'Vietnam Was One of the Greatest Experiences For Me' --412 Student

CE National Sends Crew to Work at Urban Hope

Dennis Boyd
Working on Lights

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Art Bushen, CE National's Facilities Coordinator, and Dennis Boyd, husband of Cathy Boyd, CE National's Receptionist & Lending Library Coordinator, took an 11-day trip to Philadelphia, Pa., to work at Urban Hope Training Center.

The weekend before, Community Grace Brethren Church in Everett, Pa., sent a group of seven men to install the new heater. Dennis and Art followed up the Everett group by lowering the drop ceiling, adding lateral ducts and registers, hooking up both furnaces, and putting all new lights and ceiling tiles in the basement.

There's still work to be done repairing the walls in the two side rooms, and some of the plastered wall areas need finished. Contact Jason at jason@urbanhope.net if you can help.

TK Attends Fellowship Council Meetings

Fellowship Council Meetings are a great time for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches' National Organizations to come together.

TK attended and enjoyed seeing pastors and representatives from the Fellowship. He said it was good to hear reports from Grace College, Tim Boal and church planting ministries, and Grace Brethren International Missions, as well as share about the direction of CE National ministries.

100 Attend CE National Celebration in Southern California

About 100 attended the annual CE National Celebration at the Grace Brethren Church in Norwalk, Calif., last Sunday night. Through song, testimony, stories, and video, the group rejoiced in what God has done through the ministries of CE National. Specifics were shared about the impact of last year's Momentum youth conference and this year's plans. Also, Operation Barnabas, The National Institute, and the Urban Hope Training Center were featured.

Cathy's Corner--Inner City/Urban Resources

CE National has many resources to help those ministering in urban areas. Here are just a few...

Reclaiming the Urban Family; How to mobilize the Church as a Family Training Center: A book by Dr. Willie Richardson
The American City and the Evangelical Church: A book by Harvie Conn
Gone Before Dawn: A DVD Produced by Metro Ministries, Bill Wilson

New Momentum Videos

Planning for Momentum is a piece of cake. Or maybe you like PB&J better?

Mark Flood, Student Ministry Pastor at Penn Valley Church - Telford Campus, Telford, Pa., along with his wife Dawn, show the difference between Momentum and other youth conferences in this new video. Go to the Momentum Video Page to watch it and other Momentum promo videos.

Focus Retreat a Success--"It Was Like a Light Came On"

Focus Retreats are regional 3-day events designed for pastors and church leaders to be refreshed, challenged, and encouraged. Both TK and Ed attended the Southwest Focus Retreat in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

Jim Brown, Pastor of Grace Community Church in Goshen, Ind., organized the event.

The best part of the retreat for TK was going out with two elders from a local church, talking and building relationships with people in the community. TK goes on to say, "We went to Dana Point and had two incredible conversations, one with a lady who has just begun attending a church where she hears the gospel, the other with a shop owner who just came to faith in Christ eight weeks ago. Tremendous!"

One of the elders TK was with remarked, "I never talk to people I don’t know. But I should, and this was good today." "Awesome!" says TK. "It was like a light came on. And these gentlemen got to do for a day what we do on Operation Barnabas all summer long!"

If you have a "fishing story," go to Jim Brown's Website for a place to share it.

"i care" Momentum West Meeting

Ed traveled in California last week, attending the Focus Retreat, CE National Celebration, and Momentum West meetings.

Friday evening, February 2, Ed met with people who have been involved in youth conference throughout the years. The group discussed ways to apply Momentum's theme of i care to Momentum West. Much of the discussion centered around a 2-day opportunity to do ministry during Momentum West.

Ed is always encouraged with the friends that CE National has in California who are very supportive of CE National's ministries.

Join a MAP Team to Pearlington, Miss., This Spring

Adam Johnson

Youth pastor Adam Johnson, from Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church, in Meyersdale, Pa., will be leading a Momentum Applied Team to the hurricane-ravaged area of Pearlington, Mississippi, this spring.

The team is open to students and adults who would like to join a group from Meyersdale to go back to the area where many churches worked during the Momentum 2007 youth conference building homes. Johnson announced that the team will be leaving from Meyersdale on Thursday, April 10, and returning on April 16.

For more information on how you and/or members from your church or youth ministry might join in on this special opportunity, contact Adam at 814.242.7220.