The Brethren Church

 

Brethren Church National Office Updates
Aug 26, 2008

Pastors and Leaders,

A major role of the National Office is to maintain communication with our denomination. To keep all of our ministries up to date on what is going on in the Brethren Church, this “National Office Update” is a bi-weekly letter to inform pastors and leaders of the current events in our denomination.

It is our hope that by offering these updates, we will strengthen our communication as well as join together, so we may move forward in the mission of the Brethren Church. Please feel free to pass along this information to all of those in your church who are interested in staying up to date with the ministry of the Brethren Church.

BCNO Staff Travel Updates:

Please continue to pray for our staff as we continue to serve outside the office.

Ken Hunn

On Vacation

CHURCH MOBILIZATION: Coach Certification Training Event, Round 1

Here’s an excerpt from the web page of CoachNet’s founder Dr. Bob Logan:

I longed to have someone come alongside me as a Barnabas… someone who would listen to my dreams and visions… encourage and cheer me on… someone who would ask probing and powerful questions to sharpen my thinking… help me turn obstacles into opportunities… believe in me when it seemed like nobody else did… care about my family relationships… pray for me strategically and personally.

What I needed — but did not have the vocabulary for at the time — was a coach to help me discover what God wanted me to do so I could cooperate with the Holy Spirit and others to see my vision become a reality. I am convinced that my fruitfulness as a church planter would have doubled through a consistent, quality coaching relationship.

Coaching is not just for those starting out in ministry. Today, I still need a coach to walk with me through the journey, perhaps more than when I was a church planter. As my vision increases, so does the tension between what is and what could be. With my coach I take time to reflect and refocus on the truly important, the few essential things which, if done with excellence, really make a difference. As I’ve often said, “There’s always enough time to do God’s will.” I don’t need to go through life overloaded and overwhelmed. As I grow in character, cultivate wisdom, and hone my leadership skills, life can be more fruitful with less pressure. I am still learning and relearning how to do this effectively.

I am convinced that coaching is key to making and multiplying disciples, to raising and reproducing leaders, to starting and multiplying churches.

Brethren pastors and leaders are no different. That’s why we’re launching a process to raise up trained and certified coaches within our denomination, beginning with the first group of 16 Brethren leaders in Round 1. Work has already started for those participating, so please pray that the learning process and the workshops on September 24-25, 2008, and May 13-14, 2009 will begin transforming the way we Brethren relate to one another through powerful coaching. Contact Gary Diehl at the BCNO for more information.

International Leaders and Missionaries

All International Leaders have returned safely to their countries, with the exception of Rebecca & David Abuid from Puerto Maldonado, Peru. Rebecca will be in Sarasota, FL until Sept. 18^th. Please continue to pray for Rebecca as she is working hard to clean out their family storage.

 

2008 Richmond, VA General Conference & BYIC Convention Reviews

Now that conference has come and gone we would like to hear your testimonies.
1. How did the 300th Anniversary General Conference or BYIC Convention impact you?
2. How were the visits of our International Leaders in your churches?
3. Can you send us Pictures of their visit?

We would like to hear your NEW DAY stories.

Please send your stories to Jenn Pinto at jenn@brethrenchurch.org so we can celebrate together what God has done through these amazing events and our faithful international servants.

The Brethren Home Mission Revolving Fund

The Brethren Home Mission Revolving Fund was created to plant new Brethren Churches and to help existing Brethren Churches grow. Money from this fund is available for low interest loans for various building programs of Brethren Churches.

We gratefully accept gifts to the Revolving Fund. Your tax-deductible gifts not only become available to help Brethren Churches, but they also reduce the cost of the loans issued to Brethren Church plant and existing churches for their building and expansion programs.

You can donate to the Revolving Fund through gifts, financial or estate planning, or through deferred gifts. If you’d like to know more, or if you’d like to receive free information pamphlets, please call or Email Stan Gentle at the National Office (877-289-1708).

Website Updates: We are now making much needed updates on the website thank you for your patience. Please visit regularly www.brethrenchurch.org check out the new Missions pictures and Richmond, VA. Conference & BYIC Convention reviews which are coming soon.

