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During the past week, Facebook says, the United Brethren Facebook page gained 13 fans and had 501 visits (compared to 484 visits the previous week, and 272 the week before that). Ten more fans, and we hit 300!
Meanwhile, the Huntington University page is approaching the 3100 mark!
Jeff and April are non-traditional staff serving as our Central American Liaisons. Jeff is primarily on staff with Brown Corners UB in Clare, Mich., but in partnership with Global Ministries will spend about three months of the year working on projects, training leaders, developing micro-enterprise opportunities, and coordinating short-term trips to the region. His family plans to spend as many as two months per year on the field with him.
The whole Dice family has spent the last 8 months studying Spanish at the Spanish Language Institute in Costa Rica. On April 13, they sent this note:
Hello from Costa Rica! We are now in the home stretch, as we only have 7 days of school left. We had our oral proficiency interviews last Friday and received our marks today. April and I both tested at the level “Avanzado Medio.” April also took the Comprehensive Grammar Exam and scored an 84.
We are ready to return to Michigan and find some Spanish speakers to befriend. We have both decided to take as many CLEP tests for college credit in Spanish as we can. I may continue studying Spanish at Central Michigan University. Pray that we can find opportunities to speak Spanish in Michigan!
The “avanzado medio” translates “mid-advanced,” which is quite high for someone who has been there for less than an entire year.
For those who weren’t called into ministry immediately out of high school, transitioning to such a position later in life can be a challenge. Huntington University’s EXCEL Adult Degree Programs is helping meet that challenge with one of its newest programs–an Associate of Arts degree in Christian Ministry.
“There are more and more people called to ministry leadership roles later in life,” said Dr. Luke Fetters (right), associate professor of Ministry & Missions. “These people often find themselves in staff positions or even as pastors of local churches, and they feel inadequately prepared.”
The Associate of Arts in Christian ministry program offers the opportunity to develop and strengthen skills necessary to successfully practice ministry—-all in a convenient one-night-a-week format.
In addition to those serving in fulltime ministry, the program also is a valuable resource for those who desire to become more effective volunteers in ministry.
The EXCEL professors have expertise not only in ministry but also in adult learning. Fetters, the 2009 EXCEL Professor of the Year, has a doctorate in adult and community learning. In addition, two other professors who teach in the program–Dr. Karen Jones and Ruth Ann Price–also have experience and education in adult learning.
Students can begin classes toward the Associate of Arts in Christian ministry degree on September 8 on the university’s main campus in Huntington, Ind. Classes will run 6-10 p.m. one night per week. For more information, log on to the EXCEL website, e-mail the staff, or call (800) 600-4888.
From Greg Reed (right), senior pastor of Morning Star Church (Kokomo, Ind.)
As a way to demonstrate the free gift God gives us and to show His incredible love to others, our church gave away 7,950 FREE chicken & noodle dinners to people in our community. From 11 am-7 pm, we offered dine-in, carry-out, and delivery meals absolutely FREE to everyone! Not only did our guests enjoy a free meal, it was also an incredible experience and a true blessing for everyone who served that day.
On Easter Sunday, five persons indicated that they were placing their trust in Christ for salvation for the first time. God is so good!
The crowd at Colwood church awaits the arrival of the helicopter with Easter eggs. (click to enlarge)
The helicopter dropping eggs. (click to enlarge)
Blue-shirted Colwood volunteers.
When Colwood UB (Caro, Mich.) announced that they would host a free community Easter Egg Drop, Pastor Jon Herron was praying that 1000 people would show up. Caro is a town of 4500, so that would make a pretty good percentage.
What a surprise when 5000 people came! Cars poured in from Birch Run, Bay City, Saginaw, Bad Axe, and elsewhere.
As the crowd watched, a helicopter flew over the grounds and dropped over 10,000 plastic eggs onto the field. Each egg contained such items as candy, toys, and free iPod certificates.
Pastor Jon Herron with wife and son.
The egg drop was designed for kids age 12 and under. Local fire trucks, EMTs, and sheriff’s deputies were on hand, and kids could also enjoy inflatable games.
Pastor Herron wrote on his blog, “God multiplied our hopes and dreams by five. I can imagine the Father hearing our prayers and saying, ‘Hey, Jesus and Holy Spirit, circle around and watch Me do this!'”
A group of 135 volunteers helped make it a big success. Pastor Herron writes, “It was awesome walking around Saturday morning with nothing to be in charge of. Our staff and volunteers had everything mapped out–my role was simply to cheerlead!”
Unfortunately, there weren’t enough eggs. They prepared 10,000, but that was in anticipation of 1000 participants. Many kids didn’t get any (including the pastor’s own three-year-old). So for next year, Pastor Herron says, they’re looking at 100,000 eggs, bigger fields, and multiple drop times with different age groups to make sure nobody goes home empty-handed.
On Sunday morning, 850 people attended the multiple worship services. And 19 persons stood from their seats and prayed to receive Christ!
