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07 Dec

December 7, 2010 |

Lake View UB church (Camden, Mich.) is putting on three performances of “The Christmas Song,” a dramatic musical presentation.

  • Friday, December 10, 7 pm
  • Saturday, December 11, 7 pm
  • Sunday, December 12, 6 pm

The Christmas Song features a 28-voice choir, inspirational drama, and music that will touch your heart. The remarkable story of God’s love is powerfully revealed…from the angel’s appearance to Mary; to the Decree of the Census and the journey to Bethlehem; to their desperate search for shelter; and finally, the breathtaking joy of the Christ child’s birth.

Tickets are free, but are necessary for admission. To obtain tickets, call: 517-567-8529

Lake View is located a half-mile west of M-99, 2 miles north of Pioneer, Ohio; and 16 miles south of Hillsdale, Mich.

06 Dec

December 6, 2010 |

New Hope's worship teams leads people in singing during the dedication service.

Senior Pastor Ray A. Seilhamer

The view from the upstairs technology booth.

New Hope UB church (Huntington, Ind.) dedicated its new Family Life Center during a 4pm service on Sunday, December 5. Bishop emeritus Ray A. Seilhamer, senior pastor of New Hope Church, emceed the service. Gary Dilley, senior pastor of cross-town College Park Church, gave the dedication address. A meal followed the service.

The 13,300-square-foot facility includes:

  • A gymnasium/fellowship hall with a large stage on one end.
  • A new kitchen.
  • A large lobby area.
  • A youth area upstairs.
  • An exercise room.

New Hope started out as Etna Avenue UB church. The congregation moved to the current location in 1976 under the leadership of senior pastor Jim Sturgeon (who passed away on October 22, 2010). In the mid-1980s, during the tenure of senior pastor Russ Birdsall, they added a Christian education wing with classrooms, a fellowship hall, a new foyer, and offices.

The congregation decided to build the Family Life Center in 2007, and launched a fundraising campaign. A groundbreaking service was held April 25, 2010.

The financial goal is $836,576. To date, they have raised $628,060 in cash, with a total of $751,857 in gifts and commitments. If the church meets its financial goals, they will have a debt of $93,000 after 2012.

New Hope has a membership of 150, with 200 people who attend at least one service a month. The total constituency is over 300. Ministries the church currently runs include:

  • The Stephen Ministry, which has existed for over 5 years.
  • GriefShare, a powerful ministry which will start its fourth group next spring.
  • DivorceCare, which just completed its first group.
  • Pioneer Clubs, a midweek children’s ministry.
  • A “Carpenter Shop” and food pantry, which minister to people within and outside of the congregation.

Beginning in January 2011, New Hope will work under College Park Church’s Upwards Basketball program. The new facility will provide practice space for the basketball teams and cheerleaders, and games will be held on Saturday mornings.

06 Dec

December 6, 2010 |

Steve HenrySteve Henry, pastor at Victory Heights UB Church in Franklin, Pa., had a heart attack on Sunday, Dec. 5, after shoveling snow. He has had two previous major heart surgeries. He is now in the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Bishop Phil Whipple will visit Steve in the hospital Monday night, Dec. 6.

They’ve had a bit of snow, so pray not only for Steve and his recovery but for Phil and Sandy Whipple as they travel to Pittsburgh, then on to Cochranton on Tuesday.

02 Dec

December 2, 2010 |

Three Michigan brothers from Morenci, ages 9, 7, and 5, have been missing since Friday, November 26. A widespread search was called off on December 2.

Ron Evans (right), senior pastor of Kunkle UB church, located across the border from Morenci, wrote on December 2: “We had a prayer service last night for the three missing boys. This service was open to the public, and we had 85 who gathered to seek God’s intervention and help for them.”

02 Dec

December 2, 2010 |

Former bishop Paul Hirschy, now on staff at Huntington University, sends out a monthly email newsletter spotlighting prayer concerns regarding the college. Here are three items from his latest newsletter, sent on December 1.

Economic Stress
Pray for the Huntington University community (faculty, staff, students, and families). The tight economic situation is impacting all of us in some way. Pray for guidance as leaders address several needs that were suspended from the budget.  Pray that morale will remain high! Please pray that our demonstration of faith in God will be a positive example to all who observe us!

Faculty Searches
We have faculty searches for mathematics, psychology, music, and librarian. Pray that God will direct the right people to apply for these positions! Pray for the people who are doubling up to cover these needs.

Nursing Program Accreditation
The university should receive word in April 2011 if the accreditation has been approved. Pray for the nursing faculty and staff as they follow up with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for this important accreditation.

If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, you can subscribe here.

02 Dec

December 2, 2010 |

Women at Zion United African Church in Philadelphia, Pa.

At the end of  October and into November, I spent several weeks in Pennsylvania.

On October 31, I spoke at Zion United African Church, the UB church in Philadelphia where Joe Abu is the pastor. That was an interesting and fun experience. They had dubbed it as sort of a rally day. Some other ethnic churches in the area came over. The building was packed–and it’s quite a large building—with what I guessed to be several hundred people.

