Canton, Ohio, GBC Continues to Rebuild "Our Mississippi Town"

The Group in Pearlington, Mississippi

Since Momentum 2007, people have prayed, supported, encouraged, and visited the small town of Pearlington, Mississippi, that at one time had over 2,000 residents. Because of Hurricane Katrina, this small community is now under 1,000 people, but they are gradually seeing changes as people help them by writing, praying, sending gifts, and making trips to help them build homes. Last summer, Momentum students worked on 11 homes in Pearlington. This spring, under the direction of Adam Johnson, a MAP team of students will go back to Pearlington to continue to help rebuild.

412 Commission In Vietnam

Mike Pumphrey, Goshen Site Coordinator, reports on the 412 Commission from Vietnam.

Vietnam is amazing!! We are getting many opportunities while teaching English at the Vietnam American Training College in Vihn Long. During one of the English classes, Erik got the chance to explain Christmas. The group also enjoyed lunch at the home of a couple of teachers from the school. This was a great way of connecting and better understanding the culture through sight and taste!!

Students are doing very well and adjusting to jet lag. God has really given us the energy we needed at just the right times. The students, as well as myself, are learning so much. This is a "chance in a life-time" opportunity and we are just eating it up.

Thanks for your prayers,

Mike

"Jesus is better than everything in every way!"

The Group at Kalahari

Nearly 200 people went to Kalahari Water Park in Sandusky, Ohio, from the Wooster Grace Brethren Church. They joined over 400 more at the park for an incredible weekend of worship, challenge, and water-park fun. Nick Cleveland, youth pastor of Wooster Grace reports, "TK’s message on Saturday morning gave students solid teaching from Hebrews 4, and most of our students will remember 'Jesus is better than everything in every way!'"

The retreat leadership knows of 10 students who accepted Christ at Kalahari and hundreds of others who made decisions. "There was no doubt that God was doing significant works in the lives of our students," reports Nick.

Timothy Kurtaneck (TK), Director of Church Relations & Youth Leadership Training for CE National, was the special speaker at the retreat. TK’s January 15 blog post reflected on the retreat.

Spring Days Away, North of 55

Join fellow North of 55ers at one of these great day-long events.

April 11, Wooster, Ohio--Dr. Don DeYoung, chair of the Physical Science Department
at Grace College and Chairman of the Creation Research Society of Physics and Creation Research Specialist, will be speaking.
April 18, Lancaster, Pa. (Changed from April 25)--New Holland Grace Brethren Church. Ryan and Friends ventriloquist will return, as well as other speakers.
May 1, Rhodes Grove, Pa.--The day will include Mike Kellogg, the host of "Music Through the Night" on Moody Radio Network as the guest speaker and other music including bluegrass.

Don't know what a Day Away is? Go to www.cenational.org/dayaway to find out.

Momentum Registration Opens in March

Don't forget to plan on attending one or both Momentum youth conferences.

Momentum West, Monday, June 23–Saturday, June 28 @ Biola University, La Mirada, Ca. Early Price =$329

Momentum East, Monday, July 21-Sunday, July 27 @ Cedarville University in Ohio. Early Price=$444

Work Progresses at Urban Hope

Hard workers from Everett, Pa.

The church building at the Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia is on its way to having a new furnace. A group from Urban Hope Community Church removed the old furnace last week, preparing the way for a group from the Community Grace Brethren Church in Everett, Pa, to install the new one.

Art Bushen, in charge of CE National's Grounds and Maintenance, with Dennis Boyd of Winona Lake, In, are continuing the work this week.

Special thanks from Urban Hope and CE National for the excellent work and contribution of these people to the ministry of Urban Hope. See more pictures...

CE National Staff On the Road

TK and Ed Lewis will be at the Norwalk Grace Brethren Church this Sunday evening for a CE National Celebration beginning at 6 p.m. 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

Ed will be speak at the Los Altos Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach, California Sunday morning.

TK will be at the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Church's Council meetings this weekend representing CE National.

Both TK and Ed will join the Focus Rally that is taking place at San Juan Capistrano Monday through Wednesday.

"So, Right Then and There, He Received Jesus!"

Brent Saba

Thank you for praying for Brent Saba, Director of Training at the Urban Hope Training Center, as he spoke last weekend at the Willow Valley Youth Retreat in Lancaster, Pa.

Brent reports that it was an incredible time overall. “I spoke on the topics of Defending Creation, Christianity compared to other religions (God is the one true God), and defending that the Bible is God’s Word," says Brent. “I played basketball two times and in between sessions hung out with youth and talked about faith, the Bible, relationships, discerning God’s will, apologetics, etc.

"The best part was getting to meet and talk with Bill, a high school student with an unchurched background, who has been recently attending the youth group. Right away I sensed that the Lord wanted me to talk with him, so the first opportunity I got I did so.

"We talked for a while, then the conversation went to talking about Jesus and what all of this church stuff is all about. I asked him if anyone had ever taken the Bible and shown him what the message of the Bible is all about, and he said no. So, we read through some pertinent verses in John, Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews as I explained the gospel message. It was cool because he was very honest and upfront about things. He understood the gospel clearly and that it is a major life decision to surrender to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

"So, right then and there he received Jesus! When his friend Will found out he started crying and could not believe it. Will actually had to leave the room for several moments because he was so overwhelmed. He then came back in and gave me a huge hug. Praise God!! We were all celebrating, as Bill has had many people praying for him for several months now. I know that Bill is in good hands with the Lord and with his friends. What an awesome moment!"

God hears and answers. Thank you again for your prayers for Brent and the retreat.