Here is a sample of the comments and suggestions that regularly show up in our e-mail. Most were randomly selected because they represented a balance of topics and opinions. Since these mailings were originally direct correspondence, yet in an open context, we have intentionally removed various elements in order to insure individual privacy. In several cases the sender gave their blessing for inclusion. The original text of each message has not been altered, except for the most obvious distractions in grammar, spelling, or capitalization.
Date: Monday, August 10, 2015, 09:07:45 EST
Subject: How Many Congregations
For my annual conference report this Sunday, Aug 16, I would
like to know how many congregations of the COB are in the
United States, and the number of churches in each district.
Specifically, I would like to know the number of churches in
each state of ID WA, OR, CA & AZ.
Thank you,
Doris
Date: Sunday, February 23, 2014, 08:49:18 EST
Subject: Touched by the word
I am Pastor Richard, I have been blessed so much with your wonderful and
beautiful work that you do in helping the lost sheep, carrying one another's
burden is what Jesus taught. We thank God for directing us to your web
site,surely its of full encouragements, knowing about second coming of our King
Jesus.
We are a Church committed in teaching the everlasting message to unreached and
teach the original message, we pray that all the people around the world to have
this picture of the true word of God, and in doing that we will be blessed so
much and therefore we invite you to come to visit and to minister to our
Churches in our country Kenya.
We will remember you and your work in our daily prayers as you also remember us
and the work in Kenya in your prayers. Its time for true laborers to worship in
truth and spirit by showing how faith works with actions. God bless you.
Pastor Richard
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2014, 05:08:57 EST
Subject: RE:Gospel of Christ and Invitation
Praise The Lord brethren and sister in the Lord. I am Brother Victor from
southern Kenya. I am absolutely happy to send you my heartfelt greetings. I feel
as if my feet are not touching the ground because of what I have received from
you and to crown it all the wonderful beautiful and uplifting conversion in the
word of your website. I was so touched and I really embrace your life changing
website I have read it and it has indeed convicted my heart and a burden has
been laid in me until I have been forced through the grace of the Lord to write
to you, thank and encourage you for what the Lord is using you for. I will never
cease to pray for you and I wish you were here to help us grow to the stature of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are on our knees praying for you so that you may assist us to know more about
the riches of Christ in Heaven. You are needed brother. You really have what we
need for our spiritual growth. Our congregation group here is very happy in the
Lord through your teachings from the website that I usually use to teach them
and that they desire more spiritual teachings from you please for we are called
to open our arms to the world and bring the UN churches to Christ, God is also
calling us to grow in faith and grow in numbers as we serve all of God's people
in Jesus name.
We are also dedicated in caring for the poor like the orphans and the
widows.Currently we care for 15 orphans who have no help.please pray for them as
well.Till I hear from you may peace of the Lord be with you.
Peace and blessings.
Yours Co-laborer in Christ,
Yours In His grace.
Pastor Victor
Date: Mon, Sep 03, 2012 9:51 am
Subject: Suggestions for cob-net.org
I found a broken link on your site. On this page:
http://www.cob-net.org/othr_inf.htm - the link to
the site http://www.atkinscenter.com/ is broken. I think
that site's completely offline. If you're interested in
a replacement site, you may find these sites interesting.
Mediterranean Diet that features
a meal plan on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and how
to live a Mediterranean lifestyle. And Vegan Diet that features
a nice infographic about the vegan diet and list some good
sources of nutrients like iron, calcium and proteins. Maybe your
visitors will find this stuff interesting too.
Regards,
Dr. Genovese Medical Director
Department of Cardiology University of Catania
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2011, 10:43:04 EST
Subject: Praise
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and your staff
for producing a wonderful selection of Bible Games. Some I can do
skillfully, some I'm working on, and some are a breeze.
I love them all. Thank you so much!
Janice M.
Date: Tue, Dec 21, 2010 2:47 pm
Subject: Yearbook
Hi, I'm a sociology graduate student at Baylor University
doing denominational research, and I wanted to inquire about
the availability of yearbooks for the Church of the
Brethren. Is there a way to obtain them, and if so in what
format and what years?
Thank you,
Joshua T.
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 13:18:00 +0000
Subject: Old Hymn in Hymnbook
My mother is probably going to die this week. She originally
attended the Naperville Church of the Brethren. A favorite
old hymn is "Sweet are the promises, Jesus, to me..." I can't find
the words. Can you help?
Do any members remember this? I can only sing parts and can't
seem to fit them together properly. Can someone, out of love
for a sister in the Lord, can someone track this down and type
the words out and attach it to my email? Do you have it digitally
stored that I can access the hymnal somehow?
Please help ASAP if possible. We'd love to use it for her
funeral. Thanks for whatever help. It will be a big blessing.
(name withheld)
Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 14:33:00 +0000
Subject: Baptisms
Greetings in the Lord! My name is Henrik and I'm from
Sweden. I would like very much to know if you could help
me out with answers to these questions of mine!
What exact date in 1708 did Alexander Mack and the other seven
baptise in the Eder River in Schwartenau? What precise
date month and date? Also does anyone know exactly at what
spot by the river they were baptised? close to the main
bridge in Schwartenau or around Alenxander Mack Strasse?
I would be very grateful if you could help me with this!
All the best from Sweden,
In Him!
Brother Henrik
Date: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 15:21:06 EST
Subject: Lattitude and Longitude of Dunker Church
I'm trying to locate the Antitam Battlefield Dunker Church
on Google Earth in preparation for a family trip. Can you
email me the lattitude and longitude of the Church or put
it on the web page and let me know of it? I can't recognize
the church from the Google Earth picture.
