Spring 2014 The Brethren Evangelist

Spring 2014

WHO IS JESUS? Feature Story by

Brian Moore p 9

GENERAL CONFERENCEInformation, forms & more! p 6-7, 13-14

The Brethren Evangelist Spring 20142

STORY OF THE WEEK // Gary Castro

BRETHREN LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPMENT

WMS FEATURE

FEATURE STORY // Brian Moore: “Who is Jesus?”

CONFERENCE FORM & INFO

BITS & PIECES

DEVOTIONAL // Tim DeLaughter

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4

8

9

13

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IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE that 2014 is already here. It’s also hard to believe that this winter is finally coming to a close. With the new life of Spring comes this issue of the Evangelist, exploring some of the new life the Brethren movement is experiencing. Be sure to check out Nate Bebout’s article about discipleship as apprenticeship on page 4. Brian Moore explores the place of Jesus in Brethren spirituality in our feature article starting on page 9. Be sure to check out information on the 126th General Conference of the Brethren Church coming up this July. If you are able, we would encourage to make plans to attend. We would love to see you there! God is blessing the Brethren movement as we rediscover our story (which is also your story). This issue is all about that rediscovery!

Blessings & Peace, Jason Barnhart

Cover art by Robin Roberts of Park Street Brethren Church Chapel Falls | 14” x 21” watercolor on paper Done en plein air at the Callaway Gardens Plein Air Competition in Pine Mountain, Georgia in April 2013 www.robinrobertsfineart.com

FEATURE STORY, p 9: Who is Jesus?

by Brian Moore

CONFERENCE INFO, p 6-7, 13-14

contents

stay connected

524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805

419.289.1708

www.brethrenchurch.org

[email protected]

Spring 2014 The Brethren Evangelist 3

ON NOVEMBER 8, 2013, Philippines was hit by what is called the strongest and deadliest storm. In fact it killed over six thousand people and left over one thousand people missing. Aside from dead people, the typhoon destroyed lots of houses, crops, and buildings. Right after the event, The Brethren Church USA raised donations to send to the affected people through JOFF (Jesus Our Firm Foundation) Brethren Church Philippines.

When we received the money, we gave 70% of it to Foundations that were able to go there because only a few were cleared to help since the need was urgent and safety was an issue. The Lord, however, gave us a challenge to reach out to small congregations who lost their buildings because of the typhoon. JOFF Brethren Church then started to raise more money from our congregations to do a specific project, that is, to help small congregations to rebuild their buildings.

In December 2013, one of my friends who is a pastor, Vic Prado, learned that our congregation was looking for a church to help. He shared to me about their congregation in Roxas City, Capiz. He showed me pictures of the shattered church building. I shared this to our congregations and our board, and we all agreed to help this congregation to rebuild because they don’t have money to support the rebuilding.

On January 29-Feb 1, 2014, Rolly, Ed (my dad), Gigi, and I, went to Roxas City to help in rebuilding

their church. We bought Php 30,000 worth of materials for the posts and roof. The pictures will show that the work is only 50% done, however, because they lost the whole building. We have decided to continue to raise money for this congregation so that the members can use it. We will go back there as soon as the Lord gives us the budget to assist them.

To our brothers and sisters in the United States, thank you so much for all your prayers and support.

Also, I would like to inform you that JOFF Brethren Church Philippines has celebrated its 11th Year Anniversary on January 26, 2014. Pictures are also in my Facebook account.

SIGN UP!The story of the week is a weekly e-publication of the Brethren Church highlighting a quick story of kingdom movement and impact amongst the Brethren. If you’re not receiving these weekly stories and would like to, sign up at [email protected].

by Gary Castro

STORY OF THE WEEK

Disaster Relief


BRETHREN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

by Nate Bebout


to world changing leaders.

If the Brethren Church truly wants to take seriously the Lord’s instruction to “go make disciples” then we would be wise to take the same approach that Jesus did when investing in the lives of the twelve disciples. This means that we can no longer view discipleship as an exercise in accumulating more information. Instead we need to be apprenticed. We need to put down the instruction manual and start walking alongside Christ and work, laugh, eat, minister, and love as if we are mirroring what we see Jesus doing right in front of our very eyes. For Brethren, I believe this means that we seek to apprentice others into Christlikeness through three major points of focus; relationships that are Word-centered and holistic.

