"The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. – Psalm 68:11"
Bonclarken is in need of summer staffers! If you know a young person that has graduated from high school and is looking for a summer job, please have them contact Mike Dill (mdill@bonclarken.org) about spending the summer at Bonclarken. All departments still have openings and Bonclarken would love to have your young person join their team for the summer.
As of today, we have approximately 2/3 of the ruling elders necessary to meet a quorum at the General Synod meeting. Everyone is reminded of their responsibility as delegates to be in attendance at the meeting. Synod is held June 11-13, 2019 at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. For everything you need to know, please visit www.arpchurch.org.
Bonclarken Music ConferenceJuly 14-19, 2019. For more information click here.
We no longer live in a Christian or even nominally Christian culture. Our culture today – as our young people well know – is deeply suspicious of or even outright hostile to the historic Christian faith. How can we live confidently for Christ in such a context? The 2019 Family Bible Conference will dive into the book of Daniel and other parts of God’s Word as we engage the theme: ‘Living Victoriously in a Hostile World.’ You’ll not want to miss the 2019 Family Bible Conference!
What: A gathering of wives and children who will not be attending Synod in Pennsylvania.
Where: Bonclarken Conference Center
When: June 11-13, 2019
The Women of the ARPWM Board would like to host you for two nights at Bonclarken. We are still working on details, but we would provide at least one meal, and would provide housing for both nights.
On Wednesday, we plan to have a program for the children so that the moms could have a morning or afternoon out together. We have reserved all of the Faith Apartments and are working to secure houses owned by churches.
Please respond to Elaine DeVusser at devusser5@yahoo.com if you are interested in attending. We hope that this can be a sweet retreat, and a time of reunion and fellowship for you!
I look forward to hearing from you!
The Sand Hill AME church at 3030 Whitestocking Road, Burgaw, NC, suffered severe damage, including loss of most of their building and all its contents during the recent heavy storms. A Pittsburgh area ministry called Hosanna Industries has volunteered to help the church get back into operation. It may be that some of our ARP congregations would have some items to spare or that there would be some people who would like to come and help Hosanna Industries as they restore this building and these people for the Lord’s service. The Hosanna Industries Email to me follows my signature.
Leslie Holmes
We are looking for some specific items that will allow them to function again as a church family and it is my hope that you would be able to help in part or full with the following list:
Anyone with questions should contact:
Brian Hetzer
Hosanna Industries
724-612-3831
World Witness Spring Fellowship DinnersLake Wales, FL Feb 22
Bethesda, MD March 22
Columbia, SC April 26
For more information visit worldwitness.org
Calling all college students and young adults!Join Outreach North America for the Dallas Mission Trip, June 29- July 6, 2019! During this week, we will serve at a summer camp for refugee children living in Dallas, Texas through Bible lessons, games, math and reading help, swimming, singing, and more. Our team will form meaningful relationships and will learn about the global refugee crisis and multicultural ministry in a hands-on setting.
“The Lord was truly at work during our trip to For the Nations in Dallas. It was amazing to serve alongside a Christian community, sharing God’s love to refugee children with an openness that resonated with them…This experience has once again shown me the joy there is to be found in the globally-focused, diverse family of God.”
Remember that your church statistical forms are due by Friday February 1. You can find the forms and other instructions here.
Here is the latest ARP Magazine issue. Be sure to subscribe www.arpmagazine.org so that you don’t miss an issue.
2019 marks the 40th year of Camp Joy. We are celebrating its anniversary on July 12-14, 2019 at Bonclarken Conference Center. Save the date and remember to come celebrate the past 40 years and join us as we look forward to many more! Find out more information here.
Synod’s Committee on Nominations meets in less than 1 month. Click here for a current worksheet showing boards/committees for which we have received no recommendations (in red). Please prayerfully consider individuals who are qualified for service in these areas. If you wish to recommend someone, please
Looking for green Bible Songs. If you have any of the green Bible Songs books that are not being used, please consider donating them to the ARP Bookstore. Contact Brent Turner with questions.
Shay O’Sheal has joined the Central Services/ARP Magazine team as our new Administrative Assistant.
Shay has worked for a number of years in church administration and we are delighted to welcome her to our team. She will be helping us with our database, board/committee meetings and many other administrative projects.
Shay can be reached by calling the ARP Center (864-232-8297 Ext. 227).
Thanks for joining us in welcoming Shay to the team!
April 10, 1934 – January 20, 2019
Rev. David Robbins Ellis, 84, died peacefully Sunday January 20, 2019 in the Springs Nursing Home at Hot Springs, VA.
David was born April 10, 1934 in Rangeley, Maine, the son of Ardine G. and Mattie Robbins Ellis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Judith Spofford Ellis in 1998 and by a sister, Diane Ellis Ward in 2017.
David served in the United States Marine Corps in the 1950s. He was a graduate of Farmington State College in Farmington, ME. He was a teacher and principal in Maine and Florida until 1977 when he entered Erskine Theological Seminary in South Carolina. Upon graduation Reverend Ellis pastored Johnson’s Creek ARP Church in Covington, VA, Bethlehem ARP in Due West, SC and retired from Garrison Memorial ARP Church in Bessemer City, NC. He served as the Moderator of the Virginia Presbytery as well as the Chairman of the Virginia Presbytery’s ecclesiastical commission. David was a member of the Lions Club where he was the Lion of the Year in 1998 and 1999, a former chaplain at Alleghany Regional Hospital, and president of the Habitat for Humanity in Bessemer City, NC. In his younger days he was a volunteer firefighter. David enjoyed reading western books and was an avid baseball fan.
Surviving are one Daughter and Son-in-law, Leslie and Wayne Boyd of Holden, ME; two Sons and Daughters-in-law, Tim and Melody Ellis of Burke, VA and Mark and Jennifer Ellis of Covington, VA, six grandchildren; Stephen Boyd, Chad Boyd, Lindsay Boyd Bennett, Patrick Ellis, Wesley Ellis, and Ashley Ellis; several great grandchildren, two Brothers; Larry Ellis of Florida and Timothy Ellis of California, and several nieces and nephews.
In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. His ashes will be buried alongside Judith in Bessemer City, NC in the spring.
The family suggests that donations in his memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association; P.O.Box 96011; Washington, DC 20090-6011.
Family Bible Conference 2019 is set for July 29 – August 1. For more information check out the Family Bible Conference website here.
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is January 20.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139: 13-16).
