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21 Sep

September 21, 2011 |

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries

Global Ministries is working in partnership with IN Network’s work in Turkey. As one of the initial steps in building this relationship, we have been invited to participate in an exclusive United Brethren tour of the Seven Churches of Revelation and other Biblical Sights.

Dr. Mark Fairchild (right), who chairs the Bible & Religion Department at Huntington University, will be our guide. He frequently conducts biblical study tours to Israel, Greece, and Turkey.  Also participating will be Rody Rodeheaver of IN Network, the organization with which we are partnering in Turkey.

Bishop Phil and Sandy Whipple will take part in the trip, as will I and my wife, Charlene. Bishop Whipple writes:

“I want to invite you to come and experience Turkey, a land that is rich in history. Many sites from the New Testament are found in this land. Come and join my wife and me as we see the same locations seen by the apostle Paul. I am excited to see the scriptures come alive in a new way on this trip. I am looking forward to learning from Dr. Mark Fairchild and sharing a wonderful experience with all of you.”

Turkey is rapidly becoming the destination of choice for those wanting to experience the Biblical sites of the early Christian church. In many ways, the Christian church began in Turkey. The first non-Jewish Christian congregation was established at Antioch (Turkey), and it was there that believers were first called “Christians.” The apostle Paul was born in Turkey and 80% of his missionary journeys occurred in Turkey. A large portion of the New Testament was written to congregations in Turkey.

The total cost is $3,595 per person. That includes air fare, lodging in 4-5 star hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, an air-conditioned motorcoach , entrance fees, taxes–pretty much everything you’ll need. Early Bird pricing–a discount of $200–ends November 30. So check out the brochures and submit your application to ensure your place on this exciting trip.

 

21 Sep

September 21, 2011 |

At the Chinese Congress on World Evangelism in Indonesia

UB representatives at the conference.

The Chinese Congress on World Evangelism met for their 8th Gathering September 12-16 in Bali, Indonesia. United Brethren delegates from our Macau churches along, with a number of Global Ministries staff, joined another 2200 participants from throughout Asia.

Chris Chia, a keynote speaker for the conference, was converted from a Buddhist-Taoist background at a Billy Graham Crusade in Australia. Today he pastors the Adam Road Presbyterian Centre (ARPC) in Singapore, which has grown from 50 to 1500 members over the past 20 years. Chris Wright, author and international director of Langham Partnership International, a group founded by Rev. John Stott, also served as speaker. He is the author of both “The Mission of God” and more recently, “The Mission of God’s People”.

The vision of the CCOWE is to raise up Chinese churches in one accord, proclaiming the gospel until Christ’s return. Their first conference was held in Hong Kong in 1976. The next conference will be held in Taiwan.

21 Sep

September 21, 2011 |

Huntington University recorded a strong enrollment this fall with the third highest overall enrollment in the school’s history, just 1.3% beneath the 2010 enrollment. Graduate and adult programs both set new enrollment records.

For fall 2011:

  • Huntington enrolled 1,009 undergraduate students, including its second largest class of traditional degree-seeking students.
  • The Graduate School set an enrollment record with 92 students.
  • The EXCEL Adult Degree Program set an enrollment record with 161 students.

Huntington strives to provide new and innovative programs for its students. The film studies, film production, and animation programs grew to 116 students overall this fall, up from 108 in 2010. The nursing program saw a 23% increase, with 75 students enrolled in the program this year.

Other tidbits about this fall’s student body:

  • Students hail from 23 countries and 35 states.
  • 63% are from Indiana.
  • 5% are ethnic minorities.

19 Sep

September 19, 2011 |

Troy Green, senior pastor, Monroe UB church (Monroe, Ind.)

We began our service with a video using pictures of September 11, 2001, set to the music of Alan Jackson’s song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning.” Following this video we entered into a time of reflection on how God has worked “good” even in times in our nation’s history that were meant for evil.

Our theme for the day was “Hope.” We sang songs like “My Hope is in the Lord,” “Because He Lives,” and “Jesus Messiah,” while posting various scriptures relating to hope in between the songs for people to read and meditate on.

The message was delivered from Sujo John, who was in the north tower on that day and whose preganant wife was to be in the south tower. He told his story of how he saw God work at ground zero. Sujo quit working his job at the Twin Towers and now travels around the world sharing God’s message of love and grace and forgiveness for all mankind.

We had 101 people in attendance with 16 visitors. The gospel message was presented by Sujo, and Pastor Troy commented on how this could also be a day to remember if anyone would accept Jesus as their personal Savior. We closed the service singing “Still.”

19 Sep

September 19, 2011 |

In the end of June, we held an English camp with the help of a United Brethren mission team from the USA and 2 young men from Poland. This team of 9 adults and 6 teenagers gave themselves 100% for the Polish teenagers, and we were truly blessed by them.

