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17 Feb

February 17, 2014 |

Kyle McQuillen served as director of Global Ministries 1993-2001. He then semi-retired with his wife, Marlouise, in Florida. Two years ago, Kyle was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. On February 13, he gave an update on Facebook.

Kyle writes:

I am presently in the Oncology outpatient department of the Bert Fish hospital in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., getting my monthly post-cancer infusion treatment. It has been two years since I was diagnosed with stage four Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I thought this would be a good time for an update while I wait for this five-hour procedure to complete.

My cancer went into remission in April 2012, but I went through a very trying time for the next six months since the chemo nearly destroyed my immune system. I did begin to recover in August 2012, and have been gaining strength ever since. While I am still taking these monthly post-cancer treatments (Retuxin and IVIG), I am working all the time.

I work a day or two a week at our local church (visitation and pastoral care), but my main work is at the Tomoka Correctional Institution (State Prison) where I work for the Florida Department of Corrections overseeing a reentry program for 292 inmates. I work 55 hours a week at the prison and LOVE my work among so many inmates on whom others have given up hope.

Thank you for your prayers and concerns over these past two years! I am so grateful that the Lord has given me this “extra” time to invest my remaining years in the lives of those men who have taught me so much about what it means to really trust the Lord in difficult times.

13 Feb

February 13, 2014 |
L-r (top): Gary Hitz, Kim Fish, Jason Haupert, Jeff Propps, Ted Rankin. Bottom: Adam Will, Stephanie Farman, Andy Sikorra, Michelle Blocher, Steve Henry.

L-r (top): Gary Hitz, Kim Fish, Jason Haupert, Jeff Propps, Ted Rankin. Bottom: Adam Will, Stephanie Farman, Andy Sikorra, Michelle Blocher, Steve Henry.

The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team has approved these licenses and ordinations.

Provisional Ministerial License

  • Gary Hitz, from Strinestown UB church (Manchester, Pa.).
  • Matt Graham, current an intern at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Kim Fish, Women’s Ministries Director at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Jason Haupert, from New Hope Church (Huntington, Ind.).
  • Jeff Propps, from Franklintown UB church (Franklintown, Pa.).
  • Ted Rankin, youth pastor at Atlantic Avenue UB church (Franklin, Pa.).
  • Adam Will, associate pastor of Mt. Hermon UB church (Pomeroy, Ohio).

Specialized Ministry License

  • Stephanie Farman, Children’s Coordinator at Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.).

Ordinations Approved
Ordinations for these persons will be conducted by Bishop Phil Whipple at a later date.

  • Andy Sikorra, senior pastor of Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio).
  • Eric Self, senior pastor of Mount Zion UB church (Junction City, Ohio).
  • Michelle Blocher, Pastor of Early Childhood Ministries at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Randy Marketich, senior pastor of Barton Road UB church (Meadville, Pa.).
  • Steve Henry, senior pastor of Victory Heights UB Church (Franklin, Pa.).

11 Feb

February 11, 2014 |
Dave (left) and Scott Stephens.

Dave (left) and Scott Stephens.

Dave Stephens served 25.5 years as director of Camp Cotubic in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Dave, an ordained United Brethren minister and former UB pastor, stepped down in January 2014. Taking his place is son Scott Stephens, who has served the camp many years as Program Director.

This United Brethren camp began in the 1970s when several conferences merged in the new Central Conference and decided to build a brand new camp for their constituents in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. A contest was held to name the camp. “Cotubic” uses the first letter of each word in “Church of the United Brethren in Christ.”

Camp Cotubic, along with the other United Brethren camps (and with our blessing), went independent in 2005 when the conferences were disbanded.

11 Feb

February 11, 2014 |

Seven Huntington University students set a new Guinness World Record for consecutive games of Four Square. They played for 31 consecutive hours, beating the five-year-old record of 29 hours set by a team of Argentinian students.

The seven young men from Baker Hall played nearly 10,000 rounds of Four Square on January 24-25, using the Baker/Roush lounge. Witnesses–two persons for each four-hour shift–observed every minute of playtime (with periodic 10-minute breaks). Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University, and other HU administrators served as witnesses.

