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30 Jul

July 30, 2008 |

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Owen Gordon, president of Jamaica Bible College, sent this note on July 16:
Two weeks ago we brought down the curtain on another challenging, but successful year. We were blessed with a very beautiful graduation service. Our special guest speaker was Rev Dr Stephen Clark, son of Mr Ernest Clark, one of the three founding fathers of the College in 1945. Dr Clark gave a very inspiring and challenge address to the hundreds of persons in attendance.

There  were a number of firsts at this graduation:

  • We had the first group of 5 students graduating with a B.A in Theology with minor in Business.
  • Several students graduated with an Assoc Degree in Business. (There were other students with the Diploma in Theology)
  • Several students graduated with the Certificate in Business, & General studies.
  • Some students completed their Seconday level education under the ROSE II/ Ministry of Education program.

In all there were 59 students.

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Rejoice and pray with us for the following:

  • Lenique Powell, a Secondary level student who committed his life to the Lord in the Week-end Camp in February, has expressed a desire to return to study Theology. We are putting things in place to offer him a tuition Scholarship.
  • Duane Harris, another student who just completed his Assoc degree in Business, wants to do the BA in Theology. Pray for Scholarship support.

We will introduce several new programs in September 2008:

  • BA in Theology, minor in couseling.
  • BA in Psychology emphasis on counseling.
  • Assoc degree in Finance.
  • Early Childhood Certificate through the HEART NCTVET.

Our desire is to lift the standard of the College and increase and improve the offerings.
Pray with us for a good group of incoming students for September 2008, the necessary committed teaching/Administrative staff, and the necessary funding.

Two major challenges are ahead of us:

  1. Security.
  2. The challenge to change the name of the Institution to reflect the original vision and purpose, and broaden its appeal for funding, and student enrollment.

30 Jul

July 30, 2008 |

Many people have fond memories of attending summer camp while they were growing up. Friendships were formed, knees were skinned, challenges were conquered, and most of all, life long lessons were learned. Now that we are older, we are glad places like that still exist for our own kids and grandkids.

Camp Cotubic is one such place. It held a special place in the heart of Mr. Tom Ponsot, who passed away in the Spring of 2005. Tom saw the great potential of Camp Cotubic and volunteered his time and financial resources to preserve it as a place where his own grandkids and many other children could experience summer camp. Tom served as the chairman of the camp board for several years and was passionate about the camp’s ministry.

One of the challenges summer camps face is raising the financial resources to maintain high quality programs. To this end we are announcing the 4th Annual Tom Ponsot Memorial Golf Tournament:

Date: September 6, 2008
Registration: 7:30
Tee Time: 8 a.m.
Location: Clear Creek Golf Course, Huntington, Ind.
Cost: $50 per person (includes green fees, cart, snacks, and lunch).

The tournament will use a four-person/team Florida scramble format. Prizes will also be awarded in a variety of categories. All proceeds to go to support the ministries of Camp Cotubic.

To register, please contact Zanesville United Brethren church by email or phone (260-638-4220). For more information about Camp Cotubic, please visit the Camp Cotubic website.

30 Jul

July 30, 2008 |

I love books. I keep a lot of books at home, and I’ve given away a lot of books. Someone told me that a person who can read but doesn’t is no better off than a person who can’t read at all. Books can open up your mind and vista. You can do things by reading a book, be translated to somewhere else. That’s the magic of books.

Christian men are notoriously bad about not reading. At Scripture Press, when we produced a book for men, we had to use a cover with a soft design that would attract a woman, who would then buy it for a man. Women, we knew, buy more books than men, even books for men.

At Mainstreet, I was always after people to read. I gave the elders books to read, theology books. There are so many good Christian books.

29 Jul

July 29, 2008 |

Polly Dunten underwent surgery Monday morning to remove a brain tumor. Her husband Darwin, pastor of First UB in Findlay, Ohio, sent me this report this morning.

The surgery is over and the Lord answered our prayers.

The surgeon feels he got all of the tumor either through surgery or by burning it out. There is nerve damage and we will see to what extent in the next few days. She currently has numbness on her left side, However, I saw the most beautiful almost smile I ever saw this evening before I left her. The tumor was pressing hard on the brain stem.  It also “thinned” the nerve. Similar to an electric wire that looses its insulation.

Thank you so much for praying for us. God is good and I am so thankful He allowed me to have my wife for a little longer.

We heard from people from around the world and around the United States.  We are humbled. I have written a more indepth statement on Polly’s blog.

28 Jul

July 28, 2008 |

At Mainstreet Church, I used a big PVC pipe to illustrate the disciple-making process. Outside the pipe are people who don’t even acknowledge that God exists. But once they realize there is a God, they enter the pipeline, and we try to move them along–

  • realizing a need for God
  • learning about Jesus
  • realizing their need for Jesus
  • giving their life to Christ
  • and then growing.

It’s all part of the journey through the discipleship pipeline.

After a person came to Christ, I would tell him, “You need to go back to your non-religious friends and get them in the pipeline with you.”

“How do I do that?”

“Tell them what you did.”

So they’d come to church with someone on their arm, and would walk with them through the process.

Spiritual maturity is not measured by what you know, but by who is on your arm and heart on Sunday. If you don’t have someone on your arm and heart, don’t talk to me about your maturity.

25 Jul

July 25, 2008 |

Polly Dunten’s surgery to remove a brain tumor will be Monday morning, July 28, at 7:15. It should take 4-5 hours, and she’ll be hospitalized probably until Thursday. There is a lot more information on Polly’s blog in a post earlier today. Perhaps your church could remember this ministerial couple in prayer on Sunday.