Andrew Serafini, the moderator of the Maranatha Grace Brethren Church of Hagerstown, Md. (Jay Fretz, pastor), has been chosen from 19 candidates to fill a vacant house seat in Maryland. A businessman in Hagerstown, he is an advocate of traditional marriage and conservative politics, is filling the Maryland House of Delegates seat vacated by Robert A. McKee.
“By God’s grace, and with the support of both my family and the local constituency, I will serve the community to the best of my ability and use my life experiences as a husband, father, businessman and member of our community to provide servant leadership to District 2A,” Serafini told the Herald-Mail. (Herald-Mail photo by Kevin Gilbert)
Susanne Kessler, business manager for the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation, has been honored for 15 years of service to the Foundation. “We applaud Susanne for her faithful service in behalf of our investors and borrowing churches,” says Larry Chamberlain, president of the Foundation. “Susanne contributes much to the success of the Foundation and we are very pleased with her passion for excellence and her commitment to this strategic ministry of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and the work of the Great Commission.”
Peggy Owens, (pictured on left) an employee of CE National and a member of the Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren church (Bruce Barlow, lead pastor) was honored in March as one of the recipients of a 2008 Heart of Gold Award, presented by the Kosciusko County (Ind.) Community Foundation. Recipients were selected based on their service to others, identifying a need and fulfilling it, working to create positive change and inspiring others to volunteer. Peggy has volunteered at the Kosciusko County Jail for the past nine years bringing her joy of music with her keyboard on Sunday mornings and Monday evenings. She also teaches a Bible study to female inmates.
Mark D. Weinstein is the new Dean of Enrollment and Marketing at Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind. A 1982 Grace College graduate, he also holds an M.S. degree in organizational leadership from Geneva College. In his new position, Mark will lead undergraduate and graduate enrollment and marketing.
Weinstein comes to Grace from his position as director of marketing and public relations at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. Prior to that, he was director of public relations and enrollment marketing at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pa., from 1999-2005, and director of marketing and public relations at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., from 1990-1999.
John Boren has been recognized as the Man of the Year by the Warsaw, Ind. Chamber of Commerce. Boren, is the chaplain at the Kosciusko County Jail in Warsaw. He and his wife, Patti, are members of Community Grace Brethren Church in Warsaw. Normally given to business men and politicians, it is a rare honor for a chaplain to receive the award. John’s contribution to the community through the Kosciusko County Jail Ministry has been exceptional as hundreds of letters poured in, nominating him for the award.
In accepting the recognition, John gave the glory to God by saying, “14 years ago when I was incarcerated I was a thief, a drunk, and a liar… but God touched my life in jail and all the praise goes to Him.”
John’s jail ministry does come out of personal experience behind bars. In 1994, he spent time in the Kosciusko County Jail for conversion (stealing). Those first ten days in February resulted in a different kind of “conversion” that totally changed his life and his destiny. Sitting in a cold jail cell gave John time to think about his relationship with God, and prompted him to receive Christ as his Savior and Lord. John then went about making complete restoration, where possible, for any past sins.
Ministry Moves
Chuck Miller has joined the staff of Southern Hills Community Church, a developing Grace Brethren church in North Royalton, Ohio (Mike Stern, pastor), as part-time associate pastor.
After 15 years, Larry Edwards is concluding his ministry as pastor of the Southview Grace Brethren Church in Ashland, Ohio, in June 2008.