A NEW DAY in The Brethren Church BYIC Convention/Bridge Festival Registration Form 2008 General Conference Registration Form
Looking Ahead
The NEW DAY Vision…
God’s Part and Ours
…we should pursue the vision as if it all depends on God. And yet … we should pursue the vision as if it all depends on us.
In all of our endeavors for the Kingdom we want to strike a balance, and then again not! We seek in some ways to exude the winsomeness of balance, and yet at the same time we seek to live lives of total abandon and passion for the sake of the gospel. It’s a matter of a little of both at the same time. In the same way we recognize that our efforts are totally inadequate for the task to which we have been called. It is therefore the Holy Spirit that empowers our pursuit of the goals embodied in our vision statement. In that sense we should pursue the vision as if it all depends on God. And yet at the same time we know that God desires to do his work through us. In this sense then, we should pursue the vision as if it all depends on us. The key words and phrases of our vision statement illustrate the two-fold nature of our pursuit of the vision itself. The words “… in the power of the Holy Spirit” are listed at the end of the vision statement for emphasis. We are reminded that the final word on transformation is that change is the work of the Spirit. Paul reminded the church in Corinth of this truth when he spoke to them about transformation. And we all … are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit, II Corinthians 3:18. In another sense, the word “embrace” in our vision statement reminds us that transformation is possible, but we must embrace it. This word represents our part of the equation. Transformation won’t pursue us; we must pursue or “embrace” it ourselves. This same Corinthian passage speaks of whenever anyone turns to the Lord … We rejoice in the power of the Spirit to change lives, but all know that this power is unleashed when we do our part of turning in our attitude and then in our practice. How does this dual emphasis fit your situation as you pursue the vision in your own
ministry context? I truly believe that if you begin to take some of the steps suggested in the vision strategy, God will begin his work of transforming you and others in the power of his Spirit. Though in time we will be monitoring our progress, consider that some of the strategies will be more difficult than others. So don’t allow the difficulty of some goals paralyze you from trying some of the others. Start where you can, and ask the Lord by the power of his Spirit to help you in those areas that seem more difficult. Specifically, I ask you pastoral leaders to initiate conversations with your leadership about where the Lord would have you begin. Let these conversations lead you to times of focused prayer, together seeking God’s direction as you identify your starting place with vision strategies. It is imperative in each congregation that the leadership (both pastoral and lay) unite together in seeking the Lord for their starting point in embracing the NEW DAY vision. We can have a NEW DAY in the Brethren Church. But you might be surprised how much of it depends on us, on our response to the invitation embodied in our vision!
Thoughts from Executive Director Ken Hunn 2
Kingdom Investing with Natural Church Development We want to be good stewards. Look at Jesus’s parable of the talents in Luke 19. The idea that investing the Master’s resources for positive results actually pleases the Master comes through loud and clear. If we get the principle, though, his point goes way beyond just money. God desires us to wisely invest all the resources he places in our care. Since we know that’s true, maybe we should think differently about all the great resources God provides our local church — resources of people, time, and relationships as well as bricks, books, and bank accounts. What if we saw all those things as resources the Lord intends us to invest wisely for a Kingdom return (hear “fruit”) rather than to use on ourselves, or even worse, to hide in a handkerchief? So, what does the Natural Church Development (NCD) way of thinking have to do with investing? Results. More fruit. For churches that embrace NCD as a way of evaluating their health over time, there are quantifiable Kingdom results. Fruit! The churches that have conducted three NCD self-evaluations over an average of 31 months have seen a 51% increase in their rate of growth. This means about 1.3 million additional people are in these churches than would have been there as a result of this change in thinking. Because they paid attention to their health, God is blessing them with more fruit. Compared with reports indicating that as many as 85% of all churches in North America are stagnant or declining, wouldn’t we want to make better investments in something that helps us see Kingdom results? Connecting with NCD sets the church on a course toward becoming healthier, and helps bring energy and focus where attention is needed most along the way. The focus is not on growth in numbers (which is Jesus’s job anyway: see Matthew 16:18), but on increasing health. God takes care of growing the seeds when the soil is healthy.
Engaging the NCD process is fairly simple as structured for Brethren churches. The actual survey only takes about a half hour to fill out for the 30 folks in the congregation who meet the criteria and participate. Once the results are back, a group of five to seven people work together as a church health team that leads the way forward. A fairly small investment in time, really. The Brethren Church NCD Pack provides two options for how you review the results. Both options include:
the full NCD survey the expanded results called Profile Plus
the Natural Church Development book the resource book
Implementation Guide to NCD a copy of the booklet ABC’s of Natural Church Development 4+ months of follow-through coaching for your leadership team. The first option is a review of the results with your leadership team via speaker conference call that lasts about an hour. The church’s financial investment for this option is $375. The second option is to schedule an ON SITE leadership review meeting at your church, which takes the form of a workshop. It’s a longer meeting, but on your turf, which allows greater interaction with more people, and provides face-to-face dialog as we unpack what your survey results mean. The investment for this option is $500, plus a little help with travel expenses. Whichever review option you select, the National Office provides a grant of $150 plus help with the travel expenses, which reduces the church’s actual financial investment to $350 (plus help with travel) for the on-site review. Again, a very small investment
by Gary Diehl
Church Health and Resource Specialist
considering the church effectively adds an adjunct staff member for 4+ months who helps your leaders diagnose the results, create action plans, implement positive changes, and make plans for ongoing evaluation. Like any evaluation tool, NCD doesn’t answer every question. It does, though, bring the right questions into focus so you can invest energy on the most important things first. It provides an ongoing way for us to engage in healthy pruning so God — the vinedresser and the Vine — can use us to bear even more fruit. Invest in more Kingdom fruit, and start your NCD journey.
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Why a Church Called
BRETHREN ? by Dr. Jerry Flora
This article originally appeared in The Brethren Evangelist, October 1977. Some days you can’t do anything right. If some joker asks, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” you’re stumped. No matter which way you reply, he will charge you with cruelty to your spouse. Some questions can’t be answered, it seems, because they are improperly formed. Other questions should receive a clear, specific answer. Either it is Monday or it’s not. Either you live as though there is a God, or you don’t. Still other questions deserve a response of both-and. Life on planet earth, for example, demands both centrifugal force and gravity. Scripture teaches divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Once Jesus was asked which of the 613 commands in the law of Moses is the greatest. “I’ll tell you which is the great commandment,” he replied, “but it doesn’t stand alone. There is a second that goes with it, and on these two depend all the law and the prophets: love the Lord your God completely, and love your neighbor personally.” If we apply that kind of both-and approach to life in the Brethren Church, it may help us. Why does this denomination exist? Why should there be a church called “Brethren”? The Brethren Church exists to express our allegiance to the Lord Jesus in a family style out of loyalty to the gospel and love for the world. We have
here both the “what” and the “why” of our existence. The identity, the “what,” of the Brethren Church is our faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord and the family style in which we express it.
