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11 Jun

June 11, 2008 |

The UB church in Chanute, Kansas, recently changed their name from Highland Avenue to New Life. This church, under the leadership of Michael Longfellow (below), is about to take a major step. Michael Longfellow and school signThey bought an elementary school for $25,000, though it’s valued at several million dollars. They’re trying to sell their present church, but already have the money needed to buy the school, which is less than two miles away.

The school is in the process of moving out, but will leave behind a sound system and a lot of other equipment. It’s a good deal for them. They’ll need to do some refurbishing, but hope to begin holding services there by September.

The New Life Church has grown to two services reaching over 135 people. Their current sanctuary is small and parking is very limited. Their new facility will help them more effectively reach their community. Their goal is to see over 40 people come to Christ this year.

During a recent trip I made to Chanute, Michael and some of the lay people ministered to a young lady who was struggling with drugs and walked into the building seeking help. They led her to the Lord in the kitchen while I was preaching in the sanctuary. It is a great place of faith.

09 Jun

June 9, 2008 |

It’s always thrilling to hear encouraging reports from our churches. I recently received this email from Chris Little (right, below), senior pastor of Mount Pleasant UB church in Chambersburg, Pa. That is one of the churches we’ve been working with in the year-long consultation process, which we’ll wrap up with a service on June 22. Here is what Chris wrote:

“Just wanted to pass on a God moment from Sunday. The scripture was the stoning of Stephen. I used it as a time of forgiving and being forgiven. Ron Cook, months ago, gave me the idea of using a paper shredder with the congregation and it seemed appropriate, so out on a limb I went.

“When the sermon ran to its conclusion I told everyone they had a choice to make. Either hold on to your rocks and be in bondage to bitterness, or throw away your rocks and find the freedom of forgiveness. I placed an insert in the bulletin and had them write either names of individuals they needed to forgive, their own name if they were struggling with forgiving themselves, or even particular sins of which they are guilty. I invited people to come forward and find forgiveness by shredding the “stones” and throwing them away.

“Then I went to find a seat and pray, wondering if anyone was getting it.  I was overwhelmed by the response. During our traditional service we shredded stones for the entire duration of “Amazing Grace,” plus.  When I finally got up the courage to take a peak at what was happening, there was a line down the center of the church waiting for a chance to get to the shredder.

“During the second service (our smallest), it did not take nearly as long but the participation was wonderful. One woman was completely broken before God, sobbing at the altar in that middle service.

“Third service was abundantly beautiful. Young and old participated. Who knew the kids were even listening? Lines down both sides of the church as well as the center isle. Jesus was so clearly dealing with men and women, boys and girls, helping them not only to experience forgiveness but freedom.

“Jesus was so clearly working in the lives of the people in church this Sunday. When I stood up to address the congregation with words of assurance of Christ’s forgiveness, I saw the brokenness of the people.  The tears in people’s eyes nearly took me to tears. I am once again reminded that God is ever faithful. He is engaged in our lives in ways that we can see and sense, and ways that are beyond our normal realm of thinking. What a blessing to see the Spirit of God make such a tremendous difference in people’s lives.”

06 Jun

June 6, 2008 |

dean_micheal_220.jpgLast weekend, Pat Jones and I traveled to Kansas to examine Micheal Dean, a young man applying for a local license. He is pastor of the UB church in Sabetha, Kansas. (Yes, “Micheal” is the correct spelling.)

Micheal is actually a former prison convict, and he and his wife met in an alcohol recovery program at another church. The Lord gloriously saved and redeemed them. Micheal has such a fine spirit. Over dinner, he almost wore me out explaining all of the plans he has for reaching the community, including going back into prisons. Micheal is the real deal.

Michael Longfellow, the cluster leader, and I interviewed Micheal while Pat met with the board downstairs. Then we came together to sing and have prayer. It was a privilege to grant a local license to Micheal.

At one point, Sabetha had lowered its ceiling. They took it out and refurbished the tin roof. It’s now one of the neatest, cleanest small churches we have. I told him as soon as I walked in, “This doesn’t smell like a church.”

03 Jun

June 3, 2008 |

Jennifer Blandin sent these updates from Macau on June 3.

  • On May 30, Carlson and Naomi Becker returned to the States. Pray for their adjustment back to life in the States and reuniting with family and friends. Pray for the staff and Living Stone Church as we move through this time of transition.
  • Starting in June, I will be preaching twice a month at Living Stone Church. My first Sunday will be June 8. I have already started to prepare for that Sunday, and while it has not been easy, I have enjoyed the journey.
  • June 3 marks the beginning of the final term of English classes as they have been up until now. These classes will end July 10. Many relationships have been built over the years. English classes brought those relationships together, and now it’s an exciting time to discover new ways to keep them going.
  • Please be in prayer for those affected by the earthquakes in China. Beyond the many who have died, there is a great need for food, safe water, and places to live for those who have survived. There is also an acknowledgement of a great need for psychological help as well. Thankfully, Macau was barely affected by the earthquake and has been able to offer assistance and help to the mainland.

03 Jun

June 3, 2008 |

For change to occur in your church, you need to leave some things behind. That is hard. If you’re not willing to leave some things behind, you’ll never experience change. That’s true for us personally, for our families, and for our churches.

A lot of times, churches become layered: in the 1960s you did this, in the 1970s you added this, in the 1980s you began doing these things. You get all these layers operating, because nobody wants to leave anything behind.

It’s interesting the things we’re not willing to leave behind:

  • Pews
  • Worship style
  • Music preferences
  • Church dress code
  • Organizational structures

So ask yourself: What am I willing to leave behind? And then make sure it’s the right things.