All 31 hours were filmed. The footage and witness statements will be sent to Guiness, which will need to verify the record.

Four Square is quite the rage in Baker Hall. Residents of the second floor try to play on their duct-taped course every night before supper.

11 Feb

February 11, 2014 |

fetters_toddTodd Fetters (right), Director of National Ministries

As a pastor, I regularly informed my congregations of my prayer concerns by using a variety of lists. Eventually, I found a resource by Jim Nicodem, in his book, “Prayer Coach,” that became my favorite. His list accurately reflected the true desire of my heart as a spiritual leader.

These seven petitions work nicely as a weekly prayer guide. I encourage you to use it as you pray for your pastor.

Day 1: That our pastors would be honored, affirmed, encouraged, and respected.
Discouragement is a reality for many pastors and their spouses. The reasons are as varied as the normal stuff of everyday life. Fatigue. Lack of success. Unrealistic expectations. Sin. Unrealized vision. Loss. Financial pressures. Spiritual doubt. Loneliness. Clearly, pastors and their spouses do a good work, but there is always the danger of them growing weary in doing good.

Day 2: That our pastors would be protected from focused attacks of Satan, stay far from sin, and walk in obedience to God’s Word.
Satan is a real threat. Pastors are well aware of their brokenness and how vulnerable they are to satanic temptation. The good ones battle hard to resist temptation, because they know the consequences can extend beyond themselves to those they lead.

Day 3: That God would give our pastors wisdom, patience, perseverance, and grace in facing people-problems, and that those they lead would be loyal, understanding, and supportive.
Relationship is everything. We want our congregations and pastors to truly care for one another, speak well of one another, and have mutual affection one for the other.

Day 4: That our pastors’ marriages and parenting would be God-pleasing and wise.
Congregations struggle when a pastor’s marriage suffers. Divorce can deflate and divide a congregation. Rebellious children can cause frustration and doubt in a pastor’s leadership. We want our clergy couples to love and enjoy each other. We want our pastors’ families to be havens of honor and hope.

Day 5: That our pastors, in preparation for teaching God’s Word, would listen to God’s voice, have their time for study protected, be kept from theological error, personally apply the truth, and be filled with God’s Spirit.
Modeling the Way is as important as preaching the Word. Good pastors regularly connect with God through the Word they study, preach, and apply to themselves. In the process, they desperately pray for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power.

Day 6: That our pastors would consistently practice important disciplines.
Spiritual disciplines are critical for maintaining a connection with the Holy Spirit. Pastors make time to physically, emotionally, and mentally engage the Holy Spirit through prayer, worship, study, confession, solitude, fasting, etc.

Day 7: That our pastors would be zealous for the church and compelling in promoting its mission.
The Kingdom is the pastor’s God-given big picture. They have an inner drive to see the agenda, priorities, and values of God’s Kingdom realized in their own lives, their churches, their communities, and throughout the world. For them, it’s not just about growing a big church. It’s about participating with God as He grows His Kingdom.

These seven prayer requests compose a holistic picture of your pastor’s heart. It reveals the heart attitude through which God seems to work. So, now that you’ve gained a glimpse inside the mind of the pastor, offer to God an informed prayer on your pastor’s behalf, right now. Then, start watching for God to effectively grow His Kingdom.

10 Feb

February 10, 2014 |

fetters_toddTodd Fetters (right), Director of National Ministries

At the national office, we pray regularly for our pastors. We contact pastors ahead of time, letting them know the day when we will pray for them. Because we believe that informed intercession is effective intercession, we ask them to share with us their specific prayer concerns.

In two postings, I will give suggestions to help you pray regularly for your pastor. Today’s post is designed to help you get inside the mind of a pastor. Tomorrow, I will list seven suggestions for getting to the heart of a pastor.

I feel very comfortable taking you inside the mind of a pastor. I’ve been around pastors my entire life. I grew up in a pastor’s home. My two brothers have been pastors. I spent 25 years in pastoral ministry. I’ve helped churches find new pastors. I’ve led clusters for pastors. And now, as National Ministries director, I interact daily with pastors.

Here are four common characteristics I’ve experienced and observed in the good pastors.

