03 Jun Keeping Up with the Klines

David and Melissa Kline and children are currently in Ontario visiting churches and supporters. They will be speaking nearly every Sunday until the end of July. If you would like to hear their presentation on Macau, you can find them in these places:

03 Jun Looking Ahead to Helping Haiti

One of the tent cities in Port au Prince

During May I traveled to Haiti to assess the current situation with the help of our Haitian leader, Rev. Oliam Richard. Joining me were Paul Plato (Canadian UB Missions Director), Ed Sider (Director of CH Global), and a number of others.

At present, 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced by the destruction following the earthquake. The majority live in tent cities. It seems that a sea of blue Samaritan’s Purse tarps and tents cover any vacant lot or field in the greater Port Au Prince area. Lack of food, dignity, and hope are a constant problem. Children are not attending school and the jobs the parents worked at before the quake no longer exist.

Yet we found that our UB churches are bursting at the seams. Across the country there are reports of people coming to faith in Christ.

With the addition of a recent offering of $7,900 from Hong Kong Conference, our total for Haiti Relief has reached $170,000. Over half has already been distributed to Samaritan’s Purse and CH Global for immediate relief needs. With the remaining $70,000 we’ll complete construction on our Delmas Church in order to open a new school for up to 200 children.

Later in October, we’d like to send a number of work teams to rebuild two UB churches in Cite Soliel, the poorest area of Port Au Prince, where two UB churches were destroyed by the earthquake. Here again, we’d like to not only restore these places of worship, but open schools for needy children in this community.

We’re grateful for our partnership with fellow UB churches around the world and for organizations like CH Global that share our passion to bless the nation of Haiti.

02 Jun Guatemala Battered by Rain and Volcanic Ash

Reports indicate that Tropical Storm Agatha has caused 123 deaths in Guatemala, 14 in Honduras, and 9 in El Salvador. Guatemala, however, is also feeling the effects of the Pacaya Volcano eruption that began last Thursday night and continued to spew ash until Tuesday.

Here are two reports from our superintendent in Guatemala, Rev. Francisco Najera (right).

First Report

“It has been raining nearly without a break since Tuesday, May 25, causing widespread flooding in several parts of the country. However, on Thursday the 27th at 3 pm we also felt a tremor throughout most of the country which did not last long, thanks be to God, but caused a little scare. At 7:20 pm, loud thunder was heard, and since it was raining we thought everything was normal. But after  our evening service we realized that ash was falling along with the rain.

“This alarmed us all, because we were seeing something very unusual. It fell for several hours through the night due to the eruption of a volcano located between Guatemala City and Escuintla. The International Airport is closed due to the volcanic ash that is as deep as 8 cm (half inch) in some areas. The roof of my house sank in part due to the weight of water and ash, and several neighboring houses also were damaged.

“The Mount of Olives Church, which has just opened, is 18 kilometers from the volcano and lost about 40% of its roof. Although the volcano is closer to where our Escuintla churches are located, they have not reported damage. Our Central Church has no damage to its structure, but the ash has plugged downspouts and water is entering the building, as there is no place for the water to go.

“The government has declared a state of emergency in three departments of the country. About 2500 people have been evacuated. Several roads have collapsed, but the airport is scheduled to reopen on Monday. Please remember us in your prayers.”

Second Report

“Since yesterday, it has rained without even a pause for 18 hours. This has caused rivers to overflow, and roads and bridges to collapse. Five families housed in the Rock of Salvation Church have unfortunately lost their homes and all their possessions due to the rains. We thank God, they were in the church, not in their homes when they collapsed and were swept away. We have taken clothes and food to this group of 23 people, mostly children, who are hurting deeply. We are doing everything possible to feed and house them.

“Your prayer and assistance would be welcomed. The rains continue, and will continue until next week according to the news media.”

Global Ministries will pass on 100% of any donations received to assist our Guatemalan church members. Please be sure to indicate that your gift is intended for “Guatemalan Relief.”

27 May Update from the Hendricks Family in Spain

Troy Hendricks sent these items about their family and their ministry in Spain. The Hendricks are endorsed missionaries with SEND International.

• Julie Hendricks broke a bone in her knee last December and underwent surgery. New x-rays show that the fracture is fully healed. However, the pins have moved significantly and need to come out. Discomfort from the pins is increasing, and limits Julie’s walking. Surgery has been scheduled for Monday, June 7.
• An evangelistic campaign is planned for July 19 – August 1 in a public park. Initially, they were granted a permit to use the park only 2 out of the requested 14 days. However, the official in charge changed his mind and re-wrote the permit for the full two weeks. Pray that this campaign is very successful and reaches a lot of people.
• Troy’s English classes, which have met since October, are winding down for the summer.

25 May Bible Dictionaries for Central American Pastors

Juanita Chavez (right) and Pastor Isaias

From Rev. Juanita Chavez, Superintendent of Honduras Conference

I am happy to greet you and share regarding our continued visits to churches in both the cities and villages. We thank God and are excited about our Church Planting Project. Our people are answering the call and are participating in the training.

Recently we were in El Salvador to visit and gain a clearer understanding of how the work is progressing. Here is a photo of Pastor Isaias of the Caluco UB Church receiving a copy of an Illustrated Bible Dictionary provided by Global Ministries for all pastors in Honduras and El Salvador through the Arnold Bible Fund. I am very grateful, as are the other pastors who have already received their copy.

