Ewart Carlson Becker passed away, at the age of 87, on Monday, September 23, 2024 in his home in Traverse City, Michigan. 

Carlson was a longtime minister in the United Brethren Church, but prior to that he served as the senior pastor for Union Church in Huntington, Indiana (1964-68). His service as a UB minister began in 1968 when he stepped into the Minister of Camping position in the Michigan conference. He served at Camp Living Waters from 1968 to 1977. While there, he was ordained as an elder in the UB church (1970). In 1977, he moved to Huntington, Indiana to serve as the Director of Stewardship for the UB national office. Then in 1989, Carlson began four years of service as the Associate Director of Missions. The next move for Carlson was back to Michigan to serve as the senior pastor of Northland Church in Traverse City. 

He and his wife, Naomi, served side by side since their wedding day in 1959. In retirement, Carlson and Naomi were compelled to serve in Macau to provide pastoral leadership to Living Stone Church and to mentor another individual to take over leadership there. In 2008, the couple returned to their home in Michigan and remained active in their local church.

A Celebration of Life service for Carlson will be held on Saturday, October 19 in Traverse City, Michigan at Bayview Wesleyan Church (720 Wayne Street). Visitation begins at 10:00 am and the service will follow at 11:00 am.

More information can be found in his obituary



Fowlerville United Brethren Church in Fowlerville, Michigan is searching for their next student ministry pastor. The job description is below.

Embark on an exciting journey as the Student Ministry Pastor at Fowlerville United Brethren Church in Fowlerville, Michigan, to provide vision and leadership for Jr. High and High School Ministries. You will lead programming, recruit leaders, and encourage discipleship within a vibrant and faith-filled community dedicated to spiritual growth and deep relationships rooted in Christian values. The ideal candidate will excel in teaching, team building, and collaboration to equip and empower students effectively while aligning with the church’s focus on ministry work.

As a staff member of Fowlerville United Brethren Church you will:

  • Demonstrate a collaborative and relationally stable presence in student ministry, fostering positive connections and spiritual growth among students.
  • Join a community that prioritizes authentic worship, discipleship, and service to others, committed to sharing the Gospel and making disciples who reflect God’s love and truth.
  • Serve as a mentor, disciple, and leader to students, guiding them in their faith journey and empowering them to live dedicated lives for Jesus.

Apply now for the chance to be part of a ministry focused on fostering spiritual growth, inclusivity, and equipping the next generation for impactful service in the Kingdom.

Mt. Zion United Brethren Church, located in Adams County in Indiana, is searching for their next lead pastor to begin serving in January 2025.  This person will be a compassionate leader who is effective in planning and leading worship services and midweek lessons. They will be responsible for visiting those who are sick or shut in and will conduct weddings, baptisms and funerals.

Mt. Zion is a church of approximately 30 members and an average worship attendance of 20 people. The traditional church services are warm and welcoming and include hymns and communion on a regular basis. With a population in Decatur County of nearly 27,000 people, there are opportunities to grow and connect with a larger community.

This lead pastor role is a part time position at Mt. Zion and the desired start date is January 1, 2025. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity further, please send a copy of your resume, a cover letter, and a recent photo to [email protected].

The Reverend Richard Frederick passed away at the age of 87 years on September 11, 2024 at Heritage Pointe in Warren, Indiana. Richard attended Huntington College from 1955 to 1959 as an undergraduate and later received his Masters of Divinity there as well. He was ordained as an elder in the United Brethren Church and served at Dillman, Mt. Zion, Grayston Avenue UB and Lancaster UB churches. In 1985, Richard joined and was ordained in the United Methodist Church and pastored three more churches until he officially retired in 2016.

Richard’s funeral service was held on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Applegate Chapel at Heritage Pointe. You can learn more about Richard, his family and his legacy of ministry in his obituary.