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12 Aug

August 12, 2013 |
The 2013 Lake View VBS students and adult workers.

The 2013 Lake View VBS students and adult workers.

Ben Gladhill (right), Associate Pastor of Christian Education, Lake View Church (Camden, Mich.)

On July 28 – August 4, Lake View Church (Camden, Mich.) hosted its Vacation Bible School Program. This action-filled program reached over 80 children, preschool-grade 6. Over 40 adults served to help make the program run smoothly.

Each night was filled with fun singing and dancing to contemporary worship music, a Bible lesson, fun skits to reinforce our lesson, games, yummy snacks, and some pretty cool crafts.

Our theme this year was “Gotta Move,” a VBS curriculum published by GO FISH, a Christian musical group. The overarching theme was learning about the Fruit of the Spirit, and how God makes those things present in our lives as we move in step with him.

In addition, the children were challenged to help raise funds for the Global Ministries missions project for 2013–providing curriculum and training materials for the local churches and school in Jamaica as they reach out to youth of all ages. A goal of $1,200 was set for the week, and each night the boys and girls tried to out-give each other with their offering in amount and weight.

The boys and girls surpassed the goal, raising $1584.95. Praise God!

We also had 16 children respond to the gospel during VBS. Of those, 12 made first-time decisions for the Lord. Again, praise God!

11 Aug

August 11, 2013 |
Pauline Stephens

Pauline Stephens

Pauline R. Stephens-Hall, 96, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Thursday, August 8, 2013. She was an ordained minister in the United Brethren church, serving as a pastor for 31 years and associate pastor for 5 years. She retired in 1979.

Pauline and her husband, Dale, were married in 1941 and had two children. Dave Stephens, is an ordained United Brethren minister who is director of Camp Cotubic in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Her daughter, Dalene, preceded her in death. Dale passed away in 1985.

United Brethren ministers Kenneth Graham and Roger Overmyer will officiate at the funeral.

Funeral time: 12 pm Monday, August 12, 2013. Viewing one hour before the service.
Funeral location: Eichholtz Funeral Home, 321 N. Main St., Bellefontaine, Ohio.

Burial will be in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Wayne, Ohio, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to Camp Cotubic, a place she loved and supported. You can view her obituary on the Eichholtz Funeral Homes page.

Camp Cotubic
2158 CR 25
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

07 Aug

August 7, 2013 |
The African Choir at the funeral of Ruth Benner on August 7.

The African Choir at the funeral of Ruth Benner on August 7.

An African Choir sang during the funeral of Ruth Benner on Wednesday, August 7. The choir consisted of Sierra Leonean nationals and former missionaries. they sang a number of Mende songs of worship during the funeral in Port Colborne, Ontario.

07 Aug

August 7, 2013 |

For the sixth consecutive year, Huntington University has been named one of the best colleges in the Midwest by The Princeton Review. HU was listed among 154 other schools in the “Best in the Midwest” section of Princeton’s “2014 Best Colleges: Region by Region.”

The Princeton Review asks students attending the schools to rate their own schools on several issues — from the accessibility of their professors to quality of their science lab facilities — and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and campus life.

Surveyed HU students said that “Jesus Christ is the center of every aspect of the University, from the classroom to everyday life.” Other students called it a “wonderful environment” and a place that has “a strong sense of Christ-like values.”

07 Aug

August 7, 2013 |

Rev. Marion and Frances Burkett will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on August 14, 2013. They were married on that day in 1943. Since then, they have pastored a number of United Brethren churches, and have served as United Brethren missionaries in Sierra Leone, at the Laurel Mission in Kentucky, as United Brethren church planters.

In addition, sons Dave and Phil and their families have also served as United Brethren missionaries and pastors.

The family of the Burketts invite you to help Marion and Frances celebrate their anniversary with a surprise card shower.

Their mailing address is:

Marion and Frances Burkett
356 Blue Bird Dr.
Columbia City, IN 46725

 

07 Aug

August 7, 2013 |
Criders team in Nicaragua. L-r: Marina Barnett, Justine Staniszewski, Baylee Keefer, Emily Stottlemyer, Chip Stottlemyer, Jody Barnett.

Criders team in Nicaragua. L-r: Marina Barnett, Justine Staniszewski, Baylee Keefer, Emily Stottlemyer, Chip Stottlemyer, Jody Barnett.

A team of four youth and two adults from Criders UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) traveled to Masaya, Nicaragua, in July. Working with Jeff Dice, they helped with the conference center building project and completed some paint projects for Pastor Juan Pavon.

