The Ohio Masonry Association has recognized the Custer Family Early Childhood Center at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio, for its use and craftsmanship of masonry. The Merit Design Award was given at the OMA’s Annual Excellence in Masonry Awards held in Columbus in mid-February. Judges’ comments noted skillful handling of the challenge of giving an existing building both a needed addition and a structural image boost. Exterior elements such as the entry canopy and successful incorporation of canvas awnings were mentioned. Positive feedback was also given about interior elements such as the light-filled atrium and economically created facades (near each room entrance) that give the impression of a large, colorful mural spanning the entire facility.

The Center will host an important part of the annual conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, Equip09, when the event is held at the Columbus church in July. Child care and children’s events will be held in that area of the church’s facilities.

After 7½ years of holding weekly services at Hastings Middle School, the congregation of Upper Arlington, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church (known as UA Grace) finally has a place to call home. They celebrated the grand opening service in their new facility at 4065 Kenny Road on Palm Sunday, April 5.

The church purchased the property, which was formerly owned by the Christian Apostolic Church, in May 2008. The 2.82-acre site with a 7,860 square foot building is located near the corner of McCoy and Kenny Roads. Over the last several months, the church family has renovated the facility.

“Finding this property in Upper Arlington is definitely an answer to prayer,” said Dave Bogue, senior pastor. “We searched for the right property for years and are very grateful to have a permanent location for our church. Our new church home will help us establish deeper roots in the community and be accessible throughout the week,” he added.

UA Grace was established in 2001 by several families in Upper Arlington, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. The first service was held on September 30, 2001, at Hastings Middle School. Since then the congregation’s weekly attendance has grown to approximately 180. Services are held Sunday at 10 a.m. Child care and children’s Sunday school are provided. ■

By Ron Dorner

The numbers are flying. We are used to hearing the government talk about millions and billions; but what is all this chatter of trillions? Consider what is a trillion (1,000,000,000,000). A stack of $1,000 bills a little more than four inches tall equals $1 million. A stack of $1,000 bills 358 feet tall equals $1 billion. A stack of $1,000 bills 67.9 miles tall equals $1 trillion.

The U.S. government appears to be in deep trouble. The money it spends comes from only three potential sources – taxes, borrowing, or printing money. Tax increases hurt individuals. Borrowing affects people because of the increased cost of government and printing money makes the dollar worth less.

Here are the facts from the non-partisan Office of Management and Budget website (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/).
• In FY2008 the government paid $412 billion in interest on debt and in the same year added $459 billion more debt (budget deficit).
• At the close of FY2009 (October 1, 2009) another $1,752 billion in debt will have been added.
• As of March 3, 2009 the national debt was $10.8 trillion.
• Next year, if interest rates stay the same, our government will be paying $500 billion per year in interest on debt. (This is a stack of $1,000 bills 33.9 miles tall)

How does the future look? I predict bigger budgets, more government spending, and bigger debts. Lack of ethics, wisdom, and concern for the future of our country is evident throughout the federal government.

What are Christians to do? God has provided the answers. When Paul wrote Romans 13, he and his fellow believers were living under a government which ruled harshly and exacted heavy taxes. It had the power to execute those who failed to follow their rulers’ desires. Paul told the believers of that day to be under the subjection of government, pay the taxes as demanded, and give honor to those in authority.

We need to look closer. Paul was aware that in the grand scheme of things God had ordained that the Romans were to rule in his day. In the latter half of the chapter, Paul gets back to how we are to act as believers. We are to love our neighbor, behave properly, and to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” In times when government is not benign, we are to keep our focus and take even more effort to walk the walk and be the witness and testimony that Christ would have us to be.

Pray for government leaders, but not along your political persuasion. Pray that God would draw them to Himself through Christ. Pray that they would legislate and lead as God plans. Be active in writing or calling to your leaders regarding things you feel require your opinion.

Pray that we the church will be active, with love and physical assistance, in reaching out to people who are hurting and fearful. But most of all, pray we will bear the message of the gospel and the wonderful things that lie ahead for those who are born-again.

