24 Mar Refreshment for Bike Riders

At the McCallum water table.

One of the more interesting bicyclists who stopped at the church.

Ron Watterly, senior pastor, McCallum UB (Delton, Mich.)

On Saturday, March 22, the folks at McCallum provided peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and water to the participants of the Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race, the largest gravel road bicycle race in the USA. The race consisted of three courses–62 miles, 36 miles, and 24 miles. Both the 62-mile and 36-mile passed in front of the church, giving the brave souls of the congregation opportunity to cheer the riders on and offer refreshments, bathroom facilities, and a place to warm up if desired.

Ladies of the Women’s Missionary Fellowship came early and made up 180 PB&J sandwiches. Eight gallons of bulk water was given to fill water bottles of the riders, plus bottled water was available as well.

The quote of the day came from Nichole Parish of the congregation, who said on her Facebook page, “Being the hands of Jesus handing out water and sandwiches to the bike riders today at our church. It’s moments like this that being part of a small church that gives Big is awesome!”

17 Mar $5500 Through a Spaghetti Dinner

Before….

…and during the spaghetti dinner.

About 525 people attended the 21st annual spaghetti dinner at Mount Pleasant Church (Chambersburg, Pa.) on Saturday, March 15. They raised about $5500, which will go toward church mission trips to Belize (July 10-20) and West Virginia (Aug. 4-9).

Bobby Culler (right), youth pastor at Mount Pleasant, writes, “It’s just neat to see so many people serving and giving of their time to make this a great success. We’re grateful for everyone who came out in support of the dinner and for all of the financial donations. We’re excited to begin making plans for our summer mission trips. This money will go a long way toward helping us reach our financial goal.”

25 Feb March 6 – Robert Rogers in Columbia City, Ind.

Robert Rogers (click to enlarge)

Robert Rogers will share his testimony of “No Regrets” at Eagle Quest UB church (Columbia City, Ind.).

Date: March 6, 2014
Time: 7 pm.
Location: Eagle Quest Church, 1120 N. SR 109, Columbia City, IN 46725

In August 2003, Robert’s wife and four children died in a flash flood in Kansas. The family was returning from a wedding in Wichita when a six-foot wall of water inundated their van and swept them off the highway. His eight years as a father and 12 years as a husband came to an end.

Soon after, Robert resigned from his engineering career and began sharing his story, teaching people to “Live a Life of No Regrets.” He has remarried, and once again has two sons and two daughters.

Robert is an accomplished worship leader, pianist, and songwriter. He has shared his story on ABC, CBS, CNN, Montel Williams, the Billy Graham TV Crusade, and Focus on the Family.

31 Jan Seven Baptisms at the HUB

Les Smith with baptism candidates at Hillsdale UB.

Les Smith, senior pastor, Hillsdale UB Church (Hillsdale, Mich.)

Despite having to cancel the first service due to severe weather and road conditions, over 300 attended our second service as we celebrated the 110th anniversary of Hillsdale United Brethren Church (Hillsdale, Mich.). Only seven of the nine baptismal candidates were able to get out of their driveways for the service. I delivered my annual State-of-the-Church address.

10 Jan Christmas in Winchester, Va.

Norma Newbraugh, Living Water UB church (Winchester, Va.)

Living Water UB church (Winchester, Va.), a congregation of about 25 people, again prepared shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and contributed to a local organization that provides food and gifts for Christmas for the needy in our community, as we customarily do.

This Christmas we also “bought” gifts from the Samaritan’s Purse catalog. For each item purchased, a photo or drawing of the item was hung on the sanctuary tree in addition to the usual ornaments. We were blessed to be able to provide:

• Baby chicks for 3 families to start raising eggs.
• Seeds and tools for a poor farmer.
• A dairy animal for two families.
• A work animal.
• Food for a child for a week.
• Blanket for a refugee.
• Hot meals for a week for one person.

02 Dec Sunfield’s Surprise for Camp Living Waters

The new Gator for Camp Living Waters

The Sunfield congregation has been busy for the past several months working on a huge secret–buying a John Deere Gator for Camp Living Waters in Luther, Mich. The Gator will be used to transport campers and supplies, give tours, etc.

Sunfield held a potluck/hot dog bar this past Sunday, November 24, to present the Gator to the CLW director and board members. They were overwhelmed and very excited. Tears were flowing.

Camp Living Waters is a year-round camp in northern Michigan. It was one of two camps operated by the former Michigan Conference until 2005, when the conferences disbanded and the denomination’s various camps were spun off as independent entities.

26 Nov Four Persons Baptized at Blue Rock

Blue Rock UB church (Waynesboro, Pa.) baptized two adults and two children on Sunday evening, November 24.  After a brief message on baptism from the book of Acts by Pastor Greg Helman, each person told how they came to faith in Jesus and why they wanted to be baptized.  Then, they were individually baptized at the front of the church with many people watching and celebrating their decision.

22 Nov Fountain Collecting Shoeboxes Again

Fountain UB church (Keyser, W. Va.) has opened its door once again as a collection center for Operation Christmas Child. Last year, they collected over 13,000 shoeboxes, which Samaritan’s Purse will distribute to children around the world.

19 Nov Operation Christmas Child in Columbia City, Ind.

Eagle Quest members with Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. (click to enlarge)

Christine Scroggs (right), pastor’s wife, Eagle Quest Church (Columbia City, Ind.)

A few years ago, our church started a new tradition. We began participating in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. We begin asking people in October to take home shoeboxes and fill them with trinkets, toys, and love. Then the boxes are collected and sent to Samaritan’s Purse for distribution to children around the world. It is something that our congregation loves to do!

Our youth group also participates. Each youth brings some of their own money, and we shop together (this helps them learn how to budget), fill the boxes together, and have so much fun. The youth group’s goal this year was 5 boxes, and they ended up with 6 completed.

The congregation also had a record year, collecting 35 boxes total, an increase of 75%. Not bad for a congregation of 60!

19 Nov Mill Chapel Becomes Emergency Center

Mill Chapel’s new generator.

Mill Chapel (Reedsville, W. Va.) recently purchased a generator. This is a response to the power outages in late 2012 from Hurricane Sandy.

Senior pastor Marshall Woods (right) explains, “Mill Chapel will be an emergency center for the entire area surrounding the church. In the event of a power outage, people (churched and unchurched) will be able to get warm, sleep in the fellowship hall, and have something to eat.”