Program & Report Book

124 th Genera l Conference of The Brethren Church

July 18-22 , 2012

Greetings and welcome to the 124th General Conference of The Brethren Church!

The vision of the Brethren Church is to embrace a NEW DAY of transformed leadership,

resulting in transformed congregations, whose mission is the transformation of their communities in the power of the Holy Spirit.

General Conference gives us the opportunity to reconnect relationally, to share and celebrate our missional and global progress, to wrestle with and explore our effectiveness in reproducing disciples and churches, and to improve ministry sustainability as we learn how to overcome barriers to advance the kingdom of God locally, regionally and globally.

Since we gathered last year, in what ways has your congregation, or have you personally, walked on the transformation path? What stories can you share that would allow us to celebrate the “greater things” Jesus promises to

do in and through us? Share these widely and freely.

This year we continue the format change of beginning on Wednesday and concluding on Sunday. We will use the first two days of our conference to worship, fellowship and conduct the necessary business of the Brethren as an organization. Reports contained in this booklet describe the efforts and ministry conducted on our behalf by our excellent and committed national office personnel, executive board, committees, and various ministry teams.

The last two days or so, we seek to sharpen and shape our view of transformational ministry. Various speakers like Brandon Hatmaker and Hugh Halter, along with the workshop leaders, will challenge us on a personal level and corporate level to transform the way we see, think about and feel towards serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Hosting this event over a weekend enables those Brethren within driving distance to join the Conference without having to take off a whole week of work. We hope that this encourages pastors to bring their ministry teams with them. We have the technology and will again live-stream our main sessions to Brethren around the world

During conference week, we will celebrate the ministry of global partners David and Jenny Loi, who are retiring this year. David and Jenny’s children, Rebecca and Stephen will join us as well.

In 2010 we adopted a purpose statement for our week together: General Conference is dedicated to developing transformative leaders who will return to their congregations having been inspired and further equipped to impact their communities. I encourage us to pray for that result.

Two more things:

1. Please, remember to pray for our youth who are meeting on the AU campus this week for the Engage Conference.

2. Also, please keep Ron Waters in your prayers as well. Due to health reasons, he resigned his term as moderator in May. The executive board asked me to serve in an interim capacity from that time through Conference week. I humbly accepted this role. I am no Ron Waters, but hopefully, we have a blessed and transformative time together.

Timothy P. Garner

able of ontentsT CConference Information ...............................................................4-5

Daily SchedulesWednesday ..................................................................................... 6Thursday......................................................................................... 7Friday ............................................................................................. 8Saturday ......................................................................................... 9Sunday ........................................................................................... 9Business Session Agenda ............................................................ 10General Conference Organization ................................................ 11Conference Workshop Information ............................................... 12Ashland University Campus Map ................................................. 14

Denominational ReportsExecutive Director ........................................................................ 15Executive Board ........................................................................... 20Church Mobilization ...................................................................... 21Church Multiplication .................................................................... 23Youth Advisors Committee.. ..................................................... ... 24

Financial and Statistical ReportsStatement of Financial Condition.................................................. 25Statement of Operations..........................................................26-272008 Church Giving Summary ................................................28-31Statistician’s Report .................................................................32-34

Other ReportsBrethren Retirement Plan ............................................................. 35Polity Committee .......................................................................... 35Ashland Theological Seminary ..................................................... 36Ashland University ........................................................................ 36Ashland University Campus Ministry ............................................ 37Riverside Christian School ........................................................... 38Chaplain Endorsing Agent ............................................................ 38Ministry Team Reports .............................................................39-41 Puerto Maldonado, Brethren Peace Initiative, PhilippinesGreetings from Global Partners ...............................................42-45A Tribute to David and Jenny Loi .................................................. 49

Conference InformationAnnouncementsAnnouncements of general interest will be announced during morning worship, and also will be displayed on the video screens before worship. If you have an announcement pertaining to General Conference, please submit it in writing at the Conference Headquarters, located in the hallway outside the main worship area. Announcements must be received by 3:00 p.m. to be included in the following day’s announcements.

DelegatesAll delegate credentials will be received at the Conference Headquarters in the hallway outside of the main worship area. Schedule is as follows: Wednesday Noon - 4:00 p.m. Friday 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Wednesday 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Thursday 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Thursday 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.Business Meetings are Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Other times may be available as the conference moderator sees fit.

Conference AttendeesDelegates and Non-Delegates who did not pre-register are asked to please register at the Conference Headquarters. This includes guests who come for the day, but not those who come for a luncheon or banquet only. All conference attendees are asked to pay a $75.00 registration fee (this is a $60 registration fee plus a $15 late fee) which helps to cover the cost of facilities, speakers, etc.

Conference HeadquartersThe Conference Headquarters is located in the hallway outside of the main worship area in Hugo Young Theater. This is your place for questions, handouts, and just about anything you need during the week. Headquarters will be staffed ½ hour before and after worship and ½ hour after business sessions. This will also be the location of the ballot box.

Meals & BanquetsAttendance at banquets and luncheons is by registration only. There are no additional ticket sales at Conference. Prepaid tickets are in your name badge.

ENGAGEThe youth of the Brethren Church have an exciting packed week ahead of them. This year youth will be worshiping in the Ashland University Chapel. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and worship begins at 7:00 p.m. If you would like a schedule of ENGAGE activities to join them for their late night movie, please ask for a program book at the Conference Headquarters.

Check OutIf you are leaving Conference early and need to check out of your dorm room, please see the AU Housing Rep at the Conference Headquarters to turn in your dorm key during their hours. Regular check out will be Sunday morning 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. in the Lobby of Clark Hall.

W.M.S. Registration Table HoursW.M.S. Registration is located in lobby of the Hugo Young Theater. Times for registration will be posted at their tables.

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International Leaders & MissionariesWe are pleased to welcome home David & Jenny Loi, along with their grown children Stephen and his wife Pearl, and Rebecca, from our International Partnershp in Malaysia. Please join us Thursday evening at the Global Dinner to celebrate the 38 years of ministry the Loi family had in Malaysia and China. We rejoice with them as they enter into their next season of ministry.

Emergency People from home may call the Brethren Church National Office toll free at 877-289-1708 to leave messages for you while you are at Conference. We’ll get the message to you as quickly as possible.

India Pastors and OrphansOpportunities to sponsor India Pastors and Orphans are available. See Linda Immel for more information. Pastor sponsorship is $50.00 per month and Orphans are $30.00 per month.

Name BadgesEveryone attending General Conference and ENGAGE must have a name badge to be recognized as a participant in our conference. Only those with a name badge will be admitted to sessions. If you are visiting please make sure to register so that you have a badge.

General Conference OfferingThe General Conference Offering will be used to continue the momentum to build in our church multiplication movement. While we celebrate the three new churches planted over the last several years, we are pleased to report that Ohio has approved two new churches, Mission Church and Pastor Josh Coffee, and City Center Church and Pastor Bill Ludwig. Additional new church plants are in the foreseeable future for the Northeast, Southeast and Northern California Districts. Regional Church Planting Coordinators are in place and/or being identified for Northeast, Ohio, Indiana, Southwest, and Northern California Districts. Be in prayer about what you or your church may be able to contribute to this year’s start up grant to support Church Multiplication in The Brethren Church.

Under the TentSo many exciting things are happening among the Brethren, we want to give you an opportunity to hear from as many people as possible. Watch for an announcement slide each day that will tell you about people who will be sharing their passions with us “Under the Tent”. Please join us for these 30 to 40 minute times either before or after a session. Listen for more details each day.

Conference Information

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11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Blood Drive Recreation Center

Noon Check-in Opens Hugo Young Theater

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Women’s Missionary Society Meeting Park Street Brethren Church

National Association of Brethren Church Elders Meeting Student Center Auditorium

4:30 p.m - 6:00 p.m. Evening Worship Hugo Young Theater Speakers: Ron Waters, Ken Hunn

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Elders, Spouses, and Staff Gathering Bill & Marla Johnson’s house 1023 Twp. Rd. 1682, Ashland

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July 18, 2012

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This evening’s speakers:

Ron Waters served this year as Confer-ence Moderator and he is also pastor at the North Georgetown, Ohio Brethren Church. He has been in pastoral ministry for the past 27 years, and prior to that he served in several denominational capacities. He and Norma have a married daughter and one grandson.

After 23 years of pastoral ministry in two Brethren congregations, Ken Hunn accepted the challenge of becoming Executive Director of The Brethren Church in 2003.

He and Nancy have been married for 35 years and have three grown children. They became first-time grandparents in February.

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Team Processing Time at Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Worship & Business Session 1 Hugo Young Theater

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Budget Workshop Room 115

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Ladies Luncheon (ticket required for meal) Park Street Brethren Church

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Women’s Missionary Society Meeting Park Street Brethren Church

National Association of Brethren Church Elders Student Center Auditorium

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Workshops (descriptions found on pages 8-9) Nuts & Bolts: Children’s Safety & Church Finances Room 115

Leading from the Moderator’s Chair Room 101

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Evening Worship Hugo Young Theater Speakers: Bill Ludwig, Gary Diehl

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Global Dinner Honoring the Loi’s (ticket required for meal) Park Street Brethren Church

8:30 p.m. Ministry Wives Gathering 5 Stones Community Church Quarry

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Church Planting Coordinator Bill Ludwig is a 2006 graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary and a 2003 graduate of the University of Akron. He has served as Church Planting Coordi-nator since June 2006. Bill is involved personally in planting churches in Northeast Ohio and providing lead-ership development and internship opportunities for ministry leaders in the region. Bill and his wife Jennifer are the proud parents of Noah and Emily.

Gary Diehl serves the Brethren Church as Church Health and Resource Specialist. He enjoys helping pastors, leaders and churches ask and answer the right questions based on their unique circumstances and context of ministry. A member of First Brethren of North Georgetown, he worked as a product manager in a business setting before joining the national office staff, and earned his B.A. in business from Malone University. He also serves churches beyond the Brethren context as a lead consultant and coach with Living Stones Associates. He and his wife Nancy have four children and four grandchildren.

This evening’s speakers:

July 20, 2011

ridayF8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Team Processing Time at Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m Worship & Business Session 2 Hugo Young Theater

12:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Global Paradigm Luncheon “Making Disciples in a Global Context” (ticketed event) Park Street Brethren Church Family Life Center

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Workshops (descriptions found on pages 8-9) Coaching & Leadership Room 101

Generis (Stewardship) Room 102

Global Partners Update Room 115

Crucial Conversations Room 242

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Evening Worship Speaker: Hugh Halter

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Hugh Halter is the national director of Missio, a ministry team committed to training, devel-oping, and apprenticing Incarnational leaders for the church. Hugh is also lead architect of Adullum, a local movement of missional com-munities in Denver, CO. Hugh is co-author of The Tangible Kingdom, and the accompanying

Tangible Kingdom Primer, as well as AND...The Gathered & Scattered Church. Hugh is an advocate for disoriented God seekers and loves to inspire and re-orient leaders around the mission of God.

ISBN 978-0-8010-1359-1

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aturdaySJuly 21, 2011

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Team Processing Time at Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Worship & Teaching Hugo Young Theater Speakers: Hugh Halter, Brandon Hatmaker, Ron VanderGriend

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Speaker Luncheon (ticketed event) Park Street Brethren Church Family Life Center Speakers: Hugh Halter, Brandon Hatmaker

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Workshops (descriptions found on pages 8-9) Intentional interim Room 242

Transform One Room 101

Missional Panel Room 115

Spiritual GPS Room 102

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10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Worship & Teaching Hugo Young Theater Speaker: Ken Hunn

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Evening Worship Speaker: Brandon Hatmaker

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undaySJuly 22, 2011

Brandon Hatmaker is an author, church planter, and missional strate-gist. He currently serves as lead pastor of Austin New Church and is a ministry coach with Missio. He is co-founder of Restore Communities which, together with ANC, has developed a network of missional communities, churches, and non-profits which seek to impact their city and world.

Ron VanderGriend has trained over 15,000 church planters - start-ing more than 30,000 churches in 30 difficient countries. Ron’s unique approach to training, equipping & releasing leaders into the world will challenge your viewpoint of global missions, church planting and what it looks like to create a disciple.

123rd General Conference Business SessionsThursday and Friday, July 19-20 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Instructions

1. If you wish to address the conference, use one of the microphones in the aisles.

2. The first time you speak to a given item of business, please distinctly announce your name and the church or organization you are representing.

3. If you offer a motion that is other than routine, please present that motion in writing to the moderator, who will then pass it on to the secretary.

Following is a summary of the major items of agenda. The order of the agenda will be determined by the moderator as is appropriate. Reports in this booklet will not be presented orally, so please read all printed reports prior to the business sessions.

Call to worship

Reports at the beginning of each session (as necessary)

• Approval of minutes

• Conference Membership Committee

• Rules and Organization Committee

• Polity Committee

• Approval of congregational status

Celebration of God’s work among and through us

Action items:

• Elections

• Adoption of 2013 budget

• Acceptance of reports

• Authority for final approval of the minutes

• Other proposals

Announcements and recognitions

• Retiring leaders

• Time and place of future General Conferences

Commissioing of leaders

Blessing and adjournment of 124th conference business sessions

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ExECUTIvE BOARD

Acting Moderator .............................................................................Tim GarnerExecutive Director ......................................................................Kenneth HunnRepresentative from Ashland Theological Seminary ......................Dale Stoffer Term ending 2012 ...............................................Richard Morris, Jayne Wilcox Term ending 2013 ....................................................Scott Soden, Vickie Taylor Term ending 2014 ........................................................Tim Garner, Pat Gravatt

GENERAL CONFERENCE STANDING COMMITTEES

General Conference Organization

Nominating Committee Elders: Ron Burns (chair) Alan Schmiedt Laymen: Gene Geaslen Keith Immel Laywomen: Kathleen Dowdy LaDonna Machado Reed

Church Polity 2012 - Emery Hurd (chair)2013 - Dale Stoffer 2014 - Josh Coffee 2015 - John Swope 2016 - Brenda Colijn

Rules & Organization 2012 - Brad Weidenhamer (chair) 2013 - Ray Aspinall 2014 - Jim Hollinger

Conference Membership Rex McConahay (chair), Bev Baker, Bobbi Gilmer, Sherry Houghton, Bobbi McConahay, Donna RuLon, Sally Ellis

Ways and Means Sue Hurd (chair). Jim McGraw, Janet Hoffman, Susie Black, Wes Ellis

RETIREMENT FUND, INC, OF THE BRETHREN CHURCH Board of Trustees

2012 - Wes Glass 2013 - Dale RuLon 2014 - Emery Hurd

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Budget Discussion Ken Hunn & Stan GentleInterested in learning more about the Brethren Church’s national budget? Questions, conversation and dialog are all welcome with Ken Hunn and Stan Gentle. Learn how finances are allocated and how they support the New Day Vision for the Brethren Church

Leading from the Moderator’s Chair Pat Gravatt - Mt. Olive, VirginiaJoin local Moderator Pat Gravatt for an informal discussion of leading as a Moderator in a local church. Did you know there are resources that can help guide your meetings? Did you know there are tools that can empower you to make your church healthier? Join Pat for this conversation and to meet other Moderators in the Brethren Church.