I’M INDEBTED TO Hugh Halter, who has been a bit of a staple at our National Conference in recent years, for giving me language to articulate what I see in the life and ministry of Christ as he leads, shapes, and empowers his disciples. For much of my Christian walk, when people used the word discipleship, I mainly thought of two things: sin management and Scripture memorization. So if someone asked you if you were being discipled, what they really were communicating was that you should be getting together with someone regularly to memorize select passages of the Bible and to work harder at avoiding sin in your life. Let me first say that those two endeavors are altogether good and pleasing to the Lord. The Scriptures themselves encourage us in these pursuits; “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11). However, there is one small problem with only focusing on these two aspects of our spiritual life – it’s not discipleship.

When Christ walked this earth many centuries ago the word “disciple” had radically different connotations than the definition I just offered. A disciple was not someone who simply met with you for an hour

each week over coffee, rather a disciple was someone who followed you and attempted to learn from and emulate you twenty-four hours a day! The goal then of this understanding of discipleship was not simply to pick up some new skills or acquire fresh insights, but rather to become like the person you were following. As a matter of fact a better picture for the kind of relationships we see Christ forming with his own followers would be discipleship as apprenticeship.

During the time of Jesus’ life and ministry it was commonplace for Jewish males to enter into the family business. If they did not show enough potential to be a rabbi or spiritual leader, boys at an early age would begin working alongside their fathers in order to learn the ins and outs of the family business. Whether you were a fisherman, a shepherd, a craftsman, or a farmer, in order for you to make a living and provide for your family, you needed to be extremely skilled and knowledgeable at your job. This process, the maturing and training of young boys to one day become effective providers who would take over the family business, was a part of the culture and took years to complete. It is also the way in which Jesus transformed his disciples from rabbinical rejects

Nate Bebout is the Direc-tor of the Religious Life Network at Ashland Uni-versity and a

contributor to A Brethren Wit-ness for the 21st Century. This article is an excerpt from his chapter for that book. Nate and his wife, Leah, reside in Ashland and are expecting their first child very soon.

CONFERENCE

What does it mean to follow Jesus? We’ve said it so many times that we assume we know the answers. Upon deeper reflection, if we’re honest, we readily admit that maybe we’ve missed something...maybe it’s more than just knowing the right stuff. This year’s General Conference is a time to return to “the basics,” to get refreshed and challenged, and to rediscover the thrill of following Jesus

and inviting others to follow him as well.



THIS YEAR’S SPEAKER is Mike Chong Perkinson. Mike is the Senior Developer of Praxis, and the President and Dean of the School of Church Ministry Leadership (for The Trivium Institute). He has planted four churches and created extensive church networks in

WE ARE BLESSED to have the Radial Band return to lead us in worship this year. Radial Church is a young adult church plant in Canton, Ohio.

Preview and purchase their newest album “We Are Alive” on iTunes.

AS WE EXPLORE what it looks like to be a disciple and make other disciples, a core behavior of a Christ follower, we realize that discipling is a multi-faceted behavior. Some are wrestling with who they are as a disciple. Some are pondering how to disciple a local church. Still others are desiring greater discipling in their communities.

This year’s workshops will be a little different...in a good way. Our speaker, Mike Perkinson, will be leading us through the journey of discipleship as an ‘I-WE-THEY’ journey. You will then have the opportunity to choose a workshop that drills down in whichever parts of this journey speaks most to you.

The purpose of these workshops is to have a brief time of presentation followed by a substantive time of coaching towards development of an action plan. This action plan will go home with you so you can implement and experiment with the plan you feel God has laid on your (or your team’s) heart(s).

Here are brief descriptions of the different tracks:

Northern California, Arizona and the Philippines. Currently Mike is the Lead Pastor of Estrella Mountain Church in Goodyear, AZ, a rapidly growing church outside of Phoenix.


