General Conference Issue

EvangelistS e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

The Brethren

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“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach-ing them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

-Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus spoke these words to a group of people. The “Great Commission” was never meant to be interpreted in an

exclusively individualistic way. Jesus is speaking to his followers. And wherever you find true followers of Jesus you will find the church. And Jesus seems to be saying that wherever you find the church you should find, at the exact same time, the mission of God.

Jesus was talking to a ragamuffin group of followers who were unsure about the future. Many had only known the region in which they were born. The world was a large place. Rome claimed to have conquered the

entire world and now Jesus claimed that his followers would do the same? How could this small group of followers ever accomplish that great big mis-sion? They were probably a little ner-vous. Maybe a tad apprehensive. But I believe something deep within them wanted to see Jesus’ words actually become reality. Does this sound eerily familiar to how you’re feeling?

Another conference is in the books. Another family gathering of this tribe called Brethren has come to a close. We’ve been through a lot together these past few years. This year’s closing session at conference was a reminder of that journey. We were blessed to have CoachNet’s CEO, and longtime Brethren partner and friend, Jonathan Reitz join Ken Hunn on stage to help us capture that journey and the implica-tions as we move forward.

Jonathan reminded us that we have a lot to be excited about as there is “gaining momentum” in our move-ment. We are becoming a people who are showing faithfulness and fruitfulness. In the past we understood “missional” as simply foreign missions.

Jason Barnhart reflects on Ken Hunn’s message to General Conference

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Obedient Disciples: Knowing Is Not Enough

Today, we are responding to the nudg-ing of the Holy Spirit in a “Go Ye” spirit that honors its placement emblazoned in the middle of our logo. How do we know this movement is taking place?

First, Brethren around the country and world are showing an increas-ing willingness to take hold of the call of God on their lives individually and on their lives corporately. Leaders are being transformed who cannot help but transform their churches who then cannot help but allow that excitement and enthusiasm to spill out into their communities.

Second, we’re measuring things that take mission and discipleship seriously. We’re moving away from “nickels and noses” to measuring movements like how we’re involved in our communi-ties and how many significant, spiritual conversations are taking place with those around us.

This all shows that the language is changing as we talk about mission. There is a willingness of leaders to ex-perience learning opportunities like Ex-ponential and Catalyst. As evidenced

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2013 ConferenceGeneral Conference Wednesday-Sunday

July 17-21 Ashland University

BYIC (Engage) Conference Monday-Friday,

July 22-26 Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, IN

Mark your calendar now!

Well, the Brethren did it again! For the 124th time pastors, delegates from our local churches, representatives from our two institutions of higher learn-ing, and guests gathered together for our General Conference. Without significant business issues we were able to rather efficiently accomplish the organizational routines and necessities while having excellent plenary sessions, breakout sessions, workshops, and plenty of time for conversations and re-connecting.

Live-streaming again this year al-lowed the conference to be seen and heard around the world. Recordings of the main sessions are available at http://www.brethrenchurch.org.

Ron Waters ended his term as Mod-erator two months early due to health issues. Tim Garner agreed to accept the interim role from May through July, until the election held during General Conference. We thank Ron for his very capable leadership and are grateful that his health issues are very manage-able at this time. We also extend our thanks and appreciation to Jayne Wilcox (Highland Park Community Church, Levittown, PA) and Richard Morris (Columbus First, Columbus, OH) whose terms ended this year for their service on the Executive Board of The Brethren Church.

We officially received two mission congregations as churches this year. The Indiana District presented Real Life Church, Niles, Michigan, Jared Ecker-ley, pastor (yes, he is Gene and Judy’s son) and the Southwest District present-ed Oasis Community Church, Rev. Jim Miller, pastor. This trend must continue. We have to see new churches being conceived, birthed and growing into maturity.

Emery Hurd will serve for the next three years as the General Confer-ence Moderator. Emery and his wife

Sue live and serve in Cheyenne, WY, where Emery has pastored for the last 28 years. He looks forward to helping The Brethren Church continue to move forward as he serves us.

World Relief challenged us via video to pray and fast. Materials under the title of Live 58 are available for local congregations (see page 16) to sup-port those who live in very impover-ished situations. Each church was able to receive a copy of these materials.

The 2013 budget totaling $1,358,200 was adopted. The National Office staff has done a remarkable job of under- spending their budget over the past several years, enabling us to end in the black or close to it the last couple of years. Our national staff has had many very difficult conversations with our global partners to encourage them to become more self-supporting and sustainable. Most of these partners have embraced the new, redefined and healthier relationships. We would do well to encourage our congrega-tions to give generously to the work of the National Office on our behalf to allow for broader and greater ministry to occur on our behalf.

The report booklet available from delegates who attended General Conference from your local church or by request from the National Office spells out the terrific opportunities and ministries that happen all over the world under the umbrella of the Brethren Church.

Also, it was a great pleasure to have the Loi family present at this year’s General Conference. David and Jenny were honored for their 38 years of service during a business session and feted during a banquet in their honor. They were joined by their children Stephen and his wife Pearl, and Rebecca.

Plan now to join the 2013 editions of General and BYIC conferences which provide opportunities for networking, challenge and celebration.

Conference Business HighlightsTim Garner

2012 Acting General Conference Moderator

Retiring missionaries David & Jenny Loi

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Emery Hurd, Moderator

Kurt Stout. Executive Board

by General Conference, people are obeying not simply because it’s a com-mand but because they feel led to respond to the nudging of the Lord.

