  that  they  would  all  come  into 
a  "unity  of  the  faith"  which  suggests 
something  other  than  concession. 

Secondly  our  supportive  anchor  is 
also  endangered  by  the  tiny  little  pits 
of  uncertainty  as  to  the  legitimacy 
"missions  at  home."  Surprisingly  these 
warning  signs  are  overlooked  in  our  ef- 
forts to  maintain  our  lifeline.  Are  we 
to  conclude  that  those  living  in 
America  are  better  than  those  in  far  off 
pagan  lands?  Are  we  not,  in  all  of  our 
affluence,  just  as  lost  as  the  dark 
skinned  native  running  naked  along 
the  banks  of  some  distant  river?  Is  not 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  just  as 
necessary  for  us  in  this  quandrant  of 
the  world?  Of  course  it  is  and  thus  we 
qualify  as  a  valid  mission  field. 


Thirdly,  one  notes  a  weakness  in 
our  effectiveness  in  maintaining  the 
fruit  of  our  ministry.  The  transient 
nature  of  our  society  continues  to  take 
its  toll  on  every  Grace  Brethren  church 
in  America.  Little  effort  is  made  to  cor- 
rect this  errosive  characteristic.  Each 
one  of  these  mobile  members  could 
easily  become  the  seed  family  for  a 
new  congregation  but  we  simply  allow 
them  to  slip  away  unnoticed.  We  must 
scrape  away  the  rust  of  unconcern  and 
address  this  avenue  of  church  exten- 
sion. It  will  take  some  effort  to  indoc- 
trinate these  people  with  a  missionary 
spirit  but  it  can  be  done.  Loyalty  to  our 
Fellowship  must  be  revived  if  we  are 
to  change  our  diminutive  stature. 

Fourth,  our  inspection  brings  to  light 
yet  another  potential  problem  as  to 
who  is  responsible  for  church  exten- 
sion. The  lack  of  personal  involvement 
has  contributed  to  this  serious  condi- 
tion. For  too  long  we  have  delegated 
this  ministry  to  others  who  have 
themselves  little  or  no  substantive 
resources  to  accomplish  the  task. 
Establishing  new  churches  must 
become  the  dominant  theme  of  every 
single  congregation  which  alone  has 
the  facilities  to  accomplish  the  task. 
There  must  be  in  every  congregation 
a  renewed  commitment  to  church 
planting  in  America. 

Our  survey  reveals  a  weakness  in 
the  sagging  cables  of  doctrinal  cer- 
tainty. We  have  allowed  our  priorities 
to  change  in  recent  years  in  the  ongo- 
ing debate  about  our  statement  of 
faith.  Such  polemics  contribute  to  a 
distrust  on  the  part  of  potential  candi- 
dates for  ministry.  We  must  carefully 
scrape  away  the  scales  of  doubt  which 
have  tended  to  a  general  organiza- 
tional disarray.  We  must  refocus  our 
attention  now  on  our  primary  task  of 
outreach  and  evangelism.  Loyalty  and 
allegiance  to  the  tenets  of  our  faith  is 
the  very  cornerstone  of  growth  within 
our  Fellowship. 

Beginning  churches  in  America 
becomes  a  vital  span  in  the  bridge  that 
provides  an  avenue  of  access  to  the 
world  at  large.  We  can  from  this  super- 
structure reach  out  and  touch  the 
world  with  the  message  of  hope  but 
unless  we  shore  up  the  church  at 
home  we  shall  find  our  objective 
elusive.  We  dare  not,  any  longer,  ig- 
nore the  warning  signs  of  neglect 
which  cry  out  for  immediate  attention. 
Our  bridge  is  in  imminent  danger!  Act 
now  and  keep  the  traffic  flowing!  □ 


GBHMC 


NOVEMBER  '85 


25 


Having  Control  of  Our  Public, 
Prayer,  and  Private  Lives 


by  Charles  Barnhill 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

Mifflin,  Ohio 


In  Philippians  4,  the  apostle  Paul 
starts  to  bring  his  letter  to  a  close  with 
some  final  exhortations  to  these 
believers.  He  deals  with  three  basic  at- 
titudes —  the  attitude  of  these 
believers  in  relation  to  each  other  in 
the  church,  the  attitude  of  their 
prayers,  and  the  overall  mental  atti- 
tude of  their  private  lives. 

We  usually  see  the  Philippian 
church  as  the  congregation  that  had 
it  all  together.  They  had  a  good  group 
of  people  (Phil.  1:5).  They  had  sup- 
ported the  missionary  work  of  Paul, 
even  when  none  of  the  other  churches 
did  (Phil.  4:15).  Epaphroditus  was 
their  own  personal  minister  sent  on 
their  behalf  to  assist  Paul  in  his  im- 
prisonment (Phil.  4:18).  In  spite  of  all 
of  this,  they  had  a  need  for  revival! 

There  was  conflict  among  the  peo- 
ple showing  that  the  Lord's  command 
to  love  one  another  was  not  being 
followed.  Euodia  and  Syntyche 
seemed  to  be  at  odds  with  one 
another  and  the  church  was  suffering 
because  of  it.  Whoever  the  "true  com- 
rade" is  we  are  not  told,  but  being  a 
pastor,  I  can  sympathize  with  his  task 
of  reconciling  these  two  bickering  per- 
sons. It  is  often  more  pleasurable  to 
hold  a  funeral  service  than  to  settle  a 
difference  between  two  individuals 
who  are  out  of  fellowship. 

These  were  all  good  people  who 
had  served  well  in  the  past,  but  now 
personal  conflicts  were  causing  harm 
to  the  rest  of  the  body.  Today  many 
churches  are  suffering  from  the  same 
problem.  In  our  public  attitude  toward 
each  other,  the  way  of  the  world  is 
prevailing,  not  the  way  of  love.  How 
desperately  we  need  to  let  a  spirit  of 
cooperation  and  unity  have  control. 


Our  Lord  certainly  cannot  be  pleased 
with  a  spirit  of  disharmony.  Paul's  ad- 
monition to  "rejoice  in  the  Lord 
always"  in  view  of  his  nearness  needs 
to  be  taken  to  heart  even  more  today. 
With  His  soon  return  and  glory  before 
us,  it  makes  petty  and  personal  indif- 
ference appear  insignificant. 

Secondly  in  the  prayer  life  of  those 
believers,  we  see  there  was  a  need  for 

Our  Lord  certainly 
cannot  be  pleased  with 
a  spirit  of  dis-harmony. 


less  worry  and  more  peace.  The  cure 
for  anxiety  is  to  give  everything  over 
to  the  Lord.  In  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  Christ  expounded  on  anxiety 
telling  us  that  our  clothing,  food,  ap- 
pearance, and  yes,  even  our  life  is  not 
to  be  our  worry,  but  to  "seek  first  His 
kingdom,  His  righteousness"  (Mat- 
thew 6).  The  worry  and  disharmony 
of  the  Philippian  believers  was 
affecting  their  prayer  life. 

Today  in  our  churches  and  our  per- 
sonal life,  our  prayer  attitude  centers 
more  on  worry  and  wants,  rather  than 
rejoicing  and  needs.  There  is  a  need 
for  a  real  revival  in  our  prayer  attitude. 
We  need  to  box  up  our  anxieties,  put 
a  ribbon  of  thanksgiving  securely 
around  them,  and  deliver  them  to  the 
Lord  by  prayer  and  supplication. 

Last  of  all,  we  see  the  need  for  a 
private  mental  attitude  which  focuses 
on  a  much  higher  spiritual  level  than 
what  is  around  us.  Apparently  the 
Philippian  believers  had  let  their  frame 
of  mind  drag  down  with  their  other 
problems.  If  the  fellowship  with  one 
another  had  fallen  into  bickering  and 
prayer  life  had  lost  its  focus,  then  it  is 


no  wonder  their  mental  outlook  had 
turned  sour. 

Paul  wants  them  to  concentrate  on 
the  higher  thoughts  of  truth,  not  lies. 
Honor,  not  dishonor.  Right,  not 
wrong.  Purity,  not  impurity.  Good 
reports,  not  bad.  It  is  said  that  what  a 
person  thinks,  that  is  what  they 
become. 

If  ever  there  was  an  area  in  the 
believer's  life  under  attack,  it  is  in  the 
area  of  the  private  mental  process.  We 
notice  in  news  reports,  magazines, 
books,  television,  entertainment,  and 
much  of  what  is  around  us,  the  mind 
is  constantly  under  siege.  The  worldly 
focus  is  on  violence,  immorality,  and 
mayhem,  and  for  the  believer,  the 
mind  needs  to  be  rescued  from  these 
things.  Even  as  in  the  time  of  the 
Philippian  church,  there  needs  to  be 
a  revival  of  letting  the  mind  dwell  on 
lofty  things,  instead  of  the  gutter  of  the 
world's  refuse. 

In  conclusion,  have  we  given  con- 
trol of  our  public  relationships,  our  at- 
titude of  prayer,  and  our  private 
thought  life  completely  over  to  the 
Lord?  Is  there  peace  and  harmony,  in 
our  relationship  to  one  another,  our 
Lord,  and  yes,  even  ourselves?  What 
kind  of  a  letter  would  the  apostle  Paul 
write  to  your  church  and  mine?     □ 


Charles  Barnhill 
is  the  founding 
pastor  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at 
Mifflin,  Ohio.  He  at- 
tended Ashland 
College  and  Ohio 
State  University, 
and  is  a  graduate  of  Ashland  Theological 
Seminary.  He  and  his  wife,  Lauretta,  have 
three  children. 


26 


NOVEMBER  '85 


GBHMC 


Lima  Goes  Self-Supporting 


The  Grace 
Brethren  Church 
at  Lima,  Ohio 
has  taken  a  step 
of  faith  and  is  self- 
supporting  as  of 
October  1. 

"Our  third 
Pastor  Emory  and        quarter  offerings 

Marsha  Young  were     good     and 

we  are  trusting  the  Lord  for  bright  days 
ahead,"  reports  Pastor  Emory  (Zeke) 
Young.  "We  are  truly  thankful  for 
Home  Missions  and  all  the  support 
they  have  given  over  the  past  years. 
We  are  looking  forward  to  continuing 
and  hopefully  increasing  our  support 
of  the  Home  Missions  team." 


Bible  Study  Program 

The  Grace  Brethren  Church  at 
Newark,  Delaware  is  utilizing  the 
Navigator  2:7  Bible  study  series  this 
fall.  Pastor  Tim  Coyle  leads  one  group, 
his  wife,  Mary,  leads  another  with  the 
ladies,  while  a  layman  (who  previously 
went  through  the  study  with  the 
pastor)  directs  the  third. 

"The  studies  should  lead  to  some 
really  solid  mature  people  in  our 
church,"  comments  the  pastor. 

Commitments  Run  Deep 

"God  has  blessed  us  with  deeper 
commitments  in  three  families,"  says 
Pastor  Darrel  G.  Taylor,  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Brunswick,  Maine. 

One  man,  who  recently  began  to  at- 
tend the  Home  Mission  church,  has 
proposed  to  speak  to  two  families  each 
week  for  the  Lord.  "He  is  a  long  time 
resident  of  the  area  with  many  con- 
tacts," notes  the  pastor. 

"We  sense  that  we  are  nearing 
abundant  blessing  in  people,"  he  adds. 
"Our  name  is  spreading  as  a  solid  Bi- 
ble teaching  ministry." 

And  Life  Goes  On  .  .  . 

The  progression  of  life  is  evident  at 
the  East  Atlanta  Grace  Brethren 
Church  in  Georgia.  "Our  second 
generation  disciplers  are  beginning 
discipleships,"  reports  Pastor  Ernest 
Usher.  Many  of  these  second  genera- 
tion Christians  were  originally  discipl- 
ed  by  the  Pastor  and  his  wife,  LaVon, 
after  their  arrival  in  Atlanta  in  1983. 


Building  Plans 
At  New  Albany 

Now  that  their  plans  for  go- 
ing self-supporting  on  Dec.  31, 
1985  have  been  announced, 
the  Grace  Brethren  Church  at 
New  Albany,  Indiana  has  gone 
on  with  the  goal  of  breaking 
ground  for  their  building. 

"A  building  committee  has 
taken   shape   and   is  already 
planning  for  a  structure,"  says 
Pastor  Dave  Troxel. 
But  the  best  news  came  as  the  congregation  came  to  the  last  few  payments 
on  their  property. 

"We  paid  our  land  debt  off  one  month  early!"  the  pastor  proclaims.  "We 
now  own  four  and  one-half  of  the  best  acres  in  New  Albany. 

Many  prayers  through  the  years  have  been  answered  with  the  paying  off 
that  debt. 


Five  years  ago  the  New  Albany,  Ind.  GBC  dedicated  this 
property.  It  is  now  paid  for  and  Ihey  are  planning  a  new  building 


The  staff  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 
joins  with  you  and  your  family  in  giving  thanks  during  this 
special  season. 

The  Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 

Box  587 

Winona  Lake,  Indiana  46590 

(219)  267-5161 


ClBHMC    NOVEMBER  '85  27 


ANOTHER  BMH  -  MOODY  IMPRINT! 

Introducing  a  Publishing  Landmark  That  Will 
Forever  Change  The  Way  You  Read  Your  Bible. 


Imagine  climbing  the  jagged  bluffs  that  Moses 
ascended  on  Mount  Sinai.  Or  wandering 
through  the  barren  wilderness  of  Judea  where 
Christ  was  tempted.  Or  even  tracing  Paul's 
footsteps  through  Turkey,  Greece,  and  Italy. 

In  The  Moody  Atlas  of  Bible  Lands, 
these  familiar  images  take  on  a  whole  new 
dimension  and  significance  as  you  discover 
how  God  used  the  geography  of  His  chosen 
land  to  chart  the  course  of  history. 

TO  APPRECIATE  THE 

"HOW"AND"WHY,"YOU 

HAVE  TO  UNDERSTAND 

THE"WHERE." 

The  Moody  Atlas  adds  clarity  and  detail  to 
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You'll  learn  the  geographical  factors 
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Discover  why  Jesus  centered  his  public  ministry 
in  the  city  of  Capernaum.  And  how  an  earth- 
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Dr.  Barry  J.  Beitzel,  one  of  the  world's  leading 
experts  on  biblical  geography,  leaves  virtually 
no  stone  unturned.  You'll  explore  every  Bible 
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The  Moody  Atlas  brings  an  entire 
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after  page  of  vivid  photography,  and  100 
exquisitely  drawn  and  never-before -pub- 
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of  terrain  drawing  that  makes  every  deline- 
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distinguish  color. 

There's  a  fascinating  chapter  on 
the  history  of  biblical  mapmaking.  And  a 
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As  long  as  the  supply  lasts,  you'll 
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INTRODUCTORY  OFFER! 

Regular  price,  $29.95 

SPECIAL  PRICE 
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HERALD  BOOKSTORE 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


BRETHREN    MISSIONARY    HERALD 

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Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


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Correction 

RpnnpsteH 


1986  GRACE  BRETHREN 

ANNUAL 


1985 


-•  A  Warm  Church  In  The  Cold  North 
•  Stress:  How  To  Cope 


Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 

NATIONAL  BUSINESS  OFFICES:  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  (except  where  noted) 

NEXT  CONFERENCE:  August  3-8, 1986  at  Winona  Lake,  IN.  CONFERENCE  COORDINATOR 
Rev.  Charles  Ashman,  RO.  Box  386,  Winona  Lake,  IN.  Phone:  219/267-5566. 

BMH  PRINTING  (25  Kings  Highway) 219-267-740C 

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Russel  Dunlap  (Res.) 219/267-6822      Donald  Miller  (Res.) 209/527-0708 

GRACE  SCHOOLS  (200  Seminary  Drive) 219/372-5100 

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Jesse  B.  Deloe  (Res.) 267-8889      Ronald  E.  Clinger  (Res.) 267-5448 

E.  William  Male  (Res.) 267-7427      Jerry  Twombly  (Res.) 267-7599 

Vance  A.  Yoder  (Res.) 269-2260 

GRACE  VILLAGE  RETIREMENT  COMPLEX  (P.O.  Box  337)   219/372-6100 

GRACE  VILLAGE  HEALTH  CARE  FACILITY 

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NATIONAL  FELLOWSHIP  OF  GRACE  BRETHREN  MINISTERS 

Exec.  Secy:  Rev.  Ralph  Colburn,  3490  LaJara  St.,  Long  Beach,  CA  90805  213/630-2122 


1986 

GRACE 

BRETHREN 

ANNUAL 


CONTAINING:  MINUTES  OF  THE 

96TH  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE 

OF  THE 

FELLOWSHIP  OF  GRACE  BRETHREN  CHURCHES 

HELD  AUGUST  10-16,  1985 

AT  ESTES  PARK,  COLORADO 


December  1985 
Published  by 

THE  BRETHREN  MISSIONARY  HERALD  CO. 

Charles  W.  Turner,  Publisher  and  General  Manager 
P.O.  BOX  544  /  WINONA  LAKE,  INDIANA  46590 


Table  of  Contents 


DISTRICT  CONFERENCES 

Allegheny 54 

Arctic  55 

Florida 55 

Hawaii 55 

Indiana 56 

Iowa-Midlands  57 

Michigan 58 

Mid-Atlantic   58 

Mountain-Plains 59 

Nor-Cal 60 

Northcentral  Ohio  60 

Northeastern  Ohio 61 

Northern  Atlantic 62 

Northwest 63 

Southern 64 

Southern  California-Arizona  65 

Southern  Ohio 66 

Southwest 67 

Virginia 68 

Western  Pennsylvania 69 

NATIONAL  FELLOWSHIP 

Churches,  Directory  of  Brethren 71 

Districts,  Directory  of 52 

Ministers,  Roster  of 89 

Minutes  of  1985  National  Fellowship- 
Business  Sessions 13 

Moderator's  Address 5 

Organization  and  Committees 3 

Statistical  Report 22 

NATIONAL  ORGANIZATIONS 

Board  of  Ministerial  Emergency  and 

Retirement 50 

Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Company 39 

Brethren  Women's  Missionary  Council 41 

Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Grace 

Brethren  Church 28 

GBC  Christian  Education  48 

Grace  Brethren  Board  of  Evangelism 50 

Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council  ....  32 

Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 35 

Grace  Brethren  Missions  Stewardship  Service  32 

Grace  Schools 36 

National  Fellowship  of  Brethren  Retirement 

Homes,  Inc 49 

National  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Men 

and  Boys 48 

National  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Ministers  45 

SMM 44 


Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 

OFFICERS 

Moderator  —  John  Mayes 

Vice  Moderator/Moderator-Elect  —  Tom  Julien 

Conference  Secretary  —  Ken  Koontz 

Treasurer  —  Larry  Chamberlain 

Statistician  —  Sherwood  Durkee 


Moderator,  ('85:86),  (Ex  Officio) 

John  W.  Mayes 

Moderator-Elect  ('85^86)  (Ex  Officio) 

Moderator  ('86*87) 

Tom  Julien 

Past  Moderator  ('84185)  (Ex  Officio) 

Lester  E.  Pifer 

Conference  Coordinator  and  Secy. 

Charles  Ashman 

Jerry  R.  Young,  ('89),  East 

Ron  E.  Thompson,  ('88),  East 


FELLOWSHIP  COUNCIL 

R.  Paul  Miller,  ('87),  East 
Russ  Ogden,  ('86),  East 
Jesse  Deloe,  ('89),  Central 
David  Plaster,  ('88),  Central 
J.  Hudson  Thayer,  ('87),  Central 
Howard  Mayes,  ('86),  Central 
James  M.  Kennedy,  ('89),  Western 
Dave  Marksbury,  ('88),  Western 
Don  Byers,  ('87),  Western 
Don  Eshelman,  ('86),  Western 


NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Ed  Cashman,  Chm. 
Jim  Dixon 
John  Burke 
Ralph  Colburn 

RETIREMENT  BENEFITS 
STUDY  COMMITTEE 

Larry  Chamberlain,  Chm. 
Carl  Miller 
Dewey  Melton 
Don  Shoemaker 
Elliott  Hudson 

COMMITTEE  ON  BUSINESS 
MEETING  DISPATCH 

Jesse  Deloe,  Chm. 
Lester  Pifer 
Charles  Ashman 

SOCIAL  CONCERNS  COMMITTEE 

(Includes  Sanctity  of  Life) 
(Five  year  terminus) 

John  Tfeevan 

Russ  Ogden 

Jeff  Guimont 

Louis  Amundson 


COMMITTEES 

RESOLUTIONS  COMMITTEE 

David  Miller  ('86) 
Bill  Snell  ('87) 
Dean  Riser  ('88) 

PARLIAMENTARY  COMMITTEE 

Jesse  Deloe  C86) 
Greg  Howell  ('87) 
Galen  Lingenfelter  ('88) 

PASTORLESS  CHURCHES/AVAILABLE 
MEN  COORDINATOR 

Howard  Mayes 

AUDITING  AND  FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

The  Fellowship  Council 

MODERATOR'S  ADDRESS 

Russ  Ogden 
Don  Byers 

CONFERENCE  COORDINATOR 

Charles  Ashman 

ENDORSING  AGENT 

Don  Carter 


MEMBERSHIP/CREDENTIALS  COMMITTEE 

Chm.  -  Charles  Thornton  ('86) 
Dan  Pritchett  ('86) 
Roger  Krynock  ('87) 
Greg  Howell  C87) 
Fenton  McDonald  ('88) 
John  Gregory  C88) 

CHRISTIAN  EDUCATION  BOARD 

Pres.  —  Paul  Mutchler  ('88) 
V.  Pres.  -  Don  Byers  ('88) 
Secy.  -  Bud  Olszewski  C86) 
At  Large  —  Bob  Divine  C87) 
At  Large  —  Dave  Marksbury  ('86) 
Dave  Belcher  ('86) 
Ed  Cashman  ('86) 
Mike  Clapham  ('88) 
Ray  Feather  ('87) 
Mike  Grill  C86) 
Steve  Jarrell  ('88) 
Bernie  Simmons  ('88) 
BOARD  OF  EVANGELISM 
Pres.  -  Ron  Thompson  ('87) 
V.  Pres.  —  Vernon  Harris  C88) 
Secy.  -  Fred  Sorrick  C87) 
Treas.  -  Warren  Zellner  C87) 
J.  Keith  Altig  086) 
Charles  Davis  087) 
Phillip  Guerena  088) 
Bill  Kellerman  086) 
Donald  Kendall  086) 
Logan  Miller  088) 
H.  Don  Rough  086) 
Glenn  Sharpe  088) 

NATIONAL  FELLOWSHIP  OF  GRACE 
BRETHREN  MINISTERS 

Pres.  —  John  Burke 

V.  Pres.  —  Ward  Miller 

Recording  Secy.  —  Ray  Davis 

Asst.  Recording  Secy.  —  Tim  Coyle 

Exec.  Secy.  —  Ralph  Colburn 
BOARD  OF  MINISTERIAL  EMERGENCY 
AND  RETIREMENT  BENEFITS 

Pres.  _  W.  Carl  Miller  088) 

V.  Pres.  -  Robert  Moeller  086) 

Secy.-Treas.  -  Clair  Brickel  086) 

Asst.  Secy.-Treas.  —  Kenneth  Koontz  087) 

William  Byers  087) 

Dewey  Melton  088) 

Wesley  Miller  087) 

Frank  Poland  086) 

Phillip  Simmons  088) 


MODERATORS 

1940-Charles  H.  Ashman,  Sr.* 
1941-L.  S.  Bauman* 
1942— Roy  Patterson* 
1943-Herman  A.  Hoyt 
1944-Russell  D.  Barnard 
1945— Kenneth  Ashman* 
1946— Bernard  Schneider* 
1947-W.  A.  Ogden* 
1948-Paul  Bauman 
1949-Miles  Taber* 
1950— Conard  Sandy* 
1951-Orville  Jobson* 
1952— Arnold  Kriegbaum 
1953-J.  L.  Gingrich* 
1954-R.  Paul  Miller,  Sr* 
1955— Thomas  Hammers 
1956-Bernard  Schneider* 
1957-Miles  Taber* 
1958-Paul  Dick 
1959-Harold  Etling* 
1960-Ralph  Colburn 
1961-John  Aeby 
1962-Mark  Malles 
1963-Kenneth  Ashman* 
1964-L.  L.  Grubb* 
1965— Richard  Grant 
1966-Glenn  O'Neal* 
1967-Homer  A.  Kent,  Sr* 
1968-Russell  D.  Barnard 
1969-Wesley  Haller 
1970-William  Tweeddale 
1971-Robert  Collitt* 
1972— Wayne  Beaver 
1973— Charles  Ashman 
1974-Scott  Weaver 
1975-Charles  Turner 
1976-Robert  W  Thompson 
1977— James  Custer 
1978— David  Hocking 
1979— Jesse  Deloe 
1980— Knute  Larson 
1981— Luke  Kauffman 
1982-Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
1983— Edwin  Cashman 
1984-Lester  E.  Pifer 
1985— John  Mayes 

Year  listed  denotes  the  year  in  which  the 
person  was  elected  moderator,  (*Denotes 
deceased.) 


"GO  TELL  IT  ON  THE  MOUNTAINS" 
Joshua  14:12 

1985  Moderator's  Address 

Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer 


God  in  His  marvelous  providence  has  permit- 
Ited  us  to  gather  for  another  conference  of 
fellowship,  inspiration,  instruction  and  plan- 
ning for  the  greatest  work  on  earth,  the  Chris- 
tian ministry,  the  propagation  of  His  truth, 
and  the  building  of  His  Church.  We  are  located 
|high  up  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  this  most 
gorgeous  spot  in  God's  creation.  We  have  before 
us  the  theme,  "Go  Tell  It  On  The  Mountains" 
drawn  from  our  conference  text,  "Now 
therefore  give  me  this  mountain,  whereof  the 
Lord  spoke  in  that  day;  .  .  ."  The  enormous 
challenge  of  the  mountains  which  our  Lord  has 
llaid  out  for  us  to  conquer  is  spelled  out  clear- 
ly in  the  Great  Commission.  "Go  ye  therefore, 
and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
iHoly  Ghost;  teaching  them  to  observe  all 
(things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you; 
|and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the 
iend  of  the  world."  (Matt.  28:19,  20) 
j  We  are  also  gathered  to  honor  and  celebrate 
the  85th  anniversary  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
(Foreign  Missionary  Society.  During  this  con- 
iference  we  shall  salute,  praise  and  express  our 
Isincere  appreciation  to  this  vital  and  impor- 
tant arm  of  our  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches.  Our  congratulations  is  whole- 
heartedly extended  to  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
JStaff,  Missionaries  and  Corporate  Membership 
both  of  the  present  and  the  past  for  the 
(outstanding  ministry  of  the  proclamation  of 
'the  message  of  Christ  and  His  Word  in  our 
Ifields  abroad.  Their  accomplishment  in  the 
Iface  of  major  obstacles,  physical  hardship,  the 
opposition  of  Satan's  forces  and  minimal  finan- 
cial support  is  a  record  for  which  we  must 
praise  the  Lord.  God  has  honored  and  provid- 
ed His  abundant  blessing,  through  these  85 
years,  upon  the  faithful  ministry  of  our 
dedicated  missionaries. 

I  am  deeply  grateful  for  the  honor  which  has 
been  given  to  me  as  your  moderator.  Since 
1939  I  have  not  missed  attending  a  national 
Iconference.  Each  year  as  the  moderator's  ad- 
I  dress  is  given,  I  have  been  amazed  at  the 
assessment  and  comprehension  that  each 
moderator  has  made  of  our  year's  work  and  the 


state  of  our  Fellowship.  This  year  it  has  been 
my  responsibility. 

I  want  to  express  my  appreciation  to  the  Na- 
tional Conference  Executive  Committee,  the 
Conference  Officers,  the  Conference  Planning 
Committee,  Pastor  Charles  Ashman,  con- 
ference coordinator,  my  faithful  staff  and 
secretary,  Marilyn  Orlando,  and  ihy  wife  for 
the  time  and  work  of  preparation  for  the  con- 
ference. The  response  from  our  Fellowship 
ministers  on  the  state  of  the  church  question- 
naire indicated  a  general  need  for  revival  in 
all  aspects  of  the  life  of  our  church.  The  let- 
ters of  encouragement,  comments  on  the  need 
for  revival  and  appreciation  for  my  years  of  ser- 
vice in  Home  Missions  have  been  many  from 
the  homeland  and  abroad.  These  assurances 
and  communications  have  brightened  my  days 
and  pointed  up  our  spiritual  needs. 

As  we  evaluate  our  reports,  assess  our  pro- 
gress, listen  to  our  national  pastors  speak  and 
consider  our  own  spiritual  condition,  I  trust 
we  will  be  ready  to  allow  the  Lord  to  work  in 
each  of  our  hearts  through  His  Spirit.  Never 
in  all  the  years  of  our  history  has  the  need  of 
our  church,  our  nation  and  our  world  been 
greater.  Never  has  the  time  left  for  the 
dissemination  of  the  Gospel  been  shorter  than 
in  this  hour.  The  open  doors  for  sowing  the 
seeds  of  truth,  the  saving  of  lost  souls,  and  the 
planting  of  Bible-believing  Grace  Brethren 
Churches  are  to  be  found  everywhere  at  home 
and  abroad.  In  the  words  of  the  Apostle  Paul, 
"And  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?"  (II 
Cor.  2:16). 

The  Apostle  Paul  has  a  deep  appreciation  for 
the  Gospel.  He  said  to  the  Corinthians;  "And 
I,  brethren,  when  I  came  to  you,  came  not  with 
excellency  of  speech  or  of  wisdom,  declaring 
unto  you  the  testimony  of  God.  For  I  determin- 
ed not  to  know  anything  among  you,  save 
Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified."  (I  Cor.  2:1-2). 

Tb  the  Galatians  he  said;  "But  God  forbid 
that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ, . . ."  (Gal.  6:19)  His  ministry  was 
wrapped  up  in  the  fragrance  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  the  message  of  the  cross. 

He  speaks  in  II  Cor.  2:14-17  of  our  ministry 


in  triumphant  terms.  "Now  thanks  be  unto 
God,  which  always  causeth  us  to  triumph  in 
Christ,  .  .  ."  Like  Paul,  the  appreciation  and 
praise  must  go  to  our  Lord  who  alone  can  cause 
us  to  have  triumphant  ministries  in  the  pro- 
clamation of  the  Gospel. 

Paul  continues;  "But  thanks  be  to  God,  who 
always  leads  us  in  triumphal  procession  in 
Christ  and  through  us  spreads  everywhere  the 
fragrance  of  the  knowledge  of  him."  (II  Cor. 
2:14  NTV).  As  ministers  of  the  truth  we  become 
a  fragrance  of  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  in 
every  place.  This  knowledge  is  like  sweet  per- 
fume; it  rises  like  the  smoke  of  the  incense  in 
the  midst  of  which  marched  the  conqueror's 
train  back  in  the  days  of  Rome. 

The  Roman  Guard  returning  victoriously 
marched  in  a  triumphant  procession  in  a 
public  holiday.  "The  procession  included  vic- 
tors and  victims.  The  victors,  with  the  com- 
mander at  the  head,  were  followed  by  the  con- 
quered army  including  the  vanquished  king, 
officers  and  soldiers  who  were  dragged  by 
chains  fastened  to  the  chariots  of  the  victors 
and  were  led  off  to  a  life  of  captivity  or  death. 
Long  lines  of  captives  bore  censers  filled  with 
burning  incense.  Sweet  spices  and  aromatics 
were  strewn  upon  the  street  and  everywhere 
was  the  scented  fragrance  of  victory's  perfume. 
It  was  a  notable  occasion  and  an  unforgettable 
sight."  (Laurin) 

Such  will  be  the  case  of  those  who  minister 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  as  Paul  did.  Christ  will 
lead  the  victory  march.  His  will  be  the  glory 
as  the  sweet  perfume  of  His  message  is  pro- 
claimed to  the  far  ends  of  the  earth. 

Looking  back  over  these  years  of  Grace 
Brethren  proclamation  of  the  truth  there  is 
much  for  the  praise  of  God.  We  have  experienc- 
ed the  power  of  that  Gospel  to  save.  We  have 
grasped  the  truth  of  the  Great  Commission 
which  we  have  proclaimed  at  home  and 
abroad.  From  a  humble  beginning  in  the  late 
thirties,  the  Gospel  in  church-planting 
ministries  has  spread  across  and  up  and  down 
this  nation  and  on  to  the  foreign  fields  through 
the  faithful  ministries  of  our  pastors,  mis- 
sionaries and  people.  God  has  caused  triumph 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  every  place 
where  we  have  been  privileged  to  go. 

The  sweet  fragrance  of  that  truth  has  gone 
to  them  that  are  saved  and  to  them  who  perish. 
To  the  one  we  are  the  savor  of  death  unto 
death;  and  to  the  other  the  savor  of  life  unto 
life. 

Who  is  sufficient  unto  these  things  or  who 
is  equal  to  such  a  task?  I  thank  God  over  and 
over  that  our  forefathers  in  the  faith,  our 
faithful  pastors,  and  our  schools  have  so  im- 


planted the  truth  of  the  Gospel  that  ovi 
message  will  have  a  double  effect.  Some  wi  I 
believe  it  and  will  rejoice  throughout  eterni 
ty.  Some  will  refuse  it  and  will  suffer  for  a 
eternity  as  they  perish.  It  is  a  savor  of  life  t 
life  and  death  to  death. 

Only  God  has  record  of  the  number  of  soul 
in  the  U.S.A.  and  in  our  foreign  fields  that  at 
perishing  because  they  rejected  the  Gospe 
faithfully  proclaimed.  God  has  been  please 
to  enable  us  to  reach  thousands  in  our  natio 
through  these  years  who  have  responde 
favorably.  The  present  membership  of  118,88 
baptized  Brethren  abroad  along  with  thos 
who  may  already  have  joined  the  heavenl 
throng  spells  out  a  triumphant  victory!  Prais 
the  Lord! 

It  would  be  well  for  us  to  heed  the  warnin 
in  this  passage,  first  of  all  that  triumph  come 
only  through  Christ.  Secondly,  the  tru 
message  of  the  Gospel  must  be  proclaime 
regardless  of  the  acceptance,  and  thirdly,  tha 
in  these  days  of  apostasy  that  we  do  not  fa) 
into  the  trap  of  the  devil,  corrupting  the  Wor 
of  insincerity.  I  like  the  NTV  rendering 
"Unlike  so  many,  we  do  not  peddle  the  Wor 
of  God  for  profit.  On  the  contrary,  in  Christ  w 
speak  before  God  with  sincerity,  like  men  sen 
from  God."  (II  Cor.  2:17  NTV) 

STATE  OF  THE  CHURCHES 
QUESTIONNAIRE 

Three  hundred  twelve  questionnaires  wer 
sent  to  pastors  and  churches  in  our  Fellowshi] 
concerning  the  state  of  our  churches,  our  need 
locally,  district-wise  and  nationally  along  witl! 
our  concern  for  missions,  both  Home  am* 
Foreign.  One  hundred  forty  seven  responded: 
a  mere  47%.  The  following  facts  then  represen 
that  portion  of  response,  however,  represen1 
tative  of  our  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethreil 
Churches.  I  will  now  proceed  with  the  ques 
tions  and  their  responses. 

1.  Does  your  church  have  an  active  outreacl' 
program? 

107,  Yes;  36,  No. 

If  yes,  what  type  of  program  do  you  have? 
89,  Visitation;  46,  Soul  winning;  8,  Brand1 
church;    7,    Friendship    evangelism;    31 
Evangelism  explosion. 

2.  As  senior  pastor  are  you  personally  involv' 
ed  in  the  outreach  program? 

127,  Yes;  10,  No. 

If  yes,  whatrare  you  involved  in? 

94,  Soul  winning;  117,  Visitation;  93,  Counsel 

ing;  61,  Administration. 

3.  As  senior  pastor  do  you  feel  your  church  i. 
doing  what  it  should  in  these  outreach  areas 


I  Soul  winning  —  31,  Yes;  105,  No. 

,.  Visitation  -  48,  Yes;  88,  No. 

!.  Branch  Church  -  30,  Yes;  50,  No. 

I.  District  missions  —  92,  Yes;  39,  No. 

.  Home  Missions  —  90,  Yes;  41,  No. 

.  Foreign  Missions  —  97,  Yes;  37,  No. 

.  Has  your  outreach  program  been  evaluated 

i  the  past  year? 

9,  Yes;  51,  No. 

..  If  yes,  who  conducted  the  evaluation? 

5,  Church  Elders  or  Deacon  Board;  6,  Con- 

regation;  28,  Pastoral  Staff. 

.  Has  your  church  seen  a  decline  in  atten- 

ance  in  your  Bible  School  or  Sunday  School 

i  the  past  three  years? 

3,  Yes;  89,  No. 

.  Has  any  of  the  Christian  education  leader- 

lip  in  your  church  attended  a  Christian 

iucation  or  Sunday  school  conference  in  the 

ast  five  years? 

S,  Yes;  46,  No. 

.  If  yes,  who  has  attended? 

3,  Sunday  School  Superintendent;  28,  Chris- 

an  Ed  Director;  78,  Sunday  School  Teachers. 

.  If  yes,  what  conferences  did  they  attend? 

1,  GBC  Christian  Ed  Seminar;  23,  Grace 
rethren  Youth  Workers  Conference;  78, 
ther. 

,  What  percentage  of  your  total  church  giv- 

lg  went  to  missions  in  1984? 

he  response  was  so  varied  no  accurate  report 

mid    be    made.    The    statistician's    report 

sealed: 

rethren  Home  Missions  -  $900,072 

rethren  Foreign  Missions  —  $2,024,065 

istrict  Missions  —  $229,448 

on-Brethren  Missions  -  $956,834 

.  Is  your  church  more  responsive  to  one  type 

'  missions  over  another? 

2,  Yes;  47,  No. 

.  If  yes,  what  type  of  missions  is  your  church 
tore  responsive? 

3,  Home  Missions;  62,  Foreign  Missions;  3, 
istrict  Missions. 

.  Do  you  feel  this  responsiveness  is  emotional- 
•  oriented  or  traditionally  oriented? 
,  Emotionally;  13,  Traditionally;  32,  Both. 
.  Do  you  feel  this  is  Biblically  based? 
D,  Yes;  42,  No. 

Do  you  feel  your  church  sees  a  need  for 
•oadening  the  financial  base  of  support  in  the 
nited  States? 
5,  Yes;  23,  No. 

).  Do  you  feel  your  church  sees  the  need  for 
iore  Grace  Brethren  Churches  in  the  United 
tates? 

15,  Yes;  13,  No. 

I.  Do  you  feel  your  church  sees  a  need  for  the 
ospel  in  America? 


139,  Yes;  2,  No. 

12.  Do  you  see  hindrances  to  Foreign  Missions 
giving  in  your  church? 

43,  Yes;  95,  No. 

13.  Do  you  see  hindrances  to  Home  Missions 
giving  in  your  church? 

58,  Yes;  81,  No. 

14.  Do  you  have  any  overall  suggestions  for 
Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  or  Grace 
Brethren  Home  Missions? 

62,  Yes;  68,  No. 

15.  How  many  missionaries  or  mission  staff 
personnel  has  your  church  produced? 
Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  —  181 
Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  —  130 
Non-Brethren  Foreign  Missions  —  90 
Non-Brethren  Home  Missions  —  58 

16.  What  do  you  consider  the  greatest  spiritual 
need  of  your  local  church? 

140,  Revival;  20,  Greater  commitment  to 
outreach. 

17.  What  do  you  consider  the  greatest  spiritual 
need  in  your  district? 

5,  Revival;  111  listed  spiritual  needs  for 
fellowship  unity,  oneness,  greater  commitment 
to  the  cause  of  Christ  and  loyalty. 

18.  What  do  you  see  as  the  greatest  spiritual 
need  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches? 

127,  Revival  or  similar  spiritual  needs. 

19.  How  many  staff  members  (including 
pastor)  does  your  church  have? 

147  churches  listed: 
188  full-time  pastoral 
32  part-time  pastoral 
34  locally  trained 
50  full-time  secretarial 
50  part-time  secretarial 
42  locally  trained 

The  final  questions  had  to  do  with  steward- 
ship in  the  local  church.  Sixty-one  churches 
had  stewardship  conferences  within  the  last 
six  year  period.  Sixty-six  churches  had  people 
die  within  the  last  three  year  period.  Twenty- 
one  churches  received  estates  amounting  to 
$168,000. 

BOARDS  AND  AUXILIARY  TRIBUTE 

This  96th  Conference  of  the  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches  salutes  and  ap- 
plauds The  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  on  this  their  85th  anniversary! 
This  aspect  of  our  missionary  outreach  faces 
a  tremendous  challenge  in  the  staggering 
population  growth  of  our  world  with  an 
estimate  of  7  billion  people  by  the  year  2000. 
A  goal  has  been  set  to  increase  its  missionary 
personnel  by  254%  in  the  next  ten  years.  This 
means  an  addition  of  222  candidates  must  be 


recruited,  trained,  and  sent  out. 

During  this  past  year,  three  new  fields  were 
opened;  Spain,  Philippines  and  Japan;  and  17 
new  missionaries  were  sent  out. 

lb  face  the  challenges  of  the  future,  Rev.  John 
Zielasko,  general  director,  says:  (1)  Our  Na- 
tional Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 
will  need  to  double  their  membership  in  the 
next  years  with  each  church  seeking  to  plant 
another  church.  (2)  Grace  Brethren  mis- 
sionaries cannot  expect  the  mission  society  to 
provide  the  funds  for  this  enormous  task  but 
will  have  to  enlist  the  help  of  the  national 
church  to  supply  personnel,  outfit  funds  and 
support.  (3)  That  Grace  Seminary  (the  source 
of  most  Brethren  missionaries)  will  need  to 
strengthen  its  missions  program  to  encourage 
a  greater  percentage  of  students  to  enter 
missions. 

Our  statistical  report  and  our  Brethren  An- 
nual do  not  reveal  the  true  growth  of  our  Grace 
Brethren  Fellowship.  I  have  requested  and  will 
state  here  statistics  of  what  God  has  done 
through  the  proclamation  of  the  Word  abroad. 

In  Argentina,  we  have  14  congregations, 
total  membership  of  480  with  8  national 
pastors. 

In  North  Brazil,  we  have  16  churches,  total 
membership  of  942  with  14  national  pastors. 

In  South  Brazil,  one  church,  total  member- 
ship of  43,  no  national  pastor. 

In  Central  African  Republic,  558  churches, 
membership  113,571,  and  281  ordained  and 
licensed  elders. 

In  the  Chad,  about  40  churches  with  a 
membership  of  3,500. 

In  France,  2  churches,  total  membership  79, 
and  one  national  pastor. 

In  Germany,  one  church,  total  membership 
22,  and  one  national  pastor. 

In  Mexico,  9  churches,  total  membership  250, 
and  nine  national  pastors. 

Brethren,  for  the  information  of  those  who 
say  we  have  not  grown,  listen  to  this  report! 
Starting  with  approximately  75  churches  and 
78  pastors  in  the  U.S.A.  and  two  foreign  mis- 
sion fields  in  1939  we  now  have  307  churches 
in  the  homeland,  350  pastors  in  the  U.S.A.,  and 
abroad  we  have  a  total  of  641  organized  chur- 
ches, a  membership  of  118,887  (all  triune  im- 
mersed) and  314  national  pastors!  This  brings 
us  to  a  grand  total  of  our  Grace  Brethren 
Fellowship  internationally,  948  churches, 
160,620  members  and  approximately  665 
pastors  plus  our  home  and  foreign  missionaries 
not  listed  in  pastoral  category.  This  is  reason 
to  praise  God  for  His  blessing! 

The  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Coun- 
cil deserves  the  commendation  of  this  con- 


ference for  their  church-planting  efforts  dui  I 
ing  these  growing  years.  Laboring  under  th  I 
obstacles  of  inflation,  limited  funds,  a  secula  I 
humanistic  society,  so  materialisticall; ; 
oriented,  they  have  forged  ahead  and  expanci( 
ed  our  Fellowship  in  the  homeland.  Our  cor  ij 
gratulations  on  the  completion  of  the  Navajo 
all-purpose  building!  During  the  '84  year  mop  I 
churches  arrived  at  self-supporting  status,  am  I 
5  new  points  were  adopted.  This  brings  us  | 
a  total  of  over  60  new  churches  added  to  ou  I 
fellowship  by  the  Council,  Districts  and  loca  ; 
church  branches  since  the  Bountiful  Harves 
awakening  came  at  the  '79  conference. 

Present  and  former  home  mission  churche, 
provided  almost  50%  of  the  offerings  fo: 
Foreign  Mission  outreach  in  this  year.  It  point 
up  the  necessity  for  further  home  mission  ex 
pansion  of  the  home  base  if  we  are  to  meet  th( 
challenges  abroad  in  the  future. 

Government  statisticians  say  that  over  : 
million  new  Americans  are  arriving  in  thii  i 
country  from  abroad,  bringing  their  culture 
language,  and  their  lack  of  knowledge  of  Chris 
and  His  Word  with  them.  This  is  a  foreign  mis 
sion  field  right  here  in  our  nation! 

Present  and  former  home  mission  churchei  i 
have  contributed  a  good  percentage  of  thfj 
growth  of  our  Fellowship  in  recent  years.  Thei  i 
have  faithfully  given  missions  offerings  froni 
their  inception.  One  of  these  thriving  churchei ' 
is  now  the  top  contributing  church  to  Homd 
and  Foreign  Missions,  while  others  stand  ii 
the  top  twenty  category. 

"We  have,"  as  Larry  Chamberlain,  adj 
ministrative  coordinator,  says,  "in  our  midsij 
a  friend  who  has  just  reached  his  30th  birth 
day.  Born  in  1955  at  our  national  conference: 
in  Portland,  Oregon,  in  an  hour  of  great  need . 

"This  friend  is  a  long-standing  friend  and  co 
worker  of  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions.   | 

"This  friend  has  prospered  over  the  years; 
reaching  over  $12  million  in  assets,  profitably 
surviving  every  recession  since  1955. 

"This  friend  has  provided  financia I 
assistance  to  churches  all  over  the  Unitecl 
States,  including  Alaska  and  Hawaii,  able  tcl 
lend  over  $1  million  each  year  for  the  growj 
ing  needs  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches. 

"This  friend  is  the  envy  of  even  the  mainline* 
denominations  in  the  United  States. 

"Yes,  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  salute  you,  the 
Grace  Brethren  Investment  Foundation,  uporl 
your  30th  birthday." 

Our  special  thanks  to  Financial  Secretary 
Walter  Fretz,  his  staff  and  more  than  3,000  in 
vestors  who  have  helped  GBIF  to  reach  anci 
maintain  over  $12  million  in  investment  funds 


id  to  make  available  needed  loans,  especial- 
for  home  mission  church  expansion. 
At  this  point,  I  Want  to  express  with  hearty 
tanks  and  deep  gratefulness  to  all  members 
'  this  conference  and  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
jllowship,  worldwide,  for  your  confidence, 
•ayer  support,  cooperation  and  encourage- 
ent  during  the  years  of  my  executive  leader- 
lip  of  The  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions 
ouncil  and  the  Grace  Brethren  Investment 
mndation.  It  has  been  my  joy  to  work  with 
iu  in  the  development  and  assistance  of  over 
)0  churches  in  these  32  years.  All  praise  goes 
J  the  Lord  for  His  blessing,  but  we  could  not 
ave  done  this  work  without  your  support. 
Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr.  has  tendered  his 
signation  of  the  presidency  of  Grace  Schools, 
am  personally  saddened  by  this  announce- 
ent.  We  owe  a  great  deal  of  gratitude  to  him 
r  his  outstanding  leadership,  and  the  ad- 
mcement  Grace  College  and  Grace  Seminary 
ive  made  in  a  period  when  many  other 
hools  are  struggling  to  keep  afloat.  Let  us 
•ay  for  the  Search  Committee  as  their  work 
id  recommendation  will  have  a  major  in- 
iience  upon  the  progress  of  our  Fellowship  in 
le  years  ahead. 

As  an  institution  Grace  Schools  seeks  to  pro- 
de  for  evangelical  young  people  and  adults, 
ipecially  those  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
jllowship,  the  kind  of  education  that  will 
ivelop  Christian  character,  instill  in  them  a 
ve  for  God  and  a  heart  for  ministering  to 
od's  people,  and  the  necessary  understanding 
id  skills  that  will  enable  them  to  live  useful 
id  meaningful  lives  in  whatever  course  they 
ay  pursue  in  the  future.  Grace  College  is 
immitted  to  equipping  students  with  the 
jcessary  tools  to  enable  them  to  serve  the 
3rd  faithfully  in  whatever  profession  they 
irsue.  Grace  Theological  Seminary  endeavors 
i  prepare  dedicated  men  and  women  for  ef- 
ctive  ministries  with  special  emphasis  upon 
le  exposition  of  Holy  Scripture.  The  objective 
to  provide  pastors,  teachers,  missionaries, 
id  other  leaders  for  evangelical  Christian 
inistries  throughout  the  world.  These  schools 
iserve  our  support  in  finances,  prayers  and 
ilp  in  building  the  student  enrollment.  I  ap- 
■eciate  their  strong  stand  upon  the  Word  and 
ir  statement  of  faith. 

The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Company 
making  a  major  mark  in  the  Christian  book 
lblishing  field.  We  applaud  their  efforts  in 
is  area  and  trust  that  their  present  plans  and 
eps  toward  upgrading  and  updating  the 
srald  magazine  will  materialize  rapidly, 
lere  is  much  concern  about  this  main  source 
current    spiritual    information    in    our 


Fellowship  of  churches. 

The  Christian  Education  and  Youth  Board 
provides  a  valuable  contribution  by  way  of 
printed  materials,  reports  and  stimulating  ar- 
ticles to  our  Christian  Ed  program.  The  Youth 
Conference  makes  a  major  impact  upon  our 
youth.  We  are  grateful  to  have  them  on  the 
grounds  and  to  enjoy  such  rich  and  in- 
vigorating fellowship  during  this  week. 

The  Brethren  Board  of  Evangelism  has 
stimulated  our  thinking  processes  and  actions 
with  the  DEO-80's  evangelistic  thrust.  We  are 
well  aware  of  the  need  for  revival  and 
evangelism.  We  cannot  have  the  latter  without 
an  intrinsic  and  personal  revival.  We  need  to 
pray  for  this  Board  and  its  vital  ministry,  and 
support  its  efforts  with  our  gifts  and 
cooperation. 

Our  special  thanks  to  the  ladies  of  the  WMC, 
the  girls  of  the  SMM,  the  Brethren  Boys  and 
Brethren  Men  organizations  for  their  vital  role 
in  our  Fellowship.  Churches  that  do  not  avail 
themselves  of  each  of  these  ministries  are  de- 
nying their  people  a  great  source  of  spiritual 
blessing,  missionary  instruction  and  Christian 
discipleship. 

Our  congratulations  to  Grace  Village  on  the 
dedication  of  their  new  chapel  and  the  out- 
standing caring  ministry  they  have  with  our 
senior  citizens. 


RECOMMENDATIONS 

I  recommend  the  following: 

(1)  That  an  international  addenda  be  added 
to  our  statistical  report  to  accurately  present 
the  number  of  organized  Grace  Brethren  Chur- 
ches, their  total  membership,  and  the  number 
of  national  pastors  we  have  in  each  of  our 
foreign  mission  fields.  (Publishers  of  the  An- 
nual Yearbooks  of  Churches  and  Missions  take 
their  information  from  our  annual  statisti- 
cian's report.) 

(2)  That  in  this  day  when  abortion  has 
become  so  prevalent,  that  this  conference  again 
reaffirm  our  anti-abortion  resolution  and  make 
it  available  to  all  our  churches  for  their  infor- 
mation and  news  release  in  their  areas. 

(3)  That  we  commend  the  Grace  Brethren 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  on  this  85th  an- 
niversary for  their  outstanding  ministry  of  the 
Word,  church  planting,  evangelism  and  for  the 
faithfulness  of  their  missionaries  in  extending 
the  borders  of  our  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches. 

(4)  That  the  Fellowship  Council  authorize 
and  appoint  a  committee  to  study  the  problem 
of  incomplete  statistical  reports  and  the  failure 
of  churches   to   submit   reports,   which   in- 


formation  is  important  for  charting  our  pro- 
gress and  for  future  research  of  our  history. 
(5)  That  each  church  in  our  Grace  Brethren 
Fellowship  prayerfully  consider  and  emphasize 
our  spiritual  need.  That  a  concentrated 
prayerfully-planned  revival  meeting  be  held 
during  this  year,  that  unitedly  we  will  allow 
the  Lord  to  do  a  work  in  our  hearts  and  prepare 
us  for  the  spiritual  blessing  He  desires  us  to 
have. 

STATISTICAL  REPORT  EVALUATION 

Pastors  listed  in  their  response  to  the  ques- 
tionnaire forty  three  different  types  of  outreach 
programs  that  they  were  using  for  their  peo- 
ple. They  listed  apart  from  soul  winning,  visita- 
tion, counseling  and  administration  that  they 
were  personally  involved  in  twenty  eight  other 
types  of  evangelistic  outreach  ministries. 

It  is  difficult  to  come  up  with  a  positive 
answer  with  this  much  activity,  training  and 
involvement  by  pastor  and  people  that  the 
number  of  professions  of  faith  would  drop  from 
the  '83  level  of  7,068  to  5,368,  that  attendances 
at  A.M.  and  P.M.  worship,  prayer  meeting  and 
communion  would  drop  as  well. 

Our  membership  showed  a  gain  in  1983  of 
1,283,  in  1984,  our  current  report,  a  net  loss 
of  385.  We  added  this  year  a  total  of  3,430  but 
lost  3,815,  over  2,000  by  roll  revision.  Atten- 
dance in  all  our  auxiliary  and  church-related 
organizations  is  down  at  the  end  of  '84.  These 
figures  might  have  been  improved  if  11  chur- 
ches who  failed  to  send  in  statistical  reports 
had  responded  and  if  all  churches  had  been 
faithful  in  filling  out  the  entire  statistical 
report. 

Our  GBC  Christian  Education  FGBC 
Statistical  Summary  reveals  the  following 
facts: 

1980*) 
Decadal  Growth    1950     1960     1970    Five-Year  Growth 

AM  Worship  56.7%  26.6%  39.3%  .5% 

Sunday  School        65.1%  26.6%  11.2%  -5.2% 

Membership  33.9%  27.4%  25.5%  2.1% 

Composite  50.5%  26.9%  25.2%  -.6% 

As  expected,  a  graph  of  the  North  American 
FGBC's  growth  since  1950  demonstrates  that 
the  Fellowship  has  grown  in  all  three  areas  of 
A.M.  worship,  Sunday  school  and  membership. 
But  how  significant  is  this  growth? 

A  standard  for  evaluating  local  church  com- 
posite growth  on  a  ten-year  period  is  given  by 
Peter  Wagner:  25%,  biological  growth  rate; 
50%,  not  really  good  or  bad;  100%,  "pretty  good 
shape;"  200%.,  "newsworthy;"  and  around 
300%,  "prepare  to  hold  seminars." 

By  these  standards  the  decade  of  the  '50's 
was  the  healthiest,  statistically. 


Another  way  to  evaluate  each  decade  is  1 1 
divide  the  decadal  growth  by  10  for  an  averag  1! 
yearly  growth  rate.  Ten  percent  growth  pe 
year  is,  in  most  cases,  considered  a  minima* 
growth  standard. 

From  1984  data  it  took  almost  eighi, 
members  to  win  one  person  to  Christ.  Fort;-j 
percent  of  those  making  professions  of  fait]  i 
became  members  by  baptism.  Sixty  percent  c 
new  members  added  were  through  conversioi 
growth.  It  took  almost  11  members  to  add  on 
new  member  at  an  expense  of  $7,468.  Current 
ly,  only  52%  of  those  accepting  Christ  are  be  I 
ing  baptized. 

Since  1980  we  have  lost  18,776  members] 
during  the  decade  of  the  70's  —  29,021.  Cur 
rently,  77%  of  A.M.  worship  attended  Sunda; 
school;  78.5%  of  membership.  The  average  sia 
of  GBC's  in  the  USA  have  been  almost  at  a  con 
sistent  decline  since  1976  when  it  peaked  a  , 
152.  The  average  size  for  1984  is  138.6  peopli 
per  church. 

It  doesn't  take  a  very  highly-trained  mini 
to  discern  from  this  year's  statistical  repor 
that  we  have  a  serious  declining  situatioi, 
which  certainly  spells  out  the  need  for  revival 
Now  you  understand  why  so  many  pastors  anc 
some  missionaries  wrote  calling  for  revival, 
rjvival,  we  need  revival.  Listen  to  some  of  thei 
statements:  We  need  — 

"A  fresh  vision  of  the  Holiness  of  God  an< 
a  corresponding  revival  among  people  in  thei.  j 
attitudes,  devotion  and  daily  walk  with  God.': 

"A  total  commitment  to  the  Lordship  o; 
Christ  and  the  Great  Commission." 

"Spiritual  growth  in  believers  to  be  'doers 
of  the  Word.  Love  for  lost  .  .  ." 

"Greater  level  of  sacrificial  commitment  ii. 
every  essential  of  the  Christian  life." 

"Revival  —  more  people  involvement,  hum 
ble  spirit,  zeal  for  lost." 

"Revival  from  the  comfortable  legalism  o; 
the  60's,  70's  into  a  vibrant  cutting  edg(( 
lifestyle  of  submission  to  the  Lord." 

"Commitment  and  learning  to  pray  ii| 
power." 

"Spiritual  maturity  —  consistent  lifestyle) 
heart  for  souls,  growth  through  evangelism.'] 

"Revival  on  revitalization  of  our  relationship 
with  Jesus  Christ  and  our  relationship  witl 
one  another.  And  to  apply  the  principles  of  ou 
Christian  life  in  all  areas." 

"Renewing  of  first  love  for  the  Lord  Jesus 
Sacrifical  investment  in  the  Gospel  and  churcl' 
planting.  Godliness  in  lifestyle.  Strategic 
outreach  —  new  vision,  new  intensity." 

I  could  go  on  and  on,  there  were  nineteei 
pages  of  heartcry  and  passion  from  our  pastor:; 
concerning  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  loca 


10 


hurch,  the  district  and  national  Fellowship. 

Charles  G.  Finney  made  this  comment  on 
he  need  for  revival.  "A  Revival  always  in- 
ludes  conviction  of  sin  on  the  part  of  the 
hurch.  Back-slidden  professors  cannot  wake 
p  and  begin  right  away  in  the  service  of  God 
without  deep  searchings  of  the  heart.  The  foun- 
ains  of  sin  need  to  be  broken  up.  In  a  true 
evival,  Christians  are  always  brought  under 
uch  conviction;  they  see  their  sins  in  such  a 
ght  that  often  they  find  it  impossible  to  main- 
ain  a  hope  of  their  acceptance  with  God.  It 
oes  not  always  go  to  that  extent,  but  there 
re  always,  in  a  geniune  revival,  deep  convic- 
ions  of  sin,  and  often  cases  of  abandoning 
ope." 

There  is  no  question  but  that  God  alone  is 
ble  to  bring  about  a  contrite  and  broken 
eart,  a  godly  sorrow  that  will  result  in  con- 
ission  and  repentance  of  sin.  It  is  a  work  of 
rod  and  a  response  from  the  human  heart. 
The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken  spirit;  a 
roken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou  wilt 
ot  despise."  (Psa.  51:17)  "He  that  covereth  his 
ins  shall  not  prosper:  but  whoso  confesseth 
nd  forsaketh  them  shall  find  mercy."  (Prov. 
8:13).  As  God's  people  we  need;  "Only 
cknowledge  thine  iniquity  that  thou  hast 
ransgressed  against  the  Lord  thy  God."  (Jer. 
:13) 

Dr.  Oswald  J.  Smith's  little  book  on  "The 
£vival  We  Need"  has  some  real  meat  and 
efinite  steps  toward  revival  in  the  individual 
eart.  He  says  there  are  three  kinds  of  confes- 
ion  that  must  be  considered: 

(1)  Private  confession;  for  where  the  sin  has 
een  committed  against  God  alone  it  need  be 
onfessed  to  no  other  but  God.  (I  John  1:9;  Psa. 
2:5) 

(2)  Personal  confession;  for  where  the  sin  has 
een  committed  against  another  it  must  be 
anfessed  not  only  to  God  but  also  to  the  one 
'ho  has  been  wronged.  Nor  will  there  be  any 
eace  until  the  confession  has  been  made  and 
irgiveness  sought.  (Matt.  5:23,  24) 

(3)  Public  confession;  for  where  the  sin  has 
een  committed  against  the  church,  that  is  to 
ay,  the  entire  congregation,  a  class,  organiza- 
on  or  company  of  people,  the  confession  must 
e  as  public  as  the  transgression. 

As  I  have  travelled  throughout  our  churches 
nd  districts  in  the  homeland  I  have  become 
ware  of  sins  of  disgrace,  disharmony,  disuni- 
/,  disagreement,  disappointment,  discontent- 
lent,  discrimination,  disgust,  disloyalty, 
ishonesty,  disrespect,  distrust  and  in- 
iscreetness  of  all  varieties.  I  ask  you,  can  we 
ipect  God's  blessing  upon  our  Fellowship,  our 
istricts,  our  local  churches,  our  message,  our 


outreach  to  the  lost  if  we  have  sin  in  the  camp? 
God  has  no  limitation  in  Himself.  But  we  can 
limit  God's  blessing  in  our  growth,  spiritual 
maturity  and  Christian  conduct  by  a  tolerance 
of  sin.  In  the  words  of  the  song  writer,  let  us 
cry  out;  "Search  me,  oh  God,  know  my  heart 
today." 

Dr.  Smith  moves  a  little  closer  and  says;  "Let 
us  ask  ourselves  the  following  questions.  It 
may  be  we  are  guilty  and  God  will  speak  to  us. 

(1)  Have  we  forgiven  everyone?  Is  there  any 
malice,  spite,  hatred  or  enmity  in  our  hearts? 
Do  we  cherish  grudges;  and  have  we  refused 
to  be  reconciled? 

(2)  Do  we  get  angry?  Are  there  any  uprisings 
within?  Is  it  true  that  we  still  lose  our  temper? 
Does  wrath  hold  us  at  times  in  its  grip? 

(3)  Is  there  any  feeling  of  jealousy?  When 
another  is  preferred  before  us,  does  it  make  us 
envious  and  uncomfortable?  Do  we  get  jealous 
of  those  who  can  pray,  speak  and  do  things  bet- 
ter than  we  can? 

(4)  Do  we  get  impatient  and  irritated?T)o  lit- 
tle things  vex  and  annoy?  Or  are  we  sweet, 
calm  and  unruffled  under  all  circumstances? 

(5)  Are  we  offended  easily?  When  people  fail 
to  notice  us  and  pass  by  without  speaking,  does 
it  hurt?  If  others  are  honored,  used  and  we  are 
neglected,  how  do  we  feel  about  it? 

(6)  Is  there  any  pride  in  our  hearts?  Are  we 
puffed  up?  Do  we  think  a  great  deal  of  our  own 
position  and  attainments? 

(7)  Have  we  been  dishonest!  Is  our  business 
dealings  open  and  above  reproach?  Do  we  give 
a  yard  for  a  yard  and  a  pound  for  a  pound? 

(8)  Have  we  been  gossiping  about  people?  Do 
we  slander  the  character  of  others?  Are  we 
talebearers  and  busybodies? 

(9)  Do  we  criticize  unlovingly,  harshly,  severe- 
ly? Are  we  always  finding  fault  and  looking 
for  flaws  in  others? 

(10)  Do  we  rob  God?  Have  we  stolen  time  that 
belongs  to  Him?  Has  our  money  been 
withheld? 

(11)  Are  we  worldly?  Do  we  love  the  glitter, 
the  pomp,  and  the  show  of  this  life? 

(12)  Have  we  stolen?  Do  we  take  little  things 
that  do  not  belong  to  us? 

(13)  Do  we  harbor  a  spirit  of  bitterness 
towards  others?  Is  there  hatred  in  our  hearts? 

(14)  Are  our  lives  filled  with  lightness  and 
frivolity?  Is  our  conduct  unseemly?  Would  the 
world  by  our  actions  consider  us  on  its  side? 

(15)  Have  we  wronged  anyone  and  failed  to 
make  restitution?  Or,  has  the  spirit  of  Zac- 
chaeus  possessed  us?  Have  we  restored  the 
many  little  things  that  God  has  shown  us? 

(16)  Are  we  worried  or  anxious?  Do  we  fail 
to  trust  God  for  our  temporal  and  spiritual 


needs?  Are  we  continually  crossing  bridges 
before  we  come  to  them? 

(17)  Are  we  guilty  of  lustful  thoughts  Do  we 
allow  our  minds  to  harbor  impure  and  unho- 
ly imaginations? 

(18)  Are  we  true  in  our  statements,  or  do  we 
exaggerate  and  thus  convey  false  impressions? 
Have  we  lied? 

(19)  Are  we  guilty  of  the  sin  of  unbelief?ln 
spite  of  all  He  has  done  for  us,  do  we  still  refuse 
to  believe  the  promises  of  God  and  His  Word? 

(20)  Have  we  committed  the  sin  of 
prayerlessness?  Are  we  intercessors?  do  we 
pray?  How  much  time  are  we  spending  on  our 
knees?  Have  we  crowded  prayer  out  of  our 
lives? 

(21)  Are  we  neglecting  God's  Word?  How 
many  chapters  do  we  read  in  each  day?  Are  we 
Bible  students?  Do  we  draw  our  source  of  supp- 
ly from  the  Scriptures? 

(22)  Have  we  failed  to  confess  Christ  open- 
ly? Are  we  ashamed  of  Jesus?  Do  we  keep  our 
mouths  closed  when  we  are  surrounded  by 
worldly  people?  Are  we  witnessing  daily? 

(23)  Are  we  burdened  for  the  salvation  of 
souls?  Have  we  a  love  for  the  lost?  Is  there  any 
compassion  in  our  hearts  for  those  who  are 
perishing? 

Search  me,  oh  God,  and  know  my  heart  to- 
day! These  things  hit  me  as  much  as  they  do 
you.  They  are  the  things  that  prevent  the  work 
of  God  in  our  hearts  and  in  our  ministries.  Let 
us  be  honest  and  upright  and  call  them  by 
their  real  name.  "Sin,"  is  the  word  that  God 
uses  in  His  revelation  to  us. 

Does  the  Grace  Brethren  Fellowship  of 
churches  need  revival?  Does  God  have  for  us 


greater  work  to  be  done  through  His  Gret 
Commission  given  by  Jesus  Christ  ou 
Saviour?  Is  the  work  of  Christ  and  the  Spir 
being  hindered  by  our  complacency,  ou 
carelessness,  our  waywardness,  our  sin?  Hi 
work  can  be  stopped  by  one  person.  It  was  a 
Achan  in  the  camp  of  Israel.  God  placed  th 
searchlight  of  His  holiness  upon  that  sin  m 
til  it  was  dealt  with.  What  is  He  saying  to  u 
as  a  church,  to  you  and  to  me? 

Revive  thy  work,  oh  Lord! 

And  manifest  Thy  power; 
Oh,  come  upon  Thy  church,  and  givi 

A  penitential  shower! 
Revive  Thy  work,  oh  Lord! 
Come  now  and  answer  prayer; 
Oh,  come  in  Holy  Spirit  power, 

And  save  men  everywhere! 
Revive  Thy  work,  oh  Lord! 

And  every  soul  inspire; 
Oh,  kindle  in  each  heart,  we  pray, 

The  pentecostal  fire! 

Revive  Thy  work,  oh  Lord! 

And  give  abounding  joy, 
Oh,  fill  our  hearts  with  perfect  love; 

And  burn  out  all  alloy! 

Revive  Thy  work,  oh  Lord! 

And  make  Thy  servants  bold; 
Convict  of  sin,  and  work  once  more 

As  in  the  days  of  old. 

Revive  Thy  work,  oh  Lord! 

Fulfill  Thy  promise  true; 
Let  Jesus  Christ  be  glorified, 

And  great  things  for  us  do. 


12 


Business  Sessions 


'IRST  SESSION,  Tuesday,  August  13, 1985, 
1:30  a.m. 

Conference  was  led  in  prayer  by  Tom  Sharp. 
Moderator  Dr.  Lester  Pifer  called  the  first 
usiness  session  of  the  96th  Annual  Conference 
f  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 
3  order,  meeting  at  Estes  Park,  Colorado 
,ugust  11-16,  1985. 

A  motion  passed  that  the  official  list  of 
lember  churches  of  the  FGBC  consist  of  those 
hurches  listed  on  pages  78-94  of  the  1985 
trace  Brethren  Annual  with  the  deletion  of  the 
blowing  churches: 

Churches  closed:  Newport  GBC  —  Newport, 
ermont;  Lyndhurst  GBC  —  Cleveland,  Ohio 
'hurch  Withdrawn  —  Big  Valley  Grace  Com- 
lunity  Church  —  Modesto,  Calif. 
In  various  reports  to  the  conference  the 
lembership  Committee  reported  a  total  of  301 
linisterial  delegates  and  508  lay  delegates  for 
first  day  total  of  809.  These  delegates  were 
aated  by  vote  of  the  conference  with  the  excep- 
on  of  the  East  Atlanta  church  because  of  its 
ot  sending  in  a  statistical  report. 
Motions  were  made  and  passed  to  accept  the 
)llowing  new  churches  into  the  FGBC. 
.  Ocala  Grace  Brethren  Church  —  Ocala,  Fl. 
.  Community   Grace   Brethren   Church   — 

Vienna,  West  Va. 
.  Wasilla  Grace  Brethren  Church  —  Wasilla, 

Alaska 
.  Grace  Brethren  of  Greater  Austin  Area  — 

Austin,  Texas 
.  Wauseon  Grace  Brethren  Church  —  Arch- 
bold,  Ohio 
.  Trinity    Grace    Brethren    Church    — 

Reynoldsburg,  Ohio 
.   Down   East   Grace   Brethren   Church   — 

Brunswick,  Maine 
.  Toledo  Innercity  Grace  Brethren  Church  — 

Toledo,  Ohio 

A  motion  passed  to  receive  the  three  new 
istricts  being  made  up  from  the  Florida 
istrict.  They  are: 

orida  Suncoast  East  Central  Florida  South  Florida 

strict  Calvary  GBC  District 

ooksville  GBC  (Orange  City)  Ft.  Lauderdale  GBC 

ikeland  GBC  Maitland  GBC  Ft.  Myers  GBC 

ilia  Harbor  GBC  Community  GBC  North  Lauderdale 

rt  Richey  GBC  Suntree  GBC 

.  Petersburg  GBC  Ocala  GBC  Okeechobee  GBC 

Orlando  GBC  Pompano  Beach  GBC 

Ormond  Beach  GBC  Sebring  GBC 


A  motion  passed  to  adopt  the  proposed  agen- 
a  as  printed  with  an  addition  of  a  recommen- 
ation  to  conference  to  be  placed  after  item  No. 
on  Wednesday's  agenda. 


PROPOSED  AGENDA 
Tuesday,  August  13,  1985,  11:30  a.m. 

First  Session 

1.  Call  to  order,  Lester  E.  Pifer,  Moderator 

2.  Presentation  of  member  churches  in  FGBC, 
Kenneth  Koontz,  Conf.  Secretary 

3.  Initial  report  of  the  Membership  Commit- 
tee, Clair  Brickel,  Chairman 

4.  Seating  of  delegates  from  member  churches 

5 .  Presentation  of  new  churches  to  be  receiv- 
ed in  FGBC,  Kenneth  Koontz,  Conference 
Secretary 

6.  Additional  report  of  the  Membership  Com- 
mittee, Clair  Brickel 

7 .  Seating  of  delegates  from  the  newly  receiv- 
ed churches,  Membership  Comm. 

8.  Approval  of  new  districts 

9.  Presentation  of  the  proposed  agenda, 
Charles  Ashman,  Conference  Coordinator. 

10.  Report  of  the  Nominating  Committee,  Tbm 
Hughes,  Chairman 

11.  Election  of  Conference  Officers  for  1985-86 

12.  Election  of  the  Fellowship  Council 

13.  Report  of  Moderator's  Address  Committee, 
John  Mayes,  Chairman 

14.  Adjournment 

Wednesday,  August  14,  1985,  11:30  a.m. 

Second  Business  Session 

1.  Call  to  order,  Lester  E.  Pifer,  Moderator 

2.  Approval  of  the  minutes  of  the  first  session 

3.  Additional  report  of  the  Membership  Com- 
mittee, Clair  Brickel,  Chairman 

4.  Report  of  Elections  —  Conference  Officers 
&  Fellowship  Council 

5.  Report  of  the  Christian  Education  Board 
and  election  of  members  to  the  Board,  Paul 
Mutchler,  Acting  President 

6.  Report  of  the  Board  of  Evangelism  and  elec- 
tion of  members  to  the  Board,  Ron  Thomp- 
son, President 

7.  Report  of  the  Board  of  Ministerial 
Emergency  and  Retirement  Benefits  and 
election  of  members  to  the  Board,  W  Carl 
Miller,  President 

7A  Recommendation  from  Southern 
California 

8.  Unfinished  Business 

9.  Adjournment 

Thursday,  August  15,  1985,  11:30  a.m. 

Third  Business  Session 

1.  Call  to  order,  Lester  E.  Pifer,  Moderator 

2.  Approval  of  the  minutes  of  the  second 
business  session 

3.  Additional  report  of  the  Membership  Com- 
mittee, Clair  Brickel,  Chairman 

4.  Report  of  the  appointment  of  committees 


13 


by  the  Fellowship  Council 

5.  Report  of  the  Conference  Statistician,  Sher- 
wood Durkee 

6.  Report  of  the  Conference  Treasurer,  Larry 
Chamberlain 

7.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions, 
John  Teevan,  Chairman 

8.  Report  of  the  Sanctity  of  Life  Committee, 
Don  Shoemaker,  Chairman 

9.  Report  of  the  Endorsing  Agent  on 
Chaplains'  Ministry,  Donald  Carter,  endor- 
sing agent 

10.  Unfinished  Business 

11.  Adjournment 

Friday,  August  16„  1985,  10:15  a.m. 

Fourth  Business  Session 

1.  Call  to  order,  Lester  E.  Pifer,  Moderator 

2.  Approval  of  the  minutes  of  the  third 
business  session 

3 .  Additional  report  of  the  Membership  Com- 
mittee, Clair  Brickel,  Chairman 

4.  Report  of  the  Auditing  and  Finance  Com- 
mittee, Russ  Dunlap,  Chairman 

5.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Pastorless 
Churches,  Bill  Smith,  Chairman 

6.  Report  of  the  Fellowship  Council  —  Time, 
Place  and  Plans  for  Conference  in  1986 

7.  Additional  Reports 

8.  Unfinished  Business 

9.  New  Business 

10.  Approval  of  minutes  of  the  fourth  business 
session 

11.  Installation  of  New  Officers 

12.  Adjournment  (sine  die) 

Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches  Na- 
tional Conference  -  1985-  Official  Ballot 

Moderator  '85-86  (Vote  for  one) 

Dr.  John  Mayes,  Pastor,  GBC,  Longview,  TX 

Dr.  John  Whitcomb,  Grace  Schools,  WLGBC, 
Winona  Lake,  IN 

Vice  Moderator/Moderator  Elect  —  '85-86  (Vote 

for  one) 
(Note:  Man  elected  will  be  moderator  for  the 

'86:87  year) 
Dr.  David  W.  Miller,  pastor,  North  Long  Beach 

GBC,  Long  Beach,  CA 
Rev.  Tom  Julien,  missionary,  France,  GBFM, 

Worthington  GBC,  Columbus,  OH 

Fellowship  Council  —  Western  Area  Represen- 
tatives (Vote  for  four) 

Rev.  Don  Byers  (So.  Calif-Ariz.),  GBC,  Orange, 
CA 

Rev.  Don  Eshelman  (Mountain-Plains),  GBC, 
Wichita,  KS 

Rev.  Jim  Kennedy  (Hawaii),  Waimalu  GBC, 
Aiea,  HI 

Rev.  Dave  Marksbury  (Northwest)  GBC,  Kent, 
WA 


Rev.  Dan  Viveros  (So.  Calif-Ariz),  New  Life  GI ! 
Covina,  CA 

Fellowship  Council  —  Central  Area  Represt  ( 

tatives  (Vote  for  four) 
Rev.  Ken  Brown  (Northeastern  Ohio),  Fairlai  I 

GBC,  Akron,  OH 
Rev.   Jesse  Deloe  (Indiana),  Grace  Schoc 

WLGBC,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
Rev.  Tad  Hobert  (Southern  Ohio),  North  Riv 

dale  GBC,  Dayton,  OH 
Dr.   Homer  Kent  (Indiana),   Grace   Schoo 

WLGBC,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
Rev.  Howard  Mayes  (Southern  Ohio),  Hut  i 

Heights  GBC,  Huber  Heights,  OH 
Rev.  David  Plaster  (Indiana),  Grace  Semina 

Community  GBC,  Warsaw,  EN 
Rev.  Larry  Richeson  (Iowa-Midlands),  GB 

Winona,  MN 
Rev.  Russ  Sarver  (Michigan),  GBC,  Hastini 

MI 

Fellowship  Council  —  Eastern  Area  Represt 

tatives  (Vote  for  four) 
Rev.  Robert  Burns  (Western  Pennsylvani 

North  Buffalo  GBC,  Kittanning,  PA 
Rev.  John  Gregory  (Western  Pennsylvani 

Leamersville  GBC,  PA 
Rev.  True  L.  Hunt  (Allegheny),  Uniontow 

GBC,  PA 
Rev.   Lester   Kennedy   (Virginia),   First  B; 

Buena  Vista,  VA 
Rev.  R.  Paul  Miller  (Florida),  Maitland  GBC,  1 
Rev.  Russ  Ogden  (Mid-Atlantic),  Lanham  GB 

MD 
Rev.    Michael    Rockafellow    (No.    Atlanti' 

Elizabethtown  GBC,  PA 
Rev.  Warren  E.  Tamkin  (No.  Atlantic),  Dillsbu 

GBC,  PA 
Rev.    Ron    Thompson    (Virginia),    Patters 

Memorial  GBC,  VA 
Rev.  Jerry  Young  (No.  Atlantic),  Lititz  GBC,  I 


A  motion  passed  to  accept  the  report  of  t'., 
Nominating  Committee. 


