Charis Daily Focus – October 31, 2015: Charis Global Prayer Chain

Be part of the global chain of continuous prayer for the 2015 Charis International Leadership Encounter in Bangkok, taking place November 2-6. Join with others from around the world in covering this historic gathering of delegates from 19 countries in the prayers of God's people. Sign up here for a 15-minute prayer slot. And check back daily to get updates from Bangkok on the Charis blog.

Charis Daily Focus – October 30, 2015: Charis Steering Committee

The Charis Steering Committee has planned for months for the 2015 Charis International Leadership Encounter, which starts November 2 in Bangkok, Thailand. Though many items have already been cared for from their home countries, the committee must handle many final plans from the venue in Bangkok. We know that wherever two or three are gathered in Jesus' name, he will be there also. We know he is already intervening on behalf of everyone coming together for the common purpose of loving him and loving people. Please pray that the many details yet to be addressed will come together smoothly and that potential distractions will be averted.

Charis Daily Focus – October 29, 2015: Nigeria

Grace Brethren missionaries in Chad were approached by Dadjé Samuel in 2005 with a request to  help him to gain fluency in his English language comprehension through a stay in Nigeria. He went there for some weeks, returning in 2006. There he met immigrants from Chad. Two of these men were invited to study at the Summer School for Evangelism and Church Planting that Samuel Dadjé had founded. They came the same year.

Since then several other Nigerians have graduated from the school, and others are still studying. Under Dadjé’s leadership, these men became church planters in Nigeria. Though the tragic death of Dadjé Samuel was a huge loss for the Nigerians, the pioneers carried on. The churches of Nigeria were recognized as a fellowship in October 2010.

Today the Fellowship has two organized churches, twenty chapels, eleven cells, and fifty-one Points of Light. A Point of Light is a group of believers meeting together with the intention of becoming an organized church. The main language in the churches is Hausa. The church president is Pastor Koularambaye Enock, who lives in Abuja were he pastors a Grace Brethren Church.

A huge challenge for the church is Boko Haram. Boko Haram is an Islamic extremist group based in northeastern Nigeria. Boko Haram has killed more than 17,000 people since 2009; and since May 2013, 2.3 million people have been displaced by conflict. The group has carried out mass abductions including the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in April 2014. The Fellowship lost also of their chapels through this aggressive movement.

Charis Daily Focus – October 28, 2015: Cameroon

Grace Brethren ministries began in Cameroon in the 1960s, when the region that now comprises Cameroon, Chad, and the C.A.R. was still being divided up, given names and getting independence from European powers. Today, as was true in previous decades, many Chadians and Central Africans come to Cameroon looking for better economic opportunities, education, and peace.

Some who came from Grace Brethren churches in their homelands began Grace Brethren churches in Cameroon, but without trained pastors or any outside assistance. Though there was contact between the Grace Brethren fellowships over the years, it was in 2003 that Encompass began its current involvement here after staff evacuated from the CAR to Cameroon due to the Bozize takeover.

It was quickly seen that a key need in the churches was leadership training. Beginning in 2007, students attended the Summer School for Evangelism and Church Planting in Chad. The Lord opened the door for a Bible Institute to begin in 2015, in Yaounde, the capital. There are currently 25 students in training there, including four from CAR, and eight already graduated from Grace Brethren Bible Institutes and Seminary in the CAR and Chad.

The fruit of this local training is that over 40 groups are meeting with the potential of becoming churches. The main prayer request for the ministry in Cameroon is the need for legal recognition by the government. There has only been one church approved in Cameroon since 1999, the Greek Orthodox, and along with many other church groups, the request of the Grace Brethren awaits presidential approval.

Charis Daily Focus – October 27, 2015: Cambodia

Grace Brethren missions began in Cambodia through a Cambodian believer, Vek Huong Taing, who had formed a friendship with Jay Bell in the Long Beach Grace Brethren church. Huong and his wife had survived the “killing fields,” four years of terror during which the Khmer Rouge had murdered nearly one-third of the population.