WMS

AT LAST YEAR’S General Conference, the National WMS gave grants to four local societies to use in outreach to their communities. Winners were Wayne Heights, Brush Valley, Vinco and North Georgetown. Norma Waters shares how the North Georgetown ladies were blessed by being a blessing in their community:

Our WMS ladies sat there looking blankly at each other. It was our April 2013 meeting, and we were trying to come up with an inspiration. The national WMS was offering grant monies for special outreach projects that year, and we really wanted to apply for one, but God hadn’t told us what our project should be.

Our church in North Georgetown, Ohio, had been involved for several months in a new mission work with the people in a local mobile home park. But our WMS group had not yet been involved, because we were small in number (and had no money!)

Now it looked like there might be a way to get around that obstacle.

After discussing several project ideas, but not really feeling led toward any certain one, we suddenly heard a voice from heaven. (Actually, the voice was that of one of our members, but the IDEA was from heaven!) Our project would be to offer to provide a backpack, and all the required school supplies, for each child in the park when they started school in the fall.

The decision was made, and things moved quickly after that. We submitted our grant application in May, we were notified of our acceptance in June, we contacted all the families in July, and we shopped like crazy in August! Thanks to all those great back-to-school sales, we soon had enough backpacks for each of the 19 children to have a choice of designs, and also bags and bags of pencils, markers, notebooks, glue sticks, hand wipes, tissues, etc., etc. And we even came in under budget!

It was a real blessing for our WMS ladies to help deliver all the supplies the week before school started. We got to meet the kids and many of the parents, and pray for them to have a great school year. We saw a lot of surprise, happiness, and gratitude. We are hoping we can repeat the project for fall 2014.

If your WMS group wants to experience a blessing like ours did, don’t just sit there “looking blankly at each other,” take on an outreach project. And if you need financial help to do it, apply for a grant. You never know where the Lord will lead!

The National WMS will be offering grant money at this year’s General Conference also. If your society, to quote Norma, “wants to experience a blessing like ours did . . . apply for a grant.” If you need a grant application, contact Sherry Van Duyne, [email protected].

NORTH GEORGETOWN WMS

Blesses ChildrenPractical WayIN A

by Norma Waters, Ohio District WMS President


1THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IS A QUESTION: Which Jesus? One contemporary author has composed a list of hybrid-Jesuses that reflects the way many folks tend to perceive him: “the white supremacist Jesus, the Eurocentric Jesus, the Republican or Democrat Jesus, the capitalist or communist Jesus, the slave-owning Jesus, the nuclear bomb-dropping America-first Jesus, the organ-music stained-glass nostalgic-sentimental Jesus, the anti-science know-nothing simpleton Jesus, the prosperity-gospel get-rich-quick Jesus . . . the Joe-Six-Pack Jesus, the anti-Semitic Nazi Jesus, the anti-Muslim Crusader Jesus, and so on.” The point he is trying to make is that we tend to make Jesus into the image of ourselves, hating what we hate and liking what we like. He goes on to state that “the one I believe to be the real Jesus – the Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Jesus of Acts, the letters, and Revelation, too . . . cannot be (so easily) understood and must not be trimmed to fit our preferred framework.” That there is only one Jesus, we would all agree; but we may not agree on which facet of this multi-faceted person we should emphasize. The earliest Brethren supremely thought of Jesus as Lord, emphasizing his authority and his right to command, and our role as his subjects whose duty is to obey. He is “an all-powerful Monarch and King” whose “statutes and laws” are to be obeyed. I believe this emphasis was required in their context because of the need to defend their position regarding baptism and the beginning of a breakaway movement. What they really sought was to have the mind of

Christ; to align themselves with “the disposition of Christ.” The Pietist influences in their origins provided a devotional approach, a relational approach to faith. This prevented their being overpowered with a Jesus of law and code. In the Brethren, Anabaptist and Pietist converge, Anabaptism presenting a stout discipleship and Pietism presenting a warm-hearted devotion, both expressions of the same Jesus who, on one hand, bid his followers to take up the cross of death and then, on the other, told them they were his friends and he loved them as the Father loved him. The Brethren sought to know “the Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Jesus of Acts, the letters, and Revelation, too” with a simple approach to knowing him and a singular desire to please him. The question, “which Jesus?” would have made

FEATURE STORY

The Place of Jesus in Brethren Spirituality

Who is


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no sense to them. The Jesus of Scripture was quite accessible to any who sought to do his will, to any who had no other agenda than to listen to his voice and obey that voice. Neither could they have conceived of a Jesus who was actually different from the Jesus of the written record, any Jesus for whom such expressions as virgin birth or whose miracles were only metaphor for something else. To them, it was not a question of finding him; it was a question of following him. That simplicity of approach is to be commended in our day when scholarship may have displaced discipleship in our theological task. In the words of N. T. Wright, “Simply Jesus” is our goal.