Nuts & Bolts - Financial and Child Protection Nate Shultz & Mennonite MutualHow does your church handle its finances? What accountability practices do you have? How do you protect children while they are at your church? Find out some helpful hints for both of these topics and how your church can be better protected.

Global Paradigm Shift (Ticketed Lunch Event) Ron VanderGriendDo you think church culture has only changed in the United States? What’s happening in the rest of the world? Join Ron VanderGriend for a look at disciple-making around the world and what our role can be in helping these ministries more effective.

Global Partners Updates Ken HunnAre you curious about how our Brethren Church Global Partners are doing in their efforts? Come hear from Ken Hunn and Ministry Team leaders as they update you on all the exciting activities taking place around the world.

Missional Panel Wende Lance & Terry HofeckerIs your whole church not ready to do this “missional” thing yet? Hear from Brethren churches having a dramatic impact on the Kingdom even with just a handful of people.

Coaching and Leadership Jonathan ReitzExplore the practical aspects of coaching and identify leaderhsip characteristics important for congregations today.

Intentional Interim Vickie Taylor & Todd RugglesAre you or your church currently in transition? Discover a different way to handle the time in between pastors or during a difficult season of your church.

General Conference Workshops

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all workshops will be held in the arts & Humanities building (same as Hugo young Theater). Please see the daily schedules for room numbers.

Spiritual GPS Bill Johnson - Park Street, AshlandThis interactive workshop is designed to help you identify where you are on the spiritual journey and to help you be a better disciple by understanding how faith matures across the decades of life with Christ. You will learn to identify seven stages of maturity in Christ-likeness, and you will marvel at the mystery and magificence of the spiritual journey.

Crucial Conversations Billy Hesketh & Tim GarnerHave you ever found yourself in a conversation or meeting where the emotions got heated, the volume increased, and the tension in the room became almost visible? Then you have probably been in or witnessed a “crucial conversation” where the stakes were high and the people involved were passionate about their perspective. We need help to know how to disagree with each other in a healthy way. This workshop will give you a few tools that will help you navigate high-stakes, important conversations about difficult subjects with people who may not agree with you, and to come through those conversations with healthier decisions and stronger relationships.

Transform One - Understanding the “I-We-They-All of Us” Journey Emery Hurd & Brian Moore God longs for his people to make a difference in the world! Virtually every congregation, whether it’s 15 or 1500, can benefit from discovering where they are in the journey of “transformation” into Christ-likeness and taking positive steps forward in their ministry. Join this workshop for an overview of the “I-We-They-All of Us” process of self-awareness and action steps for helping you and your congregation move toward even greater Kingdom fruitfulness!

Generis Brad Leeper & Brad Cunningham Generis is a team of experienced guides who walk with churches and ministries of all shapes, sizes and personalities to develop generosity - a generosity that permeates the culture. Ready to challenge your congregation to give more, to become a people of generosity? Most individuals will benefit from a workshop and conversation that is focused on general giving and how to encourage, promote and sustain increased tithing and special giving.

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The vision of the Brethren Church is ultimately for a Holy Spirit transformation in each locality where one of our congregations exists. This means that on a regular basis, people are discovering new life in Christ as a result of our words and deeds. The congregation is the steward of that Spirit-empowered transformation, engaging with our communities in ways that reflect the work of Christ. Local leaders are responsible to see that the proper conditions are created in each congregation for that engagement to take place. Are our congregations showing increased faithfulness to the harvest work to which we are called? Are our leaders seeking greater understanding and equipping, to create the congregational climate and conditions for this to happen? And, are we doing the heart-work of prayer —asking God to break our hearts for the lost, and make us sensitive to the missional opportunities all around us? We must be faithful to ask for more workers, even as Jesus instructed!

In addition to the evaluation of our vision outcomes, are we gaining in relation to those values we have identified that are the hallmarks of our ministry and mission? Are we becoming more Relational, Missional, Sustainable, Reproducing, and Global in our scope of activity? Are we experiencing a NEW DAY in the Brethren Church?

BCNO LeadershipThe work of the Executive Director and the Staff of the National Office is to provide visionary leadership for the Brethren Church. This is the kind of leadership you have mandated as the delegate representatives of your congregations. This is the kind of leadership we have sought to provide; creating a climate for God’s vision for us to be realized in the power of the Holy Spirit. Is our leadership creating that climate where all are graciously invited, and the willing carefully equipped to keep pace with what the Spirit is prompting through our vision?

With these questions in our hearts, here are some singular observations on the current state of the mission of the Brethren Church. These observations are organized according to the pathway we have chosen in which to lead; namely to Mobilize existing congregations for mission to their own communities, Multiply the number

enominational eportsD RExecutive Director

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Report of the Executive Director and Progress Report on the

vision of The Brethren Church

“The vision of the Brethren Church is to embrace a NEW DAY of transformed leadership, resulting in transformed congregations,

whose mission is the transformation of their communities In the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Core Values: Relational, Missional, Sustainable, Reproducing, Global

A Five-Year HistoryThis week we complete five years in our visional journey toward a NEW DAY. Essentially my report is focused on the nature and depth of change we have experienced in those five years. None of us need to be reminded that we are in a time of profound change. Perhaps it has always been so, but our hearts tell us that we live in a remarkable time of wide-sweeping change at a breathtaking pace. We have changed, and our world has changed. Are Brethren responding to societal and worldwide change by engaging in an ongoing translation of the gospel into a language that can be heard, seen, understood, and received? Is that translation process bearing measurable and observable fruit as congregations engage in mission in each of their communities?

Our Missional JourneyIn the midst of change however, the vision of a transformed community is an unchanging constant. When Jesus observed the people of his community, he had compassion on them because they seemed harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He longed for them to be transformed from their present condition. His resulting prayer/call was for more workers in his harvest (Matt. 9:36-38). The need for “harvesters” was as necessary then as it is today. What if those in our Lord’s day had not succeeded in engaging the harvest? Likewise, the Lord desires that we too experience the fruit of the wonderful commission he has given us! The NEW DAY vision of the Brethren Church is also a Spirit-empowered call to join the Lord of the Harvest in his harvest field. Are we getting the job done in our day? Are our congregations actively looking for signs of the Lord of the Harvest at work in his harvest field, and finding ways to join him? Which parts of your community represent a “plentiful harvest?” How has God uniquely equipped your congregation to participate in some aspect of that harvest?

Ken Hunn Executive Director

Executive Director

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of new congregations, and wisely steward the Global Partnerships between the Brethren Church in the United States and the Brethren Church in its various expressions throughout the world. I pray you will be encouraged where you see that you have experienced the positive observations, challenged in areas where these observations are yet to be realized in your ministry, and convicted to change where you might own some of the barriers to our journey.

MobilizationThe Mobilization efforts of the Brethren Church National Office benefit from the leadership of Church Health and Resource Coordinator, Gary Diehl along with the Mobilize team. Gary’s reflections found in this Report Book will go into the appropriate detail about this aspect of our work. However let me summarize the scope of our mobilization activity and identify areas of interest and/or concern.

• It is important to identify a clear and biblical picture of what a healthy church looks like, so that we will know if we are making progress. Hence, the Natural Church Development process.

• It is important that leaders are equipped to sharpen other leaders. Hence, the Coaching initiative.

• It is important to identify a clear and biblical picture of what a healthy leader looks like, so that we will know if we are making progress. Hence, the Leadership Effectiveness Profile.

• It is important for congregations in pastoral leadership transition to “push the pause button” long enough to prayerfully consider their own health and/or potential steps toward healing, their leadership needs, and unique characteristics that inform the selection process. Hence, Interim Pastoral Ministries.

• It is important for some congregations to consider if they might be at the end of their life-cycle, and if so to make an intentional decision to end well by leaving a legacy in the form of resources to birth a new congregation in their place. Hence, Legacy Churches.

These are just a few of the tools available to churches and leaders which help to inform and identify next steps in the personal or corporate transformation process. Gary Diehl and the Mobilize Team are available to come alongside for crucial conversations about how we might help facilitate this process. We invest in good tools that can be adapted to local needs, not programs which often ignore uniquenesses. If one or more of these tools seem not to be the best fit for your situation, then by all means let’s identify something else so that we can learn along with you. This gives us a chance to grow in our capacity to serve, so that we can pass along that learning in our next encounter. Healthy leaders and healthy churches are always looking for more tools, and more networking which

create opportunities to increase their capacity to engage in the unique vision that God has for each locality. The above-mentioned tools help create opportunities to serve the church and her mission. Sadly, too many are unwilling to sustain a conversation and pursue these opportunities. The advancement of the Kingdom through the Brethren Church depends in part on a selfless openness to asking the deeper questions, taking some risk, and utilizing the various gifts of the larger Body to equip for mission. We humbly covet more opportunities to have a conversation upon your invitation.

MultiplicationThe Multiplication efforts of the Brethren Church National Office benefit from the leadership of Church Planting Coordinator Bill Ludwig along with MissioChurch (the church planting arm of the Brethren Church), and the Misso team. Bill’s reflections are likewise found in this Report Book; however here is more of a summary with key areas identified.

• It is important to create a Multiplication culture in the Brethren Church – cultivating a fertile environment for new churches to be planted and thrive. Hence, we continue to conduct more and more training events in districts and regions to create a greater level of understanding and participation.

• It is important to embrace healthy and fruitful church planting processes. Hence the Planter’s Pathway, which identifies and assesses basic vision, unique shaping for an appropriate planting model, model-specific hands-on training, risk management toward deployment, and visioning toward reproduction so that plants lead to still more plants. We continue to engage the Pathway and it has served us well.

• It is important for denominations to plant the number of successful churches each year which represent three to four percent of the number of existing congregations. Reaching this level of activity can take up to ten years or more in some cases. Hence, we have likewise set as our goal to reach this level of activity as soon as possible. For the Brethren Church this would mean three to four successful church plants every year. We feel that God has enabled us to make great progress toward this goal in just over five years!

• Church Planting takes adequate resources. Hence we have aligned our budget and engaged in additional fund-raising in order to meet this vision. Additionally we have focused on cultivating the needed number of human resources especially in the form of potential planting pastors. Ultimately this effort must be empowered by the Holy Spirit as we together seek the Lord’s enablement through prayer. We feel that we have made significant measurable progress in each area, but much work is yet to be done.

Executive Director

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The Multiplication efforts of the Brethren Church will be enhanced by the Mobilization of the existing church as she moves toward greater levels of health and engagement in local mission. Additionally, Multiplication efforts will greatly contribute to the health and vitality of existing churches. Best practices in planting are consistent with best practices in church health and her engagement in local mission! These combined activities reflect the missionary activities of the Brethren Church within the United States, and help inform our working relationships with our Global Partners as well.

Global PartnershipsThis aspect of our work from the National Office has historically been referred to as “Missions,” or in some cases “Foreign Missions.” In reality these connections are only foreign to our own culture. We think “partner “ is a more generous designation that connotes equality and acknowledges that we both make essential contributions to the mission of the church. Historically these servants have indeed been our emissaries, even those who were serving as indigenous leaders in their own culture. They have been our employees; financially supported, directed, and ultimately responsible to us for their performance. While this is in some cases still true, we are seeing this situation change.

Cross-Cultural Paradigm ShiftHere are some of the shifts in thinking and behavior, and at least several reasons why these changes in cross-cultural mission have been good and necessary…

• As long as we are the core support in each partnership, we are limited in the number of new partnerships that can be developed, especially as core budget needs expand as a result of growth. Therefor a limited number of relationships can be supported at one time. If a relationship becomes financially sustainable in their core budget, new relationships can be added.

• The direction of each relationship can benefit from outside consulting, but ultimately the ones who know best in regard to direction are those local leaders closest to their own culture.

• Ultimately, ministry responsibility should be between the indigenous leaders and their countrymen. Any other long-term goal delays indigenous leadership development, and often results in mistrust and absolving local partner churches for responsibility to care for and support their leadership.

These changes are not unique to our situation but rather reflect the core of what is considered by most mission leaders everywhere to be the healthiest expression of cross-cultural relationships.

These changes, driven in large part by our vision and values have been difficult for some of us to understand and/or accept. And indeed, making these changes has been difficult relationally – for it sometimes feels like abandonment. However just as a wise parent develops their children for self-support in core areas, so too we feel that we have done what is best in reflecting healthy, biblical partnerships. We will continue to help our partners where appropriate and walk with them; but now in ways that empower their own God-given vision and mission. Where there are conditions of poverty, we understand that this is a function of relief funding and activity. Even in this we will work toward not only relieving poverty, but further developing sustainable conditions and practices, so that relief funds do not become a regular part of ongoing support.

Global Partners FundingThe result of this cross-cultural paradigm shift has naturally led to the reduction in funding for our Global Partners overall. This too has been a concern for some. A review of our budget however shows that we continue to allocate significant funds for Global Partners; approximately half of our total budget in any given year. It would seem reasonable then that half of our budget annually is allocated for mission outside of our borders and the other half essentially for mission stateside. We encourage more congregations to consider ways in which they too could allocate funds in a more balanced way for local mission, just as they have generously done so for world-wide mission over the years.

Our Next Global Partner?Because we have experienced a transfer of leadership to largely indigenous workers, one might wonder if we will continue to deploy American citizens to begin new partnerships. While we continue to look for new opportunities for deployment, we also must explore and be in conversation about the best goals and resulting processes under which those deployments should be made. The transfer to indigenous leadership is indeed a good thing, indicating that what was begun in some cases many years ago is showing good signs of growth and maturation! How can we anticipate new partnerships that prepare for and expect this kind of maturation and sustainability from the very onset?

