The Brethren Church

Brethren Church National Office Updates
May 16, 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. 

General Conference transportation notice.

If you are flying into Richmond, Virginia, to attend Annual Conference, July 12-16, we want to make sure you are aware of an airport shuttle service that is available to transport you to all of the Conference hotels. The airport shuttle is operated by James River Bus Lines (JRBL) of Richmond and offers significant savings over the use of taxicabs into the downtown area. The Brethren Church website offers a flyer with information on the airport shuttle service.  Please review it carefully with regard to your travel plans.

 As of May 12th the (JRBL) shuttle from the Airport to the Hotels has been Canceled do to a lack of interest from both The Brethren Church and the Church of the Brethren.  Each individual will need to get transportation (Bus, taxi etc.) which is available at the airport on their own.  We are sorry if this has in convinced you in making your plans. 

Continuing Shuttles are available from the Hotels to the General Conference sight daily for your convince.  

Any further questions should be directed to Tony Van Duyne tony@brethrenchurch.org.

 Information on General Conference in Richmond, VA 

International Leaders coming to Richmond, VA for General Conference

For more information on how you or your Church can get involved contact Jenn@brethrenchurch.org at The Brethren Church National Office or visit the website for more information: www.brethrencuurch.org/missions 

As of May 1^st  $43,789.11 has been raised of the $73,000.00 Goal to cover travel and General Conference costs for all International Leaders and families.  PRAISE THE LORD!

General Conference registration began March 7^th. Registration and hotel reservations can be done on-line. Please go to:  www.brethrenchurch.org and follow the General Conference registration & Housing links.  For mail or fax registrations and hotels reservations, please have your pastor go to our website by clicking on the Brethren Church web address listed above. Click on the word “housing” on the main page conference information. This will take you to information about each hotel available. At the bottom of that page you may click on “(Hotel Reservation Form (For Mail or Fax)” and print a paper form to use in this way. Hotel rooms are going fast so if you have not made your reservations we encourage you to do so quickly. You can find more information in the March/ April Issue of the Evangelist. For more Richmond, Virginia tourist information visit www.visit.richmond.com and www.richmondcenter.com.  Also you can find attached to this email, copies of the Housing instructions and Form if you need them.

2008 BYIC Convention:

Visit our website www.brethrenchurch.org for updated information and registration.

BRETHREN   PEACE   INITIATIVE:   This is the first official announcement of the leadership assembled to guide a “renewal in the Brethren Church of an emphasis on peacemaking,” the titles chosen for this venture, and information about an initial planned activity.

Background: Since the Fall of 2005, systematic steps have been taken to organize this revitalization in the Brethren Church of our Biblical and Brethren Peace Heritage – an appropriate emphasis during this 300^th Anniversary year – and apply that to contemporary life experiences. 

          Working with the knowledge, approval, and encouragement of the General Conference Executive Board (Ken Hunn, Executive Director), U.S. Ministries Council (Larry Baker, Chair), and Tom Schiefer (General Conference Moderator), steady progress has been made over the past 2 ½ years.  In response to an open invitation, the following people volunteered to serve on the initial organizing group:

                             Jason Barnhart – Ashland, Ohio (Park Street Church)

                             Carolyn Hagopian – Columbus, Ohio (Smokey Row Church)

                             Rich Hagopian – Columbus, Ohio (Smokey Row Church)

                             Wende Lance – Ashland, Ohio (Park Street Church)

                             David Stone – Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota Church)

                             Phil Lersch – St. Petersburg, Florida (Sarasota Church)

Recent Decisions: Consulting via emails, the group above chose these TITLES for this program in the denomination:

          “Brethren Peace Initiative” – This is the name for the over-all peace program or emphasis in the Brethren Church (rather than board, council, or committee, etc.).  It identifies our sponsoring group (Brethren Church), area of ministry (Peace), and suggests movement and progress toward desired goals (Initiative).  It is our intention to be faithful to these identities.

          “Brethren Peace Leadership Team” – This is the replacement name for what was temporarily called the “Peace Steering Committee.”  Again, “Brethren” and “Peace” clarify our home base and area of concern and ministry. “Leadership” indicates our approach of leading others.  And “Team” underscores our working together toward some desired goals.  The initial members of this Team are the ones listed above. 

Your Response Requested: In addition to this MEMO channel of communication with all pastors and other elders, which we hope to use somewhat regularly, especially here at the start, we also have established a Peace Email List.   This list now consists of around 40 people, split about evenly between clergy and laity – folks interested in peacemaking with whom we’ve had contact.  We desire to expand this list greatly in coming months, but won’t place anyone on it in the future without their request/permission.  All PASTORS/ELDERS are invited to supply the data requested below about themselves.  And, in addition, extend the invitation and encouragement to LAITY (women and men) in your church to do the same.

