Evangelist The Brethren
January/February 2012
Peru Orphanage Opens 3
Understanding Global Partnerships 6
Creating a Sustainable Future 8
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Dreams Become Reality in Peru A cross the Andes mountains from Lima, the largest city and capital of Peru, past the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, in the southeastern corner of Peru next to Brazil and Bolivia, lies the Madre de Dios region. It is a dense rainforest region, part of the Amazon Jungle. It contains some of the most diverse biological habitats in the world, including protected regions such as the Tambopata Reserve. It is a beautiful region and an ecological treasure. But the beauty coexists with a darker reality. The region’s population is exploding at an alarming rate due to the construction of a major transcontinental highway that runs directly through it and the lure of gold, lumber and tourism. The gold mining industry is dangerous, dirty and lawless. They pollute the rivers with mercury and oil. The government is cracking down on the illegal activities but that means that 150,000 miners are now unemployed and many of them have remained in the region. On October 4, 2011 the BBC reported that police in Madre de Dios had rescued 300 women from sex slavery in the brothels near the mines. At least ten of the women were minors, one as young as thirteen. In the previous month, Save the Children estimated that 1,100 minors are forced to work as sex slaves at the illegal mining camps in Madre de Dios. Authorities have found that half of these women have venereal disease and a third had HIV. Pastor Italo and Rebecca Abuid moved to Puerto Maldonado, the capital of Madre de Dios, in March of 2004, feeling God’s call to rescue children in such dire circumstances
David Stone Sarasota, Florida
and to provide a safe place for them to grow up physically and spiritually. They purchased ninety acres of land about seven miles southwest of town on the road to Infierno and on the Tambopata River. There they began to plan a complex of buildings to serve as a home for at-risk and abandoned children. In the summer of 2006, an eighteen member team dug the footers and poured the foundation for the main building. This was the first of many teams that the Brethren Church in the U.S.A. sent to work on the orphanage construction. Many churches have sent teams or individuals to the site to work on the orphanage or have contributed financially. These include churches in Ashland, Ohio (Park Street); Berlin, Pennsylvania; Elkhart, Indiana; Mt. Olive, Virginia; North Manchester, Indiana (Spanish and English); Phoenix, Arizona; Sarasota, Florida (Spanish and English); Smithville, Ohio; Vinco, Pennslyvania; and Waterloo, Iowa. Indiana Wesleyan University sent a team that put scripture verses in the ground as they were filling in foundation holes. A relief group from Canada also sent teams as did Ashland University, Teen Missions and the Brethren Church National Office. The Women’s Missionary Society also sent financial support. Many individuals have given support as well. Sherry Searles has sold coffee and encouraged others to do the same with the profits going for support. Friends of the
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Orphanage Opens continued… Abuids, such as John and Cindy Needler have also given support through finances, prayer and friendship. Pastor Joe and Janice Burgos from the North Manchester, Indiana Spanish church have helped with support and communication. These are just a few examples of the many individuals and organizations that have put their time and treasure into this work. A team of three Brethren elders examined Italo for ordination during one of the mission trips. He was subsequently approved by the National Ordination Council of the Brethren Church as the first elder of the new Iglesia de los Hermanos en Peru, the Brethren Church of Peru. There have been many challenges and obstacles along the way. In the beginning years, the Brethren Church National Office bore most of the cost of the work through their budget. This included Italo Abuid’s salary and money to help with the purchase of the land. Construction funds came in intermittently, mostly when teams traveled there and bought their own materials for their projects. Incompetent and dishonest building subcontractors have cost time and money. This can happen anywhere but it seems to be a way of life in Puerto Maldonado. The government red tape is very difficult to navigate as well. Finally, Puerto Maldonado is still relatively remote, which makes obtaining supplies more difficult and expensive than urban areas such as Lima.
A few months ago, our national office staff and other supporters of the work began to grow concerned about construction problems, the slowness of progress and differences in vision or at least a mutual understanding of vision. Through a series of meetings, the various supporters of the work agreed to work out a plan that would address the concerns. These discussions were not easy but they led to good results. There is a clearer understanding of the financial needs of the work and a wider base of support to supply them. The Abuids recruited another couple, the Caballeros, who run a home for young unwed mothers near the orphanage site, as advisors and board members for the orphanage. Communication between the Abuids and their supporters has improved. One new method is the “Puerto Maldonado Task Force” page on Facebook. All the latest news and pictures are posted there. And the plan is more sustainable. For example, they have planted acres of bananas, papayas and other cash crops that should start producing income for the orphanage next year. On October 31, 2011, the Abuids held the official grand opening of the Hogar de Jesus, Mi Buen Pastor (Home of Jesus, Our Good Shepherd). The first building is finished. It has cooking and meeting areas large enough for group meetings. It will also house the Abuids and up to twelve children. A second building is nearing completion as well. That building and subsequent ones will each house a “house parent” couple and up to eight children.
North Manchester Team Travels to Puerto Maldonado One of the goals for the mission team from North Manchester (Indiana) that traveled to Peru in December 2011 was their desire to connect with women that either wanted to learn or were already making handcrafts that the team could bring back to the United States to sell. We wanted to provide them with a way to support their families by paying
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a fair price for their goods. Through contacts and partnerships that Italo and Rebecca have already established, we were able to spend time with three different groups of women, and begin a relationship that will benefit them and the orphanage. Next door to the orphanage property is a home for unwed mothers and girls who are vulnerable to being trafficked. This is a home supported by churches in Canada, but Italo and Rebecca have a great partnership with Joel and Patti, the young couple that oversee the ministry at Casa Hogar. The six young girls that currently live there were excited students when we presented them with a sewing machine, fabric and supplies to get started making purses and bags. We spent a morning with 26 broken women at the prison in Puerto Maldonado. Often these women are forced to sell drugs or steal to provide for their family, and many tears were shed as they told us about their children. While in prison, they make beautiful craft items, and we purchased many of their things. They depend upon people outside the prison to sell their crafts, and often they are cheated out of the money. We presented each of these women with a hygiene kit and a Spanish New Testament. Lastly, we met with an indigenous tribe whose women make amazing crafts using
Italo and Rebecca are working with the family services and the courts to identify children who need their help. They are investigating a case of a ten year-old boy, Anthony, and his five year-old sister, Mirian. The two are currently being raised by their grandmother since their mother died as the result of spousal abuse. The grandmother cannot care for them properly and has been begging for help from the government but has not had any possibility until now. These two precious children could be the first of many who will be helped at this new ministry. Then we will see the fruit of all the efforts of so many. Photos: Below: Living area of the first house Right: The Women’s Prison
Inside the front cover from top left: • New Testaments ready for distribution • A mother and her baby enjoy lunch with the group • Bunk beds constructed by work groups • The main building with living quarters for the Abuids and 12 children • Gardens provide sustainability • Young women learn to sew as a means of supporting themselves and their children •
Rebecca, David, and Italo Abuid
plants to dye fabric that they weave, and make jewelry from native seeds and berries. They were overjoyed to receive a sewing machine that would aid them in making purses and tablecloths. In June of this year we are planning to return to Puerto Maldonado to continue these relationships. For more of Linda’s story, please see her article in the Women’s Outlook, page 9.
