05 Feb UB Children’s Leader Summit: May 18-19
A meeting for United Brethren children’s workers will be held May 18-19 at First UB church in Holly Hill, Fla. The church has lodging facilities. More details will come later.
28 Jan Honduran Children Honoring the Worldwide UB Church
General Conference opened on January 10 with a Sunday afternoon service at the Bethel Institute in La Ceiba, Honduras.
The service began with a parade of flags representing each United Brethren country and mission district represented at General Conference. That would be nine national conferences, plus Guataemala, Haiti, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. Honduran teenagers carried the flags, escorted by younger children clad in outfits symbolic of that country.
The flags were inserted into holders on the stage, while the younger children lined across the front. And then came this amazing part: those children took turns singing the national anthem of the country they were representing. The two children representing Mexico went first, then three for Canada, and on down the line. You could see General Conference delegates singing along, smiling with delight, when it was their country’s turn.
Missionary Marilyn Reeck spearheaded this part of the program. You can imagine it was an incredible amount of work–making the costumes, finding recordings of the various national anthems, teaching Spanish-speaking children to sing those songs in other languages, etc.
At the end came the Honduran national anthem, which really brought the local assembly alive. After finishing with the national anthems, the children then did several more songs before marching out. General Conference was off to a great start, thanks to the children of Honduras.
Click on any thumbnail photo below to view a photo gallery of the children singing at General Conference.
19 Jan Today’s Executive Leadership Team Meeting
Bishop Phil Whipple leading the ELT meeting.
Andy Sikorra (right), who will be planting a UB church in the Cleveland area, with Huntington University president G. Blair Dowden.
The Executive Leadership Team met Monday night and Tuesday morning (January 18-19) at Huntington University. This was the first time the ELT has met since Phil Whipple was elected bishop, though they’ve handled several items of business over the internet.
The plan was to handle all business during the two hours on Monday night, and reserve Tuesday for talking about church planting. They stuck to that plan.
On Tuesday morning, after a devotional by Bishop Whipple, the ELT heard from Andy Sikorra, who will be planting a church in the Cleveland, Ohio, area starting next fall. Andy is originally from Texas, but his family moved to northwest Ohio and attended New Hope UB church in Bryan, Ohio. He attended Huntington University, and is now on staff with a Southern Baptist church in Cleveland.
Bishop Whipple then guided the ELT members into an open discussion about church planting. Our denomination was born out of aggressive church planting, but in recent years we’ve not done so well at starting new churches. It’s something everyone agrees we need to get a better handle on.
18 Jan 2010 Cluster Leader Training
Denny Miller (far right) leading the cluster leader training.
Today, 22 cluster leaders came to Huntington, Ind., for several hours of training with Bishop Phil Whipple and Denny Miller, pastor of Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.). They met in the Habecker Dining Commons at Huntington University. Denny Miller works one day a week as Director of Healthy Church Ministries. He led much of the training.
Here are some photos from the event.
16 Jan Tio Archie en Espanol (at Last)
Me, after I've just signed 100 copies of Tio Archive.
I started writing Tio Archie in 1996, and it was published in May 2001. While it tells the story of Honduras, it was not written in Spanish, the language of Honduras. It was published in English. Because that’s what I speak.
But it needed to be in Spanish.
Over the years, missionaries Roger and Marilyn Reeck translated Tio Archie into Spanish. Marilyn worked hard this year to finish the book. On Satuday, January 9, the book arrived in La Ceiba the same day I did (though it came from a printing plant in Tegucigalpa).
The book was unveiled at the end of the January 10 service which opened the General Conference. A number of people asked me to autograph their copies. That’s always a joy and a privilege to do.
15 Jan January 13: Day 4 of General Conference
Ajiax Wo gives his report as superintendent of Hong Kong Conference. L-r: Brian Magnus (chair), Donna Hollopeter (secretary), Ajiax, and Orville Brown (translator).
Theresa Musa and Billy Simbo (Sierra Leone) during the prayer time for Haiti. Billy also opened with the day's devotional.
Juan Pavon Pavon (Nicaragua) speaking.
Laughter: the universal language. L-r: Isaac Nugent (Jamaica), Denis Casco (Mexico), Ajiax Wo (Hong Kong).
The Honduran women fed everyone well, three meals a day.
Juanita Chavez, Honduran superintendent, talks about her country's long-range plan.
The closing prayer time.
Wednesday’s General Conference meeting opened with a devotional from Billy Simbo, bishop of Sierra Leone conference. He used the story where Jesus brought a huge catch of fish to an astonished Peter and his fellow fishermen.
The group then spent some time praying for Haiti and for Superintendent Oliam Richard, who at that point was traveling to the La Ceiba airport with Denis Casco (bishop of Mexico), hoping to get a flight to Haiti. (He eventually opted to stay in La Ceiba. The January 13 posts tell about that.)
