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23 Jul

July 23, 2009 |

When it comes to pastoral assignments, we’ve had the opportunity to take time. Years ago, your pastor left one week and the new pastor came the next; that’s how our system worked. But now, many months may pass between pastors. Some of these interim times have enabled churches to realize what a pastor means to them. Sometimes, in reviewing their church profile, we’ve addressed some issues. If a pastor left in conflict or was pushed out, we addressed some of those issues before the new guy arrived.

In other cases, we had interim pastors, like Ron Cook and Wayne Goldsmith, who did good work that was extremely helpful. George Speas came down to Freeport, Mich., and was able to assess that the church wouldn’t be able to sustain a ministry, and he led them toward the concept of closing down. For their situation, that was the most effective decision.  They celebrated their history and ministry and now resources will be used to re-invest in the Kingdom as their legacy.

It’s good when a pastor comes with an intentional plan, rather than as a savior, and uses the first-year honeymoon period to build some strategic things into the life of the church.

Sometimes you get a new pastor without assigning a new pastor. I think Banner of Christ in Michigan got a new pastor. The Mike Caley I see now is different from the Mike Caley when I first visited there four years ago. Mike has shared how he had been discouraged.

Since their consultation, the Lord has done a fresh work in Mike’s life and the life of the church. He is free, confident and the Lord is working mightily. Sometimes it’s not a matter of changing people, but of seeing people change.

21 Jul

July 21, 2009 |

Some ministers, by passion and personality and giftedness, will never be anything more than a shepherd. They enjoy doing the hands-on ministry to people. History says they can grow a church only to what they can handle–about 100-150 people. So when that church grows to 150 and stagnates, the best thing we can do is put him back into a church of 75 and not see that as a demotion, but as how he can shine and be fruitful.

It’s not about numbers. It’s about recognizing who he is, and not making it something negative. It’s how God wired him–his passions, his abilities. Then bring in somebody who can delegate to lead that church of 150.

07 Jul

July 7, 2009 |

The Staff Openings page added a senior pastor listing for Colwood UB in Caro, Mich. That’s the church currently pastored by Phil Whipple, who was elected bishop. He’ll be moving to Huntington, Ind., at the beginning of August. 

23 Jun

June 23, 2009 |

Ed Mast passed into eternity Monday morning, June 22, in Arizona, where he and his wife, Mary, had lived since the early 1970s. He is survived by his wife Mary, children Sandi McMahon, Sue Copp and Randy Mast, plus a number of grandchildren and at lest one grandchild.

Visitation: Wednesday, June 24, 6-8 p.m.
Funeral: Wednesday, June 24, at noon.
Location: Green Acres Mortuary, 401 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.

Ed Mast pastored the UB church in Glendale, Calif., for many years. In the mid-1970s, he moved to Fountain Hills, Ariz., where he started what is now Fountain Hills Community Church.

10 Jun

June 10, 2009 |


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Bishop Ron Ramsey (right) prays over Phil and Sandy Whipple during the June 7 installation service for the newly-elected bishop.

After a near-unanimous vote of 336 delegates, Phil Whipple, pastor of Colwood UB Church (Caro, Mich.) was elected bishop of the United Brethren church 2009-2013. He will take office August 15.

The voting occurred about 9:30 Friday morning, June 5, as one of the first items on the agenda of the US National Conference business meeting. The results were announced just before lunch.

Bishop-elect Whipple spoke briefly to the assembled delegates and observers (over 500 people). Then Bishop Ron Ramsey asked the former UB bishops, all of whom were in attendance, to come forward for a prayer time. They included Raymond Waldfogel (1969-1981), C. Ray Miller (1973-1993), Wilber L. Sites, Jr. (1977-1989), Ray Seilhamer (1993-2001), and Paul Hirschy (2001-2005). They laid their hands on Rev. Whipple, and Bishop Emeritus Raymond Waldfogel led in prayer.

philinstallation_500.jpgBishop Ramsey led the official installation service on Sunday morning, June 7. Assisting in that service were:

  • Roxton Spear, who spent four years serving on staff with Phil at Colwood UB, and now pastors the Mongul UB church in Shippensburg, Pa.
  • Russ Tibbits, chairman of the governance board at Colwood.
  • Lester Smith, pastor of Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.). Les is responsible for hiring Phil into the United Brethren church.
  • Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries.

Phil grew up in a strong Christian family, and sensed God’s callto the ministry at age 17. He graduated from Liberty University, and took his first pastorate in 1984.

Phil entered the United Brethren fold in 1990, when Lester Smith hired him as an associate pastor at Richfield Road UB in Flint, Mich. A year later, he was stationed as pastor of Pleasant Valley UB in Lake Odessa, Mich. He remained there for seven years, and was then assigned to Colwood. At Colwood, the church’s morning attendance has grown from 200 to over 500, and they have baptized over 130 people.

Phil and his wife, Sandy, have been married for almost 30 years. They have two sons, both serving the Lord in ministry. Josh is Youth and Worship Arts Pastor at Mongul UB in Shippensburg, Pa. Mike works part-time at Colwood as Worship Arts Pastor, and as a custodian.

06 May

May 6, 2009 |

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People from the US Center for World Mission pray over Dave (center, blue shirt) and Cathie Datema (on Dave’s left). Dr. Ralph Winter is in the wheelchair.

David Datema has been named to succeed Dr. Ralph Winter as general director of Frontier Mission Fellowship, which oversees the US Center for World Mission. Dave is an ordained UB minister, and as a kid lived in both Jamaica and Sierra Leone, where his parents, Jerry and Eleanore Datema, were missionaries. He has served at the US Center for World Mission in Pasadena, Calif., for the past ten years. He and Cathie are endorsed missionaries with Global Ministries, and Dave serves on the Global Ministries Leadership Team.

Dr. Winter, who is currently winning a battle against multiple myleoma, stated, “I sense it is God’s will that David and Cathie Datema should be the couple that would carry on (with the help of others) the role of General Director. Dave’s steady involvement, his pastoral experience, and his scholarly emphasis and not least his concern for the Frontier Mission Fellowship [the organization to which they belong] as a fellowship, all equip him and are factors in this decision….I believe our fellowship is stronger than ever and will continue to grow stronger, and that its best days are beyond my lifespan.”

We wanted to let you know that Dr. Ralph Winter, the founder of the Frontier Mission Fellowship, the organization to which we are members, has appointed Dave to a new assignment. As of yesterday, May 5th, Dave officially became the General Director of the Frontier Mission Fellowship as Dr. Winter stepped down from this role. (See attached photo.)

Dave and Cathie write, “In this role, we will continue to live here in Pasadena and will join the current leadership team which oversees the US Center for World Mission and the William Carey International University. We appreciate your prayers as Dave transitions to this new role with its responsibilities, and as the FMF adjusts to a new General Director.

“We appreciate so many of you who have been partners with us on our ministry team with your prayers and support. Our status as missionaries on support remains the same. In other words, we continue to depend on God and his family for our ‘daily bread.'”

04 May

May 4, 2009 |

Richard Palmer, pastor of the Abilene UB church (Abilene, Kansas) since 2001, passed away Sunday night, May 3. He suffered a major stroke on April 10 and has been in poorhealth ever since. He leaves behind Carmen, his wife of 55 years.

Viewing: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home in Abilene.
Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 8, at the Abilene UB church, 114 Southeast Second Street, Abilene, KS 67410.

Notes can be send to Carmen Palmer at: 1214 North Walnut, Abilene, KS  67410.