Photos: Opposite page: Assembling sewing supplies for young mothers Left: Handicrafts produced by women in prison Above: “Downtown” Puerto Maldonado
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Understanding Global Partnerships Historically, Brethren have been willing to pull up roots and follow God’s direction, even to the “ends of the earth.� At the beginning of the previous century, Brethren were fervently debating the details of how, when, and where we would extend the gospel.
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his desire to go global has resulted in an expansive Brethren presence. We can and should celebrate the scope of our world-wide mission in relation to the size of our national church. We also celebrate the work of so many who have faithfully gone overseas on our behalf to proclaim the Good News. It is wonderful that God has used the Brethren Church for Kingdom impact in nine countries outside North America! In addition to our denominational partnerships, we must celebrate the many mission connections all over the world that have been embraced by individual congregations. We praise God for the enormous scope of Brethren missions! What might escape our notice, however, are the winds of change that have been blowing for some time in regard to foreign missions in many other denominations, and are now catching up with the Brethren Church as well. Change is sometimes difficult and often feels disorganized. It is one thing to launch an entirely new endeavor from a new paradigm, but it is a more difficult challenge to transition from one set of understandings to another. This sort of transition and change in our Brethren understanding of missions is difficult for both the sending group and those who have come to depend on the support of others. Understanding healthy and effective cross-cultural partnerships is an ongoing process. We nonetheless need to embrace those understandings and practices that best express a fruitful relationship with each other and with God. We are currently experiencing a time of reflection on past missions efforts, where the health of our partnerships is being
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Remember the Ain’ts? If you follow football at all, you’ll recognize this as
Ken Hunn, Executive Director
assessed. We have asked some of our Global Partners about areas where we sought to do well, but perhaps in doing good might also have created barriers. We have reviewed some of the best of what is being written concerning this subject. We have consulted with others who have served abroad in the past or are supervising such efforts now. The result of all this is that we have embraced new ideas and adopted practices that will strengthen our relationships and our respective abilities to work together more effectively.
With these things in mind, it is helpful for us to consider some newer understandings that are reshaping our relationships in regard to Global Partners.
stand that each new indigenous partner should seek to be self-sustaining at the earliest possible time. This allows for local supervision according to local understandings. Progress toward financial sustainability means outside support and supervision can gradually be transitioned from day to day operations, to helping with visionary expansion. Freedom from outside supervision often eliminates a potential barrier to growth. U.S. funds are now available to be redirected to the next mission endeavor.
… THESE NEW CHURCHES SHOULD SEEK, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING, FULLY-RECOGNIZED CONGREGATIONALLY-GOVERNED EXPRESSIONS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THEIR SETTING.
1. We understand that foreign missions are essentially a cross-cultural effort to establish new churches. Therefore these new churches should seek, as soon as possible, to be self-sustaining, fully-recognized, congregationally-governed expressions of the Body of Christ in their setting. 2. We understand that North American missionaries will likely continue to be deployed, resulting in the establishment of new churches who must themselves discern God’s future in their own context. Therefore deployment should always be made with a specific exit strategy. This would result in the North American missionaries return to their home country, or being redeployed to work alongside indigenous leaders at their request. A non-resident missionary model could also be employed, where periodic short-term “missionary” visits result in a fully indigenous church from the very beginning. 3. We understand that it is unwise to allocate resources without healthy supervision. It is also difficult to supervise properly from a long distance compounded by myriad cultural differences and understandings. We therefore under-
4. It seems reasonable to understand that those sent from the United States to other countries for the purpose of Kingdom impact should be considered “our missionaries.” It is also imperative that we see indigenous leaders and followers of Christ to be equal partners in the gospel. These leaders should be encouraged to take their place in a global effort for that same Kingdom impact. For this reason we use the term “Global Partners,” in an effort to communicate both the equality of and necessity of their partnership in the global work of the gospel. 5. Where there are conditions of human suffering due to natural disaster, poverty, or injustice, we understand our responsibility to address this need is a focus of Brethren Relief. Funds for this imperative should be given by all Global Partners. The focus of these gifts would be to alleviate present suffering, rehabilitate to a condition of stability, and develop individuals to sustainability and their fullest potential.
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Creating a Sustainable Future I
n the early part of 2011, I was asked to start and lead a ministry team that would help the Brethren Church in the Philippines grow in their mission while becoming self-sustaining. We all have heard words like sustainability before and know that moving from being dependent to inter-dependent is a difficult task. Over the last 12 to 18 months, our denomination has had very difficult conversations with our global partners about the issue of sustainability. For decades we, like most missions-oriented denominations in the U.S., have sent missionaries and planted churches in other countries with the understanding that the U.S. denominations would continue to fund the work as long as someone was willing to go. There is no denying the fact that there have been significant harvests reaped through this strategy. We only need to look at the efforts of our brothers and sisters in India, Argentina, etc. and see the thousands of people impacted by their ministry. There is an unintended consequence to this strategy though. In promising the funds to maintain ministries indefinitely, we have inadvertently created dependents out of our ministry partners and have set ourselves up as the sustainers
Steven Cole, Manteca, California
of their ministry. If it were not for the bad economy here in the U.S., we may have continued in this strategy, but we are now faced with a new reality. Financial realities today dictate that we can no longer continue in the strategies of the past. Godly leadership and stewardship calls us to find a new way forward and not simply hope and wait for the past realities to return. With self-sustainability and Godly stewardship as the focal points, I am partnering with Pastor Gary Castro in the Philippines to lead our teams to redefine the relationship between the Brethren Church in the U.S. and the Brethren Church in the Philippines. Our goal is to help the national church in the Philippines become selfsustaining in their context. We also want to redefine the partnership between the two national churches. Our goal is to create ways to resource the national church in the Philippines around big vision strategies while encouraging the Filipino church to resource their own local budgets through local, sustainable income sources. While we have made some significant progress over this last year, starting in January 2012, Pastor Gary and I will meet monthly over the internet to discuss vision, budgets, and strategies that will prepare the way for sustainability in the Filipino church. These meetings will be the connection point for the two teams involved. I will be leading a Ministry Team of people here in the U.S. dedicated to seeing the Filipino church succeed, and Gary will lead his team of pastors and volunteers to prepare their vision and strategies. Together, we will have a sustainable plan in place by the end of 2012. Currently the U.S. team is made up of me, Steven Cole, Tim Garner, Rick Miller, and Bill Ludwig. If you are interested in the process or being a part of the team, you can reach me by email. steven@northgatemanteca.com.