Ajiax Wo, superintendent of Hong Kong Conference, was welcomed to his first full day of General Conference. He got hung up in New York City, needing a Honduran vissa. He reported on the ministry in Hong Kong. Karis Vong, the other Hong Kong delegate, had reported in his place, but restricted her report to Macau, where she ministers.
The delegates discussed, and unanimously passed, two changes to the international governing documents:
- Changing the frequency of General Conference from 4-3 years.
- Reducing representation to just two persons for each national conference–the highest governing leader, plus one other person (doesn’t need to be a minister).
Next: they approved changes to the governing documents of the various national conference. One role of the General Conference is to monitor changes in the member documents to make sure they remain in conformity with United Brethren doctrine and core values.
Each national conference mentioned any significant changes to its governing documents. There were various structural changes in some conferences, but nothing that caused any concern. All changes were approved. As expected.
A few miscellaneous matters were cared for. Then Brian Magnus called for someone to adjourn this 50th meeting of the General Conference.
They adjourned.
But before you drive away….
The executive committee met for a while. They re-elected Brian Magnus as chairman of the International Executive Committee, a position he has held since 2001. The executive committee will decide where the next General Conference is held, in 2013.
The delegates reassembled for a presentation on the long-range plan of Honduras Conference by Abdiel Lopez, a Guatemalan whose organization is assisting the conference.
And THEN everyone was done for the afternoon. Most of the delegates squeezed time in at the local mall–just like any modern mall in the United States–before supper and the evening service.
14 Jan The Dwindling Fellowship of the Meeting
L-r: Jeff Bleijerveld, Phil Whipple, and Alan Simbo in Chicago.
Steve Dennie (left) and Jeff Bleijerveld waiting for the flight to Fort Wayne...home,
A tired group of General Conference delegates left the Gran Paris Hotel in La Ceiba, Honduras, at 4:15 a.m. The conference bus (“Followers of the Lord” in bit white letters across the windshield, but in Spanish) came to pick us up. David Raudales, director of the Bethel Band and son of Francisco and Maira Raudales, tagged along with the bus driver to see us off.
The two Guatamalans, Francisco Najera and Rolando Valenzuela, deboarded at the bus station on the outskirts of town. The rest of us continued on to San Pedro Sula.
In San Pedro, the Americans, Jamaicans, and Sierra Leoneans boarded a flight for Miami about 9:30. they left four persons behind. Carlos Quesada, a workshop leader, would be catching a flight to Brazil to continue his presentations on behalf of Operation Mobilization. Jeff Dice waited for a flight to Costa Rica. And the two Canadians, Brian Magnus and Paul Plato, also had a later flight back to Canada.
In Miami, we lost Winston Smith and Isaac Nugent, who continued on to Jamaica. That left five Americans and three Sierra Leoneans.
On to Chicago. There, the Sierra Leoneans and Americans parted company. Billy and Alan Simbo were heading to Philadelphia, while Theresa Musa caught a flight for Baltimore.
Phil Whipple waiting for the flight to Fort Wayne.
That left the Americans waiting for a tiny American Eagle flight to Fort Wayne, Ind. Phil Whipple, Jeff Bleijerveld, Jason and Donna Hollopeter, and Steve Dennie arrived in Fort Wayne just after 8:30.
Meanwhile, back in Honduras….
- The Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans left Wednesday night, driving home.
- Oliam Richard would left this morning from La Ceiba, hoping to make his way to stricken Haiti. (We were happy to see, in Miami, that a scheduled flight to Port au Prince was On Time.)
- Denis Casco left Thursday from the La Ceiba airport, heading back to Mexico.
- Ajiax Wo and Karis Vong began their journey back to Hong Kong in late afternoon.
And that’s it. The end of a great meeting.
13 Jan Rev. Oliam Richard and Haiti
General Conference delegates lay hands in prayer on Oliam Richard, Superintendent of Haiti.
The day opened with sadness, which was actually a carry-over from Tuesday: the terrible earthquake in Haiti. Oliam Richard, our Haitian superintendent, was terribly concerned, especially since his wife, Esther, had flown into Haiti the day before the earthquake.
Oliam spent the night glued to CNN and seeking information on the internet. This morning, he felt he must try to get back to Haiti, and we can understand that.
Denis Casco, bishop of Mexico, took him to the La Ceiba airport to check on connections. There were none. They could get him to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, but couldn’t make any promises beyond that.
So, Denis urged Oliam to stay in La Ceiba, where he had accomodations, and Oliam agreed. However, he skipped the General Conference meeting today, staying at the hotel and no doubt gleaning whatever news he could of Haiti. He tried various ways to get through, but in vain.
During tonight’s closing service at the Bethel II church in La Ceiba, the congregation (and it was packed) took up an offering for Haiti. Rev. Richard didn’t attend the evening service. However, back at the hotel, all the General Conference delegates gathered around him, and the money was presented to him by Marilyn Reeck. Then the delegates laid hands on him, and several prayed aloud for him.
