14 Jun Mission Project: Sierra Leone National Office

Global Ministries has added a new mission project on the UBGlobal.org website.

Project: Renovations on the national office.
Location: Bo, Sierra Leone
Cost: $30,000

The United Brethren National Office in Bo was built 19 years ago. It has seven rooms, a hall, and restroom. However, the building was never totally completed due to the rebel war of the 1990s and subsequent lack of funds.

Currently, the Superintendent of Administration uses the building, and the lecture hall is used by a new United Brethren fellowship. The superintendent’s office is the only room in relatively good condition. The hall is used once every two years for Bi–Annual Conference, but could be used further for training, workshops, and other events held by the United Brethren or other church groups.

Sierra Leone Conference wants to complete the building so that all other members of our leadership team–the Bishop, superintendents, National Youth Director, Development Coordinator, Women’s Director, Education Secretary–can use the building. The conference office serves 73 churches and 15 preaching points, plus 54 schools with a total enrollment of just over 10,000 students and 376 teachers. There is one theological college and one hospital.

Among the renovations required are:

• Constructing a fence around the perimeter.
• Upgrades to the electrical system.
• Repairs to the roof.
• Additional restroom space.
• Repair of the existing facilities.

Once these offices have been renovated, Bishop John Pessima will able to relocate his home to Bo. He still lives in Freetown, a half-day drive from their offices and not centrally located within the conference.

13 Jun Guatemala Project: Rivers of Living Water Church

Rivers of Living Water Church in Barcena, Guatemala

Global Ministries has posted a new mission project:

Description: Work team to construct a second floor to the Rivers of Living Water Church
Location: Barcena, Guatemala
Cost: $8500

The Rios de Agua Viva United Brethren Church is located in Barcena, about 20 miles from Guatemala City. This church plant was actually started by another group, but they abandoned the work when the neighborhood didn’t seem to respond. Of the 4000 people who live in Barcena, only 10% have fulltime employment. Pastor Cesar’s family live in their hometown some 80 miles away, while he lives in a tin hut across the street from the church plant. He supports himself and his family by laying brick.

The church building has walls, a floor, a temporary corrugated steel roof, and electricity. However, the community does not have a water supply. The congregation has paid for all of the work accomplished thus far, and there are no liens.

They would love to have help from a team to construct a second floor, which they could use for ministry and as a living space for the pastor’s family. They estimate that it will cost $8500. Low cost accommodations would be available in Guatemala at a guesthouse owned by CH Global, one of our partnering agencies.

13 Jun The Reecks: 40 Years, and 40 Years

Endorsed missionaries Roger and Marilyn Reeck celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 3, 2011. Except Roger was in Columbia and Marilyn was in Dallas, Tex. But they did communicate through the internet. They’ll have a belated celebration in July in Honduras, with three of their four daughters present.

At the same time, the Reecks completed 40 years of missionary service with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They write, “The Lord has certainly been wonderful to us during these years–through all of the ups and downs. We have been involved in such a wide variety of activiteis that it has never been boring. It has been an honor and privilage to serve Him in this way.”

In May, their third daughter, Amanda, traveled to Honduras on a medical trip and was able to spend a few days with her parents. She graduated from Baylor School of Medicine on May 29, and is beginning a three-year internship in internal medicine in Dallas.

Right now, Roger is in Bogota, Columbia. He writes, “I am helping a small group of jungle Indians translate Psalms into their language while still keeping a poetic style. It is so fulfilling to share this knowledge with the Waimaha Indians as they choose just the right words to make the Psalms sound poetic and beautiful.”

07 Jun Marion and Candy Hall Join GM Staff

Marion and Candy Hall have joined the Global Ministries endorsed staff. They have been traveling together to Toalmus, Hungary, for a number of years to work with Word of Life Bible Institute. Marion tells us they love working with the students and then joining them as they go out into the community to share the gospel.

Recently, Marion was asked to spend at least a year at World of Life Bible Institute as the Dean of Men. He will work in a number of areas related to dormitory life and spiritual development. They are raising support and require $2730 per month.

The Halls are from the Harrison UB church in Harrison, Mich. They were married in 1967 and have two grown children.

If you would like to support them, you can send your checks to:

Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.
PO Box 600
Schroon Lake, NY 12870

For more information call: 518-494-6329.

02 Jun ScriptureEarth.org

David Spencer, a UB endorsed missionary serving in Brazil with Wycliffe Bible Translators, sent this note about a fascinating resource you might want to check out:

Many people still may view missions as a man with a pith helmet and machete chopping his way through the jungle. However, today it is likely his machete has been replaced by a laptop and a satellite phone.

We would like you to know about some technology that Wycliffe is using to help provide access to the translated Scriptures. By logging onto scriptureearth.org you will find about 250 Bibles and New Testaments. Right now they are mostly from the Americas. Scripture is being added daily.

The goal is to post all minority language translations from around the globe! You will want to take a look! Find a language that you have never heard of from Brazil or another country and read a few lines. By having the translated Scriptures available online, individuals will be able to download their New Testament to their cell phone, computer, or to the Bible Society, who will print it out and send it to them for a very nominal fee.

Praise the Lord for the technology He is providing for disseminating His Word!

02 Jun Separating Jesus from “Christian” Culture

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

While visiting in Dearborn, Mich., recently, I was told about a Muslim woman who, although she professes no faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, still has the habit of removing the Gideon Bible from the nightstand of hotel rooms and placing it in the highest location she can find in the room.

