(260) 356-2312

UB.orgUBGlobal.orgChurch Search

01 Apr

April 1, 2013 |

Huntington University will hold its 115th Commencement at 2:30 pm on Saturday, May 18, in the Merillat Complex fieldhouse. Degrees–bachelor’s, associate’s, and master’s–will be awarded to 323 graduates. The graduate hooding ceremony will take place at College Park Church in Huntington at 11 a.m.

The commencement speaker will be Mike Packnett, president and CEO of Parkview Health, the largest employer in northeast Indiana. HU works with Parkview through its nursing program and through Fort Wayne-based academic programs.

L-r: Mike Packnett, Emmett Lippe, Dale Haupert, and Ed Souers.

L-r: Mike Packnett, Emmett Lippe, Dale Haupert, and Ed Souers.

The university will also award four honorary doctorate degrees.

  • Doctor of Humane Letters: Commencement speaker Mike Packnett.
  • Doctor of Commercial Science: Dale Haupert, a 25-year member of the HU Board of Trustees. Haupert has worked in the life insurance business for 44 years.
  • Doctor of Humane Letters: Dr. Emmett Lippe, an 18-year board member. Lippe graduated from Huntington University in 1964, and went on to serve 29 years as a school district superintendent in Michigan. In 2005, he formed his own consulting company, Lippe Consulting, LLC, through which he mentors other school leaders. He holds earned doctorates from both Michigan State University and Ball State University.
  • Doctor of Commercial Science: Edward Souers, a 15-year board member and past president of the HU Board. He graduated from Huntington University in 1975 with a degree in accounting, management, and business education, and in 1977 received an associate of arts degree in accounting. He is a partner in Christen Souers LLC, a certified public accounting firm with locations in Fort Wayne and Marion, Ind.

28 Mar

March 28, 2013 |
The Anchor worship team leading the music part of the service. (click to enlarge)

The Anchor worship team leading the music part of the service. (click to enlarge)

On Palm Sunday, 4pm in the afternoon, Anchor Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) did a service on the campus of St. Francis University, about a mile down the road from the church. Several churches in the 46808 zip code took turns conducting a service, one service a month, as a way to introduce St. Francis students to some of the nearby churches. Palm Sunday was Anchor’s turn.

Associate Pastor Kevin Whitacre gave the sermon, starting off with a drama in which he put himself in the position of one of the thieves crucified with Jesus. The Anchor worship team led the music.

28 Mar

March 28, 2013 |
Crystal Carpenter at work in Qatar.

Crystal Carpenter at work in Qatar.

Crystal Carpenter is nearing the end of her 11-month National Guard deployment to Qatar. She is the wife of Randy Carpenter, senior pastor of Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.).

26 Mar

March 26, 2013 |
Constable Jennifer Kovach.

Constable Jennifer Kovach.

Over 5000 police offers participated in the funeral procession.

Over 5000 police offers participated in the funeral procession.

Police officers carry the casket to the front of the packed arena for the funeral.

Police officers carry the casket to the front of the packed arena for the funeral.

Bishop Brian Magnus on the platform during the service.

Bishop Brian Magnus on the platform during the service.

The Ontario city of Guelph experienced a major loss on March 14 when Constable Jennifer Kovach, 26, was killed while on duty. She was responding to a call for assistance from another officer when, amidst the snow and poor road conditions, her cruiser crossed the center line and hit a transit bus head on. The bus had no passengers at the time. Firefighters extracted her from the vehicle and she was taken to a hospital, but she died of her injuries.

Constable Kovach was the first Guelph policeman to die in the line of duty since 1964, and only the third in the city’s history.

Over 5000 policeman from across Canada and the northern United States attended the funeral on Thursday, March 21, in the packed municipal arena. They formed a huge procession marching through the streets–police officers on foot, on horseback, and on motorcycles, including over 30 police dogs. Flags flew at half mast, and all city buses changed their signs to read, “R.I.P # 72,” which was Kovach’s badge number.

Brian Magnus (right), bishop of the United Brethren Church in Canada and pastor of the Parkwood Gardens UB church in Guelph, was heavily involved in the funeral. After days of grief counseling and four sessions of visitation–11 hours on March 19 and 10 hours on March 20–he conducted the funeral before over 6000 people in the Sleeman Centre. The funeral was broadcast across Canada on national TV. In attendance were many members of parliament, federal and provincial leaders, the Premier of Ontario, the Lieutenant Governor (the Queen’s representative), and others.

For Bishop Magnus, there was a very personal connection. She was a personal friend.