Directory Updates: There have been several updates made to the directory. We now have it available on line http://brethrenchurch.org/about/2008-brethren-church-directory

It is password protected. User Name: directory

Password: brethrenchurch1708

Announcements/ Ministry opportunities:

Rev. Ronald W. & Norma Waters -On Monday, August 4, began as Interim Director of the D.Min. Program at Ashland Theological Seminary for about 6 months until the new director arrives. The Waters will reside at: 84 Samaritan Ave. Ashland, OH 44805

Park Street Brethren Church, Ashland, OH

Dr. Arden Gilmer, lead pastor of Park Street Brethren Church in Ashland, Ohio, announced his retirement effective June 30, 2009. He has served the church as the senior pastor for 29 years. A Transition Task Force has been appointed to oversee the process of the pastoral transition. The task force is open to the reception of any questions or resumes related to the position of senior pastor of the church. Please send any inquiries to Dale Stoffer, Chair of the Transition Task Force, 2217 Oakcrest Lane, Ashland, Ohio 44805 or to his email: dstoffer@ashland.edu . The pastoral search process will remain open until the position is filled.

Wabash First Brethren, IN

We want to welcome Pastor Stan Gray to the ministry in Wabash First Brethren Church.

County Line Brethren Church, Lakeville, IN

Welcome Steve Barber as the interim Pastor at County Line Brethren Church.

Roanoke First Brethren Church, IN

Welcome Pastor Kurt Snyder to the ministry at Roanoke First Brethren Church as interim Pastor!

Elkhart Brethren Church, IN

Jeff Estep is acting as the interim Pastor.

Meadow Crest

Meadow Crest’s congregation has voted after much prayer and discussion to end their ministry on the north side of Ft. Wayne, IN. Their final Worship Service was held on Sunday August 10, 2008. They ended their service with 2 baptisms.

Churches w/ Interim Churches Looking for Pastors

Please be in prayer for these churches as they seek new pastors:

Park Street Brethren Church, OH Garber Brethren Church, OH

Lanark First Brethren, IL Hammond Ave. Brethren, Waterloo, IA

Elkhart First Brethren Church, IN North Georgetown First Breth., OH

Winding Waters Brethren Church, IN Wabash First Brethren Church, IN

County Line Brethren Church, IN Roanoke First Brethren Church, IN

Pray to the Lord of the Harvest for passionate and transformed pastors, leaders and congregations. Pray that every Brethren will reach one person for Christ this year. –Tim Garner

Keep praying for NEW DAY activities in local congregations, in districts, among pastoral and leadership and around the denomination!

300^th Anniversary Traveling Display

“A GREAT BIG “THANK YOU” IS DUE TO DOZENS OF PEOPLE”

TRAVELS FOR THE BRETHREN HISTORICAL TRAVELING DISPLAY ARE OVER!

Since I didn’t keep good enough records to include everyone by name, I am going to resist the temptation to start trying to resurrect a list from memory, notes, or cell phone records. YOU KNOW WHOM YOU ARE AND I AM TRULLY THANKFUL! If you were a driver; if you helped to arrange for a driver; if you helped with set-up or tear down; if you provided a meal or lodging; if you provided a chase vehicle; if you said a prayer; or repaired a display I AM TRULLY THANKFUL! More than anything, I am thankful to God for His provision. In spite of sickness, mechanical problems, snow and ice, we were able to be at all of our scheduled locations on time. PTL!

THE RESULTS: There are 773 names on our Guest Register that we started after our first three locations. It would be our observation that at least half of the visitors didn’t sign in. Thus we would guesstimate that at least a couple of thousand people increased their knowledge of Brethren History. Some just spent a few minutes others spent hours pouring through books. The truck and trailer traveled about 15,000 miles and passed through almost half of the lower 48 states (23) to get to its scheduled locations. Many of the locations were steeped in Brethren history.

WHAT NOW? The fervent desire of the Historical Planning Committee was that we not get to the end of 2008 and shrug our shoulders and say “That was nice.” Hopefully we have absorbed enough history this year that we are more aware of the sacrifices that our forefathers went through so that I could hear about a denomination that tried to model its beliefs after that 1^st century church. Hopefully I (we) are asking ourselves, “What am I willing to sacrifice so that the next door neighbor, the next community, the next generation, the next country can hear and believe?”