Thanks,
Douglas Albright
Date: Fri, December 14, 2007 11:31 am
Subject: A Beautiful Web Site
I am very impressed with the Church of the Brethren
Network website. Being a descendant of some of the early
Brethren in America (Peter Becker, Rudolph Harley, John
Nass, Martin Rinehart, Jacob Urner, Mathias Switzer ...),
I am finding this site a woonderful place to learn more of
the lives and times of my ancestors.
Thank You VERY MUCH
Edith Reeves
Date: Thu, March 1, 2007 8:05 pm
Subject: Delightful web site
Hi I'm Paul from Chennai in India, I'm Extermely happy to see your Site. It's
very delightful, Its our prayer and hope that God will use you abundantly for
His glory and to the extension of His kingdom.
Thanking You,
Pastor K.Paul
Date: Tue, February 7, 2006 5:01 am
Subject: help
please help
how can i get the new testenomy of the bible in audio in turkish language also
any site i can download the passion of christ film in turkish language
please help in Jesus name free
Ashraf Youssef
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 01:00:39 -0700
Subject: Why I love the COB
I must preface this by saying I am not a member of the Church of the
Brethern. However, this past summer I was on a quest to find my family
heritage. I flew from Seattle, Wa. to Phila., Pa. where we rented a car
and began the journey of finding one's roots. We found ouselves ( my
husband and I ) in Pottstown, Pa.and discovered my ancestor Martin Urner
who was the first Bishop of the COB in Coventry COB. We spent time researching
a variety of records but ultimately ended up locating his church and decided
to attend Sunday meeting there at his church. The spirit was strong in that
building, and the people were very welcoming and warm as well as helpful,
especially a wonderful lady, Mrs. Egolf. I felt very loved by the people of
this faith and will always hold a special feeling for the COB people and
their great faith.
Warm Wishes,
Pat U.
Date: Mon, April 18, 2005 2:48 pm
Subject: Thank you COB
I am falling in love with the COB denomination! I feel as though I
have been shown a glimpse of the Acts 2 church, and I am blessed. I have
been a believer and church attendee for almost 50 years (I am 53) in another
denomination, yet I feel I "have come home" in the Brethren. I thank God
for leading me to you. He does work in miraculous ways!
In His service,
Lani Gehlsen Schoepf
Subject: COB-NET
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 17:54:57 -0600
Hi Ron,
It's been a while since I've visited your cob-net site. I continue
to be amazed at the beautiful way you represent our faith and life in
Jesus and the Church of the Brethren itself. You are to be most congratulated.
Thank you for this marvelous service on the behalf of all us "Brethren"
Diane Mason
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 14:10:18 -1000
Subject: Your Spiritual Road Signs
This is not a suggestion, I just wanted to let you know how much I like
your Road Signs :-) They may be just for fun but they are so right! Thank you.
I found your site as I was doing genealogy research on my paternal grandparents
and I know they were of one of the Brethern churches in Los Angeles. You have
an excellent site and I'll be looking further, when I have more time.
Aloha from Hawaii and God bless you,
Kathy Martin-Yeager
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:13:39 EST
Subject: Thanks
Hello, My name is Matthew Forrest and I have been looking for a web site
that would help me understand the different methods of translating/transmission.
I currently own KJV, NASV, NCV, NLT, and ESV bibles of which about half are
study bibles. The knowledge expressed in your Comparing Translations
really helps me to understand why different translations read so differently.
Having read just the Introduction, I feel better prepared in my quest to
understand God's Word. May God bless you and thank you very, very much!!!
Matt F.
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 23:39:09 -0400
Subject: Antietam Account
Something about the Little Dunker Church caught my eye and I wound up
reading your Antietam history. What an excellent, scholarly written
accounting. Thank you a thousand times over for taking the time to
assemble all that.
I am going to see if my son will drive up there to visit the battlefield
site with me next week. We live in Northern Virginia, and he goes back to
West Virginia University next weekend. I was hoping for something we could
do together before he leaves for school. I think Antietam is what we'll do.
I hope to have an opportunity to sketch the church.
Thank you,
Andrea J.
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 16:11:02 -0600
Subject: Your Article
I want to tell you how much I appreciated your well written article
on Comparing Translations. I have been researching this area of Textual
Criticism for a while with a view to making a report to my Church elders and
the information contained was very useful. Your approach of balance and a
clear, unemotional search for the truth appealed to me greatly.
Thanks,
David N.
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 19:52:56 EDT
Subject: Your Puzzles
I love your puzzles! My son helps me do them. We both actually
can have fun on the same web site. Keep up the great work.
Elizabeth
San Antonio
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 23:22:47 -0400
Subject: (no subject)
I wanted to comment that I am pleased with your site and then information
it contained on historical and current events. Unlike most people I did not
come to faith through a church body but that Christ revealed himself to me
personally in a time of need. Since I knew him before knowing a church I
was always hesitant on religions that wanted to contain God and how we
should live to a few verses or at least their historical interpretations of
them. I could never look to a church for leadership only to what God has
already spoken in his word. I liked the people at the local CoB and when
they said "No Creed but Christ", I said sign me up! Through the years
there has never been a pressure to be this way or that way, only a question
of what is God laying upon our heart over this matter? What does scripture
say as to how we should live? The emphasis is never on a set of rules only
on a personal relationship with God through his Son, Jesus, the Christ.
Natalie K.
Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 09:56:24 -0700
Subject: Link for TheButterflySite.com?
