Posts from December, 2010
- 17 Dec
by News
No commentsFree Stuff from the National Office
We are remodeling the conference room at the national office. Right now, it’s totally gutted. The current conference room had been in place since 1987. The new one will replace well-used furnishings, enlarge the room, and provide significant upgrades in technology (such as videoconferencing). In the process, we tore out two closets, which contained audio-visual [...]
- 16 Dec
by Jeff Bleijerveld
No commentsOpen Doors in Turkey
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries Previously, I talked about the idea of starting United Brethren ministry in a Muslim country, and why Turkey would be a good place to start. Targeting a specific country is one aspect. Another is asking, “Who do we begin with? Who has some effective approaches and models?” For me [...]
- 16 Dec
by Global Ministries
No commentsPhotos from Sierra Leone Conference
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries, returned Tuesday (Dec. 14) from Sierra Leone, where he attended the annual conference. A major decision was the selection of John Pessima as the new bishop of Sierra Leone Conference. He replaces Billy Simbo, who has been serving there for three years. Jeff posted a bunch of photos from [...]
- 15 Dec
by Jeff Bleijerveld
1 commentOpen Doors, Open Churches in Turkey
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries Turkey used to be the cradle of Christianity. You would never know it now. Pressure from Muslims, from both the state and grassroots levels, forced Christians to flee. Many went to Europe. Numerous churches became mosques. However, during my trip to Turkey in early October, we visited two churches [...]
- 15 Dec
by News
No comments2010 Annual Reports Posted Online
At the end of each year, pastors are required to complete forms which tell about the church’s ministry during the past year and about their own ministry. The forms for 2010 will be mailed in January. However, right now they can be downloaded from the UB website. The reports can be downloaded as Word files [...]
- 14 Dec
by Jeff Bleijerveld
No commentsTurkey: A Good Place to Start
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries In early October, I traveled to Turkey with Kurt Uhen, a member of the Global Ministries Leadership Team who is from Emmanuel UB in Fort Wayne, Ind. We were looking at opportunities for United Brethren ministry. We have been talking for several years about ministering in the Muslim world. [...]
- 14 Dec
by News
No commentsAlvordton UB Sponsors Live Nativity
Alvordton UB (Aldvordton, Ohio) is trying something new: a live nativity. It will be held 6:30-8:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 18-19. The church is located on US 20 in Alvordton. Drivers can enter the horseshoe-shaped drive to view the Nativity, which will feature Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, shepherds with sheep, [...]
- 13 Dec
by News
1 commentDailey Family Involved in Serious Accident
Members of Park UB church (Bluffton, Ind.) held a prayer service Friday night, December 10, for the family of Ben and Jackie Daily, who are active members of the church. The Dailey family, on a trip to visit friends out west, were involved in a terrible accident when their van collided with a truck near [...]
- 13 Dec
by Jeff Bleijerveld
No commentsNotes from Cape Town: Nurturing Future Missions Leaders
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries Doug Birdsall spearheaded Cape Town 2010 as executive director of the Lausanne Committee. Doug grew up in the United Brethren church, the son of Dr. S. Roger and Mary Lou Birdsall, a long-time minister in the denomination. His brother Brian, a Global Ministries endorsed staff who heads up the [...]
- 11 Dec
by Global Ministries
2 commentsOur Mexico Churches: Living in Fear of Violence
Denis Casco, Bishop, Mexico Conference Violence, crime, poverty, and immorality, are striking the cities of Mexico without compassion. The dangers we confront go beyond what you see in Chicago gangster movies and those of robbery, death, and corruption in the old American West. Missionaries and pastors today in Mexico live with pain, frustration, and great [...]
