16 Nov Death of Beulah Harkness

Beulah Harkness, 88, of Hastings, Mich., passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. She served beside her husband, Rev. John Harkness, for many years in churches in Michigan.

Visitation date: Sunday, November 20, 2011.
Visitation time: 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm.
Visitation location: Koops Funeral (Lake Odessa) Chapel, 935 Fourth Avenue, Lake Odessa, MI 48849. Phone: (616) 374-8221

Funeral date: Tuesday, November 22, 2011.
Funeral time: 2 pm, with visitation 1-2 pm.
Funeral location: Sunfield UB church, 8436 W. Grand Ledge Highway, Sunfield, MI 48890

16 Nov Mamei Simbo Taken Off Life Support

Billy Simbo, former bishop of Sierra Leone Conference and an ordained minister in the US National Conference, called the national office this morning (Wednesday, November 16). His wife, Mamei, has been hospitalized in Abbington, Pa. (Philadelphia area) for about three weeks. She entered the hospital with pneumonia and developed complications.

Yesterday, the family decided to take Mamei off of the respirator and other machines. She is breathing through oxygen tubes, and is comfortable. However, he’s not sure she’s aware of what’s happening. If she continues to be stable, they will move her to the hospice unit at the hospital.

Please keep the Simbo family in your prayers.

14 Nov 70th Anniversary Recognition for Charles and Doris Malson

Charles and Doris Malson

An Ice Cream Social is being held to recognize the 70th wedding anniversary of Charles and Doris Malson. Charles, a retired United Brethren minister, served many years in Michigan as a pastor and fulltime superintendent.

The details:

Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011
Time: 3-6 pm
Location: East Washington UB church, M57 & Crapo Rd, Ashley, MI 48806

Congratulations can also be sent to Charles and Doris at their home address and by email:

Charles and Doris Malson
10928 Easy Street
Carson City, MI 48811
Email: cfmalsonsr@yahoo.com

The Malsons pastored Brown Corners UB church (Clare, Mich.) 1952-1957, and then planted the Richfield Road UB church in Flint, Mich., which they served until 1981. In 1981, Rev. Malson was elected fulltime superintendent of Michigan Conference. He continued in that role until 1991, when he and Doris retired.

They are active in their local church, community, and as volunteers at the Carson City Hospital. They have 6 children, 19 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.

09 Nov Brooks Fetters, New Mayor of Huntington

Brooks Fetters, an ordained United Brethren minister, is the new mayor of Huntington, Ind. After a tough Republican primary race last May against six other persons, including the incumbent mayor, Brooks easily won the general election on Tuesday, November 8. He received 1816 votes, while the Democratic candidate received just 760 and an independent candidate added 132.

Fetters, 52, a city councilman, has been general manager and funeral director at Myers Funeral Homes in Huntington and Markle, Ind., since 1998. He holds two degrees from Huntington University: a degree in business administration (1981), and a Master’s in Christian Ministry (1987). He also holds a diploma in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (1982). Brooks served as a UB pastor and church planter in Fort Wayne 1987-1998.

You can send congratulations via the Brooks Fetters for Mayor Facebook page or his personal Facebook page.

08 Nov Ordination of Todd Lilley

Bishop Phil Whipple (right) conducting the ordination ceremony with Todd and Dina Lilley.

L-r: Daniel Lam, Phil Whipple, Todd Lilley, Dennis Sites, and Kevin Dagget.

Todd Lilley, senior pastor of Mount Olivet UB church (Mt. Solon, Va.), was ordained by Bishop Phil Whipple on Sunday, October 31. Assisting in the ordination were Dennis Sites (senior pastor of Jerusalem Chapel, Churchville, Va.), Daniel Lam (a lay minister from Mount Olivet), and Kevin Dagget (pastor of a local Brethren in Christ church).

Fonda Cassidy, a member of Mount Olivet, writes:

“This was a great and joyous occasion for our church family. We all enjoyed a meal afterward together.We had 114 people in attendance. What a privilege we have been given by God to give His love away in such a manner, and have people who commit themselves to the calling of God and Christ Jesus. We are so thankful for our pastors. We are thankful for those who invest their lives in others!”

Todd has been pastor of Mount Olivet since 2007. He graduated in 1996 from Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in Management and Organization, and received a Masters in Church Leadership from Liberty University in 2010. He and Dina, a registered nurse, were married in 1989 and have two children.

07 Nov Mamei Simbo Back in the Hospital

Billy Simbo, former bishop of Sierra Leone Conference, now back in the States, sent this note on November 3 about his wife, Mamei:

“The diagnosis is that Mamei has poisoning in her blood which made her system shut down. She has pneumonia. All of this was confirmed from the fluid they drew out of her right lung yesterday. Also, they have her on dyalisis because her kidneys are not functioning so well today. At least now they know what the problem is and they are treating her accordingly. She will remain of the respirator for now and they will also keep her sedated. Thank you for praying with us and for us.”

26 Oct Update on Pastor Gayle Ruble, Sr. Recovery

We received this word from Cluster Leader Greg Helman today:

“Pastor Gayle Ruble has returned to his home as of Tuesday, October 25th and will be recuperating for about 6 weeks.  He is praising the Lord that he is in no pain and has been blessed greatly.  Please continue to keep him, his family and the Macedonia UB Church in your prayers.”

24 Oct Pastor Gayle Ruble, Sr. Recovering from Heart Surgery

We have received this word from Cluster Leader Greg Helman: “Pastor Gayle Ruble of Macedonia UB Church in Greencastle went through a four by-pass operation on his heart Friday, October 21st in Harrisburg and is recovering well. Please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers as a part of the UB family.”

07 Oct 70th Anniversary for Charles and Doris Malson

A special event will be held in honor of Rev. Charles and Doris Malson, who are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Rev. Malson served many years as a United Brethren pastor in Michigan, and also as the Michigan Conference fulltime superintendent. The family invites you to join them for an ice cream social commemorating this milestone.

Date: November 19, 2011
Time: 3-6 pm. The event begins at 3 pm, with a program at 4 pm.
Location: East Washington UB church, 8051 S. Crapo Road, Ashley, Mich. 48806.

The contact person is Beth Palmer (daughter).

Phone: 989.235.2335
Email

If you are unable to attend and would like to give them a call, their number is 989.235.6525. Or send a card to:

Charles and Doris Malson
10928 Easy Street
Carson City, MI 48811

03 Oct Anthony Blair Installed as President of Evangelical Seminary

Anthony Blair was officially installed as president of Evangelical Seminary on Friday, September 30, 2011. Bishop Phil Whipple attended the ceremony to represent the United Brethren church.

Blair is an ordained United Brethren minister and former UB pastor and conference superintendent. Blair served the past 14 years at Eastern University in St. David’s, Pa., as a professor and dean of the graduate school.

Evangelical Seminary, located in Myerstown, Pa., was founded in 1953 and now has about 150 students from a couple dozen denominations. There are 12 fulltime or part-time professors. Blair graduated from Evangelical Seminary in 1991, and has been an adjunct instructor there the past two years.

In addition, Blair holds degrees from Messiah College (1986), Huntington University (1989), Shippensburg University (1993), Temple University (1999), and George Fox Evangelical Seminary (2005).

Two other UBs have served as president of Evangelical Seminary: Bishop Emeritus Ray Seilhamer and Kirby Keller.