“We lived next door to the Kovach family for ten years,” he wrote. “Jennifer and our daughter, Heather, were friends since Jennifer was two years old. She was at our house for sleepovers, birthday parties, youth events, etc. The funeral was as moving an event as I’ve ever experienced. I’ve been stopped by many people while in the store, walking the dog, etc., to talk. It’s opened up opportunities to share Christ!”

26 Mar

March 26, 2013 |

Ethan Cox, grandson of UB minister Devon Strine, is at Cleveland Clinic. He will undergo surgery to remove a lesion on his brain. Ethan has been experiencing epileptic seizures for the past three years. Please keep Ethan in your prayers.

26 Mar

March 26, 2013 |

Dr. Tom Bergler (right), professor of Ministry and Missions at Huntington University, will present a special lecture titled “Reversing the Juvenilization of American Christianity: Fostering Spiritual Maturity in Congregations.”

Date: 7 pm Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Location: Zurcher Auditorium, Merillat Centre for the Arts, Huntington University

Dr. Bergler is the author of The Juvenilization of American Christianity (Eerdmans, 2012). His book was featured in a cover story in Christianity Today, won an Award of Merit in the Church and Pastoral Leadership category from Christianity Today, and was named one of “10 Books Every Preacher Should Read” by R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in an article in Preaching magazine.

Because of juvenilization, Bergler says, many Americans are not sure they want to grow up. Many Christians are not sure that spiritual maturity is either attainable or desirable. This presentation will explain how juvenilization works and suggest ways that congregation members and their leaders can work together with God’s help to create a powerful congruence of teaching, modeling, and ministry structures that foster an attractive spiritual maturity.

This event is free and open to the public.

25 Mar

March 25, 2013 |

Elise Atkins, daughter of Andrew and Jennifer Atkins, has been admitted to the hospital with kidney failure. They are waiting on specialists to assist with the reason for this and will keep us updated. Elise is a senior in high school and was a member of the Global Ministries teams that ministered in Germany in 2010 and 2012. Andrew is pastor of Monticello UB church near Spencerville, Ohio.

22 Mar

March 22, 2013 |
Huntington University spring break teams preparing to go impact their world. The Haiti team left on Friday, March 22, and the Nashville and Los Angeles teams left on Saturday, March 23.

Huntington University spring break teams preparing to go impact their world. The Haiti team left on Friday, March 22, and the Nashville and Los Angeles teams left on Saturday, March 23.

For many Huntington University students, spring break is a time to serve others. During this year’s spring break, March 25-29, HU students will serve in three places: Los Angeles, Nashville, and Haiti.

Haiti. Once again, a team will serve in Haiti with Mission of Hope, an organization founded by Brad and Vanessa Johnson, 1993 and 1994 HU graduates. Accompanying the team of 15 students will be Vince Haupert, vice president for advancement, his brother, Jason Haupert, and Dr. Jerry Clore, a dentist and 1979 alum. Departure date: Friday, March 22.

Los Angeles. Eight students and faculty will spend each morning with the Center for Student Missions, serving breakfast in soup kitchens and working with a resident in a local retirement facility. In the afternoons, they will work with the afterschool program for Door of Hope, a Christian transitional housing program for families. The team will include five students, plus Dr. Tanner Babb (psychology professor), Jodi Fiedler (Campus Ministries administrative secretary), and Campus Pastor Arthur Wilson. Departure date: Saturday, March 23.

Nashville, Tenn. Nine persons will minister at the local Rescue Mission, a homeless ministry that provides a shelter, a clothing clothing donation center, and a soup kitchen. The team will wash laundry, sort clothes, and take to the streets to distribute meals and build relationships with the homeless. At night, they will help with the Christian worship service held on the streets. Departure date: Saturday, March 23.

21 Mar

March 21, 2013 |


The Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) opened a skatepark in January 2013. It is held 6-8 pm on Sunday nights in the church’s activity center.

The skatepark began as a group of three friends, and has grown to see as many as 17 people attend. Josh Quiggle, a volunteer who has served on the youth leadership team for about four years, heads up the ministry.

Kurt Charleville (right), director of Worship & Student Ministries, explains some of the background.

“A couple years ago we looked into starting an outdoor skatepark, as there is a need for one in our community. The overall cost of the park was too great, so we put the project on hold. Recently, we were given permission to skate on the floors inside our activity center, and the resulting skate times have experienced rapid growth and lots of interest. Even with only a few ramps and obstacles, it has still drawn people.

“Its amazing how once we opened the doors to this ministry, people jumped in wanting to help get it going. We have ramps and half pipes being offered to us, and we have volunteers making up the waivers for us.

“Best of all, we have already seen a couple of younger students come to the Wednesday night middle school program, where they are being exposed to the Gospel. It is an incredible opportunity to get to know people from the community, and it gives us a chance to invite them to church.”