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04 Nov

November 4, 2010 |

Mark Wilson (right), senior pastor of Fowlerville UB (Fowlerville, Mich.).

Our Annual Trunk N Treat event grew out of a few passionate parents who wanted to offer a safe alternative to the annual Halloween activities in our community.

After 6 years of being faithful to share Christ in a creative way of loving people, God brought record numbers to our event on Sunday night, October 31. What a blessing it was to serve over 1100 people from our community.

After many positive comments and great conversations with many from our community, I also found out that we had over 100 volunteers and fed over 900 people.

We are looking forward to seeing how Christ will continue to use these simple contacts with our community.

04 Nov

November 4, 2010 |

Marilyn Reeck sent the following message on Wednesday, November 3. She and her husband, Roger, are missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators and part of the Global Ministries endorsed staff.

We were in Guinea Bissau in September. We returned to Dallas in October to attend workshops at the Wycliffe center there. It had been decided that Roger should return to Africa to finish the consultant checking that he had started (the book of Luke in Caravela) and to mentor a new translation consultant.

Our daughter Amanda, who is a 4th year medical student, was there in Guinea Bissau finishing a rotation at a mission hospital.

Roger arrived early on Saturday, and a few hours later experienced flashing lights in one eye and since then has been having “floater” episodes and some pain. Amanda consulted with others and did research and determined that the most likely prognosis is a “posterior vitreous detachment” which could lead to a complete retinal detachment. After seeking advice from our bosses and others, we decided that Roger should leave on the next flight out. He will be flying to Portugal and will arrive very early tomorrow morning. Amanda is accompanying him.

We contacted a missionary in Lisbon who will pick them up at the airport and help them find a doctor.

We appreciate your prayers.  We praise the Lord that the condition has not progressed rapidly.

UPDATE (11:25 am Thursday, Nov. 4):

They arrived safely and a few hours later made it to a hospital and were quickly seen by a doctor who speaks English!

The doctor declared that Roger does suffer a posterior vitreous detachment (tear), but so far the retina is not detached. There is a possibility that this could lead to a detachment, so she advises that for the next few weeks he remain close to adequate medical care.

She gave him permission to travel, so he will return to the US and is trying to change his ticket.

04 Nov

November 4, 2010 |

The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team approved these persons for ordination:

  • Warwick Fuller, Devonshire Church, Harrisburg, Pa. A date of December 12, 2010, has been set for his ordination at Devonshire, with Senior Pastor Todd Fetters and Bishop Phil Whipple. Warwick was recently selected as associate pastor of Crestview UB church in Lafayette, Ind.
  • Tim Scroggs, Eagle Quest, Columbia City, Ind. On January 30, 2011, an ordination service will be held at Eagle Quest, where Rick Pride is the senior pastor. Bishop Whipple will conduct the service.
  • Thurm Payton, Lighthouse Community, Williamson, Mich. His previous ordination was recognized by Bishop Whipple in the October 24 worship service at Lighthouse Community, where he serves as senior pastor.
  • Mary Flamer, Park Layne, Dayton, Ohio. An ordination service, with the laying on of hands, will be held at the Park Layne Church in March 2011, with Pastor Roland Albert and Bishop Whipple, to recognize Mary’s prior ordination.

Other licensing updates:

  • Gary Reiber was ordained in a service on September 19, 2010, at Union Chapel Church, Fort Wayne, Ind. Bishop Whipple officiated and the following elders participated in the service: Wayne Goldsmith, Jim Reiber, and witness Tony Roberts. Gary Reiber is senior pastor of Union Chapel.
  • Dan Van Arsdalen was appointed senior pastor at Alvordton UB, Alvordton, Ohio, effective November 1, 2010. He will receive his local license from Bishop Whipple in a service on November 21.

02 Nov

November 2, 2010 |

The Well's co-ed softball team.

Submitted by Cathy Reich, Assistant to Bishop Whipple and attender at The Well

At The Well, we waited until the final Sunday in October to make a presentation to Pastor Josh Kesler (right). According to the presenting elder, Larry Lawrence, it was to make sure he was doing a good job all month! Of course that brought a few laughs. Pastor Josh said, “And they gave it to me anyways!”

There was no announcement made as to what was in the card, but I heard Josh say, “I was pleasantly surprised and looking forward to taking my family for a little get-away sometime soon.”

Later in the day, the church’s co-ed softball team from the city league ended in third place in an injury-free tournament game. Not a bad ending to the month.

02 Nov

November 2, 2010 |

Bill Fisher

Rev. Bill Fisher, dean of Christian Faith and Life at Huntington University, is stepping down in June 2011 after 18 years in that position.

His work has included revising the chapel programming, raising up campus ministries student leaders, developing “Faith-in-Action” teams to support local churches, establishing an ongoing chapel worship team, organizing off-campus retreats, and teaching. He has also led or co-led numerous spring break and January Term trips across the United States and around the world, including Brazil, China, Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Kenya, and Uganda.

“It would be impossible to list all the ways that he has impacted the lives of our students – from the classes he has taught, to the personal and pre-marital counseling he has provided, to the example he has set through his involvement with area churches,” said HU President G. Blair Dowden. “In so many ways, Bill has modeled a life dedicated to Christ. And he has done an incredible job representing Huntington University locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Fisher says he will continue his work with the Murdock Charitable Trust and continue pastoring First Baptist Church in Warren, Ind., while he discovers God’s next plan for his life.