Huong had begun evangelizing Cambodian refugees in Thailand, and invited the American brethren for some exploratory trips, leading to the involvement of several American churches sending teams to Cambodia. The tragic events of that country opened many thousands to the gospel. In 1997, the Grace Brethren movement in Cambodia consisted of three traditional churches ministering to 155 people.

One month later apostolic teams were launched on motorbikes into the villages surrounding the city of Battambang. By the end of the decade nearly eighty Points of Light, a term designating house groups that were becoming churches, could count 1,000 adults. All of this was carried on with the cooperation of teams from American churches. In 2000, newlyweds Steve and Debbie Wise began in-depth training of the Cambodian apostles, later moving to the capital city, Phnom Penh, to continue their training ministries.

Cambodians continue to seek to penetrate the villages. Kevin and Jill Kane currently serve in Battambang, joined for several years by Kent and Becky Good, who had served for many years in France. Tim Robertson, who serves with his wife Jessica, is using art and photography to reach people. One of the recent outstanding accomplishments has been the purchase and renovation of a Ministry Training Center.

Charis Daily Focus – October 26, 2015: Chile

The Grace Brethren work in Chile officially began in 2001 when a single Argentine woman (Adriana Camandona) and a Brazilian family (Edson and Ivanise Silva) moved to this country which borders Argentina. They joined the Jose Sepulveda family who were part of the Wilde, Argentina GBC and who three years earlier had moved to the southern city of Curicó.

Although Jose had grown up in Curicó in a religious environment, he admits to never really hearing and understanding the gospel of the grace of Christ until his adult years in Argentina. His heart burned with the desire to see a Grace Brethren church established in his hometown and he moved his family back there for that purpose.

The call for help went out to the Argentine and Brazilian churches, and the coming of Adriana and the Silva family was the regional Grace Brethren response to those pleas for support for the Sepulveda family. Steve Bailey, Encompass staff living in Argentina, traveled frequently in the early days of the work to help support the Sepulveda family, and later on a periodic basis to help see the team consolidated.

The ministry oversight of the work in Chile is currently being carried out by the Argentine national mission. In actuality there exists one established church in the city of Curicó which is led by a group of Chilean leaders. There is also a Point of Light in the capital city of Santiago. Outreach efforts have taken place in other localities of the country for the purpose of planting further churches but have not yet proved fruitful in that regard.  

Charis Daily Focus – October 25, 2015: Canada, Part 2

Despite various attempts by the Brethren Missionary Society dating back as far as 1916, Grace Brethren churches did not exist in Canada until recent years. During the early 1990s, interest intensified for planting the first Grace Brethren church in Canada. Responsibility for Canada shifted to Grace Brethren North American Missions. GBNAM leaders prayed fervently for God to bring workers for Canada and funding began to accumulate.

Kurt Miller drove from Winona Lake, Indiana to Ontario, Canada for many exploratory visits. He developed alliances with existing like-minded Canadian ministries. In 1996, GBNAM assembled and commissioned a team composed of Nathan Bryant, Philip and Beth Bryant, and Bartley and Sarah Sawatsky, with Ted and Elise Adomanis joining soon after.

The team was sent to the Toronto area in May 1997, and in September of the following year, Grace Community Church was launched in Mississauga, Ontario. The Grace Community Church quickly established itself as a healthy regional church, reproducing several daughter churches: Village Community Church in nearby Milton, Ontario in 2003, and Community of Hope Church in Surrey, British Columbia in 2007 (part of metro Vancouver). Grace Community Church developed a leadership team with Community of Hope and launched the new Grasslands Church in Medicine Hat, Alberta in fall 2011.

These healthy suburban church communities are highly multicultural with Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, First Nations, and European attendance. They have seen steady growth as people find a sense of belonging in a Grace Fellowship church community that is uniquely Canadian.

Charis Daily Focus – October 24, 2015: Portugal

It was the vision of Jack Zielasko that opened ministry in Portugal. The Zielaskos had served for 14 years in Brazil before Jack became the Executive Director of Grace Brethren Missions. Because of their knowledge of Portuguese, they became burdened for the mother country of that language, a country impoverished by years of dictatorship and colonial wars. The majority of the Portuguese are Catholics, but only a minority regularly practice their religion.  Protestants represent only slightly more than 1% of the population, with far fewer being evangelical.