We are excited to announce the opening of www.TheButterflySite.com. We are
striving to be the #1 comprehensive butterfly (and moth) information
resource for everyone - teachers, students, parents, and butterfly lovers!
Visitors can explore the exciting world of butterflies by visiting The
Butterfly Site's dozen butterfly topics, tons of butterfly links, contests,
and awards.
Please consider adding a link to http://www.TheButterflySite.com to your
Other Sites: Kids & Parents page under Butterfly & Moth. I am very impressed
with your collection of links and information!
Thanks!
Randi Jones
http://www.TheButterflySite.com
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 16:12:15 -0000
Subject: Brethren in Europe
I´m so excited that I can hardly breathe. I am searching for my ancestors
and for so long. Through Lycos I was able to find information on Brethren
and history thereof and ran across your list of members who joined the
German Baptist Brethren in Europe. There they all are! All my TRAUT
ancestors that immigrated to Germantown PA. in about 1700. I have looked
so long. It's like a dream come true!
Regards,
Heidi Reents
Frankfurt am Main
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 15:54:56 -0500
Subject: A Very Heifer Holiday
From: "Murray, Susan"
To: "mail-bag@cob-net.org"
I am writing to invite your site to post The Heifer Project
International's holiday banners on your Web site. By posting
these banners you and your site visitors will help 15,000
families become self-reliant this holiday season.
Click here to download the banners:
http://www.heifer.org/banners/
This effective organization purchases animals to help impoverished
communities become sustainable. Susan Sarandon and other
celebrities serve as spokespersons for Heifer.
Thank you in advance for your help.
A Very Heifer Holiday,
Susan Murray
Heifer Project International
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 15:08:38 -0500
Subject: James Watt
I enjoyed your Historical Notes regarding James Watt. My daughter will
be using the information for a presentation she is giving in her 5th
grade class in Grapevine, Texas. Ironically, the same James Watt is my
7th great-grandfather. It is amazing how we all get spread throughout
the world. My 23 year old son is a genius in his own right. It would be
nice if he could go to school in Scotland. Oh, well.
Thanks again,
Kim Alexander
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 16:06:46 -0400
Subject: Brethern website
Hi -
When I came across your site, I was looking for ancestors
(Swiss Brethren from Conococheague who migrated to the Shenandoah
Valley around 1758) whom I did not find there. But I did find an
extremely high quality website -- visually pleasing and packed with
information which captured my interest. As a result, I spent
probably 3/4 of an hour just simply browsing, enjoying, and
learning. So thank you for the visit, and congratulations on a job
well done.
Mary Largen
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 14:08:50 -0400
Subject: Ephrata website
I was much pleased with your Ephrata website. As a missionary
for the Seventh Day Baptists in the Nordic area and the former
Soviet Union from 1986 to 1999, I fostered the establishment of
Ephrata faith, at least to the extent of following love feasts
and trine baptism.
I would tend to agree to a great extent with your analysis of the
demise of Ephrata. I personally feel much closer to the Eckerlin
brothers, and think that Beissel's favoring of Peter Miller over
the Eckerlins planted the seed of disintegration.
Cordially,
Thomas McElwain
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 18:20:25 -0500
Subject: A Quiet Place
I am pleased and happy to see my wife's beautiful poem,
"A Quiet Place" featured on your Prayer Page. She has truly been
gifted of God to write inspirational poetry and it is a blessing
to her (and to me, her biggest fan) to see her poems still being
used after all these years. I found your website by typing in her
name, "Glenda Fulton Davis" on the AltaVista search engine. I found
a number of web sites (including yours) who are using her poetry
in various way.
Pray for us as we seek God's will in how to get her poems published.
We're considering a web page as a possibility, or perhaps a book.
Although she has had a number of poems published, she has many more
beautiful poems that have yet to be published.
God bless your important ministry!
Kayward Davis
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 01:40:34 +0100
Subject: Greetings from Poland
Dear in Christ!
Greetings from Poland in the Name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour. I
would like to have near contact with your Church. Please, send me
Information about history Church of the Brethren and newspapers.
I God bless you!
In Jesus,
Joseph Bartos
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 09:51:55 EST
Subject: Witnessing
Before I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior, I was invited by a
friend of mine to attend the Sunday morning service at the Medina Church
of the Brethren in Medina, Ohio. The pastor, Mel Menker, really made me feel
welcome. Two other members of the church made me feel very welcome. The church
as a whole was a very friendly bunch. On the following Sunday, they were again
very happy to see my son and I, that you would have thought that I promised
to buy them breakfast after the service. This really impressed me. A short
while later, I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I really could see God's
love in these people and it inspired me to treat other new members with that
same love and concern. I had been to other churches in the past and the
pastor in the Medina COB seemed to give you his full attention when you were
speaking to him. He and the other two members mentioned earlier seemed truly
concerned about my relationship with Jesus. At the greeting part of the
service, I would go around and shake each and every hand in the church. The
inspiration I had received earlier had a real impact on me. Just this past
month, we had a church growth workshop with our District reps. They had a
big piece of newsprint on a table with the timeline of our church's history. You
would put on the timeline when you had been baptized and when you joined the
church. A friend of mine who had joined the church with his family about a
year after we did, had written on the timeline that "Alan and Ray had kept
me coming back" I had not realized that I had such an impact on him. Your
story about the Clock Peddler really parallels my situation. I will continue
to show God's love in and for me to all new members because you never know
who it will touch. That was a very inspirational story. Thank you. Praise
the Lord.
Ray Cepik
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 13:15:37 +0800
Subject: Mail Bag
It is great to managed to get into your Brethren Group on the
webside. I have been looking for such a group for a very long time.
