Last Sunday evening, Sandy and I went to Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio) to hear senior pastor Marty Pennington talk to the small groups that normally meet on Sunday evenings. They set up their lobby as a coffeeshop and served coffee and donuts. He shared about their “BE” capital campaign. It was an enjoyable night.

We returned on Monday for a tour of the Mainstreet facility. It is an attractive and functional church. We shared lunch with Marty and Amy. It is exciting to see God at work.

On Tuesday morning, before we headed out of Ohio, we realized that we were only about 10 miles from Bethel UB in Elmore, Ohio. So we drove over there. Pastor Norm Pickett was visiting someone in the hospital, but the church secretary showed us around. She was a great guide and spoke in positive terms about the church and the impact it is having in the life of the community and in her family. It was exciting to hear. We then drove on to Franklin, Pa.

On Wednesday morning, we met with Steve Clulow’s cluster at the Atlantic Avenue church in Franklin. About 10 pastors were there. Gary Small, who pastors Atlantic Avenue, shared devotions about unity from Acts 4. Some good discussion followed and then I shared a little of what has been going on at Healthy Ministry Resources.

Gary took us on a tour of the new facilities under construction. They will have a new sanctuary, offices, and lobby, and the lower level is being turn into a delightfully decorated children’s area. God is at work.

Sandy and I then left Franklin around 11 and headed across Pennsylvania. And today, Thursday, it is on Yonkers to meet up with Dalton Jenkins and the Bethel Temple of Praise church. Looking forward to a good time together.

Greg Helman, Senior Pastor, Blue Rock UB (Waynesboro, Pa.)
Blue Rock Church held a roast for me at the Mont Alto Fire Hall to celebrate over 20 years of ministry for me. There was a tremendous turnout for the event. Some people who attended were in my Sunday school class when God called me to be a pastor. At that time, I was the teacher.

Photograph albums, posters, and a ministry scrapbook of weddings and funerals were laid out for all to see. A number of people stood up and spoke from the audience. Two of my children did a Top Ten of things they thought were both funny and serious about me. My wife shared her point of view from the call throughout the last 20-plus years.

Of course, they asked me to share some, and I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love through cards, gifts, and kind words. It was a wonderful night of good friends and good food.

David Burkett, Senior Pastor, Mount Morris UB (Mount Morris, Mich.)
For Pastor Appriciation Month this year, I received cards of appreciation, some including gifts of cash or gift cards, throughout the month. Then on Sunday, November 1, we had a “Pack-A-Pew” Sunday. We gave a prize to the person who brought the most first-time visitors. The prize-winner brought six new people with her! Following the morning service we had a potluck dinner at which my family and I were the honored guests.

Tell us how your church recognized Pastor Appreciation Month.

I want to announce the hiring of Denny Miller, senior pastor of Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind. He will work one day a week for Healthy Ministry Resources. He will oversee the cluster leaders and provide direction to the cluster system.

As I talk with other denominational executives, they all seem to like our cluster structure. I believe this system has great promise, but needs more direction.

Denny is uniquely equipped for this role. Some of our original ideas for clusters came out of the Healthy Church Leadership Team back 8 years ago. Denny was the chairman. I believe we can work on some new ways to help clusters have a greater impact in both training and meeting the needs of pastors.

We hope to roll out an updated strategy with our cluster leaders in January 2010.

We are excited about what is happening in many of our churches. We want to challenge all of our churches to pray hard and follow the direction that God leads us in to more effectively impact the towns and communities where we have churches. It is time to move with all of our energy to accomplish the mission that God has for us.

Beryl Fix, wife of former United Brethren minister Jack Fix, passed away Sunday, November 1, after suffering a heart attack. She was 94. Jack and Beryl’s ministry included pastoring College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.) and the former Olive View UB church (Sylmar, Calif.). Sons Gerald and Burney also served in the UB ministry. A memorial service will be held November 5 at 11 a.m. at Christ Community Church in Modesto, Calif.

Dick RaaabDick Raab, a retired United Brethren minister in Michigan, has been diagnosed with cancer and given 3-6 months to live. He learned that October 19 following a visit to the oncologist. Dick began radiation treatments on August 24 (which left him very sick), but a CT scan showed that the sarcoma tumors were growing despite the radiation.

Dick’s wife, Donelle, sent this note:

“The oncologist’s office is contacting hospice. This is tough news for the rest of us, but Dick will be enjoying great things beyond our imagination. Dick’s request for prayer is that he would be able to be a witness for his Lord, that he would maintain his sense of humor, and that he wouldn’t suffer too much pain. Hospice should help with the pain issue, but the rest is more up to him and God. Also, he’d love visits or phone calls.”

