One of the best parts of my work is all the great (in the truest sense of the word) people I meet. Everywhere I go I find individuals and groups of people committed to the cause of Christ and His Church. In mid-January I made a trip back to the Keystone State to honor and celebrate a number of people who are making a difference for the kingdom.

My first stop was Carlisle, PA. On Thursday evening January 17, Linda and I attended the retirement dinner for Chaplain William and Phyllis Groff. Bill began his ministry at the Churches of God Home, Inc. in 1986. He grew up in our Columbia, PA congregation along with his sister, Kathy, (married to ERC Pastor Randy Bistline) and received his license for ministry in 1960 from the Ohio Conference. He graduated from Findlay College that same year and in 1963 from Winebrenner Seminary. His pastoral service includes ministry at College First in Findlay (1958-1964) and ERC congregations at Elizabethtown (1964-1977), Mechanicsburg (1977-1982) and Penbrook (1982-1986).

The evening began with an excellent dinner selection chosen by Bill and prepared by the Church Home culinary staff. After dessert the home administrator, Carson Ritchie, shared comments and then invited the assembled group to share memories. Several humorous tales were told along with others more serious. Bill did the first dramatic monologue I ever saw at a Camp Yolijwa vespers service when I was a youth. I shared how this experience impacted me for ministry and thanked him for touching my life. I also thanked him and Phyllis for their ministry to my mother who became a resident at the home ten years ago. In her book they are absolutely tops. When we all finished, Bill thanked everyone for coming and opened the several gifts presented.

Bill and Phyllis Groff

Over Bill’s twenty-two year tenure as chaplain, Phyllis has been an integral part of the ministry providing music support and spearheading the “Easy Living” card production and sales among other things. She hand wrote the message in every single card which over the years brought in more than forty thousand dollars for ministry at the home. WELL DONE GOOD SERVANTS!

Easy Living Card Display

Easy Living Group Members (As shown on Display Board)

Please be in prayer for Pastor Brad and Connie Moore as he will soon begin his duties as the new chaplain at the Church of God Home, Inc. Also be in prayer for his congregation at Marysville as they will be seeking new pastoral leadership.

The next day I visited the ERC office in Harrisburg to talk some church business and take the “old gang” out for lunch. I invited Kevin Richardson and Denny Hamsher to join us at “the Wall” as we call it. It’s a Chinese restaurant of which Jim Moss is a card-carrying member. Jim began working in the Conference office in 1977, retired two years ago, but stayed on part-time because of leadership transitions at ERC. Barbara Harris celebrates thirty years of ministry this year as the executive assistant to the conference director. Jack Selcher, who currently serves as the associate for discipleship, came to the office staff in 1995. In addition, Dr. Tom Lucas in retirement took on the responsibilities of interim executive director this past year. Now I’m telling you (and I should know) this is one dedicated ministry team given their record of faithful and excellent service. I am biased I know, but I think if you know them you will agree. I’m thinking we have such servant leaders in every region across our fellowship. Where would we be without them? WELL DONE GOOD SERVANTS!

Past and Present ERC Directors, Tom Lucas, Kevin Richardson and Ed Rosenberry

Please be in prayer for the ERC as Kevin begins his ministry as the new regional director and reforms the executive team. The region is looking to fill several staff positions which you can explore on their website at http://www.erccog.org.

Celebrating 100 Years

The Franklin Church Sanctuary

My last stop on this go-go-go weekend was Franklin, PA. Pastor Jim Leichliter invited me way back last summer to come preach the inaugural sermon for the church’s 100th anniversary celebration. In 1907 the West Pennsylvania eldership standing committee sent George Hulme and John Gross to begin a work in Franklin as a number of Church of God families had moved there. They organized a congregation in 1908 and on October 18th of that year the church dedicated the present bethel (Forney’s History, p.274).

The Franklin Church Bethel

What foresight that standing committee possessed! This was a common church multiplication scenario in our history (Read Forney!). It’s actually a very Biblical model (Read Acts!) So, why don’t we actively pursue this strategy today at a regional or even local church level? If you’ll permit a digression, I know it works from personal experience: Plainfield First Church of God (ERC) begat Mt. Holly Church of God which in turn begat New Hope. The begats began with a core of families from the mother church and grew from there. This is not a singular example. I could tell you about others. I’m also wondering why we don’t target key communities (e.g. county seats like Franklin) near our existing churches? It seems to me that the fields are ripe to harvest. We just need workers like Hulme and Gross! WELL DONE GOOD SERVANTS!

On the way to Franklin I met with Rick and Aleta Mason for dinner. Keep them in your prayers as Rick has resigned as the executive director for the Allegheny Region and is seeking God’s leading for their next ministry. I arrived in Franklin about 10 p.m. Saturday night and stayed with Pastor Jim and Pamela Leichliter. They own a nice home just down the street from the church facility. I teased them that the décor and service reminded me of a top drawer B&B. I slept well. Sunday morning we got an early start and went over to the bethel. Jim had asked me to do a Winebrenner message which I did for the first service. In the second service I preached my own material from Luke 5. Winebrenner and I received a very warm welcome from the people on a very cold Sunday morning. I believe the Franklin church as well as Pastor Jim and Pamela make everyone feel at home. I also had the opportunity to see somebody I hadn’t seen in years, Howard Potter. He and I served together for a brief time on the CGGC pension board back in the last century. I remembered how positive he had been about his home church in Franklin. I found it to be so. WELL DONE GOOD SERVANTS!

After services I went with Jim and his family out for lunch before making a solo drive back to Findlay. Linda stayed in Carlisle to fulfill her work responsibility of one week a month in the CASA office. I was wishing she could have shared the Franklin visit with me, and hopefully she will the next time. In fact, I could wish to take the whole Churches of God with me everywhere, but that just isn’t possible. These reflections will have to do this side of the gate, but know this Church: God is doing a great good work in and through the Churches of God! WELL DONE GOOD SERVANTS!

Also know that He wants to do more, so much more!

Ed