I came from the local churches (Little Flock) of Brother Watchman Nee
and we are the continuation of the Plymouth Brethren.
We are non-Conformist and also not well know even among the Brethren
and we have been persecuted & condemned as cults & heretics. I would
like you to classify us as Brethren Group because we are historical
Brethren also.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Peter Hsieh
Sabah, Malaysia.
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 09:37:51 -0500
Subject: History and Bible Studies
I am pleased to access this site that brings me in touch with the
larger Church of the Brethren sphere. I am homeschooling my 2 boys,
and will use this site to teach history and Bible. Thank you for your
help in teaching my children.
Peggy McCormick
Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 14:31:03 -0400
Subject: Your article on Anabaptists
Thank you for your article on Anabaptism in 16th Century Europe. I found
it accurate and informative. I think that an important point to make is
that Conrad Grebel was a lay person - not an ordained priest or minister.
Also, you may be interested to read interpretations of the tragedy of
Munster that differ from the usual accounts. One article is by Gunter
Vogler and is called "The Anabaptist Kingdom of Munster in the Tension
Between Anabaptism and Imperial Policy." Another is "Christianity in
One City: Anabaptist Munster, 1534-35," by James M. Stayer. Both can be
found in the book "Radical Tendencies in the Reformation: Divergent
Perspectives," Edited by Hans Hillerbrand and published by Sixteenth
Century Essays & Studies, 1987.
Peace be with you,
Rev. Dr. A.M. Forsey
Dean of Faculty Starr King School for the Ministry
Member of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA
Date sent: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 23:29:43 -0800
Subject: Great job!
I think you did a good job of allowing the individual make up his or
her own mind when it comes to what translation to use in their study!
God bless you in your ministry.
Philippians 1:6
Steve
Date sent: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 09:22:29 -0500
Subject: Thank you
My Name is Kathy Walker and for the next year I am at Osan Air Base
in South Korea. I am in the Air Force and am on a remote tour at Osan.
I grew up in Indiana and there was a member of the Cedar Creek COB in
Garrett Indiana. I miss it very much and there is nothing over here
that quite fits, if you know what I mean. I truly enjoyed your pages
and that is why I am sending you this message.
Thank you very much,
SSgt Kathy J. Walker
Date sent: Sat, 19 Sep 1998 22:57:00 -0400
Subject: Mail Bag
Firstly, wish to inform you to have no more doubts of what it is
or was that God was calling you to do for a ministry. The COB-Net
most definitely is it. Your personal profile of being a PK is right
on the mark, as I am also a PK, and have felt and thought most of
the same exact thoughts. Since God has a job for all of us, I now
have more knowledge in which to do not only one but two of the jobs
God has for me. Thanks to the information in the COB Web site, I
found answers to many questions.
I am a self-taught genealogist. I've always had questions on History,
Religion, how both subjects apply to me. One Web Site - your Web site
has given me an answer to practically every question I had, going back
to 300 A.D. The site with the links which clearly explain Luther,
Calvin, and the other religions in their historical context (without
the politics) was a huge benefit. Must confess, I was on-line and
only in your Web Site for approximately 21 hours and didn't not see
and go everywhere.
From European Origins : "Calvinists escaped persecution by migrating
throughout Europe and became known as Huguenots in France and as
Puritians in Britian." and "Count Henrich Albrecht (var. Henry Albert)
invited people to the district of Wittengenstein...'French Huguenots'."
The answer it completed for me, the LaRoux/LaRue Family from France
were in Mannhein, Germany before coming to America in the late 1600's.
All my Hunterdon County international marriages appear not to be
international at all, 95% of them were in the district of Wittengenstein
and/or comparable close to Schwarzenau, Germany before their migration to
New Jersey and West New Jersey.
Reading the Germantown, Pennsylvania information answered more questions.
The migration paths from PA to northwestern Virginia to the Carolinas
may help me help four/five other Family Researchers to find their
"alien" ancestors, which in trun will unite many more families who
followed "The Wildreness Trail" to Kentucky, Western Tenn. and Ohio
relate their families. Plus unite seven more families who ended up in
Ohio and Indiana in the 1800's. Plus another two probably associated
with the "Kanawha Trace".
May the Lord bless your Web Site, and be gracious unto me in helping to
reunited hundreds of people who may or may not be related to me here in
America, but to each other and thru information gleaned in your Web site,
but make us all related in Schwarzenau, Germany which appears to be from
whence we came.
Sincerely,
Deborah Naylor/Farhar
Date sent: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:14:24 -0400
Mail Bag: (from Improvement survey)
I am so impressed with this website! It's beautifully designed, and
thoughtfully laid out...it's a job WELL DONE!
But the main reason why I came here was for genealogy. I did a search on
Infoseek on "Krefeld" and found your website. I was so excited, as it was
the first thing I had come across that had tied in with my ancestry. My
forefather's surname (at that time) was Op-Den-Graeff, and I was told
that they were from Krefeld, boarded the Concord from London and arrived
in Philadelphia in 1683, were deeded land from William Penn, and settled
in Germantown PA. There, they used the name Updengraeff I think.
To make a long story short, my father and I are on a voyage to try and
fill in the missing pieces of our heritage. Your website was a jewel in
the vast sea of information.
Respectfully,
Liese Uptegrove-Ade'
Date sent: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 08:52:16 -0500
Mail Bag: Hello
My name is Chris Sower, and I am a decendent of the Christopher Sauer
you talk about in your Web-page. I was wondering if you have any of
his original work, and if so, if I could obtain a scanned or photocopy
of it.