A second consideration is the Brethren approach to Jesus in the light of “the new radicalism.” A wave of emphasis on the radical nature of Jesus’ demands has been rolling across the Church scene in recent years. Messages from such speakers and writers as Francis Chan, Shane Claiborne, David Platt and Kyle Idleman are challenging comfortable and compromised Christianity. They are stating in new terms what was popularly known as “easy believism” or “cheap grace” a generation or two ago. As Phyllis Tickle has remarked, every now and again the Church needs to clean out its attic and have a rummage sale. The “radicals” have gotten on their “work clothes,” brought

moving dollies, dumpsters and brooms and are proceeding to clean out the Church’s attic. It is, they believe, filled with “appealing, comfortable, and convenient” Christianity. “These teachers want us to see that following Christ genuinely, truly, really, radically,

sacrificially, inconveniently, and uncomfortably will cost us.” Place that sentence alongside this one: “The true believers and lovers of the Lord Jesus have always looked steadfastly and single-mindedly to their Lord and Master in all things.” The Brethren in their way and time were trying to “clean out the attic” of the Church, ridding it of its corruption, deception and needless accumulations. To do so, they needed to “count the cost,” for “the demand for faithful obedience . . . is the pivotal point of Brethren thought.”

So, the “new” radicalism isn’t so new after all! In fact, the Anabaptists of the 1520’s are referred to as “The Radicals” and their movement “The Radical Reformation.” The Brethren have their roots in that movement as well as that of Radical Pietism. Both influences were “radical”! They all wanted to return to the root of Christian faith and

the root of the true Church, goals similar to that of the “new radicals.” If our spirituality in the 21st century is true to the zeal of our forefathers in the faith, we will always be “the radicals.”

This leads to a third consideration: Brethren witness in a post-modern and now a post-secular age. By post-secular, we are recognizing that, for all the effort at producing an o ff i c ia l godlessness in soc ie ty, sp i r i tua l i t y w ill not go away. Much of the new spirituality is not Christian, but the search provides the Brethren an opportunity for witness. From Pietistic influences the Brethren had garnered a mystical aspect to their faith, not that they depended on the Holy Spirit to be their sole or even primary revelator, but that they were unwilling to reduce their faith to cold, hard logic. They were not illogical or irrational, but they saw the Jesus way as a life, not a system of doctrine

“They saw Jesus as a storyteller, but more than that, they saw him as one who was helping to write their story.”


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and especially not a creed. They saw Jesus as a storyteller, but more than that, they saw him as one who was

helping to write their story. Theirs

was a narrative theology. The life

that was emerging among them was

more relational than doctrinal.

T h e y counted it

a privilege to be

included in the life of Jesus, a

privilege that was expressed through

joyful obedience. This seems highly adaptable to our culture where “religion” is taboo and “church” gets blank stares or mild scorn. We witness to this generation, not by highlighting our distinctives or making doctrinal statements that make sense only to us, but we witness by living the story, “using words if necessary,” according to Francis of Assisi. Then, when appropriate, tell our story. Let it be a narrative witness, remembering that even though it is our story, it’s not really about us. Our story ultimately points to Jesus. To expand upon an illustration from a recent conversation, when someone enters the Brethren “house” they may remark upon the inviting smell of a delicious meal being prepared. Only after they have begun to enjoy the meal of Brethren life do they inquire about the recipes and may even request access to those recipes.

