“We are a mission agency — we take the Gospel to those who serve in uniform.” Eagle Commission is a national ministry of the Charis Fellowship who is committed to bringing the Gospel of peace to our nation’s warriors. Eagle Commission supports, encourages, and comes alongside chaplains serving in the Armed Forces both in the U.S. and abroad. In the […][...]
Greg Howell, senior pastor at Community Grace Brethren Church in Goldendale, Wash., was admitted to the hospital on October 19 with COVID-19. On November 4, Greg was intubated and put on a ventilator. He is being transferred to a hospital in Bend, Ore., because his condition has worsened. Be praying for Greg, his wife Colleen, and their family.[...]
The Charis Fellowship has seen many changes in leadership over the past two years. Executive directors of three national ministries stepped into retirement, as well as the coordinator for the Charis Fellowship. In May 2020, Ken Seyfert retired after 23 years at Grace Brethren Investment Foundation, in September 2020 Ed Lewis retired after 47 years at CE National (now Momentum […][...]
Grace College Associate Professor of Communication and Communication Program Director Dr. Pat Loebs and Grace alumna Karly Poyner recently co-authored a chapter in the book, “Studies of Communication in the 2020 Presidential Campaign,” edited by Robert E. Denton Jr. and published by Lexington Books. The chapter, entitled “The Trump Card: The Virtue and Vulnerability of a Narrative-based Presidency,” uses narrative […][...]
Kenneth Koontz served as pastor at Leesburg Grace Church, a Charis Fellowship congregation in northern Indiana. His obituary appears below. Pastor Kenneth David Koontz, 84, resident of Warsaw, went to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, peacefully in his sleep, at 9:12 a.m. on Oct 23, 2021. Kenneth was born in Roanoke, VA, in 1937. He graduated from […][...]
Grace College, a national organization of the Charis Fellowship in Winona Lake, Ind., celebrated its 60th annual Conference on Mission last week, October 26–29. The week included chapel sessions with keynote speaker Les Lofquist, an alumni luncheon, evangelism training, a prayer trail, and many opportunities for students to connect with missionaries. “This conference has a rich heritage at Grace,” said […][...]
Larry McCall, a Grace College alumnus and and BMH author, was featured in an article from Ink Free News. A version of this story originally appeared here. Find Larry’s books “Loving Your Wife as Christ Loves the Church” and “Walking Like Jesus Did” on the BMH website here. Christ’s Covenant Church of Winona Lake, Ind., is celebrating Larry and Gladine McCall’s […][...]
For many in the Charis Fellowship, Momentum Ministry Partners (formerly CE National) played a big part in their faith journey. Through youth conference, urban centers, travel teams, and training resources, Momentum has been serving the Fellowship for more than eighty years. Dave Nicodemus, pastor of student ministries at Grace Polaris Church in Westerville, Ohio (Mike Yoder, lead pastor), is a […][...]
The following excerpt appeared in an article in the Detroit Free Press titled, “Why some small conservative Christian colleges see growth where other schools see declines.” Read the whole article here. Two faculty members of a small, private Midwestern college are up on stage, one sitting behind an electronic keyboard, the other strumming the opening chords of a song on a […][...]
Ocean City, Md., proved the ideal location for the Charis Fellowship East Focus Retreat where nearly 100 pastors, ministry leaders, and spouses gathered last week for the three-day conference. Attendees stayed and enjoyed meals at the Holiday Inn & Suites that offered an ocean view and boardwalk access, and gatherings were held at a nearby church. Sessions were structured similarly […][...]
Greg Howell, senior pastor at Community Grace Brethren Church in Goldendale, Wash., was admitted to the hospital on October 19 with COVID-19. On Oct 21, he was discharged and is now at home on oxygen and with medication. Continue to pray from him as he recovers and his for his, Colleen, who is also recovering from COVID-19.[...]
Grace College and Theological Seminary President Bill Katip suffered a stroke earlier this week while in Indianapolis. His wife, Debbie, gave permission to share the following update and prayer request: Bill has no paralysis but weakness on left side and will need some physical therapy. His mind, sweet spirit, loving personality, and humor are intact. Plans are to transfer him […][...]
Delaware Grace, a Charis Fellowship congregation in north-central Ohio, launched a new service opportunity in August for its attenders. Interim Lead Pastor Jeff Martin knew of other churches who dedicated the last Sunday of the month to serving others in lieu of a regular worship service when there were five in the month, known as “Fifth Sunday.” When planning their […][...]
Featuring an individual in a story can be one of the most rewarding stories you can write. Whether you are capturing the personality of a local business person or sharing the conversion testimony of an individual, it’s always a honor to write their story. It doesn’t need to be intimidating. In the next writers’ workshop, we’ll take a look at […][...]
Last week, pastors and leaders from Ohio and Indiana gathered with ministry leaders from national and cooperating ministries for the Central Focus Retreat. The 36-hour retreat focused on the theme of “Mission” and was held at Deer Creek State Park in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. Each session started with a time of worship led by Matt Carter, worship director at Grace […][...]
Grace College in Winona lake, Ind., will host its 31st annual FunFest on Friday, October 29, from 6:00–8:00 in the Gordon Health and Wellness Center, 100 Publishers Dr., Winona Lake. FunFest is free and open to all children and their families. This year’s theme is “Carnival.” Children are invited to dress-up in the carnival theme or in the costume of […][...]
In mid-September, Grace Brethren Church of Chambersburg, a Charis Fellowship congregation in southern Pennsylvania (John Bayer, senior pastor), hosted their ninth annual Community Car Show. The car show started as an outreach in 2013. Senior Pastor John Bayer said, “Our goal was to bring the community into our church and find ways to build relationships. We wanted to find out […][...]
Greg Stamm, pastor at Grace Brethren Church in Toppenish, Wash., requests prayer for his son, Joel, who is recovering from COVID-19 in a hospital in Mt. Vernon, Wash. Greg reports Joel is no longer on a ventilator but needs physical therapy to strengthen his limbs and that the doctor in the COVID unit said he has never seen such rapid […][...]
Andrew Marksbury is the son of Dave Marksbury, pastor of Grace Fellowship of Kent, a Charis Fellowship congregation in northwest Washington. Below is a statement from the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association regarding his death. LAAPOA is saddened to announce the passing of Los Angeles Airport Police Officer III Andrew “Andy” Marksbury. He was a 17-year veteran of the […][...]
Rex Rogers, pastor at Ripon Grace Brethren Church in California, has been hospitalized with COVID-19 since mid-September. On October 9, the church posted this update on their Facebook: Update on Pastor Rex: There is light at the end of this tunnel! Thank you for your prayers.[...]