Mar/Apr 2015
contents
Dear Friends, I’m learning a little more about faith these days. Actually I don’t know how much is being learned; let me just say that the Lord has allowed me to be in the classroom of faith – at least for a season. What I am discovering is that my faith has needed this strengthening. At times I have felt like the man who brought his son to be healed by Jesus as recorded in Mark 9:14 ff. The father’s exclamation of “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” speaks for many like myself who rely on an intellectual faith that has difficulty in standing up to the tests that are a part of this life. Throughout Paul’s letters he mentions in visiting the churches that he desires to learn about the condition of their faith. It is what he was eager to know. It was what he taught. He hoped that the Romans would be encouraged by each other’s faith. He urged the Corinthians to stand firm in the faith, and that he would be visiting them to see if they were in the faith. To the Colossians he asked that they continue in their faith. He challenged Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. And at the end of his ministry Paul was able to say that he had kept the faith. In this season it has been important for me to realize that a strong and pure faith requires testing. I’d take a pass on the testing if I could. But I’m understanding that my faith is of little use unless it can enable me to hold on to God when there no tangible proof that what I hope for will materialize. Brethren have been known as people of the book. But if this description truly fits, we must demonstrate that we hold to God’s promises even when we don’t see the future result. It is a matter of obedience. Does our belief in the commands of Christ result in obedience to them? And so in this season of my life I’d like to challenge you to take inventory of how well your beliefs match up with your actions. As people of the book we must practice what we preach. If we truly trust in God, we must also obey him. What steps of obedience is the Spirit of Christ calling you to embrace in this season of your life? What steps of obedience is the Spirit of Christ impressing upon the collective conscience of the Brethren Church at this time? How will you join with your brothers and sisters in our tribe to walk in the path that God is creating for the Brethren? I’m learning a little more about faith these days. Will you join me?
Blessings, Ken Hunn, Executive Director
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THE BIBLE SPEAKS // Article from 1947 by Rev. Freeman Ankrum with a reflection by Brenda B. Colijn
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SPOTLIGHT ON: CAMP BETHANY
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MOBILIZE // Your Kingdom Come
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BRETHREN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT // Beards of the Brethren
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2015 GENERAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
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GC 2015 SCHEDULE
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EXECUTIVE BOARD NOMINATIONS
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MISSOCHURCH
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GLOBAL PARTNERS// Argentina
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DEVOTIONAL // What Are We Leaving
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WMS // Why A Task Force? by Gloria Radcliff
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BITS & PIECES
Behind? by Dianna Teusch
correction: In the Jan/Feb 2015 issue of The Brethren Evangelist, Dave Shairbaum should have been listed as the author of the Mobilize article, “Passing the Pastoral Baton”. We apologize to Dave for leaving his name off the article.
stay connected Brethren@brethrenchurch.org www.brethrenchurch.org 419.289.1708
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The Brethren Evangelist Mar/Apr 2015
524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805
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, sixty-eight years later. We hope you will enjoy these articles and find them as enlightening as we did.
The Bible Speaks About the Church IT IS A COMMON THING to hear what the man of the street has to say about the church. The member of the church is often expressive of his or her opinion regarding the same. Oftentimes the person who is on the outside, and who knows practically nothing about it, freely expressed himself concerning it. Man’s opinion is fallible, subject to the emotions and easily directed into the wrong channels. The invitation to some one to “come to church,” usually means to the person invited, “to the building.” The place of worship is not the church, but the assembling place of the church. So the sincere child of God desirous of knowing what is infallible and dependable, turns to the Word of God for his or her information. The scope of this article is too limited to develop completely what the Bible says about the Church. However, there are
some basic thoughts which may be of inestimable value, interest and comfort to us. In the words of another we are given to think of the Church in a general way as a “religious assembly selected and called out of the world by the doctrine of the Gospel, to worship the true God in Christ according to His Word.” The foundation upon which it is built, the one who called it out from the world, its earthly activities and eternal destiny are basic fundamentals in our thoughts. Peter said to Christ one day, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This great truth has been revealed to Peter by his Heavenly Father. Jesus said unto him, “upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Naturally we think that it was not the shifting Apostle, but the solid truth which was the foundation. When the world spurns the efforts
By Rev. Freeman Ankrum February 8, 1947, Masontown, PA
of the Church and its members, there may be tendency to feel that we are companions in a lost cause. The above should encourage us to lift our banners high and to march on to certain victory under the standard of Christ our Lord. The head of the Church of course is Christ. Ephesians 1:22, states, “And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head of all things to the Church.” Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it, a sacrifice upon the Cross of Calvary. The pastors of churches are called to a great responsibility as Paul so states in Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the Church, which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which hath purchased with his own blood. We may say that in reality there is a church within a church. The Church within is the true Church
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The Bible which is within the great body of the professing worldly organization, which lacks the Spirit of The Living God. In that day which God alone knows, the true Church will be taken out of the world, and the professing, but not possessing church shall be left to carry on its Christless ways upon the earth. To be a member of the true Church is to be part of The Bride of Christ. There have been many dark days in the history of the Church. There were times of great distress and uncertainty in the minds of men, but never in the mind of God. Man with all his ungodliness and wickedness has never succeeded in blacking out the light which has glowed in perpetual glory from the Cross on Calvary’s Hill. The Church, driven into caverns, and caves, and catacombs dark and damp, has always emerged to testify to the glory of the one who founded it, upon the foundation He laid for it, and who awaits the time to return for it.