Jesse  Deloe  gave  a  report  on  the  new  by-la\ 
that  are  placed  into  operation  this  yeai 

Summary  of  Significant  FGBC  by-laws  feature 
A.  Selection  of  Fellowship  Council 

1.  12  are  to  be  elected  by  the  Conferenci 

2.  In  addition,  the  immediate  pa] 
moderator,  the  newly  elected  moderat 
and  the  newly  chosen  moderator-ele 
serve 

3.  Nominations  will  be  presented  on  a  ball1 

prepared  by  the  nominating  committ ! 

4.  Nominations  may  be  accepted  from  tj 
floor  provided  that  the  nomination 


seconded  and  the  nominees  so  named 
meet  the  qualifications  set  forth  in  the 
Bylaws 

5.  Four  are  to  be  elected  from  each  of  three 
geographical  regions 

6.  First  election  will  choose  one  from  each 
region  for  one-year,  one  for  two-year,  one 
for  three-year,  and  one  for  four-year 
terms.  Subsequent  elections  will  choose 
Council  members  for  four-year  terms. 

7.  The  newly  elected  Moderator  will  serve 
as  Chairman  of  the  Council 

Responsibilities  of  the  Fellowship  Council 

1.  These  are  spelled  out  in  Article  VI,  Sec- 
tion Four,  pages  19-20  in  the  ANNUAL 

2.  The  Council  serves  as  the  Board  of  Direc- 

tors of  the  Conference  or  the  Corporation 

3.  The  Council  will  function  in  many  ways 

as  the  Executive  Committee  did  under 
the  old  Constitution  and  Manual  of 
Procedure 

4.  The  Council  elected  today  will  begin  plan- 

ning for  next  year's  Conference  and  will 
officially  take  office  at  the  conclusion  of 
this  Conference. 

5.  Additional  duties  of  the  Council,  in  the 
appointing  of  certain  officers  of  the  Con- 
ference are  listed  in  Article  VI.  Section 
Two,  and  Article  VII,  pages  19-21  in  the 
ANNUAL. 

a.  The  Council  appoints  the  following  of- 
ficers to  be  ratified  by  the  Conference: 

1)  Secretary  (the  Secretary  appoints 
his  assistant) 

2)  Treasurer 

3)  Statistician 

b.  The  Council  appoints  the  following 
Committees: 

1)  Membership 

2)  Resolutions 

3)  Parliamentary 

Additional  nominations  were  made  from  the 
or: 

Central  Area  —  J.  Hudson  Thayer 

Eastern  Area  —  Ray  Davis 
3y  common  consent  the  nominations  were 
aed. 

[Tie  suggestion  of  procedure  of  the  rules  com- 
ttee  was  accepted  by  common  consent  that 
i  third  person  is  elected  from  a  district  that 

declare  the  3rd  lowest  be  dropped  and  if  two 
one  church  that  the  lower  one  be  dropped. 
Motion  passed  to  extend  the  time  of  our 
siness  to  receive  the  Moderator's  Address 
mmittee  report. 

Ve  commend  our  moderator  for  his  very  forth- 
ht  and  analytical  assessment  of  the  state  of 
*  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches.  His 
iress  was  unique  in  that  the  content  did  not 
ay  from  the  parliamentary  definition  of  his 


task.  From  the  moment  he  set  forth  the  theme 
to  the  challenge  and  recommendations,  he  mov- 
ed us  with  him  to  scale  the  mountain  heights 
before  us  as  a  Fellowship. 

His  address  was  notable  in  that  he  cited  a 
number  of  significant  anniversaries.  We  join 
together  with  him  as  a  conference  to  celebrate 
these  milestones  of  ministry. 

(1)  He  noted  the  85th  anniversary  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missionary  Society  and  ex- 
pressed our  appreciation  for  the  great  ac- 
complishments that  God  has  given  us  abroad. 

(2)  He  directed  our  attention  to  the  signifi- 
cant ministry  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions Council  noting  that  since  the  initiation 
of  the  Bountiful  Harvest  Awakening  at  the  '79 
conference,  65  new  churches  have  been  added 
to  the  Fellowship.  We  rejoiced  to  hear  that  near- 
ly one  half  of  the  foreign  missions  giving  this 
past  year  came  from  present  and  former  home 
mission  churches. 

Recognizing  that  Dr.  Lester  E.  Pifer  has  much 
to  do  with  these  home  mission  achievements, 
we  express  our  commendation  and  love  on  the 
occasion  of  his  retirement  from  41  years  of 
faithful  service  to  our  Fellowship. 

(3)  He  spoke  highly  of  "our  good  friend"  who 
has  financed  many  of  our  Brethren  Churches 
and  saved  for  them  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars.  This  friend  is  our  Grace  Brethren  In- 
vestment Foundation  celebrating  its  30th  an- 
niversary this  year. 

(4)  He  called  us  to  prayer  in  behalf  of  Grace 
College  and  Seminary  as  their  Search  Commit- 
tee seeks  a  successor  for  Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent, 
Jr.  We  join  him  in  commending  Dr.  Kent  for  his 
outstanding  leadership. 

(5)  In  addition  to  these  who  have  reached 
significant  milestones,  he  made  us  aware  of  the 
positive  contributions  of  the: 

Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Company 

Christian  Education  and  Youth  Board 

Brethren  Board  of  Evangelism 

Women's  Missionary  Council 

SMM 

Brethren  Men 

Brethren  Boys 

Grace  Village 
We  commend  him  for  his  extensive  effort  in 
evaluating  our  Fellowship  through  an 
enlightening  questionnaire.  The  statistics  clear- 
ly supported  his  call  to  revival!  We  urge  our  peo- 
ple and  our  churches  to  implement  in  their  own 
life  and  ministry  those  things  which  will  alter 
this  downward  trend  and  bring  us  nearer  to 
God. 

We  support  our  moderator  in  the  following 
recommendations: 

(1)  That  international  addenda  be  included 
in  our  statistical  report  to  give  a  more  accurate 
world  picture  of  the  progress  of  our  total  work. 


(2)  That  due  to  the  prevalence  of  abortion  to- 
day we  continue  to  make  information  available 
to  our  churches  and  urge  their  involvement  in 
this  Biblical  issue. 

(3)  That  the  Fellowship  Council  accept  the 
responsibility  for  the  study  of  the  problem  of 
imcomplete  statistical  reports  and  the  failure 
of  some  churches  to  submit  reports. 

(4)  That  we  encourage  each  local  church  to 
consider  a  prayerfully-planned  revival  meeting 
this  year. 

In  conclusion  our  moderator  cited  the  words 
to  the  song  "Revive  Thy  Work  Oh  Lord."  We  join 
with  him  in  urging  all  our  churches  and  peo- 
ple to  make  this  a  heartfelt  prayer. 

Respectfully  submitted, 
John  Mayes,  Glen  Shirk, 
Ralph  Schwartz 

A  motion  passed  to  accept  the  Moderator's  Ad- 
dress Committee's  report. 
A  motion  carried  to  adjourn. 


SECOND  SESSION,  Wednesday,  August  14, 
1985,  11:30  a.m. 

Moderator  Lester  Pifer  called  the  meeting  to 
order. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  ap- 
proved as  printed. 

Motion  prevailed  that  the  East  Atlanta 
Georgia  church  delegate  be  seated. 

The  membership  committee  presented  addi- 
tional reports  bringing  the  total  number  of 
delegates  for  the  second  business  session  of  301 
ministerial  and  510  lay  for  a  total  of  811. 

Motion  carried  to  receive  two  additional 
churches  into  the  membership  of  the  FGBC  con- 
tingent upon  their  meeting  the  requirements 
of  the  By-Laws. 

GBC  of  London,  Ohio  and  the  GBC  of  Bell- 
fountaine,  Ohio 

The  secretary  read  the  results  of  the  1985-86 
election  for  conference  officers  and  Fellowship 
Council. 

Moderator  —  Rev.  John  Mayes 
Vice  Moderator  —  Rev.  Tbm  Julien 
Fellowship  Council: 
Western  Area— 1  year:  Rev.  Don  Eshelman 

2  years:  Rev.  Don  Byers 

3  years:  Rev.  Dave  Marksbury 

4  years:  Rev.  Jim  Kennedy 
Central  Area—  3  years:  Rev.  David  Plaster 

4  years:  Rev.  Jesse  Deloe 
Eastern  Area— 4  years:  Rev.  Jerry  Young 

A  run  off  election  was  held  to  fill  out  the  need- 
ed individuals  for  the  Fellowship  Council. 

Report  of  the  Christian  Education  Board  was 
given  by  Paul  Mutchler. 


1985  REPORT  OF  THE  GBC 
CHRISTIAN  EDUCATION  BOARD 


Dear  Delegates: 

I  wish  you  could  have  been  with  me  on  Oper  I 
tion  Barnabas  this  summer  when  two  of  us  hi] 
some  belongings  stolen  while  we  ministered. ) 
San  Bernardino.  My  shaving  kit  was  taken  ai  I 
one  of  the  teens  lost  his  shaving  kit  along  wii ' 
his  summer  spending  money,  $100. 

Without  my  knowledge,  the  other  tea  I 
members  made  some  sacrifices  and  gave  me  $(■! 
and  the  teen  $175. 1  told  them  they  didn't  ne<  I 
to  give  me  the  money  but  they  insisted  and  sa 
when  one  hurts  they  all  hurt  and  they'd  do  I 
for  any  team  member.  I  was  touched  by  the! 
lives. 

That's  the  heart  of  Operation  Barnabas;  ki< 
becoming  sensitive  to  the  Spirit's  leadin 
responding  to  needs,  sharing  Christ's  love  ai 
growing  in  new  ways. 

Hoping  to  help.  It  was  the  goal  of  the  60  hif 
school  students  traveling  this  summer  . 
Washington  and  California.  It  motivated  48  c< 
legians  and  seminary  students  to  give  up  son  I 
of  their  weekends  last  year  in  ministry  ! 
churches  through  Timothy  Teams.  It's  a  moti 
that  keep  us  going  and  giving  as  a  staff. 

Exciting  changes  are  taking  place  at  C!:j 
With  the  addition  of  Dave  Atkins,  Director  !  J 
Youth  Leadership,  we  hope  to  help  more.  Daw 
primary  role  is  to  encourage  and  assist  loc 
church  youth  workers,  providing  training  ai 
new  ministries  to  better  serve  them.  He  al 
shares  the  burden  of  stimulating  young  peop: 
toward  careers  in  youth  ministries. 

We  are  now  living  with  the  first  "po;. 
Christian"  generation  in  America  where  ki' 
are  completely  ignorant  about  the  Gospel.  Th, 
challenges  us  to  reach  out  in  new  ways,  develc 
ing  ministeries  aimed  at  reaching  young  pe 
pie  for  Christ. 

We're  also  hoping  to  help  in  many  other  are* 
We're  exploring  ways  to  be  a  valuable  resour  I 
to  you  and  your  church  in  children's  ministrif 
Sunday  school  organization  and  training, 
specialty  ministries  to  handicapped  peop 
those  in  prisons  and  others  with  special  neecj 

Without  your  prayers  and  continued  suppo.( 
our  vision  would  remain  a  dream.  But  wi( 
your  help  and  involvement,  together  we  Ci, 
grow,  expand  and  more  effectively  be  used 
God  in  reaching  our  world  for  Christ. 

Thanks  for  this  opportunity  of  ministM 
Thanks  for  being  a  part  of  our  ministry  tear 

In  His  Work, 

Ed  Lewis 
Executive  Director 


16 


Your  CE  Staff 

.  Lewis,  Executive  Director 

ve  Atkins,  Director  of  Youth  Leadership 

ad  Skiles,  Director  of  Administration 

e  Rike,  SMM  Coordinator 

5  Bishop,  Timothy  Team  Coordinator 

n  Thornton,  BNYC  Assistant  Director 

uce  Barlow,  Student  Body  Editor 

n  Folsom,  Administrative  Assistant 

ida  Phelps,   Administrative  Assistant  in 

nth 

jve  Garcia,  Timothy  Team  Assistant 

ren  Werner,  Financial  Assistant 

lerie  Byers,  Administrative 

Vssistant/Receptionist 

orgia  Marshall,  Production  Assistant 

sella  Cochran,  Resource  Room  Secretary 

GBC  CHRISTIAN  EDUCATION 

STATEMENT  OF  ACTIVITY 

AND  FUND  BALANCE 

Unaudited 
For  the  year  ending  December  31,  1984 

1PPORT  AND  REVENUE 

1984 

Jeneral  $102,332 

Jhurch  Ministries  26,298 

fouth  Ministries: 

Timothy  Teams  10,529 

SMM  25,649 

Operation  Barnabas  42,094 

General  Youth  208,051 

CE  Youth  Programs  13,009 

TIME  113,967 


ASSETS 

1984 

CURRENT  ASSETS 

Cash 

General  checking 

$11,515 

BNYC  checking 

12,899 

Petty  cash 

184 

Brethren  Investment 

Foundation  Savings 

23,563 

Total  Cash 

$48,161 

Accounts  Receivable 

5,079 

Total  Current  Assets 

$53,240 

PROPERTY  AND  EQUIPMENT 

Land 

$10,000 

Building  less  depreciation 

80,000 

Capital  Improvements 

less  depreciation 

2,585 

Vehicles  less  depreciation 

10,894 

Office  Furniture  less  depreciation     1,563 

Office  Equipment  less  depreciationl6,340 

Total  Fixed  Assets  $121,382 

Total  Assets 

$174,622 

LIABILITIES  AND  FUND  BALANCES 

RESTRICTED  FUNDS 

Equipment  Offerings  Funds 

$12,048 

Ministry  Team  Funds 

20,000 

Special  Offering  Funds 

5,299 

Scholarship  Funds 

7,592 

Total  Restricted  Fund  Bal. 

$44,939 

MORTGAGE  PAYABLE 

63,161 

GENERAL  FUND  BALANCE 

66,522 

Total  Support  and  Revenue 

$541,929 

Total  Liabilities  and 

Fund  Balances            $174,622 

[PENSES 

leneral 

yhurch  Ministries 

fouth  Ministries: 

$182,617 
18,919 

Motion  carried  to  place  the  names  on  the 
prepared  ballot  into  nomination. 

Timothy  Teams 
SMM 

9,985 
15,626 

CE  BALLOT 

Operation  Barnabas 

39,467 

Elect  5 

General  Youth 

168,721 

*Paul  Mutchler            Bernie  Simmons 

CE  Youth  Programs 

5,781 

*Mike  Clapham            Charles  Smith 

TIME 

107,358 

*Don  Byers                    Don  Ogden 

Total  Expenses 

$548,474 

*Steve  Jarrell               Galen  Wiley 

LCESS  OF  EXPENSES 

*  incumbent 

rER  SUPPORT  AND  REVENUE  $  (6,545) 
TND  BALANCE,  beginning  of  yearl  18,006 

Motion  carried  to  receive  this  report. 
Report  of  the  Board  of  Evangelism  by  Ron 

HSTD  BALANCE,  end  of  year 

$111,461 

Picard. 

L  complete  financial  report  may  be  examined 
anyone  at  the  GBC  Christian  Education  of- 
5,  Winona  Lake,  Indiana. 

GBC  CHRISTIAN  EDUCATION 
BALANCE  SHEET 


1985  DIRECTOR'S  REPORT 

FELLOWSHIP  OF 

GRACE  BRETHREN  CHURCHES 

by  Rev.  Ron  Picard 
"Wilt  thou  not  rei/ive  us  again:  that  thy  people  may 
rejoice  in  thee?"  (Psalm  85:6) 


17 


The  nation  of  Israel  had  returned  to  the  land, 
but  all  was  not  well.  Apparently,  God's  wrath 
was  against  Israel  and  the  Psalmist  analyzed 
the  situation  correctly  and  cried  out  to  God  to 
revive  Israel  that  their  judgment  might  be  turn- 
ed away.  Today,  our  own  nation  is  reeling  from 
the  increasing  evil  of  the  day.  Our  only  hope 
and  salvation  is  in  the  Lord.  During  this  past 
year,  the  Board  of  Evangelism  has  endeavored 
to  make  our  fellowship  aware  of  the  real  need 
of  repentance  and  surrender  to  a  holy  God. 

At  a  time  when  revival  is  crucial,  it  is  a  joy 
to  report  to  our  1985  National  Conference  that 
we  have  seen  the  Lord  at  work  in  our  fellowship. 
Signs  of  revival  are  appearing  in  many  of  our 
congregations.  Recently,  a  layman  called  to  tell 
me  that,  since  my  crusade  at  his  church,  their 
prayer  meeting  attendance  had  risen  from  25 
to  almost  200  and  spontaneous  prayer  meetings 
were  happening  in  homes  throughout  the  con- 
gregation. The  need  is  so  great  for  Christians 
to  return  in  a  definite  way  to  prayer  and 
commitment. 

In  the  years  that  I  have  been  preaching,  I  have 
never  before  seen  such  an  outpouring  of  convic- 
tion with  tears  and  a  willingness  on  the  part 
of  saints  to  yield  to  the  Spirit's  prompting. 
There  have  been  hundreds  of  people  who  came 
forward  in  churches  to  surrender  themselves  to 
a  renewal  of  witnessing  and  dedication  of  life. 
In  fact,  1087  have  made  public  decisions  rang- 
ing from  a  need  to  overcome  sin  to  a  commit- 
ment to  pray  daily  for  our  nation  that  God 
might  "revive  us  again."  In  addition,  many 
have  made  the  decision  to  trust  Christ.  Since 
January  of  1984,  the  Board  of  Evangelism  has 
recorded  136  public  first-time  decisions  in 
church  crusades.  A  couple  in  their  seventies 
came  forward  during  the  invitation.  After 
counseling  with  them,  they  were  asked  to  pray. 
Simultaneously,  they  replied,  "I  don't  know  how 
to  pray."  What  a  thrill  to  hear  their  testimony 
now  of  how  they  pray  to  the  Lord  and  under- 
stand, for  the  first  time,  that  God  loves  them 
personally  and  wants  them  to  go  to  heaven. 

Nearly  6,000  people  have  attended  crusades 
held  in  51  churches.  I  have  made  the  following 
observations  concerning  these  evangelistic 
meetings.  First,  there  is  a  wide-open  door  for 
church  crusade  type  meetings.  Secondly,  the 
highest  attendance  has  been  when  a  special  em- 
phasis or  promotion  was  used.  People  still  res- 
pond to  incentives.  Thirdly,  the  greatest 
number  of  salvation  decisions  have  come 
through  church-sponsored  social  occasions 
(hospitality  evangelism)  and  through  personal 
evangelism  (visitation)  in  conjunction  with  the 
meetings.  The  majority  of  the  crusades  have 
been  three  or  four  days  in  length,  but  some  have 
continued  as  long  as  eight  days.  Attendances 
at  these  meetings  have  surprised  many  of  us. 


An  outstanding  aspect  of  my  evangelis" 
ministry  this  year  has  been  the  positi 
response  from  pastors.  Some  have  requested  fr 
weeks  in  the  future  since  the  response  was  ! 
great  in  a  few  days.  One  pastor  said,  "You  ne 
to  stay  longer  because  we  are  just  getti:i 
started  here."  Praise  the  Lord  for  so  many 
our  brethren  willing  to  allow  the  Lord  to  spei. 
to  their  hearts  and  for  pastors  willing  to  op 
their  congregations  to  our  ministry. 

Highlighting  this  year  were  the  Dynani 
Evangelistic  Outreach  for  the  Eighti 
("Deo-80's")  Regional  Training  Seminars  ft 
pastors  and  leadership  laymen.  One  hundr 
churches  participated  in  the  four  seminars  he 
in  Maryland,  Ohio,  Georgia  and  Californ: 
Two-hundred  pastors  and  laymen  attend 
these  special  sessions  of  inspiration,  motivate 
and  training  in  personal  evangelism  a:  I 
discipleship.  Thanks  to  Christian  Education  ij 
handling  the  Discipleship  Workshops.  T; 
fellowship's  involvement  and  unity  has  broug 
about  a  renewed  interest  in  the  reaching  oft 
lost.  Many  of  those  present  committ 
themselves  to  share  their  faith  more  fervent! 
and  with  new  determination. 

One  of  the  most  evident  conclusions  thi 
came  from  the  evaluation  sheets  of  t 
"DEO-80's"  Seminars  was  that  those  attendhj 
the  pastors  in  particular,  would  like  to  see  til 
equipping  in  personal  evangelism  provided  il 
their  people.  Consequently,  Phase  II  of  tl- 
"DEO  Program"  is  designed  for  trainij 
laymen  at  the  district  level.  This  is  in  keepij 
with  fulfilling  the  original  intention  of  the  cc, 
ference  when  the  Board  of  Evangelism  wj 
created  "to  promote  a  passion  for  lost  soil 
among  all  our  laymen  throughout  ti 
fellowship."  These  seminars  will  begin  on  F 
day  evening  and  end  at  noon  on  Sunday.  TV 
seminars  are  scheduled  for  this  fall, 
Hagerstown,  MD,  and  Dayton  (Brookville),  0 
It  is  our  desire  to  conduct  as  many  of  the 
week-end  seminars  in  1986  as  interest,  mon  j 
and  time  will  allow. 

Throughout  my  life,  my  practice  has  alws,  I 
been  to  allow  God  to  dictate  the  future  of  o| 
ministry  through  finances.  Your  faithful  givij 
to  both  the  general  fund  and  to  my  person 
support  has  been  an  encouragement  to  us.  Of 
heartfelt  thanks  to  you!  May  the  Lord  continf 
to  increase  the  ministry  of  the  Board  1 1 
Evangelism  in  the  coming  year. 

None  of  us  knows  the  future,  but  revival 
imperative.  It  can  happen  if  we,  as  a  fellowshi 
will  unite  in  prayer,  outreach,  discipleship  a 
true  holiness. 


GRACE  BRETHREN  BOARD  OF  EVANGELISM 

Audit  Report 
Fiscal  Year  Jan.  1,  1984  to  Dec.  31,  1984 


CASH  SUMMARY 
Bal.  1-1-84                 Receipts 

Expense 

Bal. 

12-31-84 

ecking  Account 
rings  Account 

$4,571.39 
2,652.77 
7,224.16 

53,258.75 

181.23 

53,439.98 

57,085,26 
-0- 

744.88 
2,834.00 

57,085.26 

3,578.88 

INCOME  AND  EXPENSE  STATEMENT 


ome: 

lifts  from  Churches  —  General 

lifts  from  Churches  —  Picard  Support 

•ifts  from  Individuals  —  General 

ifts  from  Individuals  —  Picard 

J.F.G.B.C.  Conference 

f.F.G.B.C.  Ministers 

eminars 

state  (Polman) 

•istricts,  etc. 

efund  on  Travel  Expense 


;bursements: 
'irector's  Salary 

General  Fund 

Picard  Support 
'irector's  Insurance 
'irector's  Secretarial  Wages 
ravel  and  Housing  for  Director 
oard  Meeting  Expenses 
lEO  80's 
ostage 
elephone 
rinting 
upplies 
'ffice  Salary 
liscellaneous 


26,720.10 

13,962.99 

1,084,00 

4,506.00 

46,273.09 

1,062.71 

75.00 

1,977.00 

3,139.10 

560.35 

171.50 

Total  Income 

53,258.75 

15,384.80 

12,884.77 

28,269.57 

2,104.00 

4,900.00 

4,574.96 

5,838.64 

8,668.64 

145.29 

1,555.49 

240.98 

68.68 

545.00 

174.01 

Total  Disbursements 

57,085.26 

come  Over  Expenses 

($3,826.51) 

GRACE  BRETHREN  BOARD  OF  EVANGELISM 

Audit  Report 
Fiscal  Year  Jan.  1,  1984  to  Dec  31,  1984 

INVESTMENT  ACCOUNT 
(B.I.F.) 


lance  January  1,  1984 
rned  Interest 
ance  Dec.  31,  1984 

al  Income: 
hecking  Account 
Iwestment  Account 
Total  Income 


$2,652.77 
181.23 

$2,834.00 

$53,258.75 
181.23 

$53,439.98 

GRACE  BRETHREN  BOARD  OF  EVANGELISM 

Audit  Report 
Fiscal  Year  Jan.  1,  1984  to  Dec  31,  1984 


Bank  Account  Reconciliation 


ance  on  December  31  statement 


Less:  Checks  Outstanding: 


3135 

224.00 

3175 

200.00 

3176 

384.62 

3177 

107.01 

3178 

145.96 

Adjusted  Bank  Balance  12-31-1984 

Motion  carried  to  accept  this  report. 

This  board  reported  a  memorial  of  $500.00  has  been 
given  to  Dr.  Douglas  Bray  in  memory  of  Rev.  Robert 
Collitt. 

Motion  carried  that  the  names  on  the  printed  ballot 
for  the  Board  of  Evangelism  be  put  into  nomination. 

LAYMEN  (vote  for  two) 

"Logan  Miller 

New  Port  Richey,  Florida 

Glenn  Sharpe 
Osceola,  Indiana 

MINISTERS  (vote  for  two) 
*Phillip  Guerena 
Bell,  California 

*  Vernon  Harris 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania 

"denotes  incumbent 

Motion  carried  that  the  nominations  cease  and 
these  be  declared  elected. 

Report  of  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Emergency  and 
Retirement  Benefits  of  the  FGBC  was  given  by  W. 
Carl  Miller. 


1,061 

$744 


Motion  carried  that  the  financial  report  be  accep 

The  accompanying  statement  of  assets 
liabilities  arising  from  cash  transactions  of  the  Be  \ 
of  Ministerial  Emergency  and  Retirement  Benefil  I 
the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches  ai 
December  31,  1984,  and  the  related  statemen 
revenue  collected  and  expenses  paid  for  the  year  t 
ended  have  been  compiled  by  us. 

A  compilation  is  limited  to  presenting  in  the  f< 
of  financial  statements  information  that  is 
representation  of  the  Board.  We  have  not  auditei 
reviewed  the  accompanying  financial  statements  e 
accordingly,  do  not  express  an  opinion  or  any  ot 
form  of  assurance  on  them. 

The  Board's  policy  is  to  prepare  its  finan 
statements  on  the  basis  of  cash  receipts  ; 
disbursements;  consequently,  certain  revenue  and 
related  assets  are  recognized  when  received  rat 
than  when  earned,  and  certain  expenses  are  recog 
ed  when  paid  rather  than  when  the  obligation  is 
curred.  Accordingly,  the  accompanying  finan> 
statements  are  not  intended  to  present  financial  p 
tion  and  results  of  operations  in  conformity  v 
generally  accepted  accounting  principles. 

J.  Marion  Hoffo 


BOARD  OF  MINISTERIAL  EMERGENCY  AND  RETIREMENT  BENEFI' 
OF  THE  FELLOWSHIP  OF  GRACE  BRETHREN  CHURCHES 

STATEMENT  OF  FINANCIAL  CONDITION 

December  31,  1984 


Cash  in  Checking  12/31/84 

Savings  —  Brethren  Investment  Foundation 

Investments  —  Edward  D.  Jones 
—Edward  D.  Jones 
—Jackson  Life  Annuity 
—Jackson  Life  Annuity 
—First  United  Life  Insurance 
—First  United  Life  Insurance 

Total  Fund  Assets 
Liabilities 
Fund  Equity 

Total  Liability  &  Fund  Equity 


3,552.88 
170.24 

4,971.00 
26,041.00 
11,930.54 
10,515.47 

9,833.93 
15,707.63 


STATEMENT  OF  RECEIPTS  AND  DISBURSEMENTS 
FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDED  DECEMBER  31,  1984 


Fund  Balances  171/84 

Cash  Receipts 
Church  Contributions 
Miscellaneous  Contributions 
Ministers  1%  Account 
Interest  B.I.F. 
Interest  NOW  account 


Retirement 

Emergency 

Ministers 

9,290.37 

15,850.00 

59,112.25 

21,038.24 

320.00 

4,141.11 

10.98 

209.90 

annuities 

nterest  on  investments 

Eefund 

Vansfers 


66.81 

3,867.61 

657.16 

2,867.24 


Total  cash  i 


■ipts 


sh  Disbursements 
tenefits  to  retirees 
lonorarium 
lecretarial  help 

trethren  Missionary  Herald  ads 
uinual  space 
Minting 
bstage 

Hrke  supplies 
Itate  of  Indiana 
inference  expense 
Vithdrawals 
Vansfers 

Ibtal  cash  disbursements 
WL  FUND  BALANCES  12/31/84 

Motion  carried  that  we  adopt  this  report. 

REPORT  OF  THE  BOARD 
OF  MINISTERIAL  EMERGENCY 
AND  RETIREMENT  BENEFITS 

OF  THE  FELLOWSHIP  OF 
GRACE  BRETHREN  CHURCHES 
^he  "Statement  of  Financial  Condition"  in 
:  delegate  packets  is  a  part  of  this  report  and 
11    be    presented    now    by    the    Secre- 
•y-Treasurer. 

?his  board,  a  creature  of  this  conference,  is 
sv  helping  21  retired  pastors  and  16  widows 

10  are  receiving  a  total  of  around  $2700  per 
mth  with  individual  checks  ranging  from  $50 
$177. 

^his  last  year  a  total  of  33  churches  sent  in 

iir  4%  equivalent  of  the  pastor's  salary,  plus 

'eral  more  churches  which  have  shown  in- 

est  in  our  program  with  special  contributions 

ice  the  1984  conference. 

\e  funds  of  this  board  are  invested  in  high- 

ilding  interest  securities. 

\t  the  present  rate  of  expenditures  we  pro- 

t  that  the  retirement  and  emergency  funds 

11  be  totally  depleted  within  two  or  three 
irs,  with  no  funds  left  to  pay  the  monthly 
irement  checks. 

iecause  our  recommendation  to  last  year's 
iference  was  rejected  and  we  were  requested 
:ome  back  with  an  alternate  proposal  to  raise 
ids,  we  suggest  that  this  year's  conference 
lommend  that  each  church  of  our  Fellowship 
itribute  annually  to  this  board  the 
rivalent  of  1%  of  their  pastor's  base  salary, 
fe  believe  that  as  a  Fellowship  we  have  a 
ral  and  spiritual  obligation  to  those  pastors 
I  widows  currently  receiving  monthly  retire- 
mt  payments  from  this  board, 
he  officers  at  present  are: 
sident:  Carl  Miller 


29,037.94 

0 

9,572.38 

38,610.32 

31,592.84 

400.00 

440.00 

377.40 

29.75 

61.35 

100.00 

6.30 

10.00 

.60 

4,222.77 
2,867.24 
7,090.01 

33,050.24 

0 

40,140.25 

5,278.07 

15,850.00 

61,594.62 

82,722.69 

Vice  President:  Robert  Moeller 

Secretary-Treasurer:  Clair  Brickel 

Assistant  Secretary-Treasurer:  Kenneth  Koontz 

Please  send  all  gifts  and  requests  for  infor- 
mation to  Rev.  Clair  Brickel,  14319  Brookville- 
Pyrmont  Rd.,  Brookville,  OH  45309. 

The  board  wishes  to  place  in  nomination  by 
means  of  a  ballot  the  following  for  a  three-year 
term  (one  to  fill  the  lay  position  and  two  to  fill 
the  ministerial  postions): 
Lay:  Dale  Denlinger  Ken  Kohler 

Ministerial:  Roy  Glass  *Carl  Miller 

*Phillip  Simmons 
*  Incumbent 

Motion  carried  to  place  the  following  names 
on  the  printed  ballot  in  nomination.  The  follow- 
ing names  were  placed  in  nomination: 

Mr.  Dewey  Melton 
Rev.  Tex  Hudson 
Rev.  Quentin  Matthes 

By  common  consent  nominations  ceased. 

Motion  carried  to  extend  the  time  for  us  to 
deal  with  a  recommendation  from  Southern 
Calif. 

The  following  motion  was  made  and  seconded. 

a.  That  a  1  year  study  committee  be  ap- 

pointed by  the  Fellowship  Council  to  do 
a  comprehensive  analysis  of  the  retire- 
ment program  for  ministers  in  the 
FGBC. 

b.  That  this  committee  include  the  chair- 

man of  the  present  Board  of  Ministerial 
and  Retirement  Benefits  and  other 
members  with  expertise  in  retirement 
plans  and  financial  planning,  in  addi- 
tion   to    any    other    ministers    the 


Fellowship  Council  desires  to  include, 
c  That  the  goal  of  this  committee  be  to 
develop  a  retirement  program  suitable 
to  the  structure  of  our  fellowship  and 
reasonably  comparable  to  well- 
operating  plans  in  other  denominations 
and  similar  professions: 

d.  That  the  committee  make  a  final  report 

to   the    1986   conference,   along  with 
recommendations: 

e.  That  up  to  $5,000  be  appropriated  from 

Conference  funds  to  underwrite  the  ex- 
penses of  the  committee. 

Motion  carried  to  move  the  previous  question. 

The  motion  then  carried. 

Motion  carried  to  adjourn. 


THIRD  SESSION,  Thursday,  August  15, 
1985,  11:30  a.m. 

Our  moderator  Lester  Pifer  called  the  session 
to  order. 

Motion  passed  that  we  approve  the  minutes 
as  printed  and  corrrected. 

The  Fellowship  Council  reported  concerning 
the  conference  officers  chosen  to  serve  for  the 
coming  year: 

Secretary:  Kenneth  Koontz 
Treasurer:  Larry  Chamberlain 
Statistician:  Sherwood  Durkee 
Motion  carried  for  the  ratification  of  these 
officers. 

Ballot  for  the  Nominating  Committee  was 
presented. 

BALLOT  FOR 
NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

(Vote  for  Six) 

Rev.  John  Burke 
Rev.  Edwin  Cashman 
Rev.  Ralph  Colburn 
Rev.  Robert  Combs 
Rev.  James  Dixon 
Rev.  Edward  Jackson 
Rev.  Forrest  Jackson 
Rev.  Wendell  Kent 

Motion  carried  to  place  these  names  in 
nomination. 

An  additional  name  was  nominated  from  the 
floor.  Jim  Custer 
Common  consent  that  the  nominations  cease. 
Election  results  were  given: 
Retirement  Board:  Lay  —  Dewey  Melton 
Ministerial  —  Carl 
Miller  &  Phillip 
Simmons 
CE.  Board:  Paul  Mutchler,  Mike  Clapham,  Don 
Byers,  Steve  Jarrell,  Bernie  Simmons 

Report  of  the  conference  Statistician  by 
Sherwood  Durkee. 


F.G.B.C.  Statistical  Report  -  1984  Yeai 

1 . 1  certify  the  accuracy  of  the  statistical  rept 
as  to  the  total  information  tabulated  from  t 
member  church's  reports. 

2.  My  conclusion  is  that  the  report  is  incompk- 
and  does  not  reflect  the  true  value  of  the  are 
being  reported. 

3.  It  is  my  recommendation  that  the  Fellowsli 
Council  review  the  purpose  of  the  Statistic 
Report,  the  procedure  of  receiving  this  infoni  I 
tion,  and  the  manner  in  Which  this  informati  : 
is  reported  to  National  Conference. 

4.  Problems  of  incomplete  report: 

a.  22  churches  did  not  report  to  the  Statistics 

b.  Inconsistent  reporting  of  membership  at  t 
beginning  of  the  year  from  previous  yea 
report. 

c.  Some  reports  simply  leave  areas  unreport* 

d.  Trine  Immersed  Members  —  inaccurs 
because  of  confusion  of  how  to  report  tl ! 
number. 

(1)  Some  reports  blank. 

(2)  Some  reported  only  members  baptized 
Trine-Immersion  during  the  current  year. 

e.  Some  churches  do  not  report  the  assets  oft 
church  for  the  year. 

f.  The  only  thing  consistent  in  the  report  is  t 
inconsistency  of  the  report. 

5.  It  is  not  a  good  commentary  on  our  F.G.B, 
to  allow  this  type  of  condition  to  continue  I  ur 
immediate  attention  be  given  to  this  matti 

Sherwood  V.  Durkee 
National  Statistician 

FGBC  STATISTICAL  REPORT  1984 


PROFESSIONS  OF  FAITH 

1983 

Regular  Services 

2,566 

Sunday  School  &  Children's 

Church 

795 

VBS  &  Camp 

1.518 

Other 

2,189 

TOTALS 

7.068 

STATISTICS  OF  MEETINGS 

Morning  Worship  Average 

Attendance 

44,463 

Evening  Worship  Average 

Attendance 

20,266 

Prayer  Meeting  Average 

Attendance 

15,303 

Communion  Average 

Attendance 

21,701 

MEMBERSHIP 

Total  Last  Year 

42,258 

Added  this  Year 

From  other  denominations 

628 

From  other  FGBC  churches 

814 

By  Baptism 

2,663 

Other 

326 

TOTAL  ADDED 

4,431 

Lost  this  Year 

To  other  denominations 

578 

To  other  FGBC  churches 

633 

By  death 

243 

By  Dismissal 

98 

Roll  Revision 

1.374 

Jther  272 

TOTAL  LOST  3,198 

5T  GAIN  or  (LOSS)  1,233 

EMBERSHIP  END  OF 

SPORTING  YEAR  43,491 

ine-Immersed  Members  39,302 

tal  Baptisms  3,573 

JXILIARY  ORGANIZATIONS 

inday  School  Average 

tendance  33,479 

3S  Average  Attendance  17,052 

M.C.  Average  Attendance  4,038 

uth  Program  Average 

tendance  5,650 

ymen  Average  Attendance  1,471 

TORCH  RELATED  ORGANIZATIONS 

strict  Youth  Camp  Average 

tendance  3.033 

iristian  School  Enrollment  8,300 

SSETS  AT  END  OF  THE  YEAR 

tiat  Church  Owns 
,ash  in  the  Bank 
Savings  &  Investments 
Equipment  Value 
Parsonage  (cost) 
jand  &  Building  (cost) 
Hher  Assets 

TOTAL 
Vhat  the  Church  Owes 
urch  Net  Worth 

CCEIPT  OF  INCOME 

neral  and  Building  Funds 
xiliary  Organizations 
urch  related  Organizations 
rrowed  Funds 
tier  Receipts 
TOTAL 

iPENDITURES 

ssions  Organizations 
Irethren  Home  Missions 
trethren  Foreign  Missions 
Irace  Schools 
hstrict  Missions 
toard  of  Christian  Education 
toard  of  Evangelism 
Irethren  Missionary  Herald 
Irethren  National  Auxiliaries 
>ther  Brethren  Missions 
Ion-Brethren  Missions 
TOTAL 

:al  Expenses 

enior  Pastor's  Salary  (total) 
Ither  Pastor's  Salaries 
ill  Operating  Expenses 
egular  Building  Debt 
)ebts  (not  building) 
lew  Building 
luilding  Improvement 
lew  Equipment 

TOTAL 
xiliary  Organizations 

urch-Related 
listrict  Youth  Camp 
hristian  Day  School 
ither 
TOTAL 


2,794,096 
3.474,739 
7,342,770 
2,931,638 

80,814,201 
953,610 

aH.3H.154 


4,219,825 
24,500,661 
1.145,464 
7,620,783 
1,651,603 
1,809,237 


847,624 
1,770,071 
353,975 
190.632 
132,527 
34,881 
45,133 
86,239 
265,313 
906,860 


4,597,122 

2,627,107 

9,662,041 

3,101,287 

387,094 

5,484,552 

856,393 

378.404 

27,094,000 


140,331 

7,826,841 

450,661 


3,815 
(385) 

41,733 
35.541 
2,771 


32,749 
17,069 
3,898 


Number  of  Churches  Reporting 


4,445,037 
4,267.087 
7,695,540 
2,887,943 
79,102,703 
1,748,711 


4,627,609 
22,829,691 
2,730,956 
6,481,451 
2,559,494 
1,984,830 


40,947,573  41,852,030 


900,072 
2,024,065 
550,839 
229,448 
123,333 
42,038 
46,623 
68,976 
345,985 
956,834 


4,633,255  5,143,430 


5,003,865 

2,504,870 
11,083,142 

3,710,447 
350,553 

2,464,741 
782,575 
534,847 

26,316,863 

748,793 

192,300 

7,995,367 

529,274 


District 

Allegheny 

Artie 

Florida 

Hawaii 

Indiana 

Iowa  Midlands 

Michigan 

Mid-Atlantic 

Mountain-Plains 

North -Cal 

North  Central  Ohio 

Northeastern  Ohio 

North -Atlantic 

Northwest 

Southern 

Southern  Cal  &  Arizona 

Southern  Ohio 

Southwest 

Western  Penn. 


TOTA1 


Number  of  Churches  Not  Reporting 


Indiana 

Mid-Atlantic 

North  Atlantic 

North-Cal 

North  Central  Ohio 

Northwest 

Southern 

South  Cal  &  Arizona 

Southern  Ohio 

Southwest 

Virginia 

TOTALS 
TOTAL  CHURCHES 


Motion  carried  that  this  report  be  adopted. 
Report  of  Conference  Treasurer  by  Larry 
Chamberlain 


The  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Cash  Receipts  and  Disbursements 

For  the  Fiscal  Year  Ended  June  30,  1985 

Beginning  Hal.,  July  1,  1984: 

Checking  Account  — 

First  National  Bank  $3,839.24 

Savings  Account  -  GBIF  16,006.00  $19,84 


Revenues: 

Credential  Fees 
Designated  Offerings 
Interest  on  Savings  Account 
Child  Care 
Other  Revenue 
CASH  AVAILABLE  FOR  USE 

Expenditures: 

Facilities  Use 
Child  Care 
Designated  Offerings 
Printing  and  Promotion 
Conference  Music 
Travel  and  Honoraria 
Officers  and  Committees 
Special  Committees 
Secretarial  Assistance 
Other  Expenditures 


46,526.55 

9,688.81 

2,098.66 

914.09 

967.24 


2,829  18 
6,708.30 
9,688.81 
18,135.01 
2.082.20 
1,392.84 
4,245.34 
3,029.78 
560.98 
2.030.00 


23 


Ending  Bal.,  June  30,  1985: 
Checking  Account  — 

First  National  Bank  733.49 

Savings  Account  -  GBIF  28,605.26 


Respectfully  submitted, 


Motion  carried  that  this  report  be  received. 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  by 
John  Teevan. 

1985  RESOLUTIONS 
COMMITTEE  REPORT 

Last  year  in  view  of  no  longer  having  annual 
resolutions,  we  requested  that  the  pastors  and 
people  of  Grace  submit  suggestions  for  our  new 
form  of  continuing  resolutions. 

Having  received  none  and  not  wishing  to 
lengthen  national  conference  we  report  that  we 
will  as  a  committee  present  several  next  year 
for  preliminary  consideration  on  a  variety  of 
topics. 

We  currently  are  responsible  to  report  all 
resolutions  and  to  evaluate  our  implementation 
of  those  resolutions.  We  have  only  one 
resolution: 

Sanctity  of  Life 

"Human  life  is  worthy  of  respect  and  protec- 
tion at  all  stages  from  the  time  of  conception. 
The  sanctity  of  human  life  is  established  by 
creation  (Gen.  1:26-27),  social  protection  (Gen. 
9:6),  and  redemption  (John  3:16)." 

It  is  our  observation  that  our  churches  and 
people  are  implementing  this  resolution  as 
measured  by  the  increase  in  the  participation 
in  crisis  pregnancy  ministries,  church  educa- 
tion of  Sanctity  of  Life  issues,  and  personal  in- 
volvement of  Grace  Brethren  people  to  en- 
courage adoptions  and  to  discourage  abortion 
both  personally  and  politically.  The  Sanctity  of 
Life  Committee  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches  continues  to  have  a  positive 
educational  impact. 

Motion  carried  that  this  report  be  adopted. 
Report  of  the  Sanctity  of  Life  Committee  by 
Don  Shoemaker. 

REPORT  OF  THE  SANCTITY  OF  LIFE 
COMMITTEE,  FELLOWSHIP  OF 
GRACE  BRETHREN  CHURCHES 

The  Sanctity  of  Life  Committee  was  created 
by  Conference  to  address  issues  such  as  abor- 
tion, infanticide  and  euthanasia  from  a  biblical 
understanding  of  the  sacredness  of  human  life 
created  in  the  Image  of  God. 

The  Committee  sees  its  task  as  threefold: 
1)  Raising  the  consciousness  of  our  Fellowship 


with  regard  to  the  magnitude  of  the  problei  II I 
we  address  and  with  regard  to  our  responsibi  ( | 
ty  as  churches  to  hold  strong  biblical  conv  I 
tions  on  these  problems  and  to  act  socially 
those  convictions. 

2)  Serving  as  an  information  resource  to  paste  i, 
and  churches. 

3)  Suggesting    courses    of   action    to    ti  i 
Fellowship,  districts  and  churches. 

During  the  previous  year  our  committee  h 
been  active  several  ways: 

1 )  A  mailing  was  sent  to  the  churches  whii 

included  a  detailed  critique  of  the  teachii  | 
of  Walter  Martin  on  abortion  and  oth  j 
items  of  current  interest. 

2 )  An  essay  discussing  court  cases  relative 

abortion  was  distributed  by  GBC  Christis 
Education. 

3)  An  exhibit  by  the  committee  appears  at  th 

conference. 

4)  A  new  essay,  "A  Pastor's  Heart  to  Heart  Ta  I 

on  Abortion,"  was  written  by  the  coram 
tee  chairman.  This  essay  was  printed  as  < 
article  in  the  Brethren  Missionary  Hera 
and  is  available  in  pamphlet  form  throu| 
the  Herald  Bookstore. 

5)  A  showing  of  the  new  film,  "The  Sile:! 
Scream,"  is  being  made  at  this  conferenc 

Our  committee  wishes  to  encourage  sever 
activities  throughout  the  Fellowship: 

1)  We  encourage  each  church  to  observe 
"Sanctity  of  Life"  Sunday  around  Januai 
22  of  each  year. 

2)  We  encourage  each  church  to  develop  I 
cooperate  with  ministries  such  as  care  fij 
unwed,  expectant  mothers,  sidewaij 
counseling  at  abortion  facilities  and  loc 
political  action. 

3)  We  encourage  our  churches  to  sponsi 
chapters  of  Crusade  for  Life  or  the  Christk 
Action  Council. 

4)  We  encourage  our  districts  to  deal  wit;. 
"Sanctity  of  Life"  issues  through  message, 
displays  and  training  at  district  conference 

5)  We  encourage  our  ministeriums  to  train  the; 

members  in  all  aspects  of  "Sanctity  of  Lifi 
issues. 

6)  We  encourage  our  conference  to  consider  e 

panding  the  scope  of  this  committee  to  th' 
of  a  "Social  Concerns  Committee,"  that  vj 
might  address  other  major  issues  facing  oi 
churches  in  the  contemporary  world.  We  ft: ' 
ther  encourage  an  entire  conference  beii 
devoted  to  themes  of  Nation. 
Righteousness,  critical  issues,  and  the  ro 
of  the  Christian  and  the  church  in  tl 
modern  world. 

Please  call  on  our  committee  for  assistant 
as  your  church  develops  its  "Sanctity  of  Lifi 
programs. 


Respectfully  submitted, 

Donald  P.  Shoemaker 

Chairman 

Sanctity  of  Life  Committee 

otion  carried  that  this  report  be  adopted. 

eport  of  the  Endorsing  Agent  on 
haplain's  Ministry  by  Donald  Carter. 

fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 

nnual  Report,  Endorsing  Agent,  concerning 
•ethren  Ministers  serving  as  Chaplains  in  the 
rmed  Forces  during  the  Conference  Year, 

184-85. 

This  past  year  has  been  one  of  considerable 
ovement  and  change  among  our  Chaplains, 
has  also  been  one  of  excellent  and  diversified 
inistry,  calling  forth  special  talents.  For  ex- 
nple,  we  now  have  three  men  ministering  to 
isic  Trainees,  those  youngsters  just  entering 
ilitary  service.  We  also  have  three  men  who 
ive  been  or  are  about  to  start  as  students  tak- 
g  advanced  work  in  Graduate  Schools  at 
jvernment  Expense.  Please  note  some  in- 
resting  assignments,  indicated  below: 

Dn  June  23,  Chaplain  James  Elwell  and  his 
mily  departed  toward  London,  England, 
lere  Jim  assumed  new  duties  as  Chaplain  in 
large  housing  area  reserved  for  American 
ilitary  and  State  Department  families.  He 
11  be  both  an  educator  and  a  minister  to  this 
lect  group  of  Americans.  This  new  assign- 
jnt  came  upon  Jim's  successful  completion  of 
school  year  at  the  Presbyterian  School  of 
iligious  Education,  from  which  he  was  award- 

a  Masters  Degree. 

Dn  June  10,  Chaplain  John  Schumacher 
aduated  from  the  Army  War  College,  Carli- 
!  Barracks,  PA.  after  a  year  of  study  which 
rved  to  prepare  him  for  an  important  assign- 
;nt  as  Command  Chaplain,  US  Army  Forces, 
aska,  a  strategic  assignment, 
rhis  Fall  semester  Chaplain  John  Patrick  is 
rolled  at  the  University  of  Oregon  to  pursue 
idies  toward  a  Masters  Degree  in  "Personnel 
anagement",  with  the  possibility  of  serving 

the  faculty  of  the  US  Army  Chaplain  School, 
^mong  our  other  Chaplains  there  are 
anges  in  assignment  worthy  of  attention, 
laplain  Graver  James  Dickson  has  completed 
hree  year  tour  of  duty  in  the  Philippines  and 
s  now  returned,  having  been  assigned  to  the 
ival  Construction  Battalion  Center,  Fort 
lenene,  California.  He  has  already  inquired 
out  ministerial  meetings  and  nearby 
arches.  We  welcome  him  back  to  the  States. 
Chaplain  Emlyn  Jones,  US  Army  Automotive 
mmand,  Warren,  Mich,  will  retire  from  the 
litary  service  November  1,  having  completed 


twenty  years  service.  Churches  desiring  to  con- 
tact him  as  a  possible  ministerial  candidate 
may  reach  him  at  the  address  listed  in  the 
Brethren  Annual.  We  commend  him  for  his 
faithfulness  and  loyalty  to  God's  Word  over  the 
years. 

Brother  Gary  Patterson,  having  earned  a 
Master  of  Theology  at  Grace  Seminary  this 
Spring,  began  his  ministry  June  1,  joining 
Chaplains  Patrick  and  Duane  Jones  at  Fort  Sill, 
Oklahoma,  his  own  birthplace  We  welcome  him 
and  his  lovely  wife  to  the  Chaplain  fellowship. 

Chaplains  Charles  Card,  John  L.  Diaz  and 
Duane  Jones,  while  not  mentioned  in  this 
report,  are  faithfully  ministering  in  their  ap- 
pointed places.  During  the  year  I  was  royally 
treated  while  visiting  their  commands  and 
found  them  loved  and  respected  by  all.  Their 
time  of  recognition  and  "key"  assignments  will 
come.  Thank  God  for  their  spirituality  and 
strong  testimony. 

Please  remember  the  effective  ministry  of  our 
Reserve  and  National  Guard  Chaplains  who 
minister  to  the  Military  during  Summers  and 
weekends  while  they  fulfill  their  heavy  pastoral 
duties. 

I  wish  to  thank  Conference  for  the  financial 
support  which  enabled  me  to  buy  a  "Get  Up  and 
Go"  Senior  Citizen  ticket  to  travel  and  visit  our 
chaplains. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Donald  F.  Carter,  Endorsing  Agent 

National  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Annual  Report  of  Military  Chaplains 
Associated  with  The  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches  Gathered  in  Conference 
Sessions  August,  1985. 

(Based  on  a  Twelve  Month  Period,  beginning 
July  1,  1984  and  concluding  June  30,  1985) 

COMPOSITE  REPORT  OF  SIX  CHAPLAINS 

Worship  Services  Directed  218 

Sermons  Preached  263 

Counseling  Sessions  1,384 

Sunday  School  Sessions  113 

Professions  of  Faith  1,086 

Number  of  Days  in  Field  46 

Staff  Meetings  378 

Worship  Services  Participated  In  277 

Bible  Classes  Taught  289 

Witness  Interviews  144 

Youth  Group  Sessions  15 

Baptisms  (Triune  Immersion)  51 

Children's  Meetings  12 

Prayer  Breakfasts  2 
Conducted  eight  Day  series  in  several  Brethren 
Churches,  So.  Cal.  District 


Describe  Welfare  Activities:  Home  Alcohol 
Treatment  Program,  Families/Battered  Wives 
Shelter,  Ethiopia  Relief,  South-East  Asia  Miss., 
ACS  Christmas  Basket  Program,  etc. 

Describe  Activities  of  a  Denominational  Nature 
(Brethren  or  Other):  Speaker  at  four  Brethren 
Churches  during  year,  Taught  "GROW" 
Evangelism  Class  at  nearby  Brethren  Church 

Describe  participation  of  wife  or  family  in 
Spiritual  or  community  Activities:  Most  reports 
spoke  of  participation  of  wives  and  children. 

Describe  educational  or  spiritual  activity  in 
which  you  have  participated  during  Year:  Near- 
ly every  Chaplain  participated  in  at  least  one 
activity. 

-Donald  F.  Carter 

Motion  carried  that  this  report  be  received. 

The  Fellowship  Council  confirmed  Rev.  Don 
Carter  for  our  endorsing  agent  for  the  coming 
year. 

Motion  carried  that  we  adjourn. 

FOURTH  SESSION,  Friday,  August  16, 
1985,  10:15  a.m. 

Moderator  Lester  Pifer  called  this  session  to 
order. 

Motion  carried  that  the  minutes  from  the  3rd 
business  session  be  approved  as  printed  and 
corrected. 

Report  of  the  Auditing  and  Finance  Commit- 
tee by  Russ  Dunlap. 

REPORT  OF  THE  AUDITING 
AND  FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

The  Auditing  and  Finance  Committee  is  ac- 
countable to  Conference  to  assure  that  the 
financial  records  and  statements  of  all  creatures 
of  Conference  are  in  order  and  properly  audited. 
The  four  organizations  which  are  within  pur- 
view of  this  Committee  are  the  following: 

FGBC  Conference 

GBC  Christian  Education 

The  Board  of  Evangelism 

The  Board  of  Ministerial 

Emergency  and 

Retirement  Benefits  of  the 

FGBC 

The  committee  has  reviewed  the  financial 
statements  and  third-party  audit  or  review 
reports  for  each  of  these  organizations. 
Everything  appears  to  be  in  order  and  we  ex- 
press our  appreciation  to  the  members  of  each 
organization  for  the  fine  cooperation  we  have 
received. 


Respectfully  submitted, 

Russel  H.  Dunlap,  Chairman 
Ronald  Clinger 
Stephen  S.  Galegor 

Motion  carried  that  this  report  be  adopted. 

Report    of   the    Committee    on    Pastorles^ 
Churches  by  Bill  Smith. 


PASTORLESS  CHURCHES  AND 
AVAILABLE  MEN  REPORT 

August  1,  1984-July  31,  1985 

During  this  year  29  churches  have  requeste 
the  list  of  available  men.  The  list  of  Pastorles 
Churches  has  been  sent  to  38  men. 

At  the  present  time  10  churches  and  21  pastoi 
remain  listed  with  the  Committee. 

Respectfully  Submitted, 
William  W  Smith 

Motion  carried  that  this  report  be  received. 

Report  of  the  Fellowship  Council  on  Time  an 
Place  for  Conference  1986.  Winona  Lake,  L 
diana,  August  3-8,  1986. 

Ministerial  Retirement  Committee  we 
announced. 

Larry  Chamberlain  -  Chairman 

Carl  Miller 

Dewey  Melton 

Don  Shoemaker 

Tex  Hudson 

The  Fellowship  Council  presented  the  follow 
ing  budget: 

The  Fellowship  of 

Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Approved  Budget 

For  Fiscal  Year  Ending  June  30,  1987 

(1986  Conference  at  Winona  Lake) 


Cash  Receipts 

Credential  fees 

$45,0( 

Child  care 

1,0C 

Designated  offerings 

m 

Conference  expense  offering 

1,5C' 

Interest  on  savings 

2,73 

Other  revenue 

5C' 

50.7E 

Cash  Expenditures 

Facilities  rental 

4,0( 

Child  care 

7,2E 

Designated 

N/j 

Printing  and  promotion 

7,5( 

Conference  music 

3,2! 

Travel  and  honorariums 

5,000 

Officers  and  committees 

4,500 

Secretarial  assistance 

800 

Special  committees 

2,500 

Brethren  annual 

9,250 

Other  expenditures 

500 

44,550 

ret  Surplus  $  6,200 

lotion  carried  to  adopt  this  budget. 

fominating  committee  was  announced: 

Edwin  Cashman  ■  Chairman 

John  Burke 

Ralph  Colburn 

James  Custer 

Edward  Jackson 

Wendell  Kent 

lotion  carried  that  these  minutes  be  approv- 
i  as  read. 

istallation  of  new  officers  was  held. 

lotion  carried  to  adjourn  (Sine  die). 


National  Organizations 

THE  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY  OF  THE 
GRACE  BRETHREN  CHURCH,  INCORPORATED 

P.O.  Box  588,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Staff 

General  Director— Rev.  John  W.  Zielasko 
Director  of  Church  Relations— Rev.  Wendell 

E.  Kent 
Director  of  Personnel— Rev.  Edward  Lewis 
Director  of  Finance— Mr.  Stephen  P.  Mason 
Director  of  Audiovisuals— Rev.  Gordon  L. 

Austin 
Publications    Coordinator— Miss    Nora 

Macon 
Administrative    Secretary— Mrs.    Lillian 

Teeter 
Assistant   to   Director   of  Finance— Mrs. 

Sharon  Andersen 
Secretary,       Finance— Mrs.       Robena 

Pannebaker 
Secretary  to  Director  of  Personnel— Mrs. 

Kathy  Herman 
Secretary,  Audiovisuals  and  Publications- 
Mrs.  Lou  Ann  Myers 
Materials  Secretary— Mr.  Roger  Stover 
Assistant  to  Director  of  Audiovisuals— Mr. 

Bill  Venard 
Mailing— Mr.  Dan  McMaster 

Board  of  Trustees 

(Term  ending  1986) 
Rev.  Dean  Fetterhoff 
Mr.  Miles  Firestone 
R.  5,  7159  Ashland  Rd.,  Wooster,  OH  44691 
Rev.  John  Teevan 
Rev.  Roger  Wambold 

(Term  ending  1987) 

Dr.  S.  Wayne  Beaver 

Rev.  Robert  Griffith 

Rev.  Edward  Jackson 

Mr.  Lenard  Moen 

7914  Michigan  Ave.,  Whittier,  CA  90602 

(Term  ending  1988) 

Rev.  Wesley  Haller 

Rev.  Edwin  Cashman 

Dr.  Peter  Peponis 

5282  River  Forest  Rd.,  Dublin,  OH  43017 

Rev.  Scott  L.  Weaver 


Officers  of  the  Board 

Chairman— Rev.  Dean  Fetterhoff 

Vice  Chairman— Rev.  Scott  Weaver 

Secretary— Rev.  Wesley  Haller 

Treasurer— Dr.  Wayne  Beaver 

Foreign  Missionary  Directory 

Argentina— 

Futch,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Earl,  S.M.  Castelverde| 

2421,    1879    Quilmes    Oeste,    Buenos  [ 

Aires,  Argentina,  S.A. 
Hoyt,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Lynn,  Calle  22,  No.  2350, 

Parquefield,  (2000)  Rosario,  Santa  Fe,; 

Argentina,  S.A. 
Nairn,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Stan,  JV.  Gonzalez  2218, 

1879   Quilmes   Oeste,   Buenos   Aires, 

Argentina,  S.A. 
Peacock,  Miss  Alice,  Casilla  de  Correo  52, ; 

1879   Quilmes   Oeste,   Buenos   Aires, 

Argentina,  S.A. 

Brazil— 

Burk,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Bill,  Cx  14,  68.445  Bar-: 

carena,  Para,  Brazil,  S.A. 
Farner,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Tim,  Rua  Joao  XXDX 

No.    520,    38.400   Uberlandia,   Minasj 

Gerais,  Brazil,  S.A. 
Hodgdon,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Earle,  Caixa  Postal 

861,  66.000  Belem,  Para,  Brazil,  S.A. 
Hulse,  Miss  Barbara,  Rua  Joao  XXIII  No.' 

522,  38.400  Uberlandia,  Minas  Gerais,| 

Brazil,  SA. 
Johnson,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  George,  Caixa  Postal' 

861,  66.000  Belem,  Para,  Brazil,  S.A. 
Johnson,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Norman,  SHCGN; 

706,  Bloco  Q,  Casa  21,  70.740  Brasilia,| 

D.F.,  Brazil,  S.A. 
Miller,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Edward,  Sr.,  Caixa 

Postal  368,  66.000  Belem,  Para,  Brazil,,' 

S.A. 
Miller,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Edward,  Jr.,  Caixa, 

Postal  368,  66.000  Belem,  Para,  Brazil, 

S.A. 
Pettman,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dan,  c/o  Burk,  Cx  14, 

68.445  Barcarena,  Para,  Brazil,  S.A. 


entral  African  Republic— 

Address  for  all  C.A.R.  missionaries  is:  B.P 

240,  Bangui,  Central  African  Republic, 

AFRICA) 
ev.  &  Mrs.  Bob  Belohlavek,  Miss  Mary 
ripe,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  Dave  Daugherty,  Miss 
liana  Davis,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Martin  Garber, 
ev.  &  Mrs.  Marvin  Goodman,  Miss  Mary 
nn  Habegger,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  Jim  Hines,  Dr. 
;  Mrs.  Don  Hocking,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Jim 
[ocking,  Miss  Cheryl  Kaufman,  Miss 
arolyn  Kodear,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  Harold  Mason, 
[iss  Carol  Mensinger,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Eddie 
[ensinger,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dan  Moeller,  Rev. 
eter  Peer,  Miss  Lila  Sheely,  Rev.  &  Mrs. 
Dm  Stallter,  Miss  Evelyn  Tschetter,  Miss 
anet  Varner,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  Mike  Volovski,  Mr. 
!  Mrs.  Larry  Warnemeunde  (MAF),  Miss 
ois  Wilson 

had- 

larrell,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Richard,  B.P.   183 
Moundou,  Republic  of  the  Chad,  Africa 

ngland— 

owalke,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dave,  84  Seven  Star 

Rd.  Solihull,  West  Midlands,  B91-2BW, 

England 
teele,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Phil,  24  Marsham  Court 

Road,  Solihull,  West  Midlands,  B91-2ET, 

England 

ranee— 

one,  Mrs.  Ruth  Ann,  c/o  the  DeArmeys, 

100D  Cours  Lafayette,  69003  -  Lyon, 

France 
raigen,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  Trevor,  Le  Grand  Pre 

BT.6,    Rue    Ambroise    Pare,    71000 

Charney-les-Macon,  France 
eArmey,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Larry,  100D  Cours 

Lafayette,  69003— Lyon,  France 
ood,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Kent,  21,  Bid.  de  la 

Republique,   71100  Chalon-sur-Saone, 

France 
[riffith,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dave,  13A  rue  de 
j  Strasbourg,  71200  — LeCreusot,  France 
obert,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dave,  43  rue  Jean 

Bouveri,  71300  —  Montceau-les-Mines, 
i  France 
lauffman,  Miss  Trudy,   15  Avenue  Ed. 

Herriot,  71000  —  Macon,  France 
Jien,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Tom,  4,  blvd.  des  Neuf 

Cles,  25 A  71000  Macon,  France 
iiller,  Miss  Jeannie,  13,  rue  de  Auvergne, 
,  71000  -  Macon,  France 


Morris,  Miss  Patty,  193  rue  St.  Exupery 
(Allee  B),  71000  -  Macon,  France 

Nord,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Chris,  18  rue  de  Martyrs 
de  la  Resistance,  71000  —  Chalon-sur- 
Saone,  France 

Viers,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  John,  142  rue  Dedieu, 
69100  —  Villeurbanne,  France 

Weaver,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Marlin,  Chateau  de  St. 
Albain,  71260  —  Lugny,  France 

Germany— 

Fretz,  Miss  Jane,  Torfstr.  12,  7250  Leonberg- 

Eltingen,  West  Germany 
Haak,  Miss  Edna,   Hegelstr.   123,  7080 

Aalen,  West  Germany 
Manduka,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  David,  Strohgaustr. 

13,  7250  Leonberg,  West  Germany 
Pappas,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  John,  Liebigstr.  7/1, 

7080      Aalen-Unterkochen,      West 

Germany 
Peugh,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Roger,  Ganzenstr.  13,  7 

Stuttgart    (80)    Mohringen,    West 

Germany 
Ramsey,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dan,  Egerlanderstr.  2, 

7250  Leonberg  3,  West  Germany 

Mexico- 
Churchill,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Jack,  2758  Caulfield 

Dr.,  San  Diego,  CA  92154 
Haag,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Walter,  Apartado  Postal 

102-052,   Deleg.   Iztacalco  C.P.   08930 

Mexico,  D.F.,  Mexico 
Schaefer,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  James,  Apartado 

Postal  102-108,  Deleg.  Iztacalco,  C.P. 

08930,  Mexico  D.F,  Mexico 
Sharp,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Tom,  3760-R  Sunset 

Lane,  San  Ysidro,  CA  92073 

Philippines— 

Hulett,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Clay,  P.O.  Box  A.C.  527, 
Quezon  City,  3001,  Philippines 

Spain- 
Robinson,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Ralph,  c/o  Salazar, 
Salazar,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Robert,  Valle  de  la 
Ballestera  35,  4,  46015  Valencia,  Spain 

Language  Study- 
France 

Hocking,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Jim,  Chez.  Mme.  Rat, 
163  ave  de  Saxe,  69003  -  Lyon,  France 

Moeller,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dan,  Chez  Mme. 
Messonnier,  8  Ave.  Gen.  de  Gaulle,  B, 
69300  -  Caluire,  France 


Morris,  Miss  Margie,  A.F.E.B.  Centre  Mis- 
sionnaire,  50  rue  des  Galibouds,  73200 
—  Albertville,  France 

Waggoner,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Tim,  A.F.E.B.  Centre 
Missionnaire,  50  rue  des  Galibouds, 
73200  —  Albertville,  France 

Wooler,  Miss  Barb,  A.F.E.B.  Centre  Mission- 
naire, 50  rue  des  Galibouds,  73200  — 
Albertville,  France 

Japan- 
Graham,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Ike,  2301  Karuizawa 

Machi,  Nagano-Ken,  389-01  Japan 
O'Dell,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Cecil,  Koopo  Tsukasa 

102,  2-10-8  Sumiyoshi-cho,   Hoya-Shi, 

Tokyo  202,  Japan 

Mexico- 
Welling,  Miss  Brenda,  3760  Sunset  Lane, 
San  Ysidro,  CA  92073 

Philippines- 
Ruiz,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Ted,  New  Tribes  Mission, 
Language  &  Orientation,  Room  217 
Commercial  Center,  Lipa  City,  Batangas 
4216,  Philippines 

Sowers- 
Barlow,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Tom,  2  Ave,  Charles  de 

Gaulle,   Apt.   31,   71200  Le  Creusot, 

France 
Hawkins,  Mr.   &   Mrs.  Pete,   12  rue  de 

Pouilloux,    71300-Montceau-les-Mines, 

France 
Julien,  Mr.  Terry,  Le  C.E.R,  38,  av.  Edouard 

Herriot,  71000  Macon,  France 
Martin,  Mr.   Dennis,  Le  C.E.P,  38,  av. 

Edouard  Herriot,  71000  Macon,  France 

In  the  United  States— 

Altig,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  Keith,  13755  E.  Walnut, 

Whittier,  CA  90602 
Balzer,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Albert,  6475  Atlantic 

Ave,  408  Aloha  Cir.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90805 
Dowdy,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Paul,  5864  Teal  Lane, 

El  Paso,  TX  79924 
Hoyt,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Solon,  Rivadavia  455, 

5800  Rio  Cuarto,  Argentina,  S.A. 
Jones,  Miss  Gail,  RD  4,  Box  59,  Johnstown, 

PA  15905 
Kennedy,  Mrs.  Minnie,  Grace  Village,  P.O. 

Box  337,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Kent,  Miss  Ruth,  P.O.  Box  588,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 


Kliever,  Dr.  Jake,  Box  588,  Winona  Lako 

IN  46590 
Maconaghy,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Hill,  4061  58tl  ■ 

Ave.  N.,  Lot  206,  St.  Petersburg,  F] 

33714 
Miller,    Rev.    &    Mrs.    Donald,    390 

Drakeshire  Dr.,  Modesto,  CA  95356 
Mishler,  Miss  Marie,  62  Coach  Lane,  AkroDJ 

OH  44312 
Sheldon,  Mrs.  Hattie,  510  Rose  Ave.,  Lonj 

Beach,  CA  90802 
Sickel,  Mrs.  Loree,  1462  Golden  Rain  Rd. 

No.  49-B,  Seal  Beach,  CA  90740 
Snyder,  Miss  Ruth,  P.O.  Box  588,  Winom 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Tresise,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Foster,  95-303  Waion 

St.,  Wahiawa,  HI  96786 
Williams,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Robert,  Box  67,  UdeU 

IA  52593 

Medical  Retirement— 

Cochran,  Miss  Rosella,  101  Fourth  St. 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Snyder,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Roy,  P.O.  Box  58£ 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

On  Furlough- 
Austin,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Gary,  2032  E.  Markej 

St.,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Green,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dan,  c/o  Grace  Brethrei 

Church,  6675  Worthington-Galena  Rd 

Worthington,  OH  43085 
Hull,  Miss  Margaret,  1632  N.  38th  Ave 

Phoenix,  AZ  85009 
Immel,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Howard,  3860  Smile; 

Rd.,  Hilliard,  OH  43026 
Kuns,   Mr.   &   Mrs.   Paul,   14014  Valns! 

Whittier,  CA  90605 
Skeen,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Bob,  P.O.  Box  58fr! 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Thurston,  Miss  Marian,  7033  Kiowa  NF 

Albuquerque,  NM  87110 
Vnasdale,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Les,  91  S.  Linden  Rd 

Mansfield,  OH  44906 
Walker,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  William,  Box  601,  CI 

225S,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

Approved  Appointees— 

Crandall,  Rev.  &  Mrs.  Gary,  301  14th  St 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Kirnbauer,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Ted,  3545  Lime  Ave 

Long  Beach,  CA  90807 
Wainwright,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Jack,  8317  Risin 

Sun  Ave.,  Philadelphia,  PA  19111 


30 


FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 
BALANCE  SHEET 
December  31,  1984 

ssets: 

eneral  Fund- 
ash  and  Investments 

ccounts  Receivable 

dvances  and  Prepaid 

upenses  

quipment  (less  depreciation) .... 

and  and  Buildings 

ther 

Total  

estricted  Funds- 
ash  and  Investments 

otes  Receivable 

ccrued  Interest 

Total  

nnuity  Funds- 
ash  and  Investments 

otes  Receivable 

ccrued  Interest 

Total  

TOTAL  OF  ALL  FUNDS 


labilities  and  Fund 

alances: 

eneral  Fund— 

otes  Payable 

Missionary  Outfit  Funds  .  . 
edical  Contingency  Fund 
ther  Liabilities 


Total  Liabilities  . 
and  Balance  .  . .  . 


istricted  Funds— 

pcounts  Payable 

and  Balance  —  Relief 

gency  

md  Balance  —  Field  Projects  . 
Ibtal 


nnuity  Funds— 
xounts  Payable  . 
!inuities  in  Force 
|ind  Balance  .... 


$    503,838 
27,577 

2,092 
27,793 
364,050 

11.742 

$    937,092 


$      63,599 

44,500 

6,616 


$    269,728 

82,047 

4,533 

$    356,308 


$1,408,115 


$      16,639 

20,041 

59,785 

354 

$      96,819 

840,273 


9,518 
105,147 


2,116 
262,380 
91,812 


Field 

Support  and  Outfit 

Estates 

Total  

Interest  and  Miscellaneous 

TOTAL  INCOME 


20,739 
1,972,162 

51,397 
$2,306,494 

14,891 
$2,321,385 


Expenses: 
Administrational— 

General  Office $      28,423 

Office  Rent 31,340 

Legal  and  Audit 1,919 

Office  Personnel 124,306 

Board  and  Office  Travel 13,428 

Candidate  Expenses 3,324 

Total $    202,704 

Promotional- 
Publications   $      37,579 

Publicity 42,215 

Conferences  and  Deputation 54,432 

Office  Personnel 79,761 

Total $    213,987 

Missionary  and  Field- 
Residences  $      21,834 

Missionary  Personnel 1,257,077 

Missionary  Travel 69,856 

Field  Expenditures 504,589 

Total $1,853,356 

Other- 
Interest  $        1,430 

Memberships  and 

Contributions 5,867 

Miscellaneous 3,110 

Total $      10,407 

TOTAL  EXPENSES  $2,280,490 

Changes  in  Fund  Balance: 

Income  over  Expenses $      40,895 

Fund  Transfers 5,805 

Fund  Balance  —  January  1 793,573 

Fund  Balance- 
December  31 $    840,273 


The  financial  records  of  the  GBFMS  for  the  year  1984 
have  been  audited  by  Dahms  and  Yarian,  Certified 
Public  Accountants,  Warsaw,  Indiana.  The  complete 
audited  report  is  available  for  inspection  at  the 
Foreign  Missions  office. 


Ibtal 

rOTAL  OF  ALL  FUNDS 


INCOME  AND  EXPENSE  STATEMENT 

)r  the  calendar  year  ending  December  31,  1984 

GENERAL  FUND 


fts- 
ldesignated 


31 


GRACE  BRETHREN  MISSIONS  STEWARDSHIP  SERVICE 

P.O.  Box  587,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

Phone:  219/267-5161 

(A  joint  ministry  sponsored  by 

The  Grace  Brethren  Home  Missions  Council,  Inc.  and 

The  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 

Grace  Brethren  Church,  Inc.) 

Director  —  Mr.  Russel  Dunlap 

West  Coast  Representative  —  Rev.  Donald  Miller, 

3901  Drakeshire  Drive,  Modesto,  CA  95356 

Executive  Committee: 

Robert  W.  Thompson,  chairman 

John  W.  Zielasko,  secretary 

Larry  N.  Chamberlain,  Walter  R.  Fretz,  Wendell  Kent,  and  Stephen  P.  Mason 


THE    GRACE    BRETHREN    HOME    MISSIONS    COUNCIl 
INCORPORATED 


P.O.  Box  587,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Officers  and  Staff 

Pres.-Rev.  Luke  E.  Kauffman,  613  Hilltop 

Road,  Myerstown,  PA  17067 
V.    Pres.-Rev.    James    L.    Custer,    2515 

Carriage  Lane,  Powell,  OH  43065 
Exec  Secy.-Dr.  Robert  W  Thompson,  P.O. 

Box  396,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Treas.-Mr.  Harry  Shipley,  Box  32,  West 

Alexandria,  OH  45381 
Adm.      Coordinator— Mr.      Larry      N. 

Chamberlain,  R.R.  1,  Box  425A,  Warsaw, 

IN  46580 
Eastern  Field  Secy— Rev.  Edward  Jackson, 

1012  Court  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Southern   Field   Secy— Rev.    William   A. 

Byers,  3039  Hidden  Forest  Ct.,  Marietta, 

GA  30066 
Western  Consultant— Rev.  Brian  Smith, 

10641  Zodiac  Riverside,  CA  92503 
Promotional  Secy.— Miss  Liz  Cutler,  Route 

8,  Box  59,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Accountant— Mr.  Stephen  Galegor,  Route  2, 

Box  244,  Milford,  EN  46542 
Office  Secy— Mrs.  Charles  Orlando,  111 

Mineral    Springs,    Winona    Lake,    IN 

46590 
Co-ordinator    of   Data    Processing— Mrs. 

Cashel  Taylor,  R.R.  9,  Box  123,  Warsaw, 

IN  46580 
Receptionist— Mrs.  Jeanette  Scofield,  R.R. 

