One of the Brethren groups descended from the Alexander Mack (seal at right) baptism in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708, is the Old German Baptist Brethren group. It is one of six groups which, along with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, participates in the Brethren Encyclopedia Project and is cooperating in organizing a 300th year celebration in Germany in August of 2008. These “cousins in the faith” are meeting this coming week for their annual conference. Here is an excerpt of an article in today’s Carroll County (Indiana) Comet–to see the entire article click on http://www.carrollcountycomet.com/news/2007/0523/Front_Page/005.html . For more information on the OGBB’s Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio, go to www.brethrenheritagecenter.org.
Fellowship and encouragement among brethren will be a running theme throughout the Old German Baptist Brethren Annual Conference May 26-29 on the Donald L. Hufford farm, 8101N. CR600W., two miles southwest of Rossville in Clinton County.
Each year, brethren from across the nation arrange a weekend of renewal of spirit and friendships to commemorate the anniversary of the Holy Spirit’s descent upon the church. The event is held in different regions of the country on a rotation basis.
Preparations for the four-day series of meetings began more than two years ago with the formation of a seven-member committee of arrangements. Since then, 30 more committees were formed, each designed to handle a specific function of the conference.
Before the conference officially gets under way, worship, dining, rest and meeting facilities will be put in place on tentraising day, May 24. More than 35 acres of land surrounding the Hufford farm was sown in grass last year to provide meeting room for the anticipated six to seven thousand visitors. Church members will put final details in place the rest of the day Thursday and all day Friday.
Public welcome to attend
Members of the public are welcome to attend services during the conference that begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and continues each day at designated times. Visitors are asked to wear modest attire and that no photographs be taken inside tents during worship services.
Services on Pentecost Sunday will be held at 7 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the council tent. Additionally 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. services will be held in the auxiliary tent and Middle Fork meeting house, one-half mile south of the conference site.
A Love Feast involving self examination, foot-washing, Lord’s Supper, observation of the Holy Kiss, and Holy Communion will occur Sunday at 5 p.m. in the dining tent. Only active church members may participate. However, the public is welcome to observe.
Visitors may also attend Monday preaching services held at 7 p.m. at area churches – Middle Fork, North Fork near Pyrmont, Bachelor Run in Flora and Deer Creek near Camden.
Late addition: Our friend Craig Myers over at Dunker Journal has posted some interesting photos of the tent-raising in his May 24 posts, which may be seen here: http://www.brfwitness.org/Journal/journal.htm