Partnerships by the Numbers…We claim partnerships in ten countries around the world; namely, in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, and Spain. With a new congregation in Canada and an ongoing presence in Mexico, perhaps we are moving toward an era of continental or major geographic emphasis? This way of identifying our partnerships would signify relationships in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Below is a brief description of each partnership. Natural Church

Development descriptions of church health could be used as a way to understand the unique contributions of each partner to our worldwide expression. Those NCD quality characteristics are: Empowering leadership, Gift-oriented ministry, Passionate spirituality, Functional structures, Inspiring worship, Holistic small groups, Need-oriented evangelism, and Loving relationships. How do our partners differ and/or vary in their key strengths in relation to ours in the U.S.? How can our respective strengths be leveraged for the greater health of the whole?

• In India, the Brethren Church is half again as large (roughly 150 churches and preaching points, 15,000 in total membership) as in all of the Brethren Church U.S. It has been many years since the United States has been the political center of the Brethren universe! Country leaders are Prasanth and Nirmala Kumar and Sudhir and Latha Kumar, along with the many pastors working throughout the cities of Andhra Pradesh. Key characteristic: Need-Oriented Evangelism.

• Argentina is our oldest partnership. National Director José Rivero leads the thirty churches of this country, assisted by their National Committee. They initiated partnerships with both Paraguay and Chile. Spain, Colombia, and Paraguay all have country leaders from Argentina. Key characteristic: Inspiring Worship.

• Peru now has three ministry sites with a new orphanage in Puerto Maldonado (Italo and Rebecca Abuid), a church in Lima (Luis Angel and Zoraida Morillas), and a developing work in Pucusana. Key characteristic: Need-oriented evangelism.

• The Philippines continues to grow in sustaining its core budget, among three churches (Bocaue, Deparo, and Pulilan) in areas around Manila. Pastor Gary Castro is country leader, along with a strong pastoral staff. Key characteristic: Need-Oriented Evangelism.

• West Malaysia has two self-sustaining congregations, with a church in Penang in the North, and Johor Bahru in the South. Retiring church planter and country leader is David and Jenny Loi. Key characteristic: Empowering leadership.

• Colombia continues in three locations around Medellin, and looking toward yet another new church plant under the direction of country leader Marcelo & Adriana Ferreri. Key characteristic: Inspiring Worship.

• Mexico continues under the direction of country leader Moises Calderone, with several congregations in the Mexico City area and a fraternal relationship with a congregation in Reynosa, just inside the Mexico/U.S. border. Key characteristic: Passionate Spirituality.

Executive Director

• Paraguay, Chile, and Spain are all partnerships begun, cultivated or included by and through the missional vision of the churches of Argentina. Paraguay began with financial support from the U.S. As country leader, Claudio and Karina Castellis continue to gain influence and impact the capitol of Asunción, with a main congregation and their participation in a multi-national outreach to another neighborhood. Key characteristic: Need-oriented evangelism. A partnership with Chile was cultivated through existing relationships with the Argentine church. A congregation in the Puente Alto neighborhood of Santiago is led by Carlos and Zulema Qiroga. Key characteristic: Loving Relationships. And a partnership with Spain was included as a Global Partner after the pioneering efforts of David and Cecilia Molina (from the Cordoba, Argentina congregation) had already begun with a church plant in the rural western city of Coria. Key characteristic: Need-oriented evangelism.

• From a cross-cultural perspective, and as a part of the U.S. church, we must celebrate a growing Hispanic/Latino ministry, with a growing church planting emphasis in Southern California under the direction of Gus Miranda, ministry through the Smoky Row congregation in Columbus, Ohio led by Rudy Bocanegra, and a group in North Manchester, Indiana led by Joe Burgos. A Hispanic church plant is in the early stages in Stockton, California. We are seeing continued development in Florida, and the early stages of a new partnership in Canton, Ohio as well. In addition to these Spanish-speaking ministries, we should celebrate the exciting establishment of our first Cambodian church, also in Stockton, under the leadership of Viseth Hou.

Global Partners SummaryAfter considering our changing landscape in relation to Global Partners, we should keep in mind…

• The size, maturity, and scope of our international efforts continue to be a source of great thankfulness to God! The Almighty has done and continues to do great things in developing the Global Brethren Church!

• Roughly half of all funds received at our offices support the cause of Global mission.

• More and more congregations are uniting together to provide additional support of all kinds to a designated Brethren Partner, and in so doing provide encouragement and resources that are not reflected in General Conference reports. This positive development has meant so much to our partners and at the same time has greatly increased the sense of mission among many for their own communities.

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• How can we accurately measure the global impact of U.S. congregations? Many of our individual churches generously fund missions programs, send short and long-term missionaries, and support relief projects beyond and outside the scope of Brethren initiatives. This is a good thing, and must be celebrated!

• It’s all mission. Whether among our own people or around the world, the Great Commission is a constant. Let us fully embrace and comprehensively support a “Go Ye” missional spirit both near and far.

Finally…

People often ask me to reflect on the health and happenings throughout the Brethren Church. I get around to a fairly wide assortment of our churches in any given year. And it’s my job to keep a pulse of our combined efforts. We have much for which to give thanks. We have a wonderful heritage of faithfulness and godliness. We have a theology that balances the best of the whole counsel of Scripture as it relates to mankind and the world, to both our worship and our witness. Our emphasis on relationships keep us coming back for more, and our embracing of the Great Commission keeps us focused on the harvest. But while we are harvest-focused, do we pursue those relationships with the same gusto as those within the Body?

It would seem that we have been faithful to the hallmarks of the faith. What we might expect however is a greater sense of measurable fruitfulness. To be sure, together we are showing more signs of health. Churches are finding their way to a greater measure of service through connecting with needs and opportunities that are so prevalent in our communities. We have begun to engage with the harvest. What remains is to sustain these conversations in such a way that a relationship is begun and nurtured. This demonstrates that we are doing more than participating in an outreach program, but allowing Christ to be experienced through us in the everyday activities of life, resulting in changed lives now and forever. Fully embracing this outcome however would mean that more disciples would be reported from year to year. The observable evidence of more conversions and baptisms would highlight our statistics more than what is currently reported.

We should be less concerned however about the size of our congregations and more concerned about the measurable fruit of more disciples. A disciple is someone who is becoming like the Teacher, in both character AND behavior. We would like to focus on character only. But we must also teach for and expect behaviors consistent with a disciple. The Great Commission is a charge to teach for obedience. A disciple is ultimately one who does what Jesus did. Christ called his followers to both faith and action. He expected that upon his ascension, his followers would continue the very same work that they had witnessed in him and participated in while he was with them. We must do the same.

Executive Director

If the Great Commission instruction was to teach for obedience, how obedient to the ministry of Jesus are we? Jesus was known as a friend of sinners, and a rebel to the church of his day. He was willing to risk his reputation in the synagogue in order to demonstrate the love of God for sinners. Are we willing in our day to embrace the same reputation? Are we willing to rebel against the personal and congregational activities that keep us busy, but do not produce fruit? Taking up this challenge would create conflict in more than a few of our churches, and could even threaten the livelihood of some of our pastors. For the sake of those who need to see the Kingdom, this might be a healthy conflict that would actually clarify congregational vision and relationships with their leaders. Over three hundred years ago, a small band of rebels were willing to risk church unity and personal livelihood in order to follow this vision that both glorifies God and cares for the ultimate good of our neighbor. Will our children likewise be able to look back at our testimony and find the same measure of faithfulness and resulting fruitfulness? I pray it will be so, and to this end I commit myself to lead. We can be sure that in what Christ committed to us, he also promised “...I am with you always,…” May the Spirit of Christ fill and empower us to obey that which has been committed to us, regardless of the cost!

Here would be my challenge for this coming conference year. What if …local congregational leaders identify someone outside their ministry context, with whom they could engage in ongoing and consistent conversations toward identifying and removing barriers (relational, structural, organizational, and spiritual) to faithfulness in mission to their community. To further clarify:

• “…local congregational leaders” means pastor and/or pastoral staff and church board“

• “…someone” could mean a person from another congregation (Brethren or otherwise), another leadership like yours, someone from the National Office or Mobilize team, etc. It is understood that this person needs to have some capacity for critical thinking, or to be coached in this role.

• “…outside their ministry context” is essential to ensure a fresh and objective view of these barriers. It is infinitely difficult to identify our own barriers, hence the term “blind spot.”

• “…ongoing and consistent means that you gather for prayer and discussion, decision-making and implementation planning with appropriate frequency and regularity. This is a continuing conversation.

• “…barriers” acknowledges that there can be more than one, and I’ve named the most common.

• I would suggest the conversations begin by October 15, 2012.

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Exectuvie Board

How many of you would be willing to take up this challenge? Think of what could happen if we intentionally drew closer to one another for the purpose of mission. It would be life-giving to celebrate the results at General Conference next year!

Executive Board Report

The past year has been a year of transition for The Breth-ren Church, and the Executive Board has been no excep-tion to the rule. Change is often difficult and changing the way we think and lead is even more difficult. That being said, the members of the Executive Board met each of this year’s challenges head on with sleeves rolled up and a determination to lead to the very best of their abilities. Saturating each meeting in prayer and thoughtful consid-eration, budget challenges were met, difficult decisions were dealt with, and obstacles were overcome. Though we still have a long road ahead of us as a denomination, the delegates and representative churches in The Brethren Church can be proud of the professionalism and Christ-like character displayed by each member of the board as they continue to look at the future of The Brethren Church and turn obstacles into opportunities for the transformation of leaders, churches and communities through the power of the Holy Spirit.

During the year the Executive Board formally moved to Policy-Based Governance as the model for the role of Executive Board and National Office Staff in order to better streamline the flow of information, set policies and procedures as a National Church and give clearer lines of responsibility and authority for both the Executive Board and the Executive Director and his staff. We spent sev-eral hours training with consultant Gary Likowski to better understand and adapt the nuances of this form of leader-ship to fit Brethren Polity and history. Pat Gravatt and Tim Garner have been instrumental and tireless in their work to adapt current policies and polity to readable form.

As the economic outlook has changed over the past few years, the Executive Board changed the interest paid to investors in the Brethren Revolving Loan Fund from 5% to 3.5% to better reflect current markets. Though this does look like a downward trend indicative of global economies, the upside is that the interest rate for investors is still above the average for standard CD’s (currently at 1.04%) and many annuities offered by banks and financial institutions. The rate of return at 3.5% makes investing in The Brethren Church and its kingdom work doubly effective. This change was made effective as of November 1, 2011.

The Executive Board also established and assigned sev-eral task force committees’ duties in response to issues currently facing The Brethren Church, Inc. Among those formed are the following: Middle Organization Task Force, charged with brainstorming ideas to streamline commu-nication and resource lines within districts and regional cooperation; ATS/AU Task Force, charged with stewarding a discussion between both entities involved and the greater church. This will allow for a better understanding of what each does, where we currently partner, and where the future might take us. These task forces will help determine crucial next steps in our kingdom ministries and in our ever-changing cultures.

Last year Ashland Theological Seminary and Ashland Uni-versity entered into discussions concerning The Brethren Church budget. The Brethren Church Inc. ended the 2011 fiscal year approximately $11,000 in the black. Executive Director Ken Hunn has on several occasions personally spoken to Dr. John Shultz (ATS) and Dr. Fred Finks (AU) to thank them for their help in the past year. We continue to be grateful for both institutions’ help in meeting our budget goals.

The Executive Board also responded to an appeal from the Executive Director Ken Hunn for a time of sabbatical in the coming year and approved a time of rest and renewal to begin July 30th and ending Sunday, October 21, 2012. This sabbatical period is designed to help the Executive Director find time to rest from several years of intense work as well as renew his focus and relationship with Christ and his mis-sion for the overall church.

On a more difficult note, Moderator Ron Waters resigned from his position as Chair of the Executive Board in May. Through prayer and conversation the Board appointed Tim Garner to lead as Chair until the conference votes on a new Moderator at the upcoming conference. Though this was a difficult transition for all, we express our appreciation and admiration to Ron Waters for his years of faithful and dedicated service. His experience and attention to detail were the very best of assets and we will miss his service.

Respectfully submitted,

Scott C. SodenExecutive Board Secretary

Church Mobilization

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How can we come alongside and help you discern what God wired you to be and do?

Then, how can we help equip, empower and release you to become that and do those things?

Church Mobilization Report

One important MOBILIZE goal has been to nurture en-vironments where existing pastors, leaders, teams and congregations intentionally identify and address the barriers currently inhibiting their capacity to multiply healthy dis-ciples, leaders, pastors, teams and congregations. That’s a mouth full, so stop reading. Seriously. Go back and re-read that sentence slowly two more times. Think about the im-portance of those words and the ideas behind them. Then, think about the potential positive impact on your ministry of that type of environment.

Some MOBILIZE efforts involve painting new, or perhaps more complete, pictures of what “healthy” looks like at several levels. If we strive to more fully OBEY Christ’s great commission, we will see more healthy disciples. Healthy disciples are followers of Jesus who: (a) are growing more Christ-like in character and behavior, and (b) are disciples who make healthy disciples. If we equip, empower and release healthy disciples, we will see healthy leaders and pastors emerge. If we develop healthy leaders and pas-tors, we will see healthy teams of people working effectively together. If we nurture healthy teams that pursue God’s mission and purposes, we will see healthy congregations. If healthy congregations actively engage God’s call, we will see evidence of the Spirit’s transforming work in their communities!