A national search is currently under way to find his successor. The search committee is led by Ron Coffey, vice president for student development.

You can read more about Bill Fisher‘s contributions to Huntington University, as well as to other Christian colleges.

01 Nov

November 1, 2010 |

Findlay First UB (Findlay, Ohio) served 400-500 individuals during the annual harvest party on Halloween night in Findlay. Donuts were handed out to the parents, a puppet show was being shown, tracts were handed out, and coffee and hot chocolate were served. Church members brought their cars and opened their trunks for “Trick or Trunk.”

Community members were heard saying, “This is really nice of you all to do this.” We had even been asked by community members if the church was going to host it again this year, because the sign was not put out–because it was stolen last year.

This tradition started when Pastor Darwin Dunten noticed that community members were using the parking lot to park their cars during Halloween. So the church started providing coffee and donuts for them. It has grown every year since.

Halloween is the biggest event in Findlay, Ohio. The annual parade attracts tens of thousands of visitors.

01 Nov

November 1, 2010 |

Rachel E. Sanders (right), 93, wife of retired UB minister Willard Sanders, passed away Sunday, October 31, in Berne, Ind. She was a member of Hudson United Brethren Church (Hudson, Ind.). She and Willard were married in 1939.

She is survived by her husband Willard, two daughters, two sons, 20 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation: 4-7 pm Monday, Nov. 1, at Swiss Village in Berne, Ind.; and 4-7 pm Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Johnson Funeral Home in Hudson, Ind.
Funeral: 10 am Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010. Pastor Craig Burkholder of Hudson UB and Pastor Jason Hollopeter of nearby Corunna UB (Corunna, Ind.) will officiate.
Funeral Location: Hudson UB church, 516 N. Main Street, Hudson, Ind.

01 Nov

November 1, 2010 |

Sunday October 24, Morocco Church (Temperance, Mich.) surprised Pastor Todd Greenman (right) and his wife Eva with appreciation for being their pastor and wife.

Eva received a beautiful vase of flowers, and Pastor Todd was surprised throughout the service with some skits bringing many smiles and laughs–especially the ”Top Ten Reasons you know the Pastor is not prepared to bring his sermon.”

After the service, cake and ice cream were served to the congregation. Pastor Greenman started at Morocco Church August 1.

27 Oct

October 27, 2010 |

In a letter to the Shoreline Church, Pastor Steve Fish shares these thoughts with his congregation:

“You have heard it said, and scriptures states that there is a season for everything under the sun. It is with a heavy heart and many mixed emotions that I am writing this letter to inform you that I am resigning from my position of Lead Pastor with the church. My final Sunday will be November 14. This decision has come neither lightly nor quickly. I have been seeking counsel about this decision throughout the course of the past year. … We are asking God to provide you with new leadership quickly, but we are convinced that you will be committed to one another and the church should the wait be long. Kim and I have such a deep love for you. We are saddened to leave, and although this has been a difficult decision, we believe the time has come for us to depart. We have been well cared for and supported throughout these past four years. We have experienced the love of Jesus through you!”

Bishop Phil Whipple is prayerfully considering who God’s man for this hour would be for the Shoreline Church. Your prayers are appreciated during this transition not only for the Shoreline Church, but for Pastor Steve Fish.

27 Oct

October 27, 2010 |

Fonda Cassidy, from the Mt. Olivet UB church in Mt. Solon, Va., is currently in Haiti with a Samaritan’s Purse team. She sent this report on October 26.

The Hatiian people are in the midst of a crisis with outbreaks of cholera. Our first day of clinic on Sunday was only treating cholera. Really critical patients were placed on gurneys and IV’s started. I am happy to say that a lot of the IVs I brought were used in the first day!

There were times when someone would come running with a very limp and emaciated body. I believe in all my travels it was the first time I have encountered cholera.They have profuse emesis that they describe as “rice water,” and that is exactly what it looks like.

Each time as people of around 30 per room would vomit, or have diarrhea, we would have a cleaning lady come and mop. Do you know what it is like to mop on an old cement floor? We were wading through it! They brought in white boots for us to wear.

We were told not to touch our face. They set up hand washing stations with bleach water. I put a mask on even though cholera is not air-born I was afraid I would be accidentally touch my face.

Mid-day now, it is very hot! We saw young and old alike go on to meet their maker. That was the first day!

Now today the third day of clinic, our cholera team actually saw fewer patients. CNN has been here and interviewed Samaritan’s Purse several times, We have seen planes come in with supplies.

It is exciting to be witnessing for the Lord. We have rejoiced with many who have received Christ. We have pastors that will be following up with each patient. Today the clinic where we were working saw 131 patients, and we had 7 first-time converts.

I saw a lady who was 53. After I examined her, she looked at me and smiled and said, “I want to receive Christ into my heart!” What a true blessing.

Also, I was excited today to talk by phone to the United Brethren pastor who is in charge of the work here in Haiti. He is coming tomorrow to see me here in Citi Soilel. I tried 2 times yesterday to get in touch with him but no ringing of the phone. Today the phone rang–he answered and he is coming tomorrow–so I am hoping to get to see our Haitian churches tomorrow!