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word:
From Heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride’
With her own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died. Rev. Freeman Ankrum
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IT’S INTERESTING to read Rev. Freeman Ankrum’s 1947 article, “The Bible Speaks About The Church,” from our setting almost 70 years later. I’m not familiar with Rev. Ankrum or his family, and I have no history with the Masontown church, so I can’t comment on the background of the article; I’ll have to stick to the article itself. The context and concerns are different in the Brethren Church today, but our commitment to the church and to the Lord are still the same. The article comes from a time when the Brethren Church was still traumatized by the split from the Grace Brethren in 1939. A sense of concern or even discouragement about “dark days” for the church is clear in the article. He says that because the world spurns the church, some Christians may think that they are “companions in a lost cause.” The world hasn’t become any friendlier toward the church in the intervening years—if anything, the reverse is true—but I don’t hear such discouragement among Brethren today. No one who is aware of the exponential global growth of the church would imagine that our faith is a lost cause. The article shows the lingering effects of the Fundamentalist/Modernist controversy. Rev. Ankrum’s definition of the church is separatist and inward-looking. He describes the Brethren as members of “the true Church within the great body of the professing worldly organization which lacks the Spirit of the Living God.” He looks forward to the day when “the true Church will be taken out of the world, and the professing, but not possessing church shall be left to carry on its Christless ways upon the earth.” Brethren today are certainly not happy about some positions and actions of mainline
Still Speaks about the Church by Brenda B. Colijn
denominations, but (in my experience, at least) we give more attention to partnering with like-minded Christian groups to carry out God’s mission in the world without compromising the gospel. The idea that the church will be taken out of the world to leave the false church behind is a teaching of dispensationalism, which was widespread in our denomination then but is much less so today. Most Brethren today are not planning to escape from the world but to change it. The church in Rev. Ankrum’s day still had the luxury of assuming a nominally Christian context. Our context today is religious pluralism: we deal not only with liberal Christianity but with the Moslems, Hindus, Wiccans, and agnostics who are our neighbors. In our postmodern setting, every perspective has a booth in the religious marketplace. While challenging, this pluralistic environment gives us the opportunity to take the gospel into all the world without even leaving home! To combat discouragement, Rev. Ankrum points out several things the Bible says about the church. While
his points are still valid, we would expect to see a more robust picture of the church if the article had been written today. We would learn about the church as the people of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and especially the body of Christ. We would encourage churches not only to survive but to thrive as healthy, missional congregations. We have given focused attention to what it means to be Brethren in the contemporary context, and we are planting churches and partnering with international Brethren with that in mind. Today we still carry the truth of the gospel into a world of counter-claims. But to reach postmodern people, we must share that truth not only in our words but in our Christlike lives and loving service. If our character and actions don’t show that Jesus changes lives, then no one will care what we say. Nevertheless, the Brethren Church today has the same foundation as it had in Rev. Ankrum’s day, and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ is still our calling and our joy.
Mar/Apr 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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SPOTLIGHT ON:
Camp Bethany
EVERYONE has that “special place”: a
How is it that a place that we spend
Dutch Blitz, and sledding, in addition
vacation spot, hometown, a bedroom
relatively little time at over the course
to small and large groups, and
in a childhood home. No matter how
of our lives can mean so much? Think
worship.
long you have been away or how old
about this: camp is only one week
you get, once you set one foot there,
a year (three days, if you’re a mini-
the memories rise to the surface and
camper). From grades 1-12, that’s 83
you can find yourself getting lost in
days total spent at Camp Bethany
them. They are old friends greeting
— just shy of three full months. We
you with a smile, a laugh, and even
spend more time getting ready for
the occasional tear. For many of us,
work or school, more time driving
Camp Bethany is that place, and
in the car, and more time in the
coming back feels like coming home.
bathroom (seriously — the average
Pull into the driveway, and you can see yourself arriving for the first time and feel the excitement and nervousness of your first time sleeping away
person spends 92 days using the restroom) than we spend at camp. Yet somehow, 83 days adds up to a whole lot more. Why is that?
from home. Look out over the field
Take the recent winter camp that
and remember breathlessly running
happened
around the baseball field bases,
More than 50 people braved the
frantically trying to score as many
winter weather to come out for the
points as possible in Mickey Ball.
weekend, which was led by Bryan
Walk beneath the 12 Disciple trees,
Baker, associate pastor from Gretna,
and you’ll hear the joyful sound of
and several other key speakers.
kids playing in the creek, trying to
The weekend was jam packed with
uncover crawdads or tadpoles.
activities like late night volleyball,
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The Brethren Evangelist Mar/Apr 2015
over
MLK
weekend.
The central theme of the weekend was focusing on listening to God and hearing what His will is for our lives. No easy task! Students were challenged to identify ways that they could actively seek out God and hear Him speak. Considering how busy the average teenager’s life is on a day to day basis, the weekend provided a much needed break from the daily distractions and gave campers ideas and tools for being more intentional in their faith. Seeing
the
excitement
on
the
campers’ faces when they left and hearing them make plans to stay in touch and to continue encouraging each
other
reaffirms
just
how
important Camp really is and why it is such a special place.
Campers may only get 83 days spread out over 12 years, but those 83 days can lead to a lifetime of friendships, spiritual growth, and a stronger relationship with God. Every time a camper comes back to Bethany, they are reminded of more than just summer or winter days spent playing GaGa Ball, swimming in the pond, climbing up Vesper Hill, or sleeping in the cabins. They remember the nights spent around the campfire singing hymns under the stars, the conversations with counselors, or the moment they made the decision to dedicate their life to Christ.