1. Humility
The good ones are humbled every time they think of God’s call. They instinctively imitate Saint Paul who said, “How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve him” (1 Timothy 1:12). Typically, gratitude pours out of the mouths of men and women who try to fathom why God trusts them with such a tremendous responsibility.

2. Under-Shepherds
The good ones embrace their identities as “under-shepherds” who tend, feed, and care for the Good Shepherd’s flock. They willingly follow Saint Peter’s charge to elders, “Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example. And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor” (1 Peter 5:2-4).

3. Enemy Threat
The good ones are bravely aware that a real enemy, Satan, targets them. They take seriously Peter’s admonition, “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

4. Desire Prayer
The good ones know the value of having others pray for them. And like Saint Paul who asked without hesitation, “And pray for me, too” (Ephesians 6:19), they ask others for it too.

I’m certain the psyche that I’ve just described applies equally to the entire leadership constituency of the United Brethren Church. But, since my goal here is to help you pray in an informed and effective way for pastors, it gives me the opportunity to speak specifically to what I know for certain goes on in the minds of good pastors.

10 Feb

February 10, 2014 |

In early January, Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, President of Huntington University, spoke to the United Brethren cluster leaders, who were in town for a two-day training session. Her message highlighted the century-long partnership between the University and the United Brethren Church.

07 Feb

February 7, 2014 |

A February 5 victory over Indiana Wesleyan gave Lori Culler (right) her 500th win as head coach of the Huntington University women’s basketball team. During her 28 years as coach, she has compiled a record of 500-320. She ranks third on the list of career wins among active women’s basketball coaches in the NAIA Division II.

Lori is the daughter of Garry and Lois Culler, who have served 40 years in the United Brethren ministry. Garry is currently Pastor of Congregational Care at Mount Pleasant UB church in Chambersburg, Pa.

06 Feb

February 6, 2014 |

2014-logo600

Registration is now open for the 2014 UB Women’s Conference, with Early Early Bird Registration until April 1.

Date: September 19-21, 2014
Location: Huron, Ohio

Join hundreds of other United Brethren women and friends for the 2014 UB Women’s Conference. The conference will be held at the beautiful Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio. That’s a little east of Toledo, very close to the Cedar Point amusement park. We held the 2007, 2009, and 2011 US National Conferences at Sawmill Creek, so it will be familiar to many of you.

Registration
Registration includes lodging, meeting costs, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner.

Registration cost is based on number of persons sharing a room:

  • One person in a room: $310 per person
  • Two persons in a room: $189 per person
  • Three persons in a room: $149 per person
  • Four persons in a room: $129 per person (except for Early Early Bird Registration)

Early Early Bird Registration

  • Until April 1, the cost is just $99 per person for a quad-occupancy room (four persons sharing the room).
  • After August 15, the cost rises $50 per person and is on an availability-only basis. This is due to contracted arrangements with the hotel.

For More Information:

Please inform women in your church about this conference and encourage them to register. We’d love to see a whole van-load of women from your church!

05 Feb

February 5, 2014 |

youthsummit-logo-300Registration is now open for the 2014 UB Youth Summit.

This is an annual event of encouragement and training for persons in youth ministry. It is available to all paid youth ministry staff or the lead youth ministry volunteer in the church.

Date: April 28 – May 1, 2014
Location: Best Western Aku Tiki Inn in Daytona Beach, Fla.

About 25 youth workers attend each Summit. It’s a great time of networking with other youth leaders and being encouraged by others who are in the trenches of youth ministry. They enjoy the beach, the golf course, and incredibly beautiful weather, along with the chance to slow down and step away from the constant demands of youth ministry.

Registration
The registration fee includes meeting costs, lodging, breakfasts, and two dinners (one hosted by Huntington University, one by Bishop Phil Whipple). You are responsible for transportation to and from Daytona, a few meals, and hotel incidentals.

  • Two persons in a room: $195 per person (whether it’s a spouse or another youth worker)
  • One person in a room: $280 per person

You can register online. Registration closes April 1. After that date, the cost rises $50 and is on an availability-only basis. This is due to contracted arrangements with hotel.