This fall marks a new era for the Brethren Missionary Herald Company and its subsidiary, GraceConnect. On August 31, delegates approved a proposed merger between the organization and the Charis Fellowship. Liz Cutler Gates will officially retire as executive director of Brethren Missionary Herald Company at the end of October, though she will spend the month utilizing her hard-earned vacation time. At the beginning of October Liz passed the baton to Randi Walle, current eNews coordinator.
“Being invited into someone’s story is a great privilege. It is a blessing to see firsthand the way God uses those stories to encourage, teach, and bless others. I am humbled to be able to play a small part in that.”
Randi’s new title will be Digital Content Editor. Within that part-time role she will continue to produce the eNews, as well as all digital communications on GraceConnect.us and their social media accounts.
Randi lives in Columbus, Ohio, and has been married to Jesús for seven years. Together they enjoy traveling and camping, especially to their beloved North Carolina. She is a third-generation attender of Grace Polaris Church, a Charis Fellowship congregation in Westerville, Ohio (Mike Yoder, lead pastor). She received her Associate of Arts degree with a Certificate in Photography from Columbus State Community College, and has since worked for a local online news publication writing stories of small businesses and photographing events. She has also works at Grace Polaris Church for two and a half years as a part-time communications coordinator where she is responsible for photographing events, proofreading content, coordinating email updates, and managing social media, a role she plans to continue.
“I have loved getting to know the Fellowship better over the past year and I’m looking forward to growing in this new role.”
The Brethren Missionary Herald Company (later rebranded as BMH Books) was founded in 1940 as the main publisher for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, now known as the Charis Fellowship. Over the decades they have published hundreds of books and provided news information in print with leaders at its helm such as Terry White and Liz Cutler Gates. Official paperwork for the merger with Charis Fellowship was filed with the Indiana Secretary of State on September 29. As it progresses, Randi will be involved in the planning and strategizing of how to best communicate across the Fellowship, working closely with Charis Fellowship Coordinator Tim Hodge.
“We are excited about the opportunities to continue the fine legacy of communications,” Tim said, “and we are thankful to Liz and the BMH board for their kindness and encouragement along the way.”
In 2013, Liz launched GraceConnect with a focus on the digital communications aspect of the company. GraceConnect shares news stories, updates, photos, and videos from Charis Fellowship churches and ministries on their website, Facebook page, and weekly eNews. To stay up date, readers can follow GraceConnect on Instagram here, like them on Facebook here, and subscribe to the eNews here.