Mar/Apr 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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MOBILIZE YOUR
KINGDOM COME
by Gary Diehl
WHEN JESUS LAUNCHED his public ministry, he read some important words from Isaiah’s scroll that announced the outbreak of God’s kingdom. Then he sat down and said, “today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21 NIV) The kingdom of heaven invaded our broken, sin-cursed planet and became visible to the human race! All through his ministry Jesus challenged his followers to have eyes to see that new kingdom, and he acted in ways that demonstrated for them our father’s heart of redemption and restoration. Several weeks ago more than 30 leaders from four northeast Ohio Brethren congregations in the region gathered together at Deli Ohio, the host space for Radial Church’s corporate worship in Canton, Ohio. Leaders from Radial, Trinity Brethren, Beacon of Hope Community and First Brethren North Georgetown were joined by their pastors for an opening conversation about
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The Brethren Evangelist Mar/Apr 2015
what it looks like for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done in that part of Ohio in 2015 through a people called “Brethren.” Together, across generations, we were challenged to reimagine how we can become better partners and intentionally be better stewards of the gifts God has already placed among us. First we ate together (an essential Brethren practice!) at tables of six to eight people deliberately mixed with folks from the other congregations. Table conversations centered around each person describing how we have recently seen the life of someone outside our church made better because of an interaction with someone from inside our church. It took a little nudge for a couple tables to get the ball rolling, but once the stories started flowing they were abundant! One person shared how several young boys in
their community from a lowincome households were being fed a hot meal on a Sunday afternoon by a church family. Another person shared about a young man who has been picking up several individuals from a housing complex in Canton and bringing them to worship on Sundays. Another individual talked about the way her husband has become a safe spiritual friend and guide to some former classmates recently. Someone else shared about helping a struggling family with warm winter clothes and coats. One woman shared about the impact a home Bible study was having on the alcoholic son of the lady who is hosting the group in her trailer park community. Story
after
story
illustrated
powerful ways that the issues of brokenness, loneliness and pain in others are being touched with love in the name of Jesus. Broken lives being made better. The hungry being fed. The sick being cared for. The lonely finding new friendships. The oppressed finding freedom. The hopeless regaining hope. Don’t those things sound strangely like the kingdom Jesus describes for us? These things are already happening in and through these Brethren congregations! Maybe Jesus is calling us to have eyes to see how we—his dearly loved children—are already starting to show our broken world what the kingdom of God looks like. Instead of seeing only our individual churches, our challenge is to see ourselves as
one part of a “church” called Brethren being raised up to impact this “region” together with Jesus. Maybe he is asking us to see ourselves as his church working with him on his mission of redeeming and restoring all that sin shattered in the garden. Can you already see how Jesus is making lives better through his people? That’s kingdom impact! Let’s ask Jesus to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20 NIV) in us and through us as we become more intentional together. May his kingdom come and his will be done through his people called Brethren!
Mar/Apr 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT BRETHREN
BEARDS
by Ryan Smith
ALBERT EINSTEIN ONCE SAID, “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” It’s been 7 months now since the B4 Project was launched, and while many have inquired about it, only a brave handful have gone all in, opting to forego shaving for a time, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for Brethren Leadership Development. of the
B R E TH R E N
Rather than me sharing about the B4 Project and why you might consider involving yourself for these last few months (the project concludes at the 2015 General Conference), I thought it better you hear from a couple men who have been involved from the onset, and let them express what the B4 Project is to them and why they choose to be involved and what’s happened since growing their beard. John Shultz was the first to stick his chin in the ring so to speak. When I asked him to reflect on his participation thus far, here’s what John had to say: I hear lots of people asking what the future of the Brethren Church looks like. My answer is a simple and hopeful one: it really depends on the effectiveness of the leaders. Leaders are invaluable when it comes to formulating and communicating new strategic directions. They are also critical to motivating the members of the organization to live out the values and goals of the organizations (e.g., The Brethren Church) they lead. So when I heard about a project designed to raise funds for Brethren Leadership Development, I was motivated to participate. I haven’t had a beard for at least 20 years, but I was pretty sure, based on what happens when I don’t shave, that it was still growing. What I didn’t know was that its color had changed to match my hair. I know that shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but few people like to face the reality of aging head on (pun intended). At any rate, I made my contribution to leadership development, got the shirt and grew a beard long enough to prove that it was still there. I won’t win the contest for the longest Brethren beard, but I think I can contend for the whitest. And I’ve done my part to support leadership development...the most important reason for Bringing Brethren Beards Back.
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The Brethren Evangelist Mar/Apr 2015
Another early adopter into the B4 Project, is a good friend of mine from the Nappanee First Brethren Church, Todd Nunemaker. Read Todd’s reflection on his involvement in the B4 Project.
I have known Ryan for quite some time. Over the years, we have had great discussions on family, kids, life and Christ. When I heard about the B4 Project, of course I wanted to support my friend. I also thought it would be a fun excuse to not to have to shave everyday. (I have to admit too that I was a little curious if I could even grow a beard. After all, my manhood is on the line here.) As with many things in life, my thoughts and actions started out to be about ME. It was not too long before God focused my attention on HIM. Here has been my experience. Growing a beard takes three things: time, time and more time. Well, over that time, I have interacted with all types of people. Whether it is with family, an old friend, or someone I am meeting for the first time, the conversation seems to naturally work its way towards a ‘beard’ discussion. “Hey, you have a beard!” “How long have you had a beard?” “Doesn’t that itch?” And the inevitable, “Are you related to those guys on Duck Dynasty?” Or sometimes the perfect segue question, “Why the beard?” Often times we pray for an opportunity to witness for Christ. Little did I know that something as simple as growing a beard would provide that opportunity. Each situation is different. Sometimes the conversation is with a fellow believer about Brethren Leadership Development or the history of great leaders with beards. But other times, it is the first conversation someone is having about Christ. A beard may seem like a trivial tool for evangelism, but it is a daily reminder that I am wearing a billboard on my face for Christ. I would encourage my fellow brothers to take up arms… by putting down their razors. When this absurd... er, unique idea of the B4 Project came about, I would never have imagined what interesting stories would have come from it, or the men who would participate. More than the stories, laughs and photographs, my hope is that the B4 Project helps to further the efforts, effectiveness and reach of Brethren Leadership Development. We’re here today because pioneering leaders blazed a trail before us. Now it’s our time to do very much the same for the generation stirring behind us. Bearded or not, our bond is Christ. It’s his mission we commit to and it’s his call we serve. If you’re interested in participating in the B4 Project there’s still time. You can find the details on our website. If you’d simply like to donate without setting aside your razor that’s fine too. If you have questions, please contact me, I always enjoy talking about Brethren leadership and beards.
