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Mike Mattox has been named senior pastor of New Life UB church (Chanute, Kansas). He holds a two-year diploma in Pastoral Studies from Rhema Bible Training Center. Mike and his wife, Linda, have five children.
Please pray for the young daughter, just a toddler, of Justin Marva (right), one of the four superintendents in Sierra Leone. She is a very sick girl, battling both malaria and typhoid. Rev. Marva is superintendent of Administration and Finance for Sierra Leone Conference.
John Beukema (right) has resigned as senior pastor of King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) effective January 12, 2014. He has accepted a position as senior pastor of Cypress Bible Church in Houston, Texas.
In an announcement to the board of administration and elders at King Street on November 6, Beukema said, “Early in 2012, I began to realize that God might have different plans for me, rather than to remain at King Street for the next 10 years. I began to pray for clear and specific direction.” He said his gift mix better suits investing in multiple churches for 8-10 years each.
Cypress Bible Church announced Beukema’s selection on November 7.
Beukema became senior pastor of King Street in 2005, after the previous senior pastor, Pat Jones, became the denominational Director of Healthy Church Ministries. At the time, King Street had a weekly worship attendance of about 1300, making it the largest United Brethren church in the world. Under Beukema’s leadership, King Street’s weekly attendance increased to about 1800, with four worship services every Sunday morning.
Gary Boston (right) has resigned as senior pastor of Mount Carmel UB church (Fulks Run. Va.), effective December 31. He has served there since January 2012.
Doug Stull (right), senior pastor of Shepherd of the Valley UB church (Logan, Ohio), informed us of the death of his mother. Lillian Stull Hudson passed away on November 17. She lived in Glencoe, Ohio. The funeral was held November 20.
Doug Stull has pastored the Shepherd of the Valley church since 1995. Condolences can be sent to him at 5445 Swartz Mill Road, Sugar Grove, OH 43155.
Bishop Phil Whipple (far right) conducting the ordination service.
Bishop Phil Whipple (right) with Jason and Mary Garwood.
Jason Garwood was ordained on Sunday, November 24, by Bishop Phil Whipple. Rev. Garwood was named senior pastor of Colwood UB church (Caro, Mich.) in December 2011.
Dalton Jenkins (right), senior pastor of Bethel Temple of Praise (Yonkers, N.Y.), has published a book entitled Kingdom People Living by Kingdom Principles: A Holistic Approach to the Call of Missions. It can be ordered from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers, and is available for both the Kindle and Nook.
The description reads:
“We do not have to travel to some foreign country to locate the mission field. Right here, literally in our backyards, the world has come to us. The church’s basic mission is to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God; this message has social and political aspects to its application. This is the fundamental responsibility of the church.
“This message is holistic and affects the total person. As the church develops a comprehensive and practical understanding of missions, this will propel Christians to act out their missional call. The challenge as to how to be truly missional requires those people considered to be disciples to engage their communities in their everyday lives.
“To capture the full essence of missions, this book introduces a process called strategic evangelism. This process serves to raise awareness by helping to clarify the nature of the structures and practices of the church relating to its missional focus, to develop a better awareness of local missions, and to introduce a process that will assist people to live out the mission by engaging their communities.”
Rev. Jenkins recently completed his doctor of ministry degree. He also holds an accounting degree, and two master’s degrees (master of divinity and master of ministries in pastoral counseling). He has pastored the UB church in Yonkers since 2004. He is also a member of the Higher Education Leadership Team and of the Huntington University Board of Trustees.
Dave Stephens reports that he has esophagus cancer. Dave, an ordained United Brethren minister since 1969, is director of Camp Cotubic in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Camp Cotubic was started by the former Central Conference in the 1970s.
On November 18, Dave said on Facebook, “We went to the Ohio State University cancer center today to begin the process. Ill have more tests next week to determine the stage etc., then we will probably have 5 weeks of radiation and chemo. It is likely then that surgery will take place to remove that section.
“Our faith remains strong. I have recovered well from the heart surgery”– he had a heart attack in June, followed by quadruple bypass surgery–“so I’m healthy enough for the next step. Thank you all for your friendship and prayers.”
Dave plans to retire on January 1, 2014.
Gertha G. (Stephens) Evans, 86 of Huntington, Ind., passed away November 13. She was the mother of Rev. Ron Evans, pastor of the UB church in Kunkle, Ohio.
Gertha’s late husband, Don, was known to several generations of Huntington University students for his work with the university maintenance department. He passed away in 1994.
Both the visitation and funeral will be held Saturday, November 16.
Visitation: 10:30 – 12:30 pm.
Funeral: 12:30 pm.
Location: Myers Funeral Home, 2901 Guilford Street, Huntington, ind.
Sympathies can be sent to Ron Evans at:
Ronald L. Evans
PO Box 30, 402 Angola St
Kunkle, OH 43531-0030
Rev. Richard LePage, 68, a former United Brethren pastor, passed away November 5, 2013, at his home in Rockford, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Roberta, and two children.
Viewing: 4-8 pm Thursday, November 7.
Viewing location: Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, Ohio.
Funeral: 10 am Friday, November 8 (viewing one hour prior to the service).
Funeral location: Praise Point UB church, Willshire, Ohio.
Rev. Brad Kittle, pastor of Praise Point, will officiate at the funeral.
