Chambersburg Seeks Children's Ministry Director

Children's Ministry Director

Grace Brethren Church of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, is seeking a part-time Children's Ministry Director. A degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education or the equivalent in training or work experience is required. A degree in Christian ministry is preferred.

Send resumes to 315 South Edwards Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or e-mail to johngbc@embarqmail.com

johngbc@embarqmail.com

johnbayer

Columbus Seeks Middle School Minister

Pastor/Director of Middle School Ministries

The Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, OH, (Dave Plaster, pastor) is currently seeking a full-time Pastor/Director of Middle School Ministries. This individual would work closely with our Youth Pastor (David Nicodemus) along with the rest of the Student Ministries team.

Nicodemus says, "We are looking for an individual who first and foremost loves Middle School students, their parents and providing them with the tools and opportunities to develop their relationship with God."

This individual would oversee all aspects of the Middle School ministry and seek to develop a team of caring adults who can carry out the vision.

For more information please contact or send your resume to david.nicodemus@gracebrethren.org (614.410.4277) 6675 Worthington-Galena Rd, Worthington, OH 43085

david.nicodemus@gracebrethren.

Latest AGBM e-newsletter Released

The latest SOA JR (Sharpening One Another, Joel Richards) e-mail newsletter from AGBM president Joel Richards has just been released. Here is an excerpt from his introductory comments. If you are in the AGBM and do not receive his newsletter, contact him at jerichards@sbcglobal.net to be added.

I love it, I love it, I love it. Spring/Summer is always a wonderful time of the year. For most of us, we enjoy the most pleasant time of the climate zones we live in (I am really sorry if you have had the unusual rains). Graduations are probably over. Weddings may be around the corner. Summer ministries kick in to full gear. And soon, many of us will join together in Florida for National Conference.

In the words of John the Apostle, " I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is." 3 John 2

North Shore Bible Church Seeks Associate Pastor

New job posting-- Associate Pastor

North Shore Bible Church, Essex MA is currently seeking a part-time Associate Pastor. The church has an average Sunday morning worship attendance of about 80 people, with an actual membership of just around 50. Interested men can learn more about the church by visiting the church's website at NorthShoreBible.homestead.com.

This is a 10-12 hour per week position. The man who fills this position will answer directly to the senior pastor and will be responsible for the implementation and leadership of our Christianity Explored program (evangelistic Bible study based on the Gospel of Mark). He will directly with the sendior pastor in the execution of the church's visions and will be asked to preach and teach at the pastor and/or elder's discretion.

For more information e-mail Pastor Jack Brown at northshorebible@verizon.net or call 978-768-3539.
northshorebible@verizon.net
pastorjack

Open House for Larry Edwards on June 29

As Larry Edwards (pictured) concludes his 15-year ministry as pastor at the Ashland (OH) Southview Grace Brethren Church, he will be honored on Sunday, June 29 with a noon carry-in dinner and an afternoon Open House from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All are invited.

The Ashland Southview building is located at 810 Katherine Avenue, and the phone number there is (419) 289-1763.

For now, Ashland's associate pastor, Mark Abel, will take over as interim pastor of the Southview congregation. Pastor Edwards is planning to take the month of July off and is anticipating a new ministry where the Lord will lead him next.

Edwards has been a pastor for 27 years. A native of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, he was a pastor 10 yrs in Berne, Ind. and three years for a church plant at Penn State University. Prior to being a pastor, he taught and coached baseball on the senior high level.

A graduate of Grace College (B.S.- Physical Education, 1968) and Grace Theological Seminary (M. Div. –Christian Education, 1977), Edwards is currently finishing up his doctoral work in Pastoral Ministries.

Pastor Larry and Darlene have been married for 32 years and are the parents of Amber Suzanne and Robert Hanshaw (Los Angles, Ca), Lindsay Johanne (Ashland), Benjamin Joseph III (Ashland) and Kelsey Joy-Marie (Ashland). They have one granddaughter (Amelia Grace).

Howard Immel Retiring This Weekend

Howard Immel, pastor at Carlton Grace Brethren Church in Garwin, Iowa, is concluding his ministry this Sunday, June 15. He and his wife June are retiring to Warsaw/Winona Lake, Indiana, area, anticipating some kind of active ministry through one of the area churches.

Howard has been in full-time pastoral work since 1973. His first pastorate was an Associate Pastor with Neil Beery (June's brother) at Carlsbad Union Church in Carlsbad, CA.

From there he entered Child Evangelism Fellowship Institute Training in Muskegon, MI, and then served (1975) as CEF Director of Greater Columbus, OH.

From 1977 until 1985 the Immels served with Grace Brethren International Missions in the Central African Republic.

Upon returning from Africa, Howard's pastorates have included (1990) to London GBC London, OH; (1994) to Singer Hill GBC, Johnstown, PA; (1998) to Lake Odessa GBC, MI; and (2005) to Carlton Brethren in Garwin, IA.