2015 GENERAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION Tuesday, July 14 - Friday, July 17 in Winchester, Virginia
What to expect: The Brethren Church General Conference is an opportunity for leaders from around the country to gather together. We plan to celebrate what God is doing in our churches, rekindle old friendship and foster new ones, as well as make strategic decisions to move us forward as a denomination. Mike Chong Perkinson will be leading us this year with teachings on Discipleship so that we continue BECOMING more like Jesus. Additionally, we’ll feature workshops, a Kids Conference for those under 11, and plenty of gathering time to encourage and challenge one another. General Conference is a great way to expose your leadership teams to all the ways the ministries of The Brethren Church can come alongside your church as we partner in ministry together. We are ready to walk with your church right where you are! We are excited to have Grace Community Church in Winchester, Virginia hosting our conference this year. We look forward to seeing the many sights and sounds Winchester has to offer, as well as reconnecting you with the mission and vision God has for The Brethren Church.
Conferences Cost & Delegate Credentials Register Online and save $5! Early Registrations submitted before June 18, $60.00 per person. Regular Registrations submitted after June 18, $75.00 per person. OPTIONAL: Delegate credentials are obtained from your pastor and have been billed to your church. A limited number of district and cooperative credentials may be available through your district organizations. Credentials do not need to accompany your registration but need to be submitted by June 18.
Housing
Housing is available at several area hotels and bed & breakfasts. We recommend that you make arrangements for housing as soon as possible! Some area hotels offer a discounted rate if you mention “Brethren Conference” while booking your reservation. Be sure to book before July 1. Recommended hotel: Hilton Garden Inn.
Registration fee does not need to be paid if you are only attending a Ticketed Event.
Total for Registration: $__________ Continue on other side
Ticketed Events Global Dinner Thursday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. — Best Western Convention Center Winchester, Virginia
$20.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________
ATS Dinner Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.— Jim Barnett Park Winchester, Virginia
$12.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________
Total for Events $__________
Ticket sales will end on June 30. Ticket sales will not be available during the week of General Conference.
Kids Conference A nursery will be provided for children birth - 4 throughout the conference. Also, there is a crying room at Grace Community which parents can take advantage of if needed. Kids Conference, ages 5-11, will be provided during our main session beginning with worship on Tuesday evening. Kids will be signed in and out the half hour before and after each main session. Cost for the nursery or kids conference is $75 for your entire time at General Conference. If you are bringing more than two kids, contact Paula to discuss discounted rates. Details regarding Kids Conference and Nursery will be updated at www.brethrenchurch.org.
Kids Conference $75.00/week per child $150/week for 3 or more children
Total for Kids Conference $__________
Names and ages of children attending:
Important Information
TOTAL COST
• Registration rates change on June 18. Be sure to register early.
Registration Fee :
$_____________
Ticketed Events:
$_____________
Total Registration:
$_____________
• Delegate credentials can be obtained from your pastor, district or organization. Please submit your credential before June 18. • Updated information regarding 2015 General Conference can be obtained by visiting our website: www.brethrenchurch.org • Ticketed Event sales will end on June 30th. • If you are bringing a group or leadership team to the conference for the week or even a session, contact brethren @brethrenchurch.org to find group rates before June 18.
PLEASE MAIL REGISTRATIONS AND FEES TO: Brethren Church General Conference 524 College Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805
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Payment Options:
I am paying by check which is enclosed. (Please make checks
payable to The Brethren Church.)
I am going to pay by credit card. (Please send a bill to my email address.)
I will be paying the full amount before July 1. (Please send a bill to my registration address.)
July 14-17 History was made here. And during the week of July 14-17, 2015 history will be made here again as we gather together for the 127th Annual Brethren Church General Conference hosted by Grace Community Church in Winchester, VA. Please make sure to plan early to attend. This year we will also hold “Kids Conference” during each of our main sessions. Children must be checked-in 1/2 an hour before each session and picked up no later than 1/2 an hour after each session. For registration, lodging options, area activities, bulletin inserts, local restaurants and much more - please visit our website at:
http://www.brethrenchurch.org/get-involved/general-conference
Grace Community Church Winchester, VA
This year we will also hold “Kids Conference” during each of our main sessions. Children must be checked-in 1/2 hour before each session and picked up no later than 1/2 hour after each session.