Allegiance to Jesus as Lord
Jesus said in reply to that question, ”You shall love the Lord your God.” Now, “Lord” is the Hebrews’ name for the God who gets involved with people. “God” is the general term for the Infinite One who created the universe and keeps it going. But “Lord” or “Yahweh”—this is that same God in his personal relationships with sinful humanity. It was he who reached down and called an Abram, sustained an Isaac, transformed a Jacob, and freed a whole nation from slavery. Jesus said, “The Lord, this God who acts on behalf of such people—love him! Answer his love with all that you are: heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your Rescuer completely, utterly, always, and love only him.” The apostles never forgot what he said. And the central thrust of their writings is not “accept Jesus as your personal Savior.” That is both true and necessary, but the basic confession of the New Testament declares, “Jesus Christ is Lord!” Jesus the Jew is God Almighty come to earth for us sinners and for our salvation. Jesus is “Lord,” the God who gets involved with people.
Snapshots from Brethren history
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The early Brethren knew what that lordship meant and were prepared to accept it. They took as basic a passage in Luke’s Gospel where Jesus taught, “If a person is going to come after me, let that person count the cost and not be like the fellow who begins to build but cannot finish, or the king who goes to war but cannot fight. Neither of them has estimated the cost.” Alexander Mack, founder of the German Baptist Brethren, wrote much of obedience and sacrifice in following Christ. There is a price tag on loving the Lord completely, and a couldbe disciple must count the cost. We in a republic don’t understand lordship. We elect our mayors, we elect our commissioners, we elect our senators, we elect our presidents. We don’t know how it feels to have someone over us, before who we fall prostrate and whisper, “Master!”—someone whose every utterance carries the force of law, whose very glance signs life or death. The Brethren who first braved the Atlantic to reach Philadelphia knew the meaning of lordship. They talked much about the cost of discipleship. They recalled the story of John Naas, that giant of a man among them. So large in stature was he that the king asked him to join his elite personal bodyguard. But Naas refused to be recruited. They tortured him to no avail, hanging him at last from a tree by one thumb and one big toe. Fearing that he was going
to die, they cut him down and dragged him before the monarch. Simply Naas explained that he could not join the elite corps because he was already in the arms of King Jesus. He had pledged his allegiance to Christ as Lord.
A family style
the founding Wesley brothers were so methodical in everything they touched. But what can you do if your name is “Brethren”? You have to be a family! That is what outsiders noticed about the first Christians, and this is what observers marked about the early Brethren too. The Brethren Church exists to express our allegiance to the Lord Jesus in a family style out of loyalty to the gospel and love for the world. The second half of that sentence contains the “why” of the Brethren Church, our reason for existence.
One unique feature of the kingdom of God is that all its citizens are adopted children in the royal family. The King is their Father, the Crown Prince their Elder Brother. This, too, is part of the “what” of the Brethren church—this family style. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If the neighbor is an outsider, Loyalty to the gospel that outsider must become an insider As Jesus interpreted it, loyalty to his and insiders must become family. The saving good news means obedience. old Brethren used to talk about our “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and denomination as “the brotherhood.” We don’t do the things that I say?” he asked. experience that brotherhood each year “If you love me, keep my commandat General Conference. The Brethren ments.” And so, for Brethren from 1708 are a family, and General Conference to 1978, love has meant loyalty more is the annual reunion. than coziness or ecstasy. It’s frightfully easy for us to get caught Now, every family has its forms, and up in the life of our local churches, for- the forms of various families differ. Some getting that we are in fact a part of one whole families, for example, squeeze another. Each congregation is a cell of the toothpaste tube in the middle. In the body, and each must think of itself one family the father takes out the garin such terms. Henry bage; the father in another Holsinger and family wouldn’t think the others who of taking out the Jesus said, started the garbage. Call Progressive it tradition, call “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Brethren it ritual, call it If the neighbor is an outsider, described whatever you our church like—every famthat outsider must become an insider ily has its forms. government and insiders must become family. And the Brethren as federated Church has hers. congregationBest known are the alism. Incidental affairs of operation are left to the local external forms of baptism by triune imchurches, but in major areas of thought mersion, confirmation by the laying on and life all Brethren must stand together. of hands, the three-fold service of the Lord’s Supper, and prayer with anointing We really do need each other! Rev. Kent Bennett described in a for healing. In addition to these, the Brethren 1970 article in the Brethren Evangelist “What It Means to be Brethren.” So far as family style from the beginning took the outsiders are concerned, he wrote, the internal form of an obedient life. Here is quality that distinguishes the Brethren the root of which the external forms are is their caring fellowship, what we are fruit. If Jesus commanded something, here calling a family style of Christianity. the original Brethren tried to do it. SomeThink for a moment about the names times they went too far and had to pull of other denominations. Lutherans are back; then they might change direction, disciples of Martin Luther. Presbyterians only to correct their course again. But are so called because they govern their they were desperately intent on obeying churches by a system of elders (presby- the word of the Lord to whom they had ters). Baptists insist on that great rite of pledged allegiance. This family style was also a separated the church, and that it be by immersion. Methodists got their nickname because life, a life set apart from the world and
reserved for Jesus’ use. At times there was too much emphasis on being separated “from” and not enough on being set apart “for.” Today many Brethren haven’t even heard of the doctrine of the separated life. It is in Scripture, and it’s part of our heritage. In the third place, Christian life for the founding Brethren was a simple life. Modesty and frugality in obedience to the New Testament characterized their style of living. Now, when ecologists are urging us to simplicity, the Brethren could take their flag out front if they really believe in a simple life. It was also a peaceful life. This meant a life in which they not only tried to put away violence in religion and international relations, but also they tried to avoid harsh feelings toward one another. These may arise as part of life in a family, but Scripture calls Christ’s followers to be reconcilers and peacemakers. Likewise it was for the early Brethren a ministering life, one in which, at their best, they approached the world and asked, “May I serve you?” If Jesus the Lord came to minister and give away his life, his servants who followed him could do no less. Can we today hold together these historic forms and our contemporary methods? Or must one be sacrificed in the interest of the other? The Progressive Brethren were convinced that no necessary contradiction exists between eternal realities and time-conditioned techniques. They said in effect, “We can be loyal both to the truth of the gospel as practiced by the early church and apply it in the modern world using the very latest methods.” Henry Holsinger even appeared in a photograph wearing his new-fangled rubber overshoes to prove that it could be done!
Love for the world
In attempting to carry out this ideal, Charles F. Yoder, after earning a Ph.D. degree and editing the Brethren Evangelist, left this country in order to found a missionary work in Argentina. Many years and heartbreaks later, when it became
continued on page 6.