Brethren are taking an honest, sometimes hard, look at what Spirit is doing. There is a growing desire/need to use gifts God has given us for God’s purposes. God has been generous with us and we are responding in generous ways with those around us. There is a collective discernment amongst our movement as vision ultimately trans-lates into implementation.

As Jesus goes with us, Ken reminded us at the end of the closing session that we must connect service with witness. We’re not just helping people but help-ing people in Jesus’s name. Therefore, we must sustain a disciple-making culture because a disciple is someone who does what Jesus does for the rea-sons that Jesus did it.

As disciples, we must be a people of peace who bring peace wherever we go. Ken reminded us of Ron Vander-Griend’s talk; we may need to forego ATMs and pay-at-the-pump to sustain a conversation with bank tellers and gas station attendants. How might that rhythm of conversation over and over again shape our witness? How might a small shift in our daily routine have kingdom impact?

Obedient Disciples continued

If we’re to be a people of peace, it will involve sustained conversations. We must make a decision to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. When we do, we com-mit to talk with, encourage, and pray with one another. How many of us are having these conversations? How en-couraging is our attitude? How many of us are really praying? This should not be hard for a people whose name is a relational designation from the New Testament; we are Brethren.

As I reflect on the spirit of the clos-ing session, Ken’s challenge, and the conclusion of this year’s conference, there was an astonishing similarity to the spirit of that first church board meeting thousands of years ago. There was a mission that was larger than the people gathered, a ridiculously huge call to make disciples of all nations, and a close examination of the people involved and a tweaking of the under-standing of their true potential.

Jesus’ words then are also words to Brethren as we stand at the precipice of a future that, though full of excite-ment, also brings with it challenge and a little trepidation at times. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” Christ is with us. His Spirit em-powers us. He is at work until the end of days and to the ends of the earth. May we, like those first followers, see ourselves as a team, have serious con-versations about the mission to which we’re called, and may we go do good in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Steven Cole, Executive Board

Congratulations to Dr. Jim Black, who won the Mobilize Healthy Steps contest. Jim won two tickets to Catalyst! He walked 23.91 MILES the week of General Conference. Thanks so much to everyone that took Healthy Steps during General Conference. Nineteen people walked a total of 196,966 steps during the week. Daily winners of a resource off of Gary’s shelf were:

Mary Margaret Bittle (Wayne Heights)Fred Miller (Mt. Olive)Joan Holsinger (Park St.)Traci Cherry (Trinity)Jim Black (Milledgeville)

Also, congratulations to Rev. Richard Morris. He was the winner of the flat screen TV given away by Ashland Theological Seminary.

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The writer of Ecclesiastes talks about changing seasons and contrasting times. A portion of this passage says there is “a right time to hold on and another to let go”

(3:6b, The Message). For me and our MOBILIZE efforts, this year’s General Conference activities brought several “Let Go” moments related to our

efforts to help existing pastors, leaders, teams and congregations engage God’s transforming work in their ministry contexts.

Let Go of Your Own Hang-ups, Embrace Expanding Capacity

I do not like to inconvenience or impose a burden on people by asking them to do something. That often results in me doing more things than I actually have the capacity to do well. Rather than holding on to my own hang-ups, there were moments in a

particular workshop related to making disciples when God whispered, “Let Go!” Let go of thinking you have to do it all instead of involving others.

Thursday night’s introductions of the expanding MOBILIZE team was another “Let Go” moment where

the Lord seemed to say, “Let Go of what you think is possible.” Those attending and watching via Internet got

to see some of the great people God has been preparing for this new season of ministry. Those introduced as part of the MOBILIZE Team were: Tim

Garner, Arden Gilmer, Sharon Heestand, Billy and Norene Hes-keth, G. Emery Hurd, Lynn Mercer, Brian Moore, Todd and Tracy

Ruggles, and Alan and Cheryl Schmiedt. Each one brings differing spiritual gifts, skills, experiences, expertise and passions to the MOBILIZE

effort. These folks—and many others—are now adding to our capacity to help you take healthy steps forward!

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A Time to Let Go?Gary Diehl

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Let Go of Your Need to Control, Embrace More Empowerment The simple ideas our speakers shared about taking tangible action also challenged me to “Let Go!” Let go of

thinking you have to know everything perfectly so you can teach all of it all at once before anyone can move forward. Rather than knowing every last detail before starting, God seemed to suggest that we give folks what they need to get them rolling, then continue equipping them with new skills and tools as they practice what they learn. Providing more “just-in-time” training and healthy guidance along the journey means helping folks learn what they need to know right when it will be most helpful.

Let Go of Excuses, Embrace New Possibilities It’s hard to count the times I have heard, “With all this emphasis on planting new churches, what are you

doing for the rest of us (meaning ‘my’ church)?” The number of reasons why a pastor, leader, team or congregation feels like they are not getting the help they need are as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Or at least it seems that way. I am the first to admit that the overwhelming nature of the needs, even in our fairly small denomination, sometimes causes paralysis or has been addressed in less than helpful ways. I continue to pray for forgiveness for where I, and we, have not lived or served up to the mark.

There were moments at Conference, though, when Christ seemed to say “Let Go! Let go of those old excuses and failures that I took the punishment for. I know about them, and I dealt with them. Stop letting them keep you from doing what I called you to.”

God has moved us to this point, and he now calls us forward. He has told us through outside observers that this journey we are on is part of a much larger call involving many others we knew little or nothing about a few years ago. It’s time to let go of the excuses and disappointments of the past that stand between us and Christ, between us and each other, between us and those he redeemed us to touch in his name. It’s time to celebrate the new life, new energy and new possibilities God has placed on our team. THIS is what God is doing to help your existing church!

