I have a little ritual every morning when I arrive at the church. I dump my stuff in my office, grab a coffee mug and head to the copy room. I turn on the Keurig, put my mug in place, insert a coffee pod, and press the brew button. Then, while I’m waiting for the water to warm up and the coffee to drip, I grab a broom out of my closet, unlock the office entrance door, and sweep the…
A devotional by Miki Clouser Sometimes the simplest things in life remind you of the most profound truths. That happened last week with a friend of mine. I stopped by on Sunday and found her watering her hanging ferns. Both ferns had nests with tiny baby birds in them. She took down the younger nest, and I snapped a photo of the three babies huddled together while she carefully poured water around them. Before she pulled down the second fern,…
A Midweek Devotional from Pam Benedict Towering above us, the church steeple stretched 530 feet into the sky like a sword pointing to heaven. Against the grey, cloud-filled backdrop, the gothic structure loomed large, and we craned our necks for a better view. We had traveled to Ulm in southern Germany to see the tallest church in the world. Inside, I stood in awe. Stained glass windows told stories from Scripture, glowing like jewels. Marble statues of biblical figures lined…
One of the major industries in our area of Pennsylvania is the Case-New Holland plant, right in New Holland. If you’ve ever driven by on Route 23, you know exactly what I mean—massive tractors, balers, cultivators, all brand new and gleaming like trophies, proudly parked out front for the world to see. It’s great advertising. You don’t have to be a farmer to feel awed by their sheer size. Those machines are no joke. Being the son of a farm…
A Devotional Invitation to Worship. If you have kids, I’m sure you’ve observed this phenomenon. As our kids grew up, Pam and I saw it dozens of times—though for the sake of family harmony, I’ll change the names so no one gets singled out (they know who they are). Let’s say… “Brian, time for dinner.”Suddenly he’s at the table in 10 seconds flat, waiting for the pizza to come out of the oven like a dog who’s just heard the…
Father’s Day often brings to people a flood of memories—not all of them polished or perfect. But the ones that linger in my mind, do so, because they’re wrapped in grace. For me, some of the most vivid revolve around a truck, a young man trying to find his way, and a father who modeled what love and sacrifice look like. Back in high school, right around the time I got my driver’s license, my dad bought a brand-new 1983…
Many times we have no idea of the true impact of simple words and deeds done in Jesus’ name. But sometimes—God gives us a glimpse. Back in June of 2023, Pastor Isaac and I led a team of 13 BGF students and 7 adults to Jamaica. Our mission was to partner with Jamaica Link Ministries and Redemption Chapel in advancing the gospel through both word and works. It was a wonderful trip. We visited West Haven, an orphanage for disabled…
Pam and I just got back from Germany last night. We flew from Stuttgart to Copenhagen to Newark, and after driving for over two hours in a steady downpour, we pulled into our driveway by 6:30 PM. Even though the weather was rainy and a bit chilly, it was a fantastic trip—mostly because we got to spend quality time with our son Josh and daughter-in-law Alaina. In Germany, we wandered through medieval towns, explored a huge cathedral, ate amazing food,…
It’s often been said that pastoral ministry is a lifelong journey—and if that’s true, then some parts feel like a leisurely stroll, others like a grueling cross-country marathon, and still others like wandering aimlessly through the Costco parking lot trying to find your car. My journey here at Bethany began 5 ½ years ago on January 1, 2020. I had just come off several exhausting years of solo pastoring a larger congregation in Virginia. Bethany was a breath of fresh…
Sometimes the most powerful things in life become so familiar, we forget how extraordinary they really are. Imagine trying to describe modern air travel to your great-great-grandparents. It would sound preposterous. You’d explain that in our day, people can pack a bag with everything they need, travel to a giant warehouse called an airport, and then several hundred people walk into a huge, pressurized aluminum tube—shaped vaguely like a bird. They close the door, it lifts everyone seven miles into…