Financial realities today dictate that we can no longer continue in the strategies of the past. Godly leadership and stewardship calls us to ďŹ nd a new way forward and not simply hope and wait for the past realties to return.
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January/February 2012
A Publication of the Women’s Missionary Society
Sarver WMS Finds Beautiful Feet
Marsha Nulph
Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news,” and Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.” How do you describe beautiful feet? When I think of beautiful feet, I certainly do not think of my feet. I have bunions inherited from my grandmother, a second toe longer than the big toe inherited from my mother. Throw in a hammer toe, and a wide foot and it is nearly impossible to get comfortable shoes, let alone cute shoes. Three broken toes over the years, and no, I certainly do not think of my feet as beautiful. I keep trying to make my feet more beautiful by getting pedicures once in a while, using a pumice stone, lotion and trying different color nail polish. I also keep trying to find shoes that are comfortable and cute. What ends up happening is bringing shoes home from the store that felt good for the few minutes I had them on, but killed my feet after an hour or so at work. So they end up in the back of the closet, barely worn. I must have been thinking about how badly I needed to clean out my closet, which led to a dream one night about having a shoe sale at church. I woke up and thought “Now that is a strange dream,” but we have been trying to think of different fund raisers for Camp Peniel (Northeast District Camp). Maybe I should tell the WMS ladies about Continued on p. 10
A Story of God’s Faithfulness Linda Immel Greetings and I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s. My name is Linda Immel, and I currently serve as the Indiana District W.M.S. President. I have spoken several times at National Conference so many of you may know me, but I am honored to share with all of you “A Story of God’s Faithfulness” through this issue of the Women’s Outlook. I recently returned from a trip to Puerto Maldonado, Peru. Before I share what I experienced on this trip, I feel I need to go back to where this story of God’s faithfulness began. Puerto Maldonado was a small town close to the Bolivian border on the Madre de Dios River. It is the childhood home of Italo Abuid and his younger brother, Manuel. As a young man, Italo saw the struggles of poor families, and how often they were deceived into letting their children go with men who promised them an education and a better life. They only found out after it was too late that their children were taken to other countries as forced laborers and sex slaves, and most families never saw them again. These thoughts and images stayed with Italo, even after he took up residence here in the United States. For several years Italo provided pastoral leadership for the Hispanic congregation in Sarasota, Florida. Helping him in this endeavor was his wife Rebecca (Byler), the daughter of former missionaries in Argentina, and their son David, who is now twelve years old.
Italo with Anthony and Mirian
Upon his return in 2002 to Lima, Peru, Italo began to serve as pastor of the Brethren ministry and the congregation there. The images of Peru’s children and their desperate needs began to intensify. A health crisis required that Italo find a place to retreat for rest and healing. His hometown in Puerto Maldonado provided this opportunity, but also put him back in immediate touch with the children in crisis there. That is when he felt God calling him to move back there and build an orphanage that would become a safe place for children in danger to live, learn and grow. And so it was that in 2005 they purchased a 45-acre piece of land outside of Puerto Maldonado with the help of Brethren in the states. In 2006 David Stone, pastor of the Sarasota First Brethren Church and a good friend of Italo and Rebecca organized a group to go to Puerto Maldonado and begin work on Continued on p. 10
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the orphanage building. That group, consisting of people from the Sarasota and Mt. Olive Brethren Churches, dug the very first hole where the first house stands today. One year later is where my part of the story starts. Our church at North Manchester was looking for a place to take a team of youth and adults on an international mission trip. After much prayer, we decided to go to Peru to continue working on the orphanage. We didn’t know what we were getting into, but we were willing to do what needed to be done. When we arrived we saw a shell of a building and two huge piles of dirt. Those piles of dirt became the floors that children will walk and grow on. The next time we went, the walls were all done, tile had been laid on the once-cement floor, and the doors and windows had been installed thanks to the many groups of Brethren and non-Brethren that had been there, During that trip we made six sets of bunk beds for the children to sleep in, and a coop that will someday house their flock of chickens. In 2010 we were able to do some work on the second house, and paint the caretaker’s house. I must admit that there have been times over the past six years when I thought I would never see children in that place, but God continues to call me there, and every time I am reminded of His faithfulness. I have learned that God does not know time the way we do, and in His perfect time there will be many kids running and playing in the yard. They will learn about Jesus, and they too will know He has always been faithful to them. The last week of December found me sitting across from Rebecca, Italo and David Abuid at the dining room of their new home and tears began to form in my eyes. This family has been completely obedient to the call God gave them so
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many years ago, and He has faithfully walked beside them. Along with them, Italo’s younger brother, Manuel, works as farmer and guard for the property. He works very hard and is so proud of the crops they are producing. I benefitted from the delicious pineapple that he went out and picked right off the plant and tamales made from corn he had picked. How yummy! But I must say that the highlight of my time in Puerto Maldonado was to meet the first two orphan children that will find a loving home at Our Good Shepherd Orphanage. There is still one piece of paperwork to complete before they can officially move out there, but we were allowed to take them for ice cream one afternoon. Anthony is ten and his sister, Mirian is five. When we drove up in front of the little house they share with their elderly grandparents, Mirian came running out and straight into the arms of Italo. Again, I had tears in my eyes. God has not only been faithful to Italo and Rebecca, but He has been faithful to every Brethren that has been a part of this amazing story of His. Mostly He is faithful to the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of children that will be protected from harm in this place deep in the Amazon jungle. To us it might have been a long time in coming, but to God it’s right on schedule. P.S. I must add one story. I had forgotten something, and I told Italo that I’d better be careful or I’d forget my own birthday. He just smiled and said, “I never have to worry about that, because the W.M.S. ladies send us so many cards for our birthdays that we never forget.” Thank you for faithfully remembering them and all missionary families. You can never know how much they appreciate that small act of kindness.