It’s time to embrace together God’s invitation to journey deeper into the transforming mission the Father has been on since before the dawn of time. What is it you need to “let go of” so that your arms will be free to embrace what God has is store? Connect with someone from the MOBILIZE team this week and ask them to help you take your next steps forward!

Brethren Relief Fund to Aid Philippine Flooding

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Brethren Relief provides funds to help the Brethren Church respond in times of disaster. From hurricanes and tornadoes to fires and floods, the Brethren Church desires to respond quickly to the needs of our world. These are the funds we are using to send relief to the Philippines due to the recent flodding in that area of the country.

The Brethren Relief fund is held at the Brethren Church National Office where finances are disbursed as quickly as pos-sible to respond to needs. This program is replenished by faithful Brethren individuals and churches to enable funds to be disbursed when the next crisis strikes.

Has your church given to Brethren Relief lately? If you’d like to help be a part of enabling crisis relief around the world, please consider giving to Brethren Relief.

Brothers and Sisters,

My Name is Steven Cole and I lead our Brethren church in Manteca, California as well as a Ministry Team that focuses on our partnership with the Brethren Church Philip-pines. Over the past year, we have had the privilege of working with Pastor Gary Castro and his leaders on the issue of creating sustainable ministries there. The goal of our Ministry Team is to see the Brethren Church and God’s mission of making disciples thrive in the Philippines.

On behalf of our churches in the Philippines, I am writing to you to make a call for help to fund the relief work going on there. One aspect of our partnership with the different Brethren churches around the world is in the area of disas-ter relief. When a disaster strikes, whether it is at home or abroad, we want to be able to respond in a timely man-ner to the needs of those impacted by the disaster. The Brethren Relief Fund was developed to help us to do just that. Now, we have an opportunity to respond to a need in the Philippines.

The monsoon rains that began Sunday, August 5, have left at least 100 people dead and over half the city un-derwater in the worst flooding in Manila since 2009. Pastor Gary Castro has told us that many cities are still struggling to clean up after the rain stopped. We hope you will do two things with us during this crisis.

1. Please pray for Pastor Gary, his team, and the Breth-ren churches in the Philippines as they work to meet the needs of those in their communities who have lost so much and are in need of basic necessities.

2. Please consider a donation to the Brethren Relief Fund. Your donation given for relief in the Philippines will go directly to the aid of those who have been impacted by the floods.

Thank you for considering this call for help. Please spread the word for this need by communicating this with your congregations so we can,together, contribute to the work of the Kingdom in the Philippines.

Blessings,Steven Cole

A Publication of the Women’s Missionary Society

September/October 2012

So Where Do We Go From Here?

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Gloria Radcliff National WMS President

Conference has come and gone. It was won-

derful! We were inspired, enlightened and challenged. We met together, worshipped together, sang and prayed together. We fellowshipped together, ate together, shared together and were one together. It is wonderful to be a part of the family, where we can enjoy the feeling of belonging and being a part of something bigger than ourselves. We had the opportunity to listen to some of the missionaries we support, to celebrate with them some of the victories of their ministries and also to realize some of the discouragement they face. We learned of new and existing church planting efforts and new programs for church growth. We sat in business meetings and had oppor-tunity to voice our opinions and vote. But, over and over and over again, we heard “Love God and love what he loves most, His people.” And we heard the word “Obedience.” So what do we do with that as we go back home to the “same old, same old” as “Women Meant to Serve?”

“Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe, doing exactly what the Lord commands, doing it hap-pily, action is the key, do it immediately, joy you will receive. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.” That is a little song I used to teach and

Music was in the air at the ladies luncheon at General Conference. From the entryway, to the tables, to the stage area, to the guest speaker, music was everywhere. The theme of this year’s lun-cheon was “Draw Me Nearer” from the hymn of the same title written by Fanny Crosby.

Each table was set with layers of black cloths, burlap squares and assorted dresser scarves and doilies. A different musical instru-ment graced the center. On each table there was one large pillar candle covered with a piece of sheet music and encircled with black and white ribbon and a pink rosebud. Four votives were covered in music as well. Each place setting was centered on two pages of an original piece of sheet music. Two black frames contained songs written by Fanny Crosby and trimmed with black and white ribbon and a pink rosebud. Musical instruments in the center of the tables ranged from reeds, percussion, string and brass instruments. What better way to honor our guest speaker, Fanny Crosby herself!

Fanny lost her sight to an eye infec-tion when she was six weeks old. She nevertheless grew up as an active and happy child. From 1835 to 1843 she at-tended the New York Institution for the Blind in New York City. She contributed a poetic eulogy on President William Henry

Harrison to the New York Herald in 1841 and subsequently published verses in other newspa-pers. After her graduation, Crosby remained at the New York Institution for the Blind as a teacher of English grammar and rheto-ric and of ancient history until 1858. That year she mar-ried Alexander Van Alstyne, also blind, a former pupil, and then a teacher at the school. The best known of her hymns include “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Res-

cue the Perishing,” “Blessed Assurance,” “The Bright Forever,” “Savior, More Than Life to Me,” and “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” They were especially popular in the Methodist Church, which for a time observed an annual “Fanny Crosby Day.” Most prominent among her many musical collaborators was Ira D. Sankey.

Music in the Air

Fanny did not let her blindness stop her. As a child she wrote this poem.

