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16 Sep

September 16, 2010 |

Huntington University enrolled a record number of traditional undergraduate students this fall and reported its second-largest incoming class in the school’s history.

The total enrollment for fall 2010 is 1278. This includes:

  • 1040 traditional, fulltime and part-time undergraduate students (up eight students from 2009).
  • 148 students in the EXCEL Adult Degree Program.
  • 90 graduate students.

Other stats of note:

  • The university enrolled 320 new fulltime students, including 263 new freshmen and 57 transfers,
  • Fulltime undergraduate enrollment increased from 949 to 982 students.
  • The students come from 20 countries and 35 different states.
  • 60% of the students are from Indiana.
  • Ethnic minorities make up 5% of the student population.
  • This is the largest class of international students (33) in at least two decades.

15 Sep

September 15, 2010 |

The Myers Mission House

Things are a little “up-in-the-air” this month at the Myers Mission House in Huntington, Ind. Work has begun to raise the house and replace the basement walls, which had begun to cave in quite significantly. The decision to have this work done was a difficult one, as it will entail considerable expense, but the house is used on a regular basis by furloughing Global Ministries’ staff. Selling the house “as is” was not an option. Contractor Mike Tribolet says the work should be completed by mid-October. The Myers Mission House has provided a home-away-from-the-field for countless Global Ministries staff over the years.

14 Sep

September 14, 2010 |

Billy Simbo sent the following update on his wife, Mamei, on Tuesday, September 14. Billy is serving a three-year term with Global Ministries in Sierra Leone, where he holds the title of Bishop of Sierra Leone Conference.

Mamei is still in the Coronary Care Unit at Abington Memorial Hospital (Abington, Pa.). They are keeping her because her heart rate is too fast and her blood pressure too erratic.

(more…)

14 Sep

September 14, 2010 |

UBGlobal - New Website for Global Ministries

After a year of planning and development, Global Ministries has launched a brand new website at UBGlobal.org. This new website replaces the former site located at UBMissions.com (which now directs people to UBGlobal.org).

The site contains:

  • Updated info and photos for all Global Ministries staff.
  • Information about each country in which we have United Brethren churches.
  • Over a dozen videos you can view online.
  • A complete list of projects, which you can sort by cost, region, and category.
  • A host of recommended books, videos, training events, speakers, and more.
  • Much information about work trips.
  • Many ways to “Get Involved” in the work of missions–giving, volunteering, supporting projects, or entering missionary service.

Take a look at UBGlobal and browse around.

13 Sep

September 13, 2010 |

Homeschooled children can take advantage of a physical education program being offered this fall by Huntington University’s Department of Physical Education. There are nine session from September to December for children in grades K-5. Classes last for 50 minutes and are free. More information is on the HU website.

13 Sep

September 13, 2010 |

Rev. Reuben Zurcher, a retired United Brethren minister, passed away early this morning, Sept. 13, 2010. He was a World War 2 veteran and, at the time of his death, a member of Monroe United Brethren church in Monroe, Ind.

Rev. Zurcher graduated from Huntington College in 1962 and began his pastoral ministry at the Zanesville, Ind., United Brethren church. He served six other UB pastorates: Third Street (Fort Wayne, Ind.), St. Mary’s (Ohio), Olivet (near Dayton, Ohio), Kettering (Dayton, Ohio), Alexandria (Ind.), and Bobo (Willshire, Ohio). He also served a term as conference superintendent in Central Conference. The family believes he retired in 1986.

Viewing: Tuesday, Sept 14, 2010, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm.
Viewing Location: Maplewood Park D.O. McComb and Sons funeral home, 4017 Maplecrest Rd., Fort Wayne, Ind. 46815.

Funeral: 10 am Wednesday, Sept 15, 2010. Viewing will be at 9 am.
Location: Maplewood Park D.O. McComb and Sons funeral home, 4017 Maplecrest Rd., Fort Wayne, Ind. 46815.

Read more about Rev. Zurcher on the D. O. McComb website.

12 Sep

September 12, 2010 |

Burley Clay, 88, a retired United Brethren minister, passed away September 10, 2010. He was a pastor for 58 years–48 in the Missionary Church, and 10 in the United Brethren church. He pastored the Alvordton, Ohio, and Waldron, Mich., UB churches during the 1980s. Prior to that, they served non-UB churches in Arizona and California.

Burley Clay is the father of Polly Dunten, whose husband, Darwin, is pastor of Findlay First United Brethren Church, Findlay, Ohio.

