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17 Dec

December 17, 2013 |

John Beukema (right) has resigned as senior pastor of King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) effective January 12, 2014. He has accepted a position as senior pastor of Cypress Bible Church in Houston, Texas.

In an announcement to the board of administration and elders at King Street on November 6, Beukema said, “Early in 2012, I began to realize that God might have different plans for me, rather than to remain at King Street for the next 10 years. I began to pray for clear and specific direction.” He said his gift mix better suits investing in multiple churches for 8-10 years each.

Cypress Bible Church announced Beukema’s selection on November 7.

Beukema became senior pastor of King Street in 2005, after the previous senior pastor, Pat Jones, became the denominational Director of Healthy Church Ministries. At the time, King Street had a weekly worship attendance of about 1300, making it the largest United Brethren church in the world. Under Beukema’s leadership, King Street’s weekly attendance increased to about 1800, with four worship services every Sunday morning.

13 Dec

December 13, 2013 |

A recent ruling by a US District Court has raised questions about the status of housing allowance for ministers. Some UB ministers have called the national office, wondering, “How does this affect me? Do I need to do anything different?”

The short answer is: continue what you’ve been doing. Nothing will take affect until all appeals have been exhausted. That could take a couple years.

Ministers of all religious groups are allowed housing allowance to pay expenses related to their home—rent, mortgage, utilities, insurance, repairs, furnishings, property taxes, etc. The church must state in advance (preferably in board minutes) the amount of salary designated as housing allowance. That amount, then, is not taxable. For instance, if a pastor makes $40,000 and $15,000 is designated as housing allowance, the minister will be taxed on just $25,000 of income. (Here’s suggested wording for a board resolution.)

On November 22, 2013, a US District Court in Wisconsin ruled that the housing exemption violates the Constitution’s “establishment of religion” clause. The judge said it unnecessarily “provides a benefit to religious persons and no one else.” She felt that housing allowance provides an unconstitutional preference for religion, and that denying housing allowance wouldn’t infringe on freedom of religion.

You can read much more about housing allowance in this article on UBCentral.org.

10 Dec

December 10, 2013 |

Gary Gates (right), director of Ministerial Licensing, will represent the United Brethren denomination in January at a meeting of the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network. He’ll report on the prayer emphases in the United Brethren Church.

Gary prepared a simple survey. He would greatly appreciate it if you’d take a few minutes to give some of your feedback. You can use this survey form.

Thanks!

06 Dec

December 6, 2013 |
The group on an old Roman road.

The group on an old Roman road. (click to enlarge)

In the Ephesus amphitheater.

In the Ephesus amphitheater.

Steve Dennie, UB Director of Communications

A group of nearly 20 persons from the United States, most of them United Brethren pastors and wives, spent ten days in Turkey November 4-13, 2013. This “Seven Churches of Revelation Tour” was sponsored by Global Ministries, the international arm of the United Brethren churches in the US and Canada.

Several years ago, Global Ministries began pursuing ministry opportunities in Turkey—the first predominantly Muslim nation into which the UB church has ventured. They organized this trip not only as an educational experience for UB pastors, but to introduce UB leaders to ministry opportunities in Turkey. Global Ministries is partnering with IN Network, a mission agency which works in Turkey.

The United Brethren participants were:

  • Bishop Phil Whipple.
  • Jeff Bleijerveld, director of Global Ministries.
  • Donna Hollopeter, associate director of Global Ministries, and her husband, Jason.
  • Gary Dilley, pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.), and his wife, Rhonda.
  • Mike Caley, pastor of Banner of Christ UB church (Byron Center, Mich.).
  • John Erwin, pastor of Hopewell UB church (Auburn, Ind.).
  • Patrick Daugherty, associate pastor of Atlantic Avenue UB church (New Castle, Pa.).
  • Micheal Dean, pastor of Sabetha UB church (Sabetha, Kansas).
  • Mark Ralph, pastor of Mt. Zion UB church (Wayne, Ohio).
  • Steve Henry, pastor of Victory Heights UB church (Franklin, Pa.), and his wife, Amanda.

Three ministers from other denominations tagged along at the invitation of IN Network.

Leading the trip was Dr. Mark Fairchild, who chairs the Bible & Religion department at Huntington University. His numerous trips to Turkey include two from last summer—one with the Biblical Archaeology Society, the other as a consultant, at the invitation of the Turkish government, to a committee writing curriculum for a Christianity course to be taught in public schools. He knows his stuff, and is recognized for knowing it.

(more…)

02 Dec

December 2, 2013 |
The new Gator for Camp Living Waters

The new Gator for Camp Living Waters

The Sunfield congregation has been busy for the past several months working on a huge secret–buying a John Deere Gator for Camp Living Waters in Luther, Mich. The Gator will be used to transport campers and supplies, give tours, etc.