this dream and see what they think. Their response was, “Let’s try it,” and “How about adding purses to the sale? Everyone has some handbags they need to purge along with their shoes.” So we started advertising our sale and the need for people to donate gently used purses and shoes. Before long the merchandise started trickling in from friends and members of the church. We put the need for donations on the church sign by the road, and we started getting donations from people in the community as well. What started out to be just a fund raiser turned into such a blessing it could only be called beautiful. One of the most touching donations came from a woman who saw the church sign and called Kathleen Dowdy (our pastor’s wife) to donate purses. Kathleen wrote a story about this woman’s donation for our church blog. The woman basically needed a home and had been praying for one, even to the point of offering a sacrifice to God if He would provide. She offered God her most loved thing, her purses. She thought she was pretty safe because there was no way that God could or would use her enormous collection. God had just made a way for her to have a home, and wouldn’t you know, she drove past our church sign about our collection and sale of shoes and purses. Woe! A used shoe and purse sale! A fund raiser that
is pretty unique for sure. She knew that God was taking care of her and she didn’t need to rely on “things” anymore. Before she pulled out of Kathleen’s driveway after painfully handing over her 36 purses (many of which were designer purses), she said to Kathleen, “I want these purses to fill people with happiness. I don’t want them to be filled with money,
be able to get them to the church until the night before the sale. On Friday before the sale I had some last minute preparations. When I finished, before leaving the church I took a few minutes to pray for the sale the next day, I walked through the 12 tables of merchandise we had collected and asked God’s blessing on every aspect of our efforts. The morning of the sale, when I got to the church I found three large green bags of brand new shoes sitting inside the door. Another generous person God used as a blessing to be sure. Those of us who worked the sale were blessed many times over as we visited and shared with all the different people who came to browse and buy. We ended up making $421.81 from our shoe sale, and as happy as I was with that profit, it paled in comparison to the blessings we gained from the whole experience.
Left to right: Cathy McKrell, Marsha Nulph, Tina Huston, Connie Granville Not pictured: Carole Bastin, Viki Nulph, Kathleen Dowdy
because gathering money or gathering things never brings true joy.” This donation happened at a time when I doubted the success of what seemed like such a stupid idea for a sale. The day of the sale her friend who had invited the woman to church, and gotten her involved in a Bible study, stopped in to shop. I was able to give her a copy of the story Kathleen published on our blog. I asked her to share with her friend how blessed we were with her donation. I wanted the lady to know her story was going out to many through our church blog, and people emailing the story to their friends. If you want to read the whole story for yourself, you can go to sarverbrethrenblog.wordpress.com. The article is dated June 15, 2011. Another person saw the sign, called Kathleen’s number and said she had some shoes to donate, but would not
We were so blessed with the amount of shoes we had to sell that now we had a new problem. What to do with the shoes left behind? Well God wasn’t finished blessing those shoes. Some of them went to an organization in our community that our church has been working with for over a year now through the WOW (Witness on Wheels) ministry. We work with a local agency for children and youth. Someone from the agency came to the church one evening after the sale to pick up food from a food drive the youth had during the month of May. While they were there Kathleen invited them downstairs to look at the leftover shoes. The organization has a clothing pantry they try to keep stocked to outfit kids who may have had to leave their home quickly and can’t return right away. They were thrilled and took a good many shoes, especially tennis shoes, for their clothes pantry.
Ian’s Boots, Inc.” The goal of “In Ian’s Boots” is to spread the good news of Ian’s faith by providing shoes and winter boots to those in need. Ian Joshua Miller was 12 when he was killed in a sledding accident in January 2010. The emergency department doctors found a message to all inside Ian’s boot. He had a Bible verse on a folded piece of paper. James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be complete, not lacking anything.” Viki and Ian’s mother talked on the phone, and they connected very quickly as they shared stories about their children. Viki donated over 125 pairs of shoes, boots, and sandals to Ian’s ministry. The shoes go all over the world, wherever there is a need. Some of the shoes and boots have gone as far as China and Ecuador. Many were used locally for different ministries, one of which outfits women with clothes and shoes for job interviews, etc. If you want to know more about this ministry you can email info@iniansboots.org. We also sent out an email to the churches in the Northeast District to see if anyone would want to have a shoe and purse sale in their area. I was thrilled to hear from Three Seasons Church in Berlin (PA), willing to take our leftover stock to start their sale. As you see, the leftover shoes have walked many directions and will be used in many different ways. Who would ever have imagined all of this Continued on p. 12
My daughter-in-law, Viki Nulph, got online and found a ministry that provides shoes and boots to those in need, called “In
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Reading Circle Corner Corky Fisher Most of you know I am also Literature Secretary for WMS. I decided to wear both hats in one sitting and include a review of one of the WMS Reading Circle books. When I find a book I think should be included on the Reading Circle list, I ask different WMS Board members to read it and give me feedback. Then we vote, as a board, on which books should be selected. Janet Rufener, WMS treasurer, wrote the following review about Same Kind of Different as Me. (As an aside, Janet and I exchange Christmas gifts. We both enjoyed this book so much that we gave the sequel, What Difference Do It Make? to each other for Christmas in 2010.) Yes ladies, it’s that good! Last year Park Street Church studied a unified theme — The Tangible Kingdom. We were studying “how to step out of the box”. In this same frame of time, a wonderful book was recommended to the WMS Board as a Reading Circle book for this year — Same Kind of Different as Me. I could not believe, after beginning to read, how this story tied into that unified theme! This book is the true story of two men — Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Ron Hall and his wife, Deborah, are Christians and attend a church on a regular basis. Ron makes his living as a wealthy art dealer and they, along with their children, are living “the good life”. Deborah, however, is heavily involved in taking her faith one step higher and volunteers on a regular basis at a homeless shelter in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area of Texas. At Deborah’s insistence, Ron goes with her to volunteer at the shelter. He knows this is not his thing. He just does not want to associate with the homeless. However, once there, Ron and Deborah are drawn to one particular homeless man who comes into the shelter. His name, they discover, is Denver Moore. Denver was raised as a sharecropper and does not want to associate with anyone at all. What happens to these two men — much caused by Deborah’s strong faith and urging — is a truly fantastic story and such a wonderful read. You absolutely need to read, learn from, and enjoy this book!