9:00 am-11:00 am 12:00 pm-1:30 pm 1:30 pm-2:45 pm
GENERAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 11 am-1:00 pm 12:00 pm-6:00 pm 2:00 pm-4:00 pm 6:30 pm-8:30 pm 8:45 pm 8:00 am-8:45 am 8:45 am-12:00 pm 12:00 pm 2:00 pm-4:00 pm 2:30 pm-4:00 pm 4:30 pm-6:00 pm 6:30 pm-8:30 pm 8:45 pm
Tuesday - July 14 Executive Board Meeting Check-In WMS Meeting NABCE Meeting Evening Worship Mike Perkinson, Speaker Reception for Ken & Nancy Hunn Wednesday - July 15 Conference Registration Moderator’s Address Emery Hurd Worship & Business Session 1 Lunch Golf Outing - $19 for 9 holes & cart WMS Meeting NABCE Meeting ATS Banquet - Jim Barnett Park Evening Worship Mike Perkinson, Speaker MissioChurch gathering @Brewbakers
3:00 pm-4:15 pm 4:30 pm-6:00 pm 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Thursday, July 16 Worship & Teaching Mike Perkinson Lunch Workshop Session 1 Mike Perkinson Church Finance Best Practices Joe Woodruff Mid-Level Q & A Workshop Session 2 Mike Perkinson Terry Hofecker Global Partner Dinner @ Best Western Conference Center Evening Worship Rev. Steven Cole
On Friday morning the General Conference Delegates will vote to affirm Steven Cole as the next Executive Director of The Brethren Church. 8:45 pm
Brethren Leadership Development Gathering
8:45 am-12:00 pm 12:00 pm
Friday - July 17 Worship & Business Session 2 Closing Session
For more information and to register online, visit our website at: brethrenchurch.org/get-involved/general-conference
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2015 NOMINATION PROCESS FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD AND MODERATOR 1. The 2015 General Conference will elect two members to the Executive Board for three-year terms. The Moderator serves a threeyear term as well. All nominees must be eligible to serve as stated in the Manual of Procedure (chapter 2, section II, article 4B): All members of the Executive Board shall be members in good standing of their local Brethren churches at the time of their election and throughout their terms of service. 2. Persons can nominate themselves or be nominated by another individual. 3. All nominees must complete the nomination information form to be nominated, whether by the Executive Board or from the floor. 4. Executive Board shall serve as the nominating committee for Executive Board members and shall develop a ballot of nominees for said position. 5. Nominations from the floor will be accepted, provided that said nominee submits a completed nomination information form at the time of nomination, or has previously submitted said form for the position. 6. A new nomination information form must be completed for each election cycle. NOMINATION PROCEDURE 1. Nomination forms will be made available online, in a general distribution email, and at all district conferences. The nomination process, forms, and current members and openings should be included. Terms up for election in 2015: Executive Board – Steven Cole and Gene Geaslen. 2. All nomination forms would be sent to Scott Soden, secretary of the Executive Board (by mail at: 2612 E 12th St, Cheyenne, WY 82001; by e-mail: scottsoden01@gmail.com), who will send a letter or e-mail to confirm their receipt. 3. All nominations not from the floor would need to be received by May 15, 2015. 4. The Executive Board will select two of its members who will interview each prospective nominee using the following criteria and recording their responses: a. The nominee’s understanding of their gift mix and abilities as they relate to the office for which nominated. b. Their experience and understanding of working together with teams and leading teams. c. Their understanding of the responsibilities of the office as outlined in the Manual of Procedure. d. Their understanding of and commitment to Policy-Based Governance, the model that the Executive Board is currently implementing. e. Their motivation, both personal and spiritual, for seeking the office. 5. T he Executive Director will also interview each nominee for Moderator to determine alignment with the denominational mission, vision, and values and willingness to work with the Executive Director. The Executive Director will give the Executive Board a “recommend” or “not recommend” decision for each nominee. 6. At its May meeting, the Executive Board will evaluate all nominations submitted using the following criteria: a. Is the application form completed fully? b. Does the nominee demonstrate an adequate understanding of our mission, vision and core values? c. If a layperson, has their pastor certified that they are a member in good standing in their church? d. The results from the interviews. e. Consideration of the input from the Executive Director regarding nominees for Moderator. 7. All nominees that meet the criteria will be placed on the ballot. Individuals not accepted for nomination would be notified by the secretary of the Executive Board. These individuals would have the option of being nominated by the delegate body per item #10 below. 8. At the first business meeting of General Conference, nominees from the floor would be accepted. A floor nomination to be accepted would need: a. A completed form from the nominee, including the pastoral certification if a layperson. b. The consent of the nominee to run. 9. Nominees from the floor would be evaluated using the criteria in items #4 - #6 at a special meeting of the Executive Board for that purpose, and the nominees notified if the nomination is considered incomplete or not acceptable. Completed and accepted nominations would be added to the ballot. 10. Nominees not accepted by the Executive Board would be permitted to request their nomination be accepted by the delegate body through a direct motion to the Moderator on the floor of conference for that purpose. A majority affirmative vote by the delegate body would be required to place that name on the ballot. 11. For the Executive Board, the two persons receiving the most votes AND a majority of the votes cast (each delegate casting two votes) would be elected to the Executive Board. For Moderator, the person receiving the most votes AND a majority (each delegate casting one vote) of the votes cast would be elected Moderator. 12. If the requirements of item #11 are not met, a runoff election would be required. For the Executive Board, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the runoff would include the four persons receiving the highest number of votes (each delegate casting two votes), and the two persons receiving majorities of that vote would be declared elected to the Executive Board. If, however, one person receives a majority of votes cast, that person would be declared elected to the Executive Board. The runoff would then include the next two persons receiving the highest number of votes (each delegate casting one vote), and the person receiving a majority of the votes cast would be declared elected to the Executive Board. A runoff for Moderator would include the persons receiving the two highest number of votes (each delegate casting one vote), and the one receiving the highest number of votes would be declared elected as Moderator. 13. The Executive Board has the option of filling vacancies of at-large members, with anyone so appointed qualified to serve until the next General Conference when an election would be held for the remainder of the term. Vacancies for Moderator would remain open until the next General Conference when an election can be held for the open office, to serve a full three year term in accordance with the Manual of Procedure. Such elections will follow the same nomination and election procedures as outlined above. The Executive Board may appoint an interim chair to serve until a new moderator is elected. NOMINATION INFORMATION FORM FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER or MODERATOR (from the MoP Addendum) Return this completed form no later than May 15, 2015, to General Conference Secretary Scott Soden, 2612 E. 12th St., Cheyenne, WY 82001 or by e-mail to scottsoden01@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE BOARD NOMINATION FORM
(Please use an additional sheet for questions not providing adequate space)
This is for ___Moderator _____Executive Board Member (please check one) Name: ____________________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________City/State/Zip:___________________________ Home Phone:____________________Business: ______________________ Cell:______________________ Email Address:______________________________________________________________ Brethren Church where membership is held: ______________________________________ Please include current or recent (10 years) community involvements that you believe have helped prepare you for this office: Please include current or recent district or denominational involvements/offices held that you believe have helped prepare you for this office: Please include any Educational or Professional training or experience that you believe has helped prepare you for this office: CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE and CALL 1. How long have you been a Christian? _______ years 2. How long have you been a member of The Brethren Church? __________ years 3. Why do you desire to serve the Lord and the Brethren Church in this office? 4. Have you read the Manual of Procedure and understand the responsibilities of the office you are seeking? (please circle) Yes or No THE VISION OF THE BRETHREN CHURCH …is a guiding statement of our denomination. As a Moderator or Executive Board member, how do you understand this statement, and what are your responsibilities as a denominational officer to fulfill this vision? “The vision of the Brethren Church is to embrace a new day of transformed leadership, resulting in transformed congregations, whose mission is the transformation of their communities in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
THE CORE VALUES OF THE BRETHREN CHURCH …express the foundational expressions of our identity. Please express briefly what each value means to you: RELATIONAL MISSIONAL SUSTAINABLE REPRODUCING GLOBAL
POLICY BASED GOVERNANCE is the operational model the Executive Board is implementing. It is outlined in “The Governing Role in The Brethren Church.” Please read this document and indicate your response below: ___ I have read the document and, to the extent I understand it, I am willing to work according to this model of governance. ___ I have read the document, but I need a little more help in understanding it before I can commit to this governance model. ___ I disagree with this model and would not be able to work under it.
