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20 Jan

January 20, 2021 |

Rev. James C Mack, 63, passed away January 17 in Chambersburg, Pa. He was a United Brethren minister in Pennsylvania for many years, including senior pastor at Pleasant Hill UB in Greencastle 1992-2001, followed by staff roles at Ebenezer UB in Greencastle through 2014. He is survived by his wife, Faith, and three children.

Graveside services were held January 20, with Dr. Anthony Blair officiating. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, January 30, at The Life Center, 35 N. Carlisle St., Greencastle, Pa. Read the online obituary here.

13 Jan

January 13, 2021 |

Angela Vincenti

Angela Vincenti has been hired as administrative assistant in UB Global, the missions arm of the UB churches in the United States and Canada. She started on Monday, January 11.

Angela was born in Michigan, where her family became associated with the United Brethren church in Freeport, then pastored by Rev. Jerry Drummond. In 1984, when she was in second grade, the family moved to Huntington, Ind., so her parents could attend Huntington University. They soon settled into the College Park UB church. She grew up in Huntington and went on to attend Huntington University, graduating in 2000 with a degree in Cross Cultural Ministry.

At HU, Angela met her future husband, Mark. They were married in 1999. In June 2000 they moved to Chambersburg, Pa., where Mark became youth pastor at his home church, King Street UB. They served there for nearly 11 years. During that time, Angela was a children’s minister for about three years. Among other things, she started an after-school ministry which continues.

In 2011, the Vincentis returned to Huntington, where Mark joined the staff of College Park UB church. In October 2019, he left to join the staff of Emmanuel UB church in Fort Wayne.

For five years now, Angela has volunteered with International House in Fort Wayne. She mostly works with Muslim women, building relationships and helping them learn conversational English. It’s a way to put her Cross Cultural Ministry degree to work. And now, she’ll use her degree with UB Global.

Angela and Mark have four children, from kindergarten through 11th grade. With all of them now in school, it seemed like a good time for her to return to the workplace. The UB National Office is delighted to welcome Angela to the team.

12 Jan

January 12, 2021 |

Sunfield United Brethren in Christ Church in Sunfield, Mich. (25 miles west of Lansing), a congregation with a rich heritage, is looking forward to writing our next chapter of ministry. Over the past two years of working through a revitalization process, we have gained a new sense of unity of purpose in the church. Spiritual foundations and maturity are being deepened in our people. Outreach is becoming part of our DNA, resulting in new people and families becoming part of the congregation.

We are looking for a pastor who will adapt to and continue to assist us in the revitalization process. Our next pastor will have a servant-leader mentality, love and serve the church, and lead the church through biblical teaching. A strong commitment to transparency and Spirit-led ministry is essential. Demonstrated experience in helping churches move forward with biblical purpose will be a benefit. It is also expected that this individual will maintain professional ministerial credentials with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.

Sunfield Church is a congregation of approximately 115 people (pre-COVID). Since reopening, we continue to grow, although not all have yet returned. We are known as a community that is loving, caring and friendly, with strong emphasis on missions and prayer. We are also financially strong and have the facilities, property, and staff which will enable growth.

If this sounds like something for which God has been preparing you, please send a copy of your resume, a cover letter, and a current photo to bishop@ub.org.

12 Jan

January 12, 2021 |

In July 2021, delegates from United Brethren churches in the United States will gather for the biennial US National Conference. This year, we are meeting in Fort Wayne, Ind., where we previously met in 2013.

The 2021 US National Conference will hold its business meeting on Thursday, July 15, 2021. The delegates will hear reports, and will elect a bishop and four members of the Executive Leadership Team. The intent is to keep other business to a minimum this year, and save any significant business for 2023 when, hopefully, the pandemic will be behind us.

The United Brethren constituency is invited to submit proposals for consideration at the 2021 business meeting. A proposal needs to come from a group or official entity — not from an individual. Examples: a local church board, cluster group, a denominational leadership team or study committee, etc.

The Bishop’s Office and the Executive Leadership Team are responsible for processing and approving proposals for presentation to the conference.

The deadline for submitting proposals is March 1, 2021. If you would like to submit a proposal for revising the Discipline, or a proposal of some other kind, please send it to: bishop@ub.org.

12 Jan

January 12, 2021 |

These churches are currently in need of a senior pastor.

  • Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.)
  • Jerusalem Chapel (Churchville, Va.)
  • Salem UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.)
  • Corunna UB church (Corunna, Ind.).
  • First Church, Bronx (Bronx, N. Y.)
  • Mount Hope (Carson City, Mich.)

