10 Sep Two Records Broken at Hillsdale UB Church
The 2016 Hillsdale outdoor service at the Michindoh Camp and Conference Center.
Pastor Les Smith (left) and his son-in-law Eric, an ordained Wesleyan pastor, baptize Les’s grandson Titus Eisenmann.
The Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) is 112 years old. They held their 18th annual outdoor service at Michindoh Conference Center on Sunday, August 28. There were over 600 in attendance and 90 more at the earlier indoor service at the church. The 715 total attendance is a new record for a non-Easter Sunday.
Both services included a visit from the “Apostle John” portrayed by Pastor Les Smith. The platform became the Island of Patmos as the first five chapters of the book of Revelation were dramatized.
The outdoor service continued with the crowd walking down the path to Lake Weatherwood for a baptismal service. On July 14, 1935, there were 19 people baptized in a single day at the church. It was a record that stood for over 80 years, but was eclipsed by the 20 who were baptized at Michindoh on August 28.
Afterwards, 625 were served a picnic meal at the Pavilion. The majority also took advantage of the water recreation later that afternoon.
Brent Liechty has been appointed senior pastor of Mogul UB church in Shippensburg, Pa., effective August 16, 2016. He has served since 2005 at Pathway UB church in Jackson, Mich.–as associate/youth pastor until 2013, and since then as senior pastor. Prior to that, he served six years at Criders UB church in Greencastle, Pa. Rocky Spear, who had pastored Mongul for nine years, is now senior pastor of Kilpatrick UB church in Woodland, Mich.
Rev. Devon Strine has retired effective July 31, 2016. He was ordained in 1976. Most recently, he has pastored the Mt. Pleasant UB church (Angola, Ind.) since 2012.
Rev. Teddy Fairchild has been appointed to a two-year assignment as interim pastor of Eagle Quest UB church (Columbia City, Ind.), effective July 31, 2016. He is a 2010 graduate of Huntington University, and earned a Masters from Liberty University in 2014. He has served UB churches in Wilshire and Findlay, Ohio. Teddy and Sarah (right) have been married since 2007 and have two children—daughter Julz, a college student, and son Gabriel, who is 5.
Rev. Jeff Lawson has been appointed senior pastor of Hopewell UB church (Auburn, Ind.) effective July 25, 2016. He takes the place of Rev. John Erwin, who recently retired after serving Hopewell for 16 years.