PASTORAL RECOMMENDATION FOR LAYPERSON (Ministers are certified “in good standing” by their local churches each year. Said certifications are on record with The Brethren Church) As a pastor of the ____________________________________ church, I certify that this nominee is a member in good standing, and eligible for this office. x _______________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ___________ (signature) (print name)
MISSIOCHURCH
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE when you get Brethren church planting candidates and current planters in a room with the MissioChurch Team, Mission Board leaders from around the country, Mother church pastors and local leaders who are passionate about the movement? It looks BEAUTIFUL! That’s what it looks like. Over the first weekend in March, several dozen Brethren leaders gathered in Ashland for MissioChurch’s version of March Madness. Instead of basketball, however, we met to cheer one another on and to celebrate what Jesus is doing in so many parts of our movement. The energy was high and the room was loud… maybe not as loud as a basketball
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arena, but you get the point. It was some kind of gathering! The main focus of the weekend was to have three candidate couples go through parts of our discipleship process called the PathWay. These were the next steps for them in discerning more deeply how God had shaped them and how that shape helped determine their unique role in the church planting process. It was an amazing group of candidates! Not only did they allow themselves to be under a spiritual microscope for their own sake, but they engaged the process with folks from around the Brethren Church USA and Canada observing and participating! To be sure, the beginnings of deep
The Brethren Evangelist Mar/Apr 2015
relationships began as well as a deeper understanding of who MissioChurch is and what we do to serve The Brethren Church. Two other incredible things happened over the weekend that MissioChurch just can’t help but celebrate! One of them was the initial contribution of some of our planters and candidates back into the PathWay experience of those just a few steps behind them! Consistent with our heart to disciple planters and movement leaders, three of these young leaders facilitated critical parts of the experience for their brothers and sisters. It was amazing to watch them do for others what had been done for them! Additionally, we were able to catch a glimpse
of what the movement might look like a little further down the road. In this weekend there were elements of the North American church contributing in training, prayer and relationship to church plants in various regions. While we can’t now say for sure just how this event will shape the future of our movement, what we can say is that we want more of it! Below are some quotes from some of the candidates who experienced March Madness: All in all, this was a life-changing experience. Having all those other people there (current church planters, people who have planted churches, all the people training, and all the supporters) was good. I really feel supported, and that they might have a little understanding of who I am and what I am going through. I feel like I know more people are praying for us. Best weekend ever! I cried, I laughed, I laughed until I cried and, minor detail… saw God in amazing ways with the coolest people in the world. It was the most incredible experience I have ever had! Looking forward to what God has for us! If you, or someone you know, love Jesus and are pretty good at starting things, we want to connect with you! We continue to see Jesus bless this tribe called Brethren with saints who are eager to make the Kingdom of Heaven real in new and different places. You may be an answer to someone’s prayers. Contact us today!
