Access 2021, the national conference of the Charis Fellowship (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches), kicked off Tuesday morning at Grace Community Church, Goshen, Ind. (Jim Brown, senior pastor).
The morning began with breakfast feature church planters in the Fellowship. Organizations who are developing new congregations in the Fellowship, including Assist Church Expansion, SEEDnet, and MetroGrace introduced individuals who are planting churches in cities like Baltimore, Md.; Columbus, Ohio; Urbana, Ohio; and Detroit, Mich.
At the morning session, Keith Minier, senior pastor at Grace Fellowship Church, Pickerington, Ohio, challenged the conference to continue to embrace the truth of the Bible. He stressed that the truth is real. “The best things you will ever tell your people is the Bible. Start with the truth,” he said.
“The truth is life-giving,” he added. “God is giving us the best things for our soul,” he said. “Whatever you’d be tempted to choose in life, Jesus is better.”
“[Truth] is valuable. “Scripture shows us the mind and heart of God. We should pursue it,” he said.
Lunch was sponsored by Inspire Charis Pastors Fellowship and was designed to encourage pastors and wives. Special speakers were Dan and Jennifer Gregory. (He is the pastor at the Norton campus of Grace Church of Greater Akron, Ohio.) They shared how they protected and strengthened their marriage through more than 30 years of marriage and ministry.
The afternoon was free for conference attendees to fellowship, rest, or explore the area.
The evening began with dinner sponsored by the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation. Retirees from the previous year, Ken Seyfert and Suzanne Kessler, were recognized. Charis Fellowship military chaplains shared about their ministries and provided prayer requests.
Col. George Youstra, U.S. Air Force retired, highlighted the evening session as he spoke on “How the Bible Empowers Leaders Working in Difficult Situations.” He spoke from his more than 30 years of experience in the military, first as an Army ranger and then as an Air Force chaplain.
“You have to engage the Word of God,” he said. “God’s Word is the only thing that provides hope.”
He encouraged the audience to endure with God’s Word. “When you engaged in the Word through trials, you will emerge on the other side because of the promises of Jesus.
The day ended with reception for Liz Cutler Gates, executive director of GraceConnect and BMH Books, who is retiring this fall after nearly 11 years in the position.
Jeremy Byng, worship pastor at the Goshen church, is leading worship.
Access 2021, the national conference of the Charis Fellowship (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches), kicked off Tuesday morning at Grace Community Church, Goshen, Ind. (Jim Brown, senior pastor).
The afternoon was free for conference attendees to fellowship, rest, or explore the area.