The Zielaskos were soon joined by Tim and Julie Hawkins and Ralph and Martha Schwartz, followed later by the Schwartz' son Sam and his wife Tracey. Most of the ministry in Portugal has centered in the city of Porto and has focused on personal contact-making and the creation of small groups, of which a number were started in the area. The missionaries cooperated with other workers in establishing an international church, which has been instrumental in reaching out also into Portuguese families.

A number of Portuguese men have been trained as leaders of the ministry, and have faithfully fulfilled their responsibilities. One of these, Alfredo Abreu, who had been serving in a campus ministry, later moved with his family to the capital, Lisbon, to seek to build up a body of believers there. He has been joined by Sam and Tracey Schwartz, and their ministries have resulted in planting a church. There are currently four organized churches in Portugal with the Brethren fellowship.

Charis Daily Focus – October 23, 2015: Uruguay

The Don Bosco church was the first Grace Brethren church established in Buenos Aires. Though God had used it to bring His Word to many people since its beginning in 1947, hope and vision were in decline because of the climate of despair that had descended upon the Argentine churches during the dictatorship of Peron.

Then in 1987 something happened that caused the Don Bosco church to break out of its shell. Two of its members, Jose and Hilda Palacios, were on an extended vacation across the river in Uruguay. Jose was a retired navigator who had undergone a remarkable conversion; Hilda always wore a smile and never knew a stranger. Several of the people they met began to open their hearts to the Lord.

The Palacios felt the call of God to continue their stay in Uruguay and gather these people together into a church family. They decided to share their burden with their own spiritual family, the church of Don Bosco, which was struggling to meet its own needs. They were soon joined by Daniel and Gabriela Barbitta, who are leaders of the ministry still today.

In 1990, the original group church plant became a Point of Light in Montevideo. In 1994, it became the first Brethren church in Uruguay. By the year 2000 this church was supporting missionary projects in Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay, and have been actively involved in spreading the gospel and planting churches in the interior of the country.

The arrival of the Guiles and Bailey families brought new vision and teamwork to Argentina, with wide-ranging consequences, resulting in the Total Mobilization church-planting strategy.

Charis Daily Focus – October 22, 2015: Philippines

During the same year that ministry began in Japan, Clay and Kim Hulett left for the Philippines, to be joined soon after by Ted and Vivian Ruiz. They quickly learned that life in the Philippines revolves around neighborhoods called “barangays.” The barangay is a municipal unit. The vision of the missionaries was to see a church in each barangay.

After their language studies, the Huletts prayed that the Lord would lead them to the barangay where they should begin their ministry. Knowing no one, Kim simply followed the Lord’s leading and walked into the barangay of Calumpang, where the ministry was started. There Clay soon met Rey Paz. They began studying the Bible together, and Rey became the first Filipino to convert, and the first Grace Brethren pastor.

Rey remains, after all these years, a faithful leader of the churches there. The responsiveness of the Filipinos, coupled with their ability to speak English, has made short-term teams an effective means of reaching the population. The Ruizes targeted the settlements along the famous Sumulong highway, using short-term teams. Soon six groups of believers began meeting in homes. Since then the ministry spread through neighboring communities and far beyond the boundaries of Manila, resulting in multiple churches.

During the years of ministry in the Philippines, much effort has been expended in training leaders, and other effective ministries have branched off.  The friendliness of the Filipinos and their openness to the gospel has been a continual encouragement.

Charis Daily Focus – October 21, 2015: Japan

It was the vision of Jay Bell, a staff member at the Long Beach California church, who opened Asia to Grace Brethren missions. After four years of serious prayer by Jay and his wife Jan, the Long Beach church sent the mission’s first missionaries to Asia.