I have been tracing my genealogy for a couple of years and came across
your page. I am seeking to know not only who my ancestors were, but
what kind of people they were. I am proud to say that my ancestor
played a key role in early America, and in American Religion. Any
information you can give me about him or the other Saurs would be
greatly appreciated.
Good luck in all your endeavors and God Bless.
Chris Sower
Date sent: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 22:12:22 -0500
Subject: Wow
Ron, this is an outstanding effort.
The succinct, thorough and accurate introduction is just that. An
appropriate introduction to the rest of the site which seems to be
succinct, thorough and accurate. It is very well done and is an
important ministry in the computer age.
In my mind, there was a major expansion of Christian faith after
the development of the Gutenberg press which cultivated literacy
throughout the world. The Internet and World Wide Web cultivates
an electronic literacy. Just as Gutenberg made the Bible widely
available, the Web must make the Message available. Electronic
ministry is a requirement of contemporary churches and your efforts
have made a significant contribution.
Sincerely,
Richard Voorheis
Date sent: Fri, 5 Jun 98 10:34:50 EST
Mail Bag: Thanks for your pioneering work
Thanks for your pioneering work with the cob-net.org (that
earlier had a different label). In my opinion, the change of
title is NOT a break in continuity with your personal initiative
in getting COB-NET.ORG online before it was practical to have an
official site. I hope you will continue to use COB-NET.ORG to
pave the way, providing new ideas and possibilities for the
official site. You have an unusual combination of computer
skills and ministry gifts.
Thanks again,
Dwight Beery
Professor of Physics
Manchester College
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 13:26:10 -0400
Subject: Painting of church doors red
My name is Joe Ferello. and I am a new member at the Amwell
Church of the Brethren, Sergeantsville, New Jersey.
Some of the folks here were talking about the practice of
painting church doors red or scarlet. While everyone agrees
that the color red represents Christs blood, we are not sure
we agree on why some churches have red doors and some do not.
One suggestion was that if a church was over 100 years old,
then the door could be painted red or scarlet. We would
appreciate any info on this subject or if there is any specific
Brethren policies concerning painting church doors red.
Regards,
Joe Ferello
[ Web Administrator offers this response as the most convincing ]
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 14:03:28 -0500
To: rongordon@cob-net.org
Subject: Re: Red Doors
I suppose the original red doors were those of the Israelite
slaves at the time of the exodus from Egypt. The custom is
believed to have started during the Reformation, when Protestant
churches marked themselves (or were marked by their "enemies"),
and may indeed be representative of the blood of those who died
for the cause.
Today, I believe the practice is continued more as a matter of
aesthetics than anything else, and any church, Protestant or not,
may have red doors.
Miriam L. Woolbert
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Resource Information and Networks
Date sent: Tue, 19 May 1998 07:49:08 -0500
Subject: Only
I found your message entitled "Only....With God" in the
Inspiration section of the COB Internet site. It was
particularly moving and inspiring for me. Thank you for
sharing it.
Karen Hix
Date sent: Thu, 14 May 1998 21:21:24 -0500
Subject: Just passing through
I was looking for a New Testament Greek Concordance by an
A. Schmoller published by the German Bible Society. My search
brought me to your Comparing Translations page, which I found
fascinating. So I said, Who does this thing? and I went
to cob-net.org.
What a pleasure! The whole site is very well done, and I
could spend hours here (and almost did!).
Whether or not I find the Schmoller Concordance, no matter.
This little side-trip has been valuable. I've added you
to my "favorites." Keep up the good work.
Craig Schmoller
Date sent: Mon, 11 May 1998 20:10:16 -0700
Subject: More thanks
Your halo surely must be shining brightly! Your patience with
all of us asking you to do this and that for us is very much
appreciated.
Also, I want to compliment you on the FOBG and Hist & Gen page
designs and colors. I have spent several months trying to
duplicate your beautiful parchment texture and color background.
It looks like an old book and is my favorite!
Thanks again for all your efforts.
Judy Whipple
Date sent: Thu, 7 May 1998 11:09:26 EDT
Subject: Web page
We feel you have created a masterpiece, as I guess most churches
do with their own homepage but the people of Tucson COB want to
thank you for an excellent job. God did, indeed, give you a gift
and talents to perform a wonderful ministry for His Church.
In His Great Love
Andy Branagh
Date sent: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 13:49:03 EDT
Subject: Thanks
With deep appreciation I want to thank you for your ministry
to the wider church and especially to our district through
the internet. Your work has helped to jump our communication
into the new world. Besides providing the expertise in
handling the web pages, your helpful suggestions and invitation
are a step above simply helping.
It is a pleasure to work with you!
Gene Hipskind
District Executive Minister, PSWD
Date sent: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:34:19 -0700
Subject: question-cob
I've been flipping through several organizational home pages
and have been noticing a lot of variety in how different
groups construct their web pages. Would you be willing to
answer a few questions...? I'm a student at Northwestern
University and am interested in learning more about how
religious organizations use modern communications.
Thanks,
Ronda Oosterhoff
Date sent: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 02:02:30 EDT
Subject: Houses of Worship
I was able to browse through some of your web sites and I was
definitely impressed, especially the web sites for the COB Camps.
They were beautiful! I hope to see our own churches and camps
(Mennonite Church) looking as good!
I don't think that I have seen a church as advanced
technologically as you and the COB are.
Yours in Christ,
Arnie Bean
Date sent: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 18:05:05 -0400
Subject: Church of the Brethren Web Page
Just wanted to encourage you in your online ministry. I am
a licensed minister in the Middle Creek congregation (Atl NE).
