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17 Feb

February 17, 2015 |

Ebola-Map-WestAfrica600

ebola-screenshot

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

January saw a significant decline in the number of new cases of Ebola being reported throughout West Africa. Nearly a year since the original outbreak in Guinea, the World Health Organization reports that some 9,252 have died of the deadly disease (as of February 10, 2015). The vast majority of these have taken place in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Sierra Leone has the highest number of reported cases, 10,987, with 3,363 deaths (about 500 less than Liberia).

Country Cases Deaths
Guinea 3,081 2,032
Liberia 8,931 3,858
Sierra Leone 10,987 3,363
Totals 22,999 9,252

On January 30 we received this report from Rev. Justin Marva, conference administrator for Sierra Leone National Conference.

“We thank God that the health situation out here has improved. Most regions except for the north and west do not have cases of Ebola for the past three weeks. However, we don’t want to be complacent, so we are still maintaining the health rules. Schools are still closed and all public gathering banned. However, there are still church services and people are now allowed to travel. We hope everything will be alright by April as we expect schools to reopen soon. We are doing fine. Keep praying for us.”

The three shipments of medical and relief supplies have all been received and are being distributed. The pallet of rice, beans, and other various food items gathered by UB churches and packed by the Cochranton United Brethren Church in Pennsylvania, is being distributed by conference leadership.

The 20-foot container gathered by numerous UB churches and others in the Eastern US also arrived and is being distributed through the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone. This same organization is also handling the distribution of the 40-foot container filled with nearly $400,000 worth of medical supplies. We did not gather those supplies, but we provided the $14,000 needed to ship the container.

16 Feb

February 16, 2015 |
Bishop John Pessima (center) and other workers with newly-arrived boxes of relief supplies.

Bishop John Pessima (center) and other workers with newly-arrived boxes of relief supplies.

Unloading supplies sent for Ebola relief.

Unloading supplies sent for Ebola relief.

Bishop John Pessima (right) and others with supplies sent to Mattru Hospital by UBs in Berlin.

UB workers with supplies sent to Mattru Hospital by UBs in Berlin.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Rev. John Pessima, bishop of Sierra Leone National Conference, reports that the distribution of items gathered by United Brethren churches in the Eastern United States has gained the attention of local and national radio, TV, and print media. With the assistance of the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone (CHASL), 50% of the items are being sent to the western region, 20% to the north, and the remaining 25% to the south. CHASL has also been instrumental in clearing the containers with port authorities, including the container that delivered the pallet of food items and the 40-foot container of medical supplies we had the privilege of underwriting.

In addition, Ebola relief supplies have come from the United Brethren church in Berlin, Germany, which consists largely of immigrants from Sierra Leone. Dr. Ladipol of the Berlin congregation has spearheaded efforts to provide for Ebola relief, including for our own Mattru Hospital.

Continue to pray for the complete eradication of Ebola. According to the Associated Press, a quarantine was imposed in a fishing district of the capital city, Freetown, after at least five new Ebola cases were confirmed there, an official said on February 14.

The report said Sierra Leone has seen nearly 11,000 confirmed, probable, and suspected Ebola cases during the worst Ebola outbreak in history. That’s the most of any country, according to the World Health Organization. Despite a drop in cases, transmission in Sierra Leone remains widespread, with 76 new cases confirmed in the previous week, according to WHO.

 

13 Feb

February 13, 2015 |

Roger and Marilyn Reeck (right) are UB endorsed missionaries in Honduras. They serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Roger has had continuing ankle problems for several years. Here is an update received on February 13.

It is wonderful and comforting to have such a great group of caring, prayerful people that we can approach at this time.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). This verse has become a reality in our lives over the last months.

Roger and I leave from Honduras for Medford, Oregon this Saturday, February 14. On Tuesday, February 17, Roger will undergo a total ankle replacement. The main requests are: good pain control, good healing (no infection), and protection from blood clots since Roger has a prior history.

The effectiveness of this operation will determine our contributions in the future. We rely on God’s promises.These are some of the things that are causing us to be hopeful and grateful:

  1. The Lord’s provision in all areas.
  2. A Christian doctor who commits everything to prayer and recognizes that he is an instrument of God.
  3. Housing in Medford: Dr. Owen, the orthopedic surgeon and his wife have graciously offered to host us in their home for the two weeks after the operation.
  4. A great place to stay during the recuperation period. After Medford, we will spend several weeks at the Wycliffe center in Tucson.