Oh, what a happy child I am, Although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t So weep or sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, nor I won’t.

Once a preacher sympathetically remarked, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” She replied quickly, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?” “Why?” asked the surprised

minister. “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!”

Fanny appeared in the person of Raylene Hlavaty who tells Fanny’s story Chautauqua style. Raylene first portrayed Fanny in a special music seg-ment at Park Street a number of years ago. She has since expanded her presentation.

Music continued

The youngest lady at the luncheon, Clementine Barnhart with her mother Allison

Jenny Loi with daughter-in-law Pearl and daughter Rebecca

Three generations at one table: Janet Rufener, Leigh Anne Rufener and Bonnie Summy

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When I asked Raylene why she chose to portray Fanny she responded, “I originally chose Fanny simply because she was female and a hymn writer and I could tell about her and sing her hymns. When I expanded her character to a full length Chautauqua style, I knew that her story was inspiring and I purposely chose to tell the things that would encourage and admonish. Fanny’s story has much to teach us about contentment, trusting God, and using our gifts for His glory. As I choose other characters to portray, I look for women who are Godly women and exhibit biblical character qualities that I hope will be encouraging examples to fol-low.” Raylene researches her characters, and makes her costumes herself. I found it interesting that when she is portraying Fanny, and wearing the dark glasses, Raylene closes her eyes. This allows her to better understand Fanny’s blindness.

Fanny delighted us with her story and with the hymns she sang. She also let us ask questions at the end of the program. Then she took off the dark glasses and let us ask questions of Raylene. Raylene also does Margaret J. Preston, a poetess of the Civil War Era, and is preparing to do Abigail Adams. For more information visit www.timelessvoices.weebly.com, Raylene’s website.

The ladies from Pumphouse brought a display of their MJ Originals and shared their mission with us.

The Executive Board of the WMS presented the following proposal at Wednesday’s business meeting at WMS National Conference.

For the next two years, the interest from the Legacy Gift Fund (approximately $3000.00 each year) would be awarded to WMS groups through an application process very much like applying for grant money. The Brethren Church did a similar process as a denomination in 2010 and 2011 called the New Day Grant.

WMS groups would apply in writing early in the year with a specific project proposal. The proposal would include a request for a certain level of funding (the size of these grant funds has not yet been determined). There would be set criteria and expectations clearly articu-lated in the grant applications to be met by the applying WMS groups. The grants would be read by a selection committee and then awarded at the 2013 National WMS Conference (and again in 2014).

We would also require some type of report probably at Conference and in writing for the Evangelist/Outlook News-letter. We will need to hear stories and to celebrate!

It was decided to give the ladies a day to think about the proposal with dis-cussion and a vote to come at Thursday’s business session.

After much discussion at Thursday’s business session, it was decided that we vote on trying the proposal for one year, rather than two and then weigh the success. Recommendations were that a paper vote be done rather than a voice vote. The proposal was accepted.

Look for details and guidelines to be coming from the Executive Board. In the meantime, discuss in your local societies what you could do if you were given an amount of money to jump start an outreach ministry. The possibilities are endless! We are looking forward to

Proposal Adopted at Conference Business Meetingcelebrating new ministries at Conference in 2013!

REMINDER. . .This is a reminder for local and district

officers. As we start the new year in WMS, if you have not sent your new officer lists to Karen Weidenhamer, please do so as soon as possible. We use this information also to update the WMS Directory, and the sooner Karen has it, the sooner we can get the new directory to you. You can email information to Karen at bandkweiden@zoominternet.net or mail it to her at Karen Weidenhamer, 631 Buena Vista Ave., Ashland, OH 44805.

If any of you have good news to share about your society’s activities, please write them up and send them to corkyf@zoominternet.net or mail them to Corky Fisher, 636 Buena Vista Ave., Ashland, OH 44805.

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God’s Messin’ With Me!

Corky Fisher Outlook Editor

“God’s messin’ with me!” Some time ago I received this text from my young friend, Val. Val is a senior at AU, an edu-cation major with an emphasis on inter-vention. I first met Val a few weeks after she was baptized at our church. We’ve been meeting together over lunch for nearly two years now. We have a men-toring relationship. I love her as a spiritual daughter. She is a remarkable young woman who never ceases to amaze me! Her text continued, “but that’s a good thing!” She went on to tell me how God had really spoken to her in a particular area which had been a struggle for her for quite a while. And yes, it was a good thing!

A few days ago, another friend, Wende Lance, an associate pastor at Park Street who, among other things, heads up our outreach ministry, posted the blog below.

Lately God has been messing with my life.

By most people’s standards, I’m a good Christian girl. I spend time with God (most mornings, bleary-eyed over my first cup of coffee), I lead a small group, I chaperone youth mission trips, I serve the poor, I pray a lot, and I gave up a respectable career and decent money to work for the church for a much smaller paycheck. That should be enough, right?

Maybe not.

These last few months, I’ve had this nag-ging feeling that God expects me to give Him everything. All of it. Not just the parts I’ve neatly classified as “church stuff” and

devote what I consider a significant portion of my life to doing. Not only the things that are comfortably “just beyond” my comfort zone. Not just what fits in with my plans, my budget, my cozy middle-class life. All of it — my money, my house, my time, my lifestyle, my kids, my husband, my job… even the seemingly inconsequential, day-to-day choices I make like what to wear and what to eat and what to do with that leftover couple of hours at the end of the day that I usually spend mindlessly watching Top Chef wannabes churn out braised pork belly and creamy polenta on my flat screen TV.

