The 2011 US National Conference is less than a year away. So you need to get it on your calendar, and churches need to allow for it in their 2011 budget. Every active, licensed minister is a delegate, and each church can send at least one lay delegate. We will need to know each church’s delegate(s) by February 15. Churches can look for their info packet to arrive sometime in August.

Dates: July 6-9, 2011.

That’s a Wednesday through Saturday, as opposed to the Thursday-Sunday schedule in previous years. The conference will begin with a service on Wednesday night, and conclude with a service on Saturday morning.

Location: Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio.

This facility served us well in 2007 and 2009, so we’re returning.

Theme: the Great Commandment of Luke 10:27.

The past two national conferences have focused on the Great Commission–evangelism. In 2011 we’ll focus on the inner life–loving God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.

Cost: Registration will range from $55 to $90 (single and family rates)

Lodging at Sawmill Creek will still be at the 2007 rate of $95 per room, per night.

Registration will open sometime in January 2011.

Pastor Darwin Dunten (left) with a group of baptism candidates at Findlay First Church.

Pastor Dunten with other baptism candidates.

Darwin Dunten, senior pastor of Findlay First UB church (Findlay, Ohio), sent the above photos of recent baptisms at his church. He included this report:

“This year, the church has had 7 salvations. (This does not include VBS or the jail ministry.)  We continue to pray that the Lord will grant us at least one genuine salvation a month. I am starting to think that our faith is too low.  Offerings are up by $20,000 over last year at this time.  New visitors almost every Sunday.  Gaining about one new family a month.  Kind of exciting.”

The office staff just received a phone call from Steve Dennie. He reports that he is (finally) home from the hospital on Thursday, July 22–very weak and tired, but home.

On July 15, Steve was taken to the Lutheran Hospital ER, where he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. For the next four days, he wasn’t able to eat or drink anything. Then, on July 19, his gall bladder was removed.

Steve will take some more days off to regain his strength before rejoining the office staff again. We’re grateful that he’s recovering and on the road to good health again. You’ve been missed, Steve!

Bishop Emeritus Raymond Waldfogel was admitted to a local hospital yesterday and has been undergoing tests, with more coming today. The prognosis, according to his daughter Susan Stong, is congestive heart failure. Additional tests today will help determine the course of treatment. Bishop Waldfogel is experiencing improved breathing today and will be visited by a cardiologist later this afternoon. The family appreciates the prayers of the Church.

Dean Hoffman passed away July 19 at 11:25 pm at York Hospital, York, Pa. It was very peaceful. Over the years, Dean had been very active in United Brethren camping and other ministries.

Viewing: 6-9 pm Thursday, July 22, at Idaville UB church (Idaville, Pa.).
Funeral: 10:30 am Friday, July 23. Viewing from 9:30-10:30 prior to the funeral service.
Location: The viewing and funeral service will be held at Idaville United Brethren Church, 3560 Carlisle Road, Gardners, Pa. Interment will be at Idaville Cemetary.

Today (July 15) is the day that 13 people from the Mt. Pleasant Church (Chambersburg, Pa.) begin an 11-day mission trip to Mexico. Their flight to Zacapu leaves at 5:15.

Mt. Pleasant is beginning a partnership with a sister United Brethren Church in our Mexico National Conference. They look forward to developing new friendships along the way. They will doing some construction on the church and run a week of Vacation Bible School.

Bobby Culler, the church’s youth pastor, has been keeping everyone updated through the trip’s Facebook Page, “Mexico Mission Trip 2010.”

Virginia (Royse) Blaine, 92, passed away at 3:17 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, 2010. She was the wife and companion in ministry since 1944 (66 years) of Rev. Robert Blaine, a longtime pastor in the United Brethren church.

The Blaines and their two children and families all live in Greenfield, Ohio.

Virginia was a member of the United Brethren Church in Greenfield for over 70 years. She had been attending Anchor Baptist Church in Washington Court House.

Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 16.
Visitation location: Anchor Baptist Church, 456 Jamison Road, Washington Court House, Ohio.
Funeral: 1 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at Anchor Baptist Church. Pastor Jeremy Griffith and Rev. William Blain will officiate.

George Rhodifer, 83, pastor of the Olivet UB church (New Lebanon, Ohio) and a cluster leader, passed away Tuesday night, July 13.

George began pastoring with the UB church in 1972, and served these churches in Ohio and Indiana: Wren/Greenbrier (Ohio), Innisdale (Ind.), Pleasant Hill (Ind.), Prescott Avenue (Ohio), Zanesville (Ind.), Mt. Victory (Ind.), Park Layne (Ohio), Hillsdale St. Mary’s (Ohio), and Olivet (Ohio). He also served in the US Army 1947-1950.

  • Viewing: Sunday, July 18, 5-8 p.m.
  • Viewing location: Newcomer Funeral Home, North Dayton Chapel, 4104 Needmore Road, Dayton, OH 45424.
  • Funeral: 12 noon Monday, July 19. Viewing one hour before the funeral. Roland Albert, pastor of Park Layne UB church, will officiate at the funeral.
  • Funeral location: Park Layne UB church, 1320 Styer Drive, New Carlisle, OH 45344.

Surviving are his wife, Beverly, whom he married in 1950; three children; 7 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Huntington University’s Institute for TESOL Studies (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), is conducting a three-week program in East Asia. This is the fourth year the University has been involved in this project. They are conducting both teacher training sessions for English teachers and English Camps for students. A broad network of friends has been developed through these efforts, and we would ask for your prayers.