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06 Sep

September 6, 2011 |

Roger and Marilyn Reeck (right), UB endorsed missionaries, this summer celebrated 40 years of marriage, and 40 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Three of their four daughters were on hand in Honduras to celebrate with them–Teresa and Elisa, who came from Texas for two weeks; and Chrysti Andino, who is also a missionary in Honduras. The fourth daughter, Amanda, was in the midst of an internal medicine residency program in Dallas, but had visited in May.

The Reecks are now in Guinea Bissasu, a small country just up the coast from Sierra Leone in West Africa (Guinea is directly north of Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau is on its north side). They will be there until October 8. Roger is checking the translation of the book of Mark for two langauge groups, and they will lead a two-week One Story workshop for four different language groups. Participants learn stories from the book of Acts in the national language, Kriol, from which they glean church planting principles.

06 Sep

September 6, 2011 |

Greg Helman (right), senior pastor of Blue rock UB church (Waynesboro, Pa.) was the subject of a “Profile in Faith” column in the online TheRecordHerald.com.

When asked what he likes most about his job, Greg said:”

I’m an encourager with a coach’s personality. So, I love to see people come to know Jesus and then help them to grow in their faith. Great fulfillment comes from preaching, teaching, and relationship building. Whether we are at a ball game or in a church setting, I get to participate in some humble way in what God is doing in another person’s life. As that person matures in their faith, then they are able to help others to live by faith in Jesus, too.”

When asked, “What is something about your work most people may not know?”, he replied:

“Prayer is a huge part of my job that may get overlooked as people think about the pastor’s job. It’s easy to see what gets done on Sunday as I preach and/or teach. But prayer goes on behind the scenes between the Creator of all that is and myself. It’s such an important time for me that I put this first in my day, regardless of what else I may be doing. For only then am I ready to help anyone else to live by faith in Jesus. Also, I’m able to share the needs of others that God puts on my mind and heart. It’s been very refreshing to understand that prayer is possible whether I’m running on the high school track or in my favorite place, the shower. God always hears and answers my prayers in the best way.”

Greg also talks two memorable ministry moments. Altogether, a very interesting and informative piece.

01 Sep

September 1, 2011 |

A post on August 23 told about Josh McKeown’s struggle with leukemia since being diagnosed with a rare form, called Ph+CML, in November 2010. The article mentioned the book he wrote, called “The Gift of Cancer.” You can order a copy of the book at his website, TheGiftofCancerOnline.com.

Josh writes of his leukemia diagnosis: “On that day my life changed and I could have retreated and given up but that’s not the type of life that God wants for us. I decided then and there that I wasn’t going to let cancer beat me. I was going to look at cancer as a gift from God that I can use for His glory. I don’t think God gave me cancer, but I do know that He is the God that heals. But right now He is choosing not to. The time that I have with this disease I am going to use to further His kingdom and minister through it with a positive attitude. I am trying to travel around and speak at churches and share my testimony.”

01 Sep

September 1, 2011 |

L-r: Sheila Counterman, Anita Gray, Jonathan Hicks, Carrie Lloyd, Joni Schmalzried, Matthew Wright. (click to enlarge)

Fifteen new faculty and staff have joined Huntington University for the 2011-12 school year. In the teaching area, the newcomers are:

  • Sheila Counterman, instructor of nursing.
  • Anita Gray, assistant professor of library science and director of library services.
  • Jonathan Hicks, assistant professor of theater.
  • Dr. Carrie Lloyd, assistant professor of psychology.
  • Dr. Joni Schmalzried, assistant professor of education.
  • Dr. Matthew Wright, assistant professor of mathematics.

You can read about all 15 new employees (with photos) on the Huntington University site.

01 Sep

September 1, 2011 |

Mount Pleasant Church (United Brethren in Christ) in Chambersburg, Pa., a growing and healthy church of 500 in weekly attendance, is seeking a fulltime Pastor of Outreach and Connecting. This fulltime salaried position is directly accountable to the senior pastor and secondarily to the Governing Board.

Spiritual gifts in evangelism, leadership, administration, teaching and preaching are important. Passion for helping people become committed followers of Jesus–disciples who make a difference–is a must. The chosen candidate must have at least significant progress towards a graduate degree in Christian Ministry such as a Master of Arts in Religion or a Master of Divinity, and at least five years of relevant work experience.

The new pastor will provide leadership to the Outreach Ministry Team consisting of both local and global goals and objectives. Locally, the pastoral candidate will survey the community to understand its perceived needs. Then he or she will develop ministry systems to meet those needs while introducing Christ and the Mt. Pleasant Church. Local outreach events will need to be planned and coordinated. A local outreach team will need to be built to facilitate the newly developed goals and objectives in our local community.

Globally, the candidate will track the work and needs of the missionaries supported by the Mt. Pleasant Church, make sure the promised obligations made by the church are upheld in a timely manner, and recommend extra gifting if possible at the end of the year. Short-term mission trips and projects will be coordinated.

This new pastor will develop, implement, and administer a connecting plan that will move new believers and first-time visitors as well as loosely-connected attendees into fully engaged participants in the life of the Mt. Pleasant Church. The development of electives or classes to help people in their process of maturing as a Christian and a Church member will be a significant responsibility.

The new pastor will provide leadership to the existing ministries as well as to those developed within the bounds of the Connecting Ministry. He or she will also lead the Small Group Ministry, recognizing that one of the key ways that people connect to church life is by connecting to a small group of people with similar interests. The new pastor will work closely with the leader of the Discipleship Ministry Team, understanding that a significant opportunity for people to make their connections with Mt. Pleasant can take place in the Sunday school classes.

The associated budgets in these two areas of responsibility will be prepared and managed each year.

