412 Commission Leaves For Vietnam

After an extended holiday break, the 412 Students arrived back in Goshen on Sunday to prepare for the week ahead. Monday morning the team shared their Christmas break experiences, and reconnected through worship and a challenge for the next semester from Mike Pumphrey, the site coordinator. The students are excited about the new pace set for the next semester; with new classes, two overseas trips, an in-depth study of the book of Hebrews, connecting on new levels with discipleship groups, and focusing on their future internships. Read more...

CE National Hosts National Youth Ministries Conference

Ed Lewis (right) greets Mel Walker, President of Vision For Youth

A group of over 100 youth pastors came to the CE National campus on Monday, January 14, and left on Thursday having been challenged by tremendous speakers and seminar leaders.

The National Youth Ministries Conference has been held in different locations over the past 23 years, and this year it made its debut in Indiana. The conference is planned by veteran youth workers, including friends of CE National from Vision For Youth who attended last year's Momentum conference. Mel Walker, from Clark Summit, Pennsylvania, is the president of Vision For Youth, Tim Ahlgrim, from Lafayette, Indiana, serves as the director, and Dr. Cheryl Fawcett, from El Cajon, California, is on the executive staff as well. Read more and see pictures.

Join a Map Team to Pearlington, MS, 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.

"I Expect to Live Forever With the People I am Reading About"

"I expect to live forever with the people I am reading about, and I want to get to know them better." Jinny Kennedy once said this to someone who asked her what she was reading so intently. Jinny has read through the Bible for 30 years.

Have you read the Bible through five times or more? We would like to use you as a catalyst to get more people to read through the Scriptures. Tell us your story about reading the entire Bible and the benefit it has been to your life. We'll post it on our 'iRead 66' page to encourage others to read through the Bible.

Read Stories of How People Are Sharing Their Faith

Jim Brown, Speaking at Momentum 2007

It is always encouraging to hear how God is using other people to share their faith. For example, Matt writes on Jim Brown's blog, "..I found a local gym, bought a pass there, and ever since have been making contacts and praying for the people working out there. After one week, I brought one of them to church with me this past weekend and hope to see more fruit as I continue to share my faith."

Jim Brown shared challenges in several conferences urging believers to share their faith. He reminded us that if we aren't fishing, we aren't following. You can leave your fishing story on Jim Brown's blog.

Jim Brown, Pastor of Grace Community Church in Goshen, Indiana, is the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Church's Moderator, and a member of CE National's Board of Directors.

CE National Staff On the Road

Brent Saba to Speak at Willow Valley Youth Retreat

Brent Saba, Director of Training at the Urban Hope Training Center, will be speaking at the winter youth retreat this weekend at Grace Church at Willow Valley in Lancaster, Pa. Brent will be speaking on four topics:

Please pray for Brent and the impact of the retreat.

Ed Lewis will speak this Sunday (January 20) at the New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church, Myerstown, Pa., in the morning service. Ed will then travel to the Grace Brethren Church in Elizabethtown, Pa., to talk with their Christian educators/workers and speak in their evening service.

On Monday Ed will spend the day in meetings at the Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia.

CE National Goes To War

One of the most effective ways to overcome the evil one is to go to war, and spiritual war is won on our knees. In other words, we want to pray. Prayer is the greatest power God has given us in overcoming obstacles. We don't just talk about it, we pray!!!

CE National staff loves to pray for churches and individuals. Send your prayer requests to cenational@cenational.org or call 574.267.6622 and ask for Lois.

Please feel free to keep CE National in mind when you have specific burdens. We will pray with you. Pray for revival in America.

Over 625 Attended Kalahari Youth Retreat in Ohio

Timothy Kurtaneck (TK), CE National's Director of Church Relations & Youth Leadership Training, reports that a wonderful group of students and adults gathered at Kalahari, a huge, indoor water park in Sandusky, Ohio, this past weekend. TK was the main speaker at this retreat, which is especially geared toward outreach to non-churched students. Some of the leadership involved in planning this were Nick Cleveland from Wooster, Ohio, Josh Kuck from Fremont, Ohio, and Mark Artrip from Powell, Ohio.

The theme of the event, YouTube, reflected on what it means to be powered by God and what happens when He is our source of strength. During the weekend, students enjoyed worship led by Darkroom, a film festival, a game show, four main worship sessions, meetings by youth groups, and, of course, the fun of the water park.

TK reports that he is proud to be associated with such a great group of youth workers who can cooperate together to reach young people for the cause of Christ. The following churches were represented.

Grace Church of Powell
Delaware Grace Brethren
Grace Brethren Church of Columbus
Grace Community, Fremont
Grace Brethren Church of Lexington
Southern Hills, Strongsville
Smithville United Methodist
Wooster Grace
Woodville Grace Brethren Church
Grace Baptist, Westerville