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26 Jan

January 26, 2013 |
Loading the bus--a very nice one.

Loading the bus–a very nice one.

All aboard!

All aboard!

Top: Bins and cases waiting to be sorted; sorting the tools. Bottom: two tables were needed to accomodate the entire work team.

Top: Bins and cases waiting to be sorted; sorting the tools. Bottom: two tables were needed to accomodate the entire work team.

A team consisting of UBs from Canada and from King Street UB church in Chambersburg, Pa., arrived yesterday (January 25) in Haiti. This is a construction team which will work through Monday, February 4, on building a new church in Limbe, in northern Haiti. Although Canadian teams have been to Haiti many times through the years, Limbe is new to them.

A medical team will come to Haiti February 5-12. They will be joined by three ladies from Mission of Hope and Dr. Robinson Germain, a Haitian doctor. This team will go to Les Cayes, in the south, to hold several medical clinics.

Joan Sider (right), from the UB church in Toronto, has visited Haiti numerous times, and will participate on both of these teams. And, as she always does, she will send back regular reports. Here are excerpts from her report on Friday, January 25.

We have arrived–safe and sound with all 24 pieces of luggage. We arrived earlier in Port Au Prince than we thought we would. We left Toronto with a temperature of minus 10, and came to one of 32 celcius–warm indeed, but pleasant.

There was a lot more scrutiny with the luggage this trip. When we picked up the bags off the carousel, we noticed several bins had been opened and inspected; they had a tape around the bin saying it had been opened for inspection. I guess that happened in New York. Customs officials here in Haiti opened up a number more. We’re not sure if they were looking for anything specific. One did ask if we had any drugs.

We need to pray now that the next team’s meds all get through without any difficulty.

The airport is amazing–the changes made since even December when I came with Hermmy are quite remarkable. They are truly trying to make it a first class airport. There are still many porters who all want to help you–and get your tip–but even that is better organized.

Our American friends came in earlier than we did and were here waiting to meet us.

The big task of sorting all the materials we brought was next on the agenda. Everyone pitched in, and all is now in readiness for tomorrow’s journey up to Limbe. It is a 6-8 hours trip. We know the highway up as far as Gonaives is good.

I tried out my Magic Jack, a device that connects to my computer and allows me to call anywhere in the US or Canada for free. Well, it costs $29 per year. I’ve talked with two people. The connection wasn’t too bad. It depends on the strength of the internet coming in.

We had a time of sharing before going off to our various rooms and bed. It was good to begin to know each other better. Already I sense unity amongst us. We are even able to make our American friends understand our “about” and “eh.”

Kyle Bushre (right), pastor of Outreach and Missions at King Street Church (Chambersburg, Pa.), is one of those Americans whom Joan referred to. He wrote on Facebook on Friday, Jan. 25: “The Haiti Team is safely in Port au Prince. Tomorrow we drive north along the coast and through the mountains to Limbe. The Canadians are great, and I am enjoying their accent, eh. Should be a good week.”

26 Jan

January 26, 2013 |

Beth Palmer sent this update on her father, Charles Malson, Sr., along with some background on what led to his hospitalization. Rev. Malson is scheduled to undergo surgery Saturday afternoon, January 26.

“On Wednesday morning (January 23), Charles Malson fell in the bathroom, striking his head. When my mom found him, he was cold and unresponsive with wounds. He was taken to the Carson City hospital, and they transfered him to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.

“After several tests, they discovered that he had a section of his small bowl area that had detached from the blood source and had died, sending bacteria into his system. They removed this area that night, and he is to have surgery again to attach the two ends if they are healthy. He faces another surgery in a couple days to attach the muscles. There is too much swelling from the two surgeries to do this safely at this time.

“He is in an induced coma and will remain there for a few days. He is doing well.”

Chuck Malson added in the early afternoon on Saturday, Jan. 26:

“If all goes well, they may be able to close the incision today, otherwise they will reattach the intestine today, and close on Monday. The reason, as I understand, is that pressure in the abdomen is released better with the wound open, but if enough has been released by surgery time, they can close. So, either one surgery today, or one today and one Monday. It may be that the delay from yesterday will be a good thing, and he might be two days ahead if they can close today.”

UPDATE 5:30 pm: Beth Palmer writes, “Daddy’s surgeon just reported that he has been able to attach the sections of his bowel and there will be no ostomy. He will remain in a coma for another day or two and in the CCU for several days. He will then be moved to a surgical floor for more recovery. Grandma is doing well also. She is a trooper as you would expect. About 25 family members came to be with her during the process.”

