08 Oct Mongul Church Launches Saturday Night Service

Roxton Spear (right), senior pastor, Mongul UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

On Saturday, October 4, Mongul Church began a new worship experienced called Journey.

Many months ago, our staff and leadership team began exploring what our next steps should be as we attempt to reach effectively into our community.

“Have you thought about a Saturday evening service?” was a question we heard on more than one occasion. After praying and considering what would be necessary to do this, we concluded that offering our community a Saturday evening worship experience would be the next phase of Mongul Church’s life.

After a few months of planning, October 4 arrived, along with 76 individuals (14 children and 62 adults). God is good! There was a buzz of excitement, as people gathered. In attendance were people of all ages, from infant to 80+.

We give God praise for His leadership and blessing.

07 Oct Mt. Zion UB: Three Baby Dedications and Four Baptisms

Mark Ralph, senior pastor of Mount Zion UB, preparing to perform a baptism.

Pastor Mark Ralph leading in three baby dedications.

Gayle Thorn, Mt. Zion UB (Wayne, Ohio)

Sunday, September 21, was a special day at Mt. Zion UB church in Wayne, Ohio. First, we celebrated the dedication of three little ones to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, following our time of worship and the message by Pastor Mark Ralph, we rejoiced as four individuals proclaimed their faith in Jesus by being baptized.

07 Oct Praise Point Baptizes Nine People

Marcus Flood (left) and Brad Kittle (right), senior pastor of Praise Point, baptizing a youth.

Marcus Flood, Associate of Youth and Family Life, Praise Point Church (Willshire, Ohio)

Praise Point church held several special ceremonies during the October 5 worship service. The service included accepting new members, dedicating infants, and baptizing believers. Nine persons were baptized. Seven of them are in the Four Twelve Youth Ministry. It was a great service, and we are excited with all the things God is doing at Praise Point.

22 Sep Prince Street Family Day at Rhodes Grove Camp

Pastor Jim Bolich (left) conducts one of the day’s five baptisms.

Meal time during the Prince Street Family Day at Rhodes Grove Camp.

Jim Bolich (right), senior pastor, Prince Street UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

Each year, on the third Sunday of August, Prince Street Church steps away from the hectic pace of our ordinary lives to get away for a day of worship, fellowship, and fun. It’s a way to celebrate old friendships and make a few new ones. This year, more than 160 people gathered outside Chambersburg on the grounds of Rhodes Grove Camp for Family Day.

The first 30 minutes of the day were devoted to mingling, giving people who typically attend different worship services opportunity to get acquainted. It also provided time to get to know some new friends who joined us for the day. With the room buzzing with conversation, our worship continued with a time of singing, prayer, and God’s Word. As the service drew to a close, we shared communion together.

As always, Sunday dinner was delicious. From the fried chicken to the mac and cheese to the ham and green beans, there was something for every taste. But even sweeter than the cupcakes for dessert were the conversations I heard around the tables as we ate together.

The skies cleared just in time for us to enjoy the afternoon playing together. Some took advantage of the swings under the shade trees. Others climbed the zip-line for an adrenaline-pumping ride. Some waded in the pool, while others found ways to slip beyond the normal boundaries of the water slide. Some enjoyed a game of corn hole, while others simply enjoyed a conversation in lawn chairs.

But for me, the highlight of the day was yet to come.

Each year, we offer baptism as the final activity of Family Day. This year, five people gave testimony to their faith through the baptism as their family and friends gathered around the pool. What a celebration!

15 Sep 550 Attend Annual Event at Hillsdale UB

The crowed at the Michindoh Conference Center

Pastor Lester Smith as the Apostle Paul.

Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) held its 16th annual Friends and Family Day on Sunday, August 24.

The event began with an indoor service at the church, followed by an outdoor service at the Fireside Memorial Chapel at Michindoh Conference Center. Pastor Lester Smith, playing the role of the Apostle Paul, delivered the book of 1 Thessalonians in both services.

There were a large number of visitors, with a combined record attendance for this event of over 550. After a potluck lunch, everyone enjoyed the camp water slide, swimming, and a cardboard-with-duct-tape boat race.

09 Sep 25 Persons Baptized at Atlantic Avenue UB

At the Atlantic Avenue baptismal service.

On August 24, Atlantic Avenue UB church (Franklin, Pa.) baptized 25 persons. The service was held at a county park. After a tureen dinner, everyone headed down to the beach for a worship time, communion, and the baptism. About 230 people attended.

09 Sep 3 Baptized, 4 Dedicated at Shoreline’s Back 2 School Bash

Pastor Bill Blue with four children being dedicated, along with their families.

Pastor Bill Blue (right) and Chris Soltis, pastor of children and youth ministries (left) with baptism candidates.

Pastor Bill Blue and Chris Soltis with baptism candidates.

Chris Soltis, Pastor of Children & Youth Ministries, Shoreline Church (Oak Harbor, Ohio)

Pastor Bill Blue preaching.