12 Feb

February 12, 2015 |
The fire-ravaged parsonage at Brooklyn Park.

The fire-ravaged parsonage at Brooklyn Park.

L-r: Lettitia Sinnah, Sundima Sinnah, and Christopher Rickman.

L-r: Lettitia Sinnah, Sundima Sinnah, and Christopher Rickman.

On Tuesday morning, February 10, tragedy struck the United Brethren pastoral family at the Brooklyn Park UB church in Baltimore, Maryland. Senior pastor Samuel Sinnah lost his wife and 17-year-old son in an early-morning fire at the parsonage. A neighbor who tried to help also perished.

Fire broke out at the parsonage around 2:40 on Tuesday morning. The parsonage is located across the street from the Brooklyn Park church.

According to local press reports, when firefighters arrived, they could see smoke and flames coming from the home. Firefighters pulled three persons from the burning house, all of whom were unconscious. They were taken to local hospitals, where all three were pronounced dead. They are:

  • Mrs. Lettitia Sinnah, 39, wife of Pastor Samuel Sinnah.
  • Sundima Sinnah, 17, a son.
  • Christopher Rickman, 45, a neighbor.

According to fire officials, Rev. and Mrs. Sinnah, along with a 20-year-old son, Joseph, made it out of the house alive. However, Lettitia re-entered the house to find Sundima, and Rickman ran in after her.

“I heard the reverend say my family’s in the house and I didn’t see Chris. He went right in there and went upstairs,” said Rose Rickman, Chris’s mother.

Rickman’s father, Jack, entered the house about 90 seconds after his son. However, partway up the stairs he had to stop and back out, because the thick smoke made it impossible for him to breathe.

Mrs. Sinnah was reportedly last seen in an upstairs bedroom. When firefighters retrieved the three persons, they were reported as being in “full cardiac arrest.

Rev. Samuel Sinnah (right) was appointed senior pastor of Brooklyn Park effective April 30, 2014. That’s when his family moved into the parsonage. He grew up in a Christian family in the Kailuhun district of Sierra Leone, and was baptized by his father. He and his wife, a teacher, were married in 1994. At some point, they emigrated from Sierra Leone to the United States.

Sundima, known as “Sunny” by his high school classmates, was described as an outgoing, “incredibly popular” boy who played the piano and organ. “Every Sunday I’d go up to him after offering and say ‘I need my hug,'” said Linda Busker, whose husband, Michael, is the associate pastor at Brooklyn Park.

Tuesday night, friends and classmates held a vigil for Sunny at the high school. “No matter what happened, he was smiling and he always made you smile if you were sad,” said one friend. “Regardless of any situation, he was always happy and he would always pray with you or pray for you if you needed it,” said another.

Fire officials initially concluded that the fire started in Joseph’s back bedroom. Linda Busker told reporters that Joseph was studying for a college course late that night when a lamp fell onto his bed, broke, and started a fire. After failing to put out the fire, Joseph called 911 and escaped the home with his parents. A total of 55 firefighters spent about an hour getting the fire under control. A fire department spokesperson said the home was damaged “significantly, if not destroyed.”

On Wednesday night, February 11, about 200 people attended a service at Brooklyn Park to remember the fire victims. Rev. Sinnah spoke about his wife and Sundima. Coworkers of Lettitia at the Glen Burnie Health and Rehabilitation Center spoke lovingly of her. High school classmates recalled Sundima with great fondness.

Bishop Phil Whipple was able to speak by phone with Rev. Sinnah on Tuesday afternoon. The bishop flew to Pennsylvania on Wednesday for previously-scheduled meetings. He plans to preach this Sunday, February 15, at Brooklyn Park and to minister as he can to Rev. Sinnah and his remaining son.

10 Feb

February 10, 2015 |

2015 US National Conference

Registration is now open for the 2015 US National Conference. You can register online, or call the National Office. Complete information can be found at UB2015.org–schedule, lodging, area attractions, tracks for children and youth, and much more.

July 15-18, 2015
Grand Rapids, Mich.