5,  Westhaven  Estates  No.  625,  Warsaw, 

IN  46580 


Board  of  Directors 

(Term  Ending  1986) 
Rev.  Robert  D.  Fetterhoff,  1770  Woodcrei 

Wooster,  OH  44691 
Mr.  Vernon  W  Schrock,  226  Hammond  Te 

Waterloo,  IA  50702 
Mr.  Harry  Shipley,  Box  32,  West  Alexa 

dria,  OH  45381 
Rev.  William  H.  Snell,  306  S.  Mulberry  S 

Martinsburg,  PA  16662 
Mr.    Lloyd    Wenger,    Route    2,    Box   91 

Woodward,  IA  50276 

(Term  Ending  1987) 
Rev.  James  L.  Custer,  2515  Carriage  Lar 

Powell,  OH  43065 
Rev.  Paul  E.  Dick,  R.  8,  Box  420,  Warsa, 

IN  46580 
Rev.  C.  Lee  Jenkins,  P.O.  Box  273,  Winoi' 

Lake,  EN  46590 
Mr.    Williard    Smith,    400    Queen   SS 

Minerva,  OH  44657 
Mr.  Homer  Waller,  P.O.  Box  178,  SunnysK 

WA  98944 


(Term  Ending  1988) 
Mr.  Mark  Curtis,  3646  California  Ave,  Loi 

Beach,  CA  90807 
Rev.  Richard  P.  DeArmey,  1963  Noble  Rv 

Way,  Columbus,  OH  43229 


v.  Luke  Kauffman,   613   Hilltop  Rd., 
Myerstown,  PA  17067 
■.  Joseph  Taylor,  124  N.E.  19th  Ct,  B-204, 
Manor  Grove  Village,  Wilton  Manors, 
FL  33305 

Home  Mission  Directory 

buquerque,  NM  —  Heights  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Mark 
Henning. 

tavista,  VA— Altavista  Grace  Brethren 
Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Robert  Juday. 
lanta,    GA,    (East)— Grace    Brethren 
Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Ernest  Usher, 
stin,  TX— Grace  Brethren  Church.  Rev. 
Fenton  McDonald. 

ltimore,  MD— Grace  Brethren  Fellowship 
of  Baltimore.  Pastor,  Rev.  Elliott  (Tex) 
Hudson. 

11,  CA— Bell  Brethren  Church.  Pastor, 
Rev.  Phillip  Guerena. 
unswick,    ME— Down    East    Grace 
Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Darrel 
Taylor. 

ncinnati,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church. 
Pastor,  Rev.  Michael  Clapham. 
lumbia  City,  IN— Columbia  City  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Robert 
Ashman. 

yhill,  KY— Victory  Mountain  Grace 
Brethren  Chapel.  Pastor,  Rev.  Samuel 
Baer. 

;ttysburg,  PA— Gettysburg  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Earle 
Peer. 

irtford  City,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church, 
imet,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Hemet.  Pastor,  Rev.  Dean  Smith. 
jmer,  AK— Kachemak  Bay  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Jim 
i  Jackson. 

jrsey  Shore,  PA— Tiadaghton  Valley  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  James 
I  Snavely. 

keland,  FL— Grace  Brethren  Church. 
!  Pastor,  Rev.  Jack  Peters,  Jr. 
ixington,  KY— Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
[Lexington.  Pastor,  Rev.  Al  Reilly. 
ndon,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church, 
ikakilo,  HI— Makakilo  Grace  Brethren 
Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Nathan  Leigh, 
arion,    OH— Grace    Brethren    Church. 
Pastor,  Rev.  Dean  Risser. 
'idina,    OH— Medina    Grace    Brethren 
1  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Daniel  Najimian. 


Melbourne,     FL— Community     Grace 

Brethren  Church-Suntree.  Pastor,  Rev. 

William  Tweeddale. 
Mifflin,    OH-Mifflin    Grace    Brethren 

Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Charles  Barnhill. 
Milroy,  PA— Milroy  Grace  Brethren  Church. 

Pastor,  Rev.  Douglas  Sabin. 
Newark,    DE— Grace    Brethren    Church. 

Pastor,  Rev.  Timothy  Coyle. 
New  England— Rev.  James  Hunt. 
North  Pole,  AK— North  Pole  Grace  Brethren 

Church. 
Ocala,  FL— Ocala  Grace  Brethren  Church. 

Pastor,  Rev.  Charles  Davis. 
Orange  City,  FL— Calvary  Grace  Brethren 

Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Kenneth  Koontz. 
Palm    Harbor   (Clearwater),    FL— Palm 

Harbor  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Pastor, 

Rev.  Kurt  Miller. 
Pine  Grove,  PA— Grace  Brethren  Church. 

Pastor,  Rev.  Howard  Gelsinger. 
Placerville,    CA— Sierra    View    Grace 

Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Darrell 

Anderson. 
Royersford,  PA— Tri-County  Grace  Brethren 

Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Eugene  deJongh. 
San    Bernardino,    CA— Grace    Brethren 

Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Ward  Miller. 
Saratoga   Springs,    NY— Grace   Brethren 

Church  of  Saratoga  Springs.  Pastor,  Rev. 

Charles  Sparzak. 
Sebring,    FL— Sebring    Grace    Brethren 

Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Jay  Fretz. 
Shermans  Valley,   PA— Shermans  Valley 

Grace  Brethren  Church. 
Wasilla,    AK— Wasilla    Grace    Brethren 

Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Chris  Hayes. 
Xenia,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church.  Pastor, 

Rev.  Earl  Pittman. 


GRACE  BRETHREN  NAVAJO  MIS- 
SION -  Counselor,  NM  87018  - 
(Telephone:  505/568-4454) 

Rev.  Larry  Wedertz,  superintendent. 

Missionaries:  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Larry  Wedertz, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wayne  Aites,  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
Tully  Butler,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Champion,  Rev.  and  Mrs  Johnson 
Chiquito,  Miss  Angie  Garber,  Miss  Dian- 
na  Graney,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Juday,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Robert  Lathrop,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Forest  Leistner,  Miss  Rhoda  Leistner, 
Miss  Elaine  Marpel,  Mrs.  Betty 
Masimer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roger  Moore,  Mr. 


33 


and  Mrs.  Roy  Sam,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Ray 
Thompson,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  John  Trujillo. 

Churches  sponsored  by  the  Navajo  Mission: 
Cedar  Hill  Navajo  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(Tully  Butler) 
Day  Mesa  Navajo  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(Johnson  Chiquito) 
Red   Lake    Community    Grace    Brethren 

Church  (John  Trujillo) 

Temporary  Assistance 

North  Lauderdale,  FL— Grace  Brethren 
Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Charles  Olsen. 

Virginia  Beach,  VA— Tidewater  Grace 
Brethren  Church.  Pastor,  Rev.  Michael 
Johnson. 

STATEMENT  OF 

FINANCIAL  CONDITION 

December  31,  1984 

Con- 
solidated 
Report* 


ASSETS: 
Current  Assets 

Cash $      76,266 

Offerings  in  Transit   249,129 

Savings  &  Securities 2,949 

Accounts  Receivable   6,100 

Interest  Receivable  & 

Other  Current  Assets 10,662 

Total  Current  Assets $    345,106 

Property  and  Equipment 

Land 36,000 

Buildings 332,886 

Mission  Real  Estate   330,889 

Vehicles 117,129 

Photo  Equipment 22,386 

Other  Equipment    67,196 

Less  Accumulated  Depr. -199,764 

Net  Equipment $    706,722 

Investments:  Other  Assets 

Notes  Receivable 86,114 

Contributed  Property   252,200 

Annuities  Invested    565,272 

Leasehold  Interest,  net .  19,446 

Total  Invest./Other  Asst $    923,032 

TOTAL  ASSETS $1,974,860 

LIABILITIES: 
Current  Liabilities 

Notes  Payable   $    274,000 

Current  long  Term  Debt 4,115 

Accounts  Payable 9,598 

Accrued  Annuity  Payment 9,559 

Payroll  Withholdings 434 

Total  Current  Liab $    297,706 

Long  Term  Debt,  net 196,740 


Annuities  &  Trusts 705,! 

TOTAL  LIABILITIES $1,200,1 

EQUITY 774,1 

TOTAL  LIAB.  &  EQUITY   $1,974,1 

*The  Consolidated  Report  includes  the  Counci 
Building  Ministry  and  the  Missions  Building. 

STATEMENT  OF  OPERATIONS: 
YEAR  ENDING  DECEMBER  31,  1984 

Home  Cons  I 

Missions  dated  Rer 

I 

Revenues: 

Offerings $1,187,091  $1,187,' , 

Contributed  Assets  .  .            249,500  24M 

Estates  &  Annuities .              77,527  92,. 

Architectural 

Services 31, 

Rent 330  42. 

Interest   54,403  54, 

$1,568,851  $1,657, 

Operating  Expenses: 

Direct  Assistance  .  .  .            826,069  826,J| 

Administration 374,631  429, 

Promotion   57,634  57, 

Payments  to 

Annuitants 37,174  62. 

$1,295,508  $1,375, 1 

Operating  Income/ 

-Loss $    273,343  $    282, 1 

Other  Income/Deficit 

Assets  from 

Dissolution 82,922  82, 

Disposition  of  Assets  1,  i 

Interest    -20.121  -20, 

Proceeds  from  Self- 
funded  Insurance  .  .              31,998  31, 
$    94,799  $    96, 
6    368,142  $    378, 


Net  IncomeALoss 
Equity,  beginning  of 

year 

Equity,  end  of  year  .  . 


410.211 
778,353 


395, 
774,, 


*The  Consolidated  Report  includes  the  Coun 
Building  Ministry,  and  Mission  Building. 

These    Reports    and    the    supporting   records  1 
audited  by  the  CPA  firm  Ashman,  Targgart  and  II  i 
nion,  PC.  A  copy  of  their  report  is  available  ui 
written  request. 


GRACE  BRETHREN  INVESTMENT 
FOUNDATION,  INCORPORATED 

P.O.  Box  587,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Officers  and  Staff 


is.-Rev.  Luke  E.  Kauffman,  613  Hilltop 
Road,  Myerstown,  PA  17067 
Pres  —  Rev.    James    L.    Custer,    2515 
Carriage  Lane,  Powell,  OH  43065 
5C.  Secy.-Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson,  P.O. 
Box  396,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
s.-Mr.   Harry   Shipley,  Box  32,  West 
Alexandria,  OH  45381 
u  Secy.-Mr.  Walter  R.  Fretz,  Route  8 
Box  87A,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
it.    Fin.    Secy— Mr.    Stephen    Galegor, 
Route  2,  Box  244,  Milford,  IN  46542 
stern  Field  Secy.— Rev.  Edward  Jackson 
1012  Court  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
ithern    Field    Secy— Rev.    William    A 
Byers,  3039  Hidden  Forest  Ct,  Marietta 
GA  30066 

stern  Consultant— Rev.   Brian   Smith 
10641  Zodiac,  Riverside,  CA  92503 
y.-Mrs.  Bill  D.  Figert,  R.R.  8,  Box  271 
Warsaw,  IN  46580 

)kkeeper— Mrs.  Donald  Ogden,  R.R.  8 
Box  245,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

Board  of  Directors 

Mr.  Mark  Curtis 

Rev.  James  Custer 

Rev.  Richard  DeArmey 

Rev.  Paul  Dick 

Rev.  Robert  Fetterhoff 

Rev.  C.  Lee  Jenkins 

Rev.  Luke  Kauffman 

Mr.  Vernon  Schrock 

Mr.  Harry  Shipley 

Mr.  Williard  Smith       - 

Rev.  William  Snell 

Mr.  Joseph  Taylor 

Mr.  Homer  Waller 

Mr.  Lloyd  Wenger 

STATEMENTS  OF  FINANCIAL 

CONDITION  AND  OPERATIONS 

Statement  of  Financial  Condition 

May  31,  1985 


SETS: 

ns  Receivable— Churches 
ns  Receivable— 
rganizations 


$  9,452,364 
426,662 


Loans  Receivable— Notes  Assigned 


U.S.  Government  Obligations, 

1,846,623 

200,000 

Merrill  Lynch  Funds 

Cash 

754,301 
104,782 

Accrued  Interest  Receivable  .... 
Office  Equipment, 
Less  Depreciation  of  $38,848   . 

104,781 

8,380 
3,103 

Total  Assets 

$13,017,531 

LIABILITIES  AND  FUND 
BALANCE 

Savings  Accounts $11,772,383 

Accrued  Interest  Payable   129,898 

Other  Liabilities 9,623 


Total  Liabilities $11,911,904 

NET  WORTH 

Fund  Balance 1,105,627 

Total  Liabilities  and  Fund  Balance  $13,017,531 


The  above  statements  and  supporting  financial 
records  have  been  audited  by  the  firm  of  Dahms 
and  Yarian,  Warsaw,  Indiana,  Certified  Public  Ac- 
countants. The  auditor's  opinion  and  complete 
financial  statements  can  be  examined  by  any  cor- 
porate member  in  the  offices  of  the  Grace 
Brethren  Investment  Foundation,  Inc. 

STATEMENT  OF  OPERATIONS 
For  Fiscal  Year  ended  May  31,  1985 


OPERATING  INCOME: 

Interest  on  Loans 

Investment  Income  .  .  .  . 
Miscellaneous   


Total  Operating  Income 

OPERATING  EXPENSES: 
Interest  on  Savings  Accounts  . 

Salaries  and  Services 

Directors'  Expenses 

Travel  Expenses 

Payroll  Taxes 

Retirement  Fund 

Promotion  and  Advertising   .  . 

Stewardship  Services   

Office  Expenses 

Data  Processing  Services  .  .  .  . 


$    838,280 

251,289 

1,567 

$1,091,136 


774,805 

84,004 
5,901 

11,888 
5,015 
4.748 

14,808 
4,395 
3,491 

16,272 


Title  and  Mortgage  Loan  Costs  . 
Telephone 


Insurance  

Professional  Services 

Purchase  Charges  —  Investments 

Contributions 

Miscellaneous   

Rent  -  Office 


738 

2,124 

3,776 

9,935 

1,856 

135 

23,206 

2,362 

10.150 


Repairs  to  Equipment 

Depreciation 

Total  Operating  Expenses   

NET  INCOME  FROM 

OPERATIONS 

OTHER  INCOME  (EXPENSES) 
NET  INCOME 


$   985, 


$    105,, 

13, 

$    118,  i1 


GRACE  SCHOOLS 

200  Seminary  Drive,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


General  Administration 

*Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr.,  President 
*Jesse  B.  Deloe,  Assistant  to  the  President 
*E.  William  Male,  Dean  of  the  Seminary 
*Vance  A.  Yoder,  Academic  Dean  of  the 

College 
Philip  Dick,  Director  of  Athletics 
Ron  Henry,  Director  of  College  Admissions 
Robert  Ibach,  Jr.,  Library  Director 
Roy  Lowrie,  Director  of  Graduate  Studies 

in  Christian  School  Administration 
Rozella    Sherman    (Miss),    Director    of 

Nursing 
Jim  Shipley,  Registrar 
Charles    Smith,    Director    of   Seminary 

Admissions 
John    Whitcomb,    Director    of   Doctoral 

Studies 

Student  Services 

*Daniel  M.  Snively,  Dean  of  Students 
Bruce  Barlow,  Associate  Dean  of  Students 
Joseph  Bishop,  College  Chaplain 
David    Brown,    Director    of    Seminary 

Placement 
Lisa    Heim   (Mrs.),    Associate    Dean    ol 

Students 
Andrew  Galvin,  College  Retention  Officer 
Lee  Kantenwein,  Assistant  to  the  Seminary 

Dean  for  Student  Affairs 
Elizabeth  Moore  (Mrs.),  Housing  Director 
Alice   Petty  (Mrs.),   Director  of  College 

Placement 
Joanne  Taylor  (Mrs.),  School  Nurse 

Business  and  Financial  Matters 

*Ronald  E.  dinger,  Director  of  Business 

Affairs 
Richard  Brundage,  Director  of  Supporting 

Services 
Donald  Fluke,  Director  of  Data  Processing 
Duane  Helmick,  Director  of  Physical  Plant 


William  Hofto,  Controller 

Steve  Petty,  Director  of  Financial  Aid 

Earl  Thurston,  Director  of  Food  Servia 

Development  Department 

*Jerry  Twombly,  Director 

Robin    Penfold   (Mrs.),    Administrati 

Assistant 
Michael  Boze,  Director  of  Publications  a 

Media 
Don  Ogden,  Director  of  Alumni  Affairs 
Dewey  Melton,  Field  Representative 
Read  Morrison,  Director  of  Annual  Fui 
Rob    Wilkins,    Director    of   Informati. 

Services 

: 

*Members  of  the  President's  Administrati r 
Council 

Officers  of  the  Corporation 
President—  Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Secretary/Treasurer    —    Mr.    Ronald 
Clinger 

Assistant  Secretary  —  Mr.  Ronald  J.  Kinl; 


Board  of  Trustees 

Term  ending  1986 
Rev.  John  Burke,  1434  Lyon,  Waterloo,  Ioi 

50702 
Mr.  Ralph  H.  Grady,  1168  Ridgemont  Rw(. 

Waterloo,  Iowa  50701 
+Mr.  Ronald  J.  Kinley,  vice  chairman,  9! 

East  Center  Street,  Warsaw,  India^ 

46580 
Mr.  Chris  G.  Lapp,  270  Brook  Farm  Ro£ 

Lancaster,  Pennsylvania  17601 
Mr.  Lowell  A.  Miller,  5455  West  Virgir 

Avenue,  Lakewood,  Colorado  80226 
Rev.  R.  Paul  Miller,  630  Laura  Avem 

Altamonte  Springs,  Florida  32714 
+Mr.  William  Snoddy,  197  Twp.  Road  5<) 

West  Salem,  Ohio  44287 


.  H.   Dwight  Stair,   510  Oak  Street, 
Wadsworth,  Ohio  44281 
v.  Larry  Wedertz,  Brethren  Navajo  Mis- 
sion, Counselor,  New  Mexico  87018 

Term  Ending  1987 
.  Charles  R.  Doyen,  719  Gaillard  Street, 
La  Verne,  California  91750 
Hx.  Ted  Franchino,  101  East  12th  Street, 
Winona  Lake,  Indiana  46590 

Marion  Forrest,  481  Ridgedale  Drive 
North,  Worthington,  Ohio  43085 
v.  F.  Thomas  Inman,  2244  Fernwood 
Drive,  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado  80910 
i.   G.   Forrest   Jackson,    172   Burgess 
Avenue,  Dayton,  Ohio  45415 
j.  Lester  W.  Kennedy,  241  East  29th 
Street,  Buena  Vista,  Virginia  24416 
)r.  David  W.  Miller,  7821  Linda  Lane,  La 
Palma,  California  90623 
Ir.  John  P.  Morgan,  17341  S.R.  37,  Mt. 
Blanchard,  Ohio  45867 
!.  Charles  G.  Thornton,  Route  1,  Box 
242A,  Dallas  Center,  Iowa  50063 

Term  Ending  1988 
.  John  Armstrong,  544  West  Pleasant 
'Home  Road,  Wooster,  Ohio  44691 
!  Robert  L.  Boze,  Route  1,  Box  244-D, 
|Berne,  Indiana  46711 
'/.  Paul  Dick,  Route  8,  Box  420,  Warsaw, 
ilndiana  46580 

/.  Ronald  A.  Guiles,  3350  Airport  Road, 
Box  80,  Allentown,  Pennsylvania  18103 
Donald  Hedrick,  15033  Lodosa  Drive, 
Whittier,  California  90605 
Ir.  Richard  Holmes,  secretary,  427  David 
'Street,  Smithville,  Ohio  44677 
j.  Thomas  Horney,  2811  Prospect  N.E., 
IBox  59,  Middlebranch,  Ohio  44652 
Ir.  Clyde  K.  Landrum,  1108  Chestnut 
jAvenue,  Winona  Lake,  Indiana  46590 
lev.  Jerry  Young,  chairman,  Route  5,  Box 
434,  Manheim,  Pennsylvania  17545 
llembers  and  officers  of  the  Executive 
Committee 

1985-86 
Faculty  Members  and 
Administrative  Officers 

C=College,  S=Seminary 
CS=Both  College  and  Seminary 

'lorn,  Bruce  K.  (Dr.)  (C)  Professor  of 
Education  and  Psychology 


Allender,  Dan  B.  (S),  Assistant  Professor  of 
Biblical  Counseling 

Averbeck,  Richard  E.  (S),  Assistant  Pro- 
fessor of  Old  Testament  and  Hebrew 

Barlow,  Bruce  S.  W.  (C),  Associate  Dean  of 
Students 

Beaver,  S.  Wayne  (Dr.)  (CS),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Missions;  Director,  Graduate 
School  of  Missions 

Belanger,  Leo  (C),  Instructor  in  Nursing 

Benyousky,  Frank  (C),  Assistant  Professor 
of  English 

Boozel,  Margaret  (Mrs.)  (C),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Nursing 

Clinger,  Ronald  E.  (CS),  Director  of 
Business  Affairs 

Clutter,  Ronald  T  (Dr.)  (S),  Assistant  Pro- 
fessor of  Theology  and  Church  History 

Coverstone,  Jean  L.  (Mrs.)  (C),  Associate 
Professor  of  Art 

Crabb,  Larry  J.,  Jr.  (Dr.)  (S),  Professor  of 
Biblical  Counseling 

Darr,  William  E.  (CS),  Assistant  Library 
Director 

Davis,  Arthur  W  (C),  Associate  Professor  of 
Art 

Davis,  John  J.  (Dr.)  (S),  Professor  of  Old 
Testament  and  Hebrew 

Deane,  Vilas  E.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Mathematics 

Deloe,  Jesse  B.  (CS),  Assistant  to  the 
President 

DeYoung,  Donald  B.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Physics 

Dick,  E.  Philip  (C),  Director  of  Athletics; 
Assistant  Professor  of  Health  and 
Physical  Education 

Dilling,  Richard  A.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Mathematics  and  Science  Education 

Edgington,  Thomas  (C),  Assistant  Professor 
of  Psychology  (on  leave  of  absence 
1985-87) 

Felts,  Verna  M.  (Mrs.)  (C),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Music  (Piano) 

Felts,  W.  Ronald  (C),  Associate  Professor  of 
Music  (Vocal) 

Fields,  Weston  W  (Dr.)  (C),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Bible,  Classical  Languages,  and 
Hermeneutics  (on  leave  of  absence 
1985-86) 

Fluke,  Donald  (CS),  Director  of  Data  Pro- 
cessing; part-time  instructor  in  Com- 
puter Science 

Forbes,  W  Merwin  (Dr.)  (C),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Biblical  Studies 


37 


Foreman,  Janet  (Mrs.)  (C),  Assistant  Pro- 
fessor of  Business 

Fowler,  Donald  L.  (Dr.)  (CS),  Professor  of  Old 
Testament  and  Hebrew 

Gordon,  William  P.  (C),  Associate  Professor 
of  Economics  and  Business 

Grill,  W.  Michael  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Psychology 

Grill,  Stephen  A.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Speech  Communication 

Gsell,  Ray  A.  (Dr.)  (C),  Associate  Professor 
of  Chemistry 

Heim,  Lisa  (Mrs.)  (C),  Associate  Dean  of 
Students 

Henry,  Ron  (C),  Director  of  College  Admis- 
sions; Associate  Professor  of  History 

Herrick,  Dennis  R.  (Dr.)  (C),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Music 

Hildebrandt,  Theodore  (Dr.)  (C),  Associate 
Professor  of  Biblical  Studies 

House,  Cynthia  (Mrs.)  (C),  Instructor  in 
Nursing 

Humberd,  Jesse  D.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Science  and  Mathematics 

Ibach,  Robert  D.,  Jr.  (CS),  Library  Director; 
Associate  Professor  of  Theological 
Bibliography 

Jeffreys,  Richard  E.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Biochemistry 

Kantenwein,  Lee  L.  (Dr.)  (S),  Assistant  to 
the  Seminary  Dean  for  Student  Affairs; 
Associate  Professor  of  Homiletics 

Kent,  Homer  A.,  Jr.  (Dr.)  (CS),  President; 
Professor  of  New  Testament  and  Greek 

Kessler,  James  C.  (C),  Associate  Professor 
of  Health  and  Physical  Education 

Knife,  D.  Wayne  (Dr.)  (S),  Professor  of  Old 
Testament  and  Hebrew 

Lovelady,  Edgar  J.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
English,  Greek,  and  Linguistics 

Male,  E.  William  (Dr.)  (S),  Dean  of  the 
Seminary;  Professor  of  Christian 
Education 

Manahan,  Ronald  E.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
Biblical  Studies 

Mathisen,  Robert  R.  (Dr.)  (C),  Professor  of 
History 

Meadors,  Gary  T.  (Dr.)  (S),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Greek  and  New  Testament 

Messner,  Yvonne  (Mrs.)  (C),  Associate  Pro- 
fessor of  Health  and  Physical  Education 
(on  leave  of  absence  1985-86) 

Nesbitt,  James  (Dr.)  (C),  Associate  Professor 
of  Modern  Languages 


Ogden,  Donald  E.  (CS),  Director  of  Aluiri 

Relations;  Professor  of  Music 
Overstreet,  R.  Larry  (Dr.)  (S),  Professor  I 

Homiletics 
Owen,    Marie    (Mrs.)    (C),    Instructor  fj 

Nursing 
Owens,  Lowell  T.  (C),  Associate  Professor 

Business 
Plaster,  David  R.  (S),  Instructor  in  Pastoi 

Ministries 
Sandy,  D.  Brent  (Dr.)  (CS),  Associate  M 

fessor    of    Classical    and    Ancie 

Languages 
Sauders,  Paulette  (Mrs.)  (C),  Associate  Pi 

fessor  of  English 
Sherman,  Rozella  (Miss)  (C),  Director  ai 

Associate  Professor  of  Nursing 
Shipley,  Jim  A.  (CS),  Registrar 
Smith,   Charles  R.   (Dr.)  (S),   Director   I 

Seminary    Admissions:    Professor    I 

Theology 
Snider,  R.  Wayne  (C),  Professor  of  Histoil 
Snively,  Daniel  M.  (C),  Dean  of  Student! 

Assistant  Professor  of  Sociology 
Sproule,  John  A.  (Dr.)  (S),  Professor  of  Ne1 

Testament  and  Greek 
Taylor,  Kenneth  N.  (C),  Associate  Professi1 

of  Sociology 
Turner,  David  L.  (Dr.)  (S),  Associate  Pr[ 

fessor  of  New  Testament  and  Greek  ' 
Twombly,    Gerald    H.    (CS),    Director    ! 

Development 
Varney,    Thomas   R.    (CS),    Instructor  il 

Psychology 
Votaw,  Floyd  M.  (CS),  Director  of  Librai 

Technical  Services 
Whitcomb,  John  C.  (Dr.)  (S),  Professor  j 

Theology;  Director  of  Doctoral  Studie, 
Yoder,  Marilyn  J.  (Mrs.)  (C),  Associate  Pnj 

fessor  of  Teacher  Education 
Yoder,  Vance  A.  (Dr.)  (C),  Academic  Deai| 

Professor  of  Music 
Zemek,  George  J.  (Dr.)  (CS),  Associate  Pnj 

fessor  of  Theology  and  Old  Testamem 

Emeritus  Faculty 

Boyer,  James  L.  (Dr.),  Professor  Emeriti;' 
Hamilton,   Benjamin  A.   (Dr.),   Libraria 

Emeritus 
Hamilton,  Mabel  (Mrs.),  Librarian  Emeriti: 
Hoyt,  Herman  A.  (Dr.),  President  Emeritu 
Kriegbaum,  Arnold  R.,  Dean  of  Student 

Emeritus 
Uphouse,  Miriam  M.  (Mrs.),  Associate  Dea 

of  Students  Emeritus 


Alumni  Associations 

nald  Ogden,  Director 
rol  Barger,  Secretary 

illege  Alumni  Executive  Committee 

Gladys  Deloe 
Ted  Franchino 

Ron  Henry 
Gary  Woolman 

minary  Alumni  Executive  Committee 

Robert  Arenobine 

Jesse  Deloe 

Ed  Lewis 

Charles  Smith 


1984-85  PRE-AUDIT 
10NDENSED  FINANCIAL  REPORT 

Balance  Sheet,  May  31,  1985 
SETS: 

sh  $      13,024 

estments-short-term  ....  300,000 

:ounts  receivable: 

Jtudents 50,171 

Employees 7,670 

|)ther 109,215 

I'entories  at  lower  of  cost 

Jr  market 237,132 

I'paid  expenses  and  deposits  62,099 

(ferred  charges   51,213 

fier  investments: 

ieal  Estate  31,104 

Marketable  securities 

|  -   at   cost   (1985    market 

value  $    23,755; 
J  1984  market  value 

j  $25,938) 24,034 

total  general  fund    $    885,662 

|\BILITIES  AND  FUND  BALANCES: 

bounts  payable $      59,890 

:rued  expenses 454,339 

posits 33,496 

ferred  credits 186,051 


Fund  balance 151,886 

Total  general  fund    $    885,662 


STATEMENT  OF  REVENUES, 
EXPENDITURES  AND  TRANSFERS 
Fiscal  Year  Ended  May  31,  1985 
REVENUES: 
Educational  &  General: 

Tuition  &  fees $4,094,140 

Private  gifts,  grants 659,825 

Endowment  income 18,615 

Other  E&G 124,488 

Total  educational  and 

general  $4,897,068 

Auxiliary  Enterprises: 

Housing $    832,920 

Food  service 813,753 

Other  aux.  ent 232,694 

Total  auxiliary 

enterprises $1,879,367 

Other  sources $    157,815 

Total  revenues  $6,934,250 

EXPENDITURES: 
Educational  &  general: 

Instructional $2,099,432 

Academic  support 433,918 

Student  services 800,497 

Institutional  support 861,258 

Operation  of  plant 507,269 

Student  aid 378,243 

Transfers 163,603 

Total    educational    and 

general $5,244,220 

Auxiliary  enterprises: 

Housing $    737,810 

Food  service 671,266 

Other 246,158 

Transfers   34,500 

Total  auxiliary 

enterprises $1,689,734 

Total  expenditures $6,933,954 

NET  INCREASE $  296 


THE  BRETHREN  MISSIONARY  HERALD  COMPANY,  INCORPORATED 
P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Board  of  Trustees 

(Term  Ending  1986) 

James  Bustraan 

Ralph  Colburn 

Gerald  Kelley 


Paul  Woodruff 

(Term  Ending  1987) 

E.  William  Male 

Russell  Ogden 

Maynard  Tittle 


(Term  Ending  1988) 
George  Allenbaugh 

Larry  Gegner 

Gerald  Polman 

H.  Don  Rough 

Officers  of  the  Board 

Pres.  —  James  Bustraan 

V.  Pres.  -  Maynard  Tittle 

Secy.  —  Gerald  Polman 

Asst.  Secy.  —  H.  Don  Rough 

Treas.  —  Ralph  Colburn 

Member-at-Large  —  E.  William  Male 

Herald  Magazine  Editorial  Committee 

E.  William  Male,  Gerald  Polman 
Maynard  Tittle 

Sunday  School  Editorial  Committee 

Charles  Turner,  Gerald  Polman 

and  one  appointed  by  the 

GBC  Christian  Education  Committee 

Joint  Curriculum  Committee 

Charles  Turner,  Gerald  Polman 

E.  William  Male,  and  three  others 

appointed  by  GBC  Christian  Education 

Committee 

Staff 

Publisher  &  General  Manager  — 

Charles  Turner 

Asst.  to  Gen.  Mgr.,  Printing  — 

Kenneth  Herman 

Asst.  to  Gen.  Mgr.,  Finances  and  Retail 

Sales  —  Jo  Disbro 

Finance  Office  —  Carol  Forbes 

Sunday  School  Sales  — 

Bobbette  Ridenour  and  Frances  Ashman 

Computer  Operation,  Mailing  Lists  — 

Delia  Nagel 

Herald  Subscriptions  — 

Bobbette  Ridenour 

Mailing  Department  —  Frances  Ashman 

and  Bill  Patterson 

Maintenance  —  Bill  Patterson 

Herald  Bookstore 

Ralph  Burns,  Jamie  Gentzel,  Steve  Broyles 

Herald  Magazine 

Publisher  —  Charles  W  Turner 

Managing  Editor  — 

Kennedy  Design  Center 

Composition  —  Mike  Baker,  Greg  Hoffert, 

Omega  Sandy 


BMH  Printing 

Manager  and  Director  of  Production 

Kenneth  E.  Herman 

Asst.  Mgr.  —  John  Leonard 

Pressroom  Supt.  —  Don  Cake 

Pre-Press  Supt.  —  David  Beeson 

Typesetters  —  Mike  Baker,  Greg  Hoffe 

Pressmen  —  Don  Cake,  Tom  Miller 

Bindery  —  Scott  Kantenwein, 

Gurney  Smith 

Staff  -  Charlotte  Austin 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 
JANUARY  1,  1984  to  DECEMBER  31,  19 
ASSETS: 
Current  Assets 
Cash  on  Hand $    202,319 


Accounts  Receivable  .  .  . 

Notes  Receivable 

Inventory-Merchandise 
Marketable  Securities  . 
Contract  Receivables  .  . 
Prepaid  Expenses 


88,962. 
-0- 
376,109. 
89,192. ' 

1,378. 

14,188. 

Total  Current  Assets $    772,150.; 

Investments $    173,045; 

Non-Current  Assets 

Land $        5,000. ! 

Buildings 278,739. 

Furniture  and  Fixtures  ....       165,829. 

Print  Shop  Equipment 232,127. 

Vehicles 13,010. 


Total $    694,707.:, 

Less— accumulated 

depreciation  $    437,290. 

Net  Property  -  Equip 257,417.1* 

Other  Assets 

Contract  Receivables  .... 
Less 

Current  Portion 

Total  Other  Assets 


5.306.1 
1,378.'' 


...  $        3,928.1, 
TOTAL  ASSETS  $1,206,541.!' 

LIABILITIES  AND 

NET  WORTH 

Current  liabilities 

Accounts  payable $      31,684.( 

Employee  Payroll  Deduction  230.(1 

Total  Current  Liabilities  .  $      31.914.C 

Non-current  Liabilities 

Gift  Annuities  16 

Total  Liabilities $      48. 

Fund  Balance   $1,158 

Total  Liabilities  and 

Fund  Balance $1,206 


500.C 
,4141 
127i. 


541.9 


CONDENSED  OPERATION  SHEET 
come 

Merchandise  Sales $1,294,818.61 

Cooperating  Boards  . 79,237.60 

Rentals  3,220.00 

Interest  and  miscellaneous  .         41,667.85 

Sale  Fixed  Assets  & 

Securities 53,637.99 

Total  Business  Income  .  .  .  $1,472,582.05 

)St 

Purchases $    702,437.45 


Salaries 319,273.11 

Operating  expenses 331,536.49 

Free  Literature 11,455.12 

Rental  Expenses 3,388.92 

Administrative  Expense   .  .  .  7,224.97 

Total  Business  Costs $1,375,316.06 

Total  Business  Gain 97,265.99 

Publication  Offering 41,808.93 

Expenses 12,289.85 

Offering  Net  Gain 29,519.08 


THE  BRETHREN  WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 


Theme  for  1985-86 

Prayer  —  Your  Lifeline  to  the  Father 
(Colossians  4:2  NASB) 

WMC  Officiary 

■esident— Mrs.  Margie  Devan,  10  E.  Luray 

Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301, 

(Tel.  703/548-8359) 
t  Vice  Pres  —  Mrs.  Geneva  Inman,  2244 

Fernwood   Dr.,   Colorado  Springs,   CO 

80910,  (Tel.  303/597-2620) 
id  Vice  Pres— Mrs.  Janet  Minnix,  3314 

Kenwick  Trail  S.W.,  Roanoke,  VA  24018, 

(Tel.  703/774-4078) 
«retary  —  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh,  Route  3, 

La    Porte    City,    I A    50651,    (Tel. 

319/342-3166) 
sst.  Sec-Mrs.  Betty  Ogden,  8400  Good 

Luck  Rd.,  Lanham,  MD  20706, 

(Tel.  301/552-9660) 
nancial  Sec.-Treas—  Miss  Joyce  Ashman, 

602  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590,  (Tel.  219/267-7588) 
sst.  Fin.  Sec.-Treas.-Mrs.  Ella  Risser,  815 

S.  Prospect,  Marion,  OH  43302, 

(Tel.  614/383-4197) 
terature  Sec— Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter,  Rt.  8, 

Box  292,  Warsaw,  IN  46580, 

(Tel.  219/267-5513) 
ayer  Chairman— Mrs.  Debbie  Adams,  RD 

#4  Box  93-A,  Kittanning,  PA  17201, 

(Tel.  412/763-3497) 
litor— Miss  Nora  Macon,  705  Terrace  Dr., 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590, 

(Tel.  219/267-7527) 
lordinator  of  Girls  Ministries— Miss  Sue 

Rike,  Rt.  8  Box  138,  Warsaw,  IN  46580, 

(Tel.  219/267-3437) 

District  Presidents  1985-86 
legheny— Mrs.  Albert  (Doris)  Valentine  II, 

R.D.  1  Box  82,  Meyersdale,  PA  15552 


Arctic— Mrs.  Ted  (Carol)  Titus,  Box  4186, 

Kenai,  AK  99611 
Florida— Mrs.  Timothy  (Lois)  Johnson,  1095 

Crystal  Bowl  Circle,  Casselberry,  FL 

32707 
Hawaii— Mrs.  Clifford  (Letitia)  Coffman, 

91-799  Ft.  Weaver  Rd.,  Ewa  Beach,  HI 

96706 
Indiana— Mrs.  Larry  (Darlene)  Edwards, 

417  W.  Water  St.,  Box  277,  Berne,  IN 

46711 
Iowa-Midlands— Mrs.  Dean  (Shirley)  Travis, 

1425  York,  Des  Moines,  IA  50316 
Michigan— Mrs.  Cecil  (Clair)  Stice,  P.O.  Box 

355,  Sawyer,  MI  49125 
Mid-Atlantic— Mrs.  Dan  (Nancy)  Eshelman, 

424  Englewood  Rd.,  Hagerstown,  MD 

21740 
Mountain-Plains— Dorothy  L.  Ortega,  1141 

Elpaso  Blvd.,  Denver,  CO  80221 
Northern-Atlantic— Miss    Darlene    Kauff- 

man,  1117-B  Grove  Rd.,  Harrisburg,  PA 

17111 
Nor-Cal- 
North   Central   Ohio-Mrs.   Dale   (Ruth) 

Berry,  2296  Kentwood  Rd.,  Mansfield, 

OH  44903 
Northeastern  Ohio— Mrs.  Kenneth  (Margie) 

Brown,  508  Malvern  Rd.,  Akron,  OH 

44303 
Northwest— Mrs.  Beth  Horney,  1217  Vista, 

Sunnyside,  WA  98944 
S.  Cal-Arizona— 
Southern-Mrs.  S.  H.  (Evelyn)  Henry,  R.  6, 

Box  297,  Jonesborough,  TN  37659 
Southern  Ohio— Miss  Wilma  Hartley,  7565 

W.  St.,  Rt.  571,  West  Milton,  OH  45383 
Southwest— Mrs.  Raymond  (Mary)  Thomp- 
son,    Brethren     Navajo     Mission, 

Counselor,  NM  87018 


Virginia— Mrs.  Gordon  (Evelyn)  McDonald, 
2343  Cantle  Lane,  S.W.,  Roanoke,  VA 
24019 

West  Penn— Mrs.  Rick  (Deborah)  Adams,  Rd 
#4,  Box  93A,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 

Number  of  councils  as  of  July,  1985—245 

Number  of  members  as  of  July,  1985^1,389 

WMC  PEN  POINTERS,  1985-86 
PERSONAL  OBJECTIVES 

1.  Read  and  study  the  Bible  regularly. 

2.  Be  a  faithful  prayer  warrior. 

(See  Pen  Pointer,  "Women  Manifesting 
Christ") 

3.  Active  in  Evangelism. 

(See  Pen  Pointer,  "Women  Manifesting 
Christ") 

4.  Encourage  increased  interest  in  SMM 
or  aid  in  the  establishment  of  SMM  in 
your  local  church. 

5.  Give  regularly  to  WMC  —  time,  talent, 
and  money  as  the  Lord  leads  and  pros- 
pers. (See  Pen  Pointer,  "Working  in  My 
Church") 

6.  Support  regular  family  devotions. 

(See  Pen  Pointer,  "What  is  WMC?") 
Use  of  Daily  Devotions  is  suggested. 

COUNCIL  OBJECTIVES 

1 .  Observe  a  special  time  of  prayer  on  the 
15th  day  of  each  month. 

(Pen  Pointer,  "How  To.") 

2.  Emphasize  prayer  for  BSLV  members, 
for  district  youth  who  made  decisions 
for  full  time  Christian  service. 

3.  Support  district  rallies  and  projects. 

4.  Contribute  to  Major  Offerings: 
(PLEASE  send  all  money  to  the  Na- 
tional WMC  Financial  Secretary,  Joyce 
Ashman,  USING  the  proper  offering 
slip  from  the  Treasurer's  sheet  in  the 
Program  Packet.  Make  CHECKS 
PAYABLE  TO-GRACE  BRETHREN 
NATIONAL  WMC.) 

a  .    September,  October,  November 
HOME  MISSIONS  -  Goal  $9,000 
Send  before  December  10,  1985 
PROJECT:  IBM  Personal  Computer 
and  supplies  for  Home  Missions 
office. 

PLEASE    NOTE:    This    offering 
period    is    during    Thanksgiving 
season,  so  also  send  in  your 
THANK      OFFERING      FOR 
GRACE  BRETHREN  JEWISH 


MISSIONS. 

We  suggest  a  minimum  of  $1.50 1 

year  per  member. 

NOTE:  Send  Before  December  1, 

1985. 

December,  January,  February 

GRACE    SCHOOLS    -    Go 

$8,000 

Send  before  March  10,  1986 

Project:  Radio  Studio  and  Med 

Center  for  Grace  College 

NOTE:  Since  SMM  is  the  heart 

WMC .  .  . 

NATIONAL  SMM  OFFERING 

(SMM  Girl  of  the  Year  Scholarsh: 

and    sponsorship    of    Director   i 

SMM-Christian  Education  Depar 

ment.)  We  suggest  a  minimum  i 

$3.00  a  year  per  member. 

NOTE:  Send  before  March  10, 198 

Goal  $7,000 

March,  April,  May 

FOREIGN   MISSIONS   -  Go; 

$10,000 

Send  before  June  10,  1986 

Project:    Support    for    nations' 

students  Ivanildo  Trindade  (Brazi 

and  Pierre  Yougouda  (C.A.R.) 

BIRTHDAY   OFFERING   to  b 

received  during  the  year  toward  th 

support  of  the  WMC  BIRTHDA, 

MISSIONARIES    honoring    th! 

years    of   service.    We    suggest  | 

minimum    of   $1.50    a    year   pe 

member. 

Send  before  June  10,  1986 

BIRTHDAY    MISSIONARIES 

FOR  1985-86 

Mrs.  Susie  Hobert,  France 

Mrs.  Kathy  Manduka,  Germany 

Miss  Alice  Peacock,  Argentina 

Miss  Evelyn  Tschetter,  C.A.R. 

Mrs.  Sharon  Stallter,  C.A.R. 


d  .    June,  July,  August 

WMC  OPERATIONS  AND 
PUBLICATION  EXPENSES 

Goal  $10,000 

NOTE:  Send  before  September  If 

1986 
5.  Encourage  the  reading  of  the  followinj 
books,  which  may  be  purchased  froii; 
the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Com 
pany,  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Estella  Myers,  Pioneer  Missionary- 
Ruth  Snyder 


The  Valley  is  Bright,  Nell  Collins  and 
Mary  Beth  Moster 
Brother  of  the  Bride,  Donita  Dyer 
USE    BRETHREN    talent    when 
available  and  SUPPORT  BRETHREN 
WORKS,  SUPPORT  SMM  (See  Pen 
Pointer  "Working  in  My  Church") 
Aid  in  expenses,  if  possible,  of  local 
president  or  representative  to  attend 
each   district   meeting   and   National 
WMC  Conference. 

Elect  officers  in  April  or  May  to 
assume  their  duties  in  September.  The 
local  Annual  Reports  compiled  by  the 
retiring  local  presidents  must  be  in  the 
hands  of  the  district  president  by  June 
15, 1986.  Seating  of  the  delegates  at  Na- 
tional Conference  is  permissible  only  if 
annual  report  is  returned.  Reports  will 
not  be  accepted  at  National  Conference. 
Keep  membership  cards  current. 
(See  Pen  Pointer,  "How  To").  The 
membership  chairman  is  responsible  for 
giving  her  card  to  any  member  transfer- 
ring to  another  council  and  see  that  a 
new  member  receives  and  signs  a 
membership  card  when  she  joins  the 
local  council.  (These  cards  are  available 
from  the  National  Literature  Secretary 
Lillian  Teeter.) 

Read  and  use  Pen  Pointers.  These  and 
other  WMC  LITERATURE  CAN  BE 
OBTAINED  FROM  THE  NATIONAL 
LITERATURE  SECRETARY,  Lillian 
Teeter,  Box  711,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590. 

(See  order  blank  enclosed  in  program 
packet.) 
SN  POINTERS  available: 
ficer  Set  -  How  To  in  WMC 

Pattern  for  WMC 
Ways  and  Means 
ember  Set  -  What  is  WMC? 

Women 

Manifesting  Christ 
Working  in  My 
Church 
Beyond  Our 
Borders 

Home  Frontiers 
lat  is  WMC?  -       Pocket  Size 
w  To  Begin  A  WMC 

DISTRICT  OBJECTIVES 

.  Honor  those  reading  the  entire  Bible 


within  a  year. 

2.  Recognize  the  SMM  at  a  District  WMC 
Program.  Encourage  girls'  participa- 
tion in  Little  Princess  and  Girl  of  the 
Year  Contest. 

3.  Use  BRETHREN  talent  when 
available  and  SUPPORT  Brethren 
works. 

4.  Send  District  Newspaper  to  National 
President,  National  Editor,  and  District 
Editors. 

5.  Sponsor  at  least  one  project,  said  pro- 
ject to  be  cleared  through  the  National 
First  Vice  President,  Geneva  Inman,  to 
avoid  duplication.  The  project  may  be 
kept  within  the  district  but  the  Na- 
tional First  Vice  President  should  be 
advised  for  completion  of  her  report. 

6.  Send  all  district  offerings  for  National 
Brethren  works  to  the  National  WMC 
Financial  Secretary-Treasurer,  Joyce 
Ashman. 

7.  Contribute  an  annual  freewill  offering, 
to  be  used  as  the  committee  in  charge 
sees  the  need,  toward  furnishing  and 
repair  of  the  Brethren  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Residence  at  Winona  Lake,  In- 
diana. Send  to  the  National  WMC 
Financial  Secretary-Treasurer,  Joyce 
Ashman. 

8.  Pay  the  District  President's  expenses  to 
National  Conference. 

9.  Give  financial  assistance,  so  that  the 
District  SMM  Patroness  may  attend 
National  Conference,  and/or  the  Na- 
tional Seminar  for  District  Patronesses. 

10.  Contribute  annually  to  the  National 
WMC  Operation  and  Publication  Ex- 
penses. Send  to  the  National  WMC 
Financial  Secretary-Treasurer,  Joyce 
Ashman. 
Send  by  September  10th. 

FINANCIAL  REPORT  1984-85 

Balance  on  Hand  -  July  1,  1984  .  .$11,279.91 

RECEIPTS: 

Operation  and  Publication   ....  $15,551.83 

Home  Missions 8,363.08 

Grace  Schools 7,463.78 

Foreign  Missions 8,491.81 

Thank  Offering 5,748.19 

Missionary  Birthday    7,436.66 

Missionary  Residence 2,002.20 

Home  Missions  Specials    2,320.00 

Foreign  Missions  Specials 7,776.08 


SMM— Christian  Education 

Department 6,626.64 

Christian  Education 

Department  Specials 560.74 

Grace  Schools  Specials 1,861.99 

Prepaid  Income 2,507.50 

Grace  Brethren  Boys 372.53 

TOTAL  RECEIPTS $77,083.03 

DISBURSEMENTS: 

Operation  and  Publication   ....  $15,653.66 

Home  Missions 8,363.08 

Grace  Schools 7,463.78 

Foreign  Missions 8,491.81 

Thank  Offering 5,748.19 

Missionary  Birthday  7,856.99 


Missionary  Residence 2,002.  i 

Home  Missions  Specials   2,320.1 

Foreign  Missions  Specials 7,776. 

SMM— Christian  Education 

Department 6,626. 

Christian  Education 

Department  Specials 560. 

Grace  Schools  Specials 1,861. 

Prepaid  Expense 3,517. 

Grace  Brethren  Boys 372. 

TOTAL 

DISBURSEMENTS  $78,614. 

Balance  on  Hand  — 

June  30,  1985   $9,748. 


SMM 


Motto— "Serving  My  Master" 

Colors 

The  SMM  colors  are  white  and  green. 
White  reminds  us  to  worship  God  and  sym- 
bolizes the  purity  of  Jesus.  Green  reminds 
us  to  serve  God  and  to  grow  in  Him. 

District  Patronesses 

Allegheny— Pat.:  Joyce  Weigle,  R.  3,  Box 

35-A,    Stoystown,    PA    15563    (Tel. 

814/893-5422). 
Asst.  Pat.:  Peggy  Blough,  R.  1,  Stoystown, 

PA  15563  (Tel.  814/629-9045). 
Florida-Pat.:  Pam  Elders,  464  N.W.  23rd 

Ln.,  Okeechobee,  FL  33472 
Indiana-Pat.:  Valerie  Byers,  R.  8,  Box  119, 

Warsaw,  IN  46580  (Tel.  219/269-5563). 

Asst.  Pat.:  Martha  Zimmerman,  613  N. 

Main,  Apt.  B,  Goshen,  LN  46526  (Tel. 

219/533-4012). 
Iowa-Midlands— Pat.:  Miss  Rose  Earnest, 

2657  Cedar  Terr.,  Waterloo,  LA  50702 

(lei.  319/296-2261). 
Michigan— Pat.:  Mrs.  Ellen  Jones,  5570 

Caribou  Trail,  Stevensville,  MI  49127 

(Tel.  616/429-6786).  Asst.  Pat.:  Nancy 

Erb,  R.  1,  Box  126,  Lake  Odessa,  MI 

48849  (Tel.  616/374-7529). 
Mid-Atlantic-Pat.:  Miss  Sally  Miller,  24  N. 

Morris  St.,  Apt  4,  Shippensburg,  PA 

17257  (Tel.  717/532-7980) 
North  Atlantic— Pat.:  Miss  Sue  Meyers, 

2585  Slatehill  Rd.,  York,  PA  17404 
Northcentral  Ohio— Pat.:  Marcia  Mason,  73 

Cogswell  Ct.,  Westerville,  OH  43081 

(Tel.  614/891-1819) 


Northeastern  Ohio — Pat.:  Linda  No  It,  i 
Hillcrest  Dr.,  Rittman,  OH  44270  CI.  i 
216/925-1348) 

Northwest— Pat.:  Mrs.  Ann  Daniels,  R. ;  i 
Box  1225-A,  Wapato,  WA  98951  (T 
509/848-2470) 

Southern  California/Arizona— Pat.:  Mi 
Janice  Ball,  2272  Madrone,  Simi  Valli 
CA  93063  (Tel.  805/527-9149).  Asst.  Pa, 
Mrs.  Juanita  Perkins,  15129  Lanceli 
Norwalk,  CA  90650  (Tel.  213/921-39Li 
Mrs.  Helen  Miller,  13138  Michelle  D 
Whittier,  CA  90605  (Tel.  213/941-593' i 

Southern  Ohio— Pat.:  Donna  Tblbert,  481' 
S.  Scarff  Rd.,  New  Carlisle,  OH  4534 

Southern-Pat.:  Robin  Barker,  R.  11,  B«J 
15,  Gray,  TN  37615  (615/477-3234)    | 

Southwest— Pat.:  Judy  Ostrander,  P.O.  B< 
1068,  Taos,  NM  87571  (Te 
505/758-3388) 

Virginia-Pat.:  Mrs.  Patty  Willhite,  30f, 
Pebble  Dr.,  SE,  Roanoke,  VA  24014  (Te! 
703/345-6435.)  Asst.  Pat.:  Mrs.  Mariljj 
Cotsamire,  R.  4,  Box  357,  Roanoke,  V| 
24014  (Tel.  703/774-5697). 

West  Penn-Pat.:  Mrs.  Bettie  Horner,  29£f 
Maple  Avenue,  Altoona,  PA  16601  (Te' 
814/942-7642) 

1985-86  SMM  OFFERINGS 
GOALS,  RECOMMENDATION! 

OFFERINGS 

(Make  checks  payable  to: 
GBC  Christian  Education  Department, 

1.   Foreign  Missions  (due  December  9 
1985).  $500  Scholarship  to  Grace  Co 


lege  for  Lisa  Immel  and  $900  for  a 

typewriter  in  England. 

GBC  Christian  Education  (Due  March 

10,  1986).  Goal-$2,000. 

Home    Interest.    $400-Austin,    TX- 

overhead    projector    and    screen. 

$400— Jersey  Shore,  PA-S.S.  tables,  and 

chairs.  $400— N.  Pole,  Alaska-overhead 

projector  and  16mm  projector. 

Operation  SMM  (Due  September  10, 

1986).  Goal-$2,000. 

LOCAL  ORGANIZATION  GOALS 

,   Each  member  have  her  own  handbook. 

.  Each  active  member  completing  at 
least  one  goal  (not  counting 
membership— for  Little  Sisters  and 
Amigas);  or  75  percent  of  girls  earning 
at  least  one  charm  (for  Lumiere  or 
Charis). 

.  Complete  at  least  one  missionary 
handwork  project. 

.  Take  part  in  your  church's  annual 
SMM  presentation. 

.  Attend  at  least  one  district  rally  (not 
applicable  if  district  does  not  have  a 
rally  or  if  distance  is  prohibitive). 

.  An  offering  given  for  the  district  SMM 
project. 

.  An  offering  given  for  each  national 
SMM  offering. 

.  Return  statistical  report  to  district 
patronesses  and  GBC  Christian  Educa- 
tion Department  no  later  than  August 
30. 

.  Have  one  (Amigas  or  two  Lumiere  and 
Charis)  officers  meetings  per  year 
(optional). 

.  Have  evangelism  or  outreach  emphasis 
(optional), 

ISTRICT  ORGANIZATION  GOALS 

.  Each  district  choose  a  district  project 
yearly. 

.  The  district  patroness  should  compile 
statistical  blanks  from  local  SMM 
patronesses  and  send  a  district  report 
to  the  coordinator  of  SMM  by 
September  15.  She  should  also  keep  a 


copy  for  her  files. 

3.  The  district  should  help  to  send  its 
president  or  representative  to  attend 
a  national  district  officers'  meeting  if 
being  held  at  national  youth 
conference. 

4.  The  district  patroness  should  contact 
newly  organized  churches  or  churches 
without  SMMs  and  help  to  organize 
their  groups  or  give  ideas  and 
suggestions. 

5.  Each  district  submit  $10  or  more 
toward  the  "Girl-of-the-Year  Corona- 
tion" expenses  each  year.  This  should 
be  sent  to  the  GBC  Christian  Educa- 
tion Department. 

6.  The  district  secretary  should  send  a 
letter  to  the  coordinator  of  SMM  repor- 
ting interesting  activities  within  the 
district  program. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

We  recommend: 

1.  That  local  SMMs  meeting  all  local 
organizational  goals  be  recognized  as 
honor  SMMs  and  be  sent  certificates 
from  national  SMM. 

2.  That  districts  meeting  all  district 
organizational  goals  be  recognized  as 
honor  districts  by  national  SMM. 

3.  That  the  SMM  "Girl  of  the  Year"  be 
selected  and  honored  at  Brethren  Na- 
tional Youth  Conference  with  all 
district  nominations  being  send  to  the 
coordinator  of  SMM  before  July  15.  On- 
ly districts  following  the  same  rules  as 
the  national  contest  will  be  eligible  to 
enter  a  district  candidate. 

4.  That  each  local  SMM  award  their  girls 
awards  as  they  deem  necessary. 

5.  The  local  SMM  patroness  submit  the 
names  of  their  girls  completing  the  Bi- 
ble reading  and/or  Bible  memorization 
goals  to  the  coordinator  of  SMM  for 
special  awards  from  national  SMM. 
Names  should  be  included  on  the 
statistical  blank  received  during  the 
summer  and  submitted  to  the  national 
coordinator. 


IHE  NATIONAL  FELLOWSHIP  OF  GRACE  BRETHREN  MINISTERS 


Pres.  —  John  Burke 

V.  Pres.  -  Ward  Miller 

Exec.  Secretary  —  Ralph  Colburn 


Recording  Secretary  —  Ray  Davis 
Asst.  Recording  Secretary  —  Tim  Coyle 


45 


All  sessions  were  held  in  Hyde  Chapel,  in 
the  YMCA  of  the  Rockies,  Estes  Park, 
Colorado. 

TUESDAY.  AUGUST  13 

The  meeting  began  at  8:30  a.m.,  with  a 
welcome  from  President  John  Mayes,  and 
songs  led  by  Don  Ogden,  with  Ron  Thomp- 
son at  the  piano.  Executive  Secretary  Ralph 
Colburn  presented  the  financial  and 
membership  reports  with  comments  and  ex- 
planations. A  motion  prevailed  to  adopt  the 
reports,  subject  to  corrections  presented  in 
writing  to  the  membership  list. 

"Pastor  of  the  Year"  award  was  explain- 
ed, then  presented  to  Foster  Tresise,  who 
was  the  founding  pastor  of  the  Waipio  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  our  first  church  in 
Hawaii,  and  who  continued  as  pastor  for  32 
years,  retiring  only  a  year  ago,  and  who  is 
continuing  active  in  the  church  and  the 
district.  The  award  was  a  beautiful  plaque 
and  a  check  for  $500. 

Vice-president  John  Burke  introduced 
President  Mayes  as  our  speaker  for  the 
morning,  whose  topic  was  "I  Quit!"  He  us- 
ed three  Bible  characters,  Elijah,  David  and 
Jeremiah  to  show  how  in  moments  of 
weakness  and  discouragement  God  showed 
Himself  strong  in  their  behalf.  He  closed  by 
sharing  a  page  from  one  of  Spurgeon's  ser- 
mons on  God's  faithfulness,  and  encouraged 
us  to  be  faithful,  and  stimulate  one  another 
to  faithfulness. 

A  period  of  testimonies,  followed  by  a 
period  of  prayer  in  small  groups  concluded 
the  meeting. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  14 

President  Mayes  called  the  session  to 
order  at  8:35,  Don  Ogden  led  a  song,  Pastor 
Glenn  Shirk  led  in  prayer,  and  Pastor 
Gerald  Polman  sang  a  special  solo,  "Yield- 
ed, Lord,  to  Thee."  President  Mayes  intro- 
duced our  speaker  for  today  and  tomorrow, 
Dr.  John  Davis,  speaking  today  on 
"Shepherds  Who  Do  Not  Lead."  His  rich 
background  in  Middle  East  studies,  Dr. 
Davis  illustrated  his  message  well,  remind- 
ing us  that  true  shepherding  is  hard  work, 
demanding  work,  that  may  leave  the 
shepherd  scratched  and  bruised. 

He  reminded  us  of  the  shepherd's 
character,  and  the  shepherd's  concern,  best 
patterned  after  the  Great  Shepherd,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


In  the  business  session,  introducUs 
were  made,  announcements  followed  jh. 
eluding  one  by  Jerry  Young  concerning  ||e 
Board  of  Trustees  search  for  a  replacemi.t 
of  Dr.  Homer  Kent  as  President  of  G  e 
Schools.  A  survey  was  distributed  for  r 
input  to  the  committee. 

Missionary  Phil  Steele  introdi:  i 
Richard  Bruce,  from  Solihull,  Engl  i 
Grace  Brethren  Church,  who  spoke  to  i  if 
the  dire  need  of  the  gospel  in  England,  i 
thanked  us  for  sending  the  Steeles  i 
Kowalkes,  urging  our  prayers  for  then  r 
Europe,  and  for  more  missionaries  for  t  t 
continent. 

The  meeting  was  adjourned  with  pn  ir 
by  the  president. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  15 

President  Mayes  called  the  meeting ,) 
order  at  8:30,  Don  Ogden  led  in  a  scl, 
Larry  Wedertz  led  in  prayer,  then  a  qua  t 
composed  of  "four  cultures",  Don  Ogc  , 
Jerry  Young,  Dave  Griffith  and  Roger  Pei  ji 
sang  "The  Lord's  My  Shepherd." 

Dr.  John  Davis  was  presented  for  his :  I 
ond  message,  entitled  "Sheep  Who  Do  lit 
Follow."  Illustrating  his  message  again  fi  I 
middle-east  experiences,  he  likened  thl! 
sheep  to  congregation  members  vjp 
wander,  fight  and  overfeed. 

The  price  of  being  a  shepherd  was  ■ 
lustrated  by  the  lives  of  Moses,  Elijah  at 
Jonah,  all  of  whom  came  to  the  place  wh  \\ 
they  wanted  to  die,  rather  than  go  on  | 
God.  But  when  you  come  to  the  place  J 
broken  heart  such  as  that,  you  can  disco  ' 
that  the  answer  is  really  God,  who  canp  I 
vide  all  we  need,  physically  and  spiritua 

Dr.  Davis  closed  his  message  with). 
passage  which  gives  the  attributes  of  eflj 
tive  shepherding;  I  Kings  3:6-9,  which  vl 
personally  helpful  to  him  in  his  fi! 
pastorate  in  Tampa,  Florida.  This  passEJ 
gave  him  a  new  view  of  God,  of  himself: 
his  "sheep",  and  of  practical  priorities., 

The  business  session  included  introdi 
tions,  election  of  officers,  and  memorisi 
the  latter  introduced  by  John  Burke.    I 

Pastor  Jim  Custer  spoke  in  behalf  I 
Robert  Lance. 

Pastor  Ralph  Colburn  spoke  in  behalf 
Lyle  W.  Marvin. 

Pastor  Roy  Polman  spoke  in  behalf 
Keith  Zook. 


!  Pastor  Lester  Kennedy  spoke  in  behalf  of 
eorge  Hall,  his  father-in-law. 
i  President  Homer  Kent  spoke  in  behalf  of 
(orman  Uphouse. 

(Pastor  Dayne  Nix  spoke  in  behalf  of  Paul 
liselstein. 

Director  John  Zielasko  spoke  in  behalf  of 
jlenn  O'Neal. 

(Mention  was  also  made  of  the  deaths  of 
tiree  faithful  wives:  Mary  league,  Artie 
jynn,  and  Freda  Kliever. 
Two  recommendations  from  the  executive 
Immittee  were  presented: 
ll.  Since  Lorrie  Shaver,  the  missionary 
mdidate  killed  in  the  crash  of  flight  #191 
I  Dallas  was  not  yet  covered  by  our  death 
■atuity  program,  we  sent  $1,000  to  her 
mily  as  a  token  of  our  love  and  concern 
;  this  time,  in  appreciation  for  her  dedica- 
on  and  commitment  to  Christ,  and  cheer- 
|il  spirit  in  her  service  for  Him. 
2.  The  ministerium  increased  the 
Dnorarium  of  the  executive  secretary  from 
Il30  to  $160  per  month. 
Both  of  these  recommendations  were 
flopted  by  the  vote  of  the  men  present. 
jA  recommendation  was  made  that  we  en- 
lurage  the  establishment  of  a  memorial 
\nd  for  Lorrie  Shaver,  in  the  light  of  the 
jrge  settlement  that  may  be  made  by  the 
rlines  for  her  death.  This  will  be  pursued 
v  the  executive  secretary  along  with  Lor- 
je's  pastor,  Paul  Mutchler,  with  Lorrie's 
jther,  Fred  Shaver,  who  is  a  fine  Christian, 
|id  one  whom  we  believe  will  be  responsive 
|  such  a  plan. 

A  motion  prevailed  that  the  new  executive 
immittee  be  empowered  to  name  two 
lembers  of  our  organization  to  ,  the 
residential  search  committee.  Suggestions 
\r  these  appointments  were  solicited,  and 
Inumber  received.  (The  names  submitted 
i  the  Presidential  Search  Committee  by 
|ie  executive  were:  J.  Hudson  Thayer  and 
phn  Teevan,  with  Gerald  Polman  and  Ber- 
ie  Simmons  as  alternates.) 
I  The  meeting  was  closed  by  President 
layes  thanking  his  vice  president,  John 
,urke,  for  his  excellent  cooperation,  and 
iirning  the  mantle  of  responsibility  for  next 
lax  over  to  him.  John  Burke  then  led  in 
ie  closing  prayer. 


for  mutual  encouragement  and  fellowship, 
enjoying  their  program  with  them. 

FINANCIAL  REPORT 
July  30,  1985 

Balance,  Farmers  and  Mer- 
chants Bank, 

7/20/84 $  1,796.74 

Receipts: 

National  dues $23,610.00 

District  dues 75.00 

Tape  receipts,  1984  conf.   .  201.00 
Duplicate    payment,    nat'l 

dues 540.00 

24,426.00 

TOTAL $26,222.74 

Disbursements: 

B.I.F. $  3,000.00 

Salary 1,040.00 

"Epistle"   1,017.53 

Postage 110.25 

Ministerium  expenses.  .  .  .  1,629.91 

Office  expenses 37.78 

District  dues  refunded  .  .  .  75.00 

National  dues  refunded  .  .  960.00 

Annual  space 339.75 

Lord  Abbett  fund  14,000.00 

Dependent  death  benefits  2,000.00 

$24,210.22 

Balance,  F  &  M  Bank,  7/30/85  2,012.22 

B.I.F,  Balance  7/20/84 26,346.50 

Deposits 3,000.00 

Interest 1,794.62 

Total,  7/30/85 $31,141.12 

Lord  Abbett  Fund 

Balance  7/20/84 29,649.17 

Deposits 14,000.00 

Interest 2,105.93 

Total   45,755.10 

♦Withdrawals 19,370.00 

Total,  7/30/85 $26,385.10 

TOTAL  FUNDS  AVAILABLE  $59,538.74 

NET  GAIN  FOR  THE  YEAR  $  1,746.33 

*  Death  benefits $18,000 

NAC  Scholarships  850 

Salary 520 

$19,370 
Respectfully  submitted, 

Ralph  J.  Colburn,  Executive  Secretary 


RIDAY,  AUGUST  16 

This  was  a  joint  meeting  with  the  laymen, 


GBC  CHRISTIAN  EDUCATION 
P.O.  Box  365,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  (Tel.  219/267-6622) 


Pres.  —  Paul  Mutchler 
V.  Pres.  —  Don  Byers 
Secy.  —  Bud  Olszewski 
Exec.  Comm.  at  Large- 
Bob  Divine,  Dave  Marksbury 
Exec.  Dir.  —  Ed  Lewis 
Dir.  of  Youth  Leadership  —  Dave  Atkins 
Dir.  of  Administration  —  Brad  Skiles 
SMM  Coordinator  —  Sue  Rike 
Timothy  Team  Coordinator  —  Joe  Bishop 
Timothy  Team  Assistant  —  Steve  Garcia 
Student  Body  Editor  —  Bruce  Barlow 
Brethren  National  Youth  Conference 
Asst.  Dir.  —  Dan  Thornton 


Administrative  Asst.  —  Jim  Folsom 

Administrative  Asst.  —  Linda  Phelps 

Administrative  Asst./Receptionist  — 

Valerie  Byers 

Financial  Asst.  —  Karen  Werner 

Production  Asst.  —  Georgia  Marshall 

Resource  Room  Secy.  —  Rosella  Cochran 

(Board  members  are  listed  on  page  4) 


All  correspondence  relating  to  Christian  educa- 
tion, youth  and  church  growth  should  be  directed 
to  GBC  Christian  Education,  P.O.  Box  365  (1003 
Presidential  Dr.),  Winona  Lake,  EN  46590. 


NATIONAL  FELLOWSHIP  OF  GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN  AND  BOYS 


Please  direct  all  correspondence  to: 

Grace  Brethren  Men  and  Boys 

P.O.  Box  416 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

Phone:  219/269-2651 

Staff 

Exec.  Dir.  —  Ed  Jackson 

Boy's  Dir.  —  Don  Taylor 

Field  Project  Cor.  -  Ray  Sturgill 

Field  Rep.  —  Harold  "Pappy"  Stayer 

Secretary  —  Stephanie  Folsom 

Production  Asst.  —  Olive  Dombek 

Computer  Operator  —  Lee  Peters 

Pastoral  Advisor 

Lee  Jenkins,  Box  273,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590 

National  Conference  Head  Usher 

Ben  Zimmerman,  R.  1,  Box  402,  Warsaw, 
IN  46580 

Board  of  Directors 

Kim  Raub  ('86),  R.  4,  Box  178,  Red  Lion,  PA 

17356 
Ray  Sturgill  ('86),  106  13th  St,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590 
Dick  Wells  ('86),  530  S.  State  St.,  #119E, 

Westerville,  OH  43081 
Les  Nutter  C87),  R.  2,  Box  112,  Wrightsville, 

PA  17368 
Pete  Caldwell  ('87),  R.  1,  Windsor,  PA  17366 
Lyle  Taylor  ('87),  R.  3,  Box  3184,  Wapato, 

WA  98951 


Bob  Gahris  ('88),  1006  Wadena,  St.  Jose 

MI  49085 
Ben  Kramer  ('88),  9360  White  Oak  La 

Westerville,  OH  43081 
Harold  Stayer  ('88),  304  E.  Main  St.,  Flo 

IN  46929 
Al  Channell  ('89),  757  Main  St.,  R.  5,  Bai 

Lakes,  Ashland,  OH  44805 
Roger  Hancock  C89),  R.  10,  Touby  E 

Mansfield,  OH  44903 
Cecil  Stice  ('89),  P.O.  Box  355,  Sawyer, 

49125 


Grace  Brethren  Boy's  Committee 

Bill    Rummell    ('86),    R.    6,    Box   2f 

Johnstown,  PA  15909 
Ray  Sturgill  ('86) 
Don  Taylor  ('86),  P.O.  Box  142,  Claypool, 

46510 
Al  Channell  ('87) 
Roger  Hancock  ('87 ) 
Harold  Stayer  ('87) 
Pete  Caldwell  ('88) 
Ed  Jackson  ('88),  1012  Court  St.,  Wino 

Lake,  LN  46590 
Lyle  Taylor  C88) 
John  Davis  ('89),  P.O.  Box  403,  Wino 

Lake,  LN  46590 
Greg  Stamm  ('89),  1410  Sheriden,  Li 

caster,  OH  43130 
Chuck  Young  ('89),  357  San  Migueo,  Win 

Springs,  FL  32708 


Srace  Brethren  Men's  Committee 

n  Luginbill  ('86),  47  W.  Warren,  Peru,  IN 

46970 

f  Sturgill  C86) 

:k  Wells  C86) 

1  Chapman  C87),  751  E.  Ft.  Wayne  St., 

Warsaw,  IN  46580 

■nn  Stauffer  C87),  R.  8,  Box  268,  Warsaw, 

IN  46580 

,e  Taylor  ('87) 

d  Gahris  C88) 

a  Kramer  C88) 

ink  Poland  ('88),  Grace  Village,  Box  337, 

Apt.  310-C,  Winona  Lake,  In  46590 

?er  Hancock  ('89) 

;il  Stice  ('89) 

n  Zimmerman  ('89) 


District  Representatives 
egheny— 

ss  Simpson,   Laurel   Mt.   GBC,   R.    2, 

Boswell,  PA  15531 

>rida— 

uck  Young,  357  San  Migueo,  Winter 

Springs,  FL  32708 

liana— 

rold  Stayer,  304  E.  Main  St.,  Flora,  IN 

46929 

/  Sturgill,  106  13th  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590 

a  Taylor,  P.O.   Box   142,  Claypool,  IN 

46510 


Iowa-Midlands— 

Gib  Hawkins,  1203  "O"  St.  Beaver  City,  NE 

68926 
Michigan- 
Cecil  Stice,  P.O.  Box  355,  Sawyer,  MI  49125 
Mid-Atlantic— 
Fred  Devan,  10  E.  Luray  Ave.,  Alexandria, 

VA  22301 
Mountain  Plains- 
Gib  Hawkins,  1203  "O"  St.,  Beaver  City, 

NE  68926 
Northern  Atlantic— 
Les  Nutter,  R.  2,  Box  112,  Wrightsville,  PA 

17368 

1,  Windsor,  PA  17366 
Box  178,  Red  Lion,  PA 


Pete  Caldwell, 
Kim  Raub,  R. 

17356 
Northwest— 
Lyle  Taylor,  R.  3,  Box  3184,  Wapato,  WA 

*  98951 
Ohio- 
Roger    Hancock,    R.     10,    Touby    Rd., 

Mansfield,  OH  44903 
Al  Channell,  757  Main  St.,  R.  5,  Bailey 

Lakes,  Ashland,  OH  44805 
Southern  California-Arizona— 
Clark    Miller,    13138    Michelle    Circle, 

Whittier,  CA  90605 
Western  Pennsylvania- 
Bill  Rummell,  R.  6,  Box  257,  Johnstown,  PA 

15909 


NATIONAL  FELLOWSHIP  BRETHREN  RETIREMENT  HOMES,  INC. 
GRACE  VILLAGE  HEALTH  CARE  FACILITY,  INC. 


P.O.  Box  337,  Wooster  Road 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Telephone:  219/269-2499 

Administrator 

Sherwood  V.  Durkee 

Board  of  Directors 

Chm.  —  Robert  Ashman  C85) 
V.  Chm.  -  Paul  Dick  ('86) 


Secy.  -  Noel  Hoke  ('87) 

Treas.  —  Marlin  Rose  ('86) 

Charles  Ashman  ('87) 

Tom  Miller  ('87) 

Donald  Ogden  ('86) 

Donald  Quine  ('86) 

William  Smith  C85) 

William  Walker  ('85) 

Sam  Yager  ('87) 

Marie  Owen  C85) 


NATIONAL  BOARD  OF  MINISTERIAL  EMERGENCY 
AND  RETIREMENT  BENEFITS 


Please  send  checks  and  inquiries  for 
information  to: 

Rev.    Clair    Brickel,    14319    Brookville- 
Pyrmont  Rd.,  Brookville,  OH  45309 
(Tel.  513/833-3630) 


Board  of  Directors 

Pres.  -  W.  Carl  Miller  C88) 

V.  Pres.  -  Robert  Moeller  ('86) 

Secy.-Treas.  -  Clair  Brickel  ('86) 

Asst.  Secy.-Treas.  —  Kenneth  Koontz  ('87 

William  Byers  C87) 

Dewey  Melton  ('88) 

Wesley  Miller  ('87) 

Frank  Poland  ('86) 

Phillip  Simmons  ('88) 


GRACE  BRETHREN  BOARD  OF  EVANGELISM 
P.O.  Box  355,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Executive  Director 

Ron  Picard,  410  Valley  view  Dr.,  Englewood, 
OH  45322  (Tel.  513/832-0101) 

Officers 

Pres.  -  Ron  Thompson  C87) 

R.R.  11,  Box  237,  Robin  Hood  Circle, 

Roanoke,  VA  24019 

V  Pres.  —  Vernon  Harris  C88) 

323  Devon  Dr.,  Lancaster,  PA  17603 

Secy.  -  Fred  Sorrick  ('87) 
432  Heritage  Lane,  Nazareth,  PA  18064 

Tres.  -  Warren  Zellner  ('87) 
103  E.  12th  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

Board  Members 

J.  Keith  Altig  C86),  13755  E.  Walnut,  Whittier, 

CA  90602 
Charles    Davis    ('87),    9297    Access    Dr., 

Brookville,  OH  45309 


Phillip  Guerena  i'88),  5015  Southhall,  Bell,  CA 

90201 
Bill  Kellerman  ('86),  3026  Hidden  Forest  Ct., 

Marietta,  GA  30066 
Donald   Kendall    ('86),    224    Jackson   Ave., 

Hagerstown,  MD  21740 
Logan  Miller,  ('88),  7629  Cessna  Dr.,  New  Port 

Richey,  FL  33533 
H.  Don  Rough,  C86),  R.  3,  Box  135,  Holsopple, 

PA  15935 
Glenn  Sharpe  ('88),  57580  Red  Bud  Lane;! 