All of it? Really, God?

Last Sunday a guest preacher named Rickey Bolden — (awesome guy a former NFL player turned pastor) challenged our congregation to pray that line in the Lord’s Prayer — “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done…” — for ourselves. He asked us to stop asking God for what we want and

Continued on p. 12

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start asking God to make His Kingdom real in our lives.To stop making selfish choices and start living each day for Him.Then Rickey told us to stand up if we wanted to pray that prayer for the first time.

I didn’t stand up. Not because I don’t want that very thing, but because that’s the prayer I’ve been saying every day for months now. It wasn’t my first time; it was my hundredth time muttering, “God, help me get over myself. Show me how you want me to live. And give me the strength to change whatever I have to in order to follow you.”

Matthew 7:14 says, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” I always wondered how that could be true when so many churchgoers fill the pews every Sunday. There are more than “a few” of us who profess faith in Christ and perform our churchly duties on a regular basis. So maybe Jesus was talking about something more.

In that same section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that only those who do the will of His Father will enter the kingdom of heaven, and only those who hear His words and put them into practice are considered wise. So how are

we as Christians doing with that? Are we focused too much on avoiding the “wrong” things rather than doing the right ones? Are we so enamored with our way of “doing church” that we think it’s the be all, end all?

I’m on a journey to figure this out. I’m asking God what it looks like to follow Him, to be on mission right where I live, and to find a new (and hopefully better) way to be His Church in this beautiful (thanks to God) mess (thanks to us) of a world we live in. Recently some friends and I started a “missional community” because it’s always better to travel together than alone.

Consider this blog a sort of “travel log” for that journey. I have a feeling many of you are on the same journey, and I’d love to compare notes. So please join me, check in from time to time, and leave a comment if something strikes a chord with you.

Grace & Peace,Wende

Side note: If you’d like to follow Wende’s blog, here’s the link: http://wjlance.com. The blog is titled “Everyday People.” I’m sure it will bless you as it has me.

For quite some time now, I’ve been thinking God was “messin’ with me.” I have to confess when I got Val’s text I was relieved that God was messing with her. I thought maybe He’d leave me alone for a while! Didn’t happen! Then came Wende’s blog. She explains how God’s been messing with her. i have de-cided that our Lord is in the “messin’with” business. And as Val said, “that’s a good thing.” Lately God has been getting my attention in several ways, stretching me into possible new areas of ministry, areas that will definitely take me out of my com-fort zone. Much of Wende’s blog could also be my story (especially the bleary-eyed first cup of coffee part). I did stand when Rickey asked us to —I guess I didn’t hear the “first time” part — because my heart’s desire is for God’s Kingdom to be real in my life. If I brought anything away from General Conference it’s this: God doesn’t just want part of me. He wants all of me. I pray He messes with me until I get out of His way!

My dear WMS sisters, is God messing with you? Will you forgive me if I tell you I am praying He is?

we are supposed to do as “Women Meant to Serve”. That is the way we can love God and love His people. We are told over and over in scripture that if we love God we will demonstrate it outwardly. We live in a society that acts according to the way we feel. We can-not continue this way of living and expect any fruit to be produced either in the lives of others or in our own. This little song really gives us a formula: First, we must do exactly what the Lord commands in any given situation as the Holy Spirit prompts us. Second, we need to understand that it takes action on our part. We can’t just sit back and hope that what we want to see happen in our societies and/or churches will happen. There is a reason

He has called you or me. Next, we need to obey immediately, whether we feel like it or not. It is so easy for me to talk myself out of doing a job I know God wants me to do. I am good at rationalizing all of the reasons why I can’t or shouldn’t do the task, or why someone else could do it better. In not obeying immediately, I miss out on the opportunity He has given me to bless someone else and/or receive a blessing myself. I also get in the way of His plan to stretch me by taking me one step farther in my becoming process. That brings me to the last point of our little song. He promises we will receive joy when we are obedient. Growing up, it was always my desire to please my father. He was wise, I trusted him

to encourage me to be all I could be and to never steer me wrong. I could depend upon his counsel and when he told me to do something, I could do it without ques-tion. How much more can we trust God, our Father to do whatever He tells us to do? Let me encourage you as “Women Meant To Serve” to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN. STOP acting according to your feelings. LOOK for ways to love God and love His people through your WMS societies and local churches. LISTEN to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you about the Father’s agenda. Remember, it really is all about Him!

God’s Messin’ With Me! continued

Where Do We Go? continued

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As new Brethren leaders, this year at General Confer-ence was a time of dis-covery, wonderment, and

gratitude! Our time spent with fellow leaders and pastors was significant in that we were able to glean informa-tion and ideas to implement in our own congregation. There was an incred-ible sense of camaraderie as all new acquaintances and friends we met seemed genuinely interested in our new project. Along with this fellowship, which we have experienced each year, came distinct differences from past years we attended; differences which were particularly meaningful.

First, of the three years that we have been at Conference, this was the first to be there for the week’s entirety. By being there for the whole week we had opportunities to dive into the wonderful aspects of Conference that

Meet Church Planters Dustin & Jamie White

we had not been able to in previous years. In our first two years we were lucky to stroll into a main session or two. The most meaningful aspect that emerged from our first full week at General Conference was the relationships that we made and fostered. In the truest sense of the word, Brethren came to life as a re-ality—this was not merely a Confer-ence. This was a family reunion!

