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August 26, 2008
Brethren Church National
Pastors and Leaders,
A major role of the National
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
International Leaders and Missionaries
All International Leaders have returned safely to their countries, with the exception of Rebecca & David Abuid from
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
The Brethren Home
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
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
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
Rev. Ronald W. &
Dr. Arden Gilmer, lead pastor of
We want to welcome Pastor Stan Gray to the ministry in
Welcome Steve Barber as the interim Pastor at
Welcome Pastor Kurt Snyder to the ministry at
Jeff Estep is acting as the interim Pastor.
Meadow Crest’s congregation has voted after much prayer and discussion to end their ministry on the north side of
Churches w/ Interim Churches Looking for Pastors
Please be in prayer for these churches as they seek new pastors:
Lanark
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
300th Anniversary Traveling Display
“A GREAT BIG “THANK YOU” IS DUE TO DOZENS OF PEOPLE”
TRAVELS FOR THE BRETHREN HISTORICAL TRAVELING DISPLAY
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
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
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
FINALLY, The truck and the trailer were purchased for this traveling display. The cost for renting was prohibitive. It is the intent of the
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
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 21st 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 21st 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 21st guide us all to KEEP PEACE IN
The number is not large, but there have been some Brethren Conscientious Objectors during the 20th Century (and since then?). Dr.
Join the PEACE EMAIL LIST:
As I’ve written before, this additional list is for both clergy
Recently one church in
Financial Support: Please send your checks for Brethren Peace Fund to
The National
also published on our website: www.brethrenchurch.org under “About.”
Aug 1, 2008
Brethren Church National
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
BCNO Staff Updates:
Hello! Wow so much has happened since our last memo update. Conference has come and gone and my prayer is that we are all giving testimony of what God is doing as we walk into a
I have not been in the office since conference so I would love to hear feedback from you all. Please send and comments you may have to jenn@brethrenchurch.org so we can start making adjustments and begin planning for next years General Conference.
BCNO Staff Travel Updates:
Please continue to pray for our staff as we continue to serve outside the office.
Ken Hunn
Jenn Pinto
Leading a Mission Trip to Puerto Maldonado
Vacation Aug. 4-18
Tony VanDuyne, Paula Strickland, & Bill Ludwig
BYIC Conference
International Leaders and Missionaries
Most all leaders have returned to their Home. Ruggles, Abuid, Morillas are all still in the country and will return mid Aug. Lets be sure to keep in touch with all our international leaders We have learned so much from them.
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
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).
BRETHREN PEACE INITIATIVE:
Christ’s Way of Meeting Evil: “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly.” (I Corinthians 4:12b-13a)
General Conference PEACE-RELATED Happenings:
(1) Two reports from our Peace Leadership Team about Brethren Peace Initiative were presented — at the Ministers’ meeting and during a regular Business Session. Our thanks to Lynn Mercer, Dave Stone and Tom Schiefer for making those possible.
(2) One feature of our Peace Display Table was great Peace Pictures by Latino children from the
“Outside all is peace” - by Ivette
“World Peace – One Family Under God”
“Peace to the Earth” - by
“Peace is when everyone gets along” by Micah
“Peace for me is no global warming and everything has a home” - by Eric
“This is a map of
“The man is breaking his axes so they can’t be used to chop trees and this helps prevent global warming” - by Sebastian
“The man is passing out free newspapers because the war is over” - by Oscar
(3) Peace Literature distributed included the following:
Peace-Related Scriptures
Peace Quotes (from famous and not-so-famous people)
Peace Bibliography sheet
Listing of Possible Peace Activities
Page of “Shalom” meanings
Paraphrase from Romans 12
How to give Financial Support to BPI …… and a few other handouts.
[If you haven’t received this free set of resources, please write Phil Lersch – address below.]
Affirmation is Appreciated:
When some folks asked us to add their name to the Peace Email List, they also wrote:
“I would love to receive information regarding Peace Initiatives of the
“I am interested in learning what is going on in the
“I am excited to hear about the efforts of Brethren Peace Initiative. My own path to understanding the important role of peacemaking in our Christian witness evolved as I grew up in the Church and was exposed to experiences and literature at General Conference in
“Peacemaking has always been a strong interest ever since my participation in a war-peace honors seminar in college. And it puzzles and intrigues me that we hear so little about this in Brethren churches despite our historic peace church tradition.” (B.T.)
“I would like to be involved with Brethren Peace Initiative as much as possible. I feel the need for the
And then there were several affirmative verbal comments at General Conference by J.H. - J.S. - D.W. - F.M. - P.V. - D.K. - R.M. - V.T. - K.H. - T.G. - M.L. - C.L. - S.M. [Shall we give a prize to the first person who can correctly put names to all those initials? Give it a try!]
To join the Peace Email List – Send your name, email address, postal address, and church you attend to: Phil Lersch (PhilLersch@verizon.net OR 6301 56TH Ave, North, St.
