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19 Sep

September 19, 2013 |

Marilyn Reeck, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Honduras

A UBCentral article on August 13 requested for Roger Reeck, who was experiencing great pain in his ankle yet needed to make a lengthy trip to Mozambique. Roger’s wife, Marilyn, sent an update on September 19.

A sincere thank you to all for your prayers for Roger. He returned to Honduras two days ago rejoicing in the Lord’s goodness, protection and grace. Praise the Lord!

Yesterday, Roger was examined at a mission hospital by a visiting orthopedic surgeon from Oregon. He concludef that Roger has several conditions in the left ankle area including arthritis due to the progression of flat feet and injuries. The major one is Posterior Tibia Tendon Dysfunction.

His recommendation is to fuse three of the bones, which could relieve up to 80% of the problem. The doctor returns for a week in February and will schedule the operation for then. This is the same diagnosis made by a doctor in Dallas when he saw him a few months ago.

After the operation, Roger will have to keep his foot immobile for three months. We will now be rearranging and rescheduling the activities that he had planned for the fall and for the spring. He is juggling trips to Guinea Bissau, Venezuela, Mozambique, and possibly to Bolivia.

Roger leaves for meetings in Dallas in two more weeks.

Another item for praise is that Marilyn had cataract surgery on one eye a few weeks ago and it did not seem to be healing correctly. She sought a second opinion and feels more confident that her vision will improve soon.

19 Sep

September 19, 2013 |
Nick and Lauren Johnson with Dr. Sherilyn Emberton (middle), president of Huntington University.

Nick and Lauren Johnson with Dr. Sherilyn Emberton (middle), president of Huntington University.

After graduating from Huntington University in 2009 with degrees in exercise science, Nick and Lauren (Davenport) Johnson graduated moved to Eugene, Ore. There, Lauren turned her running talent into a career…and has set her sights on the US Olympic team.

After a few months of training, Lauren competed in the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She also enticed Nike to become her sponsor. Her main event has been the mile. At HU her events included the 400 meter hurdles, 400 meter dash and 4×400 relay, and she set the HU record in the 800 meter run.

Lauren began running with the Oregon Track Club, an elite track and field team sponsored by Nike and comprised of Olympic competitors and medal winners. It was simply a good career move.

“I had missed being part of a team and wanted to surround myself with other elite athletes with the same focus and goals as myself,” she said.

But joining the team opened other doors. Nick, an accomplished runner himself, began volunteering with the team as much as possible, and those connections helped him become director of operations and assistant coach for the Oregon Track Club. Nick now manages the budget, arranges travel plans, organizes medical care, and maintains community relations. He also assists the head coach in creating workout plans for each athlete.

“I can’t think of a better way to make a living than by participating in the sport that my wife and I share a passion for,” he said.

Lauren is working to be in the best shape possible for the approaching season.

“I have had some bad luck with injuries the last two seasons and have yet to be able to race to my full potential,” she said. “Right now, I am beginning my preparation for the 2014 indoor track season, and hope to stay healthy and race a full 2014 schedule.”

Lauren Davenport was recruited out of Huntington North High School to play basketball for Huntington University, and went on to a stellar career there. She was named to the All America Third Team in NAIA Division II. She says she always viewed herself as a basketball player who also ran track and cross country to stay in shape. But now, running is first.

The former Foresters’ plans for the future are all focused on the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. To make the USA Olympic team, Lauren must finish in the top three at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which will be held in June 2016 in their hometown, Eugene, Ore.

19 Sep

September 19, 2013 |

The United Brethren History Course is a requirement for ministerial licensing in the United Brethren denomination. However, people who just want to learn more about United Brethren history are free to take the course. The course is held periodically in regional settings.

During the past two years, 91 people have attended the course in 10 different locations. Of those, 74 took it for credit (for ministerial licensing) and 17 took the course just for fun.

On November 11-12, 2013, the course will be offered simultaneously in two locations.

Chambersburg, Pa.

Date: November 11-12, 2013 (Monday and Tuesday)
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Location: King Street UB church.
Address: 162 East King Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201
Phone: (717) 264-4651
Instructor: Dr. Daryl Elliott (right), senior pastor, Fountain UB church (Keyser, W. Va.)

Bryan, Ohio.

