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.

30 Jul Sept 20: HU Hosting New Conference for Youth Workers and Student Leaders

EQUIP2:6 is a new conference for youth workers and student leaders in northeast Indiana. It will occur on Saturday, September 20 on the campus of Huntington University. The cost is $15 per person.

The conference is the work of a team of local church youth pastors, parachurch youth workers, the Ministry Department of Huntington University, and others who share in a two-fold vision:

1. To impact the young people of Northeast Indiana by helping equip area Christian youth workers and student leaders for faithful and effective ministry.”
2. To see mutually edifying relationships built among the ministries in the targeted area.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Richard Ross, author of “Student Ministry and the Supremacy of Christ” (CrossBooks 2009). Ross is professor of Youth Ministry at Southwest Seminary (Texas), and founder and spokesperson for the international True Love Waits movement.

Sponsors include Huntington University, the UB National Office, Youth for Christ, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Schedule

Between sessions, participants can go to the Merillat Centre for the Arts for refreshments and to see exhibitors.

22 Jul UB History Course: Sept 2014 in Chambersburg, Pa.

The United Brethren History Course is a requirement for ministerial licensing in the United Brethren denomination. However, people who just want to learn more about United Brethren history are free to take the course. The course is held periodically in regional settings.

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

The next edition will be held September 22-23, 2014, in Chambersburg, Pa.

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.

Payment

Course payment must be sent one week prior to the class, unless other arrangements are made. Send to:

United Brethren in Christ
302 Lake Street
Huntington, Ind. 46750

Make checks payable to “United Brethren in Christ.”

Direct any questions to Cathy Reich, Administrative Assistant.

14 Jul August 21: Missions Day in Chambersburg, Pa.

A Missions Day will be held Thursday, August 21, at Rhodes Grove Camp (Chambersburg, Pa.). It starts at 9 am.

The theme is ““Our God is Greater, Awesome in Power.” The special speaker is Jenaya Bonner (right), Global Ministries staff in Macau. She will give an update on the UB work in Macau and Hong Kong.

Lunch will be served at $12 per person

The afternoon will include the sale of items, crafts, food, and baked goods. Please come, and bring friends.

Rhodes Grove Camp is located at 7693 Browns Mill Rd Chambersburg, PA 17202. Phone: (717) 375-4162.

27 Jun Three Months Until the Women’s Conference

The 2014 UB Women’s Conference will be held September 19-21. Getting close. Registration closes on August 15. Even closer.

As of June 27, about 220 women are registered–more than attended the previous convention in 2012. And we still have three months to go.

The Women’s Conference website now includes a poster. Download it, print it out (in color), and post it in the church foyer or another prominent location. Encourage women of your church to attend.

The location is the beautiful Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio. That’s a little east of Toledo, very close to the Cedar Point amusement park. We held the 2007, 2009, and 2011 US National Conferences at Sawmill Creek, so it will be familiar to many United Brethren folks.

The conference begins with registration at 4pm on Friday, September 19, and concludes by noon on Sunday, September 21.

Registration

The registration cost is based on the number of persons sharing a room (1-4). The cost includes lodging, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner. After August 15, the cost rises $50 per person.

Please inform women in your church about this conference and encourage them to register. We’d love to see a whole van-load of women from your church!

03 Jun 11 Persons Attending UB History Course

Bob Bruce, standing on the left, with the class members. Seated (l-r): Matthew Rhynehart, David Souers, Jeff Dice, Jeremiah Ketchum. On the screen (l-r): Mark Wallace, Jim Tice, James Gray, John Lightner, Jerald Jones, David and Kim Holt.

Bob Bruce is teaching the class.

The history class is being taught from the UB national office in Huntington, Ind.

Jeff Dice (seated) with the Sunfield group.

The United Brethren history course is being held June 2-3 at the UB national office in Huntington, Ind. This is a requirement for licensing as a United Brethren minister. Bob Bruce, associate pastor at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.), is teaching the class.

Four persons are attending in person:

• David Souers, senior pastor of New Horizons UB church (Rockford, Ohio).
• Matthew Rhynehart, youth pastor at New Horizons (Rockford, Ohio).
• Jeremiah Ketchum, senior pastor of Brown Corners UB church (Clare, Mich.).
• Jeff Dice, associate pastor at Brown Corners (Clare, Mich.).

Five persons are attending remotely from the Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.).

• James Gray, a local church minister from Pathway UB church (Jackson, Mich.).
• John Lightner, a lay minister from Crossroads UB church (Charlotte, Mich.).
• Jerald Jones, a local church minister from Kilpatrick UB church (Woodland, Mich.).
• David Holt, senior pastor of East Ovid UB church (Coldwater, Mich.).
• Kim Holt, pastor’s wife at East Ovid (Coldwater, Mich.).

Another two persons are attending remotely from Parkwood Gardens UB church (Guelph, Ontario).

• Jim Tice, associate pastor of Parkwood Gardens (Guelph, Ontario).
• Mark Wallace, CEO of CH Global, member of Mill Crossing UB church (Cambridge, Ontario).

13 May Over 200 Already Registered for Women’s Conference

A denominational Women’s Conference is held every two years. The 2014 conference is still four months away, but already we’re anticipating a record attendance. Rooms are going quickly. The original goal of 200 has been upped to 250. Consider:

• In 2012, we had 211 women attend the conference.
• This year, we already have 209 women registered…with four months to go!

