With the Lord
Elaine Bearinger, 87, passed away August 5, 2005, in Bradenton, Florida, after a brief illness. She was the widow of Rev. Ernie Bearinger, former National Youth Director, pastor in Southern California and missionary to Brazil. She is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Bearinger Solomon, retired missionary living in the Bradenton Missionary Village, and son Dr. Charles Bearinger, retired pastor living in Houston, Texas.
Mary Elizabeth Lingenfelter, 87, went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 19, 2005. She was the wife of Homer Lingenfelter, who died in February, 2004. Homer was the founding pastor of the Grace Brethren Church at Everett, Pennsylvania, which was organized in 1951 with 18 charter members.
Paul R. Humberd, 85, died Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Warsaw, Indiana. Humberd was the son of well-known pastor/Bible/prophecy teacher R. I. Humberd and was the brother of Dr. Jesse Humberd, who for many years taught science and mathematics at Grace College. In addition to his wife, Leila, Humberd is survived by a son, Stephen J. Humberd of Chandler, Arizona; a daughter, Mrs. Richard (Susan) Brundage, Warsaw, Indiana; two grandchildren, a great-grandchild and two brothers, Jesse D. Humberd of Winona Lake, Indiana, and James T. Humberd, Burbank, California and a sister, Martha Allbaugh, of Delphi, Indiana.
Eunice Imogene “Imy” Immel, 86, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior August 18, 2005, in Seville Ohio. A member of Rittman Grace Brethren Church, she enjoyed entertaining and praying for her many missionary friends. She was a devoted mother to K. Howard (June), Lou Ann (James) McQuire, Rachel (Richard) Holland, and Chris (Margaret). She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, and granddaughter Lori.
Pastoral Changes
Howard and June Immel have accepted a call to become pastor and wife of the Carlton GBC of Garwin, Iowa.
Greg Serafino has been called by the Osceola, Indiana, Grace Brethren Church as their next Senior Pastor. Serafino has been a church member and leader of the church for more than 20 years. Serafino previously served as Assistant Pastor and Interim Pastor of the church. Serafino is married to Cari and they have four children. Prior to moving into full-time ministry, he was Vice President of Stripco, Inc. of Mishawaka IN.
Echo Valley Grace Brethren Church, Tremont, Pennsylvania, is pleased is to announce that Rod Finster of Osceola, Indiana, has accepted the call to pastor the church, beginning November 17, 2005. Finster has been at the Osceola, Indiana, Grace Brethren Church since August of 1996 as pastor of Youth and Christian Education. Prior to his ministry at OGBC, he spent six and a half years as the youth pastor at the Ireland Road Grace Brethren Church in South Bend, Indiana. He spent 10 years in the marketing division at Nipsco, which is where he was working when God called him into full-time youth ministry. Finster and his wife, Patty, have one daughter, Allyson.
Will Lohnes has concluded his ministry at Shepherds Grace Church in Medina, Ohio, as has Dan Travis at Grace Church at Town Center, Atlanta, Georgia.
Bellflower (CA) Brethren Church (Tom Hocking, pastor) welcomed Keith Ko as its new associate pastor of youth ministries on September 18, 2005. Ko is a graduate of Wheaton College and Denver Seminary, serving most recently as the Youth Pastor at Sunrise Church of Wrightwood, CA.
CE National’s website (www.cenational.org) recently listed the following youth pastor changes within the FGBC:
Drew Waggoner has moved to Chico, CA to become the youth pastor of the Chico GBC
Bill Mulligan is youth pastor at Medina, OH
Nate Manahan has resigned from Community of Hope in Columbia City, IN
JC Christensen is no longer at the Marietta, GA, GBC
Mike Pumphery is at Minerva, OH
Adam Johnson is youth pastor at Myersdale, PA
Troy Seyfert is youth pastor at Blue Ridge church in Winchester, VA
Tom Eames is youth pastor in Canton, OH
Tim Eames is the three-year youth intern at the North Campus Norton church in Ohio
John Mueller is the youth worker at Manteca, CA
Stewart and Beth Peters are youth workers at the West Milton, OH church
Jason Darrah is now the youth worker at the Akron, OH Ellett church.
Allan Robinson is youth pastor at the Hagerstown, MD Valley GBC
Danny Lee is the new youth pastor at the Simi Valley GBC, CA.
Florida Districts Merge, Change Name
By mutual consent, and after prayerful consideration, the East Central Florida District of Grace Brethren Churches has merged with the Suncoast District of Grace Brethren Churches and the newly combined district has taken a new name. According to Jesus Munoz, secretary of the new district, the new, enlarged grouping will now be known as the North Florida District of Grace Brethren Churches. Cooperating churches include:
Deltona, FL – Calvary GBC
Jacksonville, FL