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Brethren, continued from page 5 necessary to reestablish that same work, Dr. Yoder—then past retirement age—set about to do the job. This was love for the world, but not in the wrong sense. It was not love for the world that “is passing away and all the desires of it.” No, this was true, proper love for the world, as when “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” In fact, “in Christ, God was acting to reconcile the world to himself.” That’s what got the Progressive Brethren going a hundred years ago. It was their loyalty to the gospel that made them Brethren; their love for the world made them Progressive. When a theologian asked Jesus about this business of the great commandment and the second, he answered with the story of the good Samaritan. One analysis of that parable says that each of the bandits who beat the traveler and left him half dead was in effect saying, “What’s yours is mine, and I intend to take it.” The priest and the Levite who passed by on the other side were saying, “What’s mine is mine, and I intend to keep it.” And the Samaritan—hated
half-breed that he was—declared, “What mine is yours, and you’re welcome to it if you need it.” When Jesus finished the story, he turned the theologian’s question around. The problem had been “Who is my neighbor?” but he reversed it, asking, “Which of these was neighbor to the victim?” Our Lord laid the responsibility on his hearers to take the initiative by acting in a neighborly manner. He did not require needy outsiders to justify receiving aid. “What’s mine is yours, and you’re welcome to it if you need it.” As those who have become new creatures in him, we need no longer claim anything for ourselves—not even our life. The existence God gives us is not ours but his, to be given away for the sake of the gospel and the world. Such was the spirit of former Progressive leaders like editor Henry Holsinger, evangelist Stephen Bashor, missionary Charles Yoder, theologian J. Allen Miller, brothers named Ronk, and the inimitable Mrs. U.J. Shively. At the time of the American Revolution two famous print shops operated in Phil-
adelphia, those of Benjamin Franklin and Christopher Sauer, Jr., a loyal member of the German Baptist Brethren. Sauer suffered personally and professionally during the war and its aftermath. Still he never lost sight of the motto placed in the shop by his father: “For the glory of God and my neighbor’s good.” That’s what the Brethren are all about. A faith to live by, a family to live with, certain forms to live out, and a future to live for—all to the glory of God and the good of our neighbors. That’s why there’s a church called Brethren!
Brethren Traveling Historical Display Schedule DATES
LOCATION
Feb. 2-3, 2008 Feb. 9-10, 2008 Feb. 15-17, 2008 Feb. 19-20, 2008 Feb. 23, 2008 March 1, 2008 March 14-16, 2008 April 5, 2008 April 12, 2008 April 18-19 April 26, 2008 May 3-4, 2008
Tucson First, AZ* Pasadena, CA* Carson Oaks, CA* Cheyenne, WY* Derby, KS* Waterloo, IA Middlebury, IN* Eagle’s Nest, IN Brethren Heritage Center, OH Berlin Borough Bldg., PA Cross Keys, VA Sarasota First, FL*
*Denotes Historical Display only (District Conference held separately). Please check with district leaders for exact times and locations.
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As a part of the 300th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of the Brethren Church, a display of historical pictures and artifacts will be traveling across the country to various district gatherings. This schedule represents our best information about the planned stops. Be sure to take advantage of this once-ina-lifetime opportunity to learn more about our historical roots.
Meeting the Brethren of Argentina
by Peter Roussakis
The W.M.S. 40th Anniversary celebration.
In October 2007, Peter and Phyllis Roussakis, accompanied by two members of the First Brethren Church of Burlington, Ron and Cathy Peterson, traveled to Argentina to visit several of the Brethren churches. The journey’s primary purpose was for Phyllis, who serves as National President of the Women’s Missionary Society, to attend the 40th anniversary of the W.M.S. in South America. In 1909, Charles Francis Yoder, Brethren pastor and former editor of The Brethren Evangelist, traveled to Argentina with his wife Pearl to plant the gospel, thus becoming the first foreign missionaries of our denomination. Their daughter Eleanor married an Argentine gentleman, Egypio Romanenghi. Their son, Dr. Norman Romanenghi is a member of the Cordoba Brethren Church, which is pastored by Dr. Walter Romanenghi, his son. While in Argentina our group toured two Brethren camps, attended the W.M.S. anniversary celebration, visited several Brethren churches, and participated in the dedication of a new facility for medical assistance and counseling at the Gerli church. (For more details, please see Phyllis Roussakis’s article on page 9.) We were overwhelmed by the love, sincerity, commitment, and expressions of appreciation of our Argentine Brethren. We are thankful for the opportunity to experience it first hand.
Worship with the Brethren at Gerli.
Peter and Phyllis with Walter Romanenghi, great-grandson of Dr. C.F. Yoder, and pastor of the Cordoba church.
Phyllis with Norma Rodriguez, President of the W.M.S. of Argentina, and pastor’s wife at Colón.
The “Centre Nueva Creacion” (New Creation Center), a new facility of the church at Gerli was dedicated.
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What makes you come alive? “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” I found this quote by Harold Whitman about five years ago when my journey to the mission field began. God awakened a passion within my heart and this has been my driving force ever since. He called me to a life of ministry in Peru after my first trip to Lima and I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to accomplish this, but through his grace and power he has blessed me with opportunities to go and serve in Peru every summer since. I have spent my summers leading mission trips, doing an internship with Pastor Luis Angel, and last summer I even attended four months of language school in Lima to prepare myself for ministry in Peru. It feels like it has been a long waiting process, but through that time God has shaped me and prepared me for the next years ahead in ways that I never expected. God touched my heart and showed a country that is crying out for hope Katie Garner and I realized that I knew that hope they were looking for. There was no way that I could sit back and ignore the passion and call that God placed on my heart. None of this would be possible without God’s direction. God showed me how he could use me when I was willing to be obedient to his call. Deciding to move to Lima was a tough decision because it meant leaving behind family, friends and the comfortable lifestyle of the USA, but there is a peace that I can’t explain. This is how I know that God is in the center of this plan and has already gone ahead and prepared every aspect of this call on my life. While in Lima I will be accepting a job offer and following the biblical example of Paul as a tentmaker. I feel a strong desire to work in a secular job to not only support myself financially, but also to work right alongside those I want to serve and witness to them about Jesus Christ. My evenings and weekends will be filled with ministry projects and responsibilities in the Brethren Church of Lima, but my day hours will be living life with local Peruvians and building relationships, being a daily light for Christ in their lives. Some people might see this move as crazy, but when you truly come alive with Christ’s love there isn’t any way to deny what he is asking you to do. Therefore, find what makes you come alive and let God take you places you never expected to go! Katie Garner is a member of the First Brethren Church of Elkhart, Indiana. She is the daughter of Rev. Tim and Beth Garner and a 2007 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University.
SCHEDULED MISSION TRIPS Please keep the BCNO updated on your mission trip plans (Foreign/Domestic). Contact Jenn Pinto at jenn@brethrenchurch.org with your updates. For more information on these trips, please call the listed contact.
International Missions: Destination
Date
Contact
Kenya
Feb 2008 Grace Com., VA
Philippines
Feb 2008 Cars. Oaks, CA
Puerto Mald. June 2008 Peru
Sarasota 1st
Puerto Mald. July 2008 Park Street, OH Peru
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Brethren Pastors’ and Spouses’ Conference, March 25-27 Brethren pastors, don’t forget the 2008 Pastors’ and Spouses’ Conference on March 25-27 at the Quality Inn & Suites in Bellville, Ohio. The Quality Inn offers an indoor pool and spa, fitness center, and free wireless high speed internet. Lunch and evening meals will be at Troyer’s Dutch Heritage Amish Restaurant. Cost for the conference is $125.00 per person (2 guests per room) or $200.00 per person single occupancy. The cost is $75.00 per person without housing at Quality Inn & Suites. Registration and payment is due by March 1. You are invited to purchase, read, and bring along a copy of Color Your World with Natural Church Development by Christian A. Schwarz. Please complete the “NCD Color Profile” on pages 73-74, as well as the evaluation of the profile on pages 75-79 prior to your arrival for the conference. It is our hope that you will attend with a longing in your heart to experience more of what God has in store for you and his church. For more information or a registration form, contact Lynn Mercer at FirstBrethren@peoplepc.com; phone, 937-676-2802; or fax, 937-676-2807.