Elkhart,  IN  46517 


NOTATIONS  AND  ADDRESS  CHANGES 


51 


0 


Z 


DISTRICTS: 

Arctic  —  (Alaska) 
Hawaii 

1  —  Allegheny 

2  —  Indiana 

3  —  Iowa-Midlands 

4  —  Michigan 

5  —  Mid-Atlantic 

6  —  Mountain-Plains 

7  -  Nor-Cal 

8  —  Northcentral  Ohio 

9  —  Northeastern  Ohio 


10  —  Northern  Atlantic 

11  —  Northwest 

12  -  Southern 

13  —  Southern  California-Arizona 

14  —  Southern  Ohio 

15  —  Southwest 

16  —  Virginia 

17  —  Western  Pennsylvania 


52 


Florida  Suncoast       (B)  East  Central 


Doksville  GBC 
keland  GBC 
lm  Harbor  GBC 
rt  Richey  GBC 
Petersburg  GBC 


Calvary  GBC  (Orange  City) 
Maitland  GBC 
Community  GBC  Suntree 
Ocala  GBC 
Orlando  GBC 
Ormond  Beach  GBC 


(C)  South  Florida 

Ft.  Lauderdale  GBC 
Ft.  Myers  GBC 
North  Lauderdale  GBC 
Okeechobee  GBC 
Pompano  Beach  GBC 
Sebring  GBC 


53 


District  Conference  Organization!; 


ALLEGHENY 


Allegheny  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  Camp  Albryoca,  May  16-17, 
1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.— Shimer  Darr 

V.  Mod.— Ronzil  Jarvis 

Secy.-Mrs.  Robert  (Elda)  Phillippi,  R.D.I,  Box 

48,  Boswell,  PA  15531 
Asst.  Secy.— Ruth  Johnson 
Treas.-John    McClain,    R.D.    8,    Box    267, 

Washington,  PA  15301 
Stat.— James  Lunden,  725  Beech  St.,  Grafton, 

WV  26354 
Members-at-Large— Ron    Warrick,    Doris 

Valentine 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

True  Hunt 

COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

Al  Valentine,  Chm.,  Frank  Rice,  Joyce  Weigle 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Al  Valentine,  Chm.,  Ed  Hoover,  Harold  Lowry 

AUDITORS 

James  Lunden,  Chm.,  Mary  E.  Grove,  Frank 
Rice 

CREDENTIALS 

Max  DeArmey,  Chm.,  Ruth  Ann  Sarver,  Robert 
Wingard 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Russ  Simpson,  Chm.,  Richard  Placeway,  Paul 
Mohler 

CONFERENCE  GOALS 

True  Hunt,  Chm.,  Joe  Nass,  Steve  Knierim 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— Shimer  Darr 
V.  Chm.-Ron  Warrick 
Secy.-Treas.— Larry  Weigle 
Asst.  Secy.-Treas.— Joe  Nass 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm.— Larry  Weigle 
V.  Chm.— Ronzil  Jarvis 
Secy.-Treas.— Al  Valentine 
Asst.  Secy.-Treas.— Steve  Knierim 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Shimer  Darr 
V.  Chm.-John  Smith 


Secy.— John  Lancaster 

Asst.  Sec— Richard  Placeway 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Pres  —  Barry  Fisher 

V.  Pres.— James  Miller 

Secy.— Robert  Grew.  R.D.  1,  Meyersdale,  I 

15552 
Treas.-Billy  Yoder,  R.D.  1,  Box  68,  Meyersda 

PA  15552 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Doris  Valentine 

1st  V.  Pres.— Helen  Darr 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Becky  Jarvis 

Secy.-Elda  Phillippi.  R.D.  1,  Box  48,  Boswe 

PA  15531 
Treas.-Edna  Hottle,  R.D.   1,  Friedens,  F 

15541 
Prayer  Chm.-Bette  Firl 
SMM  Patroness— Joyce  Weigle 
Asst.  Patroness— Peggy  Blough 
Dist.  Editor-Kathy  Opel 

SMM 

Pres.— Angela  Baldwin 

V.  Pres.— Donna  Weyand 

Secy— Penny  Young,  R.D.  4,  Box  68,  Camera 

WV  26033 
Treas.— Gail  Barron,  R.D.  2,  Stoystown,  P 

15563 
Patroness— Joyce  Weigle 
Asst.  Patroness— Peggy  Blough 
Jr.  Representative— Melissa  Bubner 


CAMP  ALBRYOCA  CORPORATION 

Pres.— Larry  Weigle 

V.  Pres.  —  Perry  Yoder 

Name  of  Camp— Albryoca 

Location  of  Campground— R.D.   3,  Box  9i 

Meyersdale,  PA  15552.  Between  Salisbur 

and  Pacahontas,  PA 
Telephone  No.-814/634-0023 
Secy-Billy  Yoder 
Asst.  Secy.— Robert  Grew 
Treas.— Al  Valentine,  R.D.  1,  Meyersdale,  R 

15552 
Asst.  Treas.— Paul  Yoder 

CAMP  AND  YOUTH  BOARD 

Pres.— Russ  Simpson 

V.  Pres.— Oscar  Stroede 

Secy.-Ron    Warrick,    112    Beachley   St: 

Meyersdale,  Pa  15552 
Business    Mgr.— Al    Valentine,    R.R.    1 

Meyersdale,  PA  15552 


?st.  Business  Mgr—  Ronzil  Jarvis 
ember-at-Large— Ron  Thorn 
=n.  Camp  Dir.— John  Lancaster 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

;cident,  MD— First  Grace  Brethren 
leppo,  PA— Aleppo  Brethren 
jswell,  PA— Laurel  Mountain  Grace  Brethren 
jolville,  OH— Coolville  Grace  Brethren 
jraopolis,  PA— Bon  Meade  Grace  Brethren 
umberland,     MD— Cumberland     Grace 
Brethren 


Grafton,  WV— Grafton  First  Grace  Brethren 
Jenners,  PA— Jenners  Grace  Brethren 
Listie,  PA— Listie  Grace  Brethren 
Meyersdale,  PA— Meyersdale  Grace  Brethren 
Meyersdale,  PA— Summit  Mills  Grace  Brethren 
Parkersburg,     WV— Parkersburg     Grace 

Brethren 
Stoyestown,  PA— Reading  Grace  Brethren 
Uniontown,  PA— Uniontown  Grace  Brethren 
Washington,  PA— Washington  Grace  Brethren 
Westernport,  MD— Mill  Run  Grace  Brethren 
Vienna,  WV— Community  Grace  Brethren 


ARCTIC 


Arctic  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:   Eagle   River,   AK,   May 
16-17,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

od.-E.  John  Gillis 

Mod— Earl  Moore 
icy.-Howard    Snively,    R.    2,    Box    881D, 

Soldotra,  AK  99669 
•eas—  John   D.   Snyder,   512   Ash   Avenue, 

Kenai,  AK  99611 
at— John  D.  Snyder,  512  Ash  Avenue,  Kenai, 

AK  99611 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

John  Gillis,  Earl  Moore,  Howard  Snively, 
John  Snyder 

DISTICT  MISSION  BOARD 

im- E.  John  Gillis 
icy.-Treas.— John  D.  Snyder 

MINISTERIUM 

im— E.  John  Gillis 


V.  Chm.— Earl  Moore 
Secy.-Treas— Howard  Snively 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.-E.  John  Gillis 
V.  Chm  —Larry  Smithwick 
Secy.— Howard  Snively 
Asst.  Sec-Bill  Schaffer 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres  —  Carol  Titus 

1st  V.  Pres.— Kay  Hammers 

2nd  V  Pres.-Ruthie  Gillis 

Secy.-Lynda  Moore,  Box  3920,  Kenya,  AK 

99611 
Treas.-Lynda  Moore,  Box  3920,  Kenai,  AK 

99611 
Prayer  Chairman— Cheryl  Jackson 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Anchorage,  AK— Anchorage  Grace  Brethren 
Eagle  River,  AK— Eagle  River  Grace  Brethren 
Homer,  AK— Kachemak  Bay  Grace  Brethren 
Kenai,  AK— Kenai  Grace  Brethren 
North  Pole,  AK— North  Pole  Grace  Brethren 
Soldotna,  AK— Peninsula  Grace  Brethren 
Wasilla,  AK— Wasilla  Grace  Brethren 


FLORIDA 

(Divided  into  three  districts  —  complete  information  not 
available  until  1986  national  conference) 

HAWAII 


Hawaii  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 


Next  conference:  To  be  announced 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

od—  John  Wvman 


V.  Mod.— John  Alejado 

Secy.— Robert  H.  L.  Au,  c/o  Waimalu  Grace 

Brethren  Church,  98-323  Pono  St.  Aiea,  HI 

96701 
Treas.— Nathan  Leigh,  95-2044  Waikalani  PI. 

302,  Wahiawa,  HI  96786 


Stat.— Ernest  Shimizu,  c/o  Waipio  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  95-035  Waimakua  Dr., 
Wahiawa  HI  96786 

Members-at-Large— Foster  Tresise,  James 
Kennedy,  David  Mitchell,  Kip  Coffman, 
Rick  Simafranca,  Mark  Werner 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

District  Pastors 

MINISTERIUM 

All  ordained  elders 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.-Mrs.  Clifford  (Letitia)  Coffman 


1st  V.  Pres.-Mrs.  Nathan  (Deedee)  Leigh  I 
2nd  V.  Pres.-Mrs.  Paul  (Sharon)  Lucas  I 
Secy.-Mrs.  Tomie  Yasak,  98-081,  Waihona  I 

Wahiawa,  HI  96786 
Treas.—  Judith  Thorp 
Prayer  Chm.-Mrs.  John  (Hilda)  Wyman  t 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Ewa   Beach,   HI— Rainbow   Grace   Brethi 

Church 
Makakilo,    HI— Makakilo    Grace    Brethi 

Church 
Waimalu,    HI— Waimalu    Grace    Brethr 

Church 
Wakiawa,  HI— Waipio  Grace  Brethren  Chur  , 


INDIANA 


Indiana  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  Oakwood  Park,  Syracuse, 
IN.  May  2-3,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod— David  Plaster 

V.  Mod— Bob  Arenobine 

Secy.-Dave  Troxel,  102  Glenmill  Rd.,  New 

Albany,  IN  47150 
Asst.  Secy— Ron  Bowland 
Treas.— Clarence  Eichorst,  1330  Alpine  Dr., 

South  Bend,  IN  46614 
Stat.-Ralph  Burns,  P.O.  Box  277,  Merrywood, 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Members-at-Large— Charles  Ashman,  Everett 

Caes 

FELLOWSHIP  COUNCIL 
RECOMMENDATIONS 

Jesse  Deloe,  Homer  Kent,  Dave  Plaster 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Gerald  Kelley,  Gary  Gnagey,  Al  Edgington 

COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

Ken     Bickel,     Larry     Edwards,     Galen 
Lingenfelter 

AUDITORS 

Larry  Chamberlain,   Steve  Galegor,   David 
Grant,  Ken  Moeller 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Charles  Ashman,  Galen  Lingenfelter,  Jesse 
Deloe 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm  —  Galen  Lingenfelter 
V.  Chm.-Keith  Shearer 
Secy— Frank  Poland 
Treas— Ben  Zimmerman 


MINISTERIUM 

Chm.-Don  Taylor 
V.  Chm.— Allen  Edgington 
Secy.-Treas.— Dave  Plaster 
Asst.  Secy.-Treas.— Ron  Smals 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm— Charles  Ashman 
V.  Chm.— George  Wallace 
Secy.— Everett  Caes 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Pres  —  Dennis  Reeve 

V.  Pres.— Irv  Harbaugh 

Secy.-Treas.— George  Lord,  601  Marston  Ct 

Fort  Wayne,  IN  46815 
Members-at-Large— Ted    Franchino,    Gem 

Ridenour 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Darlene  Edwards 

1st  V.  Pres.— Ruth  Burns 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Lee  Ann  Peters 

Secy.-Enid  Heckman,  R.  8.  Box  264  A,  War 

saw,  IN  46580 
Treas.-Martha  Miller,  225  W  Andrews,  Bo: 

155,  Monroe,  IN  46772 
Prayer  Chairman— Ruth  Kent 
SMM  Patroness— Valerie  Byers 
Asst.  Patroness— Martha  Zimmerman 
Dist.  Editors— Miriam  Pacheco,  Deb  Wilcoxsoi 

SMM 
Pres.— Annette  Miller 
V.  Pres— Marie  Burkhart 
Secy— Maria  Pacheco,  413  Kings  Highway 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Treas— Kemper  Shoemaker,  R.R.  1,  Berne,  IN 

46711 
Patroness— Valerie  Byers 
Asst.  Patroness— Martha  Zimmerman 
Lumiere  Representative— Kelli  Hoke 


CAMP 

[rector— Larry  Edwards 

t|me  of  Camp— Indiana  District  Brethren 

Youth  Camp 
f:me   of  Campground— Bear    Lake    Camp 

!  Ground 
L'.-ation  of  Campground— R.  4,  Albion,  IN 

146701 
Iephone    No.-2 19/779-4183    (Caretaker), 

219/799-5988  (Staff) 
[|tes  of  Camp-June  16-21,  1986,  Jr.  Camp; 

June  23-28,  1986,  Sr.  Camp 

YOUTH 

F;s.— Ken  Bickel 

•  y.-Treas.-Valerie  Byers,  1108  W.  Canal  St., 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Smbers-at-Large— Larry    Edwards,    Dan 

Jackson,  Sue  Rike,  Dan  Michaels 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

rne,  IN— Bethel  Brethren  Church 
lumbia  City,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
E  chart,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
F>ra,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church 


Ft.  Wayne,  IN-First  Brethren  Church 
Ft.  Wayne,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Goshen,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Hartford  City,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Indianapolis,  IN— Eagle  Creek  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Kokomo,  IN— Indian  Heights  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Kokomo,  IN— North  Kokomo  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Leesburg,    IN— Leesburg    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
New  Albany,  IN— New  Albany  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Osceola,  IN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Peru,  IN,  Peru  Brethren  Church 
Sidney,  IN— Sidney  Grace  Brethren  Church 
South  Bend,  IN— Ireland  Road  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Warsaw,    IN— Community    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Winona    Lake,    IN— Winona    Lake    Grace 

Brethren  Church 


IOWA— MIDLANDS 


Iowa-Midlands  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Jext  conference:  Longview,  TX;  March  25-26, 
1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

d— Bob  Foote 
\lMod— Kevin  Zuber 
•py— Mrs.    John    Burke,    1434    Lyon    Ave., 

!  Waterloo,  IA  50702 
leas.— Richard  Jensen,  3333  Randolph  St., 

Waterloo,  IA  50702 

it— Mrs.  Sharon  Newlin,  310  Pliler  Precise, 

Longview,  TX  75601 

NOMINEE  TO  NATL. 
FELLOWSHIP  COMMITTEE 

rry  Richeson 

AUDITORS 

irvin  Intermill,  Ralph  Grady 

MINISTERIUM 

m—  Charles  Thornton 
Chm  —  Larry  Richeson 
:y.-Treas—  Arthur  McCrum 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

1  ordained  elders  of  the  Iowa-Midlands  Dist. 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

s.— Ted  Coulson 

cy.Treas.-Clair  Smith,  3626  Loralin  Dr., 
Waterloo,  I A  50701 


WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Shirley  Travis 

1st  V.  Pres.-Bev  Flaughty 

Secy.— Beverly   Fike,   7540   Hammond   Ave., 

Waterloo,  IA  50702 
Treas.-Zelda  Rittgers,  Box  208,  Dallas  Center, 

IA  50063 
Prayer  Chairman— Margaret  Andrews 
SMM    Patroness— Rose    Earnest,    Vivian 

Weimer 
Dist.  Editor— Cindy  Lear 
Statistician— Diane  Zuber 

RESOLUTIONS 

Bob  Foote,  Kevin  Zuber 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— John  Burke 

V.  Chm.— Lou  Amundson 

Secy-Treas.— Jack  Lesh 

YOUTH 

Fin.  Secy— Charles  Thornton,  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  P.O.  Box  477,  Dallas  Center,  IA 
50063 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Cedar  Rapids,  IA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Dallas  Center,  IA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Davenport,  IA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Des  Moines,  IA— First  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Garwin,  IA— Carlton  Brethren  Church 
Leon,  IA— Leon  Brethren  Church 


North   English,   IA— Pleasant   Grove   Grace 

Brethren  Church 
Udell,  IA-Udell  Brethren  Church 
Waterloo,  IA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Morrill,  KS— Morrill  Brethren  Church 


Winona,  MN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Kansas  City,  MO— Grace  Brethren  Churct 
Austin,  TX-Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Gre£  I 

Austin 
Longview,  TX— Grace  Brethren  Church    \ 


MICHIGAN 


Michigan  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Lake  Odessa,  MI,  April  11-12,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.— Jim  Caton 

V.  Mod.— Darrell  Hawbaker 

Secy.-Mrs.  Arnold  Erb,  R.  1,  Box  94,  Lake 

Odessa,  MI  48849 
Treas.-Leo  Peters,  14070  E.  Fulton,  Lowell,  MI 

49331 
Stat.-Robert  Gahris,  1006  Wadena  Rd.,  St. 

Joseph,  MI  49085 
Members-at-Large— Arnold  Erb,  John  Wedding 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Russell  Sarver 

COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

Darwin  Thompson,  Darrell  Hawbaker,  Dean 
Geiger 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Cecil  Stice,  John  Fuhr,  Allen  Jones 

AUDITORS 

Bob  Gahris,  Eldon  Grubb,  Darrell  Hawbaker 

CREDENTIALS 

Darrell  Hawbaker 

RESOLUTIONS 

Jim  Caton,  Russell  Sarver,  Darrell  Hawbaker 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.-Bill  Stevens 
Secy.— Allen  Jones 
Treas.— Arnold  Erb 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm  —  Gerald  Polman 
Secy. -Treas.— Russell  Sarver 


MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Bill  Stevens 
Secy.— Russell  Sarver 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Pres.-Cecil  Stice,  P.O.  Box  355,  Sawyer,  ! 
49125 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL    ! 

Pres— Clair  Stice 

1st  V.  Pres.-Pearl  Shade 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Dora  Mensinger 

Secy.— Delores   Wedding,    2916   Cholchest 

Lansing,  MI  48906 
Treas.-Katherine  Geiger,  9488  Keim  Rd., ! 

1,  Clarksville,  MI  48815 
Prayer  Chairman— Fern  Tischer 
SMM  Patroness— Ellen  Jones 
Asst.  Patroness— Nancy  Erb 
Dist.  Editor— Roselynne  Peters 

SMM 

Pres.— Jami  Johnson 

V.  Pres.— Wendy  Murray 

Secy.— Amy  Patrick.  R.  1,  Thompson  Rd.,  La1 

Odessa,  MI  48849 
Treas.-Mrs.  Ellen  Jones,  5570  Caribou  Trs! 

Stevensville,  MI  49127 
Patroness— Ellen  Jones 
Asst.  Patroness— Nancy  Erb 

CAMP 

Sr.  Camp  Dir.— Allen  Jones 

YOUTH 

Co-ordinator— Bill  Stevens 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Alto,  MI— Calvary  Grace  Brethren 
Hastings,  MI— Hastings  Grace  Brethren 
Lake    Odessa,    MI— Lake    Odessa    Gral 

Brethren 
Lansing,  MI— Lansing  Grace  Brethren 
New  Troy,  MI— New  Troy  Grace  Brethren 
Ozark,  MI— Ozark  Grace  Brethren 


MID— ATLANTIC 


Mid-Atlantic  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next      conference:      Rosemont      GBC, 
Martinsburg,  WV,  April  18-19,  1986 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.-Carl  Baker 
V.  Mod— Dan  Eshleman 
Secy.-Mrs.  Bonnie  M.  Kuhn,  215  E.  Baltimoi, 
St.,  P.O.  Box  98,  Funkstown.MD  21734 


58 


;st.  Secy— Bill  Kesecker 
eas.-Kenneth  M.  Heefner,  259  Ringgold  St., 
Waynesboro,  PA  17268 
at— Roger  Tweedy,  6032  Mayfair  Lane,  Alex- 
!  andria,  VA  22310 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 
irl  Baker,  Daniel  Eshleman 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

ff  Thornley   (Chm.),   Larry   Sowers,   Fred 
Devan,  Jerry  Michael,  Bob  Wagner 

AUDITORS 

ed  Kuhn  (Chm.),   Charles  Ditto,  Wayne 
Tucker 

CREDENTIALS 

irry  Gegner 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

iss  Ogden  (Chm.),  Lee  Myers,  Jim  Dixon 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

im—  Daniel  Eshleman 
cy  —  Larry  Sowers 
eas— Jerry  Michael 

MINISTERIUM 

im  —  Larry  Sowers 
Chm.-Jeff  Thornley 
■cy. — Bill  Kiddoo 
'eas.— Dan  Eshleman 

!     WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

!'es—  Nancy  Eshleman 

It  V.  Pres  —  Rosella  Lohr 

,id  V.  Pres.— Sandy  Adams 

ecy—  Connie    House,    4    W    Wilson    Blvd., 

I  Hagerstown,  MD  21740 

feas— Linda  Michael,  R.  4,  105  Meadow  Dr., 

!  Martinsburg,  WV  25401 

j'ayer  Chm.— Alice  Hartman 

*1M  Patroness— Sally  Miller 

1st.  Editor— Beckie  Kiddoo 

SMM 

Pres.— Rhoda  Munch 


Treas.—  Regina  Blair 

CAMP 

Director—  Dan  Eshleman 

Manager— Dan  Eshleman 

Name  of  Camp— Camp  Grace 

Name    of    Campgrounds— Powell's    Fort 

Organizational  Fort 
Location  of  Campground— Near  Woodstock,  VA 
Telephone  No.-703/459-4379 

YOUTH 

Chm.— Larry  Humberd 

Secy.-Treas.-Mrs.  Joyce  Fitz,  16  S.  Grant  St. 

Waynesboro,  PA  17268 
Camp  Co-Ordinator— Robin  Greene 
Retreat  Co-Ordinator— Doug  Courter 
Asst.  Retreat  Co-Ordinator— Dave  Manges 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Alexandria,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Baltimore,  MD— Grace  Brethren  Fellowship 
Chambersburg,    PA— Chambersburg    Grace 

Brethren  Church 
Frederick,   MD— Frederick   Grace   Brethren 

Church 
Hagerstown,  MD— Calvary  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Hagerstown,  MD— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Hagerstown,  MD— Maranatha  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Hagerstown,    MD— Valley    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Lanham,    MD— Lanham    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Martinsburg,  WV—  Rosemont  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Seven  Fountains,  VA— Trinity  Brethren  Church 
Tbmple  Hills,  MD— Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Greater  Washington 
Waynesboro,  PA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Winchester,  VA— Blue  Ridge  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Winchester,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 


MOUNTAIN— PLAINS 


Mountain-Plains  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next   conference:    Hackberry    Hill    Grace 
Brethren  Church,  June  12-14,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

od— Don  Eshelman 
i  Mod.-Aldo  Hoyt 

iicy.-Norma  Wolters,  Box  117,  Portis,  KS 
i  67474 

'sst.  Secy.— Doris  Shrauger,  Box  287,  Beaver 
City,  NB  68926 


Stat.-Marian  Lackey,  Portis,  KS  67474 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Don  Eshelman 

MODERATOR'S  ADDRESS 

Don  Eshelman 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— Tom  Inman 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm.— Dayne  Nix 

Secy. Treas.— Gilbert  Hawkins 


59 


MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Dayne  Nix 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Dorothy  Ortego 

1st  V.  Pres.— Geneva  Inman 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Connie  Cook 

Treas.— Doris  Shrauger,  Box  287,  Beaver  City, 

NB  68926 
Prayer  Chm.— Rosella  Hawkins 
Dist.  Editor— Rhonda  Dombach 


COOPERATING  CHURCHES  f 

Arvada,  CO— Hackberry  Hill  Grace  Brethi  s 

Church 
Beaver  City,  NE— Grace  Brethren  Churcr.  I 
Colorado  Springs,  CO— Grace  Brethren  Chvu  ft 
Cheyenne,  WY— Grace  Brethren  Church  Bil 

Study 
Denver,  CO— Denver  Grace  Brethren  Chui  I 
Portis,  KS— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Wichita,  KS— Grace  Brethren  Church 


NOR— CAL 

(No  information  available) 


NORTHCENTRAL  OHIO 


Northcentral  Ohio  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Columbus,  April  12,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.— Roger  Krynock 

V.  Mod.-Chip  Heim 

Secy.— Marion  Forrest,  481  Ridgedale  Drive 

North,  Worthington,  OH  43085 
Treas.— John  Bryant,  7420  Sharp  Road,  Mt. 

Vernon,  OH  43050 
Stat.-Craig  Snyder,   119   Cliffbrook   Drive, 

Mansfield,  OH  44907 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Carl  Miller 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Jeff  Gill,  Charlie  Barnhill 

AUDITORS 

Bill  Burby 

CREDENTIALS 

Bob  Russell,  Quentin  Matthes 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Zeke  Young,  Gene  Klingler 

RESOLUTIONS 

John  Teevan,  Randy  Bowman 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— James  Custer 
Secy.— Roger  Krynock 
Treas.— Morgan  Burgess 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm.— John  Bryant 


Secy.-Treas—  Carl  Miller 
All  District  Pastors 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Dick  Hopkins 
Secy.— Dick  Hopkins 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Pres.— Ed  Jackson 

V.  Pres.  (Boy's  Work)-Al  Channel 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL     i 

Pres.— Ruth  Beery 
1st  V.  Pres.-Sally  Stamm 
2nd  V.  Pres.— Lois  Stamm 
SMM  Patroness— Marcia  Mason 
Asst.  Patroness— Beverly  Phillips 

SMM 

Patroness— Marcia  Mason 

Asst.  Patroness— Beverly  Phillips 

CAMP 

Director— Ron  Boehm 

Name  of  Camp— Hidden  Hollow 

YOUTH 

Pres.— Dave  Bogue 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Ashland,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Ashland,    OH— Southview    Grace    Brethre 

Church 
Bellefontaine,  OH— Mad  River  Grace  Brethre1 

Church 
Bellville,  OH— Ankenytown  Grace  Brethre 

Church 
Bowling  Green,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Churc; 
Columbus,  OH— East  Side  Grace  Brethre; 

Church 


60 


■lumbus,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Columbus 

lumbus,  OH— Southwest  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
.lumbus,    OH— Trinity    Grace    Brethren 

Church 

inville,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
ulaware,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
ndlay,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
emont,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Chapel 
emont,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
ilion,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
xington,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
ma,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
ndon,  OH— London  Grace  Brethren  Church 
ansfield,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 


Mansfield,   OH— Woodville   Grace   Brethren 

Church 
Marion,  OH— Marion  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Marysville,  OH— Watkins  Road  Community 

GBC 
Mifflin,  OH-Mifflin  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Mt.  Vernon,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Ontario,    OH— Marantha    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Pataskala,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Licking  County 
Toledo,  OH— Maumee  Valley  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Toledo,  OH-Toledo  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Walbridge,    OH— Calvary    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Wauseon,  OH— Faith  Bible  Fellowship 


NORTHEASTERN  OHIO 


lortheastern  Ohio  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Mext  conference:  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
I  Wooster,  OH,  April  26,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

|od.-Bob  Fetterhoff 
j  Mod.— Galen  Wiley 
Icy.-Mrs.  Dwight  Stair,  510  Oak  Street, 

Wadsworth,  OH  44281 
ist.  Secy.-Treas  —  Gloria  Armstrong 
at.-H.    Dwight    Stair,    510    Oak    St., 

Wadsworth,  OH  44281 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

m  Brown 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

jib  Combs  (Chm.),  Wes  Haller,  Terry  Taylor 

AUDITORS 

illiam  Snoddy  (Chm.),  Stanley  Beers,  Gene 
Kiefer 

CREDENTIALS 

ilen  Wiley  (Chm.),  Clyde  Caes,  Jane  Cole 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

id  Olszewski  (Chm.),  Richard  Bell,  Ken 
Brown 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

im.— Bob  Fetterhoff 

:cy.-Treas.-John  Dilling,  207   Edmar  St., 
Louisville,  OH  44641 

MINISTERIUM 

im.— Ken  Brown 

Chm.— Bud  Olszewski 

ey.-Treas.—  Doug  Jensen 

set.  Secy.-Treas.— Dan  Najimian 


MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Ken  Brown 

V.  Chm.— Bud  Olszewski 

Secy.— Wes  Haller,  Lee  Dice 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Mrs.  Ken  (Margie)  Brown 

1st  V.  Pres.— Nancy  Craighead 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Mrs.  Bob  (Roxanne)  Armstrong 

Secy.— Mrs.  Jim  (Doris)  Beichler,  10662  Irvin 
Rd.,  Creston,  OH  44217 

Treas.— Mrs.  Clyde  (Nancy)  Caes,  4547  Grand- 
view  Ave.,  Canton,  OH  44705 

Prayer  Chm.— Marie  Mishler 

SMM  Patroness— Linda  Nolt 

Asst.  Patroness— Pat  Jentes 

SMM 

Pres.— Tina  Bolyard 

V.  Pres.— Carrie  Buckland 

Secy— Jennifer  Saurer,  132  N.  Second  St., 

Rittman,  OH  44270 
Treas.-Andrea  Fetter,  2761  Happy  Valley  Rd., 

Wooster,  OH  44691 
Patroness— Linda  Nolt 
Asst.  Patroness— Pat  Jentes 

CAMP 

Director— Bob  Combs 

Name  of  Camp— Camp  Buckeye 

Name  of  Campground— Camp  McPhearson 

Location  of  Campground— Loudonville,  OH 

Telephone  No.-614/599-7110 

YOUTH 

Chm.— Dean  Strait 

V.  Chm.-Clyde  Caes 

Secy.-Treas.-Wes  Haller,  2487  Aspen  Street 

N.E.,  North  Canton,  OH  44721 
Asst.  Secy.-Treas— Dennis  Erb 


COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Akron,  OH— Ellet  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Akron,  OH— Fairlawn  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Canton,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Elyria,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Homerville,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Medina,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 


Middlebranch,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Chur  j 
Minerva,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Norton,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Orrville,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Rittman,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Sterling,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Wooster,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 


NORTHERN  ATLANTIC 


Northern  Atlantic  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  May  30-June  1,  1986. 
Place  to  be  announced  later. 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.— Jerry  Young 

V.  Mod.— Robert  Kern 

Secy.-Treas.— Harold  E.  Hollinger,  748  Amosite 

Road,  Elizabethtown,  PA  17022 
Asst.  Secy.-Treas.— James  Bowers 
Stat.-Timothy  George,  Box  824,  Prescott  Dr., 

Lebanon,  PA  17042 
Asst.  Stat.— Dennis  Patrick 
Business  Mgr.— Mark  Saunders 
Asst.  Business  Mgr.— Luke  Martin 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mike  Rockafellow,  Jerry  Young 

COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

Roger  Wambold  (Chm.),  Les  Nutter,  Vernon 
Harris 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

John  Snow  (Chm.),  Earle  Peer,  Guy  Brightbill 

AUDITORS 

Richard  Battis,  David  B.  Stauffer 

CREDENTIALS 

Robert  Kern  (Chm.),  Tim  Coyle,  Alan  Mangum 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Ken  Cosgrove  (Chm.),  Tim  George,  Robert 
Spicer 

HISTORICAL  COMMITTEE 

Earle    Peer   (Chm.),    Donald    Hinks,   Roger 
Wambold,  Arthur  Sprunger 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Pres  —  Luke  Kauffman 
V.  Pres.— Vernon  Harris 
Secy.— Timothy  George 
Treas.— Phillip  Simmons 

CHURCH  GROWTH 
AND  DEVELOPMENT  BOARD 

Chm— Tim  George 

V  Chm— Vernon  Harris 


Secy.— Fred  Sorrick 
Treas.— Harold  Hollinger 
Ronald  Guiles,  Mike  Rockafellow,  Jerry  Youn  I 
Robert  Kern 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm.— Ken  Cosgrove 

V  Chm.-Richard  Battis 
Secy.— Howard  Gelsinger 
Treas.— Mark  Saunders 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Exec.  Secy— Ron  Guiles 

Asst.  Exec.  Secy.— Mick  Rockafellow 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Pres.— Harold  E.  Hollinger 

V  Pres.  (1st)— Sam  Leisey 

V  Pres.  (2nd)-Ed  Rowlands 

Secy— Marvin  Garner,  532  S.  Front  Stree' 

Wrightsville,  PA  17368 
Treas.— Ray  Derstine,  324  Railroad  Avenu 

Souderton,  PA  18964 
Pastoral  Advisor— Mick  Rockafellow 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Mrs.  Darlene  Kauffman 

1st  V.  Pres.— Mrs.  Judith  Musser 

2nd  V  Pres.-Mrs.  Elsie  Knight 

Secy  .-Mrs.   Betty   Hurst,   535   S.   29th  St 

Harrisburg,  PA  17109 
Treas.— Mrs.  Arlene  Ober,  4755  Bossier  Roai 

Elizabethtown,  PA  17022 
Prayer  Chm.— Mrs.  Emaline  Knepper 
SMM  Patroness— Mrs.  Sue  Meyers 
Asst.  Patroness— Mrs.  Dawn  Garner 
Dist.  Editor— Mrs.  Bobbie  Saunders 

SMM 

Pres.— Miss  Jodi  Dilling 

V  Pres.— Miss  Kenda  Cosgrove 

Secy.— Miss  Jennifer  Meyers,  72  Hertzog  Drivi 

Leola,  PA  17540 
Treas.— Miss  Amy  Dodson,  R.  9,  York,  P: 

17402 
Patroness— Mrs.  Sue  Meyers 
Asst.  Patroness— Miss  Dawn  Garner 
Advisory  Bd— Mrs.  Frances  Nutter,  Mrs.  Lo 

Eaby 
Little  Sister's  Rep.— Miss  Michelle  Humber 
Amigas  Rep.— Miss  Christine  Horn 


CAMP 

Dunds   Supt.— Mr.    &    Mrs.    Robert   Lutz, 

215/267-2541  _ 

me  of  Camp— Camp  Conquest 

;ation  of  Campground— R.  2,  Forrest  Road, 

Denver,  PA  17517 

ephone  No.-2 15/267-2006 

YOUTH  COMMITTEE 

;s—  Roger  Wambold 

Pres  —  Leslie  Nutter 

y.-Susan  Knepper,  R.D.  24,  Box  3333,  York, 

PA  17406 

ias.— Abner  Zimmerman 

YOUTH  —  CAMP  COMMISSION 

ke  Rockafellow  (Chm.),  Randy  Maxson,  Jack 
Galle,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Dan  Buch 

rOUTH  —  COMPETITION  COMMITTEE 

ve  Rank  (Chm.),  Leslie  Nutter,  Mr.  &  Mrs. 
Dale  Knepper,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Ab  Zimmerman 

YOUTH  —  RALLY  COMMISSION 

ck  Brubaker  (Chm.),  Jerry  Young,  Rick 
Clark,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Dave  Knepper 

lUTH    —    PUBLICITY    &    PROMOTION 
COMMITTEE 

slie  Nutter  (Chm.),  Roger  Wambold,  Mr.  & 
Mrs.  Steve  Doutrich 

GRACE  BRETHREN  CENTER 

m  —  Robert  Kern 
Chm.-David  Fath 
y.— Mark  Saunders 
;as.— James  Bowers 
ec.  Secy—  Cary  Engle 


COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Bethlehem,  PA— Lehigh  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Brunswick,  ME— Down  East  Grace  Brethren 
Dillsburg,  PA— Hope  Grace  Brethren 
Elizabethtown,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
Ephrata,  PA— Ephrata  Area  Grace  Brethren 
Gettysburg,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
Harrisburg,    PA— Melrose    Garden    Grace 

Brethren 
Hatboro,  PA— Suburban  Grace  Brethren 
Hope,  NJ— Grace  Brethren 
Irasburg,  VT— Grace  Brethren 
Island  Pond,  VT— Grace  Brethren 
Lancaster,  PA— Grace   Brethren  of  Greater 

Lancaster 
Lancaster,    PA— Southern    Lancaster   Grace 

Brethren 
Lititz,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
Loysville,    PA— Shermans    Valley    Grace 

Brethren 
Manheim,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
Mount  Laurel,  NJ— Grace  Brethren 
Myerstown,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
New  Holland,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
Newark,  DE— Grace  Brethren 
Palmyra,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
Pine  Grove,  PA— Grace  Brethren 
Philadelphia,  PA— First  Brethren 
Philadelphia,  PA-Third  Brethren 
Royersford,  PA— Tri-County  Grace  Brethren 
Saratoga  Springs,  NY— Grace  Brethren 
Stowe,  VT— Mansfield  Grace  Brethren 
Telford,  PA— Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Wrightsville,     PA— Susquehanna     Grace 

Brethren 
York,  PA— Grace  Brethren 


NORTHWEST 


Northwest  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches- 

■Jext  conference:  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Sunnyside,  WA,  February  13-15,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

id.— Richard  Cron 

Mod— Greg  Ryerson 

cy.-Cheryl    Holman,    E.     14520    Heroy, 

Spokane,  WA  99216 

st.  Secy.— Daniel  White 

;as.-Neil  Paden,  R.  1,  Box  16-B,  Harrah,  WA 

98933 
it.-Ora  Gifford,  708  Hillcrest,  Grandview, 

WA  98930 
!mbers-at-Large— Bob    Mcintosh,    Warren 

Hall 


FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Dave  Marksbury 

COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

Don   Cowler  (Chm.),   Don   Brotherton,   Bob 
Rupert 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Don   Cowler  (Chm.),   Don   Brotherton,   Bob 
Rupert 

AUDITORS 

LeRoy   Sharpe  (Chm.),  James  White,   Mrs. 
Roger  Falter  (Pat.) 

CREDENTIALS 

Greg  Ryerson  (Chm.),  Homer  Bussert,  Dan 
White 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Greg  Howell  (Chm.),   Dale  Hostetler,  Dave 
Marksbury 


RESOLUTIONS 

Gil  Gilgan,  Greg  Ryerson  (Chm.),  Leroy 
Bussert 

MODERATOR'S  ADDRESS 

Roger  Williams,  Charles  Winter,  Dayton 
Cundiff 

DISTRICT  INSURANCE 

District  Trustee  Board 

GOVERNMENT  AFFAIRS 

Dale  Hostetler 

BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 

Don  Williams,  Lyle  Taylor,  Ed  Houser,  Ron 
Curfman,  Mel  Curfman,  Richard  Cron, 
Dale  Hostetler 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— Dave  Marksbury 
V.  Chm.— Don  Farner 
Secy.— Neil  Paden 
Treas.—  Dale  Hostetler 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm.— Greg  Howell 
V.  Chm.-Art  Hetland 
Secy.-Treas.— Richard  Cron 
Asst.  Secy.-Treas.— John  Nagle 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Dave  Marksbury 
Secy.— Dan  White 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Pres  —  Howard  Pickel 
V.  Pres.— Bob  Jarrett 
Secy.-Treas.— Lyle  Taylor,  c/o  Harrah  Brethren 

Church,  Box  69,  Harrah,  WA  98933 
Pastoral  Adv.— John  Nagle 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Mrs.  Beth  Horney 


1st  V.  Pres.— Mrs.  Don  Farner 
Secy.-Mrs.  Donna  Boast,  P.O.  Box  326,  Ml 

ton,  WA  98935 
Treas.-Mrs.  Don  Cowles,  Rt.  3,  Box  37  i 

Grandview,  WA  98930 
Prayer  Chm.— Mrs.  Bob  Mcintosh 
SMM  Patroness— Mrs.  Ann  Daniels 
Asst.  Patroness— Mrs.  Cindee  Hudson 

SMM 

Patroness— Mrs.  Ann  Daniels 

Asst.  Patroness— Mrs.  Cindee  Hudson 

CAMP 

Director— To  be  appointed 
Name  of  Camp— Brethren  Clear  Lake  Ca 
Location  of  Campground— Star  Rte,  Nacr 
WA  98937 

YOUTH 

Pres.— John  Nagle 

V.  Pres.— Greg  Howell 

Secy.-Rodger  Williams,  P.O.  Box  216,  Mabt 

WA  98935 
Treas.— Mrs.  Dave  McGhan 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Albany,  OR— Grace  Brethren 
Beaverton,  OR— Grace  Brethren 
Troutdale,  OR— Grace  Brethren 
Goldendale,     WA— Community 

Goldendale 
Grandview,  WA— Grace  Brethren 
Harrah,  WA— Harrah  Brethren 
Kent,  WA— Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Kei 
Mabton,  WA— Grace  Brethren 
Prosser,  WA—  Community  GBC  of  Prosse 
Spokane,  WA-Spokane  Valley  GBC 
Sunnyside,  WA— Grace  Brethren 
Toppenish,  WA— Grace  Brethren 
Yakima,  WA— Grace  Brethren 


GBC 


SOUTHERN 


Southern  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  Georgia  Baptist  Assembly 
Campgrounds,  Toccoa,  GA,  June  13-14 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.— Mike  Wingfield 
V.  Mod.-Steve  Howell 
Secy.-Jonell  Crain,  Rt.  1,  Box  519,  Tetford,  TN 

37690 
Treas.— Gary  Harris,  Rt.  1,  Box  82,  Limestone, 

TN  37681 
Stat.-Martha  Berkebile,  2624  Saddlewood  Cr., 

Concord,  NC  28025 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mike  Wingfield 


MODERATOR'S  ADDRESS 

Chm.— Mike  Wingfield 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— Jack  Broyles 
Secy.-Treas.— Tony  Merritt 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm.— Steve  Jarrell 
v.  Chm.— Steve  Taylor 
Secy.-Treas.— Don  Soule 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Steve  Jarrell 
V.  Chm.— Steve  Taylor 
Secy.— Don  Soule 

(All  ordained  Pastors  are  members) 


WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

es—  Evelyn  Henry 

;  V.  Pres  —  Cindy  Soule 

cy.-Marie  Campbell,   1100   E.   8th  Ave., 

Johnson  City,  TN  37601 
eas— Mary  Ruth  Jeffers,  Rt.  3,  Limestone, 

TN  37681 
st.  Editor— Joyce  Wingfield 

YOUTH 

m  Soule,  Roger  Barker,  Bill  Hicks 


COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Aiken,  SC— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Anderson,  SC— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Atlanta,  GA— Greater  Atlanta  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
East    Atlanta,    GA— East    Atlanta    Grace 

Brethren  Church 
Charlotte,  NC— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Johnson  City,  TN— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Telford,  TN-Grace  Brethren  Church 


SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA  —  ARIZONA 


Southern  California-Arizona  District 
:ellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 

^Jext    conference:    North    Long    Beach 
Brethren  Church  -  May  1-3,  1986 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

od— Ward  Miller 

Mod— John  Mcintosh 

cy.-Rolland  Coburn,  5719  Beryl  St.,  Alta 

Loma,  CA  91701 
|;st.  Secy— Roy  Polman 
teas—  Dallas  Martin,  5464  Canton  St.,  Long 

Beach,  CA  90815 
|at.-Ed  Trimmer,   1072  Palo  Verde,  Long 

Beach,  CA  90815 
embers-at-Large— Sherwood    Lingenfelter, 

Tim  Flaming,  Clark  Miller,  Steve  Hatfield, 
i  Earl  Royce,  Die  Harrison,  Warren 
1  Hutehens,  Bob  Kingsbury.  Garth  Lindeleft, 
i  Lloyd  Rinks,  Keith  Altig 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

ave  Belcher,  Tom  Hughes 

COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

^ve  Miller  (Chm.),  Harold  Dunning,  Bill 
j  Couch 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

pn   Byers   (Chm.),    David    Belcher,   Frank 
Coburn,  Ralph  Schwartz,  Bob  Whited 

CREDENTIALS 

•ank  Coburn  (Chm.),  Phil  Guerena,  Sheldon 
Perrine 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Dbert  Miller  (Chm.),  Ed  Cashman,  Garth 
Lindelef 

RESOLUTIONS 

ian  Viveros  (Chm.),  Don  Carter,  Harry  Sturz 

MODERATOR'S  ADDRESS 

jhn  Mcintosh  (Chm.),  Roy  Polman,  Richard 
Todd 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  COMMITTEE 

Bill  Couch  (Chm.),  Fred  Berkemer,  Richard 
Coburn 

DISTRICT  RETIREMENT  HOME 

(Ad  Hoc  Committee) 
Tim  Flamming 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— Robert  MacMillian 

MINISTERIUM 

Chm— David  Belcher 
V.  Chm.-Ward  Miller 
Secy.-Treas  —  Ralph  Colburn 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.-Robert  Kliewer  (87) 

Secy.— Tom  Hughes  (86) 

Frank  Coburn  (86),  Don  Carter  (86),  Ralph  Col- 
burn (87),  Harry  Sturz  (87),  Harold 
Dunning  (88),  Ed  Cashman  (88),  David 
Belcher  (88) 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Pres.-Eldred  Gillis 

Secy.-Treas.-Clark  Miller,  13138  Michelle  Cr, 
Whittier,  CA  90605 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

1st  V.  Pres.— Isobel  Fraser 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Helen  Rempel 

Recording    Secy.— Janet    Kivrisis,    2229    W. 

Rowland,  St.  Ana,  CA  92704 
Treas.—  Jayne  Reuter,  3500  W.  Manchester, 

Inglewood,  CA  90305 
Prayer  Chm.— Dorothy  Levering 
SMM  Patroness— Janice  Ball 
Asst.  Patroness— Helen  Miller 
Dist.  Editor— Marion  McBride 
Corresponding  Secy— Ruth  Reddick,  15819  E. 

Hill  St.,  La  Puente,  CA  91744 

SMM 

Pres.— Georgine  Castro 

V.  Pres.— Jennifer  Shaffer 

Recording    Secy.— Christina    Cirocco,    10771 

Tonibar,  Norwalk,  CA  90605 
Treas.— Christine  Manion,  3359  Olympic  St., 

Simi  Valley,  CA  93063 


Patroness— Janice  Ball 

Asst.    Patroness— Juanita    Parkins,    Helen 

Miller 
Lumiere  Jr.  Representative— Tiffany  March, 

Lisa  Arnold 
Amigas  Jr.  Representative— Jennifer  Arnold 
Corresponding  Secy.— Monica  Park,  3894  E. 

Dixon  Ct.,  Simi  Valley,  CA  93603 

YOUTH 

Pres.— Paul  Copeland 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Alta  Loma,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Anaheim,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Beaumont,    CA— Cherry    Valley    Brethren 

Church 
Bell.  CA-Bell  Brethren  Church 
Bellflower,  CA— Bellflower  Brethren  Church 
Covina,  CA— New  Life  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Cypress,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Glendora,  CA— Bible  Brethren  Church 
Hemet,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
La  Mirada,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Fellowship 
La  Verne,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Lakewood,    CA— Iglesia    Cristiana    de    la 

Comunidad 
Long  Beach,  CA— Community  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Long  Beach,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Long  Beach,  CA— Los  Altos  Brethren  Church 


Long  Beach,  CA— North  Long  Beach  Bret  u 

Church 
Los    Angeles,    CA— Community    Bret   11 

Church 
Montclair,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Norwalk,  CA— Norwalk  Brethren  Churc 
Orange,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Phoenix,  AZ— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Phoenix,  AZ— Northwest  Brethren  Chui  I 
Rialto,  CA-Rialto  Brethren  Church 
Riverside,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church    : 
San  Diego,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
San  Ysidro,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church  I 
Santa  Ana,  CA— Maranatha  Brethren  Chi  fi 
Santa  Maria,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Chur 
Seal  Beach,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Churcl  \ 
Simi  Valley,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Churcl  j 
South  Pasadena,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Chi  \\ 
Temple    City,    CA-Temple    City    Brett  i 

Church 
Torrance,   CA— South   Bay   Grace   Brett  1 

Church 
Tucson,  AZ— Silverbell  Grace  Brethren  Chi  | 
Ventura,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church      i 
Westminster,     CA— Westminster     Gr.s 

Brethren  Church 
Whittier,  CA— Community  Grace  Breth  i 

Church 
Whittier,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Church     * 
Yucca  Valley,  CA— Grace  Brethren  Churc 


SOUTHERN  OHIO 


Southern  Ohio  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  Calvary  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Kettering,  OH  -  April  11-12, 1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.-Tad  K.  Hobert 

V  Mod.— Howard  W  Mayes 

Secy.— Mrs.  Linda  K.  Penn,  Grace  Brethren 

Church  of  Huber  Heights,  5001  Fishburg 

Rd.,  Huber  Heights,  OH  45424 
Asst.  Secy.— Mrs.  Arlene  Glass 
Treas.—  Roy   Trissel,   First   Grace   Brethren 

Church,  2624  Stonequarry  Rd.,  Dayton,  OH 

45414 
Stat.— G.    Forrest    Jackson,    First    Grace 

Brethren  Church,  2624  Stonequarry  Rd., 

Dayton,  OH  45424 
Members-at-Large— Dan    Pritchett,    Brian 

(Skip)  White 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Tad  K.  Hobert,  Howard  W  Mayes,  Dan  Prit- 
chett, Brian  (Skip)  White,  Mrs.  Linda  K. 
Penn,  Mrs.  Arlene  Glass,  Roy  Trissel,  G. 
Forrest  Jackson 


COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

Mike  Clapham,  Dan  Grabill,  Henry  Mai 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Dan  Pritchett,  Howard  Mayes,  Henry  Mai 

AUDITORS 

Walt  Fohs,  James  Petri 

CREDENTIALS 

Dan  Grabill,  Bob  Poirier,  Steve  Peters 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Chuck  Lawson,  James  Marshall,  Russ  Wi 

RESOLUTIONS 

Ron  Welsh,  Mike  Clapham 

MODERATOR'S  ADDRESS 

Elgin  Green,  Gerald  Root,  Dave  Slusher 

BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 

Russ  Ward,  Earl  Dohner,  Marion  Hoffma: 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  COMMITTEE 

Herman  Fletcher,  David  Rusk 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— G.  Forrest  Jackson 
V  Chm.-Dan  Grabill 
Secy.— Ron  Welsh 
Treas.— Roy  Trissel 


66 


MINISTERIUM 

I!  l.-Dan  Grabill 

'.  hm  — Mike  Clapham 

(I .-Treas.—  Dan  Pritchett 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

ill.— Charles  Lawson 

|  WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 
i|..— Wilma  Hartley 
w".  Pres.— Millie  Davis 
t  .—Shirley  Baker 
I .  Secy— Sally  Neely 
Is— Kathy  Booker 
1.  Treas.— Marcille  Coppock 

I  'er  Chm.— Eleanor  Schopp 

II  Patroness— Donna  Tolbert 
I .  Patroness— Linda  Warren 
jrict  Editor— Ann  Felkley 

SMM 

,-Pam  Tolbert 
res.— Tammy  Moller 
'.— Shawna  McManaway 
t).s— Michelle  Cobb 
oness— Carol  Stutz 
;.  Patroness— Donna  Tolbert 

YOUTH 

l!i.— Dan  Pritchett 

l.-Skip  White 

Is.— Henry  Mallon 

In  Green,  Ron  Welsh,  Ed  Underwood 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

]')kville,  OH— Brookville  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


Camden,    OH— Camden    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Centerville,  OH— Centerville  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Cincinnati,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Greater  Cincinnati 
Clayhole,    KY— Clayhole    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Clayton,  OH— Clayton  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Covington,  OH— Friendship  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Dayton,  OH— Basore  Road  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Dayton,  OH— Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Dayton,  OH— First  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Dayton,  OH— North  Riverdale  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Dryhill,    KY— Victory    Mountain    Grace 

Brethren  Church 
Englewood,  OH— Englewood  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Huber  Heights,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 

of  Huber  Heights 
Kettering,  OH— Calvary  Brethren  Church 
Lexington,  KY— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Sinking  Spring,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Trotwood,  OH— Grace  Brethren 
Troy,  OH— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Union,    OH— Community    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Vandalia,    OH— Vandalia    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
West    Alexandria,    OH— Grace    Brethren 

Community  Church 
Xenia,  OH— Xenia  Bible  Study  Group 


SOUTHWEST 


Southwest  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

art  conference:  Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mis- 
ion,  Counselor,  NM,  April  25-26,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

..—Mark  Henning 

lod— Mike  Ostrander 

—Mrs.  Margie  Tafoya,  c/o  149  Daniel  Cir- 

le  NW,  Albuquerque,  NM  87107 

is.-George  Trujillo,  P.O.  Box  1824,  Taos, 

H  87571 

.-Ward  Norris,  P.O.  Box  814,  Ranchos  De 

.Taos,  NM  87557 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

e  Ostrander 

MINISTERIUM 

ii— Mark  Henning 


V.  Chm— Mike  Ostrander 
Secy.— Larry  Wedertz 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Mark    Henning,    Mike    Ostrander,    Larry 
Wedertz 


Pres. 


GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

-Ike  Salazar 


WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Mrs.  Mary  Thompson 

1st  V.  Pres.— Mrs.  Jonnie  Lou  Wedertz 

2nd  V.  Pres— Mrs.  Naomi  Miller 

Secy  .-Mrs.  Roberta  Romd,  P.O.  Box  28,  Talpa, 

NM  87557 
Asst.  Secy.— Mrs.  Servilia  Bernal 
Treas.— Mrs.  Mary  Lou  Norris,  P.O.  Box  814, 

Ranchos  De  Taos,  NM  87557 
Asst.  Treas— Miss  Faith  Hansen 
Prayer  Chm.— Mrs.  Celina  Salazar 


SMM  Patroness— Mrs.  Judy  Ostrander 
Asst.  Patroness— Mrs.  Roberta  Romo 
District  Editor— Mrs.  Lorein  Mares 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Albuquerque,    NM— Albuquerque    Grace 
Brethren  Church 


Albuquerque,  NM— Heights  Grace  Bre  ta 

Church 
Counselor,  NM— Cedar  Hill  Grace  Bre' l>n 

Church 
Counselor,    NM— Grace    Brethren    N'm; 

Mission 
Taos,  NM-First  Brethren  Church 


VIRGINIA 


Virginia  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

Next  conference:  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Covington,  VA,  May  16-17,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Mod.— Kenneth  Teague 

V.  Mod— Ron  Thompson 

Secy.— Mrs.  Marlene  Flynn,  1622  Maiden  Lane, 

S.W.,  Roanoke,  VA  24015 
Asst.  Secy.— Mrs.  Sherrie  Clingenpeel 
Treas.-Bobby  Craghead,  236  W.  Phillips  St., 

Covington,  VA  24426 
Stat.-Bill  Clingenpeel,  4418  Oliver  Road, 

N.E.,  Roanoke,  VA  24012 
Member-at-Large— Dan  Gillette  (Host  Pastor) 

FGBC  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Ron  Thompson,  Lester  Kennedy 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

Bill  Willhite  (86)  chm.;  Dick  Harstine  (87); 
Buddy  Smals  (88) 

AUDITORS 

Carl  Ratcliffe  (86)  chm.;  Jerry  Cox  (87);  Doug 
Witt  (89) 

CREDENTIALS 

Claude  Craft  (86)  chm.;  K.  E.  Richardson  (87); 
Harold  Arrington  (88) 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

Doug  Witt,  chm.;  Lester  Kennedy;  John 
Townsend 

MODERATOR'S  ADDRESS  &  RESOLUTIONS 

Jeff  Dunkle  (Chm.),  Wayne  Hannah,  Bob 
Juday 

BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 

C.  L.  Young  (86)  chm.;  Charles  Staton  (86); 
Dick  Harstine  (86);  Edison  Likens  (87); 
Ralph  Miller  (87);  Lester  Kennedy  (87);  Don 
Field  (88);  Bill  Willhite  (88);  James 
Wingfield  (88) 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— Les  Cotsamire 
V.  Chm.— Lester  Kennedy 
Secy.— Harold  Arrington 
Treas.— Wayne  Hannah 


MINISTERIUM 

Chm.— Les  Cotsamire 
V.  Chm.-George  Traub 
Secy.— Jeff  Dunkle 
Treas.— Ron  Thompson 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Lester  Kennedy 
V.  Chm.— Ron  Thompson 
Secy.— Doug  Witt 

GRACE  BRETHREN  MEN 

Chm.— John  Townsend 

Secy.-Treas.-Don  Field,  4501-A  Renfro  B  *., 

Roanoke,  VA  24017 
Pastoral  Adviser-Kenneth  Teague 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Evelyn  McDonald 

1st  V.  Pres.-Thelma  Williams 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Diane  Spence 

Secy.— Carolyn  Trail,  515  Decatur  St.,  Sail, 

VA  24153 
Asst.  Secy.— Ruth  Dunkle 
Treas.-Estella  Coffey,  2946  Garden  City  B  i, 

Roanoke,  VA  24014 
Asst.  Treas.— Lucene  Harstine 
Prayer  Chm.— Lois  Kennedy 
SMM  Patroness-Patty  Willhite 
Asst.  Patroness— Marilyn  Cotsamire 
Dist.  Editor— Kathy  Burns 

SMM 

Pres.— Teresa  Cooper 

1st  V.  Pres.— Michele  Ryman 

2nd  V.  Pres.— Kim  Clingenpeel 

Secy.— Heather   Spence,   c/o  First   Brethji 

Church,  100  E.  29th  St.,  Buena  Vistajl 

24416 
Asst.  Secy.— Becky  Lawhorn 
Treas.-Patty    Willhite,    3058    Pebble    I 

Roanoke,  VA  24014 
Patroness— Patty  Willhite 
Asst.  Patroness— Marilyn  Cotsamire 
Amigas  Representative— Tricia  Willhite 

CAMP  TUK-A-WAY  MINISTRIES 
Chm.-C.  L.  Young 
Name  of  Camp— Camp  Tuk-A-Way 
Location  of  Campground— Star  Rt.,  Box  (.., 

Catawba,  VA  24070 
Telephone  No.-703/552-9571 


Illowship  advisory  committee 

It  Id  Arrington,  Kenneth  league,  Ron 
I  tiompson 

YOUTH  COMMITTEE 

hie  Hannah  (86),  Carolyn  Trail  (86),  Jeff 
unkle  (87),  Bill  Willhite  (87),  Edith  Staton 
!;8),  Steve  Burns  (88) 

DISTRICT  EVALUATION 
&  PLANNING  COMMITTEE 

ne    Hannah,    Lester    Kennedy,    Ron 
hompson,  C.  L.  Young,  Doug  Witt 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

vista,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
'.dies  Mill,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
ii  na  Vista,  VA— First  Brethren  Church 


Covington,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Radford,  VA— Fairlawn  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Richmond,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Riner,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Roanoke,    VA— Clearbrook    Grace    Brethren 

Church 
Roanoke,  VA— Garden  City  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Roanoke,  VA— Ghent  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Roanoke,    VA— Patterson    Memorial    Grace 

Brethren 
Roanoke,    VA— Washington    Heights    Grace 

Brethren 
Salem,  VA— Wildwood  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Troutville,  VA-Grace  Bible  Church 
Virginia  Beach,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 
Willis,  VA— Grace  Brethren  Church 


WESTERN  PENNSYLVANIA 


I  item  Pennsylvania  District  Fellowship  of 
Grace  Brethren  Churches 

;xt  conference:  Everett  Grace  Brethren 
Hhurch,  Everett,  PA,  April  26,  1986 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 
IK.— Bill  Crabbs 
'.  lod  —  David  Hitchman 
(k-Doug  Sabin,  RD  1,  Box  C-152,  Milroy, 

!'A  17063 

I.  Secy.-Tim  Boal 
lis.— Rodney  Lingenfelter,  104  Nason  Dr., 

{oaring  Springs,  PA  16673 
(.-Rose   Snyder,   211    Second   St.,   Con- 

-maugh,  PA  15909 
[  nbers-at-Large— Don  Rough  (2  yrs.);  John 

Gregory  (1  yr.) 

COMMITTEE  ON  COMMITTEES 

liard  Cornwell,   John  Gregory,   Richard 
[tlcCarthy,  Richard  Horner 

NOMINATING  COMMITTEE 

|  Rough,  John  Gregory,  Charles  Miller 

AUDITORS 

|iard    Beach,    John    Donelson,    Rodney 
Ungenfelter 

CREDENTIALS 

Rager,  Willard  Gates,  Clarence  Grabill, 
ra  Shoff 

RULES  AND  ORGANIZATION 

irles  Martin,  Willian  Snell,  Robert  Griffith 

MINISTERIUM 
j^.— Bill  Snell 
phm.-Bill  Crabbs 
!'.— Richard  Horner 


Asst.  Secy— Richard  McCarthy 
Treas.—  Robert  Salsgiver 
Asst.  Treas.— Homer  Lingenfelter 
Insurance— Richard  Horner 

MINISTERIAL  EXAMINING  BOARD 

Chm.— Robert  Burns 

V.  Chm— Charles  Martin 

Secy.— Jim  Snavely 

Asst.  Secy.— Robert  Griffith 

YOUTH 

Chm.-Rick  Stiffler 
V.  Chm.— Don  Heavner 
Secy.— Ilene  Brown 
Treas.— Robert  Salsgiver 

DISTRICT  MISSION  BOARD 

Chm.— Charles  Martin 
V.  Chm.-Bill  Crabbs 
Secy.-Treas.— William  Snell 
Publicity— David  Hitchman 

DISTRICT  CAMP 
Director— Mr.  Rich  Stappello 
Name  of  Camp— Camp  Mantowagan 
Location  of  Camp— Box  95,  Saxton,  PA  16678 
Telephone  No-814/658-3815 

DISTRICT  MEN 

Pres  —  Elton  Long 
Asst.  Pres.— Jim  Dodson 
Secy— Mike  Shaeffer 
Asst.  Secy— Charles  Miller 
Treas.— Harold  Eshelman 
Asst.  Treas.— Tbm  Myers 

WOMEN'S  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

Pres.— Deborah  Adams 
1st  V  Pres.— Kathy  Bowers 
2nd  V.  Pres.— Connie  Hitchman 


Secy.— Dolores  Van  Orman 
Asst.  Secy.— Rae  Reiter 
Treas.—  Joanne  Beach 
Asst.  Treas.— Mary  Lingenfelter 
Prayer  Chm.— Adele  Crabbs 
Asst.  Prayer  Chm.— Nellie  Diehl 
Editor— Marcia  Ritchey 

SMM 

Patroness— Bettie  Horner 

COOPERATING  CHURCHES 

Altoona,  PA— First  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Altoona,  PA— Juniata  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Armagh,  PA— Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Avis,  PA— Tiadaghton  Valley  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Conemaugh,  PA— Conemaugh  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Duncansville,    PA— Leamersville    Grace 

Brethren  Church 
Everett,  PA— Everett  Grace  Brethren  Church 


Everett,    PA— Community    Grace    Bret.L 

Church  of  Everett 
Hollidaysburg,  PA— Vicksburg  Grace  Bret  ,n 

Church 
Hopewell,    PA— Hopewell    Grace    Bretl,,n 

Church 
Johnstown,  PA— First  Grace  Brethren  Ch'  * 
Johnstown,   PA— Geistown   Grace   Bretl  C 

Church 
Johnstown,  PA— Pike  Grace  Brethren  Chi  fci 
Johnstown,    PA— Riverside   Grace   Bretl  ii 

Church 
Johnstown,  PA— Singer  Hill  Grace  Bretl  1 

Church 
Kittanning,  PA— Grace  Brethren  Churcl 

West  Kittanning 
Kittanning,  PA-North  Buffalo  Grace  Bretl 

Church 
Martinsburg,     PA— Martinsburg     Gr 

Brethren  Church 
Milroy,  PA— Milroy  Grace  Brethren  Chur 


Directory  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches 


Listing  312  churches  in  33  states 


I  ted  by  States;  giving  city,  pastor's  name,  church  name,  membership  as  of  January  1, 1985, 
i  Jress,  and  telephone  number;  and  name,  address  and  telephone  number  of  recording 
:retary  or  clerk. 


LASKA 


I ICHORAGE  (Larry  Smithwick) 
Anchorage  Grace  Brethren  Church  (291) 
Huffman  and  Pintail  (Mailing  address: 

SRA  12407  Pintail  St.,  99516) 

del.  907/345-3741) 
Mrs.  Berne  Dalman,  4521  Snowcap 

Circle,  99516 

||,GLE  RIVER  (E.  John  Gillis) 
;  Grace  Brethren  Church 
P.O.  Box  770430,  99577  (Mile  1.8  -  S. 
Birchwood  Loop) 
(Tel.  907/694-5331) 
Lana  Anthony,  P.O.  Box  772528,  99577 
Clel.  907/694-3061) 

I  )MER  (Jim  Jackson) 

i  Kachemak  Bay  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(31) 
1  P.O.  Box  2749,  99603 

Clel.  907/235-8213) 

liNAI  (Earl  D.  Moore) 
Kenai  Grace  Brethren  Church  (68) 
!  406  McCullom  Dr.,  99611 

Clel.  907/283-4379) 
■  Mrs.  Glen  Knepper,  (Use  church 
address) 

l)RTH  POLE 

North  Pole  Grace  Brethren  Church  (11) 
i  P.O.  Box  56119,  99705-1119 
Clel.  907/488-1789) 

j)LDOTNA  (Howard  M.  Snively) 
|  Peninsula  Grace  Brethren  Chureh 

Rt.  2,  Box  881-D,  99669 
Lynn  Avigo,  Box  683,  Kenai,  AK  99611 

ASILLA  (Chris  Hayes) 

Wasilla  Grace  Brethren  Church  (7) 
;  P.O.  Box  875410,  99687  (meeting  in  the 
Cottonwood  Elementary  School) 
Clel.  907/745-8776) 


ARIZONA 


10ENIX  (Mark  E.  Malles) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (108) 
2940  W.  Bethany  Home  Rd.,  (just  west 

of  Interstate  17),  85017 

(Tel.  602/242-1885) 
Mrs.  Sandra  Hurt,  same  as  church 

address 


PHOENIX  (Russell  Konves) 

Northwest  Brethren  Church  (34) 
4114  W.  Greenway  Rd.,  85023 

(Tel.  602/938-5315) 
Mrs.  Thomas  (Marcia)  Harris,  3447  E. 

Acoma  Drive,  85032 

(Tel.  602/992-3803) 

TONALEA  (John  Trujillo) 

Red  Lake  Community  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
Box  108,  Tonalea,  86044 

TUCSON  (Kenneth  A.  Curtis) 

Silverbell  Grace  Brethren  Church  (50) 
1477  N.  Silverbell  Rd.,  85705 

(Tel.  602/792-1114) 
Gretchen  Curtis,  1901  Campana  de 
Plata,  85745  (Tel.  602/792-1114) 

CALIFORNIA 


ALTA  LOMA  (Rolland  G.  Coburn) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Alta  Loma 

(70) 
5719  Beryl  St.,  91701 
(Tel.  714/980-0727) 

ANAHEIM  (Arthur  Burk) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (42) 
1546  E.  LaPalma  Ave.,  92805 

(Tel.  714/535-2073) 
Greg  Stevenson,  1290  S.  Brookhurst,  No. 
1081,  92804  (Tel.  714/776-7968) 

AUBURN  (Paul  G.  Hoffman) 

Gold  Rush  Community  Grace  Brethren 

Church  (95) 
2945  First  St.,  95603 

(Tel.  916/823-8330) 
Mrs.  Sheila  Cavanagh,  747  Fisher  Dr., 

Auburn,  95603  (Tel.  916/823-5527) 

BEAUMONT  (Robert  D.  Whited) 

Cherry  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(57) 
Beaumont  and  Vineland  Ave.,  (Mailing 

address:  P.O.  Box  655,  92223) 

(Tel.  714/845-1821  or  714/845-7229) 
Mrs.  Garry  Readman,  13056  Palo  Alto 

(Tel.  714/845-5083) 


71 


BELL  (Phillip  Guerena) 

Bell  Brethren  Church  (32) 
6830  Wilcox  Ave.,  90201 

(Tel.  213/560-1377) 
Mary  Hardy,  6520  Marlow 

(Tel.  213/773-1088) 

BELLFLOWER  (Edwin  E.  Cashman) 
Bellflower  Brethren  Church  (688) 
9405  E.  Flower  St.,  90706 

(Tel.  213/925-6561) 
Michael  Kobel,  9855  Linden  St., 

(Tel.  213/925-6077) 


CHICO  (Louie  Ricci) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Chico  (46) 
1505  Arbutus  Ave.,  95926 

(Tel.  916/342-8642) 
Dorothy  Yeater,  819  Nancy  Ln. 

(Tel.  916/342-6749) 


COVINA  (Dan  Viveros) 

New  Life  Grace  Brethren  Church  (109) 
1067  E.  Badillo  St.,  91724 

(Tel.  818/915-8708) 
Vera  Sanchez,  19637  Puente  Ave. 

CYPRESS  (Randy  Senior) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Cypress  (69) 
9512  Juanita,  90630  (Tel.  714/826-6750) 

GLENDORA  (Steve  Hamilton,  Interim 
Pastor) 
Bible  Brethren  Church  (145) 

400  N.  Glendora  Ave.,  91740 

(Tel.  818/914-2881) 
Nancy  Beggs,  1257  Scoville,  Pomona, 

91767  (Tel.  714/621-2695) 

HEMET  (Dean  Smith) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Hemet  (26) 
26121  S.  Hemet  St.,  92344 
(Tel.  714/927-1391) 

LA  MIRADA  (Mike  Lee) 

Grace  Brethren  Fellowship  (128) 
12200  Oxford  Dr.,  90638 

(Tel.  213/947-5672) 
Mrs.  Debbie  Martin,  14430  San 

Cristobal,  (Tel.  714/994-6124) 

LA  VERNE  (David  Belcher) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (154) 

2600  White  Avenue.  (Mailing  address: 

P.O.  Box  217,  91750) 

(Tel.  714/593-1204) 
Mrs.  Marcia  Guth,  624  Brinwood  Dr., 

San  Dimas,  91773  (Tel.  714/599-5834) 

LONG  BEACH  (Garth  E.  Lindelef) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  (71) 
5885  Downey  Ave.,  90805 

(Tel.  213/634-1056) 
Jerry  Waken,  5739  Oliva,  Lakewood, 
90712  (Tel.  213/634-2324) 


LONG  BEACH  (Richard  Mayhue) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (2,289 
3601  Linden  Ave.,  90807 

(Tel.  213/595-6881) 
Lori  Baeyens,  send  to  church  address 

LONG  BEACH  (Richard  Rohrer) 
Los  Altos  Brethren  Church  (154) 
6565  Stearns  St.,  90815 
(Tel.  213/596-3358) 

LONG  BEACH  (David  W  Miller) 

North  Long  Beach  Brethren  Church 

(1,373) 
6095  Orange  Ave.,  90805  (corner  of  6  i 

and  Orange  Ave.)  (Tel.  213/423-54E-? 
Tim  Flaming,  5393  Vista  Hermosa, 

Cypress,  90630 

(Tel.  714/995-8182) 

LOS  ANGELES  (Frank  J.  Coburn) 

Community  Brethren  Church  (61)        I 
5839  Whittier  Blvd.,  90022 

(Tel.  213/721-5972) 
Mrs.  Dorothy  Becker,  525  S.  Russell     ■ 

Ave.,  Monterey  Park,  91754 

(Tel.  818/573-1570) 

1 
MODESTO  (Joel  Richards) 

La  Loma  Grace  Brethren  Church  (138 
1315  La  Loma  Ave.,  95354 

(Tel.  209/523-3738) 
Max  A.  Williams,  1244  Grinnell  St., 
95350  (Tel.  209/524-1613) 

MONTCLAIR  (John  Sturley) 

Montclair  Grace  Brethren  Church  (53 
5655  Palo  Verde  St.,  91763 
(Tel.  714/984-2323) 

NORWALK  (Nickolas  Kurtaneck) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (160) 
11005  Foster  Rd.,  90650 

(Tel.  213/863-7322) 
Mrs.  Helen  Soverns,  14503  Crossdale 
Ave.  (Tel.  213/868-6628) 

ORANGE  (J.  Donald  Byers,  Jr.) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (77) 
2201  E.  Fairhaven  Ave.,  92669 

(Fairhaven  and  Newport  Freeway) 
(Tel.  714/633-8867) 

PLACERVILLE  (R.  Darrell  Anderson) 

Sierra  View  Grace  Brethren  Church  (5[ 
Hwy.  50  and  Missouri  Flat  Rd.  (Meet in* 

at  the  Seventh  Dav  Adventist 

Church) 

(Mailing  address:  3020  Newtown  Re 

No.  20,  95667)  (Tel.  916/622-2015) 
Daryll  Keirn,  1875  Turkey  Feather 

Lane  (Tel.  916/626-6043) 

RIALTO  (Roy  L.  Polman) 

Grace  Community  Church  (59) 
690  W  Etiwanda  Ave.,  92376 

(Tel.  714/875-0730) 
Mrs.  Nell  Netzley.  5831  Date  St. 
72  (Tel.  714/875-6632) 


FJ'ON  (Glen  W.  Shirk) 
Ripon  Grace  Brethren  Church  (141) 
734  West  Main  St.,  95366 

(Tel.  209/599-3042r 
Sharon  DeSelle,  313  Acacia, 

(Tel.  209/599-6658) 

F|'ERSIDE  (Brian  Smith) 
i  Grace  Brethren  Church  (90) 
P.O.  Box  8532,  92515 
(Tel.  714/359-8195) 
Jack  Schaal,  9580  Stirrup,  92509 
(Tel.  714/681-1805) 

JCRAMENTO  (Thomas  Lynn) 
I  River  City  Grace  Community  Church 

1(119) 

;4261  Whitney  Ave.,  95821  (corner  of 
]  Whitney  and  Eastern  Aves.) 
(Tel.  916/972-1106) 

JIN  BERNARDINO  (Ward  Miller) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (31) 
(25700  Pacific  St.,  92404 

(Tel.  714/889-8695) 
|  James  Wheatley,  church  address 

5  N  DIEGO  (Philip  Teran) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (52) 
13455  Atlas  St.,  92111 
(Tel.  619/277-5364) 
I  Chuck  Graham,  send  to  church  address 

JiN  JOSE  (Perry  White) 
'South  Bav  Community  Church  (34) 
;4610  Camden  Ave..  95124 

(Tel.  408/269-1289) 
Becky  Storz,  1860  Palo  Santo  Dr., 
i  Campbell,  95008  (Tel.  408/370-2539) 

SJN  YSIDRO  (Trinidad  Viramontes) 
:San  Ysidro  Grace  Brethren  Church  (47) 
'  3760  Sunset  Ln.,  92073 

(Tel.  619/428-3445) 
l  Isabel  Avina,  1939  Isla  Del  Carmen 
Wy., 

San  Diego,  92073  (Tel.  619/428-5001) 

NTA  ANA  (Francisco  Javier  Peraza) 
I  Maranatha  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(Spanish-speaking)  (39) 
Meeting  at  1704  W  First  St.,  92703 

(Tel.  714/541-9312) 
i  Alva  Gonzales,  506  S.  Shelton  St. 

!|,NTA  MARIA  (Ralph  Schwartz) 
'  Grace  Brethren  Church  (47) 
223  E.  Fesler,  93454  (Tel.  805/922-4991) 
1  Mrs.  Annette  Coleman,  4533  Eileen  Ln. 
(Tel.  805/927-4761 

IAL  BEACH  (Donald  P.  Shoemaker) 
Grace  Community  Church  of  Seal  Beach 
(507) 

;  138  Eighth  St.,  90740 
(Tel.  213/596-1605) 
I  Rex  Wester,  122  4th  St., 
(Tel.  213/596-3132) 


SIMI  VALLEY  (John  Mcintosh) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Simi  Valley 

(364) 

2762  Avenida  Simi,  93065 

(Tel.  805/527-0195) 
Mrs.  Diane  Clark,  3390  Wichita  Falls 
Ave.,  93063  (Tel.  805/522-1279) 

SOUTH  PASADENA  (Terry  Daniels) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  South 
Pasadena  (66) 
920  Fremont  Ave.,  91030 

(Tel.  818/799-6081) 
Mark  Wratten,  2022  Jefferson, 
Pasadena,  91104  (Tel.  818/791-1060) 

TEMPLE  CITY  (David  L.  Willett) 

Temple  City  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(28) 

5537  Temple  City  Blvd.,  91780 

(Tel.  818/286-6342) 
Mrs.  James  Clarkson,  2520  S.  Second 
Ave.,  Arcadia  91006 

TORRANCE  (Jim  Caso) 

South  Bay  Grace  Brethren  Church  (142) 
1815  Via  El  Prado,  Redondo  Beach 
90277 

(Tel.  213/316-3428) 
Judy  Willeman  (Tel.  213/378-7571) 

TRACY  (Wayne  Mock) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (91) 
1480  Parker  Ave.,  95376 

(Tel.  209/835-0732) 
Marjorie  Davis,  1355  Audrey  Dr., 

(Tel.  209/835-0185) 

VENTURA  (Robert  MacMillan) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Ventura  (42) 

(All  mail  to  6414  Ralston  St.,  93003 

(Tel.  805/656-3130) 
Evelyn  Malaimare,  69  Reata  Ave., 
Ventura  93003  (Tel.  805/647-5258) 

WESTMINSTER  (Robert  C.  Kliewer) 
Westminster  Grace  Brethren  Church 
(192) 
14614  Magnolia  Ave.,  92683 

(Tel.  714/893-5500) 
Carolyn  Hastings,  3283  Arizona  Ln., 
Costa  Mesa,  92626 

WHITTIER  (Richard  Todd,  Interim) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Whittier  (361) 

11000  E.  Washington  Blvd.,  90606 

(2  blocks  east  of  605  Freeway) 

(Tel.  213/692-0588) 
Mrs.  Marian  McBride,  13842  Valna  Dr. 
(Tel.  213/693-1530) 

WHITTIER  (Stephen  Kuns) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (134) 
6704  Milton  Ave.  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 
Box  174,  90608)  (Tel.  213/698-0914) 
Norma  Shamberger,  14046  Oval  Dr., 
90605  (Tel.  213/696-3093) 


YUCCA  VALLEY  (Roger  Mayes) 
Grace  Community  Church  (21) 
6300  Ruth  Dr.,  92284 
(Tel.  619/365-3005) 
Mrs.  Jana  Kobaly,  RO.  Box  917, 
Morongo  Valley.  92256 
CM.  619/363-7481) 


COLORADO 


ARVADA  (Dayne  E.  Nix) 

Hackberry  Hill  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(54) 
7100  Wadsworth  Blvd.,  80003 
Obi.  303/424-3116) 

COLORADO  SPRINGS  (F.  Thomas  Inman) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (123) 
2975  Jet  Wing,  80916 
(Tel.  303/390-8096) 
Maryan  Schroeder,  630  Catalina  Dr., 
80906  (Tel.  303/576-0565) 

DENVER  (Aldo  Hoyt) 

Denver  Grace  Brethren  Church  (26) 
700  S.  Federal  Blvd.  80219 

(Tel.  303/934-7876) 
Mrs.  Helen  White,  328  S.  Lincoln  St., 
80209  (Tel.  303/698-1148) 


DELAWARE 


NEWARK  (J.  Timothy  Coyle) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (36) 

Meeting  at  the  George  M.  Wilson  Com- 
munity Ctr.  303  New  London  Rd., 
19711 

(All  mail  to  pastor's  address) 
Tel.  302/368-5052) 

Ron  Bove,  6  Westfield  Dr., 
(Tel.  302/737-0932) 


FLORIDA 


BROOKSVILLE  (Alan  Clingan) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (50) 
6259  Faber  Dr.,  Rolling  Acres  33512 

(Tel.  904/796-7172) 
Mrs.  Pam  Lawrence,  27143  Thorncrest 

St.,  (Tel.  904/799-3418) 

FORT  LAUDERDALE  (J.  Paul  Mutchler) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (165) 
1800  N.  W.  Ninth  Ave.,  33311 

(Tel.  305/763-6766) 
Joe  Taylor.  124  N.E.  19  Ct,  #204-B, 

Wilton  Manors,  33305 

FORT  MYERS  (Edmund  K.  De  Zago) 
Grace  Brethren  Bible  Church  (100) 
2141  Crystal  Dr.,  33907  (in  the  Villas, 
one  block  off  Rt.  41,  five  miles  south 
of  city)  (Tel.  813/936-3251) 
Mrs.  Marci  Webb,  6317  Hoffstra  Ct. 


