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Gary Gates (right), director of Ministerial Licensing, will represent the United Brethren denomination in January at a meeting of the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network. He’ll report on the prayer emphases in the United Brethren Church.
Gary prepared a simple survey. He would greatly appreciate it if you’d take a few minutes to give some of your feedback. You can use this survey form.
Thanks!
A parade, with the various district youth groups represented, is part of the annual youth camp in Sierra Leone.
Once a year, Sierra Leone Conference holds a large camp for all United Brethren youth in Sierra Leone. Over 400 young people attended the 2013 youth camp, which was held in Bo, the country’s second-largest city (and the location of the conference headquarters).
The camps use workshops to train the youth in various areas. They also do in-the-field training. Bishop John Pessima (right) says, “We take them out two times during the camp to reach out to the community. They use tracts and the Bible. We also present the Jesus film to the community, wherever the camp is held. Then, after the film, the youth move around and talk to the people, and then bring for follow-up the names of people who accepted Christ.”
In 2014, says Bishop John Pessima, they’ll probably hold the camp in Mattru. “We tax the various churches to contribute to the youth camp,” says Bishop Pessima. “That is the only funding we have.”
Bishop Pessima says Sierra Leone Conference is working with AWANA, the Christian children’s program popular in the United States. In fact, Bishop Pessima is AWANA’s national chairman for all of Sierra Leone.
This fall, Bishop Pessima met with the regional African director, who has visiting Sierra Leone. “He has visited us three times now, and is working directly with us,” says Bishop Pessima. “AWANA is working very well for us. If we teach these young children and bring them up in the way of the Lord, it will change all of Siera Leone.”
He says there is also interest in reviving Christian Endeavor, which was once widely used in Sierra Leone. “Through it, some of us came to the Lord,” he says.
The group on an old Roman road. (click to enlarge)
In the Ephesus amphitheater.
Steve Dennie, UB Director of Communications
A group of nearly 20 persons from the United States, most of them United Brethren pastors and wives, spent ten days in Turkey November 4-13, 2013. This “Seven Churches of Revelation Tour” was sponsored by Global Ministries, the international arm of the United Brethren churches in the US and Canada.
Several years ago, Global Ministries began pursuing ministry opportunities in Turkey—the first predominantly Muslim nation into which the UB church has ventured. They organized this trip not only as an educational experience for UB pastors, but to introduce UB leaders to ministry opportunities in Turkey. Global Ministries is partnering with IN Network, a mission agency which works in Turkey.
The United Brethren participants were:
Three ministers from other denominations tagged along at the invitation of IN Network.
Leading the trip was Dr. Mark Fairchild, who chairs the Bible & Religion department at Huntington University. His numerous trips to Turkey include two from last summer—one with the Biblical Archaeology Society, the other as a consultant, at the invitation of the Turkish government, to a committee writing curriculum for a Christianity course to be taught in public schools. He knows his stuff, and is recognized for knowing it.
The group on an old Roman road. (click to enlarge)
In the Ephesus amphitheater.
Dr. Mark Fairchild (right) with Macit, the guide.
Walking among the ruins.
Steve Dennie, UB Director of Communications
A group of nearly 20 persons from the United States, most of them United Brethren pastors and wives, spent ten days in Turkey November 4-13, 2013. This “Seven Churches of Revelation Tour” was sponsored by Global Ministries, the international arm of the United Brethren churches in the US and Canada.
Several years ago, Global Ministries began pursuing ministry opportunities in Turkey—the first predominantly Muslim nation into which the UB church has ventured. They organized this trip not only as an educational experience for UB pastors, but to introduce UB leaders to ministry opportunities in Turkey. Global Ministries is partnering with IN Network, a mission agency which works in Turkey.
The United Brethren participants were:
Three ministers from other denominations tagged along at the invitation of IN Network.
Leading the trip was Dr. Mark Fairchild, who chairs the Bible & Religion department at Huntington University. His numerous trips to Turkey include two from last summer—one with the Biblical Archaeology Society, the other as a consultant, at the invitation of the Turkish government, to a committee writing curriculum for a Christianity course to be taught in public schools. He knows his stuff, and is recognized for knowing it.
The new Gator for Camp Living Waters
The Sunfield congregation has been busy for the past several months working on a huge secret–buying a John Deere Gator for Camp Living Waters in Luther, Mich. The Gator will be used to transport campers and supplies, give tours, etc.
Sunfield held a potluck/hot dog bar this past Sunday, November 24, to present the Gator to the CLW director and board members. They were overwhelmed and very excited. Tears were flowing.
Camp Living Waters is a year-round camp in northern Michigan. It was one of two camps operated by the former Michigan Conference until 2005, when the conferences disbanded and the denomination’s various camps were spun off as independent entities.
