In addition to the scheduled functions, hundreds of little “ad hoc” meetings are occurring at the Celebrate06 Grace Brethren national conference this week in Palm Springs, California.

Gathered here at 7 a.m. today on the patio of the Grand Hyatt Champions, before the heat of the day makes the patio unihabitable, is a little group that calls itself “The American Table Group” whose main interest is in supporting and redeveloping literature ministry in Africa in the wake of the civil uprising that destroyed all the equipment and supplies several years ago.

From left, participants are Mike Taylor of Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM); Ted Rondeau of GBIM; Jim Hocking of ICDI; Greg Burgess of Editions Cle in France; and Joel Purcell of SIM. Also included is Terry White of Brethren Missionary Herald Co.