The MOBILIZE Team continues taking shape. Brian Moore, Emery Hurd, Tim Garner, Arden Gilmer, Todd and Tracy Ruggles, Billy and Norene Hesketh and Alan and Cheryl Schmiedt are each more actively adding to our MOBILIZE capacity in various ways. Some are serving as Generalists (or Champions) who help individuals, teams,

Healthy Leaders &

Pastors

Healthy Teams

Healthy Congregations

Transformed Communities

Healthy Disciples

churches or districts through the initial stages of identify-ing barriers to what could or should be happening. Others serve as Specialists who, once a specific area of concern is identified, bring with them special experiences, skills, resources, training or giftings to help an individual or ministry team address what needs atten-tion.There are also many others serving in direct and indirect ways as part of the MOBILIZE effort. They all serve with a focus on 4 key areas:

• Ministry Vitality

• Ministry Transitions

• Leadership Development

• Resources, Networks and Partnerships

Ministry vitality: helping indi-viduals, teams, ministries and congregations move toward health and a greater capacity for multiplying new disciples, leaders and congregations. Activities over the last year in this area included:

* Introducing and orienting the MOBILIZE team to the TRANSFORM ONE resource for NCD implementation

* Helping congregations understand and take action on their NCD assessments

* Orienting congregations to the Integrated Planning approach

* Facilitating individual leadership team workshops and regional modular training events

* Engaging in regional conversations with pastors and district lay leaders

* Helping teams understand healthy ways to work through conflict and recapture vision, mission and purpose

An important component of Ministry vitality is the Natural Church Development survey and its descriptions of what “healthy” looks like in congregations. Currently 45 of our 100+ congregations make up our collective NCD scores. Sadly, only a few congregations have actually engaged the larger process of applying the NCD prin-ciples. As a denomination our collective congregational environment remains lukewarm with a quality score of 49.72 overall compared to the average of 50. That is actually a small step backward from last year’s level. God continues calling us to something more fruitful than just average. And the NCD language is still the best at creating

Gary Diehl Church Health &

Resource Specialist

Church Mobilization

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a common understanding of what healthy looks like. The challenge next year is for more congregations to step fully into the TRANSFORM ONE process with a coach who can help you continue the journey forward.

Ministry Transitions: helping pastors, boards, teams and congregations navigate shifting seasons, circumstances and roles in ministry and leadership. In cooperation with local and district leaders, MOBILIZE seeks to nurture the best possible fit between pastoral leadership gifts and congregational direction, and between changing ministry environments and ministry strategies. Activities in this area included:

* Training 11 Brethren pastors and spouses on the value and principles of Intentional Interim ministry

* Connecting available candidates with churches searching for pastors

* Helping individual leaders gain clarity about their call and role in ministry

* Assisting multiple congregations into and through an Intentional Interim time as preparation for extending their next long-term pastoral call

* Helping a leadership culture understand how to transi-tion the way it thinks and operates

* Orienting leaders and teams to the principles of investing the remaining life and resources of a Legacy Congregation into a rebirth of Kingdom fruitfulness

Leadership Development: helping individuals, teams and congregations understand and pursue their unique call, specific role and most fruitful expression of Kingdom ministry. It seeks to help develop and release the Kingdom potential in every disciple. Activities in this area included:

* Development of a Leadership Effectiveness Research Initiative with our CoachNet partners to assess and increase the leadership capacity of the denomination

* Connecting dozens of individuals and teams with specific training and learning opportunities such as Coaching for Discipleship, Interim Pastoral Ministry, Launching Missional Communities, and Transform One

* Collaborating in the development of modular training events designed to equip leaders to better discern and steward the call of God in the lives of others

* Encouraging ongoing one-to-one and team coaching, prayer partnerships and other intentional relationships that sharpen a life and a ministry

Resources, Networks and Partnerships: connecting with the individuals, assets, tools, equipping networks, services and ministry partners that can help address specific ques-

tions and identified barriers to faithfulness and fruitfulness in ministry. MOBILIZE seeks to connect the right relation-ships, experiences or resources to the specific and unique questions being asked. Activities include:

* Nurturing Intentional Relationships such as coaches, mentors, consultants, advisors, guides, accountability partners and prayer partners

* Cultivating relationships with individuals and partner ministries with specialized experiences or abilities that address relevant issues for us, like CoachNet, The Sandberg Leadership Center, Interim Pastor Ministries (IPM), 3DM Ministries, Leadership Net-work, Verge and ChurchSmart Resources

* Connecting pastors, leaders and teams with appropri-ate books, training tools, assessment instruments, specialized service providers and ministry partners

Each pastor, ministry leader, team and congregation has a unique context. Because of that reality, the best ques-tions to ask are as unique as each ministry and setting. But they almost always start with, “Who are you?” and “Why are you here?” MOBILIZE is about meeting each where they are, and helping each one take good steps forward in their ministry. Talk with someone from the MOBILIZE team during the events of General Conference, then continue those conversations when you get back home. Ask them to walk with you to help you more fully OBEY the call of God in your ministry!

Thank you for faithfully playing your part at Mobilizing the People of God to BE the Church Well!

“ Mobilizing the People of God to BE the Church Well! ”

Church Multiplication

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The mission of MissioChurch is to initiate and sustain

a national church multiplication movement with regional focus.

What a year it has been! Since last General Conference Jesus has been doing so much in our midst! We have been observing that with each step in obedience we take as a tribe, he has been very pleased to say, “Here you go!” and provide what is necessary for the next step. Below are some of the ways in which we have seen Jesus leading and providing for church planting movement in The Brethren Church.

Regional vision and movement is developing in California, Southwest, Ohio, Northeast districts and Canada. In all of these regions, someone (or a group of someones) has begun to actively pursue specific vision for not just one more church but a movement of churches planting churches. In order respond to what God is doing, MissioChurch has identified and deployed two Regional Movement Coordinators (Ohio and Southwest) and is in the process of identifying and equipping more of these gifted and passionate individuals as Jesus leads the way in seeing his vision accomplished through us .

Another way in which we have seen Jesus faithful to our movement is how he has been moving in people’s hearts and giving them a hunger to know what his plans are for their region so that they can be busy pursing that vision. In the Ohio and Northeast districts, a process of vision discovery called The Future Story process has begun. This is a process through which the brethren prayerfully consider several specific questions about what Jesus might want to do in and through them in the next several years. The Future Story of the region becomes clear when, after a period of prayer (a few months), those participating contribute what they’ve heard from Jesus and those answers/impressions are then drawn together to form a unified vision for all to work towards.

The increase in church planting activity has been accompanied by an increase in MissioChurch’s team capacity. Not only have some of the existing team members found greater clarity for their contribution to the team but we have also welcomed a couple of new team members who are serving in their giftedness and experience as Regional Movement Coordinators, Trainers, Coaches and Mentors. Additionally, our partnerships with the North American Church Multiplication Institute (NACMI), CoachNet Global, Vision Ohio, Spire Advertising and 805 Creative continue to grow and develop in ways that bless our movement.

Church Multiplication Report Some of the fruit of Brethren church planting activity can be found in Florida where a new Hispanic work is in process and moving towards deployment as a church plant. It can also be found in Arizona as an organic work is in its early stages of development. In Pennsylvania, two groups have been moving toward church starts as leaders in the Northeast District work towards their vision for multiple church plants. The Ohio District has deployed two church plants so far this year and three other works are developing towards church starts! The California churches and our Canadian church plant are taking active steps in preparation for their next planting projects. With conversations in other regions and persons on our PathWay we are tracking 23 potential new church starts and replants in the next 3½ years. Jesus is moving in our tribe!

There are two areas of concern, however, that require mentioning in this report. For the last two years we have been calling for people to pray for the church planting movement in The Brethren Church. We are pleased to report that over 100 individuals participate in a community of prayer called MissioPrayer. They pray for the specific needs of church planters and movement leaders and are frequently updated by those asking for prayer. Of concern to us is that less than 10% of our elders participate in this life-giving and powerful work. Perhaps we have not communicated the need or the opportunity enough. We’ll take responsibility for that, but it is exciting to imagine how much more kingdom impact we would have if more of our leaders would commit to prayer and intercession for our new church starts! Additionally, while some churches and districts have committed to regular financial giving toward starting new churches, the vast majority has struggled to see the need or value. Jesus is moving and the generosity of some have enabled us to be to be obedient to this point. The opportunities, however, are beginning to outstrip the resources. We pray that as a tribe we will not allow this to happen. This year we are seeking God for:

• 100 new individuals to join the MissioPrayer community (www.missiochurch.com)

• 30 more Brethren Elders to join the MissioPrayer community

• 20 new local Brethren churches to give $500 or more per year toward stewarding the calling of church planters and start-up grants

Bill Ludwig Church Planting Coordinator

Brethren Youth Advisor Committee

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• 100 new individuals to give $100 or more per year toward stewarding the calling of church planters and start-up grants

We recognize that Jesus is building this part of his church in ways that we could not even have imagined and we have been blessed to see so many of you begin to dream dreams of the kingdom impact that Jesus desires to have through your work in starting new churches. We also understand that this is just the beginning. Please, understand with us that, more than ever before, it will take all of us to obediently follow Jesus’ leading towards accomplishing his desires for this generation. We pray that you will consider how Jesus is calling you to participate in this movement. These are exciting days!

Joyfully!

Bill LudwigMissioChurch

Brethren Youth Advisor Committee (YAC)

Think over this past year: did you read any good books, or catch a favorite movie? What is it about us that we long to be captivated by a gripping story? The sort that pulls us in and doesn’t let go till the ink on the last word has dried; all the while we’re left wanting more. This past year at the Engage Conference, the BYIC were challenged to engage the Storyline. To discover the beautiful metanarrative of God’s story woven through the Scriptures and join that story to their own personal story. Unpacked in vivid detail, speaker Chris Folmsbee of Barefoot Student Ministries, shared with us throughout the week the depth and intrigue of God’s story and how and where we fit into that storyline. Worship leaders Sing Love Sing joined with us again for a second year helping to bring us into the presence of God through song and prayer. While a big social highlight for the year, Engage Conference proved once again to also be a meaningful spiritual highlight as well.

As youth departed from campus at the close of Engage Conference it was quickly made apparent that they had embraced the idea of joining with God’s Storyline and had continued living on mission with him. Thanks to the help of social media tools like Facebook we’re able to stay connected to one another and there we saw many stories shared. If you’re not connected to the BYIC via Facebook, search us out and like our page.

Besides Engage Conference, the members of YAC have been working hard to better resource and network with the advisors of the BYIC. One such way this is happening

is by intentionally hosting a couple of monthly Google + Hangouts. This is a video chat that is geared for advisors to have a place to discuss life and ministry and gain help, insight and support from their peers. Along with monthly hangouts an Advisors of the BYIC Facebook Group has been started. If you’re not a part of that group, join us today. Lately, a blog has been started this past year to help equip and resource advisors. You can follow along with the YAC Attack blog by visiting this address: http://yacattack.wordpress.com/.

Personally, it’s been a joy to work along fellow YAC members Tim Bordeaux, Tony Hasse, and John Howenstine. Their hard work and deep dedication to the BYIC is truly special. In addition, I know so many advisors pour deeply into the lives of our youth with little to no acknowledgement or thanks. The truth is, without the selfless sacrifice of so many adults serving paid or unpaid in our churches, the BYIC wouldn’t be where we are today, nor would we be positioned to continue moving to where God is calling us for tomorrow. It’s an honor to be a part of the movement we call the BYIC, for this movement is one that God obviously has his blessing on. May we continue moving forward together, serving the Mission of Jesus Christ, to bring hope, love and rescue to a world in need.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of YAC, Ryan SmithNational Youth Ministry Consultant &Pastor of Student Ministries (Nappanee FBC)

The Brethren Church Statement of Financial Condition

For Year Ended December 31, 2011

Financial and Statistical Reports

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The Brethren ChurchStatement of Financial ConditionFor Year Ended December 31, 2011

2011 2010

Unrestricted Restricted Totals Totals

Assets

Current Assets

Cash on Hand $ 135,140 $ 0 $ 135,140 $ 94,420Prepaid Expenses 4,189 0 4,189 3,266Receivables1 44,596 0 44,596 55,288

Total Current Assets 183,925 0 183,925 152,974

Long-term and Fixed AssetsReceivables2 2,443,527 135,393 2,578,921 2,625,507Investments 733,123 86,636 819,759 681,057Fixed Assets

Land and Buildings 1,020,000 0 1,020,000 1,020,000Office Equipment 214,536 0 214,536 213,536Vehicles 30,000 0 30,000 28,244Accumulated Depreciation (157,926) 0 (157,926) (167,670)

Total Long-term & Fixed Assets 4,283,260 222,029 4,505,289 4,400,673

Total Assets $ 4,467,185 $ 222,029 $ 4,689,214 $ 4,553,648

Liabilities and Fund Balances

Payables - Current3

$ 131,392 $ 0 $ 131,392 $ 123,615

Payables - Long-term4

3,189,222 0 3,189,222 3,116,996

Fund Balances 1,146,571 222,029 1,368,600 1,313,037

Total Liabilities and

Fund Balances $ 4,467,185 $ 222,029 $ 4,689,214 $ 4,553,648

Notes to Financial Statements: December 31, 2011, and 2010

Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

General: The Brethren Church, Inc. is a not-for-profit charitable organization. The financial statements present the financial

position, results of operations, and changes in the net assets of The Brethren Church. This report is being reviewed by an

independent auditor, and their report will be completed after General Conference 2012. Assets, fund balances, income, and

expenses are classified based on the existence of donor-imposed restrictions. Accordingly, these items of The Brethren

Church are classified and reported as follows:

Unrestricted: Items that are not subject to donor-imposed restrictions.

Restricted: Items that are subject to donor-imposed restrictions.

The financial statements contain certain prior year comparative information in total and not by the classificatons mentioned

above.

Specific notes on the Financial Statements1 Current Receivables: This is the principal amount due in the next 12 months on all loans with the Revolving Fund.2 Long-Term Receivables: This is the principal amount due on all loans with the Revolving Fund after 2012.3 Current Payables: this includes accrued payroll taxes, charges made in 2011 and due in 2012, and the principal amount

due to Revolving Fund investors in 2012.4 Long-Term Payables: This includes the principal amount due to Revolving Fund investors after 2012.