Why would she do something so strange? Well, according to her Muslim culture, religious books are sacred and ought to be treated with respect. In her view, the Bible deserves that sort of respect, too, even though it is not her religious book.

This sheds some light on the violent reaction of the Muslim world to Pastor Terry Jones’ “Burn a Koran Day.” But more importantly, it provides insight into what has become known as the Jesus Movement.

Around the world, there are those who are embracing Jesus, without necessarily embracing Christian culture. In fact, they would still consider themselves cultural Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, or Muslims after they have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The idea of Bible-believing followers of Jesus identifying themselves as anything other than Christian has been a hot topic for some time. I personally have serious reservations about certain aspects of “insider” movements, where converts remain within their former faith community and continue worshiping in their mosque or Buddhist temple. However, the issue of culture is a little bit different.

We talk about our Christian culture as North Americans and have our own impressions as to what we mean by “Christian.” However, Christian culture conjures up a variety of mental images in other countries.

A friend was living in Jordan and joined a group of Muslim men to drink tea. As they chatted, the host asked if he would like to watch a Christian movie with them. My friend had no idea what to think. Could it be that he had a copy of the “Jesus” video.

Moments later, the host emerged with a pornographic film. Unfortunately, “Christian” means anything we value here in the West or that emerges from our society. After all, we are a Christian country, right? So, is the Easter Bunny “Christian”? What about Halloween?

The truth is that some aspects of our own culture are not particularly honoring to Jesus, while certain aspects of other cultures may actually be more God-honoring…like the Muslim woman giving the Bible a more prominent place.

For many people serving on the front lines of cross-cultural ministry, it’s been both a fascinating and challenging journey. Separating out religious belief from culture can be tedious, but finding a way through the maze has allowed for many to be followers of Christ without experiencing outright rejection from their community.

Remaining as part of their cultural group means that movements of people coming to Christ can be made possible–accepting Jesus, without necessarily embracing Western culture.

If you’re interested in reading more about Jesus Movements, try this article on the MissionFrontiers.org site.

18 May Acts 29: A Volunteer Opportunity Near Detroit

The cabinet-making shop at Acts 29.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Recently, I was in the Detroit area looking for opportunities for UB people and churches who are interested in short-term volunteer work in the United States–specifically to unreached people groups in the US. Joining me were Paul Plato, the Missions Coordinator for the UB Church in Canada, and John and Chris Polegato, from the Grace UB church in Sherkston, Ontario.

We visited two exciting locations near Detroit, Mich., where groups are working with urban and ethnic populations. Both are eager for volunteers this summer. Perhaps you or someone from your church would be interested.

John and Chris Polegato, from the UB church in Sherkston, Ontario, plan to spend three weeks this summer with Acts 29. John is an ESL instructor for the Ontario government, and Chris is a Christian counselor.

One is Acts 29, in Hamtramck, Mich.

Acts 29 is presently focusing on a four-square-mile area recognized as Detroit’s second empowerment community. This area includes two square miles of Detroit proper, and two square miles of the city of Hamtramck. This area is home to five major people groups: African American, Polish, Arab, Bosnian, and Asian Indians (from Bangladesh).

The two square miles of Detroit is 80% African American. This empowerment community has some of the lowest rankings in the country in family structure, economics, education, employment development, and housing. The Christian faith is proclaimed by some, but not lived out in any way.

More prevalent is the Islamic faith, which claims 60% of Hamtramck’s population.

Acts 29 is involved in urban, cross-cultural, vocational, camping, educational, and community transformation ministry. They run a cabinet-making business out of their center and rehabilitate homes in the area. Pastor John Meyer told us, “Be prepared for anything when you come to Hamtramck.”

Cost per day for food and lodging is $41 per person.

For more information contact Sharon Buttry, the Missions Coordinator, or visit their website.

17 May New Missions Project: Helping a Future Pastor in Jamaica

Michael Thompson

Global Ministries has added a new project which you may be interested in supporting.

Michael Thompson has been serving as a lay leader at two of our United Brethren churches in Jamaica for the last six years. He is passionate about reaching people for Christ and making disciples, but returning to seminary can be a stretch for a married man with two children.

Michael has two jobs and is prepared to cover 50% of his schooling expenses. We’re looking for sponsors willing to make up the remaining $2500 per year to cover his tuition, books, and fees for the next five years while he attends the Jamaica Theological Seminary in Kingston.

He plans to continue serving the United Brethren churches of Jamaica in the future.

10 May Klines Welcome Their Third Child

David Kline with the newborn Aiden.

Congratulations to David and Melissa Kline on the birth of Aiden James, their third child. Aiden was born in Hong Kong on Monday afternoon, May 9 (Hong Kong time). The Klines are Global Ministries staff in Macau.

05 May 2011 Children’s Project

Each year, many UB churches raise money for missions through their summer children’s ministries, like Vacation Bible School, and channel that money to Global Ministries.

This year, Global Ministries will focus these funds on two medical needs:

• Medicine to supply our medical team traveling to Honduras this summer.
• AIDS medications for our Project Compassion children in India.

We created a short video and some activities for the children to use that focus attention on the needs and opportunity to share. The video and materials are available on DVD and in print. Or, you can simply visit our website and download either item.