Grace Brethren Church

06/02/2026

Sunday’s message “supreme Choices”, from Hebrews 11:23-29 recounts the choices Moses made that demonstrated his strong faith. He rejected the fear of man and the pleasure of sin, choosing rather to obey God’s word. Moses’s first example of faith were his parents who hid him, despite the King’s edict to kill all Hebrew baby boys, then they taught him God’s word until he was weaned. Growing up in Pharaoh’s palace Moses was a man of power, he had the highest level of education; privilege. Moses gives all that up, choosing his God over the passing pleasures of sin. Interestingly, verse 26 says he chose Christ over wealth. Moses knew something about Messiah to come. Moses obeyed God in defiance of man (he wasn’t afraid of Pharaoh), for protection from God’s judgment (observing Passover); protection from God’s enemies (Egyptian army). This took great faith to obey; trust God’s process. We too strive to faithfully; fearlessly obey God despite worldly pressure. Living by faith not by sight. Like Moses, we are far from perfect, these verses show the highlights of his faith. Reviewing the “highlight reel” of our faith gives us strength and encouragement as well.

05/18/2026

Sunday’s message, “Supreme City” from Hebrews 11:8-16 showed the steadfast faith of Abraham and Sarah. They looked forward to God’s promises even though they didn’t live to see all of them. Abraham was called away from his home to go to the Promised Land. Living in tents as nomads, they never settled permanently in that land during his lifetime. Abraham was justified by his faith in God’s promises, ultimately looking forward to the promised heavenly city where there’s not only physical rest, but spiritual rest as well. We too are traveling as aliens; nomads here on earth as we look to our future home. Sarah lived by faith as well, conceiving in her old age. As a mother, Sarah’s focus was on the people who would one day inhabit that heavenly city, her descendants. Knowing that we too are part of God’s long term plan, may we remain faithful, confident in God’s faithfulness, leaving all behind to follow Christ. God has the heavenly city prepared, our true citizenship is there; our hope needs to be set on this. Now, we live life and all its responsibilities while waiting for; setting our mind on things above.

05/14/2026

Help Chris Turner a Former SRO and Father of 3
Right now, Chris Turner and his family are living through every parent’s worst nightmare.

Chris recently learned that he has been charged with three non-violent felonies — one count of False Swearing and two counts of Obstruction of Justice — allegations involving claimed inaccuracies and lack of candor connected to his law enforcement duties. These allegations are completely unrelated to children, schools, or the countless students and families Chris worked to support and protect throughout his service. Chris vigorously denies these allegations and stands by the honesty, professionalism, and integrity he brought to his work every day.

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Chris and his family were blindsided when he learned the charges had formally been filed against him. His arraignment is currently scheduled for June 3, 2026 at the Lamoille County Courthouse.

These charges come after more than a year of emotional turmoil and uncertainty that began in April 2025, when Chris was suddenly placed on administrative leave. Since that time, the Turner family has endured an exhausting emotional roller coaster filled with fear, financial hardship, sleepless nights, anxiety, and uncertainty about their future.

In an instant, what was already an incredibly difficult season became even more devastating. The Turner family is now facing the overwhelming reality of defending against serious felony accusations while trying to hold their family together emotionally, spiritually, and financially.

That morning, Thursday, May 7 th , started like many difficult mornings the Turner family has faced over the past year — trying to stretch every dollar and simply make it through another week. Chris had only been able to afford half a tank of gas for the family vehicle when, just hours later, he received the call informing him that formal felony charges had been filed against him.

Behind the headlines and legal language is a real family that is hurting deeply.

Chris and his wife recently sat down with their three children to explain what may happen in the months ahead. Their 10-year-old daughter broke down crying at the thought that her dad could go to jail. No child should have to carry that kind of fear.

Despite the fear and uncertainty surrounding them, the Turner family continues to stand firmly in their Christian faith, trusting God to guide and sustain them through this storm.

