11 Sep Renew Sends Its Second Team to Haiti

The Renew team upon arriving in Haiti. Pastor Andy Sikorra is third from the left.

Watching tarps put on a roof.

Team members with some Haitians.

Team members with some Haitians.

Six persons from Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio) traveled to Haiti, where they have been working with Haiti Bible Mission. “Their goal is to raise up indigenous leaders to plant and lead churches so when we go we come as support to that mission,” says senior pastor Andy Sikorra (right).

This was the second time Renew has sent a team to Haiti.

“We donated over $15,000 last year to help plant a church in Kolimo, a village outside of Jeremie. This trip we took 40+ tarps to help tarp roofs in areas where the mission is at work. We saw many accept Christ and relationships built for the future movement of these churches.

“The most powerful aspect was to see young Haitian men connected to the mission leading in the neighborhoods (essentially slums) where they live. The community would look to the Americans, and we could say ‘He’s the boss. Talk with him!’ It brought great credibility and clearly opened the way for Gospel movement.”

21 Aug ReNew Sends Team to Haiti

Commissioning service for the team from ReNew.

The ReNew team arrives in Haiti. Senior pastor Andy Sikorra is third from the left.

For several years, Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio) has been helping plant a church in Kolimo, a village in Haiti. They are working with Haiti Bible Mission; Chris Solyntjes, ReNew’s worship pastor, serves on the HBM board.

On Sunday, August 18, ReNew held a commissioning service for a group which, the next day, headed to Haiti. They are currently in Haiti.

13 Aug Allentown, Pa: An Adventure in Colors

Neville Tomlinson (right), pastor, International Church (Allentown, Pa.)

International Church), along with St. John’s EC Church, hosted the Vacation Bible Adventure. This year’s theme was based on the Wordless Book and was called: “An Adventure in Colors: Discovering the Kingdom of Light.”

Each day the kids explored each color and the story behind it. They discovered that nothing impure can ever enter heaven.

Nine kids received Jesus as Savior! It was joyful to see them find their name written in the Book of Life!

International Church (The Family Life Center) is doing outreach efforts in the Allentown area along with St. John’s EC Church. On September 14, we will host another outreach event, “A Dinner for a Friend.”

12 Aug “Gotta Move” VBS: 16 Decisions for Christ, $1500+ for Missions

The 2013 Lake View VBS students and adult workers.

Ben Gladhill (right), Associate Pastor of Christian Education, Lake View Church (Camden, Mich.)

On July 28 – August 4, Lake View Church (Camden, Mich.) hosted its Vacation Bible School Program. This action-filled program reached over 80 children, preschool-grade 6. Over 40 adults served to help make the program run smoothly.

Each night was filled with fun singing and dancing to contemporary worship music, a Bible lesson, fun skits to reinforce our lesson, games, yummy snacks, and some pretty cool crafts.

Our theme this year was “Gotta Move,” a VBS curriculum published by GO FISH, a Christian musical group. The overarching theme was learning about the Fruit of the Spirit, and how God makes those things present in our lives as we move in step with him.

In addition, the children were challenged to help raise funds for the Global Ministries missions project for 2013–providing curriculum and training materials for the local churches and school in Jamaica as they reach out to youth of all ages. A goal of $1,200 was set for the week, and each night the boys and girls tried to out-give each other with their offering in amount and weight.

The boys and girls surpassed the goal, raising $1584.95. Praise God!

We also had 16 children respond to the gospel during VBS. Of those, 12 made first-time decisions for the Lord. Again, praise God!

09 Jul Video: The Dan Paternoster Story

UBCentral has followed the progress of Dan Paternoster, who was nearly killed last August when he was struck by a car as he rode his bicycle to work. Dan, a member of the denominational Executive Leadership Team since 2001, is a member of Fowlerville UB church in Fowlerville, Mich. He’s a veterinarian (his day job), and a pilot, not to mention a devoted husband and father.

Dan’s story is pretty amazing. A video was shown on June 27 at National Conference (shot by Kevin Mattison, on staff at Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind.). Here it is. Churches are free to use this as a United Brethren story of grace, forgiveness…well, of so many things.

03 Jul Hillsdale Women’s Mission Group Celebrates 60 Years

Women of the Hillsdale Evening Missionary Society.

Skits from the youth (left) and music from Noble Bertalon and his band were part of the 60th anniversary celebration.

The Evening Missionary Society of the Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) celebrated their 60th anniversary on June 6, 2013.

With over 100 attending, the celebration kicked off with a complimentary dinner catered by the Tastes of Life Restaurant of Hillsdale. Following dinner, guests enjoyed music and drama skits performed in the sanctuary.

Donna Hollopeter (right), Global Ministries associate director, was the speaker for the evening. She showed a slide presentation of missions work around the world.

Two members of the Evening Missionary Society, Marilyn Duryea and Lois James, attended the first meeting in February 1953, and are still active members today. Marilyn told how the Evening Missionary Society got started. She stated that back in 1953 there were three women’s missionary groups at Hillsdale UB, all meeting in the daytime. Many mission-minded women worked during the day and could not attend, so they formed a missionary group that could meet in the evening.

