Nov/Dec 2015
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contents
n this final of installment of The Brethren Evangelist in 2015
you will find some reflections on
the year and how God has been blessing and shaping us over the past 12 month. We
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THE BIBLE SPEAKS // Article from 1947
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REIMAGINING OBEDIENCE //
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WMS NEWS//
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BECOMING OUTWARD FOCUSED //
hope you receive encouragement for our movement in its pages. This time of year lends itself to being a season of reflection and blessing. As you reflect over the past 12 months, my prayer is that you are able to find hope in how Jesus is moving in your life and in the life of
out on us. Ephesians 1:7-8 says that “He (God) is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.� As we enter into 2016, we have the privilege
by Steven Cole
by Sherry Van Duyne
by Mike Eddy
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YEAR-IN-REVIEW //
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MOBILIZE//Intentional Preparation
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MISSIOCHURCH // Bill Ludwig
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GLOBAL PARTNERS // Recap
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CONGREGATIONAL CLUSTERS//
our Church. I also pray that you are able to see the blessings that Jesus so lavishly pours
by H.R. Garland
by Ryan Smith
by Gary Diehl
by Scott Soden
by Ronald W. Waters
of renewing our commitment to Jesus and look forward to all that he has in store for us. As you celebrate with your families and friends, may you be blessed richly by Jesus and look forward to how you will be engaged in the Kingdom work before us all in the coming months.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
stay connected Brethren@brethrenchurch.org www.brethrenchurch.org 419.289.1708 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805
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The Brethren Evangelist Nov/Dec 2015
EACH WEEK we search through the Brethren archives to find an interesting #TBT (Throw Back Thursday) post to share on our Facebook page. In our quest we discovered a series that was published in the 1947 issue of the then weekly publication, The Brethren Evangelist. We’ve chosen five topics that were of significance in 1947 and we challenged a Brethren Elder to share how we are living out each topic in 2015. What fun it was to discover what our denomination thought and shared back then and how relevant these topics still are to us today, 68 years later. We hope you will enjoy these articles and find them as enlightening as we did. By H.R. Garland
The Bible Speaks of
Obedience in Christian Sacrifice and Worship “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” In commencing the practical part of the Epistle, St. Paul adopts a tone of gentle and affectionate persuasion. He might have addressed his readers as disciples, and have used toward them the language of authority and command. But, on the contrary, he calls them his “brethren” and he “beseeches,” entreats them, as employing the appeals of love to enforce the precepts of duty. At the same time his language implies that compliance with his admonitions is not a matter of optional and indifferent. He beseeches them because they are brethren, and because he has a right to expect that they will not only listen with respect, but obey with delight.
Before entering upon the specific duties of the Christian life, and depicting in detail the Christian character, the apostle exhibits in this verse the general and comprehensive principle of practical Christianity. As religious men, these Roman Christians must, as a matter of course, offer a sacrifice and a service of worship. And they are here told that the presentation to God of themselves is the one great act in which all specific acts of obedience are summed up and involved. Let them enter into the temple of God, and bring with them a living sacrifice; let them join in offering to God a reasonable, a spiritual worship; for with such the Father will be well pleased.
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Consider the motive which the Apostle urges in order to induce Consecration. “By the mercies of God." To every sensitive and appreciative mind this is a compelling motive. The mercies of God have been, and are, so varied, so many, so suited to our case, so unfailing—that we cannot meditate upon them without acknowledging the claim they constitute upon us. The word here is peculiar. The apostle speaks of the pity, the compassions, of the Lord. The language here refers to that which brings out our condition as one of dependence, helplessness, and even misery, and which brings out also the condescension and loving-kindness of our heavenly Father. The mercies of God are nowhere so apparent as in redemption; and human sin requires a great salvation.
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In exhibiting the marvelous interposition of Divine grace on behalf of sinful humanity; in explaining the reconciling work of Christ; in depicting the immunities, privileges, and hopes of those who receive the gospel, the apostle has laid a good foundation for the appeal of the text. Mercies may well excite gratitude, for they are undeserved, sovereign and free; but gratitude in the mind of the Christian, who is under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is a motive of no mean order. And gratitude to such a GOD, and for such gifts, can only be a motive to virtue and holiness—“holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.”
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No tice what the apostle enjoins us to present to God.