One of the couples sent was Cecil and Debbie O’Dell. Japan was already on the hearts of the O’Dells through their ministry to Japanese students in Long Beach. They became missionaries to Japan in 1984, choosing Hoya City in the greater Tokyo area to begin their ministry. They and the missionaries who joined them have had to exhibit exceptional commitment and perseverance, because of the hardness of the soil in Japan. As is true in all resistant populations, evangelism is done through relationships, leading to small groups. The key to reaching Japan is prayer. The spiritual powers have blinded the minds of the people.

At present, the church in Tokyo is seeing the Lord’s blessing through the faithful ministry of Ralph and Joan Justiniano, who use a variety of methods to reach the Japanese. A branch work in Okinawa is seeing the Lord’s blessing under the leadership of a former member of the Tokyo church. In addition, the mission more recently acquired a center in the mountainous region of the country, called North Star, which serves as a base and bridge for the ministries. Further, the O’Dells pursue their ministry in Long Beach, reaching out to Japanese students, many of whom return to Japan as faithful witnesses.

Charis Daily Focus – October 20, 2015: Great Britain

Serious prayer for revival in Europe began in 1980, and that autumn the Europe missionaries gathered for a week of prayer, reflection, and planning. Out of this came the commitment to see the missionaries of Europe as a united team, reaching out into new countries. One of these was England.  

After an exploratory trip, the decision was made to send Phil and Elinor Steele, joined by Dave and Cindy Kowalke, to the city of Birmingham. Within a short amount of time services were started in a vacant church building, and a sizable group quickly assembled for Sunday services. Rather than being new converts, most of these people were from other churches. Unfortunately, the ministry only continued for a few years. 

A new team began to form, and services began in a school building. Many of the new people were contacted through the guitar classes begun by Dave Schwan, who came to England with his wife Becky in 1988. The church grew and is under British leadership. A branch church was begun by the Schwans in another suburb of Birmingham, which has also seen encouraging growth, and commitment to outreach in the community.  

Current outreach ministries include concerts, participation in community festivals, Bible studies, children’s game evenings, volunteering in the local community youth center, and serving on the chaplaincy team at the huge Bourneville middle college, with its approximately 15,000 students. In addition, Bill Kiddoo, a member of the former missionary staff, reaches out to international students in language teaching ministries.

Charis Daily Focus – October 19, 2015: Guatemala

The Brethren ministry in Guatemala began in 1983 in Guatemala City with the planting of the Hesed Church, thanks to the initiative of brother Felipe Guareña. Felipe was visiting Guatemala City where he met Rodrigo Argueta, a student of the Central American Theological Seminary. Felipe invited him to begin a new church plant in the outskirts of the city and to open up this new area to the Gospel.  

Rodrigo Argueta finished his seminary studies and began working in this area along with two other recent graduates. A small group began to meet in a home and these three men also initiated several outreach activities in this community. The group began to grow and met in several different locations for many years (homes, backyards, garages, and even in the community park).

In the early 1990s, Arturo Carey (a retired Grace Brethren pastor from California), visited the Grace Brethren Church in Guatemala City. He saw that the church did not have a fixed meeting place and was moved to help them. Back in California, he began collecting soda cans for recycling as a way to raise money to buy land for a church building.

After many years he was able to raise enough money for the church to purchase the land where their building now stands. In the years that followed, the church painstakingly gave offerings to fund the construction of the building where they now meet. It is located in Mixco, a populous suburb of Guatemala City.

At this time, the church of about 75 people is reaching out to their community through evangelism and discipleship.

Charis Daily Focus – October 18, 2015: Germany

In 1968 a team of Brethren men went to Germany, the birth place of the fellowship, to explore the opportunity to plant the kind of churches our founder, Alexander Mack, had desired to see. In response to this trip, the mission commissioned Roger and Nancy Peugh to take the Word of God back to Germany. Roger had already served there on a short-term basis, and was fluent in German.   

The first few years were challenging, but in 1972 the Peughs began holding Bible studies and worship services in their home, praying much for conversions. Later an evangelistic crusade was organized, providing the initial contacts for the beginning of a church in Stuttgart, which was incorporated in 1976 and began meeting in a rented facility. 

