The Brethren Missionary Herald Co. operates as an independent corporation comprised of a voluntary membership that elects a board of directors to move the ministry forward.
You can have a significant part in the ministry of BMH by becoming a corporation member for the 2005 calendar year. All that is required is a tax-deductible gift of $25 or more to BMH, and affiliation with a local Grace Brethren church.

Corporation members receive several membership updates throughout the year and are eligible to participate in the BMH annual meeting, to be held during Equip05 this year on Monday, August 1 at 6 p.m. in the Rodeheaver Auditorium in Winona Lake, IN. The company’s financial reports and annual audits are also available to corporation members.

Current corporation members are receiving membership renewal notices now, but new donors and members are always welcome to join the ministry. The mission of BMH is “To nurture Great Commission teamwork among the people and churches of the FGBC by building bridges of communication.”

Working out of its offices at 1104A Kings Highway in Winona Lake, IN, a small staff carries that mission forward with the bimonthly publishing of FGBC World, by maintaining websites www.fgbcworld.com and www.bmhbooks.com, by maintaining the daily news updates on the “Editor’s Blog,” and by the publishing of BMH books. Dan Thornton, pastor of the Peninsula Grace Brethren Church in Soldotna, Alaska, is board chair. Executive director Terry White directs the Winona Lake staff.

Corporation membership checks, made payable to Brethren Missionary Herald Co., should be mailed to BMH, P.O. Box 576, Winona Lake, IN 46590. Questions or comments may be directed to the BMH staff at (574) 268-1122 or e-mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 

Along with the shock and horror we’ve all felt at seeing the tsunami destruction in southeast Asia, we’ve also been reminded of how quickly life may be changed—or taken from us.
If you should suddenly be taken from this life, by a natural disaster or accident or health crisis, do you know for sure that you would be safe for eternity?

The Bible, which is our authority for all spiritual matters, says man is separated from God by sin, and therefore is doomed to eternal death (separation from God, Romans 6:23).

But it also reveals God’s merciful plan to grant us salvation through Jesus Christ, who was willing to suffer and die to take the penalty of our sins, and therefore “pay the price” that God demands.

That leaves us with the option to accept—or reject—the free gift of eternal salvation that God offers. You may do that right now by speaking to God words something like these:

I realize I’m a sinner and separated from You. I understand that Jesus came, lived, and died to bear the penalty for my sins. I accept the gift of salvation that He made possible, and I now ask Your forgiveness and pledge to follow Christ in the future.

If you have prayed this prayer, we encourage you to get in touch immediately with a good Bible-teaching church (such as the one where you received this paper) or with us at www.fgbcworld.com. There is literature and information that will help you grow in this new Christian life.

The world is very unsure. Tragedy will come and go. Life is unstable. But God—and the salvation He provides—gives us assurance beyond doubt of spending eternity with Him. Make that commitment today!
 

BMH Books, the book publishing division of Brethren Missionary Herald Co., has been reorganized as a stand-alone independent publisher and is now producing both new products and republished older works.

Publishing “Theology You Can Trust” since 1940, BMH Books traditionally focused on adult Sunday School curriculum and works by Grace Seminary faculty and Grace Brethren pastors.

Some of the 40-45 existing older copyrights are being republished, many in re-edited and updated form. The latest republication is Dr. Alva J. McClain’s classic work, The Greatness of the Kingdom, which is now available in a handsome, dust-jacketed hardcover edition. The 556-page masterwork retails for $24.99. McClain was the founder and first president of Grace Theological Seminary.

The New Testament commentaries of Dr. Homer Kent, Jr., are also being re-edited and republished in a matching set, to be called the “Kent New Testament Collection.” The first volume, a completely re-written and expanded commentary on the Gospel of Mark, should be available in the next several months, followed by commentaries on John, James, and Colossians/Philemon.

BMH Books is also open to new authors, and book submission guidelines are available from BMH. Currently in preparation are How to Start a Kingdom Conversation, a book by Dr. Duke Heller of the Worthington, OH, church on how to witness to those closest to you; and volume two of Heroes Who Live On by Viki Rife and Robert Cover, Sr.

As new products become available they will be introduced on the “Editor’s Blog” at www.fgbcworld.com and on www.bmhbooks.com, where any BMH product may be purchased online using a credit card. For bulk orders or individual attention, contact BMH Books division manager John Leonard at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling (toll free) 1-800-348-2756.
 