On August 17, Shoreline Church (Oak Harbor, Ohio) held its annual Back 2 School Bash at Camp Sabroske. About 150 people attended attended this wonderful evening of fun, food, and fellowship! Families gathered and enjoyed volleyball, soccer, basketball, horseshoes, swimming, cornhole… there was something for everyone!

After a time of worship, Pastor Bill Blue delivered the message. Four children were dedicated. Then the three baptism candidates shared their testimony and why they were getting baptized. From there, the service moved towards the pond and baptisms were performed.

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed fantastic food and fellowship and a time of just being together. This event helps celebrate all that God has been doing in our lives and serves as a springboard for our church as we transition into our fall ministry season!

09 Sep Mt. Zion Baptizes 10 New Believers

Pastor Russ Wagner preaching from a boat.

The Mt. Zion congregation at the outdoor worship service.

Pastor Wagner completes one of the baptisms.

On August 24, Mt. Zion UB church (Decatur, Ind.) held and outdoor worship service with 72 in attendance. Pastor Russ Wagner preached his sermon from a rowboat out in the pond. Afterwards, he baptized ten new believers.

The service and baptism were followed by a picnic carry-in lunch and an afternoon of games, swimming, and fellowship, with much thanksgiving to the Lord for the new brothers and sisters and the awesome weather.

03 Sep 73 UB Churches Now on Facebook

More and more United Brethren churches are climbing aboard the Facebook bandwagon. Since so many parishioners and friends are on Facebook, it’s a great way to get information out. Currently, 73 UB churches have Facebook pages. Some aren’t very active. Others are very active.

03 Sep New Hope Gets Creative to Help Church Secretary and HU Student Son

Barbara Hilterbrand (second from left) poses with fellow members of New Hope United Brethren Church, in Huntington, who have renovated her house to enhance its wheelchair-accessibility for her son, Jeff (front center). With the Hilterbrands are (l-r in back) Rev. Ray Seilhamer, Alan Brown, Marv Beady, and Paul Buzzard. (click to enlarge)

Steve Clark, reporter for the Huntington County Tab
Reprinted by permission from the Huntington County Tab, Huntington, Ind.

Rev. Ray Seilhamer, senior pastor of New Hope United Brethren Church (Huntington, Ind.), jokes that Barbara Hilterbrand has changed her mind “1300 times” regarding the renovation of her house in Huntington.

Despite Hilterbrand’s wavering, her final vision for the house has remained the same: make it accessible for her son.

Hilterbrand’s son, Jeff, was born with spina bifida and gets around using a power wheelchair. Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when a baby’s spinal column does not close all the way. It can result in leg weakness or paralysis.

Hilterbrand is the secretary for New Hope United Brethren and Jeff is a student at Huntington University. New Haven residents, Hilterbrand decided earlier this year that it was time to make the move to Huntington.

She purchased a house near the church on May 28, but knew upon doing so that some modifications would need to occur before she and Jeff could call it “home.” Chief among those modifications was providing a bathroom for Jeff that he could access with his power chair.

Members of the church saw that the Hilterbrands, fellow members, were in need and stepped up to help them out. Alan Brown, Marv Beady, and Paul Buzzard have been major players in the house’s renovation process, with Seilhamer, Ken Hippensteel, George Cole, Ed Hanna, and Dave Walker making key contributions as well.

Work commenced on the house in early June. The crew’s solution to the bathroom issue was to place it in the kitchen, up against the wall where the house’s existing bathroom was located, enabling them to take advantage of the plumbing that was already in place.

Installing the bathroom in the kitchen, however, drastically reduced the space for the actual kitchen.
That’s when the crew got creative–deciding that the wall between the kitchen and garage would be knocked down and that the garage would be converted into a kitchen/living space for Jeff.

The crew removed the garage door and replaced it with a door, window, and wall air conditioner. The floor was raised so that it is level with the rest of the house. The walls are now paneled, a ceiling has been installed, and wood flooring is in place, which is better for Jeff to get around on than carpet.

“The power chair can really destroy things fast,” notes Hilterbrand. “So, I feel like everything’s durable in his area.”

The bathroom area contains a large shower and ample room for Jeff to maneuver his power chair. A sink that’s low and out from the ground and easily accessible for Jeff is ready to be installed. The house will be ready to live in by the end of the month, upon the completion of some trim and painting work.

Jeff is looking forward to moving in.

“I am a senior at Huntington University. I’ve been going there for two years and we’ve had to drive back and forth from New Haven,” he explains. “So, this will definitely cut back on costs for gas and stuff like that.

“As far as changing my life, I can’t even describe. I’ve lived in houses all my life where the bathroom has always been inaccessible, basically.”

Seilhamer jokes that he and the rest of the crew are anticipating a nice meal now that the renovation process is almost complete. “I really think that with all the money that Barbara saves now from driving back and forth from New Haven, that the men are expecting a steak dinner and we’re just tasting that already,” he chuckles.

Steaks or not, something that Hilterbrand does have an abundance of is gratitude.

“I cannot give enough thanks and say ‘thank you’ enough,” she states.

“Just remarkable,” she continues, looking around the house. “Remarkable.”