“Your bodies.” The vigorous understanding of St. Paul preserved him from that sentimental form of religion which many, professing to be his followers, have adopted and advocated. It will not do to treat men, to regard ourselves, as possessing only a spiritual nature. We do have a body as well as a soul. The most real spiritual experiences seemingly, do not prove a man to be a true Christian. God requires that body, soul and spirit should be consecrated to Him. For the bodily nature is intended to express and manifest the character, the spiritual life, the true man. If the spirit be renewed and purified, the effect of this Divine work within will be apparent in the outer life. Thus it is that the new creation, which is the work of the Holy Spirit, extends to the whole nature and life. The body, therefore, shares in the death unto sin, and in the new life unto righteousness and holiness. That
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body is consecrated to Him who has redeemed the soul; and its members are employed as weapons or instruments, not of sin, but of righteousness. It cannot be supposed that the apostle intends us to understand that bodily service alone is sufficient. Nothing would have been more alien from his whole teaching, or from the spirit of the New Testament, than such a doctrine. Christ has taught us that worship, in order to be acceptable, must be in spirit and in truth; and St. Paul himself has assured us that bodily exercise profiteth nothing; that circumcision availeth nothing, but a new creation. In presenting our bodies unto God, we offer the praises of our lips, and the service of our hands. The body is the instrument of toil. The Christian’s daily activity is consecrated to his redeeming God; and this is so, whatever be the employment to which Providence has called him. The body is also the agent of spiritual ministry. Accordingly, the Christian’s special efforts to do good, his teaching and preaching, his ministering to the wants of his fellow-men and relieving them from their suffering, his evangelistic journeys in order to seek the lost and to proclaim the gospel—all are instances of his consecration of the body as well as of the soul to his redeeming Lord.
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Notice that such presentation on the part of the Christian is regarded as sacrifice. From a study of the religions of mankind, we learn that the sacrifices, alike of the heathen and of the Jews, may be regarded as, 1—offering, and 2—propitation. Now, as far as expiation, propitiation, is concerned, we, as Christians, know that there has
The Brethren Evangelist Nov/Dec 2015
been one and only one, real and acceptable sacrifice of this kind—the sacrifice of Himself, offered to the Father by our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the substance of which all that went before was merely the shadow, and which can neither be repeated or intimidated. But as far as the tribute of thanksgiving, adoration, and obedience is concerned, we are taught that this is to be offered to God continually (Hebrews 13:15, 16). “By him therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” It is in this respect that all Christians are priests unto God; all, irrespective of the position they hold in the church, or the special services they render in the congregations of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jewish sacrifice, which this perpetual offering most closely resembles is the burnt offering, which the Hebrew worshipper brought to Jehovah as the expression of his personal devotion and consecration to Heaven, as the public declaration that he owed everything to the Lord, and that he withheld from Him nothing which possessed.
In like manner Christians present their bodies—their whole nature and life—to Him who gave Himself for them. “Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God with your bodies, which are his.” Of this sacrifice, in which all Christians unite, the apostle reminds us that it possesses three qualities: 1. It is Living. The sacrifice which the Jews offered was either living creatures, or substances which by their nature ministered to life; and in offering such gifts the worshipper was presenting a symbol of his own life. But ordinary sacrifices were slain; the life was consumed in the offering. The Christian’s life is not forfeited in the presence of God. Yet in the presentation there is not death and life. It has been said, “There is in every sacrifice a death, and in this sacrifice of death unto sin, out of which, there arose a new life of righteousness unto God. (In other words, we die to sin as Christ died for sin.) Thus the living sacrifice is that in which, though the natural life is not
lost, a new life of holiness is gained.” What a privilege is ours who are expected to bring unto God, not the bodies of brute animals, not the blood of bulls and goats, but our own bodies—our very selves, our living nature—and gratefully and willingly to lay this sacrifice upon the altar of God. 2. It is Holy. The animals which were presented under the Mosaic economy were, according to the prescribed regulations, to be free from blemish. This was doubtless an ordinance intended to impress upon the mind of the worshipper, a sense of the holiness of the Being who was approached. All who officiated were to be ceremoniously clean. The substance, of which these symbols were the shadow, was holiness, spiritual purity, freedom from iniquity. There was NOTHING upon which greater stress is laid than the requirement that every offering to God shall be such as a Being of perfect purity can accept. A sprinkled body is not sufficient; a pure heart is the demand of Him who is Himself the All-Holy Lord. 3. A nd such an offering is Well Pleasing to God. This, indeed, may be inferred from consideration of God’s moral character as a truthloving and holy Governor, who cannot endure false pretense and hypocrisy. The enlightened among the ancient Hebrews saw clearly enough that ceremonial purity and ritual correctness was not enough to secure Divine acceptance and favour. And none who enter into the teaching of our Savior, and sympathize with the spirit of his religion, can fail to discern the necessity of a living and holy sacrifice in order to please the
Searcher of hearts and satisfy the requirements of Christ.