Fifty-five teens attended. Many of our first time participants were invited by friends who attended tow years ago. We had a wonderful time with the teens, and we were very grateful to have the opportunity to share our faith with them during the camp. Many of the teens are keeping in touch with their new American friends. After the camp, I started to meet with 3 girls to help them with their English. So far we have been meeting twice a week regularly.

At the end of August, we shared the love of Jesus with children in the housing estates in Mickiewicza. The children’s program was supposed to start at 10 am, but when we arrived at 9:00 to prepare the place, we were surprised to see that the children had been there waiting for us already. About 40 children turned up. Strangely, we didn’t see any teens around. After asking around, we realized that those teens were working in the field to earn money to pay for the new school year.

Mickiewicza is the poorest area of the town and is neglected by the society. Most of the children are from broken families, and most of the people here have severe drinking problems. We know that many may follow the steps of their parents if no one stretches out their arms to them. When we looked at the children, our hearts really went out for them; and we wondered what Jesus would do if he was here. There are several areas like this in the town. Please pray that God will give us the compassion and open doors to reach out to them.

We are facing several setbacks in the building project. Lack of manpower (volunteers), a blocked drainage system, and the unexpected high cost of materials and labor (due to the massive construction projects as the government has stepped up preparations for the Euro 2012 Championship). All these have caused much delay to our schedule.

Most of our church people have used up their “holiday” already, and 2 of our brothers who worked hard before have developed serious health problem and the doctor has forbidden them to work physically.

While we were doing the foundation work, we discovered that underground drainage was blocked after being neglected for so many years. We dug deep to get to the pipes, opened them up, and cleaned them with a high pressure water cannon.

15 Sep

September 15, 2011 |

The 8 persons elected to the Executive Leadership Team at the US National Conference in July have appointed four additional members, as called for in the Discipline. They include one person from each region, including 2 ministers and 2 laypersons.

East Region: Daryl Elliott. Daryl has been a United Brethren pastor since 1985, serving four UB churches in Pennsylvania and Florida before his present assignment at Fountain Church in Keyser, W. Va. He holds degrees from The American University (B.A., Political Science, 1981), Evangelical School of Theology (M. Div., 1986), and Drew University (Ph.D., 1992). Other past roles include conference superintendent, Huntington University trustee, and President of the UB Historical Society. He and his wife, Ruthann, married in 1986, have two children.

Central Region: Timothy Krugh. Tim has attended Mainstreet UB church (Walbridge, Ohio), since 1975. He is an attorney with a Toledo-based law firm, with plans to slow down his practice in 2012. He has served on various denominational boards and commissions over the years, including the ELT 2007-2011. Tim and his wife, Jeanie, were married in 1975 and have three adult children.

North Region: Bob Tobey. Bob is a laymen from Colwood UB (Caro, Mich). He and his wife, Jolene, who grew up at Colwood, met at Huntington University and were married after graduating in 1980. Bob is a schoolteacher and athletics coach. He and Jolene have been very active at Colwood during the past 30 years, and for a number of years directed the denominational Bible Quiz program. They have two daughters.

West Region: Kent Koteskey. Kent is executive pastor of Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.). He has served in ministry since 1992, and at Emmanuel since 2001, initially as youth pastor. He is a previous chair of the denominational Youth Ministry Team. Kent graduated from Asbury College in 1992 and from the Huntington University graduate school in 2002, and was ordained in 2002. Kent and his wife, Amy, a registered nurse, were married in 1994 and have four children.

15 Sep

September 15, 2011 |

Mike Caley (right), senior pastor, Banner of Christ UB (Byron Center, Mich.)

We held a special worship and prayer service around the theme “Faith, Hope & Love.”

We started the service with the worship song “Hope of the Nations,” and then used a short video from the Skit Guys, titled “Ten Years Ago.” It took us all back, and then challenged us to look at the evil in our world through the reality of God’s power and authority. He is ultimately in control.

There was no preaching service, but three sections of scripture, appropriate worship, and times of silent and directed prayer.

15 Sep

September 15, 2011 |
  • Douglas Sandman has been named senior pastor of Pleasant Hill UB (Greencastle, Pa.) effective September 11, 2011. He was granted a local church ministerial license on August 29. He graduated in 2005 from Lancaster Bible College with a degree in Pastoral Ministry, and from its graduate school in 2011 with a master’s in Pastoral Studies. For 20 years, he worked as a cabinet maker and woodworker. Douglas previously pastored Faith Calvary Church (Lancaster, Pa.) 2007-2009. He and his wife, Cynthia, have two sons, ages 28 and 19.
  • Rick Pride has resigned as senior pastor of Eagle Quest UB (Columbia City, Ind.) effective September 4, 2011. He had pastored Eagle Quest since June 2002.