Mission Team Training
Date: October 16-17, 2015
Time: 6:30pm on Friday, 9am – 3:30pm Saturday
Location: Ebenezer UB church, Greencastle, Pa.

Global Ministries conducts these two-day seminars for persons interested in leading or participating in a short-term cross-cultural ministry. It’s a very informative, interactive, and fun seminar. These seminars are held periodically in regional settings. Dozens of United Brethren people have now taken this training.

We need more people who are trained to lead mission teams. If you have ever led a team, you know how complex a responsibility it is. This seminar provides the tools and insights necessary to prepare travelers’ hands, heads, and hearts before they go.

So who should attend?

  • Mission committee members.
  • Mission pastors.
  • Youth pastors.
  • Team leaders.
  • Anyone who might like to become a team leader.

Cost:

  • $45 per person.
  • $35 for groups of 5 or more.

The cost includes training materials, two lunches, and coffee breaks. Lodging is available at local motels.

Active pastors can come free IF they bring at least one other person from their congregation. In addition, active pastors will receive 1 CEU for participating.

For More Information

  • Check out the Global Ministries exhibit at National Conference in July.
  • Call Donna Hollopeter, associate director of Global Ministries, toll-free at 888-622-3019, ext. 306.

Global Ministries is sponsoring a ministry/vision trip to Macau on November 11-21. Participants will observe the various ways God is opening doors for ministry in that part of the world. More information will be available at the Global Ministries exhibit during National Conference.

Cost: $2,500 per person. That includes airfare, lodging, food, in-country travel, and cost of visa for a visit to Mainland China.

Participants will:

  • Meet our mission staff in Macau.
  • Visit the UB churches in Macau.
  • Learn more about ministry in Macau.
  • Have an opportunity to do prayer walks on behalf of the churches and staff.
  • Take a one-day visit into Mainland China to interact with UB staff serving in the area and learn more about life and opportunities on that side of the border.

A Global Ministries staffperson will lead the trip. There are a few more openings for this team. We encourage you to prayerfully consider joining this team.

teachers600Through Global Ministries connections, there is a unique opportunity for a few people with high school teaching experience (preferably five years or more) to spend nearly four weeks in China this summer training Chinese high school English teachers. The dates: July 9 – August 3.

All expenses are paid with a weekly stipend. Experience working with English Language Learners is preferred. Contact Global Ministries for more details before these opportunities are gone!

Email: gm@ub.org
Toll-free: 888.622.3019

Global Ministries has partnerships with two organizations that have a presence in Nepal. If you are looking for a way to respond to the earthquake crisis, we recommend either one to you.

International Needs has an extensive team of church planters and staff that work in child sponsorship and education. Spread throughout the country, they can provide on-the-ground assistance in both the short-term and long-term.

Send your gift marked “Nepal Relief” to:

International Needs
5570 32nd Avenue,
Hudsonville, MI 49426

Samaritan’s Purse has the network and expertise in dealing with relief needs as experienced first responders.

Send your gift marked “Nepal Relief” to:

Samaritans Purse
PO Box 3000
Boone NC 28607

Justin Marva (right), conference administrator of Sierra Leone Conference, sent this note on April 10:

The Ebola situation is gradually coming to an end.

For the past few weeks there have been very few cases in the north and west of the country. The south and eastern region continue to have zero cases for the past two months.

There were smiling faces last week when we all saw students in uniform going to write their public exam after eight months with no school in the entire country. The Ministry of Education has just announced the reopening of schools and colleges on the 14th of April. Our kids are just too exited and looking forward to going back to school. To gGod be the glory.

However, we still continue to uphold the major rules for the final eradication of Ebola. In the midst of our setback, we are confident that we will get there soon.

Keep praying for the United Brethren Conference and the Church in Sierra Leone.

Nichie Parish signing the agreement. Pastor Randy Carpenter is on the left.

Nichie Parish signing the agreement. Pastor Randy Carpenter is on the left.

Sunfield United Brethren Church (Sunfield, Mich.) celebrated Palm Sunday with a signing ceremony with Global Ministries staff member Nichie Parish. The church has committed to praying for Nichie’s ministry in South Africa, and providing $10,000 per year toward her annual budget for the next three years. Nichie will serve in Johannesburg with an organization called Impact Africa.

centralamericatraining900 central-america-training-march2015

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Twenty-five leaders from United Brethren churches are gathered together this week in Masaya, Nicaragua. They have come from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

The focus of our time is to become acquainted with the ministry of ETBIL (Educación Teológica Basado en la Iglesia Local). For the past two years, Felix Zaldivar and Celso Midence, regional trainers for Central America, have been working to implement this ministry in Honduras.

The ministry is focused on developing and multiplying disciples and leaders within the local church. This “in-service” approach is based on 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” This methodology used by Jesus and the early church contributed to the rapid expansion of the church.

This is the first time we have gathered all of our Hispanic leaders for a retreat of this nature. Pray that God will help us embrace the challenge to make and multiply disciples and develop the leaders needed to expand the ministry of the church throughout the world—from “Latin America” to the ends of the earth.

Rev. Randy and Chrystal Carpenter (left) and other workers.

L-r: Rev. Randy and Chrystal Carpenter (left), Dwight Kuntz (right), and other workers.

The York Town UB church

The York Town UB church

Working on the York Town roof.

Working on the York Town roof.

After ten-and-a-half years, the roof at York Town UB church in Jamaica is getting replaced. In 2004, a hurricane took the roof off the education building, and it has been exposed to the weather ever since. The destruction went far beyond the roof, as the inside of the building also sustained a lot of damage. After some minor repairs to the structure, a good cleaning, a new paint job, and a lot of new fixtures, the inside will once again be usable.

The congregation at York Town has done a lot of hard work and fundraising to get back on their feet, but this has not been easy. In came help from the Sunfield United Brethren Church from Sunfield, Mich. Together, they saw the forms for the roof of the building go up last week. The new cement roof was poured Monday, March 9, once again shielding the building from the weather and thieves.

Help is still needed to restore the inside of the building, but it can now be done, and the building will slowly be put back into use.

The congregation praises God for his faithfulness and the help of the Sunfield church. A big thank you to Rev. Randy and Chrystal Carpenter , along with Jim Steward from the Sunfield Church; Martha Hanley from the Eden UB church (Mason, Mich.); Troy Howell from the Salem UB church in Jamaica; and Rev. Dwight Kuntz for investing their time and labor to see this project through this first stage.

Roger Reeck, UB endorsed missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, underwent ankle replacement surgery on February 17. On March 4, Roger sent this update.

“I praise the Lord for you and for your prayers on my behalf. On Monday, I had my cast and stitches removed and am now in a boot and allowed a small amount of weight bearing. Everything has healed well, and xrays show that the alignment of the ankle replacement is right on! There is quite a bit of pain.

“On Thursday, March 5, we will travel to Tucson, Ariz., where we will stay for a few weeks. The trip involves small planes and climbing steps, which might be a challenge.”

Roger Reeck underwent ankle replacement surgery on Tuesday, February 17, in Medford, Oregon. Marilyn writes, “Roger came thru the operation fine. The doctor is pleased especially because he was able to correctly align the ankle. Roger will be in the hospital for another 36 hours as they seek to control the pain level. Roger is in good spirits.” Roger added that the pain right now is “bearable.” Roger and Marilyn are career missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and come under the Global Ministries umbrella as UB endorsed missionaries.