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10 Feb

February 10, 2010 |
L-r: Isaac Nugent (Jamaica), Denis Casco (Mexico), and Ajiax Wo (Hong Kong).

L-r: Isaac Nugent (Jamaica), Denis Casco (Mexico), and Ajiax Wo (Hong Kong).

Some of the United Brethren churches in Mexico are in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, two cities which face each other across the Texas border. Denis Casco, Bishop of Mexico Conference, says this work is much different from the work done in central Mexico, because of the drug problems.

“In this area, 30-40 people die every day, including some people from our churches,” he told the General Conference delegates in January. “It’s a very dangerous area.”

He mentioned three difficult situations:

  1. The son of one of his pastors sits in an Indiana federal prison for distributing drugs for a Juarez organization.
  2. A 16-year-old girl from one of the churches was arrested for carrying 120 pounds of marijuana in a backpack.
  3. One of his pastors in El Paso, who often provided transportation for Denis back and forth across the border, always told US immigration officials he was a US citizen. But one day he called Denis from a Phoenix jail cell. He didn’t have legal documents, and finally got caught.

Denis says, “To protect myself, I usually take a taxi from El Paso to the border and walk across. I do the same on my way back. I want to protect my life and reputation, but I cannot abandon this area.”

08 Feb

February 8, 2010 |
J. R. and Cathy Reich

J. R. and Cathy Reich

This summer, Global Ministries will sponsor the first UB mission trip to Germany. The team leaders will be J. R. and Cathy Reich, from The Well UB church in Huntington, Ind. Cathy is administrative assistant to Bishop Phil Whipple.

The team will participate in two five-day English Camps at a school in an area south of the Black Forest. They will use conversational English to build relationships and share their faith.

Date: July 31–August 14.
Cost: $1800 per person.

While in Germany, team members will live with German families from the school where Galen and Maritta Fiedler teach. The Fiedlers are the Global Ministries missionary family with whom the team will work and who will host the team.

The $1800 cost includes airfare, in-country transportation, food, travel insurance, and ministry materials.

There are still a few positions available for this trip. If you are interested in joining this team, it is important to mail your completed application form by mid-March. You can download the application in two formats: PDF, or a fillable MS Word form.

For more information, you can contact either of these persons by email:

Cathy Reich, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Phil Whipple.
Donna Hollopeter in the Global Ministries office.

08 Feb

February 8, 2010 |
The City Soleil UB church, which was destroyed. A work crew from Canada was coming to work on the roof, but the earthquake forced the cancellation of that trip.

The City Soleil UB church, which was destroyed. A work crew from Canada was coming to work on the roof, but the earthquake forced the cancellation of that trip. The pastor is Rev. Baptistin.

Another UB church in City Soleil, this one led by Pastor Supreme. The building is believed to be unusable.

Another UB church in City Soleil, this one led by Pastor Supreme. The building is believed to be unusable.

The church yard of our newest church, in Delmas, still under construction.

The church yard of our newest church, in Delmas, still under construction.

A church in the Delmas rea. Part of this gate wall was destroyed. A large number of Haitians came here for refuge.

A church in the Delmas area. Part of this gate wall was destroyed. A large number of Haitians came here for refuge.

The Delmas church. this is the future main church and conveniton center. It was not destroyed. The team from Canada would have been working on this, too.

The Delmas church. This is the future main church and convention center. It was not destroyed. The team from Canada would have been working on this, too.

08 Feb

February 8, 2010 |
Isaac Stevenson

Isaac Stevenson

I received an email this morning from Jeannie Browning, whose husband, Fred, is pastor of the Cream Ridge United Brethren church in Lenore, Idaho. She told me about Isaac Stevenson, a six-year-old boy from their church who saw pictures of children suffering in Haiti and wanted to do something for them.

Isaac raised over $450. Jeannie asked me if Global Ministries could send the funds to Samaritan’s Purse. I assured her that 100 percent of the money would go to Samaritan’s Purse.

Here is the story, taken from a local newspaper account.

Wanting to help the children of Haiti, Isaac gave the contents of his piggy bank, which came to $4. His parents decided to help him by holding a bake sale.

Isaac went to the city park and began selling baked goods to local residents.

One man asked him how much it cost for a loaf of bread. “Two dollars,” Isaac said.

“Is your goal to make $100?” the man asked.

“Yes,” Isaac told him.

The man handed Isaac a $100 bill and said, “Your goal is met.”

But it didn’t stop there. Altogether, Isaac raised $459.36 for Haiti.

07 Feb

February 7, 2010 |
Bob Bruce shows Din Wan, a recent Burmese immgrant, how to eat an ice cream cone.

Bob Bruce, Pastor of Spiritual Care at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.), shows Din Wan, a recent Burmese immigrant, how to eat an ice cream cone.

My wife and I, along with Bob and Kathy Bruce from Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) are involved with a family of Burmese immigrants. A couple days ago, Bob and I took the five children to McDonald’s for ice cream. They had never eaten ice cream before.

To to honest, the reaction was somewhat mixed. Some thought ice cream was pretty tasty; others couldn’t figure out why anyone would eat something that cold on a winter night.