          This separate Peace Email List will provide opportunity for sharing special peace prayer concerns, brief scripture peace resources, current peace events or emphases, and much more – at a moment’s notice!   [More about all this later.]

                   If interested, please send this information to

                   Phil Lersch at PhilLersch@verizon.net

                             Full Name

                             Email Address

                             Church you attend

                             U.S. Postal Address

                             Phone Number (optional)

We appreciate this MEMO opportunity to be in contacct with you all – with a lot of information this time.  But I saved the best, a promise, ‘til last   —   “Blessed are the peacemakers, for you will be called children of God.”  What a potential we have!

                                                                                       Phil Lersch, Faciliator

                                                                                      Brethren Peace Leadership Team

Traveling 300^th Anniversary Display:   Dr. James Hollinger has been traveling across the country with the 300^th Anniversary Traveling Display that will eventually be present in all districts.

In addition we want you to pray for Jim Hollinger, who has not been feeling well.  He has been negotiating this journey with the truck and long trailer carrying all of the displays. This is an ambitious schedule, and it would be of tremendous help if we could locate an extra driver or two for the remainder of the schedule. Anyone who could help with this venture should contact Tim Garner at tgarner57@msn.com .  Drivers are needed for the remainder of the journey.  The following dates are District Conferences (** marks where the 300^th display will be located)

Dates              Location

July

Driver needed for Richmond, VA

Help Set – up in Richmond, VA

July 16

Driver needed from Richmond, VA to Ashland, OH

Help tear down in Richmond, VA & unpack in Ashland, OH

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

Evangelist Mailing lists updates:

The BCNO needs your help.  It has been a long time since our Evangelist mailing list has been updated.  We want to be sure all your church members are receiving “The Evangelist”.  Could you please send us a copy of your church mailing list so we can update our Evangelist Mailing List?  Simply e-mail your church’s mailing list to: Brenda@brethrenchurch.org and we will make all changes to our data base.  Thank you so much for helping the Brethren Church Office to have better communication as we walk into a NEW DAY together.                                                                                                     

Resources:

This is a great video online to watch to help you reach out where you are.  God bless you!

Enjoy it.  

In Him,

Chuck (Vineyard Community Church) 

MondayMorningInsight.com > Rick Warren Video:  Rick on Reveal and the new SBC Study…

http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/rick_warren_video_interview/

James Black Memorial:

“We are happy that Jim Black’s children are planning on designating their father Jim’s memorial fund go to help the construction of  India village churches.

The cost of building one church building has gone to $ 7,000 instead of $5,000 the previous price to build one church. The cost of piece of property and then the cost of material to build the church building has gone up so much that now it is costing us $7,000 to build one church building in the Indian village.”

In His Love,
Prasanth

National Brethren Elders Meeting

Dear Brethren pastors & elders, This seems to be a good time to notify and remind you that while we are in Richmond, VA during the National Association of Brethren Church Elders meeting(s), we will once again be presenting memorials for our Brethren elders and pastors who have gone to be with the Lord since last year’s General Conference.  Please bring written memorials so that these can also be passed on to their family members.  Please let me know if there are others that I am unaware of, but the two that I am aware of at this time are James R. Black, and Dale Long.  Please get in touch with me soon if you have items of business that need to be presented at a meeting of NABCE.  Thanks!  See you in July!

In Jesus,

Lynn Mercer

 

Here are 3 Opportunities to help Riverside Christian School, KY

We use to sing the commercial, “um…um…good, um… um… good, Campbell’s Soup is um… um … good”.   The Campbell labels are redeemable for a variety of tools for helping increase the literacy level of children.  The goal at Riverside Christian is for labels looking like coupons being removed and mailed to us.  It will be “um… um… good.”

“Box Tops for Education” is labels looking like coupons redeemable for supplies for students use in the classroom.  You can join others in cutting out these labels and sending them to Riverside Christian for providing children with tools for education.

The canceled stamps on envelopes seems to be of no value, but read on for a way to help at Riverside Christian continue its nutritional food ministry to children.  You and others you invite cut 1/4” borders around canceled stamps and send them to Riverside Christian School.  The canceled stamps are worth $6.00 a pound and do add up making nickels for nutrition.

Please begin removing and saving “Labels for Education”, ”Box Tops for Education”, and canceled stamps and send to:    Riverside Christian School, Labels for Literacy, General Delivery, Lost Creek, Kentucky 41348

Miss Beverly Burroughs, Principal

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).

