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16 Oct

October 16, 2014 |

The Executive Leadership Team, during its October 13-14 meeting, approved the Pastoral Compensation guidelines for 2015. Many UB churches use this formula to set salaries and budgets for the coming year.

The minimum fulltime salary (called Standard Base Salary) for senior pastors was set at $37,981 for 2015. This is an increase of 1% over the 2014 figure.

The Standard Base Salary is only the starting point. Other factors–such as experience, education, church attendance, staff size–add to the base salary.

Benefits such as parsonage, utilities, SECA, insurance, and pension round out the total compensation package.

To be a fulltime pastor, the compensation package must meet all of these criteria in full. If a church cannot meet these guidelines, a pastor may pursue supplemental employment to achieve the compensation level.

16 Oct

October 16, 2014 |

Pastors are highly encouraged to register for the Prepare/Enrich Certification Training being held at the UB national office on Thursday, October 23. This class will provide excellent insights and tools for premarital and marital counseling.

Pastors and counselors regularly engage in pre-marital and marriage counseling. A special class is being held October 23, 2014, to help persons become more effective in this area. You can still sign up.

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2014
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: UB Headquarters, Huntington, Ind.
Cost: $150 (usually $225)

Helping couples strengthen their relationships is no easy task. With this training, you can make a significant impact in the life of a premarital or married couple by using this relationship assessment tool. It helps a couple identify their relationship strengths and how to resolve current issues and prevent future problems. With this workshop, you’ll get thorough training in how to:

  • Administer the online assessment.
  • Interpret couple’s reports.
  • Provide useful feedback to couples.
  • Guide couple’s exercises.
  • Teach proven relationship skills.
  • Work more effectively with couples.

The instructor is Dr. Steve Lee, a former professor of psychology at Huntington University who went on to become an instructor at Focus on the Family Institute and a Certified Relational Wisdom Instructor.

Says Bob Bruce, pastor of Spiritual Care at Emmanuel UB church (Fort Wayne, Ind.): “I have personally found this training to be valuable for working with premarital and married couples. It gives great insight into a couple’s relationship and their attitudes towards various aspects of marriage. It provides a solid platform to work with couples.”

10 Oct

October 10, 2014 |

Roger and Marilyn Reeck (right) are UB endorsed missionaries serving with Wycliffe in Honduras. They sent this update on October 4, 2014.

The bone fusion operation Roger underwent in February is successful and he is walking on that foot. But the pain caused by nerve damage has continued and has been quite intense. So far, the meds prescribed by the surgeon here and the doctor at the pain clinic have not lessened the pain.

Last week Roger saw Dr. Owen, the orthopedic surgeon who travels to Honduras every 6 months. X-rays indicate that the tibia bone and the talus bone in the ankle are touching, and arthritis has set in which together lead to part of the pain. The doctor injected steroids into that area, but it will be a few weeks before he feels the full effect. Please pray that this will be a solution bringing about a reduced amount of pain. If this is the case, then he could be re-injected every few months.

We were excited to be in Venezuela again and spend time with the teams that we work with. Over the last few months, we have continued checking their stories remotely. It was fulfilling and exciting to see them bring the work on their story sets to completion and record the stories. These can now be distributed to their people and used in many different venues such has fellowship groups, radio,etc.

On October 6, Roger travels to Brazil. Please pray for his trip and his time there. He will be working with a group of translators that speak Yaminahua. The Yaminahua Indians live in the most remote part of the Amazon where Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil meet. The translation is especially difficult because some of the men speak Portuguese and some speak Spanish. Last time Roger was with the team (in Bolivia), they spent hours and hours on this phrase (from the story of the “Prodigal Son”): “I am not worthy to be called your son.”

It is exciting to work with a people group that doesn’t have even one book of the Bible in their language yet. Please pray that God will help us to make good progress during the two weeks time. Another goal during this time is to train Victor, a Venezuelan Curripaco Indian who will meet Roger there, to begin translation into his native language.

In the meantime, Marilyn will stay back home working on perfecting the two sets of Spanish stories that are used in training courses.

10 Oct

October 10, 2014 |

Harold and MaryAnn Hancock returned to Jamaica on Tuesday, October 7 after being in the States for nearly a year. They have invested themselves for two years in working with students at Regent College of the Caribbean.

The Hancocks returned to the US in November 2013 and planned to return to Jamaica in early 2014. However, a routine physical by MaryAnn in January led to a diagnosis of parotid glandular cancer, located behind the left ear. MaryAnn Hancock underwent a 12-hour surgery on March 11, during which all of the cancer was removed. She then underwent six weeks of radiation treatments.

This will undoubtedly be an emotional return for the Hancocks. They will be in Jamaica until November 23. Pray for them as they re-engage with the students, and that there will be much fruit as they continue to mentor the students and staff at RCC.

