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Grace Brethren Almanac

May 1, 2005

Ten Years Ago – 1995

– Dr. Randall Smith resigned at Ft. Lauderdale GBC to return to his Jerusalem-based ministry in Israel. (Presently, he is pastoring at Sebring, Fla.)
– Dedication services were held April 2 for the new building at Community GBC in Goldendale, Wash., Greg Howell, pastor; and on April 9 for the new sanctuary at Waldorf, Md, Jeff Thornley, pastor.
– Ivanildo Trindade began his ministry as Director of International USA (IUSA), working out of the Wooster, Ohio, GBC. (IUSA is now located in Bellflower, Calif.)
– Ron Boehm was appointed to fill the unexpired term of John Mayes, who retired from the Grace Brethren Home Missions (now GBNAM) board after more than 40 years as a director.
– Bill Smith was called to pastor the First GBC of Ft. Wayne, Ind.
– Bob Clouse concluded 31 years of ministry at Clay City, Ind. (where he continues to pastor the FBC there).
– Steve Poppenfoose became comptroller at Grace College and Seminary after serving in a similar position at GBIM.

Twenty-five Years Ago – 1980
Bob and Lois Belohlavek were approved by GBFM (now GBIM) for missionary service in the Central African Republic.
– Roy Halberg recently accepted the pastorate of the Sacramento, Calif. GBC.
– The GBC of Davenport, Iowa, celebrated its self-support status at a special service with Dr. Lester Pifer as speaker. Lee Myers, pastor.
– Two men were recently ordained at the GBC in Wooster, Ohio: Larry Richeson, pastor in Winona, Minn., and Bud Olszewski, associate pastor at Wooster. Ken Ashman, pastor.
– The GBC of Minerva, Ohio, dedicated a new Christian education unit with Knute Larson as the dedication speaker. Galen Wiley, pastor.
– It was announced that Bill Smith had been appointed personal assistant to the executive secretary at Grace Brethren Home Missions (now GBNAM). He will serve as a church growth consultant.
– The Orlando, Fla. GBC moved its “evening service” to 1:30 in the afternoon following the regular morning services and a potluck dinner. Pastor Ed Jackson said, “It’s great!”

Fifty Years Ago – 1955
R. Paul Miller, Jr. resigned at the Carlton Brethren Church, Garwin, Iowa, to pastor at the Uniontown, Penn. GBC, starting June 1.
– The following record attendances were achieved on Easter Sunday:
Whittier, Calif. (Community GBC, only five years old) – 748 – Ward Miller, pastor
Rittman, Ohio – 277 (SS); 200 (MW) – Charles Ashman, pastor
Akron, Ohio – 1126 – Lee Myers, pastor
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – 151 – Ralph Colburn, pastor
Denver, Colo. – 270 – Tom Inman, pastor
– Robert Griffith resigned as pastor at the Lake Odessa, Mich. GBC
– The engagement of evangelist Bill Smith to Phyllis Schumacher was recently announced. Miss Schumacher was a teacher at the Whittier, Calif. Christian School.
– The Norwalk, Calif. church recently dedicated its new building. Henry Rempel, pastor.
– The Rittman, Ohio, GBC won the championship of the annual Northern Ohio Brethren Church Basketball Tournament. Charles Ashman was pastor/coach. (Read about the exciting overtime championship game in the May 14, 1955 Brethren Missionary Herald, p. 322.)
– Ground-breaking services for new buildings were held at Johnstown, Pa. (Riverside) with Harold Etling as speaker and Ralph Hall, pastor; and at Parkersburg, W. Va. Lester Smitley, pastor.
– W. Carol Miller resigned as pastor at the Washington Heights church in Roanoke, Va., to enter Grace Seminary.
– Gilbert Hawkins, recent graduate of Grace Seminary and student pastor at Berrien Springs, Mich., assumed the position of full time pastor there.

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