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23 Jun

June 23, 2006 |

We are writing to ask you to pray for Gary and Rhonda Dilley and their family as Rhonda’s mother went home to be with the Lord on June 21. She had been battling a brain tumor for the past several months. This comes shortly after the death of Rhonda’s father in April. They have suffered much sadness in these past few months.
The funeral for Evelyn Payton will be at the Feller Funeral Home in Auburn, Ind., on Saturday afternoon, June 24, at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be on Friday from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. Feller Funeral Home is located on the corner of Center Street and Auburn Drive.

19 Jun

June 19, 2006 |

Bo Prayer

A prayer meeting in Bo.

Joe Abu, senior pastor of Mount Zion United African Church, a UB congregation in Philadelphia, recently returned from a trip to Sierra Leone, his homeland. Last December, he traveled to Sierra Leone with Gary Dilley, Director of Global Ministries. This time he went on his own, with a desire to help his countrymen.
Joe reported the following highlights.

“Resilience of Sierra Leoneans. Very soon after the long and devastating civil war, I was astounded by the resilience of the people as noticed in the churches and everywhere. In spite of the psychological and other effects of the war, the people are happily forging ahead, rebuilding their homes and lives.
“Body Without Head. Even though the body of believers (the Church) has been without a functional head (leadership) for quite some time, it is important for donors to know that their prayers and donations for ministries in Sierra Leone have not gone in vain. Comparatively, we have more churches flourishing today than any other time in the history of Sierra Leone. Some of the Churches are not only growing numerically into self reliance, but also growing spiritually as evidenced by their involvement in conversion, discipleship, baptism, etc. This is not any insinuation that the situation here is perfect. But it is rather unfortunate that we tend to hear more about the negatives about the ministries than the positives. If the local churches are thriving without proper leadership, there is no doubt that they will accomplish more if we continue partnering with them until the Lord blesses them with a sustainable leadership. I encourage you to come with me to see for yourself.
“Islamic Influence. In the recent edition of the Global Ministries Worldview newsletter, Rev. Gary Dilley eloquently reiterated the influence of Islam in Sierra Leone. As Christian missionary presence and support are dwindling, the Arabs are pouring mega money and other resources into Sierra Leone. There is reason to their madness–to capture the heart of Africans for Islam. It is essential for all well-meaning Christians to put away our misconceptions and biases about missions in order to rescue souls from the wiles of Islam. The spiritual battle is raging.”

19 Jun

June 19, 2006 |

Rev. Wes Kuntzman reports that his mother, Beulah Kuntzman, passed away last Thursday, June 15, at age 88. She suffered a stroke on March 30 and had been in declining health since then. She was blessed with good health and able to live on her own until the stroke. Wes writes, “She had talked with us quite a bit last week and asked the doctor on Sunday evening when she could go home. I told her on Monday that the home she was going to was most likely not going to be her apartment, but a better home.”
A memorial service will be held in Daytona Beach the last week of June.

25 May

May 25, 2006 |

Bishop Ron Ramsey reports: “I am pleased to announce a pastoral appointment to the Bethel UB Church in Elmore, Ohio. The stationing committee has agreed that Robert Norman Pickett should be appointed to this pastorate. Norman will preach at Bethel this Sunday as a pulpit supply and will begin as the newly appointed pastor the first Sunday in June.

“Norman has an AB degree in Christian Education from Point Loma Nazarene University and an MDiv from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He was ordained by the Baptist General Conference in 1982. He was examined and answered the questions asked of candidates for ordination satisfactorily, and upon completion of UB Church History and one year of service to the United Brethren, he will be granted an ordained status.
“Norm and his wife Cindy currently live in Northwood, Ohio, but will move to the Elmore, Ohio, area. Cindy is a registered nurse at the St. Charles Hospital, Oregon, Ohio. They have two grown children, a daughter Leah and a son Micah.”

12 May

May 12, 2006 |

Hey FamilyTitus Boggs, director of Laurel Mission in Kentucky, reports on the departure of Burt and Tana Hey (right), who have served there for the past year, and the return of Titus’s son, Nathan. Titus writes:
“After serving nearly a year here at Laurel Mission, our dear friends, Burt and Tana Hey, feel the call of God to minister in a youth camp in Ohio. They were sent to us ‘for such a time as this,’ and have been a great help and blessing to Laurel Mission. We will miss them. Their leaving at the beginning of the busy season reminds me of the Olympic runner whose shoe came off at the starting line and he sang out the Kenny Rogers song, ‘You picked a fine time to leave me loose heel.’ How can we face the busy summer camp schedule without our support staff?

“In steps my right-hand man, Nathan Alvin Boggs!

“Nathan is a 22-year-old senior at Kentucky Mountain Bible College, majoring in missions. He had several employment opportunities for the summer months, but said, ‘Dad, do you need me to help you this summer?’ Of course my answer was, ‘Nathan, we would love to have you help us, but we need to pray about it and make sure this is God’s will.’ We did pray, and God has given his blessing.”
Since the mission lacks funds to pay for support staff, Titus is inviting churches and individuals to help support Nathan for the summer. Any checks should be made payable to Laurel Mission and sent to: Laurel Mission, 77 Cedar Chapel Road, Big Laurel, KY 40808-7611.

03 May

May 3, 2006 |

The following churches are in need of senior pastors.

  • Monroe UB Church (Monroe, Ind.).
  • Living Word UB church(Columbus, Ohio).
  • Mongul UB Church (Shippensburg, Pa.).
  • Ebenezer UB Church (Greencastle, Pa.).
  • Mt. Olivet (Franklin County) UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.).
  • Sabetha UB Church (Sabetha, Kansas).
  • Trenton Hills UB Church (Adrian, Mich.).
  • Fifth Street UB Church (Staunton, Va.).
  • Pleasant Valley UB Church (Lake Odessas, Mich.).

In addition, PraisePoint UB church in Willshire, Ohio, is looking for a part-time youth pastor to work 20 hours a week.
For any of these position, contact Bishop Ron Ramsey at:

United Brethren Offices
302 Lake Street
Huntington, IN 46750
Phone: 1-888-622-3019

28 Apr

April 28, 2006 |

Greg Helman (right), pastor of the UB church in Dillsburg, Pa., sent this report about his daughter: “My daughter Greta Helman was diagnosed on Thursday (April 27) with a benign tumor in the lining of her brain. It is about the size of a 50-cent piece and is pressing on her brain causing pain. We will have a consultation with a neurosurgeon at Hershey Medical Center on Wednesday, May 3rd at 9:00 am. There is a very good probability of the need for plastic surgery because of the tumor’s location. So, please pray for Greta’s physical, emotional, spiritual and financial well-being. Greta works part-time at our church as a Worship Leader and just gave her notice on Monday of resigning from being an assistant manager at Bruster’s in Camp Hill. Her new job as the director of a day-care in Harrisburg will give her benefits after three months. But, neither the church nor Bruster’s offer her benefits. Therefore, she could only afford a personal insurance plan that pays 80% of her bills. Thank you very much ahead of time for your consideration of this prayer need.”

11 Apr

April 11, 2006 |

Greg Voight has been assigned as senior pastor of the Lancaster UB church in Lancaster, Ohio. He had been serving on staff at Oak Harbor UB church in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The assignment is effective May 6.
Mark Rutledge has been named senior pastor of PraisePoint UB church in Willshire, Ohio. The assignment takes place immediately. Rev. Rutledge has been serving there as interim pastor.