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09 Nov

November 9, 2011 |

Brooks Fetters, an ordained United Brethren minister, is the new mayor of Huntington, Ind. After a tough Republican primary race last May against six other persons, including the incumbent mayor, Brooks easily won the general election on Tuesday, November 8. He received 1816 votes, while the Democratic candidate received just 760 and an independent candidate added 132.

Fetters, 52, a city councilman, has been general manager and funeral director at Myers Funeral Homes in Huntington and Markle, Ind., since 1998. He holds two degrees from Huntington University: a degree in business administration (1981), and a Master’s in Christian Ministry (1987). He also holds a diploma in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (1982). Brooks served as a UB pastor and church planter in Fort Wayne 1987-1998.

You can send congratulations via the Brooks Fetters for Mayor Facebook page or his personal Facebook page.

09 Nov

November 9, 2011 |

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette ran an article about Huntington University’s student loan reimbursement assistance program, which started three years ago. About 400 HU students are taking advantage of the plan. The program helps graduates who take jobs that pay less than $40,000 per year. The Journal Gazette article explains everything very well, and focuses on the experience of a 2011 graduate now working in youth ministry.

08 Nov

November 8, 2011 |

Bishop Phil Whipple (right) conducting the ordination ceremony with Todd and Dina Lilley.

L-r: Daniel Lam, Phil Whipple, Todd Lilley, Dennis Sites, and Kevin Dagget.

L-r: Daniel Lam, Phil Whipple, Todd Lilley, Dennis Sites, and Kevin Dagget.

Todd Lilley, senior pastor of Mount Olivet UB church (Mt. Solon, Va.), was ordained by Bishop Phil Whipple on Sunday, October 31. Assisting in the ordination were Dennis Sites (senior pastor of Jerusalem Chapel, Churchville, Va.), Daniel Lam (a lay minister from Mount Olivet), and Kevin Dagget (pastor of a local Brethren in Christ church).

Fonda Cassidy, a member of Mount Olivet, writes:

“This was a great and joyous occasion for our church family. We all enjoyed a meal afterward together.We had 114 people in attendance. What a privilege we have been given by God to give His love away in such a manner, and have people who commit themselves to the calling of God and Christ Jesus. We are so thankful for our pastors. We are thankful for those who invest their lives in others!”

Todd has been pastor of Mount Olivet since 2007. He graduated in 1996 from Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in Management and Organization, and received a Masters in Church Leadership from Liberty University in 2010. He and Dina, a registered nurse, were married in 1989 and have two children.

07 Nov

November 7, 2011 |

Billy Simbo, former bishop of Sierra Leone Conference, now back in the States, sent this note on November 3 about his wife, Mamei:

“The diagnosis is that Mamei has poisoning in her blood which made her system shut down. She has pneumonia. All of this was confirmed from the fluid they drew out of her right lung yesterday. Also, they have her on dyalisis because her kidneys are not functioning so well today. At least now they know what the problem is and they are treating her accordingly. She will remain of the respirator for now and they will also keep her sedated. Thank you for praying with us and for us.”

04 Nov

November 4, 2011 |

Huntington University’s EXCEL Adult Degree Programs has launched an Online Writing and Learning (OWL) lab to assist students with their writing assignments.

EXCEL students can now email their work to the OWL to receive suggestions and feedback. The submissions are reviewed by EXCEL instructors with English/writing teaching backgrounds.

“Students have the opportunity to acquire feedback tailored to their specific needs before their paper is turned in and graded,” said Nilah Horner (right), an EXCEL instructor and facilitator of the OWL program. “Content-area instructors can then focus their time on instructing their subject matter rather than on writing improvement.”

02 Nov

November 2, 2011 |
"Refresh"

"Refresh"

Huntington University animation students are taking the festival circuit by storm. The Toronto International Student Animation Festival has announced their decision to feature “Refresh,” an animated film created by Huntington University seniors Sean Cruse of Melville, N.Y., Benjamin Kroll of Mount Lake Park, Md., and Matthew Weener of Hudsonville, Mich. This recognition marks the film’s fifth festival approval.

“Refresh” deals with the disparity between people who are privileged and those who live without. Without delving into politics in any way, the film simply asks audiences to take a hard look at how people use limited resources and if there is any way to help those with less.

“I came up with the idea after feeling a need in my heart to help those without clean water,” Cruse said. “Water is essential for life, and I believe in Jesus’ teachings to help those in need.”

The following festivals selected to feature “Refresh”:

  • 2011 Stop Motion Magazine Film Festival in Los Angeles, Calif.
  • 2011 Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival in Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 2011 Toronto International Student Animation Festival in Toronto, Canada.
  • 2011 Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, Kan.
  • 2011 Columbus International Film & Video Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

“Making festival pieces was one of the goals we set for ourselves when building the digital media arts program,” said Steve Leeper (right), associate professor of Digital Media Arts. “It has taken a few years, but we’re finally starting to see films like ‘Refresh’ reach a wider audience. This is a significant milestone for us. We tell our students from the beginning that being an artist and finding an audience is what we do now, not just something to think about off in the future. Sean, Ben, and Matt are making that statement true. We’re very proud of them.”

01 Nov

November 1, 2011 |

Rocky Spear (right), Senior Pastor, Mongul UB Church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

On September 11, 2011, Mongul Church began 40 Days of Community. During the next 40 days, 10 home groups met, along with two Sunday school classes and one Wednesday night small group. Over 110 individuals participated in small groups, with each group making plans to serve their community in a meaningful way.

Celebration Sunday was held October 23. Our volunteers prepared a breakfast held between the two morning services. The total morning attendance was 242, with 20 first-time guests.

Excitement is building for reaching into our community. God is working in Shippensburg, Pa.

31 Oct

October 31, 2011 |

On Sunday, October 30, Morocco Church (Temperance, Mich.) surprised Pastor Todd Greenman (right) and his wife Eva by honoring them for Pastor Appreciation Month. There was a reading in their honor, and a fun skit was performed by several church members.

The church presented Eva with flowers and a gift card to both of them. After the service a special cake was served to all who stayed for fellowship. Morocco prays for God’s blessing on Eva and Pastor Todd!

29 Oct

October 29, 2011 |

Passing out Bibles.

Sitting in car trunk.

Over 400 visitors came to the annual “Trunk and Treat” outreach at Findlay First UB (Findlay, Ohio). The church passed out 300 Bibles.

Six years earlier, it was noticed that the community was using the parking lot of Findlay First UB as a parking area for the trick or treat night. The church decided to provide coffee, a restroom break, and entertainment for the visitors.

Every year it has grown to one of the major outreach events for the community. This year, 13 trunks passed out candy, tracts, and Bibles to the participants.

27 Oct

October 27, 2011 |

A United Brethren work group from Canada traveled to Haiti on October 17 to conduct medical clinics in our churches. Joan Sider is sending daily reports for the team. She previously wrote about Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Here is her report for Monday, October 24.

Joan Sider

We’re so grateful to God for our safe arrival home from our mission in Haiti. Each of the team members are thrilled about the trip we have had and what was accomplished in a relatively short period of time. Again, I want to stress that it is a two way street–we give, but they give so much also. That is why many of us return trip after trip.

Our last morning together at the guest house was a leisurely one–packing, taking pictures, having a new experience–drinking coconut water–chatting with Pastor Richard and other staff, and hardest of all, saying good-bye.

Audrey did her usual great job of writing a team song. We sang it together at our last meal. Thanks Audrey for keeping up the tradition.