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09 May

May 9, 2014 |
All of the ministers together. Front (l-r): Mike Sturgill, Brent Liechty, Rocky Spear, Jerry Drummond, Don Ross, Eldon Grubb, Jim Pryor, Andy Stahl. Back (l-r): Phil Whipple, Tim Sherman, Greg Voight, Mark Ralph, Ricky Hull, Todd Fetters, Todd Greenman, Devon Strine, Ted Doolittle, Dan Kopp, Joe Leighton, Ron Watterly, Nick Woodall, Ron Evans, and Dan VanArsdalen.

All of the ministers together. Front (l-r): Mike Sturgill, Brent Liechty, Rocky Spear, Jerry Drummond, Don Ross, Eldon Grubb, Jim Pryor, Andy Stahl. Back (l-r): Phil Whipple, Tim Sherman, Greg Voight, Mark Ralph, Ricky Hull, Todd Fetters, Todd Greenman, Devon Strine, Ted Doolittle, Dan Kopp, Joe Leighton, Ron Watterly, Nick Woodall, Ron Evans, and Dan VanArsdalen.

Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, spearheaded the Pastors Summit.

Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, spearheaded the Pastors Summit.

Lisa Fetters led sessions for pastors' wives.

Lisa Fetters led sessions for pastors’ wives.

Joe Leighton, pastor of Salem Chapel (Junction City, Ohio), tells his "Because of Jesus..." story.

Joe Leighton, pastor of Salem Chapel (Junction City, Ohio), tells his “Because of Jesus…” story.

The Pastors Summit ended with a prayer time.

The Pastors Summit ended with a prayer time.

The second Pastors Summit was held May 5-7 at the Gull Lake Ministries camp in Hickory Corners, Mich. The event was for senior pastors and spouses from churches with an average attendance under 150. It drew 43 persons–five persons from the national office, 24 senior pastors, and 14 pastors’ wives. The ministers and spouses included:

  • 10 pastors and 6 spouses from UB churches in Michigan.
  • 11 pastors and 7 spouses from UB churches in Ohio.
  • 2 pastors and 1 spouses from UB churches in Indiana.
  • 1 pastor from Pennsylvania.

The Pastors Summit followed the same format as the summit held the previous week in Pennsylvania, beginning on Monday evening and concluding by noon on Wednesday. Bishop Phil Whipple was the speaker for the three sessions. He opened on Monday night by telling about his journey as a minister, from his call to ministry through serving various churches both before and after joining the United Brethren denomination. It was fascinating stuff. On Tuesday he addressed principles he has learned along the way, and then spoke primarily about brokenness.

Coaching was a big part of the Pastors Summit. Pastors could sign up for a coaching session with one of the five trained coaches, all UB ministers:

  • Dan Kopp, pastor of NorthPointe UB church (Lewis Center, Ohio).
  • Greg Voight, pastor of Lancaster UB (Lancaster, Ohio).
  • Rocky Spear, pastor of Mongul UB Shippensburg, Pa.).
  • Mark Wilson, pastor of Fowlerville UB church (Fowlerville, Mich.).
  • Jerry Drummond, a retired UB minister from Ashley, Mich.

Dan Kopp, Greg Voight, and Rocky Spear all served as coaches in Pennsylvania. The participants who signed up for coaching spent two sessions with their coach–an hour on Tuesday afternoon, and an hour on Wednesday morning. There will also be some follow-up interactions.

The Gull Lake lodge, where meetings and meals were held, included a large gymnasium and a four-lane bowling alley. After the Monday night session, nine men reconvened on the basketball court for about 90 minutes. Most were pretty rusty, and far removed from the Glory Days of Youth, but it was quite fun. They on Tuesday night, 11 pastors and three spouses donned their bowling shoes for the evening. Two persons worth mentioning:

  • Eldon Grubb, pastor of Pleasant Valley UB church (Lake Odessa, Mich.), had the night’s best cumulative score.
  • Devon Strine, pastor of Mount Pleasant UB church (Angola, Ind.), had the night’s single highest game score.