We are a free ministry congregation with six active ministers
on our ministry team. Just came across your web site for the
first time today. Absolutely SUPER!! I was most blown away by
the obvious amount of thought and care put into designing and
presenting the site. The Lord is truly working through you in
this ministry. I hope to convince our leadership team to produce
a web page through your site.
Thanks and Lord's Richest Blessings for all of your labors!!
Brian S. Black
Date sent: Sun, 05 Apr 1998 11:58:30 -0400
Subject: Like your site
I really like all of the information you have on
your web site. I like going there and learning
new things. It must have taken you a long time
to get it to where it is today. And you must
put in a lot of time for maintenance. Thanks for
all the work!
Success is a journey, not a destination!
Beth Lathe
Date sent: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 13:05:18 -0500
Subject: Grandfather was a Brethren
I found your web site interesting. My grandfather was a
Brethren minister and I still have some of his old books.
I am currently a United Methodist converted from a Southern
Baptist. I always wanted to know about my heritage, as far
as religion is concerned, and now with the web I have
unlimited resources. Thanks for the web site. Nice design.
Grace, peace and love,
Chuck Stutsman
Tiger, Georgia
Date sent: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 23:27:58 -0500
Subject: Wow! Too slick to be Brethren
My name is Brett C. I want to say good job, this is one of
the best looking web sites I have seen. I'm a budding
web master (hopefully) and it's obvious that an awful lot work
has gone into this project.
Sincerely,
Brett Clark
Date sent: Mon, 09 Mar 1998 09:50:15 -0800
Subject: Sermon Archive
Thank you for your fine work in pulling together an
archive of sermons.
I certainly would like to participate at some point, but
currently do not have secretarial time available to move
in this direction. We anticipate additional secretarial
time later this year, and perhaps--then--we can participate.
In the interim, sense appreciation for your good work and
labor of love on behalf of our denomination.
Rev. Paul Mundey
Frederick Church of the Brethren
Date sent: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 19:23:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Brethren history
Dear Ron, I appreciated very much your occasional contributions
to the Brethren Chat line (cob-l) but I was not on WWW. Recently
I subscribed to Earth Link, and one of the first sites I
visited was yours.
Sincerely,
Bill Willoughby
Date sent: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 09:58:09 -0500 (EST)
Subject: origin of theme
First, thank you for your hard work and dedication that results
in an informative and inspirational web page. I read the section
yesterday on your "calling", it is a wonderful example of how we
are all called to a special ministry, be that preparing bread for
communion, changing diapers in the nursery, directing a choir of
volunteers that may not be too gifted but have hearts of gold,
dusting the church pews. I believe it is our willingness and
obedience that God wants, not our qualifications, for He is the
one who provides the miracles we need to fulfill our "calling".
Thanks again for answering God's call and providing this
wonderful tool.
Carolyn and Greg Jones
Shippensburg COB
Date sent: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 14:56:30 -0500
Subject: church homepage
I want to thank you for this service. I think it is a
great idea for every congregation to have a web page. Ours
is so small that this is the only way we could have one. We
appreciate your willingness to help us.
Sincerely,
Jan Orndorff
Trout Run Church of the Brethren
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 07:40:55 -0500
Subject: (no subject)
I finally got around to browsing through this site. I should
have done it a long time ago, but kept putting it off like so
many other things.
W-O-W!!! Very impressive. My commendations to you. I've
enjoyed reading various sections including your personal
testimony. You definitely have been given a gift, you deserve
a lot of credit whether you feel so or not.
Keep up the good work.
Rhonda Gordon
Date sent: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 21:50:08 -0500
Subject: COB web site
I am greatly impressed with what you have done with
the COB web site. It is obvious you put a lot of time
and care into making this a superb site. What a great
resource for learning about the Church of the Brethren!
I don't have time to look at everything right now (you
just have too much to see at just one sitting!) But I
have bookmarked this site and will enjoy coming back
many times I am sure.
Beth Lathe
Waynesboro COB
great, great, great, great, great, grand-daughter
of Alexander Mack
Date sent: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 23:46:34 EST
Subject: cob webpage
We really enjoyed looking at the web page. We are going to
send the address to our friends and non-Brethren relatives,
it explains everything much better than we ever could.
Keep up the good work....thanks for doing such a great job
telling about our denomination.
Ruben and Claire Montoya
Date sent: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 23:09:23 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Faulty Link
Ron, Dare I say it, but I'm proud (yes, its true) of the site
which you maintain on behalf of CoBers. I have directed many
people to this site. Thank you for all of your creative work.
Amy Ritchie
Date sent: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 23:26:41 -0600
Subject: Re: Sermon Archive
You continue to amaze me with the artistic yet exceptionally
valuable way you manage the CoB webpage. This sermon archive
is another tasteful and powerful avenue. THANK YOU SO MUCH
for your work!!
Diane Mason
Date sent: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 21:52:25 -0500
Subject: Re: Clarification
Thank you for your reply, and reference to the site of
Which Ministry. I viewed it tonight.
Your work is truly God inspired. May the Lord bless you
in your work.
Tim Stanton
Date sent: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 20:17:53 EST
Subject: COB Website
What a wonderful and informative web site. As "new" Brethren,
this site contained a lot of interesting information. My husband
and I joined the Middlebury Church of the Brethren almost 2 years
ago and couldn't be happier with our congregation. Your web site
was a real treat to stumble upon. Keep up the good work.
