14 Dec Alvordton UB Sponsors Live Nativity

Alvordton UB (Aldvordton, Ohio) is trying something new: a live nativity. It will be held 6:30-8:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 18-19.

The church is located on US 20 in Alvordton. Drivers can enter the horseshoe-shaped drive to view the Nativity, which will feature Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, shepherds with sheep, a goat, and, of course “Baby Jesus.”

Music will add to the ambiance of the evening. Each vehicle will receive a bag of goodies as it exits the display.

13 Dec Dailey Family Involved in Serious Accident

Ben, Lydia, Caleb, and Jackie Dailey

Members of Park UB church (Bluffton, Ind.) held a prayer service Friday night, December 10, for the family of Ben and Jackie Daily, who are active members of the church.

The Dailey family, on a trip to visit friends out west, were involved in a terrible accident when their van collided with a truck near the Minnesota-North Dakota border. Ben and Jackie were treated and released, but both young children suffered serious head and other injuries: Caleb, 5, and Lydia, two-and-a-half.

Caleb and Lydia were taken to the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, N.D., about 65 miles from where the accident occurred. They are listed in critical condition.

Ben and Jackie would appreciate your prayers, as they live far from home and care for Caleb and Lydia.

Jackie set up a Carepages site, where she posts regular updates. You need to set up a free account, but it is very easy to do.

07 Dec New Life in Lansing, Mich.

Phil Whipple, bishop

Lansing UB had been using reserve funds to meet the pastor’s salary and operational costs, and Pastor Scott Hergert realized they would run out of money by the end of 2010. He laid out the options he saw: go to a part-time pastor arrangement, close the church, or close with restart in the process.

I met with the board and talked about what a restart might look like. A few weeks later, they voted to move in that direction. I led a local conference in September during which they voted to close the existing church and give their assets—including the church building and parsonage–to the restart. Their final service was held October 24.

The Lead Team from Michigan, which had supported the Imagine This church plant in Grand Ledge, Mich., was looking for their next project. We had already settled on starting a church somewhere in Lansing, but weren’t thinking about the existing Lansing congregation. So I suggested to the lead team that we throw our energies together—lead team and restart project—rather than start two different things in  Lansing at the same time.

The church planter will be Tim Flickinger (right), formerly senior pastor of Fowlerville UB (Fowlerville, Mich.). In September, when the Lansing UB people made the decision to close, they had no knowledge about who the church planter would be. We had been talking to Tim about starting a church, but weren’t ready to announce anything at that time. However, a week before Lansing’s final service, Tim came to talk to the congregation to share his vision for the new church.

We took Tim Flickinger through the assessment process, and sent him to a couple church planting training events. His assessment came through very positively.

We’re looking for funding. We’re using some money which was part of Michigan Conference. Fowleville UB has signed up to be a three-year supporter. The pastors who are part of the Lead Team will be raising funds from their churches to help support the project. Whether they use the Lansing facility has not been determined. It’s an older building and isn’t handicap accessible. It would cost quite a bit to update the building to be a contemporary, community kind of church.

Tom Blaylock is serving as a church planting coach for Tim Flickinger. Tim is working on setting a vision for what the church will be and developing a core group. Some people from Lansing UB have already affiliated with the Eden UB church in Mason, Mich. However, some people from Imagine This, who currently drive to Grand Ledge from Lansing, may become part of the core group.

07 Dec Free Christmas Drama/Musical in Camden, Mich.

Lake View UB church (Camden, Mich.) is putting on three performances of “The Christmas Song,” a dramatic musical presentation.

• Friday, December 10, 7 pm
• Saturday, December 11, 7 pm
• Sunday, December 12, 6 pm

The Christmas Song features a 28-voice choir, inspirational drama, and music that will touch your heart. The remarkable story of God’s love is powerfully revealed…from the angel’s appearance to Mary; to the Decree of the Census and the journey to Bethlehem; to their desperate search for shelter; and finally, the breathtaking joy of the Christ child’s birth.

Tickets are free, but are necessary for admission. To obtain tickets, call: 517-567-8529

Lake View is located a half-mile west of M-99, 2 miles north of Pioneer, Ohio; and 16 miles south of Hillsdale, Mich.

06 Dec New Hope Dedicates Family Life Center

New Hope's worship teams leads people in singing during the dedication service.

Senior Pastor Ray A. Seilhamer

The view from the upstairs technology booth.

New Hope UB church (Huntington, Ind.) dedicated its new Family Life Center during a 4pm service on Sunday, December 5. Bishop emeritus Ray A. Seilhamer, senior pastor of New Hope Church, emceed the service. Gary Dilley, senior pastor of cross-town College Park Church, gave the dedication address. A meal followed the service.