Satan would like nothing more than to see believers pre-occupied with the details of the economy and not realize that the time to witness may be very short. In Romans 13:11, Paul, after speaking to the issue of respecting your government, says, “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.”

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.

“What in God’s Name Am I Doing at Dalton’s?” is the title of a one-page handout John Miller frequently gives to friends and acquaintances. Miller, 55, looks like an aging hippie—rimless glasses, jeans, gray hair pulled back in a pony tail—but he loves God mightily and feels called to serve Him in the Warsaw, Ind., foundry where he has worked for 32 years.

A lifelong musician, John alternates playing bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and drums at his church, the Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren Church. But he feels his primary ministry calling is to his workplace.

“You grow up with your playmates,” John says, “But you grow old with your workmates.”

Dorothy E. Goodman
Sheridan Cole Folsom
Jesse D. Humberd
Wilda J. Pappas
Leonard Rousselow
Ruth C. Snyder
Lyle Emmett Taylor
Harold Ray Van Dyke

Dorothy E. Goodman, 89, of Grace Village Retirement Community Winona Lake, Ind., died Sunday, March 8, 2009, at 4:23 a.m. at Grace Village Health Care of Winona Lake, Ind..

She was born June 12, 1919, in LaVerne, Calif., to George and Margaret (Ward) Hay. Wanting to serve as a missionary, Dorothy completed nurse’s training in Pasadena, California. While attending Grace Seminary and earning a Christian Education diploma, she met her husband, Marvin L. Goodman. On June 16, 1944, in LaVerne, Calif., she was married to Marvin, who survives.

After a risky ocean crossing during WWII, Dorothy and her husband took a river boat up the Congo and Ubangui rivers to the Central African Republic (CAR) where they would serve for 40 years as missionaries. As a nurse, Dorothy dealt with all sorts of tropical diseases, offering blankets to expectant mothers if they would come to the medical center to have their baby, thus preventing complications from unattended births.

In the absence of a doctor she sometimes was obliged to perform surgery to save a mothers life. She also taught both women and children to read and understand the Scriptures. She served the Lord faithfully as a nurse and teacher.

Life was not easy in the CAR. Dorothy cooked on a wood stove and swept a sun-baked clay floor in a mud block house under a grass roof. Yet, she succeeded in making it into a home for her husband and four children.

Upon retirement in 1986, Dorothy and her husband established residence in Winona Lake, Ind., where she was active in women’s and children’s ministries at the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church where they were members. She also operated a Good News Club from her home on the hill overlooking Billy Sunday Tabernacle.

In her final years, Dorothy struggled with the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s. While her family misses her greatly, they rest in their faith that she has been ushered into the presence of her Savior.

Dorothy will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 64 years, Marvin L. Goodman (Winona Lake, Ind.); two sons: David G. (wife: Nancy) Goodman (Northbrook, Ill.); Paul M. (wife: Marlene) Goodman (Houston, Tex.); daughter: Anne (husband Robert) Hoy (Camp Verde, Ariz.); and her son-in-law: John Zielasko (Winona Lake, Ind.).

Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Suzan Zielasko, the youngest of the four children, who succumbed to cancer in October 2003 in her hometown of Winona Lake, Ind.. Dorothy was also preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Hay; and her sister, M. Joyce Smith.

Services were held Saturday, March 14 at the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, 1200 Kings Highway, Winona Lake, Ind., with Pastor Bruce Barlow officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw, Ind.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Brethren International Missions, P.O. Box 588, Winona Lake, Ind. 46590 for the Dorothy Goodman Memorial Fund.

Sheridan Cole Folsom, 83, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 4:15 a.m. in Yakima, Washington. He was born February 16, 1926, in Sprague, Washington to Cap and Geraldine Folsom. In 1932, at age 6, he moved to Yakima with his parents and called Yakima his home ever since.

He graduated from Davis High School (formerly known as North Yakima High School). He volunteered for the Navy during World War II. Shortly after enlisting, his entire group developed life-threatening rheumatic fever. Only half survived and, after recovery, he received an honorable discharge.

He then moved to Chicago to attend electrical school and many White Sox and Cubs baseball games. He moved back to Yakima after graduation. It was while working at Highland Fruit Growers that he met his wife, Olive. They were married on August 4, 1956. He later worked as a salesman for Yakima Hardware and Merritt’s Auto Parts before becoming property manager for their rentals.
Throughout their fifty-one years together, they began, developed, and maintained a rental property business. Their foremost goal throughout this venture was to use it as a ministry to share Christ with people.

Sheridan was a long-time, active member of the Grace Brethren Church, and more recently attended the Cross Church. He volunteered his time for the Red Cross, Child Evangelism and supported the Union Gospel Mission.

Many will remember him by his broad smile, friendly greeting, and his ever-present bowtie.

Sheridan is survived by his son, Jim (wife, Stephanie) and two grandchildren, Jason and Deanna.
A private graveside service was held at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. The family encourages any memorial gifts be made to Child Evangelism Ministries. Memorials, tributes, and condolences may be sent to the family in care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902.

Jesse D. Humberd, 87, of 1 Park Avenue Unit 405, Winona Lake, Ind., died at 6:13 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009, at his residence.

He was born December 21, 1921, in Roann, Ind., to Anna M. (Black) Humberd (preceded in 1986) and Reverend Russell I. Humberd (preceded in 1965). Jesse was married on August 29, 1942, to Laura (Eastep) Humberd, who preceded him in death in 2007.

A man of great faith, who loved his wife and family, he was an avid fan of the Naval Academy, The Ohio State University, and the Chicago Cubs. He was a professor and chairman of the math and science department at Grace College and Seminary of Winona Lake, Ind., retiring in 1991 after 37 years.

He received two master’s degrees in arts and divinity and a Ph.D. was from The Ohio State University. Humberd served as a Deck Officer in the U.S. Navy on the USS Roe in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. He was a resident of Kosciusko County, Ind., since 1951, and a member of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.

He will be lovingly remembered by his two daughters: Lenora (husband Dan) Kingery (Dover, Del.); Margaret (husband Steve) Damer (Howe, Ind.); five grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one brother: James Humberd (Burbank, Calif.); and one sister: Martha (husband Don) Allbaugh (Delphi, Ind.). He was preceded in death by his wife, two brothers, and two sisters.

Services were held March 28, 2009, in Warsaw, Ind., with Tom Miller officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw, Ind.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace College Science Department, c/o Grace College and Seminary, 200 Seminary Drive, Winona Lake, Ind. 46590. 
 
Wilda J. Pappas, 91, a long time resident of Worthington, Ohio, died Thursday, February 12, 2009. She was a member of Grace Brethren Church where she mentored young women.

Her passions included gardening and music. She was also a wonderful cook. She was preceded in death by her husband Gus C. Pappas, brothers Dudley and Albert Briggs, and sister Evelyn Schulz.

She is survived by children Paul Pappas, Margaret Anderson, Elizabeth ‘Kitty’ Pappas, John (Rebecca) Pappas, Tom (Kristine) Pappas, sister Charlotte (Willard) Wood, brothers Robert (Doris) Briggs, Tom (Betty) Briggs, sister-in-law Aline Briggs, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Services were held February 16 at Grace Brethren Church, 8225 Lazelle Rd., Westerville. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Grace Brethren Church Missionary Support for the John Pappas Family, 6675 Worthington Galena Rd, Worthington, OH 43085.

Leonard Rousselow, 81, of Waterloo, Iowa, and a longtime leading figure in the Grace Brethren Church there, died Tuesday, March 17, at Friendship Village Retirement Center.

He was born Jan. 31, 1928, in Hudson, son of Clarence and Mary Ingamells Rousselow. He married Lola Deits on Nov. 14, 1947, in Waterloo. She died Aug. 12, 2006.

Rousselow graduated from Orange High School in 1947. He started farming in 1948 in the Cedar Falls and Jesup area, retiring in 1993. He also had worked at Control O Fax for 20 years as a machine operator. He was an active member of Grace Brethren Church since 1945, serving as church elder, usher, Sunday school teacher and youth leader.

He is survived by two sons, Dean (Judy) of La Porte City, Iowa, and Dan (Lynn) of Waterloo, Iowa; two daughters, Sarah (Rod) Munro of Bend, Ore., and Judy (Mike) Christian of Chang Mai, Thailand; 10 grandchildren, Shannon Rousselow, Brady, Jesse and Briana Clark, Marisa Foltz, Lori, Bethany and Jenny Christian, and Sydney and Delaney Rousselow; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, LeRoy (Maxine) of Waterloo; and a sister-in-law, Mary Helen Leymaster of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Virgil.

Services were March 23 at Grace Brethren Church in Waterloo, with burial in Orange Township Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Grace Brethren Church of Waterloo, Iowa.

Ruth C. Snyder, 88, of 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, Ind., was “loosed away upward” on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at 4:50 p.m. in her residence at Grace Village Retirement Community of Winona Lake.

Ruth was born October 20, 1920, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Charles Croker and Marion (Shepherd) Croker. As a young person Ruth felt called of the Lord to serve as a missionary in Africa. She prepared for missionary service by attending Philadelphia School of the Bible, graduating in 1944. Then she entered Grace Theological Seminary, graduating in 1947 with the Christian Education Course.

August 9, 1947, she was married to Rev. Roy B. Snyder in Philadelphia, Pa. With her husband, she went on to complete her studies in theology, both graduating in 1949.

In the fall of 1949, the Snyders left for Paris, where they had ten months of French language study. In July, 1950, they continued on to French Equatorial Africa, in the province of Oubangui Chari. The first term was very difficult as Ruth had to travel 500 miles each way for surgery at the Presbyterian Hospital in Cameroon. Ruth went there twice for surgery, ten weeks each time.

Her ministry in Africa was teaching women and girls at a mission station 185 miles north of the capital city where the Snyders lived for 15 years. The last 20 years were in the capital city of Bangui. There Ruth worked with the leaders in women’s and girl’s work. She also operated the Missionary Guest House for 18 years in Bangui. The Snyders retired from Africa in 1984, after a total of 35 years of missionary service.

During her retirement years, Ruth was active with the women’s missionary organization, Women of Grace. From 1985-1990, she was the National Prayer Chairman. She followed this by staying active with different prayer groups such as the Way Home Prayer Group and the Global Prayer Group at Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren Church.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 61 years: Roy B. Snyder (Winona Lake, Ind.); brother: Wayne (wife Dorothy) Croker (Big Piney, Wyo.); and two nephews and three nieces: Bob (Custer, Wash.); Pat (Cheyenne, Wyo.); Kathy (Big Piney, Wyo.); Coke (Sheridan, Wyo.); Michael (Missoula, Mont.). Ruth was preceded in death by her parents.

Her funeral services were held Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren Church, 1200 Kings Highway, with Pastor Charles Ashman officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, Ind.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Brethren International Missions, P.O. Box 588, Winona Lake, Ind. 46590 for the construction of the Brethren Biblical Seminary in Bangui.

Lyle Emmett Taylor, 83, was born on November 1, 1925, at home in Three Sands, Oklahoma, to Winfred Carl Taylor and Alta Aline (Maddux) Taylor. He died Monday, March 23, 2009.

Taylor and his family moved to the Harrah, Wash., area in 1941 and he was very proud of the fact that he still lived on the “home place.” Except for the time that he was in the United States Army and a short time in Santa Cruz, California, Dad has lived on his corner of the world at Harrah and Progressive Roads.

He proudly served in the United States Army during World War II and was stationed in Boca Raton, Florida. When he returned home, he worked at the Harrah Grade School as a custodian and bus driver where he began his long service to the youth in the area.

Taylor then started his own business building custom homes and remodeling. Many of the homes in the Lower Valley show the quality of his work and he loved to show his family as he drove around that he worked on this house or that house. He truly was a master craftsman and he passed his construction skills on to his son Ray.

He passed his love of flying on to his two sons who also both are pilots. He was one of the organizers of the Harrah Flying Club that he helped found in 1954 and was a very active 30-year member. He also spent many hours as a flight instructor getting up at dawn to give lessons and returning home just in time to go to work.

