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10 Jul

July 10, 2009 |

We run into people who think effective change is about methodologies, about us giving you a program to use. Our message has been, “It’s not about a prepackaged method, but about finding the most effective way to accomplish your mission in your locality.” How that happens in southern Ohio is different than southern Michigan. The key is what you’re trying to accomplish, not how. Bishop Ramsey and I have been consistent on that.

Most of our churches think in terms of program, not process. The mission is to make maturing disciples who reach other people, but most churches haven’t thought through a clear process for taking a totally heathen person who doesn’t know Jesus and leading them to a relationship with Jesus Christ, then to becoming dependent on Christ and sharing the gospel with others. There aren’t clear processes.

Instead, churches too often are just doing church. They know what programs they want, what music they like. But they aren’t thinking missionally about their role in the body of Christ and how to walk people through the maturing process. People don’t think in those terms, only in doing church and being cared for.

09 Jul

July 9, 2009 |

We previously mentioned that the former UB camp in Hillsdale, Mich., the Michindoh Camp and Conference Center, has been gifted to Spring Arbor University in Michigan. It is dated June 1, so it’s somewhat old news at this point, but you may be interested.
Follow the link below for the text of the press release.
(more…)

08 Jul

July 8, 2009 |

Ron Ramsey: One common problem I’ve seen in our churches involves conflict resolution. They’re not good at dealing with conflict.

Pat Jones: We have hammered the Matthew 18 principles of conflict resolution. Sinful conflict is a major hindrance in our churches. We’ve seen and experienced that for years. Ron and I committed, at the beginning, to address sinful situations. In churches, how you disagree and address your grievances is vital.

Ron: I think you manage conflict, not resolve it. If it resolves, that’s good. But sometimes you can’t resolve it, yet can manage it so it doesn’t hinder what God wants to do in that place. Some conflict is just difference of opinion. Some conflicts are more substantive, issues between sin and righteousness. You would like to think that people not approaching it from a righteousness standpoint would be conflicted by the Spirit, but sometimes they hang in there, and it becomes a power struggle.

Too often, it’s a matter of power, of who gets to call the shots. People want to sit in the big seat and make decisions. Sometimes this stems from seeing pastors come and go, come and go. They figure the current pastor will only be there for a while, so they’ll run the church how they want. The pastor will just be a chaplain. We’ve tried to break up some of that thought. People forget that there is only one power source, one power seat, and that’s the seat that Christ sits in, and we’re all servants of him.

Pat: We have helped address the alligators, and I’m not afraid of addressing them. But we do that by opening up the scriptures and saying, “This is how God says it should be handled.” I don’t say you must agree with me, but here is what the Bible says about how you disagree with me. Here’s what Titus says about divisive people. You’re not battling me; you’re battling a scriptural truth.

08 Jul

July 8, 2009 |

Lim_200.jpgFollowing weeks of pneumonia and respiratory distress, the Lord has taken to Himself our sister Restituta Lim, wife of Rev. Prudencio Lim, superintendent of our Philippine National Conference. Funeral services will take place in Manila this coming Saturday.

Mrs. Lim was a faithful wife, devoted mother, and loving grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, four children, and ministry partner, Rev. Lim. Long-time friends of the family and national conference, Rev. Mike Brown, remembers fondly her love for people and anchoring affect in their home and ministry.

I recall walking the slums of Manila with the Lims, the two of them hand-in-hand, partners in ministry and life sharing the love of Christ with everyone they met. Global Ministries will be passing on any benevolent gifts received to assist the family in paying for the hospital bills that have accumulated over the past six weeks.

07 Jul

July 7, 2009 |

Huntington University is co-sponsoring an August 7 concert with MercyMe in Fort Wayne, Ind. It’ll be held at Parkview Field, the new ballpark which is home to the semi-pro TinCaps baseball team.

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

Tickets for ages six and older are $11 in advance or $16 at the door and may be purchased at the Anchor Room Bookstore in Fort Wayne. You can also order tickets through Trinity Communications.

Also performing is Attaboy, an alt-pop band which includes two Huntington University alums, Amos Caley and Jeff Edgel.

07 Jul

July 7, 2009 |

The wife of Rev. Prudencio Lim, our superintendent in the Philippines, has been in and out of the hospital for a number of weeks with pneumonia. She is currently on a ventilator and is not doing well. When I was with them the week following our the US National Conference, it seemed she would be home soon. In addition to her poor health, hospital bills are mounting quickly.

On a brighter note, Rev. Lim has done remarkably well recovering from the stroke he suffered late last year. He has just recently begun preaching again and did a marvelous job walking me through the neighborhoods of Manila to visit churches and pastors during my short visit.

07 Jul

July 7, 2009 |

The Staff Openings page added a senior pastor listing for Colwood UB in Caro, Mich. That’s the church currently pastored by Phil Whipple, who was elected bishop. He’ll be moving to Huntington, Ind., at the beginning of August. 

07 Jul

July 7, 2009 |

Donna Hollopeter has been excited about participating in the China team this summer. On Thursday, July 9, the first group of 16 people are scheduled to leave for China. But on Monday, Donna was diagnosed with bronchitis. She saw a doctor, but had a reaction to prescribed medication. She’s seeing a doctor again today.

So say a prayer for Donna. She’d really like to be able to go to China this week.