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The Offering of the Christian is further represented as a reasonable service and worship. The Revisers have, in the margin, “Spiritual” service. It is a service rendered by the intelligent, reasonable, spiritual part of our nature. Though the body is presented, the presentation of the body is the expression of inner, spiritual worship. For the word means “worship”—“an outward act of religious worship.” Worship is a universal expression of the religious nature of man. The heathen practiced their ritual of ceremony, sacrifice, prayer, adoration; and the Jewish religion imposed an elaborate system of public worship. The superiority of Christian worship is marked. Obedience is the highest and most acceptable for of worship which can be offered to God. This “reasonable worship” is distinguished from worship that is merely mechanical and formal. It is similarly distinguished from all substitutionary worship. It is personal, not representative; not by a priest who worships for the congregation, and professes to offer sacrifice as their representative but by each individual Christian who has his own tribute to offer, his own service to render. I trust that the words of this text will appeal to those who neglect or withhold this sacrifice, this service, and reproach them as unreasonable, ungrateful, indefensible, disobedient, selfdestructive. It urges them to yield what God asks, through Christ, who makes obedience and praise acceptable offerings to God. – Jones Mills, Pennsylvania.
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When we hear the word obedience, we often draw negative images in our mind of being told what to do by an authority figure or scolding our children for something they had done wrong. My childhood memories of my father’s response to my questions of “why” was always a serious “because I said so!” I often share that same response with my children when they ask “why.”
the city of Jericho until its walls fall down. The New Testament book of Hebrews outlines the faithful who were obedient to God’s direction in their lives. Their faith is “commended as righteousness” (Hebrews 11:4) for their obedience to the leading of God. In the Gospels we can read about the calling by Jesus on his disciples to “take up their cross and follow” (Matt. 16:24).
Biblical obedience should not be seen in this same negative light. We need to reimagine the meaning of obedience from the perspective of Jesus’ example of obedience in order to truly enjoy the freedom we have in Christ as we humbly submit our whole being to the cause of Christ. Throughout the scriptures, we see the call of all believers to be obedient to what God commands. Abraham is called to leave his homeland and go to a new “Promised Land.” The People of Israel are asked to march around
A survey of church history will show that passive and legalistic movements developed around the idea of obedience. Some believed that strict obedience was the only way to keep the church pure while others believed that the loosening of the ties of obedience could open up new possibilities in how churches could form or how those churches could believe. The difficulty that surrounds obedience in our current culture generally bends toward a list of “do’s and don’ts” that discourages
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people from engaging with Jesus as Lord. If believers do in engage in the practice of obedience, it is easy to slip into a legalistic view of scripture. Our culture today is no different from the environment in which Jesus preached. Theologian Thomas Oden explains that “in late Judaic legalism a formal concept of obedience prevailed which assumed that the commandments were to be obeyed simply because they had been commanded. Although the law had largely lost its original meaning, the legal codes had been sanctified by the authority of tradition.” Jesus’ approach turns the legalism of the Judaic religion on its head. For Jesus, radical obedience is present only when the whole man is in what he does, when he is not doing something obediently, but is obedient in his being. The true understanding of obedience is found in our ability to choose. Choosing to obey, not out of fear or coercion, but because you choose to serve others is the radical
By Steven Cole
obedience Jesus calls us too. This radical obedience is exemplified in the life of Jesus and expressed perfectly by the Apostle Paul in Philippines 2:
“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” —Philippians 2:4-8 Jesus chooses to be obedient when he vacates his nature and equality with God. He steps into the moment and remains in the moment as the events of his life make it increasingly more difficult to remain obedient. Furthermore, Jesus balances between personal obedience and the corporate obedience in the fellowship of other believers. Jesus steps into history as the Messiah, but
does not act independently, but rather interdependently with the followers he gathers during his ministry. Selfless behavior is accomplished in the interpersonal relationships of the family of God: while our faith is personal, being in Christ is not individualistic. Believers participate in Christ as members of the body. This means that the church is not a collection of individuals who have individual relationships with Christ but are interdependent members of a single body who cannot attain health or maturity except in union with one another. It is in our relationship with Jesus and other believers that we can rediscover the true understanding of obedience. A reading of the story of Israel and their tendency to turn their covenant relationship with God into a list of rules that only a professional rule follower (Pharisees) could possibly keep up with shows us that obedience to God is no simple matter. It makes sense that those who follow Jesus have the potential to fall into the same trappings. For that reason, we must abandon all notions of following Jesus as an individual only. We cannot and will not remain obedient to Jesus if we do not remain in God-honoring relationships with other believers in the family of God. If we are to reimagine obedience and truly obey the leadings of the Holy Spirit, we cannot be alone. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says this beautifully and it is worth repeating.
