04 Jan Global Ministries Welcomes Jana Gass to the Staff

Peggy Sell (left) and Jana Gass.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Peggy Sell is leaving her position as administrative assistant with Global Ministries. It’s hard to see her go, as she has been a tremendous help in developing a number of new services for us during her two years of employment. She has also been a fabulous team player and spiritual inspiration to us each personally.

We would like to introduce to you our new administrative assistant, Mrs. Jana Gass. Jana operated her own business in Markle Indiana for 20 years, but after completing the Perspectives program, both she and her husband, Herb, sensed a definite call into missions.

Since that time, she and her family went overseas to Papua New Guinea to serve as support workers with New Tribes Mission. While there, she worked in various positions–first as a finance secretary, and later as an administrative assistant in the field headquarters office.

Jana and Herb have two children. Alicia attends Cornerstone University in Michigan, and Caleb is a student at Huntington North High School. Herb works for MacAllister Caterpillar in Fort Wayne, Ind.

29 Dec Bypass Surgery for Jane Baker

Jane Baker had double bypass surgery on Thursday, December 27. Her husband, Ron, reported that she came through the surgery fine, but was in a lot of pain and would remain in the hospital for about ten days.

Dr. Ron and Jane Baker served multiple terms at Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone from 1974-1988, with Ron serving as Chief Medical Officer. Ron has remained involved on a short-term basis since then. Ron was planning to lead a medical team to Sierra Leone in January, but obviously plans have changed.

27 Dec Hermmy Back Home in Haiti

Hermmy (middle, holding the baby) with her family in Haiti.

Previous posts have told about Hermmy, a 12-year-old Haitian girl who was brought to Toronto by the Canadian UBs so she could have surgery to repair a hole in her heart. Beginning October 1, she lived with Joan Sider, a member of New Hope UB church in Toronto and a frequent visitor to Haiti. The operation was conducted on October 10, and was a big success.

Joan Sider and Hermmy returned to Haiti on December 4, and Hermmy was reunited with her family the next day.

19 Dec Turkey: Two Global Ministries Trips in 2013

Global Ministries is offering two mission trips to Turkey in 2013. Both are in conjunction with IN Network, an organization with which we are partnering in Turkey. This is the United Brethren church’s first venture into the Muslim world. These trips will be a great opportunity for you to become acquainted with and involved in the task of taking the Gospel to Muslims.

Turkey: VBS
A group of 10 people will conduct a Vacation Bible School at a church attended by children from all over Istanbul. They would also spend one day at the IN Network camp in Yalova, and another day doing sightseeing in Istanbul. This trip is in partnership with IN Network, an organization with which we are partnering to minister to Muslims in Turkey.

Dates: June 22 – July 2, 2013
Cost: $650 per person, plus airfare

Turkey: Children’s Camp
A team of five persons will help with a children’s camp in the city of Yalova. They would mostly help with cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, and perhaps crafts or games. There would also be a day of sightseeing in Istanbul. This trip, like the previous VBS trips, is in partnership with IN Network

Dates: June 29 – July 8, 2013.
Cost: $550 per person, plus airfare.

19 Dec Hermmy Reunited with Her Family in Haiti

Hermmy (middle, holding baby) with her family in Haiti.

Previous posts have told about Hermmy, a 12-year-old Haitian girl who was brought to Toronto by the Canadian UBs so she could have surgery to repair a hole in her heart. Beginning October 1, she lived with Joan Sider, a member of New Hope UB church in Toronto and a frequent visitor to Haiti. The operation was conducted on October 10, and was a big success.

Joan Sider and Hermmy returned to Haiti on December 4, and Hermmy was reunited with her family the next day.

19 Dec Jamaica: Construction Team to Malvern Camp

In 2011 and 2012, about six teams traveled to Jamaica’s Malvern Camp to help rebuild its dining hall/activity center, This is a 50/50 cooperative effort with our Jamaican churches.

We’re doing it again in 2013.  Three teams will go for week-long stints. They will continue work on the dormitory structure at Malvern Camp in preparation for the 2013 Youth Camps. The work will include but not be limited to laying concrete blocks, mixing cement, putting up rafters, and roofing. The May trip will probably also do painting and finishing work on the building’s interior and exterior.

Dates
Team 1: February 16-23, 2013.
Team 2: February 23 – March 2, 2013.
Team 3: May 11-18, 2013.

We’re looking for 7-8 persons per week.

Cost: $450 per person, plus airfare.

All team members are required to apply by filling out a Volunteer Service Application Form, which you can obtain by email or by calling the Global Ministries office toll-free at 888-622-3019.

For More Information
Contact Donna Hollopeter in Global Ministries.