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would have happened from a goofy little shoe sale. It will be exciting to see how God keeps on using these shoes to bless others. Right now I would like to make a suggestion that you kick off your shoes, so you can take a good look at your feet. Sometimes we don’t like the way they look. They get tired, and our bunions hurt. We stub our toes, and even stumble and fall. Sometimes we just want to sit back, put our feet up, and relax. After all this, what have I decided makes beautiful feet? It certainly is not how your feet are shaped, or how cute your shoes are. It’s not how many pedicures you have, or what color of nail polish you use. Beautiful feet are the feet that are willing to follow God’s leading and share with others whatever He leads you to share that will proclaim peace, good tidings and the good news
of His salvation. We need to remember, when we walk, God works. The neat thing is the blessings you will receive in taking that walk.
2011-2012 WMS Directory The 2011-2012 WMS Directory is available. For those of you who were looking for it in the last issue of the Outlook, we have decided to focus on the work and ministry of WMS on those pages. If you would like a copy of the directory, I would be happy to email it to you, or send it by regular mail. If you are aware of any changes in the directory, please send them to me. You may email me at corkyf@ zoominternet.net or mail me at Corky Fisher, 636 Buena Vista, Ashland, OH 44805.
Southeastern District Fall Retreat Amanda Moore, Southeastern District Secretary We’d like to tell you a little about our Fall Southeastern District Rally on September 9-10, 2011, at Camp Shenandoah in Fort Valley,Virginia. Fort Valley is in a beautiful, secluded location nestled in the Shenandoah Valley. Seven WMS ladies from various areas of West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland spent Friday evening and Saturday at the chalet on the Shenandoah Meadows campus, Besides the customary business, President Tammy Thompson led a program called, “Order My Steps,” focusing on “shoes” as they help our feet in our spiritual walk. “Flats” - Psalm 51:12 Don’t be flat in your Christian life - get motivated! “Loafers” - James 1:22 Don’t be a loafer, do what Christ asks! “Pumps” - 1 Thess. 5:11 Be an encourager. Pump people up! “Tennis Shoes” - Prov. 3:5, 6 Tennis shoes are running shoes. Don’t run from your problems. Instead, trust God! “Boots - Eph. 4:32 Don’t walk all over people. Be sensitive!
“Waders” - Col. 3:32 Don’t just “float” by! “Sandals” - Heb. 12:1, 2 Don’t get too comfortable! “Slippers” - Romans 14:13 Don’t do things that might cause your brother to “slip” or stumble. “Work shoes” - Mt. 16:24 Be a worker. Do all you can to serve Christ. The fellowship of the weekend was warm and enjoyable. We chatted and caught up with each other’s lives. We snacked on goodies and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. The camp had a Fun Day planned for the Saturday that our rally closed, so throughout Firday evening we busied ourselves with some last minute preparations. That included things like filling water balloons (100 or so) and icing cupcakes. When the rally was over, most of us stayed to help with Fun Day activities.
Where in the World…?
Here’s a quick review of the global scope of partners around the world. Our goal is to: • Envision and prepare for new outposts of Brethren ministry, especially in regions where an evangelical witness is lacking. • Identify and disciple indigenous leaders to take hold of their own future in Christ. • Assist each new partner to become self-sustaining, develop their own governance, begin new ministries in their context, and take their place in a partnership of global outreach.
SOUTH AMERICA
Our earliest endeavors toward a global witness began here and are thriving…
Mexico is the home of several congregations located throughout communities in Mexico City. National president Moises and Paty Calderone leads the pastors in a vision which includes advanced training for present and future leaders as well as the planting of new congregations.
ASIA
The world’s largest continent holds some of our most dynamic ministries…
Spain has been embraced by the Argentine church with financial support and through the work of David and Cecilia Molina. Change is slow in this culture, but progress is seen in several ways.
Colombia continues to grow and
mature in many ways, thanks to the leadership of Marcelo and Adriana Fererri. A main church in Medellin has planted another congregation, while several annexes minister to outlying communities. Several more church plants are part of the vision here.
Peru is a focus of great challenges and accomplishments. An orphanage in Puerto Maldonado has recently opened (see article in this issue) under the direction of Italo and Rebecca Abuid. A ministry in Pucusana continues on a limited basis, but with new possibilities on the horizon. A congregation in Lima led by Luis Angel and Zoraida Morillas continues to reach out to its community and serve as hosts to visiting teams.
Argentina is our oldest partner in the gospel with approximately thirty churches located from Cordoba in the north to Buenos Aires in the south. Church planting is a focus in several new areas as well. A dedicated national leadership is coordinated by Jose Rivero. New partnerships have been embraced by the Argentine vision, with churches in both Paraguay, under the leadership of Claudio and Karina Castellis and Chile, under the leadership of Carlos and Zulema Quiroga. The Argentine church has also provided leadership in both Colombia and Spain. Additionally, South American Theological Seminary celebrated another class of graduates last fall.
The Philippines are home to one of our fastest growing church planting partners. Gary Castro oversees a team of energetic pastors and several churches located in cities within the Manila metro area. Several outreach ministries contribute to a vision to plant more churches in the near future. Malaysia is home to two completely self-sustaining churches, Jahor Bahru (near Singapore), and another congregation on the island of Penang. Trained pastoral leaders are few in Malaysia, so both congregations rely on a group of dedicated deacon leaders. Founding missionaries are David and Jenny Loi, who are now located in Sarawak, East Malaysia and conduct several short-term mission trips to China each year, for the purpose of teaching, and training.
