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29 May

May 29, 2012 |

Gary Dilley, senior pastor, College Park UB Church (Huntington, Ind.)

Nathan Hann and Paul Hirschy officially join the staff of College Park church on June 1. We are excited about the ministry they will provide to our congregation and community.

Nathan Hann will become our fulltime worship pastor. Nathan graduated from Huntington University on May 12 with a degree in Worship Leadership. He and his wife, Alyssa, have been active at College Park Church, and Nathan has served in various roles of music leadership since 2010.

In addition to overseeing the worship ministry of College Park, Nathan has taken over our technology and communication needs. He has helped us begin social networking at College Park, and is working with others on a newly revised website. In addition, he will help us in our interaction with college students. Nathan has been working with Pastor Mark Vincenti and the youth praise team, and is interested in encouraging musical opportunities for our children.

Paul Hirschy will join the staff as a half-time associate pastor. Paul is retiring from his role in the Advancement office at Huntington University, and is looking forward to returning to local church ministry. For those of you not acquainted with Paul, he served nine years as pastor of Park UB church in Bluffton, Ind., then worked at the United Brethren national office in the printshop (1978-1981), as Director of Church Services (1981-2001), and as bishop (2001-2005). He has worked for Huntington University since 2005.

Paul will work with such things as helping newcomers find a home at College Park, helping people find appropriate opportunities to serve God in the church and outside the church, developing the church’s prayer ministry, and helping with church administration.

29 May

May 29, 2012 |

Mark Wilson (right), senior pastor, Fowlerville UB Church (Fowlerville, Mich.).

On May 19, 2012, Fowlerville UB Church hosted its second annual “Outflow Community Service Day.”

Last year, we sent over 250 people into our community to serve in practical and tangible ways. This year, we invited 6 other local churches to join us in these efforts. As a result, we sent out over 550 individuals to serve our community.

Our theme for this year was “The Church In Action.” We gave each volunteer a bright, florescent T-shirt with our logo “CIA” on the back. Imagine all those florescent shirts making their way into our community–it was a sight to see!

Our church rose to the challenge and raised almost $15,000 to fund the projects that we completed during the day. We wanted to bless the recipients with the extravagant love of God. All of our projects were done at no cost to the recipient, unless they already had the supplies.

Some of the types of projects we completed are:

  • Minor and major home repair projects.
  • Re-roofing an entire building.
  • Constructing handicap ramps.
  • Mulching and yard beautification.
  • Staining decks.
  • Constructing steps.
  • Trash removal.
  • carpeting and other flooring.
  • Dry walling.

We also cleaned up our community parks and downtown areas, and washed all of the windows in our business areas. We were able to serve over 45 different individual residents along with several other larger projects in our community.

I was not only blessed by the other churches that partnered with us, but by the 370+ from our church who went out and served as well. It was nothing short of an amazing day.

The following day, Sunday, we celebrated what God had done during our serving day and then we had the privilege of baptizing 7 people.

29 May

May 29, 2012 |

Dr. Dalton Jenkins with his new diploma.

Dalton Jenkins with his wife, Jacqueline, and two sons.

Dalton and his wife, Jacqueline.

Congratulations to Dalton Jenkins, pastor of Bethel Temple of Praise in Yonkers, New York. On May 19, 2012, he was awarded the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from New York Theological Seminary.

His dissertation was titled, “Kingdom People Living by Kingdom Principles: The call of missions, a holistic approach.” The dissertation focused on missions and being missional, and how missions and being missional in the First Century differs from missions and being missional in the 21st Century. Jenkins said the project was designed to achieve three goals:

  1. To raise awareness by helping to clarify the nature of the structures and practices of the church relating to its missional focus.
  2. To develop a better awareness of local missions.
  3. To develop a process to help persons live out the mission by engaging their communities.

Jenkins explains, “The idea of being missional is not about the church coming up with some program and fancy name, but about understanding the needs of the community–spiritual, social, financial–and how to live in ways that can help transform the community. Every person must begin at his or her own doorstep….The Church’s basic mission is to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God; this message has a social and a political aspect….This is the fundamental responsibility of the Church, but this message is holistic, affecting the total person: body, soul, and spirit.” The project was designed to “increase awareness as to how our church can apply a missional theology in order to challenge the church to rediscover its biblical call to holistic ministry.”