This fundraiser has been created on Chris’s behalf to ask for help — not only financially for legal counsel and defense costs, but also for prayer, encouragement, emotional support, and strength during the darkest chapter their family has ever faced.

Chris intends to vigorously defend himself through the legal process and is asking for the opportunity to fight these allegations with experienced legal representation and the support of the community he has spent years serving.

Chris’s Story
Anyone who truly knows Chris knows his heart for helping others. In 2023, after witnessing tragedy after tragedy unfold in schools across America, Chris saw an opening for a School Resource Officer position and felt called to step away from a successful career as an IT Director to help protect the most vulnerable members of the community — children.

At great personal and family sacrifice, he attended the Vermont Police Academy, completed 17 weeks of intensive training, earned his Level III Law Enforcement Certification, and immediately dedicated himself to serving students, schools, and the community in every way possible.

From helping students through mental health crises, to supporting child victims of abuse and online exploitation, to organizing positive community events between students and law enforcement, Chris poured himself into serving others and protecting children.

In March 2025, Chris received a Life Saving Award from New England Medical Services, the community, and the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department. (https:/www.vtcng.com/news_and_citizen/news/local_news/first-responders-recognized-with-lifesaving-awards/article_5c147a7f-0867-4c8b-aed9-ba7090d878c3.html)

That same month, he also played a key role in identifying and intervening in a serious student-related concern involving local schools, helping ensure that a vulnerable youth received appropriate intervention, support, and resources during a critical time.

Today, the man who dedicated his life to protecting others is now fighting to protect his own family, freedom, and future.

Chris and his family have consulted with experienced legal counsel, and it has become clear that this will likely be a long, complex, and extremely expensive legal battle. Attorneys familiar with the case have explained that the costs associated with mounting a proper defense — including attorney fees, expert witnesses, investigations, discovery litigation, and other case-related expenses — could ultimately reach well into the six figures, with $50,000 being needed in the immediate future to begin the fight.

The immediate legal challenges alone are expected to generate substantial costs in the coming months. While the Turner family is committed to fighting these allegations and clearing Chris’s name, the financial burden of defending against felony charges is far beyond what they can manage alone.

Funds raised will go directly toward:
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• Attorney retainers and legal fees
• Expert witnesses and case preparation
• Court-related expenses
• Other Legal-defense related costs
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Every prayer, message of encouragement, share, and financial contribution — no matter the size — means more to the Turner family than words could ever fully express. In this incredibly difficult season, every single dollar truly matters and helps provide hope, support, and the ability to continue fighting for truth and justice.

Please continue praying for truth, wisdom, justice, peace, and strength for the Turner family in the difficult days ahead.

Thank you for standing beside them during this incredibly painful chapter.

As Chris’s pastor and acting proxy for this fundraiser, I am committed to ensuring all funds are managed with complete transparency, integrity, and accountability. Donations will either be sent directly to legal counsel or deposited into a separate account established exclusively for Chris Turner’s legal-defense expenses and related costs.

05/10/2026

04/20/2026

Sunday we were joined by several men from Teen Challenge who shared their testimonies.
Hebrews 10:26-31 is a tough stretch of scripture, but we must work through it. Pastor’s message “Supreme Exhortation”, shows the devastating results of not facing the truth about ourselves and rejecting Christ. This book was written to the new Hebrew Christians pondering a return to the sacrificial system, rejecting what they’d learned about the New Covenant in Jesus which is far greater. After learning about Jesus are we tempted to return to our familiar old ways? An apostate has knowledge of the truth but willfully rejects it. This is not the same as our daily struggles with temptation; sin, then confessing; returning to God. Willful rejection of the One person who provides forgiveness equals no salvation. To reject the cure is to choose the disease. This choice results in accepting judgement for our sins on our own, without the cover of Jesus’s shed blood. This is a helpless certainty and we are incapable of mounting an acceptable defense. Let’s self-evaluate to be sure we are broken by our sin, love what God loves, have changed lives displaying the fruit of the Spirit; experience increasing victory over sin.