LAKELAND  (Jack  K.  Peters,  Jr.) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (18) 
422  S.  Florida  Ave.,  Suite  E,  33801 

(Tel.  813/686-4638) 
Steve  Keers,  5203  Serrento  Ct.,  33803 

MAITLAND  (R.  Paul  Miller) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (72) 
Wymore  Rd.  (V2  mile  north  of  Maitlanc  I 
Blvd.  Interchange  on  1-4)  (Mailing 
address:  Box  762,  32751) 
(Tel.  305/628-8816) 
Lois  Johnson,  c/o  church  address 

MELBOURNE  (William  F.  Tweeddale) 
Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  — 

Suntree  (18) 
2560  Brett  Ct.,  32935 

(Tel.  305/254-8993) 
Glenn  Ernsberger,  705  Endicott  Rd., 

32935  (Tel.  305/259-6608) 

NORTH  LAUDERDALE  (Charles  Olsen) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (17) 
6002  Kimberly  Blvd.,  33068 

(Tel.  305/975-6910  or  972-0542) 
David  Owen,  6502  SW.  8th  Ct., 

(Tel.  305/973-0184) 

OCALA  (Charles  Davis) 

Ocala  Grace  Brethren  Church  (12) 
2400  N.E.  146th  Ct.,  No.  7,  Silver 

Springs,  32688  (Tel.  904/625-1991) 
Mrs.  Norman  Roberts,  R.  1,  Box  3637, 

Citra,  32627  (Tel.  904/595-8807) 

OKEECHOBEE  (Ray  L.  Feather) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (165) 
701  S.  Parrott  Ave.  (Mailing  address: 

Box  656,  33472)  (Tel.  813/763-3218) 
Mrs.  Eileen  Valentine,  6911  S.E.  88th 

Blvd.,  (Tel.  813/763-0397) 

ORANGE  CITY  (Kenneth  Koontz) 

Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church  (29) 
3165  Howland  Blvd.,  Deltona,  32725 
(Mailing  address:  P.O.  Box  1071, 
32763)  (Tel.  904/789-1289) 
Mrs.  Kenneth  Koontz,  (Tel. 
904/789-6512) 

ORLANDO  (Thomas  D.  Avey) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Orlando  (87) 
5425  S.  Apopka-Vineland  Rd.,  32819 

(Tel.  305/876-3178) 
Dale  V.  Leppert,  1121  Dove  Ln., 

Casselberry,  32701  (Tel. 

305/699-0608) 

ORMOND  BEACH  (Thomas  W  Hickey) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Ormond 

Beach  (134) 
1060  St.  Rd.  40,  32074 

(Tel.  904/673-0145) 
Pat  Crandall,  950  Old  Mill  Run 
(Tel.  904/672-6752) 


II LM  HARBOR  (Kurt  Miller) 
Palm  Harbor  Grace  Brethren  Church  (22) 
Meeting  at  the  Day  Care  Center, 
1550  16th  St.,  34273  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: P.O.  Box  522)  (Tel. 
813/736-2871) 

IjlMPANO  BEACH  (William  Cochran) 
I  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Pompano 

Beach  (25) 
3501  N.E.  Third  Ave.,  33064 
Obi.  305/941-3176) 

IIRT  RICHEY  (Jim  Poyner) 

Gulfview  Grace  Brethren  Church  (58) 

6639  Hammock  Rd.,  33568  (Hammock 

is  1  mile  south  of  State  Rd.  52,  off  of 

Highway  19)  (Tel.  813/862-7777) 

Mrs.  Evelyn  Shane,  c/o  church  address 

liiBRING  (Jay  Fretz) 
Sebring  Grace  Brethren  Church  (29) 
3626  Thunderbird  Rd.,  33870 

(Tel.  813/385-3111) 
Erma  Appleman,  2810  Summit  Dr. 

(Tel.  813/385-3481) 

■.  PETERSBURG  (Randy  Weekley) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  St. 

Petersburg  (97) 
6300  62nd  Ave.,  N.,  Pinellas  Park, 

33565  (Tel.  813/546-2850) 
Marian  Foulks,  6547  66th  Ave.,  N., 

Pinellas  Park,  33565 

(Tel.  813/544-2972) 


GEORGIA 


'LANTA  (Ernest  Usher) 
East  Atlanta  Grace  Brethren  Church  (15) 
P.O.  Box  370837,  Decatur,  30037 
Mrs.  Gayle  Weems,  1153  Greenleaf  Rd., 
30316  (Tel.  404/627-5621) 

LANTA  (Dean  Fetterhoff) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Greater 

Atlanta  (110) 
3079  Hidden  Forest  Ct.,  Marietta, 

30066  (Tel.  404/422-3844) 
Mrs.  Beverly  Campbell,  181  Little 

Brook  Dr.,  Woodstock,  30188 

(Tel.  404/926-5212) 


IAWAII 


EA  (James  Kennedy) 
Waimalu  Grace  Brethren  Church  (126) 
98-323  Pono  St.,  96701 

(Tel.  808/488-6006) 
Janice  Santos,  98-1754  Kupu  Kupu  St., 

(Tel.  808/487-8674) 

VA  BEACH  (C.  L.  "Kip"  Coffman) 
Rainbow  Grace  Brethren  Church  (73) 
91-779  Fort  Weaver  Rd.,  96706 

(Tel.  808/689-5035) 
Mrs.  Arleen  Alejado,  91-824  Oama  St. 

(Tel.  808/689-6398) 


MAKAKILO  (Nathan  Leigh) 

Makakilo  Grace  Brethren  Church 
95-575  Wailoa,  Miliani  Town,  HI  96789 

WAHIAWA  (A.  David  Mitchell) 

Waipio  Grace  Brethren  Church  (67) 
95-035  Waimakua  Dr.,  96786 

(Tel.  808/623-5313) 
Miss  Ellen  Nagao,  95-108  Waimakua 
Dr.  (Tel.  808/623-2116) 


INDIANA 


BERNE  (Larry  Edwards) 

Bethel  Brethren  Church  (162) 

718  E.  Main  St.,  46711  (Mailing  address: 

P.O.  Box  46) 

(Tel.  219/589-3381) 
Mrs.  Larry  Leistner,  1006  E.  Main  St., 

(Tel.  219/589-2237) 

CLAY  CITY  (Robert  G.  Clouse) 
First  Brethren  Church  (37) 
Tenth  and  Cook  Sts.,  (Mailing  address: 

P.O.  Box  85,  47841) 
Miss  Lavaughn  Backfisch,  R.R.  1, 
(Tel.  812/939-2620) 

COLUMBIA  CITY  (Robert  Ashman,  Interim) 
Columbia  City  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(17) 
R.  9  (Two  miles  east  of  Columbia  City  on 

Route  U.S.  30),  46725 
Marion  Bolinger,  R.  1 

(Tel.  219/723-4259) 

ELKHART  (Everett  Caes) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (149) 
24775  CR  20  E.,  46517 

(Tel.  219/875-5271) 
Gerald  Cline,  60215  Surrey  Ln., 

(Tel.  219/875-5555) 

FLORA  (Jeffery  Guimont) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (69) 
103  S.  Willow  St.,  46929 

(Tel.  219/967-3020) 
Rosanna  Fife,  R.R.  1,  Bringhurst,  46913 

(Tel.  219/967-3201) 

FORT  WAYNE  (Galen  M.  Lingenfelter) 
First  Brethren  Church  (250) 
3326  S.  Calhoun  St.,  46807 

(Tel.  219/744-1065) 
Mrs.  Linda  Burris,  2011  Graham  Ave., 

46808 


FORT  WAYNE  (Robert  Arenobine) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (85) 
4619  Stellhorn  Rd.,  46815 

(Tel.  219/485-3021) 
Mrs.  George  Troxel,  5021  Forest  Ave., 
75  (Tel.  219/749-8332) 


GOSHEN  (Kenneth  Bickel) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (117) 
1801  W.  Clinton  St.,  46526 

Obi.  219/533-7546) 
Mrs.  Dorothy  Brumbaugh,  22864  St.  Rd. 
119  (Tel.  219/533-3715) 

HARTFORD  CITY 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (25) 
(Mailing  address:  P.O.  Box  346,  47348) 
Leslie  Bantz,  1302  N.  100E. 
(Tel.  317/348-0518) 

INDIANAPOLIS  (Paul  E.  Woodruff) 
Eagle  Creek  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(144) 
7001  W.  46th  St.,  46254 

(Tel.  317/293-3372) 
Herb  Simpson,  4604  Jennys  Rd.,  46208 

KOKOMO  (Gerald  Kelley) 

Indian  Heights  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(122) 
725  E.  Center  Rd.,  46902 

(Tel.  317/453-0933) 
Mrs.  Cindi  Holland,  2213  S.  Dixon 

(Tel.  317/457-5118) 

KOKOMO  (George  K.  Wallace) 

North  Kokomo  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(141) 
37  W  550N,  46901 

(Tel.  317/457-8886) 
Mrs.  Dick  Helvig,  528  Cassville  Rd.  E. 

(Tel.  317/457-4842) 

LEESBURG  (Wm.  W  Smith,  Interim) 
Leesburg  Grace  Brethren  Church  (85) 
Church  and  Pearl  Sts.,  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: Box  370,  46538)  (Tel. 
219/453-3401) 

NEW  ALBANY  (Davy  L.  Troxel) 

New  Albany  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(25) 
Charlestown  Rd.,  at  Chapel  Ln.,  (Send 

all  correspondence  to  the  pastor  at 

102  Glenmill  Rd.,  47150) 
Ronda  Troxel,  102  Glenmill  Rd.,  47150 

(Tel.  812/945-PRAY) 

OSCEOLA  (Keith  A.  Shearer) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (263) 
58343  Apple  Rd.,  46561 

(Tel.  219/674-5918) 
Connie  Havens,  28869  Kehres  Dr., 
Elkhart,  46514  (Tel.  219/262-2041) 

PERU  (Ron  Bowland) 

Peru  Brethren  Church  (124) 

436  S.  Broadway  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 

Box  552,  46970)  (Tel.  317/473-3881) 
Richard  Holiday,  R.R.  3 
(Tel.  317/985-2561) 

SIDNEY  (David  C.  Quick) 

Sidney  Grace  Brethren  Church  (66) 

P.O.  Box  1,  46566  (Tel.  219/839-0097) 
Miss  Enid  Heckman,  R.  8,  Box  264A, 
Warsaw,  46580  (Tel.  219/267-6574) 


SOUTH  BEND  (Scott  L.  Weaver) 

Ireland  Road  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(217) 
1701  E.  Ireland  Rd.,  46614 

(Tel.  219/291-3550) 
Kathleen  Herald,  603A  Lane,  Apt.  1-1 . 

Elkhart,  46517  (Tel.  219/294-3875) 

WARSAW  (Allen  Edgington) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(328) 
909  S.  Buffalo  St.,  46580 

(Tel.  219/269-2443) 
Lisa  Kay  Tyre,  838  S.  Broadway,  Peru, 

46970,  (Tel.  317/473-3312  or 

219/372-5557) 

WINONA  LAKE  (Charles  H.  Ashman) 
Winona  Lake  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(692) 
1200  Kings  Highway,  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-6623) 
Alice  Koontz,  R.  8,  Box  231,  Warsaw, 

46580  (Tel.  219/267-6013) 


IOWA 


CEDAR  RAPIDS  (Donald  Bowlin) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (51) 
2905  D  Ave.,  N.E.,  52402 

(Tel.  319/363-4983) 
Sue  Schellenberg,  3080  8th  St.,  Marion 
52302 

DALLAS  CENTER  (Charles  Thornton) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (98) 
305  Hatton  St.,  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 

Box  477,  50063)  (Tel.  515/992-3235) 
Mrs.  Glenn  B.  Perkins,  400  Kellogg 
(Tel.  515/992-3325) 

DAVENPORT  (Bob  Foote) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (101) 
3919  N.  Elsie  Ave.,  52806 

(Tel.  319/391-5356) 
Mrs.  Bonnie  Harris,  1325  W.  36th  St. 
52806 

DES  MOINES  (Kevin  Zuber) 
First  Grace  Brethren  Church 
(Mailing  address:  909  E.  Lyon  St., 
50316) 
(Tel.  515/262-5290) 

GARWIN  (Louis  Amundson) 
Carlton  Brethren  Church  (98) 
R.  1,  50632  (6M:  miles  southwest  of 

Garwin) 

(Tel.  515/499-2358) 
Mrs.  Carl  Kouba,  R.  1,  Toledo,  52342 

(Tel.  515/499-2052) 

LEON  (Glen  H.  Welborn) 

Leon  Brethren  Church  (94) 

108  W  Fourth  St.,  50144  (All  mail  to 

pastor's  address) 

Mrs.  Ray  Andrew,  R.  2 

(Tel.  515/446-6563) 


76 


ORTH  ENGLISH  (Arthur  McCrum) 
Pleasant  Grove  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(59) 
R.  1,  Box  33,  52316  (2  Miles  east  of 
Millersburg,  7  miles  northwest  of  North 

English)  (Tel.  319/664-3568) 
Gretchen  White,  323  E.  Oak  St. 

(Tel.  319/664-3108) 

DELL  (Robert  Williams) 
Udell  Grace  Brethren  Church  (24) 
Box  67,  52593  (Parsonage 

Tel.  515/452-6744) 
Mrs.  Kathy  Spring,  Rt.  1 

(Tel.  515/452-6477) 

'ATERLOO  (John  P.  Burke) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (512) 
1760  Williston  Ave.,  50702 

(Tel.  319/235-9586) 
Mrs.  Ward  Speicher,  953  Lynda  Rd., 

50701  (Tel.  319/232-6380) 


CANSAS 


ORRILL  (David  Manning) 
Morrill  Grace  Brethren  Church  (21) 
Box  102,  66515 

(Tel.  913/459-2539) 
Doris  Martney,  R.  3,  Falls  City,  NE 
68355  (Tel.  402/245-3698) 

ORTIS  (Clarence  Lackey) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Portis  (115) 
Box  6,  67474  (on  Highway  281) 
(Tel.  913/346-2085) 

I    Mrs.  Carol  Noel,  (Tel.  913/346-2911) 

YICHITA  (Donald  E.  Eshelman) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (16) 
334  S.  Lulu,  67211 

(Tel.  316/688-0907) 
Loraine  Streeter,  3200  Fairhaven  Dr., 

67216  (Tel.  316/522-2745) 


CENTUCKY 


ILAYHOLE  (Harold  P.  Combs) 
Clayhole  Grace  Brethren  Church  (55) 
Box  219,  41317  (Highway  476,  4  miles 

east  of  Lost  Creek) 

(Tel.  606/666-2047) 
Mrs.  Karen  Abner,  Brewer  Subdivision, 

Jackson,  41339  (Tel.  606/666-7843) 

IRYHILL  (Samuel  Baer) 
Victory  Mountain  Grace  Brethren 

Chapel  (58) 
H.C.  62,  Box  640,  Dryhill,  41749  (9  miles 

north  of  Hyden  on  Route  257) 

(Tel.  606/672-2520) 
Lois  Jean  Valentine,  Confluence,  41730 

(Tel.  606/672-2455) 


LEXINGTON  (Al  Reilly) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Lexington  (20) 
(All  mail  to  the  pastor's  address) 
Mrs.  Michael  Brumagen,  3685  Sundart 
Dr.,  40502  (Tel.  606/272-0958) 


MAINE 


BRUNSWICK  (Darrel  Taylor) 

Down  East  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Near  U.S.  1  and  Maine  St.  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: P.O.  Box  916,  04011) 
(Tel.  207/729-8283) 
Michael  D.  Hebert,  471  Liberty  Cir., 
Topsham,  04086  (Tel.  207/729-0912) 


MARYLAND 


ACCIDENT  (Paul  Mohler,  interim) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (41) 
Bumble  Bee  Rd.,  21520  (2  miles  south  of 

Accident) 
Mrs.  Shirley  Burns,  McHenry,  MD  21541 
(Tel.  301/387-6805) 

BALTIMORE  (Elliott  Hudson) 

Grace  Brethren  Fellowship  of  Baltimore  (9) 
(All  Mail  to:  119  Marburth  Ave., 
21204)  (Tel.  301/583-7010) 

CUMBERLAND  (Raymond  McCoy) 

Cumberland  Grace  Brethren  Church  (98) 

R.  2,  Box  497,  21502  (From  Rt.  48  take 

Willow  Brook  Rd.,  to  end,  turn  rt.  on 

Williams  Rd.)  (Tel.  301/777-8362) 

Mrs.  Nancy  Divelbiss,  518  Louisana  Ave., 

21502  (Tel.  301/722-8172) 

FREDERICK  (Robin  D  Green) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Greater 

Washington  at  Frederick  (37) 
Services  held  Sundays  at  Holiday  Inn, 
Rte.  40W.  Mailing  address:  c/o  Wayne 
Tucker,  416  Biggs  Ave.,  Frederick, 
MD  20701  (Tel.  301/662-0985) 

HAGERSTOWN  (J.  Norman  Mayer) 

Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church  (114) 
195  Bryan  PL,  21740 
(Tel.  301/733-6375 
Jake  W.  Kesecker,  Sr.,  1384  Salem  Ave., 
21740  (Tel.  301/733-0084) 

HAGERSTOWN  (Raymond  H.  Davis) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (535) 
First  and  Spruce  Sts.  (Mailing  address: 

837  Spruce  St.,  21740) 

(Tel.  301/739-1726) 
Eric  Munch,  R.  3,  Box  126,  Smithsburg, 

21783 

HAGERSTOWN  (Larry  B.  Sowers) 
Maranatha  Brethren  Church  (276) 
1717  Jefferson  Blvd.,  21740 

(Tel.  301/733-1717) 
Joseph  Hicks,  45  E.  Irvin  Ave., 

(Tel.  301/797-9426) 


HAGERSTOWN  (Daniel  S.  Eshleman) 
Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church  (128) 
2275  Gay  St.  (Halfway  Area),  21740 

(Tel.  301/582-0155) 
Harry  T.  Barger,  Jr.,  408  Englewood  Rd. 

Hagerstown,  MD  21740 

(Tel.  301/739-1129) 

LANHAM  (W.  Russell  Ogden) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (235) 
8400  Good  Luck  Rd.,  20706 

(Tel.  301/552-1414) 
Andrew  Knighting,  6911  Lamont  Dr. 

(Tel.  301/459-5221) 

TEMPLE  HILLS  (James  G.  Dixon,  Jr.) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Greater 

Washington  (480) 
5000  St.  Barnabas  Rd.,  20748 

(Tel.  301/894-2722) 
Mrs.  Doris  Homan,  3712  Gull  Rd. 

(Tel.  301/894-6709) 

WESTERNPORT  (John  Lancaster) 

Mill  Run  Grace  Brethren  Church  (25) 
R.R.  1,  Box  75,  21562  (4  miles  north  of 

Westernport,  west  off  Route  36) 
Diana  Grady,  Pearl  St.,  Piedmont,  WV, 

26750  (Tel.  304/355-8046) 


MICHIGAN 


ALTO  (Michael  Funderburg) 

Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church  (106) 
13626  84th  St.,  S.E.,  49302 

(Tel.  616/868-7440) 
Pete  Van  Stee,  14385  68th  St. 

(Tel.  616/868-6345) 

HASTINGS  (Russell  Sarver) 

Hastings  Grace  Brethren  Church  (8) 
600  Powell  Rd.  (Mailing  address:  2966  E. 

Center  Rd.,  49058) 
Alberta  Sarver,  2966  E.  Center  Rd. 
(Tel.  616/945-9224) 

LAKE  ODESSA  (Bill  Stevens) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (119) 
Vedder  Rd.  (Mailing  address:  9390  W. 

Thompson  Rd.,  48849) 

(Tel.  616/693-2315) 
Mrs.  Orley  Hulliberger,  Tasker  Rd., 
R.  3,  (Tel.  616/374-7818) 

LANSING  (Gerald  Polman) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (58) 
3904  W.  Willow  St.,  48917 

(Tel.  517/323-2424) 
Mrs.  Don  Shannon,  217  E.  South  St., 
Morrice,  48857  (Tel.  517/625-7586) 

NEW  TROY  (Alan  Jones) 

New  Troy  Grace  Brethren  Church  (48) 
Corner  of  Weechik  and  California  Rds., 

(Mailing  address:  Box  67,  49119) 

(Tel.  616/426-3121) 
Mrs.  Robert  Gahris,  1006  Wadena  Rd., 

St.  Joseph,  49085  (Tel.  616/429-0337) 


OZARK  (James  Caton) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (47) 

Ozark  Rt„  Moran,  49760  (5%  miles  e 

and  1  mile  south  of  Trout  Lake  on 

H-40) 
Edith  Sherman,  R.  2,  Box  878,  Fibre,, 

49732 


MINNESOTA 


WINONA  (Larry  Richeson) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (42) 
627  W  Seventh,  55987 

(Tel.  507/454-2045) 
Judy  Halbakken,  St.  Charles,  55972 

(Tel.  507/932-3146) 


MISSOURI 


KANSAS  CITY 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (25) 
N.E.  80th  and  Antioch  (All  mail:  to  Pa 
Bauer,  4518  N.  Monroe,  64117 


NEBRASKA 


BEAVER  CITY  (Gilbert  Hawkins) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (37) 
Corner  of  12th  and  "0"  Sts.  (Mailing 
dress:  P.O.  Box  180,  68926) 
(Tel.  308/268-5821) 
Evelyn  Keezer  (Tel.  308/268-4950) 


NEW  JERSEY 


HOPE  (John  A.  Galle) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Hope  (54) 
One-half  mile  south  of  Hope  on  Rt.  51£ 
(Mailing  address:  P.O.  Box  186, 

07844)  (Tel.  201/459-4876) 
Dick  Anzalone,  P.O.  Box  73 

MT.  LAUREL  (Robert  M.  Spicer) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (117) 
822  S.  Church  St.,  08054 

(Tel.  609/234-3449) 
Mrs.  Lillian  DeZwaan,  114  Williamsbui 

Way 

(Tel.  609/235-0672) 


NEW  MEXICO 


ALBUQUERQUE  (Leland  Friesen) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (90) 
149  Daniel  Circle,  N.W.,  87107 

(Tel.  505/898-2554) 
Mrs.  Esther  Leyba,  265  Mitchell  Dr., 

Bosque  Farms,  87068 

(Tel.  505/869-2305) 


.BUQUERQUE  (G.  Mark  Henning) 
Heights  Grace  Brethren  Church  (75) 
2518  Eubank  Blvd.,  N.E.,  87112 
(Tel.  505/296-8087) 

0UNSELOR  (Tully  Butler) 
Cedar  Hill  Navajo  Grace  Brethren 
Church  (20) 

c/o  Brethren  Navajo  Mission,  Counselor, 
87018  Obi.  505/568-4454) 

tOS 

First  Brethren  Church  of  Taos  (180) 
|  Corner  of  Pandos  and  Witt  Rds.  (1  mile 
;  east  on  Raton  Rd.i  (Mailing  address: 

P.O.  Drawer  1068,  87571) 
(Tel.  505/758-3388) 
;  Tomisita  Varos,  RO.  Box  203,  Arroyo 

Seco,  87514  (Tel.  505/776-8530) 


JEW  YORK 


\RATOGA  SPRINGS  (Chet  Sparzak) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  1 

Springs  (14) 
152  Hawthorn  Blvd.,  12866 

(Tel.  518/583-1196) 
Mary  Hunt,  10  Greybirch  Ct. 

(Tel.  518/587-1586) 


JORTH  CAROLINA 

HARLOTTE  (Stephen  Jarrell) 
i  Grace  Brethren  Church  (24) 
All  Mail  to:  Freedom  Station,  P.O.  Box 
669065,  28208 
(Tel.  704/393-1152) 
Mr.  James  Tilley,  6700  Manderly  Dr., 
28214  (Tel.  704/394-3000) 


)HIO 


KRON  (Richard  E.  Bell) 
Ellet  Grace  Brethren  Church  (2S3) 
530  Stetler  Ave.,  44312  (Ellet  area) 
(Tel.  216/733-2520) 
:  Mrs.  Cora  Kaser,  2299  17th  St.,  S.W., 
44314  (Tel.  216/753-8731) 

KRON  (Kenneth  J.  Brown) 
Fairlawn  Grace  Brethren  Church  (100) 
754  Ghent  Rd.,  44313  (Tel.  216/666-8341) 

:  Debbie  Kear,  2633  Sourek  Rd. 
(Tel.  216/867-9478) 

NKENYTOWN  (W.  Carl  Miller) 
Ankenytown  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(270) 
R.R.  1,  Bellville,  44813  (4%  miles  N.E.  of 

Fredericktown  on  State  Route  95) 

(Tel.  614/694-6936) 
Mrs.  Rosalie  Neiderhouser,  R.  1, 

Fredericktown,  43019 


79 


ASHLAND  (John  Teevan) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (621) 
1144  W.  Main,  44805  (Tel.  419/289-8334) 
Mrs.  Leona  Miller,  431  Keen  Ave. 
(Tel.  419/289-7657) 

ASHLAND  (Gary  Miller) 

Southview  Grace  Brethren  Church  (157) 
Katherine  and  Budd  Sts.,  44805 

(Tel.  419/289-1763) 
Leonard  Aulger,  1105  Priscilla  Ln., 

(Tel.  419/289-1467) 

BELLEFONTAINE  (Rick  Petty) 

Mad  River  Valley  Grace  Brethren 

Church 
425  E.  Patterson  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 

Box  191,  43311)  (Temporary  meeting 

place:  Memorial  Hall) 

(Tel.  513/592-1419) 
Marilyn  Petty,  church  address  and  phone 

BOWLING  GREEN 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (58) 
121  S.  Enterprise  St.,  43402 

(Tel.  419/352-6635) 
Bernice  Aguilar,  604  Conneaut  Ave., 

(Tel.  419/352-2802) 

BROOKVILLE 

Brookville  Grace  Brethren  Church  (348) 
12152  Westbrook  Rd.  (Mailing  address: 

P.O.  Box  113,  45309) 

(Tel.  513/833-5562) 
Ed  Stutz,  72  Mound  St. 

CAMDEN  (Elgin  L.  Green) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (23) 
96  W.  Central  Ave.,  45311 

(Tel.  513/452-1290) 
Mrs.  Frank  (Penny)  Brewster,  9515  Ar- 

boridge  Ln.,  Miamisburg,  45342 

(Tel.  513/434-3396) 

CANTON  (Terrance  Taylor) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (282) 
6283  Market  Ave.  N.,  44721 

(Tel.  216/499-3818) 
Mrs.  Paula  Fierstos,  9634  Brixton,  N.W., 

Uniontown,  44685  (Tel.  216/497-7183 

CENTERVILLE  (Daniel  J.  Grabill) 

Centerville  Grace  Brethren  Church  (91) 
410  E.  Social  Row  Rd.,  45459 

(Tel.  513/885-2029) 
Kathy  Stewart,  1407  Willamet,  Ketter- 
ing 45429  (Tel.  513/299-1169) 

CINCINNATI  (Michael  Clapham) 
Grace  Brethren  Church 
All  mail  to  address  below 

(Church  Tel.  513/671-0257) 
Elizabeth  Clapham,  12066  Benadir, 

45246  (Tel.  513/671-6023) 

CLAYTON  (David  Slusher) 

Clayton  Grace  Brethren  Church  (63) 
Box  9,  45315  (Salem  and  Kimmel  Rd.) 

(Tel.  513/836-1689) 
Rebekah  Henderson,  301  N.  Diamond 
Mill  Rd.,  (Tel.  513/836-3989) 


COLUMBUS  (Randy  Bowman) 

East  Side  Grace  Brethren  Church  (448) 
7510  E.  Broad  St.,  Blacklick  43004  (3 

miles  east  of  1-270)  (Tel. 

614/861-5810) 
Howard  Stouffer,  7402  E.  Broad  St., 

(Tel.  614/866-0434) 

COLUMBUS  (James  L.  Custer) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Columbus 

(2,260) 
8225  Worthington-Galena  Rd.,  Wester- 

ville,  43081  (Tel.  614/888-7733) 
Jack  Seitzinger,  6226  Taylor  Rd., 

Blacklick,  43004  (Tel.  614/866-9893) 

COLUMBUS  (Quentin  Matthes) 

Southwest  Grace  Brethren  Church  (58) 
30  Maple  St.  (New  Rome  -  1  mile  W.  of 

270,  l/2  block  N.  of  Broad  St.)  (All 

mail  to  pastor's  address) 
Mrs.  Patricia  Fitzsimmons,  1059  Mon- 

crief  Ave.,  43207 

COOLVILLE  (Patrick  Daniels) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (52) 
Seminary  and  Rock  Sts.  (off  Routes  50 
and  7  between  Athens  and  Belpre) 
(Mailing  adddress:  Box  235,  45723) 
(Tel.  614/667-3710) 
Shirley  Bowman,  R.  1,  Box  27A 

COVINGTON  (Don  Staley) 

Friendship  Grace  Brethren  Church  (72) 
5850  St.  Rt.  41  West,  45318 

(Tel.  513/473-2128) 
Virginia  Peters,  4666  St.  Rt.  41  West 

(Tel.  513/473-2667) 

CUYAHOGA  FALLS  (Doug  Jensen) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (19) 
1736  E.  Bailey  Rd.,  44221 

(Tel.  216/923-8203) 
Mrs.  Jacquie  Jensen,  3521  Williamson 
Rd.,  Stow,  44224  (Tel.  216/688-8073) 

DANVILLE  (Albert  E.  Hockley) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (23) 
302  E.  Ross  St.  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 

Box  509,  43014)  (Tel.  419/895-1394) 
Mrs.  Donald  Marken,  5  Marshand  St., 

Millersburg,  44654 

DAYTON  (Russell  M.  Ward) 

Basore  Road  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(178) 
5900  Basore  Rd.,  45415 

(Tel.  513/837-3747) 
Mrs.  Virginia  True,  541  Damian  St., 

Vandalia,  45377 

DAYTON  (Robert  Poirier) 

Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Dayton  (34) 
3912  Bradwood  Dr.,  45405 

(Tel.  513/277-5900) 
Lewis  C.  Norman,  1701  Riveria  Ct., 

45406 


DAYTON  (G.  Forrest  Jackson) 

First  Grace  Brethren  Church  (302) 
2624  Stonequarry  Rd.,  45414 

(Tel.  513/890-6786) 
Mrs.  Roy  Trissel,  church  address 

DAYTON  (Howard  W  Mayes) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Huber 

Heights  (208) 
5001  Fishburg  Rd.,  45424 

(Tel.  513/233-4324) 
Linda  K.  Penn,  7259  Cohasset  Dr. 

(Tel.  513/236-1352) 

DAYTON  (Tad  K.  Hobert) 

North  Riverdale  Grace  Brethren  Chui 

(125) 
4101  N.  Main  St.,  45405 

(Tel.  513/274-2187) 
Mrs.  Barbara  Setser,  416  Ashwood  Av 

45405  (Tel.  513/274-2833) 

DELAWARE  (Jeffrey  A.  Gill) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (61) 
12'/2  W.  Winter  St.,  43015 

(Tel.  614/363-3613) 
Mrs.  Jennie  Ecker,  9090  Ashley  Rd., 
Ashley,  43003 

ELYRIA  (David  Gaston) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (62) 
1305  Nash  Ave.,  44035 

(Tel.  216/366-0755) 
Mrs.  Parke  Brenneman,  115  Oak  St., 

(Tel.  216/322-8340) 

ENGLEWOOD  (Ron  Welsh) 

Englewood  Grace  Brethren  Church  (11 
307  W.  Wenger  Rd.,  45322 

(Tel.  513/836-1467) 
Mrs.  Thomas  Tullv,  Jr.,  3415  S.  Fuls 

Rd.,  Farmersville,  45325 

(Tel.  513/696-2542) 

FINDLAY 

Findlay  Grace  Brethren  Church  (47) 
209  Lexington  Ave.,  45840 
(Tel.  419/422-8148) 

FREMONT 

Grace  Brethren  Chapel  (66) 
1611  North  St.,  43420 

(Tel.  419/332-8190) 
Melissa  Esker,  1715  North  St., 

(Tel.  419/332-7881) 

FREMONT  (Gene  Klingler) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (268) 
900  Smith  Rd.,  43420  (Tel. 

419/332-2623) 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Gangle,  620  Lyme  St., 
(Tel.  419/334-3065) 

GALION  (Maynard  G.  Tittle) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (51) 
1055  Winchester  Rd.,  44833 

(Tel.  419/468-6848) 
Mrs.  William  Pierce,  315  E.  Main  St., 
New  Washington,  44854 
(Tel.  419/492-2333) 


OMERVILLE  (Robert  F.  Holmes) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (178) 
8156  Firestone  Rd„  44235 

(Tel.  216/625-3304) 
Donna  Crosby,  10115  Greenwich  Rd., 
Lodi,  44254  (Tel.  216/948-1136) 

ETTERING  (Daniel  J.  Pritchett) 
Calvary  Brethren  Church  (43) 
2850  E.  Dorothy  Ln.,  45420 
(Tel.  513/293-5822) 

EXINGTON  (Gene  Witzky) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (233) 
215  W.  Main  St.,  (Mailing  Address:  P.O. 

Box  3009,  44904) 

(Tel.  419/884-2687) 
Mrs.  Edna  Wirick,  R.  9 

(Tel.  419/884-2140) 

MA  (Emory  Young) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Lima  (56) 
104  E.  Main  St..  Elida,  45807 

(Tel.  419/339-7822) 
Donna  Dollens,  2779  Lilly  Dr.,  Elida, 
45807 

3NDON  (Louis  Huesmann) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (28) 
10  E.  Fourth  St.  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 

Box  446,  43140)  (Tel.  614/852-4599) 
Betty  Young,  53  N.  Main  St. 
(Tel.  614/852-0361) 

ANSFIELD  (J.  Hudson  Thayer) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (327) 
531  Marion  Ave.,  44903  (corner  of 

Marion  and  Forest) 

(Tel.  419/522-3941) 
John  Skulski,  95  Stewart  Ave.,  44906 

(Tel.  419/552-9162) 

ANSFIELD  (Craig  Snyder) 
Maranatha  Grace  Brethren  Church  (46) 
920  N.  Lexington-Springmill  Rd.,  44906 
(Tel.  419/747-3959) 
:  Mike  Graham,  R.  4,  Box  155-B,. 

Plymouth-Springmill  Rd.,  Shelby, 
44875  (Tel.  419/347-5047) 


ANSFIELD  (Robert  Russell) 

t  Woodville  Grace  Brethren  Church  (236) 

!  580  Woodville  Rd.,  44907 

(Tel.  419/524-8552) 
Mrs.  Evelyn  Miller,  5465  City  Rd.  59, 
I  R.  1,  Mt.  Gilead  43338 

(Tel.  419/524-9811) 


ARION  (Dean  Risser) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (29) 
815  S.  Prospect,  44302  (meeting  at  K  of 

C  Hall,  1242  E.  Center) 

(Tel.  614/383-4197) 
John  Thompson,  2352  Bethlehem  Rd., 

Prospect,  43342  (Tel.  614/494-4086) 


MARYSVILLE  (Roger  Krynock) 

Watkins  Road  Community  Grace 

Brethren  Church  (40) 
10837  Watkins  Rd.,  43040  (All  mail  to 

pastor's  address)  (Tel.  513/644-9279) 
Harold  McCabe,  3851  Frazier  Rd.,  East, 

Columbus.  43207  (Tel.  614/263-8285) 

MEDINA  (Daniel  Najimian) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (27) 
P.O.  Box  K,  44258 
Gene  High,  7121  Stone  Rd.,  44256 
(Tel.  216/723-4290) 

MIDDLEBRANCH  (Wesley  Haller) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (164) 
2911  William  St.,  N.E.  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: P.O.  Box  43,  44652) 
(Tel.  216/499-6691) 
Mrs.  Kenneth  Kinsley,  245  James  St., 
S.W.  North  Canton,  44720 
(Tel.  216/494-5111) 

MIFFLIN  (Charles  W  Barnhill) 

Mifflin  Grace  Brethren  Church  (41) 
West  Main  St.,  (All  Mail:  to  the  pastor's 

home:  2718  Peterson  Rd.,  Mansfield, 

44903)  (Tel.  419/589-8088) 
John  James,  71  S.  Mechanic  St., 

Hayesville,  44838  (Tel.  419/368-3544) 

MINERVA  (Galen  W.  Wiley) 

Minerva  Grace  Brethren  Church  (78) 
22797  Ellsworth  Ave.,  44657 

(Tel.  216/868-6700) 
Mrs.  Elvira  Brown,  10735  Linda  Ln. 

MOUNT  VERNON  (John  E.  Bryant) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  in  Mt.  Vernon 

(16) 
Meeting  at  the  Station  Break,  501  S. 

Main  St.  (Mailing  address:  P.O.  Box 

322,  43050)  (Tel.  614/392-4253) 
Dave  Storm,  Box  360,  Danville,  43014 

(Tel.  614/599-6815) 

NORTON  (Robert  P.  Combs) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Norton  (164) 
3970  Cleveland-Massillon  Rd.,  44203 

(Tel.  216/825-6291) 
Walter  Malick,  1281  Sparhawk  Ave., 
Akron,  44305  (Tel.  216/784-6677) 

ORRVILLE  (Keith  Merriman) 

Orrville  Grace  Brethren  Church  (97) 
2200  Paradise  Rd.,  44667 

(Tel.  216/683-3526) 
William  Kallberg,  316  Park  St., 

(Tel.  216/682-6258) 

PATASKALA  (Frank  H.  Gardner,  Jr.) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Licking 
County  (150) 
3517  Headley's  Mill  Rd.,  43062 

(Tel.  614/927-6543) 
Dorothy  Crawford,  3723  Paris  Blvd., 

Westerville,  43081 

(Tel.  614/882-8243) 


REYNOLDSBURG  (Howard  Stouffer) 
Trinity  Grace  Brethren  Church  (200) 
6826  Herbert  Mills  School,  Retton  Rd. 
(Mailing  address  P.O.  Box  546,  43068) 

(Tel.  614/864-0975) 
Jean  Ryan,  1535  Cobblegate  Ln., 

(Tel.  614/868-1535) 

RITTMAN  (Bud  Olszewski) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (298) 

44  S.  First  St.,  44270  (Tel.  216/925-3626) 

SINKING  SPRING  (James  B.  Marshall) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (24) 
Box  55,  45172  (One  block  west  from 
State  Rt.  41  and  Rte.  124) 

(Tel.  513/588-4675) 
Nina  Couser,  Sinking  Spring 

STERLING  (Robert  Moeller) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (98) 
14960  Seville  Rd.,  44276 

(Tel.  216/769-3078) 
Laura  Young,  9116  Geyer  Chapel  Rd., 
Creston,  44217 

TOLEDO  (Jeffry  A.  Carroll) 

Maumee  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church 
(58)  8715  Garden  Rd.,  Maumee,  43537 
(Tel.  419/867-9339) 

TOLEDO  (W.  Ray  Miller) 

Toledo  Grace  Brethren  Church  (10) 
3002  Dorr  St.,  43607  (Tel.  419/536-3284) 
Betty  J.  Miller,  4860  Catalina  Dr., 
43615  (Tel.  419/537-0175) 

TROTWOOD  (Charles  E.  Lawson) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (119) 
12  Strader  Dr.,  45426  (across  from 
Trotwood-Madison  High  School) 

(Tel.  513/854-2521) 
Mrs.  Ruth  Garber,  6100  Range  Line  Rd., 
West  Milton,  45383 

(Tel.  513/698-6852) 

TROY  (Roy  E.  Glass) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (79) 
527  N.  Market  St.,  45373 

(Tel.  513/335-1852) 
Sally  Neely,  121  S.  Walnut  St. 

(Tel.  513/335-5188) 

UNION  (Stephen  Peters) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(279) 

7260  S.  State  Rt.  48,  45322 

(Tel.  513/698-4048) 
Richeline  Prim,  950  S.  Johnson  Rd., 
Ludlow  Falls,  45339 

(Tel.  513/676-8733) 

VANDALIA  (David  A.  Rusk) 

Vandalia  Grace  Brethren  Church  (93) 
810  Larry  Ave.,  45377 

(Tel.  513/898-6666) 
Norm  Henger,  389  Scott  Ave. 

(Tel.  513/898-3608) 


WALBRIDGE  (Toledo)  (Richard  Hopkins 
Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church  (72) 
209  N.  Main  St.,  43465 

(Tel.  419/666-9789) 
Miss  Debra  Slaven,  church  address 

WAUSEON  (Steven  Fryman) 
Faith  Bible  Fellowship  (14) 
P.O.  Box  332,  43567  (meeting  at  YMI 
Building) 

(Tel.  Pastor's  phone:  419/445-1340 
Diane  Weber,  720  Burr  Rd. 

(Tel.  419/335-8410) 

WEST  ALEXANDRIA  (Percy  Miller) 
Grace  Brethren  Community  Church 
3110  U.S.  35E  (All  mail  to  pastor:  21 
Marilee  Dr.,  New  Lebanon,  OH  4534 
(Tel.  513/687-2987) 
Mrs.  Sandra  Swafford,  R.  2 
(Tel.  513/839-5291) 

WOOSTER  (Robert  D.  Fetterhoff) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (712) 
1897  Burbank  Rd.  (Mailing  address: 

Box  1,  44691)  (Tel.  216/264-9459) 
Mrs.  Glenn  Moore,  church  address 
(Tel.  216/345-7470) 


OREGON 


ALBANY  (C.  Dayton  Cundiff) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (27) 
801  S.E.  Ermine,  97321 

(Tel.  503/926-1836) 
Velma  Cundiff,  2758  S.E.  7th,  No.  1 

(Tel.  503/926-6181) 

BEAVERTON 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (71) 

980  N.W.  180th  St.,  97006  (corner  of 

180th  and  Walker  Rd.) 

(Tel.  503/645-7471) 
Barbara  Gilgan,  450  N.E.  Edison, 

Hillsboro,  97123  (Tel.  503/640-4181 

TROUTDALE  (James  Willett,  Interim) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (47) 
27938  S.E.  Stark  St.  97060 

(Tel.  503/666-6146) 
(All  Mail  to  church  address) 


PENNSYLVANIA 

ALEPPO  (Stephen  Knierim) 
Aleppo  Brethren  Church  (49) 
P.O.  Box  32,  15310  (Tel.  412/685-5190) 
Bonnie  Riffle,  Rd.  1,  New  Freeport, 
15352  (Tel.  412/685-5249) 


TOONA  (Richard  Horner) 

First  Grace  Brethren  Church  (96) 

2934  Maple  Ave.,  16601 

(Tel.  814/942-7642) 
Arlan  Imler,  106  3rd  Ave.,  16602 

(Tel.  814/944-4844) 

TOONA  (James  A.  Barnes) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (86) 
Broadway  and  15th  Ave.  (Juniata), 

16601 

(Tel.  814/942-8861) 
Mrs.  Ruth  Swartz,  204  25th  Ave. 

(Tel.  814/943-4606) 

iMAGH  (Norris  B.  Mason) 

Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church  (171) 

Junction  of  Routes  56  and  22  (Mailing 

address:  Box  178,  15920) 

(Tel.  814/446-6685) 
Sherry  Fritz,  R.  1,  Box  85,  Homer  City, 

PA  15748 

(Tel.  814/446-6680) 

THLEHEM  (Ronald  A.  Guiles) 

Lehigh  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(150) 
580  Bridle  Path  Rd.,  18017 

(Tel.  215/868-0004) 
Scott  Heim,  1239  Tatamy  Rd.,  Easton, 

18042  (Tel.  215/258-1332) 

1SWELL  (Russ  Simpson) 

Laurel  Mtn.  Grace  Brethren  Church  (85) 

R.R.  2,  15531  (One  mile  north  of  Jen- 

nerstown  on  Rt.  985) 

(Tel.  814/629-5545) 


DUNCANSVILLE  (John  E.  Gregory) 

Leamersville  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(189) 
R.R.  2,  (Pour  miles  south  of  Dun- 

cansville  on  U.S.  Rte.  220)  (Mailing 

address:  Box  538,  16635)  (Tel. 

814/695-3739) 
Mrs.  Donna  Evans,  R.  2,  Box  220 

ELIZABETHTOWN  (Michael  Rockafellow) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (208) 
305  Anchor  Rd„  17022 

(Tel.  717/367-1281) 
Tom  Otis,  R.  2,  Box  590,  Manheim, 
17545  (Tel.  717/665-5708) 

EPHRATA  (Mark  E.  Saunders) 

Ephrata  Area  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(121) 
Hahnstown  Rd. 
(All  mail  to:  P.O.  Box  144,  Ephrata, 

17522)  (Tel.  717/738-1109) 
Mrs.  Glenn  Burkholder,  R.  2,  Box  729 

(Tel.  717/859-2240) 

EVERETT  (Timothy  Boal) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  (66) 
P.O.  Box  63,  Rt.  26  N.,  Everett,  15537 

(Tel.  814/652-5405) 
Richard  Border,  11  W.  4th  Ave. 

(Tel.  814/652-6410) 

EVERETT  (David  Hitchman) 

Everett  Grace  Brethren  Church  (171) 
14  W.  Main,  15537  (Tel.  814/652-2811) 
Charles  A.  Wright,  R.R.  1 
(Tel.  814/652-2840) 


I IAMBERSBURG  (Earl  Summers) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (51) 
!  315  S.  Edwards  Ave.,  17201 
(Tel.  717/264-3767) 

Mrs.  Barbara  Poe  (church  address) 

I'INEMAUGH  (Thomas  E.  Goossens) 
Conemaugh  Grace  Brethren  Church  (74) 
Corner  of  Second  and  Oak  Sts.  (All  mail 
to  pastor's  address) 
(Parsonage  Tel.  814/539-5333) 
Mrs.  William  Gillespie,  278  Ross  Ln. 
15909-1989  (Tel.  814/322-4558) 


GETTYSBURG  (Earle  E.  Peer) 

Gettysburg  Grace  Brethren  Church  (19) 
805  Harrisburg  Rd.,  (All  mail  to:  635 

Highland  Ave.,  17325) 
Mrs.  Joan  Hinks,  12  Wade  Ave. 
(Tel.  717/334-1282) 

HARRISBURG  (Donald  Weltmer) 
Melrose  Gardens  Grace  Brethren 

Church  (136) 
2205  Swatara  St.,  17104 

(Tel.  717/238-4186) 
Shirley  Hartman,  2208  Kensington  St. 


IIRAOPOLIS  (John  F.  Smith) 
Bon  Meade  Grace  Brethren  Church  (99) 
R.  3,  Broadhead  Rd.  and  Locust  Rd. 
15108  (All  mail  to  church  address) 
(Tel.  412/457-6444) 
Mrs.  Rhonda  Ashbaugh,  510  Ann  St., 
R.  3,  (Tel.  412/457-6363) 

r.LSBURG  (Warren  E.  Tamkin) 
Hope  Grace  Brethren  Church  (108) 
P.O.  Box  275,  17019  (One  mile  east  on 

Old  York  Rd.)  (Tel.  717/432-5332) 
Duane  Carson,  16  Homewood  St. 
(Tel.  717/432-5612) 


83 


HATBORO 

8uburban  Grace  Brethren  Church  (60) 
749  W.  County  Line  Rd.  19040 

(Tel.  215/675-5818) 
Griffith  Jones,  Moderator 

(Tel.  215/675-8148) 

HOLLIDAYSBURG  (Robert  Griffith) 

Vicksburg  Grace  Brethren  Church  (148) 
R.  1,  Box  555,  16648  (Four  miles  south 
of  Hollidaysburg,  off  Rte.  36  at 
Brooks  Mill)  (Tel.  814/695-4240) 
Mrs.  Paul  Magill,  R.  1,  Box  533 
(Tel.  814/695-2191) 


HOPEWELL  (Melvin  Van  Orman) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Hopewell  (57) 
Rt.  26  (two  miles  south  of  Hopewell) 

(Mailing  address:  Rd.  2,  Box  477, 

Duncansville,  16635) 

(Tel.  814/695-3855) 
Mrs.  Dolores  Van  Orman,  R.  2,  Box  477, 

Duncansville,  16635 

JENNERS  (Max  DeArmey) 

Jenners  Grace  Brethren  Church  (148) 
15531  (Rte.  601  south  of  Rte.  30) 

(Tel.  814/629-9105) 
Mrs.  Deloris  Flanigan,  Box  88 

(Tel.  814/629-9471) 

JERSEY  SHORE  (James  Snavely) 
Tiadaghton  Valley  Grace  Brethren 

Church  (61) 
RO.  Box  299,  Avis,  17721 
(Tel.  717/398-0586) 

JOHNSTOWN  (Bill  Crabbs) 

Geistown  Grace  Brethren  Church  (145) 
730  Sunberry  St.,  15904 

(Tel.  814/266-9170) 
Paul  Ream,  4048  Elton  Rd. 

(Tel.  814/266-3321) 

JOHNSTOWN  (Charles  M.  Martin) 

Johnstown  Grace  Brethren  Church  (226) 
535  Napoleon  St.,  15901 

(Tel.  814/539-7815) 
Mrs.  Anthony  (Betty)  Bonnono,  Sr., 
1118'/2  Ridge  Ave. 

(Tel.  814/536-7655) 

JOHNSTOWN  (Richard  McCarthy) 
Pike  Grace  Brethren  Church  (298) 
R.R.  6,  Box  185,  15909  (old  Rt.  22  at 

Mundy's  Corner)  (Tel.  814/749-8721) 
Ilene  Byers,  R.  8,  Box  28  IB 
(Tel.  814/322-4447) 

JOHNSTOWN  (H.  Don  Rough) 

Riverside  Grace  Brethren  Church  (312) 
R.R.  4,  Box  61A,  15905 

(Tel.  814/479-2525) 
Mrs.  Melvin  Bassett,  107  Walton  St. 

(Tel.  814/288-2342) 

JOHNSTOWN  (Marvin  Lowery) 

Singer  Hill  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(244) 
R.R.  8,  Box  121,  15909  (on  Rte.  271,  2 

miles  south  of  Rte.  22  and  Mundy's 

Corner) 

(Tel  814/322-4581  or  322-4376) 
Opal  Stouffer,  202  Ash  St.,  Parkhill, 

15945  (Tel.  814/539-3281) 

KITTANNING  (Richard  H.  Cornwell) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  of  West 
Kittanning  (231) 
215  Arthur  St.,  16201  (Tel. 

412/543-4019) 
Sharon  Hooks,  R.R.  3,  Box  147 
(Tel.  412/543-7537) 


KITTANNING  (Robert  L.  Burns) 

North  Buffalo  Grace  Brethren  Churl 

(128) 
R.R.  4,  Box  39,  16201  (Tel. 

412/763-7871) 
Mrs.  Sue  Bowser,  R.  4  (Tel. 

412/545-9589) 

LANCASTER  (William  S.  Davis) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Greater 

Lancaster  (135) 

911  Rohrerstown  Rd.,  17601 

(Tel.  717/397-9991) 
Mrs.  Ruth  Ebersole,  617  Janet  Ave. 

(Tel.  717/397-6400) 

LANCASTER  (Vernon  Harris) 

Southern  Lancaster  Grace  Brethren 

Church  (158) 
300  Willow  Valley  Square,  17602 

(Tel.  717/464-2782) 
Suzanne  Fry,  103  N.  Decatur  St., 

Strasburg,  17579  (Tel.  717/687-83' 

LISTIE  (Ronzil  Jarvis) 

Listie  Grace  Brethren  Church  (128) 
P.O.  Box  111,  15549  (3  miles  north  oi 
Somerset  on  Rt.  281,  1  mile  east 
Rt.  281)  (Tel.  814/443-2365) 
Mrs.  Sallie  Graham,  R.  1,  Friedens, 
15541 

LITITZ  (Jerry  R.  Young) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Lititz  (459 
501  W  Lincoln  Ave.,  17543 

(Tel.  717/626-2155) 
Dennis  Foreman,  510  E.  Main  St.,  A] 
A  (Tel.  717/627-2139) 

LOYSVILLE 

Shermans  Valley  Grace  Brethren 

Church  (11) 
Meeting  in  the  U.S.  Post  Office  Bldg. 

(lower  auditorium)  (Mailing  addre: 

R.  1,  Blain.  17006) 

(Tel.  717/536-3389  or  717/536-3363: 
Janet  M.  Smith,  R.  1,  Blain,  17006 

(Tel.  717/536-3363) 

MANHEIM  (Rick  Clark) 

Manheim  Grace  Brethren  Church  (10 
333  E.  High  St.,  17545 

(Tel.  717/665-2334) 
Jeanne  Balmer,  734  Newport  Rd.,  Lit], 
17543  (Tel.  717/665-7507) 

MARTINSBURG  (William  H.  Snell) 
Martinsburg  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(399) 
Mulberry  and  State  Sts.,  16662 

(Tel.  814/793-2513) 
Mrs.  Gail  Bridenbaugh,  R.  1,  Box  122; 

(Tel.  814/793-3911) 

I 
MEYERSDALE  (Ron  Warrick) 

Meyersdale  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(289) 
112  Beachley  St.,  15552  (on  U.S.  219)  ( 

(Tel.  814/634-5980) 
Mrs.  Joanne  Berkley,  240  High  St. 

(Tel.  814/634-5083) 


y  YERSDALE  (Albert  Valentine) 
Summit  Mills  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(83) 
*.R.  1,  15552  (West  of  Meyersdale,  3 

miles  on  St.  Paul  Rd.) 

(Tel.  814/634-8200) 
Mrs.  Carol  Evans,  R.R.  1 

Obi.  814/634-8645) 

^iROY  (DougSabin) 
Milroy  Grace  Brethren  Church  (30) 
Meeting  at  Hartman  Center,  U.S.  322 
I     N. 

l/lail  to:  Box  357,  17063 
J     Clfel.  717/667-3885) 
Mrs.  Carole  Aurand,  R.  1,  Box  291-A2 
Clfel.  717/667-3327) 

/JERSTOWN  (Luke  E.  Kauffman) 
Myerstown  Grace  Brethren  Church 
I     (1,019) 

130  E.  Lincoln  Ave.,  17067 
I     (Tel.  717/866-5704) 
iSherrie  Stohler,  470  Weavertown  Rd. 
!     Clfel.  717/866-4010) 

l/V  HOLLAND  (Robert  E.  Divine) 
!3rrace  Brethren  Church  (213) 
6.  Kinzer  Ave.,  (All  mail  to  RO.  Box  12, 
:     17557-0012)  (Tel.  717/354-9229) 
Mrs.  Robert  Riehl,  Rt.  2,  Hill  Rd., 
Box  99A  (Tel.  717/354-5348) 

'i.MYRA  (David  K.  Fath) 
jrace  Brethren  Church  (77) 
R.  2,  Box  580-AA,  17078 
i     (Tel.  717/838-5447) 
'Mrs.  David  Fath,  107  Bradley  Rd.,  R.  3, 
!      Annville,  17003  (Tel.  717/838-6522) 

''LADELPHIA  (Michael  Brubaker) 
l?irst  Brethren  Church  (127) 
pxford  Ave.  and  Knorr  St.,  19111 
I     (Tel.  215/745-2799) 
Mrs.  Charles  Wickman,  8251  Ferndale 
St.  (Tel.  215/725-3456) 

iLADELPHIA 

irhird  Brethren  Church  (142) 
Ella  and  Tioga  Sts.  (All  mail  to  204  E. 
Tioga  St.  19134)  (Tel.  215/423-8047) 
Helen  Bothwell,  617  W.  Elkins  Ave., 
i      19120  (Tel.  215/424-2215) 

IE  GROVE  (Howard  H.  Gelsinger) 
!Gtrace  Brethren  Church  (83) 
17  Birch  St.,  Tremont,  17981 

(Tel.  717/695-2136  or  695-2284) 
\lvin  M.  Schaeffer,  Jr.,  508  American 
!      Legion  Blvd.,  17963 
i     (Tel.  717/345-3007) 

YERSFORD  (Gene  deJongh) 
^i-County  Grace  Brethren  Church  (14) 
Mailing  address:  P.O.  Box  249,  19468) 

WERSET  (Clifford  Wicks) 

Grrace  Brethren  Church  of  Somerset 

R.R.  3,  Felgar  Rd.,  15501 

!     (Tel.  814/445-8645) 


STOYSTOWN  (Larry  R.  Weigle) 
Reading  Brethren  Church  (50) 
R.R.  3,  15563  (Hwy.  281,  9  miles  north 

of  Somerset) 
Mrs.  Marianne  Fisher,  R.D.  2 
(Tel.  814/893-5582) 

TELFORD  (Roger  L.  Wambold) 

Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(227) 
320  N.  Third  St.,  18969 

(Tel.  215/723-5890) 
Robert  Heffelfinger,  1433  Maple  Ave., 

Hatfield,  19440  (Tel.  215/855-8819) 

UNIONTOWN  (True  L.  Hunt) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (249) 
Grace  Ln.,  15401  (off  Derrick  Ave.) 

(Tel.  412/437-3401) 
Mrs.  Gilbert  Ferree,  713  Morgantown 

Rd. 

(Tel.  412/437-6121) 

WASHINGTON  (Harry  F.  Walker) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (143) 
4  Waynesburg  Rd.,  15301 

(Tel.  412/225-9168) 
Mrs.  John  McClain,  R.  8 

(Tel.  412/225-9551) 

WAYNESBORO  (Thomas  MaHaffey) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (212) 
250  Philadelphia  Ave.,  17268  (4th  St. 

and  Philadelphia  Ave.) 

(Tel.  717/762-5826) 
Mrs.  Joyce  Ritz,  16  S.  Grant 

(Tel.  717/762-6907) 

WRIGHTSVILLE  (Leslie  D.  Nutter) 

Susquehanna  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(100) 
R.  2,  Box  99,  17368 

(Tel.  717/252-1233) 

YORK  (Kenneth  Cosgrove) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (217) 
661  N.  Newberry  St.,  17404 

(Tel.  717/843-7284) 
Mrs.  Delores  Shields,  2945  Broxton  Ln., 
17402 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 

AIKEN  (Steve  W  Taylor) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (91) 

R.  1,  Box  HOB,  Talatha  Church  Rd., 

29801  (Tel.  803/649-3967) 
Brant  Hunt,  P.O.  Box  1123 
(Tel.  803/648-7290) 

ANDERSON  (Donald  J.  Soule) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (35) 
1603  Whitehall  Rd.,  29621 

(Anderson  178,  exit  off  1-85) 

(Tel.  803/224-7330) 
Mrs.  Don  Soule,  Rt.  11,  Box  274 

(Tel.  803/225-6844) 


TENNESSEE 


JOHNSON  CITY  (Stephen  Howell) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (39) 
803  Sunset  Dr.,  37601 
(Tel.  615/282-5513) 

TELFORD  (Mike  Wingfield) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (128) 
R.R.  1,  Box  431,  37690  (Hwy.  11-E,  6 

miles  west  of  Jonesboro) 

(Tel.  615/257-2880) 
Mrs.  Evelyn  Henry,  R.  6,  Jonesborough, 

TN  37659  (Tel.  615/753-3855) 


TEXAS 


AUSTIN  (Fenton  McDonald) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Austin  (14) 
801  Pigeon  Forge  Rd.,  Pflugerville, 
78660  (Tel.  512/251-5784) 

LONGVIEW  (John  W.  Mayes) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (52) 
800  Doyle  St.,  75601  (Tel.  214/753-4912 

or  214/753-8133) 
Sheila  Peterson,  2223  S.  Mobberly,  Lot 

602,  75602  (Tel.  214/758-1560) 


VERMONT 


IRASBURG  (R.  John  Snow) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (54) 
R.  1,  05845  (Tel.  802/754-2363) 
Stanley  Bickrell,  20  Sloan  St.,  Newport, 
05855 

ISLAND  POND  (Dale  Jenks) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (54) 
Rt.  105  (west  of  town)  (Mailing  address: 
P.O.  Box  432,  05846) 
(Tel.  802/723-4785) 
Claude  Marcoux  (Tel.  802/723-5942) 

STOWE  (Robert  Smoker) 

Mansfield  Grace  Brethren  Church 
P.O.  Box  1232,  05672 


VIRGINIA 


ALEXANDRIA  (Fred  Devan) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (52) 
1301  Commonwealth  Ave.,  22301 

(Tel.  703/548-1808) 
Mrs.  Iva  Jane  Sisler,  8900  McNair  Dr., 
22309  (Tel.  703/780-2323) 

ALTAVISTA  (Robert  H.  Juday) 

Altavista  Grace  Brethren  Church  (14) 
R.  2,  Box  36,  24517  (Located  on 
R.  29,  two  miles  north  of  Altavista) 

(Tel.  804/369-5330) 
Dick  Greene,  R.  1,  Hurt,  24563 

(Tel.  804/324-7608) 


BOONES  MILL  (J.  Donald  Abshire,  Sr.)    |l 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (48) 
State  Rte.  739  (Mailing  address:  R.R 

Box  41,  24065)  (Tel.  703/334-5798;  ij 
Mrs.  Vivian  Young  (Tel.  703/334-567EJ] 

BUENA  VISTA  (Lester  W.  Kennedy) 
First  Brethren  Church  (550) 
100  E.  29th  St.,  24416 

(Tel.  703/261-6425) 
Mildred  Hartless,  2446  Hawthorne  A.k 

(Tel.  703/261-3458) 

COVINGTON  (Dan  Gillette) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (158) 

2507  S.  Carpenter  Dr.,  24426  (on  Rt. 

south)  (Tel.  703/962-9541) 
Mrs.  Carl  Griffith,  2508  S.  Carpenter  ■ 
(Tel.  703/962-1033) 

RADFORD  (A.  Harold  Arrington) 

Fairlawn  Grace  Brethren  Church  (llii 
R.  4,  Box  275,  24141  (Tel.  703/639-06; I 
Judy  Hubbard,  R.  2,  Box  316 
(Tel.  703/731-1950) 

RICHMOND  (Wayne  L.  Hannah) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (99) 
Robious  and  Cranbeck  Rds.,  23235  (m ; 
Rt.  60  southwest  of  Richmond) 
(Tel.  804/272-9000) 
Bob  Smith,  7932  Epic  Rd. 

RINER  (Carl  D  Ratcliff) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (55) 

R.  8,  (Three  miles  south  of  Riner)  (M* 

ing  address:  P.O.  Box  87,  24149)    I 

(Tel.  703/382-7571) 
Mrs.  Linda  Snavely,  R.  1,  Box  13 

(Tel.  703/382-8394) 

ROANOKE  (Leslie  James  Cotsamire) 

Clearbrook  Grace  Brethren  Church  (IJ 
R.R.  5,  Box  357,  24014  (Four  miles  so'i 
of  Rt.  419) 
(Tel.  703/774-1265) 
Mrs.  Molly  Simmons,  R.R.  5,  Box  402 
(Tel.  703/774-9680) 

ROANOKE  (James  H.  Wingfield) 

Garden  City  Grace  Brethren  Church  (|i) 
3504  Bandy  Rd.,  24018 

(Tel.  703/345-6266) 
Mrs.  Rhonda  Cavley,  1115  Mavwood  II 

Vinton,  24179  (Tel.  703/342-5264) 

ROANOKE  (Kenneth  L.  Teague) 

Ghent  Grace  Brethren  Church  (273)    I 
1511  Maiden  Ln.,  S.W.,  24015  (Waseni 
Ave.  and  Maiden  Ln.,  SW.) 
(Tel.  703/345-2788) 
Mrs.  Marlene  Flynn,  1622  Maiden  Ln' 
SW.  (Tel.  703/342-3705) 

ROANOKE  (Calvin  B.  Fulton) 
Gospel  Brethren  Church  (53) 
R.R.  5,  Box  37,  24014  (Buck  Mt.  Rd.) 

(Tel.  703/343-4881) 
Mrs.  Glenna  Minter,  Box  10,  R.  6, 
Salem,  24153  (Tel.  703/989-3254) 


JANOKE  (Ron  Thompson) 
Patterson  Memorial  Grace  Brethren 

Church  (191) 
6416  Hollins  Rd.  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 

Box  7649,  24019) 

(Tel.  703/362-0336) 
Miss  Susan  Burnette,  1333  Beaumont 
Rd.,  Hollins,  24019 

(Tel.  703/366-1034) 

3ANOKE  (George  Traub) 
Washington  Heights  Grace  Brethren 

Church  (85) 
3833  Michigan  Ave.,  N.W.,  24017 

(Tel.  703/366-7040) 
Jackie  Pace,  916  Van  Buren  St.,  N.W. 

(Tel.  703/362-4736) 


WINCHESTER  (Gerald  Allebach) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (198) 
645  Berryville  Ave.,  (Mailing  address: 

P.O.  Box  2644,  22601) 

(Tel.  703/662-6360) 
Mark  Whitacre,  Colonial  Mall  Apts.,  No. 

11  (Tel.  703/667-7693) 


WASHINGTON 


GOLDENDALE  (Gregory  M.  Howell) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  (43) 
1180  S.  Roosevelt  St.,  98620 

(Tel.  509/773-3388) 
Don  Green,  1500  S.  Columbus,  No.  9 

(Tel.  509/773-4149) 


kLEM  (John  Townsend) 
Wildwood  Grace  Brethren  Church  (60) 
2400  Wildwood  Rd.,  24153  (Take  exit  40 

off  1-81,  turn  left  at  stop  sign) 

(Tel.  703/389-3723) 
Mrs.  Elsie  Lawrence,  2456  Wildwood 

Rd. 

(Tel.  703/389-0703) 

EVEN  FOUNTAINS 

Trinity  Brethren  Church  (25) 

Rt.  Fort  Valley,  Box  263,  Strasburg, 

22657 
c/o  Eva  M.  Ritenour,  recording  secretary 

10UTVILLE  (G  Douglas  Witt) 
Grace  Bible  Brethren  Church  (36) 
Co.  Rt.  651,  P.O.  Box  367,  24175 
Mrs.  Jennifer  Morgan,  R.  2,  Box  210, 
Fincastle,  24090  (Tel.  703/473-3863) 

RGINIA  BEACH  (Michael  Johnson) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (72) 
4109  Whitebeam  Ct„  23462 

(Tel.  804/474-0855) 
Bert  Sullivan,  509  W.  Brook  Ct„  23455 

(Tel.  804/497-6454) 


ILLIS 

Grace  Brethren  Church  (30) 

R.R.  3,  Box  138,  24380  (State  Hwy.  604, 

one  mile  off  St.  Hwy.  799) 

(Tel.  703/593-3693) 
Mrs.  Mary  M.  Hall,  R.R.  3,  Box  138 

(Tel.  703/593-3693) 

INCHESTER  (M.  Lee  Myers) 
Blue  Ridge  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(119) 
Meeting  at  the  Lee  Jackson  Banquet 
Room  on  Rt.  50E  —  across  from  Roy 
Rogers  Restaurant  (Exit  80W  off  of 
1-81)  (Mailing  address:  507  Went- 
worth  Dr.,  22601) 
(Tel.  Pastor's  phone:  703/667-2602) 
Don  Gregorv,  R.  1,  Box  157-A,  Clear- 
brook,  22624  (Tel.  703/667-5035) 


GRANDVIEW  (John  K.  Nagle) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (127) 
1111  W  Third  St.,  98930 

(Tel.  509/882-3439) 
Andy  Gilbertson,  R.  2,  Box  2879,  Pro- 
sser,  99350  (Tel.  509/973-2434) 

HARRAH  (Charles  H.  Winter) 
Harrah  Brethren  Church  (105) 
17  W.  Pioneer  St.  (Mailing  address:  P.O. 

Box  69,  98933)  (Tel.  509/848-2609) 
Mrs.  Carol  Johnson,  Box  141 
(Tel.  509/848-2746) 

KENT  (David  Marksbury) 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Kent  (204) 
11135  S.E.  232nd,  98031 

(Tel.  206/854-4248) 
Tom  Ireton,  917  Seattle  St. 

(Tel.  206/854-4876) 

MABTON  (Rodger  Williams) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (98) 
Fifth  and  B.  Sts.  (Mailing  address:  Box 

216,  98935)  (Tel.  509/894-4477) 
Mrs.  Dianne  Artz,  P.O.  Box  365 
(Tel.  509/894-4266) 

PROSSER  (Bill  Shelby) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  (50) 
1032  Sheridan  Ave.,  99350 

(Tel.  509/786-1675) 
Evelvn  Tucker,  950  Anna 

(Tel.  509/786-1350) 

SPOKANE  (Greg  Ryerson) 

Spokane  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church 

(64) 
E.  12407  16th  Ave.,  99216 

(Tel.  509/924-9575) 
Mary  Roush,  E.  2707  DeSmet,  99202 

(Tel.  509/534-7359) 

SUNNYSIDE  (Donald  G.  Farner) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (223) 
Seventh  and  Franklin  (Mailing  address: 
P.O.  Box  87,  98944) 
(Tel.  509/837-6096) 
Kirt  Ruppert,  R.  2,  Box  2352 


TOPPENISH  (Richard  M.  Cron) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (50) 
507  S.  Juniper  St.,  98948 

(Tel.  509/865-4007) 
Ruth  Crone,  Rt.  3,  3980 

(Tel.  509/865-2340) 

YAKIMA  (Dale  C.  Hostetler) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (73) 
904  S.  26th  Ave.,  98902 

(Tel.  509/453-3720) 
Mrs.  Les  Robinson,  2708  Galloway  Dr., 
98908  (Tel.  509/966-5186) 


WEST  VIRGINIA   _ 

GRAFTON  (Joseph  E.  Nass) 

First  Grace  Brethren  Church  (114) 
45  W.  Saint  Charles  St.,  26354 

(Tel.  304/265-0043  or  265-0048) 
Mrs.  John  McDaniel,  414  Dewey  Ave. 

MARTINSBURG  (Carl  A   Baker) 

Rosemont  Grace  Brethren  Church  (179) 
117  S.  Illinois  Ave.,  25401 

(Tel.  304/267-6330) 
Mrs.  Mary  Blair 

PARKERSBURG  (Richard  Placeway) 
Grace  Brethren  Church  (61) 
1610  Blizzard  Dr.,  26101 

(Tel.  304/422-5390) 
Mrs.  Avis  Ellison,  2501  Valley  Rd. 

(Tel.  304/428-9874) 

VIENNA  (Robert  Morton) 

Community  Grace  Brethren  Church  (14) 
936  Market  St.,  Parkersburg  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: P.O.  Box  5284,  Vienna,  26105) 
Temporarily  meeting  at  the  Banner 
Printing  Co.  (Tel.  Office: 
304/485-7963,  pastor's  home: 
304/485-4199) 
Mark  Geibig,  25  Meadowcrest, 
Parkersburg  26101 
(Tel.  304/422-7687) 


WYOMING 


CHEYENNE 

First  Brethren  Church  (12) 
Meeting  at  1814  E.  17th  St.  (Capital 

Mortuary  Chapel)  (Mailing  address: 

P.O.  Box  10208,  82001) 
Doris  Harper,  P.O.  Box  10208 

(Tel.  307/632-3032) 


Directory  of  Grace  Brethren  Ministers 


List  of  ministers  approved  by  District  Conferences  of  the  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches, 
iving  name,  address,  telephone  number,  and  church  membership.  Men  listed  are  ordained,  unless 
n  (L)  follows  name,  indicating  licensed.  Name  in  parentheses  following  minister  is  wife's  first 
ame. 

Names  marked  witn  an  asterisk  (*)  are  names  submitted  by  the  National  Fellowship  of  Grace 
irethren  Ministers,  indicating  membership.  Membership  requirements  are  contingent  on  pay- 
lent  of  annual  dues  and  death  benefit. 

The  list  is  for  information  purposes  only  and  does  not  constitute  official  status.  Its  accuracy 
;  dependent  upon  information  supplied  to  the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co. 