We’ll just need to pray that during the next few days, amidst the exstreme chaos, Oliam will be able to reach not only Haiti, but his wife Esther.
12 Jan Jan 12: Day Three of General Conference
Bishop Winston Smith of Jamaica gives the morning devotions.
Billy Simbo (with the Sierra Leonean flag) reported on the work in Sierra Leone.
Steve Dennie (with translator Orville Brown) leading a seminar on "Communications in the Age of the Internet."
L-r: Ajiax Wo (Hong Kong Superintendent), Jeff Dice (UB missionary), Karis Vong (Hong Kong delegate).
David Raudales (on keyboard) and Orville Brown led singing during the Tuesday night service.l
Bishop Phil Whipple preaching Tuesday night.
The highlight of Tuesday was most definitely accepting Guatemala as a new United Brethren national conference. But a lot more happened.
Bishop Winston Smith (Jamaica) began the day with devotions.
Three national conferences still had to report on their countries.
- Superintendent Juan Pavon Pavon reported on the work in Nicaragua and its two mission district, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
- Bishop Billy Simbo told about the work in Sierra Leone.
- Bishop Phil Whipple reported for the United States. He told the delegates, “As I give this report, I am largely telling you things that have happened over the past four years, and I have only been there four months. But I’m excited about where God is taking us with the United Brethren church in the USA.”
After lunch came two workshops.
- Carlos Quesada, a Costa Rican who works with Operation Mobilization and has lived in Mauritania for nine years, gave a fascinating presentation on Muslims.
- Steve Dennie, UB Communications Director, led a discussion about technology and the internet.
Other highlights of the day:
- For the second day in a row, we had sunshine.
- As we prepared to begin the afternoon excursion, Superintendent Ajiax Wo of Hong Kong arrived. It was great to see him join the group, although belatedly.
- Bishop Phil Whipple spoke in the evening service, held at one of the United Brethren churches in La Ceiba.
12 Jan Guatemala Becomes the 10th UB Conference
The General Conference delegates pray over Francisco Najera (left) and Rolando Valenzuela of Guatemala Conference.
L-r: Translator Orville Brown, Supt. Juan Pavon Pavon of Nicaragua, Brian Magnus, Donna Hollopeter.
Francisco Najera talking about the work in Guatemala.
On Tuesday afternoon of General Conference, January 12, the 13 United Brethren churches of Guatemala were officially accepted as the 10th national conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ International. The recommendation was signed by the various national conference leaders attending.
Up to this point, Guatemala has been a mission district of Nicaragua Conference. Juan Pavon Pavon, superintendent of Nicaragua, gave the background.
A leader from his church in Masaya, Nicaragua, was on his way to Mexico, but had to stay in Guatemala for a couple days. He met a family that was interested in starting a church, and they inquired about the United Brethren. One thing led to another, and Juan Pavon received an invitation to come visit Guatemala.
Juan spoke to them about United Brethren doctrine and the way we work, and they liked what they heard. Things took off from there. A church started in that neighborhood, and now there are many branches in that neighborhood. They also worked to secure the proper legal documentation, and to organize a board of directors according to Guatemalan law.
Juan then asked Superintendent Francisco Najera to share more about the work in Guatemala.
Francisco was there from the beginning. “When the work was starting and I arrived at the location, I reconciled to God at that church.” He said some new churches started when members relocated, others through friendships they developed with other Christians who have now joined them and accepted the United Brethren vision.
“In Guatemala, it is not very hard to establish a church,” he said. “I live in an area with 50,000 people. There are no churches with 1000 members. That tells me a great outreach can be done. There are many churches, but more people to reach.”
He also gave this information:
- There are now 13 churches and church plants in Guatemala.
- “This was a very good year for growth. We had 176 baptisms.”
- The combined attendance of the churches is 580.
- Out of our 13 churches, 11 own their own properties, with legal documents in the name of the mission.
- All of the churches have children’s ministry, with 295 children in all.
- Each church has its own pastor.
- There are three ordained ministers, and three with a license.
The recommendation from the examining committee stated:
Having reviewed the governing documents and interviewed representatives of the General Conference, we do hereby recommend their acceptance as a national conference of the United Brethren in Christ.
Together with this recommendation, we would also recommend that we continue working with this new conference to provide opportunities for continuing education for its pastors and leaders, particularly in regard to United Brethren theology and doctrine.
Bishop Billy Simbo of Sierra Leone said, “I move that we accept the recommendation.” It was approved unanimously.
Bishop Brian Magnus of Canada then directed everyone to gather around the two Guatemalan delegates, Francisco Najera and Rolando Valenzuela. They laid hands on them in prayer as Rev. Jose Ramirez of Honduras prayed.
Five years ago, there were 7 national conferences. We added 2 in 2005. And now there are 10.