The Brethren Church Statement of Operations

For Year Ended December 31, 2011

Financial and Statistical Reports

The Brethren ChurchStatement of Operations

For Year Ended December 31, 2011

2011 2010

Unrestricted Restricted Totals Totals

Income

Donations

General Support $ 662,013 $ 0 $ 662,013 $ 608,827Annual Campaign 11,240 0 11,240 2,860Designated Gifts 239,084 111,058 350,142 363,492Bequests, Annuities & Memorials 10,359 0 10,359 23,320Brethren Relief 0 33,803 33,803 38,402Ashland Theological Seminary 0 44,947 44,947 69,543Ashland University Religious Life 0 37,876 37,876 66,728

Total $ 922,695 $ 227,685 $ 1,150,380 $ 1,173,172

Fees and Other Income

General Conference 55,353 0 55,353 61,996Engage Conference 70,003 0 70,003 60,091Revolving Fund 107,691 0 107,691 106,099Interest & Other Income 10,349 0 10,349 10,553

Total $ 243,395 $ 0 $ 243,395 $ 238,740

Total Income $ 1,166,091 $ 227,685 $ 1,393,776 $ 1,411,912

Expenses / Mission

Church Mobilization

Coaching $ 10,777 $ 0 $ 10,777 $ 8,847Leadership Development 8,040 0 8,040 4,408NCD and Church Vitality 544 0 544 924

Legacy/Pastoral Transition 749 0 749 0Administrative and Other 2,312 0 2,312 0

Total $ 22,422 $ 0 $ 22,422 $ 14,179MissioChurch

Coaching $ 1,940 $ 0 $ 1,940 $ 6,824Start-up Grants 0 0 0 0Pathway 250 0 250 0

Administrative and Other 18,830 0 18,830 22,750Events 8,384 0 8,384 3,106Church Plant Reserve 75,000 0 75,000 0

Total $ 104,404 $ 0 $ 104,404 $ 32,680Leadership Development

Ministerial Student Aid $ 2,500 $ 0 $ 2,500 $ 15,000BYIC Programs 13,106 0 13,106 9,057General Conference 60,710 0 60,710 43,237Engage Conference 68,051 0 68,051 60,760Leadership Development Coaching 1,566 0 1,566 8,283

Total $ 145,933 $ 0 $ 145,933 $ 136,337

26

The Brethren Church Statement of Operations

For Year Ended December 31, 2011

Financial and Statistical Reports

27

The Brethren ChurchStatement of Operations

For Year Ended December 31, 2011

2011 2010

Unrestricted Restricted Totals Totals

Global Partnerships / Ministries

Bradenton, FL (Hispanic) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 31,888Stockton, CA 40,831 280 41,111 46,208Muskoka Community Church 0 5,100 5,100 0Argentina 28,000 14,688 42,688 36,501Colombia 22,000 0 22,000 27,000Hispanic Radio 0 750 750 844India 90,000 11,515 101,515 112,946Malaysia 0 11,011 11,011 20,000Mexico 37,790 0 37,790 97,769Peru 24,400 21,137 45,537 94,554South American Seminary 1,922 25 1,947 26,220Spain 0 17,060 17,060 13,103The Philippines 3,648 4,618 8,265 19,153Brethren Relief 0 33,803 33,803 38,402Ashland Theological Seminary 0 44,947 44,947 69,543Ashland University Religious Life 0 37,876 37,876 66,728Missionary Family Medical 0 6,059 6,059 2,517Growth Partners 0 0 0 0Brethren Peace Fund 0 334 334 221International Travel 4,811 0 4,811 15,493Missionary Students 0 0 0 2,822New Day Grants 4,000 0 4,000 6,000U.S. Leadership 371,773 0 371,773 362,873U.S. Office Operations 144,060 0 144,060 157,356Other Projects 0 18,481 18,481 15,722Miscellaneous 612 0 612 12

Total $ 773,846 $ 227,685 $ 1,001,531 $ 1,263,875

Revolving Fund 131,252 0 131,252 144,652

Total Expenses $ 1,177,857 $ 227,685 $ 1,405,542 $ 1,591,722

Operation Gain (Loss) $ (11,766) $ 0 $ (11,766) $ (179,810)

Change in Value

Of Investments5$ (13,106) $ 0 $ (13,106) $ 40,551

Net Gain (Loss) $ (24,872) $ 0 $ (24,871) $ (139,259)

5 Change in Investment Values: This represents the unrealized loss on our portfolio at the end of the year.

Financial and Statistical Reports

The Brethren Church2011 Church Giving Summary

Church

Fair

Share

Only

Total Church Giving

Budget

Non

Budget

Brethren

Relief A.T.S. A.U.

Church

Total

This report includes contriubtions received by us between January 1, 2011, and January 31, 2012, that were identified as gifts supporting Brethren Church ministries in 2011. The amounts reported under the Fair Share Only column are the totals of the gifts received from each local church earmarked for support of the vision and mission of The Brethren Church. The amounts reported under the other columns are the totals of all gifts received from each local church as well as those from individuals and groups identified as being part of that local church. Included under Budget are Fair Share gifts plus those gifts given to support

the ongoing work of the denomination. Included under Non Budget are those gifts given for special projects promoted by The Brethren Church that fall outside of the regular budgets of our ministries around the world. Included under Brethren Relief are the gifts given to support the relief efforts of our

international partners, including World Relief. Included under A.T.S. are those gifts given through our

office for the support of Ashland Theological Seminary. Included under A.U. are those gifts given through

our office for the support of the Religious Life/Campus Ministry of Ashland University. Finally, the Church

Total column is the total of the five previous columns for each local church.

Florida District

Crossroads Community 685 1,099 0 0 86 86 1,271Sarasota 2,167 2,742 0 212 133 133 3,220Sarasota Iglesia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2,852District Totals 212 2193,841 219 4,4910

Southeastern District

Bethlehem 7,356 9,086 280 0 234 234 9,834Cross Keys 3,248 3,473 0 500 381 381 4,735Drushal Memorial 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Gateway 402 1,202 170 348 24 24 1,768Grace Community 4,992 5,567 4,650 2,500 0 0 12,717Krypton 0 300 0 0 0 0 300Liberty 666 1,516 0 0 43 43 1,602Linwood 1,901 2,126 80 0 61 61 2,328Mathias 3,086 4,806 600 150 233 233 6,022Maurertown 8,487 9,019 0 888 579 579 11,065Mt Olive 44,799 48,829 140 0 2,351 2,351 53,671Oak Hill 14,285 19,065 260 0 812 459 20,596Southeast 3,556 3,906 0 0 322 322 4,550St James 36,864 52,328 8,102 2,000 1,140 1,140 64,710St Luke 6,991 7,741 40 460 1,291 459 9,991Waterbrook 3,947 4,172 0 0 454 454 5,080Windhaven 3,000 3,300 0 0 0 0 3,300

143,580District Totals 6,846 7,925176,436 6,740 212,26914,322

Northeast District

Berlin 24,209 27,339 200 1,500 1,628 1,628 32,295Brush Valley 3,600 4,200 0 600 1,152 152 6,104

The Brethren Church 2011 Church Giving Summary

28

Financial and Statistical Reports

Church

Total Church GivingFair

Share

Only Budget

Non

Budget

Brethren

Relief A.T.S. A.U.

Church

Total

Northeast District

Cameron 511 611 0 105 16 16 748Highland 1,884 3,782 135 160 270 270 4,617Highland Park 795 1,020 0 0 25 25 1,070Johnstown 2nd 415 2,890 0 0 13 13 2,916Johnstown 3rd 4,774 6,099 0 300 273 273 6,945Main Street 2,106 2,456 0 300 187 137 3,080Masontown 5,785 7,155 1,805 300 318 257 9,835Mt Olivet 1,786 2,011 0 0 209 57 2,277Mt Pleasant 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Pleasant View 7,534 11,274 1,531 390 780 517 14,492Quiet Dell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Raystown 6,357 7,597 0 100 366 366 8,429Sarver 6,394 8,544 0 195 408 408 9,555Three Seasons 7,922 9,735 2,440 150 750 587 13,662Valley 9,307 10,957 380 2,800 638 638 15,413Vinco 2,920 4,815 80 772 0 0 5,667Wayne Heights 4,382 5,842 20 823 321 321 7,327White Dale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

90,681District Totals 8,495 7,354116,327 5,665 144,4326,591

Ohio District

Albion 0 225 0 0 0 0 225Beacon Of Hope 11,583 14,442 40 634 0 803 15,919City Center Church 3,006 7,581 0 0 184 184 7,949Columbus 788 1,590 0 347 232 216 2,385Five Stones Community 9,441 14,352 0 0 697 697 15,746Fremont 1,353 1,553 0 0 43 43 1,639Garber 6,725 8,375 0 806 463 463 10,107Gratis 3,897 4,227 0 0 269 269 4,765Gretna 22,873 24,208 0 0 1,603 1,603 27,414N Georgetown 8,004 12,854 140 1,734 1,996 996 17,720New Lebanon 14,140 15,280 0 1,317 1,919 1,604 20,120Newark 926 1,701 0 50 154 104 2,009Park Street 43,432 82,659 1,570 120 0 0 84,349Pleasant Hill 6,822 7,272 0 425 728 464 8,889Smithville 26,300 29,210 0 0 1,950 1,950 33,110Smoky Row 870 3,015 40 140 197 66 3,458The Center 0 5 0 0 0 0 5Trinity 4,986 9,199 1,620 0 356 0 11,175United Community 3,756 3,981 0 40 338 338 4,697Vineyard 1,596 1,596 0 0 105 105 1,806W Alexandria 400 400 0 0 0 0 400Williamstown 0 300 300 0 0 0 600

170,898District Totals 5,613 11,234244,025 9,905 274,4873,710

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Financial and Statistical ReportsBrethren Church 2011 Church Giving Summary

Church

Total Church GivingFair

Share

Only Budget

Non

Budget

Brethren

Relief A.T.S. A.U.

Church

Total

Indiana District

Ardmore 3,288 3,638 0 135 372 372 4,517Bryan 14,888 17,953 90 300 781 781 19,905Burlington 2,035 4,005 20 0 65 65 4,155Center Chapel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0College Corner 8,318 12,238 1,609 461 1,848 1,848 18,004Corinth 2,831 3,256 40 0 220 220 3,736Cornerstone 0 165 65 0 0 0 230County Line 1,895 2,120 0 0 127 127 2,374Dutchtown 7,240 10,697 0 0 380 380 11,457Elkhart 282 1,382 275 301 114 9 2,081Flora 600 1,810 764 0 0 0 2,574Goshen 2,853 3,303 1,240 0 125 125 4,793Huntington 2,841 4,543 0 317 799 164 5,823Jefferson 23,490 25,974 480 465 1,758 1,758 30,435Loree 5,974 6,379 120 445 100 164 7,208Mexico 3,543 5,828 400 150 244 244 6,866Milford 6,084 8,270 10,355 0 450 450 19,525Mishawaka 0 225 0 0 0 0 225Muncie 6,516 7,646 940 970 727 342 10,625N Manchester 39,572 54,269 3,527 2,350 2,832 2,832 65,810Nappanee 28,705 36,573 80 250 2,317 2,317 41,537New Paris 6,307 6,757 140 0 320 320 7,537New Song 1,200 1,200 0 0 1,150 150 2,500Oakville 0 420 160 0 0 0 580Peru 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Roann 0 475 0 0 0 0 475Roanoke 1,508 2,133 80 0 98 98 2,409South Bend 10,429 11,727 7,901 375 617 617 21,237Teegarden 5,072 5,422 0 0 261 261 5,944Tiosa 5,589 5,739 80 0 160 160 6,139Wabash 1,185 1,335 0 254 38 38 1,665Warsaw 545 865 100 163 526 0 1,654Winding Waters 0 1,575 0 625 0 0 2,200

192,790District Totals 7,561 16,429247,922 13,842 314,22028,466

Central District

Cerro Gordo 4,532 5,792 80 0 233 233 6,338Hammond Ave 5,647 7,107 40 0 204 204 7,555Lanark 3,000 5,485 595 150 216 216 6,662Milledgeville 1,981 5,494 0 1,028 137 137 6,796

15,160District Totals 1,178 79023,878 790 27,351715

Midwest District

Cheyenne 1,741 2,201 0 0 95 95 2,391Falls City 1,584 2,064 0 0 92 92 2,248

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Financial and Statistical Reports

Church

Total Church GivingFair

Share

Only Budget

Non

Budget

Brethren

Relief A.T.S. A.U.

Church

Total

Midwest District

Fort Scott 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Mulvane 188 188 0 0 6 6 200New Heights 0 225 0 0 0 0 225

3,513District Totals 0 1934,678 193 5,0640

Southwest District

Northwest 845 1,145 0 0 76 76 1,297Oasis Community 0 815 0 0 0 0 815Tucson 800 5,393 220 320 0 0 5,933

1,645District Totals 320 767,353 76 8,045220

Northern California District

Carson Oak 4,843 12,343 1,025 950 546 296 15,160God's Purpose Church 0 2,570 0 100 0 0 2,670Northgate 3,365 8,015 130 0 206 206 8,557

8,208District Totals 1,050 75222,928 502 26,3871,155

Other Churches

Pacoima Centro Cristiano 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Pasadena Centro Cristiano 0 25 0 0 0 0 25

0District Totals 0 025 0 250

629,327Report Totals 31,275 44,972847,413 37,932 1,016,77155,179

31

Statistician’s Report

Statistician’s Report

At the close of 2011 there were 113 officially recognized congregations. This is a net decrease of 3 congregations from 2010. Included in this number:

• 104 fully established churches, down by a net of 2 from 2010. New Hope Christian Fellowship (Medina, OH), Flora (IN), and Tiosa (IN) closed in 2011. New Song Community Church, Union, MI, was elevated from a mission to a fully established congregation by the 2011 General Conference. (Note: the Anglo congregation of Crossroads Community in Bradenton, FL, closed during the year. The Hispanic congregation continues to meet, though we had no report from them this year.)

• 9 missions, down by a net of 1 from 2010 (New Song elevated to fully established). They were Centro Cristiano para la Familia of Palmdale, Oasis Community, United Community, Vineyard Community, New Hope (State College), Sarasota Iglesia de los Hermanos, Muskoka Community, Cross Bars Ministries, and God’s Purpose Church.

• Also, there is 1 recognized special ministry that does not meet as a congregation and does not provide statistical reports: Riverside Christian School.

• In 2011, we received at least a partial report from 96 of the 116 recognized congregations (83% reporting, compared to 89% last year) Because of these circumstances, the reports recorded cannot be considered sufficient to accurately reflect the current state of The Brethren Church.

I would like to thank the leaders of the churches that reported, especially those that reported by the deadline giving us the time necessary to compile this report. I would also like to thank the entire National Office Staff and my friends Ron W. Waters, G. Emery Hurd and Fred Miller for the various roles that they played in developing the report submitted.

Highlights for 2011The Numbers:

Membership: While some local churches and districts experienced an increase in their membership, overall, The Brethren Church decreased in membership by 5.9% in 2011. This is significant as there was a 1.0% decrease in membership overall in 2010.

*It should be acknowledged that the disbanding and dissolving of 4 churches in 2011 contributed to a decrease in membership of 131.

There were 181 new members who transferred into our churches from another church. This is down from 371 the previous year.

Attendance:Total average worship attendance was up by 154 persons this year from 2010. This is approximately a 1.8% increase.