“The Christian needs another who speaks God’s word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without denying the truth. He needs his brother as a bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation… The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure.” Obedience is a choice, an act of worship, a way of life. It is through our faith and obedience that we find encouragement and community with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. —Philippians 2:1-3
WMS
EWS N
(Not as fun as eating ice cream but important stuff!) By Sherry VanDuyne
NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS
Tracy Forrester Godoy posted a picture and note on her FACEBOOK page (You can be “friends” with her too.) “Look what I just got in the mail from the dear WMS ladies of the Brethren Church! (mailed about 5 weeks ago). They look so beautiful on my kitchen windowsill and are a great reminder that you are praying for us. Thank You."
• S eek to live as Christian women relevant to our culture and time.
• B e women on mission for Christ’s Kingdom, working together in our churches, our communities and in our world. However, these are just nice statements unless we aim to do something. Set some objectives. Make some plans. Write them down. Talk and pray often about them in your meetings. Celebrate what God has you do for Him this year!
Conference News
Cards and Letters Keep sending those cards and letters for our Global Partners and MissioChurch Planters to Linda Immel. This new system is working! It would be helpful if your WMS could send a donation for postage as well to Linda. It is expensive to mail overseas. Linda is our WMS M.O.L.E. (Mission Outreach Liaison Etc.). She, her husband Keith, Gene and Sue McConahay (Smithville, Ohio) are currently visiting in India. Watch for updates and pictures. There is an old saying that if you aim at nothing that is exactly what you will hit…nothing. Page 33 of our “2015 Devotional Program and Guide” has our Mission Statement and challenges. • L earn to love and know Jesus Christ better than ever before as an individual.
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Conference was great! We heard some amazing stories from our Grant Recipients (celebrated with last year’s winners and awarded the new Grants too), our Global Partners and about our new project in Pucasana, Peru. (For more information, see page 30 of our “2015 Devotional Program and Guide”. If you need copies, call Judi Gentle at 419-289-1603)
WMS Grant
Ice Cream Gathering We had a yummy Ice Cream Gathering to informally brainstorm about the needs and desires of women. We are asking God for insight into how to incorporate these into our Local Groups and our National Organization. We will share some of this very soon with the local groups via email and snail mail. Don’t forget there are some great resources on page 32 of the same Guide. Get creative! Have fun!
BEGIN right now to think and pray about applying for a WMS Grant this year. Information will be sent before the end of this year to every group. Grant applications are due by April 15.
Time to "Snuggle" Cold days are coming and this is a great time to “snuggle” in your favorite chair with a cup of something hot (tea for me, please) and read a good book. Check out our Reading Circle list.
HOLD THIS DATE! National Conference will be in Ashland, Ohio in the Upper Convocation Center on the AU campus from July 18-22, 2016. You won’t want to miss it!
Check out
our information for WMS and the current M.O.L.E. Report on the Brethren Church Website! www.brethrenchurch.org/get involved/WMS
Why won't you
GET INVOLVED!
Year-In-Review I'd like to make a confession. I personally don't do well pausing to look back and reminisce or celebrate the highlights of an event. I'd much rather continue pointing forward, moving into what's next; the uncharted waters of what's just around the corner typically call me on. There is however, something to be said for pausing a moment and reflecting on where you've been, and what you've experienced. A great deal can be learned and understood when we take a moment to look back and see how far we've come. These moments of introspection and reflection can serve to position us for growth, for something more, for new adventures, as we continue moving into the future. I recently spent a Sunday with the folks at Cornerstone Brethren Church, in Muncie, Indiana. The Sunday I spent with them was their Jubilee Sunday. The entire service was given to looking back over the past year and celebrating all that the Lord had done in
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and through them. It was such an uplifting, encouraging, motivating day, I wonder why I don't allow myself more times of reflection? Over the past year, there has been much to celebrate within Brethren Leadership Development (BLD). It was this time last year we were celebrating the release of the Brethren Witness book. 2015 saw an update to the book, adding chapter specific, study guide questions, as well as an easier to read layout. These additions and changes led to the need for a second edition of the book to be printed. I continue to hear stories of how this book is helping to connect people to our Brethren values and is helping to make tangible who we are as Brethren. If you haven't yet had an opportunity to pick up a copy, I'd encourage you to do so. It's a great tool to use in group study, as well as to read for yourself. About the time the second edition of the Brethren Witness book was going to print, work was be-
The Brethren Evangelist Nov/Dec 2015
By Ryan Smith
