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23 Apr

April 23, 2022 |

Norma R. Murphy, 97, passed away April 16, 2022, in Fairborn, Ohio. She was both a United Brethren pastor and pastor’s wife for nearly 40 years in Michigan.

After graduating from high school in June 1942, Norma accepted a job constructing World War II amphibious landing craft at the Chris Craft boat plant in Cadillac, Mich. Two years later, she enrolled at Marion College in Marion, Ind. to study to become a teacher and athletic coach. There she met John Murphy, a World War II vet who was studying for the ministry. They were married in 1947.

After John graduated in 1951, they moved to Michigan for John’s first pastoral assignment. She served alongside him in ministry for 30 years as pastor’s wife, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, and young adult counselor. She and John had two sons.

John and Norma served the Pleasant View United Brethren church in rural Blanchard from 1966 until John’s death in November 1981. Norma was then granted a Certificate of Ministry from the Michigan Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and continued serving the Pleasant View congregation as pastor until she retired in June 1997. In addition to her pastoral duties, Norma worked as a dietician, store clerk, and cashier.

A private family graveside service will be held in Six Lakes, Mich.

24 Mar

March 24, 2022 |

Orrstown UB Church, in conjunction with a ministry partner, installed a new blessing box outside the front of the church. The blessing box will be stocked with non-perishable food, tracts, and Bibles. The box will serve as a means for Orrstown UB Church to be a blessing to our community through ways that are meaningful and leaving an impact on our community.

08 Mar

March 8, 2022 |

Fonda Cassidy passed away on March 1, 2022. A nurse, Fonda and her husband, Robert, led a number of UB medical teams to Honduras and Nicaragua. Fonda is a sister of Rev. David Rawley, pastor of Otterbein UB church in Greencastle, Pa.

Viewing: 4-8pm Friday, March 11, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Service, 208 South Main St., Bridgewater, Va. 22812

Funeral: 2:00 pm Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Jerusalem Chapel UB church, 314 Chapel Road, Churchville, Va. 24421

24 Feb

February 24, 2022 |

Former Bishop Ray Seilhamer has published his autobiography. “My Journey” is available on Amazon–$9.95 in paperback, $4.99 in epub format.

“My Journey” covers his life from growing up on the farm in Pennsylvania, through Huntington College, serving as president of Evangelical Seminary in Pennsylvania, his eight years at bishop, six years leading the graduate school at Huntington College, and pastoring at nine United Brethren churches, two of which he started (Emmanuel and Devonshire). It’s been a very full life. He and Ruth continue pastoring the UB church in Zanesville, Ind.

24 Feb

February 24, 2022 |

Roger and Marilyn Reeck have been endorsed UB missionaries since the 1970s, serving with Wycliffe in Mexico and Honduras (where they continue living). They sent this update on February 24:

One time someone told me, “When a person retires they need to sit under a coconut tree in a hammock and sip on Coke all day long”——-Naught! Not the retired people we know! God has given us so many opportunities since we retired at the end of July.

We returned to Honduras at the end of September. Since then Marilyn has led four Healing Groups and three Trauma Healing Trainings. In December, she began mentoring four very capable and committed young people to continue on doing Healing Groups here in Honduras in her absence. We have several churches who have requested that we hold one for their congregation, so there are many opportunities ahead. It is such a blessing to hear the testimonies of people being healed from so many of their hurts.

Roger continues on doing Bible translation with language groups in Guinea Bissau by Zoom. One of the groups that he has been working with over the last 8 years just completed the translation of the whole New Testament! His next assignment is with a language group called Manjaco, and they will be working on the book of Esther.

We now leave back to San Antonio for three months. Part of the time we will be visiting churches in the eastern part of the US. Roger is flying straight to the US and Marilyn is stopping off in Mexico. She will be holding a Healing Group for Huastec Indians February 28-March 5. It is a large group of one and a half million speakers. There are New Testament translations in the 3 different dialects of the language. This is the first step toward producing Story Based Trauma Healing in their language. Another couple will help with the Healing Group and then Marilyn will stay on for a few days mentoring the translation team in how to produce the materials in their own language. We are very excited about this new Project!

God has been so good to us and we praise Him for His goodness to us. We thank Him for letting us continue serving Him, for His protection and His wonderful provision. We praise Him that so many of those who have supported our work for so many years are still being supportive during this new phase in of our lives.

17 Feb

February 17, 2022 |

Huntington University will begin an undergraduate Electrical Engineering program in the Fall of 2022 through the University of North Dakota. Check out the video below to hear from Dr. Jeff Lehman, Associate Dean of the Sciences and Professor of Computer Science, about this exciting opportunity for future Foresters! For more information about Huntington University’s Electrical Engineering program, go here.

08 Feb

February 8, 2022 |

Registration is now open for the various UB pastoral summits scheduled for this spring. All three will be held in Daytona Beach, Fla., during April and May at The Plaza Resort & Spa (600 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL).

Pastor & Spouse Summits

Every two years, we hold summits for senior pastors and spouses. This year there will be two summits, based on the church’s attendance.

April 25-28: for pastors and spouses from churches with an attendance of 0-299. Register here.

May 2-5: for pastors and spouses from churches with an attendance over 300. Register here.

Ministry Leaders Summit

April 25-29. The Ministry Leaders Summit is for persons serving in staff positions in United Brethren churches. This includes such roles as pastoral care, youth, worship, assimilation, adult education, visitation, counseling, missions, discipleship, children, etc. It is not for senior pastors. The annual Youth Workers Summit is being folded into this event for 2022. Register here.

Idea to Action Symposium

One other event to get on your schedule is the Idea to Action Symposium, sponsored jointly by the denomination and Huntington University. It will be held entirely online.

Date: Monday, March 28, 2022.
Topic: Young Adults and the Church

Details will be announced here closer to the event.

01 Feb

February 1, 2022 |

Rev. Donald Merillat, 80, passed away January 29, 2022, at his home in Morenci, Mich. He cited the Munson UB church in Morenci as his home church, and was converted in 1953.

Don owned his own carpentry business from 1974 to 1982 prior to entering Huntington University to prepare for the ministry. He graduated from HU in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree, and received the Master of Christian Ministry from HU in 1989. He was ordained as a UB minister in 1989. He pastored the Victory Chapel UB church (Liberty Center, Ohio) for many years, and also served as a conference superintendent in Michindoh Conference.

The funeral service was held at 11:00 am on February 1, 2022, in Morenci, Mich.

Donald and Carol were married in 1960 in Hudson, Mich. and have three children. Condolences can be sent to Carol at this address:

Carol Merillat
301 Lincoln St.
Morenci, MI 49256

21 Dec

December 21, 2021 |

L-r: Bishop Todd Fetters, Rev. Todd Frederick, Rev. Cyle Young.

The Pathway congregation.

The new “Jackson Campus” sign of Heart O’ the Lakes.

Heart O’ the Lakes UB church now has two locations in Michigan–Brooklyn and Jackson. As of December 6, Pathway UB church in Jackson is now officially Heart O’ the Lakes – Jackson.

Pathway, known as Gethsemane until 2006, was founded in 1970 by Rev. Herb Cherry. In 1972, Gethsemane helped support Rev. Milan Maybee in planting a new UB church in Brooklyn. Now those two congregations have come together under the same banner.

Rev. Cyle Young has been lead pastor of Heart O’ the Lakes since 2016. He will continue in that role with both congregations. Rev. Todd Frederick, who was assigned as senior pastor of Pathway in 2017, will now join Cody Morehead as associate pastors of Heart O’ the Lakes—one church with two locations.