How about it? What are some things you’ve seen that churches have difficulty leaving behind?

03 Jun

June 3, 2008 |

Carlson and Naomi Becker returned to the States on May 30, having served a three-year term in Macau. Carlson worked in the national office for about 25 years (1977-1993) in several different roles, including associate director of Missions, before accepting a pastorate in 1993. We appreciate their continued ministry during their “retirement” years, and their valuable contributions to the work in Macau. They now live in Cedar, Mich., which is northwest of Traverse City, where they previously pastored.

02 Jun

June 2, 2008 |

Indiana is getting its chance to host a “Hang with the Bishop” event. This is for pastors and laypersons from churches within driving distance of Huntington, Ind.

  • Date: Thursday, June 26
  • Time: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Location: College Park UB church, Huntington, Ind.

This is an agenda-less, informal meeting. Come with your questions, and Bishop Ron Ramsey and Pat Jones will do their best to answer them. Bring your staff or any interested persons from your congregation.

And by the way: lunch will be provided.

We need to know how many people are coming. So please RSVP to Cathy Reich, my administrative assistant, by June 19.

We previously held Hang with the Bishop meetings in southern Ohio, Chambersburg, Pa., and  Ashley, Mich.

30 May

May 30, 2008 |

Samaritan's Purse LogoGlobal Ministries is developing a strategic relationship with Samaritan’s Purse. The goal is to strengthen our relief and development efforts as a mission agency while unifying our denomination’s overall response to humanitarian need around the world.

In order to serve local churches, we will be receiving donations for Samaritan’s Purse and passing them on without charging any administration fees. We only ask that you indicate to which project(s) the amount is to be directed.

From year to year we will be able to report to you how much was given to relief needs as a denomination and individual churches. In addition, the only follow up mailings from Samaritan’s Purse will be those received by Global Ministries, not the local church or donors. We’ll be sure to keep you informed of the continuing needs and opportunities to contribute.

Currently, Samaritan’s Purse is heavily involved in caring for the needs of those in Myanmar who were victims of Cyclone Nargis and earthquake survivors in Szechuan Province in China. More information can be found at SamaritansPurse.org.

30 May

May 30, 2008 |

MikeBrown_Philippines_300.jpgMike Brown, pastor of Franklin UB church (New Albany, Ohio), joined Global Ministries Director Jeff Bleijerveld in the Philippines in early May, as our churches there celebrated their 25th anniversary. That’s Mike in the photo, preaching in the Philippines in 2006. As Mike began the 13-hour flight from Detroit to Japan, he prayed for an opportunity to witness. Here is what happened, in his own words.

The first 4-5 hours I slept and did some work. Sitting beside me was a Japanese man who appeared to be in his early 30s. Sitting beside him were a man and woman in their 60s. While I was working, the three of them engaged in a lot of conversation. When I wrapped-up my work and leaned my head back to rest, the woman asked if I was a Sunday school teacher or a minister.

“A minister,” I said.

We chatted briefly, and the Japanese man, who spoke pretty good English, appeared interested. When the lady turned to talk to her husband, the Japanese man started asking me nice, general questions–where I was from, my family, where was I going. I noticed he was reading a Christian book about the meaning of life, so I assumed he was a Christian. I asked him some questions from a Christian perspective, but his answers (and confusion) quickly told me he was not a Christian. As we talked, I learned that he was a very successful businessman, with degrees from the University of Michigan and Georgia Tech, and he had taken some Harvard business courses. He was flying home to Japan where he and his family lived.

I learned about the Japanese way of life, the seven-day work week, and the five-and-a-half day school week. He shared with me about his childhood; his father was a very successful construction company owner. He told me he could never remember his father eating dinner with the family, and only once does he remember “playing” with his father. Now that he was in his mid 40s (so much for my age estimate), he wanted to be more that just a money maker for his family.

I asked him how he got the book he was reading. He said his favorite business author, Peter Drucker, seemed to quote this book often. Where God took our conversation from there was fantastic. For about two hours we talked back and forth about the spiritual side of life.

He confessed that he practiced no religion. If he claimed any religion, it was a mix of Buddhism and ancestor worship. He said he really felt some “hole” in his life. What he was beginning to learn (and believe) from the book he was reading is that significance was far more important that success in life.

I shared my testimony, how at the age of 16 I became a Christian. He said, “It must have been wonderful to be at peace in your heart for so long.” I learned he had very little knowledge of God, had only heard of Jesus vaguely, and had real trouble believing a person could rise from the dead. I also learned that neither he nor his wife owned a Bible (nor even read one).

I wish I could say he prayed to receive Christ right in his plane seat, but he didn’t. The truth, is he knew almost zero about God, Christ, or Christianity. But he knew he was searching for more than what this world could offer. I asked him to receive Christ, but he still didn’t understand. Evangelism starts with seed planting.

After our conversation, we both put our head back on our seats and attempted some sleep. I prayed, and while praying God said, “Mike, when you get off the plane, give him your Bible.” I said, “But Lord, this is my preaching Bible–only my second preaching Bible in 26 years. Besides, I need it in the Philippines.”

But you never win an argument with God. As we went our separate ways in the Japan airport, I handed him my Bible and told him, “You will find significance if you read this book.” He was humbled as he received it, and I was humbled as I gave it. Amazingly, I was at peace, too, about giving away the only preaching Bible I currently own.

God taught me a lot of lessons in my encounter with the Japanese gentleman. One of the neatest lessons: my mission work began in mid-air, hours before I landed in the Philippines.