The Pastors Summit ended Wednesday morning with a group session during which pastors were invited to give a brief (no longer than 4 minutes) testimony which completed one of these statements: “Because of Jesus…” or “If it hadn’t been for Jesus….” The group was continuously in transition, since coaching sessions were going on at the same time; every hour, some ministers would leave and others would return.

The event concluded with a prayer time led by Bishop Phil Whipple.

Below are a few photos from the Pastors Summit. Many more–nearly 100–can be found on the UB Facebook page.

09 May

May 9, 2014 |
The Dowden Science Hall

The Dowden Science Hall

Dr. G. Blair and Chris Dowden speaking at the dedication service on April 24. Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, current president of Huntington University, is on the right.

Dr. G. Blair and Chris Dowden speaking at the dedication service on April 24. Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, current president of Huntington University, is on the right.

The newest major building on the Huntington University is the Science Hall, which opened in 2002. However, it hasn’t had a name…until now.

On April 24, the building was named the Dowden Science Hall, in honor of Dr. G. Blair Dowden and Chris Dowden, who led Huntington University for 22 years before retiring in May 2013. The Board of Trustees had announced in April 2013 that the Science hall would be named in their honor. Now, the new sign bearing their name has been unveiled.

Nursing is now HU’s largest major, with 90 students. The 91,000 square-foot facility is also home to the nursing, math, computer science, chemistry, biology, pre-med, and environmental science programs.

09 May

May 9, 2014 |

After a national search, Huntington University has named Greg Smitley (right) as vice president for business and finance/treasurer. Smitley graduated from HU in 1980 with a degree in business administration, and later earned a master’s in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Smitley spent 33 yeas in the banking industry, most recently as COO for iAB Financial Bank and as president/CEO for MarkleBank. He is currently president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana.

Over the years, Smitley has served Huntington University in a variety of ways, including as president of the alumni board and membership on the board of trustees.

08 May

May 8, 2014 |
Participants with their certificates for completing the program.

Participants with their certificates for completing the program.

Juanita Chavez, superintendent of Honduras Conference, leading a training session for Honduran leaders.

Juanita Chavez, superintendent of Honduras Conference, leading a training session for Honduran leaders.

Amount Needed: $9,200

Honduras National Conference has embraced a model for discipleship and theological education that is church-based. The approach is non-formal, as opposed to institutional, and aims to train up leaders in the context of the local church.

Two years ago, they began with just a handful of leaders from La Ceiba. Now they are now expanding to establish new centers throughout the country. The materials were created by BILD (bild.org) of Ames, Iowa, a church-multiplication movement committed to placing the church at the center of every aspect of Christian ministry (evangelism, discipleship, missions, theological education, theology, etc.).

The Hondurans will have 150 participants in the program in 2014/15. The cost for the entire program during this period of time is $15,343. The greatest expense involves establish new centers in local churches. In the future, current participants will serve as trainers, thereby lowering the cost. Participants’ contributions will cover 40% of the expense. The conference has asked if we would assist them with the remaining 60%, which comes to $9200.

Interested in supporting this project?
Please send your gift to:

Global Ministries
302 Lake St.
Huntington, IN 46750

Please write the project code, HN001, on the memo line.

08 May

May 8, 2014 |

Frank Y (right), Associate Director of Global Ministries

Northern Thailand, the region where Global Ministries staff Bryan and Emily Gerlach are serving, experienced a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, May 6. Some structures were damaged, including the iconic white temple of Wat Rongkhun in Chiang Rai, their neighboring province. Thankfully, the Gerlachs are safe.

They wrote, “We are totally fine! We felt a little bit of the earthquake when it happened and were totally caught off-guard. We were at home in the evening when it happened and felt the whole house shake! It turns out the effects were really bad up in Chiang Rai. Several families in [a village we know] had their houses destroyed and are living in tents and/or makeshift shelters. Please pray for them.”