You’re invited to join hundreds of United Brethren from churches across the country for this family-oriented conference. Meet your leaders, pastors, missionaries, and other dedicated laypersons. Get a better understanding of the broader church of which you’re a part. The attendance at national conference typically runs around 900–lots and lots of people from all over.

A business meeting will be held Thursday morning. The US National Conference is our highest decision-making body. Each church can send at least 1 lay delegate, with more eligible depending on the church’s attendance. The United Brethren Discipline explains all of that. Basically, it’s one delegate for the first 150 attendance, and another delegate for each additional 100 people.

In addition, all actively-serving ordained, national conference, and specialized ministers have a vote.

Others things to know:

  • The conference will be held at ResLife Church, a very large church on the south side of Grand Rapids.
  • Nine nearby hotels have given us a special conference rate.
  • Numerous restaurants are located nearby, including one inside the church itself.
  • There’s a huge two-level mall right across the street, and a Cabelas around the corner.

Inspiring worship services. Workshops. Plenty of free time. Great music. Tracks for women, youth, and children. Worship. Learn. Laugh. Be inspired. And return home with great ideas for moving your church forward.

10 Feb

February 10, 2015 |
Alfred Smith (third from the left) with other Huntington University students in front of the Administration Building (now Becker Hall).

Alfred Smith (third from the left) with other Huntington University students in front of the Administration Building (now Becker Hall).

Randy Neuman (right), the Huntington University Archivist, provided some additional information to a previous post about Coach Dean Smith’s connection with the UB church and Huntington University. Smith, who passed away on February 7, became one of the all-time winningest college basketball coaches during his years at the University of North Carolina.

Neuman says Dean Smith’s grandfather, Rev. Harry E. Smith, pastored at Chanute, Garnett, Haven, and other locations in the old Neosho Conference (Kansas area). Smith’s father was Alfred Dillon Smith; Neuman suggests that his middle name may have been in honor of Bishop William Dillon.

Alfred Smith and his brother, Cecil, attended Central/Huntington College and graduated from the Huntington College Academy–Alfred in 1917, Cecil in 1918. In 1918, Alfred and 12 other Central/Huntington alumni joined the US Army and were stationed at Camp Selby in Mississippi. Alfred then returned to Kansas, receiving a teaching degree and coaching at the high school level.

Randy writes, “I would not be surprised if Dean actually attended UB churches as a child, since his parents lived for a while in Chanute, Kansas.”

10 Feb

February 10, 2015 |
The Brooklyn Park parsonage.

The Brooklyn Park parsonage.

parsonage600

Tragedy has befallen our pastoral family at the Brooklyn Park UB church in Baltimore, Maryland. Senior pastor Samuel Sinnah lost his wife and 17-year-old son in an early-morning fire at the parsonage. A neighbor who tried to help also perished.

Fire broke out at the parsonage around 2:40 am on Tuesday, February 10. The parsonage is located across the street from the Brooklyn Park church.

According to local press reports, when firefighters arrived, they could see smoke and flames coming from the home. Firefighters pulled three persons from the burning house, all of whom were unconscious. They were taken to local hospitals, where all three were pronounced dead. They are:

  • Mrs. Lettitia Sinnah, 39, wife of Pastor Samuel Sinnah.
  • Sundima Sinnah, 17, a son.
  • Christopher Rickman, 45, a neighbor.

Rickman’s father, Jack, entered the house about 90 seconds after his son. However, partway up the stairs he had to stop and back out, because the thick smoke made it impossible for him to breathe.

According to fire officials, Rev. and Mrs. Sinnah, along with a 20-year-old son, made it out of the house alive. However, Lettitia re-entered the house to find Sundima, and Rickman ran in after her. Mrs. Sinnah was reportedly last seen in an upstairs bedroom. When firefighters retrieved them, they were reported as being in “full cardiac arrest.”

Rev. Samuel Sinnah (right) was appointed senior pastor of Brooklyn Park effective April 30, 2014. He grew up in a Christian family in the Kailuhun district of Sierra Leone, and was baptized by his father. He and his wife, a teacher, were married in 1994. At some point, they emigrated from Sierra Leone to the United States.

