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02 Apr

April 2, 2014 |
Denis and Reina Casco.

Denis and Reina Casco.

Congratulations to Denis and Reina Casco, whose 38th anniversary is today. Denis is bishop of Mexico Conference, and Reina pastors a church in Glendale, Calif. Unfortunately, they won’t be celebrating the day together–Denis is currently traveling in El Salvador.

Denis and Reina are originally from Honduras. Denis is the son of the late Arturo Casco, a prominent UB minister and church planter for many years. Denis was trained as a lawyer and worked for World Vision International in Honduras.

They moved to the United States in 1988, at the request of Global Ministries, to launch Latin American Ministries. Denis started a number of Hispanic UB churches in southern California, and also developed relationships with other Hispanic churches in the Southwest.

Relationships in the California churches brought Denis into contact with a group of independent churches in central Mexico, and he began providing general oversight. When Latin American Ministries drew to an end in 2003, Denis maintained his work with the churches in Mexico and in the cities of Juarez and El Paso, which face each other across the Rio Grande. They became an official national conference in 2005, and chose Denis as their bishop.

We now have about 40 churches in Mexico, mostly in the central part of the country north of Mexico City. Denis and Reina continue living in the Los Angeles area, and Denis, often accompanied by his wife, is continuously traveling to visit the churches under his jurisdiction.

01 Apr

April 1, 2014 |

Huntington University won an agriculture contest. Actually, it was a public relations contest, but it involved agriculture–a marketing/PR campaign to promote agriculture to young-adult Hoosiers (ages 18-35).

HU’s team, named “Hoosier Grown,” was among 30 teams from 17 Indiana colleges that submitted entries in the contest. The 30 teams were winnowed down to three finalists, who made presentations at the Statehouse.

And Huntington won with their proposal, which includes a new brand image, an integrated social-media marketing plan, and an increase in awareness of the agriculture economy and opportunities. The two runners-up were the University of Indianapolis and the University of Southern Indiana.

They won money, too. Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann presented a $25,000 check to the team–$10,000 for Huntington University, the rest to be divided among the seven student team members–four seniors, one junior, and two sophomores.

Dr. Ann McPherren (right) led the HU team, which included a mix of majors–public relations, film production, business administration and marketing, graphic design, animation, and biology pre-med. Some of the team members grew up on or currently work on farms and were members of 4-H or active in the FFA. One team member serves as his county’s membership chairman for the Indiana Farm Bureau.

The prize money came from outside sponsors, including Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Elanco, and Indiana Farm Bureau.

28 Mar

March 28, 2014 |

Frank Y (right), associate director of Global Ministries, is currently in Thailand with nine persons from three different United Brethren churches that are interested in supporting our new outreach in Thailand:

  • King Street (Chambersburg, Pa.).
  • Mount Pleasant (Chambersburg, Pa.).
  • Emmanuel Community (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

The group will meet up with Global Ministries staff Bryan and Emily Gerlach, who are serving in Thailand, and with two persons from Hong Kong Conference: Superintendent Yiu Kin Keung and conference missions director Carol Chan.

27 Mar

March 27, 2014 |

bishops-challenge2-600

Bishop Phil Whipple issued a challenge to United Brethren ministers–to fill out an NCAA March Madness bracket in a special group for UB ministers on ESPN.com. A total of 68 people–mostly ministers, with a few missionaries and national office staff thrown in–signed on.

After the first two rounds, and as we begin the Sweet 16, the lone leader is Jim Bolich, senior pastor of Prince Street UB church in Shippensburg, Pa. Tied for second place are Donna Hollopeter, associate director of Global Ministries; and Kevin Poole, Children’s Pastor at Fowlerville UB church (Fowlerville, Mich.).

27 Mar

March 27, 2014 |

Scott Stephens, director of Camp Cotubic (Bellefontaine, Ohio), provided this update on Tuesday about his father, retired UB minister Dave Stephens (right).

“Dad was admitted into the hospital at Ohio State and is still there. He had gone in on Monday for his last radiation treatment on his hip when his doctor became concerned with his skin and eye coloring. Changing or yellowing of the skin and eyes is a sign of issues in the liver, which the doctor had told us we’d need to keep an eye on throughout chemo treatments. They did a CT scan today (Tuesday) and are going to do an MRI late tonight looking at his liver. We should know the results in the morning.