Date: November 11-12, 2013 (Monday and Tuesday)
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Location: New Hope UB church.
Address: 15627 US Hwy 127 E/W, Bryan, OH 43506
Phone: (419) 636-1362
Instructor: Rev. Robert Bruce (right), Pastor of Caring Ministries, Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Attend Remotely

We strongly recommend and prefer that you attend the course in person. However, remote attendance is possible with the Chambersburg course, assuming that you have a high-speed internet connection. Permission may be granted to attend remotely, but only in situations where it’s absolutely necessary.

Registration Cost

The cost is:

  • $200, if you are seeking a ministerial license.
  • $100 for everyone else.
  • $19.90 for “Trials and Triumphs,” a history of the United Brethren church. ($14.95 for the book, $5.15 shipping for US, $12.95 international). The book will be sent from the national office. Or, stop by the office and pick up a copy, to save shipping. You MUST have a copy of the book for the class. Order a copy from Church Services by calling toll-free: 888-622-3019.

Additional information about payment and a registration form are available on the UB website.

17 Sep

September 17, 2013 |
At the McCallum 150th anniversary service.

At the McCallum 150th anniversary service.

At the McCallum 150th anniversary service.

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

On September 15, the folks at McCallum UB church, aka The Church in the Wildwood, celebrated 150 years of serving Christ.

The church was started by Rev. Michael Morthland and was part of the Yankee Springs circuit for many years. The group held meetings in a one-room schoolhouse .2 miles south of the current location until a building was finally obtained. The land was donated by the McCallum family (hence the name) in 1921. A building was disassembled, moved from Charlotte, Mich., by rail, and reassembled in 1922 and 1923. It was dedicated by Bishop C. A. Mummart on July 8, 1923.

mccallumsinger250The church has had 44 pastors. The current pastor, Ron Watterly, has served there since 2004.

The day of celebration began at 10am with the singing of Sunday school songs, special music, and scripture read by special guest Rev. Morthland (Pastor Ron). There was a reading of old minutes concerning the acquisition of land and the building.

At 11am there was more singing, history, special music, and a challenge by Pastor Ron on “What It Means to be United Brethren.” The service closed with the baptism of Helen Osgood and the reception of Helen and her husband, David, into the membership of the church.

There was a carry-in at noon followed by a Gospel sing and ice cream and pie afterward.

12 Sep

September 12, 2013 |
Dr. Sherilyn Emberton (lower left) with Huntington University students.

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton (lower left) with Huntington University students.

One short statement set into motion her presidency and established the pride she has in Huntington University: “Today is a great day to become a Forester.”

Three months ago, Dr. Sherilyn Emberton entered Huntington as the 13th president of the institution. She follows a long line of successful leaders, and with that in mind, she went immediately to work creating her own legacy.

At 2:30 pm on October 4, Emberton will be inaugurated as Huntington’s president. The ceremony will take place in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts. A presidential commissioning service, planned and directed by students, will be held on October 3 at College Park UB church in Huntington.

“I want to make Huntington University a better place,” Emberton said. “I want to make it a place to equip fantastic young people for the Lord.”

During the inauguration ceremony, Emberton will give an address and will be welcomed by representatives from higher education and the United Brethren Church as well as members of local, state, and national government. Participants will include U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) and Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson.

The official inaugural address will be shared by Dr. Bud Austin, former chancellor of LeTourneau University; Dr. Dub Oliver, president of East Texas Baptist University; Dr. Eugene Habecker, president of Taylor University and the 11th president of HU; and Dr. G. Blair Dowden, immediate past president of HU.

A reception will be held immediately after the ceremony in the upper level of Habecker Dining Commons.

Emberton previously served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in 1999 from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She completed her undergraduate study at Stephen F. Austin State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in education degree in 1979. She earned a Master of Education degree from the same institution in 1981.

Emberton is a native Texan who was born in Irving, Texas, near Dallas. Prior to her work at East Texas Baptist, she was the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. Upon completing her doctorate, she was hired by LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, to lead its new teacher education program. In 2005, she was named the associate vice president for academic affairs for the institution.

Emberton has extensive experience with diversity initiatives and academic program development, having launched graduate programs in counseling, education, law, medicine, nursing, religion, and sports leadership. In addition to her background in higher education, she has extensive knowledge of the business field, having worked as a broker and owner in real estate development and management companies over a 10-year period.