04/13/2026

Getting back into the book of Hebrews, Pastor’s message “Supreme Encouragement” from Hebrews 10:19-25 transitions from the doctrinal section of the book to practical application, giving four actions we can take. We are encouraged to be confident, draw near to God, hold fast; love others. We can confidently approach and have access to God. He is no longer behind the “locked door” of the Temple veil. Jesus’s death tore the veil, opening a new way of living and relating to God. He calls us, in whatever state we are, to choose intimacy with Him, sharing our innermost feelings. We can hold onto what we know about Jesus, knowing He is faithful and able to keep His promises. And then, we can share our confidence with others, lovingly considering the personalities of each other as we look for ways to encourage each individual, motivating them to also be loving and godly in their thoughts and actions. We can write encouraging notes, get together over tea, pray together, find devotional partners, make opportunities for others to use their gifts; gather together to sing and worship.
Our next hymn sing is April 19, from 6-7pm.

04/06/2026

We hope you had a blessed Easter. Our service was packed with singing, puppets, a special Easter choir; and Pastor’s message, “From the Grave”, describing three responses to Jesus’s death and resurrection, the importance of which cannot be overstated. Joseph of Arimathea, an important public figure, a good man; a believer looking for Messiah, yet following Christ secretly due to persecution. At great personal risk, he asked for Jesus’s body, providing a dignified burial. The women followed and saw where Jesus had been entombed. They returned after the Sabbath with prepared spices to find Jesus gone. Amidst their anxious confusion, angels appeared and reminded them that Jesus said He’d rise from the dead. They ran to tell the Apostles. At first, they doubted this incredible news, but then ran to investigate the evidence, marveling at the empty tomb and linen shroud. The resurrection is the pivotal event in human history and the historical evidence is irrefutable. The written accounts were recorded within the lifetimes of the eyewitnesses, it could be verified. Let us be courageous and caring like Joseph. Like the women may we remember what Jesus said and act. And, like the Apostles, investigate and marvel at Jesus’s resurrection; then serve Him with confidence.

03/30/2026

The human body is a marvel, completely dependent on the blood. Within this amazing substance is a system of transportation, supply, defense and waste removal. Like millions of tiny UPS trucks and defensive tanks our red and white blood cells keep us alive. Leviticus 17:11 tells us that the life is in the blood, and sacrificed life blood makes atonement for our souls. Pastor’s message, “This is My Blood” shared three observations about Jesus’s blood: it’s illustrated in the Passover, is payment for our sin; symbolized in the New Covenant. To spare their lives at Passover, the Israelites were told to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. We have redemption by God’s grace when by faith we apply Jesus’s blood to the doorposts of our hearts. The blood of Christ cleanses us from spiritual toxins, bringing in His healing righteousness. By faith, God’s Law will now be within us; is not dependent on outside, ritualistic actions. This is the New Covenant, initiated and completed in Jesus’s blood. Celebrating Communion symbolizes and reminds us of this. He died for us, we now die to self and give our life to live for Him.

03/23/2026

Taking a break from the book of Hebrews heading towards Easter, Pastor’s message, “This is My Body”, shows four observations from scripture regarding Jesus’s body. His body was: a real human body, it illustrated the Passover, was symbolized in Communion; is the prototype for our future body. Multiple Bible verses written by close friends of Jesus describe Him coming “in the flesh”. That He was born like us, went through childhood developmental stages; was hungry, thirsty, got tired and felt the whole range of human emotions and pain. He can relate to our brokenness, His suffering on the cross was real. The blood of a Passover lamb in Exodus was a one time substitute sparing their lives. Jesus’s blood as The Passover Lamb spares us from the consequences of sin; gives eternal life if, like in Exodus, we heed God’s word and obey. The Bread of Communion symbolizes Jesus’s body, broken for us. As we take part, we identify with His death and resurrection. There is so much historical evidence and eyewitness accounts of Jesus’s resurrection. We are told that those who believe Jesus died for us, as we could never be good enough, will also one day have a resurrected body like Him.