From Jean Bell, UB Endorsed missionary in Brazil
Because none of the churches in our small Brazilian community hold an Easter Sunrise service, we missionaries meet together to worship and celebrate Christ’s resurrection. But this year’s service was not quite the normal service.
The setting was near the baseball diamond of our school for missionary children. We sat about 25 feet from home plate. To our left grows an enormous rubber tree along with two gigantic mango trees, and to our right the school’s playing field, just in front of the elementary wing of the school.
After our favorite Easter songs in English and praying in English–oh, what a treat!–a colleague began his Easter meditation. Hardly had he begun when in our our peripheral vision we perceived movement in the air: a toucan. Not more than a few minutes later, a second toucan soared by and landed in the nearby rubber tree. Then, yes, 3 more that joined the others. They were very quiet for toucans, not squawking or making their deep clicking noises.
A former student leaned near my ear to whisper, “They’re Christian birds.”
“Congregating, right?” I returned.
Within minutes of the rising sun, swarms of small, raucous parakeets and parrots dipped and circled overhead. I whispered to Wes, “All we need now are the ibises and blue-gold macaws.”
Within minutes the ibises honked and hooted overhead, but the macaws never joined our worship service.
Needless to say, we missionaries and our families had our powers of concentration tested at the Easter Sunrise Service.
From Gary Gates (right), senior pastor of South Scipio UB church (Harlan, Ind.)
Several of our congregation participated in community Lenten luncheons, cooperating with area churches. Each church supplied one of the weekly meals, and their respective pastors provided a Lenten devotional.
Our Palm Sunday began with a 9:00 carry-in brunch. Special music and readings, a children’s sermon, a short meditation, and communion service followed during the worship hour.
A Good Friday service was hosted by the Harlan Christian Youth Center, an offshoot of our congregation.
Easter Celebration included a welcoming poem read by a young lady, two songs by a women’s ensemble, a solo, video song (“He’s Alive”), responsive reading, and a message. Many guests and irregular attenders joined our celebration of the Lord’s resurrection.
From Francis George, layperson from the Wellington UB church in Freetown, Sierra Leone
We started celebrating Easter by organizing a passion week service which lasted four days.
On Palm Sunday, the young adult group, which consists of about 24 persons, presented their program which they called “Africana Sunday.” They gave prizes to the best Africana dress, both to men and women.
To raise fun, a competition was organized. We divided everyone into two groups, and each group selected a candidate to be the Africana Star. One group chose sister Mariatu Lengor, and the other group chose Brother Francis Alie Simbo. Brother Simbo finally won the competition as Africana Star.
The young adults decided to give 60% of the funds raised to the church (since the church is under construction) and 40% to the group.
For Easter Sunday, the men and women competed to raise the highest offering for that day. It is rather unfortunate that the women defeated the men.
A large piece of artwork displayed during the Easter service at Shoreline Church.
From Steve Fish, senior pastor of Shoreline Church (Oak Harbor, Ohio)
We chose to do a contemporary observance of Lent this year. We started on Ash Wednesday by burning in a small bowl slips of paper with confessed sins written on them (it was quite a fire.)
We encouraged Shoreline families to add family mealtime devotions into their lives for Lent (instead of giving something up.)
We celebrated the Passion week with a Seder meal and Good Friday services.
For six weeks we added something into each worship service–special music, worship dance, drama, and chalk art. On Easter Sunday we brought all these pieces back together as a response to the message that God’s strong arm (Isaiah 53:1) has brought from death to life those who seek the hidden treasure of God’s kingdom (Matt 13:44-46).
We were up 30 from 2009 Easter attendance. We continue to seek ways to reach people along the 107 miles of Shoreline in Ottawa County, Ohio. Thankful to God for His goodness to us!
Pastor Barry Skinner and boys
Kevin Bergdall, a layperson at Kilburn Avenue, at the Easter pancake breakfast.
From Barry Skinner, senior pastor of Kilburn Avenue UB (Rockford, Ill.)
On Sunday evening, April 4, about 12 of us held an Easter chapel service at the Rockford Rescue Mission. On Saturday, in preparation for the service, we had made 180 sack/dinners and Arby’s provided us with 180 roast beef sandwiches and condiments (which were picked up Sunday evening so they would be fresh).
The theme was the victory we have in Christ Jesus because of what He accomplished on the cross. Several people responded for prayer in their lives. One fellow in particular broke down in tears as I prayed for him; the Holy Spirit was indeed present when I prayed with him.
We also walked the community inviting folks to our pancake breakfast on Easter Sunday morning. Preparation for that was also done Saturday morning.
On Easter Sunday we celebrated the risen Christ and had special music from guests Charles and Linda Nealy (who also went to the Rescue Mission with us that night). We also had our communion service and six other people came who do not normally attend. Two young boys from the community came and bonded with my grandson who is their age, and they stayed for most of our service.
