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29 Sep

September 29, 2011 |

Shelly FranckaShelly Francka has joined Huntington University’s EXCEL Adult Degree Programs as its new director. She replaces Rick Upchurch, who left this summer to take a position with a college in South Dakota.

Francka comes to the university from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., where she was the director of the MBA program. She holds a Master in Business Administration degree from Southwest Baptist University, a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, and an Associate in Science degree in practical nursing. She is currently working on her doctorate in business administration.

“The passion and dedication of faculty and staff of Huntington University was instrumental my decision to join HU,” Francka said. “It is so refreshing to see such dynamic individuals unite for a common goal, shared vision, and student success.”

As the new director, Francka hopes to continue to support growth in the current EXCEL programs, create a greater awareness of EXCEL in the local communities, and develop new programs by identifying employer and community needs.

“I would love in the next two years for the enrollment to double,” she said.

26 Sep

September 26, 2011 |

20 of the 24 people from Anchor who participated in the various Fort4Fitness events on September 24. Pastor Tim and Tara Hallman are in the back row on the right. (click to enlarge)

Among the 9400+ people who participated in last weekend’s Fort4Fitness event in Fort Wayne, Ind., were 24 persons from Anchor Community Church. In a congregation of 120 people, that’s a pretty good representation.

Most of the Anchor people participated in the 4-mile walk, held Saturday morning, September 24. Pastor Tim Hallman and his wife, Tara, both ran the 13.1 mile half-marathon–Tara’s third time, Tim’s second time.

The kids, along with assorted parents, grandparents, and aunts, participated in the Kids’ Marathon, which stretches over a period of 12 weeks during the summer. During that time, children walked or ran in small increments (a mile or two), and kept a log book. Then they walked the last 1.2 miles, along with adults, to cross the finish line in Parkview Stadium.

Most of the Anchor participants wore their t-shirts and medals to church on Sunday, September 25.

26 Sep

September 26, 2011 |

David Grove, senior pastor, Ebenezer UB church (Greencastle, Pa.)

Our service on September 11 at Ebenezer UB opened with the lighting of a rememberance candle of our fallen heroes by a young man who is working towards his Eagle Scout. He was followed by two gentlemen who served in World War 2 and Vietnam as they presented the placement of the U.S. and Christian flags. We then held a patriotic medley celebration in song to celebrate the freedom that we have in the United States by those who shed their blood on the battle fields here at home and across the waters.

We also had a video and special presentation to celebrate the blessings of our grandparents as it was Grandparents Day as well. Our service of honor was then closed by a moving video of that day’s horrific events and a collage of all of those that perished on that day.

I delivered a message of hope and comfort following the video, speaking on the comfort and strength that God provided on that day and the day’s that followed, and which he continues to provide to each person today. We then closed the service by singing and joining together as one to the hymn of praise “God Bless America” as it took place that day when our elected officials united together on the steps of the Capital. The theme was not only to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, but to focus on the sustaining power of God in our daily lives.

23 Sep

September 23, 2011 |

Huntington University’s physical education students are offering a homeschool P.E. program for children ages 3 through 5th grade this fall.

Children will be split into one of four developmental levels: preschool (ages 3 and 4), grades K-1, grades 2-3 and grades 4-5. Classes are held in the Merillat physical education complex from 2:15 to 3 p.m. every Thursday from September 29 to December 8.

This service is available free to all area homeschooled children. Huntington University students conducting the elementary physical education class are either physical education majors or elementary education majors. (More information here.)

21 Sep

September 21, 2011 |

Huntington University recorded a strong enrollment this fall with the third highest overall enrollment in the school’s history, just 1.3% beneath the 2010 enrollment. Graduate and adult programs both set new enrollment records.

For fall 2011:

  • Huntington enrolled 1,009 undergraduate students, including its second largest class of traditional degree-seeking students.
  • The Graduate School set an enrollment record with 92 students.
  • The EXCEL Adult Degree Program set an enrollment record with 161 students.

Huntington strives to provide new and innovative programs for its students. The film studies, film production, and animation programs grew to 116 students overall this fall, up from 108 in 2010. The nursing program saw a 23% increase, with 75 students enrolled in the program this year.