I’m Bill Ludwig, reminding you that MissioChurch’s purpose is to initiate and sustain a North American Brethren Church multiplication movement with regional focus. Bill can be reached at bill@missiochurch.com or 330-416-7504
Mar/Apr 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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GLOBAL PARTNERS
Tom & Julie Schiefer : Argentina – February. 20 - March 3, 2015 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 HOW POWERFUL THIS VERSE IS in our relationship with our glorious heavenly Father! It is also true of the community of faith that we have with our brothers and sisters around the world. I truly am in awe of how the Holy Spirit lives in our brothers and sisters in Argentina. It is absolutely wonderful to join together with them in relationship and mission. My wife Julie and I recently returned from spending 10 days in Argentina, leaving on February 20 and returning on March 3. This was the next step as we learn how to build relationship between a local Brethren church and the Brethren in another country. It would be wonderful to share the personal memories, but I am compelled to share the spiritual relationship. Anyone who has spent time in any one of our mission points
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around the globe knows how easy it is to fall in love with our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. For me, the relationship with our Argentine Brethren has become very special. We have all entered into a new day of understanding relationship around the globe. And so it becomes very important that we understand what communicates relationship. We continue to explore what a partnership relationship looks like. We had multiple conversations and prayer focusing on how to move forward as Global Partners in mission with common goals and vision. I have so appreciated the language of our Argentine brothers and sisters in spending quality time together and the power of the physical embrace. Julie and I were so blessed by them and continue to learn so
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much in their life and witness. And they remember us and desire life updates. Each and every person from the Nappanee congregation that has journeyed to Argentina was asked about by name. Relationship is very important to them We were honored to be accompanied by Jose Rivero as we visited Buenos Aires, Entre Rios province, and finally Cordoba. We worshipped and prayed with the congregations in Florencio Valera, Gerli and Cordoba (including a special night of worship with their youth and college students), as well as having the joy of sharing Communion with the Nueva Vida congregation in Cordoba. We broke bread and shared together in Munro, Lucas Gonzalez, Victoria and Rosario. It was very special to me to share this journey with Julie and introduce her to these dear
brothers and sisters, and for her to see Campamento Diquecito where working with (not for) the Brethren in Argentina began this relationship in my life. The passion for worship is contagious. The desire for knowing each other's hearts is authentic. The love for Jesus Christ is evident. The mission of sharing Jesus in practical and concrete ways is essential. If you hear nothing else in this account, you must hear these things. From training their people, to congregations of 50-60 people having three mission points/church plants, to using music schools and orphanages to engage a needy community, to being a conduit of medical supplies from the government to those in great need, to providing mentoring and development of college students — all these are a reality of mission in the Iglesia de los Hermanos en la Argentina (I.H.A.). There is deep heart for the work of the kingdom. In every conversation
and in every encounter and in every worship service the focus was on the kingdom of God and expanding it for Jesus' glory. And they want to know our heart and our passion and how we are making inroads for the Gospel. Our testimonies of revival in northern Indiana were met with great joy because of how Kingdom oriented it is. The testimonies we shared of healing, of confession, of evangelism, of disciple-making, and of pastors and people of numerous congregations coming together to hold up Jesus resonated with their hearts deeply. The Time to Revive edition Bibles and wrist bands we took and shared (that ReviveINDIANA is using on the streets) were well received and could be a great tool in their outreach as well. We are looking into ways to have copies shipped to South America. We are in prayer and conversation to seek the Lord's direction for the next step in this relationship. I have a strong sense from the Lord to join
together in a mission trip that would line up multiple mission teams from the U.S. to concurrently be in specific locations in Argentina with specific assignments to work with (and not for) our Argentina brothers and sisters. Each team would be in one location for a week's time to really build relationship, to work on a needed task in that location (which could be manual labor, spiritual labor or a "to be named later" labor) while also learning from the living mission points and church planting work in that location in order to bring that passion back to the local church in the United States. You are invited to let me know if this is something the Lord is laying on your heart or even if you are intrigued enough to ask to be made aware of how this develops. (There is no time frame or specifics — we are seeking the Lord's will.) I invite you to join us in deeper relationship with our brothers and sisters.
Mar/Apr 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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What Are We Leaving Behind? by Dianna Teusch
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, Dean and I own horses. We lost a beautiful stallion named Teak a little over a year ago. We miss seeing him dance in the pasture. Funny how losing a pet can be like losing a member of the family. We still have two wild mustangs: Cheyenne and Shiloh (nicknamed “Doofus”… loveable, people friendly but as Dean would say, “Not always the sharpest tool in the shed”). They are an important part of our lives and our little family. We love caring for them. We love feeding them. We love hearing their nickered greetings in the morning and evenings at feed time. Cheyenne enjoys music and loves to be sung to as she eats. Doofus wants to touch and be touched. He is constantly giving horsey kisses to Dean and me. And perhaps, there is where it becomes a lot less fun and a little more work. We can’t wear light colored clothing or coats around Doofy. His loving nibbles leave a stain on us and our attire. Sometimes he doesn’t nibble, he bites and that is very painful. There are other down sides. Horses pick up on emotions quickly. They get “spooked” easily by strange noises or too sudden movements. Remaining calm is essential if we want to be in the stalls with them. There is one negative that can outweigh all the joys…its their smell. Not so much their scent…horses have a smell like leather and hay mixed into a musky aroma that I really like. No it is not Cheyenne and Doofus’ scent…it’s what they leave behind. Healthy horses eat a lot. If their digestive system is working well, they also leave a lot to clean up. On warm summer days, the smell from a dirty stall or even the corral after a rainy day can be over powering. Their offerings are not all that pleasant to clean up either.
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The Brethren Evangelist Mar/Apr 2015
The stallion who died never relieved himself in the barn. Unfortunately, the other two are not house broken. I know the horses aren’t maliciously leaving a mess for us to clean up. I think for the most part, they don’t even understand why we spend so much time shoveling and laying down clean bedding. It’s a mystery to them. Please don’t take too much offense (but be offended enough to get the point) that church people can be like our horses. We are sociable, loving, and glad to see visitors. We try to make them feel at home but sometimes we overwhelm them with handshakes and friendliness. On the other side of that, rather than discipling newcomers it can quickly become all about us: what do you have to offer us, will you return our affection, can you be careful not to upset us so we don’t have to kick you, will you scare us with your new ideas? Oh yes and one other thing — don’t complain about the messes we make, we expect you to clean them up. “Wow,” you may be thinking, ”Ouch” or “Are we really that bad?” No, for the most part I doubt it, but I do think a lot of us need to take a good look at how we disciple new believers and how they see us. See we are beautiful— as beautiful as my wild mustangs; our love is attractive, our family feel is welcoming but I am afraid that we often lose people because of what we leave behind…and it stinks. Instead of letting Jesus tame their wild hearts and guiding them to grow into what Jesus wants them to be, we quickly try to transform them into our stall hands. If they work right, accept us, and learn to ignore the mess, then everyone is happy. So my questions are: what are we leaving behind? Are we reaching out to others to train them in the way Jesus walked, or turning them into stall hands? Are we taking responsibility for our own mess or expecting others to tolerate it or better yet, clean it up for us? Have we, the Brethren Church, forgotten where we are to go, what we are to do, in favor of safety for our fearful souls? Are we beautiful wild hearts full of the joy of the Holy Spirit or tired, wounded and too scared to change? Time will tell… and if we ask, I am sure God will let us know now.
