14 Jan 2015 Cluster Leader Training

Todd Fetters opening up the gathering.

Bishop Phil Whipple and Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University, spoke prior to the meal on Monday night.

Attaboy sang and led in worship on Monday night.

Cluster leaders fill out the Name Game.

Every January, the cluster leaders come to Huntington, Ind., for some training. This year, 17 of the 27 cluster leaders attended on January 12-13. The meeting was held at the Habecker Dining Commons at Huntington University.

The meeting began Monday evening. The person in charge of the meeting was Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, whose responsibilities include overseeing the clusters. He opened the meeting. Bishop Phil Whipple gave a devotional, after which Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University, spoke about the important relationship between the denomination and the college. Then it was time to eat.

Attaboy, a musical group affiliated with Huntington University, provided a half hour of music and worship. They described their new focus on ministering in public schools, and told of the success they’ve had already. They are making themselves available to churches.

The evening concluded with a “Thank You” time for Cathy Reich, administrative assistant to Bishop Whipple and Todd Fetters. Cathy interacts constantly with cluster leaders and other pastors, making all travel arrangements for them and making other contacts on behalf of the national office. Most of the cluster leaders had written words of appreciation. These were compiled and presented to Cathy. Three of the cluster leaders were asked to read their statements at the meeting.

After the meeting, a number of cluster leaders went to the home of Todd and Lisa Fetters to watch the national championship football game between Ohio State and Oregon.

On Tuesday morning, the group gathered at 8am for the actual training. The previous night, the cluster leaders were given a page with the photo of all 27 leaders, and a separate list of the names of the cluster leaders. To see how well they knew each other, they were asked to match names and faces. Those papers were turned in Monday night, and Cathy Reich “graded” them. Two persons got all of them correct: Rocky Spear, pastor of Mongul UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.), and Craig Burkholder, pastor of Hudson UB (Hudson, Ind.). They were both recognized first thing Tuesday morning and given a prize.

Mike Dittman, who heads a ministry called Haven of the Heart, was again (as in 2014) the main speaker. He addressed matters related to the pastor’s heart, and demonstrated how to lead a cluster group discussion.

After a buffet lunch at the university, the meeting concluded.

Below are a few photos from the Cluster Leader Training. Over 50 photos are included in an album on the United Brethren Facebook page.

28 Oct UB Pastors and Wives at the Holly Hill Food Pantry

Chuck McKeown, pastor of UBIC Holly Hill, led the group in prayer to start the day.

Prayer before starting a busy morning.

Senior pastors at work. L-r: Mike Caley (Byron Center, Mich.), Derek Thrush (Harrisburg, Pa.), Andy Sikora (Berea, Ohio), and Daryl Elliott (Keyser, W. Va.).

Polly Dunten, from First UB in Findlay, Ohio, in the sorting shed.

In the sorting shed. L-r: Gloria Woods, Marty Helman, and Dean Bentz.

Andy Sikora, pastor of ReNew Ministries (Berea, Ohio), loading a box into a vehicle.

A service project concluded the Pastors and Wives Summit held October 20-23, 2014, in Daytona, Fla. Everyone went to the nearby Holy Hill UB church to help with their food pantry. This is a huge operation, serving hundreds of people. The pantry is open every Tuesday and Thursday, Tuesday being the busier day. This was a Thursday, but there was plenty of work to do.

The group arrived at the church at 9 am. Chuck McKeown, pastor of UBIC Holly Hill, greeted everyone, led them in prayer, and gave them instructions. About half of the pastors and wives worked in an open-air building sorting food to be given out later that morning, while the other half worked in an enclosed building sorting food which would be taken elsewhere.

They have a great system in place. Food is sorted into banana boxes and placed on a conveyor belt, which takes them outside, where the boxes are placed on large carts. The carts are then rolled to a covered shelter. From 10 am to 1 pm, cars enter the property, with a lane going on each side of the covered shelter. Volunteers load the vehicles with the boxed food and other items, like cleaning supplies. The food recipients don’t even need to leave their vehicles.

Originally, the church opened the pantry for anyone. However, they were drawing people from all over the region, and it became unmanageable. So, they restricted it to persons from Holly Hill. As cars arrive, volunteers screen them to see if they are from Holly Hill and if they qualify for the free food.

It’s quite an operation, and it takes a large number of volunteers plus a lot–a LOT–of money. The church owns several large trucks (one of them refrigerated) which can pick up donated food and also take left-over food to other places.

