Ten Years Ago – September, 1995
Among the new churches received into the Fellowship at the National Conference in San Diego were ValleyLife GBC, Peoria, Arizona (Ed Waken, pastor), Brethren Bible Church, Hemet, California (William Kitchell), and Iglesia Evangelica de los Hermanos, Yakima, Washington (Abner Solano).
Twenty-five Years Ago – September, 1980
The Pleasant Grove GBC in North English, Iowa, celebrated its 100th anniversary; it is the oldest Brethren church in the state. From it came Miss Estella Myers, pioneer missionary to Africa; Don Miller, also a missionary to Africa; and his brother, J. Paul Miller, long time pastor in Modesto, California. All three are now with the Lord. At the C. E. Convention, the Lititz, Penna., church was named as having the “Sunday School of the Year.” Janice Thornton, Sunnyside, Wash., was honored as “Educator of the Year.”
At the national conference, C. E. National sponsored an Open House at their new facilities. A “meeting under the trees” in Winona Park was held to recognize the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Foreign Missionary Society (now GBIM). Home Missions announced that Larry Chamberlain had been named as administrative coordinator.
Gerald Polman assumed the pastorate of the GBC in Lansing, Michigan.
Fifty Years Ago – September, 1955
“Hundreds were on their knees until midnight in prayer and confession.” “The Holy Spirit gave us a refreshing not seen in any conference or fellowship meeting in the Brethren church within the last fifty years.” These were descriptions of the national conference of 1955 in Portland, Oregon. The foundation walls were poured and joists were ready to be laid at the new Brethren denominational building in Winona Lake (now the Brethren Missionary Herald building).
The Whittier Calif. First Brethren Church dedicated its new youth center.
Charles Ashman preached his last sermon at the Rittman, Ohio, FBC before moving to pastor the church in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Ashland, Ohio, FBC purchased four acres to establish a second church in the southern part of the city. Tom Julien, seminary middler, was called to serve as assistant to Pastor Mark Malles at the Ft. Wayne, Indiana, FBC.
Bill Byers, a Bob Jones University graduate, was called to be assistant pastor and director of music at the Kittanning, Pennsylvania, FBC.