We discovered that General Conference was a family gather-ing united for the cause and call of Jesus and, while there, the sensa-tion and realization that the Holy Spirit was moving in deeply powerful ways was palpable. Over and over we had our souls pricked by the presence of Jesus throughout the week. Whether it was in the hushed moments of reverent awe or vibrant outbursts of passionate

…it was undeniable that it is indeed a New Day in the Brethren Church and God is moving in new and powerful ways.

MissioChurch is excited to announce the deployment of Dustin and Jamie White to Canton, Ohio with a new church start up known as Radial Church. Radial is seeking to bring revitalization and transformation to the city of Canton, a post-industrial “Rust-belt” city in the midst of decline. Through MissioChurch this new church start is being surrounded by area Brethren churches that are committed to the success of this start up and its vision to bring hope and renewal to the city of Canton.

Justin and Jamie have been married for seven years and were born and raised in Canton. Both are graduates of Malone University (Canton, Ohio) and have done post-graduate work with Eastern University’s Urban Studies program. Both are currently enrolled at Ashland Theological Seminary.

continued on page 16

adoration, in something said by one of the fantastic speakers or in con-versation with our many brothers and

sisters, in the midst of his Word or quietly reflecting in prayer—it was undeniable that it is indeed a New Day in the Breth-ren Church and God is moving in new and powerful ways.

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Have you heard it? It’s there. It’s rising. There is an anthem that is growing among the younger generations which is stirring in their hearts and manifesting itself in their actions. New church plants are sprouting. The Body of Christ is growing around the world. God is doing something different, something more, something new.

There was another time, in the history of Israel, when God was doing something different. In the book of Joshua, the story begins with the death of Moses. Great way to start huh? Begin a story with the death of one of the biggest characters is Israel’s history. Nevertheless, the generation that Moses led now had to turn control over to Joshua and their sons and daughters. All the miracles, growth, and amazing things God did in Egypt and in the desert would now live on as a secondhand memory instead of a shared experience. I wonder how Moses felt about this transition. I bet he asked questions like, “Would the next generation remember what God has done?” or “Will they continue to follow after the Lord?” Perhaps the most daunting question he asked himself was that which all parents ask when they must let their children take responsibility for their own lives:

“Have I given them everything they need to address the challenges they are going to face?”

In Joshua 5, an interesting situation unfolds. Joshua and the Israelites are marching into the promised land and preparing for war. They go through all the pre-war work: sharpen their swords, ready their shields, arrange the spears, and cut off the foreskin of every man in the camp. Standard military procedure right? If you are like me, I didn’t see how circumcision fit into the equation until I read Joshua 5:4-5:

Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt — all the men of military age — died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not.

Think about this for a second. Circumcision represented the covenant God shared with Abraham, it connected God’s people to the promises he had made them, and it was the identifying mark of the people of God. Yet somehow, the generation that had seen God’s mighty works in Egypt and where led by cloud and fire through the desert, failed to pass on this fundamental practice of the faith.

God is going to work differently than we expect, so we need to expect him to work differently than we think.

A Faithful Generation

Ben PIppen

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Here is the point: No matter how great a generation is, they will never pass on everything the next generation needs to address the challenges of their day. Now, this is not an indictment against the faith of our fathers. This is the call to every generation to remember that success is less about tradition and more about drawing close to the heart of God. Do you think that Moses, the writer of the first five books of the Bible, somehow forgot that circumcision was important? Perhaps Moses realized that it was not his job to convince the next generation that they needed circumcised... that would have been a hard sell. Maybe, just maybe, instead of worrying and trying to micromanage the next generation, Moses had faith that God would lead them where he could not.

What was the result of Moses’ faith in God? The shame of his generation’s mistakes was taken away (Josh. 5:9). The memory of what God did in his generation was celebrated and passed on (Josh. 5:10-11). And the next generation marched victoriously into God’s promise led by God’s hand (Josh. 24:31). The story of Joshua’s generation was different than that of Moses’ and the challenges each faced were different. Yet God was faithful to lead both generations to meet the challenges of their day.

A New Day has come and has brought with it challenges that are different than prior generations have faced. In many ways, God is going to work differently than we expect, so we

need to expect him to work differently than we think. While we might not be able to prepare the younger generations for everything they will encounter, we can teach them to draw close the heart of God and rely on him to lead them on. We might not be able to go with them into the lands they need to conquer: Facebook, e-mail, texting, the Internet, post-modernism, religious pluralism, and the like. But we can pray for them, empower them, and entrust them to the One who said, “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” For Jesus will build his Church and the gates of hell, in every generation, will not prevail!

Ben Pippen is pastor of the Corinth Brethren Church in Twelve Mile, Indiana.

A retired pastor said to me a few years back, “Our national conferences used to be a lot of fun, but now they just give me a knot in my stomach. Everything is changing.”

It’s true that the pace of change in our surrounding culture is incredible, and this presents a huge challenge to denominations. But what I expe-rienced when I was with you at your 2012 General Conference was not stomach knotted worrying, but rather an eager willingness to look for new and biblical models of cross cultural missions and church planting and wor-ship. I was very encouraged by your willingness to engage new ideas and at the same time you showed respect and honor for foundations that have been well laid.

I especially want to encourage you in the efforts being made to plant new churches. I am impressed with the quality of the teams you are send-ing out. Our country is still one of the largest mission fields in the world. It is in being “Missional” that we constantly rehearse the skills that keep congrega-tions and denominations healthy. One of my favorite passages is Acts 10. On first reading it seems to be the story of the conversion of Cornelius and has family. But when you look at the details, Cornelius was already a God fearing and generous man. The great-est change was what God effected in Peter who entered Cornelius’s house and then said, “now I understand…”

In reaching out to others, we are ourselves transformed.

