The national conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches was held July 26-31 at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio (Dave Plaster, pastor). More than 500 people registered to participate in the annual meeting, take classes and seminars, and enjoy the fellowship of Grace Brethren people from around the world.

Among the highlights were the celebration of 100 years of ministry in Argentina by Grace Brethren International Missions, welcoming four new churches and three new national ministries into the fellowship, and the introduction of the new executive director for the Brethren Missionary Herald Company (effective January 1), Liz Cutler Gates. Tom Hocking, 2009-2011 moderator of the fellowship, challenged the conference to establish life-giving relationships in the secular spaces of one’s life in the spirit of the Commitment to Common Mission, as developed by last summer’s international Charis gathering of Grace Brethren leaders from around the globe.

Next year’s conference, Celebrate10, will be held July 16-20, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio.