By Ron Dorner
The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:7-8)

The current economic environment has placed serious financial stress on families. Few churches are equipped to give guidance or help to members in financial difficulties.

Galatians 6:10 says “While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” The current economic situation provides our opportunity. As believers, we should concentrate on the household of faith, not because we should neglect others, but because church resources will be greatly strained.

The church that cares for its congregation during difficult financial times will truly be a beacon to the world. John 13:35 sums it up. “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In times like these, each church’s leadership must prepare a plan and prepare its people. The best laid plan will fail if the people are not willing to submit to what the Lord has in store.

Teach people what God expects. Few realize that the failure to spend wisely in the past is sin. There may be a need for repentance and a willingness to submit to the principles of financial counseling to become a responsible provider for one’s family.

While the concepts of financial management are being taught, church leadership should implement an action plan. Explain the plan to the congregation so everyone will know what to expect.

A Hard Times Plan (HTP) might address several areas:
• the type of help to be given,
• the resources available, and
• the operation of the HTP through a committee.

Type of help for members
Two types of assistance could be offered – money management assistance and items to meet physical needs. Each individual requesting assistance should be interviewed and be willing to have the committee analyze his or her income and expenses before help is provided. This assures that the Lord’s resources are not wasted. If it is found that the members requesting help are not good money managers, they should get only temporary help. Those willing to receive counsel and change their spending or work habits could continue to receive assistance.
 
Evaluate resources
During an extended economic downturn, most churches will find that they have very limited monetary resources. Giving may decrease during these times, yet the demand for assistance may be at its highest.

Resources include not only money, but services, food donations, land availability for gardens, and used clothing, to name a few. Individuals can get along with much less money if they can get assistance in other ways. People who are out of work may have time on their hands. Take advantage of that by creating a system where labor can be bartered among members.

Requiring work eliminates many needs. Create an active job networking system within the local church.

It should be obvious that when evaluating resources, it will take the efforts of the entire body to get a good “stockpile” of resources.

Your church family will feel loved and have a great sense of relief if your resources list is long and covers many types of needs.

Committee selection/operation
This is a vital part of the HTP. A step-by-step procedure should be required for all who apply for assistance. The use of application forms will insure fair treatment. Include any recommendations of the committee on the form, which is signed by all members. Keep all forms to facilitate future applications by the same individual.

I recommend that the committee consist of at least three church members. Keep the group as small as practical. A large church may have more committee members, but might use only three per evaluation. Select individuals for this group who are mature, faithful, and willing to make hard decisions.

Feedback is important. Regularly report the aggregate amount of assistance given, without names, including the number of members assisted and resources distributed (amount of money, jobs found, used clothing dispensed, etc.).

Summary
This article comes from a love of the church and my desire to see her shine for Christ as never before. I believe that this economic downturn will be protracted. My prayer is that those reading this, especially pastors, will not see it as a complex and difficult thing to accomplish. Instead it is something that can be implemented with much prayer and wisdom from God.

Ron Dorner is director of Biblical Money Management. BMM has been helping believers handle their finances and estate planning since 1984. Online counseling is available at www.BiblicalMoneyManagement.com.

Dr. Greg Ryerson waited 45 years for the privilege of visiting the Central African Republic. In January, his life-long dream became a reality when he spent 22 days in the CAR as the guest of Pastor Andre Mboi, president of the Union des Eglises Evangelique du Freres.

“When I was a teenager in the 60s, Dr. Orville Jobson challenged me to consider a missionary career in the CAR,” Ryerson recalls. “God led me in another direction. But when I stood in the doorway of the print shop at the mission station in Bangui, I broke down and wept. A big chunk of my heart has always been with this place and these people.

Ryerson, an ordained FGBC elder, spoke twice at the Grace Brethren general conference in Berberati. He preached at two of the country’s Grace Brethren churches and in the Brethren Biblical Seminary in Bangui. At Bambari, Ryerson led a week-long seminar for evangelists.

“I’d love to go back regularly to help train church leaders for the task of disciple-making,” says Ryerson. “I want to be on the front lines in the last battle for the soul of Africa.”

Ryerson is a member of Community Grace Brethren Church in West Milton, Ohio and works independently as a biblical counselor in the Dayton, Ohio, area.

Two Grace College faculty members are part of a team who have received a grant to study behavioral health interventions in the treatment of diabetes.

Kevin Roberts, Psy. D., associate professor in behavioral sciences and Thomas Edgington, Ph. D., professor of behavioral sciences, along with Joe Graham, Psy. D., director of counseling services at Warsaw (Ind.) Community Church received a two-year research grant from K21 Foundation. They are working with Kosciusko County (Ind.) Health Department to study whether it is possible to improve long-term health outcomes of individuals diagnosed with Type II Diabetes by adding a psychological component to their treatment.

Other people involved in this study include Warsaw, Ind., physicians, Kosciusko Community Hospital, and several area healthcare workers. James Lesko, Ph. D., chair of the Department of Science and Mathematics and professor of mathematics, will be involved in the statistical component of the research. Several students will be assisting in the study as well.

It is hoped that patients will see improved health-related outcomes and quality of life as a result of the study, which may result in a new integrated care model for treating diabetes. If successful, this new model may be utilized in Kosciusko County and elsewhere.