Women’s Outlook Newsletter A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e Wo m e n’s M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y Vo l u m e 2 1 , N u m b e r 3 J a n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 0 8
The President’s Pen Dear Ladies, On Monday, October 8, 2007, traveling companions and I began our flight from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Cordoba, Argentina via Miami, Florida, and Santiago, Chile. We arrived in Cordoba Tuesday afternoon, a balmy spring day, and were greeted by José Luis Cavazza. José Luis, a member of the Brethren Church in Cordoba, informed us that he spoke only a little English. However, that did not stop us from chattering back and forth, and immediately becoming good friends. When words didn’t work, we played charades! Of course, that was no problem for me since, through the years, many friends have told me I couldn’t talk if my hands were tied! We were driven to Diquecito, about a 30-minute drive from Cordoba, and settled into the summer home of José Luis’ mother-in-law, Liliana. That first evening we were treated to an Argentine barbecue by several Cordoba Brethren Church families who “descended” on the summer home, bringing food and warm greetings. Everyone pitched in to prepare the meal. At about 8:30 p.m., 18-20 of us gathered on the outdoor patio and, for the next three hours, had fun, delicious food, and wonderful fellowship! What a fabulous beginning to our Argentine adventure. For the next three days we were given the history of Campamento Diquicito, toured the camp property, visited the Brethren Church in Cordoba and its two daughter churches, and did some sightseeing in Cordoba and the resort area of Carlos Paz. Our gracious “tour guides” for all of this were Dr. Norman Romanenghi, long-time member of the
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Missionary Miscellany
National missionaries-of-the-month in JANUARY are Tom and Lindsay Asbury, ministering in several locations in Northern Ohio through The Center in Stow. Their sites are public places — book stores and coffee shops, where they enjoy beverages, read the Bible, talk, and pray. They have a “family reunion” monthly in Stow, when people from all sites come together for fellowship and worship. A counseling center opened in the fall and is an additional outreach to the community, and especially to the unchurched. Lindsay spoke at General Conference and a more detailed report is included in the September-October Newsletter. Todd and Tracy Ruggles are the international missionaries in JANUARY. When I asked Todd what was happening in Mexico City, he replied: “It is a question that we are frequently asked. As I try to answer, I find myself in the same old dilemma. Between the crises, the triumphs, the activities, the daily routines, and the special events, what should I write about? There is so much that I’m torn. On the one hand, I feel like a cheerleader, enthusiastically cheering “Yea, God.” On the other hand, I am daunted by the task of trying to summarize all that God does. To be honest, I forget much of what He does and what I learn from Him. Because of that, this year He guided Tracy and me to begin to write down specific things that we are thankful for and testimonies of His goodness. For each praise, we deposit a stone into a jar as a visual reminder of His continued blessings. We also started a similar practice in the church — we deposit one stone for each miracle that God performs. The jar in our home is completely filled. The 5-gallon water jug at the church is over ¼ full of small stones!
God’s Guidance and Progress Let me give you an idea of what has been happening. This year we have tried to focus on turning over more of the ministry of the church to the church members. For instance, we tried again to start cell groups. I meet with cell leaders once a week to disciple and teach them, and then they in turn go and disciple their groups during the rest of the week. The results have been less than spectacular, but one good thing that is coming out of this is that we are forming future leaders. Most of the people in this group never thought they could evangelize and disciple someone, but many are now doing it. We also reorganized the leadership for our Kids’ Club. When Jenn (Thomas) Pinto left, it left a vacuum of leadership in our Kids’ Club. We formed a team of lay leaders to continue the ministry and — with some glitches — we all have been running the ministry this year. We even had a belated Christmas party, and about 87 kids attended. Most important, that day more than 20 kids, a few older youth, and several adults prayed to receive Jesus. We have also been trying to further build up our worship team. We have taken them on a retreat, had informal get-togethers, prayed together, and promoted fellowship among them to build unity and to encourage them. We also tried to change the leadership of the team. Tracy and I have been the key members of our worship team pretty much since the beginning, and the team was dependent on us. I’ve never successfully been able to turn over the leadership of that ministry to someone else, until this year. Manuel Ortiz is the new leader. The team no longer needs me to play, nor to lead it. They are able
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Missionary Miscellany (continued) to be on their own, and I am enjoying the freedom to either play with them, to pray for church members while they play, or simply to enjoy time worshiping! It is wonderful. We have been blessed this year by growth. Attendance is up 8% this year. The average attendance is about 85, and in the past four months we have had two services to receive 16 new members, 9 through baptism and 7 through transfer of membership. But the church is growing in more than numbers. There is also a growing spiritual hunger and maturity. For instance, Tracy is teaching a Beth Moore Bible study, titled “Jesus, the One and Only,” and it is so well-attended that she had to open a second study to accommodate everyone. We were preparing for a county-wide conference at the end of October and part of the preparation was a weekly prayer vigil every Saturday night. The prayer times have been increasingly intense. Many have experienced God in a new and deeper way; there have been many miraculous healings, and it is not uncommon for people to break down crying, as God deals with hidden wounds or sin in people’s lives. Since the prayer vigils have been so good, we have continued them bi-weekly. In addition to all of this, God has allowed us to minister in new ways. As I mentioned, we held a county-wide conference October 27. It was the first massive conference in our area of the city. We invited a very well-known speaker (comparable to Rick Warren, James Dobson, or Chuck Swindoll in the US), who with Pastor Moises from our denomination led the conference. Over 360 attended! This was less than the 1,000 we were prepared for, yet it was a very large crowd for our area. The conference was very powerful and seems to have greatly impacted and encouraged the other Christians from our area that attended. Many pastors and members from other churches have thanked us for the conference, and to ask when we will have the next one! I always tell them, “When God tells us to do it!” The following day, the Holy Spirit moved in a very powerful way. We ended the service by praying over nearly every-
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one there. One young man was deeply touched by God’s presence and prayed to receive Jesus. Others received powerful words of encouragement, direction, or hope. God also allowed us to open a small Bible study among the middle class people where we live. One of the most openly-resistant to the Gospel was a child psychologist. He was also the first in the group to receive Christ. It is fun to watch their world-view challenged, and to see how the Holy Spirit and the Word of God move in them, though it is truly a spiritual battle for their souls. In addition to all of this, God greatly blessed our church through a short-term mission team from the Gretna Brethren Church, Bellefontaine, Ohio. They did a number of small maintenance and building projects that we hadn’t been able to get done for ourselves. He continued to use Tracy through the Women of the Word Bible study that she continues to help with in the Capital City Baptist Church. He has allowed me to take part in the process of negotiating the entrance of another existing church into our denomination, which will be our first Brethren Church in Reynosa (across the border from McAllen, TX). He’s helped members of our church take over the local Christian bookstore. And finally, God has blessed us with the chance to help Him impact the lives of some really broken people, like the two young women who were abused by their fathers, the young man who is a serious drug addict, and the married couples who were having some serious troubles. As you can see, we have much to be thankful for, as we close this year. It has been a good and a busy year. There were challenges — like serious sicknesses at the beginning of the year, but there have been even more blessings. He has provided for our rest and recuperation. He allowed us to attend two non-denominational pastors’ retreats for pastors and their families. They were both a spiritual and a family boost. He also provided a surprise trip back to Ashland, Ohio, for a vacation with our families. Our boys especially loved that! Plans As we look forward to 2008, we see many challenges. Our plans include:
