March, 2008 - UBCentral

26 Mar April 12: Internet Safety Seminar at Eagle Quest UB

March 26, 2008 |0 Comments

On April 12, Eagle Quest UB Church in Columbia City, Ind., will present an Internet safety seminar called “Get Connected.” The purpose is to inform parents and youth workers about the dangers of the internet, and offer proactive ways to keep youth safe. Topics include internet bullying, on-line predators, internet pornogrphy, social networking, and security software.

Speakers include the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Patt Mossburg (Whitley County Salvation Army Director), and Eric Kelly (Youth for Christ Director of Juvenile Justice).

26 Mar Death of Betty Neeb

March 26, 2008 |0 Comments

Jay Michaud of Pleasant Valley UB (Lake Odessa, Mich.) sent this item: “It may be of interest to some in the United Brethren church, and the former Michigan Conference in particular, that Betty Neeb of Clarksville, Mich., passed away on Monday, March 24. She was the wife of the late UB minister Max Ovenshire of Michigan Conference, and she was a member of Pleasant Valley UB church. Her funeral is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, at Pleasant Valley, 9975 Thompson Rd., Lake Odessa, Mich. 48849 (corner of M-50 and Bell Road). You may want to contact the church for more details and an obituary: (616) 693-2265.”

13 Mar Purpose-Driven Workshop on April 12

March 13, 2008 |0 Comments

Pathway Community Church, a UB church in Jackson, Mich., will host a Purpose Driven-Basic Workshop on Saturday, April 12. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the workshop lasts from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The conference normally costs $199 per person, but Pathway has arranged the following special pricing:

$50 per person.
$40 per person for groups of 5-9.
$30 per person for groups of 10 or more.

Lunch is included in the cost.

Pastor Scott Hardway writes, “The workshop is being presented by Rev. Glenn Bone of Good Seed Ministries, one of the ministry partners that we support. Glenn is a fantastic presenter, a dynamic and engaging speaker. He’s been recognized nationally by Rick Warren, and works closely with Bill Hybels, Ed Young, and Mark Beeson (Granger Community Church in Granger, Ind). We’re really excited to be able to offer this one-day workshop.”

13 Mar Bible Quizzing in Pennsylvania and West Virginia

March 13, 2008 |0 Comments

L-r: The Bible quiz teams from Blue Rock UB (Waynesboro, Pa.), and Fountain UB (Keyser, W. Va.).

L-r: The Bible quiz team from Mount Pleasant UB in Chambersburg, Pa.

You don’t hear much about Bible quizzing anymore, but it’s still going on. Every year, church teams in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia compete.

Here are photos of three senior teams competing this year in the former Mid-Atlantic Conference. The team from Fountain UB won the January quiz, and Salem won in February.

13 Mar Motorcycle License Plate for Huntington University

March 13, 2008 |0 Comments

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles has released a special recognition motorcycle license plate for Huntington University. The design features the university’s athletic logo.

An authorization form is needed to purchase the plate from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.

Specialty plates are available for a number of organizations within the state, and all require some additional fees. The Huntington University plate is being offered with the minimum required $15 administrative fee assessed by the BMV. No extra fee will be collected by Huntington University.

Many people already own the license plate available for passenger cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles.

13 Mar HU Consolidates the Graduate School

March 13, 2008 |0 Comments

Huntington University‘s Graduate School will consolidate two programs into one new program. The Master of Arts programs in pastoral ministries and discipling ministries will be merged to form the new Master of Arts in ministry leadership program.

In addition, the university’s Graduate School of Christian Ministries will now be referred to as the Graduate School and will encompass the new program, the online Master of Arts program in youth ministry leadership, the new graduate counseling program, the Master of Education program, a diploma in pastoral leadership program, and continuing education courses.

Beginning in the fall of 2008, the Ministry Leadership program will prepare graduate students for healthy and balanced pastoral leadership and train them to equip, teach, mentor and lead others to grow and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Master of Arts in ministry leadership is recognized by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ as the basic standard for ordination.