The 2014 Women’s Conference will be held at the Saw Mill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio (where we held three UB national conferences). The dates: September 19-21. To read more about the conference, and to register, go to UBWomen.org.

12 May 16 Attend Worship Summit in Florida

Sam Ward, from Emmanuel UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.), leading a discussion time at the Worship Summit.

The Worship Summit attendees on the beach.

Sixteen persons attended the third Worship Pastor’s Summit on May 5-7 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The event was designed for worship pastors and spouses. The participants came from churches in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

This year’s summit followed the same format as the previous two by starting on Monday evening and ending on Wednesday night. John Authenreith, worship arts pastor at Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio), was the main facilitator for the event and kept things rolling and on time. Wednesday night kicked off with an open worship time during whic each attender shared a worship song that is connecting with their congregation. After a short break, the pastors came back and shared testimonies and life verses to build community.

Tuesday and Wednesday were times for keynote speakers Matt Chandler and Craig Groeschel, who spoke to the group via DVD. These addresses were followed by by discussion and also focused discussions led by John Authenreith and Sam Ward, pastor of Creative Worship & Drama at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

Networking was also a big part of the week. There were many conversations over meals and around the hotel about adapting liturgical elements for today’s church, technology, leading rehearsals, musical excellence, etc. The summit attenders plan to continue these conversations and group learning via their Facebook page.

Wednesday night, the 16 attenders spent time in communion and prayer as a symbol of unity in Christ.

09 May 43 Persons Attend Michigan Pastors Summit

All of the ministers together. Front (l-r): Mike Sturgill, Brent Liechty, Rocky Spear, Jerry Drummond, Don Ross, Eldon Grubb, Jim Pryor, Andy Stahl. Back (l-r): Phil Whipple, Tim Sherman, Greg Voight, Mark Ralph, Ricky Hull, Todd Fetters, Todd Greenman, Devon Strine, Ted Doolittle, Dan Kopp, Joe Leighton, Ron Watterly, Nick Woodall, Ron Evans, and Dan VanArsdalen.

Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, spearheaded the Pastors Summit.

Lisa Fetters led sessions for pastors’ wives.

Joe Leighton, pastor of Salem Chapel (Junction City, Ohio), tells his “Because of Jesus…” story.

The Pastors Summit ended with a prayer time.

The second Pastors Summit was held May 5-7 at the Gull Lake Ministries camp in Hickory Corners, Mich. The event was for senior pastors and spouses from churches with an average attendance under 150. It drew 43 persons–five persons from the national office, 24 senior pastors, and 14 pastors’ wives. The ministers and spouses included:

• 10 pastors and 6 spouses from UB churches in Michigan.
• 11 pastors and 7 spouses from UB churches in Ohio.
• 2 pastors and 1 spouses from UB churches in Indiana.
• 1 pastor from Pennsylvania.

The Pastors Summit followed the same format as the summit held the previous week in Pennsylvania, beginning on Monday evening and concluding by noon on Wednesday. Bishop Phil Whipple was the speaker for the three sessions. He opened on Monday night by telling about his journey as a minister, from his call to ministry through serving various churches both before and after joining the United Brethren denomination. It was fascinating stuff. On Tuesday he addressed principles he has learned along the way, and then spoke primarily about brokenness.

Coaching was a big part of the Pastors Summit. Pastors could sign up for a coaching session with one of the five trained coaches, all UB ministers:

• Dan Kopp, pastor of NorthPointe UB church (Lewis Center, Ohio).
• Greg Voight, pastor of Lancaster UB (Lancaster, Ohio).
• Rocky Spear, pastor of Mongul UB Shippensburg, Pa.).
• Mark Wilson, pastor of Fowlerville UB church (Fowlerville, Mich.).
• Jerry Drummond, a retired UB minister from Ashley, Mich.

Dan Kopp, Greg Voight, and Rocky Spear all served as coaches in Pennsylvania. The participants who signed up for coaching spent two sessions with their coach–an hour on Tuesday afternoon, and an hour on Wednesday morning. There will also be some follow-up interactions.

The Gull Lake lodge, where meetings and meals were held, included a large gymnasium and a four-lane bowling alley. After the Monday night session, nine men reconvened on the basketball court for about 90 minutes. Most were pretty rusty, and far removed from the Glory Days of Youth, but it was quite fun. They on Tuesday night, 11 pastors and three spouses donned their bowling shoes for the evening. Two persons worth mentioning:

• Eldon Grubb, pastor of Pleasant Valley UB church (Lake Odessa, Mich.), had the night’s best cumulative score.
• Devon Strine, pastor of Mount Pleasant UB church (Angola, Ind.), had the night’s single highest game score.

The Pastors Summit ended Wednesday morning with a group session during which pastors were invited to give a brief (no longer than 4 minutes) testimony which completed one of these statements: “Because of Jesus…” or “If it hadn’t been for Jesus….” The group was continuously in transition, since coaching sessions were going on at the same time; every hour, some ministers would leave and others would return.

The event concluded with a prayer time led by Bishop Phil Whipple.

Below are a few photos from the Pastors Summit. Many more–nearly 100–can be found on the UB Facebook page.

09 May Photos from the Pennsylvania Pastors Summit

A new album has been posted on the United Brethren Facebook page. It includes nearly 100 photos from the Pastors Summit held April 28-30 in Chambersburg, Pa. Check it out. About 45 UB ministers and spouses attended.