01 Oct Resignation in Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Henry Favorite has resigned as pastor at First Love UB, effective October 3. He has accepted a Missionary Church position in northwest Ohio and will begin there on October 4.
01 Oct Pennsylvanians Help Florida Church
A team of six men from King Street Church (Chambersburg, Pa.) and one man from Criders UB Church (Greencastle, Pa.) traveled to the Faith UB Church at Port Orange, Florida, to help with the demolition of the multi-purpose building that was damaged by Hurricane Frances. The team spent 5 days (September 17-22) demolishing the building, disposing of debris, and salvaging materials that could be reused, sold, or given away.
The congregation is planning to rebuild a structure on the same site and will be looking for some volunteer help after the first of the year to assist in rebuilding. The team was housed at the Holly Hill UB Church about 10 mile away, and families of the congregation supplied meals for the team. Pastor Chuck McKeown of Holly Hill church and pastor Baker at Port Orange were grateful for the demolition team.
01 Oct Hillsdale Youth Go to South Dakota
Mike Burtnett, youth pastor at Hillsdale UB, writes, “In July I led a team of 15 youth and 5 adults to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. This is a Lakota Sioux reservation, and is characterized by extreme poverty and poor living conditions. We served through the Youthworks organization, and along with two other churches led a children’s program known as Kids’ Club, and also painted houses and a church. The young children that we met were very needy, and my teens were able to show them the love of Christ in very tangible ways. My group really grew together as a team and more importantly grew closer to the Lord.”
28 Sep Lakewood Church Baptizes Two
Mary Miller from Open Arms Community Church (Lakewood, Calif.) writes, “With our growing Anglo/Hispanic congregation, we held our first baptism service on Saturday, September 25. We baptized two adults in a beautiful outdoor setting in the Angeles National Forest, followed by a picnic. It was in God’s timing, as the Forest was closed the next morning due to severe fire hazard.”
28 Sep Korean Church Meeting at Findlay UB
Korean pastors from several states and from Canada helped celebrate the launch of a new Korean church in Findlay.
Veterans from the Korean War were treated to an authentic Korean meal.
The Forever Love Korean Church, which meets in the First UB church of Findlay, Ohio, held its installation service on Monday, September 27. Korean pastors from California, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Ontario, and Toronto came to celebrate the new church. Services included a dedication of the new church and installation of new members. The church also invited the Korean War Veterans from Findlay to join in a time of fellowship and an authentic Korean meal. Thirty war veterans from the First UB and the surrounding community came and enjoyed the meal. The Forever Love Korean Church plans to honor veterans again during Veterans Day in November.
The Forever Love Korean Church is now in discussion with the denomination on becoming a “preaching point,” which is one step toward becoming a new UB church.
16 Sep Hillsdale Celebrates 100 Years
The Hillsdale UB church in Hillsdale, Mich., is celebrating its 100th anniversary. On September 12, they set a new attendance record: 735. The day included the ordination of Worship Pastor Scott Hardaway, the baptism of 15 people, and the reception of 28 new members. The church is averaging two conversions per week this year.
16 Sep Pat Jones Traveling in Africa
Pat Jones, pastor of King Street UB church in Chambersburg, Pa., left on September 14 for a trip to Africa through World Relief. He’ll be visiting several countries. The trip is led by Clive Calver, who has headed World Relief for the past seven years (and is stepping down at the end of September).
13 Sep Karen Crumbley’s Upcoming Surgery
Lamar and Karen Crumbley served with the UB mission in Honduras over a period of about 15 years, and recently served a short-term stint in Macau. Lamar sent a note about a surgery Karen will undergo on Thursday, September 16.
“After a long struggle with her lung tumor, Karen is at present very weak, but she is finally getting the operation she needs. On September 16 she will enter Northside Hospital in Atlanta and at 1:00 P.M. they will begin a three-and-one-half -hour surgery to remove one-third of her lung plus, part of her bronchial tube. Afterwards, she will spend a couple days in ICU with a total of about seven days in the hospital. Then home where it will about 4-6 weeks before she will be able to get around much, and a total of three to four months for complete healing. It’s going to be a long hard road for her, so please keep us both in your prayers.”
10 Sep News from Our College
- Dr. Dave Rahn, professor of ministry and missions, had an article published in the September 2004 edition of Decision magazine. It is called “Church for the ‘Unchurched’ Kids: Tackling the cultural gap between church and unchurched kids.”
- The Wall Street Journal ran a front-page feature on Jim and Lizzie O’Donnell, with mention about Jim’s book, Letters for Lizzie.
- Huntington College has been formally approved to offer Master’s programs in Education and Counseling, and has been authorized to offer academic programs at off-campus sites within an expanded 100-mile radius.
- The Huntington College campus radio station, 105.5 FM WQHC, has been accessed by online listeners in well over 100 regions and countries during the past six months. That includes the Americans (North, Central, and South), Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.
10 Sep Among Ministers….
- Ron Gonzales will begin as senior pastor of Faith Community UB in Findlay, Ohio, on September 19. He previously pastored the Open Bible Fellowship UB church in Safford, Ariz. Open Bible Fellowship is currently searching for a new pastor.
- Dan Young, who started Faith Community Church in the early 1990s, is now serving as interim pastor of Crestview UB church in Lafayette, Ind.
- Dick Case, formerly pastor of Crestview UB, is serving as interim pastor of Dillman UB in Warren, Ind.
- Bishop Emeritus Ray Seilhamer has been named senior pastor of New Hope UB in Huntington, Ind. He continues serving as associate dean of the Huntington College Graduate School of Christian Ministries.
- Lynn Mefferd, who retired as pastor of Dillman UB (Warren, Ind.), is serving on a part-time basis in an associate role at New Hope UB in Huntington, Ind.
- Toby Lazo is no longer pastor of Victory Celebration Center in Burbank, Calif. A layperson is currently overseeing the church.
- Decatur UB (Decatur, Ind.) has changed its name to Cornerstone Community Church.
- Murray Stevens is the new pastor of Saint James UB (Chambersburg, Pa.).
- Harvest Community UB (Toledo, Ohio) changed its named to North Point UB church. The pastor is Brad Wotring.
- DeWitt UB church (DeWitt, Mich.) has closed.
- Valerie Reynolds is the new senior pastor of Mount Hope UB in Carson City, Mich.
- Roger Burk has assumed the role of fulltime superintendent in Michigan Conference (a position to which he was elected last spring). The former superintendent, David Burkett, is now pastor of Mount Morris UB in Mt. Morris, Mich.
- Stephen Clulow is a new superintendent in Sandusky Conference. He replaces Roger Overmyer.
- Covenant Fellowship UB Church at Steubenville, Ohio, has been closed.
- Red Mountain UB in Birmingham, Ala., has closed. The pastor, Fred Johns, is now pastoring a Wesleyan church in Birmingham.