Bishop Phil Whipple speaking at Zion United African Church.

They had special African garb for me to wear. They warned me that there would be dancing. I’ve been to Mozambique, in Africa. The shuffle common in Mozambique was the same that the folks from Sierra Leone do. It was a very fun experience.

I spoke at Franklintown UB church (Franklintown, Pa.) on November 7, and then at Prince Street Church (Shippensburg, Pa.) on November 14.

About 35 pastors attended the Mid-Atlantic Resource Day, held November 7-8 at Rhodes Grove Camp in Chambersburg, Pa.

I saw a lot of pastors and had some very productive conversations. I sensed that pastors were thankful to see me on their terms, at their place, to hear their heart and see their ministry. In the past, annual conferences were the connection bishops had with pastors. The National Conference is a great experience, but it’s not conducive to meeting people beyond a handshake. Part of the need of the bishop’s office is to get out and meet our pastors on their turf. It’s helpful to speak to them when there is not a problem, to get acquainted when things are going well.

I’ve now been in 105 churches since taking this position. I’ll visit the Pixley UB church in California in January, and visit the Florida churches later. During the summer, Sandy and I took a 26-day tour through the west and visited 11 churches. By comparison, I saw more churches during my two weeks in Pennsylvania in a much shorter span of time. My hope is to have been in every UB church in the United States by National Conference in July 2011. I think it’s doable.

16 Nov

November 16, 2010 |

The annual Winter Slam youth retreat is coming up February 4-6, 2011. This annual retreat, which has been held for about 20 years now, will take place in southwest Pennsylvania at the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center near Mount Pleasant, Pa.

You can read all about it on the UB website–schedule, speakers, musicians, how to register, etc. There are a variety of items you can download.

Bring some teens from your youth group for fun and spiritual inspiration.

12 Nov

November 12, 2010 |

Thirteen Huntington University students will be taking the plunge next week to help those in need in the Chicago area.

The trip, known as Urban Plunge, is sponsored by the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service on campus and will take place Nov. 19-21.

“Our purpose for the trip to Chicago is twofold,” said Grace McBrayer, director of first-year students and volunteer services. “First and foremost, it’s to engage in service in these organizations and to the people in need there, but it’s also to create an educational opportunity for our students to encounter a culture, community or people that may be different for them.”

The students will work with various service organizations including:

  • Emmaus Ministries. They will participate in an Immersion Night, which is an attempt to stop male prostitution.
  • Cornerstone Community Outreach. They will help sort through clothes for the Outreach’s “free store” where those in need may obtain clothing.
  • A Just Harvest. They will work in the soup kitchen.

“I think it will be a shock to some, uncomfortable for many, and different for all of us. I also think, however, that it will be a good learning experience,” said Dana Lancaster, a junior at HU and the student organizer of the trip.

The students attending the trip are:

  • Felicia Pettigrew, a senior graphic design major, from Lampe, Mo.
  • Regina Brenneman, a senior elementary and special education major, from Delphos, Ohio
  • Jonathan Zamora, a freshman undecided major, from Chicago, Ill.
  • Mitsuzi Stone, a sophomore nursing major, from Jamaica
  • Brittany Scales, a freshman educational ministry-family and children major, from Rochester, Ind.
  • Monica Salvo, a junior social work major, from Deerfield, Wis.
  • Heather Mayer, a sophomore educational ministry-family and children major, from Ossian, Ind.
  • Margaret Kubina, a junior biology major, from Sheridan, Ind.
  • Justin Sommer, a junior youth ministries major, from Berne, Ind.
  • Sean Cruse, a senior animation major, from Melville, N.Y.
  • Catherine Rinchak, a freshman fine arts major, from Chesterton, Ind.
  • Rebekah Lantz, a junior psychology major, from Fowlerville, Mich.
  • Dana Lancaster, a junior entrepreneurial/small business management major, from Hereford, Pa.

12 Nov

November 12, 2010 |

From Sam Suman, senior pastor of Trinity UB (Fostoria, Ohio): ”

A scheduled four-day revival spontaneously expanded to an eight-day outpouring of God’s Spirit on the UB church in Fostoria, Ohio. God’s people were willing seekers around the altars each evening. The final Sunday morning service ”shook” with the Presense of God’s Spirit. The transforming power of the preached Word of God brought all of us to our knees.

“This was an extention of the spiritual renewal that is gripping the church in Fostoria. This past summer we saw the salvation of three persons over the age of 55. God is still reaching people that the statistics say are unreachable. A renewed missionary zeal is gripping the ”old folk” at Trinity UB.”

10 Nov

November 10, 2010 |

Jim Woodward, a member of First UB church of Findlay, Ohio, didn’t think his city was living up to its Congressional designation as Flag City USA. So he contacted the Downtown Findlay Improvement District, which bought 186 2×5-foot flags. Woodward then joined inmates from the country jail to install the flags around town in time for Veterans Day.

WTOL ran an article about Woodward on its website, with an accompanying video. Woodward is a barber in Findlay.