If you are interested in any of these positions, please complete a Minister’s Profile form and submit it to:

Todd Fetters, bishop
United Brethren National Office
302 Lake Street
Huntington, IN 46750

Updated January 11, 2021

24 Dec

December 24, 2020 |

“It’s Not Supposed to Be Like This!”

by Bishop Todd Fetters

It’s Christmas Eve in an unprecedented year where nothing seems certain or predictable, except uncertainty and unpredictability.

But, that’s where I think 6-4 BC and Advent 2020 intersect rather extraordinarily. Something unprecedented happened then that is still impacting the world to this very day. Remember? Luke 2:6-7 will remind you.

“While [Mary and Joseph] were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

I imagine Joseph struggled with the uncertain and unpredictable events that met him in Bethlehem. Perhaps he prayed, “Heavenly Father, seriously?! It’s not supposed to be this way. No comfortable place for my pregnant wife? No soft, sanitary place for the birth of your infant Son? A stable for shelter. A straw-filled trough for a bed. Noisy, filthy animals for nursery companions. This cannot be what you were thinking as fitting for the birth of a King.”

Yep. It was supposed to be that way. The result? The Savior of the world was born.

Undoubtedly, your Christmas Eve looks, sounds, and feels different this year. Perhaps you’re struggling with how uncertainty and unpredictability have messed with your Christmas — “It’s not supposed to be this way.” But, what if it is? What if God, through the Spirit of Jesus, is about to do something unprecedented in your life that will bring glory to Him now and familiarity to you in years to come?

Don’t waste this moment. Please! Seek the Lord afresh this Christmas and find Him anew! After all, our stability is in the stable — Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years.

23 Dec

December 23, 2020 |

Rev. Irvin T. Shultz

Rev. Irvin T. Shultz, 91, passed away December 20, 2020. He grew up in West Virginia, served as a medic in the US Army in Korea, and worked in public education before entering the ministry. He served 35 years as a pastor, including 13 years at Fountain UB (Keyser, W. Va.), five years at the UB church in Rohresville, Md., and eight years at Blue Rock UB in Waynesboro, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Janet, whom he married in 1954. There will be no public viewing or services at this time.

15 Dec

December 15, 2020 |

Frank Yang has been named Executive Director of UB Global, effective January 1, 2021. The UB Global board unanimously approved him for this position. He has been serving as Acting Director since June 1, 2020.

Frank and his family are members of Emmanuel Community UB church in Fort Wayne, Ind. He joined the UB Global staff in September 2011 as an associate director. His primary responsibilities have included supervising overseas staff, bringing new staff on board, and engaging local churches. He has also led UB short-term teams to Asia.

Frank was born in China, and came to the United States at a young age with his parents, growing up on the east coast. His undergraduate degree was in engineering from Cornell University, and he later earned a Master’s in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College. He worked in financial services in Fort Wayne, Hartford, and Philadelphia.

Frank and Virginia, who was already attending Emmanuel Community Church, met in Fort Wayne and were married in 2004. They served together for four years as missionaries in Asia. Soon after they returned in 2011, Frank was invited to join the UB Global staff.

Frank and Ginny have two young children. Virginia is an adjunct professor at Huntington University, teaching in the TESOL program.

08 Dec

December 8, 2020 |

Grace UB Church in Sherkston, Ontario.

The sanctuary of Grace UB church.

Brian Magnus, bishop of the United Brethren Church in Canada, reports that the Grace UB church in Sherkston, Ontario, burned to the ground during the night.

He said the the pastor’s family, living in the parsonage next to the church, noticed smoke coming from the church building around 3:30 in the morning. They immediately called 911. Fire trucks came from Sherkston, Port Colborne, Fort Erie, and even Niagara Falls.

Bishop Magnus said, “The front half (sanctuary, lobby and basement) are down to the basement foundation walls. The back half is also burned, and smoke- and water-filled, and will need to be torn down to the concrete slab.”

The parsonage has some smoke damage. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the fire.

Bishop Magnus writes, “Please be praying for this congregation. I guess the news spread and some of the church members and neighbors stood around watching the last couple of hours. They’re in shock and need God’s comfort.”

Grace UB has consistently been one of the largest contributors to United Brethren missions. Over the years, a number of UB missionaries have come from Grace, including Ruth Benner, Shirley Fretz, Kathy Jones, Audrey Federline, Olive Weaver, and Eula Eby, all of whom served in Sierra Leone.