the Voice Newsletter
Helping the church to "bear one another's burdens" and "encourage one another”
Volume 15 Number 2 January 2008
FINDLAY, OH GBC - Pastor Bob Kulp: Praise the Lord that we had 71 in attendance for our Christmas program which had been postponed the previous week due to a blizzard.
We are thanking the Lord that the basement floors have been poured after having to be replaced due to flood damage last August. There is still some work to be completed, but the whole building is usable again. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.
GBC OF SOMERSET, PA - Pastor Tom Johnson: This has been a good year for our church. We joined the CGBCI, burned our church mortgage, put new carpet in the sanctuary, started a Sunday School class for teens, added six new members, and baptized two believers.
We are planning some new strategies for reaching out into the community of Somerset. Some of our new members are especially excited about this. Ask the Lord to bless our efforts.
The "Voice Newsletter" is a communication tool of the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches International. News for the fellowship, or mailing updates should either be e-mailed to vnasdale@hotmail.com, mailed to Cornerstone GBC, 1905 North Lex-Springmill Road, Mansfield, OH 44906, phoned to 419-7475012 or 419-526-9753.
FOREIGN MISSIONS: Pray and consider your part in CGBCI Foreign Missions. As a church, consider giving at least 10% of your General Fund (gross income) to missions. Give half of that 10% to foreign missions and the other half to home missions.
A new DVD is available on the Bcjenkes' ministry in Blumberg, Germany. Pastor Don Famer can be invited to present this DVD or you may purchase one for $5.00 by calling 330-683-3526. Due to a decrease in giving and the devaluation of the dollar overseas, the Bejenkes' support has fallen behind. Could you help?
ORRVILLE, OH GBC - Pastor Ike Graham: Pastor Del Miller is working with Pastor Alan Echard in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in preparation for N.E.T. '08. The National Evangelism Team is sponsored by the CGBCI and is made up of young people, from the fellowship of churches, who have demonstrated that they represent the Lord Jesus and His church well.
Applicants for the team must be recommended by their pastor and their parents and be through with 10th grade school work by this spring. Adults may also apply for this ministry.
In addition to door-to-door canvassing, the team will present programs at the church with a VBS "flavor" based on some "I Ams" from the Gospel of John.
Pastor & Mrs. RICHARD CORNWELL were honored at a retirement celebration January 19 (at the North Buffalo GBC) after 43 years of faithful service as a pastor and wife. Pray for Pastor Cornwell whose health (pulmonary fibrosis) forced his retirement and for Rosie who has M.S.
NORTH BUFFALO GBC, Kittanning, PA - Pastor Dave Blevins: The congregation called Pastor Dave Blevins as pastor, effective Sunday, January 6.
The Blevins will be commuting till housing arrangements are settled. The Cornwells will remain in the parsonage for now. The Cornwells are seeking suitable housing for their retirement. The Blevins would like to sell or rent their house in New Philadelphia so that they can buy a house in Pennsylvania.
GBC, Galion OH - Pastor Jeff Pennington: Effective November 1, 2007, Jeff Pennington, soon to graduate from the Galion School of Theology, has been called to be senior pastor. Pastor Don Farrier has come out of retirement to be a "junior" WHITCOMB MINISTRIES: As God enables them Dr. & Mrs. Whitcomb continue a busy speaking schedule around the USA and Canada. A major project is the revision and expansion of The Early Earth. Their six children, 17 grandchildren and two great- grandchildren keep them on their knees before the Lord! Thanks for praying.
CORNERSTONE GBC, Mansfield, OH - Pastor Les Vnasdale: The Lord has abundantly blessed. Four believers have joined the church since the summer merger. At the close of the morning worship service, January 13 a couple for whom we have been praying came forward to accept the Lord!
The church is excited about reaching out to our neighbors. The OSU branch campus in- chides almost 200 on-campus students. Eighteen GBCers packed "final exam survival kits" which included multiple goodies plus an invitation letter, tract, and a Take Five candy bar with a note attached urging them to take five minutes to consider eternal things. The bags were warmly received on campus!
Cornerstone believers passed out almost 500 invitation door hangars which brought in four visitors. A local on-line calendar brought in a visitor! Record breaking attendance on Christmas Sunday brought in many visitors wih whom we are still making contact. Personal invitations still brought in the most visitors by far.
Seven young adults attended our first YA social on New Year's Eve.
The new addition to the church building which will more than double our space should be finished by early February. Pray that the Lord would fill it!
LAKELAND CGBC, Warsaw IN - Pastor Russ Simpson: The first class of the new Lakeland School of Theology began on January 12 with eleven students enrolled in "God and the World" and seven in the "Life of Christ" study. Please pray for the training of several men looking forward to full-time ministry
[Editor's note: Pastor Simpson began his ministry at Lakeland CGBC effective November 1.]
SOUTH WHITLEY, IN BIBLE STUDY - Pastor Marvin Meeker: "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not overpower it." (Matthew 16:18) Christ is still building His church today. Often a church begins to take shape as a home Bible study that God puts together. He calls people from here and there, and they come with a heart of adventure, hope and a "can do" spirit placed in them by God. They see the challenge as a wonderful opportunity. This is what is happening at the Bible study in South Whitley. Prayer support is growing as pastors share the good news of South Whitley's progress with their congregations.
A number of churches have already taken a keen interest in South Whitley. The Lakeland CGBC in Warsaw is on board to be the mother, sponsoring church. The Galion, Ohio GBC has already sent a $500 gift to help. The Ankenytown, Ohio GBC has adopted them as a mission project. The Irasburg, Vermont GBC has ties with and interest in the South Whitley group. It is likely the District Mission meeting March 1, 2008 at New Troy, Michigan will find inventive ways to encourage the group. All of this is the hand of God building His church.
Please pray with us that:
1. We can talk to new people and invite them to attend our Thursday evening Bible Study.
2. Those now attending the Bible Study will grow and have a continued vision to start a church. The average attendance is 18. 3. We will never take our eyes off God and His leading in our lives and our study group.
CGBCI CONFERENCE '08 for the whole family: July 4-9 in northern Kentucky, across the river from Cincinnati! Visit the Creation Museum. Be thrilled during Bible hours with International speakers from Brazil, Cameroon, Germany, India and creation expert, Dr. John Whitcomb. Watch the fireworks from a river boat dinner cruise!
To come even for a few days, make room reservations now by calling 1-800-354-9793, telling them that you're with the conference for the S73.00-plus-tax room rate.
YCON '08 (Youth Conf.):
Be there for amazing Bible teaching, worship, Creation Museum, Kings Island, gladiator games, ice cream/ pool party, games and more! Our theme verse is 2 Timothy 2:15. "Be diligent to present yourself APPROVED by God..." Ask your pastor for details.
DIRECTORY UPDATE: NEW PHILADELPHIA GBC has officially closed.