*As with membership, the 4 churches that disbanded or dissolved contributed a significant decrease. Given that attendance increased, it may be inferred that our current existing congregations maintained or grew slightly in regular worship attendance overall.

Giving:A total of 89 (93% of those reporting) congregations reported total financial giving (offerings and other income) of $11,149,335 for the year. The total reported income in 2010 was $10,942,840 .There may be some variations between these amounts due to inconsistency in reporting (individual churches may not have reported in both years). No attempt has been made at that type of comparison.

Conversions:There were 494 individuals who came to a saving knowledge and relationship with Jesus in 2011. In 2011, it took almost 20 members to reach each new person by conversion. In 2010 it took 16, and in 2009 it took 29 Brethren to do the same.

*This number is an adjustment from last year’s report. The number was adjusted to reflect actual numbers received from churches that had previously not reported.

**This number is sig-nificantly influenced by the disbanding of 4 congrega-tions in 2011 as well as the radical restructuring of membership (to the point where some who were pre-viously members no longer qualified as such) in some others.

Here are the statistics at a glance:

32

58 of 96 reporting congregations added at least 1 new Jesus-follower through conversion. 16 of those congregations account for 65% of the new-conversion disciples reported for 2011. Those 16 churches range in average attendance from 20 to 700. Those churches saw an average of slightly more than 20 new conversions each. Conversely, that means 83.3% of the reporting congregations (or the remaining 80) saw an average of 2.15 new believers throughout year.

It should be noted that 78 churches responded to at least one part of this portion of the report in 2011.

* Average was determined by averaging the averages of the responses to each question in a category.

**Scoring for this section of the report was changed from a 1-9 scale in 2010 to a 1-10 scale in 2011. For comparative analysis, adjustment was made to the 2010 scores by multiplying them by a factor of 1.1.

Qualitative Statistics at a glance

2010Average*

2011Average**

1. Relational: 7.2 7.62. Missional: 7.4 83.Sustainable: 6.6 7.74. Reproducing: 5.8 5.75. Global: 6.9 7.3

Persons completing the report

One Person 64 57Church Leaders 40 37

Majority of Congregation 3 0

Statistician’s Report

33

Statistician’s Report

RELATIONAL 40 churches made comments in this area (57 in 2010).

* 16 (40%) only described their internal relationships * 16 (40%) made a specific comment about

relationships in their Community* 7 (18%) commented that relationships with either their

District or the National Church need improvement.

MISSIONAL 44 churches made comments in this area (60 in 2010).

* 4 (9%) responses contained a single focus on money as their Missional involvement

* 37 (84%) responding churches demonstrated an intention toward Missional activity internally, in their local community, and across the globe

* Only 1 of the responding churches stated that this area is a struggle, or that they need improvement

SUSTAINABLE 41 churches made comments in this area (54 in 2010)

*12 (29%) respondents indicated that they have no leadership development plan or that they have significant obstacles to developing new leaders.

*16 (39%) respondents indicated that they do have an active and intentional leadership development plan

* 4 (10%) respondents indicated that they are not financially sustainable.

Some are learning to see leadership development as the key issue to sustainability, but even most of those see their lack of people or lack of “committed” people as the reason for lack of leadership capacity. Some still only see their finances as the driver for sustainability.

REPRODUCING36 churches made comments in this area (53 in 2010).

* 14 churches (39%) made reference to identifying or developing new leaders.

* 7 churches (19%) indicate some form of involvement in planting new churches.

Several respondents cited this as their largest need for development.

GLOBAL39 churches made comments in this area (54 in 2010)

* 15 churches (38%) indicated that sending money was their only form of Global involvement.

* 10 churches (26%) indicated that they have little to no involvement and are struggling in regional/national or international ministry.

* 14 churches (36%) indicated that they have direct ministry involvement (more than sending money) outside of their local context.

A higher number of churches reported being involved in global missions (including local, regional and international) this year.

Partnering with others, intentional training81 churches responded.

* 65 (80%) mention partnering with another organization (an increase over previous years)

* 35 (43%) mention some type of additional training (a decrease over previous years)

* 50 (62%) mention a relationship with a school (an increase over previous years)

The statements and questions, which the majority of congregations responded to, were designed to give a general view of individual congregations and of The Brethren Church corporately. A strict empirical research model was not employed, and no attempt is being made to assess statistical significance. Instead, we’ll continue to look at trends that emerge.

Our vision is to continue to move towards a more empirically sound use of this report. The ability of this data to accurately describe individual congregations and our tribe overall will, in large part, be due to more churches processing the questions together rather than being completed by a solo individual and more congregations reporting in general. It is time for us to collectively recognize and respond to a long-standing difficulty that we face in regard to our statistical reporting process. Long-overdue reports are a significant problem. Due in early February, approximately 25% abide by that request. Half are usually returned by the end of the month. The other half are procured through numerous emails, phone calls, etc. We receive reports usually up to a few weeks before General Conference. This year we were successful in obtaining only about 85% of reports, which makes our statistical analysis and evaluative process far less accurate. This problem is demoralizing to those who serve you, wasteful of their time and energy, and indicative of something far less than what we might expect from local leaders. Our organizational principles are relational and not authoritarian. It is therefore time for us to renew our pledge out of respect for each other, and engage fully in this and other activities that in various degrees contribute to our mission. Finally, although 4 congregations disbanded this year affecting our overall statistical report in membership, attendance and financial giving, etc., our currently existing congregations, overall, are experiencing an average worship attendance that is rising as well as an increase in giving, although many churches did not report. This is significant, as it seems to indicate a continued trend of growth in The Brethren Church. May God continue to bless us with the courage and perseverance to engage in his transforming work in us as individuals and congregations and may our tribe increase!

Respectfully Submitted,Bill Ludwig

34

ther eportsO RTrustees of the Brethren Retirement Plan

The Brethren Church seeks to transform leaders, and part of that transformation is providing our leaders a safe place to plan for retirement so they can focus on ministry. We provide a sustainable, productive set of options that allows our participants to multiply their holdings through the investment of a variety of global products, while maintaining a solid relational standing with our plan providers.

The Brethren Retirement Plan is a participant-directed plan for non-profit corporations called a 401A plan, similar to a 401K used by many companies. Individual participants control the allocation of their own retirement funds among several diverse mutual fund and fixed income fund options. Employees of the Brethren Church Inc, or its affiliate churches are eligible to participate in the plan. Plan partici-pants are 100 percent vested in their contributions and any employer contributions.

Smith Barney serves as an investment advisor provid-ing allocation advice to each participant through direct communication with its agents. Our transfer of the plan to a different oversight group has continued to prove a good decision, providing increased options, lower administrative costs, and each participant receiving a personal call each year regarding their portfolio. Participants continue to receive quarterly reports, and churches receive quarterly reminders for contributions. New federal laws have required some changes to the reporting documents, and a clearer statement of the actual costs of administrating the plan to each participant. This new information reinforces the excellent value we are receiving for a fund of our size.

The plan administrator is McCready and Keene, Inc. The plan administrator handles the quarterly reporting, bill-ing and assures the compliance of the plan to current tax laws. Participants have the flexibility to change their asset allocation among the various funds and to confirm the sta-tus of their investments by telephone or website.

We are always looking for individuals who have investment or oversight experience to join our team on the retirement board. Contact any member of the Retirement Board if interested.

For more information on the plan, or if you and your church would like to elect to participate in the plan, contact any of the trustees or Stan Gentle at the national office of the Brethren Church.

Currently serving as plan trustees are Wesley Glass (2012, Treasurer), Dale Rulon (2013, secretary) and. G. Emery Hurd (2014, President).

Respectfully submitted,G. Emery Hurd and Trustees of the plan

Polity Committee

In the past conference year the Polity Committee has worked cooperatively with the National Office and other groups in the continuing implementation of the NEW DAY vision. This new vision continues to require significant review of our standing procedures and organizational structure as we seek to preserve our heritage and history while permitting a transformative environment that is sustainable and reproducible within a relational context that is truly global in its mission.

Our committee began work this year as part of a Middle Adjudicatory Task Force to begin a discussion on the relationships of our various denomination bodies, and how they may more effectively minister in the context of our vision and a rapidly changing culture. We also serve in an advisory capacity to other Brethren organizations on other polity issues, responding to inquiries as we continue to implement the national mission, vision, and core values.

It has been an honor to be of service to the denomination as we work together to meet the challenges and opportunities of expanding God’s kingdom through the Brethren Church.

G. Emery Hurd Chairman

35

Ashland Theological Seminary

Ashland Theological Seminary has been preparing leaders for the Brethren Church for the past 106 years. We also serve as a ministry of the Brethren Church to over 70 other denominations that send their students to us for formation and equipping. I am thrilled to report that we sent another 188 Kingdom workers into the battle at our commencement services in June. So, it has been a good year.

It was also a good year in terms of organizational metrics. Our full time equivalent enrollment was up an average of 25 students per quarter. We finished the year with a balanced budget and exceeded our annual giving goal.

We have partnered with the national office in a variety of ways this past year including:

1. A strengthened partnership with CoachNet that takes three forms: a. Our coaching classes at ATS allow students to take

individual courses for CEU’s. b. Through CoachNet we are also offering a multi-course

certificate program that results in a professional coach certification.

c. We are offering a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology with a concentration in Christian coaching..

2. Continued support of Church Planting through the work of NACMI (North American Church Multiplication Institute) and its Director, Dr. Terry Hofecker.

3. The national office continues to work closely with us in identifying Brethren students who are chosen for scholarship assistance,

3. I am pleased to announce that Brethren elder, Dr. John Swope, has been hired as our new Director of Field Education. Dr. Swope will be working closely with denominational leaders to provide valuable hands-on experience for our pastoral ministry students.

The faculty, staff and Brethren students wish to thank congregations and individuals for their generous financial support this past year. Thus far we have two churches that have agreed to participate in the Seminary Sunday Endowed Scholarship program. The St. James Brethren Church and Mt. Olive Brethren Church have established $25,000 endowed scholarships honoring their pastors, Brian Moore and Fred Miller, respectively.

Dr. John C. Shultz

We are excited that God continues to bless ATS in ways that enable us to educate and transform those who come to us. Please pray for us, support us financially and encourage students to come to us. We continue to invite you to join our intercessor team—folks who receive weekly prayer updates and are faithfully on their knees on our behalf.

Dr. John C. Shultz. President

Ashland University

Ashland University is proud to maintain our commitment to the Brethren Church by providing a conservative approach to higher education. Being founded by the Brethren Church in 1878 has given us a solid foundation as a University com-mitted to values, a commodity not often found in our volatile society today. Ashland University holds to the Core Values of: Commitment to Judeo-Christian Values, Character Forma-tion, Accent on the Individual, Teaching Excellence and Academic Freedom.

With over 6,000 students Ashland is a leading comprehensive University and is recognized as one of the top 200 Nation-al Universities by US News and World Report. Ashland also holds distinction as being named one of the “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review. AU’s Campus Activities has been recognized for 10 years in a row as the Number 1 program in the nation. Finally, AU’s food service continues to receive national ac-claim each year as the nation’s best college food service.

Ashland has an outstanding religious life program that includes mission trips, worship, Bible study, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and service projects that involve nearly 45% of the student body.

The University has a nationally recognized commitment to athletics. With 20 varsity sports and over 550 varsity athletes, Ashland maintains a commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom. For six semesters in a row, AU athletes have maintained a 3.0 GPA. In terms of competition, AU’s athletic programs are ranked nationally in the top ten in Division II for the past six years.

In the classroom, AU maintains a high commitment to excellence. Recently, AU was visited by the Under Secre-tary of Education to recognize the innovation and commit-ment to accessibility and affordability of the University. AU continues to provide scholarships to Brethren students and discounts 75% of tuition to children of Brethren pastors.

AU continues to value our strong relationship with the Brethren Church.

Dr. Frederick J. Finks, President

Dr. Fred Finks

Other Reports

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Other Reports

Ashland University Campus Ministry

The Ashland University Center of Religious Life continues to thrive and grow under God’s direction and blessing. This year we have had 14 students make a first time confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We have also seen countless students who have made a conscious decision to live their faith every day, both here in school and in their career after college. It is so inspiring to see these students grow in the grace and knowledge of the gospel. Your support of the campus ministry at Ashland is making a Kingdom difference and a world impact.

Once again, this year we were able to continue the Seminary internship program, however, due to financial cuts at the Seminary, we only had one seminary intern. A gracious donor has provided four additional seminary student interns. I am eagerly seeking churches or donors who will catch this vision and help to provide a $5,000 internship position for a seminary student to serve at the Center of Religious Life. These interns lead Bible studies, meet one-on-one with college students, direct retreats, plan mission trips, and much more. This has become a dynamic program where seminary students gain practical ministry experience while still in seminary. If you or your church would like to provide financial assistance to sponsor a seminary student internship at the Center of Religious Life, please contact me at 419-289-5480 or email me at dlawson@ashland.edu.

This year the Center of Religious Life continues to increase the short-term mission trips for our students. We provided two medical mission trips and three service trips. We have a short video clip of one of our medical trips on our web site at www.ashland.edu/students/campus-life/religious-life.Next year our hope is to send a mission team, perhaps both medical and service, to the Brethren mission in Puerto Maldonado in Peru, South America. These students have to raise their own financial support to go on these trips. If you would like to assist in sending a team of nursing students and/or a service team to Puerto Maldonado, please contact me at 419-289-5480.

The Center of Religious Life continues to sponsor the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Nurses Christian Fellowship, the prison ministry, and the Well each week. We also host small group Bible studies all across campus and we sponsor ministries that revolve around our six core values of scripture, prayer, worship, discipleship, evangelism, and community. We have over 1,000 students involved in the ministries and programs of the Center of

Dr. Dan Lawson

Religious Life. We continue to value and appreciate your prayers and financial support as we serve the Kingdom of God in the mission field of Ashland University. We want Ashland University to be the college of choice for all of our college bound Brethren students. We strongly value the involvement of the Brethren Church. We cannot do this work without you.

Serving Together,Dan Lawson, Dean Center of Religious LifeAshland University

Mission Trip to El Salvador

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Riverside is a private Christian School in the eastern Ken-tucky community of Lost Creek, situated between the cities of Jackson and Hazard. For over 100 years it has been providing a strong academic program with a spiritual em-phasis for students in grades K-12. It is also a community center and a ministry outreach for many Brethren and other churches as well. We feel as though we are moving forward in our mission to teach and train. Here are a few highlights of the past year...