THE HISTORICAL DISPLAY will return to it’s previous locations. Most will return to the Brethren Church Archives in the basement of the National Offices of the Brethren Church. 524 College Avenue; Ashland, OH 44805. PH. 419-289-1708. Some of the displays were from private collections and will return there. Some of these are being held in friendly hands until they can be purchased for the archive collections. Many of the artifacts at the Brethren Archives were deemed too valuable or too fragile to travel. Thus if you get in the area allow enough time to take in some of the reminders of our past heritage.

FINALLY, The truck and the trailer were purchased for this traveling display. The cost for renting was prohibitive. It is the intent of the Brethren Church to sell this equipment in the next month or so. The truck is a 2002 GMC Sierra ¾ ton crew cab with a towing package. It has a cap and a snow plow and some extended GMC warranty. The trailer is a 24 ft 2007 Haulmark Utility Trailer with a fold down rear door. If you have any interest in either or both of these vehicles, please notify the National office at the address and/or phone above by Sept. 15, 2008.

Further information will then be forthcoming about the selling process.

Pictures : (click thumbnail to view larger photo)

 

 

 

Thanks again to God for His faithfulness and to you His hands and feet.

Jim Hollinger

BRETHREN PEACE INITIATIVE

The Duty of Forgiveness:

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Colossians 3:12,13

International Day of PRAYER FOR PEACE – September 21^st:

In 1981, the United Nations declared an International Day of Peace, encouraging the entire world to observe a “day of peace and nonviolence.” In 2001, the U.N. established September 21^st as the annual date for that observance worldwide. Then, in 2004, the General Secretaries of the United Nations and the World Council of Churches proposed that this become an annual International Day of PRAYER for Peace.

Therefore, especially since September 21^st is a Sunday this year, you and your congregation are encouraged to join with hundreds of thousands of people from churches, synagogues, and mosques around the world to “pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in the hearts of people, their families, communities and societies.”

Please consider a special time during your Worship on 9/21 to “pray specifically for peace in the world” (in marriages, in families, in churches, in communities, in our nation, in other countries). Other possibilities:

**Some folks conduct a brief program on their church lawn or at a park, with signs, visible to passers-by.

**Call attention to the need for more effective peacemaking in your community – because of domestic violence, homicide, poverty, child abuse, racism, harsh words, unemployment, drug abuse (common problems in many communities).

**Emphasize God’s different vision for our lives – for abundant life, for dignity for all, for justice and shalom, for calm voices, for patience, for God’s Spirit and Christ’s presence always.

**Encourage participants to make praying and acting for God’s peace an ongoing mindset and activity. [I am well aware that some folks have some differences with the United Nations and World Council of Churches. But pray-ing intently and sincerely for peace with others is certainly more pleasing to God than “war-ing” against one another.]

May widespread “praying for peace” on September 21^st guide us all to KEEP PEACE IN MIND often!

Conscientious Objectors:

The number is not large, but there have been some Brethren Conscientious Objectors during the 20^th Century (and since then?). Dr. Dale Stoffer, for historical purposes, and I (personal interest), want to learn the names and any details about their lives you may know (hometown, church, area of C.O. service, dates, etc.). Please inquire of people in your church. Send that information to me (address below) for my records, and I will forward everything to Dale for his records and the archives.

Join the PEACE EMAIL LIST:

As I’ve written before, this additional list is for both clergy AND laity. It’s our only regular “contact for peace” with interested lay-men and lay-women – and you ministers receive some extra peace information too. So please invite your people to send the following information to me (name, email address, postal address, and church you attend). Send to: Phil Lersch (PhilLersch@verizon.net OR 6301 56^TH Ave, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709).

Recently one church in Ohio had 6 lay-people sign up! Seems like they’re taking peace-making seriously, and we thank them!!

Financial Support: Please send your checks for Brethren Peace Fund to Stan Gentle, 524 College Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805. {Phil & Jean’s “‘matching gift offer” still stands!}

THE WAY OF PEACE: “Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (II Corinthians 13:11)

The National Office Update is a publication sent out to the pastor’s mail group and
also published on our website: www.brethrenchurch.org under “About.”