ARMENT*,  ALAN  (L)  (Cheryl) 

51  W.  Lincoln  Ave.,  Lititz,  PA  17543 

(Tel.  717/627-0531) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


,BSHIRE*,  J.  DONALD  (Colleen) 
R.R.  1,  Box  41  Boones  Mill,  VA  24065 

(Tel.  703/334-5798) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

iEBY*,  JOHN  M.  (Joan) 
3404  Kennedy  Ln.,  Box  233,  Waterloo, 

IA  50701  (Tel.  319/296-3331) 
Denver,  CO  church 

,LLAN,  DANIEL  (L)  (Holly) 
206  Sharon  Ave.,  Ashland,  OH  44805 

(Tel.  419/325-3295) 
Norton  church 

>LLEBACH*,  GERALD  (Margaret) 
126  Russellcroft  Rd.,  Winchester  VA 

22601  (Tel.  703/667-8627) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

iLTIG*,  J.  KEITH,  D.  MIN.  (Vivian) 
13755  E.  Walnut,  Whittier,  CA 
90602  (Tel.  213/693-8182)     - 
Retired  Missionary,  Brazil 
Minister  of  Worship,  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Whittier 

kMUNDSON',  LOUIS  (L)  (Madeline) 
R.  1,  Garwin,  IA  50632, 

(Tel.  515/499-2358) 
Pastor,  Carlton  Brethren  Church 

WDERSON*,  R.  DARRELL  (L)  (Irene) 
3020  Newtown  Rd.,  No  20,  Placerville, 

CA  95667  (Tel.  916/622-2015) 
Pastor,  Placerville  church 


ARRINGTON*,  A.  HAROLD  (Dorothy) 
R.R.  4,  Box  275,  Radford,  VA  24141 

(Tel.  703/639-0683) 
Pastor,  Fairlawn  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ASHMAN',  CHARLES  H.  (Frances) 
Box  386,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-5566) 
Pastor,  Winona  Lake  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

ASHMAN',  ROBERT  A.  (Bernice) 

602  Chestnut,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-7588) 
Winona  Lake  church 

ATKINS*,  DAVID  (L)  (Joyce) 

2703  Sharon  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/267-2160) 
Director  of  Youth  Leadership,  GBC 

Christian  Ed.  Dept. 
Winona  Lake,  church 

AUSTIN*,  GARY  (Jean) 

B.P.  240  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Furlough  address:  2032  E.  Market  St., 

Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 

AUSTIN*,  GORDON  L.  (Charlotte) 

200  Sixth  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/269-2507; 

office,  219/267-5161) 
Director  of  Audiovisuals,  Foreign 

Missionary  Society  of  the  Grace 

Brethren  Church 
Winona  Lake  church 


kRENOBINE*,  ROBERT  D.  (Joy) 

7619  Regina  Dr.,  Fort  Wayne,  IN  46815 

(Tel.  219/493-2841) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


AVEY*,  TOM  (L)  (Sandra) 

7281  Glasgow  Ave.,  Orlando,  FL  32819 

(Tel.  305/351-7050) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


B 


BAER*,  SAMUEL  E.  (L)  (Betty  Ann) 

H.  C.  62,  Box  640,  Dryhill,  KY  41749 

(Tel.  606/672-2520) 
Pastor,  Victory  Mountain  Grace 
Brethren  Chapel 

BAILEY*,  THOMAS  A.  (Jean) 

1007  Sunday  Ln„  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 


BAUM*,  F.  ARCHER  (Eileen) 

7105  Arillo  St.,  San  Diego,  CA  92111    !| 

(Tel.  714/277-4992) 
Retired 
San  Diego  church 

BAUMAN*,  PAUL  R.,  D.D.  (Aldine) 

809  Gordon  St.,  Longview,  TX  (Mailing 
address:  Box  8181,  75607) 
(Tel.  214/758-8875;  753-0231,  ext. 
239) 
Conference  Speaker,  Tour  Leader 
Longview  church 


BAKER',  BRUCE  (Marcella) 

83  Coach  Ln„  Newburg,  NY  12550 

(Tel.  914/564-2567) 
Director,  Northern  Frontier  Camp 
Boswell,  PA  church 

BAKER*,  CARL  A.  (Donna) 

836  New  York  Ave.,  Martinsburg,  WV 

25401  (Tel.  304/263-2272) 
Pastor,  Rosemont  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

BAKER*,  W.  WAYNE  (Eunice) 

Grace  Village,  Box  337,  Winona  Lake, 

IN  46590 
Retired 
Indianapolis,  IN  church 

BARLOW*,  BRUCE  (L)  (Christi) 

104  5th  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Associate  Dean  of  Students,  Grace 

College 
Winona  Lake,  church 

BARNARD*,  RUSSELL  D.,  D.D.  (Feme  A.) 
Grace  Village,  Box  337,  Winona  Lake, 

IN  46590  (Tel.  219/267-6986) 
Retired 
Winona  Lake  church 

BARNES*,  JAMES  A.  (Judy) 

105  W.  15th  Ave.,  Juniata,  Altoona,  PA 
16601  (Tel.  814/946-1644) 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Altoona 

BARNHILL*,  CHARLES  W.  (Lauretta) 

2718  Peterson  Rd.,  Mansfield,  OH  44903 

(Tel.  419/589-8088) 
Pastor,  Mifflin  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BARTLETT*,  ROGER  (L) 

4136  Beam  Rd.,  Crestline,  OH  44827 

(Tel.  419/683-3377) 
Assist.  Pastor,  Mansfield 
(Marion  Ave.),  OH,  church 

BATTIS*,  RICHARD,  Sr.  (Carolyn) 

R.  1,  Box  596,  Elizabethtown,  PA  17022 

(Tel.  717/367-5904) 
Assoc.  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


BEACH*,  DENNIS  A.,  Ph.D.  (Louise) 
1925  Wickford  PL,  Springfield,  OH 
45503  (Tel.  513/399-1414) 
Bellflower,  CA,  church 

BEARINGER*,  E.  H.  (L)  (Elaine) 

3901  Bahia  Vista  St.,  No.  604,  Sarasot: 

FL  33582  (Tel.  813/377-0858) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Bellflower,  CA,  church 

BEAVER*,  S.  WAYNE,  D.D.  (Dorothy) 
1508  Kings  Hwy.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/269-1708) 
Professor,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake  church 

BELCHER*,  DAVID  (Denise) 

2435  Magnolia  Ave.,  La  Verne,  CA 

91750  (Tel.  714/593-8759) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BELL*,  RICHARD  E.  (Nancy) 

308  Woodlawn  Reserve,  Akron,  OH 

44305  (Tel.  216/733-5101) 
Pastor,  Ellet  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BELOHLAVEK*,  ROBERT  (L)  (Lois) 
B.R,  240,  Central  African  Republic 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 

BENZIE*,  MARK  (L)  (Trudy) 

112  S.  Mill  St.,  Lexington,  OH  44904 

(Tel.  419/884-3284) 
Assoc.  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BERKEMER*,  CHARLES  F.  (L)  (Margaret) 
10331  Woodstead  Ave.,  Whittier,  CA 

90603  (Tel.  213/947-1479) 
Christian  Bookstore  Mgr. 
Whittier  (Community)  church 

BETZ*,  RUSSELL  W.  (Kay) 

212  E.  Saguaro  St..  Casa  Grande,  AZ 

85222  (Tel.  602/836-1549) 
Fort  Lauderdale,  FL,  church 

BICKEL*,  KENNETH  (Doris) 

1604  Hickorv  PI.,  Goshen,  IN  46526 

(Tel.  219/533-1380) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


UNGAMAN",  CARROLL  J.  (L)  (Betty) 
4  Carol  Ann  Dr.,  Lebanon,  PA  17042 
Minister  of  Visitation 
Myerstown  church 

ISHOP*,  DONALD  E.  (Hazel) 
12109  S.E.  276th  PI.,  Kent,  WA  98031 

(Tel.  206/630-1270) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Kent  church 

IISHOP*,  JOSEPH  (L) 

812  Charles  Dr.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/269-4324) 
Chaplain,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake,  church 

lilTNER*,  ROBERT  (L) 

I    752  Summit  Ave.,  Hagerstown,  MD 

21740 
j    Hagerstown  (Calvary)  church 

ILAKE*,  STEPHEN  (L) 

R.  6,  Box  237,  Lancaster,  PA  17603 
Lancaster  (Southern)  church 

IlLAKLEY*,  MICHAEL  S.  (L)  (Tressa) 
!    21210  E.  Arrow  Hwy.,  No.  134,  Covina, 
CA  91723  (Tel.  818/966-1016) 
Montclair  church 

JlOAL*,  TIMOTHY  (L)  (Tammy) 

I    R.  3,  Box  116,  Everett,  PA  15537 

(Tel.  814/652-6228) 
!     Pastor,  Community  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

iOEHM*,  RONALD  E.  (Chery) 
1     8600  Nelson  Rd.,  Bowling  Green,  OH 
43402  (Tel.  419/352-0898) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

JOULTON*,  J.  DAN  (Vicky) 

On  518  Willow  Rd.,  Wheaton,  IL  60187 

(Tel.  312/665-8482) 
Columbus,  OH  (Grace)  church 

• 

JOWLAND*,  RON  (L) 

!    R.R.  2.  Peru,  IN  46970 

Pastor,  Peru  Brethren  Church 


BOYER*,  JAMES  L.  Th.D.  (Velma) 

308  Sunset  Dr.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-6769) 
(Winter  address:  800  E.  6th  St., 

Englewood,  FL  33533) 

(Tel.  813/474-3303) 
Professor  Emeritus,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake  church 

BOYER*,  KEITH  (L)  (Cindy) 

212  Boys  City  Dr.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590 
Bethlehem,  PA,  church 

BRACKER*,  GORDON  W.  (Agnes) 

105  11th  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/269-5953) 
Pastor  Emeritus,  Osceola,  IN,  church 

BRENNEMAN*,  MAXWELL  (Elaine) 
No.  36  Merrywood  Park  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: P.O.  Box  804,  Winona  Lake, 

IN  46590)  (Tel.  219/269-2281) 
Retired 
Winona  Lake  church 

BRICKEL*,  CLAIR  E.  (Martha) 
14319  Brookville-Pyrmont  Rd., 

Brookville  OH  45309 

(Tel.  513/833-3630) 
Minister  of  Music  and  Visitation  at  the 

North  Riverdale,  Dayton,  OH,  church 
Brookvilie,  OH,  church 

BROWN,  DENNIS  R.  (L)  (Chris) 

102  11th  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-5823) 
Assoc.  Dir.  of  Admissions,  Grace  College 
Des  Moines,  IA,  church 

BROWN*,  KENNETH  J.  (Margie) 

508  Malvern  Rd.,  Akron,  OH  44303 

(Tel.  216/867-5317) 
Pastor,  Fairlawn  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BRUBAKER*,  CLAIR  D.  (Ruth) 

201  Killian  Rd.,  Akron,  OH  44319 

(Tel.  216/644-6137) 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  OH,  church 


30WLIN*,  DONALD  (Glenna) 

I     1439  Richmond  Rd.,  N.E.,  Cedar  Rapids, 

IA  52402  (Tel.  319/395-0972) 
I     Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BOWMAN*,  EDWARD  D. 

Grace  Village,  P.O.  Box  337,  Winona 

Lake,  IN  46590  (Tel.  219/372-6267) 
Retired 
Warsaw,  IN  church 

30WMAN",  RANDY  (Lois) 

449  Shagbark  Ct.,  Pickerington,  OH 

43147  (Tel.  614/864-6788) 
Pastor,  East  Side  Grace  Brethren 

Church,  Columbus 


BRUBAKER",  MICHAEL  P.  (Margery) 

822  Knorr  St.,  Philadelphia,  PA  19111 

(Tel.  215/745-6021) 
Pastor,  First  Brethren  Church 

BRYANT*,  JOHN  E.  (Janie) 

5  Northgate  Dr.,  Mt.  Vernon,  OH  43050 

(Tel.  614/393-3537) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Mt. 
Vernon 

BURK*,  ARTHUR  A.  (L)  (Ann) 

1580  W  Juno  Ave.,  No.  3,  Anaheim,  CA 

92802  (Tel.  714/635-2059) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


91 


BURK*,  BILL  A.  (Imogene) 

Cx  14,  68445  Barcarena,  PARA,  Brazil, 

S.A. 
Missionary,  Brazil 
Los  Angeles,  CA,  church 

BURKE*,  JOHN  P.  (Shirley) 

1434  Lyon,  Waterloo,  IA  50702 

(Tel.  319/233-9056) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BURNS*,  JOHN  J.  (Inez) 

Grace  Village,  Box  337,  Winona  Lake, 

IN  46590  (Tel.  219/372-6287) 
Winona  Lake,  church 

BURNS*,  RALPH  S.  (Ruth) 

P.O.  Box  277,  Merrywood,  Winona  Lake, 

IN  46590  (Tel.  219/269-3223) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Herald  Bookstore 
Winona  Lake  church 

BURNS*,  ROBERT  L.  (Evelyn) 

R.R.  4,  Box  39,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 

(Tel.  412/763-7871) 
Pastor,  North  Buffalo  Brethren  Church 

BURNS*,  STEPHEN  (L) 

R.  3,  Box  3720,  Sunnyside,  WA  98944 
Asst.  pastor,  Sunnyside  church 

BUTTON',  BRUCE  L.  (Leonore) 

3333  N.  Flowing  Wells  Rd.,  No.  121 

Tucson,  AZ  85705  (Tel.  602/293-6744) 
Representative,  International  Ministries 

to  Israel 
New  Albany,  IN,  church 

BYERS',  GLENN  C.  (Dolores) 

R.R.  1,  Box  433A,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/269-1255) 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

BYERS*,  J.  DONALD,  Jr.  (L)  (Cynthia) 
1920  Stearns  Ave.,  Orange,  CA  92666 

(Tel.  714/639-2424) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

BYERS*,  WILLIAM  A.  (Betty) 

3039  Hidden  Forest  Ct.,  Marietta,  GA 

30066  (Tel.  404/422-6087) 
Southern  Field  Secretary,  Brethren 

Home  Missions  Council 
Atlanta,  GA,  church 

BYRD*,  RICHARD  (L)  (Shelley) 

3762  Albury  Ave.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90808  (Tel.  213/429-9854) 
Long  Beach,  CA  (Grace)  church 


CAES*,  CLYDE  J.  (Nancy) 

4547  Grandview  Ave.,  N.E.,  Canton,  OH 

44705  (Tel.  216/492-6936) 
Associate  Pastor,  Canton  church 


CAES*,  EVERETT  N.  (Dorothy) 

58644  Co.  Rd.  Ill,  Elkhart,  IN  46517 

(Tel.  219/295-6337) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

CARD*,  CHARLES 

HHD  2nd  Bt.  Bde.,  Fort  Jackson,  SC 

29207  (Tel.  803/751-6677/5712) 
Waipio,  HI  church 

CAREY*,  G.  ARTHUR  (Leah) 

436  Poppy  St.,  Long  Beach,  CA  90805 
Auburn,  CA,  church 

CARINI.  JOHN  (L) 

115  N.  Clayton  Rd., 

New  Lebanon,  OH  45345 
Dayion,  OH,  (Huber  Heights)  church 

CARROLL*,  JEFFRY  A.  (L)  (Pamela) 
1114  Harrow  Rd.,  Toledo,  OH  43615 

(Tel.  419/537-9877) 
Pastor,  Maumee  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

CARTER*,  DONALD  F.  (Dorothy) 

2818  Yearling  St.,  Lakewood,  CA  90715 

(Tel.  213/531-9623) 
Military  Endorsing  Agent 
North  Long  Beach,  CA,  church 

CASHMAN*,  EDWIN  E.  (Bettie) 

12346  Charlwood,  Cerritos,  CA  90701 

(Tel.  213/860-4576) 
Pastor,  Bellflower  Brethren  Church, 
Bellflower 

CATON,  JIM  (L) 

R.  1,  Box  212,  Moran,  MI  49760 

(Tel.  906/569-3212) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

CHRISTIE*,  GEORGE  R.  (Phyllis) 
P.O.  Box  449,  Prosser,  WA  99350 

(Tel.  509/786-4796) 
Prosser,  WA,  church 

CHRISTIE*,  RANDALL  J.  (L)  (Teresa) 
P.O.  Box  1053,  East  Helena,  MT  59635 

(Tel.  406/227-6854) 
Prosser,  WA,  church 

CHRISTNER*,  CRAIG  D.  (L)  (Lynda) 
288  Sundale  Rd.,  Akron,  OH  44313 
Principal,  Akron  Christian  Schools 
Akron  (Fairlawn)  church 

CHURCHILL",  JACK  B.  (Rosa) 

2758  Caulfield  Dr.,  San  Diego,  CA 

92154  (Tel.  619/423-7903) 
Missionary,  Mexico 
Long  Beach  (North)  church 

CLAPHAM*,  MICHAEL  C.  (Elizabeth) 
12066  Benadir  Rd.,  Cincinnati,  OH 

45246  (Tel.  513/671-6023) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


:LARK*,  EDWARD  (Eleanor) 
3132  St.  Albans  Dr.,  Los  Alamitos,  CA 

90720  (Tel.  213/596-6936) 
Bellflower,  CA,  church 


COMBS*,  ROBERT  P.  (Julie) 

647  Parkway  Blvd.,  Norton,  OH  44203 

(Tel.  216/825-8966) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


I'LARK*,  RICK  (Cynthia) 

333  E.  High  St.,  Manheim,  PA  17545 

(Tel.  717/664-2986) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ILINGAN",  ALAN  N.  (Frances) 
6176  Sumter  Dr.,  Rolling  Acres, 
Brooksville,  FL  33512 
(Tel.  904/796-9450) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ILOUSE*,  ROBERT  G.  (Bonnidell) 
2122  S.  21st.,  Terre  Haute,  IN  47802 

(Tel.  812/235-5433) 
Pastor,  First  Brethren  Church,  Clay 

City 

OBURN*,  FRANK  J.  (Marjorie) 
13025  Bluefield  Ave.,  La  Mirada,  CA 

90638  (Tel.  213/943-0553) 
Pastor,  Community  Brethren  Church, 

Los  Angeles 

:OBURN*,  RICHARD  L.  (Sheryl) 
6232  Haviland,  Whittier,  CA  90601 
Whittier,  (Grace)  church 

COBURN*,  ROLLAND  G.  (L)  (Raquel) 
8647  Thoroughbred,  Alta  Loma,  CA 

91701  (Tel.  714/989-4673) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Alta  Loma 

COCHRAN*,  WILLIAM,  Th.D.  (Sharon) 
3301  N.E.  23rd  Ave.,  Lighthouse  Point, 

FL  33064 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Pompano  Beach 

COFFMAN*,  CLIFFORD  (Letitia) 

91-779  Fort  Weaver  Rd.,  Ewa  Beach,  HI 

96706  (Tel.  808/689-5035) 
Pastor,  Rainbow  Grace  Brethren  Church 

COLBURN*,  RALPH  J.  (Julia) 

3490  La  Jara  St.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90805  (Tel.  213/630-2122) 
Associate  Pastor,  North  Long  Beach 
Brethren  church 

COLLINS*,  ARTHUR  F.  (Illene  L.) 
|      R.  1,  Box  187 JJ,  Linwood,  NJ  08221 
(Tel.  609/927-4059) 
Pulpit  Supply 
1      Osceola,  IN,  church 

COLLINS*,  BENJAMIN  F.  Ill  (L) 

5416  E.  Los  Angeles  Ave  #88, 

Simi  Valley,  CA  93063 
Simi  church 


COOPER*,  MASON  (Alma) 

204  N.  Delaware  Ave.,  Martinsburg,  W. 

VA  25401  (Tel.  304/267-2039) 
Evangelist 
Roanoke,  VA,  (Ghent)  church 

CORNWELL*,  RICHARD  H.  (Rosalie) 

215  Arthur  St.,  Kittanning,  PA  16201 

(Tel.  412/543-4019) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

COSGROVE*,  KENNETH  I.  (Gail) 
1197  Priority  Rd„  York,  PA  17404 

(Tel.  717/848-9316) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

COTSAMIRE*,  LESLIE  (L)  (Marilyn) 
R.  5,  Box  357,  Roanoke,  VA  24014 

(Tel.  703/774-5697) 
Pastor,  Clearbrook  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

COUCH*,  BILL  (L)  (Pam) 

5682  Danny  Ave.,  Cypress,  CA  90630 

(Tel.  714/827-5682) 
Assistant  Pastor,  Bellflower  Brethren 

Church 

COURTER*,  DOUG  A.  (L)  (Barbara) 
649  Berryville  Ave.,  Winchester,  VA 

22601 
Winchester,  (Grace)  church 

COVER*,  ROBERT  (Joene) 

910  E.  Clark  St.,  Warsaw  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-5719) 
Principal,  Warsaw  Christian  School 
Warsaw  church 

COVINGTON*,  CHARLES  (L) 

6701  Wilcox  Ave.,  Bell,  CA  90201 
Whittier  (Community)  church 

COYLE*,  J.  TIMOTHY  (Mary) 

9  Jamison  St.,  Kimberton,  Newark,  DE 

19713  (Tel.  302/368-5052) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

CRABBS*,  WILLIAM  (Adele) 

R.  2,  Box  345,  Johnstown,  PA  15904 

(Tel.  814/266-6523) 
Pastor,  Geistown  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

CRAIGEN*,  TREVOR  (L)  (Colleen) 

Chateau  de  St.  Albain,  71260  Lugny, 

France 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 

CRANDALL*,  GARY  (L) 

301  14th  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 


CREES*,  ROBERT  D.  (Beulah) 

104  Hillcrest  Ave.,  Waynesboro,  PA 

17268  (Tel.  717/762-3303) 
Retired 
Waynesboro  church 

CRIPE*,  CARL  E.  Ph.D.  (L)  (Marjorie) 
3400  E.  Royalton  Ave.,  Modesto,  CA 

95350  (Tel.  209/526-5001 
Prof,  of  Chemistry,  Bible  teacher 
Modesto  (La  Loma)  church 

CRIPE,  GEORGE,  B.D.  D.A.  (Eliane) 

Vers-Chez-les-Blanc,  1000-Lausanne-26, 
Switzerland  (Tel.  Home:  021-916610, 
Study:  021-200979) 
Modesto,  CA,  (La  Loma)  church 

CRON*,  RICHARD  (JoAnn) 

c/o  507  S.  Juniper  St.,  Toppenish,  WA 

98948  (Tel.  509/865-2706) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

CULVER,  ROBERT  D.  Th.D.  (Celeste) 
R.R.  1,  Box  166,  Houston,  MN  55943 
Professor  of  Theology,  Author 
Harrah.  WA,  church 

CUNDIFF,  C.  DAYTON  (Velma) 

2758  S.E.  7th,  No.  1,  Albany,  OR  97321 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

CURTIS*,  KENNETH  A.  (Gretchen) 

1901  Calle  Campana  de  Plata,  Tucson, 

AZ  85745  (Tel.  602/792-1114) 
Pastor,  Silverbell  Grace  Brethren 

Church 


CUSTER*,  JAMES  L.  (Triceine) 

2515  Carriage  Ln.,  Powell,  OH  43065 

(Tel.  614/881-5779) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

of  Columbus 


DAVIS*,  JEFFREY  (L)  (Ann) 

1870  Florida  Ave.,  Palm  Harbor,  FL 

33563  (Tel.  813/785-0733) 
Exec.  Director,  Bay  Area, 

Youth  for  Christ,  Clearwater,  Tamps 

St.  Petersburg,  FL 
Dayton,  OH,  (First  Grace)  church 

DAVIS*,  JOHN  J.,  Th.D.,  D.D.  (Carolyn) 
P.O.  Box  635,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-6033) 
Prof,  of  Old  Testament,  Grace 

Theological  Seminary,  Winona  Lake  ' 
Winona  Lake  church 

DAVIS*,  RAYMOND  H.  (Hebe) 

833  Spruce  St.,  Hagerstown,  MD  21740 

(Tel.  301/790-2927) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  church 

DAVIS*,  WILLIAM  (L)  (Karen) 

2090  Broad  St.,  East  Petersburg,  PA 

17520  (Tel.  717/560-0440) 
Pastor,  Greater  Lancaster  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Lancaster 

DeARMEY*,  LARRY  (L)  (Vicki) 

100-D  Cours  Lafayette,  69003-Lyon, 

France  (Tel.  0033-7-8953844) 
Missionary,  France 
Winona  Lake,  IN  church 

DeARMEY*,  RICHARD  P.  (Lois) 

1963  Noble  Run  Way,  Columbus,  OH 

43229  (Tel.  614/891-9063) 
Minister  of  Counseling 
Columbus  (Grace)  church 

de  JONGH*,  EDWARD  E.  (L) 

131  Providence  Forge,  Royersford,  PA 

19468  (Tel.  215/948-9204) 
Pastor,  Tri-County  Grace  Brethren 

Church 


DARR,  SHIMER  (Helen) 

R.  3,  Box  92,  Meyersdale,  Pa  15552 

(Tel.  814/634-0023) 
Caretaker  and  Overseer,  Allegheny 

Brethren  District  Youth  Camp 

(Albryoca) 
Grace  Brethren  Church 


DAUGHERTY*,  DAVE  (L)  (Karen) 

BR  240,  Central  African  Republic 
Columbus,  OH  (Grace)  church 


DAVIS*,  CHARLES  (Millie) 

9297  Access  Dr.,  Brookville,  OH  45309 

(Tel.  513/833-3161) 
Pastor,  Brookville  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


DELL*,  ROBERT  L.  (Marjorie) 

2225  Clover  Leaf  Rd.,  Hagerstown,  MD 

21740  (Tel.  301/582-3246) 
Minister  of  Adults  and  Visitation 
Hagerstown  (Grace)  church 

DELOE*,  JESSE  B.  (Gladys) 

P.O.  Box  696,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-8889) 
Asst.  to  the  President,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake  church 

DENLINGER*,  NED  (L)  (Kathy) 

1108  E.  Main  St.,  Trov,  OH  45373 

(Tel.  513/339-6469) 
Associate  Pastor,  Troy  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

DEVAN*,  FRED  W.,  Jr.,  (Margaret) 

10  E.  Luray  Ave.,  Alexandria,  VA  22301 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  church 


)e  ZAGO*,  EDMUND  (Mari  K) 
2366  Chandler  Ave.,  Fort  Myers,  FL 

33907  (Tel.  813/939-3591) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Bible  Church 

)IAZ*,  JOHN  L.  Lt.  (Brenda) 

CHC,  USN,  9810  Lancewood  St., 

Orlando,  FL  32817 

(Tel.  305/657-0882) 

Okeechobee,  FL,  church 

IICE*,  LEE  H.  (Reva) 
1909  Neal  Dr.,  Wooster,  OH  44691 

(Tel.  216/345-7826) 
Assoc,  pastor,  Grace  Brethren  church 

IICE*,  ROY  M.,  Jr.,  (Faye) 
32  Holly  Dr.,  Palmyra,  PA  17078 

(Tel.  717/838-3361) 
Temple  Hills,  MD,  church 


DUNKLE*,  JEFFREY  L.  (L)  (Ruth) 
1422  Freeborn  Circle,  Roanoke,  VA 
24014  (Tel.  703/982-2529) 
Associate  Pastor,  Ghent  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

DUNNING*,  HAROLD  L.,  Litt.D. 

(Marguerite) 

4363  Paramount  Blvd.,  Lakewood,  CA 

90712  (Tel.  213/421-5727) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 

Church,  Long  Beach 

DURKEE*,  SHERWOOD  V.  (Joyce) 
R.R.  8,  Box  49,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-4510) 
Administrator,  Grace  Village 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 


IICK*,  PAUL  E.  (Esther) 
R.  8,  Box  420,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/269-6360) 
Visitation  pastor  and  Pulpit  supply 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

HCKSON*,  GROVER  JAMES  CHC,  USN 

(June) 

Chaplain's  Office,  Naval  Construction 

Battalion  Center,  Port  Hueneme,  CA 

(Tel.  93043-5000) 
U.S.  Navy  Chaplain,  CDR 
Mansfield,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

IILLING*,  JOHN  R.  (Patricia) 
2207  Edmar  St.,  Louisville,  OH  44641 

(Tel.  216/875-9468) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Canton,  OH,  church 

HVINE*,  ROBERT,  D.  Min.  (Loretta) 
R.R.  1,  Box  56S,  East  Earl,  PA  17519 

(Tel.  717/354-0455) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 

New  Holland 

UXON*,  JAMES  G.,  Jr.,  (Dorothy) 
5920  John  Adams  Dr.,  Camp  Springs, 
MD  20748  (All  Mail  to  church 
address)  (Tel.  301/899-7945) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Temple  Hills 

lOWDY*,  J.  PAUL,  Sr.,  (Dortha) 
5864  Teal  Ln.,  El  Paso,  TX  79924 

(Tel.  915/751-5889) 
Retired  Missionary,  Argentina 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 


EADY*,  KEVIN  (L)  (Jill) 

420  W.  Market  St.,  Canal  Fulton,  OH 

44614 
Norton,  OH,  church 

EDGINGTON*,  ALLEN  D.  (Sharon) 

903  Roy  St.,  Winona  Lake.  IN  46590 

(Tel  219/269-6109) 
Senior  Pastor,  Community  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Warsaw 

EDWARDS*,  LARRY  (Darlene) 

417  W.  Water  St.,  Berne,  IN  46711 

(Tel.  219/589-2006) 
Pastor,  Bethel  Brethren  Church 

ELWELL*,  JAMES  T.  (Cynthia) 

PSC  Box  136,  APO,  New  York,  NY 

09241-5360 
(High  Wycombe,  United  Kingdom) 
813  Rosegill  Rd.,  Richmond,  VA  23235 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

EMCH*,  DARYLE  A.  (Janet) 

550  S.  Main  St.,  Marion,  OH  43302 

(Tel.  614/383-5816) 
Findlay,  OH,  church 

ENGLE*,  LOUIS  D.  (Dorothea) 

R.R.  1,  Box  52,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-4422) 
Leesburg,  IN,  church 

ESHELMAN*,  DONALD  E.  (Mary) 

1123  N.  Terrace,  Wichita,  KS,  67211 

(Tel.  316/688-0907) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


lOWNING*,  HOWARD  (L)  (Mary) 
5301  Hedgewood  Rd.,  Columbus,  OH 

43229  (Tel.  614/885-8392) 
Leesburg,  IN,  church 


95 


ESHLEMAN*,  DANIEL  S.  (Nancy) 

424  Englewood  Rd.,  Hagerstown,  MD 

21740  (Tel.  301/791-1467) 
Pastor,  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church 


FAIRMAN*,  RICK  (L)  (Judy) 

Winnipeg  Bible  College,  Otterburne, 
Manitoba,  Canada  ROAIGO 

(Tel.  204-433-7520) 
Professor,  Winnipeg  Bible  College 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

FARNER*,  DONALD  G.  (Joyce) 

719  Franklin  Ave.,  Sunnyside,  WA 

98944  (Tel.  509/837-6163) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Sunnyside 

FARNER*,  TIMOTHY  (Sandra) 

Rua  Joao  XXIII  No.  520,  38.400 

Uberlandia,  Minas  Gerais,  Brazil, 

South  America 

(Tel.  034-235-2887) 
Missionary,  Brazil 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

FATH*,  DAVID  K.  (L)  (Kathy) 

107  Bradley  Rd.,  R.R.  3,  Annville,  PA 

17003  (Tel.  717/838-6522) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Palmyra 

FEATHER*,  RAY  I.  (Sharon) 

8591  S.W.  Second  St.,  Okeechobee,  FL 

33472 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

FESTA,  BURTON  (L)  (Freya) 

Teichgasse  F,  6700  Ludwigshafen,  West 

Germany 
Long  Beach,  CA,  (Grace)  church 

FETTERHOFF*,  DEAN  (Billie) 

406  Truth  St.,  Marietta,  GA  30066 

(Tel.  404/428-8738) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Atlanta 

FETTERHOFF*,  ROBERT  D.  (Roxanne) 
1770  Woodcrest,  Wooster,  OH  44691 

(Tel.  216/262-1191) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


FLUKE*,  W.  MAX  (Mary  Ellen) 

R.R.  8  Box  55,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-3704) 
Winona  Lake,  EN,  church 


FOOTE,  ROBERT  (L)  ( 

3139  N.  Fairmount,  Davenport,  LA 

52804  (Tel.  319/391-7209) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

FREDERICKS*,  JAMES  (L)  (Fran) 

4629  Iroquois  Ave.,  Lakewood,  CA  907 

(Tel.  213/429-7604) 
Business  Administrator,  North  Long 
Beach  Brethren  Church 

FRETZ*,  JAY  M.  (L)  (Beth) 

226  Robin  Ave.,  Sebring,  FL  33870 

(Tel.  813/382-4640) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  church 

FRIESEN*,  LELAND  J.  (Janelle) 

4103  Malaga  Ct,  Rio  Rancho,  NM 

87124  (Tel.  505/892-8537) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Albuquerque,  NM 

FULLER*,  CARLTON  J.  (Vivian) 
Rt.  2,  Box  257,  Unicoi,  TN  37692 

(Tel.  615/743-8136) 
Telford,  TN,  church 

FUNDERBURG*,  MICHAEL  D.  (Nancy) 
13626  84th  St.,  S.E. 
Alto,  MI  49302 

(Tel.  616/868-6151) 
Pastor,  Calvary  Brethren  Church 

FUTCH*,  EARL  (L)  (Lita) 

S.M.  Castelverde  2421,  1879  Quilmes 

Oeste,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina 

South  America 

(Tel.  011-54-1-250-0973) 
Missionary,  Argentina 
Sidney,  IN,  church 


FINK*,  PAUL  R.,  Th.  D.  (Mary  Lou) 
Rt.  1,  Box  259,  Madison  Heights,  VA 

24572  (Tel.  804/384-2513) 
Prof.,  Liberty  University,  School  of 

Religion 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

FLORY*,  WAYNE  S.,  D.Min.  (Jaqulyn) 
4257  Nelsonbark  Ave.,  Lakewood,  CA 

90712  (Tel.  213/421-7269) 
Professor,  Biola  College 
Long  Beach  (Grace)  church 

FLOWERS*,  CHARLES  A.  (Maxine) 
Box  132,  Clarksville,  MI  48815 

Retired 
Roanoke,  VA,  (Clearbrook)  Church 


GALLE*,  JOHN  (Judy) 

P.O.  Box  335,  Hope,  NJ  07844 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

GARBER*,  MARTIN  M.  (Beverley) 
B.P.  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Missionary,  Africa 
Modesto,  CA  (La  Loma)  church 

GARDNER,  FRANK  H.  (Adelaide) 

3524  Alward  Rd.,  Pataskala,  OH  43062 

(Tel.  614/927-2407) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Licking  County 


ARTLAND*,  CLAIR  W.  (Elizabeth) 
457  Lyman  Ln.,  Conemaugh,  PA  15909 

(Tel.  814/322-1830) 
Pulpit  Pastor 
Conemaugh  (Pike)  church 

ASTON*,  DAVE  (L) 

34200  St.  Rt.  303,  Grafton,  OH  44044 

(Tel.  216/926-3204) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Elyria 

EGNER*,  LARRY  K.  (Mary) 
505  Winslow  Rd.,  Oxon  Hill,  MD  20745 

(lei.  301/839-1036) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Greater  Washington, 
(Temple  Hills,  MD) 

EGNER*,  Philip  R.  (L) 

I  342  E.  North  St., 
I  Worthington,  OH  43085 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

ELSINGER*,  HOWARD  H.  (Linda) 
49  Echo  Ln.,  Tremont,  PA  17981 

(Tel.  717/695-2284) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Pine  Grove 

EORGE*,  TIMOTHY  (Nancy) 
52  Lehman  St.,  Lebanon,  PA  17042 

(Tel.  717/273-9536) 
Minister  of  Evangelism 
Myerstown,  PA,  church 

ILBERT*,  RALPH  W.  (Nan) 
113  Woodway  Ln.,  Longview,  TX  75605 

(Tel.  214/759-4448) 
Professor,  LeTourneau  College 
Longview  church 

- 
ILL*,  JEFFREY  A.  (Katherine) 
361  Troy  Rd.,  Delaware,  OH  43015 

(Tel.  614/363-1438) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ILLETTE*,  DAN  (L)  (Lois) 
115  E.  Phillip  St.,  Covington,  VA  24426 
(Tel.  703/962-9541) 
!  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  ' 

ILLIS*,  E.  JOHN  (Ruth) 
632  Toakoana  Way,  Eagle  River,  AK 

99577  (Tel.  907/694-5331) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

INGRICH",  RAYMOND  E.,Sr.,Th.D.  (Edith) 
1720  Newport  Ln.,  Clearwater,  FL 

33516  (Tel.  813/581-0234) 
Professor  Emeritus,  LeTourneau  College 
Bible  Conference  Speaker,  Tour  Director 
Palm  Harbor  Grace  Brethren  Church 

INGRICH*,  ULYSSES  L. 

70  Chipawa  Ave.,  Dover,  PA  17315 

(Tel.  717/292-4792) 
Pulpit  Supply 
York,  PA  church 


97 


GLASS*,  ROY  E.,  (Arlene) 

259  N.  Second  St.,  Tipp  City,  OH  45371 

(Tel.  513/667-8006) 
Pastor,  Troy  Grace  Brethren  Church 

GLASS",  ROY  E.,  Ill  (L)  (Carol) 
814  W.  Race  St.,  Troy,  OH  45373 

(Tel.  513/339-4584) 
Youth  Pastor,  Troy  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

GNAGEY*,  GARY  P. 

P.O.  Box  346,  Hartford  City,  IN  47348 

(Tel.  317/348-5395) 
Hartford  City,  church 

GOOD*,  KENT  (Becky) 

21,  Bid.  de  la  Republique,  71100 

Chalon-sur-Saone  France 

(Tel.  0033-85-483373) 
Missionary,  France 
Ft.  Lauderdale,  FL,  church 

GOODMAN*,  DAVID  (Nancy) 

886  Elm  St.,  Winnetka,  IL  60093 
North  Long  Beach,  (CA),  Brethren 
Church 

GOODMAN*,  MARVIN  L.  (Dorothy) 
B.P.  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Missionary,  Africa 
Modesto,  CA,  (La  Loma)  church 

GOOSSENS,  THOMAS  E.  (Martha) 
115  Oak  St.,  Conemaugh,  PA  15909 

(Tel.  814/539-5333) 
Pastor,  Conemaugh  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

GRABILL*,  DANIEL  J.  (Joan) 

2524  Wilmington  Pk.,  Dayton,  OH 

45419  (Tel.  513/298-6734) 
Pastor,  Centerville  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

GRAHAM*,  IKE  (Nancy) 

1239  Karuizawa,  Nagano-Ken,  Japan, 

389-01  (Tel.  02674-2-2579) 
Wooster,  OH,  church 

GRANT*,  RICHARD  E.  (Mildred) 
R.  5,  Westhaven  Est.,  No.  635, 

Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Pulpit  Supply 
Warsaw  church 

GREEN*,  DANIEL  B.  (L)  (Nancy) 
c/o  Grace  Brethren  Church 
8225  Worthington-Galena  Rd.,  Wester- 

ville,  OH  43081 
Columbus,  OH,  church 

GREENE*,  ROBIN  D.  (L)  (Debbie) 

1903  Thornton  Dr.,  Ft.  Washington,  MD 

20744  (Tel.  301/292-4262) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Greater  Washington  at  Frederick,  MD 


GREGORY*,  JOHN  E.  (Betty) 

R.R.  2,  Box  538,  Duncansville.  PA 

16635  (Tel.  814/695-3739) 
Pastor,  Leamersville  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

GRIFFITH*,  DAVID  (Sue) 

13A  Rue  De  Strasbourg,  71200-Le 

Creusot,  France  (Tel.  0033-85-8-1007) 
Telford,  PA,  church 

GRIFFITH*,  ROBERT  (Joyce) 

R.R.  1,  Box  555,  Hollidaysburg,  PA 

16648  (Tel.  814/695-4240) 
Pastor,  Vicksburg  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

GRUBB*,  ELDON  E.  (L)  (Denise) 

R.  8,  Box  457,  Lot  62,  Roanoke,  VA 

24014  (Tel.  703/982-5549) 
Youth  pastor,  Garden  City  church 

GUERENA*,  PHILLIP  (Amy) 

5015  Southall,  Bell,  CA  90201 

(Tel.  213/773-9374) 
Pastor,  Bell  Brethren  Church 

GUILES*,  DAVID  A.  (L)  (Sue) 

Lincoln  Apts.,  No.  4,  1600  E.  Ft.  Wayne 
St.,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
(Tel.  219/269-5346) 
Asst.  pastor,  Warsaw,  church 

GUILES*,  RONALD  A.  (Irene) 

3350  Airport  Rd.,  Box  80,  Allentown, 
PA  18103  (Tel.  215/264-9477) 
Pastor,  Lehigh  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

GUIMONT*,  JEFF  (L) 

103  S.  Willow,  Flora,  IN  46929 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


H 


HAAG*,  WALTER  (Alys) 

Apartado  Postal  102-052,  Deleg. 

Iztacalco  C.P  08930  Mexico  D.F 

Mexico 
Missionary,  Mexico 
San  Ysidro  church 

HABLE*,  GARY  (L)  (Marie) 

200  Raymond,  Walbridge,  OH  43465 
(Tel.  419/666-7048) 

HALBERG*,  ROY  (Andrea) 

3725  Beyer  Park  Dr.,  Modesto,  CA 

95355  (Tel.  209/577-1604) 
Modesto  (Big  Valley)  church 

HALL,  JONATHAN  (Linda) 

14614  Magnolia  Ave.,  Westminster,  CA 

92683 
Westminster  church 


HALL*,  RALPH  C.  (Elizabeth) 
6611  Heritage  Ln. 
Executive  Vice  President,  Nelson,  Ha 

&  Associates,  Inc. 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 


HALLER*,  WESLEY  (Virginia) 

2487  Aspen  St.,  N.E.  North  Canton,  ( 

44721  (Tel.  216/499-8368) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Middlebranch,  OH 

HAMILTON*,  BENJAMIN,  Th.D.  (Mabel)     I 
Grace  Village,  Winona  Lake,  IN  4659i  ■! 

(Tel.  219/372-6185) 
Retired 
Winona  Lake  church 

HAMMERS*,  DANIEL  (L)  (Sherry) 

34  W  Kanawha,  Columbus,  OH  43214  | 

(Tel.  614/431-0245) 
Teacher,  Worthington  Christian  Schoo 
Columbus  (Grace)  church 

HAMMERS*,  THOMAS  E.  (Mary) 

604  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/267-5977) 
Winona  Lake  church 

HANFT*,  WENDELL  (L) 

18  East  Ave.,  HAgerstown,  MD  21740 
Hagerstown  (Grace)  church 

HANNAH*,  WAYNE  (Gina) 

2108  Unicorn  Ln.,  Richmond,  VA  232c 

(Tel.  804/272-4413) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

HARRELL*,  RICHARD  (Kathy) 

B.P  183  Moundou,  Republique  du 

Tchad,  Africa 
Missionary,  Chad 
Whittier,  CA,  (Community)  church 

HARRIS",  VERNON  J.  (Glyndowyn) 
104  Dianne  Cir.,  Willow  Street,  PA 

17584  (Tel.  717/464-9235) 
Pastor,  Southern  Lancaster  Grace 
Brethren  Church 

HARSTINE*,  RICHARD  F.  (Lucene) 

R.  4,  Box  188,  Roanoke,  VA  24018         i 

(Tel.  703/774-3483) 
Asst.  Pastor,  Patterson  Memorial  Grac ' 
Brethren  Church 

HARTMAN*,  JOHN  E.  (Fern) 

4845  W  14th  St.,  Cleveland,  OH  4410:, 

(Tel.  216/749-1175) 
Norton,  OH,  church 

HATCH*,  BURTON  G.  (Marie) 

7742  Long  Lake  Ct.,  S.E.,  Olympia,  W.i 

98503  (Tel.  206/456-2416) 
Retired  Chaplain  (Col.),  U.S.  Army 
Pulpit  Supply 
Long  Beach,  CA,  (Grace)  church 


WBAKER*,  DARREL  (L) 

705  E.  State  Rd.,  Hastings,  MI  49058 

(Tel.  616/945-9219) 
Hastings  church 

iWKINS*,  GILBERT  (Rosella) 
1203  "O"  St.,  Beaver  City,  NE  68926 

(Tel.  308/268-5821) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

lYES*,  CHRIS  A.  (Liz) 
P.O.  Box  875445,  Wasilla,  AK  99687 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ilM*,  JEFFREY  D.  (L) 

6777  Laird  Ave.,  Reynoldsville,  OH 

43068 
Assoc.  Pastor,  Columbus  (East  Side) 

church 


IN*,  HERMAN  H.,  Jr.  (Luella) 
1316  S.  43rd  Ave.,  Yakima,  WA 

(Tel.  509/966-3938) 
Evangelism  and  Supply  Pastor 
Goldendale,  WA,  church 


ilNSMAN*,  WILLIAM  G.  (L)  (Melba) 
Box  153,  Taichung,  Taiwan  400,  R.O.C. 
Director  of  TEAM  Radio-Taiwan 
Goshen,  IN,  church 

iNNING*,  G.  MARK  (Janette) 

8105  Sprenger  Dr.,  N.E.,  Albuquerque, 

NM  87109  (Tel.  505/821-5326) 
Pastor,  Heights  Grace  Brethren  Church 

TLAND*,  ART  (L)  (Michele) 

502  N.  Lincoln,  Warsaw,  IN  46580  (Tel. 

219/269-4132) 
Kent,  WA,  church 

2KEY*,  THOMAS  W.  (L) 

c/o  Grace  Brethren  Church,  1060  St.  Rd. 

40,  Ormond  Beach,  FL  32074 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Ormond  Beach 

- 
<IKS*,  DONALD  R.  (Joan) 
12  Wade  Ave.,  Gettysburg,  PA  17325 

(Tel.  717/334-1282) 
Owner,  Christian  bookstore 
Gettysburg,  PA,  church 

rCHMAN*,  DAVID  (Connie) 

20  W.  Main  St.,  Everett,  PA  15537 

(Tel.  814/652-9325) 
Pastor,  Everett  Grace  Brethren  Church 

l)BERT*,  DAVID  (Susan) 
43  rue  Jean  Bouveri 
71300-Montceau-les-Mines,  France 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

|»BERT*,  TAD  K.  (Vivienne) 
4230  Crownwood  Ave.,  Dayton,  OH 

45415  (Tel.  513/898-1689) 
Pastor,  North  Riverdale  Grace  Brethren 

Church 


HOCKING*,  DONALD  G.,  Ph.D.  (Betty) 
B.P.  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Missionary,  Africa 
Long  Beach,  CA  (Grace)  church 

HOCKING*,  JIM  (Faye) 

Chez  Mme  Rat.,  163  ave  de  Saxe, 

69003-Lyon,  France 
Missionary  to  Africa 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

HOCKING*,  THOMAS  G.  (L)  Tamra) 

17025  Woodruff  Ave.,  No.  5,  Bellflower, 

CA  90706 
C.E./Missions  Pastor 
Bellflower  church 

HOCKLEY*,  ALBERT  (L)  (Zoe  Ann) 
R.  2,  Greenwich,  OH  44837 

(Tel.  419/895-1394) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Danville 

HODGDON*,  EARLE  C.  (Dorothy) 

Caixa  Postal  861,  66.000  Belem,  Para, 

Brazil,  South  America 

(Tel.  91-231-4716) 
Missionary,  Brazil 
Wooster,  OH,  church 

HOFECKER*,  TERRY  (Debbie) 

1428  Chelmsford  Ct.,  Columbus,  OH 

43229  (Tel.  614/436-3749) 
Pastor,  Northwest  Chapel  Grace 
Brethren  Church 

HOFFMAN*,  PAUL  (Lyn) 

12630  Racquet  Ct.,  Auburn,  CA  95603 

(Tel.  916/888-8094) 
Pastor,  Gold  Rush  Community  Grace 

Brethren  Church 

HOLMES*,  ROBERT  F.  (Alice) 

9409  Spencer  Rd.,  Homerville,  OH 

44235  (Tel.  216/625-3375) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  church 

HOPKINS*,  RICHARD  (Jeanne) 

302  N.  Main  St.,  Walbridge,  OH  43465 

(Tel.  419/666-9727) 
Pastor,  Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church 

HORNER*,  J.  RICHARD  (Bettie) 

2934  Maple  Ave.,  Altoona,  PA  16601 

(Tel.  814/942-7642) 
Pastor,  First  Grace  Brethren  Church 

HOSTETLER',  DALE  C.  (L)  (Dorothy) 
910  S.  27th  Ave.,  Yakima,  WA  98902 

(Tel.  509/452-4554) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

HOWARD*,  A.  L.  (Dorothy) 

1731  Brookfield,  La  Habra,  CA  90631 

(Tel.  213/691-9387) 
LaMirada,  CA,  church 


99 


HOWARD*,  WILLIAM  E.  (Mary) 

304  Porter  Dr.,  Englewood,  OH  45322 

(Tel.  513/836-6247) 
Retired,  Pulpit  Supply 
Brookfield,  OH,  church 


HUGHES*,  THOMAS  D.  (Joyce) 

11422  Mollyknoll  Ave.,  Whittier,  CA 

90604  (Tel.  213/947-6958) 
Pastor  of  Evangelism 
Long  Beach  (Grace)  church 


HOWELL*,  GREGORY  M.  (Colleen) 

129  N.W.  Second  St.,  Goldendale,  WA 

98620  (Tel.  509/773-3996) 
Pastor,  Community  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

HOWELL*,  STEPHEN  (L)  (Sherie) 
R.  12,  Box  172,  Gray,  TN  37615 

(Tel.  615/477-7890) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Johnson  City 

HOYT*,  ALDO  (L)  (Alice) 
700  S.  Federal  Blvd., 
(Tel.  303/935-1429) 
Pastor,  Denver  Grace  Brethren  Church 

HOYT*,  GARNER  E.  (Myna) 

5015  South  Green  County  Line  Rd., 

Bloomington,  IN  47401 
Educator  and  Missionary 
Canton,  OH,  church 


HULETT*,  CLAYTON  (Kim) 

P.O.  Box  AC-527,  Quezon  City,  3001, 
Philippines 

Long  Beach,  CA  (Grace)  church 

HUMBERD*,  LARRY  (Joyce) 

R.  9,  Box  110,  Hagerstown,  MD  21741 

(Tel.  301/739-2792) 
Assoc./Youth  Pastor,  Hagerstown  (Gra 
church 

HUNT*,  JAMES  F.  Jr.,  (Mary) 

10  Greybirch  Ct,  Saratoga  Springs,     f 

NY  12866  (Tel.  518/587-1586) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

HUNT*,  TRUE  L.  (Lucille) 

Grace  Ln.,  Uniontown,  PA  15401 

(Tel.  412/437-4488) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


HOYT*,  HERMAN  A.,  Th.D.  (Harriet) 
101  Florentine  Dr.,  Willow  Street,  PA 

17584  (Tel.  717/464-5860) 
Educator  and  Minister 
Southern  Lancaster  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

HOYT*,  LYNN  (Mary) 

Calle  22,  No.  2350,  Parquefield, 

2000  Rosario,  Santa  Fe,  Argentina, 
South  America  (Tel.  (041)  55-4461) 

Missionary,  Argentina 

Sidney,  IN,  church 

HOYT*,  SOLON  (Kathryn) 

Rivadavia  455,  5800  Rio  Cuarto 
Cordoba 

Argentina,  South  America 
Canton,  OH,  church 

HUDSON*,  ELLIOTT  (Betty) 

119  Marburth  Ave.,  Baltimore,  MD 

21204  (Tel.  301/583-7010) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Fellowship  of 
Baltimore 

HUESMANN  II*,  LOUIS  (L)  (Laurie) 

425-111  Broadmedows  Blvd.,  Columbus, 

OH  43214 
Interim  pastor,  London  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

HUGGINS*,  KEVIN  (L)  (Tina) 

85  Goodhue  Dr.,  Akron,  OH  44313 
Assoc  pastor,  University  Park  Chapel 
Winona  Lake,  IN  church 


IMMEL*,  K.  HOWARD  (June) 

B.R  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Furlough  address:  3860  Smiley  Rd., 

Hilliard,  OH  43026 
Missionary,  Africa 
Reynoldsburg  church 

INBODEN*,  BUZZ  (L)  (Deb) 

2403  Summit  St.,  Columbus,  OH  432( 

(Tel.  614/268-5242) 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

INMAN*,  F.  THOMAS  (Geneva) 

2244  Fernwood  Dr.,  Colorado  Springs, 

CO  80910  (Tel.  303/597-2620) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


JACKSON*,  DANIEL  (L)  Rachael) 
121  Oregon  St..  Osceola,  IN  46561 

(Tel.  219/674-5063) 
Assoc.  Pastor,  Osceola  church 

JACKSON*,  EDWARD  A.  (Pollv) 

1012  Court  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  465! 

(Tel.  219/269-9784) 
Eastern  Field  Secretary,  Grace  Brethr 

Home  Missions  Council 
Findlay,  OH  church 


CKSON*,  G.  FORREST  (Arlene) 

172  Burgess  Ave.,  Dayton,  OH  45415 

(Tel.  513/275-4211) 
Pastor,  First  Grace  Brethren  Church 

COBSON*,  JON  RICHARD  (L)  (Margaret) 
P.O.  Box  2835,  Blue  Jay,  CA  92317 

(Tel.  714/336-2387) 
Campus  Crusade  For  Christ 
Long  Beach,  CA,  (North)  church 

RRELL*,  STEPHEN  (Linda) 

4438  Milbridge  Dr.,  Charlotte,  NC 

28208  (lei.  704/393-1152) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

RVIS*,  RONZIL  L.  (Becky) 
P.O.  Box  69,  Listie,  PA  15549 

(Tel.  814/445-5602) 
Pastor,  Listie  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SKINS',  CHARLES  LEE  (Janis) 
Box  273,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-6078) 
Staff,  Grace  Village 
Winona  Lake  church 


MKS*,  DALE  (Dorothy) 

P.O.  Box  432,  Island  Pond,  VT  05846 

(Tel.  802/723-4785) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

gSEN*,  DOUGLAS  (L) 

3521  Williamson  Rd.,  Stow,  OH  44224 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

gSEN*,  RICHARD  (L) 

iPO.  Box  582,  Simi  Valley,  CA  93065 

I     (Tel.  805/583-1707) 

principal,  Grace  Brethren  School, 

Simi  Valley  church 

HNSON*,  GEORGE  A.  (Evelyn) 

fcaixa  Postal  861,  66.000,  Belem,  Para, 

I     Brazil,  South  America 

(Tel.  91-235-2192) 
Missionary,  Brazil 
Wooster,  OH,  church 


JOHNSON*,  RAYMOND  (Marilyn) 

505  W.  Kessler-Cowlesville  Rd.,  Troy, 

OH  45373  (Tel.  513/335-3516) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Dayton,  OH,  (Basore  Road)  church 

JOLINE*,  RONALD  (L) 

c/o  Grace  Brethren  Church,  P.O.  Box  12, 

New  Holland,  PA  17557 
New  Holland  church 

JONES*,  A.  DUANE  (Katherine) 

1230  Bob  Pennell,  Ft.  Sill,  OK  73503 
U.S.  Army  Chaplain 
Auburn,  CA,  church 

JONES*,  ALAN  (Ellen) 

P.O.  Box  67,  New  Troy,  MI  49119 

(Tel.  616/426-8262) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

JONES*,  EMLYN  H.,  Th.M.,  D.D.  (Kay) 
25  Shetland  Dr.,  Hummelstown,  PA 

17036 
Chaplain  (Lt.  Col.),  U.S.  Army 
Temple  Hills,  MD,  church 

JONES*,  HAROLD  G.  (Fern) 

203  W.  Broad  St.,  Apt.  B,  Souderton,  PA 

18964  (Tel.  215/723-8759) 
Minister  of  Visitation 
Telford,  PA,  church 

JUDAY*,  ROBERT  H.  (L)  (Brenda) 
Rt.  3,  Box  287A,  Hurt,  VA  24563 

(Tel.  804/324-8188) 
Pastor,  Altavista  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

JULIEN*,  THOMAS  (Doris) 

4,  blvd.  des  Neuf  cles,  25A,  71000, 

Macon,  France 
Missionary,  France 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace),  church 

JURKE*,  RONALD  H. 

R.R.  5,  Green  Acres,  Kittanning,  PA 

16201  (Tel.  412/543-2208) 
Visual  Evangelist 
Kittanning  (First)  church 


HNSON, HOWARD 

Seal  Beach,  CA,  church 


K 


HNSON*,  MICHAEL  (L)  (Shirley) 
;4109  Whitebeam  Ct.,  Virginia  Beach, 

VA  23462  (Tel.  804/474-0855) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

IHNSON*,  NORMAN  (Cleo) 

HCGN  706,  Bloco  Q,  Casa  21,  70.740 

Brasilia,  DF.  Brazil,  South  America 

!     (Tel.  034-234-1130) 

Missionary,  Brazil 

Ashland,  OH  (Grace)  church 


KARNS,  LON 

Grace  Brethren  Village,  1010  Taywood 

Rd.,  Englewood,  OH  45322 
Retired,  Pastor  Emeritus 
Englewood  church 

KAUFFMAN*,  LUKE  E.  (Sandy) 

613  Hilltop  Rd.,  Myerstown,  PA  17067 

(Tel.  717/866-6325) 
Pastor,  Myerstown  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


KELLEY*,  GERALD  L.  (Janet) 

318  Maple  Court,  Kokomo,  IN  46902 

(Tel.  317/453-4579) 
Pastor,  Indian  Heights  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

KENNEDY*,  JAMES  M.  (Virginia) 
98-323  Pono  St.,  Aiea,  HI  96701 

(Tel.  808/487-7541) 
Pastor,  Waimalu  Grace  Brethren  Church 

KENNEDY*,  LESTER  W.  (Lois) 

251  E.  29th  St.,  Buena  Vista,  VA  24416 

(Tel.  703/261-6787) 
Pastor,  First  Brethren  Church 


KLINGER*,  GENE  A.  (L)  (Wanda) 

21  Shaker  Ct.,  Fremont,  OH  43420 

(Tel.  419/334-2112) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

KNIERIM*,  STEPHEN  D.  (L)  (Marilyn) 
P.O.  Box  32,  Aleppo,  PA  15310 

(Tel.  412/685-5360) 
Pastor,  Aleppo  Brethren  Church 

KNIFE*,  D.  WAYNE  (Janet) 

P.O.  Box  418,  Winona  Lake,  IN  4659) 

(Tel.  219/269-1609) 
Professor,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake  church 


KENT*,  HOMER  A.,  Jr.,  Th.D.  (Beverly) 
305  Sixth  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-5706) 
President  of  Grace  Schools,  Professor  of 

New  Testament  and  Greek 
Winona  Lake  church 

KENT*,  WENDELL  E.  (Pat) 

R.  1,  Box  97,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/594-2565) 
Director  of  Church  Relations,  Brethren 

Foreign  Missionary  Society 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

KERN*,  ROBERT  D.  (Dorothy) 

Box  246,  501  Poplar  St.,  Richland,  PA 

17087 
Minister  of  Counseling 
Myerstown,  PA,  church 

KESECKER*,  J.  WILLIAM  (L) 

1384  Salem  Ave.,  Hagerstown,  MD 

21740 
Hagerstown  (Calvary)  church 

KEY*,  CARL  B.  (Patricia) 

635  Karlson  Dr.,  Mansfield,  OH  44904 

(Tel.  419/756-1513) 
Director  of  Finances,  Mansfield  Chris- 
tian School 
Mansfield  (Grace)  church 

KIDDOO*,  WILLIAM 

c/o  Grace  Brethren  Church 

8400  Good  Luck  Rd.,  Lanham,  MD 

20706 
Lanham  church 

KLIEVER*,  JAKE,  D.D. 

2755  Prospect  St.,  N.E.  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: 

P.O.  Box  108,  Middlebranch,  OH 

44652) 

(Tel.  216/497-1461) 
Stateside  Ministries 
Middlebranch  church 

KLIEWER*,  ROBERT  C.  (Lillian) 

7612  Appleby  Dr.,  Huntington  Beach, 

CA  92648  (Tel.  714/848-2550) 
Pastor,  Westminster  Brethren  Church 


KNIGHTING*,  ANDREW  (L)  (Charlotte) 
6911  Lamont  Dr.,  Lanham,  MD  2070 

(Tel.  301/459-5221) 
Lanham  church 

KOCHHEISER*,  GARY  M.  (L) 

R.  3,  Painter  Rd.,  Fredericktown,  OH 

43019 
Ankenytown,  OH,  church 

KONVES*,  RUSSELL  E.  (Lois) 

4114  W.  Greenway  Rd.,  Phoenix,  AZ 

85023  (Tel.  602/938-5315) 
Pastor,  Northwest  Brethren  Church 

KOONTZ*,  KENNETH  (Janice) 

855  Trumbull,  Deltona,  FL  32725 

(Tel.  904/789-6512) 
Pastor,  Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Churi 
Orange  City 

KOWALKE*,  DAVID  (L)  (Cindy) 

84  Seven  Star  Rd.,  Solihull,  West 

Midlands, 

B91-2BW  England 

(Tel.  0044-21-7050162) 
Warsaw,  IN  church 

KREIMES*,  ROY 

80  Lucky  Dr.,  Concord,  NC  28025 
Charlotte,  NC,  church 

KRIEGBAUM*,  ARNOLD  R.,  Th.M.  (Laura 

2400  N.E.  146th  Ct.,  No.  7,  Silver 

Springs,  FL  32688 

(Tel.  904/625-1991) 
Maitland,  FL  church 

KRYNOCK*,  ROGER  (Susan) 

15567  Meadowbrook  Dr.,  Marysville 

OH  43040  (Tel.  513/644-9279) 
Pastor,  Watkins  Road  Community  Gra 
Brethren  Church 

KURTANECK",  NICKOLAS  (Micky) 
6153  Pershing  Wy.,  Buena  Park,  CA 

90260  (Tel.  714/522-5044) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 

Norwalk 


I CKEY*,  CLARENCE  H.  (Marian) 
I  P.O.  Box  6,  Portis,  KS  67474 
!      (Tel.  913/346-2085) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

L  NCASTER,  JOHN  WM.  (Regina) 
Kyle  Hill,  P.O.  Box  297,  Barton,  MD 

21521  (Tel.  301/463-6654) 
Pastor,  Mill  Run  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Westernport 

I  NDRUM*,  CLYDE  K.  (Ruby) 
1108  Chestnut  Ave.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.219/269-5381) 
Director  of  Development,  Warsaw  Chris- 
tian School 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 

llwSON*,  CHARLES  E.  (Fayth) 

I  7066  Post  Town  Rd.,  Trotwood,  OH 

45426  (Tel.  513/854-2066) 
|  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ECH*,  EDMUND  M.  (Virginia  L.) 
19310  S.  Harvest  Ave.,  Cerritos,  CA 

90701  (Tel.  213/865-3161) 
Pastor  Emeritus  of  Missions,  Mercy  and 

Visitation 
Bellflower,  CA,  church 

iIGH*,  NATHAN 

;  92-811  Moaka  St.,  Ewa  Beach,  HI 
96706  (Tel.  808/672-3250) 
Pastor,  Makakilo  Grace  Brethren  Church 
i  Wahiawa,  HI,  church 

jlWIS",  EDWARD  (Ruth) 
|  6117  N.W.  27th  St.,  Margate,  FL  33063 
(Tel.  305/973-7344) 

Evangelistic  work 

Fort  Lauderdale,  FL,  church 

EWIS*,  EDWARD  A.  (L) 

i  P.O.  Box  365,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-3928) 
|  Executive  Director,  GBC  Christian 
Education 
Director  of  Personnel,  Grace  Brethren 

Foreign  Missions 
Winona  Lake  church 

ilEDTKE*,  RICK  (L) 

15834  Valley  View  Dr.,  Marysville.  OH 

43040 
Marysville  church 

INDBERG*,  PAUL  O. 

I   8233  Krim,  N.E.,  Albuquerque,  NM 
87109 
Long  Beach,  CA,  (North)  Church 

'INDELEF*,  GARTH  E.  (Bette) 

>    8634  Cedar  St.,  Bellflower,  CA  90706 

(Tel.  213/602-0662) 
]    Pastor,  Community  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Long  Beach,  CA  - 


LINGENFELTER*,  GALEN  M.  (Kathern) 
9320  Barbara  Ln.,  Fort  Wayne,  IN 

46804  (Tel.  219/432-3800) 
Pastor,  First  Brethren  Church 

LINGENFELTER",  HOMER  (Mary  Elizabeth) 
R.D.  3,  Box  190,  Everett,  PA  15537 

(Tel.  814/652-2697) 
Retired  —  Pulpit  supply,  Bible  conf. 
Everett  church 

LORENZ*,  ORVILLE  A.  (Florence) 

684  Silver  Tree,  Claremont,  CA  91711 

(Tel.  714/621-9762) 
Chaplain  U.S.  Army,  Retired 
Montclair  church 

LOWERY,  MARVIN  E.  (L)  (Dixie  Lee) 

R.R.  8,  Box  121,  Johnstown,  PA  15909 

(Tel.  814/322-4581) 
Pastor,  Singer  Hill  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

LUNA,  TONY  T. 

P.O.  Box  32-B,  Talpa  Rt,  Ranchos  de 

Taos,  NM  87557  (Tel.  505/758-9244) 
Taos  church 

LYNN*,  THOMAS  (Debbie) 

4800  Cameron  Ranch  Dr.,  Sacramento, 

CA  95841 
Pastor,  River  City  Grace  Community 

Church  of  Sacramento 


M 


MacMILLAN*,  ROBERT  (Sharon) 

6414  Ralston  St.,  Ventura,  CA  93003 

(Tel.  805/642-9372) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Ventura 

MACONAGHY*,  HILL  (Dorothy) 
4061  58th  Ave.  N.,  Lot  206,  St. 

Petersburg,  FL  33714 

(Tel.  813/525-4576) 
Retired  Missionary 
Philadelphia,  PA,  (First)  church 

MAHAFFEY",  THOMAS  (Verlyn) 

250  Philadelphia  Ave.,  Waynesboro,  PA 

17268  (Tel.  717/762-3610) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MALAIMARE*,  THEODORE  (Evelyn) 
69  Reata  Ave.,  Ventura,  CA  93004 

(Tel.  805/647-5258) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Ventura 

MALE*,  E.  WILLIAM,  Ph.D.  (Ella) 
R.R.  8,  Box  71,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-7427) 
Dean  of  Seminary,  Grace  Schools 
,       Warsaw  church 


MALLES*,  MARK  E.  (Phyllis) 

4024  W.  Rancho  Dr.,  Phoenix,  AZ 

85019  (Tel.  602/841-5031) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MALLON*,  HENRY  (L)  (Joan) 

11  Vienna  Ct.,  Brookville,  OH  45309 
Asst.  pastor,  Brookville  church 

MANDUKA*,  DAVID  (Kathy) 

Strohgaustr.  13,  7250  Leonburg, 

West  Germany 

(Tel.  07152-21953) 
Missionary,  Germany 
Columbus,  OH,  church 

MANGES*,  DAVID  (L) 

2090  Hillview  Dr.,  Fayetteville,  PA 

17222 
Chambersburg  church 

MANGUM*,  ALAN  (Cheryl) 

P.O.  Box  36,  Ferguson,  IA  50078 

(Tel.  515/478-3313) 
Pastor  of  an  independent  church 
Modesto  (LaLoma),  CA,  church 

MANNING,  DAVID  (Ruth) 

Box  147,  Morrill,  KS  66515 

(Tel.  913/459-2827) 
Morrill  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MARKEN*,  DONALD  M.  (Mabel) 

5  Marchand  St.,  Millersburg,  OH  44654 
Danville,  OH,  church 

MARKLEY*,  ROBERT  WM.,  Sr.  (Idabelle) 
P.O.  Box  205,  Coolville,  OH  45723 

(Tel.  614/667-3523) 
Vienna,  WV,  church 

MARKSBURY*,  DAVID  E.  (Claudia) 

24916  183rd  PI.  S.E.,  Kent,  WA  98042 

(Tel.  206/631-3783) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


MARSHALL*,  JAMES  B.  (Margaret) 
Box  55,  Sinking  Spring,  OH  45172 

(Tel.  513/588-4675) 
Pastor,  Sinking  Spring  Grace  Brethren 

Church 


MARTIN*,  CHARLES  M.  (Myra) 

Rd.  7,  Box  242,  Johnstown,  PA  15905 

(Tel.  814/288-4045) 
Pastor,  Johnstown  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


MASON*,  NORRIS  (L)  (Sue) 

R.  2,  Box  98,  Seward,  PA  15954 

(Tel.  814/446-6153) 
Pastor,  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Armagh 


MATTHES*,  QUENTIN  L.  (Norma) 

1315  Falene  PL,  Galloway,  OH  43119 

(Tel.  614/878-6625) 
Pastor,  Southwest  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Columbus 

MAYER*,  J.  NORMAN  (L)  (Dorothy) 

791  Hamilton  Blvd.,  Hagerstown,  MD 

21740  (Tel.  301/733-3058) 
Pastor,  Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MAYES*,  HOWARD,  D.R.E.  (Nancy) 
4955  Longford,  Huber  Heights,  OH 

45424  (Tel.  513/236-4423) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Hube 
Heights 

MAYES*,  JOHN  W.,  D.Min.  (Marjorie  F.) 
R.  9,  Box  559B,  Longview,  TX  75601 

(Tel.  214/753-3143) 
Pastor.  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MAYES*,  ROGER  (Ruth  Ann) 

7363  Palomar  Ave.,  Yucca  Valley,  CA 

92284  (Tel.  619/365-1514) 
Pastor,  Yucca  Valley  Grace  Community 

Church 

MAYHUE*,  RICHARD  L„  Th.D  ("B") 
3635  Gaviota  Ave.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90807  (Tel.  213/595-6881) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

McBIRNIE",  ROBERT  S„  Ph.D.  (Donna) 
5708  Yearling,  Lakewood,  CA  90713 

(Tel.  213/925-3414) 
President,  California  Graduate  School  ol 

Theology,  Glendale 
Long  Beach  (Grace)  church 

MCCARTHY*,  RICHARD  D.  (Lee) 
R.  6,  Box  185,  Johnstown,  15909 

(Tel.  814/749-8758) 
Pastor,  Pike  Grace  Brethren  Church 

McCLELLAN*,  JAMES  S.  (L)  (Vivian) 
24520  131  PI.  S.E.,  Kent,  WA  98031 

(Tel.  206/630-2552) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Kent  church 


McCOY*,  RAYMOND  (L),  (I 

R.  2,  Box  467,  Cumberland;  MD  21502 

(Tel.  301/724-7223) 
Pastor,  Cumberland  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

McCRUM*,  ARTHUR  E.  (Alice) 

R.R.  1,  Box  33,  North  English,  IA 
52316  (Tel.  319/664-3568) 
Pastor,  Pleasant  Grove  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

MCDONALD*,  H.  FENTON  (Judy) 

801  Pigeon  Forge  Dr.,  Pflugerville,  TX 

78660  (Tel.  512/251-5784) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Austin 


IcINTOSH*,  JOHN  R.  (Carolyn) 
2735  N.  Beth  PL,  Simi  Valley,  CA 
93065 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

IcKILLEN*,  J.C.  (Bill)  (Edna) 
511  S.  Sherwood  Village  Dr.,  Tucson, 

AZ  85710  (Tel.  602/298-1388) 
Jewish  Radio  Mission 
Arvada,  CO,  church 

IEEKER*,  MARVIN  E.  (Jeralyn) 
920  Road  200  North,  Shamrock  Park, 

Lot  37,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/269-1298) 
Warsaw  church 

IENSINGER*,  EDWARD  (Linda) 
B.R  240  Bangui 

Central  African  Republic 
Missionary,  Africa 
Arvada,  CO,  church 

IERRIMAN*,  KEITH  A.  (L)  (Nancy) 
1532  Harding  Ave.,  Orrville,  OH  44667 

(Tel.  216/683-0850) 
Pastor,  Orrville  Grace  Brethren  Church 

IESSNER*,  RICHARD  G.  (Yvonne) 
R.R.  8,  Box  235,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
(Tel.  219/267-7839) 
|    Ketchum,  Inc.  Fund  Raising  Counsel 
I    Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

illCHAELS*,  DAN  (L)  (Sue) 

i    66  Kings  Highway,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/267-6455) 
|    Youth  pastor 

Winona  Lake  church 

J11LLER*,  CLARK  (Eunice) 
|     12088  Gearhart  Rd.,  Greencastle,  PA 
17225  (Tel.  717/597-7356) 
Pulpit  Supply 

Hagerstown,  MD,  Valley  Grace 
Brethren 

FILLER*,  DAVID  W.  (Sandra) 

!    7821  Linda,  La  Palma,  CA  90623 

(Tel.  213/423-5431) 
I    Pastor,  North  Long  Beach  Brethren 

Church 

1ILLER*,  DONALD  F.  (Lois) 

i     3901  Drakeshire  Dr.,  Modesto,  CA 

95356  (Tel.  209/527-0708) 
J    Retired  Missionary,  Africa 
j     Whittier,  CA,  (Grace)  church 

MLLER*,  DOYLE  E.  (L)  (Jaynie) 
|    P.O.  Box  480218,  Los  Angeles,  CA 
90048  (Tel.  213/852-0928) 
Wooster,  OH,  church 

/IILLER*,  EDWARD  D.  (Eileen) 
■     Caixa  Postal  368,  66.000  Belem,  Para, 
Brazil,  South  America 
(Tel.  91-226-2896) 
Missionary,  Brazil 
Modesto,  CA  (Big  Valley  Grace),  church 


MILLER*,  GARY  (Marilyn) 

518  Bank  St.,  Ashland,  OH  44805 

(Tel.  419/325-3779) 
Pastor,  Southview  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

MILLER*,  HOMER  R.  (Donna) 

832  E.  Bank  St.,  Ashland,  OH  44805 

(Tel.  419/324-3841) 
Ashland,  OH  (Grace),  church 

MILLER*,  J.  PAUL  (Ellen) 

1300  Payne  Ave.,  Modesto,  CA  95351 

(Tel.  209/537-4060) 
Pulpit  Supply,  Bible  Teacher 
Ripon,  CA,  church 

MILLER*,  KURT  A.  (Anecia) 

1182  Brook  Dr.,  East  Dunedin,  FL 

33528  (Tel.  813/736-2871) 
Pastor,  Palm  Harbor  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

MILLER*,  R.  PAUL  (Esther) 

630  Laura  Ave.,  Altamonte  Springs,  FL 

32714  (Tel.  305/869-6192) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 

Maitland 

MILLER*,  RALPH  F.  (Nancy) 

5353  Starkey  Rd.,  S.W,  Roanoke,  VA 

24015  (Tel.  703/774-9293) 
Pulpit  supply/Bible  teacher 
Roanoke  (Ghent),  church 

MILLER*,  W.  RAY  (L)  Betty) 

4860  Catalina  Dr.,  Toledo,  OH  43615 

(Tel.  419/537-0175) 
Pastor,  Toledo  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MILLER*,  ROBERT  E.  A.  (Althea) 

5772  Karen  Ave.,  Cypress,  CA  90630 

(Tel.  714/995-6140) 
American  Board  of  Missions  to  Jews 
Westminster,  CA,  church 

MILLER',  THOMAS  (Donna) 

R.R.  8,  Box  277,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-2533) 
Pressman,  BMH  Printing 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

MILLER*,  W.  CARL  (Betty) 

20657  Old  Mansfield  Rd.,  Bellville,  OH 

44813  (Tel.  614/694-8175) 
Pastor,  Ankenytown  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

MILLER*,  WARD  A.  (Lucille) 

3130  Valaria  Dr.,  Highland,  CA  92346 

(Tel.  714/864-5136) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
San  Bernardino 

MITCHELL*,  A.  DAVID  (Bettylou) 

Gen.  Del.,  Mililani  Town.  HI  96789 

(Tel.  808/623-5313) 
Pastor,  Waipio  Grace  Brethren  Church 


MITCHELL*,  CURTIS  C,  Th.D.  (Patricia) 
14818  Mansa  Dr.,  La  Mirada,  CA  90638 

(Tel.  213/944-4564) 
Professor  of  Bible,  Biola  University 
Long  Beach,  CA,  (North)  church 

MOELLER*,  DANIEL  P.  (Mary  Lou) 
Chez  Mme,  Messonnier,  8  Av 
Gen.  deGaulle  B,  69300-Calvire, 

France 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 


NAIRN*,  STANLEY  D.  (Betty) 

J.V.  Gonzales  2218,  1879  Quilmes  Oes't 

Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  S.A. 

(Tel.  011/54/1/250/1215) 
Missionary,  Argentina 
Middlebranch,  OH  church 

NAJIMIAN*,  DANIEL  T.  (L)  (Billy  Jo) 
352  W.  Park  Blvd.,  Medina,  OH  44256 

(Ttel.  216/723-0040) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


MOELLER*,  ROBERT  C.  (Donna) 

4584  Fulton  Rd.,  Smithville,  OH  44677 

(Tel.  216/669-3768 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Sterling 

MOHLER*,  HORACE  H.  (Zella) 

63  East  Sherry  Dr.,  Trotwood,  OH 

45426  (Tel.  513/837-8685) 
Dayton,  OH  (First  Grace),  church 

MOHLER*,  PAUL  L. 