Churches Looking for Pastors

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

 

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

            Wabash First Brethren, IN                           Elkhart First Brethren Church, IN

            Winding Waters Brethren Church, IN        Roanoke First Brethren Church, IN

            Sarver Brethren Church, PA                       North Georgetown First Breth., OH

            County Line Breth. Ch., Lakeville, IN

                       

 

Ministry Opportunities:

Hammond Avenue Brethren Church, Waterloo, IA

Hammond Avenue Brethren Church is searching for a senior pastor for its pastoral team.  For more information, write to:   Search@HammondAvenueBrethren.com, or visit the church website at http://www.HammondAvenueBrethren.com/search .

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

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.”

The Brethren Ministry in Chile began in the spring of 2006 with the adoption of a church in Santiago.

The Quiroga family oversees this church that would not accept the word, “defeat”.

Their simple Bible study transformed into a worship service that grew beyond their living room to a school cafeteria. Still growing, they soon paraded one and a half miles through the heart of the town, singing, clapping and joyously smiling as they, together with assistance from the Brethren people, entered their brand new church! With God moving His Brethren Church in Chile, a people of persistence, love, and God’s power built this church one brick at a time.

Brethren Church National Office Updates

April 29, 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.

General Conference transportation notice.

If you are flying into Richmond, Virginia, to attend Annual Conference, July 12-16, we want to make sure you are aware of an airport shuttle service that is available to transport you to all of the Conference hotels. The airport shuttle is operated by James River Bus Lines (JRBL) of Richmond and offers significant savings over the use of taxicabs into the downtown area. The Brethren Church website offers a flyer with information on the airport shuttle service. Please review it carefully with regard to your travel plans.

To date, very few have signed up to take advantage of this service. Since we have an important deadline in our contract with JRBL, requiring us to cancel unused coaches by mid May, we ask that you consider signing up for the airport shuttle if it fits into your travel planning. If we do not have sufficient participation by May 8, we may have limited service or we may have to cancel the airport shuttle altogether.

Please review the airport shuttle information and pass this information along to your delegates to see if a reservation with JRBL suits your travel needs. We look forward to seeing you in Richmond.

Information on General Conference in Richmond, VA

International Leaders coming to Richmond, VA for General Conference

For more information on how you or your Church can get involved contact Jenn@brethrenchurch.org at The Brethren Church National Office or visit the website for more information: www.brethrencuurch.org/missions

As of April 1^st $30,217.11 has been raised of the $73,000.00 Goal to cover travel and General Conference costs for all International Leaders and families. PRAISE THE LORD!

General Conference registration began March 7^th. Registration and hotel reservations can be done on-line. Please go to: www.brethrenchurch.org and follow the General Conference registration & Housing links. For mail or fax registrations and hotels reservations, please have your pastor go to our website by clicking on the Brethren Church web address listed above. Click on the word “housing” on the main page conference information. This will take you to information about each hotel available. At the bottom of that page you may click on “(Hotel Reservation Form (For Mail or Fax)” and print a paper form to use in this way. Hotel rooms are going fast so if you have not made your reservations we encourage you to do so quickly. You can find more information in the March/ April Issue of the Evangelist. For more Richmond, Virginia tourist information visit www.visit.richmond.com and www.richmondcenter.com. Also you can find attached to this email, copies of the Housing instructions and Form if you need them.

 

2008 BYIC Convention:

Visit our website www.brethrenchurch.org for updated information and registration.

Traveling 300^th Anniversary Display:

Dr. James Hollinger has been traveling across the country with the 300^th Anniversary Traveling Display that will eventually be present in all districts.

In addition we want you to pray for Jim Hollinger, who has not been feeling well. He has been negotiating this journey with the truck and long trailer carrying all of the displays. This is an ambitious schedule, and it would be of tremendous help if we could locate an extra driver or two for the remainder of the schedule. Anyone who could help with this venture should contact Tim Garner at tgarner57@msn.com . Drivers are needed for the remainder of the journey. The following dates are District Conferences (** marks where the 300^th display will be located)

Dates and Location

Apr. 18-19 **Berlin Borough Bldg., PA (Gary Diehl attending)
Driver needed from Berlin, PA to Harrisonburg, VA

Apr. 26 **Cross Keys, VA (Ken & Nancy Hunn, attending)
Driver needed from VA to Sarasota, FL

May 3-4 California District (Bill Ludwig attending)
**Sarasota First, FL (Gary Diehl, Jenn & James Pinto attending)
Driver needed from Sarasota, FL to Knoxville TN area

July
Driver needed for Richmond, VA
Help Set – up in Richmond, VA

July 16
Driver needed from Richmond, VA to Ashland, OH
Help tear down in Richmond, VA & unpack in Ashland, OH

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

 

Evangelist Mailing lists updates:
The BCNO needs your help. It has been a long time since our Evangelist mailing list has been updated. We want to be sure all your church members are receiving “The Evangelist”. Could you please send us a copy of your church mailing list so we can update our Evangelist Mailing List? Simply e-mail your church’s mailing list to: Brenda@brethrenchurch.org and we will make all changes to our data base. Thank you so much for helping the Brethren Church Office to have better communication as we walk into a NEW DAY together.