26 Jan

January 26, 2013 |

Huntington University has again been listed among the top colleges in the nation for its online bachelor’s degree programs.

U.S.News & World Report named Huntington University as the top private college in Indiana for online education. In its 2013 list of the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, Huntington ranked 55th of 213 schools nationally. Only six Indiana colleges and universities made the national ranking.

Schools are ranked based on student engagement, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology.

“Being listed among the top online programs in the country is quite an honor,” said Shelly Francka, director of Huntington University’s professional programs. “At Huntington, we strive to offer a Christ-centered education to all students. Our professional programs cater to working adults who need the flexibility of an online education. Through these programs, our students are obtaining a high-quality education at an affordable price.”

Huntington offers five online bachelor’s degree programs for adults in the areas of business administration, not-for-profit leadership, human resource management, marketing and nursing. An associate degree in organizational management is also offered in an online format.

In addition, online undergraduate courses are offered to traditional undergraduate students during the summer months. Online hybrid graduate programs are also offered in youth ministry leadership and education.

For more information about Huntington’s online offerings, visit huntington.edu/online.

24 Jan

January 24, 2013 |
Charles and Doris Malson

Charles and Doris Malson

Charles Malson, Sr., a retired minister now living in Carson City, Mich., is currently in an induced coma at Sparrow Hospital in Carson City. His wife, Doris, found him unresponsive on Wednesday morning (Jan. 23). He came around after treatment.

On Wednesday night, surgery was performed to remove some intestine that had lost blood flow due to a recent fall. He will have surgery again today (Thursday, Jan. 24) to reattach the intestine. He is stable, and will remain in an induced coma as he recovers. “Prognosis seems favorable,” says son Chuck Malson, senior pastor of Brown Corners UB church (Clare, Mich.).

Updates are being posted on the Brown Corners Facebook page.

The Malsons pastored the Brown Corners church 1952-1957, and then planted the Richfield Road UB church in Flint, Mich. In 1981, Rev. Malson was elected fulltime superintendent of Michigan Conference. He continued in that role until 1991, when he and Doris retired. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November 2011.

Cards can be sent to:

Charles F. Malson, Sr.
10928 Easy Street
Carson City, MI 48811
Email: cfmalsonsr@yahoo.com

24 Jan

January 24, 2013 |
Kent and Carol Maxwell (right) organized the luncheon. On the left are John and Barbara Goodwin, who most recently served churches in western Ohio.

Kent and Carol Maxwell (right) organized the luncheon. On the left are John and Barbara Goodwin, who most recently served churches in western Ohio (click to enlarge).

L-r: Sue and Howard Cherry, Ron and EJ Ramsey, Barbara and John Goodwin.

L-r: Sue and Howard Cherry, Ron and EJ Ramsey, Barbara and John Goodwin.

Bishop Phil Whipple (left) speaking to the retirees. On the right are Margaret and Milan Maybee and Wayne Goldsmith.

Bishop Phil Whipple (left) speaking to the retirees. On the right are Margaret and Milan Maybee and Wayne Goldsmith.

A luncheon for retired United Brethren ministers and their spouses was held Monday, January 21, at the Sunrise Cafe in Fort Wayne, Ind. Retired ministers within a reasonable driving distance of Fort Wayne were invited., and 12 persons came, including Bishop Phil Whipple. The luncheon was organized by Dr. Kent and Carol Maxwell.

22 Jan

January 22, 2013 |
Bishop Whipple (right) with Dan and Deborah VanArsdalen.

Bishop Whipple (right) with Dan and Deborah VanArsdalen.

Bishop Phil Whipple (right) with Thom and Michelle Redmond.

Bishop Phil Whipple (right) with Thom and Michelle Redmond.

Bishop Phil Whipple conducted two ordinations recently.

  • On December 9, Thom Redmond, associate pastor of Crestview UB church (Lafayette, Ind.), was ordained at Crestview. He has served at Crestview since September 2011. Thom holds a History degree from the University of Miami (1985), a Masters in Journalism from Regent University (1992), and a Master of Divinity from Winebrenner Theological Seminary (2004).
  • On January 20, Dan VanArsdalen was ordained at Alvordton UB church (Alvordton, Ohio). He has been senior pastor at Alvordton since November 2010.