The 13,300-square-foot facility includes:

• A gymnasium/fellowship hall with a large stage on one end.
• A new kitchen.
• A large lobby area.
• A youth area upstairs.
• An exercise room.

New Hope started out as Etna Avenue UB church. The congregation moved to the current location in 1976 under the leadership of senior pastor Jim Sturgeon (who passed away on October 22, 2010). In the mid-1980s, during the tenure of senior pastor Russ Birdsall, they added a Christian education wing with classrooms, a fellowship hall, a new foyer, and offices.

The congregation decided to build the Family Life Center in 2007, and launched a fundraising campaign. A groundbreaking service was held April 25, 2010.

The financial goal is $836,576. To date, they have raised $628,060 in cash, with a total of $751,857 in gifts and commitments. If the church meets its financial goals, they will have a debt of $93,000 after 2012.

New Hope has a membership of 150, with 200 people who attend at least one service a month. The total constituency is over 300. Ministries the church currently runs include:

• The Stephen Ministry, which has existed for over 5 years.
• GriefShare, a powerful ministry which will start its fourth group next spring.
• DivorceCare, which just completed its first group.
• Pioneer Clubs, a midweek children’s ministry.
• A “Carpenter Shop” and food pantry, which minister to people within and outside of the congregation.

Beginning in January 2011, New Hope will work under College Park Church’s Upwards Basketball program. The new facility will provide practice space for the basketball teams and cheerleaders, and games will be held on Saturday mornings.

02 Dec Church Rallies Prayer for 3 Missing Boys

Three Michigan brothers from Morenci, ages 9, 7, and 5, have been missing since Friday, November 26. A widespread search was called off on December 2.

Ron Evans (right), senior pastor of Kunkle UB church, located across the border from Morenci, wrote on December 2: “We had a prayer service last night for the three missing boys. This service was open to the public, and we had 85 who gathered to seek God’s intervention and help for them.”

12 Nov Spiritual Renewal in Fostoria, Ohio

From Sam Suman, senior pastor of Trinity UB (Fostoria, Ohio): ”

A scheduled four-day revival spontaneously expanded to an eight-day outpouring of God’s Spirit on the UB church in Fostoria, Ohio. God’s people were willing seekers around the altars each evening. The final Sunday morning service ”shook” with the Presense of God’s Spirit. The transforming power of the preached Word of God brought all of us to our knees.

“This was an extention of the spiritual renewal that is gripping the church in Fostoria. This past summer we saw the salvation of three persons over the age of 55. God is still reaching people that the statistics say are unreachable. A renewed missionary zeal is gripping the ”old folk” at Trinity UB.”

10 Nov Living Up to Flag City USA

Jim Woodward, a member of First UB church of Findlay, Ohio, didn’t think his city was living up to its Congressional designation as Flag City USA. So he contacted the Downtown Findlay Improvement District, which bought 186 2×5-foot flags. Woodward then joined inmates from the country jail to install the flags around town in time for Veterans Day.

WTOL ran an article about Woodward on its website, with an accompanying video. Woodward is a barber in Findlay.

04 Nov Trunk N Treat at Fowlerville UB

Mark Wilson (right), senior pastor of Fowlerville UB (Fowlerville, Mich.).

Our Annual Trunk N Treat event grew out of a few passionate parents who wanted to offer a safe alternative to the annual Halloween activities in our community.

After 6 years of being faithful to share Christ in a creative way of loving people, God brought record numbers to our event on Sunday night, October 31. What a blessing it was to serve over 1100 people from our community.

After many positive comments and great conversations with many from our community, I also found out that we had over 100 volunteers and fed over 900 people.

We are looking forward to seeing how Christ will continue to use these simple contacts with our community.

02 Nov Pastor Appreciation, and Softball Success

The Well's co-ed softball team.

Submitted by Cathy Reich, Assistant to Bishop Whipple and attender at The Well

At The Well, we waited until the final Sunday in October to make a presentation to Pastor Josh Kesler (right). According to the presenting elder, Larry Lawrence, it was to make sure he was doing a good job all month! Of course that brought a few laughs. Pastor Josh said, “And they gave it to me anyways!”

There was no announcement made as to what was in the card, but I heard Josh say, “I was pleasantly surprised and looking forward to taking my family for a little get-away sometime soon.”

Later in the day, the church’s co-ed softball team from the city league ended in third place in an injury-free tournament game. Not a bad ending to the month.