The food pantry also serves hot meals to the homeless and prisoners–nearly 12,000 meals in 2013.

Some stats from 2013:

• Retail value of food given away: $2.2 million.
• Food boxes distributed: 36,816.
• Volunteer hours given: 25,000+.
• Total pounds of food distributed: 1.2 million.

Over 100 photos from the food pantry service project have been posted on the UB Facebook page.

27 Oct Pastors & Wives Summit 4 Underway in Daytona, Fla.

Around the table, l-r: Art and Deborah Page (Salem UB, Chambersburg, Pa.); Gary and Rhonda Dilley (College Park UB, Huntington, Ind.); Annette and Dennis Sites (Jerusalem Chapel, Churchville, Va.); Chris and Keri Little (Mt. Pleasant Church, Chambersburg, Pa.).

Around the table, l-r: Mark and Carla Wilson (Fowlerville UB, Fowlerville, Mich.); Jeremiah and Elisa Ketchum (Brown Corners UB, Clare, Mich.); Bishop Phil and Sandy Whipple; Matt McKeown (First UB, Holly Hill, Fla.).

Around the table, l-r: Jason and Mary Garwood (Colwood UB, Caro, Mich.); Lester and Linda Smith (Hillsdale UB, Hillsdale, Mich.); Marty and Amy Pennington (Mainstreet Church, Walbridge, Ohio); Lisa Fetters, wife of National Ministries director Todd Fetters.

The fourth, and final, Pastors Summit began Monday evening in Daytona Beach, Fla. They will meet through Thursday, October 30.

This event is for pastors and wives from our largest churches, those with an attendance exceeding 300. Last week, pastors and wives from churches of 150-300 attendance met at the same hotel along the ocean. Summit for pastors from churches under 150 attendance were held in April and May.

A total of 22 persons are attending this week. They include 9 pastoral couples, plus four persons from the UB National Office–Bishop Phil and Sandy Whipple, and National Ministries director Todd Fetters and his wife, Lisa.

The group began meeting with supper on October 27. After the meal, Matt McKeown, associate pastor of the United Brethren church in nearby Holly Hill, led the group in worship. Then Todd Fetters led a get-better-acquainted time, during which each person/couple told a bit about themselves.

Bishop Phil Whipple will speak to the group on Tuesday morning, and Marty Pennington, pastor of Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio), will lead a session on Wednesday morning.

21 Oct UB Pastors Summit Underway in Daytona Beach

Todd Fetters opening the Tuesday morning session.

Bishop Phil and Sandy Whipple.

During the Tuesday morning session.

L-r: Marc Stephenson (Chambersburg, Pa.), Jim Bolich (Shippensburg, Pa.), and Milt Herrold (Greencastle, Pa.).

The third Pastors Summit is in progress in Daytona Beach, Fla. This one is for pastors and wives from churches with an attendance of 150-300. Next week, pastors and wives from churches of 300+ attendance will meet at the same hotel in Daytona Beach. It’s designed to be a time of learning and challenge, but also a time of relaxation–a get-away–for pastors.

There are a total of 44 persons. Twenty of them are pastors, and 17 are pastors wives. Seven people from the national office are also attending–Bishop Phil and Sandie Whipple, Jeff Bleijerveld, Todd and Lisa Fetters, and Steve and Pam Dennie.

The group began meeting with supper on October 20. After the meal, Matt McKeown, associate pastor of the United Brethren church in nearby Holly Hill, led the group in worship. Then Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, led in helping people get acquainted with each pastor and pastoral couple.

On Tuesday morning, Bishop Phil Whipple spoke during the opening session. After a break time, Lisa Fetters convened all of the pastors wives for a separate time together, while the pastors participated in a discussion time.

Everyone had all afternoon and evening free. It was a great first day.

A number of photos have been posted on the United Brethren Facebook page.

16 Oct Oct 23: Course Focused on Marriage Counseling

Pastors are highly encouraged to register for the Prepare/Enrich Certification Training being held at the UB national office on Thursday, October 23. This class will provide excellent insights and tools for premarital and marital counseling.

Pastors and counselors regularly engage in pre-marital and marriage counseling. A special class is being held October 23, 2014, to help persons become more effective in this area. You can still sign up.