India continues an expansive program coordinated from a central church and ministry headquarters in the coastal city of Rajahmundry, in Andhra Pradesh. This effort includes a central church of several hundred in attendance, and a ministry center consisting of a charity hospital, vocational schools, a Bible institute, and an orphanage. In addition nearly 150 outlying churches and preaching points are all supervised by Prasanth and Nirmala Kumar, along with their son Sudhir, and his wife Latha.
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in touch with …
Todd & Tracy Ruggles In this issue of the Evangelist, devoted to Global Partners updates and ideas, it seemed natural to update you on one of our beloved families — Todd, Tracy, Johnathan, and Benjamin Ruggles returned to their home in Ashland, Ohio, after having served as missionaries in Mexico City for over eighteen years. The Ruggles were highly successful in planting a fully sustainable congregation and raising up leadership to replace their efforts. This, in addition to their diligent work to strengthen the overall ministry and effectiveness of the other Brethren congregations in Mexico. None of us could imagine the difficulty of re-entry to a culture and land that was so familiar to them, but one that they had not lived in for a long time. In February of last year, because of the support of many, we were able to
send the Ruggles family on a weeklong retreat with a quality organization whose mission is to help returning missionaries with re-entry. Additionally, we would like to thank Pastor Bill Johnson and the good flock at Park Street Brethren Church for providing a generous supply of support, encouragement, and love during this entire process. It is with a great deal of joy that we announce that the Ruggles family is now on location in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania in an intentional interim
Church Mobilization The previous Evangelist contained an article describing how some people make the decision to navigate uncomfortable life changes with grace. Significant changes demand us to make adjustments that are sometimes exciting and often uncomfortable. The Mobilize team continues our focus in four important areas: • Ministry Vitality: Capacity to coach congregations through a full cycle of a Natural Church Development health assessment has increased. Additional specialized training is coming up in February for those coaches. • Ministry Transitions: 10 individuals were equipped in November with the Titus Seminar materials for Intentional Interim work. It was great “just-in-time” learning for those already deployed, and is becoming even more important as there are
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now more than 10 congregations in pastoral transition. • Leadership Development: Plans are in motion to increase our capacity to identify and develop new leaders, and to help existing pastors and leaders sharpen their ability to lead well. New Modular training and equipping events will be held as we prepare existing churches to multiply disciples and launch new congregations. • Resources, Partnerships and Networks: Intentional relationships like coaching and consulting continue to be a vital part of
pastorate. Church Health Resource Coordinator Gary Diehl and the Mobiliz team have done an excellent job of casting a vision for intentional interim pastorates, and Todd was anxious to receive the training necessary to begin such an adventure. We don’t fully yet know the longerterm plans for this family. But as we celebrate the contribution of our Global Partners, it’s good for us to see how God is working to create a people on mission right here in the United States!
Gary Diehl
Mobilizing the people of God. Several additional leaders now have Advanced Coach Training for Discipleship. Several new Partner ministries are beginning to share their experiences and resources in strategic ways. Tap into available resources that can help your ministry ask and answer tough questions. Watch for opportunities to connect with training and equipping events from our Partners (ChurchSmart, CoachNet and Leadership Network like, Catalyst, Exponential, Youth Specialties and The Orange Conference). For more information about how to connect with the right resource, or how you can help The Brethren Church increase our capacity to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, contact Gary Diehl at gary@ brethrenchurch.org today.
Church Multiplication
Bill Ludwig
Since the last Evangelist there have been some significant steps. God is raising up individuals in three of our districts with specific visions for planting Brethren churches. As a result, there is now an increase of church planting activity in those areas with new plants being planned and new individuals engaging the Church Plantng PathWay. Here
• An on-line ministry equipping tool for church planters and lay leaders is in the pilot program stage for possible use in a broader context.
are a few specifics:
• A new round of church planter orientation and assessments is planned for March.
• Two more church plants are in the final stages of being approved for deployment in the Ohio district. • Several more individuals are in various stages of the church planter’s PathWay for possible future deployment in Ohio, Arizona, Florida and Canada.
If you are interested in finding out more about what God is doing in The Brethren Church to multiply disciples, leaders and churches contact Church Planting Coordinator, Bill Ludwig at bill@brethrenchurch.org
• The California, Ohio, Northeast and Southwest Districts continue to make progress in developing their vision and specific next steps toward church plants there.
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Things You May Not Know About Early Brethren Missions
1. Earliest views of missions held little differentiation between spreading the gospel locally, regionally, or globally. 2. Brethren outreach to the Western United States was the first view of what was then considered missions. 3. Denmark was our first, but short-lived, location in answering the call to leave North America to spread the gospel. 4. After our reorganization in 1883, a missional outreach to Native Americans in Minnesota was considered. 5. Brethren began a city mission in Chicago in 1896 and in Montreal, Canada soon thereafter. 6. The idea of sustainable missions in the Brethren Church was first mentioned in an address to the 1930 General Conference. 7. A mission to Persia, or modern-day Iran was an early attempt before launching a successful and growing missionary endeavor in Argentina. 8. It took a month for our first Argentine missionaries (Dr. & Mrs. C. F. Yoder, Bertha Bell) to sail from New York to Buenos Aires, and cost $664.16 for both passage and freight! 9. Our Argentine missionaries upon arrival immediately secured outside employment to learn the language and culture, establish relationships, and work in a financially sustainable manner. 10. A mission outreach to the Philippines was a goal in the early 1950’s.
Dear Friends, We hope you will benefit from this issue of the Evangelist, and its long overdue review of Global Partnerships. In preparation for the “Ten Things You May Not Know” to the left, I consulted Dr. Albert T. Ronk’s History of Brethren Missionary Movements. This is required reading for Brethren History scholars. Hence, some striking remarks have escaped my notice. Dr. Ronk in his closing summary says, “Then proper administration is hindered when the people of a fellowship have in view only a desire to build up institutions in various fields rather than leading the new believers into their own outreach of witness that more of their fellows enjoy the blessings of the faith. The institution must be subservient to the mission of the witness with the continuing witness coming out of the people of the environment. The objective then is to develop self-supporting, self-propagating indigenous churches with their own growing congregational units.” I regret that I did not have the opportunity to learn at the feet of such wisdom, insight, and vision. These very same ideals are at last slowly taking hold of our Global Partnerships. The transition has been difficult for us all, especially our partners themselves. Our knowledge is incomplete, but by faith we believe that we are doing good. We invite you to believe with us. And, we thank you, on behalf of thousands that we will never meet, for your persistent prayers and financial support. Ken Hunn
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Berlin Group Helps with Alabama Tornado Relief On August 7, a group of volunteers left the Berlin Brethren Church in Berlin, Pennsylvania to help with tornado relief efforts. The group, which was made up of people from several area churches, traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for a week. Though it was more than 100 days after an EF5 tornado ripped through the south on April 27th, the damage was still unbelievable. The volunteers worked with the organization Project Blessings. Project Blessings started a few years ago when its founder realized that Tuscaloosa lacked a service to provide help to its residents that didn’t meet some very specific requirements. So it was that the infrastructure for this small organization was in place when tragedy struck this spring. Since the storms rolled through, Project Blessings has stepped up to provide supplies and relief to Tuscaloosa and the surrounding areas.