Catherine Roebuck
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997 15:49:42 -0200
Subject: Hello from Brazil
Hi, my name is Divino Onaldo. I'm a member of the Church of
the Brethren in Brazil. I was baptized five years ago. In 1992
I attended the Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia. I will
be very happy to hear from you. My sincere regards.
Divino Onaldo
Date sent: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 15:58:21 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Ephrata Cloister
I was browsing the web for information about Conrad Beissel and the
Ephrata Closter. I'm a 10th grade student at ---------- High school
in Pennsylvania. I'm working on a rather extensive term paper for my
AP American History class about this sect. I was wondering if you
could send me any sources, other places to go, information, thoughts
that you have on this matter. I would greatly appriciate it!
Thank you so much for your time!
Yours,
Amy M-------
Date sent: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 23:42:54 -0500
Subject: CoB site kudos
I'm still exploring the Brethren website, and I just wanted to
write you a note thanking you again for your labor and to tell
you that I appreciate your writing--you have some very fine
turns of phrase.
Peace, brother
Matt Guynn
Date sent: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 15:51:33 -0800
Subject: comparing translations
Just found your article on comparing translations.
Appreciated the balance in tone and content. Would like
to know a bit about the author and your ministry and
background. Also would like to know if the article is
reprintable or available in print for distribution.
Thanks for the work.
Arlyn U-------
Date sent: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:00:28 +0900
Subject: German Seventh Day Baptists
I just read your webpage on the Ephrata Cloisters. You wrote
that the German Seventh Day Baptist Church survived until
1934. That date may be accurate about the church being at the
cloisters, however the denomination still survives at Snow Hill
and at Salemville in Bedford County. Dick Rice, a member of the
Salemville, PA congregation, is a county commissioner for
Bedford County.
Yours,
Bob Allen
Date sent: Sun, 03 Aug 1997 23:45:32 +0800
Subject: Greetings from Malaysia.
Greetings to you all in Jesus' precious Name. This short note
is to convey my Thanks to you for the lovely pages on the net.
I am surprised and thrilled to discovered that this movement
has its roots from Germany.
Tan Guan Choo
Date sent: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 23:48:55 -0500
Subject: Newsletter containing info on Jacob Bowman
To: BRETHREN@rootsweb.com
Thank you so much for your information. I definitely will write
and get the newsletter you refer to in your message to me.
I can't tell you how much the Brethren web site has helped in my
research. I am enjoying it greatly!
Best wishes in your search and thank you again!
Mary Ellen
Date: Fri, 23 May 97 17:04:11 -0700
Subject: Christian Ed resources
Love the site but would just offer this suggestion. How about
including some links or info of interest to kids' Sunday School
teachers. Sunday School teachers often need a boost and it would
be neat if you could even like create an area where they could
share ideas and communicate with one another...like a SS teacher
board or something.
Best wishes,
Jane Nehring
Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 12:00:31 -0400
Subject: Suggestion for web site
Thank you for the informative web site. I am a transplanted
COB member, originally from a United Methodist Church. You
could say I married into the church. My husband had attended
the church that we still attend since his birth and was
unwilling to change to my congregation. That was 13 years
ago, and I'm still learning.
Hey, great picture of you at Camp Eder. We love it there!! God
Bless you and keep up the good work!
Mary Lehman
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 23:46:28 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: THE BRETHREN HOME PAGE
Wow. Neat!
First of all, thank you for placing the COB in this technological
set up. I think you summed up our Brethren history and basic
values extremely well. However, I think there is an important
thing you left out. While you did mention peace, you did not bring
up service. Service and peace, to me, is what separates Brethren
from other faiths. Brethren do not merely accept the Bible. We
challenge it. We question it. We actively think about it. We draw
from it. We do more than just believe what it says. We try to live
what it says.
Brethren do not, for instance, accept the ten commandments and
then ignore these rules to go join the Army. Brethren do more
than smile and nod at Jesus' call for service. This, to me, is
the essence of being Brethren. That and the whole community of
Faith and Sharing thing.
Well...Thank you again. This is a nice addition to my bookmarks
and personal faith insight. I was not aware of the five sects
of Brethren.
In Christ's Love,
Matt Rittle
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 14:16:36 EST
Subject: Need author...
I am using your article from your website entitled "European
Origin: The Reformation awakens a sleeping church" for a
seminary paper. Could you please tell me who wrote this, when,
and who published it and where? I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you and God Bless.
MMB7597
(Note: authorship headings placed on each history article
because of this inquiry.)
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 09:31:11 -0800
Subject: COB Page
My compliments on an excellent Web site. It is very well done,
and I'm sure that in spite of its "unofficial" status, Church
Headquarters must recognize its value and be grateful for your
"missionary" efforts in cyberspace.
Mark R. Everhart
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 17:41:17 EST
Mail Bag: Ted Studebaker
Enjoyed reading the information you included about my brother,
Ted Studebaker on the internet. Thank you for your nice
efforts to make known his life and message as a man of God
and a man of peace.
Sincerely,
Gary Studebaker
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 12:13:01 -0500
Subject: COB History
I have been looking thru your web site and you mention both
your pietist and anabaptist roots. There is much in your site
relating to the pietist foundation, but how does that tie into
the anabaptist movement? I attend a Mennonite Church and we
share many similar doctrines and beliefs as stated (such as
pacifism, believers baptism, etc.), but historically - how has
that anabaptist link happened - where and when?
I am doing some research and would appreciate some direction in
this search. Any help you could provide would be appreciated.
In Christ,
Ron Ringenberg
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 23:02:33 -0700
Subject: Addresses for colleges on COB homepage
The home page keeps improving. I appreciate the work you are doing to
keep it growing with new ideas and links.