13 Mar HU’s 2008 Theatre Camp

March 13, 2008 |0 Comments

This summer, the Huntington University will host its third Summer Theatre Youth Camp. From June 25-July 20, campers entering grades kindergarten through 12 in the fall will learn basic theatrical training from theatre professionals and perform a fully produced musical theatre production. This summer’s performance will be “Guys and Dolls Jr.,” and every camper will have a part.

The camp will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Huntington University Merillat Centre for the Arts with performances on July 20. Camp will not be held on July 4.

The cost is $175 per camper with a late registration fee of $25 after May 1. Space is limited to 50 campers.

In 2006, the first camp of 16 children performed “Music Man Jr.” In 2007, the camp’s enrollment for “Annie Jr.” more than doubled from the previous year.

David and Kristi Shamburger, Huntington University theatre faculty, serve as co-camp directors. The Shamburgers created and directed summer youth musical theatre camps in Georgia and have experience with the Nevada School of the Arts youth theatre programming.

David most enjoys the enthusiasm and passion of the young actors. “To them it is magic,” he said. “I always try to get my actors to return to a sense of play. The children still have that, and it’s nice to work with.”

13 Mar New Youth Pastor at Colwood

March 13, 2008 |0 Comments

David Dickson has been hired as Youth Pastor at Colwood UB (Caro, Mich.).

10 Mar In the Army of the Lord

March 10, 2008 |0 Comments

I’m just finishing the book Band of Brothers, by Stephen Ambrose, which Pat Jones told me about. It is about a group of soldiers in World War 2 who were led by Dick Winters, who was a tremendous leader. They were sent to the front lines, the first to go in, and they lost people. But they had a mission. They were a “band of brothers” because they had this mission. They weren’t a family–families don’t necessarily have a mission. But these were soldiers with a mission–to take an objective and win the war. I find that fascinating.

Isn’t that exactly what the Lord told us to do? We talk about being the family of God and get all gushy about it. But we are the army of the Lord. William Booth knew that; it’s why he called his organization the Salvation Army. If we had the same kind of desire to accomplish at all costs the mission that our leader has given us, I think our churches would look different. I would look different.

06 Mar 22 Young Jamaican Men Accept Christ

March 6, 2008 |0 Comments

The 22 young men who accepted Christ during the camp.

During the weekend of February 16-17, a camp for young men in Jamaica was held the weekend of February 16-17, with 22 young men attending. Male students from Jamaica Bible College served as mentors/counselors for the event. The speakers included Danville Colquhoun, (retired guidance counselor from the Ministry of Education), Angelo Laurence (Gleaner & PACE tv), Dr. Winston Morgan (lecturer at JBC), Darren Larmond (camp director), and Dr. Bryan Wallace (JBC lecturer).

Owen Gordon, President of Jamaica Bible College, writes:

“Sunday mid-day, was the first time we gave an invitation, and when we did, all 22 of the boys responded positively, without any coercion or long drawn-out appeal.They all wanted to embrace the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Yes, all 22 of the young men with one accord responded positively. Don’t get me wrong, because I am a little bit skeptical of mass responses. Sometimes I think that many of us are too quick to count raised hands as salvation.

“Later at the wrap-up session, we asked for those who benefited from the camp, and several said the greatest benefit was that they accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour. We then asked for those who would like others to know that they accepted the Lord and are committed to walk with him and are not afraid for others to know. We asked those persons to come for a photograph.” The photo above shows that group of new Christians.

“I came to campus this morning and I was greeting by a bunch of smiling, happy young men who are beaming with joy. They greeted me for the first time calling me Uncle Owen. The rest of the students and staff are remarking that they have noticed a change in behavior and attitude. (That is probably early, and time will tell!)

“Wow! We have a job cut out for follow up! Continue to pray for us. It’s not about church or denomination, it’s about Jesus Christ!”

He adds, “I am looking for persons who will pray personally for these young men. If you would like a name or two for your prayer group let me know and I will give you and a name and if you like a face too. Let us show the world that there is power in prayer and that Jesus does make a difference in ones life!”