Arrangements:

Viewing: Monday, Sept. 13, 2010.
Location: Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, Ohio.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010. Visitation at 10 a.m.
Location: Redeemer (Community) Missionary Church, 5321 Springdale Ave., Toledo, Ohio.

Rev. Clay is survived by his wife of 66 years, Alice, 6 children, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

09 Sep

September 9, 2010 |

Huntington University launched a $21 million capital campaign to:

  • Renovate Becker Hall (the former Administration Building).
  • Build a new Studio Art Center.
  • $9.5 million to expand the Merillat physical education complex.
  • $3 million for the University Fund.
  • $2 million for endowment.

“We must dream again,” said HU President G. Blair Dowden. “We need to expand and renovate and build.”

“Together: The Campaign for Huntington University” started in 2007 to improve and expand campus offerings and facilities. Over the past two years, the university has received $9.7 million in donations and pledges, resulting in:

  • Construction of the Studio Art Center — a combination of the Art Annex building and a new 2-D studio.
  • Renovations to Becker Hall, including refurbishing the entryway, adding an elevator, and renovating the third floor to create a film studio for the digital media arts program.

Work has also begun at the Merillat Complex. New bleachers were installed this summer. Additional plans include:

  • Creating a new entryway.
  • Expanding the exercise and weight-training areas.
  • Adding new classroom and fitness lab spaces.
  • Renovating the outdoor track.
  • Constructing a new hardwood floor gymnasium.
  • Installing all-weather turf on the soccer field.
  • Funds for a facilities endowment.

The University Fund helps to bridge the gap between what students can afford and the financial aid available to them. Currently, 91 percent of the student body receives some sort of financial aid.

The endowment has a long-term impact by establishing scholarships, endowing faculty chairs, or supporting a particular program. It also helps supplement funds for the overall operation of the university.

Donations can be made to the university in various forms such as cash, appreciated securities, or real estate. The Office of Advancement will work with individuals to make sure that their gifts fulfill the donor’s wishes as well as the university’s needs.

08 Sep

September 8, 2010 |

Felida Christian Fellowship, a UB church in Vancouver, Wash., has withdrawn from the denomination. On August 4, the congregation voted to join, and integrate its assets with, Summit View Church, a megachurch located 17 miles away.

Summit had been planning to launch a new campus on the west side of town. For that, they will now use the former UB building, which will be known as Summit View: Felida. Services are being held there at 10 am on Sundays.

Ian McIntosh, pastor of Felida Christian Fellowship, will become a part-time staffperson at Summit View.

The church began in 1976 as a mission church under the sponsorship of the denominational Board of Church Extension. It was named Guiding Light, and Ron Mulles was the founding pastor. For three years, the congregation met in a local Grange Hall, growing to about 65 people. A 3.9 acre piece of land was purchased, and in 1979, ground was broken for a building.

The name was later changed to Friendship Community Church, and then to Felida Christian Fellowship.

08 Sep

September 8, 2010 |

Billy Simbo sent the following update on his wife, Mamei. Billy is serving a three-year term with Global Ministries in Sierra Leone, where he holds the title of Bishop of Sierra Leone Conference.

  • The strep bacterial infection didn’t show in the latest blood cultures taken. Mamei will continue receiving antibiotics.
  • Though there is still an infection spot on one of Mamei’s heart valves, no damage shows. The surgeon said Mamei is too weak to withstand surgery now or in the near future (she has not got out of bed for 12 days). To prevent the infection from spreading and causing a stroke, they will continue aggressively treating her with antibiotics.
  • The oncologist will keep Mamei one more night in the Coronary Care Unit just for monitoring, and then move her back to the Oncology unit. He hopes to resume the chemotherapy treatments again for multiple myeloma, so it doesn’t get out of control. Her last treatment, on August 26, was given through a vein; an oral drug is also an option. There is no talk of putting in another port until the infection issue is settled.
  • The immediate goal is to address the excruciating pain in her legs. Because of the pain, she has resisted all efforts to receive physical therapy, which is vital to her recovery. She is also not eating because she says she has no appetite. Since she is taking very potent pain medications, she needs food in her stomach.
  • At this point, Billy plans to return to Sierra Leone on September 14. Son Alan and Katerina Simbo have agreed to have Mamei stay with them when she leaves the hospital.

Please remember Mamei in your prayers. Also pray for Billy. He writes: “Pray for me as I return to do all the things that have been interrupted by my absence from the field. I do a lot through emails and telephone conversations, but there is a pile that needs to be tackled as we prepare for the all-important conference in December to transition to a new Bishop and his administration.”