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The United Brethren in Christ has operated the Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone for more than 50 years. Currently, steps are being taken to renew the hospital’s focus and operations under the leadership of the Sierra Leone National Conference and with the participation of multiple partners, including Global Ministries.
Frank Y, Associate Director of Global Ministries
A number of Global Ministries staff are in transition. Here’s a snapshot of these missionaries on the move:
Miriam, our worker in India, returned to the States in early August for her four-month home ministry assignment. She’ll be connecting with family and supporters during these months. Her three sons and their families live in the States.
Jenaya Bonner completed her home ministry assignment and returned to Macau for continued service last week. This is her second term. She worked with the English Language Program during her first term, in addition to various ministries involving Living Stone church. This time, in addition to her duties with the ELP, she will work to find ways to create bridges between the Living Stone UB church and its community. Jenaya is from Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind.
A Global Ministries staff member will leave to serve in a closed country later this week. This will be the first term for this person. For security reasons we can’t give you additional information about this person’s identity or area of service.
The Kline family (David, Melissa, Mia, Brandt, and Aiden) just packed their bags and will be returning to the States later this week. They are in the process of saying good-byes to their friends and coworkers in Macau. Melissa went to Macau in 2001 as a single missionary. She and David were married in March 2003 and have served together in Macau since April 2004.
Bryan and Emily Gerlach have completed their cross-cultural and language training and will leave for Thailand in mid-September. They are currently waiting for their visas to be approved.
We regretfully announce that Jessica Hollopeter will conclude her service with Global Ministries and OMS (One Mission Society) as of the end of August 2013. The reason: financial support difficulties and a lack of regular supporters.
For the past three years, Jessica has beautifully expressed her journalism and administrative gifts in both organizations, and will truly be missed. Pray that God will be her strength and provision as she seeks his guidance for next steps. If you are interested in sending Jessica a note of encouragement, or assisting with her financial deficit, please contact Global Ministries at gm@ub.org.
Bryan and Emily Gerlach are working with Global Ministries and the Hong Kong National Conference to launch an expansion of our work in Thailand. Although our church planting efforts originated in the northern mountains, we are shifting our focus to the city of Chiang Rai. Many young people who migrate from the mountains find themselves being lured into the drug and prostitution industries. Bryan and Emily will be part of a multi-national team providing housing, discipleship training, education, and job skills training to vulnerable young people.
Marilyn Reeck, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Honduras
Over the years the Lord has been gracious and wonderful to us, and we praise Him for His blessings. But now, we need your help–to pray for Roger and his pain level.
In April, Roger had an operation on his left ankle with the hope of relieving some of the pain he feels, but several months later, the pain still lingers. It appears that the pain is nerve related. He has been taking Lyrica for two months and has received steroid shots in the ankle area. So far, nothing has helped and the strong pain persists–especially as rainy weather approaches.
Awhile back, Roger committed to go to Mozambique to lead a seminar on translating the book of Psalms and also to check the translation of Psalms for the Sena language group. We are just days away from him leaving and have become concerned about the persistent pain, especially because I will not travel with him.
We invite you to commit to pray for Roger each day while he is in Mozambique–for a total of three weeks. Please pray with us for the following:
Here is Roger’s travel schedule:
Aug. 17: Travel from La Ceiba to Houston.
Aug. 18: Travel from Houston to Washington DC.
Aug. 19: Travel from Washington to Johannesburg thru Ehiopia.
Aug. 20: Request the visa to Mozambique.
Aug. 22: Travel from Johannesburg to Mozambique.
Aug. 19-23: Psalms workshop.
Aug. 26 – Sept. 6: consult check the translation for the Sena language group.
Sept. 8: Travel back to Johannesburg.
Sept. 9: Travel back to Houston and Honduras.
The African Choir at the funeral of Ruth Benner on August 7.
An African Choir sang during the funeral of Ruth Benner on Wednesday, August 7. The choir consisted of Sierra Leonean nationals and former missionaries. they sang a number of Mende songs of worship during the funeral in Port Colborne, Ontario.
Criders team in Nicaragua. L-r: Marina Barnett, Justine Staniszewski, Baylee Keefer, Emily Stottlemyer, Chip Stottlemyer, Jody Barnett.