Winding Waters Brethren Church Update:

Pastor Ron Walters was recently called to Active Service in Iraq. Pastor Ron is now busy getting the Winding Waters Church ready for yet another change. Pastor Ron asks for prayer for the health of the church. He also asks for prayer and for his wife and 2 daughters. The Walters are in the process of trying to sell their house before he goes off to training (hopefully in Ft. Lewis, WA around April 19^th) then he will be deployed to Iraq in May 2008 for at least a year. Please pray that their home in Elkhart, IN sells quickly and his wife and kids can relocate to California to be close to family as soon as possible. Also pray for their 2 young girls who are 8 and 9 years old. We pray protection over the Walter family and pray that peace will come quickly to bring many solders home to their families.

Resources:
This is a great video online to watch to help you reach out where you are. God bless you!

Enjoy it.

In Him,

Chuck (Vineyard Community Church)

MondayMorningInsight.com > Rick Warren Video: Rick on Reveal and the new SBC Study…

http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/rick_warren_video_interview/

James Black Memorial:

“We are happy that Jim Black’s children are planning on designating their father Jim’s memorial fund go to help the construction of India village churches.

The cost of building one church building has gone to $ 7,000 instead of $5,000 the previous price to build one church. The cost of piece of property and then the cost of material to build the church building has gone up so much that now it is costing us $7,000 to build one church building in the Indian village.”

In His Love,
Prasanth

National Brethren Elders Meeting

Dear Brethren pastors & elders, This seems to be a good time to notify and remind you that while we are in Richmond, VA during the National Association of Brethren Church Elders meeting(s), we will once again be presenting memorials for our Brethren elders and pastors who have gone to be with the Lord since last year’s General Conference. Please bring written memorials so that these can also be passed on to their family members. Please let me know if there are others that I am unaware of, but the two that I am aware of at this time are James R. Black, and Dale Long. Please get in touch with me soon if you have items of business that need to be presented at a meeting of NABCE. Thanks! See you in July!

In Jesus,

Lynn Mercer

Here are 3 Opportunities to help Riverside Christian School, KY

We use to sing the commercial, “um…um…good, um… um… good, Campbell’s Soup is um… um … good”. The Campbell labels are redeemable for a variety of tools for helping increase the literacy level of children. The goal at Riverside Christian is for labels looking like coupons being removed and mailed to us. It will be “um… um… good.”

“Box Tops for Education” is labels looking like coupons redeemable for supplies for students use in the classroom. You can join others in cutting out these labels and sending them to Riverside Christian for providing children with tools for education.

The canceled stamps on envelopes seems to be of no value, but read on for a way to help at Riverside Christian continue its nutritional food ministry to children. You and others you invite cut 1/4” borders around canceled stamps and send them to Riverside Christian School. The canceled stamps are worth $6.00 a pound and do add up making nickels for nutrition.

Please begin removing and saving “Labels for Education”, “Box Tops for Education”, and canceled stamps and send to: Riverside Christian School, Labels for Literacy, General Delivery, Lost Creek, Kentucky 41348

Miss Beverly Burroughs, Principal

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).

Churches Looking for Pastors

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

• Lanark First Brethren, IL Hammond Ave. Brethren, Waterloo, IA
• Wabash First Brethren, IN Elkhart First Brethren Church, IN
• Roann First Brethren Church, INWinding Waters Brethren Church, IN
• Eagle’s Nest Christian Fellowship, IN Peru First Brethren Church, IN
• North Georgetown First Breth., OH Roanoke First Brethren Church, IN
• County Line Breth. Ch., Lakeville, IN Sarver Brethren Church, PA
• Ministry Opportunities:

Hammond Avenue Brethren Church, Waterloo, IA

Hammond Avenue Brethren Church is searching for a senior pastor for its pastoral team. For more information, write to: Search@HammondAvenueBrethren.com, or visit the church website at http://www.HammondAvenueBrethren.com/search .

Keep praying for NEW DAY activities in local congregations, in districts,

among pastoral and leadership and around the denomination!

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.”