* beginning a second worship service due to growth, * seeking another meeting place, in case we lose the building we have rented for the past 11 years, * hosting bi-monthly pastors’ breakfasts for those in our area, with the aim to encourage them, to build unity, and to continue to seek a greater revival together, * starting a new discipleship program for new believers, * starting a new training program for another generation of leaders for the church and for new ministry, * considering hosting another county-wide revival conference, and * planning to take our first shortterm mission trips. Our hope is to start a regular short-term mission program and eventually to raise up and support our own missionaries! This is the most exciting for me. There are many challenges to come, many we haven’t seen, but we have a growing faith and a growing knowledge of a very BIG God. He is more than able to provide for every challenge He leads us through. Our prayer for you is that your faith would also be stretched in 2008 and that you, too, would begin to take new and exciting steps with Him. And, by the way, if you are as forgetful as I am, you might want to get your own jar to put stones in to remember all the ways that He will show His love and faithfulness to you. The FEBRUARY international missionaries-of-the-month are Claudio and Karina Castellis in Asuncion, Paraguay. The national missionaries are Reggie and Julie Harvey at the United Community Brethren Church in Dayton, Ohio. Julie wrote that the United Community Brethren Church continues to feed the hungry — both physically and spiritually. Physically, the church feeds between 700-900 meals each month. Spiritually, an average of 100 people are fed the Word of God each Sunday. Programs are offered throughout the week to feed people from all walks of life and all ages. On Sundays, the church begins serving others with a breakfast to feed the hungry. Following the breakfast, the celebration service begins, followed by refreshments for those who want
Women’s Outlook Newsletter
to fellowship together for a while. On Tuesdays, United Community helps those who are struggling with addictions of any kind, with a Christian 12-Step program called New Beginnings. On Wednesdays, those struggling with an addiction to narcotics have a class to attend, with the NA program that is offered. The youth group (The Call) also meets on Wednesday nights. The last Wednesday of each month is very busy; the Food Pantry helps approximately 50 people that week with food. Programs continue on Thursday, with the Soup Kitchen/Dinner open for those in need of a free hot meal. Following the meal, those who stay take part in the Bible Study. On alternate Saturdays, the men and women meet. The Discipleship men’s meetings and the women’s fellowship complete the week and everyone has been offered food for the body and food for the soul. Because the vast majority of those who attend or just visit United Community are at or below poverty level, funds for these programs are only made possible by the generous donations made to the ministry from those who don’t even attend the church. Thank you to all those who have helped with donations for the ministry. Your love gifts have helped United Community help those in need. You are a blessing to these people, without ever stepping your foot into the church. Keep United Community and its leaders in your prayers, as well as the people they serve. If you want more detailed information on our programs, please contact us. We will send a DVD that shows the things that take place. Our e-mail address is: unitedcommunitybc@sbcglobal.net. David and Jenny Loi, missionaries in Malaysia, wrote: “Praise the Lord for He is good! He knows what is best for us. He gave us the signal to slow down. The Lord wants us to act only according to His will and at His timing. Therefore, the trip to China in December is postponed until February or March, even though David was very anxious to teach the Bible School students and to help the leaders in China. “We are very thankful for your prayers and please continue to remember us in your prayers.”
January/February 2008
Mark and Brenda Ray conclude their part of God’s ministry in Ireland in February-March. Please continue to pray for them as they relocate and await God’s call for future work for Him. Pray, too, for the new Christians and those almost-Christians whom they leave in Ireland. Mark and Brenda shared God’s blessings with many. Notes and cards for them may be sent c/o Brethren Church National Office, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805.
President’s Pen (continued from p. 9) Cordoba Brethren Church; his son Dr. Walter Romanenghi, who serves as pastor of the church; and church member, the lovely Cecilia Castro. The 40th Anniversary It was difficult to leave our new friends to whom we felt so connected, as we boarded the van on Friday for the sixhour drive to Camp Eden in Soldini for the WMS retreat and 40th anniversary celebration. We rode with the WMS women from the Cordoba church. It was springtime in Argentina, so we saw beautiful countryside and gorgeous trees and flowers in full bloom. As the van pulled into Camp Eden, one of the first persons we saw was Norma de Rodriguez, president of the Argentine WMS. She is the mother of Eduardo de Rodriguez, President of the South American Theological Seminary. In all, 271 women were in attendance and 1000 mosquitoes! Of those 271 women, 16 were from the new Brethren church in Chile. Words can’t begin to describe that weekend experience. Truly, the presence of the Lord was in our midst. Those women were there to worship together, pray for each other, learn, experience healing, be encouraged and be encouragers, and enjoy fellowship with other believers. We four “outsiders”, two of whom were men, were warmly and sincerely welcomed and included in all the activities. Our presence for their WMS anniversary celebration was greatly appreciated. However, we are the ones who experienced great blessings and appreciated the women’s expressions of kindness and love to us.
Sincere thanks go to Marcela Rivero and Mariel Higa, who sat beside me and Cathy Peterson during most of the worship times and translated what was being said or sung. I developed a close friendship with Mariel Higa, who teaches English in a Christian school in Buenos Aires. She is a member of the Japanese Brethren Church in Buenos Aires. When I brought greetings at the anniversary celebration Saturday evening and gave a devotional Sunday morning, Mariel was my translator. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the anniversary celebration, which was quite festive and quite long. We fell into bed at 1:45 a.m.! The Gerli Dedication Again, after many hugs, kisses, and some tears, it was time to depart Camp Eden. Sunday afternoon we traveled with José Rivero by bus from Rosario to Buenos Aires, where we checked into our hotel in downtown Buenos Aires. Monday evening, José Rivero, the national coordinator of the Brethren Churches in Argentina, as well as other locations in South America and Spain, escorted us by city bus and then by foot to the Gerli Brethren Church for the dedication of their new facility called Centre Nueva Creación. This Center exists to minister to troubled children, adolescents, and families in the Gerli community. After touring the Center, we walked a couple of blocks to the Brethren Church for the dedication service. Although it was Columbus Day, a national holiday also in Argentina, the church was filled to capacity. What an exciting time it was! We met Ricardo and Adrianna Pereda and their children, the pastoral family at Gerli, and Victor Alessandroni, president of the Argentine Brethren pastors. Again, we were inpressed by their commitment, faithfulness, and genuine love for each other and for the Lord. Appreciation For the next two days, we caught our breath, did some sightseeing and shopping, and spent some time with José Rivero and Victor Alessandroni. We can’t say enough about José’s care for us in every detail of our trip. I told him he would make a wonderful travel agent! He truly has a servant’s heart.
