03 May Biking 640 Miles from the UB Headquarters to Myerstown, Pa.

The biking team at the sign outside the UB National Office.

Bishop Todd Fetters (left), making some remarks to the biking team, with Dr. Anthony Blair.

Amos and Annalee Rawley (left), Anthony Blair and Bishop Todd Fetters (right), and the bike team in between.

Dr. Anthony Blair (right) with members of the biking team.

On Saturday morning, April 29, a small group of people met in the parking lot of the United Brethren National Office in Huntington, Ind. They came to send off three men who were beginning the 640-mile bike ride to Myerstown, Pa.

The ride celebrated the relationship of Evangelical Seminary in Myerstown with the United Brethren Church. Evangelical Seminary is a preferred partner when it comes to graduate education; a number of United Brethren ministers over the years have graduated from Evangelical, and three United Brethren ministers (all Huntington University grads) have served as president of Evangelical.

Dr. Anthony Blair, an ordained UB minister, is the current president. Blair came to Huntington for the send-off. Both he and Bishop Todd Fetters gave some remarks to the bicyclists, and then led a time of prayer for them. The bikers were:

• Dr. Mark Draper, Executive Director of the Pense Learning Center and Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Evangelical.
• Kevin Henry, Vice President of Finance and Operations at Evangelical and National Director of the Evangelical Congregational Church.
• Rev. Ralph Owens, a retired minister in the Evangelical Congregational Church.

Here are the remarks from Bishop Todd Fetters:

It’s my honor to be a part of this bike launch today. The United Brethren in Christ and Huntington University have a longstanding and significant bond with Evangelical Seminary.

Many of our pastors who received their undergraduate and graduate education from Huntington University went on to receive further graduate degrees from Evangelical Seminary in Bible, theology, or counseling (marriage and family studies).

Huntington University and the United Brethren in Christ have a strong leadership tie with Evangelical Seminary. We are proud that three of the last five Presidents at Evangelical received their education at Huntington University and were ordained United Brethren in Christ pastors – Dr. Ray Seilhamer, Dr. Kirby Keller, and now Dr. Tony Blair.

Tony and I think it is pretty significant that the current President and the current Bishop are graduates of both institutions. Our connection has helped to reenergize the relationship between Evangelical and the United Brethren in Christ.

I’m proud of the shared history that our denomination has with Evangelical Seminary and Huntington University. Since 1897, Huntington University has been our preferred partner for Christian liberal arts education. And, I am happy to call Evangelical a preferred partner for graduate training. Both the University and the Seminary have bold, creative leadership, and faculty that are scholarly and caring. It’s no wonder that students that emerge from both institutions have a passion for Jesus Christ, a love for His Church, and a commitment to share the Good News in their neighborhoods and among the nations.

May God continue to bless the purposes of these institutions as they help equip the Church to impact this world for Jesus Christ.

Also coming out in the early hours were Amos and Annalee Rawley, who serve the New Hope UB church in Huntington. Both are graduates of Evangelical Seminary.

Evangelical was using the event to raise $100,000 for our Annual Fund for Transformational Leadership.

01 May Nearly 600 People Registered for National Conference Already

Registrations for the 2017 US National Conference–our 250th anniversary as a denomination–are approaching the 600 mark. That’s well ahead of previous years. Only a few rooms are left at the main conference hotel (we will have blocks of rooms reserved at other hotels in the area).

The conference opens on Wednesday evening, July 12. In the tradition of the Great Meetings of the 1700s, we will have multiple speakers each night. The opening-night speakers will be Dennis Miller, senior pastor of Emmanuel UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.), and Jody Bowser, senior pastor of King Street Church (Chambersburg, Pa.). The conference schedule tells about the speakers on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. The bishop elected during the Thursday business session will speak during the closing service on Saturday morning.

Much information about the conference, and about the many attractions in the Lancaster area, has already been posted on the conference website. Much more will be coming.

A lot of special things are planned for this conference. On Thursday and Friday afternoons, there will be tours to sites important to United Brethren history, including a trip to Long’s Barn, where it all started in 1767.