23 May

May 23, 2012 |

Randy and Crystal Carpenter

Crystal Carpenter, a member of the Army National Guard for about seven years, will be deployed to Qatar in June 2012 for 9-11 months. Crystal is the wife of Randy Carpenter, senior pastor of Sunfield UB church in Sunfield, Mich.

This is Crystal’s first deployment with the National Guard. She is an Admin. Sargent with the 323 Military Police Unit in Toledo, Ohio.

22 May

May 22, 2012 |

Pat Jones (front right) gives a tour of Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church prior to the opening sessions.

Former bishop Paul Hirschy speaks to attendees on behalf of Huntington University.

The Tuesday morning keynote session included discussions at the tables, sharing of prayer concerns, and praying.

Everyone's got their passport ready as the bus prepares to enter Canada.

Craig Mickey (foreground) leads the way as some of the group prepare to board the Maid of the Mist, a boat which cruises to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Thin plastic ponchos are provided...and much needed.

The Associates Summit is in progress in Buffalo, New York. Twenty-two persons serving 13 different United Brethren churches in associate roles are attending. They are joined by three persons from the national office–Bishop Phil Whipple, Cluster coordinator Dennis Miller, and Communications director Steve Dennie. This conference is for spouses, too, and seven spouses are attending.

Bishop Phil Whipple spoke to the attendees at the restaurant following the noon meal on Tuesday, May 22.

Also participating is Pat Jones, a former United Brethren pastor and Director of Healthy Church Ministries. In 2009, Pat became senior pastor of Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church in Buffalo, New York. Eastern Hills is hosting some of the sessions, and Pat is speaking each day. That’s why everyone’s in Buffalo. Pat’s keynote addresses are built around the book “The Circle Maker,” by Mark Batterson.

This conference is designed for persons in UB churches working in such staff roles as pastoral care, assimilation, adult education, visitation, counseling, missions, discipleship, children’s ministry, etc. It is not for senior pastors.

While senior pastors participate in periodic cluster meetings, which provide continual training for them, associate staff do not attend cluster meetings. Instead, a series of specialized summits are designed for them. There is the annual UB Youth Workers Summit, and earlier in May there was a summit for persons in worship and music ministry.

This is the first year for the Associates Summit. Two years ago, a summit was held for persons in the spiritual care niche, but only six persons attended. The range was broadened for the Associates Summit. The result was a quadrupling of the attendance.

The conference began on Monday night, May 21, with an opening session at Eastern Hills church. On Tuesday morning, everyone ate breakfast together at the Millennium Hotel, where everyone is staying. After breakfast, Bishop Emeritus Paul Hirschy, who has worked for Huntington University since 2005, gave a presentation on behalf of the university. At the beginning of June, Hirschy will begin a new role as associate pastor of College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind. Then Pat Jones gave his second message.

By 11 am, everyone was loaded in a large passenger bus and headed for Niagara Falls. After a lunch at the Edgewater restaurant overlooking both the US and Canadian falls, Bishop Phil Whipple gave a challenge to the associates. Then the participants spent the rest of the afternoon taking tours and rides at the falls.

The summit will conclude after breakfast on Thursday, May 24.

17 May

May 17, 2012 |

Huntington University will launch a graduate program in occupational therapy in the fall of 2014. The university is currently searching for a director to create the master’s and doctoral level programs.

This will be the university’s first doctorate degree and its first graduate programs in allied health.

The graduate programs will be located within the new Life Science Education and Research Consortium of Northeast Indiana, which will open on the Parkview Randallia campus in Fort Wayne, Ind.

HU’s new programs will work with and build on the support of the other institutions in the consortium, including Trine University, which plans to launch a doctoral program in physical therapy program at the same location. The programs will also build on Huntington’s undergraduate degrees in exercise science, nursing, and recreation management. Fort Wayne Community Schools, Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast, and the University of Saint Francis will offer programs through the consortium, as well.

Along with the occupational therapy programs, Huntington will offer bachelor’s degree programs in human resource management, not-for-profit leadership, RN-BSN degree completion, and its Master of Counseling program.

“Occupational therapy is an in-demand field which is expected to continue to grow given recent medical developments with stroke survivors as well as people recovering from joint and hip replacements,” said Dr. Norris Friesen (right), senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. “Given the interest in exercise science, our mission and the fact that there are no other similar programs in our area, this is a very unique opportunity for us to influence the next generate of occupational therapists with an accredited program that seeks to integrate God’s message of grace and love by helping people regain their strength and abilities to live full and fruitful lives.”

