Mayor Honors Ohio Church

Andy Wirt (right), associate pastor of the Western Reserve Grace Brethren Church of Macedonia, OH, poses with senior pastor Jason Haymaker and the mayor’s certificate of appreciation recently given to Wirt and the church.
The certificate of appreciation, presented by Macedonia mayor Donald J. Kuchta on behalf of himself and the City Council, cited the members of the church and Pastor Andy Wirt for dedicated service to the city.
The citation reads, in part, “Western Reserve Grace Brethren Church deserves special recognition for their charitable service and refreshment donations on Election Day, Family Fishing Day and the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. They also provided the Christmas caroling entertainment at the Lighting Ceremony.”
Willow Valley Honors Officers

Grace Church at Willow Valley, the Grace Brethren church in Lancaster, PA, (John Smith, pastor) recently held its Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service, which recognizes police officers who have given their lives in the line of duty. Chet Barofski, NJ State Trooper and pastor of Grace Community Church in Hope, NJ, was the speaker. His message included police stories and a challenge to trust Christ as Savior.
A new addition to the service was a recognition of current officers for bravery, outstanding investigative effort, and outstanding officer awards. Local businesses donated gift certificates, savings bonds, TV’s, theatre tickets, and other gifts.According to Steve Doutrich, associate pastor of spiritual formation and administration at the Willow Valley church, nearly 600 people attended, including local politicians and many police officers and their families. Three TV stations covered the event.
Doutrich said, “Everyone heard a clear gospel presentation by Pastor Chet. This is another avenue to share the gospel with people.” (photo courtesy Steve Doutrich)
With the Lord
Laura Peugh, who faithfully served for many years in the Harrah, WA, Grace Brethren Church, died Thursday, April 28, at Grace Village Health Care in Winona Lake, IN, at age 91. Mrs. Peugh had been living in Indiana since 1989, and was a member of the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church. Mrs. Peugh was married in 1938 to Harold Peugh, who died in July of 1987. Surviving are three children: Maurice of Yakima, WA; Roger of Winona Lake, IN; and Mrs. James (Maxine) Currie of Cheboygan, MI. Her son, Roger Peugh, is a former Grace Brethren missionary to Germany and is now on the faculty of Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake.
Dr. K Marie Stolba, an internationally-acclaimed musicologist, music historian, violinist, music educator and composer who taught music at Grace College in the 1970s, died Wednesday, May 18 in Fort Wayne, IN. A professor emerita of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, she had also served as a visiting professor and lecturer at universities and musicologists meetings all over the world. A prolific author, she was best-known for her book The Development of Western Music: A History, which enjoyed wide usage as a college text.
Glenn Roy “Coach” Johnson, 68, who coached baseball at Grace College from 1995-2000, died Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN, after suffering a stroke. Prior to coming to Grace College, for 11 years, Johnson was an assistant high school coach, along with being an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves.
Pastoral Changes
Dave Marksbury has accepted the position of seniors pastor at the Grace Brethren Church of Wooster, Ohio (Bob Fetterhoff, pastor).
Troy Seyfert is the new youth pastor at Blue Ridge Grace Brethren Church in Winchester, VA (Darrel Taylor, pastor) following his graduation from Grace College.
Jon Rauch, who formerly directed the Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia, has accepted a position as children’s pastor with Grace Community Church in Goshen, IN (James Brown, pastor).
Glen Sykes has been called to lead the Grace Brethren Church in San Diego, CA. Pastor Sykes has just graduated from Master’s Seminary and came highly recommended by Pastor John McIntosh and his staff at Simi Valley, CA, GBC where he has been serving while attending seminary. His preaching ministry began the first Sunday in June. Larry Intermill served as interim pastor the previous 15 months.
Pastor Ron Smals resigned from the Ocala, FL, Grace Brethren Church in June and began serving as pastor of the Mansfield, OH, Woodville Grace Brethren Church on July 1. Smals had been at the Florida church for almost 11 years.
Bill Smith concludes his ministry at the Maitland, FL, Grace Brethren Church on August 14, but makes it clear that he is not retiring. “This is not a retirement, as I am looking forward to future ministry,” says Smith.
Jonathan Damon has accepted the call to join the Gateway Church team at Parkesburg, PA (Dan O’Deens, pastor). Jon brings 20 years of faithful pastoral ministry. He has served as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of South Whitley, IN, for more than 10 years. He will share the ministry in a “senior” level role of pastoral leadership with current Senior Pastor Dan O’Deens. Jon will be a teaching pastor and focus widely on shepherding the church.
Women Award Scholarships
Women of Grace USA leaders announce the awarding of two “Honor Her” scholarships to be used for involvement in short-term missions. The scholarships are designed to encourage young women in their desire to reach others with God’s Word and come from gifts of women who wish to honor other women’s lives of faithfulness and service to the Lord.
Kathryn MacMillan has been awarded $750 toward her Grace Brethren International Missions internship in Paris, France, this summer. She is working with GBIM missionaries Dennis and Jeannie Martin. A Grace College sophomore majoring in business and marketing, she is from Tracy, CA, where she is a member of the Tracy Grace Brethren Church.
Rebekah Pinkham was awarded $250 for a spring break missions trip to Urban Encounter in Chicago. A Grace College junior from Washington, IN, she has majors in business administration, finance, and international business.
BNYC Coming July 23-29
Brethren National Youth Conference, the annual national gathering of Grace Brethren teens, will be held at Cedarville University in Cedarville, OH, July 23-29, 2005. BNYC 2004 was at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse, WI. At that event, more than 2,300 teens and youth leaders gathered to worship God and learn more about how to be “GodScent.”
The theme for this year’s conference is “24/7,” based on 1 Peter 3:15-18. Speakers include Josh McDowell, Francis Chan, Ryan Dobson, and many others. BNYC is sponsored by CE National, the Christian Education Department of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. BNYC is open to any students in grades 7-12. BNYC also includes Fusion, a program for high school graduates through 24 years of age, and Generations for parents and adults. E-mail bnyc@cenational.org, log onto www.bnyc.net, or call (574) 267-6622 for more information.