That’s when the witness moves from relational to propositional. There really is a recipe responsible for this attractive meal! To change imagery, there is a solid skeleton, i.e. theology, in this body but the skeleton does not draw attention to itself and may not be readily visible. But after a warm hug, the other knows there are muscles and bones within this body known as Brethren. Our first witness is to offer the hug or to emit the aroma of Jesus, to be who we say we are.

A fourth consideration in the light of the place of Jesus in Brethren spirituality is the question of pluralism. In our enlightened world where information, both in content and availability, is overwhelming, it seems extremely narrow to believe that Jesus is the only true Savior. In our day of tolerance and respect (for nearly every view except the Christian view), it seems extremely bigoted to claim the exclusivity of Jesus. But pluralism is an ancient problem. In the Old Testament, Israel was emphatically told not to court any other religion, for Yahweh was the only true God! Israel’s downfall as a nation came about because they failed to honor Yahweh as the only true God. The state churches of the early Brethren’s day did not have a problem with pluralism (except the three recognized churches did not tolerate each other!): the state enforced the uniqueness of Jesus (or at least Christendom). The Brethren did not have other-than-Christian on the menu. I am implying that the early Brethren may not help us with this question, is Jesus the only way to God?

While it may appear to be reductionist and superficial, the question becomes, Is Jesus really who he says he is? If he is “God’s only Son,” that surely makes him unique. If he was raised from the dead, that surely makes him unique. On further thought, perhaps the early Brethren do help us with this question. Their single-minded and wholehearted devotion to Jesus would make the pluralistic question seem preposterous. They would not have entertained the question of Jesus being one among many; perhaps the primary reason

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we would entertain the question at all is because the exclusivist view is constantly challenged and is quite unpopular. Taking a strong position on the exclusive nature and claims of Jesus does not mean that there is nothing to learn from others’ faith traditions or that God has not left a witness among them, as well. But it does insist that “in these last days (God) has spoken (aorist tense, indicating finality) to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2, NIV). “In the beginning was the Word” and that Word is also God’s final Word!

A fifth consideration is what I am calling the Brethren and the National Rifle Association. Of course, I am not addressing the political issues in which our administration and the NRA and many other gun-toting freedom-fighters are involved. I am only indicating the long-standing Brethren emphasis on Jesus’ way of peace in the midst of a culture of violence and murder. Amid the polarities reflected in hard-liner posters and government pressure to pass gun legislation, amid the political rhetoric propelled by mass murders, stands a Jesus who speaks peace to a troubled society. All the gun-talk is superficial; the

issue at root is the condition of the heart. “Don’t take your guns to town, son; leave your guns at home, Bill,” but don’t get into a fist fight, either! The peaceful spirit is primary. Arguments and counter-arguments will continue ad infinitum but the voice of Jesus stands above the noise of these battles and speaks peace as the better way. The Brethren knew that Jesus’ Kingdom was not of this world. Earthly kingdoms rise and fall, but the Kingdom of God endures forever. All power was available to Jesus to overthrow Pilate, Rome and all, but “he opened not his mouth.” The Kingdom comes “not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums” but by “deeds of love and mercy.” And thus shall it ever be. Our Brethren forefathers bequeathed this perspective to us because they saw the futility of war and they saw Jesus as the Prince of Peace.

A sixth consideration is the matter of joyful obedience. The Brethren sought to follow Jesus in the spirit of the psalmist whose “delight (was) in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 1:2, NIV). Theirs was not the spirit of a reluctant obedience to a tyrannical overlord; theirs was

the joy of being counted worthy to be his followers and even to suffer in his name. They could even liken it to a delicious repast: “The food of the new creation . . . is true obedience to the Lord Jesus.” Their study of Jesus, i.e., Christology, was not an abstract approach but rather it was Jesus for “edification, enjoyment of salvation, godliness.” A modern writer concurs when she said, “So here is where I finish my rough Christology, by reminding myself and us together that Christ is a mystery best approached with humility and by way of participation and experience, poetry and song, communion and love-creating, and only secondarily approached with reason and words.”

Joyful obedience needs to be the spirit of the Brethren these days. We need to recover the hardiness of discipleship combined with a joyful countenance! Let our eyes and faces tell the world that there is joy in the journey of following Jesus! We are told that the new generation of believers wants to “feel its faith,” rather than just “know” it. If so, I believe the Brethren have an opportunity here because we offer both experience and information.