10 Oct

October 10, 2014 |
Members of the Board of Directors of Laurel Mission. In the front, l-r, are Debbie, Nathan, and Lindsey Boggs.

Members of the Board of Directors of Laurel Mission. In the front, l-r, are Debbie, Nathan, and Lindsey Boggs.


Ben Gladhill (right), Pastor of Christian Education, Lake View Church (Camden, Mich.).

On October 3-4, the Board of Directors for Laurel Mission met at Laurel Mission in Big Laurel, Kent. The board consists of 11 members from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

Nathan Boggs, with his wife Lindsey, has been the Director of Laurel Mission since 2011, following his father Titus in directorship. Nathan also serves as the youth pastor of Rock House Youth Ministries and pastor of Little Laurel Bible Church. Debbie Boggs, wife of the late Titus Boggs, serves as the associate director of Laurel Mission.

Laurel Mission exists for this purpose: to minister primarily to the residents of Harlan, Leslie, and Letcher Counties of Kentucky by effectively communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed, to the end that all shall know Him as Savior and Lord, adore and praise Him through worship, grow in spiritual maturity, and experience the more abundant life through expressions of Christian social concern.

Laurel Mission also provides opportunities for mission outreach and ministry to people as they undergird the mission with prayer, finances, labor, and share in spiritual retreats.

For more information about the ministry or how to support Laurel Mission, check them out online at LaurelMission.com.

08 Oct

October 8, 2014 |

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

When we announced last week that we had opportunity to send a pallet of food items to our United Brethren churches in Sierra Leone, we did not inform you that another shipment was already being prepared.

The Mount Zion United African Church in Philadelphia, pastored by Rev. Joe Abu, has been working with UB churches in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland to send a 20-foot container later in October. Among the items collected are 3000 surgical gloves, 1300 fluid-resistant surgical masks, 400 disposable isolation gowns, 64 Bibles, and an oxygen concentrator. Their container is nearly full and ready to send out.

Just this week, Rev. John Pessima, bishop of Sierra Leone National Conference, expressed concern regarding the lack of medical supplies on hand at our Mattru Hospital to deal with Ebola patients. The shipment Mount Zion UB is sending will be an answer to prayer.

Many of the contributing churches have already donated money to help pay for the shipping costs, but your gift would be welcome. If you would like to assist with the shipping cost of this or other shipments going out to West Africa, send your gift to Global Ministries and indicate that it is to be used for West Africa Ebola Relief.

08 Oct

October 8, 2014 |

Roxton Spear (right), senior pastor, Mongul UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

On Saturday, October 4, Mongul Church began a new worship experienced called Journey.

Many months ago, our staff and leadership team began exploring what our next steps should be as we attempt to reach effectively into our community.

“Have you thought about a Saturday evening service?” was a question we heard on more than one occasion. After praying and considering what would be necessary to do this, we concluded that offering our community a Saturday evening worship experience would be the next phase of Mongul Church’s life.

After a few months of planning, October 4 arrived, along with 76 individuals (14 children and 62 adults). God is good! There was a buzz of excitement, as people gathered. In attendance were people of all ages, from infant to 80+.

We give God praise for His leadership and blessing.

07 Oct

October 7, 2014 |
Mark Ralph, senior pastor of Mount Zion UB, preparing to perform a baptism.

Mark Ralph, senior pastor of Mount Zion UB, preparing to perform a baptism.

Pastor Mark Ralph leading in three baby dedications.

Pastor Mark Ralph leading in three baby dedications.

Gayle Thorn, Mt. Zion UB (Wayne, Ohio)

Sunday, September 21, was a special day at Mt. Zion UB church in Wayne, Ohio. First, we celebrated the dedication of three little ones to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, following our time of worship and the message by Pastor Mark Ralph, we rejoiced as four individuals proclaimed their faith in Jesus by being baptized.

07 Oct

October 7, 2014 |
Marcus Flood (left) and Brad Kittle (right), senior pastor of Praise Point, baptizing a youth.

Marcus Flood (left) and Brad Kittle (right), senior pastor of Praise Point, baptizing a youth.

Marcus Flood, Associate of Youth and Family Life, Praise Point Church (Willshire, Ohio)

Praise Point church held several special ceremonies during the October 5 worship service. The service included accepting new members, dedicating infants, and baptizing believers. Nine persons were baptized. Seven of them are in the Four Twelve Youth Ministry. It was a great service, and we are excited with all the things God is doing at Praise Point.

03 Oct

October 3, 2014 |

We need 6-8 youth to participate in a short-term mission trip to El Salvador March 13-21, 2015. This is over Huntington University’s spring break. HU is sponsoring this trip. An HU student will lead the team. We need at least one other adult chaperone to accompany the group.

The team will complete work on a church building and do finishing work, and will also do ministry within the community.

Cost: $1400 per person. That includes airfare, supplemental insurance, all in-country travel, food, lodging, entry fee, and some cost of materials.