Grace Brethren are Oldest Twins
Twins Days in Twinsburg, OH, is the world’s largest annual gathering of twins. Every August since 1976, twins from around the world descend on this small town about 30 miles south of Cleveland for a weekend of socializing, celebration, and fun. Twins Days this year took place August 5, 6, and 7, with about 2,500 to 3,000 sets of twins participating.
This photo is of the youngest and oldest twins at the 30th festival this year. The oldest twins are Alice Garber Peer, wife of the late Grace Brethren pastor Earle Peer, and Angie Garber, Grace Brethren missionary to the Navajos for 47 years. They are 93 years old. (Mary Peer photo)
Enthusiastic Evangelists
BMH author Duke Heller and motivational expert Zig Ziglar played golf together recently in New Mexico. Both men are enthusiastic evangelists, seeking to lead to Christ anyone who is open to a hearing of the gospel. Ziglar’s foreword to Heller’s new book, How to Start a Kingdom Conversation, says “I believe there is a critical need for this book.” Copies of Heller’s book on personal witnessing may be obtained from www.bmhbooks.com or by calling 1-800-348-2756. Heller is dentist from the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, OH. (photo courtesy Duke Heller)
Kriegbaum Returns to BMH, Winona
Arnold Kriegbaum recently visited Winona Lake, Indiana, after a 20-year absence. Kriegbaum, 91, was editor and business manager of the Brethren Missionary Herald Company from September 1953 to August of 1961, when he left to become Dean of Students at Grace College and Seminary. The current Herald building, at 1104 Kings Highway in Winona Lake, was built under his direction in 1956 and it housed all the Grace Brethren national organizations for some years.
Kriegbaum and his wife, Laura, now live with their daughter, Karen, and her husband near Indianapolis, Indiana. Accompanying Kriegbaum were his two sons. Richard, at left, director of United Way in Fresno, California, and Ward, right, an administrator at Wheaton College in Illinois. Earlier in his career, Kriegbaum pastored the Grace Brethren Church of Waterloo, IA, and planted the Cedar Rapids church.
Women of Grace Produce Magazine
Women of Grace USA has just released the first 40-page issue of its new annual resource publication entitled Women’s Spectrum. According to the group’s president, Janet Minnix, the annual publication has a two-fold purpose. The first is to inform and challenge individual readers, and the second is to serve as a versatile tool and resource that can be used in any women’s ministry in the local church. Linda Michael is editor of the publication, and Viki Rife is the managing editor. Contributing editors include Kathleen Hohl, Harriet Zook, and Ruth Poupart. Copies are available for $7.50 each. For more information e-mail womenofgraceusa@aol.com or log onto the Women of Grace website at www.womenofgraceusa.org.
With the Lord
Keith Altig, retired Grace Brethren International Missions missionary to Brazil, died Wednesday, July 27, at the age of 94. Altig had pastored Grace Brethren churches prior to his 25 years of service in Brazil. At age 65 he completed work for his doctoral degree in missions at Grace Seminary West. He had traveled extensively, while continuing as Pastor Emeritus of the Grace Brethren Church of Whittier, CA, where he was a member. Memorial services were held in Santa Ana, CA. His wife Vivian preceded him in death. He is survived by two daughters and a son, his twin brother, Kenneth Altig, eight grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Arenobine, 79, long-time member of the Valley Grace Brethren Church in Hagerstown, MD, and the mother of Fort Wayne (IN) Grace Brethren Church Pastor Bob Arenobine, went to be with the Lord Monday, July 18, 2005. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Joseph Arenobine, in 1992. She is survived by two sons, the Rev. Robert D. Arenobine of Fort Wayne, IN, and Thomas J. Arenobine of Hagerstown; and two grandchildren, Jodi Arenobine of Fort Wayne and Jill Jennings of Auburn, IN.
Bill Hoffman, a member of the Grace College and Seminary board for 12 years, went to be with the Lord Friday, July 8, 2005. A CPA, he was a member and elder at the Ashland, OH, Grace Brethren Church (Dan Allan, pastor). In addition to his wife, Phyllis, he is survived by four children and six grandchildren.
Martha Brickel, 84, went to be with the Lord Sunday, August 7, 2005, in Richmond, IN, following a brief illness. A charter member of the Brookville, OH, Grace Brethren Church, she was preceded in death by her husband and former Brookville pastor, the Rev. Clair Brickel. Surviving children include Ann Davis, Tarpon Springs, FL; David and Janice Brickel of Lewisburg, OH; Barbara and Paul Klink of Greenfield, IN; Jon and Joyce Brickel of Brookville, OH; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services were held in Brookville, OH.
Pastoral Changes
Drew Waggoner has left his young adults pastoral position at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, OH, to become the youth pastor at the Chico, CA, Grace Brethren Church (Rick Boswell, pastor).
Philip Bryant is leaving the Mississauga, Ontario, area to begin Grace Brethren church-planting on the west coast of Canada in Vancouver, B.C.
Ivanildo Trindade is moving to become Associate Pastor of Outreach Ministries at the Wooster, OH, Grace Brethren Church. Internationals USA, which Trindade formerly directed, will restructure to a closer alignment with Grace Brethren International Missions. GBIM’s Jay Bell will take a leadership role in reaching internationals.
Dale Harris, recent Grace Seminary grad, is the new pastor at Conococheague Grace Brethren Church in Greencastle, PA.
Paul Mutchler has accepted the pastorate of the Lanham, MD, Grace Brethren Church, beginning September 1.
Congratulations to Dan Pierce, pastor of the Greenville, OH, Grace Brethren Church, on his recent ordination.
Ross Dunk of Willow Valley Grace Brethren Church has accepted the offer of Community Cornerstone church in York, PA, to become their pastor, beginning in September.
Andy Royer left his position of Associate Pastor at Rittman, OH, Grace Brethren Church on July 31. He will be working with a church in Warsaw, IN, in preparation for ministry in Cambodia.
Scott Barger is the new pastor of New Horizon Community Church, Winona Lake, IN, as of the last Sunday in August. Originally from Altoona, PA, Barger has been pastoring an independent church in Churubusco, IN, while continuing studies at Grace Theological Seminary.
Scott Klausfelder has moved from New Life Community Grace Brethren Church in Souderton, PA, where he served as youth pastor, to begin the Immanuel Grace Brethren Church in Quakertown, PA.
GBNAM Initiates Quarterly Newsletter
Grace Brethren North American Missions is in the process of changing its newsletter from the bi-monthly Missions Today to a beautiful full-color version which will be printed quarterly. In place of the 2005 summer issue, churches are receiving copies of the GBNAM Annual Report, which features each of GBNAM’s church-planting ministries. The first issue of the new newsletter will be printed and distributed for the final quarter of 2005. Master copies of “Prayer and Praise” will be sent to churches monthly. The new GBNAM website is now online at www.gbnam.org.
Holbrook Heads CMA
Mark Holbrook, a leading layman and adult Sunday School class teacher at the Grace Brethren Church in Orange, CA (Ed Trenner, pastor) was recently elected chairman of the board of directors of the Christian Management Association. Holbrook, who is president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Credit Union in Brea, California, succeeds Jerry E. White, president of The Navigators, who recently completed his term as president of CMA. Holbrook was featured in the May/June, 2004 issue of FGBC World (see archived issues at www.fgbcworld.com). Holbrook and his wife, Cindy, have been leaders at the Orange church for many years. The Christian Management Association, headquartered in San Clemente, CA, serves more than 3,500 leaders and managers from 1,500 Christian organizations and growing churches.