Emberton began her tenure at HU on June 1, having succeeded Dr. G. Blair Dowden who retired on May 31. He served the university for 22 years. She is the first woman to serve as president of Huntington in 116-year history.

12 Sep

September 12, 2013 |
Pastor Les Smith speaking as the Apostle Paul, while dressed in prison garb.

Pastor Les Smith speaking as the Apostle Paul, while dressed in prison garb.

Pastor Les Smith winning, once again, on the water slide.

Pastor Les Smith winning, once again, on the water slide.

Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) celebrated its 15th annual Friends and Family Day on Sunday, August 25. Attendance hit 530.

The day included an outdoor service in the amphitheater at Michindoh Conference Center, followed by a free picnic for the community and water recreation.

Pastor Les Smith (right) portrayed the Apostle Paul and dramatized the book of Colossians. Paul wrote the book while a prisoner, so a Michigan state trooper from the congregation, Art McNew, escorted Pastor Les to and from the amphitheater. The “Apostle” appeared in chains wearing the garb of a prisoner from the Hillsdale County Jail.

Pastor Smith says he went down the water slide eight times this year. “I let the little kids tie or slightly beat me as we race down. As for the teens, I cut them no slack. I beat them 4 out of 4 this year. I don’t know if I’ve ever been beat by a teen. The adults get a kick out of watching their pastor whip on the teens. A 62-year-old guy can still get ‘er done.”

He adds, “Just like every year, it looks like we gained families from the event. Two new families and one local collegian, who first attended the outdoor service, have returned to church.”

11 Sep

September 11, 2013 |

This year, Huntington University saw its highest freshman-to-sophomore retention rate in more than a decade. Retention rose from 73% last year to the current 79.5%.

Two of the reasons: freezing tuition, and the university’s Loan Repayment Program.

To lessen the economic burden on students, the HU Board of Trustees voted in January to freeze tuition for the 2013-14 school year. The university also continues to offer its Loan Repayment Program which offers assistance to students with paying their loans after graduation.

With the Loan Repayment Program, if a graduate’s annual salary is below $20,000, the program will reimburse the graduate for the entire amount of their loan payments. As the graduate’s income grows to $36,000, the benefit is reduced proportionally.

Huntington piloted the program five years ago. Last year, it served nearly 40 percent of the undergraduate student body.

11 Sep

September 11, 2013 |
Pastor Tim Scroggs (right) with the baptism candidates.

Pastor Tim Scroggs (right) with the baptism candidates.

Pastor Tim Scroggs speaking to the congregation at the baptism site.

Pastor Tim Scroggs speaking to the congregation at the baptism site.

Christine Scroggs, Eagle Quest Church (Columbia City, Ind.)

It’s a season of new life at Eagle Quest Church. God is really moving!

He has provided our building with a beautiful new roof and heating/air upgrade. He has blessed us with new ministry possibilities. And he has given us a new focus: reaching families for Christ.

This past Labor Day weekend, we celebrated another facet of his newness amongst us: we baptized five new Christians. It was a wonderful day, celebrating God’s goodness in our first ever service outdoors, followed by our annual all-church picnic and Baptism Celebration.

This terrific ceremony included two of our youth members being baptized, as well as a married couple and a brand new believer. We look forward to seeing what “new” things God has planned for us next!

11 Sep

September 11, 2013 |

On Sunday September 8, Morocco UB church (Temperance, Mich.) held its annual Family Fun Fest. Well over 100 people came throughout the afternoon.

They served pork sandwiches, cole slaw, applesauce, bags of chips, and many homemade desserts. There were outdoor games for all, and several activites just for kids. As people enjoyed the outside, they could get free cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, and shelled peanuts.

This year Morocco did a people’s choice for judging the Church Ice Cream Making Contest, so everyone got to sample all the ice cream. Mark Smith won, and now holds the coveted Golden Ice Cream Scoop Award for the year.

Many persons outside the church came to have fun and see what Morocco Church was all about. Todd Greenman is the pastor of Morocco.

11 Sep

September 11, 2013 |

Mabel Mundy, who has worked at the United Brethren national office since 1987, had knee replacement surgery yesterday (September 10), and will be out of the office for at least a month. The surgery went well, and she began physical therapy today. Mabel worked 16 years in Global Ministries and has spent the past 10 years in the Finance department. Mabel’s address: 8401 W 600 N, Andrews, IN  46702.