17 Jan United Brethren History Takes to the Road

The annual United Brethren History course, usually held only Huntington, Ind., will be held in two regional settings this year. This course is a requirement for becoming a licensed United Brethren minister.

Basic Information

• The cost is $200.
• 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

February 21-22, 2011

Location: Rhodes Grove Campground (Chambersburg, Pa.)
Time: 9 am Monday — 4 pm Tuesday
Teacher: Dr. Daryl Elliott (right), senior pastor of Fountain UB (Keyser, W. Va.)
Registration Deadline: February 1, 2011
Lodging: available at Rhodes Grove by calling: 717.375.4162. Meals will be off-campus on your own.

March 7-8, 2011

Location: Mt. Zion UB church (Wayne, Ohio)
Time: 9 am Monday — 4 pm Tuesday
Teacher: Rev. Robert Bruce (right), associate pastor of Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Registration Deadline: February 15, 2011
Meals: breaks and lunch provided at the church for a donation. Breakfast and dinner on your own.

Hotel rooms have been reserved at:

Comfort Suites
3700 Speedway Drive
Findlay, OH 45840

Cost per room per night: $79.95 single, $89.99 double (plus tax). Make your reservation by calling 419.420.1212 before February 7. The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from the Mt. Zion Church.

11 Jan Cluster Leader Training

Bishop Phil Whipple speaking to the cluster leaders.

L-r: Stephen Smith, Jeff Bleijerveld, and Marty Pennington.

Dan Kopp (left) and Denny Miller. Dan led the training for the cluster leaders. Denny, as Cluster Coordinator, is responsible for all of the clusters and the training provided to them.

John Cole (Bluffton, Ind.), Troy Green (Monroe, Ind.), and Lester Kaufman (Greencastle, Pa.).

L-r: Dennis Miller, Bishop Emeritus C. Ray Miller, and Bishop Emeritus Ron Ramsey.

Twenty-six cluster leaders came to Huntington, Ind., for a day of training on January 10, 2011. They met in the Habecker Dining Commons at Huntington University. Dalton Jenkins, a cluster leader from Yonkers, N.Y., couldn’t attend in person, but he did participate in the entire meeting over the internet via Skype.

Each cluster leader oversees a group of 3-10 United Brethren churches. The senior pastors of these churches meet for training, fellowship, encouragement, and accountability.

Dan Kopp, senior pastor of NorthPointe UB church in Lewis Center, Ohio, led the training, which focused on the coaching relationship between cluster leaders and senior pastors. They did a lot of role-playing to practice the techniques of coaching.

Dennis Miller, senior pastor of Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.), works one day a week as the denominational Cluster Coordinator. Two former bishops serve on staff at Emmanuel–C. Ray Miller and Ron Ramsey. Both of them will work alongside Rev. Miller to interact regularly with the cluster leaders.

You can read more about the clusters and cluster grouping here.

10 Jan A Komets Christmas for the HQ Staff

G. Blair Dowden, President of Huntington University (left) and Bishop Phil Whipple chatting between periods of the hockey game.

Jason and Donna Hollopeter. Donna is associate director of Global Ministries.

Phil Burkett (left) and JR Reich take a stretch while their spouses, Darlene and Cathy, talk. Darlene and Cathy are, respectively, administrative assistants to Global Ministries and the bishop's office.

The staff and spouses of Healthy Ministry Resources (the UB national office) waited until January 7, 2011, for their annual Christmas party. December was just too crowded with events and traveling.

The evening started with a buffet meal at Don Hall’s Guesthouse in Fort Wayne, Ind. Then they adjourned to the Fort Wayne Coliseum for a hockey game between the local Komets and the Evansville Icemen. The Komets put in a terrible performance in a boring game, losing 3-1. But still, everyone had a good time.

Especially when persons found themselves on the big game screen. Phil Burkett (husband of Global Ministries administrative assistant Darlene Burkett), was pictured alongside a “Look-a-Like” photo of George Lucas. A few minutes later, the Kiss Cam caught Jason and Donna Hollopeter, who promptly complied.

08 Jan Introducing Trevor and Allison Kuney

Allison and Trevor Kuney

For the past couple of years, Allison Dunten has worked part-time at the United Brethren national office while attending Huntington University. She has helped Finance Director Marci Hammel with various finance-related tasks. Allison is the daughter of Rev. Darwin and Polly Dunten, who serve Findlay First UB church (Findlay, Ohio).

On January 1, Allison married Trevor Kuney. The wedding was held at Lakeview UB church in Camden, Mich. On January 6, they stopped by the UB offices, where we had some gifts awaiting them.

The newlyweds have settled into an apartment in Huntington. Allison will continue doing some work in the Finance department.