• Riverside is far along the process toward re-accredi-tation by the Association of Christian Schools Interna-tional. This development should greatly enhance our ability to attract new students.

• Work teams throughout the year have added many new improvements and updates.

• On August 17, we will host our second annual Back to School Party, celebrating a new class and remember-ing the past with returning alumni.

• We are participating with the federal government in a watershed project that will provide a sustainable sewer system for the school as well as enhancing the water quality of surrounding streams.

• A new boiler system was installed to upgrade current facilities.

Riverside Christian School Board meetings are held the first Saturday of May and November. Please keep us in your prayers, and come visit whenever you can!

Riverside Christian School Chaplain Endorsing Agent

We currently have five chaplains and one chaplain candidate serving The Brethren Church as missionaries to our men and women in uniform. Each has a special and unique ministry that brings Jesus into the lives of those who are seeking and those who know him as Savior. Please continue to pray for their ministries.

Colonel David Graetz serves as the State Chaplain for the Kentucky National Guard in Frankfort, Kentucky. He also serves as the Chief Chaplain at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky. David is married to Gale, his wife of 31 years, They have three children. Please keep David, his family, and his ministry in your prayers. You can write to David at his unit address: COL Graetz, David, 800 Zorn Ave., Chaplain Serice-125, Louisville, KY 40242.

Major Matthew Incorvia serves as a U.S. Air Force National Guard Chaplain with the 192nd Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Virginia. Matthew is married to Aubrey and they have two children. Matthew pastors a local Church of the Brethren congregation in the Durham area. Please keep Matthew, his family, and his ministry in your prayers. You can write Matthew at his unit address: MAJ Incorvaia, Matthew, 192D Fighter Wing, 159 Sweeney Blvd Suite 200, Langley AFB, VA 23665-2213.

Captain Carl Phillips serves the U.S. Army as the Battalion Chaplain for 1st Space Battalion at Peterson AFB, Colorado. Carl is married to his wife of 29 years, Deanna, and they have three children. Please keep Carl, his family, and his ministry in your prayers. You can write Carl at his unit address: CPT Phillips, Carl, 1st Space Command, 350 Vandenberg St. Bldg. 3, Peterson AFB, CO 80914.

Captain Ronald Walters serves as Command and Unit Chaplain/Battalion Chaplain for the U.S. Army Reserve in South Bend, Indiana. Ron is married to his wife of 18 years, Lisa, and they have two children. Please keep Ron, his family, and his ministry in your prayers. You can write to Ron at his unit address: CPT Walters, Ronald, 766th TC BN (MT) HHD, 3401 Boland Dr., South Bend, IN 46628.

Captain Anthony Keim serves the U.S. Army as a Battalion Chaplain at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. Anthony is married to his wife of 14 years, Dawn, and they have two children. Please keep Anthony, his family, and his ministry in your prayers. You can write Anthony at his unit address: CPT Keim, Anthony, 260th Quartermaster Battalion, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA 31409.

2nd Lieutenant David Miller serves the Ohio Army National Guard as a Chaplain Candidate. He is a 2012 graduate of ATS. David is married to his wife, Sarah, of six years and their first child, a son, was born last November. Please keep David, his family, and his ministry in your prayers. David and his family will be moving to Arizona in August and his unit is yet to be determined.

Other Reports

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Brethren Peace Initiative

Ministry Teams are a key vehicle through which individuals contribute to the greater mission of the Brethren Church, according to their gifts and/or passion for particular areas of ministry. Below you will find information about several of our teams that are already functioning on an ongoing schedule. Other teams meet as time permits and/or as opportunities arise. Here you will see reports from the Ministry Teams that support our Global Partner in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, the Brethren Peace Initiative, and the team that provides support and oversight for our partnership in the Philippines. Other teams that have met on an occasional basis have been the Outdoor Ministries Team (District Camps), and Hispanic Min-istries Team. Probably the most visible expression of Ministry Teams has been the Mobilize efforts under the direction of Gary Diehl, and the MissioChurch Team under the direction of Bill Ludwig. Currently we are seeking to develop more of a teamwork approach to our Global Partnership in India. Each team features a leader, who will provide the necessary ingre-dients to convene and coordinate the work, and members who will prayerfully commit their time and energy to the cause. Interested? Let us hear from you and the Brethren Church National Office, so we can begin to plan for activities that reflect your gifts and calling!

inistry eam eportsM RT

Years ago, Italo and Rebecca Abuid moved back to Italo’s home town of Puerto Maldonado with their son, David, and a clear sense of God’s call to start an orphanage. With help from the national budget of the Brethren Church in the United States, they purchased property. With the help of supporters and short-term missionary construction crews they began building their first home for the children. The progress of the project slowed to a near standstill, however, due to insufficient funds for construction and problems with planning and communication. Those involved in the ministry eventually realized that the Abuids were carrying most of the weight of responsibility for the work. The staff of the national office were dealing with a large number of international partners and no one else had a mandate or expectation to help with support or planning. The eventual solution was to form the Puerto Maldonado Task Force in response to the vision of the Brethren Church Executive Director, Ken Hunn. This organization of the supporters of the orphanage began to help with planning for the support and for the direction of the orphanage. Members of the Task Force came from the Berlin, Huntington, North Manchester, Mount Olive, Oasis, Park Street, Sarasota, Smithville, Valley and other Brethren Churches as well as family members of the Abuids and personal friends. The Task Force is currently functioning best as a conduit for communication and support. This is accomplished through phone calls, email and social networking on the Facebook page, “Puerto Maldonado Task Force.” The Abuids are members of the Facebook group so they can communicate with all of their supporters with one post. This has helped immensely with communication.

Better communication has helped with support as well. A much larger group of people has more and better information about the ministry. This has led to a greater understanding and sense of responsibility for the ministry. In short, there is a greater sense of ownership in many more people. The Abuids are not alone in their work. The task force members pray for the work, travel to Peru to help and encourage the staff and children, and provide financial support. Some send occasional offerings, others have donated for specific needs, pledged ongoing support and committed to sponsor specific children with $100 per month. The next challenge for the task force is to develop roles to use each member’s gifts to help the ministry move forward and overcome challenges. This is a greater expression of the body of Christ in which ministry is done by many members with diverse gifts work together with the leading of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s purposes and to bring Him glory.

David Stone Sarasota, Florida

Puerto Maldonado, Peru

Building upon our 300-plus years of nonresistant/nonviolent Brethren history (2,000-plus years when including New Testament history and practice), Brethren Peace Initiative suggests practical concerns and activities for Brethren to be better peacemakers every day.

You are encouraged to take advantage of the following resources to help us all become more involved in responsible peacemaking — regularly!

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Phil Lersch, Facilitator5301 56th Avenue, N.St. Petersburg, FL 33709(727) 544-2931phillersch@verizon.net

1. Receive and Read BPI semi-monthly PEACE EMAILS – These emails bring valuable peacemaking thoughts, appropriate peace-related Bible verses, reports of peacemakers in action, promotion of quality peace-centered organizations & programs & resources, personal testimonies, nurture for quality peacemakers, prayers for peace… well, you get the idea! It is sent to all pastors, other ministers, and many laymen and laywomen.

For about 20 months, attachments to each Peace email have reported segments of our Brethren Historical and Biblical Bases for Peacemaking over the past 304 years, with numerous examples of Brethren peace beliefs and actions in each of those centuries. The series, not yet complete, focuses on biblical teachings and Brethren beliefs about nonviolent principles and practices that have guided our forebears throughout our history. To be placed on this PEACE EMAIL LIST, contact Phil Lersch (email address below).

2. Inquire about BPI’s printed report presented at every DISTRICT CONFERENCE across the denomination. Our activities, similar to the report you are reading, are distributed in each district. Inquire about the information and assist in distributing it to “the folks back home” in yourlocal congregation.

3. Read, and then share with others, conversations and discussions about our BRETHREN EVANGELIST pages (in the January/February and May/June issues). Because Evangelists are free, this is a much-appreciated opportunity for BPI to reach folks in every Brethren home. Perhaps the content of our articles could be shared by you with an organization in your church.

4. If you receive the MONTHLY NEWSLETTER sent to all pastors and other ministers (by the National Office), share the BPI segment with your congregation, when appropriate. Again, this is another valued opportunity we have of being in contact with denominational leaders.

5. GENERAL CONFERENCE: This year a Peace Prayer Guide (prepared by BPI) is provided in the Conference Packet for every registrant. Please keep it handy, use it yourself when returning home, and share the “praying for peace” ideas with others, adding your own thoughts as time goes by. And this BPI General Conference Report is also for sharing by you later.

6. visit the BRETHREN PEACE INITIATIvE Link on the Brethren Church Website. Just Google “Brethren Peace Initiative,” and follow the links. Following a general introduction to BPI, there are links to highlights from the recent Peace emails.

7. Promote PRAYING FOR PEACE, as advertised in our Peace emails – such as the National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday every May, and the International Day of Prayer for Peace on September 21st every year. There

are also further ideas about praying for peace in the Peace emails periodically, for personal praying and sharing with others.

8. Use the information about PEACE POLES to consider “planting” a pole on your church or home lawn. For details, contact Phil Lersch (email address below) or contact this company: Peace Pole Makers (7221 S. Wheeler Road, Maple City, MI 49664 or (231)334-4567) or www.peacepoles.com. For miniature, desk-top Peace Poles, also contact Phil Lersch.

9. We are still working to improve the BPI BLOG and establish a BPI FACEBOOK page. Stay Tuned!

10. Donate to the BRETHREN PEACE FUND. Contributions are welcomed and needed. Make checks payable to Brethren Peace Fund, and send to Stan Gentle (524 College Avenue, Ashland, OH, 44805). Thank you very much! This is our only means of financial support to promote and provide resources about peacemaking in the Brethren Church.

For more information about any of the information above, write to

Other Members of BPI Leadership Team: Rich & Carolyn Hagopian (Columbus, Ohio) Matt Black (Columbus, Ohio) Mark & Chantal Logan (Bridgewater, Virginia) Ryan Gilmer (Ashland, Ohio)

Ministry Team Reports

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In January, Pastor Gray Castro and I began meeting monthly to work on the issue of sustainability in the Filipino Church. Our goal is to develop strategies that will help the Filipino Church become self-sustaining and redefine the relationship between the Brethren Church in the U.S. and the Philippines.

Over the past seven months Pastor Gary and I have been digging into the ideas and strategies that will lead the Filipino Church to sustainability. We have identified several strategies that they want to pursue as they move toward sustainability. One of the strategies is a Credit Cooperative program that is owned by the membership of the church. The Cooperative can make low interest loans to members to help them start businesses. The funds generated from the interest collected goes to help the Filipino Church be sustainable. But beyond that, when people are able to generate income for their families through the businesses created, they can honor God with their tithes. This not only helps families with their living needs but also helps grow the church there in the Philippines.

These strategies are just getting started and we have a lot of work to do. We hope you will pray for Pastor Gary and his team in the Philippines as they do the hard work of becoming self-sustaining. If you are interested in helping in this process or want to know more about what we are doing, you can contact me by email at steven@northgatemanteca.com.

Pastor Steven Cole Manteca, CA

The Philippines

Ministry Team Reports

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Brethren General Conference

We can’t believe how time goes by this year, another General Conference more! We would like to join you at this time; we don’t forget the Conference in 2008. (We’ll try to follow it via internet)

We pray you have a good time full of blessings and challenges to continue serving our Lord.

Although in Spain we are having economic problems we are in a special spiritual time. We mean that our Congregation is being challenged to reach people with God’s Word. We have a “real living hope” to share in this time!

We always say that we are so thankful for your prayers and support. So sorry we don’t know how to say it in other words!

This year Congregations from many places (USA, Argentina and Paraguay) have helped us as family because we are having some economic needs. Thanks to each one; praise the Lord Lucas got a job and this will help him and Nicolás with their studies. They both continue serving God in Madrid. They have opportunity to speak about Brethren Church to evangelical leaders there and attend different Conferences, workshops, etc.

Receive our love from Spain!David, Cecilia, Lucas and NicolásMolina-Bruno FamilySpain

Greetings from our International Partners Dear Brethren Church Family,

The Brethren Church Philippines congregations extend our greetings to the delegates of 2012 General Confer-ence. It is our prayer that this year’s conference will be another landmark for the Brethren Church leaders and members in fulfilling our calling as a denomination. As your Filipino brothers and sisters, it is also our utmost desire to fulfill our calling as the Brethren Church congregation here in this side of the world.

Let us continue to work together, strengthen our relation-ship as one family, together with other Brethren Churches in other countries. Paul says to the believers in Corinth, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). May this verse be an encouragement to everyone to keep on keeping on!

Pastor Gary Castro JOFF Brethren Church Philippines

“ Put away fear and let your heart be strong, all you whose hope is in the Lord.” ~Psalm 31: 24

Dear Pastors, leaders and Brethren gathered at the General Conferences, we greet you all by these fraternal greetings in Jesus, with the wish that the communion in the Holy Spirit and our God’s presence among you will be for blessings and development of your lives

From Argentina we want to mention our gratitude because of all your support and, at the same time, encourage you to continue in search of the goal which you are aiming for so your congregations be mobilized and multiplied, giving answer to the need which raises within your society, and announcing the love of God to those people around you.

Here, in our country, we have seen the blessings from our God, manifested in the enlarging of many congregations, the already consolidated new places and the development of bigger communication and mutual communion, in prayer together one for each other. Furthermore, at this point, as we have seen a beautiful approach with you in our partnership service in the Kingdom of God. The understanding is that, beyond the different distances and circumstances, we may join efforts in keeping pace work with our gifts and even be capable to learn to support in all ways each other. We give glory to God because together we could be tools in God´s hands to help to support the mission work in Coria, in the midst of the social-economical crisis which is at present days in Spain.

It is outstanding thinking that although many of us are not related, we are able to experience the same feeling as we come in front of our God, to intercede one for another. In fact all this encourages us and it is our desire that it will also be encouragement for you.

Please have this affective greeting from The Brethren Church Argentine to all of you while attending these General Conferences.

José Luis CavazzaPresident, Argentine ChurchArgentina

Phil ippines

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News and Greetings From The Brethren Church in Chile

We thank our Lord for the privilege to be of those who share the evangelistic expanding work by means of our gifts, wisdom and abilities, without resting, selfishness or proselyte goals, attracting people from different cultures or social stages, to the knowledge of God, as Jesus ordered to us before ascending to heaven.