The church experienced some inner tension, but the Lord brought encouragement by calling the Pappas family to Germany as co-laborers, and the church experienced a period of excitement and growth. A German, Rainer Ehmann, who had done his studies in a Bible College in Texas, soon joined the team with his wife. 

During the next few years the team grew, with several new missionary couples responding to the Lord’s call to Germany. A branch church was planted in the near-by city of Leonberg, which soon grew an active congregation of seventy people, and new churches were established throughout the country. 

Roger Peugh observed, speaking of new churches almost spontaneously springing up in parts of Germany, “I think we are on the verge of something great!”

Charis Daily Focus – October 17, 2015: Chad

The Republic of Chad lies just across the northern border of the Central African Republic. Jake and Freda Kliever began their ministry in the CAR in 1937, but moved into Chad in 1966, where they served as the pioneer missionaries for ten years. 

This move was later duplicated by several other families at various periods of time. The Chadians were very open to the Gospel, and churches quickly began to be planted in the villages and cities of the southern part of the country. Without exception these churches were led by the Chadian pastors.  

Chad is an extraordinary example of what an African can accomplish when he is filled with the desire to be used of the Lord. In 1998 a training institute was held at the Chateau of Saint Albain for African pastors. Traveling with them was a layman, a builder by trade. The pastors said that he could sit in the library while they took their classes, but of course he was invited to all the courses; the subject was church-planting. After three weeks of studies, he returned to his country, built what he called his Chateau, and began to train evangelists and send them out. 

Not only were hundreds of new churches planted throughout Chad, but he also sent evangelists to Nigeria as well as to Cameroon. He was on his way to evangelize Libya when, because of a breakdown in the Sahara desert, he later died. Dadjé Samuel will always be remembered as perhaps the most outstanding pioneer of Brethren missions.

Charis Daily Focus – October 16, 2015: France

Europe was off the mission map until American servicemen returned from WWII with their accounts of the dire spiritual condition there. The land of the Reformation and the birthplace of the Brethren movement had become a post-Christian continent.

As a part of the initial wave of postwar missionaries, Fred and Maurita Fogle left for France in 1951, joining the staff of the European Bible Institute some years later. Tom and Doris Julien left in 1958 and, after a year of French studies in Geneva, moved to Grenoble. There they engaged in literature distribution, camp work, and collaboration with some of the few evangelical churches.

Soon realizing that the French could not be reached without seeing evidence of Christ in the lives of His followers, they were able to begin a ministry in a 14th century castle which the Lord provided in the village of Saint-Albain. The Chateau became a bridge both in evangelism, bringing believers and unbelievers together in personal relationships, and in church planting, allowing new believers to learn what they would later experience in a church.

Six churches were planted in surrounding cities during the first two decades of the ministry. The Chateau also became a Bible training center, an encounter center for strategic discussions between mission organizations, and a center for a European branch of Grace Theological Seminary. The Chateau was used of the Lord for putting Europe on the map of Grace Brethren missions, with more than 100 missionaries later coming to Europe for varying periods of ministry. 

Charis Daily Focus – October 15, 2015: Mexico

Though Mexico was just across the border from the United States, it was not until 1951 that it became a part of Grace Brethren missions. The first missionaries to Mexico were the Haags and the Howards. After surveying the situation, they realized that the most densely populated area was along the Mexican border. The missionaries settled on the United States side, just across from Tijuana, where many churches were planted. Later the ministry was extended further east, near Mexicali. 

As the work progressed a Bible Institute began in 1960, providing training for those who were now pastoring the churches that had been established. Because of its proximity to the United States, the Mexican churches have through the years benefitted from the ministry of American teams. 

The vision for reaching Mexicans soon reached beyond the border cities. In 1963 the Brethren work in Mexico City was pioneered, with university students being one of the main target groups. Mexico City, the largest city in the world, soon became the principal target for outreach. A number of churches were planted in the cities in the area, and a fellowship of Mexican leaders was formed.  