ing done to create a Brethren Witness Primer. A tool specifically designed for students, and created to reveal the Brethren values in a way and language specific to a teenage audience. The primer is less of a cover to cover book, and more of an interactive study journal. The finishing touches are currently being completed, and the primer is set to release the first part of 2016. A free sample of the introduction and first week of the primer can be downloaded from our website. If you happened to be at General Conference this past summer, you likely noticed a few hairier-thanusual men about. The B4 Project concluded with our time together at General Conference. Several men participated, stowing away their razors and helping to raise funds enough to assist with sending ten youth to Engage Conference. Truthfully, I had no idea how a fund-raising project like this would turn out. But I’m pleased with the outcome. As I mentioned,
when we reflect and look back we position ourselves to learn and grow; I regret that throughout the course of the project we had difficulty tracking everyone that participated. As I learned at General Conference more people had participated than I was aware and as such photos of all the participants were not gathered. Thus the hoped for 2016 Brethren Beards Calendar isn’t happening as was planned. For everyone who participated, put up with strange looks, even stranger comments and constantly itchy chins, thank you. In addition to a few beards, this year’s General Conference was a good week of family time, as we celebrated, conducted business, and drew closer to Jesus there in Virginia. While there were no doubt many highlights throughout the week, one that stood out to me was when Cory Smith (Park Street Brethren Church) honored his childhood pastor, Bill Skeldon, from Oakhill Brethren Church for his service of over 40 years. One other highlight from General Conference was hearing the stories from our summer Brethren Academy interns. Six students from Ashland University spent time serving in several Brethren churches, learning about and
further exploring a call to ministry. Julie Vasu, who served in North Manchester Brethren Church had this to say when asked about her intern experience, “My summer experience was not at all like I had planned and envisioned. I really didn't like that at first but now in hindsight it's the best thing I could have done. I learned so much about myself and the Brethren Church. I was also able to meet some incredible people with whom I'm glad I got to experience life. North Manchester became a place that felt like home." As the Brethren Academy continues to gain momentum I anticipate future stories like Julie’s being shared again next year. Finally, it wouldn’t be a complete highlight reel if I didn’t mention the week of Engage Conference. Again this summer, over 200 Brethren youth made the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University home for a week. As was the case with General Conference, the theme for the youth was Becoming. Through the captivating teaching of Mark Vincenti, the youth dug deep into what it means to become a disciple of Jesus. This year, something new was attempted in the morning sessions, and Dustin and Jamie White lead the youth through an interactive time of learning, where the
finer details of Mark’s talks were made applicable. As is always the case, there was lots of passionate worship, fun and games with friends, and a great week of being together happened again at Engage. It’s easy to miss where you’ve been when you’re always thinking about and planning for where you’re going. But in looking back over all that’s been able to happen this year, I’m left with a sense of awe and wonder at the goodness of our Heavenly Father. His grace and love has without question been on us, and my prayer for this next year, is that we see that continue as he calls us into greater adventures for and with him.
Jerry Fike
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By Gary Diehl
When it comes time to prepare for your next season of ministry, make it intentional. Looking back on my own life, I can see God’s fingerprints everywhere, preparing me in one stage of life for something he wanted me ready for two or three stages later. It wasn’t always fun and didn’t seem like it at the time, but it was intentional preparation. There’s an interesting picture painted at the launch of Jesus’ public ministry in Luke 4. It seems that this soon-to-be-unveiled Messiah was “…led by the Spirit into the wilderness…” It seems there was some intentional preparation going on to get Jesus ready for what was to come. And, Luke’s wording seems pretty straightforward about Who led Jesus into that time and place of intentional preparation. When it comes to helping a congregation get ready for a new season of ministry with a new pastor, intentional preparation brings extremely valuable benefits. Guided by the Spirit, intentionality involves gaining a healthy, corporate self-awareness about our Past, our Present and our Future. It requires collectively asking and answering important questions about each of those time frames. Here are just a few.
The Past. What events in our past do we need to re-
member, thank Jesus for and celebrate? What things in our past caused us pain that we still need Jesus to heal? What things about us should we be willing to let go of and leave in the past? What things about us do we need to make sure we carry into our future?
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The Present. What gifts, talents, skills and abili-
ties do we have currently? How much capacity do we currently have to effectively use those valuable things? What are the circumstances like in the world around us currently that are shaping our ministry direction and potential kingdom impact?
The Future. Who has God placed us here to touch
in Jesus’ name? Where is God taking us next? How will we get there? What kinds of gifts, personality, experiences, skills and abilities do we need in our next leader that will prepare him to help us get there?
Intentional preparation.
Whether it is done before the pastor leaves, or if it’s done with help from someone else after the pastor leaves, this type of intentional preparation can lay a solid foundation for a healthy search and a vibrant new season of ministry with a new pastor. When it comes time to prepare for your next season of ministry, make it intentional.
