Ten Years Ago – 1996
- About 1000 people, all in some way touched by Ralph’s life, attended a memorial service for Pastor Ralph Colburn. He had served as the first National Youth Director in the Fellowship; had taught an early Bible class in Seal Beach, CA, planted the first GBC in Florida, and served several churches in southern California. (Read more about him in Heroes Who Live On, Vol. 2 published by BMH Books.)
- Steve Makofka, now pastor in Centerville, Ohio, was ordained to the ministry the preceding fall at the GBC of Greater Atlanta, Georgia.
- John Patrick, recently retired US Army chaplain, was installed as pastor at the Kittanning, PA, GBC in January.
Fifteen Years Ago – 1991
- James Laird accepted the pastorate at the Martinsburg, PA, GBC.
- Dr. (Major) Mark Connelly, of the Lititz, PA, GBC was killed in action in the Persian Gulf War. Jerry Young, pastor.
- The Ocala, FL, GBC went self-supporting this year. Chuck Davis, pastor.
Twenty Years Ago – 1986
- Bob Thompson, executive director of Grace Brethren Home Missions, announced the closing of the Brethren Messianic Testimony in Los Angeles.
- Ruth Ann Cone (now Mrs. Sterling Theobold) arrived in Lyon, France, to serve with Grace Brethren Foreign Missions after serving 16 years in central Africa and several yeas teaching at the Black Forest Academy in Germany.
- Brenda Welling began serving with GBFM in the Mexican Border ministry.
- Resignations: Gerald Polman, pastor in Lansing, MI; Galen Lingenfelter, pastor for 14 years at Ft. Wayne, IN, GBC (both to retire); and Ron Guiles, pastor at the Lehigh Valley GBC in Bethlehem, PA.
- Tom Julien, formerly missionary in France and European Coordinator for GBFM, was appointed GBFM executive director to succeed retiring director Jack Zielasko.
- The Vicksburg GBC, Hollidaysburg, PA, celebrated its 100th anniversary in January while the Tracy, CA, GBC celebrated its 50th on March 1.
- The 1986 class of GBFM appointees included Bill and Becky Kiddoo, still serving in England and two couples now serving in the U.S.: Dan and Rachel Jackson, Germany and Ted and Kirsten Kirnbauer, Japan.
Twenty-five Years Ago – 1981
- The Ephrata Area GBC, PA, and the Ormond Beach, FL GBC went self-supporting at the beginning of the year.
- The Gulfview GBC, Port Ritchey, FL began services on Jan. 4 under the leadership of new pastor Jim Poyner.
- The Island Pond, VT GBC dedicated its new sanctuary in January with Lester Pifer as the featured speaker. Warren Tamkin, pastor.
- Missionary appointees who attended the FMS (now GBIM) 1981 candidate school included Bob and Lois Belohlavek, Dan and Nancy Green, Nancy McMunn, Ike and Nancy Graham, Joyce Deacon, Dan and Grace Pettman, Tom and Susan Sharp, and Les and Ruth Vnasdale.
- It was announced that Kurt Miller had been ordained to the ministry at the GBC of Richmond, VA last fall.
- Mason Cooper was scheduled to hold special meetings in Johnstown, Hopewell, Kittanning, and Uniontown, PA and in Elkhart and Flora, IN.
- At the FMS board meetings, approval was given to begin construction of a new missionary residence. Marvin and Dorothy Goodman were assigned to serve in the Cameroon.
- Homer A. Kent, Sr. went to be with the Lord on March 5. He had been pastor in Washington, D.C. for 15 years prior to joining the first faculty of Grace Seminary where he served for many years as professor, registrar, and vice president. He had been FGBC moderator in 1968 and served for 48 years on the foreign missions board. Read more about him in Heroes Who Live On, Vol. 1 available at www.bmhbooks.com.)
Thirty Years Ago – 1976
- President Herman Hoyt led in the groundbreaking service for the new Science Center at Grace College.
- Twenty-one members of the Dayton, OH, FBC were commission to begin a new church in the Centerville, OH, area. Pastor G. Forrest Jackson.
- Rose Foster, retired missionary for French Equatorial Africa (now CAR), died on January 22. Her husband, Joe, died on the field in 1951. Dr. E. William Male spoke at Rose’s memorial service.
- The death of Elmer Tamkin on February 26 was reported. He had served as the first general secretary (director) of BIF (now GBIF) from 1956 to 1958.
Thirty-Five Years Ago – 1971
- Leland Friesen was ordained to the ministry at the Cuyahoga Falls, OH GBC on February 1. Special speaker was Howard Mayes.
Forty Years Ago-1966
- The “Heralds of Grace” cut a new record entitled “Grace College Presents.” Quartet members were Dave Miller, Dennis Beach, Don Farner, and Terry White.
- The Simi, CA GBC dedicated a new 2,000 sq. ft. building, Elmer Fricke, pastor.
Fifty Years Ago – 1956
- Donald Ogden, assistant professor of music at Grace College, was ordained to the ministry in the Grace Seminary chapel on March 8. His father, W. A. Ogden, and brother, Russell, participated in the service.
- The Middlebranch, OH, GBC burned its mortgage in February. Wes Haller, pastor.
- Herman Hein was ordained at the Goshen, IN, GBC. Speaker was Paul Dick.
- A groundbreaking service was held for the Mansfield, OH, Woodville GBC on March 25. Gene Witzky, pastor.
Sixty Years Ago – 1946
- The first Grace Brethren Spanish-speaking church in North America was opened in Taos, NM, Mark Malles, pastor-missionary, under the auspices of the Home Missions Council.
- Marvin and Dorothy Goodman arrived safely at Bozoum, French Equatorial Africa, to begin their missionary service.