During a January-term trip, Dr. David Alexander discovered a passion for India and overseas missions. So, when an opportunity arose last summer, he jumped at the chance to return.
Alexander, associate professor of philosophy, spent two months in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, in mid-2013 serving as a visiting professor of philosophy at Madras Christian College. He presented research, gave lectures, and participated in debates pertaining to religion and philosophy.
“India is a fascinating place,” Alexander said. “It is, in a real sense, a land full of tension or contradiction. It is beautiful. And yet, the land and the people are neglected and abused. Food is scarce all over the place. Radical wealth and radical poverty exist side-by-side. Devotion to Jesus and devotion to idols exist side-by-side. Love and hate exist side-by-side. Beauty and ugly, angels and demons, heaven and hell. It is simply shocking. And for that reason it draws me.”
Alexander’s passion for India developed after he took his first mission trip in January 2013 to the Home of Love orphanage. The experience shook him to the core.
“I became vulnerable to others in ways I have never been,” he shared. “Being in India with the girls at the home and the students from Huntington University helped me to see how much I need to love and to be loved. Tears poured down my face as I looked at 100 girls that love so much and so authentically.”
Doug Stull (right), senior pastor of Shepherd of the Valley UB church (Logan, Ohio), informed us of the death of his mother. Lillian Stull Hudson passed away on November 17. She lived in Glencoe, Ohio. The funeral was held November 20.
Doug Stull has pastored the Shepherd of the Valley church since 1995. Condolences can be sent to him at 5445 Swartz Mill Road, Sugar Grove, OH 43155.
Here is a Thanksgiving greeting from Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University.
Members of the HU women’s volleyball team in Ethiopia.
Heather Barkley, HU Director of Communications
In the summer of 2013, Huntington University faculty, staff, and students took the institutional mission to “impact the world” literally as they traveled nearly 30,000 miles round trip to serve on three continents. The mileage they logged surpassed the circumference of the Earth – 24,901 miles.
Ethiopia
The Huntington University volleyball team learned the value of working and serving together through a summer mission trip to Ethiopia.
Coach Amy Settle (left) and player Kelsey Kruse.
“I definitely think there is a higher level of team chemistry and a stronger bond between all of us as teammates and friends,” said sophomore Kelsey Kruse who traveled with the team to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city. “I believe that the stronger the relationships within a team are, the more successful that team will be, and I have seen that translate onto the court.”
The team worked with more than 1000 orphans and vulnerable children in three schools through Buckner International, a global ministry.
“We learned about the depth of brokenness and poverty in the world, what resources are needed to impact this reality, and the joy that is possible through Christ amid the darkness,” said second-year coach Amy Settle.
She plans to bring other teams to Ethiopia in the future in the hopes of building a school.
China
During the summer of 2013, Huntington University faculty returned to China to lead a team of 15 persons, who then trained 80 Chinese teachers and hosted English camps for 200 students. HU has been doing this since 2007, and has trained hundreds of teachers in China’s schools.
This year, for the first time, the English camps included high schoolers in addition to primary and middle-school students.
“These experiences help better equip us for life in the global world in which we live, and they promote awareness and a value of diversity,” said Shoshannah McKinney (right), associate director of the Institute for TESOL Studies.
McKinney, a 2003 HU graduate with a degree in Math Education, lived in China for four years, where she taught English at Liaocheng University. She and TESOL director Dr. Luke Fetters led the 2013 HU trip.
Team members stayed with Chinese families in Doumen, a district in the coastal city of Zhuhai near Hong Kong and Macau.
Greece and Turkey
Dr. Mark Fairchild (right) has made countless trips to Turkey, including two this summer. His first trip involved leading a tour of Greece and Turkey for the Biblical Archaeology Society and then conducting research about the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys.
At the invitation of the Turkish government, Fairchild, Luke J. Peters professor of biblical studies at HU, made a second visit to Turkey this summer, serving as a consultant to the committee writing curriculum for a Christianity course to be taught in public schools.
He led a team, including other HU faculty, in the planning and execution of a workshop that certified 37 Turkish Christians to teach the course. Huntington is currently the only institution granted permission to certify Turkish Christians for this teaching opportunity.
“For the first time in almost 600 years, Christians will have the opportunity to tell the Gospel story and correct the many distortions of Christianity that are often propagated throughout the Islamic world,” Fairchild said. “This development has the potential to create better understandings between Muslims and Christians.”
Blue Rock UB church (Waynesboro, Pa.) baptized two adults and two children on Sunday evening, November 24. After a brief message on baptism from the book of Acts by Pastor Greg Helman, each person told how they came to faith in Jesus and why they wanted to be baptized. Then, they were individually baptized at the front of the church with many people watching and celebrating their decision.