Vacation Bible School at Wayne Heights July 2015: Becoming Outward Focused Healing and Recovery This church had been through some real challenges in the last two years. The idea that we could do vacation Bible school this year was really out of the realm of possibility. When I suggested that we could do it at one of our board meetings the idea was met with a profound lack of enthusiasm. I was given all kinds of reasons why we wouldn't be able to do it. The lady that had done it before was getting too old. We wouldn't have enough volunteers. We have to start earlier than this to get it done. All of this led me to conclude that it was going to be a hard sell. As I prayed about this, I prayed for two things, first that God would allow the workers to just have fun, secondly I was praying that at least one person would accept Christ as their personal savior. I convinced the lady who used to do it in the past to do it one more time. She gave me a lot of reasons why she couldn't do it. But just at the right time one of the young people in our church, Justin, spoke up and said I will help you Edie, we can get it done! As we got in our bus to begin our pickup routes, we weren't sure if anyone
would be at the bus stops. The van that I was in picked up only one boy in eight stops. The bus however picked up 20 children. The first night began wonderfully! When it came time for the challenge to receive Jesus as Savior, five children responded to receive Jesus. I had the wonderful opportunity to pray with each of them. It was an amazing thing for me to do! By the time we got to the end of the second night, four more children had received Jesus as Savior. I wanted to buy Bibles for each of the children who received Jesus as their Savior for the week. I went to the Christian bookstore the next day and I bought all of the children's Bibles he had in stock, it came out to be 13. Little did I know that would be the exact number of children who receive Christ for the week! Each night saw an increase in the number of children who came. We hit 50 on the last night. The Bibles were given at the closing ceremony and the children left with huge smiles on their faces!
vacation Bible school. Each year very few people attended and no children or their parents came. This year, would be different. Over 60 people attended our picnic this year and half of them were children! This experience taught our church a couple of very important lessons. The first, is that you can do things even if you think you're too old! Secondly, God will supply your need. Third, God wants to do a miracle in your midst! I hope that you gain encouragement from our story. This church has had many, many difficulties in the past several years, and yet God wanted to give them rebirth! May He do the same for you! In His Grip,
Mike Eddy, Interim Minister
It was traditional for the church to have their annual church picnic following Nov/Dec 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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MISSIOCHURCH
By Bill Ludwig
There are transitions all around us. As I write this, the trees foretell the coming of winter, The Brethren Church has a new Executive Director, Ashland University has a new president and Ashland Theological Seminary has announced the Springtime retirement of their current president. While that is some significant change amongst our preparing and sending organizations, MissioChurch has continued to work on your behalf to prepare and send church planters into the harvest.
Josh Coffee
Mission Church, a plant in Columbus, Ohio which began in 2011 has prayerfully discerned to merge their ministry with Agora Church (described below) this fall. Mission Church had a unique vision and we celebrate the courage and conviction of Lead Planter, Josh Coffee, both in striking out in that mission and in leading the decision to merge with Agora Church for their next season of ministry! Please, pray for Josh and those this ministry has touched as they experience this transition.
sonburg, VA. The Gathering seeks to send missionaries into their community to bring hope to their neighbors and friends and to gather in worship with those whose lives have been changed. Please pray specifically for partners in ministry to come alongside the Morrises.
Jesse and Tiffany Adams
Bryan and Erika Baker
Bryan and Erika and their family are planting candidates who are early in the PathWay process of determining how God has made them and discerning what is next in their desire to pursue planting a church. Please pray for guidance and provision for them during this season of preparation and formation.
Lee and Jamie Reams
Jesse and Tiffany and their family are early in their process of planting ZÄ o Church in Manteca, California. Northgate Community Church, which had previously partnered with Carson Oaks Community Church in Stockton, CA to start our recent Cambodian work, is active again supporting this unique vision for a new church in their city. ZÄ o Church places a high priority on disciples becoming like Jesus as they do life together. Pray for more workers for the harvest in Manteca.
Justin and Megan Morris
Justin and Megan and their family are early in their process of planting The Gathering Church near Harri-
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Lee and Jamie Reams have led the North Campus of Grace Community Church, near Winchester, VA. since its launch from a small group. They are currently pursuing a vision for this campus to become a church plant. They ask for prayers for wisdom and discernment as they determine the unique future to which God is leading them.
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Reggie and Julie Harvey
Bill and Jennifer Ludwig and family have been engaged in a replanting project in Medina, Ohio. City Center Church connects with the urban core of people in the city. Mostly meeting in smaller church gatherings around the city, City Center maintains a cooperative ministry space in the retail heart of the city with another church plant and several other ministries. Pray for more workers for the harvest.
