Non-Conference Breaking News:
Fire Destroys Lake Elsinore Church

At Lamb's Fellowship in Lake Elsinore, CA, two buildings nearing completion have been completely destroyed by a fire. Pastor Gary Enniss and his congregation are thankful no one was hurt, and the contractor is bonded and secured. Scheduled to open this fall, the new buildings were to occupy land miraculously provided to the Lake Elsinore congregation, where 86 decisions for Christ have been made this year alone. Enniss attributes the destruction to spiritual warfare, which is nothing new to this vibrant, multiplying Free Methodist church.

FM Chaplains Elect Officers, Share a Banquet

Chaplain Major General Gaylord Gunhus

The Free Methodist Chaplains Association elected new officers during its GC 2003 business sessions. Following its meetings, the group held a banquet and was encouraged and blessed by Chaplain Major General Gaylord Gunhus, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains (stationed in the Pentagon). Gunhus is an SPU graduate and the 2001 Alumnus of the Year. The soon-to-retire (August 1) major general recounted the miraculous unfolding of events surrounding the chaplains' offices in the Pentagon on 9-11 and since. Due to remodeling, Gunhus and his staff had been moved to a temporary location, and delays had prevented their return to their normal office space. These offices were the ones hit by the plane that crashed into the building that fateful morning. "Prior to 9-11, we had no chapel in the Pentagon," said Gunhus. "Now, our former offices are a memorial chapel.

"These are unusual times," he added. "It's not like it was before September 2001, but instead, a new openness continues — an openness in the Pentagon to spiritual things. And I'm so grateful for the open doors God has provided."

FM Chaplains Association Officers and Board members (L-R): Sam Cabrera, representative at large (Army chaplain, Fort Knox, KY); Lael Dixon, vice president (hospital chaplain, Provena United Samaritans' Medical Center, Danville, IL); David Nicholson, secretary (police chaplain and pastor, Noblesville, IN); Imo Smith, immediate past president (prison chaplain, Washington Corrections Center for Women, Gig Harbor, WA); Jim Ferguson, president (chaplain, Brenham State School, TX); Wes Dodge, representative at large (chaplain, Warm Beach Senior Community, WA) and Bob Barnard, ex-officio board member (FM chaplain endorsing agent).

The FM Chaplains Association exhibit here at General Conference provides a wealth of photos and information on the chaplains currently serving our denomination in all branches of the U.S. military, the police force, hospitals, correctional facilities, senior communities and many more venues.