Steve Dennie, Communications Director

One blog I follow is by Tim Stevens, administrative pastor of Granger Community Church near South Bend, Ind. They’re doing a one-day Catalyst conference, with Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel. Stanley began the day by talking about momentum. Stevens provided some notes from that session, including this statement:

Momentum = forward motion fueled by a series of wins.

I’ve been thinking about that in two contexts:

  • the local church (including my own church, Anchor).
  • the United Brethren denomination as a whole.

Throughout my lifetime, I’ve heard people say, especially when things aren’t going well, “What we need is revival.” When things aren’t going well, the answer is the same: revival. That’s true to an extent, and it always sounds exceedingly spiritual, especially when embedded in a prayer. But what does it look like? What exactly are they praying for?

It seems like they’re too often praying for One Big Win, a giant divine intervention that will get everybody doing what they’re supposed to be doing. This does happen, but it’s elusive.

Instead of waiting for revival, what are some small wins my church can pursue? Putting several small wins together is like gradually pushing the accelerator. You build momentum.

At the denominational level, Pat Jones, as Director of Healthy Church Ministries, has been working with a few local churches at a time. He does a weekend consultation, then meets with the pastor once a month for a year. As a result, churches have turned around or been propelled forward. It’s not flashy, but it’s a series of wins.

Ron Ramsey, Bishop
I have been around people who have the gift of leadership. It is apparent. When they enter a room, they just sort of take over, even though they might not be in charge of the meeting.

What if I have been elected, appointed, or drafted into an area of leadership? Does that mean I can do it? I believe so, and here’s why.

Even though I lack the spiritual gift of leadership, I can learn to act in the ways of a leader. No, that doesn’t mean you’re being a hypocrite. After all, I can share my faith with nonbelievers without being endowed with the spiritual gift of evangelism. I can help people in need without possessing the spiritual gift of mercy.
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Ron Ramsey, Bishop
I talk about leadership frequently as I represent the United Brethren church. When I interact with other denominational leaders, we collectively acknowledge that spiritual leadership is probably our number one problem.

If you check with the local Christian bookstore, you will find numerous leadership how-to books. Go to any Barnes & Noble and look at all their titles about leadership.

I recently flew to an engagement. The free magazine in the seat-back pocket contained several ads for books, CDs, DVDs, and college courses on the subject of leadership. Often, the instructors were people I recognized as having a reputation for leadership.
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Huntington University and Ivy Tech Community College have signed an agreement that will streamline the process for students transferring from Ivy Tech’s Associate of Science in business administration program to Huntington’s Bachelor of Science in business administration program.

Students may transfer into any of the bachelor’s degree programs offered through Huntington’s EXCEL program, including business administration, accounting, human resource management and not-for-profit leadership. The agreement is in effect for courses taken beginning in the fall of 2008. More.

The online Mineral Daily News-Tribune has an article called “Operation Christmas Child Begins.” It tells about Fountain United Brethren church, pastored by Daryl Elliott, which is again serving as a collection point for Samaritan Purse’s Christmas Child program. Last year, over 8300 shoeboxes were shipped from Fountain. Sox local “relay centers” (four of them churches) feed shoeboxes to Fountain. This year’s goal is 8500 shoeboxes.

The final Mission Team Training event starts today in Lancaster, Ohio. We’ve held four of these two-day events, one each month since August 22.

Altogether, about 40 people have attended. That’s a good number of potential mission-team leaders.

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Pat Jones speaking to the attendees in Lancaster, Ohio. (enlarge)

About 20 people attended the November 12 regional meeting held at the Lancaster UB church in Lancaster, Ohio. Pat Jones, director of Healthy Church Ministries, reviewed proposals coming before the 2009 US National Conference and entertained discussion on them. Then Bishop Ron Ramsey talked about the upcoming leadership transition and his view of various aspects of the denomination.

One more regional meeting remains: Tuesday, November 18, at East Washington UB church in Ashley, Mich., from 10 a.m. to noon.

Melvena M. Hirschy, 92, the mother of Bishop Emeritus Paul Hirschy, passed away Tuesday, November 11, in Berne, Ind. She was a member of the Monroe UB church in Monroe, Ind.

Arrangements:

Visiting: 12-8 p.m. Friday, November 14, at the Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne, Ind.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Saturday, November 15 at Monroe UB church. People can come for visitation at 9 a.m.

You can contact Paul Hirschy at:

5493 North Goshen Rd
Huntington, IN 46750

Michigan people: Bishop Ron Ramsey will hold a regional meeting for you next week. This is the  last of five regional meetings. He and Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries, will talk about proposals coming before the 2009 US National Conference and about the upcoming leadership transition (neither of them will be available for the position of bishop).

This is open to any UB ministers or laypersons who wish to attend.

Date: Tuesday, November 18
Time: 10 a.m. – noon.
Location: East Washington UB church, Ashley, Mich.