Sundima, known as “Sunny” by his high school classmates, was described as an outgoing, “incredibly popular” boy who played the piano and organ. “Every Sunday I’d go up to him after offering and say ‘I need my hug,'” said Linda Busker, a member of Brooklyn Park.

Fire officials initially concluded that the fire started in the older son’s back bedroom, but were still investigating. After failing to put out the fire, he reportedly called 911 and escaped the home with his parents. A total of 55 firefighters spent about an hour getting the fire under control. A fire department spokesperson said the home was damaged “significantly, if not destroyed.”

09 Feb

February 9, 2015 |
The Chinese visitors with Brooks Fetters, HU alum and currently mayor of Huntington, Ind.

The Chinese visitors with Brooks Fetters, HU alum and currently mayor of Huntington, Ind.

A a Komet hockey game in Fort Wayne, Ind.

A a Komet hockey game in Fort Wayne, Ind.

At the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, with HU professor Luke Fetters (right).

At the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, with HU professor Luke Fetters (right).

The farewell meal at Pizza hut.

The farewell meal at Pizza hut.

On January 14, a group of students from Tong Sheng Hu Experimental School in China arrived in Chicago for the first leg of their 28-day trip to the United States.

The group was able to spend a few days in Chicago and Washington DC and day in Indianapolis, in Shipshewana, and at Lenawee Christian School in Michigan, but what was most exciting for HU was the time that this team spent on campus!

“The purpose of this trip was to connect students from one of our partner schools in China to HU and Huntington,” says Shoshannah McKinney, associate director of the Institute for TESOL Studies/International Admissions Counselor.

“All of these students are considering HU for their future, and this was a great way to expose them to the university and what their life as a student could feel like. We want them to leave feeling connected to this place and this university, to feel like they already have a family here so that they want to come back. The tears as they said goodbye to their host families tell me that we’ve accomplished some of that.”

A farewell dinner was held February 8 at Pizza Hut in Huntington. The dinner included all of the guests and host families, a teacher and her family from Huntington North High School, four HNHS students who guided the visitors around during their stay, and a few representative students, faculty, and staff from Huntington University.

09 Feb

February 9, 2015 |

The basketball world is mourning the death of legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith. There is an interesting, if somewhat obscure, United Brethren connection. UB minister Steve Barber called in with some details.

Rev. Cecil (C. R.) Smith was a former minister in Illinois; the churches he pastored included the Manlius, Coleta, and Mt. Carroll UB churches. On the side, he coached high school basketball. Dean Smith was his nephew (his brother’s son). As Steve Barber said, it’s easy to imagine that somewhere along the line, Dean Smith showed up at a United Brethren church to hear his uncle preach.

Rev. Smith had two daughters, both of whom became United Brethren missionaries. They would be first cousins to Dean Smith. Leora (Smith) Ackerman and her husband, Don, spent 11 years as missionaries in Honduras, 1947-1958. Juanita (Smith) Guenzler was a UB missionary nurse in Sierra Leone, 1950-1965. So at some family gatherings, perhaps Dean Smith received some spiritual inspiration from hearing stories about his cousins serving Christ in distant lands.

09 Feb

February 9, 2015 |

mary-ellen-caley110Mary Ellen Caley, 82, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2015. She had been in hospice care for about a week. She is the mother of two persons known by many United Brethren: Rev. J. Michael Caley, pastor of Banner of Christ UB church (Byron Center, Mich.), and Jane Seely, who works at the national office as Resource Manager. Jane interacts regularly with UB churches to process and ship Sunday school materials. Another sibling, Cindy Kreps, works at Huntington University, and youngest son Bob works for the City of Huntington.

Mrs. Caley was also known to hundreds of Huntington University students during the 1970s, when she was “Ma HUB,” the director of the Huntington Union Building. She was a member of College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind.

Funeral details:

Viewing time: 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm on Thursday, February 12.
Viewing location: Myers Funeral Home, 2901 Guilford Street, Huntington, IN 46750.
Funeral time: 11 am Friday morning, February 13. Viewing 1 hour beforehand.
Funeral location: College Park UB church, 1945 College Ave., Huntington, Ind. 46750.

Condolences can be sent to:

J. Michael Caley
1111 68th St SW
Byron Center, MI  49315

Jane Seely
2456 College Avenue
Huntington, IN 46750