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President’s Pen (continued) I wish to thank all who prayed for us. I know you were faithful because everything went smoothly. Thank you for enabling me to travel to Argentina. May God be honored in all we do, and may He be first in all areas of our lives. Gratefully,
Phyllis Roussakis
A Prayer for
New Year’s Eve
! s k n a Th
Joanne Kroft, financial secretary, gave these totals for your offerings received at Conference and following: Thank offering (for benevolences) $10,970.23 Project offering (orphanage in Peru, SA) $10,270.93 Quilt auction (India) $627.50 Hispanic (Hispanic ministry, Bradenton) $1,749 Legacy fund (Paraguay) $2,600 Joanne is always interested to see which society is first in returning its membership list with dues. This year Pleasant View was first and Oak Hill was a very close second! Both societies are in the SE district. Congratulations, ladies!
The Editor’s Ending “Father, we surrender this past year and give it up to You. We give You our failures, our regrets, and our disappointments, for we have no more use for them. Make us now a new people, forgetting what lies behind and pressing on toward that which lies ahead of us. We give You all our hopes and dreams for the future. Purify them by Your Spirit so our wills shall truly reflect Your will for us. As we stand on the threshold of another year, encourage us by our successes of the past, challenge us by the power of Your Word, and guide us by the presence of Your Holy Spirit.” Amen — David McCasland, Our Daily Bread, January 1, 2005
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Dear Friend, I have two concerns about WMS, and this may be an appropriate time to ask for your help. Perhaps you are still making New Year’s Resolutions or will reconsider adding these to your list, and together we can help the situations. It becomes increasingly difficult to find nominees to serve as officers. This is evident not only on the national level, but also in the district and the local society. True, we have ladies with excellent God-given leadership abilities, but sometimes they become tired and want to be replaced. Sometimes we get in the rut. Sometimes we become complacent and wonder why we are disinterested. Please begin now to pray for someone — perhaps yourself — to be equipped and willing to step forward and be a nominee, perhaps be elected! Serving as an officer is also part of Women Meant to Serve. Should you think, “Oh, I can’t do that,” remember that God equips the called, He doesn’t always call the equipped. My second concern is finances. For many years the project and thank offerings totaled about $18,000-$20,000. Some people/societies give “what we
always gave,” others give “until it feels good.” The project needs and the benevolent needs increase, just as our athome expenses increase. To reach the budget for benevolences, interest from our investments is added to your thank offerings. When the investments/savings are decreased, many other receivers of our gifts suffer. In order to keep those items in the budget, your gifts need to increase, certainly not decrease. “Don’t rob Peter to pay Paul.” In other words, don’t give to the Indian girls’ orphanage and neglect your project offering, etc. I hope “a word to the wise is sufficient.” Last summer’s project offering concluded the 2-year emphasis on Peru. With our gifts, land was acquired and a home was built for orphan children in Peru, where Italo and Rebecca Abuid minister. This is so important, saving children from prostitution and slavery, and providing them a Christian home with love and care. Please continue to pray for the Abuids and those who live in the home you built. The project for 2007-09 is the Florida Hispanic Outreach day-care center and youth soccer league in Bradenton, where Miguel and Sonia Antunez serve. They know that, by reaching the children and youth, they will reach the parents. Include this important outreach in your daily prayers. Frequently I awaken in the morning thinking about the day’s schedule and activities, and what I think has to be accomplished to fulfill the day. In studying Psalm 90 with our Bible study friends, I realized verse 14 and I were not in agreement! Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning didn’t mean that my satisfaction in the evening with all my tasks completed was what God had in mind. He is waiting to satisfy me with His loving-kindness first thing every morning and I miss His blessing if I look at my own agenda first. Verse 14 concludes that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! As we sang at Conference, “God is so good.” My day’s work is easier when I begin the day with God before my feet hit the floor. Your friend,
Joan
Ministering to “Bridgers”
Something about Twenty-Somethings by Doug Cooper
If you are inviting twentysomethings to engage meaningfully in the life and purpose of your church community, you’re doing the right thing, but not the easy one. Today’s twentysomethings are on the front edge of a societal shift that makes them cultural refugees in our modern world. If not treated as such, attempts to involve them in important Kingdom-roles will probably end badly. Here are some things I’m learning as I build relationships with, and coax honesty out of, twentysomethings. Please consider these basics as you look to share your church with this vital group:
1. There is a lot of despair among them. A general sense of insecurity, jadedness and instability can often lead to seasons of lonely despair that robs hope and joy. This generation has only known a life of terrorism, corporate scandal, governmental paralysis, disingenuous Christianity and bad-newsoverload. They need to find places of stability, people of honesty, stories of perseverance, and times of celebration to remind them that good exists in the world and that purposeful living is worth pursuing. 2. Their menu of life-options is overwhelming. Because of the global awareness that exists, and due to our
Members of Luminus, a network of Christian young adults, put their faith into action as they stack wood for a local man who has agreed to sell the wood and give half the proceeds to cancer research.
cultural obsession with being busy and entertained, the options for living out the moments of life are so numerous they are almost paralyzing. Choices for how to spend the evening, how to invest energy and passion, and how to choose an occupation fly directly at this generation like a flock of birds. Catching just one or two is so tough that it is almost easier to not try to catch any at all. Too many choices can end up in a temptation to shut down or jump off. 3. Commitment is tough. See Points #1 and #2. This is not a lazy or ambivalent generation, but feelings of hopelessness, blended with impossibly numerous life-options have made commitment overwhelming and frightening. Questions that are asked internally are “By committing to one option, what am I missing from another option?” or “Will I commit to this just to be let down?” or “What if I fail in my part of the commitment?” A softer approach to commitment might need to be employed where young adults are allowed to be involved in relationships, organizations and initiatives for longer periods of time, at lower levels, before commitment is invited. 4. Christian philosophies and perspectives are shifting. The conventions of evangelicalism are not being automatically embraced by this generation. The traditional stands on the interminglings of Christianity with corporatism, environmentalism, patriotism, ethics, morality, finances and globalism are being challenged. This “why” Generation engages in a healthy questioning of past interpretations of Christian thought, lifestyle and expression and is trying to look through others’
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interpretations to adopt those that are pure and based on the original as they understand scripture. A greener, more relational, more global, less legalistic, more expressive, less patriotic, more organic Christian culture is emerging. 5. They want to be directly involved in making a difference. There is a strong desire to be able to see tangible results of their giving and to be handson in serving. Right or wrong, there is a strong desire to give money and time to efforts that allow them to connect with those that are being served, and with the results that occur as a result of their giving. Groups and causes that are best at depicting the stories and realities of the people in need of support are having the most success with this generation. Those causes that use a “give-andtrust-us-to-know-what-to-do-with-yourmoney” aren’t cutting it with this group. This includes many local church budgets wherein a clear giving-to-results path is not seen in a tangible way. 6. They see the world as a global community. Because of the access to the whole world through technology, media, and travel, the world has become much smaller. Events, plights and movements anywhere in the world
are as real as those going on next door. Issues with worldwide or continental impact get more attention than in the past. See points #4 and #5. Young adults have real propensities to help those in need who are beyond the local church/civic community. World issues and events are occupying a much higher proportion of young adults’ conversation and concern. 7. Leadership is defined differently. The hierarchical authoritative leadership forms have lost much relevance with young adults. Effective leadership is seen as coming from within a group, not from above it. Leadership is more of the “team captain” model than the “manager” model. Credibility and authority are earned by doing and by being among the group instead of by education and title. Leaders are often seen as those who have an idea or calling and that gather a team for a temporary season. This is in contrast with the more traditional view that leaders can lead anything and that they can be assigned to initiatives, callings or organizations purely because they are leaders. This really affects the way leaders are identified, mentored, sustained, supported, etc.
