WHITE UNTO HARVEST

Since blogging last time, I've been priviledged to visit two more of our NAF churches. Last week, Tuesday evening was invested with the Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church in Bethelehem, PA, near Allentown. One of the church leaders, Dale Weaver, led the discussion of the Revelation.
Several were in attendance, including Pastor Larry Humberd and an elder, which began with a fellowship meal together. The church there is placed by the Lord in the midst of a great mission field, and they are taking steps to move out into it. Pray for the Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church, led by Larry Humberd!

Earlier this week I had the joy of challenging the Monday evening gathering in Philadelphia, PA called the Comly Street Chapel. The Lord burdened Mark Rowe with the continuing ministry opportunity in the Wissinoming area, so the doors have remained open.
The numbers were small, but the Lord is honoring Mark's desire and continuing the work begun there. Among others, two young boys were eager learners with open Bibles, and visiting brothers from another MetroGrace work and from Indiana assisted as we worshiped the Lord together. We are confident that Christ is building His church in this neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Pray for the Comly Street Chapel, led by Mark Rowe.

FAITHFUL

That's the word that comes to mind as I reflect back on my visit yesterday evening with Grace Church in Skippach Township, PA. My younger son, Samuel, and I joined the weekly Bible study in the home of Spencer, originally from our church in Simi Valley, CA. In the living room of his home we had house church last night.

Kenn Cosgrove, with his wife Gail, have labored in this part of the Lord's vineyard for over two decades. Much seed has been sown, and some harvest has taken place. Their trust is in the word of the Lord, Who says it "shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it forth" (Isaiah 55:11).

With leadership and vision, the increase will come. Pray for Grace Church in Skippach Township, PA, led by Kenn Cosgrove.

DEFINING "CHURCH"

It is always encouraging to find out that people are reading and paying attention. Last month I wrote in my NAF moderator's eletter that I will be working over and communicating with the readers about how we define, or decide that we have a, “church.” My observation from our regional, national and international fellowships is that there is a lot of variety in how people, both leaders and followers, in our NAF churches are defining and deciding about “church.”

There was response to this issue. Certainly the email from Jerry Young, former long-time pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, PA was helpful. Jerry wrote that he served as chair of the FGBC (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) strategy committee of 1990, which presented a report entitled, “Elements of a Grace Brethren Church” which was approved by the delegates of the national annual conference that year.

It reads as follows:
"A Grace Brethren Church is a local assembly of believers in Jesus Christ who are affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, or its counterpart Fellowship in other nations, and are committed to:
1. One another as a spiritual family;
2. The Statement of Faith as a summary of our biblical belief and practice;
3. The practice of triune-immersion baptism and three-fold communion;
4. Oversight by an elder (or elders) who fulfill(s) scriptural qualifications; and
5. The observance of regular worship services.
The purpose of a local church is the worship of God, the edification and fellowship of believers, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission."
1991 Brethren Annual, page 16

So, as we respond to the challenge of every NAF church bringing a daughter church to our regional conference next year, this statement helps us understand both the mother and daughter churches involved. Jerry added, “To the best of my knowledge, this definition has never been officially altered by later conferences.”

What are your thoughts as we press on in discipling the nations?

CHURCH AT AMERICA'S FAVORITE PASTIME?

What a surprise it was for me to arrive last week at the Limeport, PA baseball field, where a fledgling group is meeting under the leadership of Dick Keller. The surprise was not the group, but where they meet. It really is at the baseball stadium in this beautiful neck of the woods in southern Lehigh County.

It is an easily identifiable and accessible location for the Family Life Fellowship, easy for Sini,the manager of the nearby deli to join us for the Bible discussion. Dick and his wife, Rose, have been faithfully laboring there for over a year, and have high hopes for what God will do in and through them. Recently, they have been especially encouraged by the cooperative ministry with an NAF church, Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church from nearby Bethelehem/Allentown.

Pray for Family Life Fellowship, led by Dick Keller.