Page 6 - 2024 June-July Newsletter

Page 6 Southern Pennsylvania District

HOLD IN PRAYER

Sympathy is extended to the family of Benjamin Godfrey, former Codorus COB pastor. Ben was involved
with the church since a boy. He was active with Camp ministry as well as serving his home congregation
in various ways, including serving there as pastor prior to moving to the mid-west to be with family.
Our condolences to his family.

Pastor Eric Ritenour's mother in law, Connie Barns, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Penn Run,
PA (near Indiana). Services were held at Codorus COB on May 11th. Please keep Pastor Eric and wife
Rhonda in your prayers. Our condolences to the family.

Please be in prayer for District Board member, Kim Geisewite who, again, had foot surgery on June 3,
2024. The Doctor needs to remove one of the heel anchors, which decided to move, and is causing Kim
pain. Keep Kim and the doctors caring for her in prayer.

Continue to pray for Melinda Carlson, York First COB, who recently slipped while mowing, which resulted
in injuries. She broke her shoulder and pelvic bone.

Harold Hopewell, who was a long time member of the Mid-Atlantic District, was called to his Eternal
Home in late March, 2024. For years, he participated in the "Meat Canning Project" and always picked up
the allotment of cans for 1st Church. He was the last of 1st Church's Old Guard, "The Men On The Move."
They all served 1st Church and God as long as they were physically able. They maintained the building,
supported the "Women Of Action," vacation bible school and did outreach to the Vets in the VA. Please
be in prayer for the Hopewell family.

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A memorial service for Belita Mitchell was held on Saturday, April 20 , 2024, at the Harrisburg First Church
of the Brethren. The service was also livestreamed. Sister Belita passed away on February 10, 2024. The
first African-American woman to be ordained in the Church of the Brethren, Mitchell was called as the
2007 Annual Conference Moderator. She served as pastor to Church of the Brethren congregations at Im-
perial Heights (Calif.) and Harrisburg First (Pa.). Along with her husband, Don, she was recognized in 2017
by the denomination’s Intercultural Ministries as a significant leader in efforts to make the Church of the
Brethren an intercultural church, and in 2022 she was the preacher for the final worship service at Annual
Conference in Omaha.

~Continue to uplift Pastor Bob Krouse (Hanover COB) in prayer as he continues his battle with cancer.
~Be in prayer for Pastor Mark Bowyer, Hanover COB, as he continues to go through caner treatments
for melanoma.