Dr. Brian Moore also released A Tethered Freedom: A Memoir this past fall. In it he reflects on a lifetime of ministry, community and his most recent struggles with a debilitating disease. Copies of his book are availble at the Brethren National Office for $12 each. Contact Paula Strickland at 419-289-1708 or [email protected] for more information.

Conferences Cost & Delegate CredentialsRegister Online and save $5!

Early Registrations submitted before June 18, $60.00 per person.

Regular Registrations submitted after June 18, $75.00 per person.

OPTIONAL:

Delegate credentials are obtained from your pastor and have been billed to your church. A limited number of district and cooperative credentials may be available through your district organizations. Credentials do not need to accompany your registration but need to be submitted by June 18.

Registration fee does not need to be paid if you are only attending a Ticketed Event.

Total for Registration: $__________

Continue on other side

What to expect: General Conference is an opportunity for Brethren Church leaders around the country to gather together to make strategic decisions, celebrate what God has done, be refreshed with old and new friendships and take part in leadership development training that will guide us for the next chapter of our story. 2014 General Conference main sessions will feature Mike Perkinson and Executive Director, Ken Hunn. Beyond Main Sessions, General Conference features various workshops, ticketed dinners, a chance to deepen friendships, leadership training opportunities, business sessions and plenty of opportunities to be encouraged and challenged by one another.

General Conference also provides an ideal way for your church leadership to be exposed to all the ways the Brethren Church’s Mobilize & MissioChurch teams can come alongside your unique ministry. Whether you are currently stuck in ministry, ready for something different, or excited to plant a new daughter church — wherever you fall on the spectrum we want to walk with you.

We look forward to hosting you and assisting in reconnecting you with the vision and mission God has for us. Just a quick reminder, General Conference will be held at Park Street Brethren Church (619 Park Street, Ashland) this year.

We hope you and your team will join us!

2014 GENERAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION Wednesday, July 16 - Saturday, July 19 in Ashland, Ohio

HousingHousing is available at several area hotels and bed & breakfasts.We recommend that you make arrangements for housing as soon as possible!

Some area hotels offer a discounted rate if you mention “Brethren Conference” while booking your reservation. Be sure to book before July 1.

Recommended hotel: Holiday Inn.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION, CONT.

Ticketed EventsMobilize Welcome Dinner $10.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________Wednesday, 4:30 - 6:00 - Location: Park Street FLC

Ladies Luncheon $12.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________Thursday, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Park Street Family Life Center (FLC)

Global Dinner $15.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________Thursday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Park Street FLC

Pastor’s Wives Gathering FREE x No. of tickets ______ = $ 0.00Thursday, 8:45 p.m. (following worship) - Park Street

ATS Luncheon $12.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________Friday, 12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - Seminary Campus

Celebration and Sending - Lunch $5.00 x No. of tickets _____ = $_________Saturday, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Park Street FLC

Ticket sales will end on June 30. Ticket sales will not be available during the week of General Conference.

Important Information• Registration rates change on June 18. Be sure to register early.

• Delegate credentials can be obtained from your pastor, district or organization. Please submit your credential before June 18.

• Updated information regarding 2014 General Conference can be obtained by visiting our website: www.brethrenchurch.org

• Ticketed Event sales will end on June 30th.• If you are bringing a group or leadership team to the conference for the week or even a session, contact brethren @brethrenchurch.org to find group rates before June 18.

TOTAL COST

Registration Fee : $_____________

Ticketed Events: $_____________

Total Registration: $_____________

PLEASE MAIL REGISTRATIONS AND FEES TO:Brethren Church General Conference

524 College Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805

Total for Events $__________

Payment Options:

I am paying by check which is enclosed. (Please make checks payable to The Brethren Church.)

I am going to pay by credit card. (Please send a bill to my email address.)

I will be paying the full amount before July 1. (Please send a bill to my registration address.)

