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05 Mar

March 5, 2007 |

I wrote yesterday about what we are expecting about National Conference and also why we should consider attending. I got another thought this morning that connects with what we have been teaching in the churches. It has to do with the life cycle of a church or denomination.

Most of our churches are on the downward side of their life cycle. When on that side of the cycle, concerns about structure (who is in charge, who is the pastor, who is making decisions, etc.) are in the driver’s seat. And when structure is driving the car, a focus on programs is sitting in the front passenger’s seat. Not only is that where most of our churches are (over 80% plateaued or declining), it is where we have been as a denomination. In this situation, vision and relationships are relegated to the back seat.

We work with churches to help them see how they can get to a point of starting a new life cycle. And when you are on the up-swing of a new life cycle, vision takes the driver’s seat and is supported in the front passenger’s seat by relationships. Structure and ministries are in the car, but in the supportive roles of the back seat. The emphasis and focus are on vision and relationships.

This National Conference is going to give its major energies to establishing a clear, agreed-upon vision of where we need to head as a group and also give time to renew, refresh, and establish strong relationships with each other.

That is why we need all leaders to come. We must be driven by clear vision and caring relationships.

I hope to see you there.

04 Mar

March 4, 2007 |

During the morning service at the church I attended today, a baptismal service was part of the day’s worship. It reminded me that I hadn’t seen a baptism since I left Mainstreet in August 2005. A congregation ought to be seeing people baptized on a fairly regular basis. There is nothing more wonderful than to hear the testimonies of those being baptized. It renews our confidence in the power of the Gospel to change lives. I didn’t know any of the individuals being baptized this morning, but I must admit I had moist eyes as I witnessed them make a public profession of their new faith. I especially appreciated the fact that it was incorporated into the morning worship service. A very moving time.

I have believed for a long time that we United Brethren ought to promote believer baptism a whole lot more than we do. It is great to see someone converted and come to faith. Often that is done in a small group, in a Sunday school class, or in a home or office where there are not a lot of people to witness it. But it is in the act of baptism that the individual is able to make such a testimony public. Now, I don’t subscribe to baptismal regeneration, but I think it is far more important than many of us make it in our churches. The number of baptisms reported ought to be closer to the number of those who have been converted. Baptism is an important step in the discipleship process.

It was a wonderful morning!

04 Mar

March 4, 2007 |

I have been asked as we travel around why anyone should come to National Conference on May 31. What can we expect? What business will happen? Is it worth it?

Let me give you my answer. First, let me address what this isn’t. This isn’t a vacation with a purpose like Knoxville in 1988, where over 900 UBs came together. That’s not what we are expecting. While all who are interested in the future of the church may come, our expectation is that key leaders who are eligible as delegates from each church will come. That would mean a group of around 400 people, or around six times our previous number of delegates at National Conference.

Second, this isn’t going to be a meeting with a lot of Discipline revision business. Our goal is to do what is necessary for us to process the referendums voted on by the churches, choose Executive Leadership Team members, and handle any other business associated with those items. The normal reports will also be given. But that is about all the “normal” business we will do.

So why come? Come, because we need to reconnect in community around our common commitment to the Gospel. We will hear stories of how the Lord is doing something fresh in new churches, old churches, small churches, large churches, city churches, and country churches. We will celebrate new Christians and older saints with a renewed vision of ministry.

Come, because we will spend time hearing from Brad Powell about transitioning a very traditional church to one that is significantly impacting its world today. We will hear why speaking to the culture is a common need for healthy churches, new churches, and missionaries. We will be challenged as leaders as to our responsibility in sharing God’s heart to reach lost people. We will also renew our belief that the God who worked in the church in Acts is the same today, and the church of Acts 2 reflects how the church should function today.

(more…)

27 Feb

February 27, 2007 |

Huntington University’s HTV 22 News took first place in the 2007 Intercollegiate National Religious Broadcasters TV studio contest.
Under the direction of Dr. Lance Clark, associate professor of communication (right), HTV 22 News is the student-produced weekly news magazine covering local news, sports and weather. The award-winning broadcast may be found online at HTVNews.net.