Ron VanderGriend

An Encouraging Word from Ron VanderGriend

Ron has trained over 15,000 church planters. He now travels the world, train-ing pastors and developing resources for Mission India.

This year was also particularly meaningful to be at Conference as we are newly approved as deployed church-planters! It was two years ago that we trekked to Ashland, Ohio with Rickey Bolden to attend our first General Conference. We had spent a year in ministry with Rickey in LaGrange, Georgia and while there he helped cultivate and discern God’s call to plant churches. He quickly keyed in that the values and convictions we espoused were the same as the Brethren Church and urged us to attend Con-ference. Since then we have been on a journey of church planting with an amazing group of mentors and leaders.

We were able to see the fruit of the last several years this year at Conference. We are incredibly grateful for each person who offered encouraging words, wisdom, and con-versation to us. As we journey along God’s path of ministry, we look forward to next year’s General Conference to celebrate what he has done, is doing, and the unveiling of what he will continue to do!

continued from p.13Church Planters

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1. Publication Title: The Brethren Evangelist 2. Publication Number: 0747-4288 3. Filing Date: 9-22-2009 4. Issue Frequency: bi-Monthly (except July/Aug) 5. Number is Issues Published Annually: 5 6. Annual Subscription Price: Free for members of the Brethren Church; $15 for others 7. Complete Mailing Address of known Office of Publication: The Brethren Church, Inc. 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters of General Business Office of Publisher: The Brethren Church, Inc. 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor Publisher: The Brethren Church, Inc. 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 Editor: Kenneth D. Hunn, The Brethren Church, Inc. 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 Managing Editor: same as above 10. Owner Full Name: The Brethren Church, Inc Complete Mailing Address: The Brethren Church, Inc. 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of Bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None 12. Tax Status (for completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates) 13. Publication Title 14. Issue date for Circulation Data below The Brethren Evangelist Sept/Oct 2010-May/June 2011 May/June 2011 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. copies No. copies of single each issue during Issue published nearest preceding 12 months to filing date a. Total Number of Copies (net press run) 6457 6450 b. Paid and/or requested circulation (1) Paid/requested outside-county mail Subscriptions on Form 3541 6357 6350 (2) Paid/In-County subscriptions stated on Form 3541 0 0 (3) Sales through dealers and carriers, street Vendors, counter sales and other non-USPS Paid distribution 0 0 (4) Other classes mailed through the USPS 15 15 c. Total paid and/or requested circulation 6372 6365 d. Free distribution by mail (samples, complimentary) 0 0 (1) Outside-county as stated on Form 3541 0 0 (2) In-county as stated on Form 3541 0 0 (3) Other classes mailed through the USPS 0 0 e. Free distribution outside the mail 50 50 f. Total free distribution 50 50 g. Total distribution 6422 6414 h. Copies not distributed 35 35 i. Total 6457 6450 j. Percent paid and/or requested 100% 99%

16. Publication of Statement of Ownership: Publication required. Will be printed in the Sept./Oct. issue of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner : Date: Signed by Kenneth D. Hunn, editor September 1, 2011

58: is an unprecedented global alliance of Christians, churches and world-class poverty-fight-

ing organizations working together to end extreme poverty in our lifetime by living the True Fast of Isaiah 58.

58: is a movement of Christians who are willing to make personal sacrifices (or “fast”) to free up

resources to help the poor… who give to effective projects led by world-class poverty fighting organizations (the 58: Alliance), and who pray to align our hearts with God’s will as expressed in Isaiah 58: ‘to loose the chains of injustice… to set the oppressed free… to share your food with the hun-gry…to provide the poor wanderer with shelter… when you see the naked, to clothe them.”

58 : embodies the changing nature of relief work and is a partner organization for Brethren Relief.

Below are a few steps laid out at conference to help better acquaint you with Project58 and to being involved with Brethren Relief (locally and globally):

• READ: Read Isaiah 58 and pledge to live what it says.

• FAST & PRAY: Would you commit to fasting this week or in the future to see how God might be calling you to take action? Fasting is the process of removing something from your life (food, technology, etc.) and replacing it with time spent with God. Might you take the time to fast and see what the Lord has for you?

• GIVE: Consider giving financially to the Brethren Church’s ‘Brethren Relief Fund’ that allocates funds to pro-vide food, medical care, water, and relief work to those in need. Funds are distributed to both Brethren Partners and other ministries who are doing the same kind of work around the world. Examples of some of these ministries can be found at www.live58.org.

• CONNECT TO YOUR COMMUNITY: Did you know that “as of the beginning of 2011, about 1.46 million U.S. house-holds with about 2.8 million children were surviving on $2 or less in income per person per day in a given month? This constitutes almost 20 percent of all nonelderly households with children living in poverty.” This means that there are likely households and children in your community that are struggling with extreme poverty. Connect with local officials and agencies to discover what additional needs are in your community and how you might be able to support these families.

Thank you for your faithful service to the Brethren Church and to the kingdom of God. Please check out 58:’s book, Fast Living: How the Church Will End Extreme Poverty or visit their website at www.live58.org.