Milestones
In Print
In Memoriam

Milestones

Jeanne Crafton is the new director of admissions at Grace College. She brings 11 years of higher education admissions experience to the school, having served as an admissions counselor at Taylor University and Grand Canyon University. She also was director of admissions at Southwestern College in Phoenix, Ariz, where during her tenure new student enrollment increased substantially. She moves to Grace from Taylor University’s Ft. Wayne, Ind. campus, where she was director of admissions.

Jim Murray of Columbia, S.C., is a pastoral intern in the area of youth ministries at the Grace Brethren Church, Aiken, S.C. (Steve Taylor, pastor). A student at Columbia Biblical Seminary, Columbia, S.C., he will graduate in May with a Master of Divinity degree in pastoral counseling. He is married to the former Ashley Wojtowicz of Aiken and they are the parents of Margo.

Steve Makofka concluded his pastoral ministry at the Centerville, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church on February 22.

In Print
Neil Cole’s new book, Organic Leadership: Leading Naturally Right Where You Are, was released in February. Cole is pastor of Awakening Chapel, a Grace Brethren church in Long Beach, Calif., and executive director of Church Multiplication Associates. He is also one of the founders of today’s organic church movement, which has given rise to thousands of churches around the world. For more information or to obtain the book, see http://www.cmaresources.org.

Former Grace Brethren pastor Wendell Kent has authored his third book, Head for the Hills. It includes short and entertaining essays about 14 people who were drawn to the mountains, plus four others whom Kent calls "The Big Four” – the presidents immortalized on South Dakota's Mount Rushmore. The 40-page book retails for $7.95 and is available from Wendell at 16644 CR 369, Buena Vista, CO 81211.

The Fine Line, a new book by Kary Oberbrunner was released in early December. Oberbrunner, 31, is a pastor at Grace Church, a Grace Brethren church in Powell, Ohio. He lives in Dublin with his wife, Kelly, and their two children.

In Memoriam
Betty Jane (Hart) Farner, 90, wife of the late Grace Brethren pastor Donald W. Farner and mother of Grace Brethren pastors Donald Farner and Tim Farner, died Saturday, January 31, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. Click here to see a complete obituary.

Former Grace College coach and professor and Grace Brethren pastor Lloyd Woolman died February 9 at his home at Grace Village Retirement Center in Winona Lake, Ind.

Betty Jane (Hart) Farner
Lloyd A. Woolman

Betty Jane (Hart) Farner, 90, of Columbus, Ohio, wife of the late Grace Brethren pastor Donald W. Farner and mother of Grace Brethren pastors Donald Farner and Tim Farner, died Saturday, January 31, 2009.

Born October 23, 1918, in Shelby, Ohio, she was the daughter of Ream V. and Ruth (Barga) Hart. Along with her husband Donald W. Farner, they came to know the Lord at the West 10th Street Brethren Church in Ashland.

After Don’s pastoral training, they went on to pastor at Grace Brethren churches in Sidney, Ohio; Harrah, Wash.; Toppenish, Wash. (Pastor Farner founded this church); Winona, Minn.; and Limestone, Tenn. She was a member of Southview Grace Brethren Church in Ashland and Worthington Grace Brethren Church and Powell Grace Brethren Church while living in Columbus.

A pastor’s wife until her husband’s death, she then returned to Ashland where she was a cook at a fraternity house at Ashland University and later worked at Carter Drapery Service.

She is survived by sons, Don (Joyce) Farner of Butler and Tim (Sandy) Farner of Columbus; daughter-in-law, Carol Farner of Warsaw, Ind.; grandchildren, Stephanie Schmucker, Angie Hansen, Jim Farner, Beth Farner, Michelle Farner, Melissa Kelley, Jeff Farner, Jon Farner, and Jay Farner; and 13 great grandchildren.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Don, in 1977 while pastoring in Limestone, Tenn.; son, Stephen A. Farner; and sister, Eleanor McBride.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 4, 2009 in Ashland. Pastor Dean Risser officiated.

Burial was at Vermillion Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Home Reach Hospice, 3595 Olentangy River Road. Columbus, OH 43214.

Lloyd A. Woolman, 84, of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, Ind., died on Monday, February 9, 2009.

Woolman was born on August 21, 1924 in Preston, Wash., to Bernard Woolman and Pearl (Johnson) Woolman. He was married on December 8, 1946, to Elizabeth “Betty” Barnes, who died on December 27, 1990.

He was a professor at Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind., in the Physical Education Department where he was a coach, athletic director, and dean of men. A 1963 graduate of Grace Theological Seminary, he was also the pastor of West Etna Community Church, West Etna, Ind., and pastored Grace Brethren churches in California, Alaska, and Virginia.

He served in the U.S. Air Force and was discharged October 17, 1945. He was a member of Grace Brethren Church, past member of the Warsaw Kiwanis Club, and he received Coach of the Year in the MCC Conference in Soccer (2) and Track & Field (4). Woolman spent the last 18 years living in Arlington, Wash., and had been a resident of Grace Village Retirement Community since October, 2008.

He will be missed by his two sons: James (wife Janiece Widman) Woolman, Arlington, Wash. and Gary (wife Becky Kent) Woolman, Fort Wayne, Ind.; eleven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and one brother: Ralph Woolman (Phoenix, Ariz.). He was preceded in death by his wife and two brothers.

A memorial service was held on February 14 at Grace Village with Pastor Rick Hawks officiating. Burial was in Concordia Gardens, Fort Wayne, Ind..

Memorials in Woolman’s memory can be made to Grace College Athletic Department, 200 Seminary Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590.