Todd Stapleton, a senior broadcasting major from Tipp City, Ohio, is the show’s producer, and Josh Fortney, a junior broadcasting major from Huntington, Ind., directs the show each week. This is the second consecutive year that HTV 22 News has won the award in this category under Stapleton’s leadership.

“I am so proud of these students because they are doing what it takes to write, produce, edit and direct a first class news program,” Clark said. “The competition is steep, and to take first place on the national level says a great deal about the character and determination of our broadcasting students at Huntington University.”

26 Feb

February 26, 2007 |

LentService_500.jpg

Persons from five neighborhood churches gathered in Anchor Community Church’s fellowship hall on February 25.

Anchor Community Church is getting together with four other neighborhood churches for five Sunday nights during Lent. To make a difference in their lower-income neighborhood near downtown Fort Wayne, Ind., it makes strategic sense to partner with other churches, regardless of denomination, which also want make a difference.

Pastor Tim Hallman, pastor of Anchor, got things going last spring with a letter to the pastors of four nearby churches: Grace Presbyterian, Trinity United Methodist, First Mennonite, and North Highlands Church of Christ. That resulted in a joint Vacation Bible School last summer. Now things are going further with these Lenten get-togethers.

The five pastors agreed on a common format. The host church would provide a soup and dessert meal, each church would do three songs which come out of their church tradition, and the host pastor would then talk about his/her church’s history, ministries, theology, denomination, etc. In this way, the churches could learn a lot about each other.

TimBarb_300.jpg
Pastor Tim Hallman of Anchor (right)
with Pastor Barb of Grace Presbyterian.

Anchor got things started on Sunday night, February 25. The bad weather, a big concert in town, plus the Oscars created somewhat low expectations. But those expectations were well exceeded when 75-80 people gathered in Anchor’s fellowship hall. For their three songs, the Anchor worship team did “Take My Life and Let it Be” (though they “Anchorized” by using Chris Tomlin’s version), “I’ll Fly Away,” and “This Little Light of Mine.” For the latter, when they reached the verse which said, “Shine all over Third Street” (where Anchor is located), everyone attending inserted their own church’s street. The Presbyterians, for the record, got everyone started clapping on “I’ll Fly Away.”

After Tim Hallman talked about Anchor’s history, ministries, structure, denomination, and other matters, everyone broke into smaller groups around the tables. The Anchor attendees at each table introduced themselves, told how they came to Anchor, and answered questions from the guests from other churches.

Next week we’re at North Highlands Church of Christ. I can hardly wait. In reaching our neighborhood, the most strategic relationships we can develop are not with other United Brethren churches in Fort Wayne, but with other churches, regardless of affiliation, located in our neighborhood. We’ll discover which ones share our heart for really making an impact. This can only lead to good things.

The United Brethren church began when a Mennonite and a Lutheran, discovering that they shared the same spiritual passions, declared, “We are brethren.” These Sunday night dinners fit that attitude nicely. In the process, Anchor hopes to discover the fellow churches and Christians who share their passion for making an impact in the surrounding neighborhood.

26 Feb

February 26, 2007 |

Former NFL receiver Irving Fryar spoke to over 200 persons during a dinner at Atlantic Avenue UB church (Franklin, Pa.) on February 23. Fryar spent 17 years in the NFL, and scored the Patriots’ only touchdown in Super Bowl XX against the 1985 Chicago Bears, before retiring in 1997. He reached the Pro Bowl five times.

The occasion was the church’s second annual charity dinner and sports auction to benefit World Vision. Last year’s speaker was former Pittsburgh Steeler Mel Blount.

The dinner coincided with the youth group’s 30-hour planned famine. Teens college pledge money for each hour they go without eating, and the money is donated to World Vision. About 70 youth from Atlantic Avenue, plus 20 from another church, participated in the fast. Those same teens, while fasting, served dinner to over 125 guests.

Fryar says he never prepares speeches in advance, but let’s God guide him toward the right thing to say. “Whatever I’m saying, it’s always going to lead to the gospel,” he said.