In addition to the Mexican churches being planted, teams of Mexicans were sent to Cuba. In more recent years, when Bess Farrell and Brenda Welling became the only resident missionaries in Mexico, they were joined by an Argentine pastor and his family. He not only gave leadership to the church, but was instrumental in mobilizing Mexican leaders to reach out to other countries in Central America.

Charis Daily Focus – October 14, 2015: Global Day of Prayer and Fasting

Today is a Day of Prayer and Fasting for members of our Charis Alliance throughout the world. The purpose is to prepare for the Charis International Leadership Encounter in Bangkok, Thailand, November 2-6.

At this historic meeting delegates from around the world will gather to unite their hearts in prayer and fellowship, and in discussion for the Identity Initiative document, prepared to define the underlying commitment of the Brethren to biblical truth, biblical relationships, and biblical mission.

Please pray for all those on the Charis Steering Committee, which has the responsibility of putting the finishing touches on this significant gathering. Work is still being done to assure that delegates will be able to have all their documents in order before the departure date.

Through prayer we have the incredible privilege of influencing history and impacting eternity. When we pray, things happen that would not happen otherwise. Through prayer we have the privilege of penetrating the veil that separates us from that mysterious, invisible world of darkness, where we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.

When we pray, the Lord hears. He decrees answers. He sends angels as His ministering spirits. And when we pray, the Lord opens doors for ministry. Unless the Lord opens doors, our efforts are vain (Colossians 4:2-3). We encourage you to visit the Participants page at CharisAlliance.org, and pray for each delegate from around the world.

Along with your prayers we encourage you to fast, a spiritual practice used by God’s people throughout history. Denying oneself a meal or meals gives opportunities to practice self-discipline and concentrate on God and His purposes, experiencing His empowerment.

Charis Daily Focus – October 13, 2015: Brazil

Between the two world wars the vision of Brethren missions focused on Argentina and Africa. This would change in the early 1950s. Under the leadership of Dr. Russell Barnard, the mission would experience a period of rapid expansion. In their 1951 meeting the board interviewed 40 missionaries and candidates, and during the decade that followed, missionaries departed for five new fields. 

The first of these was Brazil. Keith and Vivian Altig were the first to respond to God’s call to that country. One of their first converts, Raimundo Cardoso, had been warned by a priest not to look into their black book, the Bible, for fear of becoming blind. He became the first Brazilian pastor. Their target city, Belem, was at the mouth of the Amazon River. 

Other missionaries soon joined them, including Bill and Imogene Burk. Bill used the Amazon River as God’s instrument for reaching people. With their boat, the Vamos, they evangelized and planted churches on the islands, bringing the message to these people for the first time. Converts were discipled, men were trained to be leaders and immediately given responsibility for the ministry, following the patterns of the book of Acts.

Many new missionaries joined the team, many churches were planted, and training schools were established. The ministry expanded to the south, with the city of Uberlandia becoming the main center for outreach in that region. Because of the excellent training given to the leaders, all the churches are pastored by Brazilian leaders.

Charis Daily Focus – October 12, 2015: Central African Republic

God gave a former streetcar conductor a vision that would transform the heart of Africa. As a young man he accidentally killed a woman who walked into his streetcar in Philadelphia. Deeply affected, he entered a church where Jacob Cassel had been a member. He found Christ and left for Africa with the Africa Inland Mission.

One night in Africa, during an attack of blackwater fever, he had a vision. “I saw pass before me a panorama of the tribes of central Africa, and heard a voice saying, ‘Thou shalt be instrumental in carrying the gospel to these people.’” Later he married Florence Newberry, a fellow missionary, who shared his vision. In 1918, along with two single women, they sailed back to Africa.

Their dreams were quickly shattered, for the French government, fearing loss of control of the native populations, refused to allow them to enter the place of God’s calling. It took three long years until permission was given for them to enter what is now the Central African Republic. What followed became of the great sagas of mission history.

Around 200 Brethren missionaries have served in that country. The rapid development of the church in Africa is a testimony both to the grace of God and the wisdom of the pioneers. Churches have been planted in most towns and villages, Bible Institutes have been organized, hospitals and medical centers have been created, and the list goes on and on. One mission research center listed the Central African Republic as the most evangelized country on the planet.