Live 58 Seeks to End Poverty

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A group of 27 from the Gretna Brethren Church in Bellefontaine, Ohio went on a mission trip to Joplin, Missouri. The team was in Joplin from July 28 through August 4 to help with the rebuilding effort that continues in Joplin due to the damage caused by the tornado that hit on May 22, 2011. Pastor Larry Brown said, “We finished the siding and painting on a home that a family had moved into after losing the home they had rented before the storm. There are still many church groups helping the poor in Joplin as they continue to rebuild life. Those who rented prior to the storm are having to find affordable homes to purchase, most of which still need repair. The availability of rental property has decreased considerably as landlords choose not to rebuild.”

The cross that the team is pictured in front of survived the storm as the church it was part of was totally destroyed. The team partnered with Next Step Ministries to accom-plish the mission. Worship was provided each night by Next Step and two of our teens came to Christ during the trip. It is on mission that true friendships are developed and our people become closer as the body. Our youth pastor, Bryan, and his wife Erika put the trip together and it was a good mix of teens and adults on the trip. The fire contin-ues in the hearts of those on the trip as we continue our mission efforts locally, region-ally and internationally every year.

Gretna Mission Team Rebuilds in Joplin

The Maurertown (Virginia) Brethren Church had its Sonlight Express Vacation Bible School July 29 - Aug. 3. Each year we divide the offering between a local and non-local organization. This year we collected money to buy school supplies for students in Shenandoah County; supplies were collected by our Sheriff’s Department. We also collected money for Riverside Christian School in Lost Creek, KY.

Becky Baker sent us information and pictures about the school, and we made informational posters and a short slide show. We collected money for the Shirley and Curtis Watts Scholarship Fund, which helps with tuition for students to attend Riverside. Our VBS collected $185, and we also had a special offering during a worship service, and collected $321. A total of $506 was collected for this fund!

Maurertown VBS Collects Money for Riverside Scholarships

What did you think of ENGAGE?

From top to bottom, the Engage Conference was com-mitted to seeing young people come to know Christ in new and life changing ways. There was such a spirit of joy and belonging that permeated the entire week. It was truly an honor to be a part of such a meaningful conference. Nate Bebout, Engage Speaker

Praying for people was awesome, even though I was nervous ahead of time. Rachel from Virginia.

All our youth group advisors agreed that this was the best year ever! Just the move of the Spirit was different from other years. Tom Sprowls

LOVED Sing Love Sing! LOVED Corey, the spoken word guy. LOVED the worship sessions! LOVED the location at Ashland University! LOVED the eye-bomb challenge... very creative! LOVED Rachel Leigh! LOVED the devotion sheets! LOVED the music selection!! LOVED the line dancing at the beginning of the sessions. LOVED the freebies giv-en out at the worship sessions! -Overall, great experience!! Rebecca from Pennsylvania.

Everything was awesome and I want to do it all over again!!! Ashly from Indiana

This was my first year at Engage, and I am hoping very much to be able to come back. Michael from Indiana

While the echoes from Engage Conference 2012 – IKON have faded from Ashland’s campus. the impact on our lo-cal communities likely hasn’t. The challenge to be a living representation of Jesus to the world around us is one that won’t be easily dismissed or forgotten by those that ac-cepted it. For a few days in Ashland, we joined arm and arm and committed together to be Christ’s image bearer in our homes, neighborhoods, schools and work places. Our commitment was honest and real. We received prayers of

blessing and power from loving adults on that final morning together. And we’ve determined to not allow those prayers to fall on deaf ears. We are an IKON and we each have a responsibility and a mission to fulfill. What happened the week of Engage wasn’t the end of something, rather it was the beginning. What happens from here, only God knows for certain. But know this, whatever happens, may very well be earthshaking and kingdom impacting. So look out world, here comes an IKON!

Engage Conference 2013 – ShiftJuly 22-26, 2013

Campus of Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, INRachel Leigh - Engage Worship Artist

Engage Conference is not just another conference. It’s a life altering, transforming experience. It’s a moment of impact when youth are confronted by the power of the Holy Spirit and left forever changed. The leadership of this conference is set on fire to see God move in the life of every youth present.

Please send your kids to this conference! It is not only the best week of the year, but will be one of the best weeks of your child’s life!!

When asked about the service project, Emily from Indiana had this to say, “Prayer. I loved it!”

Plan now to attend !

The Brethren Evangelist (SSN 0747-4288) is published bi-monthly except July/August 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 Associa-tion. Postage: Paid at Ashland, Ohio or addional mailing office at Mansfield, Ohio. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Brethren Church, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792. September/October2012, Vol. 134, No. 4

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Please let us know when you are moving. This will save us much-needed funds for ministry.

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I t’s all in the name. Our family magazine has been dedicated to advancing the life and ministries of the Brethren Church since 1885. For all of that time the Brethren have sought to be a people with a

mission. We have a story to tell, and it all revolves around the best news the world will ever hear. We’re dedicated to telling that story. Through the pages of the evangelist we aim to connect you with the overall vision of constantly changing into the kind of people through whom God can do his work.

And God IS at work! How thankful we are for the renewed conversation that we are able to have from issue to issue. New churches, new family members, and the Kingdom of God is more fully formed in our day.

All of this is possible because of your support on so many levels, including your gifts. Your contribution of $15 will help us keep the news coming, and will help keep you connected. A contribution in addition to this amount will enable us to continue using the evangelist as a gift to many who are searching for truth and belonging. Take time today to mail the information to the left with your gift. Or, you can make a contribution online at www.brethrenchurch.org. Thanks for helping us to get the news out!

Remember that the evangelist is sent free of charge to every home by request and through your local church mailing lists updated regularly. Your gift is not a subscription. We will continue to mail the evangelist to those who currently receive this publication.