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2014
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: UB Headquarters, Huntington, Ind.
Cost: $150 (usually $225)

Helping couples strengthen their relationships is no easy task. With this training, you can make a significant impact in the life of a premarital or married couple by using this relationship assessment tool. It helps a couple identify their relationship strengths and how to resolve current issues and prevent future problems. With this workshop, you’ll get thorough training in how to:

• Administer the online assessment.
• Interpret couple’s reports.
• Provide useful feedback to couples.
• Guide couple’s exercises.
• Teach proven relationship skills.
• Work more effectively with couples.

The instructor is Dr. Steve Lee, a former professor of psychology at Huntington University who went on to become an instructor at Focus on the Family Institute and a Certified Relational Wisdom Instructor.

Says Bob Bruce, pastor of Spiritual Care at Emmanuel UB church (Fort Wayne, Ind.): “I have personally found this training to be valuable for working with premarital and married couples. It gives great insight into a couple’s relationship and their attitudes towards various aspects of marriage. It provides a solid platform to work with couples.”

24 Sep Three Persons Attend UB History Course

L-r: Ron Crawford, Christopher Little, and Matthew Bryant.

Three persons attended the latest UB history course earlier this week, September 22-23. The course was held at Mount Pleasant UB church in Chambersburg, Pa., and was taught by Daryl Elliott (right), senior pastor of Fountain UB church in Keyser, W. Va.

The three attendees were:

• Ron Crawford, Discipleship Director at Blue Rock UB church (Waynesboro, Pa.).
• Christopher Little, from Mount Pleasant UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.).
• Matthew Bryant, Coordinator of College Age Ministries at King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.).

20 Sep UB Women’s Conference Underway in Ohio

Some of the attendees at breakfast on Saturday morning, Sept 20.

The group Attaboy is leading worship during the women’s conference.

Attendees take selfies on Saturday morning.

The 2014 UB Women’s Conference began Friday, September 19, at Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio. About 240 women are attending–the largest group yet for the women’s conference, which is held every two years. The conference concludes Sunday morning.

The attendees include Sandy Whipple (wife of Bishop Phil Whipple), Huntington University president Sherilyn Emberton, Global Ministries associate director Donna Hollopeter, and Charlene Bleijerveld, wife of Global Ministries director Jeff Bleijerveld.

Nearly 100 photos have been posted on the United Brethren Facebook page.

02 Sep UB History Course – Sept 22-23 (Chambersburg, Pa.)

The next United Brethren History Course is just three weeks away. Whether you’re interested in learning more about UB history or need the course for ministerial licensing, you’re encouraged to register as soon as possible.

Date: September 22-23, 2014 (Monday and Tuesday)
Time: 9 am – 4 pm each day
Location: Mount Pleasant UB Church.
Address: 2509 Black Gap Road, Chambersburg, PA 17202

Instructor

Daryl Elliott (right), senior pastor of Fountain UB church (Keyser, W. Va.).

Registration Cost

• $200, if you are seeking a ministerial license.
• $100 for everyone else.
• $20 for “Trials and Triumphs,” a history of the United Brethren church. ($14.95 for the book, $5.05 shipping for US, $12.95 international). The book will be sent from the national office.

For complete information and to register, go to the UB website.

Direct any questions to Cathy Reich, Administrative Assistant.

During the past two years, 110 people have attended the course in 12 different locations.

22 Aug Attaboy at the UB Women’s Conference

The band Attaboy, which is associated with Huntington University, will lead worship at the upcoming UB Women’s Conference. They will share their latest ministry emphasis to students. The conference will be held September 19-21 in Huron, Ohio.

08 Aug Pastoral Couples Retreat Sept 8-10

Terry and Barbi Franklin

Rhodes Grove Camp is sponsoring a Pastoral Couples Retreat September 8-10. Rhodes Grove is located outside of Chambersburg, Pa.

The retreat begins at 1 am on Monday, September 8, and concludes at 3 pm on Wednesday, September 10.

Rhodes Grove Camp invites pastoral couples to a special Pastoral Couples Retreat September 8-10. The event is free.

Space is limited, so if you’re interested, call the camp office to reserve your spot. Phone: 717-375-4162.

The retreat features teaching and music from Terry & Barbi Franklin.

Check in begins Monday @ 10:00 am.
First Session @ 1:00.
Monday Lunch – Wednesday Lunch provided.
Tuesday dinner – date night on your own.
Confidential counseling/mentoring is available.

On Sunday night, September 7, a Concert of Praise will be held with Terry and Barbi. This concert will be open to the public. If you and your spouse choose to attend the concert, you are welcome to spend the night Sunday and enjoy a continental breakfast Monday morning.