Winter/Fall 2014 The Evangelist 15

TAKE HOLDengage�conference

July 21-25, 2014Indiana Wesleyan UniversityMarion, IN

Speaker :

DUSTIN WHITEof Radial Church

Emcee :“the Wolf Man”

NATE BEBOUTSPECIAL WORSHIP CONCERT BY SING LOVE WORSHIP& introducing for the first time to the Engage stage

Visit .org for pricing info., further details, and to register online.


HOW TO ORDER:

Please send a check for $10 with “Brethren Witness book” in the memo line to The Brethren Church National Office, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805

From our humble beginnings, the Brethren have always stressed the importance of each generation adapting the historic ideals of the movement in fresh ways for their world. Brethren have always been a people who encourage each generation to reflect on their story to discern how to move forward. The past embraces the future in present reflection.

One Brethren scholar calls this tension a “tethered freedom.” Just as a young boy lives out the family name in unique ways, he does so all while keeping the family name. In the ancient world a name told others where you were from. A last name tells others out of which people you come.

The name Brethren, then, is not merely a denomination or church qualifier. Brethren are a people who are still finding fresh ways to tell their story. We are a people who are still telling our story.

Just a few weeks ago a new book came into print. A Brethren Witness for the 21st Century is a fresh retelling of the Brethren story - tethered to our rich heritage yet freely expressed in a fresh way for this time.

This story is your story. This is our family. Come explore that family history with us!

To order online, please visit: brethrenchurch.org/get-involved/contributions

For bulk orders we offer the following discounts: $8 each [50 -199 copies], $6 each [200 or more copies].

From our humble beginnings, the Brethren have always stressed the importance of each generation adapting the historic ideals of the movement in fresh ways for their world. Brethren have always been a people who encourage each generation to reflect on their story to discern how to move forward. The past embraces the future in present reflection.

One Brethren scholar calls this tension a “tethered freedom.” Just as a young boy lives out the family name in unique ways, he does so all while keeping the family name. In the ancient world a name told others where you were from. A last name tells others out of which people you come.

Sometimes, we need to reflect on our story to figure

out where we need to go.


DR. JAMES E. HOLLINGER, 70, passed away Thursday, Feb. 20 at The Gables, Greencroft in Goshen. He was born in Chicago, Ill., on Oct. 29, 1943, to Kenneth and Helen (Darley) Hollinger. In 1964 he married Judianne Kerlin at Beacon Heights Brethren Church, Fort Wayne. He is survived by his wife, Judy; four children, Craig Hollinger of Phoenix, Ariz., Caryn (Christopher) Howell of Goshen, Cynthia (Jeffrey) Gilmer of Greenwood, and Curtis Hollinger of Goshen; grandchildren Cody, Calyn, Carlee and Chynzie Howell, Aaron, Jared, Elizabeth, Elijah and Hannah Gilmer, and Sophie and Elliot Hollinger; a daughter-in-law, Amy Inebnit-Hollinger; three brothers, John (Carol) of Fishers, Richard (Dianne) of Huntington, and Roger (Linda) of New Paris; and a sister, Beth Flory, of Davis, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Ruthe Kerlin, on Jan. 2, 2014; his father-in-law, George Kerlin; and a nephew, Greg Hollinger. Dr. Hollinger held a number of medical staff positions at Goshen General Hospital (IU Health Goshen), as well as Director of Medical Education for five years prior to retirement. He was active on boards and ministries of Jefferson Brethren (Community) Church, the Mission Ministry of the Indiana District and the National Mission Board of the Brethren Church, Ashland, Ohio, as well as the Shipshewana Brethren Retreat Center and RETA Ministries, Elkhart. He was also instrumental in creating The Brethren Church Archives in cooperation with Ashland Theological Seminary and the National Brethren Church. A private burial was held February 24 at Violett Cemetery. A memorial service was held at Jefferson Community Church on Sunday, March 9.