[Note: Global Ministries provided funds, through the Arnold Bible Fund, to provide illustrated Bible dictionaries for all Honduran pastors. Honduras Conference had requested this, wanting to raise the level of biblical literacy among their pastors.]

19 May Germany Mission Team Holds First Meeting

The group going to Germany at the end of July (click to enlarge).

The first UB mission trip to Germany will occur July 31–August 14. They will work with Global Ministries staff Galen and Maritta Fiedler in conducting two five-day English camps for German students (about 30 students in each).

The team members held their first meeting May 8 at Eden UB church in Mason, Mich. The members pictured above are (l-r):

• Jim and Rhea Ferrier, from Nashville, Mich. They are former United Brethren who have known Galen Fiedler for many years.
• Cheryl Lamport (Rockford, Mich.). She’s an ordained minister in the UB church who, as a Huntington University student in 1975, went on a mission trip to Brazil with team co-leader Cathy Reich.
• Elise Nye, a high school student from Monticello UB near Spencerville, Ohio. She is the daughter of senior pastor Andrew and Jennifer Atkins.
• Rachel Harper, a high school sophomore from Eden UB in Mason, Mich.
• Nichole Reaver, a high school senior from Monticello UB near Spencerville, Ohio.
• Amber Cotherman, a Huntington University TESOL (Teachers of English Speaking Other Languages) student. She is a youth worker at Bethel Assembly of God in Huntington, Ind.
• Hannah Harper, a high school senior from Eden UB in Mason, Mich.
• Cathy and JR Reich, team leaders. They are from The Well (and formerly from Good Shepherd), a UB church in Huntington, Ind.
• Inset photo: Laura Branham, from Nashville, Mich.

13 May Ministering to Migrant Children in Thailand

Rev. and Mrs. Lee with children of migrant workers in Thailand, plus their visitors from the US and China. Jeff Bleijerveld is in back, wearing a green shirt. Teacher Lee is just to the left, with his three children and wife next to him (click to enlarge).

For the Ahka People of Northern Thailand, making a living often requires a willingness to go where work can be found. In order to minister to families in these mountain villages, Rev. and Mrs. Lee have opened their home to the children of migrant workers.

Rev. Lee told us that in the first years of ministry in this region, people were quite resistant to them and the message of the gospel. Providing love and care to the children of migrant workers opened hearts. Many of the founding members of the two UB churches were migrant workers who entrusted their children to the Lees’ care.

A recent donation that came from the Center Hill UB Church in Illinois, at the time of its closing, made it possible to upgrade the bathrooms and dormitories and buy new bunk beds. When we visited recently, 26 children were living with the Lees.

13 May Among the Brethren in the Golden Triangle

Donna Hollopeter with Thai ladies in traditional garb. (Click to enlarge)

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Donna Hollopeter looked quite comfortable connecting with ladies at the Paraprai UB Church in Northern Thailand. The church was packed on Sunday morning during our visit last week, and some even wore the traditional Ahka dress for the visitors.

Hong Kong missionaries Rev. and Mrs. Lee have been reaching out to the Ahka people in the mountain villages located in the infamous “Golden Triangle.” We currently have two churches–one with a membership of 300 and another with 100 members. Rev. Lee intends to plant the next new church among ethnic Chinese in the region.

12 May Generosity from Our International Conferences

Our partner conferences continue to provide generously for the needs in Haiti and around the world. Rev. Owen Gordon, president of Jamaica Bible College, came to Indiana a few weeks ago to attend Huntington University board meetings. He delivered gifts of $872 for Haiti and $1147 for the Philippines. This is in addition to the initial gift of $6000 they provided for Haiti immediately following the earthquake in January.

Then last week, while traveling in Myanmar and Thailand with Rev. Mark Choi, director of missions for Hong Kong Conference, a gift of $7900 was delivered for Haiti Relief.

Tomorrow (May 13), I will travel to Haiti with Paul Plato, Joan Sider, and Jeff Gordon of our Canadian Conference. We will assess the needs and, along with Rev. Oliam Richard, our national leader, determine the most effective way to help our churches and their communities move forward.

Rev. Ed Sider, director of CH Global, will also be there to participate in our discussions. CH Global is our partner in matching sponsors with needy children and their families. This ministry works hand-in-hand with our local United Brethren churches and provides a long-term solution to the problem of poverty.

12 May A Visit to Myanmar

"Teddy and Helen" and family in Myanmar

During the past week, it was a privilege to visit staff in both Myanmar and Northern Thailand with Rev. Mark Choi, the Hong Kong Mission Director. My other traveling companions included Donna and Jason Hollopeter, one member of Living Water UB Church in Macau, and two United Brethren members from Hong Kong.

Although we can’t disclose the names of these family members, many of you will recognize them as overseas staff from our Hong Kong Conference serving in Yangon, Myanmar. “Teddy” serves as the director of a team of 42 workers (both nationals and foreigners), and he mentors four pastors of local churches.

They use English classes to open doors and develop relationships. Thousands of university students have been through their classes and even listen with interest to the devotional thoughts from the Bible. In fact, they currently have an English class just for Buddhist monks.