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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.

03 Oct

October 3, 2014 |

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

With the Ebola epidemic raging in Sierra Leone, many have been asking what more can be done to help the United Brethren people living there. The outbreak is centered in the part of the country where we have churches.

People responded overwhelmingly to our request to help fund the Ebola prevention and awareness project, which you can read about on UBCentral. In fact, we exceeded the $15,000 goal. That enabled us to fund further programming in other areas where Ebola is advancing. Today (October 3) Global Ministries is sending $3,300 received above what we needed. This will enable Sierra Leone Conference to expand training to Bo, Freetown, and other areas where we have UB churches, but which haven’t yet been seriously affected by Ebola.

Food for Sierra Leone
Commerce in Sierra Leone is at a standstill. Airlines, shipping, local markets, imports, exports, development projects, investments—every part of the economy is affected. The World Bank predicts that Ebola could be a “catastrophic blow” to the economies of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Food is scarce, and what is available is dramatically inflated in price.

shrink_wrap_palletLate this week we learned of an opportunity to send food to Sierra Leone for our United Brethren people. Shipping containers are being sent through a Christian ministry called Brothers Brother, in Pittsburgh, Pa. A few years ago, this group donated 80 hospital beds and shipped them for us to the Mattru Hospital.

A 40-foot container is being packed right now with medical and relief supplies for various churches and medical centers. They have room for one 4x4x6-foot pallet for the United Brethren.

Pastor Steve Clulow (left) and his folks at the Cochranton United Brethren Church (Cochranton, Pa.) have graciously offered to receive all donations and ready the pallet for delivery to Pittsburgh. Here is how you can become part of project.

Where to Send Food
Send the following items ASAP, by Oct 15, to the Cochranton UB Church:

  • Small bags of rice (half-pound to one-pound only).
  • Dried beans (half-pound to one-pound only).
  • Small cans of tomato paste.
  • Containers of dehydrated onion.
  • Canned chicken (good sources include Gordon’s, Sam’s, and Costco).

Please do NOT send large bags (i.e. 40 lb.) or expired items.

Our goal is to have everything at the Cochranton Church no later than October 15. That means you’ll need to ship or deliver your items by Monday, October 13.

If you can’t make that date, don’t worry. We plan to send more in an upcoming shipment.

Here is the address for the church:

Cochranton Community Church
3993 E. Church Street
Cochranton PA 16314
Phone: (814) 425-2905

Cost for a Future Container
It costs $11,000 to send a container. A Baptist denomination is funding this current container, so we get a free ride. Other denominations have paid for six previous containers.

We want to cover the cost of the next container. If you’d like to make a donation toward that $11,000 expense, make your check out to Global Ministries and send it to:

Global Ministries
302 Lake Street
Huntington IN 46750

Be sure to indicate that your gift is for “West Africa Relief.”

If you have questions, feel free to contact us at: (260) 356-2312.

24 Sep

September 24, 2014 |
L-r: Ron Crawford, Christopher Little, and Matthew Bryant.

L-r: Ron Crawford, Christopher Little, and Matthew Bryant.

Three persons attended the latest UB history course earlier this week, September 22-23. The course was held at Mount Pleasant UB church in Chambersburg, Pa., and was taught by Daryl Elliott (right), senior pastor of Fountain UB church in Keyser, W. Va.

The three attendees were:

  • Ron Crawford, Discipleship Director at Blue Rock UB church (Waynesboro, Pa.).
  • Christopher Little, from Mount Pleasant UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.).
  • Matthew Bryant, Coordinator of College Age Ministries at King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.).

22 Sep

September 22, 2014 |
Pastor Jim Bolich (left) conducts one of the day's five baptisms.

Pastor Jim Bolich (left) conducts one of the day’s five baptisms.

Meal time during the Prince Street Family Day at Rhodes Grove Camp.

Meal time during the Prince Street Family Day at Rhodes Grove Camp.

Jim Bolich (right), senior pastor, Prince Street UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

Each year, on the third Sunday of August, Prince Street Church steps away from the hectic pace of our ordinary lives to get away for a day of worship, fellowship, and fun. It’s a way to celebrate old friendships and make a few new ones. This year, more than 160 people gathered outside Chambersburg on the grounds of Rhodes Grove Camp for Family Day.

The first 30 minutes of the day were devoted to mingling, giving people who typically attend different worship services opportunity to get acquainted. It also provided time to get to know some new friends who joined us for the day. With the room buzzing with conversation, our worship continued with a time of singing, prayer, and God’s Word. As the service drew to a close, we shared communion together.

As always, Sunday dinner was delicious. From the fried chicken to the mac and cheese to the ham and green beans, there was something for every taste. But even sweeter than the cupcakes for dessert were the conversations I heard around the tables as we ate together.

The skies cleared just in time for us to enjoy the afternoon playing together. Some took advantage of the swings under the shade trees. Others climbed the zip-line for an adrenaline-pumping ride. Some waded in the pool, while others found ways to slip beyond the normal boundaries of the water slide. Some enjoyed a game of corn hole, while others simply enjoyed a conversation in lawn chairs.

But for me, the highlight of the day was yet to come.

Each year, we offer baptism as the final activity of Family Day. This year, five people gave testimony to their faith through the baptism as their family and friends gathered around the pool. What a celebration!