Charis Daily Focus – October 11, 2015: Argentina

The year 1909 was termed “The Hour of Opportunity” by the man who for years became director of the missionary society, L. S. Bauman. This year marks the beginning of Brethren missions in Argentina, the start of a long history of highly successful missionary endeavors. 

The pioneer again was Charles Yoder, who chose the city of Rio Cuarto as his base of operations.  He soon discovered that the Argentine soil was hard. To break into the resistant society, Yoder accepted an offer to teach English in their college, which he said gave him access to hundreds of young people from leading homes. 

A vehicle dubbed the “Bible Coach” was purchased, bringing identity to the mission and creating opportunities for open-air meetings and literature distribution. At times this provoked fierce opposition, but as more missionaries joined the team, they were able to reach into the hearts of the Argentine people, seeing churches established in many cities in the province.

Eventually a Bible Institute was established to train leaders for these churches. A camp gave focus to a growing youth work, and radio ministry began and developed. Though the first chapters of the ministry focused on the cities of the interior, the people of Argentina were following the global trend of moving to larger cities. In 1947 the first congregation in Buenos Aires was established. 

Today Brethren churches are scattered throughout the county. Through faithful leadership training of missionaries, all of the churches established are now led by Argentines.

Written by Tom Julien, Executive Director Emeritus, Encompass World Partners

Charis Daily Focus – October 10, 2015: Canada, Part 1

The missionary society had come into existence, but its leaders were still awaiting God’s leading concerning the place where they should begin. A brief attempt was made to begin a ministry in Persia, but political tensions in the region quickly began to mount, bringing the work to a close. The leader of the missionary society at that time, Charles Yoder, went to investigate. But being unable to cross the border from Russia to Persia he returned, convinced that the work could not be sustained. 

Another attempt to establish a ministry was made a few years later, this time in Montreal, Canada. There the Brethren assumed responsibility for a mission that had been previously established by a group of German Baptists. Much effort was expended to make the ministry fruitful, but without success, even though the ministry benefitted from some of the most talented Brethren leaders.  

Charles Yoder, who had previously gone to Persia, served there for a year with few results in spite of his qualifications. Yoder was an honors student from the University of Chicago, who had turned down offers to pursue a secular teaching career to give himself to the ministry. He built the Warsaw, Indiana, congregation from 30 to 430 members. 

Later Jacob Cassel, the founder of the mission through his strong appeal to the Brethren during their conference in 1900, became the leader. But in spite of his personal efforts to keep it alive, the results were sparse, and with much regret, the ministry was finally closed.

Written by Tom Julien, Executive Director Emeritus, Encompass World Partners

Charis Daily Focus – October 9, 2015: United States of America

The Brethren movement began in Germany in 1708 when Alexander Mack and seven others were baptized, leading to the creation of churches whose passion was to return to the Scriptures for all matters of faith and practice. Many of these pioneers were forced to flee to the American colonies in order to freely practice their beliefs. Though the movement grew, it was not until 1900 that missions came to the forefront.

One of the leaders of the progressive brethren, Jacob Cassel, gave a stirring appeal for world evangelism and called for the creation of a foreign mission organization. He told the delegates, “If the evangelization of the world is to you what the north star is for a sailor; if you will always take your bearings from that God-focused center, your responsibility will be met.”  His words were electrifying for many of the delegates.  

However, the leader of the conference, not wanting to interrupt the flow of his agenda, told the mission enthusiasts that there was plenty of room outside under the trees if they wanted their missionary organization. Accordingly, 53 people went from the conference to a spot under the trees, to launch the most significant movement in Brethren history.

Thus began the adventure that would infuse the Brethren fellowship of churches with uncommon missionary zeal, captivating its finest minds and mobilizing its most dedicated youth. The global impact of the Brethren would eventually extend to the four corners of the world. Today the sun never sets on a Grace Brethren church.

Written by Tom Julien, Executive Director Emeritus, Encompass World Partners