Terry and Debbie Hofecker
In addition to these plants and candidates who are following our usual PathWay towards planting, there are multiple others engaged in a process for starting new churches currently referred to as the Gatherer-Shepherd-Elder process. This process begins with any one, any where and encourages the natural gifting of people gatherers to gather people together; spiritual teachers, care-givers and leaders to build the spiritual community; and elder-types to guide the community towards its destiny and kingdom calling. One such project is being led by missionaries from North Georgetown Brethren Church in Ohio at The Country Squire mobile home park. With this approach to church planting, seeds are sown generously for new church starts. Brethren are engaged in more than one dozen GSE projects in California, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
The Harvey family, planters of United Community Brethren Church are at it again on the East Side of Dayton. Transformed Life Center, their new work, seeks to elevate the lives of men and women by sharing the good news through transitional housing, job training and the nurture of spiritual community. Pray for the continued resourcing of their vision as their property is renovated to fit their vision. Agora church in Dublin, Ohio engages a discipleship model for multiplying disciples and leaders. Dr. Terry Hofecker and his wife Debbie lead Agora church while Terry also serves as the Ohio Regional Movement Coordinator for MissioChurch. Pray for continued favor in the lives of people who are far from God's peace and wholeness.
Dustin and Jamie White
Dustin and Jamie are planting Radial Church in Canton, Ohio. This unique expression of church focuses on doing life together in a way that leads to the development and betterment of the community in which they live and work. Please pray for wisdom and clarity as they move into a period of establishment of systems that will sustain them.
Bill and Jennifer Ludwig
As you can see, the Lord of the harvest is answering your prayers! Continue to pray and to ask Him to send more workers. The harvest, after all, is ready. Contact your district Mission Ministry, MissioChurch Regional Coordinator, or Bill Ludwig to learn more.
Nov/Dec 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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GLOBAL PARTNERS
RECAP
By Scott Soden
2015 is already over, did you see how fast it went by? What an amazing year too. Transitions, deployments, new horizons, and conversations galore! Here are just a few of the amazing highlights from this whirlwind year. Puertas Ministries in Chile – Over the last few months the Godoy Forester family have been hard at work. They reconnected with many old friends and began the work of establishing their ministry in the local area. Specifically, Caleb and Tracy are working to increase the skill sets of many of the people around them. Using sewing, weaving, jewelry making, adding in Bible study, conversation, and faith to build a unique and vibrant ministry context to their town. In September, Chile experienced a massive earthquake just off the coast. Several cities reported damage including the area around Papudo where the Godoy family lives. Although their house was untouched by the quake, several in the city were affected and the resulting tsunami did additional damage. Through the experience this burgeoning church was able to share the love of Christ through several different acts of kindness. Delivering blankets, food, and helping with clean up. Near the same time a fire destroyed a home in the area and they were able to offer help and assistance as well. Lima, Peru – Lima has had a few rough patches over the past couple of years, but that has not deterred Luis Angel and the Brethren Church from reaching out as the hands, feet, and voice of Christ. In the past months they have worked very hard to minister to a family in desperate need in the Pucasana area with medical expenses and basic needs. They are also reaching out to a neighboring community called Tilcio Chico to help with ministry to children and the poor. The hope is that they can begin to plant a new church in the community in
the coming months to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the community. Over the past year the church has delivered food and drinking water, clothes, blankets and toys for kids. India – The church in India continues to pour out doing relief work, prayer and ministry amongst some of the poorest in the world. However one must not mistake poor in wealth for poor in spirituality. In the 40 years since the mission in India began, the church has grown exponentially. Now numbering close to 15,000 baptized believers. The orphanage added over 80 kids in the last year and the typing, sewing and life skills ministries continue to add hope to those who so often have none at all. Other outreach
ministries to the communities are free buttermilk events and clean drinking water along with medical ministries throughout the region. Keith and Linda Immell recently returned from spending several weeks in India with the Kumars and know firsthand the many great things God is doing and the many still to be done. Pucasana, Peru – The work on the school continues at a rapid pace. Elena and her team have done many repairs including placing new windows, fresh paint, gardens, and class room supplies. Desks, cooking utensils, and much more are pouring in as students are already flocking to learn. The school aims to help students with core studies such as math, history, geography, and languages.
More than that Elena’s hope and passion is to help in spiritual realm as well teaching her students from biblical understandings and values. Although the school is a small part of the community, the impact is felt far and wide. We hope to hear much more in the coming months from Elena and her team. These are just a few of the amazing stories from this year and we are already learning of even more stories to share with the Brethren here in the U.S. in the coming months. If you are visiting any of our Global Partners in the future or are going on a mission trip yourself, would you let us know. We would love to share your stories, blessings, testimonies, and adventures with our brother and sisters.