WMS
Gloria Radcliff WMS President
“Why A Task Force?” Two years ago at conference the WMS National Officers invited the ladies attending conference to an informal discussion one afternoon after the regular business session. We called this an “Under the Tent” meeting because we met under the tent, which had been put up on the grounds of Ashland University and designated as a gathering place for various interest groups during the conference. At that time we, as leadership, were beginning to see some trends in our organization that we were concerned about. Our discussion centered around these concerns, which included a decline in membership, lack of new members, the absence of younger women and the realization that what we do and how we do it is not attractive to and does not seem relevant to the younger women. We had a very good discussion, lots of participation with varying points of view. I was encouraged by the discussion and it was at that point that I began to think about a task force. Since that time, the Executive Board of WMS has tried to implement some changes in hopes that we would see some new vision and vitality in our local WMS groups. We have created the Grant Program, providing local groups the opportunity to be creative in developing an outreach ministry in their communities and financial help to jump start those ministry visions. We have updated the goals and mission statement, trying to encourage women to set their own personal goals. We have done that because we believe our local groups will thrive only to the extent that we are continually striving to grow spiritually as individuals. We, as a board realize that this is something we can’t make happen. We can, however model and encourage, which is what we are trying to do. We have changed the look of the Devotional Guide, keeping it full of important information about our missionaries, projects, local groups, yet adaptable
to most any format of meeting. It is attractive and well done. We try to provide challenging, thought provoking resources through our suggested reading list. These are some of the things we as a board have tried to provide. Here we are two years later and we are still seeing a decline. We continue to do the things we have done for years in the same way we have always done them. We are losing members because, for the most part, they are getting older and are either dying or are not able to do what they once did. We have no younger women to replace them and now we are beginning to see a real shortage of leadership potential at all levels. When it comes time for existing leaders to pass the baton on, there is no one to pass the baton on to. So, that being said, I decided it was time to take a good, hard look at the big picture. The Task Force is made up of 6 ladies, who signed up at last year’s conference saying they would be willing to be a part of a task force to consider ideas for insuring a continued strong future for WMS and one that best carries on our mission. Also included in the discussion is the WMS Executive Board. We have started the discussion with these 6 questions: 1. What do you see as the purpose of a Task Force like this? 2. What do we hope to accomplish? 3. Is it worth the time, effort and risk of asking the “hard questions”? 4. Are we “all in” or should we leave well enough alone? 5. Would our time and effort be better spent pursuing other avenues of ministry? 6. What do you see to be the purpose of WMS? There will be many more questions as we continue this dialogue. Please pray with us as we seek the Lord in this endeavor. Blessings, Gloria Radcliff, National WMS President Mar/Apr 2015 The Brethren Evangelist
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Mike Chong Perkinson is returning as our General Conference speaker. He is embarking on a one-year journey with our national leaders to lead a discipleship movement. This group of 11 people will meet with him over this year. During General Conference week, Mike will share more details of creating an organic discipleship culture. There will also be opportunities to ask Mike questions during workshop times.
• We will be affirming the Executive Board’s choice for the next Executive Director of The Brethren Church. • We'll see old and new friends from around the country.
Winchester in summer is beautiful! TONS of places to see, great local eateries and a quaint downtown area you'll enjoy visiting.
• We will be offering a nursery and kids conference during the week. • NABCE and WMS will meet on Tuesday (2-4pm) and Wednesday (2-4pm) during conference; plan to register early to be on time to attend these meetings.
BITS & PIECES
in MEMORY 1933- 2014
Sandra Moody Kidder Brown Sandra Moody Kidder Brown passed away on August 7, 2014. Sandra served alongside her husband Tom Kidder faithfully until his passing in 1987. Together they had been a part of three Brethren Churches; Masontown, Levittown and finally serving at Brush Valley. Even after Tom’s death, Sandra remained at and worked at Brush Valley. Pastor Vincent Edwin affectionately called her the first lady of the church. Sandra and Tom were married in 1952; together they had five children (Sharon, Tom, Karen, John and Christopher) 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Sandra will be deeply missed by her family and her beloved Brush Valley family.
Promotion of Chaplain David E. Graetz Chaplain David E. Graetz was recently promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in a ceremony at the Boone National Guard Armory in Frankfort, Kentucky, on January 11, 2015. He had been selected to serve as the Assistant Chief of Chaplains for the Army National Guard on January 17, 2014, but needed to wait until he was approved for the promotion from officials at the Pentagon as well as the US Congress approval which was completed in December. Chaplain David Miller, an Army National Guard Chaplain from Arizona and David’s sonin-law (daughter Sarah) (also Jim Miller’s son) provided the invocation during the ceremony. Some of his duties include assignments as needed by the Chief Chaplain such as graduation
speeches at the US Army Chaplain School, Chaplain duty at Dover, Delaware during the return of service members remains from combat and assessing the readiness of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia, all of whom have Army National Guard units. He expects to visit all 54 states and territories and the District of Columbia during his three-year tenure in this position. He and his family will continue to live in Kentucky, and he will continue in his role and employment at the Louisville, KY VA Medical Center where he serves as their Chief Chaplain. His military duties will require him to travel up to 139 days each of the next two years. Mar/Apr 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. Mar/Apr 2015, Vol. 137, No. 2
Please let us know when you are moving. This will save us much-needed funds for ministry.
www.brethrenchurch. org