15 May

May 15, 2012 |

2012 graduating nursing students.

Huntington University honored 17 graduating nursing students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Friday, May 11.

The Class of 2012 is the second graduating class from the Department of Nursing. The 2011 class had 10 students.

The history of the nursing pinning ceremony stems from the Crimean War when Florence Nightingale took 38 women to Turkey to nurse sick and wounded British soldiers. As she cared for her patients by the light of a lamp, Florence Nightingale became known as the “lady with the lamp.” As a tribute to Florence’s dedication, the lamp icon became symbolic of nursing. Today, the nursing pin is used to signify this same dedication: the end of formal education and the beginning of practice, a way of welcoming graduates into the nursing profession.

At the ceremony, students received the Huntington University Department of Nursing pin with the department emblem.

This year, Kortney Burton (right) received the senior leadership award for the Class of 2012 from Dr. Margaret Winter, Director of Nursing. She was nominated by her peers.

14 May

May 14, 2012 |

2012 HU Graduates (click photo to enlarge)

Youth ministry graduates with Professor Dave Rahn (without cap).

On Saturday, May 12, during Commencement ceremonies, Huntington University awarded a total of 257 degrees.

  • 16 Master of Arts degrees.
  • 9 Master of Education degrees.
  • 64 Bachelor of Arts degrees.
  • 1 Bachelor of Music degree.
  • 120 Bachelor of Science degrees.
  • 17 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.
  • 9 Bachelor of Social Work degrees.
  • 3 Associate of Arts and 15 Associate of Science degrees.

In addition, 3 persons received honorary doctorates: (read more about them here).

  • Commencement speaker Dan Wolgemuth, president and CEO of Youth for Christ USA.
  • Rev. Luther Whitfield, senior director of Youth for Christ’s Primetime Community Center in Fort Wayne and senior pastor of New Covenant Worship Center.
  • 1977 Huntington alum Charles Curie, for his national leadership in the field of public and mental health.

The afternoon commencement followed the morning baccalaureate service where Dr. Tim Smith, HU associate professor of history, gave a sermon titled “The Empire Strikes Back.” His sermon centered on Ecclesiastes 9:11.

10 May

May 10, 2012 |

Five United Brethren students were among the many Huntington University students recognized on Forester Night, held May 1.

The 2012 Impact Initiative Scholarship was given to Jordan Vanengen, a sophomore from Banner of Christ UB church in Byron Center, Mich. The award is presented by the Student Senate to a student who has had an impact on the university and the greater community. The student receives a $1,000 scholarship for his or her junior and senior years.

Twenty seniors were honored by their respective departments with Outstanding Senior plaques. These UB students were among the recipients:

  • Computer Science: Robert Hindy, a computer science major from Fowlerville, Mich. He is from Fowlerville UB church.
  • Education: Ellen Wolf, an elementary education major from Huntington, Ind. Ellen is from Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind.
  • Psychology: Jennifer Cramer, a sociology and psychology major from Shippensburg, Pa. She is from Prince Street UB church in Shippensburg.
  • Social Work: Suzanne Radosevich, a social work major from Huntington, Ind. Suzanne is from The Well in Huntington.

Other recipients of major awards on Forester Night:

  • Jonathan Brenneman, a senior history and philosophy major from St. Marys, Ohio, was named the Male Forester of the Year.
  • Katie Martin, a senior middle grades education and elementary education major from Eaton, Ohio, was named the Female Forester of the Year. Foresters of the Year are voted on by the Huntington University student body.
  • Dr. Kent Eilers, assistant professor of theology, was named the 2012 Professor of the Year. Eilers has been at HU since 2009.

In addition, 10 Huntington University students-athletes were inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society for 2012. This national college athlete honor society recognizes student-athletes who excel in athletics and academics. The recipients include two UB students:

  • Michelle Hawthorne, a junior nursing major from Brooklyn, Mich., for soccer. Michelle is from Heart O the Lakes UB church in Brooklyn.
  • Lance Wood, a senior entrepreneurial small business management and business management from Waterville, Ohio, for cross country and track. Lance is from NorthPoint Church in Toledo, Ohio.