WAYNE E. SWIHART, 96, of Valparaiso, IN and formerly of North Manchester, IN passed away on Friday, January 24, 2014 at Whispering Pines Nursing Home, Valparaiso, IN. He was born in Kosciusko County, IN on May 5, 1917 to Clarence & Nettie (Lindzy) Swihart. On September 14, 1940 he married Mildred E. Beigh who passed away March 3, 2010. Along with his wife Mildred, Wayne served as student pastor at Congregational Christian in Ohio; Burlington Brethren Church, Tiosa and Mexico Brethren Church, Milford Brethren Church, Muncie Brethren Church and Mishawaka Brethren Church retiring in 1986. Wayne began church service as a youth director with the First Brethren Church at North Manchester. For 17 years he was teacher and administrator in public schools of Ohio and Indiana and for 30 years he was with Valparaiso University, retiring as associate professor of education. He is survived by two sons, Thomas (Sharon) Swihart, Valparaiso, IN and David (Rita) Swihart, Leesburg, IN, two daughters, Ann (Jack) Swihart Butts, Naples, FL and Nancy (Martin) Swihart McClintock, St. Louis, MO and his grandchildren, Jason Butts, Kevin Butts, Lisa Swihart, Mandy Swihart, Rob Emerson, Christa Emerson, Michael Swihart, Jamie Swihart, Ryan McClintock, Jeff McClintock and Amy McClintock. Thirteen great grandchildren also survive. One brother, Harold Swihart is deceased. Wayne was a member of First Brethren Church, North Manchester, IN and First Presbyterian Church, Valparaiso, IN. Services were held Saturday, February 1, 2014 at McKee Mortuary in North Manchester, IN. Burial followed at Lakeview Cemetery in Silver Lake, IN.

BITS & PIECESinMEMORY

With the passing of Rev. Swihart, Rev. Thomas Shannon is now the eldest elder of the Brethren Church.

At this past year’s General Conference of the Brethren Church, Rev. Swihart was recognized as the “eldest elder” of the denomination having been ordained for 72 years.


all the answers, not because I’m not smart, but because we Brethren don’t ask all the questions. We allow the Bible where it is black and white to remain black and white and we allow the areas that are grey to remain grey. We don’t try to make scripture say more than it does or say less than it does. The Bible is God’s Story about his people and his plan for redemption. It is a book that allows God to be a profound mystery and forces me to wrestle with understanding its implications for my everyday life.

As a pastor with 15 plus years of ministry, I also assumed it was normal to actively live out my faith, both privately and publicly. This however is not the case across the religious landscape. For some, faith is an intensely private matter, not to be thrust upon others, by being too open. For others, faith is merely demonstrated by the things that are done in the name Jesus with limited regard to a transformed life of surrender to Jesus. However, what people hunger for is authentic relationships, where what we say we believe in our hearts and heads is fully lived out in how we treat and respond to one another.

These are just some of the reasons I love the Brethren Church and why I love our approach to walking with Jesus.

I LOVE THE BRETHREN CHURCH. Who I am today is a direct result of being raised in the North Manchester First Brethren Church and growing up in the extended ministries of the Brethren Church. Camp Shipshewana, BYC (BYIC), National Youth Conference and Indiana District Youth events have shaped me, challenged me and changed

me. It was not until I stepped out of the Brethren Church for a short time, to serve in another denomination, that I realized how different the Brethren are in our approach to walking with Jesus and how much of who I am is the direct result of the Brethren Church.

For example, I always thought it was normal to wrestle with not having definitive answers to obscure questions. This approach was challenged when I sat with a group of pastors who prided themselves in having a strong systematic theology. They had the ability to answer every conceivable question, ranging from basic to abstract theory, through a predetermined set of lenses. I realized, I don’t approach scripture this way. I don’t have

by Tim DeLaughter, Winchester, VA

DEVOTIONAL

your heavenly Father feeds them.

Brethren walkwith Jesus


Matthew 6:26

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow

or reap or store away in barns,

your heavenly Father feeds them.

AND YETBrethren

The Brethren Evangelist (SSN 0747-4288) is published quarterly by The Brethren Church, Inc., 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792 (telephone: 419-289-1708; email: [email protected]; 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 Association. Postage: Paid at Ashland, Ohio or additional mailing office at Mansfield, Ohio. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Brethren Church, 524 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805-3792. Spring 2014, Vol. 136, No. 1

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

The Brethren Church524 College Ave.Ashland, OH 44805

www.brethrenchurch.org

Spring 2014 The Brethren Evangelist

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