05 Dec The Perspectives Course: Upcoming Events

Many United Brethren people have taken the Perspectives course, which is a ministry of the US Center for World Mission. This course trains and mentors Christ followers to expand their worldview, promote hope, and unite the global body of Christ making disciples of the nations. Whether you intend to serve as a “goer” or a “sender,” the training is essential for understanding the work of the Great Commission.

Since 1974, more than 80,000 believers in North America and 20,000 more around the world have taken the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course. Each year, about 200 classes are hosted in churches and community centers around the country. In fact, Global Ministries recently donated $2000 from your Thank Offering Funds toward the translation of Perspectives into Spanish. The first group to complete the program was from San Jose, Costa Rica.

In 15 lessons, you’ll engage with a range of dynamic speakers. Weekly readings and study will help you dig even deeper. The program can be taken at an audit, undergraduate, or graduate level. Here are some sessions that may be located near you in 2013:

Pennsylvania
Altoona: Jan 7 – Apr 29
Clarion: Jan 13 – May 5
Cranberry Twp: Jan 12 – May 4
Lancaster: Jan 8 – Apr 30
Mechanicsburg: Jan 17 – May 3

Ohio
Columbus: Jan 8 – April 16
Apple Creek: Jan 6 – Apr 21
Dayton: Jan 15 – Apr 30

Indiana
Fort Wayne: Jan 6 – Apr 21
Grabill: Jan 8 – Apr 23
Adams Wells: Jan 7 – Apr 22

Idaho
Rathdrum: Jan 15 – May 07

Kansas
Dodge City: Jan 13 – Apr 28
Topeka: Jan 21 – May 13

Virginia
Alexandria: Jan 13 – May 5

Michigan
Kalamazoo: Jan 8 – April 23
St Johns: Jan 13 – May 5

Florida
Sarasota: Jan 14 – May 13

04 Dec Hermmy Returns to Haiti

Hermmy and two Canadian girls. Hermmy can say goodbye to the coat, mittens, and cap.

Previous posts have told about Hermmy, a 12-year-old Haitian girl who was brought to Toronto by the Canadian UBs so she could have surgery to repair a hole in her heart. Since October 1, she has been living with Joan Sider, a member of New Hope UB church in Toronto and a frequent visitor to Haiti. The operation was conducted on October 10, and was a big success.

Joan Sider and Hermmy returned to Haiti this morning (Tuesday, Dec. 4). Hermmy will be reunited with her family on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Joan will talk to them about Hermmy’s continued healthcare needs. Joan will return to Canada on Dec. 11.

30 Nov Dwight and Patti Kuntz Join Global Ministries

Dwight and Patti Kuntz

Dwight and Patti Kuntz, from Union Chapel UB church in Fort Wayne, Ind., have joined the Global Ministries family.

In January, Dwight and Patti will relocate to Mandeville, Jamaica. They will serve as liaisons with short term teams that come to Jamaica, making sure everything is in place for the teams when they get there. They will also work with people in Jamaica UB churches to teach volunteerism and challenge them to lend their time and service to Jamaica Conference projects.

Dwight and Patti will not live in Jamaica permanently. Rather, they will go there for a couple months at a time, as teams are going. They are part of the JumpStart staff.

Address for Contributions

Global Ministries
302 Lake Street
Huntington, IN 46750

Write “Kuntz Ministry” on the memo line.

19 Nov Chris and Brenda Moore Join Global Ministries Family

Chris, Brenda, and Rachel Moore

Chris and Brenda Moore have joined the Global Ministries family as endorsed staff. They serve with Here’s Hope Ministries, which operates in Belize.

Chris and Brenda have been involved with Here’s Hope Ministries since the late 1990s–leading work teams, organizing collection efforts, maintaining communications, and serving on the board of directors.

Beginning in January 2013, Chris will assume the duties of social communication and work team coordination and training. Among other things, Chris will be responsible for planning and leading cross-cultural ministry opportunities with local congregations.

Both Chris and Brenda have a long history with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. During the early 1980s, Brenda lived in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where her parents, Robert and Darlene Eberly, were United Brethren missionaries. Chris graduated from Huntington University in 1993 with a degree in Educational Ministries, and Brenda graduated from HU in 1987 with a degree in math. They were married in 1990, and have one child.

After graduating from college, Chris served in several capacities at Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., between 1993 and 2008, with a two-year stint (2000-2002) as senior pastor of Good Shepherd UB church in Huntington, Ind. Back at Emmanuel, he co-led global ministries for ECC from 2003-2008.

In 2009, Chris became pastor of Mt. Zion UB church outside of Decatur, Ind. He was ordained as a United Brethren elder in 2011.

Chris, Brenda, and daughter Rachel have traveled numerous times to Belize, Central America, where they regularly contribute to the ministry of Hosanna House, a home for orphaned, abandoned, and abused children.

Though they will travel frequently, the Moores will maintain their residence in Roanoke, Ind., and participate regularly in the fellowship of College Park UB church in Huntington.