(260) 356-2312
Doing anything February 5-12? Want some warm weather?
We still need four persons willing to travel to Jamaica to work on the Malvern project the week of February 5-12. Those interested must have a valid passport in hand, since ticketing would need to be done soon. The cost is $225 per person, plus airfare.
If interested, contact Donna Hollopeter in Global Ministries.
Email: donna@ub.org
Toll-free: 888-622-3019
Here is a compelling testimony from Cape Town 2010 (the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization), which I attended in October 2010. This inspiring story challenges us to consider the price we would be willing to pay to see lost people come to Christ.
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.
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.
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.
Jason Hollopeter retired as senior pastor of Corunna UB (Corunna, Ind.). The new senior pastor is Kevin Whitacre, who started on January 1, 2011. Kevin was previously youth pastor of The Well in Huntington, Ind.
Christmas basket outreach in Blissfield, Mich.
Rochelle Jensen, Zion UB, Blissfield, Mich.
We joined with the Catholic Church to provide grocery bags full of supplies for their Christmas basket outreach program. Our children preformed in a wonderful Christmas Musical Program with singing and choreography. And on Christmas Eve, we had our annual worship and praise service with communion and candlelight ending. There were 141 in attendance for the service, which ended at midnight!!
Mark Smith, Morocco UB, Temperance, Mich.
Christmas at Morocco is always a busy exciting time.
Dr. Billy Simbo (left) and the honorary degree.
Billy Simbo, bishop of Sierra Leone Conference, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Theology degree from the Evangelical College of Theology in Sierra Leone (a school for which he once served as president). The degree was bestowed on Saturday, December 18.
Dr. Simbo will conclude is wrapping up his three years of service in Sierra Leone and will return to the United States on January 14, 2011.
Judy Alchin, 70, a member of Fowlerville UB (Fowlerville, Mich.), volunteers her time at the Christian-based Family Impact Center in Fowlerville. The center provides a variety of services–food, clothing, spiritual counseling, and basic needs assistance. Alchin serves on the board of directors and runs the office when the executive director is away.
“It’s a joy to come in here knowing I am helping someone,” she says.
An article about Judy Alchin and her volunteer work was published on LivingstonDaily.com.
