Last week marked the 300th issue of GraceConnect eNews! Since the first newsletter in June 2013, we have told a new story each week of what God is doing in and through the people and churches of the Charis Fellowship (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches). With last week’s issue, we took a look back at a few of the stories we’ve told over those 300 weeks and provide an update. (Click on the gray header to read the original story.)
It Takes a Church
Grace Community Church, Goshen, Ind., joined in the fun when the Game Show Network (GSN) matchmaking show, It Takes a Church, with Natalie Grant as the host, filmed at the church. (GraceConnect eNews shared the story in June 2014.) Pastor Jim Brown reports that the couple didn’t stay together, but “it was a great time for our church and we had an incredible opportunity to share Jesus with Hollywood producers and their crews.”
“God let us plant the seed of the Gospel in many ways. Plus we had numerous opportunities to spend time with Natalie Grant and her daughters. She shared that the filming at our church was one of her favorite places to film,” Pastor Jim adds.
If you missed the show in 2014, you can catch reruns on Amazon Prime.
[Connect:]
Click here to send a note of encouragement to Jim Brown.
40 Years of Service
In April 2015 we introduced you to Joyce Fitz, the long-time secretary at the Grace Brethren Church, Waynesboro, Pa. She’s held that position since December 1974. “I have worked with six wonderful men of God (pastors). As of now, the Lord has given me good health so I will continue to serve Him in this position as long as it is His will.” Her current pastor/boss is Tim Clothier.
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Click here to send a note of encouragement to Joyce.
Moving on Up
We always like to share stories of new congregations in the Charis Fellowship. In March 2016, we introduced Joel and Morgan Trainer who had just joined the staff of Movement Church, Hilliard, Ohio (Mark Artrip, pastor), as Church Planting Residents. Still a young church itself and located on the west side of metropolitan Columbus, Ohio, Movement Church was committed to reproducing itself. After a year, the Trainers moved across the metro area and planted Three Creeks Church in Gahanna, Ohio.
“Our church started in February 2018 with about 100 people on our Launch Team,” reports Joel. “In 2019, we’re averaging 180 people, we’ve baptized 17 people, we have 131 people in small groups, we have 135 people serving on volunteer teams, we’ve saved almost $30,000 designated for our next church plant, we’ve given away more than $50,000 in Local Impact and Global Impact ministries, we’re going self-supporting in July 2019, and we’re planning towards going to two services in the fall of 2019. God is doing amazing things. All the credit and glory goes to Him and Him alone. We are so thankful for His generosity and favor – and we’re eager to see what God will do in the years to come!”
Following the example of their “mother” church, Three Creeks is planning to reproduce itself somewhere in the Columbus area in the foreseeable future.
[Connect:]
Click here to send a note of encouragement to Joel and Morgan.