helped out in five different locations, using the many skills in the group. They hung drywall in a house that was the only one left standing on its street. A few painted in another location. One day was spent furnishing and helping a family move into an apartment after they lost everything in the storm. Several people helped organize donations and supplies at Project Blessings’ storage units. And the whole group spent a good deal of time on a lot of projects in an old house that had been donated to be given to a family that had been displaced
by the storm. The volunteers were so blessed to see how God was working in Tuscaloosa and through Project Blessings, and to be able to use their skills to help people that had a very real need. For more information about Project Blessings, visit www.projectblessings. org, email contact@projectblessings. org, or call (205) 792-0542. You can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter.
Led by Randy Burkholder who owns a construction business, the volunteers
1200 Winter Coats Distributed by United Community Brethren Dayton, Ohio: On October 8th a Coat Giveaway to homeless and needy families was held at United Community Brethren Church in Dayton, Ohio. Area people were invited to a warm meal, a
worship service and to receive a warm coat for the winter. The project began at National Conference when Pastor Wes Lewis talked to Pastor Reggie Harvey about a clothes closet ministry at Vinco Brethren Church and asked if warm winter coat donations would be needed at United Community. Reggie was excited about the idea and later Wes spoke with Tom Sprowls from Berlin and Fred Miller from Mount Olive, both of whom were equally excited about participating in a coat drive. Wes stated, “God began the ball rolling from there and started to bring it all together. It was amaz-
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ing how he started to provide and he provided over and above all expectations. He certainly was in control of everything and bringing everyone together.” After conference, conversations and donations began to grow at Vinco, Berlin and Mount Olive. Over 1200 coats from the three churches and from Limestone Church of God in Pennsylvania were collected, sorted and brought to Ohio by teams from Vinco and Mount Olive. Upon arriving in Dayton the two churches were warmly welcomed by Joyce Ralston and the Women’s
Coats are arranged in the sanctuary for easy selection.
In Memory Philip A. Rowsey Philip A. Rowsey, 53, of Galion, Ohio passed away Monday, December 26, 2011 at his residence. Philip was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 19, 1958 to John Rowsey of Ashland and the late Regina Rowsey, who were Brethren missionaries. He was a 1976 graduate of Ashland High School and attend Marion Technical College. Phil was a member of Gospel Baptist Church of Galion. He is survived by his fiancée, Diana Morton; his father and stepmother, John and Janice Rowsey of Ashland; two daughters, Libertyann Kehr of Arizona and Tracie Ross of Galion; and one son, Adam Ross of Columbus; his sisters, Susan Warner of Spring Lake, Michigan, and Valerie McBride of Austin Texas; two stepsisters, Linda Geaslen of Ashland and Elizabeth Hubener of Denver; and one stepbrother, Steven Bartley of Polk, Ohio.
Funeral services were held on December 30, 2011 at the Gospel Baptist Church in Galion.
Dee Keplinger Dolores L. (Dee) Keplinger, 81, of Ashland, Ohio died Saturday, December 31, 2011, while vacationing with family in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee She was born October 15, 1930 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Charles J. and Eunice Thomas. She married Robert Keplinger on August 5, 1953. Dee was a 1948 graduate of Johnstown High School and a 1952 graduate of Ashland College. She was a music teacher in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. She was a pastor’s wife and active in the Brethren Church, serving as organist and choir director for close to 40 years.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Regina, and an infant son, John William Rowsey.
Dee is survived by her two sons, Tom and Chip, both of Ashland; and four grandchildren.
Ministry women as we joined in their Friday night meeting. During the meeting the men were busy upstairs unloading bags and bags of coats that were later sorted in the sanctuary. On Saturday morning a line formed before the doors were opened. Many families were invited in for the program, meal and then to receive their coats, which the teams lovingly helped them pick out.
and we made new connections as brothers and sisters in the Lord. What an amazing opportunity to serve him side by side!
Pastor Lewis commented, “It was a joy to be able to give to those in need. God really blessed our church by bringing the people of the congregation together and letting them see him do some amazing things for his glory. We are excited about what he might use us for next.” Those who traveled to Ohio were blessed to be part of the outreach ministry that United Community Brethren provides,
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, and husband Bob in November 2009. A graveside service was held on Friday, January 6, in Ashland Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be may to Brethren Care Village (2000 Center St., Ashland, OH 44805), or Ashland Theological Seminary (910 Center St., Ashland, OH 44805.)
Left: A young customer with her pretty new coat. Right: Selecting just the right one.
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THEME: IKON
The Bible says that humans are created in the image of God. We are therefore IKONs of God’s image to the world. As such we have a responsibility to express God’s image both individually and within community. Engage Conference 2012 will explore in greater detail what it means to be an IKON and what the importance of understanding ourselves in this way has for us as individuals as well as for us within the greater context of community.
DATES: July 16-20 (Monday to Friday) LOCATION: Ashland University SPEAKERS: Nate Bebout & Andy Sikora WORSHIP BAND: Sing Love Sing COST: $295/student if registered online by June 1, 2012 $390/student if registered online by July 16, 2012 $295/advisor if registered by July 16, 2012
ENGAGE registration this year is online only. Also new this year is that medical waiver forms on file will be the responsibility of youth advisors/individual churches. For more registration information and sample medial waiver forms go to www.byic.org/#/engage-conference/registration.