Twentysomethings hang out at “710,” a house renovated and set aside for 24/7 use by young adults in the Ashland, Ohio area.
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8. They need to be parented. Youngadulthood is the new adolescence. This group has had a lot handed to them as far as material things, but they are lacking the parental stability and involvement that used to be taken for granted. They have been very insulated, in many ways, from the realities of the world, delaying their coming-of-age to early to midtwenties. They have been thrust into a broken-family culture that has withheld balanced wisdom and clear lines of proper behavior. As they are jumping into the real world, they need parental figures to help them with all of the details and pitfalls. 9. They long to be passionate about something. This generation is looking to invest all of themselves into a purpose that is worthy of every part of them. They are hesitant to open themselves to something that appears to be benign or that only engages a part of their being. The true message and purpose of Christ holds appeal for this generation beyond any we’ve seen in our modern history. The challenge is that young adults have to see that followers of Christ believe what they espouse and are willing to dive headfirst into the Movement. This means that, where Christianity seems passive, inert, or compartmentalized, young adults will probably either seek other passions or will adopt the inertia they see around them. This is a great reason for any community of Christians to check their own calling and passions and expressions to see if they can live them out with authenticity (See point #4).
Doug Cooper is the director of the Luminus Network, a Christian community for young adults, hosted by Park Street Brethren Church in Ashland, Ohio. He can be contacted at luminus@zoominternet.net or at 419-606-1621.
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BYIC/Bridge Registration Form July 28 – August 1, 2008 Ridgecrest, NC Please Choose your Convention:
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BYIC Convention (ages 12-22)
First time Attendee? Also check here!
Bridge Festival (ages 18-30) BYIC-Adult Sponsor
First Name ____________________ Last Name _____________________________
Convention Cost
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$305 Early Bird BYIC / Bridge
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$325 Regular BYIC / Bridge
(postmarked before May 15) (postmarked before June 30)
A $25 late fee will be added to each registration on any payment made after June 30.
Address ______________________________________________________________ City ____________________________ State _______ Zip Code ________________ Ƒ Male Phone (_______) ________ - __________ Birthday ____ / ____ / 19_____ Ƒ Female Email ____________________________________T-Shirt Size (adult sizes) _______ What Brethren church do you attend? _____________________________________
BYIC Convention Students: You must have an adult sponsor of the same sex and at least 22 years of age who is registered with the BYIC Convention in order to attend Convention. If you submit this registration form without a sponsor, please add $30 to your payment. This cost will pay the way for your sponsor for the week.
Adventure Options: (New for BYIC Convention 2008)
A limited number of spots are available for High Ropes and Laser Tag, available at no extra charge! Spots are filled first come first serve, so register early! Registration and completed Ridgecrest waiver (required for High Ropes) reserves your spot. Please indicate what activities you’d like to sign-up for:
High Ropes* (see note on back) For more information regarding High Ropes & Laser Tag, check out the Brethren Church website. www.brethrenchurch.org
Laser Tag
Payment Information Convention Fee No Sponsor (add $30) Total Due: Amount Enclosed:
$305 Anytime Rate FREE—I’m registering 10 students by May 15!
Housing Options
Who is your adult sponsor? _______________________________________________
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Adult Sponsor Cost
You will be assigned a room and roomates this year upon arrival. Youth groups will be staying together, separated male / female.
Adult Sponsors Only List the students you are sponsoring: (up to 8) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________ _________ (Required if no advisor is listed) _________ (Any payment after June 30, add $25.00) _________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please complete the billing box so we know how you will be paying.
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please select your payment type: I am paying by check which is enclosed. Please make checks payable to BYIC Convention. I am going to pay by credit card. Please bill me via E-mail: ___________________________________
I will be paying at a later date. Please send a bill to the following address (if different from above): Name: ____________________________________ Address: __________________________________ City: ________________ State: ______ Zip: _______
*Remember*
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
No Registrations will be accepted after June 30. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Full payment must be postmarked by June 30 for every attendee. A $25 late fee will be added to each registration on any payment made after June 30. Please complete the billing box so we know how you will be paying.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Send form to: BYIC Convention 524 College Avenue Ashland, OH 44805
2008 BYIC Convention Medical Form Legal Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Age ____________ Birthday _______________________ Social Security Number _____________-___________-_____________ Emergency Contact Information Name of Parent(s) / Guardian(s)______________________________________________________________________________ Daytime Phone _________________________________________ Evening Phone _____________________________________ Alternate Contact: (Name) ____________________________________________ Phone_________________________________ Insurance information Insurance Company ________________________________________________________________________________________ Policy and/or Group Number ________________________________________________________________________________ Please list any medical conditions, recent illnesses or operations, or any medications you currently take: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Medical Release, Authorization to Treat, Conduct and Publication: I hereby authorize a representative of The Brethren Church, or the 2008 BYIC Convention to authorize administration of medical treatment to this participant when medical treatment is deemed necessary. I understand that all reasonable safety precautions will be taken at all times by The Brethren Church. I understand that in the event medical intervention is necessary every attempt will be made to contact the person(s) above immediately. I further release, indemnify, hold harmless and further discharge The Brethren Church, Inc,. its employees and members, and the BYIC Convention for any and all damages, losses or injuries sustained by participants resulting from applicant’s participating in the BYIC Convention. This extends to and applies to, and also covers and includes, all unknown, unforeseen, unanticipated and unsuspected injuries, damages, losses and liability, and consequences in substance that releases shall not extend to claims, demands, injuries or damages which are unknown or unsuspected to exist at the time, to person executing such release are hereby expressly waived. I understand that by breaking ay rules or guidelines during the week of 2008 BYIC Convention, I may be sent home at my own cost, regardless of cost or time remaining of Convention. Any photographs taken during the week maybe used for promotion purpose via print, video and web, a written request to exclude participant must be on file prior to Convention 2008. Participant’s Signature ____________________________________________________ Date Signed ________________________ Parent / Guardian Signature _______________________________________________
(if under 18 years of age) Date Signed _________________________________
Note: This release form is for The Brethren Church Inc. If you are interested in participating in High Ropes or Low Ropes at Ridgecrest, you must complete the Ridgecrest Waiver form as well. Ridgecrest Waiver can be found at http://brethrenchurch.org/byic/2008-byic-convention-reveal/ridgecrest-waiver-form *High Ropes : High Ropes opportunities are limited to the first 200 BYIC Cancellations: Students to sign-up. Registration A $50 fee will be imposed on any cancellations and completed Ridgecrest Waiver or payment transfers for form is required to reserve your BYIC Convention / Bridge Festival 2008. spot for a High Ropes opportunity.