Ten Years Ago – March, 1995
-- Dave Mitchell, pastor of the Waipio GBC in Hawaii, traveled to China with four other men to hand deliver Christian material and Bibles to Chinese pastors.
-- The Lexington, OH, GBC, Dave Adkins, pastor, commissioned 60 people from their congregation to begin a new church in Mt. Vernon, OH.
-- Wayne Hannah was to begin May first with GBIM as the field representative for Europe and Africa.
-- Abner Solano started planting the second Hispanic GBC in the Yakima Valley of Washington State.

Twenty-five Years Ago – March, 1980
-- The Richmond, VA, GBC celebrated its self-support status in January on the Sunday of the city’s historic eighteen-inch snowfall. Kurt Miller, pastor.
-- The Brethren Investment Foundation (now GBIF) celebrated its 25th anniversary, announcing more than $11 million dollars in savings accounts and paying 6.02 percent interest on deposits. Walter Fretz, director.
-- Warren Tamkin resigned at Suburban GBC in Hatboro, PA, to pastor the new work in Island Pond, VT.
-- Rosemont GBC in Martinsburg, WV, held a mortgage-burning service on January 20. Donald Weltmer, pastor.

Fifty Years Ago – March, 1955
-- Evangelistic meetings were held by Bill Smith at LaVerne, San Bernardino, and South Gate, CA; by Dean Fetterhoff in Uniontown, PA; and by Lester Pifer in Johnstown, PA.
-- William Male accepted the pastoral call to the Philadelphia, PA, FBC, upon his graduation from Grace Seminary.
-- Ralph Burns concluded his ministry at Clay City, IN, to accept the pastorate at the Altoona, PA, FBC.
-- Ground-breaking services were held for the new church building at the Riverside GBC in Johnstown, PA, on April 3 and Goshen, IN, on March 13.
-- Scott Weaver was ordained to the ministry at the Osceola, IN, GBC on March 13.
 

by Ron Dorner
“Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” Ephesians 5:25

Who doesn’t like love letters? I know my wife does. In fact, she still gets out those letters I wrote to her more than 40 years ago and reads them!

I want to talk about a “love” letter that I can guarantee your spouse will be very thankful for and will read carefully. The sad thing is that most people never take the time to write one.

Many who are careful to have an up-to-date will or trust do not have this letter. Please give careful consideration to taking the important step of writing this special love letter.

This is a Letter of Instruction. It is best written in separate sections, allowing each to stand alone. Here are the four sections I recommend: (1) Personal letter to spouse; (2) Short-term financial instructions; (3) Asset location list; and (4) Funeral instructions.

The personal letter to spouse should be at the front and should be written with much prayer. Your surviving spouse will read this over and over. You want it to give comfort, encouragement, and to temper his or her grief. I would recommend it be handwritten.

The short-term financial instructions should attempt to answer all the financial questions and needs of your spouse for the first year. Try to answer “What should I do now?” Warn against making major changes within the first year. Suggest your preferred plan of what assets to use first, etc.

Be specific and give details. During the first year it is quite common for the survivor to be in a mental “fog.” It is wise to recommend a payout option for life insurance, annuities, and pensions. List those individuals who can give your spouse sound advice.

In your asset location list, all assets should be listed and kept up-to-date. Make a chart with each asset’s name, storage location, important numbers, estimated value, contact name and phone number. You can include a net worth statement in this area, as this information will prove valuable to your spouse and executor.

Leaving funeral instructions will greatly help the survivor. List the type of service you desire, where it is to be held, the people you wish to be involved in officiating, the cost guidelines, etc. You could even write your own eulogy to be read by a person of your choosing.

I recommend reviewing your thoughts with your spouse so there are no surprises when the instructions are to be carried out.

No love letter could be more appreciated than a Letter of Instruction. Remember that the quality of this letter requires thorough initial work with regular reviews. I recommend an annual review to be sure that everything is current.

When you finish writing your letter, store it in a safe place where your spouse can find it. Remember that within these pages lies critical financial data you will want to keep from prying eyes.

For some, it has been a long time since you have written your spouse a love letter. Don’t you think it’s about time?

Ron Dorner has worked in Grace Brethren financial and estate planning for more than 17 years. For more information, or to schedule a Financial Planning Seminar in your church, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .