I GIVE THANKS FOR YOU
Given our death of Linda’s father in September and the passing of our friend and Christian colleague, Jim Booser, last week, I am struck this Thanksgiving with the fact that often we do not express our appreciation for others as we should until they are gone. Somehow this seems not right to me. Wouldn’t you agree with me that it’s far better to tell people how much we appreciate them while they’re living and when they can be encouraged by our remarks? Maybe this holiday season when we are reminded of how good God has been to us, we could take some time to personally thank those who have blessed our lives. A good friend of mine, Pastor Stan Cordell [serving our Six-mile Run Church in the ERC] does this every year about this time. He has often been an encourager to me over the years as had Mr. Booser and my father-in-law.
So in this vein I want to express publicly my gratitude for my co-workers in the General Conference Office. Since coming to the office in June, they have all been very patient and gracious to the “new guy” in the corner office. I’ve learned to know them over the last six months and want the whole CGGC to know that they are a committed team of Christian servants. I could tell you about each one, and I will if you ask me, but for this eNews I want to highlight just one, the one who will soon be leaving us.
Joyce Brubaker came to work at the General Conference office in 1980 and will retire at the end of this month. That’s twenty-seven years of dedicated service! On Thursday evening November 8, the staff and their spouses held a party for Joyce and her husband, Terry, at the Findlay Inn. We celebrated her service to the Church through the General Conference office. (It also happened to be her 62nd birthday!) After dinner, we enjoyed a Powerpoint slide show illustrating her “life in the office” over the years. It was great fun to see old and new photos of Joyce interacting with the other staff members. Always she seemed to be smiling, which is very characteristic! The evening ended with a time of sharing and gift giving.
I shared my first recollection of Joyce. Shortly after Joyce started, I came to a meeting in Findlay. The committee chairperson, Larry White of blessed memory, sent me out of the meeting to get something or other that I no longer recall, but I do remember finding Dick Wilkin (the administrator at that time) and asking him where to find it. He directed me to Joyce and assured me that “She will be able to help.” She did. That for me really summarizes Joyce’s servant heart and can-do spirit. Since coming to the office I have seen this attitude reflected in a hundred and more tasks. She wrote on one of her evaluations that her personal mission was “To be His servant & serve others any way I can.” That statement about sums it up. Thanks, Joyce, from all of us for your dedicated service.
Blessings to all! Give thanks to/for somebody every day. (Philippians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:9)
Ed
Fellowshiping at Joyce's retirement party (L to R): Erin Jones, Jen Bistline, Rodney Bistline, George Pritts, Terry Brubaker, Joyce Brubaker
The CGGC Staff
Front Row (L to R): Erin Jones, Candice Shoemaker, Darlene Mattox, Joyce Brubaker, Dee Callahan, Rachel Foreman, Kris Cupp
Back Row: George Pritts, Rodney Bistline, Mike Martin, Don Dennison, Lance Finley, Ed Rosenberry, Bob Stephenson
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Meet Your Administrative Council
Trevor Rosenberry is currently the pastor at the Doubling Gap Church of God in the Eastern Regional Conference. Formerly he served as the associate pastor of Chambersburg First Church of God, a member of the camp committee for the Doubling Gap Center and as the vice-president of the National CGYA (Churches of God Youth Advance).
Trevor says, "During a week of revival, I questioned my mom about some things and ultimately knelt in my bedroom and gave my life to Christ. It was while being a CGYA office I began to feel God's call and fell in love with Scripture. I followed college with seminary and God has directed everything else."
Trevor and his wife, Courtney, have four children, Luke (8), Jacob (6), Abram (4) and Abigail (almost 2).
He enjoys hunting, sports and reading.