“We were an ambitious group and enjoyed the work meetings,” Marilyn stated. The group tore up sheets, rolled them into bandages, and wrapped them up to be sent in barrels to Africa. They also collected empty pill bottles.

The group has used several methods to support missions, in addition to paying dues and taking offerings. They have had bake sales, yard sales, white elephant sales, and have sold cards, napkins, and dishcloths.

Two members of the group, Sharon Frank and Judy Hoath, were recognized for the years they spent in Sierra Leone as missionary nurses. Also recognized were missionaries Harold and MaryAnn Hancock, just back from Jamaica, and hometown missionary Pastor Jack Mosley, each expressing their thanks for the support they have received the HUB.

In addition, Pastor James Knoll and wife Elizabeth were recognized and thanked for their many years of missionary service in Japan.

EMS President Audrey Whaley (right) stated, “The Evening Missionary Society faithfully meets every month, praying for and financially supporting missionaries worldwide. Reaching out into the community by collecting needed items for organizations county wide such as Alpha Omega, Kings Cupboard, Band of Hope, Domestic Harmony, and several others, is one of the many activities EMS is involved in.”

For the past several years the group has made homemade cookies, assembled them into platters, and delivered them to the local police and fire departments, emergency services personnel, and the County Road Commission as a thank you for their many services to the community.

02 Jul UB Named Citizen of the Year in Findlay, Ohio

L-r: Hancock County Sheriff Mike Heldman, Jim Woodward, and jail administrator Ryan Kidwell.

Jim Woodward, a member of Findlay First UB church (Findlay, Ohio), has been named Findlay Citizen of the Year. He received the award because of his extensive work in the Hancock County Jail ministry and his work promoting Flag City USA. When he addressed the Findlay city council, the first words out of his mouth were, “Before I say anything, I must first stop and say thank you to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” As a result of recognition, July 4th has been renamed, Jim (the Barber) Woodward Day in Findlay, Ohio.

Jim has a passion for fulfilling Matthew 25 where it states, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Many times after inmates are released from the Hancock County Justice Center, the first place they go is to Jim’s barber shop. There, he tells them that if they want a true turn-around in their lives, it starts with Jesus. Congratulations, Jim (The Barber) Woodward.

25 Jun Update on Ruth Benner

Ruth Benner, a former missionary in Sierra Leone, has been struggling with serious health problems for several weeks. Dan Nickless, pastor of Grace UB church (Sherkston, Ontario) where Ruth attends, reported that on Friday night, June 21, Ruth was taken by ambulance to Welland Hospital with a blood clot in her lung. Continued prayers for Ruth are encouraged.

05 Jun Anchor Church Baptizes 14

The Anchor congregation around the Stillwater lake.

Pastor Tim Hallman (right) and associate pastor Matt Kennedy (left) with one of the baptism candidates.

Baptisms at Anchor

On Sunday, June 2, Anchor Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) held its annual baptismal service at the Stillwater Retreat just south of Fort Wayne. They’ve been doing this since soon after Anchor began in 1998. Instead of meeting at the church, everyone gathers at Stillwater, bringing along a covered dish and perhaps a chair.

The day began with an outdoor service, with singing and a message from Pastor Tim Hallman. Then everyone walked down to the lake for the baptisms–14 of them. Pastor Hallman conducted the baptisms, with help from associate pastor Tim Hallman and others.

Then it was back to the lodge for lunch, followed by fun and fellowship around the camp. Many more photos are available on Anchor’s Facebook page.

16 May 23 Baptisms at Banner Church!

A crowded sanctuary at Banner of Christ for the baptisms on May 5.

Pastor Mike Caley (right) performing one of the day’s 23 baptisms.

J. Michael Caley, senior pastor, Banner of Christ Church (Byron Center, Mich.)

This past 7 months, Banner of Christ Church walked as a congregation through a unique experience using “The Story” by Randy Frazee and Max Lucado. We started in October and built the schedule to hit Passion week with the account of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The teaching covers 31 lessons of overview through the Old and New Testament account of God’s Upper story plan and how he set out to reconnect with us in our lower story.

It was a full church involvement from the youngest kids through every level of adults. All small groups and Sunday school classes followed along, so the message teaching was a reinforcement or expansion on their group discussion. We wondered if everyone would stay with it for the entire 7 months…and they did!

Throughout the Story, we gave opportunity for new commitments to Christ or for recommitments as people began to see God’s whole story unfold in rich details. Over the past three months we had 7 individuals make those professions of faith. On May 5 we culminated our Story experience with a baptism day.

Twenty-three individuals, ages 9 to 80, were baptized in the service!

It was a record day with 265 people in attendance, including many guests who were invited to witness their friends or family members celebrate their new life in Christ. Each had recorded a video testimony that was played as they stepped into the tank.