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14 Aug

August 14, 2008 |

Archie Kent, 94, a retired UB minister from Rugby UB church (Hope, Ind.) passed away on Wednesday, August 14. He served United Brethren churches in Anderson, Alexandria, Rugby, Huntington, Warren, New Castle and Williamsport, Ind., and Sherkston, Canada. He also had been an accountant with Canadian Fairbanks-Morris Co. in Canada.The arrangements are:

Visitation: Saturday, August 16, 4-8 p.m.
Location: Norman Funeral Home, Hope, Ind. The funeral home is located on State Road 9 on the west side of the town square.
Funeral: Sunday, August 16, 2 p.m. Visitation will occur 1-2 prior to the service.
Location: Ruby UB church.
Burial: Hawcreek Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian, whom he married in 1938. There are also six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

The ladies of the Rugby church plan to serve a dinner following the burial service. Memorial contributions may be given to Rugby UB church.

14 Aug

August 14, 2008 |

Marty Wilt has been named pastor of the Underwood UB church (Oakland, Md.). Marty holds a local conference license at Underwood. Marshall Woods, the previous pastor, resigned so he could give more time to the Mill Chapel congregation (Reedsville, W. Va.), which he also pastors.

13 Aug

August 13, 2008 |

As pastor of Mainstreet Church, I told the staff that we needed to take the lead in reaching non-Christians. We needed to look for redemptive opportunities.

I started going to the same barber every two weeks. He wasn’t a believer, which is why I went there. He didn’t come to faith, but I always felt he was getting close. I went to the same gas station, same coffee shop.

Our youth pastor got involved in sports leaves run by the community. Rather than fight them, let’s get involved with them. He would go to soccer games, meet people who didn’t know Christ, and try to reach them.

What are you doing to intentionally create relationships with non-Christians? Post a comment.

12 Aug

August 12, 2008 |

In our travels I have heard rumors of a few of our smaller to medium sized churches discussing plans to build. That concerns me. Having led one church through two major building projects and another through major renovations, I know a little about the processes and impact such a move can have.

Several factors suggest that building more buildings is not always the wise decision to make as a steward of the Lord:

  • The state of today’s economy.
  • The fact that most of our churches, even those who are discussing building, are virtually stagnant or in decline.
  • The availability of creative new solutions that were not available even a few years ago.

But if you are still discussing building, please STOP and ask the following questions.

Can you present a clear rationale that answers these questions:

  • Why are you building?
  • What are you building?

I have heard of and talked to churches that erected buildings, and when the leaders were asked what it would be used for, they answered that they thought it would be a good part of their facility to have. No strategy. No plan.

If you cannot clearly communicate what will take place in that building once it is completed and how it will help you achieve your vision, DON’T BUILD!

2. Have you exhausted ALL avenues of meeting the need for which you are building?

Many churches only look at one solution for their need.

  • Could you double use your currently rooms with some flexibility in meeting times?
  • Are there other facilities nearby that could be used or rented to meet the need?
  • Is there a way to do a video venue to another part of your building to solve your over-crowding in worship?
  • Is there any way to do something short of building another building?

3. Is there another church in the area you can partner with rather than build?

The Body of Christ (all believing churches) has literally billions of dollars of assets sitting woefully underused across this country. If turf wars could end and barriers between fellowships would cease, we could work together to accomplish something great. Church is about relationships and transformational change, not buildings. So could you use a resource another church has that they would make available to meet your goals and needs?

There are other good questions to ask but these can get you thinking. Remember, people draw people. Relationships, not buildings, are the most important thing. And the only reason to build something is if that building will provide the most effective means of accomplishing your goals.

11 Aug

August 11, 2008 |

Ruby Cherry passed away Saturday, August 9. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at Eden UB church (Mason, Mich.). Visitation will be at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 900 Michigan Ave., Lansing, Mich., at these times:

  • 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 12.,
  • 9-10 a.m. Wedneday, August 13.

Ruby was the wife of longtime UB minister Harold Cherry, and the mother of Kevin Cherry, currently pastor of Heart O’ the Lakes UB in Brooklyn, Mich. Rev. Milan Maybee will officiate at the funeral.

Contributions for those desiring to do so can be to the Gideon International or Global Ministries of the United Brethren in Christ.

11 Aug

August 11, 2008 |

John Cole, pastor of Northland UB (Traverse City, Mich.)
Last year we set a goal to have 40 children attend VBS, and we met that goal. This year we wanted to reach 50-60 children and their families. We held VBS on Friday evening, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday morning during the worship service. Not only did we serve a total of 55 children, but we had probably a dozen visitors, including one who told John that she felt the Holy Spirit’s presence at our church.

At the conclusion of the VBS, which had a service theme, we took the children to an assisted living facility just down the road from the church. The children sang a couple of songs to the residents and gave them each a sun catcher they had made during the weekend. Even the smallest children willingly gave gifts and hugs to the residents. We wanted to give the children and their families an immediate opportunity to serve their community, and they did.

One parent sincerely thanked us for having VBS on the weekend because, as a parent who works fulltime, her child had previously been unable to participate. She also expressed a desire to begin attending Northland.

All of these things are great, but the best part of the weekend was when ten children, three from our own congregation, accepted Christ. We were so excited last year when three children made commitments. We have been asking God to show us needs in our community that we could meet and through this He has shown us lonely people who need companionship, parents who crave safe activities for their children, and many children and families who need hope. We got to share that hope with so many this weekend. We praise God for showing up in such a powerful way.

11 Aug

August 11, 2008 |

Leslie Lightner, an ordained United Brethren minister, passed away August 8 at age 58. He served as associate pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.) and as senior pastor of Park UB (Bluffton, Ind.). Most recently, he has been a professor at Winebrenner Theological Seminary (Findlay, Ohio). The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at Winebrenner, with visitation 204 and 6-8 p.m. on August 12.

11 Aug

August 11, 2008 |

Today we learned about the deaths of three persons who are well-known in United Brethren circles.

  • Ruby Cherry passed away over the weekend. She and her husband, Harold, spent a lifetime in the United Brethren ministry; their son, Kevin, is senior pastor of Heart O’ the Lakes UB church in Brooklyn, Mich. Ruby’s funeral is Wednesday.
  • Leslie Lightner, who served on staff at College Park (Huntington, Ind.) and pastored Park UB (Bluffton, Ind.), passed away on Friday. His funeral is tomorrow at Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio, where he has been a professor for a number of years.
  • Mrs. Archie Braithwaite, whose husband was a former Jamaica Conference superintendent, also passed away. We don’t have details, just the information that they had been living in Miami, Fla.

09 Aug

August 9, 2008 |

In June, Pam and I spent some time with Dalton Jenkins, pastor of our small Jamaican church in Yonkers, N.Y. We had supper with Dalton and his wife, Jacqueline (right), and then they showed us the 600-square-foot building where the congregation–about 22 people–hold services.

Dalton’s mother-in-law is Mrs. Larimer. She and her husband served in ministry in Jamaica. She’s very much a prayer warrior and preaches some. When I attended Jamaica Conference two years ago, she was invited to pray at the installation of Winston Smith as General Superintendent and the members of the Conference Council. They live with Dalton and Jacqueline.

The city of Yonkers is being upgraded. It is totally different from the Bronx, where we have another Jamaican church. Yonkers has a more upscale feel. They have a whole waterfront area that looks pretty upscale. Within a few blocks of the church are people from five or six nationalities–Mexican, Polish, Jamaican, and others. They are trying to figure out the best way to reach people in this type of community.