22 Jan

January 22, 2013 |
Huntington University student Chloe-Ann Shaw practices her footwork in a stage combat class Thursday morning. (Photo By Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel)

Huntington University student Chloe-Ann Shaw practices her footwork in a stage combat class Thursday morning. (Photo By Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel)

Ellie Bogue of The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. Reprinted by permission.

Swordplay was the lesson of the day Thursday, January 17, at Huntington University.

Students are on their J-term semester, which lasts through January. Many of the classes count toward electives in their majors; they can pick from a variety of classes that aren’t available the rest of the year. For one group of students this meant stage combat class, where they learn how to create combat scenes. Their teacher for the session is John Lennox, who has a doctorate in theater arts.

Lennox said many of the students are theater arts majors, but a few took it because they thought it sounded interesting. Lennox, who lives in Jackson, Mich., travels the world, teaching the art of onstage combat.

He specializes in Western martial arts and has had weapons training in long sword, short sword, broadsword, hand-and-a-half sword, two-handed sword, foils, katanas, scimitars, and various other edged weapons. He also is trained with various types of handguns and automatic rifles, among other weapons.

On Thursday, Lennox was teaching how to use the side sword. Half the battle in swordplay appeared to be learning the footwork. Starting from a ballet first position – think heels together, toes out – one has to slide their lead foot forward, or sideways, depending on which direction you are going.

The stances involve a lot of lunges; it looks somewhat like yoga postures. In fact, Lennox had a yoga teacher in one of his former classes who described it as “just like yoga, with dangerous props.”

For a good hour the students were run through the footwork positions, each of which had a name.

“Forward lunge, pass back, reverse lunge, recover forward, recover back, volt, pass forward, t-stop,” Lennox called to the circle of students.

There was a lot of laughter and a few exclamations from the group.

“It burns!” said one young woman as they went into what looked like a deep lunge.

Chloe-Ann Shaw, a theater arts major, had a look of fierce concentration on her face as she moved back and forth across the stage. She admitted she took the class because it sounded like fun, but it has turned out to be some work, as well.

Melanie Lubs, one of two assistants helping out with the class, is a recent IPFW graduate in the Theater Art program. She took Lennox’s workshop a year ago and since then has gotten a basic certification in stage combat. She now teaches a semester-long stage combat class at IPFW.

Lennox said with the increase in movies that use these skills, like “Lord of the Rings,” there has been an increased interest in students wanting to learn the art.

22 Jan

January 22, 2013 |
Bishop Phil Whipple spoke briefly to the class as it began on Monday morning, January 21.

Bishop Phil Whipple spoke briefly to the class as it began on Monday morning, January 21 (click to enlarge).

Bishop Whipple speaking to the class.

Bishop Whipple speaking to the class.

Bob Bruce is a frequent teacher of the UB history courses, which are held regionally.

Bob Bruce is a frequent teacher of the UB history courses, which are held regionally.

A course on United Brethren Church History is underway at New Hope Community Church in Bryan, Ohio. The course is a requirement for ministerial licensing in the UB church, but is open to anyone who wants to attend. Bob Bruce, associate pastor of Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.), is teaching the class, which has 12 students.

The class began on Monday, January 21, and will conclude today (Tuesday). Bishop Phil Whipple was on hand Monday morning as the class began, and spoke briefly to the students.

22 Jan

January 22, 2013 |

The UB Church in Canada is sending two teams to Haiti during the next few weeks.

January 25 – February 4. A construction team will work on building a new church in Limbe. Joan Sider (right), from the Toronto UB church (and a frequent visitor to Haiti) writes, “This is in northern Haiti, and a brand new place to visit for all of us. We will be joined by a group from our King Street UB church in Chambersburg, Pa. This is a very exciting joint venture.”

February 5-12. A medical team will arrive, to be joined by three ladies from Mission of Hope and Dr. Robinson Germain, a Haitian doctor. They will go to Les Cayes, in the south, to hold several medical clinics.

Joan Sider writes, “Many of you have perhaps heard that there have been travel warnings about Haiti–more than usual, actually. We ask that you pray for our safety and that we will all be wise about our actions. We thank God for Pastor Oliam Richard’s vigilance in helping us be safe.”

18 Jan

January 18, 2013 |

Greg Helman, pastor of Blue Rock UB church (Waynesboro, Pa.), sent this note:

“Retired minister Rev. Don Bender had a mild heart attack in South Carolina while visiting with family on Monday, January 14. He had quadruple bypass surgery yesterday, January 17. He went through the surgery well, but will have a significant recovery period. Please pray for him and his wife, Shirley.”