Financial Support: Please send your checks for Brethren Peace Fund to Stan Gentle,
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:
This past month Dr. Arden Gilmer, pastor of
Pastor Troy Cummins announced officially that he will complete his service at
We want to welcome Pastor Stan Gray to the ministry in
Welcome Steve Barber as the interim Pastor at
Welcome Pastor Kurt Snyder to the ministry at
Churches Looking for Pastors
Please be in prayer for these churches as they seek new pastors:
Lanark
Keep praying for
The National
also published on our website: www.brethrenchurch.org under “About.”
July 3, 2008
Brethren Church National
BCNO Staff Updates:
I want to apologize for forgetting to advise you all of the change we have had with our receptionist position here at the BCNO. On
We pray many blessings over the Higgins Family and we will miss Brenda greatly!
We also want to welcome Paula Strickland to our team here at the BCNO. Paula is no stranger to the office, or Brethren Ministries she has been active with BYIC and
Please be in Prayer for the Office staff as we are working very hard with all the final details of General Conference. This year is very different especially with the 300th Anniversary Events, International Leaders Travel Details, and working collaboratively with another denomination. Lots of details are still being worked out. We are all excited for this big event. Thank you for your prayers, cooperation, and encouragement during this very busy and exciting time!
See you in Richmond Next Week!!
International Leaders and Missionaries at General Conference in
All fight arrangements have been booked for the Ferreri family from Colombia, the Quiroga Family from Chile, Jose Rivero, Victor Alesandroni & wife Mabel from Argentina, the Molinas Family from Spain, the Morillas Family, & Rebecca & David Abuid from Peru, Jeremy McClung from Canada, the Ruggles Family from Mexico, the Kumar Family & Sudhir from India, Gary Castro from the Philippines, David, Jenny & Rebecca Loi from Malaysia/ China, PRAISE THE LORD! This is history making in its self that all most ALL mission fields will be present at General Conference this year! God is GOOD! We have also received word that the Castellis Family from
BRETHREN PEACE INITIATIVE:
The Commandment of Love: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34, 35)
Display Table in
*Pick up your free copies of
“Thinking About Peace” (New Testament Peace Scripture Verses),
“Peace Quotes” (from some famous people … and others),
“Shalom” (a resource page about this special Biblical word/concept),
And more!!!
*Examine display copies of Peace resource books (and take a free Bibliography).
*Sign up for our special Peace Email List.
*Visit with us.
Display Table — Display Table — Display Table — Display Table
Financial Support: As explained in detail last issue, our Brethren Peace Leadership Team received permission to request donations for the expenses we will have getting started. Quite simply, here’s how the financial plan works:
Make your check payable to the Brethren Peace Fund,
and send it to Brethren Peace Fund
Stan Gentle will keep all the records, issue receipts (with thanks), keep us informed of donations, and write checks when needed.
As an incentive for your needed support, Jean and I will match every dollar given for the first $500. That means, of course, that with enough involvement we’ll have at least $1,000 to meet initial expenses. (I knew my high school algebra would come in handy some day!)
Thank you in advance for any and all contributions; we’ll use them wisely.
Financial Support — Financial Support — Financial Support
Responses Still Needed for the Peace Email List. All Pastors, other Ministers, and LAY MEN and WOMEN are encouraged to “sign up” for this additional means of communicating peace-related information (and inspiration) throughout the
If interested, please send this information to
Phil Lersch at: PhilLersch@verizon.net Email Address
Full Name
Church you attend
Phone Number (optional)
Startling Statistics: “At the beginning of the 20th Century, only 5% of war casualties were civilians. By World War II, 65% of casualties were civilians. As the turn of the 21st Century approached, according to a United Nations report, 90% of casualties in war were civilians, and of these, roughly half were children.” [From “Just Policing, Not War” edited by Gerald W. Schlabach.
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
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
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).
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
Mark & Brenda Ray Update:
“We have moved to
“All correspondence can be sent to this address.
We will have a phone line next week sometime and will pass on that number to you as soon as we know it.
I was sick all the way across the country. I finally went to a doctor in
Brenda starts her job with Metropolitan Organization for People on Tuesday. I was offered a job this week, which I happily accepted. I will begin teaching at-risk youth at an alternative high school in
We will update more as we know it.” -Mark
Announcements/ Ministry opportunities:
This past month Dr. Arden Gilmer, pastor of
Pastor Troy Cummins announced officially that he will complete his service at
We want to welcome Pastor Stan Gray to the ministry in
Welcome Steve Barber as the interim Pastor at
Welcome Pastor Kurt Snyder to the ministry at
Churches Looking for Pastors
Please be in prayer for these churches as they seek new pastors:
Lanark
Keep praying for
The National
also published on our website: www.brethrenchurch.org under “About.”
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