A team of four youth and two adults from Criders UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) traveled to Masaya, Nicaragua, in July. Working with Jeff Dice, they helped with the conference center building project and completed some paint projects for Pastor Juan Pavon.
They also planned and ran a Kids Camp program at one of the local UB churches. About 75 children attended. They invited parents to the closing service, and about 125 New Testaments were given out to the children and their parents.
Steve Dennie, Director of Communications
My heroes have always been missionaries. I grew up in United Brethren churches where United Brethren missions was emphasized, and names of missionaries from the 1960s and 1970s are firmly implanted in my memory. Working at our national headquarters, I’ve crossed paths with nearly every United Brethren missionary during the past 35 years, and have interviewed and written about a number of them.
One of the names from my childhood was Ruth Benner, a single missionary who served in Sierra Leone 1965-1972. Ruth passed away last week. Her funeral is tomorrow, August 6, in Port Colborne, Ontario.
Ruth, a Canadian, served a number of years in leadership with the denominational Women’s Missionary Fellowship and on the Global Ministries leadership team. In those capacities, she came through Huntington, Ind., (where I work) many times. I didn’t know her well, but I was around her quite a bit.
Ruth is one of those persons who always seemed to be in a cheerful mood. She had a distinctive voice, and a ready laugh. You enjoyed being around Ruth. Observing her relationships with other persons, especially former missionaries, it seemed she excelled at friendship. I can’t think of a single even slightly negative thing I ever heard about Ruth. She always struck me as a genuinely good person with a pure heart and an enviable sunny disposition. Ruth served just seven years as a missionary, but those years very much formed who she was and what she was passionate about.
Ruth made the world a better place, and she will be missed.
L-r: Kona Musa, Sam King, Mikaile Mambu, Bishop Phil Whipple, Joe Abu, Emmanuel Farma, James Kabangai, Donna Hollopeter, and Jeff Bleijerveld.
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries
Last week Global Ministries had a bit of a Sierra Leone reunion here at our office in Huntington, Ind. The reunion was precipitated by the visit of Rev. Emmanuel Farma, who was standing up with Rev. James Ganda as he was married last week in Philadelphia.
As part of Rev. Farma’s visit, Rev. Joseph Abu along with Rev. James Kabangai and Sam King made the trip to Huntington to visit with former missionaries Eleanore Datema, Greg and Jodi Fiedler, Emmett and Shirley Cox, as well as with Jim and Marda Hoffman and former Global Ministries director, Rev. Gary Dilley.
Following a tour of Huntington University, the group joined Bishop Phil Whipple, Donna Hollopeter and Jeff Bleijerveld for lunch. Huntington students Kona Musa (nursing) and Mikaile Mambu (social work/psychology), both of Sierra Leone, also joined in.
Rev. Farma is lead pastor of our largest congregation in Sierra Leone and superintendent of church services for the Sierra Leone National Conference.
In June, 23 persons from across the denomination participated in short-term medical ministry in Honduras. The team spent a week conducting free medical clinics for persons in remote villages in the mountains outside of Tegucigalpa.
The team held five clinics, during which they saw more than 1600 patients. Along with treating a number of health issues, the team also dispensed eye glasses to more than 600 persons.
Using wordless books prepared by women from North American Women’s Missionary Fellowship groups, the team shared the gospel with each patient. Ninety-six commitments to Christ were made during the week.
The team was led by Robert and Fonda Cassidy (right), from the Mount Olivet UB church in Mt. Solon, Va. They have led this annual short-term team for a number of years.
During the last part of June and early July, 18 persons from several UB churches in the United States participated in an English Camp in Kutno, Poland. The team worked with Donna and Arek Delik (right), church planters with Operation Mobilization in Kutno.
Forty students participated in the English Camp, learning and practicing conversational English through sports, music, crafts, and other activities. A closing program was held on the Saturday following the week of camp, and students were encouraged to invite their entire family to attend.
On Sunday morning following camp, 20 out of the 40 students attended worship services at the church plant in Kutno.
Donna and Arek have both expressed their appreciation for the team and great work they did in building relationships with the students and helping them feel more confident in speaking English.
