Former CE National Employee Goes "Home"

Ralph Wiley

What an incredible finish Ralph Wiley had to his 86 years. When Ralph learned he had only two months to live, he used that time to continue to share his faith with others.

Ralph began his ministry in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches in Galion, Ohio, in the early 60s. He served as Protestant Chaplain at a prison in Marion, Ohio, for nearly 30 years. Retiring early, Ralph served in many Grace Brethren Churches as interim pastor.

CE National was blessed to have Ralph coordinate the CE National Senior Adult ministries a few years ago.

Read more and watch Ralph's message at his memorial service.

Priming the Pump So You Finish Well

Ed Lewis had the opportunity to visit in Florida and be a part of two Days Away, one in Port Richey and one in Sebring, with the theme of "Priming the Pump." This theme emphasizes that we need people to help make a difference in churches. In order to get a flow of water going, the pump must be primed. And in order to get ministry happening, we need people who are models and encouragers of ministry. That is the emphasis at each Day Away. Read more and see pictures.

TNI Module Class a Success

Students from the National Institute class, "Strategizing for Church and Campus Youth Ministry", traveled to Norton, Ohio, last week for a hands-on learning experience. The week was more than just academic, as many students went away spiritually challenged.

Jason
For me, the most impactful part of the module was seeing real ministry lived out. Everywhere that we went, people were on fire. It was awesome to see how God was working in the lives of so many people in the middle of Ohio.

Trent
The most impactful/life-changing part of the module for me was hearing the testimonies of people who had their broken lives mended by Christ, and submitted themselves into obedience to God through baptism. Read more and see pictures...

Groups Help Replace Furnace at Urban Hope

A group of faithful believers from Community Grace Brethren Church in Everett, Pennsylvania, will be the main group helping to replace the furnace in the Urban Hope Training Center. Since the furnace quit working in December, the church building has not been used for meetings. A gift came from some individuals to help pay for the many supplies needed for the new furnace. We praise God for the financial gifts and the man-power supplied to take care of this critical need of Urban Hope. Please pray for safety and good results.

Southern California District Celebration, January 27

The Southern California CE National Celebration Sunday will be January 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Norwalk Grace Brethren Church. Come and enjoy celebrating what God has done, is doing, and will do through CE National. Ed Lewis and TK (Timothy Kurtaneck) will be your hosts for a fun-filled evening. Refreshments will follow the celebration time.

Hosted by:
Grace Brethren Church
11005 Foster Rd.
Norwalk, CA 90650

NexGen Children's Conference

NexGen, a conference FOR children is coming to two locations. March 15, 2008 will be one in Warsaw, Indiana, at Warsaw Community Church. Grace Church North Campus in Fairlawn, Ohio, will host the second NexGen on September 20, 2008. More details will follow.

Read Through the Bible in 2008

CE National commends those people who are faithful readers of the Bible. The Scriptures aren't just helping us in our lives, they are God's truth to us. We need to be involved in learning the Bible, studying the Bible, and, obviously reading its message for our lives.

Dr. Kent talks with 412 Commission Students

Dr. Homer Kent began reading through his Bible once a year when he was only in junior high school. As a result, he is starting his 67th time reading through the Scriptures. It can be done by reading three chapters a day, then five chapters a day in Psalms.

We commend those who are faithfully reading. Below is a list of names of people who have read the Bible through more than five times. Would you join this group?

If you have read through the Bible at least five times, please email us to add your name to this list. We would like to compile this information between now and the beginning of March.

Jim Franklin, 26 times
Jinny Kennedy, 30 times
Cheryl Moore, 6 times
Phil Guerena, multiple times in a year for the past 40 years
Doug Jensen, 20 times
Linda Tom, 55 times

Read more about the above people and the plan they use to read through the Bible.

Ed Visits Florida Churches

St. Petersburg Grace Brethren Church

You can learn all kinds of things when you visit churches. Ed Lewis had the opportunity to speak at the St. Petersburg, Florida, Grace Brethren Church on Sunday morning. He was reminded again of the faithfulness of our pastors. Randy Weekly has served as pastor of that church for almost 25 years. On Sunday morning immediately following the service, they invited believers to a 3-fold Communion Service. This is how it went.

1. At the end of the service they had an explanation of the 3-fold Communion and asked people to be sure their hearts were right before participating.
2. The carry-in dinner was ready and everyone enjoyed the dinner, which was a reminder of the fellowship we will have with believers in heaven. Immediately after the dinner, testimonies were shared by the congregation telling of how God has been helping them grow spiritually.
3. The group participated in the Bread and Cup, a remembrance of what the Lord did for us on Calvary.
4. After the Bread and the Cup, a reminder was voiced of the present responsibilities of believers to be clean before the Lord. This was symbolized by dividing into two groups where they washed the feet of another person. While that was happening, the group sang from song books, enhancing the service.
5. At the end of the afternoon event, Randy Weekly again reiterated that the meal symbolize the future ministry (glorification) and the Bread and Cup symbolized the past ministry (justification) and the Feet Washing symbolized the present ministry (sanctification). Then the entire group gathered in a circle and sang a closing song.

Jim Poyner

Momentum Posters Arriving Soon to a Church Near You

Momentum 2008 posters are on their way! Posters have been mailed out to youth workers this week, but there are many left over! Email momentum@cenational.org if you would like one mailed to you.

CE National is also excited about the speaker lineup that's coming together. Dave Rank, Momentum Senior Coordinator, recently mentioned how privileged CE National is to have speakers and musicians coming to Momentum who are being well received in many different youth arenas. Go to the Momentum youth conference website.

412 Commission Students Go to Vietnam

The 412 Commission students will be leaving for Vietnam on January 18 and returning January 30. Please pray for students' safety, unity on the trip, strength with the changes of sleep and culture, and health while traveling in a different country.

National Youth Ministries Conference Comes to CE National

This Monday starts the National Youth Ministries Conference at CE National sponsored by Vision For Youth.

CE National is excited to use the Russell Center and other facilities to host up to 200 people attending the National Youth Ministries Conference, January 14-17. Last year at Momentum 2007, our good friends Mel Walker, Tim Ahlgrim, and Cheryl Fawcett, from Vision For Youth, played a key part in the Youth Worker Track. Read more...  

Taking the Torch: A Youth Group Study for the Olympic Year

This study will draw a parallel between the Olympic torch and our spiritual life, urging students to "take the torch" in representing Christ at school. The theme of the meeting is the process involved in carrying the Olympic flame to the games. Get the study.

This is just one of the many studies and helps available at the CE National Resource Center.