They also planned and ran a Kids Camp program at one of the local UB churches. About 75 children attended. They invited parents to the closing service, and about 125 New Testaments were given out to the children and their parents.

05 Aug

August 5, 2013 |
Watching the game.

Watching the game.

Watching the game.

Watching the game.

L-r: Steve Dennie, Bishop Phil Whipple, and Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University.

L-r: Steve Dennie, Bishop Phil Whipple, and Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University.

Sunday afternoon, August 4, was “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” Day for the staff of the United Brethren national office in Huntington, Ind. A few were on vacation or traveling, or otherwise unable to attend. But a good number of them, along with some family and friends, attended a Tin Caps game in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Tin Caps are a minor league (single A) team of the San Diego Padres.

Because of the need to make up a game cancelled because of rain, the August 4 game was turned into a double-header (both only 7 innings long). The Lansing Lugnuts won the first game, and the Tin Caps prevailed in the second.

A photo gallery from the outing can be found on Facebook.

05 Aug

August 5, 2013 |

Steve Dennie, Director of Communications

My heroes have always been missionaries. I grew up in United Brethren churches where United Brethren missions was emphasized, and names of missionaries from the 1960s and 1970s are firmly implanted in my memory. Working at our national headquarters, I’ve crossed paths with nearly every United Brethren missionary during the past 35 years, and have interviewed and written about a number of them.

One of the names from my childhood was Ruth Benner, a single missionary who served in Sierra Leone 1965-1972. Ruth passed away last week. Her funeral is tomorrow, August 6, in Port Colborne, Ontario.

Ruth, a Canadian, served a number of years in leadership with the denominational Women’s Missionary Fellowship and on the Global Ministries leadership team. In those capacities, she came through Huntington, Ind., (where I work) many times. I didn’t know her well, but I was around her quite a bit.

Ruth is one of those persons who always seemed to be in a cheerful mood. She had a distinctive voice, and a ready laugh. You enjoyed being around Ruth. Observing her relationships with other persons, especially former missionaries, it seemed she excelled at friendship. I can’t think of a single even slightly negative thing I ever heard about Ruth. She always struck me as a genuinely good person with a pure heart and an enviable sunny disposition. Ruth served just seven years as a missionary, but those years very much formed who she was and what she was passionate about.

Ruth made the world a better place, and she will be missed.

01 Aug

August 1, 2013 |

Ruth Benner, a former United Brethren missionary in Sierra Leone, passed away quietly just after 8 am on August 1, 2013.  She had been struggling with cancer for several months.

Visitation: Tuesday, August 6, 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm.
Funeral: 11 am Wednesday, August 7, 2013.
Visitation and funeral location: Davidson Funeral Home, Port Colborne, Ontario.

Reception following at Grace UB hurch, 895 Empire Road, Sherkston, Ontario

Ruth served two terms in Sierra Leone. From 1965-1968, she served at the Bumpe Girls’ School–a teacher the first year, and later principal and teacher. From 1969-1972, her work was divided between Minnie Mull School at Bonthe and Mattru. She also became Associate Secretary of Christian Education for the conference, a role in which she traveled to various places to conduct courses for both teachers and students. Her work also involved Christian Endeavor and helping with Vacation Bible School in nearby villages.

After returning from the field, Ruth remained involved in UB mission work at her own church, and also in denominational roles with the Women’s Missionary Fellowship and the Global Ministries Leadership Team.

Arrangements have not yet been completed, but will be passed along when they are finalized. Please pray for all who loved Ruth, and especially her cousin and housemate for many years, Carol Coopman. She can be reached as follows:

Miss  Carol Coopman
3801 Farr Avenue
Apt. #1-11
Ridgeway, ON
L0S 1N0

31 Jul

July 31, 2013 |

Barbara Self, mother of Eric Self, pastor of Mount Zion UB Church (Junction City, Ohio), has been dealing with a number of critical medical issues for over a month now. She has been hospitalized in critical condition with an aggressive form of cancer, but other problems have delayed chemotherapy treatments. She has a blood clot, and serious infections.

“We nearly lost her over the weekend,” wrote daughter-in-law Annette Self on July 30. “Getting rid of the infections is the top priority now. As long as nothing happens with that blood clot, I think she will continue to improve.”

Annette reported that Barbara is in stable condition and even improving, but remains in ICU. She’s been off the ventilator for a few days, and ate on her own yesterday.

You can write to Eric Self at:

208 West Main St., PO Box 75
Junction City, OH 43748-0075