On the list of colleges, I think there may be a couple of addresses that
need to be corrected. McPherson College is listed as 41600 E. Euclid.
The correct address is just 1600 E. Euclid. I'm not sure about this
next comment, but I think U. of LaVerne is in the 1900 block of Third
Street--either 1930 or more likely, 1950. The 1530 address doesn't seem
like what I've seen before.
Thanks,
Lowell Flory
McPherson College
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 21:08:07 +1000 (EST)
Subject: Pacifist web site
I found your web site whilst doing a search for other Christians
who, share our Pacifist beliefs. As you are probably aware,
there are lots of pacifist sites - but they are a VERY "mixed
multitude"! And a lot of them are humanist rather than Christian.
I thought you might be interested to know that our Church has
just added a new page to our Church Web Site. It is called
"PEACEMAKERS FOR JESUS".
The URL for this new page is:-
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~houslord/peacemak.htm
Regards,
Allon Maxwell,
Melbourne, Australia.
Date: Sun, 9 Jun 1996 21:24:33 -0400
Subject: Thanks
Dear Ron:
Thank you for your assistance. I've already received two
helpful messages from Jay Weaver and Emmert Bittinger. The
friendliness and willingness to help speaks well of the spirit
fostered by the COB!
Sincerely,
Scott Culclasure
Date: Thu, 30 May 96 19:31:03 +0200
Subject: Re: Church of the Brethren
I have been reading your Webpages about the Church of the
Brethren today. Unfortunately I could not find any news
about....., who is part of the board in the Bethany Theological
Seminary. I have spent a year with the Steiner Family in Lombard,
Illinois from 1984-1985. Therefore I was happy to find any news
about the Church of the Brethren in the Internet even if my own
personal interest could not been satisfied.
I am looking forward to reading more news about the Church. In
case you will ever meet the ....., for example at the Annual
Conference, please send them my greetings. I was surprised to
read about Donald Millers resignation, I know his family rather
well.
Thank you much for the Church-News which I can now read here
in Germany.
Yours Sincerely,
Sylvia Schroeder
Karlsruhe, Germany
Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 16:21:21 -0400
Subject: Church of the Brethren
I live outside of Macon, GA and am currently an active
member of a United Methodist church. I was born, raised,
baptized, the son of a COB minister but had strayed from
the path for a number of years. Finally a couple of years
ago, I reawoke to God's activity in my life. How could I
find any COB congregations that are near me. There are
none listed in the Macon phone book.
By the way, I enjoyed your www page and will visit again.
Todd Shingleton
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 6:43 PM
Subject: Suggestions
I think it would be nice if you were to use some of the
new tag lines developed for The Church of the Brethren,
e.g. Peacefully, Simply, Together / Church of the Brethren:
Another Way of Living. I think these are great lines for an
introduction to the Church of the Brethren.
Anthony L. Fluharty
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 19:10:07 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: COB Website
I want to personally thank you for the time and effort that
you have put into making the web site not only a reality, but
also, being open to changes to perhaps make it a more universal
COB site. I am also aware that there are many new people being
added to the cob-l group, and I think that it would be helpful
to periodically, when you are giving an update on the site or
something, to include the site address. Again, thanks for the
good work!!
Blessings,
Glenn E. Bollinger
Bridgewater, Virgina
Date: Tue, 02 Apr 1996 18:42:29 0500
Subject: Good job!
Thank you so much for creating a Brethren Web site. I
graduated from Manchester College a year ago and am now
attending Boston College, working on my Master's in English
Literature. The Brethren are few in Boston so this is a great
opportunity for my husband and me to get back to our church!
Peace,
Connie Snyder Mick
DATE: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 9:50 PM
Subject: Location of Churches
I was baptized in the Church of the Brethren at the age of
thirteen in Decatur, Illinois in 1959. Since then, I've pretty
much lost touch. I've been living in Montreal, Quebec for many
years, and as far as I know there are no Brethren Churches here.
Is that right? Are there any groups active here? Are there any
Churches in northern New York or Vermont? I found the Brethren
Homepage on the Net last week, and I just thought it would be
nice to get back in communication. Maybe, if you could just
e-mail me a list of Churches and their addresses, that would
be very helpful.
Thanks a lot,
Steve Lehman
(Note: the District/Church List was created in response to this inquiry.)
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 1996 09:15:36 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Welcome to Ron: More about Websites
On 8 Mar 1996, Ronald J. Gordon wrote:
> You'll never know how many times I got up and walked
> around the room thinking to myself, "Is that Ok?", "How will
> that really be perceived?" After reading the many comments
> from the chat-line (and taking it all very well), I guess
> I found out!
Ron, great to hear from you, and I'm relieved that you took
the conversation well. Every once in a while we stumble on the
disadvantages of communicating online. Electronic lists are
great, but they'll _never_ replace having a one-on-one
conversation with live human beings, with all their nuances from
tone of voice, facial expression, and sharing a cup of coffee (or
treat of choice)... all of which are very Brethren, I think. :-)
> Thanks for your kindness, and please dream along with me on
> how this site can be improved for the good of the denomination
> without having too much of a personal stamp on it.
Will do, brother. Thanks again for your work!
Blessings,
Lee Krahenbuhl
DATE: Tue, 05 Mar 1996 7:30 AM
Subject: Brethren Web Page
Great Work, Ron! A very well-constructed and organized site.
I hope you get it listed on Yahoo and some of the other
indices or search engines soon.
Bob Dell
Interim Pastor, York, PA
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17
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