Report of
Pinebrook Bible Conference
Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up
and the poor have good news preached to them.
Matthew 11:4f
While on vacation, one of my staff called to inform me that about 70 teens had gone forward during a salvation invitation. The staff member was on cloud nine. Others on cloud nine, angels, were rejoicing about those brought into the Kingdom. The next day he called to share the final results of the weekend. Apparently several more invitations were given – one for Christians who decided to put aside specific sins and bad relationships; another for those who were committing to full-time Christian service as youth or worship leaders; with a final one for those dedicating their lives to become pastors. Although numbers for all three were recorded the statistics are not important. What is important are the individuals and lives that are changed and commitments made. The blind see, the lame walk, the sick are healed.
For the past forty-one years the BFC has been the care-taker for this facility so dedicated to God and His use for the advancement of the Kingdom and the strengthening of believers. All of our programming keeps in mind our mission statement: Pinebrook Bible Conference offers real hope for the real world by committing all of its resources for the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To this end we partner with the BFC for various retreats including three weekends in January called Sno Glo and a Singles and College & Career retreat, held this year in June. Our own retreats include a Ladies Refresher, Men & Boys Advance, plus a Senior Saints Retreat. Over the course of the next year we plan to add retreats for Pastor’s Wives, Homeschoolers, older singles and Grief Share. Of course our seven weeks of Summer Bible Conference remains strong with gifted speakers and musicians. And our Friday Morning Hymn Sings, often led by Barry & Dianne Kauffman from our Lancaster Church, continue to be a huge hit with seniors.
We also have the privilege of partnering with many other Christian groups in the tri-state area (PA, NJ, NY). It was a Baptist Convention from New York state which saw all the results about which I spoke. Multiply this by 52-weeks/weekends times 41-years and the numbers are staggering, but so are the lives impacted – – all to the Glory of God.
Now into the fifth year of the present administration, Pinebrook continues to struggle with cash flow. Budgets have been slashed, including salaried positions, but heating fuel costs was a major contributor to the present challenge. Changes were immediately made including closing the indoor pool for the summer. A winterization fund was established to make necessary changes. As a result one Wood Burner was purchased and all the windows in the Dining Hall were replaced. More projects will be done as a comprehensive plan is established and money is available.
To assist with finances and meet the demand for retreats during the summer months, we’ve adjusted our Summer Bible Conference week by moving the starting day from Saturday to Sunday. Although losing a day, the summer guests will be treated to just about as much ministry and fun. After a 5 pm Sunday dinner, the evening service will begin at 6 with the concert starting at 8.
Many volunteers have assisted Pinebrook this year. From the wood-cutters from our Sinking Spring church to window installers from our Paradise church and Chris Merrick along with all the other guys he was able to bring during the year. Special thanks go to Herb Sheet Metal from our Lebanon church for suppling and installing new duct-work in Honeybrook and Overbrook. We also appreciate the youth and other groups from the BFC that make up our weekend servers – RWRs (Retreats within a Retreat). And we are grateful for the financial support and prayers that are given on our behalf by the BFC. A bequest was received this year which helped us end the year in the black.
One couple that was recognized during our Christmas Banquet with the new “All to the Glory of God” award was Russ and Nell Ruch. For forty years they and their Greenhouse, Diddens, has supplied all the summer flowers and Nell created and continues to maintain the Children’s Garden.
We continue to partner with East Stroudsburg Christian Academy who uses our facilities during the week. They also produce the lionshare of the cleaning crew for our guest and meeting rooms. Two churches call Pinebrook their home – Provision of Promise meets on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and Greater Shiloh meets Wednesday evening.
We hope that you will support Pinebrook in the following ways: (1) Prayer; (2) Help – labor, RWRs; (3) Encouragement; (4) Financial giving. Despite the downturn in the economy, BF churches increased their giving to Pinebrook this past year. Thanks!
Pinebrook Bible Conference is a place for the blind, the infirm, the sick and all those who are spiritually dead. And what a place to finally receive sight, be healed and brought back to life. We hope you will come and experience what God is doing!
Wishing you Joy in Jesus
Dan Allen
2009 – 2010 Dates of Interest (subject to change)
– Hymn Sings – April 3, May 1, June 5, Sept. 11, Oct. 9; Nov. 6, Dec. 4
– Ladies Refresh♡Her (4/24-26) Speaker: Ruth Solberg, Worship Leader: Calling Levi
– Golf Fund Raiser (5/29)
– Flower Planting Weekend (6/13)
– Father’s Day Weekend Bike Trip (6/20-21)
– Summer Staff arrives (6/21)
– 1st Conference (6/28-7/3) Speaker – Marv Rosenthal: Concert – Calling Levi; Host Pastor – Jonathan Arnold
– 2nd Conference (7/5-10) Concert & Fireworks – King’s Army; Speaker – Steve Cornell; Host Pastor – Brian Cooper
– 3rd Conference (7/12-17) Speaker – Brooke Solberg; Concert – Soul Purpose; Host Pastor – Bill Schlonecker
– 4th Conference (7/19-24) Speaker – Ron Blue; Concert – Bruce Heffner & Grace Notes; Host Pastor – Andy Crossgrove
– 5th Conference (7/26-31) Speaker – Ronald Hubbard; Concert – Mark Cable; Host Pastor – Alva Cassel
– 6th Conference (8/2-7) Speaker – Tom Taylor; Concert – Gordy & Marie; Host Pastor – Dave Schoen
– 7th Conference (8/9-14) Speaker – Eric Crichton; Concert – Don Wyrtzen; Host Pastor – Cal Reed
– Senior Saints Retreat (9/29-10/1) Speakers – Lynn Warner & Tom Taylor
– Pastor’s Wives Retreat (10/30-11/1) – Tentative
– Older Singles Retreat (12/4-6) – Tentative
– Grief Share Retreat (12/4-6) – Tentative
– Christmas Banquet (12/19) Concert – Billy Spears
– BFC SnoGlo (1st three weekends of January, 2010)
– Homeschoolers Week (2/8-12) – Tentative
– Ladies Refresh♡Her (4/23-25)
Board of Directors, Pinebrook Bible Conference, Alva C. Cassel, Chairman & President; Charles Cole, Vice Chairman & Vice President; Charles Bomgardner, Secretary; Jay Fasnacht, Treasurer; Carl Ackerman, Jonathon W. Arnold, Sr., Clyde D. Bomgardner, Jr., Brian H. Cooper, Kermit K. Gehman, LeRoy O. Herb, Gerald Schlonecker, Hans R. Waldvogel, Robert H. Zentz
Daniel P. Allen, Director