Matt Kennedy with fellow team members and local people in Ethiopia.

Matt Kennedy with fellow team members and local people in Ethiopia.

In October, Matt Kennedy, pastor of Dillman Church (Warren, Ind.), spent two weeks in Ethiopia with Joni & Friends International and Christian Horizons Global. The team taught pastors and church planters how to minister to families and individuals with special needs. This trip was particularly meaningful to Matt because he and his wife, Jennifer, have a daughter with autism.

The team visited the cities of Asella, Hawassa, and Addis, conducting several days of disability ministry training with national church planters.

They were so blessed by the pastors’ desire to reach out to people with disabilities. The pastors desired not just to care for people with disabilities, but to empower those effected by disability to serve in the church.

The Ethiopian model churches are training people who are blind and deaf to serve in their churches. Repeatedly, the pastors said that this training had been beneficial in changing their attitudes toward people with disabilities.

One highlight for the team was making home visits to families impacted by special needs. This was such a blessing to those families, since the Ethiopian culture views disability as a curse or the result of parental sin being visited upon the children. They never hear that God loves them and views them as beautiful. They do not have people give them gifts and pray for them. Rejection and isolation is the common response to those with disability.

On the last day of the trip, the team visited the Center for Mentally Challenged Children. This program began in 1986 as a ministry of the Ethiopia Evangelical Church Mekena Yesus. It started with one child and now serves over 360 children and young adults. The team was deeply moved by the staff and their loving care and professional skills.

Through the Early Intervention program, parents are learning how to provide care at home and are seeing how much their children can learn. Their vision is to train their staff, who then transfer that knowledge to the parents. The Center brings disability awareness to the community and local churches.

Scott and Amanda Graham (front) with participants in Scott's ordination.

Scott and Amanda Graham (front) with participants in Scott’s ordination.

Bishop Todd Fetters conducts the ordination of Scott Graham.

Bishop Todd Fetters conducts the ordination of Scott Graham.

L-r: Phil Whipple, Chuck Wheatley, Amanda and Scott Graham, Bishop Todd Fetters.

L-r: Phil Whipple, Chuck Wheatley, Amanda and Scott Graham, Bishop Todd Fetters.

On Sunday, September 27, Bishop Todd Fetters spoke at Good Shepherd UB church (Greenfield, Ohio) and conducted the ordination of its pastor, Scott Graham. Scott and his wife, Amanda, were assigned to Good Shepherd in 2013.

Ordination candidates always select two ordained ministers, persons who have played an important role in their lives, to assist in the ceremony. Scott chose former bishop Phil Whipple, who assigned Scott to Good Shepherd and provided important leadership to Scott and the church; and Chuck Wheatley, former pastor (now retired) of the Avlon UB church in Bremen, Ohio.

Three other United Brethren pastors attended the ordination: Al Carter, senior pastor of First UB church (Columbus, Ohio); Douglas Stull, senior pastor of Shepherd of the Valley UB church (Logan, Ohio); and Joe Leighton, senior pastor of Salem Chapel (Junction City, Ohio).

They were joined by former Good Shepherd pastor Mike Anderson, current youth pastor Matt Bryant, and five pastors from local non-UB churches who were instrumental in Scott’s journey.

Scott wrote, “For me, this was not only a service of ordination, but a service recognizing God’s grace and his restoration in my life. This was a full service with worship and special music revolving around those themes. The whole service was very moving and emotional for us and Good Shepherd.”

Tara (left), Emma, and Tim with sons Isaac and Levi. Inset: Tim and Eli.

Tara (left), Emma, and Tim with sons Isaac and Levi. Inset: Tim and Eli.

Tim and Tara Hallman and all four children participated in the Fort4Fitness event on Saturday, September 26, in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Hallmans serve Anchor UB church in Fort Wayne. A number of persons from Anchor participate in the Fort4Fitness each year.

Rozanne Hallman in the seniors marathon.

Rozanne Hallman in the seniors marathon.

Tim ran the 10K event, and then ran the 4-mile event with twin sons Isaac and Levi (who tied for third in their age group). Tara ran the 13-mile half-marathon, as she has done for several years, while daughter Emma ran the 10k alongside Tara’s sister, Amy Saleh. On Friday night, Tim and youngest son Eli together ran the final stretch of the children’s marathon.

The next day, they all participated in the 2.2 mile Redemption House Benefit Walk in Fort Wayne. Several others from Anchor joined them.

Tim’s mother, Rozanne Hallman (right), widow of former UB pastor Gerald Hallman, and his mother-in-law, Karen Johnson, participated in the Fort4Fitness senior marathon.