Sunfield held a potluck/hot dog bar this past Sunday, November 24, to present the Gator to the CLW director and board members. They were overwhelmed and very excited. Tears were flowing.

Camp Living Waters is a year-round camp in northern Michigan. It was one of two camps operated by the former Michigan Conference until 2005, when the conferences disbanded and the denomination’s various camps were spun off as independent entities.

02 Dec

December 2, 2013 |

During a January-term trip, Dr. David Alexander discovered a passion for India and overseas missions. So, when an opportunity arose last summer, he jumped at the chance to return.

Alexander, associate professor of philosophy, spent two months in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, in mid-2013 serving as a visiting professor of philosophy at Madras Christian College. He presented research, gave lectures, and participated in debates pertaining to religion and philosophy.

“India is a fascinating place,” Alexander said. “It is, in a real sense, a land full of tension or contradiction. It is beautiful. And yet, the land and the people are neglected and abused. Food is scarce all over the place. Radical wealth and radical poverty exist side-by-side. Devotion to Jesus and devotion to idols exist side-by-side. Love and hate exist side-by-side. Beauty and ugly, angels and demons, heaven and hell. It is simply shocking. And for that reason it draws me.”

Alexander’s passion for India developed after he took his first mission trip in January 2013 to the Home of Love orphanage. The experience shook him to the core.

“I became vulnerable to others in ways I have never been,” he shared. “Being in India with the girls at the home and the students from Huntington University helped me to see how much I need to love and to be loved. Tears poured down my face as I looked at 100 girls that love so much and so authentically.”

02 Dec

December 2, 2013 |

Doug Stull (right), senior pastor of Shepherd of the Valley UB church (Logan, Ohio), informed us of the death of his mother. Lillian Stull Hudson passed away on November 17. She lived in Glencoe, Ohio. The funeral was held November 20.

Doug Stull has pastored the Shepherd of the Valley church since 1995. Condolences can be sent to him at 5445 Swartz Mill Road, Sugar Grove, OH 43155.

26 Nov

November 26, 2013 |
Members of the HU women's volleyball team in Ethiopia.

Members of the HU women’s volleyball team in Ethiopia.

Heather Barkley, HU Director of Communications

In the summer of 2013, Huntington University faculty, staff, and students took the institutional mission to “impact the world” literally as they traveled nearly 30,000 miles round trip to serve on three continents. The mileage they logged surpassed the circumference of the Earth – 24,901 miles.

Ethiopia
The Huntington University volleyball team learned the value of working and serving together through a summer mission trip to Ethiopia.

Coach Amy Settle (left) and player Kelsey Kruse.

Coach Amy Settle (left) and player Kelsey Kruse.

“I definitely think there is a higher level of team chemistry and a stronger bond between all of us as teammates and friends,” said sophomore Kelsey Kruse who traveled with the team to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city. “I believe that the stronger the relationships within a team are, the more successful that team will be, and I have seen that translate onto the court.”

The team worked with more than 1000 orphans and vulnerable children in three schools through Buckner International, a global ministry.

“We learned about the depth of brokenness and poverty in the world, what resources are needed to impact this reality, and the joy that is possible through Christ amid the darkness,” said second-year coach Amy Settle.

She plans to bring other teams to Ethiopia in the future in the hopes of building a school.

China
During the summer of 2013, Huntington University faculty returned to China to lead a team of 15 persons, who then trained 80 Chinese teachers and hosted English camps for 200 students. HU has been doing this since 2007, and has trained hundreds of teachers in China’s schools.

This year, for the first time, the English camps included high schoolers in addition to primary and middle-school students.

“These experiences help better equip us for life in the global world in which we live, and they promote awareness and a value of diversity,” said Shoshannah McKinney (right), associate director of the Institute for TESOL Studies.

McKinney, a 2003 HU graduate with a degree in Math Education, lived in China for four years, where she taught English at Liaocheng University. She and TESOL director Dr. Luke Fetters led the 2013 HU trip.

Team members stayed with Chinese families in Doumen, a district in the coastal city of Zhuhai near Hong Kong and Macau.

Greece and Turkey
Dr. Mark Fairchild (right) has made countless trips to Turkey, including two this summer. His first trip involved leading a tour of Greece and Turkey for the Biblical Archaeology Society and then conducting research about the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys.

At the invitation of the Turkish government, Fairchild, Luke J. Peters professor of biblical studies at HU, made a second visit to Turkey this summer, serving as a consultant to the committee writing curriculum for a Christianity course to be taught in public schools.

He led a team, including other HU faculty, in the planning and execution of a workshop that certified 37 Turkish Christians to teach the course. Huntington is currently the only institution granted permission to certify Turkish Christians for this teaching opportunity.

“For the first time in almost 600 years, Christians will have the opportunity to tell the Gospel story and correct the many distortions of Christianity that are often propagated throughout the Islamic world,” Fairchild said. “This development has the potential to create better understandings between Muslims and Christians.”