I also heard from Mark Choi, the former mission director of Hong Kong Conference. He says our three mountain churches in northern Thailand are safe, too.

07 May

May 7, 2014 |
Denis Casco, bishop of Mexico Conference, with a friend.

Denis Casco, bishop of Mexico Conference, with a friend.

A children's outreach by a UB church in Mexico.

A children’s outreach by a UB church in Mexico.

A children's outreach by a UB church in Mexico.

A children’s outreach by a UB church in Mexico.

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

It’s time for a Mexican Fiesta! That’s right. This summer we invite your children’s ministry to join us in supporting children’s outreach through our 48 United Brethren churches in Mexico.

In the coming weeks, Global Ministries will provide information for you to use in a Sunday school or Vacation Bible School. We’ll have five stories, a short video, and ideas for planning your fiesta.

Mexican Fiestas are always a great time for games, clowns, and of course, piñatas. So start planning now to celebrate with us and support the ongoing effort to reach communities in Mexico where no evangelical church exists.

06 May

May 6, 2014 |

A variety of positions are open at Huntington University. They just announced an opening for Director of Alumni Relations. Other openings include:

Faculty Positions

  • Digital Media Arts Faculty.
  • Occupational Therapy Faculty.
  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre and Technical Director.

Staff Positions

  • Director of Alumni Relations/Director of the Forester Fund.
  • Resident Director – Livingston Hall.
  • Resident Director – Meadows and Miller Halls.
  • Coordinator of Student Activities / Multicultural Activities.
  • Admissions Counselor.

06 May

May 6, 2014 |
Sam Ward, Pastor of Creative Worship at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) leads a session at the Worship Summit.

Sam Ward, Pastor of Creative Worship at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) leads a session at the Worship Summit.

The 2014 UB Worship Summit is currently underway in Daytona Beach, Fla. This is a conference for UB ministers working in staff positions with music and worship. It is held every two years.

Thirteen persons are attending. The Worship Summit began on Monday and will continue through Thursday (May 5-8). The participants are:

  • Sam Ward, Pastor of Creative Worship at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Tom Mahas, Youth/Worship Pastor at Bethel UB church (Elmore, Ohio).
  • John Authenreith, Pastor of Worship Arts at Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio).
  • Kurtis Charleville, Youth & Worship Director at Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.).
  • Luke Spurgeon, associate pastor at Mt. Olivet UB church (Franklin, Pa.).
  • Dan Friend, Pastor of Music at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Chris Kuntz, Worship Pastor of the Family Life Service, Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Kevin Mattison, Technical Director at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Jessi Hott, Worship Intern at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Matthew Hann, Associate Pastor of Care and Worship at Jerusalem Chapel (Churchville, Va.).
  • Monty Seaman, Worship & Connections Pastor at Mongul Church (Shippensburg, Pa.).
  • Holly Seaman, Mongul Church (Shippensburg, Pa.).
  • John Plumley, Worship Director at Fowlerville UB church (Fowlerville, Mich.).

06 May

May 6, 2014 |
Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, is spearheading the Pastors Summits.

Todd Fetters, director of National Ministries, is spearheading the Pastors Summits.

Brent and Loretta Liechty, from Pathway UB in Jackson, Mich., are leading music for the Pastors Summit.

Brent and Loretta Liechty, from Pathway UB in Jackson, Mich., are leading music for the Pastors Summit.

Bishop Phil Whipple is the keynote speaker at the Pastors Summit.

Bishop Phil Whipple is the keynote speaker at the Pastors Summit.

A group of 42 United Brethren pastors and spouses are attending.

A group of 42 United Brethren pastors and spouses are attending.

The second Pastors Summit is underway at Gull Lake Ministries campground in Hickory Corners, Mich. This event is for pastors and wives from churches with an attendance under 150. An identical event was held last week at Rhode Grove Camp in Chambersburg, Pa.

There are 42  people attending–about the same as at the Pennsylvania summit. The attendees, most of them senior pastors and spouses, come from Ohio (18), Michigan (16), and Indiana (8).