Hurray! Linens are included this year with registration with BYIC Convention / Bridge Festival!
Dorm rooms are Air Conditioned in North Carolina!
Be sure to check out the website for updates on Convention 2008.
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www.brethrenchurch.org
2008 General Conference Registration Saturday, July 12 - Wednesday, July 16, 2007 Richmond, Virginia All General Conference participants must submit this registration form. Early Bird Registration is June 1. (Register online at www.brethrenchurch.org)
Name(s): ________________________________________________________ Home Phone:_________________________ Address:____________________________________________ City, State, Zip:_____________________________________ First time Attendee? (Please check here)
HOUSING General Conference has reserved various hotels within the city of Richmond. Not only are some of these rates drastically lower than if you would try and book the same rooms by yourself, but by using the room block, you are also helping provide a discounted rate for use of the Richmond Convention Center. We appreciate your usage of our room block.
Hotel
Holiday Inn Central Comfort Inn Crowne Plaza Richmond West Quality Inn Double Tree Crowne Plaza Richmond Downtown Marriott Omni Hotel
Cost / Night $90/Night $94/Night $106/Night $109/Night $109/Night $109/Night $114/Night $114/Night
Distance from Convention Center 3.2 miles 5.6 miles 8.6 miles 6 blocks 9 blocks 10.5 blocks 0.5 blocks 13 blocks
Hotel Tax is currently 13% in Richmond, VA. These rates do not include any taxes, amenities, parking fees or additional service fees that may incur during your stay.
Note: A free bus shuttle will be running all week from the hotels listed above to the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The Brethren Church room block will become available at 12:00 a.m. on March 1, 2008. The room block will open at this time to both the Brethren Church and Church of the Brethren Registrants. To book your hotel room, log-on to http://brethrenchurch.org/events/2008-general-conference/housing.
Hotels will be filled on a first come first serve basis, so be sure to register early.
- 2008 General Conference The Brethren Church is excited to be joining the Church of the Brethren as we celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren Church. In traveling to Richmond, Virginia this year for our Annual Conference there are quite a few changes in store not only for the week of General Conference but also in the preparation to attend. Please complete this form so we may enter you into our database and get all the proper preparation complete. Please remember, that you must complete both this Registration Form as well as turn in your Credentials by June 1st to be registered as a Delegate at 2008 General Conference. These two items do not need to be submitted together, but if you would like to do so that is also all right. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions that you may have regarding 2008 General Conference.
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2008 General Conference Registration (Continued)... sharper
REGISTRATION
Registration fee for 2008 General Conference is $25.00 per household. Registrations submitted before June 1 qualify for an early bird rate of $15.00 per household.
DEEPER
Total for Registration: $_____________
CREDENTIALS Delegate credentials are obtained from your pastor. A limited number of district and cooperative credentials are available through your district organizations. Credentials do not need to accompany your registration but need to be submitted by June 1. If you are not attending as a church/district delegate, we ask that you pay the Non Delegate fee, to assist with the overall cost of General Conference.
Non Delegate(s) $15.00 per person/ per day No. of people _____ x No. of days attending _____ = Total for Non Delegate(s): $_____________
SPECIAL EVENT RESERVATIONS International Leaders Banquet, Monday, 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
$14.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________
Ecumenical Luncheon, Day, Time
$17.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________
Join us Monday morning for breakfast, featuring our International Leaders from around the world.
This lunch will dive into the roots, branches and fruit of the Brethren Church movement. This event will be combined with Church of the Brethren participants.
Total for Special Events: $_____________
Child Care: For children, babies through 5th grade, child care will be provided throughout the week during the Missionary Banquet, all worship events, business sessions and workshops. Cost is $5.00 per session per child, which includes experienced supervision and snacks. Pre-registration is not necessary. Registration Fee : $_____________ Non-Delegate Fee (if applicable): $_____________ Special Event Reservations: $_____________ Total Registration Fee: $_____________
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: x
Registrations sent before June 1 qualify for the Early Bird Registration rate of $15.00 per household, after June 1 Registration is $25.
x
Delegate credentials can be obtained from your pastor, district or organization. Please submit your credential before June 1.
x
Updated information regarding 2008 General Conference can be obtained by visiting our website: www.brethrenchurch.org
PLEASE MAIL REGISTRATIONS AND FEES TO: Brethren Church General Conference 524 College Ave. Ashland, OH 44805
Please select your payment type: 目 I am paying by check which is enclosed. Please make checks payable to Brethren Church. 目 I am going to pay by credit card. Please bill me via email: E-Mail________________________________ 目 I will be paying the full amount before July 1. Please send a bill to the following address (if different from registration address): Name: __________________________________ Address:_________________________________ City:_____________________ State:_____ Zip: __________
2008 General Conference Celebrating 300 Years Together
July 12-16, 2008 Greater Richmond (Virginia) Convention Center Conference Highlights: Joint Worship Services 9:30 a.m. Sunday - Dr. Shanthi Edwin & Dr. Arden Gilmer speaking 7:00 p.m. Sunday - Celebrating Missions 9:30 a.m. Wednesday - Dr. Leroy Solomon speaking Monday morning Missions Breakfast with our missionaries Brethren Church worship & fellowship with our international leaders from 12 different nations Joint Anniversary Celebration Participatory Activities 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Sunday Joint Worship with Ken Medema - 8 pm. Monday
Ken Medema is a musician, composer and performer and has ministered to the church for over 30 years.
Dr. Shanthi Edwin
Housing:
Dr. Arden Gilmer
Ken Medema
Dr. Leroy Solomon
The Brethren Church and Church of the Brethren have reserved a room block for the 2008 General Conference. These rates are discounted from the regular reservation price and by booking through our room block you are assisting us in receiving a discount for the Greater Richmond Conference Center. Please book through the web page so that we may fill our room block! The housing block will open on March 1, 2008 and can be accessed through http://brethrenchurch.org/events/2008-general-conference/housing.
Celebrating Y ears 300 1708-2008
The 2008 G eneral C onference of T he B rethren C hurch July 12-16, 2008 Greater Richmond Convention Center Richmond, Virginia
The Brethren Evangelist (SSN 0747-4288) is published six times a year 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. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Brethren Church, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792. January/February 2008, Vol. 130, No. 1
The Brethren Church 524 College Ave. Ashland, OH 44805
Periodical Postage Paid at Ashland, OH 44805