We previously mentionedthe upcoming Sticks conference, designed for churches in rural and smalltown settings. They’re only taking 400 people, at $159 per registration. Since it’s being held in Loudonville, Ohio (between Columbus and Cleveland), it’s a reasonable distance from most of our churches.

The conference is being hosted by New Hope Community Church, a multi-site church with three locations in Ohio.

Many people have fond memories of attending summer camp while they were growing up. Friendships were formed, knees were skinned, challenges were conquered, and most of all, life long lessons were learned. Now that we are older, we are glad places like that still exist for our own kids and grandkids.

Camp Cotubic is one such place. It held a special place in the heart of Mr. Tom Ponsot, who passed away in the Spring of 2005. Tom saw the great potential of Camp Cotubic and volunteered his time and financial resources to preserve it as a place where his own grandkids and many other children could experience summer camp. Tom served as the chairman of the camp board for several years and was passionate about the camp’s ministry.

One of the challenges summer camps face is raising the financial resources to maintain high quality programs. To this end we are announcing the 4th Annual Tom Ponsot Memorial Golf Tournament:

Date: September 6, 2008
Registration: 7:30
Tee Time: 8 a.m.
Location: Clear Creek Golf Course, Huntington, Ind.
Cost: $50 per person (includes green fees, cart, snacks, and lunch).

The tournament will use a four-person/team Florida scramble format. Prizes will also be awarded in a variety of categories. All proceeds to go to support the ministries of Camp Cotubic.

To register, please contact Zanesville United Brethren church by email or phone (260-638-4220). For more information about Camp Cotubic, please visit the Camp Cotubic website.

We just learned about a two-day conference called “The Sticks” which may appeal to you. It’s designed for churches in rural and smalltown settings. They’ve got some excellent speakers lined up, and seem to have a great spirit and purpose.

Date: November 11-12
Location: Loudonville, Ohio (about halfway between Columbus and Cleveland (near Mansfield).

Their promo says:

Do you live out in the sticks (small cities and towns of 50K or less).
Do you want to make a big impact?
Tired of small towns being left out of the conversation?
Have you bought into the lies…”We can’t do that” or “We don’t have the funds to pull that off”?

CHECK OUT THE STICKS!
The sticks is a gathering to inspire and equip pastors in small to medium towns to make a big impact for the Kingdom!

They’re only taking 400 people (at $159 per registration), so if you’re interested, you might jump on it quick.

Global Ministries is sponsoring four events to train mission team leaders. With more and more mission teams going out, we need more people who understand how to make these teams successful. These seminars, fun and interactive, will be led by Jeff Bleijerveld and Donna Hollopeter in four regional locations.

The cost is $60 per person.

You can register online, and view information about each event–directions, hotels–by using the links below.

August 22-23 Salem UB Church, Chambersburg, Pa.
September 12-13 Emmanuel Community Church
Fort Wayne, Ind.
October 3-4 (Details still being confirmed)
Charlotte, Mich.
November 14-15 Lancaster UB ChurchLancaster, Ohio

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Pat Jones (right) introduces Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries.

About 50 people attended last Thursday’s “Hang with the Bishop” event. The location was the festively-decorated (for VBS) gymnasium of College Park Church in Huntington, Ind. As with the other three Hang with the Bishop events held thus far (in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan), Pat Jones emceed the occasion, and attendees had the chance to ask any questions they wished of Bishop Ron Ramsey.

We’re inviting UB people to design a logo for the 2009 US National Conference. We need car racing imagery combined with the name XLR8 (the text-message equivalent of “Accelerate”–clever, huh?). Think Nascar, without the trademark infringements. All the details are given on the Healthy Ministry Resources website

UB pews are loaded with talented people. Know someone in your church who might be interested in designing a logo? Make sure he/she hear about it. The deadline is July 31. And the winner gets a whopping $100. (Several possible designs have come in already.)

This is just a reminder, for people in the Indiana-Ohio area, of next Thursday’s “Hang with the Bishop” meeting. Pat Jones and Jeff Bleijerveld will join Bishop Ron Ramsey. It’s for UB pastors and laypersons from churches within driving distance of Huntington, Ind.

  • Date: Thursday, June 26
  • Time: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Location: College Park UB church, Huntington, Ind.

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The planning committee (l-r): Nate Perry, Steve Dennie, Josh Greenfield, Heather Umbaugh, Chris Kuntz, Amy Pennington, Ron Ramsey, E. J. Ramsey, Donna Hollopeter, Opal Sherman, Marci Hammel, Cathy Reich.

The 2009 National Conference will return to Saw Mill Creek Resort (Huron, Ohio), scene of the 2007 US National Conference. Last weekend, an extended version of the planning team (above) met at Saw Mill Creek to continue the planning they’ve been doing for the past nine months.

The date: June 4-7, 2009. That’s Thursday through Sunday morning. We’ll follow pretty much the same schedule we did in 2007.

The location: People liked the general location, northern Ohio, according to the evaluations. It made a good mid-point for the bulk of our people (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, the Virginias). We looked at various venues large enough to accommodate 900-plus people, and Saw Mill Creek floated to the top of the list.

Two things to know:

  • Saturday will feature a “missionary homecoming.” Many currently-serving UB missionaries will be brought back for what promises to be an amazing day.
  • We intentionally minimized conference business in 2007. But next year, we’ll need to spend more time in this way, and will devote all of Friday to conference business. It will include election of a new bishop.

We’ll get you more information as plans come together. But for now, get June 4-7 on your calendar and begin talking to people in your church about attending. By year’s end, you’ll need to identify persons to represent your church as lay delegate(s).

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L-r: Nate Perry, Steve Dennie, Josh Greenfield, Heather Umbaugh, Chris Kuntz, Amy Pennington, Ron Ramsey, E. J. Ramsey, Donna Hollopeter, Opal Sherman, Marci Hammel, and Cathy Reich.

The 2009 National Conference will return to Saw Mill Creek Resort, scene of the 2007 US National Conference. The planning committee has met several times during the last nine months. Last weekend, the planning team, plus several other persons who are playing an important role in making it happen, met at Saw Mill Creek to continue planning.

Date: June 4-7, 2009
Location: Huron, Ohio

We’ll follow the same basic schedule as in 2007:

  • Start Thursday night, end Sunday morning.
  • Registration starting at noon on Thursday.
  • Opening service at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
  • Business session all day Friday (last year, it was only Friday morning). This will include election of a new bishop.
  • Workshops on Saturday morning.
  • An exciting missions emphasis on Saturday night (more later).

The annual meeting of the Michigan United Brethren churches (a hold-over from the previous Michigan Conference) will take place:

  • Date: Saturday, July 19
  • Location: Carson City Christian Camping Center, 5940 S Mt Hope Rd. Carson City, Michigan 48811
  • Time: 9 a.m. to noon, followed by a noon meal.

The event will include:

  • Worship in music
  • A message from Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries.
  • A business session, with various reports and elections.
  • Each cluster leader introducing the pastors in their cluster.
  • A chicken barbeque meal at noon ($1.50 per quarter).

Persons interested in the meal should contact Jim Kendall to order the number of quarters of chicken they and their family will need. Contact him by June 30 at (989) 236-5070.
 
Camp sites are available for $10 per night. They include water and electricity ($12 if you have air conditioning). Call Lee Palmer to reserve a spot at (989) 235-6525