26 Feb

February 26, 2007 |

Hilltop United Brethren church in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., has withdrawn from the denomination. A letter from the Leadership Council, dated January 22 and signed by senior pastor Michael Tucker and three other men, says:

“Hilltop Community Church wishes to withdraw from the United Brethren in Christ denomination, effective immediately. We have been granted our own 401(c)(3) tax exempt status with the IRS….We are not upset about any issue, and we hold no ill will toward the denomination. the decision was put to the congregation for a vote, and it was unanimously approved. We feel this move is the best for our church.”

Hilltop began in the mid-1960s as First United Brethren Church under the leadership of Rev. Marvin Price. Using property donated by the McCulloch Corporation, First UB grew to become the largest church in what was then called Pacific Conference (later Arizona Conference). The most recent year for which we have statistics, 2005, shows an average attendance of 116. The only other churches remaining in Arizona are in Fountain Hills and Phoenix (the latter a Hispanic church).

Among the UB people with roots in Lake Havasu are missionaries Ruth Ann Price and Debbie Osberg; pastors Don Dennie, Stu Dennie, and Steve Gilbertson; Communications Director Steve Dennie; and Huntington University’s Rich McConnell.

26 Feb

February 26, 2007 |

The Hillsdale UB Church (Hillsdale, Mich.) dedicated its new Ministry Office Center on Sunday morning, February 25. The Ministry Office Center, located in the former parsonage, is located next to the church. It now houses a large classroom and offices for all of the church staff.

In a five-year period, Hillsdale’s average attendance grew from 200-500. This created the need to add classroom, plus expand the lobby, nursery, and other areas. Moving the church offices into the former parsonage freed up space in the church building.

Bishop Ron Ramsey spoke at the dedication. An open house followed at both the Ministry Office Center and the renovated Student Ministries Center on the church’s second floor.

22 Feb

February 22, 2007 |

Pam and I have a precious two-and-a-half year old great nephew by the name of Karson Cabe. Karson’s dad, Kraig, is the regional director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Northern Indiana. His mom, Christy, was the children’s ministry director at Emmanuel Community Church and has been a tremendous mother. Karson’s Miller grandparents are Denny and Karin. Denny is senior pastor of Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind. His great-grandpa Ray was our Bishop, with Lanie serving by his side for over 43 years of ministry. His Cabe grandparents are Lee and Melody. They are a wonderful Christian couple that have lovingly served the Lord in many ways and raised their children to faithfully serve the Lord.

Karson loves to play with Thomas the Train. And he loves Jesus. His prayer at bedtime a couple weeks ago signed off, “I love you Jesus, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.” Not bad for a two-and-a-half year old.

Last week, the world seemed to stop as the doctor told Christy that blood work indicated Karson has leukemia. They went immediately to Riley Children’s Hospital, the diagnosis was confirmed, and Karson began his three-year journey of chemotherapy. A terrible disease is loose in his body, and without treatment it will kill him. With proper treatment comes eradication of the problem and life.

We appreciate your prayers.

For all of us, nothing else is important right now next to doing everything possible to make sure that little man gets healthy and lives a normal life.

Isn’t that a parallel of how we should feel about loved ones we know who don’t know Jesus? They have a terrible disease loose in them. There is a treatment plan that will bring healing, but it doesn’t look desirable at the start. Life by necessity will change because of fighting this disease. And when we are burdened by the knowledge of their condition, no effort seems too sacrificial in helping or supporting the cause of getting them healthy. Nothing else is important. Nothing.

On the other side of the equation, the promises, grace, strength, and confidence we have in Christ are providing the “peace that passes understanding.” Our confidence and hope lie solely in the hands of the One who gave His own Son for us. And by His stripes, we are healed.

Karson learned a new song in the days leading up to his diagnosis. He sang it over an iChat date with our daughter Jalonna. “This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. ….”

That is the heart of an innocent little boy that loves and trusts Jesus without even being aware of what is going on in him. It is a heart that helps us remember and trust. That is Karson’s Gospel for us. We can confidently trust Jesus no matter what.