March 2005

Hostage reads ‘Purpose-Driven Life’to alleged Atlanta courthouse killerBy Erin Curry ATLANTA (BP)–Ashley Smith, the Atlanta-area woman taken hostage by the subject of the largest manhunt in Georgia history March 12, calmed the alleged killer by reading an excerpt from “The Purpose-Driven Life” and talking with him about God. She escaped by persuading him to let […]

Sandi Avey, wife of FGBC Coordinator Tom Avey, was suprised at noon today with a party at Byers Music Hall on the Grace College campus honoring her 50th birthday. Sandi is secretary in the music department–those attending included her children and grandchildren, music faculty and students, college administrators, and personnel from the FGBC and BMH

Ted Rondeau, chief development officer for Grace Brethren International Missions, sends the following open invitation to a web/phone conference: Grace Brethren International Missions would like to invite you to participate in a free, interactive web conference, hosted by one of our ministry partners, PhilanthroCorp. For some time now, GBIM has benefited from a relationship with

This morning’s Fort Wayne (IN) Journal-Gazette newspaper carries the incredible faith story of a Grace College alumnus and her husband. Larry and Cheryl Lawlor have been through separation of conjoined twins (Journal-Gazette photo), job loss, destruction by tornado of their home, and diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening cancer. Cheryl sums up, “God has never promised

Miriam Pacheco, who is currently in the Central African Republic assisting GBIM missionary Barb Wooler in Pygmy and orphan-care ministries, is sending periodic e-mail reports of her visit. Here are excerpts from her latest, dated Friday, March 11: Bala mingi ~ (bah lah MEENG ghee, Many greetings) We have been having fun getting to meet

Jim Hocking, long-time missionary to Central African Republic, recently returned from a four-week trip to Africa. Hocking heads Integrated Community Development International (ICDI), a non-governmental non-profit organization working in healthcare, AIDS awareness, literacy, orphan care and well drilling. Here are excerpts from his report of his most recent trip. For more information on ICDI, click

MasterWorks Festival and Christian Performing Artist Fellowship, headed by Grace College music faculty member Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh, have set Monday, March 14 as a day of prayer for the spiritual impact of the MasterWorks Festivals and invite interested believers to join them in prayer that day. Praying every five minutes on the hour from 9

Miriam Pacheco, shown here playing educational games with orphans in the Central African Republic, is currently on a six-week trip to the CAR to assist GBIM missionary Barb Wooler in her ministry with Pygmies and orphans. Here are excerpts from Miriam’s latest e-mail report: Let me tell you a little bit about what’s happening around

Billboard Magazine released its list of top ten contemporary Christian albums in this week’s issue. They are: 1. “The Beautiful Letdown,” Switchfoot. Sparrow. (Platinum – signifying more than 1 million copies sold) 2. “WOW Hits 2005: 31 of the Year’s Top Christian Artists and Hits,” Various Artists. Word. 3. “Casting Crowns,” Casting Crowns. Beach Street.

Grace Brethren chaplain James Schaefer, serving in Afghanistan, has sent along this photo of some children at an orphanage in Kandahar, Afghanistan, which his troops have “adopted” for long-term friendship and communication. This was “Friendship Day”on March 3 at the Shaeed Abdul Karzi orphanage in Kandahar when 3-7 Field Artillery (one of the units attached