Other tidbits about this fall’s student body:

  • Students hail from 23 countries and 35 states.
  • 63% are from Indiana.
  • 5% are ethnic minorities.

19 Sep

September 19, 2011 |

Troy Green, senior pastor, Monroe UB church (Monroe, Ind.)

We began our service with a video using pictures of September 11, 2001, set to the music of Alan Jackson’s song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning.” Following this video we entered into a time of reflection on how God has worked “good” even in times in our nation’s history that were meant for evil.

Our theme for the day was “Hope.” We sang songs like “My Hope is in the Lord,” “Because He Lives,” and “Jesus Messiah,” while posting various scriptures relating to hope in between the songs for people to read and meditate on.

The message was delivered from Sujo John, who was in the north tower on that day and whose preganant wife was to be in the south tower. He told his story of how he saw God work at ground zero. Sujo quit working his job at the Twin Towers and now travels around the world sharing God’s message of love and grace and forgiveness for all mankind.

We had 101 people in attendance with 16 visitors. The gospel message was presented by Sujo, and Pastor Troy commented on how this could also be a day to remember if anyone would accept Jesus as their personal Savior. We closed the service singing “Still.”

15 Sep

September 15, 2011 |

The 8 persons elected to the Executive Leadership Team at the US National Conference in July have appointed four additional members, as called for in the Discipline. They include one person from each region, including 2 ministers and 2 laypersons.

East Region: Daryl Elliott. Daryl has been a United Brethren pastor since 1985, serving four UB churches in Pennsylvania and Florida before his present assignment at Fountain Church in Keyser, W. Va. He holds degrees from The American University (B.A., Political Science, 1981), Evangelical School of Theology (M. Div., 1986), and Drew University (Ph.D., 1992). Other past roles include conference superintendent, Huntington University trustee, and President of the UB Historical Society. He and his wife, Ruthann, married in 1986, have two children.

Central Region: Timothy Krugh. Tim has attended Mainstreet UB church (Walbridge, Ohio), since 1975. He is an attorney with a Toledo-based law firm, with plans to slow down his practice in 2012. He has served on various denominational boards and commissions over the years, including the ELT 2007-2011. Tim and his wife, Jeanie, were married in 1975 and have three adult children.

North Region: Bob Tobey. Bob is a laymen from Colwood UB (Caro, Mich). He and his wife, Jolene, who grew up at Colwood, met at Huntington University and were married after graduating in 1980. Bob is a schoolteacher and athletics coach. He and Jolene have been very active at Colwood during the past 30 years, and for a number of years directed the denominational Bible Quiz program. They have two daughters.

West Region: Kent Koteskey. Kent is executive pastor of Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.). He has served in ministry since 1992, and at Emmanuel since 2001, initially as youth pastor. He is a previous chair of the denominational Youth Ministry Team. Kent graduated from Asbury College in 1992 and from the Huntington University graduate school in 2002, and was ordained in 2002. Kent and his wife, Amy, a registered nurse, were married in 1994 and have four children.

15 Sep

September 15, 2011 |

Mike Caley (right), senior pastor, Banner of Christ UB (Byron Center, Mich.)

We held a special worship and prayer service around the theme “Faith, Hope & Love.”

We started the service with the worship song “Hope of the Nations,” and then used a short video from the Skit Guys, titled “Ten Years Ago.” It took us all back, and then challenged us to look at the evil in our world through the reality of God’s power and authority. He is ultimately in control.

There was no preaching service, but three sections of scripture, appropriate worship, and times of silent and directed prayer.

15 Sep

September 15, 2011 |
  • Douglas Sandman has been named senior pastor of Pleasant Hill UB (Greencastle, Pa.) effective September 11, 2011. He was granted a local church ministerial license on August 29. He graduated in 2005 from Lancaster Bible College with a degree in Pastoral Ministry, and from its graduate school in 2011 with a master’s in Pastoral Studies. For 20 years, he worked as a cabinet maker and woodworker. Douglas previously pastored Faith Calvary Church (Lancaster, Pa.) 2007-2009. He and his wife, Cynthia, have two sons, ages 28 and 19.
  • Rick Pride has resigned as senior pastor of Eagle Quest UB (Columbia City, Ind.) effective September 4, 2011. He had pastored Eagle Quest since June 2002.