This position is now open and waiting to be staffed. To forward your resume, please get in touch with Senior Pastor Chris Little.

30 Aug

August 30, 2011 |

The Boggs family together for the wedding of Nathan and Lindsey. Starting at the front left: Lacy, Titus, Debbie, and Erica. Staring at the back left: Stephanie, Taylor, Hannah, Nathan, and Lindsey.

Rev. Titus J. Boggs, 61, passed away Monday morning, August 29, 2011, at the Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) hospital in Harlan, Kent. He was 61 years old.

Viewing: Thursday, September 1, at 3 pm.
Funeral: Thursday, September 1, at 7 pm.
Location: Mt. Pleasant funeral home: 122 N. Cumberland Ave., Harlan, Kent. 40831. Phone: (606) 573-1770

Titus and Debbie Boggs

Titus served as director of Laurel Mission for 30 years, 1980-2010. In October 2010, Titus went on medical leave as director of Laurel Mission–he has suffered from diabetes and other physical problems–but he continued as senior pastor of Laurel Bible Church. His son, Nathan, who had been serving as the mission’s youth pastor, and who holds a local conference ministerial license, began serving as executive director of Laurel Mission on October 8, 2010. Debbie Boggs, wife of Titus, became the new associate director of Laurel Mission.

Titus has been described as “a big man with a big heart.” Hundreds of United Brethren, on short-term trips to Laurel Mission, have fallen in love with this man. And they’ve all heard and loved the same stories. Like the one about Chief Running Bear and his daughter Falling Rock, who got lost in the mountains and was never found, which, Titus concludes deadpan, explains the many signs which say “Watch for Falling Rock.”

Titus is also known for his annual Ground Hog Day newsletter, a mixture of corny jokes and interesting information about the mission and the Boggs family.

And he’s known as a man who loves the Lord deeply, and who loves the people who live up and down Greasy Creek. He will be remembered for a long, long time, and missed.

When Titus was born in 1950, both of his parents, Alvin and Ruth Boggs, worked for Laurel Mission. Alvin grew up there, born just three miles down the road from the current mission house. Ruth, who grew up in the Colwood UB church in Caro, Mich., arrived in 1943 as a missionary teacher. Alvin returned from the Army in 1946, and he and Ruth were married that August.

“Being a preacher’s kid, I was expected to live a certain way,” Titus once said. “I was religious on the outside, but I didn’t have a change of heart until my freshman year of high school. Some wonderful, godly teachers were a great influence on my life.”

Titus and Debbie, an Iowa girl, met at Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute. They married in 1973, and spent the next year at Asbury College, where Titus majored in Bible and social work. After that, Titus worked a year in the Public Assistance Office in Lexington. And then they moved back “home,” serving as dorm parents at Pine Mountain Settlement School, where Titus attended grades 1-9 and where his father worked.

In August 1980, Bishop Raymond Waldfogel came for a visit. Titus had been assistant pastor under mission superintendent M. E. Burkett. Now the Burketts were leaving. Would Titus and Debbie take their place? Yes, they would.

Titus and Debbie have six children: Nathan, Hannah, Stephanie, Erica, Lacy, and Taylor.

Cards and remembrances may be sent to:

Debbie Boggs
77 Cedar Chapel Rd.
Big Laurel, KY 40808

Connie Boggs
9632 E Hwy 221
Pine Mountain, KY 40810

Ken & Sharon Smith
9672 E. Hwy 221
Pine Mountain, KY 40810

29 Aug

August 29, 2011 |

The annual United Brethren History course is coming to central Pennsylvania. The two-day course will be held October 27-28, 2011, at the Mount Pleasant UB church in Chambersburg, Pa. That’s a Thursday and Friday.

This course is a requirement for becoming a licensed United Brethren minister. However, people who just want to learn more about United Brethren history are free to take the course.

Basic Information

  • The cost is $200 for persons who need licensing, $100 for everybody else.
  • You will need to read the UB history book “Trials and Triumphs” beforehand. It is available through the Healthy Ministry Resources bookstore for $14.95 (plus shipping). Order a copy by calling toll-free: 888.622.3019
  • Register using the online form at: ub.org/events/ubhistory

October 27-28, 2011 (Thursday and Friday)

Location: Mount Pleasant UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.)
Time: 9 am Thursday — 4 pm Friday
Teacher: Dr. Daryl Elliott (right), senior pastor of Fountain UB Church (Keyser, W. Va.)

For more information, including nearby hotels, and to register, go to the UB website.

26 Aug

August 26, 2011 |

Marion and Candace Hall

Marion and Candy Hall have been accepted as endorsed missionaries with Global Ministries. They are serving with Word of Life Fellowship, based in Schroon Lake, New York. Marion has taken a position as Dean of Men at the Word of Life Bible Hungary Institute in Toalmas, Hungary.

The Halls are from the Harrison UB church in Harrison, Mich. They have two adult children, Michelle and Duane.

You can learn more about Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute on their website.

26 Aug

August 26, 2011 |

Beginning in the fall of 2011, the EXCEL Adult Degree Program at Huntington University will offer a TESOL certificate program.

The 15-credit hour TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate will equip adult students to work effectively with English language learners in their churches or social service organizations.

The program involves four courses and a practicum, and is offered on the university’s main campus in Huntington. Courses, available in an accelerated, evening format, include intercultural communication, instructional methods for listening and speaking, as well as instructional methods for reading and writing.

Classes are now enrolling for the fall. For more information, call 800-600-4888 or visit huntington.edu/EXCEL.

The Institute for TESOL Studies at Huntington University was founded in 2009 as an outgrowth of long-term relationships between Huntington University faculty and educators in China.