Taylor fulfilled one of his lifetime dreams in building his own airplane. He built a Starduster II from scratch, except the engine. He and his buddies flew it back to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, several times.

Taylor’s philosophy on how to live life was if you treat others as you want to be treated, your life will be good and he lived that by example. He dedicated himself to serving his family, church, and community.

Taylor served 37 years on the Harrah Volunteer Fire Department (Fire District 5, Station 3). He took great joy serving the young men in the area as their Boy Scout leader, taking them on many camping trips and teaching them how to survive in the wilderness. He also coached both of his sons in Pee Wee baseball for more than 14 years and many boys called him “Coach.” He also volunteered his time and abilities as the Harrah building inspector.

Taylor taught Sunday School at Harrah Grace Brethren Church and he believed that whatever time was spent teaching children was time well spent--he said it would always come back tenfold. He devoted untold hours to the Grace Brethren Clear Lake Camp in developing a program for youth.

He had a life-changing accident in 2000 and was overwhelmed by the love and support of the Harrah community; and he heard at that time from many young people on how he had impacted their lives.

His service went beyond his own community, traveling to South America and Africa on mission teams doing construction and maintenance work in remote villages.

Taylor met Dorothy Jean Campbell at a Toppenish-Wapato football game and they were married in Pasco on May 30, 1948. At the time of her death, they had been married 57 years. Without her, Taylor’s life was just not the same; he just never recovered and we believe he died of a broken heart.

He is lovingly survived by his son Lyle Emmett Taylor Jr. (“Buck”) and his wife, Jacque, of Yakima; his daughter, Pam Sandifer and her husband, Harlan, of Grandview; and his son, Ray and his fiancée, Julia Lewis, of Albuquerque. Dad was Gramps to his grandchildren (in birth order) Shelby Hall, husband Dan, daughters Jessica and Taylor; Holly Ohler, husband Joe, children Baylee and Wyatt; Jason Emmett Taylor, wife Melissa, sons Justin and Bryce; Shaun Taylor and wife Lydia, who are expecting their first child in November; and Chad Sandifer and his daughter Talyn; Bobbie Jean Taylor ("BJ") and Colton Taylor.

He is also survived by his daughter-in-heart, Marleita Taylor, of Snohomish, Washington. Two brothers also survive: Clyde Taylor, of Kingston, and Orval Taylor, of Yakima. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Glen, and his beloved wife Dorothy. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to offer a very special thank you to their dad’s coffee buddies at the Harrah Cafe. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving our Dad.

Services were held Friday, March 27 at the Harrah Grace Brethren Church with burial at the Wapato Reservation Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Harrah Cafe or to the Harrah Fire Department.

Harold Ray Van Dyke, 85, formerly of 5026 Kessler-Frederick Rd. in Troy, Ohio, died at 3:25 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2009 at the Sterling House Assisted Living Facility in Troy.

He was born August 21, 1923, to the late Harry Allen & Hatti (Egli) Van Dyke in Champion, Nebraska. On April 25, 1943, he married Virginia K. Malott, who died May 18, 2007.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law Harold Ray Jr. (Roy) and Jayne Van Dyke of Celina; daughters and sons-in-law Bonnie and Steve Foster of Troy; Janalyce and Sidney Reed of Ozark, Missouri; six grandchildren, three step grandchildren; four great grandchildren and six step great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brother Marvin Van Dyke and his sister Hazel Van Dyke.

Harold graduated from Turlock High School in California. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Roosevelt University.

He was a member of the Englewood, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church. He was a former deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher and involved with the church youth camp and the men’s fellowship. He was a former national president of the Brethren Men’s Fellowship. He was a member of the Society of Mechanical Engineers.

He proudly taught the art of stained glass at home and at the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School. He was formerly employed at Dayton Power and Light. He retired from General Motors Truck and Bus Division as plant engineer on September 1, 1987.

Funeral services were held April 1, 2009, in West Milton, with Rev. Ed Ellis and Pastor Doug Magin officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, West Milton. Memorial contributions may be made to Miami County Hospice or Upper Valley Medical Center Dialysis Services.