The Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches will hold its annual conference-and 50th anniversary celebration-at the Elizabethtown, PA, Grace Brethren Church on Sunday, March 19, 2006, from 3:30 to 8 p.m.
NAF coordinator Kork Moyer, along with current moderator Larry Humberd and incoming moderator Jeff Hoffard, is encouraging anyone who has photos of NAF activities of the past 50 years to lend them for the occasion.
Moyer says, “We would appreciate any NAF pictures that you might have available to post online, helping us to reminisce. Our forthcoming Moderator, Jeff Hoffard, will be focusing us on this theme for 2006-2007 ‘From WOW to Worship,’ looking back on where we have been, but looking forward to God’s work for us.”
A Brief History
When the Grace Brethren movement began in 1939, there were two districts in the eastern U.S.–the Pennsylvania District (later changed to the East District), including churches in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and the Southeast District, including churches in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Washington D.C.
The wide area covered by the East and Southeast Districts made fellowship difficult, so in 1945 the problem was solved by the forming of seven churches into the Atlantic Fellowship of Brethren Churches, composed of the easternmost churches in the East and Southeast Districts.
Within eleven years, the expanding Atlantic District was divided into northern and southern portions to enhance the work of the Lord. The northern portion became the “Northern Atlantic District,” and received official recognition by the Annual Conference in Winona Lake, Indiana, on August 21, 1956.
The original seven churches were in Allentown (Bethlehem), PA, Harrisburg, PA, Hatboro, PA, Palmyra, PA, Philadelphia, PA (1st Brethren and 3rd Brethren), and York, PA.
Currently, this Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches consists of thirty churches in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New England. With strong church planting, camping, youth and many other auxiliary organizations, the vibrant Northern Atlantic Fellowship continues to be blessed of God with growth.
Access the NAF website at www.gbnaf.org.