The Day in Columbus – Saturday

photo by Regina Holmes
Erin Matteson brought the Saturday morning message.

From Philippians

“Yet whatever gains I have had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8a).

Quotable quotes

“It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship. It’s an experience that opens you and changes you to more than you are now.”
— Erin Matteson preaching for the morning worship service, speaking about the “surpassing value of knowing Christ”

“Love came in and took over the journey for me, and I continue this work because I must.”
— Peggy Faw Gish speaking at the Brethren Press and Messenger Dinner about her work with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq

“We came here this week and did what Brethren do best.”
— A representative of Southern Ohio District commenting on the mounds of diapers, hygiene kits, and socks donated to a YMCA/YWCA shelter in Columbus

“Great revival will come out of this persecution of the church in Nigeria.”
— Leah Hileman, who spoke from the floor about her support for the resolution on Nigeria and for the Nigerian Brethren

 

photo by Keith Hollenberg
On a trip to the zoo

By the numbers

2,524 – final registration number for the Conference, which includes 719 delegates and 1,805 nondelegates

1,456 – worship attendance on Saturday morning, July 5

$8,760.47 – offering received during worship

115 – units of blood collected by the Conference Blood Drive, with 123 presenting donors and
26 volunteers helping to make the drive happen

$5,100 – dollars raised for hunger at the Quilt Auction of the Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren (AACB)

20,875 – number of diapers collected in the Witness to the Host City service project, which received items for a YMCA/YWCA shelter in Columbus. Also received in the offering of goods for the shelter: 1,750 hygiene kits and “more socks than we can count”

 

Photo by Glenn Riegel
Winners of the 2014 BBT Fitness Challenge

BBT Fitness Challenge

Results of the Brethren Benefit Trust annual Fitness Challenge, which took place this morning at a park in Columbus, Ohio: in the runner category, male and female first participants over the finish line were Nathan Hosler and Christy Crouse; in the walker category, male and female first participants over the finish line were Don Shankster and Bev Anspaugh.

Manchester University award

The 2014 Manchester Church-University Service Award was presented to leaving Manchester University president Jo Young Switzer at the university’s luncheon. “It felt important, as we reflect on Jo’s decade-long tenure as president and her work at Manchester before that, to honor her for the work she has done in helping to keep the connections between Manchester and the Church of the Brethren alive and vital,” said an announcement of the award, which listed some of the hallmarks of her legacy as Manchester’s first female president: a 25 percent growth in enrollment, a new Doctor of Pharmacy program on a new campus in Fort Wayne, a $100 million “Students First!” campaign, several new buildings on the North Manchester campus, including a new Academic Center, Science Center, and Union that now bears her name. The award especially noted her “commitment to draw education and faith together.”

Outdoor Ministries Association awards

The OMA recognized two volunteers and two staff at the association’s luncheon: Dean Dohner and Jim Oren, both from Camp Woodland Altars, were awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award; Paul Witkovsky from Camp Blue Diamond, and Ann Cornell from Shepherd’s Spring Outdoor Ministry Center, were recognized as Staff of the Year.

The Annual Conference News Team includes photographers Glenn Riegel, Regina Holmes, Keith Hollenberg, Justin Hollenberg, Alysson Wittmeyer; writers Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend, Karen Garrett, Eddie Edmonds, Britnee Harbaugh; web staff Jan Fischer Bachman, Don Knieriem, Russ Otto; communications staff Wendy McFadden, publisher of Brethren Press, Mandy Garcia of donor communications, Messenger editor Randy Miller, and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services, who serves as editor.

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