To register, go to the conference website.

26 Apr August 7-9: Marriage Retreat Free to Ministry Couples

A Ministry Couples Marriage Retreat will be held August 7-9, 2017, at Rhodes Grove Camp and Conference Center (Chambersburg, Pa.). The event is free to ministry couples. Full funding is being provided by the United Brethren National Office the United Brethren Association for Church Development, and Rhodes Grove Camp.

This three-day, two-night retreat enables you to separate yourselves from the needs of “everyday life” and invest in your marriage.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Robb Palmer, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and Pastoral Counseling at the Graduate School of Marriage and Family Studies, Evangelical Seminary (Myerstown, Pa.). He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Free Church of America, and has served with the EFCA in senior pastor and other roles for over 30 years.

The retreat starts with dinner at 5 pm on Monday, August 7. The opening session begins at 6:30.

Registration deadline is July 28, 2017. To register, download this brochure.

24 Apr May 5-7: Camp Living Waters 50th Anniversary

Date: May 5-7, 2017

Over the last 50 years, we have been blessed to serve so many who have come to Camp Living Waters. We want to celebrate in honor of the past, present, and future of CLW!

Come and join us for fun activities, great food, wonderful worship and music, memories, laughter, and so much more!

We are excited that former directors Carlson Becker, Robert Kahly, and Chad Saxton plan to attend. Worship leaders Eric Cherry and Matt Moore are also planning to attend.

Also, in honor of our 50th, the camp is having a special fundraiser to raise $50,000 to retire our debt and look to the future.

We hope many will be able to join us on this special occasion.

Tentative Schedule for Saturday Celebration Day
8:30 Continental breakfast
10:30 Brunch
12:00 Games & Activities
4:00 50th Anniversary Celebration Service
6:00 Dinner

To register for the day or weekend or to give towards our $50,000 fundraiser, please go to www.camplivingwaters.org and see the many options available for the weekend.

23 Mar UB History Course Held March 21-22

L-r: Steve Shadle, Mitch Benedict, Jay Brown, Steve Flint, and Marc Webb.

The two-day United Brethren history course was held March 21-22, 2017, at King Street UB church in Chambersburg, Pa. The instructor was Daryl Elliott, senior pastor of Fountain UB church (Keyser, W. Va.).

Five persons attended: Steve Shadle, Mitch Benedict, Jay Brown, Steve Flint, and Marc Webb. Webb is assistant pastor of Idaville UB church (Gardners, Pa.). The other four are all from King Street.

10 Mar March 27 – Pastoral Resource Day

The United Brethren Association for Church Development is sponsoring its Pastoral Resource Day on Monday, March 27, at Rhode Grove Camp in Chambersburg, Pa. The event is worth two CEUs for pastors.

Dr. Mike Dittman, Director of National Ministries for the denomination, will lead two sessions focused around the denomination’s strategic vision for starting and strengthening churches. This vision is based on the three kingdom dynamics that Jesus taught his disciples.

• His Gospel, which made them spiritually alive in Christ.
• His Unity, which made them relationally connected to one-another.
• His Commission, which made them missionaly engaged in the world.

The first session will focus on understanding the vision for starting and strengthening churches. The second session will focus on understanding the strategy for starting and strengthening churches.

Between the two sessions there will be a 20-minute business meeting of the United Brethren Association for Church Development. It will include a few announcements and a vote on the proposed new Constitution.

To register, and for other information, go here.

21 Feb Registration Now Open for 2017 National Conference

You can now register for the 2017 US National Conference, which will be held July 12-15 in Lancaster, Pa. This will be a historic gathering, as we celebrate our denomination’s 250th anniversary.

Meetings will be held at the Lancaster Convention Center in downtown Lancaster, a gorgeous facility completed in 2009. It is the largest and newest facility we have yet used for a national conference. Our hotel, the Marriott at Penn Square, is integrated into the convention center.

Registration Costs
Individual: $60
Family: $100

Hotel Costs
The hotel cost is $125 per room, per night. You can ONLY get that rate through the conference registration process.