2012
Make 2012 a “Peace-full” Year
You will be reading these words in the weeks leading up to the beginning of Lent (February 22), when we recall and relive Christ’s experiences as the sacrificial “Lamb of God,” dying for the sins of all humanity to bring us peace and harmony with our Creator. Being peacemakers is not our only calling as believers, but in our adversarial world, it is among the most crucial. The opportunities will be there for us to prepare and participate as peacemakers. To become more effective people of peace in 2012, the following can be helpful. (Try googling peace topics on the internet.)
Brethren Peace Initiative
Praying for Peace. Search for peace-praying literature, such as “Praying for Peace Around the Globe” by James McGinnis and “Proclaiming the Good News of God’s Peace,”
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Advent Devotions by the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Strength in Numbers. There are many, many organizations working for peace nowadays (some religious, others secular). I have a folder in my office with at least one piece of peace literature from over 30 peace groups, just to be aware and encouraged by the broad sweep of concerned people involved in reducing violence and promoting peace around the world. That’s encouraging! Read and Share Peace Activity Notes. For the past 10 years the Quakers, Mennonites, and Church of the Brethren have led the Decade to Overcome Violence, with more success than might be evident in the world. From a recent report in the Bethany Seminary publication, “Wonder and Word,” this true story: A peace church pastor became a member of a terrorist organization and over five years got to know them very well. When a devastating tsunami occurred, the pastor and terrorist leader brought their youth groups together to help recovery. As they worked together, the terrorist asked “Why are you doing this?” The pastor replied, “Because Jesus teaches
us to love our enemies.” The leader replied, “I don’t know anyone who does that. Every Christian I know wants to kill me. If that is what Christianity it about, then I want to be a Christian.” Wow! Become an Active Peace Person Yourself. Pray for peace! Work for peace! If you do not already receive our Brethren Peace Initiative peace email semi-monthly, send your email request to PhilLersch@verizon,net. Learn about our nonviolent peacemaking history as Brethren. Send a donation to our almost-depleted BPI treasury (made payable to Brethren Peace Fund, and sent to Stan Gentle, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805), with our thanks. Express love and kindness in your family relationships. Write letters to legislators promoting peace programs and causes. Preach a sermon about some peacemaking issue. Talk with another person about some peacemaking issue. Become a more peaceful person. Well, you get the idea. We are all promised a blessing as peacemakers by our Lord (Matthew 5:9). Let us all be faithful to our peacemaking callings and opportunities in 2012!
~ Phil Lersch, BPI Facilitator
124th General Conference of the Brethren Church Hugo Young Theatre, Ashland University Ashland, Ohio July 18-22, 2012
• • • •
Inspiring worship with conference speakers Re-connect with friends and partners General Conference business & progress reports Leadership development opportunities for pastors and lay leaders
• Connect to ministry teams • Global Partners supper • “Nuts & Bolts” practical ministry workshops • Ron Waters & Ken Hunn’s reflections on the NEW DAY vision of the church
In keeping with recent gatherings, this year’s Conference will highlight the combined work and mission of the churches along with practical ministry insights, tools, and leader training for the next steps of your mission to your community. Hugh Halter is the national director of Missio, a ministry team committed to training, developing, and apprenticing Incarnational leaders for the church. Hugh is also lead architect of Adullum, a local movement of missional communities in Denver, CO. Hugh is co-author of The Tangible Kingdom, and the accompanying Tangible Kingdom Primer, as well as AND...The Gathered & Scattered Church. Hugh is an advocate for disoriented God seekers and loves to inspire and re-orient leaders around the mission of God.
GN Christian Living 5 1 4 9 9
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Conference Moderator Ron Waters serves as pastor at the North Georgetown, Ohio Brethren Church. He has been in pastoral ministry for the past 27 years, and prior to that he served in several denomational capacities. He and Norma have a married daughter and one grandson. After 23 years of pastoral ministry in two Brethren congregations, Ken Hunn accepted the challenge of becoming Executive Director of The Brethren Church in 2003. He and Nancy have been married for 34 years and have three grown children. They are anxiously awaiting grandchild number one, due in March.
Brandon Hatmaker is an author, church planter, non-profit collaborator, and missional strategist. He currently serves as lead pastor of Austin New Church (www. austinnewchurch.com), is co-founder of Restore Communities (www.restorecommunities.org), and is a ministry coach with Missio. Together, ANC and Restore Communities have developed a unique network of missional communities, churches, and non-profits which serve in a collective effort to impact their city and world. Jonathan Reitz has been CoachNet’s Chief Executive Officer since 2009. He’s also CoachNet’s primary trainer and the author of most of the training options that CoachNet offers. Jonathan has worked as a church planter, speaker and workshop presenter, and as a strategic planning partner for congregations and denominations across North & South America.
“…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20a
The Brethren Evangelist (SSN 0747-4288) is published bimonthly except July/August by The Brethren Church, Inc., 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 (telephone: 419-2891708; email: brethren@brethrenchurch.org; fax: 419-281-0450. Authors’ views are not necessarily those of The Brethren Church. Subscription rates: Sent free to Brethren Church members; $15.00 per year to others. Member, Evangelical Press Association. Postage: Paid at Ashland, Ohio or addional mailing office at Mansfield, Ohio. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Brethren Church, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792. January/February 2012, Vol. 134, No. 1
The Brethren Church 524 College Ave. Ashland, OH44805
Please let us know when you are moving. This will save us much-needed funds for ministry.
My gift for Global Partners $_______________ _______________________________ Name __________________________________ Address __________________________________ City, State, Zip __________________________________ Phone # __________________________________ Home Church
Please complete the information above, detach this form, and mail it to the address below, or call the toll-freenumber. Secure contributions may also be made online through PayPal by going to www.brethrenchurch.org/contributions. Thanks for contributing to Global Partners! The Brethren Church 524 College Ave. Ashland, OH 44805
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l a b o l G ners t r a P Global Partners are our “missionaries” who serve on our behalf throughout the world, sharing the love of Christ in both word and deed. Even more, they each represent a growing number of congregations worldwide who truly are full partners with churches here in the United States in a global Brethren movement to expand the Kingdom of God.
Thank you for remembering our Partners in prayer, as they preach, teach, train, and often extend basics of life to their communities. More than ever, they depend on our financial support as well, now not just to sustain — but to assist them in multiplying new churches and bringing lasting change to their world. Thank you for providing a gift to support our Global Partners in this life-changing work!