But the biggest challenge seemed to be eating it. However, not to fear, Bob Bruce (or Mr. Bob to the Burmese kids) demonstrated with fine fashion the most effective method of eating an ice cream cone.

06 Feb

February 6, 2010 |
L-r: Paul Plato (Canada), Bishop Phil Whipple, and Juan Pavon (Nicaragua) during the Tuesday night service at General Conference.

L-r: Paul Plato (Canada), Bishop Phil Whipple, and Juan Pavon (Nicaragua) during the Tuesday night service at General Conference.

Bishop Phil Whipple speaking during the General Conference business sessions.

Bishop Phil Whipple speaking during the General Conference business sessions.

I enjoyed attending General Conference in January. I thought it went very well.

Every country, regardless of size, sent two delegates to Honduras. That was a change from before, when the number of delegates was based on size. It was healthy that the United States church agreed to that change. If the United States had come with far more delegates than any other conference, it would have been hard to see each other as partners. Instead, we were just one among equals.

We shared ideas and information about what was happening in our separate countries. We all wanted to support, learn from, and cooperate with each other.

Delegates from Canada and Jamaica were interested in the materials we are developing for clusters. I told them, “If it applies to your situation, great. You know what works for your people.” It’s good when we can create a resource and share it.

The Hondurans were warm and gracious hosts. They set a high standard for a host nation, particularly with the opening service, which both wrapped up their national conference and launched the international meeting.

We didn’t talk about where to hold the next General Conference in 2013. However, I suspect it’ll be a while before we come back to the United States. The visa problems people had were all American issues. I’d like to continue going to other countries, as long as cost isn’t prohibitive. I look forward to the next meeting in three years, wherever we end up.

05 Feb

February 5, 2010 |
Lane and Shane Smith

Lane and Shane Smith

NOTE (March 29, 2010): This trip has been canceled.

Lane and Shane Smith, from Shoreline UB (Oak Harbor, Ohio), will lead a group of 8 people, from teens through age 30, on a ministry experience to Spain. The group will work with missionaries Troy and Julie Hendricks.

Dates: July 26–August 6.
Cost: $2500 per person.
Persons Needed: 8.

Trip members will be involved in a five-day English Camp built around recreational sports. This will be a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with Spanish youth while playing basketball or Frisbee golf or other special activities. The Spanish youth are interested in developing conversational English skills.

While in Spain, the team will learn about Spanish culture, the language, and learn more about the work with which Troy and Julie are involved.

Openings are still available. The $2500 cost includes air travel, in-country travel, lodging, food, travel insurance, and other miscellaneous expenses. It is important to submit completed applications by mid-March so Troy and Julie can begin preparing to host the team.

You can download the application. If you have questions, please contact either of these by email:

Shane and Lane Smith.
Donna Hollopeter at the Global Ministries office.

05 Feb

February 5, 2010 |
Ethan Conley

Ethan Conley

Ethan Conley, grandson of Chet Conley, the Impact Minister at First UB (Findlay, Ohio), almost died two weeks ago. He is still in the hospital. His father writes:

“Ethan’s biopsy has confirmed his original diagnosis of Viral Myositis with Rhabdomyolysis. Ethan’s doctor came in today and said that Ethan is the ONLY person in the WORLD to survive after reaching CPK levels of nearly 700,000. A normal CPK level in a human is 200. What a mighty God we serve!!! God is still in the miracle business!”

05 Feb

February 5, 2010 |

Last Sunday, January 31, Jeff Bleijerveld, my wife Sandy, and I drove to South Bend, Ind., to attend a Hispanic church which is interested in possibly joining us. Connections were made through the Clearview UB church, a Hispanic congregation in Goshen, Ind. The two congregations have already done a few things together.

This congregation had originally been part of the Missionary Church. It closed for a while, then reopened under the umbrella of a different group. However, that didn’t work out, and the church went independent.

They own their building on a rather large plot of land toward downtown South Bend. When we arrived, people were scattered around the pews on their knees praying. Praying out loud.

The worship service started at 10:00 and lasted two hours. People arrived throughout that two-hour window; they probably started with 30 people, and ended with around 40. There were a lot of children and young adults. They had a very passionate songleader, very engaged with what he was singing about. Other people played guitars, drums, and congas. Throughout the church people had other percussion instruments that they played as well.

The service was in Spanish, but a lady translated for us. During the singing, she would start translating the first few phrases, and then get lost in the song, singing in Spanish. She translated anything spoken. People in the congregation knew enough English that if she got stuck, they would help her.

The pastor preached on being part of the family of God and how we are adopted into the family. He used a number of scriptures. It was clearly a message he spent plenty of time putting together.

At the end of the service, the pastor asked me to give a brief testimony. Since he was a very short man, I drew the analogy with Boehm and Otterbein, two men of different stature and different backgrounds who found that they shared the same passion for Christ.

Jeff Bleijerveld also spoke. Then we went out to a restaurant with the pastor and his wife, and four ladies from the church who comprise the board. We talked about what it would mean for them to become United Brethren. I don’t know that it will happen. This was just an exploratory meeting, and there are always issues to be resolved. But they were very interested, and we enjoyed the chance to get acquainted.