Schedule

• Registration begins at 3pm on Wednesday, July 12. The opening service starts at 6:30. Each evening service–Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday–starts at 6:30 and is followed by a reception.
• The business meeting will be held 8am – Noon on Thursday, July 13. Among other business, a bishop will be elected.
• The concluding service will be held Saturday morning at 9:00. The bishop elected on Thursday will speak.
• Afternoons are being kept free for excursions to UB historical sites and visiting the numerous attractions in the Lancaster area.

Attractions

The Lancaster area is a great vacation spot. You’ll find a lot to do: amusement parks, outlet malls, live entertainment, craft shops, buggy rides, museums, art galleries, and much more.

09 Feb March 17: Pastoral Resource Day in Pennsylvania

The United Brethren Association’s annual Spring Pastoral Resource Day is coming up.

Date: Friday, March 17, 2017.
Time: 9 am – Noon
Location: Rhodes Grove Camp & Conference Center.
Address: 7693 Browns Mill Road, Chambersburg, PA 17202

The speaker will be Dr. Mike Dittman, Director of National Ministries for the denomination. The first session will focus on understanding the vision for starting and strengthening churches.
The second session will focus on understanding the strategy for starting and strengthening churches.

1 credit hour (C.E.U) per session will be will be granted to each pastor who attends.

Everyone is invited to lunch at 12:00 PM, after the sessions.

Register by sending in this form.

07 Feb IGNITE Missions Conference: Feb 18 in Caro, Mich.

IGNITE is a one-day regional mission conference that will inform, inspire, and help you integrate missional principles into your outreach efforts at home or abroad. The day will include worship, updates, and a variety of workshops covering topics that are relevant to ministry in your current context.

Our next event will take in mid-February:

Date: Saturday, February 18, 2017.
Time: 9 a.m. to 4:30 pm.
Location: Colwood UB church in Caro, Mich.

Cost for the day will be $20 per person (includes lunch). You can register at UB.org, or call us toll-free at 888-622-3019.

Jason Garwood, lead pastor of the Colwood Church, and his wife Mary, attended the last IGNITE event in Pennsylvania. Here is what Jason had to say:

“Attending IGNITE has really helped Mary and me get a pulse on what God is doing in the world. Sometimes it’s easy to look at the field you’re plowing and forget what God is doing all over the world. IGNITE helped correct some of our assumptions and gave us a solid grid to look through as we consider what it means to be a disciple to nations.

“I highly recommend that pastors, lay leaders, and all churches get involved in God’s worldwide redemptive plan. A perfect place to start is to come to IGNITE. It will challenge you, equip you, and move you to action. Don’t miss it!”

01 Feb UB History Course: Two Locations During March

During March 2017, the United Brethren History Course is being offered in two locations.

March 6-7, 2017 (Monday/Tuesday)

Location: New Hope Community Church, Bryan, Ohio
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm both days
Instructor: Bob Bruce, Pastor of Spiritual Care, Emmanuel Community Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Three nearby hotels are recommended–Holiday Inn Express, Colonial Manor Motel, and the Plaza Motel. The UB website has information about all three.

March 21-22, 2017 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Location: King Street Church, Chambersburg, Pa.
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm both days
Instructor: Daryl Elliott, senior pastor of Fountain UB Church, Keyser, W. Va.

The nearby Holiday Inn Express is recommended for lodging. They’ll give course attendees a special rate.

Cost

The cost is $200, if you are seeking a ministerial license, and $100 for everyone else.

For ministers, there is a $50 discount if you pay fully in advance of the class, making your cost just $150.

Trials and Triumphs Book

You’ll need a copy of Trials and Triumphs, a history of the United Brethren Church. You can order a copy for $20.70 from the National Office ($14.95 for the book, $5.75 shipping for the US). Order a copy by calling toll-free: 888-622-3019, ext 301. Or order a copy with your registration below.

Register

You can register at the UB website.

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 welcome to take the course. The course is held periodically in regional settings. During the past five years, 150 people have attended the course in 20 different sessions.

For UB ministers, the UB History Course qualifies for 12 credit hours.