“This could be one of many different things with worst case being the cancer has spread to his liver. If that’s the case, it’s a game changer. Needless to say, we’re very concerned and praying this isn’t the case. We’re concerned but not worried! We know who holds Dad in the palm of his hand!”

Dave’s mailing address:

David Stephens
2158 Road 25 North
Bellefontaine, OH 43311

You can also leave a note on his Facebook page.

26 Mar

March 26, 2014 |

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

A car load of United Brethren pastors from El Copan, the western region of Honduras, was traveling to a cluster meeting last Saturday evening (March 22) when their car left the road and rolled. The passengers suffered cuts, bruises and some broken bones, but all survived. The car was written off. Superintendent Juanita Chavez is praising the Lord for protecting them, but also asks for our prayers.

26 Mar

March 26, 2014 |
Bob and Darlene Eberly

Bob and Darlene Eberly

We’re asking for prayer for Darlene Eberly, a former missionary in Sierra Leone with her husband, Bob. Darlene had been treated for melanoma, but it has now returned in an aggressive fashion. She has begun radiation, and will have another biopsy in the next couple days. It’s a very serious situation. Bob and Darlene Eberly are members of Otterbein UB church in Greencastle, Pa.

Their daughter, Brenda Moore, and her husband Chris, an ordained UB minister, are endorsed staff with Global Ministries; they serve with Here’s Hope Ministries, which operates in Belize and several other countries. Bob Eberly is founder and president of Here’s Hope Ministries.

Address for Darlene Eberly:

Darlene Eberly
PO Box 323
Greencastle, PA 17225

24 Mar

March 24, 2014 |
At the McCallum water table.

At the McCallum water table.

One of the more interesting bicyclists who stopped at the church.

One of the more interesting bicyclists who stopped at the church.

Ron Watterly, senior pastor, McCallum UB (Delton, Mich.)

On Saturday, March 22, the folks at McCallum provided peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and water to the participants of the Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race, the largest gravel road bicycle race in the USA. The race consisted of three courses–62 miles, 36 miles, and 24 miles. Both the 62-mile and 36-mile passed in front of the church, giving the brave souls of the congregation opportunity to cheer the riders on and offer refreshments, bathroom facilities, and a place to warm up if desired.

Ladies of the Women’s Missionary Fellowship came early and made up 180 PB&J sandwiches. Eight gallons of bulk water was given to fill water bottles of the riders, plus bottled water was available as well.

The quote of the day came from Nichole Parish of the congregation, who said on her Facebook page, “Being the hands of Jesus handing out water and sandwiches to the bike riders today at our church. It’s moments like this that being part of a small church that gives Big is awesome!”

21 Mar

March 21, 2014 |

Rev. Mike Brown, pastor of Franklin UB church (New Albany, Ohio), is mourning the death of his mother. Pearl Buck passed away March 20, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio.

Arrangements are as follows:

Visitation: Sunday, March 23, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm
Funeral: Monday, March 24, 11 am.
Visitation and funeral location: Rader-McDonald Funeral Home, 1355 W Main, West Jefferson, Ohio.

Mike has pastored Franklin UB church since 1989. He is also a cluster leader and serves on the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team. Condolences can be sent to:

Michael R. Brown
7171 Central College Road
New Albany, OH 43054
Email: [email protected]

21 Mar

March 21, 2014 |
The Horizon Scholarship recipients. L-r: Allison Amstutz, Jessica Bombino, Leah Ness, Hannah Priskorn, and Selina Poh.

The Horizon Scholarship recipients. L-r: Allison Amstutz, Jessica Bombino, Leah Ness, Hannah Priskorn, and Selina Poh.

Five incoming Huntington University freshmen have been awarded the Horizon Leadership Scholarship for the 2014-2015 academic year.

  • Allison Amstutz, of Berne, Ind., plans to major in nursing.
  • Jessica Bombino, of St. John, Ind., plans to be a youth ministries major.
  • Leah Ness, of Huntington, Ind., plans to study accounting.
  • Hannah Priskorn, of Auburn, Ind., plans to be a psychology major.
  • Selina Pohl, of Lansing, Mich., plans to be a nursing major.

A collaboration between Huntington University and Youth for Christ, the Horizon Leadership Scholarship was begun in 2008 to attract and retain students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The scholarship covers the recipient’s tuition and room-and-board for up to 10 semesters. This is made possible through a blend of federal, state, and institutional aid. Recipients are required to achieve and uphold a standard of academic performance, community service, and spiritual and social growth.