Although it’s still snowy and blowy in Winona Lake, Indiana, summer is very much on our minds. Specifically, Equip07 national conference, which will be held in Winona Lake the dates of July 28-August 3, 2007.
A group representing all the national organizations and the Fellowship Coordinator’s office has been meeting every several months to plan conference events in addition to all the courses and workshops that will be offered.
Just a few of the general highlights include the AGBM annual meeting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 29; a conference plenary session Monday night with guest speaker Brad Powell; moderator’s address by Jim Brown on Wednesday evening; and daily events sponsored by the cooperating national organizations.
Sunday evening (July 29) will feature a joint business meeting of the corporations from FGBC, Brethren Missionary Herald Co., and Grace College and Seminary. The late-evening event is a dedication service for the new Orthopaedic Capital Center on the Grace Campus. Monday Grace Brethren Investment Foundation will sponsor a dinner and chaplains’ event at 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday evening will be the Grace Brethren International Missions international fair with food and entertainment, plus corporation business meetings of GBIM and GBNAM.
Wednesday CE National plans a dinner/open house and following the evening’s moderator’s address there will be a twilight BMH authors’ autograph party at the Tree of Life bookstore with free refreshments and fellowship time on the plaza/patio with entertainment.
Thursday evening Grace Village Retirement Center will sponsor a chicken barbecue and Brethren Missionary Herald Co. will again sponsor an open hymnsing in the Grace Village chapel at 6:15 p.m. The Brethren History and Heritage tour will be that evening also, as will an “open sports night” at the Gordon Recreation Center.
Friday, is the final day of conference—classes conclude at 4:30 p.m. Course information, childcare details, and seniors conference information are all on the FGBC website at www.equip07.com.
Here is a quick summary of BMH-related events for the week:
Sunday – Corporation meeting. Anyone who contributes $25 to BMH and is affiliated with a Grace Brethren church is a corporation member. All corporation membership revenues this year are going to support literature development in the Central African Republic.
Wednesday – Twilight BMH authors’ autograph party at Tree of Life bookstore at 9 p.m.
Thursday – Hymnsing at Grace Village at 6:15 p.m.
Brethren History and Heritage bus tour, hosted by Dr. David Plaster, will leave at 5 p.m. Thursday from Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church. Tour and lectures include Arnold’s Grove in Milford (site of 1882 split), tour of murals and statues and dinner at Camp Alexander Mack, and concludes with a visit to MennoHof Anabaptist Interpretive Center in Shipshewana, Indiana. Tour includes special historical gift to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement, begun in Schwarzenau, Germany, by Alexander Mack in 1708.
Plan now to join us for this great week of fellowship, equipping, and inspiration.