Nov/Dec 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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Congregational Clusters
from the Mid-Level Organization Task Force The regional reorganization adopted by General Conference in July includes a proposal for congregational clusters. In this article we explore that concept.
What are clusters? Clusters are groups of three to eight Brethren congregations in intentional relationship with one another. When possible, the congregations will be from the same area – the closer together, the easier to get together. When too few congregations are in proximity, web-based technologies may reduce distance barriers. Congregations who share a common affinity may also cluster.
What will clusters achieve?
As Brethren we’ve embraced a vision for a NEW DAY. That vision, however, needs to be fleshed out and applied to our local contexts: o H ow does our community need to be transformed?
• F oster relationship among Brethren through regular fellowship and communication.
o W hat changes in our congregations will empower us to be transforming agents?
ne Brethren core value is to be relational. Clusters O will offer the relational environment district conferences are meant to provide but have difficulty achieving because of distance and infrequency of meeting. Clusters will intentionally bring together fewer congregations on more frequent intervals to develop deeper, long-lasting relationships and interaction.
o H ow may our leaders engage transformative roles that will propel us forward?
• Provide equipping for ministry through training and resources. ith limited personnel and over 100 congregations W spread across the United States and Canada, it is difficult for our national staff to provide adequate equipping at every level. Clusters will offer congregations a more efficient and effective environment for training and equipping. Congregations connected in intentional relationships may also discover the resources they need in a neighboring congregation – persons uniquely gifted and trained to meet a need they’ve identified.
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• Facilitate alignment with denominational mission and vision applied to the local context.
The Brethren Evangelist Nov/Dec 2015
lusters will enable us to discern that application C together. • Implement joint ministry and mission. e are always better in ministry and mission when W we band together with brothers and sisters in faith. When we engage in a mission and vision larger than ourselves, we put at God's disposal human, physical, and financial resources he has entrusted to us for his larger work of redeeming our communities. Working together, we will have a better vantage point to discover what God is already doing in our communities and how we may live into those efforts.
Are clusters a new idea? Indiana pastors have met in intentional clusters for several years, with each cluster determining its own
By Ronald W. Waters rhythm and structure to serve the needs of those involved. Some clusters have focused on studying a book, some on prayer, and others on relationshipbuilding. Billy Hesketh, chair of the district pastoral and congregational care ministry, says pastoral clusters have also provided a convenient means for sharing information in a consistent and interactive manner. Groups of pastors in other districts likewise meet on an informal and less intentional basis. Only limited efforts have attempted to incorporate lay leaders or congregations as a whole.
Are there any examples of a working cluster?
When will clusters begin? Eventually clusters will form with assistance of resource persons and boards of oversight as part of the regional reorganization. But pastors and congregations who are ready to begin a strategic conversation about clustering may contact Gary Diehl in the Brethren Church National Office to explore possibilities – call 800-289-1708 or write to Gary@ brethrenchurch.org. If you have questions about the regional reorganization process, contact Ronald W. Waters at 330-5257169 or RonaldWWaters@gmail.com.
Four Brethren churches in the Canton, Ohio, area have met as a cluster for about six months. The idea grew out of a monthly pastoral lunch with a desire to involve lay leaders in answering questions such as these: What might happen for the kingdom of God if, together, we saw what Jesus sees when he looks at our community? What might we be willing to do – or stop doing – to see more lives changed for now and eternity? What if we could increase kingdom impact through intentional partnership in shared vision, mission, and strategies? Pastors and lay leaders from each congregation have met five times. They’ve gotten better acquainted; shared missional activities they’re engaged in; identified assets of each congregation (valuable people, resources, energy, passion); named some potential shared ministries; and prayed for guidance. The cluster has not yet identified ways to gather their congregations, but when they do, it will be intentional and missional.
Nov/Dec 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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The Brethren Church 524 College Ave. Ashland, OH 44805
The Brethren Evangelist (SSN 0747-4288) is published quarterly by The Brethren Church, Inc., 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 (telephone: 419-289-1708; 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 additional mailing office at Mansfield, Ohio. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Brethren Church, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792. Nov/Dec 2015, Vol. 137, No. 5
Please let us know when you are moving. This will save us much-needed funds for ministry.
GENERALCONFERENCE2016
128th General Conference of The Brethren Church and ENGAGE Youth Conference at Ashland University in Ashland Ohio July 18-22. 2016
www.brethrenchurch.org