The Garwin church had a retirement celebration dinner last week.

Fellow pastor and close friend Gary Austin (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) says, "Howard will be baptizing three young people on his last Sunday. That's a great way to conclude one's ministry!"

Producing a Comeback Church

There's currently a very interesting interview posted on Crosswalk.com with the authors of a book on "Comeback Churches." Here is a sampling--to read the entire article, click on http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11570031/

Producing a Comeback Church
Ed Stetzer and Mike Norman


In a study that resulted in our book Comeback Churches (B&H Publishing), 324 comeback churches were surveyed in order to seek answers to the questions of what and how to make a comeback from a trend of spiraling downward, both spiritually and numerically.

How did 324 churches start growing again after experiencing a pattern of plateau or decline? Based upon the information gathered in this study, some church change factors were perceived to be more important than others by comeback leaders.

Guidelines to Attain Revitalization

Leadership is the most important factor in making a comeback.

Leadership is rated as the factor having the highest impact by comeback leaders. Leadership is about influence. Churches that are in a pattern of plateau or decline need strong leaders who will point the way to revitalization. Comeback leaders illustrated the truth that church renewal, in many ways, does occur based on strong, effective leadership.

But what kind of leadership does the church need? Comeback leaders identified several important components of leadership in their responses—the development of an attitude of growth, intentionality and proactivity, shared ministry and the activation of a shared vision.

Comeback leaders are not willing to settle for a slow or no-growth mentality; maintaining a small-church mind-set is not an option. They are willing to identify and make necessary changes and set growth goals. Survey respondents describe an environment where the ministry is shared with the people based up on a common vision.

Dan Gregory Resigns Columbia City Pastorate

This past Sunday Dan Gregory, pastor of Community of Hope Grace Brethren Church in Columbia City, Indiana, read a letter of resignation that included the following:

“It has been a privilege to serve our Lord and King for the last 13 years as the pastor of this congregation. It has always and will always be my desire to cooperate with Jesus Christ in what is best for the building of His kingdom here and across the globe.

"My desire has been to do what is best for Community of Hope even if it was not easy. There have been many times we have traveled a path that was anything but easy but it was right! I believe God has brought us to another one of those paths today.

"Today I am announcing my resignation as the pastor of Community of Hope Grace Brethren Church effective July, 2008. This decision has come as the result of much prayer, soul searching, and counsel. I believe that God has incredible things in store for this congregation."

Community of Hope is a church that just 14 years ago was near closure and today is a vibrant ministry of more than 300 people including many new believers in Jesus Christ. God has used Dan to lead the church through many blessings and transition points during this time. Pray for the church as they seek God’s direction for this next phase.

Four Children Receive Christ at Flora VBS

Flora Grace Brethren Church, Flora, Indiana, held its annual Vacation Bible School June 2-6, 2008. Nineteen children participated this year, which is an increase of one from 2007.

Ramona Ogle, the Sunday School Superintendent, led the program. Several members of the church worked with the children, including Moderator Steve Ogle, Head Deacon Kevin Shafer, and Alice Franklin, wife of the pastor.

We rejoice that four children prayed to receive Christ when Ramona gave an invitation on Wednesday evening.

-Jim Franklin, Pastor

Ron Weimers Honored, Given Holy Land Trip

Ron and Vivian Weimer (pictured) were honored last week by the Grace Brethren Church of Waterloo, Iowa (Kelvin Cooke, pastor) for 30 years of service with the church. Ron has most recently been Pastor of Care Ministry for the Waterloo congregation.

As part of the celebration, they were given a trip to the Holy Land, which they will be taking this coming fall. Other elements of the celebration included:

- A ministry tribute spanning 30 years
- A photo collage video of photos throughout the years
- Singing of their favorite praise songs
- Reading of letters from missionaries, Pastor Burke and Rob Barlow
- Testimonies from past and present church members

During the celebration an EF5 Tornado ripped across Iowa and devastated one local small town nearby and almost destroyed one church member’s home. The following day, more than 50 people from the church helped clean up tornado damage. (photo courtesy Jason Weimer)

Simi Valley Seeks Music Director

Simi Valley (California) Grace Brethren Church (John McIntosh, pastor) is seeking a full-time Music Director. He must have experience in leading a blended music program with a well-developed volunteer support team already in place.

This position will oversee and provide leadership in the following areas: Leadership of two identical morning worship services; Oversight of children's choir; Development of seasonal music programs and worship; Oversight of media ministries, including video and multi-media; Freedom to develop new ministries based upon qualifications and interest.

Applicant must have a deep personal relationship with Christ and understand the importance of leadership by example and personal involvement in the local body. Average weekly attendance in morning worship is 450, not including children's ministries. This position reports directly to the senior pastor.

Send resume or request information from John McIntosh (jmcintosh@gracebrethren.com)

jmcintosh@gracebrethren.com

805 582-4300