707  Saint  John  St.,  Grafton,  WV  26354 

(Tel.  304/265-4624) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Grafton  church 

MOORE*,  EARL  D.  (L)  (Lynda) 

P.O.  Drawer  4344,  Kenai,  AK  99611 

(Tel:  Office-907/283-4379,  Home- 

907/283-7327) 
Pastor,  Kenai  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MORTON*,  ROBERT  (Mary) 

2502  Highland  Rd.,  Parkersburg,  WV 

26101  (Tel.  304/485-4199) 
Pastor,  Community  Grace  Brethren 

Church,  Vienna 

MUNHOLLAND,  LEROY  (L)  (Gloria) 

1019  NE  Maple  Dr.,  Kansas  City,  MO 

64118 

(Tel.  417/532-2816  or  417/453-6588) 
Kansas  City,  church 


NASS*,  JOSEPH  E.  (L)  (Mary) 

45  W  St.  Charles  St.,  Grafton,  WV 

26354  (Tel.  304/265-0043) 
Pastor,  First  Grace  Brethren  Church      ) 

NEWLIN*.  STUART  (L)  (Sherry) 

310  Pliler  Precise,  Longview,  TX  75601 ! 
Longview  church 

NIX*,  DAYNE  (Linda) 

10282  W  69th  Ave.,  Arvada,  CO  80004 

(Tel.  303/431-4710) 
Pastor,  Hackberry  Hill  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

NONNEMACHER,  HARRY  (Sylvia) 

R.  2,  Box  264,  Martinsburg,  WV  25401 

(Tel.  304/274-2341) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

NORD*,  CHRISTOPHER  D.  (L)  (Carolyn) 
18  rue  de  Martyrs  de  la  Resistance 
71000  Chalon  Sur  Saone,  France 
Missionary,  France 
Bellflower,  CA,  church 

NORWICK*,  STANLEY  (Elizabeth) 

1467  Osprey  Ln.,  College  Place,  WA 

99324  (Tel.  509/525-7681) 
Chaplain,  St.  Marv  Community 

Hospital,  Walla  Walla 
Long  Beach,  CA  (North)  church 


MUTCHLER*,  J.  PAUL  (Linda) 

616  NW.  21  St.,  Wilton  Manors,  FL 

33311  (Tel.  305/561-6936) 
Pastor,  Fort  Lauderdale  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


NUTTER*,  LESLIE  (Frances) 

R.D.  2,  Box  112,  Wrightsville,  PA 

17368  (Tel.  717/252-3554) 
Pastor,  Susquehanna  Grace  Brethren 

Church 


MYERS*,  M.  LEE  (Lynette) 

507  Wentworth  Dr.,  Winchester  VA 

22601  (Tel.  703/667-2602) 
Pastor,  Blue  Ridge  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


N 


NAGLE,  JOHN  (L)  (Beckv) 

520  Stassen  Way,  Grandvievv,  WA 

98930  (Tel.  509/882-5882) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


ODELL*,  CECIL  (L)  (Debbie) 
Koopo  Tsukase  No.  102,  2-10-8 
Sumiyoshi,  Hoya-Shi,  Tokyo  202  Japan 

(Tel.  011-81-42423-6455) 
Missionary,  Japan 
Long  Beach,  CA  (Grace),  church 

OESSNICK*,  FRANK  (L) 

3309  Broad  Ave.,  Altoona,  PA  16601 
Altoona  (Juniata)  church 


106 


OGDEN*,  DONALD  E.,  M.M.  (Wanita) 
R.R.  8,  Box  245,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-7290) 
Professor,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake,  IN  church 

DGDEN*,  W.  RUSSELL  (Betty) 

8400  Good  Luck  Rd.,  Lanham,  MD 

20706  (Tel.  301/552-9660) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

OLSZEWSKI*,  BUD  (Ann) 

50  Rittman  Rd.,  Rittman,  OH  44270 

(Tel.  216/925-5356) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

OSTRANDER*,  MICHAEL  (Judy) 

P.O.  Drawer  1068,  Taos,  N.M  87571 

(Tel.  505/758-3216) 
Taos  church 


PAGE,  MICHAEL  (Sherry) 

5917  Pierce  St.,  Apt.  203,  Arvada,  CO 
80003 
I      Christian  Education  Director 

Arvada  church 

PAINTER*,  HAROLD  (Margaret) 

1050  Richards  Rd.,  Perris,  CA  92370 
Montclair,  CA,  church 

PAPPAS*,  JOHN  (Becky) 

Liebigstr  7/1,  7080  Aalen-Unterkoahen 

(Tel.  0711-751290) 
Missionary,  Germany 
Columbus,  OH  (Grace),  church 

PATRICK*,  JOHN  B.  (Georgia) 

3725  Watkihs,  Eugene,  OR  97401 
Brethren  Chaplain,  U.S.  Army 
Anaheim,  CA,  church 

PATTERSON*,  GARY  C.  (Jaci) 

A  BTry  3d  Cn  Trng.  Bn,  Ft.  Sill,  OK 

73503  (Tel.  405/355-2882) 
Warsaw,  IN,  church 

PEEK*,  GEORGE  O.,  D.D.  (Mabel) 
5772  Garden  Grove  Blvd.,  Sp.  560, 

Westminster,  CA  92683 

(Tel.  213/596-4836) 
Pastor  Emeritus,  Long  Beach,  CA 

(North)  church 

PEER*,  EARLE  E.  (Alice) 

635  Highland  Ave.,  Gettysburg,  PA 

17325  (Tel.  717/334-7851) 
Pastor,  Gettysburg  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

PEER*,  PETER 

B.P.  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Missionary— France  (on  loan  to  C.A.R.) 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 


PERAZA",  F.  JAVIER  (Ofelia) 

2414  W  6th  St.,  Santa  Ana,  CA  92703 

(Tel.  714/835-6697) 
Pastor,  Maranatha  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

PETERS*,  JACK  K.,  Jr.  (Deborah) 

2804  Forestgreen  Dr.,  S.,  Lakeland,  FL 

33803  (Tel.  813/646-3508) 
Pastor,  Lakeland  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

PETERS*,  JACK  K.,  Sr.  (Maxine) 

127  Cedar  Dr.,  West  Milton,  OH  45383 

Tel.  301/797-3218) 
Minister  of  Evangelism  and 

Discipleship 
Community  Grace  Brethren  Church, 

Union,  Ohio 

PETERS*,  STEPHEN  (Susan) 

600  S.  Mam  St..  West  Milton,  OH 

45383  (Tel.  513/698-3664) 
Pastor,  Community  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Union 

PETTMAN*,  DAN  (Grace) 

C.P.  14,  68445  Barcarena,  Para,  Brazil 
Missionary,  Brazil 
Canton,  OH,  church 

PETTY*,  RICHARD  A.  (L)  (Marilyn) 
425  E.  Patterson,  Bellefontaine,  OH 

43311  (Tel.  513/592-1419) 
Pastor,  Mad  River  Valley  Grace 
Brethren  Church 

PEUGH*,  ROGER  D.  (Nancy) 

7  Stuttgart  (80)  Mohringen,  Ganzenstr. 
13  West  Germany 
(Tel.  0711-711178) 
Missionary,  Germany 
Elkhart,  IN  church 

PFAHLER*,  LARRY,  M.D.  (Linda) 

483  Oxford  Ct.,  Worthington,  OH  43085 

(Tel.  614/436-8828) 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

PICARD*,  MITCHELL  S.  (L)  (Deborah) 
1523  E.  Newport,  Lititz,  PA  17543 
Assistant  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

PICARD*,  RONALD  (LaDona) 

410  Valleyview  Dr.,  Englewocd,  OH 

45322  "(Tel.  513/832-0101) 
Executive  Director,  Grace  Brethren 

Board  of  Evangelism 
Brookville,  OH,  church 

PIFER*,  LESTER  E.,  D.D.  (Genevene) 
505  School  Ave.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/267-7683) 

(Address:  Nov.-Feb.  311  56th  Ave.,  W, 

Bradenton,  FL  33507) 

(Tel.  813/753-4511) 
Church  Planting  Consultant 
Winona  Lake  church 


PITTMAN*,  EARL  (Cosy) 

1213  N.  Detroit  St.,  Xenia,  OH  45385 

(Tel.  513/376-4476) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

PLACEWAY",  RICHARD  (Nancy) 

2201  Highland  Rd.,  Parkersburg,  WV 

26101  (Tel.  304/422-6143) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

PLACEWAY,  TIM  (L)  (Joellen) 
R.  1,  Box  12,  Berne,  IN  46711 

(Tel.  219/589-3195) 
Minister  of  Youth  and  Music 
Berne  church 

PLASTER*,  DAVID  R.  (Virginia) 

1902  E.  Sheridan,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/269-9625) 
Faculty,  Grace  Theological  Seminary 
Warsaw  Community  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

POIRIER",  ROBERT  (Ellen) 

3912  Bradwood  Dr.,  Dayton,  OH  45405 

(Tel.  513/274-8220) 
Pastor,  Calvary  Grace  Brethren  Church 

POLMAN*,  GERALD  (Phyllis) 

405  Harvest  Lane,  Lansing,  MI  48917 

(Tel.  517/321-0864) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

POLMAN*,  ROY  (Judy) 

986  W.  Grove,  Rialto,  CA  92376 

(Tel.  714/874-3526) 
Pastor,  Grace  Community  Church  of 
Rialto 

POWELL,  WILLIAM  (Rozella) 

1122  Hickory,  Sand  Springs,  OK  74063 
Waterloo,  IA,  church 

POYNER*,  JAMES  L.  (Charlotte) 

821  Peppertree  Ln.,  Port  Richey,  FL 

33568  (Tel.  813/862-2821) 
Pastor,  Gulfview  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

POYNER*,  RANDY  (Betty) 

R.  1,  Box  238D,  Neck  Rd.,  Williamsport, 
MD  21795  (Tel.  301/223-6832) 

Director/Counselor  Tri-State  Counseling 
Institute,  Seminars  and  Concert 
Ministries  (Tel.  301/790-1774) 

Temple  Hills  church 

PRENTOVICH*,  MICHAEL  (L) 

303  N.  Seneca,  Rittman,  OH  44270 
Assistant  pastor,  Rittman  church 

PRICE*,  JOE 

P.O  Box  2903,  LaHabra,  CA  90631 
Counseling/Seminar  ministry 
Seal  Beach,  CA,  church 


PRITCHETT*,  DANIEL  J.  (L)  (Pam) 
499  Colonial  Dr.,  Xenia,  OH  45385 

(Tel.  513/429-9043) 
Pastor,  Calvary  Brethren  Church, 
Kettering 


Q 


QUICK*,  DAVID  C.  (L)  (Elaine) 

R.  2,  Box  62A,  North  Manchester,  IN 

46962  (Tel.  219/839-3596) 
Pastor,  Sidney  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Sidney 


RAGER*,  DON  K.  (L)  (Hannah) 

667  Highland  Ave.,  Johnstown,  PA 

15902  (Tel.  814/288-4869) 
Retired,  Pulpit  Supply 
Conemaugh,  PA  church 

RAMSEY*,  DAN  (Denise) 

Egerlanderstr  2,7250  Leonberg,  West 

Germany  (Tel.  07152-45609) 
Missionary,  Germany 
Canton,  OH,  church 

RATCLIFFE*,  CARL  D.  (L)  (Doris) 
P.O.  Box  2634,  Christiansburg,  VA 

24068  (Tel.  703/382-4654) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church.  Riner 

RAYMOND*,  HAROLD  (L)  (Elizabeth) 
726  Hiland  Ave.,  No.  1,  Coraopolis,  PA 

15108  (Tel.  412/264-0306) 
Coraopolis  church 

REILLY*,  AL  (Linda) 

1004  Spring  Run  Rd.,  Lexington,  KY 

40514  (Tel.  606/223-1841) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

REMPEL*,  HENRY  G.  (Helen) 

1120  Northwood  Rd.,  Apt.  186-F, 
Seal  Beach,  CA  90740  (Tel. 
213/430-6658) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Long  Beach  (Grace),  church 

RICHARDS*,  JOEL  (L)  (Jane) 

2501  Glasgow  Dr.,  Ceres,  CA  95307 

(Tel.  209/538-4495) 
Pastor,  La  Loma  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

RICHARDSON*,  K.E.  (Virginia) 

193  Christian  Ave.,  N.E.,  Roanoke.  VA 

24012  (Tel.  703/563-1743) 
Visitation 
Roanoke  (Ghent)  church 


1ICHES0N*,  LARRY  (Norma) 

1280  Wincrest  Dr.,  Winona,  MN  55987 

(Tel.  507/452-7986) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

-(INKS',  LLOYD  D.  (Fran) 

1341  E.  Jackson  St.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90805  (Tel.  213/422-4579) 
Pastor,  Hospital  Visitation  &  Senior 

Adults 
Long  Beach  (Grace)  church 

RISSER*,  C.  DEAN  (Ella  Lee) 

815  Prospect,  Marion,  OH  43302 

(Tel.  614/383-4197) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

RITCHEY*,  GEORGE  S.  (Laura) 

P.O.  Box  204,  Shawmut,  MT  59078 

(Tel.  406/632-4110) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Duncansville,  PA,  church 

ROBBINS*,  D.  RICHARD  (L)  (Betty  Jean) 
101  Diamond  Mill,  Clayton,  OH  45315 
Union,  OH,  church 

ROBERTS*,  ROY  R.  Ph.D.  (Patti) 

1355  Butter  Churn  Dr.,  Herndon,  VA 
22070  (Tel.  703/444-9047) 
i      Director,  National  Church  Relations- 
Prison  Fellowship 
Seal  Beach,  CA,  church 


ROUGH*,  H.  DON  (Dorothy) 

R.R.  3,  Box  135,  Holsopple,  PA  15935 

(Tel.  814/288-1163) 
Pastor,  Riverside  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

RUIZ*,  TED  (L)  (Vivien) 

New  Tribes  Mission,  Language  and 
Orientation,  Room  217  Commercial 
Center,  Lipa  City,  Batangas, 
Philippines 

LaVerne,  CA,  church 

RUSSELL*,  ROBERT  (Connie) 

460  Brenda  Dr.,  Mansfield,  OH  44907 
Pastor,  Woodville  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

RYAN*,  MICHAEL  (Donna) 

52  Chenery  St.,  San  Francisco,  CA 

94131  (Tel.  415/647-7256) 
Seal  Beach,  CA,  church 

RYERSON*,  GREG  (Jane) 

E.  10422  Broadway,  Spokane,  WA 

99206  (Tel.  509/922-7951) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

RYERSON,  MILTON  M.  (Sue) 

P.O.  Box  141327,  Spokane,  WA  99214 

(Tel.  509/922-0285) 
Spokane  Valley,  WA,  church 


ROBINSON*,  RALPH  (Carolyn) 
R.  1,  Box  195,  Nebo,  NC  28761 
Orlando,  FL,  church 

ROCKAFELLOW*,  MICHAEL  (Bonnie) 
432  Hilltop  Circle,  Elizabethtown,  PA 

17022  (Tel.  717/367-4147) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

. 
IROEDIGER*,  STEPHEN  R.  (Mary) 
788  U.S.  Rt.  224,  Nova,  OH  44859 

(Tel.  419/652-2434) 
Assistant  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Homerville 

ROGERS*,  VICTOR  S.  (Vivien) 

7363  Palomar  Ave.,  Yucca  Valley,  CA 

92284  (Tel.  619/365-1514) 
Assoc,  pastor,  Yucca  Valley  church 

ROHRER*,  RICHARD  A.  (L)  (Cathi) 
9282  Nancy  Ave.,  Cypress,  CA  90630 

(Tel.  714/828-8965) 
Pastor,  Los  Altos  Brethren  Church 


ROOT,  GERALD  H.  (Elizabeth) 

407  N.  Garland  Ave.,  Dayton,  OH 

45403  (Tel.  513/252-5294) 
Dayton,  OH  (Huber  Heights)  church 


SABIN*,  DOUGLAS  (L) 

R.  1,  Box  C152,  Milroy,  PA  17063 
Pastor,  Milroy  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SALAZAR*,  ROBERT  G.  (Marilyn) 
Valle  de  la  Ballestera  35.4  46015 
Valencia,  Spain 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

SANDY*,  D.  BRENT  (L)  (Cheryl) 
R.  3,  Box  36,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-3857) 
Assoc.  Professor,  Grace  College  and 

Seminary 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

SARVER*,  RUSSELL  A.  (Alberta) 

2966  E.  Center  Rd.,  Hastings,  MI  49058 

(Tel.  616/945-9224) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SAUNDERS*,  MARK  E.  (L)  (Roberta) 
P.O.  Box  144,  Ephrata,  PA  17522 

(Tel.  717/733-6018) 
Pastor,  Ephrata  Area  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

SAURER*,  ROGER,  D.Min.  (L)  (Susan) 
P.O.  Box  312,  Killbuck,  OH  44637 
Ashland,  OH,  (Grace)  church 


SCHAEFER*,  JAMES  (L)  (Elizabeth) 
Apartado  Postal  102-108,  Deleg.  Iz- 

tacalco,  C.P.  08930,  Mexico  D.F., 

Mexico 
Temple  Hills,  MD,  church 

SCHAFFER*,  WILLIAM  H. 

311  Kulila  Pl„  Kenai,  AK  99611 

(Tel.  907/283-3216  or  283-4379) 
Minister  of  Missions 
Kenai  church 

SCHROCK*,  LYNN  D.  (Lois) 

148  Avenue  B,  1200  Aurora  Blvd., 

Bradenton,  FL  34202 
San  Diego,  CA,  church 

SCHROCK',  NORMAN  E.  (Claudia) 
6744  Boer  Ave.,  Whittier,  CA  90606 

(Tel.  213/695-2093) 
Pulpit  supply 
Bellflower  church 

SCHROCK*,  VERNON  W.  (L)  (Loreta) 

226  Hammond  Ter.,  Waterloo,  IA  50702 

(Tel.  319/232-5485) 
Pulpit  Supply 
Waterloo  church 

SCHUMACHER*,  JOHN  W.  (Martha  Ann) 
CH  (Col.)  U.S.  Army,  Command/Installa- 
tion Chaplain— Alaska,  Ha.  172d,  Inf. 
Bde.,  Fort  Richardson,  AK  99505 
(Tel.  907/428-0040) 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 


SHEDD*,  DAN  L.  (L)  (Doris) 

5457  Preston  Ct.,  Concord,  CA  94521 

(Tel.  415/672-8634) 
Adminis.  of  Ygnacio  Valley  Christian      j 

School 
La  Mirada  church 

SHERMAN*,  JOHN  (L)  (Rebecca) 

512  S.  Eighth  St.,  Goshen,  IN  46526 

(Tel.  219/533-7538) 
Director,  Christian  Education 
Goshen  church 

SHIPLEY,  STEVEN  (L)  (Hally) 

119  E.  28th  St.,  Buena  Vista,  VA  24416 

(Tel.  703/261-3946) 
Associate  Pastor,  First  Brethren  Church 

SHIRK*,  GLEN  W.  (Lois) 

1007  Manor  Dr.,  Ripon,  CA  95366 

(Tel.  209/599-4685) 
Pastor,  Ripon  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SHOEMAKER*,  DONALD  PAUL,  D.  Min. 

(Mary) 

2251  Knoxville  Ave.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90815  (Tel.  213/598-5298) 
Senior  Pastor,  Grace  Community 

Church  of  Seal  Beach 

SHOLLY*,  JOHN  J.  (Jennie) 

215  Liberty  St.,  Jonesville,  MI  49250 

(Tel.  517/849-2985) 
Lansing  church 


SCHWARTZ*,  RALPH  R.  (Martha) 
311  W  Orchard,  Santa  Maria,  CA 

93454  (Tel.  805/922-7184) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SELLERS*,  RICHARD  D.  (Virginia) 

10455  U.S.  12,  White  Pigeon,  MI  49099 
Sterling,  OH,  church 

SENIOR*,  RANDY  (L) 

6234  Eckleson  St.,  Lakewood,  CA  90713 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Cypress,  CA 

SHACKLETON*,  DONALD  (L)  (Mary) 
828  Stanwood  St.,  Philadelphia,  PA 

19111  (Tel.  215/745-7004) 
Minister,  Senior  Adults 
Philadelphia  (First)  church 

SHARP*,  TOM  (L)  (Susan) 

3760-R  Sunset  Lane,  San  Ysidro,  CA 

92073 
Missionary,  Mexico 
Ankenytown,  OH,  church 

SHEARER*,  KEITH  (L) 

58343  Apple  Rd„  Osceola,  IN  46561 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


SIEBERT*,  AL  (L)  (Johanna) 

2021  Dawson  St.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90806  (Tel.  213/494-1037) 
Executive  Director,  Greater  Long  Beach 

Youth  for  Christ 
Bellflower  church 

SILEBI*,  RAUL 

230  E.  69th  St.,  Long  Beach,  CA  90805 

(Tel.  213/638-7478) 
Spanish  Pastor 
Long  Beach  (North)  church 

SIMMONS*,  BERNARD  (Sue) 

4642  Glenhaven  Dr.,  Columbus,  OH 

43229 
Pastoral  Staff,  Columbus,  OH,  Grace 

Brethren  Church 


SIMMONS*,  PHILLIP  J.  (Ethel) 

Colonial  Estates,  499  Buckeye, 

Lancaster,  OH  43130 

(Tel.  614/654-9709) 
Lancaster  (Southern),  PA,  church 

SIMPSON*,  RUSSELL  E.  (Joanne  Lynn) 
c/o  Laurel  Mtn.,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

R.  2,  Boswell,  PA  15531 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


KEEN*,  ROBERT  (Denise) 
B.P.  240  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
(On  furlough  -  address,  RO.  Box  588, 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590) 
Columbus,  OH  (Grace)  church 

LUSHER*,  DAVID  S.  (L)  (Jane) 
11  Kimmel  Rd.,  Clayton,  OH  (Mailing 
address:  P.O.  Box  9,  45315) 
(Tel.  513/836-1689) 
Pastor,  Clayton  Grace  Brethren  Church 

MALS,  JAMES  R.  (Betty) 
R.R.  1,  Box  625,  Buena  Vista,  VA  24416 

(Tel.  703/261-6916) 
Buena  Vista  church 

MALS',  RONALD  A.  (Susan) 
Lincoln  Apt.  10,  1600  E.  Ft.  Wayne  St., 
Warsaw,  IN  46580 
(Tel.  219/267-7745) 
Assoc,  pastor,  Warsaw  church 

MITH*,  BRIAN  (Kathleen) 
j    10641  Zodiac,  Riverside,  CA  92503 

(Tel.  714/687-5427) 
I    Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

liMITH*,  CHARLES  R.  (Ellie) 

|     1203  Presidential  Dr.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/269-2130) 
!    Professor,  Grace  Schools 
I    Winona  Lake  church 

iMITH,  ERIC  D.  (Debbie) 
2718  E.  57th  St.,  Long  Beach,  CA 

90805 
Long  Beach  (Grace)  church 

jiMITH*,  JOHN  F.  (Sharon) 

|     1715  Montour  St.,  Corapolis,  PA  15108 

(Tel.  412/264-0984) 
I     Pastor,  Bon' Meade  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

Smith*,  richard  m.  (Eioise) 

l     R.R.  6,  Box  91,  Johnstown,  PA  15909 

(Tel.  814/322-1029) 
1     Pulpit  Supply 

Johnstown  (Riverside)  church 

5MITH*,  WILLIAM  W.  (Phyllis) 

411  Auditorium  Blvd.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/267-6537) 
Interim  pastor,  Leesburg  Grace 
Brethren  Church 
I     Winona  Lake  church 

5MITHWICK*,  LARRY  (Shari) 

13540  Bavwind,  Anchorage,  AK  99516 
(Tel.  907/345-4082) 
i     Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

5MITLEY*,  LESTER  O.  (Elsie) 
!      537  Revere  Ten,  Warminster,  PA  18974 
(Tel.  215/675-0943) 
Pulpit  Supply 
I      Mt.  Laurel,  NJ,  church 


SMOKER*,  ROBERT  C.  (L)  (Jean) 
R.  2,  Box  1429,  Stowe,  VT  05672 

(Tel.  802/253-8595) 
Pastor,  Mansfield  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

SNAVELY*,  JAMES  (Kitty) 

R.  4,  Box  180-A,  Jersey  Shore,  PA  17740 

(Tel.  717/398-0586) 
Pastor,  Tiadaghton  Valley  Grace 
Brethren  Church 

SNELL*,  WILLIAM  H.  (Jean) 

306  S.  Mulberry  St.,  Martinsburg,  PA 

16662  (Tel.  814/793-3685) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SNIDER*,  R.  WAYNE,  Th.M.,  M.A.  (Hyla) 
Box  691,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-4684) 
Professor  of  History,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake  church 

SNIVELY',  HOWARD  M.  (Evelyn) 

Rt.  2,  Box  845,  Soldotna,  AK  99669 
Pastor,  Peninsula  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

SNOW*,  R.  JOHN  (Lucille) 

R.  1,  Box  79,  Irasburg,  VT  05845 
Pastor,  Irasburg  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SNYDER*,  BLAINE  (Ruth) 

200  13th  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/267-7559) 
Retired 
Winona  Lake  church 

SNYDER*,  CRAIG  (Vicki) 

119  Cliffbrook  Dr.,  Mansfield,  OH  44907 
Pastor,  Maranatha  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

SNYDER*,  ROY  B.  (Ruth) 

P.O.  Box  588,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

Missionary,  Africa 

Fort  Lauderdale,  FL,  church 

SOULE*,  DONALD  J.  (Cindy) 

Rt.  11,  Box  274,  Anderson,  SC  29621 

(Tel.  803/225-6844) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

SOWERS*,  LARRY  B.  (L)  (Ruth) 

337  Wakefield  Rd.,  Hagerstown,  MD 

21740 
Pastor,  Maranatha  Brethren  Church 

SPARZAK*,  CHET  (L)  (Barb) 

152  Hathorn  Blvd.,  Saratoga  Springs, 

NY  12866 

(Tel.  518/583-1196) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Saratoga  Springs 


SPICER*,  ROBERT  M.  (Kathryn) 

715  Mildred  Ave.,  Somerdale,  NJ  08083 

(Tel.  609/627-0246) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  church,  Mt. 

Laurel 

SPRUNGER,  ARTHUR,  Ph.D.  (Lynn) 
15  Loop  Rd.,  Lititz,  PA  17543 

(Tel.  717/627-2018) 
Manheim,  PA,  church 


SWANNER*,  WILLIAM  E.  (Bill)  (L) 

8192  Redford  Lane,  La  Palma,  CA 

90623 
Bellflower,  CA,  church 

SYLVESTER*,  JAMES  (L) 

8205  Chinook  PI.,  Apt.  IC,  Worthingto 

OH  43085  (Tel.  614/888-6610) 
Columbus,  OH,  (Grace)  church 


STALEY*,  DON  (L) 

139  N.  Wall  St.,  Covington,  OH  45318 

(Tel.  513/473-2429) 
Pastor,  Friendship  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

STALLTER*,  THOMAS  (L)  (Sharon) 
B.R  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Osceola,  IN,  church 

STAMM*,  GREG  (Sally) 

1410  Sheridan  Dr.,  No.  16B,  Lancaster, 

OH  43130 
Columbus  (Grace)  church 

STEELE*,  PHILIP  C.  (Elinor) 

24  Marsham  Court,  Solihull,  W. 
Midlands,  England  B91  2ET 
(Tel.  0044-021-705-8893) 
Missionary,  England 
Dayton,  OH  (Eirst  Grace)  church 

STEVENS*,  BILL  (Shirley) 

9390  West  Thompson  Rd.,  R.R.  1,  Box 

59,  Lake  Odessa,  MI  48849 

(Tel.  616/693-2315) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

STOUFFER*,  HOWARD  (L)  (Linda) 

7402  E.  Broad  St.,  Blacklick,  OH  43004 
Pastor,  Trinity  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Reynoldsburg 

STROEDE*,  OSCAR  (L) 

R.R.  3,  Box  526,  Corapolis,  PA  15108 
Corapolis  church 

STURLEY*,  JOHN  (L)  (Laurie) 

1288  S.  Euclid  Dr.,  Pasadena,  CA  91106 

(Tel.  818/799-2760) 
Pastor,  Montclair  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

STURZ*,  HARRY  A.,  Th.D.  (Helen) 

4681  Newman  Ave.,  Cypress,  CA  90630 

(Tel.  213/860-9401) 
Professor  Emeritus,  Biola  University 
Long  Beach,  CA,  (Grace)  church 

SUMMERS*,  EARL  L.  (Barb) 

850  Alandale  Dr.,  Chambersburg,  PA 

17201  (Tel.  717/264-7457) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


TAMKIN*,  WARREN  E.,  Th.M.  (Lois) 
8  S.  Seasons  Dr.,  Dillsburg,  PA  17019 

(Tel.  717/432-4177) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

TAYLOR*,  DARREL  G.  (Carolyne) 
1  Jeanne  St.,  Topsham,  ME  04086 

(Tel.  207/729-5775) 
Pastor,  Down  East  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


TAYLOR,  DONALD  R.  (Joyce) 

P.O.  Box  142,  Claypool,  IN  46510 

(Tel.  219/566-2767) 
National  Director,  Grace  Brethren  Boys 
Sidney  church 


TAYLOR",  MELVIN  J.  (L)  (Joyce) 

1876  Hanley  Ave.,  Simi  Valley,  CA 

93065-3746 
Simi  Valley  church 

TAYLOR*,  STEVE  W.  (Patricia) 

128  Burkwood  Place,  Aiken,  SC  29801 

(Tel.  803/648-7078) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

TAYLOR*,  TERRANCE  T.  (Elaine) 

143  Wise  Ave.  S.E.,  North  Canton,  OH 

44720  (Tel.  216/497-0924) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

TEAGUE*,  KENNETH  L. 

1525  Maiden  Ln.  S.W,  Roanoke,  VA 

24015  (Tel.  703/342-2625) 
Pastor,  Ghent  Grace  Brethren  Church 

TEEVAN*,  JOHN  (Jane) 

1141  Southview  Dr.,  Ashland,  OH  4480f 

(Tel.  419/289-1815) 
Senior  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

TERAN*,  PHILIP  M.  (Colleen) 

3490  Atlas  St.,  San  Diego,  CA  92111 

(Tel.  619/278-3715) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

THAYER*,  J.  HUDSON  (Cheryl) 

534  Forest  St.,  Mansfield,  OH  44903 

(Tel.  419/522-4433) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


112 


HOMAS*,  MARION  (Yvonne) 
Swiss  Estates,  608  Lausanne  Ave., 
Bluffton,  OH  45817 
Lima  church 

HOMPSON*,  RAYMOND  W.  (Mary) 
Brethren  Navajo  Mission,  Counselor, 

NM  87018 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

HOMPSON*,  ROBERT  W.  (Betty) 
R.  9,  Box  102,  Warsaw,  IN  (Mailing  ad- 
dress: P.O.  Box  396,  Winona  Lake, 
IN  46590)  (Tel.  219/267-6435) 
Executive  Secretary,  Grace  Brethren 

Home  Missions  Council 
Long  Beach,  CA,  (Grace)  church 

HOMPSON*,  RON  E.  (Thelma) 
R.R.  11,  Box  237,  Robin  Hood  Circle, 

Roanoke,  VA  24019 

(Tel.  703/992-4445) 
Pastor,  Patterson  Memorial  Grace 
Brethren  Church 

HORNLEY*,  JEFFREY  (L)  (Cindy) 
R.  1,  Box  378-H  Leman  Ln.,  Waldorf, 

MD  20601 
Temple  Hills,  MD  church 

SHORNTON*,  CHARLES  G.  (Janice) 
[  R.  1,  Box  242A,  Dallas  Center,  IA 
50063  (Tel.  515/992-3798) 
i  |  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

HORNTON*,  DAN  (L)  (Susan) 
Rt.  8,  Box  161,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 
Warsaw  church 

I   TTLE*,  MAYNARD  G.  (Kathleen  M.) 
j  I  620  Harding  Way  West,  Galion,  OH 

44833  (Tel.  419/468-9271) 
i  i  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ODD*,  RICHARD  E.  (L)  (Claudia) 
12203  Santa  Gertrudes  Ave.,  No.  10, 

La  Mirada,  CA  90638 

(Tel.  213/943-5433) 
,  Interim  pastor,  Community  Grace 

Brethren  Church,  Whittier,  CA 

I  OROIAN*,  SIMON  T.  (Louise) 
[  .  225  Willow  Ave.,  Altoona,  PA  16601 
(Tel.  814/942-3650) 

Pulpit  Supply 

Duncansville,  PA  church 

DWNSEND*,  JOHN  C.  JR.  (L)  (Yvonne) 
7826  Shadwell  Dr.,  Roanoke,  VA  24019 

(Tel.  703/563-5404) 
Pastor,  Wildwood  Grace  Brethren 

Church,  Salem 

0WNSEND*,  KENNETH  G. 

12232  Valley  View,  Whittier,  CA  90604 

(Tel.  213/944-7023) 
Principal,  Brethren  Elementary  and 

Junior  High  School 
Whittier,  (Community  Grace)  church 


TRAUB*,  GEORGE  (L) 

514  Yorkshire,  Apt.  D,  Salem,  VA  24153 

(Tel.  703/375-2658) 
Pastor,  Washington  Hgts  church 

TRAVIS*,  DAN  (L) 

6005  Turnergrove  Dr.,  Lakewood,  CA 

90713  (Tel.  213/866-5959) 
Pastor  of  Christian  Education,  Long 

Beach  (North)  church 


TRENNER*,  ED  A.  (L) 

1413  Lael  Dr.,  Orange,  CA  92666 

(Tel.  714/538-2686) 
President,  Lots  of  Love 
Orange  church 

TRESISE*,  FOSTER  (Marguerite) 

95-303  Waioni  St.,  Wahiawa,  HI  96786 

(Tel.  808/623-2298) 
Retired 
Waipio  Church 

TRESSLER*,  J.  WARD  (Agnes) 

5230  Greencroft  Dr.,  Dayton,  OH  45426 
Co-pastor,  Calvary  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

TROXEL",  DAVY  (Ronda) 

102  Glenmill  Rd.,  New  Albany,  IN 

47150  (Tel.  812/945-PRAY)' 
Pastor,  New  Albany,  IN  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

TURMAN*,  FRANK  K.  (L)  (Ethel) 

109  S.  Mansard  St.,  Martinsburg,  PA 

16662  (Tel.  814/793-4410) 
Hollidaysburg,  PA  church 

TURNER*,  CHARLES  W.  (June) 

P.O.  Box  336,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 

(Tel.  219/269-2719) 
Publisher  and  General  Manager, 

Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co. 
Winona  Lake  church 

TWEEDDALE,  WILLIAM  F.  (Carol) 

2560  Brett  Court,  Melbourne,  FL  32935 

(Tel.  305/254-8993) 
Pastor,  Community  Grace  Brethren 

Church  —  Suntree 


u 


USHER*,  ERNEST  (L)  (LaVon) 

3940  Memorial  College  Ave.,  Apt.  2, 

Clarkston,  GA  30021 

(Tel.  404/296-8831) 
Pastor,  East  Atlanta,  GA,  church 


V 


VALENTINE*,  AL  (Doris) 

R.R.  1,  Meyersdale,  PA  15552 

(Tel.  814/634-8200) 
Pastor,  Summit  Mills  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

VAN  ORMAN*,  MELVIN  D.  (L)  (Dolores) 
RD  2,  Box  477,  Duncansville,  PA  16635 

(Tel.  814/695-3855) 
Pastor,  Hopewell  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

VARNEY,  TOM  (L)  (Vickey) 

927  E.  Main  St.,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/269-3236) 
Winona  Lake,  IN  church 

VIERS*,  JOHN  D.  (Soni) 

142  rue  Dedieu,  69100  Villeurbanne, 

France 
Centerville,  OH,  church 

VIVEROS*,  DAN  (Carol) 

P.O.  Box  54,  Covina,  CA  91723 

(Tel.  213/331-7980) 
New  Life  Grace  Brethren  Church 

VNASDALE*,  LESTER,  A.  (Ruth) 
B.R  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
(On  furlough:  486  Midland  Dr., 

Mansfield,  OH  44903) 
Missionary,  Africa 
Mansfield,  OH,  (Grace)  church 

VOLOVSKI*,  MICHAEL  J.,  Th.D.  (Amy) 
B.R  240,  Bangui,  Central  African 

Republic 
Missionary  to  Africa 
Duncansville,  PA  church 

VULGAMORE*,  HOWARD  D.,  (Betty) 

1507  Southwood  Dr.,  Ashland,  OH 

44805  (Tel.  419/289-3005) 
Assistant  Pastor,  Senior  Ministries  and 

Visitation 
Ashland  (Grace)  church 


w 


WAGGONER*,  TIMOTHY  L.  (Jan) 
Centre  Missionnaire,  50  rue  des 

Galibouds,  73200-Albertville,  France 
Missionary  Appointee,  C.A.R. 
Fremont,  OH,  (Chapel)  church 

WAGNER*,  ROBERT  (Diana) 

6525  Halleck  St.,  District  Heights,  MD 

20747  (Tel.  301/736-3741) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Greater  Washington 


WALKER,  HARRY  F.  (L)  (Darlene) 

R.  3,  Box  248,  Claysville,  PA  15323     !] 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church, 
Washington,  PA 

WALLACE*,  GEORGE  K.  (Judith) 

3513  Melody  Lane  Ct.,  Kokomo,  IN     ' 

46902  (Tel.  317/453-7611) 
Pastor,  North  Kokomo  Grace  Brethrei 

Church,  Kokomo,  IN 


WALTER*,  DEAN  I.  (Peggy) 

9811  Caltor  Ln.,  Fort  Washington,  M] 

20744  (Tel.  301/248-2213) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 

Church  of  Greater  Washington 

WAMBOLD",  ROGER  L.  (Phyllis) 
335  Clemens  Rd.,  Harleysville,  PA 

19438  (Tel.  215/256-9620) 
Pastor,  Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Telford,  PA 

WARD*,  RUSSELL  M.  ("D.D.") 

4007  Loop  Dr.,  Englewood,  OH  45322 

(Tel.  513/836-8839) 
Pastor,  Basore  Road  Grace  Brethren     ! 
Church,  Dayton 

WARRICK*,  RONALD  (L)  (Carol) 

112  Beachley,  Meyersdale,  PA  15552 

(Tel.  814/634-8690) 
Pastor,  Meyersdale  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

WEAVER*,  SCOTT,  L.  (Betty  Lou) 
3235  Rue  Voltaire,  Apt.  922,  South 

Bend,  IN  46615 
Pastor,  Ireland  Road  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

WEDERTZ*,  LARRY  (L)  (Jonnie  Lou) 
Brethren  Navajo  Mission  and  Boardim 
School,  Counselor,  NM  87018 
(Tel.  505/568-4454) 
Temple  City,  CA,  church 

WEEKLEY*,  RANDY  (L)  (Jean) 

5945  63rd  Ave.  N.,  Pinellas  Park,  FL 

33565  (Tel.  813/544-5544) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

WEIGLE*,  LARRY  R.  (Joyce) 

R.  3,  Box  35-A,  Stoystown,  PA  15563 

(Tel.  814/893-5422) 
Pastor,  Reading  Brethren  Church 

WEIMER*,  RON  (Vivian) 

3134  Violet  Dr.,  Waterloo,  IA  50701 

(Tel.  319/296-3493) 
Associate  Pastor,  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

WELBORN*,  GLEN  H.  (Agnes) 

606  N.  Main  St.,  Leon,  IA  50144 

(Tel.  515/446-6189) 
Pastor,  Leon  Brethren  Church 


ELSH*,  RON  (L) 

711  W.  Wenger  Rd„  Apt.  153, 

Englewood,  OH  45322 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

ELTMEFP,  DONALD  (Marilyn) 
2231  Swatara  St.,  Harrisburg,  PA  17104 
Pastor,  Melrose  Gardens  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

HITCOMB*,  JOHN  C,  Th.D.  (Norma) 
R.R.  8,  Box  232,  Warsaw,  IN  46580 

(Tel.  219/267-8243) 
Professor,  Grace  Schools 
Winona  Lake,  IN,  church 

HUE*,  BRIAN  L.  (L) 

1019  Hazel  Ave.,  Englewood,  OH  45322 
Dayton,  OH,  (Basore  Rd.)  church 

HITE*,  DANIEL  A.  (Judi) 
1035  S.E.  190th,  Portland,  OR  97233 

(Tel.  503/665-0997) 
Troutdale,  OR,  church 

i'HITED*,  ROBERT  D.  (Jeannette) 

!  600  Donna  Dr.,  Beaumont,  CA  (Mailing 

address:  P.O.  Box  895,  92223) 

(Tel.  714/845-7229) 
Pastor,  Cherry  Valley  Grace  Brethren 

Church 

'IKERT*,  RANDY  (L) 

i   13515  Carolyn  PI.,  Cerritos,  CA  90701 
(Tel.  213/404-2130) 
Associate  Pastor,  North  Long  Beach 
Brethren  Church 

'ILEY*,  GALEN  W.  (Elsie) 
22713  Ellsworth  Ave.,  Minerva,  OH 
44657)  (Tel.  216/868-3296) 
I   Pastor,  Minerva  Grace  Brethren  Church 

i'lLHELM*,  GEORGE  F.  (Lou) 
Paradise  Mobile  Park,  Lot  138,  R.  1, 

New  Bloomfield,  PA  17068 
I   Asst.  pastor  (visitation),  Harrisburg 

church 

IHLLARD*,  WILLIAM  (Phyllis) 

1020  Lititz  Pike,  Lititz,  PA  17543 
(Tel.  717/627-2691) 

I    Assoc,  pastor,  Lititz  church 

I/ILLETT*,  DAVID  (Helen) 
5537  N.  Temple  City  Blvd.,  Temple  City, 

CA  91780  (Tel.  818/286-6739) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 


/ILLETT,  JAMES  A.  (Geordina) 
18020  S.W.  Salix  Ridge,  Beaverton,  OR 
97006  (Tel.  503/645-3138) 
'    Interim  Pastor,  Troutdale  Grace 
Brethren  Church 
Beaverton  church 


WILLIAMS*,  ROBERT  (Lenora) 
P.O.  Box  67,  Udell,  IA  52593 

(Tel.  515/452-6744) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

WILLIAMS*,  RODGER  (L) 

P.O.  Box  216,  Mabton,  WA  98935 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

WILLIAMS*,  ROSCOE  (Fern  E.) 

12718  Homepark  Dr.,  Whittier,  CA 

90606  (Tel.  213/693-3261) 
Whittier  (Comm.)  church 

WILLIAMS*,  RUSSELL  L.  (Margaret) 
6213  Green  Eyes  Way,  Orangvale,  CA 

95662 
Gold  Rush  Community  Grace  Brethren 

Church,  Auburn,  CA 

WILT*,  KENNETH  E. 

2310  Manor  Rd.,  York,  PA  17404 

(Tel.  717/764-5363) 
Retired,  Pulpit  Supply 
Dillsburg,  PA,  church 

WINGARD*,  EDWARD  N.  (Norma) 

301  Metaire  Lane,  Madison,  AL  35758 
Danville,  OH,  church 

WINGFIELD*,  D.  MICHAEL  (Joyce) 
R.  1,  Box  431,  Telford,  TN  37690 

(Tel.  615/257-2880) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

WINGFIELD*,  JAMES  H.  (Mildred) 

R.  1,  Box  62AA,  Boones  Mill,  VA  24065 

(Tel.  703/334-2873) 
Pastor,  Garden  City  Grace  Brethren 
Church 

WINTER*,  CHARLES  H.  (L)  (Marilyn) 
18  W.  Pioneer  St.,  Harrah,  WA  (Mailing 

address:  P.O.  Box  69,  98933) 

(Tel.  509/848-2609) 
Pastor,  Harrah  Brethren  Church 

WITT*,  G.  DOUGLAS  (Margie) 

P.O.  Box  434,  Troutville,  VA  24175 

(Tel.  703/992-5407) 
Pastor,  Grace  Bible  Brethren  Church 

WITZKY*,  GENE  E.  (Margaret) 
1947  Lexington-Springmill  Rd., 

Lexington,  OH  44904 

(Tel.  419/884-0692) 
Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 

Lexington 

WOODRUFF*,  PAUL  E.  (Jan) 

4319  N.  Vinewood,  Indianapolis,  IN 

46254  (Tel.  317/293-1103) 
Pastor,  Eagle  Creek  Grace  Brethren 
Church 


YOUNG*,  C.L.  (L)  (Macy  L.) 

5538  Twilight  Rd.,  Roanoke,  VA  24019 

Asst.  Pastor,  Roanoke,  VA,  (Wash.  Hgts.) 
church 
YOUNG*,  EMORY  R.  "ZEKE"  (L) 

1137  Baycircle  Dr.,  Lima,  OH  45801 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Lima 
YOUNG*,  JERRY  R.  (Loreen) 

R.R.  5,  Box  434,  Manheim,  PA  17545 
(Tel.  717/665-2322) 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Lititz 
YUNKER*,  ROBERT 

1429  W.  Central,  Madera,  CA  93637 
(Tel.  209/673-6525) 

Elkhart,  IN,  church 


ZIELASKO*,  JOHN  W.,  Th.M.  (Jeane) 
114  Fifteenth  St.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 

46590  (Tel.  219/267-4808) 
General  Director,  Brethren  Foreign 

Missionary  Society 
Winona  Lake  church 
ZIMMERMAN*,  C.S.  (Ruth) 

6945  W  Coronado  Rd.,  Phoenix,  AZ 

85035  (Tel.  602/849-5541) 
Pulpit  Supply,  Bible  Teacher 
Trotwood,  OH,  church 
ZUBER*,  KEVIN  D.  (L)  (Diane) 

909  E.  Lyon  St.,  Des  Moines,  IA  50316 

(Tel.  515/262-5290) 
Pastor,  First  Grace  Brethren  Church 


NOTATIONS  AND  ADDRESS  CHANGES 


NOTATIONS  AND  ADDRESS  CHANGES 


NOTATIONS  AND  ADDRESS  CHANGES 


NOTATIONS  AND  ADDRESS  CHANGES 


1986  District  Conferences 

Allegheny— Camp  Albryoca,  PA,  May  16-17 
Arctic— Eagle  River,  AK,  May  16-17 
Florida- 
Hawaii— 

Indiana— Oakwood  Park,  Syracuse,  IN,  May  2-3 
Iowa-Midlands— Longview,  TX,  March  25-26 
Michigan— GBC,  Lake  Odessa,  Ml,  April  11-12 
Mid-Atlantic— Rosemont  GBC,  Martinsburg,  WV,  April '18-19 
Mountain-Plains— Hackberry  Hill  GBC,  June  12-14 
Nor-Cal— 

Northcentral  Ohio— GBC  of  Columbus,  OH,  April  12 
Northeastern  Ohio— GBC,  Wooster,  OH,  April  26 
Northern  Atlantic— May  30-June  1 
Northwest— GBC,  Sunnyside,  WA,  February  13-15 
Southern— Georgia  Baptist  Assembly  Campgrounds,  Toccoa,  GA,  June 

13-14 
Southern  California-Arizona— North  Long  Beach  Brethren  Church,  May 

1-3 
Southern  Ohio— Calvary  GBC,  Kettering,  OH,  April  11-12 
Southwest— Grace  Brethren  Navajo  Mission,  Counselor,  NM,  April  25-26 
Virginia— GBC,  Covington,  VA,  May  16-17 
Western  Pennsylvania— Everett  GBC,  Everett,  PA,  April  26 


Future 

National  Conferences 

1986— August  3-8,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
1987— August  2-7,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
1988— July  31-August  5,  Rancho  Mirage,  CA 

Copyright  1985  by  the  Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co 
Inc.,  Winona  Lake,  IN.  All  rights  reserved. 

NOTICE 

A  list  of  names  and  addresses  such  as  this 
is  sought  by  persons  and  enterprises  which 
desire  it  for  a  variety  of  purposes.  The  circula- 
tion of  this  directory  is  CONFINED  TO 
MEMBERS  OF  THE  BRETHREN  CHURCH,  and 
the  directory  MUST  NOT  be  used  as  a  source 
for  a  mailing  list. 


ANOTHER 

Introducing  i 
Forever  Chan 


Imagine  climbing  the  jagged  bluffs  that  Mose 
ascended  on  Mount  Sinai.  Or  wandering 
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Christ  was  tempted.  Or  even  tracing  Paul's 
footsteps  through  Turkey,  Greece,  and  Italy. 
In  We  Moody  Atlas  of  Bible  Lands 
these  familiar  images  take  on  a  whole  new 
dimension  and  significance  as  you  discover 
how  God  used  the  geography  of  His  chosen 
land  to  chart  the  course  of  history. 

TO  APPRECIATE  THE 

"HOW"AND"WHY,"YOU 

HAVE  TO  UNDERSTAND 

THE"WHERE." 

The  Moody  Atlas  adds  clarity  and  detail  to 
every  Bible  event. 

You'll  learn  the  geographical  factor: 
that  made  David's  escape  from  Saul  an 
astounding  success,  and  how 
geography 
contributed 
to  John  the 
Baptist's  rug- 
ged lifestyle. 


ANOTHER  BMH  -  MOODY  IMPRIN1 

Introducing  a  Publishing  Landmark  That  Will 
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Imagine  climbing  the  lagged  Muffs  that  Moses 
ascended  on  Mount  Sinai  Or  wandering 
through  the  barren  wilderness  of  Judea  where 
Christ  was  tempted  Or  even  tracing  Paul's 
footsteps  through  Turkey.  Greece,  and  Italy 

In  Vie  Mood)  ■  Alias  of  Bible  Lands. 
these  familiar  images  tike  on  a  whole  new- 
dimension  and  significance  as  you  discover 
how  God  used  the  geography  of  His  chosen 
land  to  chart  the  course  of  history 

TO  APPRECIATE  THE 

"HOW"AND"WHY,"YOU 

HAVE  TO  UNDERSTAND 

THE"WHERE." 

The  Mi tody  Atlas  adds  clarity  and  detail  to 
every  Bible  event. 

You'll  learn  the  geographical  factors 
that  made  David's  escape  from  Saul  an 
astounding  success,  and  how 
geography 


Discover  why  Jesus  centered  his  public  ministry 
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FROM  THE  GARDEN 

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Dr  Barry  J,  Beitzel,  one  of  the  world's  leading 
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no  stone  unturned.  You'll  explore  every  Bible 
event  from  Genesis  to  Revelation  in  a  unique 
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The  Moody  Atlas  brings  an  entire 
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HERALD  BOOKSTORE 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


BRETHREN  MISSIONARY 


•  1985  Church  of  the  Year 

•  A  Warm  Church  In  The  Cold  North 

•  Stress:  How  To  Cope 


Reflections  By  Still  Waters 


Happy  New  Year, 
Everyone! 

What  Happened  to  the  Old  One? 


Charles  W.  Turner 

Editor 


It  is  hard  to  say,  "Happy  New  Year,"  when  I 
have  hardly  gotten  acquainted  with  the  old  one. 
There  must  be  many  quotes  about  time  flying  in 
the  annals  of  history.  Here  we  are  getting  ready  to 
write  "1986"  and  I  am  still  writing  "1984."  Can 
anyone  really  verify  the  fact  there  was  a  1985?  If 
so,  it  was  surely  one  of  those  quick,  short  years. 

I  rather  imagine  that  time  holds  a  sfrange 
fascination  for  all  of  us.  The  great  recorders  of 
time  are  the  clocks  and  the  calendars.  They  both 
serve  the  same  purpose.  The  clock  or  watch  takes 
care  of  the  shorter  segments  and  the  calendar 
keeps  tab  on  the  larger  pieces. 

I  just  love  watches.  Like  so  many  other  people, 
I  have  lots  of  them.  At  last  count  I  had  enough 
watches  that  it  would  be  possible  to  wear  one 
each  day  of  the  week  without  duplication.  There 
is  one  that  has  hands  but  no  numbers  on  the  dial. 
There  is  another  that  has  little  marks  on  the 
quarter  hours.  Still  another  one  has  no  hands- 
just  numbers.  They  call  it  digital.  I  have  two  that 
have  alarms— one  is  battery  operated  and  the 
other  is  a  self-winding  one.  Yet  another  one  has  a 
stop  watch.  There  is  one  with  a  calculator  and 
most  of  them  have  calendars.  Some  of  them  are 
gold,  some  are  plastic,  and  one  of  them  even 
glows  in  the  dark.  All  but  one  of  the  watches  I 
can  wear  on  my  wrist,  and  I  hope  they  are  appro- 
priate for  the  occasion.  But  they  do  tell  me  the 
time  of  day,  and  most  of  them  the  day  and  the 
date.  One  favorite  of  mine  does  not  even  run.  It  is 
the  one  my  great  grandfather  bought  back  in 
1887.  It  is  a  pocket  watch  and  you  have  to  wind 
it  with  a  key  and  it  is  heavy.  Now,  I  know  why  all 


of  those  farmers  back  then  wore  big  bib  overalls. 
It  was  to  hold  their  watch  up! 

Watches  cost  from  $4.00  to  $10.00  or  more. 
Recently  when  college  students  were  asked  about 
their  top  possession,  they  answered  "the  alarm 
clock"— a  full  84  percent  of  them— without  even  a 
mention  of  books.  Why  is  this  fascination  with 
time  so  clearly  demonstrated  by  us  mortals?  The 
answer  is  in  the  question— we  are  mortals  and  we 
all  know  that  time  is  running  out  on  us.  Today  we 
all  have  one  day  less  to  live  than  we  did  yester- 
day and  that  keeps  up  day  after  day.  The  one  un- 
answered question  is:  "How  many  of  those  days 
remain?" 

When  time  runs  out  on  us  human  beings,  our 
days  of  labor  and  stewardship  will  be  over  and  the 
day  of  accountability  will  be  present.  What  we 
did  with  time  becomes  more  important  and  we 
must  give  an  account  for  time  spent  and  the 
decisions  that  were  made.  It  is  called  the  judg- 
ment, and  the  Judge  of  our  souls  is  none  other 
than  our  Creator. 

May  I  suggest  that  our  interest  in  time  is  our 
realization  of  its  importance  and  its  brevity.  It 
does  make  a  difference  what  we  do  with  time, 
and  this  is  especially  true  of  what  we  decide  and 
how  we  use  those  minutes  and  hours  and  days. 
The  one  most  important  decision  is  what  place  we 
will  permit  Christ  to  fit  into  our  lives.  To  reject 
Him  means  that  a  timeless  eternity  will  be  spent 
in  separation  from  Him. 

The  year  1985  moves  into  history.  May  you 
have  a  Happy  New  Year,  because  you  use  it 
wisely  for  Him. 


DECEMBER  '85 


BMH 


BRETHREN 
MISSIONARY 


herald 


Vol.  47        No.  12        December  1985 

The  Brethren  Missionary  Herald 
is  published  monthly  by  the 
Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co., 
P.O.  Box  544.  1104  Kings  Highway, 
Winona  Lake,  IN  46590. 
Subscription  prices:  $8.25  per 
year;  foreign,  $10.00;  special  rates 
to  churches.  Printed  by  BMH 
Printing. 

EXTRA  COPIES  of  back  issues 
are  available.  One  copy.  $2.00; 
two  copies,  $3.00;  three  to  ten 
copies,  $1.50  each;  more  than  ten 
copies,  $1.25  each.  Please  include 
your  check  with  order.  (Prices  in- 
clude postage  charges.) 

NEWS  ITEMS  contained  in 
each  issue  are  presented  for  in- 
formation, and  do  not  indicate 
endorsement. 

MOVING?  Send  label  on  back 
cover  and  your  new  address. 
Please  allow  four  weeks  for  the 
change  to  be  made. 

TOLL-FREE  NUMBER  for  mer- 
chandise orders;  1-800-348-2756. 


Publisher,  Charles  Turner 
Managing  Editor,  Kenneth  Herman 
Typesetting  and  Layout,  Mike  Baker, 

Dave  Beeson  and  Greg  Hoffert 
News  Page  Editor,  Omega  Sandy 
Departmental  Editors: 
Christ/an  Education: 

Ed  Lewis,  Brad  Skiles 
Foreign  Missions: 

John  Zielasko,  Nora  Macon 
Grace  Schools: 

Dr.  Homer  A.  Kent,  Jr. 
Mike  Boze 
Home  Missions: 

Dr.  Robert  W.  Thompson, 
Liz  Cutler 
Women's  Missionary  Council: 
Nora  Macon 


CONTENTS 

4  Foreign  Missions  Short  Course 

12  1985  Church  of  the  Year 

14  One  Anothering 

18  A  Warm  Church  In  The  Cold  North 

20  Number  Our  Days 

22  The  Enigma 

23  Stress:  How  To  Cope 


BMH  FEATURES 

•  Reflections  By  Still  Waters  2 
•  BMH  News  Report 2 6,  27  • 


REPORTED  IN  THE  HERALD 


35  YEARS  AGO  -  1950 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Grant  became  the  parents  of  a  son,  David  Richard,  Winona 
Lake,  IN  .  .  .  Harrisburg,  PA,  dedicated  their  new  church  and  Portland,  OR  broke 
ground  for  a  church,  Vernon  Harris  was  pastor. 

15  YEARS  AGO  -  1970 

Warsaw,  IN  dedicated  their  new  facilities  with  a  seating  capacity  of  450  in  the  main 
auditorium.  Mark  Malles  was  pastor  .  .  .  Robert  Russell  became  the  new  pastor  of 
the  Rittman,  OH  congregation.  He  had  been  serving  as  pastor  of" First  Brethren 
Church,  Altoona,  PA. 

5  YEARS  AGO  -  1980 

Grace  Schools  Bible  Conference  had  the  following  men  as  speakers  —  Jay  Adams, 
Warren  Wiersbe  and  Harold  Lindsell  at  their  February  sessions.  Missionary  sessions 
at  Grace  Seminary  included  Tom  Julien,  Marvin  Goodman  and  Peter  Peer. 

This  month's  cover  photo  is  courtesy  of  the  Messenger  Corporation,  Auburn.  In- 
diana 46706;  custom  calendar  specialists. 


BMH 


DECEMBER  '85 


Advanced 

SHORT  COURSE 

in  Foreign  Missions 

by  Nora  Macon 


You  are  about  to  learn  facts  about  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions  that  will  make  missions  more  understandable  and 
enjoyable.  The  advanced  course  will  acquaint  you  with 
church  planting,  Grace  Brethren  fields,  and  mission 
terminology. 


Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 

P.O.  Box  588 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


DECEMBER  '85 


FMS 


Church  Planting 


^■■race  Brethren  Foreign  Missions 
has  two  major  goals  —  the  redemp- 
tion of  men  and  the  planting  of  chur- 
ches. The  second  of  these  aims  is  what 
makes  our  operation  much  more  dif- 
ficult and  complex  than  that  of  mis- 
sions who  pursue  only  the  first  goal. 

Our  mission  feels  that  the  task  is  not 
accomplished  until  there  are  commit- 
ted Christians  functioning  together  in 
local  congregations.  These  local  chur- 
ches should  be  sufficient  in  themselves 
and  be  self-governing,  self-supporting, 
and  self-propagating  —  in  other 
words,  indigenous. 

A  church  planter  is  the  most  basic 
type  of  missionary  we  have.  His 
specialty  is  establishing  and  assisting  in 
the  development  of  local  churches. 
This  takes  place  through  several 
means. 

Making  contacts  is  where'  a  church 
is  born  —  meeting  people,  making 
friends,  sharing  Christ,  and  counsel- 
ing. Sometimes  this  is  a  long  process, 
but  an  important  one.  Much  of  this  is 
personal  contact  (one-on-one)  but  oc- 
casionally different,  forms  of 
evangelistic  outreach  are  used  — 
concerts,  dinners,  Bible  studies,  and 
sports. 

After  a  person  is  led  to  Christ,  he 
needs  to  be  taught  and  encouraged 
through  Bible  study  and  Christian 
fellowship.  The  church  planter  sees 
that  this  need  is  met  by  providing 
leadership    for    small    gatherings    in 


homes.  He  instructs  from  the  Word  of 
God.  He  prays  with  young  believers 
and  enters  into  their  lives. 

Church  development  is  the  next 
step.  When  a  church  begins  to  exer- 
cise its  spiritual  gifts  and  is  strong 
enough  to  support  its  own  pastor,  the 
missionary  steps  aside  into  the  role  of 
counselor  and  advisor  or  moves  on  to 


classes,  youth  work,  teacher  training 
classes,  seminars,  Bible  conferences, 
evangelistic  campaigns,  plumbing,  and 
even  car  mechanics  are  commonplace 
in  the  life  of  the  church  planter.  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions  is  looking 
for  church  planters — missionaries  who 
try  to  work  themselves  out  of  a  job. 
There  is  no  such  phenomenon  as 


a  new  area  altogether.  Grace  Brethren 
missionaries  do  not  serve  for  extend- 
ed periods  as  pastors  of  congregations; 
they  turn  the  congregation  over  to 
trained  national  leaders  as  quickly  as 
possible. 

Administration,  lay  leader  training 


an  instant  church.  Wherever  an  active, 
growing,  successful  church  is  found, 
careful  planning,  much  prayer,  a  lot  of 
hard  work,  committed  concern,  and  a 
few  problems  will  also  be  found.    □ 


Contacts 


Communication 


Congregation 


Classes 


Converts 


The  process  of  church  planting  should  run  in  a  con- 
tinous  cycle  that  can  be  remembered  by  five  C's.  It  begins 
by  making  contacts  with  people,  developing  friendships. 
Classes  are  started  to  share  the  Gospel  with  the  people, 
to  teach  them  in  God's  Word.  Through  these  teaching  ses- 
sions, converts  are  made,  people  make  personal  decisions 
for  Jesus  Christ.  As  more  and  more  converts  are  made, 
a  congregation  is  formed  and  leadership  is  developed.  The 
church  grows  and  begins  to  reach  out  and  communicate 
to  more  people,  more  contacts.  The  cycle  is  set  in  process. 


FMS 


DECEMBER  '85 


The  World 


Population  4,889  million  (it  will  be  6,214  million  in  2000  A.D.  if  the 

present  growth  rate  continues.) 


Peoples  Approximately  223  states  and  territories  and  about  5,770 

different  spoken  languages. 


Religion  Christian  32%,  Roman  Catholic  18%,  Eastern  Orthodox 

4%,  Protestant  10%,  Moslem  17%,  Hindu  13%,  Buddhist 
8%,  Confucian  5%,  Shinto  2%,  Jewish  .4%,  No  religion 
(or  atheists)  claim  20%  of  the  world's  population. 


Over  two  billion  people  have  never  heard  the  salvation  message  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Many  nations  are  completely  closed  to  the  Gospel.  The  largest  non-Christian  religion 
is  Islam,  with  an  estimated  700  million  Muslims. 

Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions  is  currently  ministering  in  eleven  countries:  Argen- 
tina, Brazil,  Central  African  Republic,  Chad,  England,  France,  Japan,  Mexico,  Philip- 
pines, Spain,  and  West  Germany.  Grace  Brethren  churches  also  exist  in  Zaire  and 
the  Cameroon.  The  doors  are  open  in  other  countries,  as  well.  More  missionaries 
are  needed  to  help  reach  the  billions  of  unsaved  people. 


6    DECEMBER  '85  FMS 


Argentina 

Population:  26  million 
Religion:  Roman  Cathol- 
icism is  the  official  state 
religion  and  is  compulsorily 
taught  in  state  schools.  There 
is  freedom  of  religion.  Roman 
Catholicism  claims  88%  of 
the  people. 

Opened  in  1909,  Argentina  is  our  oldest  mission  field. 
Currently  there  are  14  congregations  with  a  membership 
of  480.  Eight  national  pastors  shepherd  the  churches.  Mis- 
sionary activity  centers  in  Buenos  Aires  and  its  suburbs  and 
Rosario.  A  Bible  Institute  helps  train  national  leaders. 


Brazil 

Population:  110  million 
Religion:  Complete  free- 
dom of  religion.  Roman 
Catholicism  claims  83%  (on- 
ly 10%  are  reckoned  to  be 
practicing);  however,  Spirit- 
ism is  strong  with  an 
estimated  24-45%. 

Grace  Brethren  operations  in  Brazil  have  two  separate 
field  councils.  Initially  the  work  in  Brazil  began  in  1949, 
but  was  expanded  to  the  south  in  1974.  Ministries  in  the 
north  center  around  Belem  and  areas  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Amazon  River.  South  Brazil  missionaries  work  in 
Uberlandia  and  Brasilia.  Churches  in  the  north  number  16 
with  a  membership  of  942.  Fourteen  pastors  work  with 
these  churches.  Our  one  church  in  Uberlandia  has  a 
membership  of  43.  A  Bible  Institute  in  the  north  helps  train 
national  leaders. 


£3 


Central  African  Republic 

Population:  2,610,000 
Religion:    Complete    free- 
dom of  religion.  Protestants, 
46%;    Roman    Catholics, 
36%;  Muslim,  7%. 

Work  began  in  1921,  when  permission  was  granted  to 
enter  the  territory.  This  is  Grace  Brethren  Foreign  Missions' 
largest  work  with  558  churches  and  a  membership  of 
113,571.  Several  Bible  training  schools  are  in  operation  in- 
cluding a  high  school,  Bible  Institutes,  a  School  of 
Theology,  and  the  Brethren  Biblical  Seminary.  The  C.A.R. 
also  has  medical  and  dental  works  sponsored  by  the  Grace 
Brethren.  Having  its  own  missionary  society,  the  African 
church  is  engaged  in  cross-cultural  evangelism  and  church 
planting. 


Chad 

Population:  4,200,000 
Religion:  Religious  freedom, 
but  the  Muslim  desire  to  im- 
pose an  Islamic  Republic  on 
the  whole  country.  Muslims, 
44%;  African  traditional, 
23%;  plus  significant 
minorities  of  both  Roman 
Catholics  and  Protestants. 


Work  in  the  Chad  began  in  the  1930s  when  the  area 
our  missionaries  worked  in  was  known  as  French 
Equatorial  Africa.  After  the  area  was  divided,  most  of  our 
churches  were  in  the  C.A.R.  but  some  were  in  the  Chad. 
This  country  has  been  in  turmoil  for  many,  many  years. 
In  1983-85,  no  Grace  Brethren  missionaries  were  living 
in  the  Chad  because  of  the  political  situation.  The  church 
continued  to  flourish,  however,  and  there  are  about  40 
churches  with  an  estimated  membership  of  3,500. 


England 

Population:  56,200,000 
Religion:  Complete  religious 
freedom.  Protestant,  59%; 
Roman  Catholic,  9.1%; 
Sects,  3.6%;  conservative 
evangelicals,  .4%.  The 
Church  of  England  is  both 
Catholic  and  Reformed. 


Work  began  in  1982  in  England  and  centers  in  Solihull, 
a  suburb  of  Birmingham.  No  churches  are  organized  yet. 
Church  planting  efforts  are  being  made,  and  a  group  is 
meeting  in  Solihull.  Currently,  the  group  has  rented  a 
building  in  which  to  meet  and  several  discipleship  groups 
meet  weekly. 


France 

Population:  53  million 

Religion:  Complete  free- 
dom of  religion.  Roman 
Catholic,  85%;  but  only 
about  21%  practicing  their 
faith. 


The  Grace  Brethren  ministry  in  France  began  at  the 
Chateau  de  St.  Albain  in  1951.  This  structure  is  now  used 
as  a  place  for  retreats.  Bible  Institutes,  and  other  training 
events.  Churches  are  located  in  Macon  and  Chalon,  and 
other  church  planting  ventures  are  taking  place  in  Lyon, 
Le  Creusot,  and  Montceau.  Currently  the  membership  of 
the  churches  is  79. 

FMS    DECEMBER  '85  7 


Japan 

Population:  112,300,000 
Religion:  Freedom  of 
religion.  Shintoism  and  Bud- 
dhism, 83%,  are  intertwined 
in  Japanese  society;  Sokka 
Gakkai,  15%,  is  a  militantly 
nationalistic  offshoot  of  Bud- 
dhism that  is  very  anti- 
Christian  and  seeks  political 
power;  sects,  such  as  Mor- 
mons, Unification  Church, 
and  Watchtower  are  small, 
but  very  active. 

Missionaries  entered  the  country  in  1984,  and  began  a 
two-year  course  of  language  study.  Japanese  is  one  of  the 
most  difficult  languages  to  master.  However,  upon  the  mis- 
sionaries' arrival,  they  began  making  contacts  and  witness- 
ing to  the  Japanese. 


Mexico 

Population:  75  Vz  million 

Religion:  Some  restrictions 
on  both  Roman  Catholics 
and  Protestants,  but  other- 
wise religious  freedom. 
Roman  Catholics,  85%,  with 
the  Indian  tribes  following 
their  animistic  religions 
altogether  or  mixing  elements 
of  Roman  Catholicism  and 
their  own  beliefs. 

The  Grace  Brethren  work  in  Mexico  began  at  the  border 
area  of  Tijuana  in  1951  and  has  now  expanded  to  include 
Mexico  City.  Nine  churches  have  a  membership  of  250  and 
each  church  has  a  national  pastor.  A  Bible  Institute  pro- 
gram is  helping  to  train  leaders  for  the  churches.  Also,  a 
strong,  summer  camp  program  helps  to  teach  young  peo- 
ple and  families  practical  Christian  living. 


Philippines 

Population:  45  million 
Religion:     Full     religious 
freedom.    Roman    Catholic, 
80%;  Muslim,  6%;  Protes- 
tant, 5%;  Aglipayan,  5%. 

Missionaries  entered  the  Philippines  in  1984  to  begin 
language  study.  Contact  making  and  witnessing  began  im- 
mediately. The  mission  is  centered  in  Manila  and  a  church 
planting  effort  is  underway.  Even  though  many  mission 
organizations  have  works  in  this  country,  very  few  are 
church  planting. 


Spain 

Population:  36  million 
Religion:  The  Roman 
Catholic  Church  is  still  the 
State  Church,  however,  there 
is  now  more  religious 
freedom  than  ever  before. 
Roman  Catholicism,  99%. 

Missionaries  entered  Spain  in  1984  and  immediately 
began  investigations  for  a  good  starting  point.  A  suburb 
of  Valencia  was  chosen  to  begin  church  planting  efforts. 
Campanar  is  situated  in  one  of  Valencia's  fastest  growing 
areas.  This  location  will  give  the  Spain  missionary  team 
access  to  at  least  ten  other  cities  and  towns  with  no  gospel 
witness. 


S^ 


West  Germany 

Population:  62  million 
Religion:  There  is  a  State 
Church  to  which  about  95% 
of  the  people  belong.  These 
churches,  both  Catholic  and 
Lutheran,  receive  a  percen- 
tage of  the  personal  income 
tax  paid  by  the  people.  The 
culture  is  very  tied  up  in  the 
State  Church,  plus,  it  is  very, 
very  difficult  for  a  Christian  to 
make  a  break  with  the  State 
church  to  join  a  "free"  church. 

It  has  been  a  long  difficult  ministry  in  Germany  (since 
1969),  but  results  are  now  beginning  to  appear.  One  church 
with  its  own  national  pastor  is  located  in  Stuttgart,  and  other 
ministries  are  taking  place  in  Leonberg  and  Aalen.  Church 
planting  is  very  difficult  since  there  are  many  social  reper- 
cussions for  one  who  leaves  the  State  Church,  including 
being  ostracized  from  one's  family. 


Did  You  Know  .  .  . 

Only  9%  of  the  world's  population  speaks  English, 
yet  94%  of  all  ordained  pastors  in  the  whole  world 
minister  to  those  who  speak  English. 

Over  16,000  different  cultures  and  people  groups  — 
even  whole  countries  —  exist  where  not  one  single 
church  is  in  existence. 

80,000  unsaved  people  die  every  day. 

Does  it  matter  to  you?  Do  you  care?  Could  God  use 
you? 

"The  harvest  is  plentiful,  but  the  workers  are  few. 
Therefore,  beseech  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  out 
workers  into  his  harvest."  Matthew  9:37-38 


8    DECEMBER  '85  FMS 


Glossary 


atheism  —  belief  that  there  is  no 
supernatural  being  or  God. 

agnosticism  —  a  form  of  skepticism 
holding  that  reason  cannot  go  beyond 
experience  and  that  belief  in  God  can- 
not be  definitely  proved. 


Buddhism  —  a  religion  of  eastern 
and  central  Asia  growing  out  of  the 
teaching  of  Gautama  Buddha  that  suf- 
fering is  inherent  in  life  and  that  one 
can  be  liberated  from  it  by  mental  and 
moral  self-purification.  The  final  goal 
of  the  Buddhist  is  to  escape  from  ex- 
istence into  blissful  nonexistence  — 
nirvana. 

Confucianism  —  a  religion  that 
follows  the  Chinese  philosopher  Con- 
fucius and  his  teachings.  His  main 
thrust  was  the  maintenance  of  peace, 
justice,  and  universal  order  between 
men  by  keeping  right  relationships  — 
treat  those  who  are  subordinate  to  you 
as  you  would  be  treated  by  those  in 
positions  superior  to  yours.  Stress  is 
put  on  self-improvement  through  ac- 
quiring of  knowledge. 

cults  —  religions  regarded  as  unor- 
thodox or  false  or  of  a  deceitful  nature. 

Eastern  Orthodox  —  the  Eastern 
churches  (sometimes  referred  to  as 
Greek  Orthodox)  that  form  a  loose 
federation  giving  highest  honor  to  the 
patriarch  of  Constantinople  and 
adhering  to  the  decisions  of  the  first 
seven  ecumenical  councils  (Roman 
Catholics  accept  21  councils  including 
Vatican  I  and  II). 

Evangelical  —  a  person  emphasiz- 
ing salvation  by  faith  in  the  atoning 


death  of  Jesus  Christ  through  personal 
belief  and  the  authority  of  the  Bible  as 
the  only  basis  for  faith  and  Christian 
living.  An  evangelical  is  usually  con- 
servative in  his  theology. 

evangelism  —  Christians  sharing 
Christ  with  unsaved  people.  It  is  the 
basis  for  church  planting. 

field  budget  —  a  part  of  each  mis- 
sionary's personal  support  goes  toward 
the  budget  of  the  field  where  he 
serves.  Field  budgets  are  established 
by  field  councils  to  provide  for  the  pur- 
chase of  all  items  necessary  to  conduct 
the  ministries  of  the  field.  These 
budgets  are  subject  to  approval  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees. 

Hinduism  —  the  dominant  religion 
of  India  having  a  complex  system  of 
rituals  and  often  mystical  meditation 
and  strict  self-denial  practices.  Hindus 
believe  in  a  universal  soul  to  which  in- 
dividual souls  will  be  reunited  after 
time  and  space  is  conquered. 
Pilgrimages  to  sacred  shrines  and  the 
sacredness  of  animals  (especially  cows 
and  snakes)  are  marked  features  of 
Hinduism. 

home  office  staff  —  at  Grace 
Brethren  Foreign  Missions  this  is  the 
group  of  people  who  work  in  the  main 
office  in  Winona  Lake,  Indiana.  Each 
worker  has  a  specific  job  in  order  to 
carry  out  the  decisions  made  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees.  The  office  staff  also 
helps  missionaries  with  the  business 
aspects  of  the  mission.  Current  FMS 
office  staff  members  are:  John  W. 
Zielasko,  General  Director;  Wendell 
Kent,  Director  of  Church  Relations; 
Steve  Mason,  Director  of  Finances;  Ed 
Lewis,  Director  of  Personnel;  Gordon 
Austin,  Audiovisuals  Director;  Nora 
Macon,  Publications  Coordinator; 
Sharon  Andersen,  Assistant  to  the 
Director  of  Finance;  Lillian  Teeter, 
Administrative  Secretary;  Robena 
Pannebaker,  Finance  Secretary; 
Kathy  Herman,  Secretary  to  Director 
of  Personnel;  Roger  Stover,  Data  Pro- 
cessing and  Shipping;  Lou  Ann 
Myers,  Audiovisuals  and  Publications 
Secretary;  Bill  Venard,  Assistant  to 
Director  of  AV;  and  Dan  McMaster, 
mailing. 


Islam  —  the  religious  faith  based  on 
the  Koran,  revealed  by  Allah  to 
Mohammed.  Every  Moslem  must  per- 
form five  duties:  1)  at  least  once  in  his 
life  the  believer  must  say  with  full  ac- 
ceptance, "There  is  no  god  but  Allah 
and  Mohammed  is  his  prophet;"  2)  he 
must  pray  five  times  daily,  facing  Mec- 
ca and  he  must  say  Friday  noonday 
prayers  in  the  mosque;  3)  he  must  give 
alms  generously  above  the  amount 
prescribed  by  law;  4)  he  must  keep  the 
fast  of  Ramadan;  and  5)  he  must,  if 
he  can,  make  at  least  one  pilgrimage 
to  Mecca.  There  are  two  main  bran- 
ches of  Islam  —  Sunnites  and  Shiites. 

Muslim  —  a  follower  of  Islam.  Also 
called  Moslem  or  Mohammedan. 

personal  evangelism  —  Christians 
meeting  people,  making  friends,  get- 
ting involved  in  lives,  and  sharing 
Christ.  Usually  a  one-on-one  venture. 

Protestant  —  a  member  of  any  of 
several  denominations  denying  the 
universal  authority  of  the  Pope  and 
agreeing  with  the  Reformation  prin- 
ciples of  justification  by  faith  alone,  the 
priesthood  of  all  believers,  and  the 
primacy  of  the  Bible  as  the  only  source 
of  revealed  truth.  It  is  a  broad  term 
often  referring  to  Christians  who  are 
not  Catholic  or  Eastern  Orthodox. 
Evangelicals  are  a  part  of  this  group. 

Roman  Catholic  —  a  Christian 
church  having  a  hierarchy  of  priests 
and  bishops  under  the  Pope,  a  liturgy 
centered  in  the  Mass,  veneration 
(reverence)  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and 
saints,  clerical  celibacy,  and  beliefs  in- 
cluding transubstantiation  and  papal 
infallibility. 


Shinto  —  the  indigenous  religion  of 

FMS    DECEMBER  '85  9 


Glossary 


Japan  consisting  chiefly  in  the  devo- 
tion to  deities  of  natural  forces  and 
adoration  of  the  Emperor  as  a  descen- 
dant of  the  sun-goddess.  This  is  the 
ancestral  religion  of  Japan  consisting 
mainly  of  worship  by  prayer  and  food 
offerings. 

Spiritism  —  a  religious  belief  that 


spirits  of  the  dead  communicate  with 
the  living  usually  through  a  medium. 

support  —  the  entire  cost  of  main- 
taining a  missionary  on  the  field.  Sup- 
port funds  provide  a  missionary's  per- 
sonal allowance,  housing,  transporta- 
tion (to  and  from  and  on  the  field), 
medical  expenses,  retirement  benefits, 


schooling  expenses,  and  his  share  of 
the  field  budget  where  he  serves.  A 
small  portion  is  allocated  for  promo- 
tional expenses  (including  his  deputa- 
tion), nothing  is  used  from  personal 
support  funds  for  the  administrative 
expenses  of  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions.  □ 


TEST 


Now  that  you  have  read  and  studied  the  material  in  the  advanced  short  course,  here's  a  test  to  check  your  understan- 
ding. Do  not  look  back  in  the  material  to  find  answers.  Answer  all  questions  to  the  best  of  your  ability. 


1.  What  are  the  two  major  goals  of  Grace  Brethren  Foreign 
Missions? 


7.  Why  is  church  planting  difficult  in  West  Germany? 


2.  How  many  people  have  never  heard  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ? 


3.  Which  Grace  Brethren  mission  field  has  two  field  coun- 
cils?   


4.  What  religion  believes  in  the  sacredness  of  animals 
especially  cows  and  snakes?    


5.  Name  the  eleven  Grace  Brethren  mission  fields. 


8.  What  type  of  expenses  are  not  included  in  a  missionary's 
personal  support? 


9.  What  is  a  follower  of  Islam  called? 


10.  Which  Grace  Brethren  field  has  the  largest  member- 
ship?     


11.  Who  is  the  General  Director  of  Foreign  Missions?. 


6.  What  is  the  word  that  describes  a  self-governing,  self- 
supporting,  self-propagating  church? 


12.  Which  fields  have  Bible  Institute  programs? 


10 


DECEMBER  '85 


FMS 


13.  Which  city  in  Spain  was  chosen  to  begin  church  plan- 
ting efforts? 


14.  What  is  the  basis  of  church  planting? 


15.  Can  you  locate  all  of  the  Grace  Brethren  mission  fields? 

Place  the  number  of  the  country  on  the  correct  continent  in  the  correct  geographical  location.  (Each  correctly  placed  coun- 
try is  worth  4  points.) 


1.  Argentina 

2.  Brazil 

3.  CAR 

4.  Chad 

5.  England 

6.  France 

7.  Japan 

8.  Mexico 

9.  Philippines 

10.  Spain 

11.  West  Germany 


After  you  have  completed  the  test,  look  back  in  the  course  and  check  your  answers.  If  you  answered  all  the  questions  cor- 
rectly, give  yourself  100  points.  For  each  question  missed,  deduct  four  points  (see  instruction  on  question  14). 