Dr. Jody Bowser (right) has been appointed as senior pastor of King Street UB church in Chambersburg, Pa. King Street is the second-largest United Brethren church, with a weekly attendance of over 1500.

Dr. Bowser has been senior pastor for over 12 years at Moses Lake Alliance Church in Moses Lake, Wash. His ministry experience also includes five years as youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Visalia, Calif., and over ten years as director of Student Ministries and Preaching Associate at The Chapel in Akron, Ohio.

He and his wife, Caryn, have six children, three of whom currently attend Christian colleges in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Their oldest son, Jay, is on staff as a video producer at a church in Charlotte, N. C.

Jody’s doctor of ministry degree, with an emphasis on preaching, is from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass. His doctoral preaching studies were done under Dr. Haddon Robinson.

Jody’s first Sunday in the pulpit at King Street will be November 1, 2015. King Street Church is excited to see where God takes us under Jody’s leadership. The congregation has been without a senior pastor since Dr. John Beukema left in January 2014 to become pastor of a church in Houston, Texas.

Marvin Schwartz (left) was appointed interim pastor of Mount Victory UB church (Decatur, Ind.) at the beginning of June 2015. Marvin previously pastored New Horizons UB church in Rockford, Ohio.

Wes Kuntzman (right) was appointed senior pastor of Mount Zion UB church (also known as Bobo) in Decatur, Ind., starting July 1, 2015. He previously pastored the UB church in Monroe, Ind.

Paul Ross 98, passed away on Sunday, May 3, in Van Wert, Ohio. He was the father of Don Ross, pastor of Victory Chapel UB church in Liberty Center, Ohio. The funeral was held May 6.

Address for Don Ross:

Donald P. Ross
U696 County Road 8
Liberty Center, OH 43532

L-r: Luke, Todd, and Brooks Fetters.

L-r: Luke, Todd, and Brooks Fetters.

Congratulations to Brooks Fetters, the current mayor of Huntington, Ind., who last night won the Republican primary against three opponents as he seeks a second four-year term. Pictured are Brooks (right) with his two brothers, Luke (a professor at Huntington University), and Todd (UB director of National Ministries). All three are ordained United Brethren ministers.

Ricky and Jami Hull and children.

Ricky and Jami Hull and children.

Ricky Hull concluded his ministry at Mt. Hermon UB church (Pomeroy, Ohio) on Sunday, March 15. He has been senior pastor there since 2012. Ricky has been named senior pastor of Crossroads UB church in Charlotte, Mich. He replaces Mike Arnold, who retired as senior pastor last fall.

In 2014, Ricky graduated from Winebrenner Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He and his wife, Jami, a medical transcriptionist, have four children.

Bishop Phil Whipple (right) with Chris and Sara.

Bishop Phil Whipple (right) with Chris and Sara.

Chris Soltis was ordained on Sunday, March 15, at Shoreline UB church in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Chris is Pastor of Children & Youth Ministries at Shoreline. Chris holds a Master of Divinity from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio. He and his wife, Sara Nichole, were married in 2006. Bishop Phil Whipple conducted the ordination at Shoreline.

davis_keith200Rev. Keith Davis, 88, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at Mercy St. Charles Hospital in Oregon, Ohio. He was living in Pemberville, Ohio, southeast of Toledo.

Rev. Davis was a United Brethren pastor for 52 years, serving churches in Mermil, Bucyrus, Smithville, Bowling Green, North Baltimore, Fostoria, and Elmore. He served 25 years at Bethel UB church in Elmore and remained a member there. He also taught middle and elementary school for 22 years.

Viewing: 1-8pm Sunday, March 15, 2015.
Viewing location: Crosser Funeral Home, Elmore-Genoa Chapel, 19550 W. SR 52, Elmore, Ohio 43416.
Funeral: 11am Monday, March 16, 2015.
Funeral location: Bethel UB church, 2920 SR 590, Elmore, Ohio. Pastor Tim Sherman will officiate.

Pastor Davis was born in Wayne, Ohio on April 16, 1927. His father died while Keith was an infant. He grew up helping his mother and siblings on their farm, and selling the produce they raised. He also worked as a salesman for Firestone Tires and was a Fuller Brush representative. Keith received his pastoral schooling from Huntington University, and his B.A. in Education from Bowling Green State University.

Pastor Davis and his wife, Edna, were married in 1952; after nearly 60 years of marriage, she passed away in 2011. He is survived by his four children.