As a part of Jesus’ body, the Bet-el Church keeps growing in number of people from different ages; we have not excluded anyone, instead, as there are differences both in ages and kind of people, because of this we accomplished the need of new sections in order to carry out and pay attention to the requests from each aforementioned sections.

As a denomination, at the same time, we have influence in other evangelical groups without being an interference to their own routines but, instead, to be an encouragement channel towards their spiritual and economical growth. As it is with the most of the churches (at least here in Chile) the women presence is taking place in permanent ways, which growth, at least among us, is awakening a desire to fit the men work presence (which is not easy)

In regards to the economical facts, there is permanent struggle and we thank God as we could always overcome it; this means to remark that for now we have just a year more to finish the payment to the bank for the former five years loan.

It was a lot of work year, although we have not suffered high losses, but lower, anyway we do believe in the understanding renewal provided by the Holy Spirit, which was the main issue in supporting God´s work. We are through an everyday learning in order to teach in updated ways, both contemporary and comprehensive, as we emphasize every time, by means of worship, singing, which attracts people, mainly the youth, who everyday are joining this ministerial task.

Finally, being aware of our geographical fact in regards to the very special climate circumstances, we are all the time well prepared, both in prayer and resources, because those inconveniences may take place any time.

We are very happy because of the moments in which we are busy in doing God´s will and in search of the unity in the Lord´s body, walking to the maturity and being careful for the Holy Spirit presence which strengths us.

Then, please rejoice with us for the accomplishment of God´s goals among us, as we rejoice with you while you have alike experiences as you gather these days for your General Conferences.

Carlos Quiroga, Pastor.

Chile

We send warm greetings.

As your Brethren Church sister in Colombia, we do wish that blessings from our Lord be in a marvelous way among your lives and during the time you will be celebrating your Annual General Conferences.

At the same time, we inform you that we keep working for the extensión of the Kingdom in Medellin – Colombia. The three churches which we are working with, are developing in a strong and healthy way. Each one of those is raising leadership so that other locations may be opened and then to extend the góspel good news in another different loca-tions.

We deeply thank you for your prayers and support towards the missionary commitment and mainly here in Colombia.

We encourage you to keep supporting, as you do, the spreading of the gospel.

We do love you in the Lord.Marcelo FerreriMissionary PastorMEDELLIN - Colombia

Dear Brethren:

Greettings for you from Paraguay in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Among the issues that we are ready to inform you on the Brethren Church in Paraguay are these:

1. The Church is already established and people are under pastorate and discipleship.

2. People are trained in Theological Education for their future ministries.

3. Logistic support and different stuff for marginal areas.

4. Weekly and systematic biblical teaching for children.

5. Grown up people are taught in discipleship by biblical courses.

6. Local church is self supported in their routine expenses.

Within the challenges we need to afford at present :

1. Enlarging the membership by Evangelistic activities.

2. To add more people in the ministry.

3. Some facilities remodeling.

May the grace from our Lord Jesus Christ, the love from God and the communion from the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

CLAUDIO CASTELLIS. Pastor

Colombia

Paraguay

International Greetings

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International Greetings

Dear friend Ken Hunn and brothers and sisters from the US church:

The last year was a great adventure. The kind of adven-tures that you read in the histories, the kind of adventures that all the disciples of God has ever lived. Our church has experienced many changes in many aspects. After a big storm new seeds have grown up around our congregation. People that we meet all our life, that cross with us in the corners of the streets and were like strangers to us have experienced Jesus in their life. These new people bring faith to me and my family. These new people are not like the old people. They are with fire in their hearts, passion for Christ is in every aspect of their life. Even when they are not perfect, they match perfect in Gods plan. I feel like this is a new chapter in our history, with new main charat-ers, new plot, new villains, new challenges and all part of a divine plan and we are going to see the fruits of all this very soon.

I can feel your prayers. I know that there are people that pray for for us. We know that there are people sitting somewhere and they don’t even know us, but they are praying for us. Maybe some of the miracles in our lives and our strenghths are coming from your unconditional and pure prayers. So for that I want to say thanks to every one of those who keep us in their minds and prayers. Because all I know is that we are the universal family, and body of Christ, and that every little prayer that is shared with our creator has an universal effect. And I can see that in our church in the last 2 years. Thanks for always being there for us and never forget from this little family that you have in Perú, and I know that we are not a big church, but as the new phrase from our church says... “we are not a big church, but we are a great church”. The last year was great...if you keep praying can you imagine what could happen this year?

Luis Angel Morillas Fuentes

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

Isaiah 44:3-4

NEWS AND GREETINGS FROM DIQUECITO CAMP – THE BRETHREN CHURCH IN ARGENTINA

Dear friends:

We do want to have this chance to greet you all at this Annual General Conference.

In fact, our Lord has been so merciful with us along the time and because of that we feel in continuous encouragement to afford new challenges.

One of those was to remodel the former old building, so that new facilities are added as the permanent renting is the main goal to accomplish the self-support which is required.

So, the old bathrooms were remodeled, and for now those are in proper condition of use.

It took also the need to have new draining tubes and channels through the rocky soil.

It was also enlarged the room for meetings (sanctuary) new walls, roof and floor were built for it.

Because of all this:

1. We deeply thank God for those people from WMS which were busy helping with donations. The same for our beloved friends who took time to come to Diquecito, afforded hard work, shared their lives, love and money. We felt and feel so blessed.

2. We will highly appreciate your commitment and prayers in regards to the facilities which are in construction for housing the couple who will live and work for this development.

3. We will also look for your partnership, mainly in prayer, with the present new project for the permanent attendance of students from schools, universities, even privates, from the Córdoba district, to the evangelistic activities already in its way, which are planned for the rest of this present year and times to come.

May our Lord be blessing you all of you, at these General Conferences, as everybody has blessed us in the aforementioned different ways.

José Luis CavazzaPresident

Peru Argentina

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International Greetings

Dear Brother Ken and all the Brethren,

Greetings from India.

We praise God for His continual presence and guidance in our ministry day after day. We glorify Him for leading us into deeper truths and for strengthening our fellowship and for adding new souls to our churches.

We thank you for your fervent prayers which have helped us to keep going through rough times. Special thanks for your loving and encouraging words that have boosted our spirits, for the thoughtful cards and notes which the Breth-ren Churches in U.S. have been sending from time to time.

My heart is full of gratitude and praises to our Lord God Almighty who has enabled me to complete 20 years of full-time ministry. Recently, when we conducted Fasting and Revival Meetings, God enabled me to preach in 55 Breth-ren congregations travelling continuously for 31 days. This was very challenging both physically and spiritually. But my testimony is that the Lord is always so faithful in sustaining and empowering us to accomplish the goals. I say with the apostle Paul, “Woe is to me if I preach not the Gospel” (I Cor.9:16).

Brethren, Jesus Christ is coming back soon! We are in the end times: God’s Word warns us that, “The days are evil.“ (Eph.5:16). The Gospel needs to be preached with greater zeal and power more than ever before. Let us be connect-ed and united in this grand endeavour and commission.

God bless everyone at the General Conference 2012.

With love and prayers

Rev.Dr.K.Sudhir Kumar, Brethren Mission in India.

Dear Ken,

So good to know that it is time for another annual general conference.

Time is fleeting so fast and the annual conference is always looked forward to by our dear Brethren as this is the time to renew the friendships, revive and refresh the lives with soul stirring messages.

As you shoulder this great responsibility we uphold you and all the dear Brethren at the THRONE OF HIS MERCY for a very Blessed and Spirit Filled BRETHREN ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

In His love and Grace,Nirmala and Prasanth

India

Greetings to the members of the Brethren Church Annual Conference from Italo and Rebecca in Puerto Maldonado, Peru. We hope you are enjoying your week at conference and wish that we could be there with you, but we are here in Puerto Maldonado in the wonderful new home that God has given us and that many of your churches helped build, with our five beautiful children.

Our ministry is really starting to flourish and we pray that all the seeds of love, hard work, tears, joy and dedication will bring forth fruit for God´s kingdom. In a few years our hope is that the children here will grow up in a godly home and then have the desire to turn around and come back to this home to serve their Lord. Thank you for this partner-ship of love and the joint effort that brought this calling to a completion. The work has just begun and we ask that you continue to pray for us and our beautiful family.

With lots of love, Italo and Rebecca

Puerto Maldonado

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Notes

Notes

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Rev. David Loi and his wife, Jenny, have served the Lord and the Brethren Church faithfully for thirty-eight years, and we celebrate their service and ministry this year as they move into a different phase of life called retirement. However, it is doubtful that they will ever retire from being God’s servants wherever he provides opportunity for them to minister. David often introduces himself using six MBCs …

Malaysia Born Chinese: David was born February 8, 1945 on Mission Road in the city of Sibu in the state of Sarawak in the eastern part of Malaysia, which shares the island of Borneo with a portion of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Brunei. He says from that time forward God had purposed for him to be a missionary. He is of Chinese ancestry which composes about 23% of Malaysia’s population of 29 million people.

Methodist Born Christian: David came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior through the ministry of a Methodist Church in 1956. During these years God was calling him into missions, and he made the decision that he would serve God in that manner in 1964 when he graduated from high school.

Methodist Bible College: To prepare himself for ministry, David enrolled in the Methodist Bible College in Sibu and graduated from there in 1968

with a Bachelor of Theology. It was during this time that he met Jenny Ha Mee-Ai as he was ministering at the Methodist School. Following his graduation, David felt led to pursue a seminary education and applied to Ashland Theological Seminary for admission.

Malaysian Brethren Christians: Dr. Joseph R. Shultz was Dean of A.T.S. when David’s application arrived, and he was highly committed to equipping international students and leaders with a seminary education. He asked the First Brethren Church of South Bend, Indiana to consider providing a scholarship for a student from Malaysia. The congregation agreed, and a relationship was formed that has grown throughout the years.

David began A.T.S. in the fall of 1970 and roomed with another single student named Stephen Cole. This is where many of the Brethren (including this author) met David and got to know his heart and his vision for the Chinese-speaking people of Malaysia (and his skill at ping pong).

Jenny felt that nursing would be an area where she could serve the Lord, and she applied and was accepted for nurse’s training at Southampton General Hospital in Southampton, England in September of 1969. Her general and mid-wifery training was completed in 1974.

During his years at A.T.S. the Lord worked out a partnership with the help of Rev. M. Virgil Ingraham and others between David and the Missionary Board of the Brethren Church who called David and his soon to be wife, Jenny, to plant churches in Malaysia among the Chinese-speaking people.

David and Jenny were married in the First Brethren Church of South Bend on September 12, 1974 by Rev. P. Keith Bennett. Soon after their marriage, Rev. Bennett baptized them

David & Jenny Loi — Well Done!Larry R. Baker

by trine immersion and accepted them into membership in the Brethren Church.

Malaysian Brethren Churches: David and Jenny departed for Malaysia on September 28, 1974 to begin their mission to Chinese-speaking people. (Malaysia is officially a Muslim nation, and the proselytizing of Muslins is against the law. However, the vast majority of Chinese Malaysians are not Muslims.) They felt led to begin their ministry on the island of Penang in Western Malaysia (on Thailand Peninsula) because it had a high-density concentration of Chinese-speaking people. The Loi’s home became the center for Bible studies, weekly services, and other activities.

A son, Stephen, was born to them on May 17, 1977. During this time David’s mum (mother) came to live with them. David and Jenny returned to the States in the summer of 1978 to share with the Brethren the work that they had begun. David was ordained on August 20 at the First Brethren Church of South Bend.

Upon returning to Malaysia, they continued outreach with home to home evangelism, opening Saturday church school at various areas. Finally, with the help of Campus Crusade staff and the recruitment of Pastor David Chew in 1981, they were able to establish Penang Brethren Church. The church has been self-sustaining since 2005. The congregation recently bought a larger corner shop that will hopefully be ready for use in December 2012. Currently, they have a part time pastor nurturing them.

The Lois moved to Johor Baru (JB – the Malaysian city just across the causeway from Singapore), in 1982 to begin the work of church planting all over again. On August 8, 1985, a daughter, Rebecca, was born. A variety of outreach activities were used to begin this congregation including beginning a kindergarten named the Ashland Kindergarten. Jenny resigned her nursing career to join David in full time ministry in 2002. Johor Baru Brethren Church became self-sustaining in 2008. Presently, they are without a pastor, and use speakers from different churches each Sunday.

Near the end of 2005, David and Jenny moved back to Eastern Malaysia to their home state of Sarawak with the intention of planting a third Brethren congregation in Malaysia. They settled in the city of Bintulu. However, God had different plans for them. He opened the door for them to minister to House Church leaders in China.

Mission of Brethren to China: David and Jenny have gone on mission trips to China twice a year since 2006 to minister to House Church leaders and congregations in many different Chinese provinces. Through David’s teaching, Jenny’s worship leading, and the Holy Spirit’s manifestations, the Lord has been glorified and the Chinese leaders and congregations have been equipped for ministry, refreshed, and blessed. They have witnessed many transformed lives, people physically and emotionally healed, and others delivered from spiritual bondage.

Besides their biannual mission trips to China, David has supervised the Brethren congregations in Malaysia and served as an interim pastor of a congregation while in Bintulu. David’s mum, who is 89 years old, is healthy and well and continues to live with them. She takes care of herself and their house whenever they are away on mission trips.

Their son, Stephen, graduated from Oral Roberts University with an M.Div. in 2008. He and his wife, Pearl, are currently serving as International pastors at Victory Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their daughter, Rebecca, is in her final year of medical school and currently completing her clinical hospital rotations. She expects to graduate in June 2013 and continue with her residency.

It is with heartfelt gratitude that we celebrate with David and Jenny at this point in their lives. We are grateful for their steadfast commitment our Lord Jesus, the Brethren Church, and the spread of the gospel in parts of the world where it is not always easy to be a Christ-follower. We ask God’s continued blessing on their lives, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they enter this next phase of their lives. David and Jenny, thank you for partnering with the Brethren in ministry!

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Rebecca’s Graduation from AU

In China 2008

2007 trip to Malaysia Stephen & Pearl’s Wedding

Some members of the Penang & Johor Bahru congregations Baptisms in Johor Bahru

David’s Ordination Photo

The vision of the Brethren Church

is to embrace a NEW DAY of transformed leadership,

resulting in transformed congregations, whose mission is the

transformation of their communities

in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Brethren Church524 College Ave.Ashland, OH 44805www.brethrenchurch.org