You can contact Dick by email at: [email protected].

Sandy and I spent the morning with Shoreline Church in Oak Harbor, Ohio. We enjoyed worshiping with them and sharing a testimony of God’s leading in our lives. Steve Fish is doing a good job of leading this congregation. He spoke out of John 13-14 about the 4 questions that were asked of Jesus by Peter, Thomas, Philip, and Judas.

It is wonderful to see God at work in the life of Shoreline. They are growing and have a vision to impact the shoreline of Lake Erie with the message of hope that comes from Christ.

TobyMac - Stephanie Smith - B.Reith - Attaboy

Christian musician tobyMac will perform at Huntington University on December 3 as part of his Winter Wonder Slam tour. The concert will also include Stephanie Smith, B. Reith, and Attaboy. It’ll be held in the athletic fieldhouse.

As in past years, Winter Wonder Slam will benefit the work of the U.S. Marine Corps in its annual Toys for Tots campaign. Concert goers are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift to the event.

Sys tobyMac, “I wanted to put together a diverse tour that rocks in many musical directions but always points to Christ. The Winter Wonder Slam Tour does have a Christmas theme, but every band will be playing their hits and doing it the way they do.”

Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets:

  • $23 in advance
  • $25 at the door
  • $18 per person for groups of 10 or more.

To purchase tickets by phone or mail, contact:
Trinity Communications at (260) 484-1029.
Huntington University’s Box Office at (260) 359-4261.

Follow the link to read about the performers.
(more…)

Flu Shots by Huntington University nursing students

Junior nursing student Megan Durham gives HU employee Grace McBrayer her flu shot while Professor Diana Shenefield looks on.

Huntington University’s Department of Nursing, in collaboration with the Huntington County Department of Health, offered flu shots on October 22. After learning fundamental skills this semester, the first class of nursing students from participated in giving seasonal flu vaccines at the flu shot clinic. The clinic took place in the university’s Science Hall.

Andy Sikora

Andy Sikora

Last night (Thursday), Sandy and I had supper with Andy and Merri Sikora, both Huntington University graduates who live in Berea, Ohio. Tom Blaylock was also there.

Andy is currently the Lead Teaching Pastor for the 707 Sunday night young adult ministry at Cuyahoga Valley Church in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Andy and Merri are going to plant a United Brethren church in Berea starting next fall. We had a great supper and conversation.

This morning Tom, Andy, and I met with:

  • Rick Duncan, who pastors Cuyahoga Valley Church.
  • Guy Stevens, who heads a church planting organization called NEO360, based in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Matt Jones, an intern with NEO360.

We had a great meeting as they shared their vision for impacting northeast Ohio with planting churches which not only see lost people come to Christ, but also impact their communities with their presence in every area. Exciting stuff. They want to partner with us to see a UB church planted.

We all want to work across denominational lines to accomplish the mission of impacting the kingdom of God.

Bishop Phil Whipple, Cathy Reich, and the staff of The Well

L-r: Bishop Phil Whipple, Cathy Reich (administrative assistant to the bishop and a member of The Well), Kim Chapman (office manager), Josh Kesler (senior pastor), Kevin Whitacre (Pastor of Youth and Pastoral Visitation), and Drew Wutke (Pastor of Worship and Creative Arts).

Good Shepherd UB Church

The Good Shepherd building.

Office building of The Well

The office of The Well.

Good Shepherd UB church of Huntington, Ind., has been undergoing major, major changes.

Last spring, they decided to sell their large property–a former monastery on a large tract of land–and meet in temporary facilities. August 16 was their final service in the building they had occupied for nearly 30 years.

They met for a few weeks in temporary facilities. Then, on September 13, they began meeting at Flint Springs Elementary School in Huntington. They plan to remain there for at least a year.

On that day, The Well was officially established. That’s the name of the church now. Good Shepherd UB church has effectively closed, and The Well has begun.

The office staff moved into quarters on Old US 24 on the east side of Huntington. A large open area can be used for youth meetings, music practice, and other things (since they have access to the school only on Sunday).

They have a buyer for the property, but the sale isn’t finalized. Nothing’s final until it’s final.

Josh Kesler has been the senior pastor since July 2008.

This congregation started in the 1950s under the name Grayston Avenue UB church, which reflected its location. When they bought the monastery, they changed the name to Good Shepherd.