Dear Friends in Faith,
     It is with sadness that we mention the passing away of John Braucht of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Irene Thompson of Landrum, South Carolina.
     As many of you are aware John had a ministry in Florida, distributing biblically related literature, including many of our own publications and those of the Concordant Publishing Concern. In his autobiography, A Lifetime Worth Remembering, he told of coming in contact with a Bible teacher (the late Julius Shaw), who introduced him to the Concordant Version and also the truth of universal reconciliation (pp.171,172). This led eventually to the literature ministry John and his wife, Lue, pursued as a labor of love for many years.
     Irene was the widow of John S. Thompson, who taught a home Bible study here in Almont in the 1960’s and ‘70’s and several others in the area of Sandusky, Michigan, where they lived at that time. Their openness to God’s Word and encouragement to others in becoming better acquainted with its contents proved to be a blessing to many.
     A new publication is an adaptation and updating of Thomas Allin’s book, Christ Triumphant, by Mark T. Chamberlain, 601 Galerita St., Oxnard CA 93030 (Phone: 805-258-3318). It has the fitting title: Every Knee Shall Bow.
     The fellowship in Richmond, Virginia was one of spiritual refreshment. The talks were thought-provoking.
     Does Universalism breed fatalism? Maybe one who is immature in the faith would deduce that since all mankind will be saved, one therefore can do whatever one wants. While this, in a sense, is correct since eonian life is a gracious gift and therefore is not earned nor lost due to success or lack of meeting requirements (no one really has complete success), nonetheless, the thought of doing whatever one wants does not square with the message of God we are believing. Was the Apostle Paul a fatalist? He could have just said to himself “The Corinthians are a sectarian bunch and are not believing correctly some very serious truths of the evangel. But, since all will be saved anyway, I guess I’ll just go do my thing and let them do theirs.” Rather, Paul was very concerned and wrote two lengthy letters to them expressing concern and correction.
     Paul states: “Faithful is the saying, and I am intending you to be insistent concerning these things, that those who have believed God may be concerned to preside for ideal acts” (Titus 3:8), and Paul reiterates this desire in 3:14 “Now let those who are ours also be learning to preside over ideal acts for necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” Paul was always concerned with the nations bringing forth fruit. May we all be given the grace to be concerned as well! It was wonderful to see the brethren presiding over ideal acts at the Virginia conference.

Upcoming Fellowship Schedule:

     The next Kitchener/Waterloo meetings are scheduled for April 9 and May 14. Contact Dan Kraemer 519-744-4844. The dates for the Willard, Ohio conference are June 10-12.

Yours in God’s grace and peace,
Tony Nungesser and Dean Hough