For  those  of  you  who  scored  96  or  better,  confer  the  certificate  below  on  yourself  cum  laude  (with  honors).  If  you  scored 
84  or  above,  award  yourself  the  certificate.  If  you  scored  below  84  points,  read  over  the  material  again  and  consider  the  part 
you  play  in  foreign  missions. 


FMS 


DECEMBER  '85 


1985  Church  of  the  Year 

Recognized  For  Their  Growth  .  .  .  And  Love 


Join  us  in  honoring  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of 
Greater  Washington,  located  in  Temple  Hills,  Maryland. 
We  have  named  them  our  1985  Church  of  the  Year. 

Growing  12  percent  over  1984  in  the  average  of  a.m. 
worship,  Sunday  school  and  membership,  seeing  114  peo- 
ple accept  Christ  during  1984,  home  for  a  Christian  school 
with  over  700  students  and  a  long  history  of  consistent 
growth  (averaging  7.2%  composite  growth  during  the  last 
10  years),  were  some  of  the  things  that  caught  our 
attention. 

Behind  those  numbers  is  a  church  that's  responsive  to 
people's  needs.  A  place  where  people  feel  loved  and 
accepted. 

John  13:34  is  one  of  their  themes:  "A  new  command- 
ment I  give  to  you,  that  you  love  one  another,  even  as  I 
have  loved  you  .  .  ."  In  their  philosophy  of  ministry,  they 
see  John  13:34  teaming  with  Matthew  18:19,  20  to  define 
a  two-fold  commission  for  the  church:  one,  to  love  and 
secondly,  to  evangelize  and  disciple  others. 

That  commitment  seems  to  be  working. 

"The  most  fulfilling  encouragement  of  our  ministry  here," 
says  senior  pastor  Jim  Dixon,  "is  the  developing  of  a  warm, 
loving  spirit  among  our  people.  We  are  partners  with  God 
in  our  mission  of  introducing  people  to  God's  love  and  plan 
for  them.  Seeing  people  realize  that  there  is  forgiveness 
and  purpose  to  life  is  a  great  joy." 

Beginning  as  a  small  group  of  believers  in  the  spring  of 
1962,  this  GBC  has  come  a  long  distance  on  its  growth 
line.  When  double  morning  services  became  full,  the  sanc- 
tuary was  doubled  in  size  and  expanded  again.  Modular 
buildings  met  short-term  growth  needs  for  the  school  and 
after  purchasing  two  vacant  public  schools,  their  Christian 
school  now  has  enough  facilities  to  allow  them  to  grow  over 
1000  students  in  grades  Pre-Kindergarten  through  12. 

Much  of  the  church's  current  methods  of  ministry  and 
structure  reflect  a  1977  decision  to  invest  in  a  people 
ministry  rather  than  a  large  central  facility.  The  results  of 
that  decision  have  been  three  morning  services  on  Sun- 
day, a  growing  pastoral  staff  and  extending  their  congrega- 
tion to  several  locations.  Beginning  in  1979,  the  church 
has  branched  out  to  plant  churches  in  Frederick,  Waldorf 
and  Dunkirk,  Maryland. 

An  emphasis  on  people  has  also  expanded  their 
outreach  and  small  group  ministries.  Such  a  list  includes: 
Tuesday  afternoon  ladies  visitation  to  shut-ins,  elderly  and 
the  hospitalized;  Care/Share  teams  active  in  visitation; 
Evangelism  Explosion  training  twice  each  year;  an  orien- 
tation class  for  new  members;  Senior  Citizens  Fellowship; 
home  Bible  studies;  discipleship  groups  segmented  for  age 
levels;  ministries  to  singles  and  single  parents;  a  jail  ministry 
and  more. 

In  addition  to  the  warmth  attenders  feel  at  this  Temple 
Hills  GBC,  the  pastor  and  staff  also  experience  a  side 
benefit.  "One  of  the  beautiful  overflows  of  teaching  your 
people  how  to  love,"  says  Dixon,  "is  not  only  seeing  fami- 
ly relationships  strengthened,  but  they  also  love  their  pastor. 
I  feel  very  loved  by  my  congregation.  And  a  loving  con- 
gregation and  staff  allows  all  our  energies  to  be  spent  in 
trying  to  answer  growth  problems  instead  of  being  divisive." 

Congratulations  to  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Greater 
Washington  for  being  recognized  as  CE's  1985  Church  of 
the  Year.  □ 


Grace  Brethren  Church 
and  School  Staff 

James  Dixon,  Senior  Pastor 

Pastoral  Assistants: 

Dean  Walter 
Robert  Wagner 
Larry  Gegner 
Jeff  Thornley 
R.  Greene 
Ron  Satta 

Administrative  Assistants: 

Clark  Robinson 
Joel  Proctor 
Doris  Homan 
Jan  Smith 
Bruce  Jackson 

Education  Assistants: 

Dorothy  Dixon 
Janet  Harris 
Peter  Dixon 
Linda  Worrell 
Rob  VanNess 
Sandi  Proctor 


12 


DECEMBER  '85 


CE 


A  Sunday  School 
On  The  Grow 


It  was  an  easy  decision  for  us  to  name  the  Anchorage, 
Alaska,  Grace  Brethren  Church  CE's  1985  Sunday  School 
of  the  Year.  With  an  increase  in  Sunday  school  attendance 
of  13.9  percent  over  1984,  Anchorage  ranked  first  in 
growth  among  churches  of  its  size. 

In  1984,  when  the  church  also  had  noteworthy  Sunday 
school  growth,  the  pastor  asked  not  to  be  included  in  the 
award  consideration  because  their  Sunday  school  needed 
further  organization.  A  year  later,  Pastor  Larry  Smith  wick 
said,  "We  made  some  changes  and  I  feel  good  about  our 
Sunday  school.  The  growth  is  a  result  of  our  im- 
provements." 

The  difference  between  the  two  years  began  with  a  task 
force  of  lay  educators  who  evaluated  the  total  Sunday 
school  ministry  and  made  recommendations  to  the  Board 
of  Elders.  Some  of  the  results  included  a  Teacher's  Hand- 
book outlining  the  church's  philosophy  of  ministry,  clarified 
job  descriptions,  qualification  standards  and  a  required  one 
year  commitment  to  ministry  from  each  teacher. 

The  church  now  also  has  organizational  flow  charts  for 
all  ministries  under  their  Christian  education  department 
and  monthly  teacher  meetings  that  inspire  the  teachers 
while  providing  practical  and  creative  teaching  tips. 

Organization,  itself,  hasn't  produced  growth.  But  it 
demonstrates  the  attention  Anchorage  has  given  to  their 
Sunday  school  and  their  desire  to  constantly  evaluate  and 
improve.  A  stress  on  student  participation  in  all  classrooms 
through  creative  teaching  methods  keeps  attenders  com- 
ing back  for  more.  And  the  appointment  of  a  Sunday 
School  Director,  Tom  Sheffrey,  has  given  the  program 
direction  and  stability  of  leadership. 

For  all  the  good  things  about  their  Sunday  school  and 
for  their  hard  work,  we  honor  Anchorage  GBC  with  our 
Sunday  School  of  the  Year  Award.  □ 


Summary  of  National 
CE  Awards 

Church  of  the  Year 

Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Greater  Washington 
Temple  Hills,  Maryland 

Sunday  School  of  the  Year 

Anchorage  Grace  Brethren  Church 
Anchorage,  Alaska 

Educator  of  the  Year 

Sharon  Strickling 
Ashland,  Ohio  GBC 

Senior  Medal  of  Ministry 

Otis  Scott 

River  City  Grace  Community  Church 

Sacramento,  California 

PSA  District  Winners 
in  Sunday  School  Growth 


Allegheny 
Boswell,  PA  5.7% 

Artie 

Eagle  River,  AK  22.5% 

Florida 

Sebring,  FL  50% 

Indiana 

Kokomo,  IN  North  20.3% 

Iowa-Midlands 
Waterloo,  I A  3.2% 

Mid -Atlantic 

Temple  Hills,  MD  6.3% 

Mountain-Plains 
Denver,  CO  20% 

Nor-Cal 

Auburn,  CA  28.8% 

Northcentral  Ohio 
Delaware,  OH  15.7% 

Northeastern  Ohio 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  OH  42.1% 

Northern  Atlantic 
Lancaster,  PA  Grace  17.2% 

Northwest 
Spokane,  WA  34.2% 

Southern  California/Arizona 
Cypress.  CA  42.9% 

Southern  Ohio 

Dayton,  OH  Calvary  25% 


Virgina 

Riner,  VA  15.6% 

Western  Pennsylvania 
Altoona,  PA  Grace  11. 


CE 


DECEMBER  '85 


13 


Tom  and  Ruthie  Petit.  Grace  Seminary  graduates,  direct  the  center  for  Biblical  Counseling  in  St.  Petersburg  Florida. 


14 


DECEMBER  '85 


GRACE 


One  Mheriiw 


"This  hunger  is  greater  than  any  fullness;  this  poverty 
better  than  any  wealth."  —  C.S.  Lewis 

I  he  argument  was  a  doozey. 
Tom  Petit  had  just  punched  the  wall.  His  wife,  Ruthie, 
had  just  walked  out  the  door.  That  evening,  Tom  was 
supposed  to  give  a  message  to  the  fellowship  group. 

An  hour  or  so  later,  Ruthie  called:  "Are  you  ready  to 
be  nice?" 

"Where  are  you?"  Tom  replied. 

"Are  you  ready  to  be  nice?"  Ruthie  asked  again. 

"Where  are  you?"  Tom  replied  again. 

Tom  didn't  want  to  go  to  the  fellowship  meeting  alone. 

I  om  and  Ruthie  Petit  have  impressive  business  cards: 
Director  and  Assistant  Director  of  the  Center  for  Biblical 
Counseling  in  St.  Petersburg,  Florida.  They  have  master's 
degrees  in  Biblical  Counseling  from  Grace  Theological 
Seminary.  They  have  a  solid  knowledge  of  the  Scripture. 
They  have  a  foundation  for  understanding  human 
behavior  through  Larry  Crabb's  counseling  program. 

And  they  have  problems. 

"We  try  to  dispel  the  idea  that  we  have  the  perfect 
relationship,"  Ruthie  says.  "Sometimes,  we  start  off  class 
by  telling  about  our  most  recent  fight." 

That's  important,  the  Petits  say:  "That's  what  we  ap- 
preciated so  much  about  the  counseling  program  at 
Grace,"  Tom  says,  "You  have  to  work  it  through  first  in 
your  own  lives." 

Perfect  relationships,  in  a  bent  world,  do  not  exist.  Pain 
and  problems  are  natural.  There's  no  sense  in  hiding  that 
fact.  In  fact,  it's  nonsense. 

The  church,  they  say,  is  far  too  often  a  theater: 

"Somehow,"  Ruthie  saps,  "we've  gotten 
this  misconception  about  what  joy  really 
is.  It's  not  getting  rid  of  all  the  problems 
and  suffering,  but  facing  it  and  leading  a 
true  life." 


GRACE   DECEMBER '85  I  5 


Make-up  and  masks  required. 

"So  often,"  Ruthie  says,  "we  dress 
up  on  Sundays,  we  go  to  church  and 
everything  seems  happy  and  we  kind 
of  bump  off  each  other  and  then  we 
go  back  home." 

In  the  view  of  Tom  and  Ruthie,  the 
problems  should  not  be  hidden.  The 
problems,  in  essence,  are  not  the 
problem. 

"Somehow,"  Ruthie  says,  "we've 
gotten  this  misconception  about 
what  joy  really  is.  It's  not  getting  rid 
of  all  the  problems  and  suffering,  but 
facing  it  and  leading  a  true  life." 

Psychology,  in  some  church 
circles,  can  be  spelled  with  four 
letters. 

Tom   and   Ruthie   don't  like  the 

word    much    either.    They     

prefer  to  call  what  they  do, 
"counseling."  Better  yet, 
"discipling."  Still  better,  "one 
anothering." 


ing  that." 

That  method,  the  Petits  say,  often 
doesn't  get  to  the  root  of  the  pro- 
blem. They  don't  like  the  word 
"psychological";  they  prefer 
"spiritual." 

As  the  deer  pants  for  streams  of 
water, 

so  my  soul  pants  for  you,  O  God. 
My  soul  thirsts  for  God,  for  the  liv- 
ing God. 

When  can  I  go  and  meet  with  God? 
-Psalm  42:  1,2 

There  is  a  longing  in  the  heart  of 
man  to  be  loved  unconditionally. 
That  longing,  the  Petits  say,  can  on- 
ly be  filled  by  a  relationship  with 
Jesus  Christ. 


"It's  not  wrong  to  long  to  be  loved  and 
to  be  respected.  What  is  wrong  is  going 
Their  jobs  as  directors  of    someplace  other  than  the  Lord  to  get 

the    Center    for    Biblical  .  „ 

Counseling  in  St  Petersburg      those  things. 
take  on  many  forms.  Ob- 


viously,  they  counsel.  Much  of  the 
people  they  see  are  from  the  North- 
side  Baptist  Church,  to  which  the 
Center  is  closely  associated.  But  they 
also  counsel  people  from  the  general 
community. 

In  addition  to  counseling,  they 
train  counselors,  present  seminars 
and  teach  Sunday  School. 

But  what  they  really  do,  in  a  lov- 
ing way,  is  call  sin,  sin. 

"I  think  the  main  thrust  of  the 
training  that  we  got  at  Grace,"  says 
Tom,  "is  that  there  is  not  a  difference 
between  psychological  problems  and 
spiritual  problems.  Unless  it  is 
something  organically  or  physically 
caused,  underneath  any  (psycholog- 
ical) symptom  is  some  fragment  in 
their  relationship  with  the  Lord.  The 
Lord  really  is  a  sufficient  answer  for 
any  problem." 

But  don't  get  Tom  and  Ruthie 
wrong.  Although  they  believe  Scrip- 
tures are  a  cure-all,  they  feel 
medicine  is  hard  to  take  when  the 
cabinet  door  is  locked. 

"When  you  get  depressed,"  Tom 
says,  "and  you  tell  someone  that  you 
are  down  or  tell  them  that  you  are 
angry,  what  is  usually  the  first  thing 
they  say  to  you?  They  quote  a  verse 
and,  in  essence,  tell  you  to  stop  do- 


A  major  job  in  their  counseling  is 
to  make  people  aware  of  the  inap- 
propriate methods  used  to  fill  that 
longing. 

"Sometimes,  we  try  to  fill  that 
longing  through  the  wrong  things  — 
through  our  careers,  through  rela- 
tionships with  our  spouses,  any 
number  of  things,"  Tom  says.  "We  go 
to  other  places  to  look  for  satisfac- 
tion and  it  doesn't  work.  There  is  a 
way  that  seems  right  to  man  and  the 
end  is  death." 

Selfishness  is  usually  the  problem, 
the  Petits  say.  The  result  is  usually 
emotional  instability.  The  longing 
goes  unsatisfied  and  unrealistic 
"demands"  are  placed  on  others. 

Dealing  with  problems  in  a  Biblical 
way,  the  Petits  say,  results  in  pain. 

"The  thing  that  they  need  to  see 
is  not  only  their  one,  narrow  sin," 
Ruthie  says,  "but  the  fact  that  they 
are  totally  depraved.  For  most  of  us, 
our  main  goal  in  life  is  to  stay  out  of 
pain  and  it's  really  painful  to  see 
yourself  as  a  sinner." 

Many  times,  the  Petits  say,  the 
Christian  community  encourages  an 
attitude  of  near  giddiness.  That  is  not 
Biblical. 

"I  think  we  have  settled  for  some 
level  of  comfortability  in  the  church," 


Tom  says.  "Sometimes  in  the  church 
the  perspective  is  that  to  be  mature 
and  normal  means  that  you  are 
always  joyful." 

Ruthie  feels  there  is  a 
misunderstanding  of  what  joy 
means:  "The  more  mature  a  Chris- 
tian is  the  more  aware  they  are  of 
their  own  sinfulness  and  how  things, 
oftentimes,  don't  work.  But  they  are 
choosing  to  interact  in  life  and  they 
know  that  joy  is  not  some  overflow- 
ing, bubbly,  wonderful  thing.  It  is  a 
real  deep  sense  that  God  exists  and 
that  he  is  ultimate  reality." 

Although  the  Petits  try  to  make 
people  see  the  ugliness  of  sin,  they 
say  their  counseling  is  modeled  on 
acceptance. 

"At  the  point  of  them  see- 

ing  that  they  are  totally 
depraved  —  that's  when  the 
Gospel  really  is  good  news," 
Ruthie  says.  "Counseling  at 
every  time  must  be  model- 
ed on  the  acceptance  of 
Christ.  It's  not  wrong  to  long 

to    be    loved    and    to    be 

respected.  What  is  wrong  is  going 
someplace  other  than  the  Lord  to  get 
those  things." 

Do  not  let  any  unwholesome 
talk  come  out  of  your  mouths,  but 
only  what  is  helpful  for  building 
others  up  according  to  their  needs, 
that  it  may  benefit  those  who  listen." 
—  Ephesians  4:29 

Tom  and  Ruthie  Petit  are  commit- 
ted to  family.  And  that  does  not  just 
mean  to  each  other.  The  Bible  talks 
about  family  in  a  wider  scope  —  the 
church  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Their  approach  to  counseling  is 
not  "psychological." 

"You  don't  see  any  distinction  be- 
tween counseling  and  discipleship,  or 
what  we  like  to  call  'one  anothering.' 
The  goal  is  to  build  one  another  up; 
the  goal  is  edification,"  Ruthie  says. 
"Counseling  should  be  used  to  pro- 
mote Godliness  and  spiritual  maturi- 
ty in  a  person's  life." 

But  that  doesn't  mean  just  to 
quote  Scripture  and  say  "quit  that." 
It  means  providing  a  Biblical 
framework  to  help  the  person 
understand  the  underlying  cause  of 
a  behavioral  or  emotional  problem. 

It  is  difficult  work,  the  Petits  say.  It 
involves  confrontation,  patience  and, 
more  times  than  not,  frustration. 


16 


DECEMBER  85 


GRACE 


Stripping  away  masks  can  be  very        says  that  if  you  really  saw  what  I  was        Christian  family  should  be  about. 


revealing:  "We  ought  to  be  able  to 
talk  about  our  frustrations  and  deep 
problems,"  Tom  says.  "But  we  put  up 
layers  and  I  think  those  layers  are 
there  because  of  fear  —  a  fear  that 


like  —  if  you  really  knew  what  was 
going  on  inside  me  —  then  you 
wouldn't  accept  me." 

But    accepting    one    another, 
despite    weaknesses,    is    what    the 


Love  demands  as  much  —  to  face 
sin  and  become  poor,  and  self- 
sufficiency  and  be  made  hungry.  □ 


LIVING  MEMORIAL  HONOR  ROLL 
October  1985 


Given  by: 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  G.  W.  Taylor 

Rev.  W.  H.  Schaffer 

Dr.  &  Mrs.  J.  Keith  Altig 

Dr.  &  Mrs.  Donald  Hedrick 

Mrs.  Lillian  Teeter 

Miss  Joyce  Allen 

Miss  Betty  Price 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Ernest  Ringler 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Russell  W.  Brand 

Dr.  &  Mrs.  Eugene  Koser 

Rev.  &  Mrs.  Dean  McFadden 


Living  Memorials, 

200  Seminary  Drive, 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


In  Memory  of: 

Lorrie  Shaver 
Garvis  Taylor 
Fredia  Kleiver 
A.  Earl  Hedrick 
A.  Earl  Hedrick 
Rev.  Gerald  Teeter 
A.  Earl  Hedrick 
A.  Earl  Hedrick 
Paul  Mort 
Mildred  Kinsey 
Leila  Witzky 
Nora  Fawley 


Jratf 


The 

mi®M& 

Corporation 

American  Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc. 

Given  By: 

Mrs.  Lu  Ann  Inman 

QOW 

Cabot  Foundation 

Mr.  Paul  Fields 

First  National  Bank  of  Warsaw 

Mrs.  Elaine  Vandermark 

Program 

Allstate  Foundation 

Mrs.  Nancy  Johnson 

Allied  Foundation 

Mr.  David  Young 

Proctor  and  Gamble 

Mr.  Brian  Sholly 

A  Blessing  to 

Columbia  Gas  Corporation 
Warner  Lambert  Co. 

Mr.  Bill  Goodwin 
Mrs.  Jean  Tschudy 

Grace  Schools 

GRACE 


DECEMBER  '85 


17 


A 

Warm 
Church 
In  The 
Cold 
North 


By  Chris  Hayes 

Pastor,  Grace  Brethren  Church 

Wasilla,  Alaska 


Alaska  is  a  state  of  rugged  in- 
dividualists. Many  people  have  left 
comfortable  careers  in  the  "lower  48" 
to  carve  a  life  for  themselves  in  a  land 
where  the  pace  is  slower  and  the 
challenges  of  frontier  living  in  the  20th 
century  are  ever  present.  Yet  in  an 
area  where  one  can  become  almost 
self-sufficient,  God  is  using  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at  Wasilla  to  melt  icy 
hearts  into  warm,  caring  images  of 
Himself. 

When  I  was  first  asked  to  consider 
planting  a  Grace  Brethren  Church  in 
this  community  northwest  of  An- 
chorage, my  desire  to  answer  the  call 
was  overwhelmed  with  mountains  of 
questions  and  some  serious  fears. 
However,  as  I  considered  the  decision, 
the  simplest  truths  seemed  to  ring  out 
in  my  heart.  I  knew  for  sure  the  Lord 
wanted  men  and  women  here  to  trust 
Him  as  their  personal  Savior.  I  knew 
He  wanted  them  to  grow  and  mature 
to  be  like  Himself.  Finally,  I  knew  He 
had  placed  me  in  the  ministry  to  help 
Him  accomplish  these  things  in  this 
world. 

My  wife,  Liz,  and  I  went  to  our 
knees  and  to  God's  Word,  to  seek  his 
mind  on  all  the  questions  and  fears. 
There  we  found  the  power  to  conquer 
those  fears  and  we  began,  with  a  few 
friends,  to  pray  for  the  town  of  Wasilla, 
the  people  we  would  come  in  contact 
with,  and  their  heart's  response  to 
God's  word  through  us. 

As  we  have  ministered  in  Wasilla  for 
more  than  a  year  now,  I  can  en- 
thusiastically share  with  you  that  the 
Lord  has  answered  our  prayers.  The 
families  that  we  have  had  the  privilege 
to  contact  and  follow  up  have 
responded  in  a  very  positive  way  and 
have  been  a  source  of  genuine  en- 
couragement. We  have  been  able, 
from  the  very  beginning,  to  share  our 
hearts  desire  for  the  church  and  to 
watch  the  people  catch  the  same  vi- 
sion and  eagerly  begin  working  to 
make  those  goals  a  reality.  Their  per- 
sonal and  corporate  lives  display  a 
sincere  warmth  and  desire  to  be  the 
church  God  had  in  His  mind  when  he 
said,  "I  will  build  my  church  .  .  ." 

One  of  the  first  Scriptures  we  looked 
at  initially  was  Matthew  16:13-23.  In 
these  verses  Christ  sets  up  His 
disciples  for  the  realization  that  He,  as 
the  Son  of  the  living  God,  is  the  only 
foundation  for  His  church.  Further- 
more, these  disciples  would  have  to 
use  this  fact  and  His  teachings  to  build 
the  church  and  without  His  physical 
presence.  They  would  have  to  totally 


depend  upon  their  spiritual  union  with 
Him. 

From  this  point  on  in  the  Gospels, 
Christ  seems  to  intensify  His  personal 
time  and  training  with  the  disciples. 
While  the  Church  Age  did  not  begin 
until  the  day  of  Pentacost,  the  teaching 
and  training  of  the  men  for  the 
ministry  began  approximately  three 
years  previous.  The  emphasis,  of 
course,  is  on  the  truth  that  Jesus 
Christ,  being  the  Son  of  God,  would 
build  His  church  without  fail. 

One  of  the  really  special  things 
about  being  able  to  share  this  way  with 
people  is  their  readiness  to  put  Christ 
first  as  the  foundation  of  our  church. 
They  are  very  interested  and  cautious 
to  make  sure  that  as  we  slowly  build, 
we  are  building  upon  the  word  of  God 
and  Christ  as  the  cornerstone. 

Another  area  which  we  have  tried 
to  be  clear  and  open  with  our  young 
body  is  in  setting  goals  for  the  whole 
church.  One  goal  we  have  committed 
ourselves  to  is  to  become  disciples  and 
disciple  makers.  We  were  spending 
time  in  Matthew  28:19-20  and  trying 
to  make  the  passage  a  stretching 
reality  in  our  lives.  "Go  you  therefore 
and  make  disciples  of  all  nations  .  .  . 
and  teach  them  to  observe  all  I  have 
commanded  you." 

So  with  the  goal  of  making  disciples 
a  part  of  our  method,  we  again  went 
to  our  knees  and  asked  God  to 
prepare  the  hearts  and  minds  of 
several  of  the  men  who  attended  our 
young  church,  that  they  would  receive 
the  challenge  of  becoming  disciples. 

We  prayed  for  five  men.  The  Lord 
answered  faithfully.  In  December  of 
1984,  we  held  our  first  discipleship 
session  and  five  men  of  the  eight  at- 
tending families  responded  to  the  op- 
portunity. Since  that  time  they  have 
encouraged  me  with  eager  hearts  and 
willing  minds,  personal  growth,  and  a 
sincere  desire  to  reach  others.  We 
have  committed  ourselves  to  each 
other  at  least  once  a  week  for  at  least 
one  and  one-half  hours.  (Some  of  us 
meet  more.)  We  have  also  committed 
ourselves  to  Scripture  memory,  per- 
sonal worship,  earnest  prayer,  Bible 
study,  and  to  live  our  lives  in  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

This  new  insight  into  the  believers' 
lifestyle  was  also  very  fresh  to  the 
young  Christians.  They,  like  most 
other  believers,  always  thought  Chris- 
tians were  simply  meek,  mild- 
mannered  people  who  never  asserted 


18   DECEMBER '85  GBHMC 


themselves.  It  never  entered  their 
minds  that  Christ  himself  would  expect 
His  followers  to  be  confident,  aggres- 
sive men  and  women  for  Christ.  Most 
knew  they  had  received  the  Holy 
Spirit  at  the  time  they  trusted  Christ, 
but  few  knew  the  power  of  the  Spirit 
and  that  they  are  to  be  an  instrument 
through  which  He  can  demonstrate 
His  power. 

What  a  joy,  what  a  freedom,  what 
a  relaxed  lifestyle  for  them  as  they 
began  serving,  calling,  sharing,  seeing 
in  their  own  lives  the  loving  power  of 
the  Spirit's  direction  for  the  sake  of 
others.  They  were  actually  ministering 
and  thrilled  with  the  opportunity! 

This  same  realization  also  gave 
them  the  freedom  to  openly  worship 
Christ  in  church  with  an  extremely 
sensitive  heart.  They  desired  to  come 
before  God  on  Sunday  with  great 
reverance  and  anticipation  of  singing 
praises  to  Him  and  learning  from  His 
word  and  looked  for  His  weekly  work- 
ing in  their  lives.  They  all  seemed  to 
explode  with  servant's  hearts.  One 
family  began  to  have  guests  over  for 
dinner  week  after  week.  Another  hung 
sheet  rock  for  a  neighbor.  Others  par- 
ticipated in  the  church  service,  reading 
Scripture  or  praying  publicly  for  the 
first  time. 

They  gradually  blossomed  into  a 
warm  church  in  a  place  where  it  is  very 
possible  to  become  cold  hearted.  The 
ideal  of  being  a  rugged  individualist  in 
Alaska  may  sound  very  attractive,  but 
there  is  really  no  place  for  that  kind  of 


heart  in  Christ's  body,  especially  if  the 
goal  of  the  body  is  to  reproduce  itself 
in  an  attitude  of  love. 

Every  ministry  has  rough  and  tough 
areas  that  must  be  dealt  with.  I  believe 
we  have  had  quite  a  few  in  the  last 
several  months.  However,  I  will  only 
share  a  personal  battle  which  occured 
during  this  time. 

I  had  some  fears  and  doubts  about 
being  successful  in  this  ministry.  Pro- 
bably, the  most  frightening  thing  was 
that  1  wanted  to  be  successful  for  me. 
Like  others  I'm  sure,  I  desired  im- 
mediate responsiveness  with  large 
groups  of  people.  I  dreamed  great 
dreams  .  .  .  and  in  some  senses  I  think 
that  is  how  we  ought  to  dream.  But 
the  motive  behind  why  I  wanted  to  be 
successful  really  haunted  me. 

To  my  knees  and  the  Word  I  went 
again.  As  I  read  through  the  Gospels, 
Acts,  and  Romans,  I  began  to  realize 
success  is  not  attained  by  an  ultimate 
conquering  of  some  goal.  Instead,  it 
is  a  process  of  accomplishing  the  step 
by  step  life-stretching  events  which 
Christ  and  the  Spirit  lead  believers 
through.  All  of  this  will  end  with  our 
being  found  in  His  likeness.  Therefore, 
I  am  not  exempt  from  any  past  test 
God  may  have  carried  me  through 
and  I  am  certainly  not,  nor  do  I  want 
to  be  passed  over  from  facing  new 
life /faith  stretching  tests  in  the  future. 

The  great  reassurances  came  when 
I  realized  I  have  been  set  apart  by  the 
Lord  to  be  a  shepherd.  He  expects  me 
to  maintain  a  yieldedness  to  Him  as 


an  instrument  of  righteousness,  in  the 
midst  of  awesome  responsibilities.  I  am 
still  expected  to  observe  all  the  com- 
mands just  as  any  other  disciple  must 
do.  I  must  be  willing  to  struggle  in  the 
process  where  Christ  has  me,  and 
know  He  wants  to  use  me  to  build  His 
own  Bride.  To  the  degree  that  I  am 
able  to  be  the  best  individual  servant 
for  Him  and  be  faithfully  doing  the 
work  He  has  put  me  in  to,  I  can  be 
assured  He  will  be  giving  Himself  good 
success.  The  one  issue  in  which  I  need 
to  succeed,  above  all  other  areas,  is 
staying  yielded  to  Him,  steadfast,  im- 
movable, and  always  abounding  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.  For  this  I  know,  the 
work  of  the  Lord  is  not  in  vain  and  His 
church  in  the  cold  regions  of  Alaska 
will  grow  and  help  warm  hearts.    □ 


Chris  Hayes  returned  to  his  native 
Alaska  in  1984  to  begin  a  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at  Wasilla.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Florida  College  and  at- 
tended Grace  Theological  Seminary 
and  Ashland  Theological  Seminary. 
Prior  to  moving  to  the  49th  state,  he 
served  as  assistant  pastor  at  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church,  Ashland,  Ohio.  He 
and  his  wife,  Liz,  have  two  sons  and 
two  daughters. 


GBHMC 


DECEMBER  '85 


19 


Number  Our  Days  — 

Today's  Decision  May  Affect  Next  Year's  Taxes 


by  Russ  Dunlap 

Director 

Grace  Brethren  Missions  Stewardship  Service 


Psalm  90:12  says,  "Teach  us  to 
number  our  days  aright,  that  we  may 
gain  a  heart  of  wisdom."  (NIV) 

Stewardship,  the  management  of 
God's  assets  entrusted  to  us,  surely  re- 
quires us  to  number  our  days.  With 
only  a  short  time  remaining  in  1985, 
some  of  our  decisions  and  actions  can 
affect  the  amount  of  taxes  we  will  be 
paying  for  the  year. 

It  seems  like  every  year,  Congress 
is  considering  new  tax  legislation, 
reform,  and  other  changes  to  make 
our  federal  tax  structure  simpler  and 
fairer  for  the  average  taxpayer.  The 
result  seems  to  be  more  rules,  more 
regulations,  more  forms,  and  a  more 
complicated  structure  that  fewer  peo- 
ple are  able  to  understand  and  apply. 
However,  there  are  some  certain 
things  that  we  can  do  yet  this  year  in 
relationship  to  our  giving  to  the  Lord's 
work  which  can  reduce  our  taxes  and 
make  more  money  available  for 
reaching  the  lost  world  for  Christ. 
Some  of  these  are: 

Cash  —  For  the  majority  of  the 
people  that  do  not  itemize  their  ex- 
penses for  federal  taxes,  for  the  first 
time,  they  may  deduct  one-half  of  a 
charitable  gifts,  up  to  50  percent  of  the 
adjusted  gross  income  in  1985.  Con- 
gress is  considering  changing  this  next 
year,  so  this  may  be  your  best  year 
ever  to  take  advantage  of  this 


tax  break  for  non-itemizers.  Any 
charitable  giving  may  apply  to  this,  not 
just  cash  gifts. 

Real  Estate  —  You  may  have  pro- 
ductive or  non-productive  real  estate 
which  has  a  higher  present  value  than 
your  cost  basis  in  the  property.  It  is 
possible  to  give  such  property  to  your 
church  or  Grace  Brethren  Home  or 
Foreign  Missions,  and  receive  the  full 
fair  market  value  of  the  property  as  a 
charitable  gift,  without  reporting  or 
paying  taxes  on  the  appreciated  value 
of  the  property.  This  can  either  be 
given  on  an  outright  basis  or  on  a  trust 
basis  retaining  a  life  income.  (Tax 
benefits  depend  on  arrangements.) 

Stocks  and  Bonds  —  Here  again, 
if  you  own  stocks  and  bonds  which  are 
worth  more  now  than  what  you  paid 
for  them,  there  can  be  a  definite  tax 
advantage  by  contributing  these  items 


to  the  Lord,  provided  they  qualify  as 
long-term  capital  gain  property.  Of 
course,  the  gift  is  not  based  on  tax 
benefits,  but  rather,  because  you  want 
to  be  used  by  God  and  exercise  good 
stewardship  which  the  Lord  requires 
from  each  of  us. 

For  example,  if  your  adjusted  gross 
income  is  $30,000  and  you  own  50 
shares  of  XYZ  Company  stock,  which 
has  increased  in  value  from  a  cost  of 
$1,000  you  paid  for  it  years  ago,  to 
$2,000,  the  present  value,  you  may 
give  this  stock  and  receive  a  $2,000 
deduction  on  your  federal  income  tax 
return.  In  addition,  you  will  not  be  re- 
quired to  pay  capital  gains  tax  on  the 
$1,000  increase  in  value. 

Life  Insurance  —  Many  people 
buy  life  insurance  on  their  own  lives, 


20 


DECEMBER  '85 


GBHMC 


their  spouse's,  or  children's  to  meet  a 
need.  In  some  situations  that  need  no 
longer  exists  and  these  life  insurance 
policies  have  built  up  cash  values 
which  are  earning  very  little  interest. 

By  contributing  some  of  these 
policies  to  the  Lord's  work,  you  not 
only  help  meet  the  needs  of  some  of 
our  missionaries,  but  may  possibly 
reduce  your  income  taxes  for  1985. 
There  are  a  number  of  ways  of  con- 
tributing life  insurance.  Please  write  us 
for  more  information  should  you  have 
an  interest  in  this  area. 

IRA's  —  Individual  Retirement  Ac- 
counts, in  some  cases,  have  more 
money  accumulated  than  there  is 
financial  need  in  the  individual's  life. 
These  can  be  contributed  or  the  mis- 
sion or  church  can  be  named 
"beneficiary"  or  "final  beneficiary"  if 
not  needed  during  your  lifetime,  or  at 
your  death. 

Corporate  Gifts  —  Corporations 
may  now  give  up  to  10  percent  of  their 
taxable  income  to  charitable  organiza- 
tions and  deduct  this  from  taxable  in- 
come. In  many  cases,  this  would  result 
in  a  50  percent  tax  savings. 

Gifts  In  Kind  —  During  a  building 
program,  a  church  challenged  their 
people  to  give  whatever  they  had!  The 


only  thing  one  lady  had  of  any  real 
value  was  her  wedding  ring.  With  the 
agreement  of  her  husband,  she  gave 
her  ring  to  the  Lord  for  that  building 
program.  (That  was  real  sacrificial  giv- 
ing!) One  man  gave  a  treasured  watch 
collection  he  enjoyed  but  realized 
meant  little  compared  to  the  eternal 
values  of  seeing  souls  reached  for 
Christ.  Another  person  gave  a  collec- 
tion of  gold  and  silver  coins  which 
were  held  for  investment  purposes. 
This  gift  resulted  in  tax  benefits  and  the 
capital  gains  tax  was  avoided  on  the 
coins. 

Farmers  have  given  cattle,  grain, 
and  other  assets.  Businessmen  have 
contributed  inventories  and  in  one  pre- 
sent case,  a  family  is  considering  giv- 
ing his  business  to  the  Lord  for  the 
cause  of  missions. 

We  have  new  growing  churches  that 
need  help  for  pastor's  support, 
building  programs,  plus  many  other 
needs.  Our  Navajo  Mission  has 
tremendous  need  for  some  new 
vehicles  to  carry  on  that  wonderful 
ministry  among  the  needy  Navajos.  As 
1985  comes  to  a  close,  let  us  number 
our  days,  take  careful  inventory  of  our 
blessings  and  assets  as  we  seek  God's 
guidance  in  "Oh  Lord,  what  would 


you  have  me  to  do?" 

For  further  information  write: 

Russel  H.  Dunlap,  Stewardship  Director 

Grace  Brethren  Missions 

Box  587 

Winona  Lake,  Ind.  46590 

We  are  not  able  to  offer  legal  or  tax 
advisory  services.  The  above  is  in- 
tended as  suggestions  and  general  in- 
formation. You  should  consult  your 
legal  and  tax  advisory  service  for 
specific  benefits  which  might  accrue  to 
your  individual  situation.  □ 


Russel  Dunlap  has  served  as 
Stewardship  Director  for  Grace 
Brethren  Missions  since  early  1984. 
He  and  his  wife,  Phyllis,  are 
members  of  the  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Osceola,  Indiana,  and  have 
four  children. 


Rev.  Ed  Jackson  has  been 
named  Eastern  Field 
Secretary  for  Grace  Brethren 
Home  Missions.  He  began 
his  duties  on  December  2. 

Known  throughout  the 
Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren 
Churches  as  a  church  planter, 
Ed  has  been  involved  in 
developing  churches  in 
Florida  and  Alaska.  Most 
recently,  he  has  been  instrumental  in  rebuilding  the  Grace 
Brethren  Church  at  Findley,  OH. 

As  Eastern  Field  Secretary,  Jackson  will  be  responsible 
for  approximately  18  Home  Mission  churches  in  seven 
districts,  from  Iowa-Midlands  to  New  England  and  from 
Michigan  to  Southern  Ohio,  districts  which  have  a  total  of 
130  associated  with  the  FGBC.  He  will  also  be  involved 


in  initiating  new  Grace  Brethren  home  missions  points. 

Ed  is  a  native  of  northeastern  Ohio  and  served  with  the 
Ohio  State  Patrol  from  1948  until  his  resignation  in  1970 
to  enter  full  time  Christian  service.  He  was  the  director  of 
the  National  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Men  from  1970 
until  1974,  when  he  entered  the  pastorate.  He  has  led 
Grace  Brethren  churches  at  Kenai,  Homer,  and  North  Pole, 
AK,  and  Orlando,  FL,  in  addition  to  his  most  recent  work 
in  Ohio.  He  also  taught  at  the  Kenai  Community  College 
from  1977  to  1979. 

Prior  to  entering  Home  Mission  minstries,  he  served  on 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Home  Mis- 
sions Council.  He  currently  serves  on  the  board  of  the 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church 
and  is  still  involved  with  the  Grace  Brethren  Men  and  Boys 
organization. 

He  and  his  wife,  Polly,  have  two  married  children.  □ 


GBHMC 


DECEMBER  '85 


21 


A- 

J 

n 

The  Enigma 

By  Isobel  Fraser 
Grace  Brethren  Messianic  Testimony 


The  above  puzzle  was  copied  from  a 
needlepoint  picture  that  Marie,  a  Jewish 
believer  and  friend,  gave  me.  It  is  an 
enigma.  If  you  look  at  it  one  way,  you 
see  nothing.  If  you  look  at  it  another, 
you  see  something  else.  Have  you 
figured  it  out? 

Once  you  see  the  name  of  Jesus,  it 
is  never  hard  to  see  again.  This  is  the 
way  it  is  also  with  the  person  of  Jesus 
Christ.  In  II  Corinthians  4:  3,4,  we  read 
"But  if  our  Gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  to 
them  that  are  lost:  In  whom  the  god  of 
this  world  hath  blinded  the  minds  of 
them  which  believe  not,  lest  the  light  of 
the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ,  who  is  the 
image  of  God,  should  shine  unto  them." 
(KJV)  This  scripture  applied  to  all,  Jew 
and  Gentile  alike.  However,  there  is  a 
special  "eyesight"  problem  to  the  Jewish 
people.  This  is  brought  out  in  II  Corin- 
thians 3:14-16:  "But  their  minds  were 
blinded:  for  until  this  day  remaineth  the 
same  veil  untaken  away  in  Christ.  But 
even  unto  this  day,  when  Moses  is  read, 
the  veil  is  upon  their  heart.  Nevertheless 
when  it  shall  turn  to  the  Lord,  the  veil 
shall  be  taken  away."  (KJV) 

Hallelujah!  Christ  is  the  answer  and 
precious  Jews  have  had  their  spiritual 
eyes  opened  through  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  at  Bet  Emet  (House  of 
Truth)in  the  35  years  of  the  existence  of 
the  Grace  Brethren  Messianic  Testimony 
in  Los  Angeles. 

The  most  recent  was  Ann,  a  Jewess 
who  has  been  attending  the  Bet-El  ladies 
Bible  class  for  more  years  than  I  can 
remember.  Recently,  I  was  encouraged 
as  she  expressed  agreement  in  class 
regarding  the  truths  I  was  teaching. 
However  to  make  that  commitment  was 
another  matter.  (I  have  written  about  her 
previously.  She  has  been  a  faithful  sup- 


porter of  the  City  of  Hope,  the  hospital 
in  Duarte,  California,  which  specializes 
in  cancer  treatment.) 

It  took  a  serious  fall  and  a  visit  to  the 
hospital  to  bring  her  to  an  acceptance  of 
Christ  Jesus  as  Messiah  and  God.  (If  you 
have  been  praying  for  her,  you  have  had 
a  part  in  her  salvation.)  I  was  apprehen- 
sive as  to  what  the  response  would  be 
of  her  daughter,  Sally,  with  whom  she 
lives,  but  there  has  been  no  antagonism 
at  all!  Since  then,  Sally  has  listened  as 
I  have  shared  the  Word  and  has  admit- 
ted a  spiritual  need.  Not  only  am  I 
welcome  in  their  home,  but  am  often  en- 
couraged to  return  soon.  Ann  needs  to 
recover  more  completely  so  that  she  can 
resume  attendance  at  the  Bet  El 
meetings. 

The   Jewish   inability  to  see  Christ 
Jesus  for  Whom  He  is  also  affects  their 
views  regarding  Christians  and  Chris- 
tianity. However,  I  received  a  real  shock 
when  I  read  these  remarks  by  a  rabbi  in 
a  June  issue  of  The  Jewish  Post: 
"It  is  foolish  to  believe  that  fun- 
damentalist   groups    are    pumping 
millions  of  dollars  into  Jews  for  Jesus 
and  other  missionary  groups  for  pure- 
ly 'religious'  reasons.  There  is  a  far  more 
devious  motivation  to  convert  Jews 
than  meets  the  eye. 

"The  establishment  of  the  State  of 
Israel  made  it  plain  to  the  anti-Semite 
that  he  could  no  longer  'neutralize'  the 
Jew  at  the  point  of  a  gun.  Now  in  order 
to  rid  America  of  the  'Jewish  Menace' 
it  would  be  necessary  to  utilize  a  more 
subtle  means.  One  look  at  the  way 
Jewish  youth  are  alienated  from  the 
Jewish  Establishment  provided  an  ob- 
vious answer:  Bring  the  young  Jew  in- 
to a  Christian  religious  group  and  under 
the  influence  of  a  preacher  who  would 


gradually    politicize    the    younger's 
religious    fervor.    Slowly    but    surely 
Jewish   resistance   to   Christian   Fun- 
damentalists idealogy  would  be  cancel- 
ed out  by  the  ever  growing  numbers  of 
Jewish  youth  turning  to  Jews  for  Jesus 
and  the  like.  Soon  America  would  in- 
deed become  a  'Christian  America'  and 
those  Jews  who  would  not  fall  in  line 
would  simply  be  legislated  into  line." 
What  a  heartache  that  some  Jewish 
leaders  could   "see"  such  an   ulterior 
motive    in    Bible -believing    Christians 
desiring  to  share  the  claims  of  Jesus  to 
being  the  Messiah  with  Jews,  as  well  as 
Gentiles.  They  need  our  prayers  for  this 
blindness  as  well  to  be  removed.  Also, 
they  are  failing  to  recognize  that  Jewish 
believers  are  encouraged  to  retain  their 
Jewish  identity;  one  way  is  in  calling 
themselves  Jewish  Christians  or  Hebrew 
Christians. 

In  another  issue  of  The  Jewish  Press, 
I  came  across  a  small  article  bringing  out 
Jewish  thought  regarding  the  Messiah 
from  the  Zohar  (Toras  Chaim,  Sanhedrin 
107a),  a  Jewish  religious  book.  It  points 
out  that  the  name  of  Adam  is  made  up 
of  three  letters  in  Hebrew:  Alef,  Dalet, 
and  Mem.  They  represent  the  initials  of 
three  persons:  Adam,  David,  and 
Messiah.  "What  Adam  began,  David 
continued,  and  Messiah  will  complete." 
To  this  we  can  say  a  hearty  Amen!  We 
would  probably  say:  What  Adam  began, 
David  continued,  and  Christ  will  com- 
plete, and  still  be  saying  the  same  thing. 
For,  the  name  Messiah  and  Christ  are 
the  same;  just  came  into  English  from 
two  different  languages,  Hebrew  and  the 
latter  Greek. 

May  more  Jewish  people  recognize 
that  Jesus  is  not  an  enigma  and  accept 
Him  as  the  The  Christ  (the  Messiah). 


22    DECEMBER '85  GBHMC 


Sermon 
Month  CQ 


By  Al  Reilly 

Pastor  Grace  Brethren  Church 

Lexington,  Kentucky 

The  car  breaks  down.  You  burn  the 
toast.  For  the  fourth  time  in  the  same 
meal,  your  three  year  old  spills  milk. 

All  these  little  irritations  can  add  up 
to  stress.  In  a  society  which  is  stress 
oriented,  it  seems  virtually  impossible 
to  escape  from  its  clutches.  It 
seemingly  can't  be  avoided.  Unex- 
pected situations  occur  each  day  over 
which  we  have  little  or  no  control. 

Yet,  the  problem  is  not  the  stressful 
situation,  but  rather  the  way  in  which 
we  respond.  There  are  two  choices  to 
react  in  such  a  circumstance:  postively 
or  negatively.  Since  it  is  a-  fact  that 
stress  can  not  be  avoided,  then  how 
does  one  learn  to  react  appropriately 
to  an  incident.  Here  are  a  few  prac- 
tical and  positive  steps  one  must  follow 
to  respond  in  a  positive  way. 

First,  reaction  to  any  problem 
should  be  reliance  on  the  Lord.  Since 
God  is  greater  than  any  stressful  pro- 
blem that  we  will  experience,  it  makes 
good  sense  to  commit  it  to  Him. 

How  can  we  do  this?  Remember 
that  our  view  of  God  will  affect 
everything  else  we  do  in  our  lives.  Two 
practical  steps  are,  get  your  focus  off 
the  problem,  and,  second,  get  your 
focus  on  God.  Paul  states  in  Philip- 
pians  4:13  "I  can  do  everything 
through  him  who  gives  me  strength." 
(NIV)  Paul's  reliance  was  not  in 
himself,  but  in  the  Lord. 

The  first  step  toward  untangling  a 
stressful  response  to  a  difficult  situation 
is  trusting  God.  Again  in  Philippians 
4:6,  it  proclaims  clearly  that  our 
prayers  are  God  centered  not  self 
centered.  God  centered  praying  also 
requires  us  to  spend  time  in  praise  and 
active  worship  of  the  Lord.  Realize  that 
stress  may  not  immediately  disappear, 
but  when  we  rely  on  God  through 
worship,  these  stressful  situations  begin 
to  take  on  a  whole  new  perspective. 

Paul  gives  us  a  key  to  understanding 
the  real  issue  of  the  stress  problem. 
When  we  learn  to  rely  on  the  Lord,  we 
must  learn  to  live  joyfully.  Apostle  Paul 
used  a  tense  for  the  word  "rejoice" 


How  To  Cope 


which  emphasizes  continual  rejoicing. 
"Rejoicing  in  the  Lord  always.  I  will  say 
it  again:  Rejoice!"  (Phil.  4:4  NIV) 

When  should  we  rejoice?  This 
rather  profound  answer  of  this  verse 
means  all  the  time,  in  every  situation, 
whether  good  or  bad.  In  order  to  be 
able  to  do  this,  a  believer  must  be  con- 
vinced God  knows  what  he  is  doing 
and  that  He  has  no  accidents. 

Paul  had  great  confidence  in  God, 
and  no  one  or  anything  could  rob  him 
of  it.  Have  we  learned  to  rely  on  God 
and  be  joyful  in  all  situations? 

If  we  are  to  experience  victory  over 
negative  stressful  responses,  it  is 
necessary  for  us  to  learn  to  lean  on  the 
Lord,  to  live  joyfully,  and  to  pray.  In 
days  of  pressure  and  stress,  in  days  of 
failure  and  frustration,  instead  of 
worrying  —  take  it  to  the  Lord  in 
prayer.  Philippians  4:6  extends  to  each 
believer  a  powerful  outlet  to  difficult 
circumstances.  Notice  the  key  word  is 
".  .  .  by  prayer  .  .  ." 

The  only  way  a  person  can  have  a 
relaxed  perspective  in  the  midst  of 
perplexing  situations  is  to  realize  God 
is  in  control  and  He  awaits  our  re- 
quests. Phil.  4:19,  "And  my  God  will 
meet  all  your  needs  according  to  his 
glorious  riches  in  Christ  Jesus,"  took 
on  special  meaning  one  day  as  I  drove 
to  a  ministerial  meeting  in  Ohio  with 
another  pastor  and  a  missionary.  Six 
miles  short  of  our  destination,  the 
water  pump  broke.  As  we  sat  by  the 
road,  we  asked  God  to  provide  a  ride, 
and  he  answered  that  prayer. 

Later  that  day,  as  I  drove  my 
repaired  car  home,  I  prayed  that  God 
would  send  the  money  for  the  repairs 
by  mail  that  day.  When  I  arrived 
home,  there  was  a  check  in  the  mail 
which  covered  the  bill  almost  exactly. 
There  is  power  in  prayer. 

Finally,  we  not  only  need  to  learn 
to  rely  on  God,  to  be  joyful,  and  to 
pray,  but  also,  in  the  midst  of  turmoil 
and  extreme  stress,  every  believer  can 
have  God's  peace  in  his  life. 

In  Philippians  4:7,  it  reveals  that 


personal  peace  is  not  dependent  on 
circumstances.  Rather,  it  is  dependent 
on  one's  personal  relationship  with  the 
Lord  Jesus.  When  you  are  down  and 
out,  when  all  seems  to  go  against  you 
—  Where  can  I  go  to  find  true  peace? 
The  Psalmist  says,  "God  is  our  refuge 
and  strength,  an  ever  present  help  in 
trouble  (means  'cramped  place'). 
Therefore  we  will  not  fear,  though  the 
earth  give  away  .  .  ."  (Psalm  46:1,2 
NIV).  The  central  theme  is:  God  is  big- 
ger than  our  problems  and  He  is 
available  to  help  and  comfort  us  when 
we  are  in  a  tight  squeeze. 

The  great  desire  of  all  people  is 
peace.  Remember,  "And  the  peace  of 
God,  which  transcends  all  understan- 
ding, will  guard  your  heart  and  your 
minds  in  Christ  Jesus."  (Phil.  4:7  NIV). 
Notice  three  distinct  elements  concer- 
ning peace  in  Colossians  3:15.  The 
source  of  our  peace  is  Christ  Himself. 
"let  the  peace  of  Christ  .  .  ." 

Second,  the  authority  of  our  peace 
is  the  word  rule,  which  means  "to  ar- 
bitrate, to  decide,  to  act  as  an  umpire." 
It  emphasizes  a  decision  such  as  one 
made  by  a  court  or  a  government.  "Let 
the  peace  of  Christ  rule  in  your  hearts 
(the  seat  of  our  emotions). 

Last,  the  results  of  our  peace  are 
"unity",  a  oneness,  a  condition  of  har- 
mony in  Christ. 

We  can  have  strength  and  peace  in 
the  midst  of  the  greatest  trials.  Are  you 
in  the  pressure  cooker  of  life  today? 
Take  the  simple  principles  from  the 
Word  of  God  and  ask  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  give  you  proper  perspective  of  the 
problem  of  pressure  in  your  life. 


Al    Reilly    pastors 

"*PPB?'X 

the    Grace    Brethren 

W'         '     kA 

Church  at  Lexington, 

w  \~J* 

Kentucky.  A  graduate 

*****M 

of  Temple  University, 

and  Biblical  Theolog- 

ical Seminary,  both  in 

J!   rk 

Philadelphia,   Pa.,   he 

and   his  wife,   Linda, 

have    two    daughters 

and  a  son. 

GBHMC 


DECEMBER  '85 


23 


The  Grace  Brethren 
Investment  Foundation 

Box  587  Winona  Lake,  IN  4659C 


I 

Celebrating  30  years  of  Serving  the  FGBC! 


Filling 
Your 

Missionary 
Chest 


Each  year  many  WMC  groups  have  an  emphasis  to 
replenish  their  missionary  chests.  The  WMC  program 
packet  provides  a  list  of  items  our  missionaries  suggested 
with  which  to  stock  the  chest.  These  items  are  needed, 
used,  and  appreciated  by  the  missionaries. 

Some  missionaries  mentioned  a  few  things  that  always 
go  fast  because  they  are  so  needed:  Tupperware  (all  items), 
linens,  towel  sets,  air  mail  weight  stationery  (very  light 
weight).  United  States  stamps,  music  cassettes  (sacred  and 
secular),  children's  stories  cassettes,  canned  meats, 
children's  toys  and  games,  good  quality  tools,  photo 
albums,  craft  and  hobby  kits,  and  cleaning  supplies. 

Instead  of  having  one  meeting  where  everybody  brings 
an  item,  try  a  different  approach  to  filling  the  chest.  Since 
sheet  sets  are  fairly  expensive,  have  several  ladies  go 
together  and  purchase  a  set  or  designate  a  month  where 
the  ladies  save  all  their  pennies  to  go  toward  sheets. 

Several  women  could  also  go  together  to  purchase  bath 
towels  and  cloths.  One  WMC  group  had  each  lady  bring 
ten  cents  per  towel  in  their  home.  If  a  person  had  fifteen 
bath  towels  ,  she  donated  $1.50  that  would  be  used  to  buy 
towels  for  the  chest.  Group  effort  is  a  great  way  to  provide 
some  of  the  larger  items. 

Why  not  have  the  men's  organization  in  your  church  help 
supply  the  missionary  chest?  The  men  could  be  invited  to 
supply  shaving  kits,  socks,  underwear,  handkerchiefs, 
billfolds,  flashlights,  power  and  hand  tools,  men's  toiletries, 
tie  tacks,  and  shirts.  This  way  the  male  missionaries  are 
not  neglected. 

Usually  a  church  knows  in  advance  when  a  missionary 
is  going  to  visit.  Write  to  the  missionary (ies)  coming  to  your 
area  ahead  of  time.  Ask  what  he/she  needs  or  get  sizes 
for  clothing.  Better  yet,  plan  to  take  the  missionary  shop- 
ping or  give  a  gift  certificate  for  a  nation-wide  store  (Sears, 
Penneys) . 

Another  suggestion  is  to  give  the  missionary  a  certain 
amount  to  spend  at  a  local  Christian  bookstore.  Money  gifts 
are  always  appreciated  for  the  things  no  one  else  can  buy 
for  you. 

Be  creative  and  original  in  filling  your  missionary  chest. 
Let  needs  be  known.  And  when  missionaries  visit  your 
church,  be  sure  to  take  them  to  the  chest  and  let  them 
choose  a  few  items.  Don't  neglect  things  for  them  or  push 
unwanted  supplies  on  them;  they  know  what  they  need 
and  can  use. 

Perhaps  you  have  a  missionary  chest  but  very  few  mis- 
sionaries visit  your  area.  You  could  send  it  to  the  missionary 
residence  in  Winona  Lake,  where  missionaries  could  look 
through  it  and  take  things. 

Our  missionaries  are  thankful  for  the  concern  and  care 
the  WMC  ladies  show.  Thanks  and  keep  up  the  good  work. 


1985-86  National  WMCOfficers 

President  —  Mrs.  Margie  Devan/10  E.  Luray  Ave  ./Alexandria,  VA  22301 
(Tel.  703/548-8359) 

1st  Vice  Pres.  —  Mrs.  Geneva  lnman/2244  Femwood  Dr. /Colorado 
Springs,  CO  80910  (Tel    303/597-2620) 

2nd  Vice  Pres.  —  Mrs.  Janet  Minnix/3314  Kenwick  Trail  S.W. /Roanoke, 
VA  24018  (Tel.  703/774-4078) 

Secretary  —  Mrs.  Florence  Lesh/Route  3/La  Porte  City,  IA  50651 
(Tel.  319/342-3166) 

Asst.  Sec.  -  Mrs.  Betty  Ogden/8400  Good  Luck  Rd./Lanham,  MD 
20706  (Tel.  301/552-9660) 

Financial  Sec.-Treas.  —  Miss  Joyce  Ashman  602  Chestnut  Ave. /Winona 
Lake.  IN  46590  (Tel.  219/267-7588) 

Asst.  Fin.  Sec.-Treas.  —  Mrs.  Ella  Risser/815  S.  Prospect/Marion,  OH 
43302  (Tel.  614/383-4197) 

Literature  Sec.    -   Mrs.   Lillian  Teeter/Rt.  8,  Box  292/Warsaw,  IN 
46580/ (Tel.  219/267-5513) 

Prayer  Chairman  -  Mrs.  Debbie  Adams/RD  -4  Box  93-A/Kittanning, 
PA  17201  (Tel.  412/763-3497) 

Editor  -  Miss  Nora  Macon/705  Terrace  Dr. /Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
(Tel.  219/267-7527) 

Coordinator  of  Girls  Ministries  —  Miss  Sue  Rike/Rt.  8  Box  138/Warsaw. 
IN  46580  (Tel.  219/267-3437) 


Offering  Opportunities 

Grace  Schools 

Project:  Radio  Studio  and  Media  Center 

Goal:  $8,000 

Deadline:  Send  before  March  10,  1986 

In  1984,  Grace  began  a  series  of  radio  advertisements 
for  airing  in  targeted  recruitment  areas.  Facilities  for  mak- 
ing tapes  of  high  quality  are  not  available,  on  campus. 
This  project  will  buy  equipment  capable  of  producing 
radio  quality  tapes,  sound  tracks  for  slide-tape  produc- 
tions, and  other  audio-visual  programs.  The  addition 
of  a  sound  room  will  greatly  add  to  development  and 
recruiting  strategies.  It  will  also  provide  additional  train- 
ing facilities  for  students.  Equipment  will  be  placed  in 
a  studio  in  the  Development  Offices. 


Also 


National  SMM  Offering 


Project:  SMM  Girl  of  the  Year  Scholarship  and  spon- 
sorship of  the  Director  of  SMM 

Goal:  $7,000  (National  WMC  suggests  a  minimum  of 
$3.00  a  year  per  member) 
Deadline:  Send  before  March  10,  1986 


WMC 


DECEMBER  '85 


25 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  Mrs.  Ethel  M.  Bucher,  a  faithful  and  long-time  member 
of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Everett,  PA.,  has  recently 
undergone  serious  surgery  and  is  confined  to  a  nursing 
home.  Mrs.  Bucher  is  well-known  to  many  Brethren  pastors 
and  missionaries  who  have  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  the 
Bucher  home  through  the  years,  when  they  ministered  at 
the  Everett  church.  Prayers,  cards  and  visits  would  be  ap- 
preciated. Her  address  is:  Pennknoll  Village,  Room  505, 
R.R.  1,  Box  420,  Everett,  PA  15537. 

□  David  Griffith  was  ordained  to  the  Grace  Brethren  ministry 
in  a  service  held  at  Penn  Valley  Grace  Brethren  Church  in 
Telford,  PA.,  on  Sunday,  May  19,  1985.  Preaching  the  Or- 
dination Message  was  Rev.  Robert  Griffith,  Dave's  father. 

□  A  memorial  gift  was  recently  given  to  the  GBC,  Rittman, 
OH,  from  the  family  of  Iva  Stemen.  It  will  benefit  several  of 
our  national  ministries  including:  Grace  Schools,  Foreign 
Missions,  Home  Missions,  Brethren  Ministers  Retirement 
and  the  Relief  Agency  Brethren.  A  portion  of  the  gift  will  also 
be  used  toward  the  Rittman  church  indebtedness. 

□  Lynn  Schrock  has  resigned  as  pastor  at  the  GBC,  San 
Diego,  CA.  He  is  retiring  from  active  ministry  and  moving 
to  Bradenton,  FL,  where  he  and  Lois  will  be  residing  at 
Bradenton  Missionary  Village,  which  is  sponsored  by  the 
Aurora  Foundation.  It  is  available  to  evangelical  missionaries 
for  retirement.  Lynn  and  Lois  served  many  years  in  Argen- 
tina and  San  Diego.  They  hope  to  be  involved  in  helping 
establish  a  Grace  Brethren  Church  in  the  Bradenton  area. 

Phil  Teran  has  been  called  as  pastor  to  the  San  Diego 
church,  and  is  on  the  field. 

The  GBC,  Myerstown,  PA.  was  recently  given  $50,000 
for  television  equipment,  to  begin  a  ministry  in  this  medium. 

D  Phil  Guerena,  pastor  at  Bell,  CA.  made  a  trip  to  his  former 
home,  Mexico  City,  right  after  the  tragic  earthquake  there. 
The  home  into  which  the  Haags  were  to  move  suffered  con- 
siderable damage,  but  the  Schaffers  and  our  believers  there 
were  not  injured  nor  did  they  suffer  any  great  loss.  They 
report  greater  openness  to  the  gospel  as  a  result  of  this 
tragedy. 

□  Howard  Mayes  of  the  GBC,  Huber  Heights,  Ohio  has 
been  designated  by  the  Fellowship  Council  to  coordinate 
the  contact  of  pastorless  churches  and  available  men.  Men 
who  are  seeking  a  pastoral  position  are  invited  to  send  a 
resume  which  could  be  duplicated  and  made  available  to 
churches  who  seek  such  information  from  the  Fellowship 
Council.  Churches  seeking  a  pastor  are  invited  to  contact 
Pastor  Mayes  to  receive  information  concerning  men  cur- 
rently seeking  a  pastoral  call. 

Z  Steve  Schoger  has  been  named  the  Pastor  of  Music  and 
Worship  at  the  North  Long  Beach  Brethren  Church,  Long 
Beach,  CA. 


□  The  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Calvert  County,  MD  has 
moved  from  a  Bible  study  status  to  a  growing  church.  In  the 
past  year,  there  were  9  baptisms  and  21  new  members  add- 
ed. A  peak  attendance  of  157  was  reached  in  September, 
and  the  present  membership  is  43.  The  church  has  purchas- 
ed 25  acres  of  land,  and  is  looking  forward  to  developing  it. 

□  A  new  church  has  begun  at  Port  Clinton,  Ohio,  under 
the  leadership  of  Ed  Jackson. 

□  The  Brethren  Encyclopedia  is  now  available  from  the 
Herald  Bookstore.  This  three  volume  edition  presents  the 
most  complete  and  thorough  information  available  on  the 
history  of  the  Brethren  Church.  The  contents  cover  the  per- 
sonalities, doctrines,  churches  and  histories  of  the  five 
groups  representing  the  movement .  .  .  Old  German  Bap- 
tist Brethren,  Fellowship  of  Grace  Brethren  Churches, 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  Brethren  Church,  and  Dunkard 
Brethren.  The  set  is  priced  at  $129.95,  plus  $3  postage  and 
handling  (total  $132.95).  Send  your  order  to  the  Herald 
Bookstore,  P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590;  or  phone 
toll-free,  1-800-348-2756. 


Deaths 


CHAMPLIN,  Walter,  October  10.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Rittman,  Ohio. 

Bud  Olszewski,  pastor. 

CONNER,  Marshall  Lee,  October  7.  First  Brethren  Church  of  Buena  Vista, 

VA.  Lester  Kennedy,  pastor. 

DAVIS,  Mary  C.  September  6.  She  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Grace 

Brethren  Church,  Denver,  CO,  and  was  instrumental  in  forming  the  first 

WMC  group  which  she  actively  supported  until  impossible  for  her  to 

attend  because  of  her  illness.  Aldo  Hoyt,  pastor. 

DeMoss,  Lula,  April  24.  Harrah  Brethren  Church,  Harrah,  WA.  Chuck 

Winter,  pastor. 

FERGUSON,  Lucille,  August  27.  Harrah  Brethren  Church,  Harrah,  WA. 
Chuck  Winter,  pastor. 

IRWIN,  William  Eugene,  31,  October  15.  Bill  was  killed  with  two  other 

men  in  a  car-truck  collision  near  Anchorage  when  a  truck  crossed  the 

center  line  on  a  curve  and  hit  their  car.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Kenai, 

AK.  Earl  Moore,  pastor. 

KING,  Lewis,  85,  October  15.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Hagerstown, 

MD.  Ray  Davis,  pastor. 

/WONG,  Frank,  April  30.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Norton,  OH.  Bob 

Combs,  pastor. 

REFFNER,  Grace,  72,  September  3.  Leamersville  Grace  Brethren  Church, 

Duncansville,  PA.  John  Gregory,  pastor. 

RODGERS,  Clyde,  May  1.  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Norton,  OH.  Bob 

Combs,  pastor. 

SMITH,  Mike,  July  7.  Harrah  Brethren  Church,  Harrah,  WA.  Chuck  Winter, 

pastor. 

YOUNGER,  Beverly,  October  1.  Beverly  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Dan  Younger, 

former  pastor  of  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Sebring,  FL,  and  daughter 

of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Ralph  Gilbert  of  Longview,  TX.  A  memorial  service 

was  held  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church  of  Longview,  TX.  John  Mayes, 

pastor. 

SEIFERT,  Susan,  October  10.  Susan  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  David  Siefert, 

pastor  of  the  Big  Valley  Grace  Community  Church,  Modesto,  CA.  Dr. 

David  Hocking  conducted  the  memorial  service. 

BRANT,  Ruth,  October  20.  A  member  of  the  Riverside  Grace  Brethren 

of  Johnstown,  PA.  Pastor  H.  Don  Rough  held  the  memorial  service. 

WELLER,  Marshall,  73,  October  31.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown, 

Maryland,  Ray  Davis,  pastor. 

CUBBAGE,  Alena,  79,  November  1.  Grace  Brethren  Church,  Hagerstown, 

Maryland,  Ray  Davis,  pastor. 


26 


DECEMBER  '85 


BMH 


BMH 

NEWS  REPORT 


□  Shimar  Darr  is  retiring  after  having  completed  twenty- 
four  and  a-half  years  of  ministry  at  the  GBC  of  Washing- 
ton, PA,  "but  at  the  same  time  I  will  become  the  full-time 
caretaker  and  overseer  of  the  Allegheny  District  Youth 
Camp  called  Albryoca."  His  new  telephone  no.  is  814/ 
634-0023. 

□  Gene  Klinger  is  the  new  pastor  of  the  GBC  of  Fremont, 
OH. 

D  Ron  Boehm  has  resigned  from  the  pastorate  of  the 
GBC  of  Bowling  Green,  OH. 

□  Harry  Walker  has  been  chosen  as  the  new  pastor  of  the 
GBC  of  Washington,  PA.  He  will  begin  his  official  duties 
on  January  1.  His  address  is:  R.  3,  Box  248,  Claysville, 
PA  15323. 

□  The  1986  Grace  Brethren  Annual  will  be  mailed  in 
December.  Churches,  pastors,  and  those  who  have  re- 
quested copies  will  automatically  receive  them. 


Change  \bur  Annual 


Alan  Arment,  51  W.  Lincoln  Ave.,  Lititz,  PA  17543 
/  Tom  Bailey,  1007  Sunday  Ln.,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 
/  Roger  Bartlett,  4316  Beam  Rd.,  Crestline,  OH  44827  / 
Don  Bowlin,  1439  Richmond  Rd.,  N.E.,  Cedar  Rapids,  IA 
52402  /  James  Boyer,  308  Sunset  Dr.,  Winona  Lake,  IN 
46590  /  Keith  Boyer,  212  Boys  City  Dr.,  Winona  Lake, 
IN  46590  /  John  Bryant,  5  Northgate  Dr.,  Mt.  Vernon, 
OH  43050  /  Jim  Caton,  R.  1,  Box  212,  Moran,  Ml  49760 

Robert  Combs,  647  Parkway,  Norton,  OH  44203  / 
Carl  Cripe,  3400  E.  Royalton  Ave.,  Modesto,  CA  95350  / 
Shimer  Darr,  R.  3,  Box  92,  Meyersdale,  PA  15552  /  John 
Davis,  P.O.  Box  635,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  /  Edward 
deJongh  (notdeJong),  131  Providence  Forge,  Royersford, 
PA  19468  /  Richard  DeArmey,  1963  Noble  Run  Wy., 
Columbus,  OH  43229 

James  Fredericks,  4629  Iroquois  Ave.,  Lakewood,  CA 
90713  /  Leland  Friesen,  4103  Malaga  Ct.,  Rio  Rancho, 
NM  87124  /  Phil  Gegner,  342  E.  North  St.,  Worthington, 
OH  43085  /  Jeff  Guimont,  103  S.  Willow,  Flora,  IN 
46929  /  Gary  Hable,  200  Raymond,  Walbridge,  OH 
43465  /  Roy  Halberg,  3725  Beyer  Park  Dr.,  Modesto, 
CA  95355  /  Mark  Henning,  8101  Sprenger,  N.E.,  Albu- 
querque, NM  87109  /  Stephen  Howell,  R.  12,  Box  172, 
Gray,  TN  37615 

Louis  Huesmann,  425-111  Broadmeadows  Blvd., 
Columbus,  OH  43214  /  Dale  Jenks,  P.O.  Box  432,  Island 
Pond,  VT  05846  /  Michael  Johnson,  4109  Whitebeam 
Ct.,  Virginia  Beach,  VA  23462  /  Alan  Jones,  P.O.  Box 
67,  New  Troy,  Ml  49119  /  Wayne  Knife,  P.O.  Box  418, 


Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  /  Charles  Lawson,  317  Whisper- 
ing Dr.,  Trotwood,  OH  45426 

Thomas  Lynn,  4800  Cameron  Ranch  Dr.,  Sacramento, 
CA  95841  /  Henry  Mallon,  1 1  Vienna  Ct.,  Brookville,  OH 
45309  /  Dave  Manges  (not  Mangus),  2090  Hillview  Dr., 
Fayetteville,  PA  17222  /  Alan  Mangum,  P.O.  Box  36, 
Ferguson,  IA  50078  /  Norris  Mason,  R.  2,  Box  98, 
Seward,  PA  15954  (pastor  at  the  Valley  GBC  of  Armagh, 
PA)  /  John  Mcintosh,  2735  N.  Beth  PI.,  Simi  Valley,  CA 
93065 

Ralph  Miller,  5353  Starkey  Rd.,  S.W.,  Roanoke,  VA 
24015  /  Earl  Moore,  400  McCullom,  Kenai,  AK  99611  / 
Michael  Page,  5917  Pierce  St.,  Apt.  203,  Arvada,  CO 
80003  /  John  Patrick,  3725  Watkins,  Eugene,  OR 
97401  /  Stephen  Peters,  600  S.  Main  St.,  West  Milton, 
OH  45383  /  Lester  E.  Pifer,  add-Nov.-Feb.  address:  311 
56th  Ave.,  W.,  Bradenton,  FL  33507  /  Roy  Roberts,  1355 
Butter  Churn  Dr.,  Herndon,  VA  22070 

Lynn  Schrock,  148  Avenue  B,  1200  Aurora  Blvd., 
Bradenton,  FL  34202  /  Steve  Shipley,  920  Rd.  200  N., 
Lot  110,  Warsaw,  IN  46580  /  Phillip  Simmons,  Colonial 
Estates,  499  Buckeye,  Lancaster,  OH  43130  /  Robert 
Smoker,  R.  2,  Box  1429,  Stow,  VT  05672  /  John  Snow, 
R.  1,  Box  79,  Irasburg,  VT  05845  /  John  Sturley,  1288  S. 
Euclid  Ave.,  Pasadena,  CA  91 106  /  James  Sylvester,  8205 
Chinook  PL,  Apt.  1C,  Worthington,  OH  43085  /  Darrel 
Taylor,  1  Jeanne  St.,  Topsham,  ME  04086 

Don  Taylor,  P.O.  Box  142,  Claypool,  IN  46510  / 
Robert  Thompson,  R.  9,  Box  396,  Warsaw,  IN  (Mailing 
address:  P.O.  Box  396,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590  /  Dan 
Travis,  6005  Turnergrove  Dr.,  Lakewood,  CA  90713  / 
Randy  Weekley,  5945  63rd  Ave.,  N.,  Pinellas  Park,  FL 
33565  /  Gene  Witzky,  1947  Lexington-Springmill  Rd., 
Lexington,  OH  44904  /  Emory  Young,  1137  Bay  Circle 
Dr.,  Lima,  OH  45801 


Marriages 


The  following  marriages  took  place  at  the  Woodville  Grace  Breth- 
ren Church,  Robert  Russell,  pastor: 

Beverly  DelVechio  and  Gary  Barnes 

Lorie  Diehm  and  Patrick  Harp 

Cindy  Ortiz  and  Frank  Dawson 

Joann  Washburn  and  Shawn  Lee 

Kimberly  Wilhelm  and  Steve  Rader 
The  following  weddings  took  place  at  the  Grace  Brethren  Church 
of  Norton,  OH,  Bob  Combs,  pastor: 

Chris  Anders  and  Jeff  Ball 

Ruthie  Combs  and  Bryan  Friend 

Julie  Duncan  and  Bruce  Johnson 

Lynn  Imhoff  and  Jim  Fish 

Anita  May  and  Craig  Johnson 
Diana  Artrip  and  Jonathan  Gasser,  October  12.  Grace  Brethren 
Church  of  Rittman,  OH.  Bud  Olszewski,  pastor. 
Lisa  Breedlove  and  William  Kerr,  August  3.  First  Brethren  Church, 
Buena  Vista,  VA.  Lester  Kennedy,  pastor. 

Karen  Collins  and  Mark  Estep,  October  5.  First  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Dayton,  OH.  G.  Forrest  Jackson,  pastor. 
Mary  Elizabeth  Grow  and  Todd  Hall,  September  28.  First  Breth- 
ren Church,  Buena  Vista,  VA.  Lester  Kennedy,  pastor. 

Lisa  Strife  and  Curtis  McCracken,  September  28.  Grace  Brethren 
Church,  Lititz,  PA.  Jerry  Young,  pastor. 

Brenda   Yoder  and  Kevin   Rutt,   September   14.   Grace   Brethren 
Church,  Lititz,  PA.  Jerry  Young,  pastor. 


BMH 


DECEMBER  '85 


27 


ANOTHER  BMH  -  MOODY  IMPRINT! 


Introducing  a  Publishing  Landmark  That  Will 
Forever  Change  The  Way  You  Read  Your  Bible. 


FREE  ATLAS  FOR  YOUR  SUNDAY  SCHOOL! 

We  are  very  delighted  with  the  new  BMH-Moody  Atlas  of  Bible  Lands,  and  would  like  every  Grace  Brethren 
Sunday  school  and  church  to  have  one  in  their  library.  Take  advantage  of  this  special  offer  which  will  be  available 
for  a  limited  time  only! 

A  FREE  BMH-MOODY  BIBLE  ATLAS  WITH  EACH 
SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ORDER  OF  $300  OR  MORE,  RETAIL. 


Here  are  the  details  of  this  offer:  Your  order  must  be 
a  single  curriculum  order,  placed  with  the  Herald 
Bookstore  (Brethren  Missionary  Herald  Co.),  between 
December  15,  1985  and  March  1,  1986.  There  is  no  limit 
to  the  number  of  atlases  your  church  or  Sunday 


school  may  receive.  Each  $300  of  your  order  entitles  you 
to  one  free  atlas.  For  example  a  $900  order  would  mean 
that  your  library  would  receive  three  free  atlases. 

If  you  have  any  questions  on  this  offer,  please  phone 
us  on  our  toll-free  number. 


INTRODUCTORY  OFFER! 

Regular  price,  $29.95 

SPECIAL  PRICE 
(Check  with  order)  $24.95 

(postage  paid) 

HERALD  BOOKSTORE 

P.O.  Box  544,  Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


BRETHREN    MISSIONARY    HERALD 

P.  O.  Box  544 

Winona  Lake,  IN  46590 


Address 
Correction 


Winona  Lake, 
Permit  No.  i- 


, 


@^  MAR  86