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19 May

May 19, 2010 |
Eric Carter and Brian Leslie.

L-r: Eric Carter and Brian Leslie.

Brian Leslie and Eric Carter were two of the four students who graduated from Huntington University May 15 with Master of Arts degrees in Youth Ministry Leadership. This is the first class to graduate from this online hybrid program.

As youth ministers, Leslie and Carter were already skilled in their crafts, but conferences and seminars were not pushing them to the next level. Their online search brought them to Huntington.

“I felt like there was more out there as far as a deeper level of study,” said Carter, 27, who currently works as a junior-senior high youth minister at Plainfield Christian Church in Comstock Park, Mich., outside of Grand Rapids. “Where a conference is okay, this just adds a greater level of depth.”

Leslie, 38, who works as a youth minister in Plainfield, Ind., (an unaffiliated church also called Plainfield Christian Church, oddly enough), said Huntington’s program stood out from all the others. Here, professors dialog with students, the work is more challenging, and camaraderie is created among students.

“For me, it’s about continuing to do youth ministry in my local context but with better tools,” Leslie said.

“I just don’t know if you would get that everywhere,” Carter said.

Carter, interestingly, had previously worked under Leslie as an intern before beginning his fulltime work in ministry in 2004.

Both Leslie and Carter admit that the last four years have not been easy. They have juggled jobs and families on top of classes and other assignments. But they admit, it has been a rewarding experience that they would not trade, especially since they were able to do it together.

17 May

May 17, 2010 |
  • The first Children’s Leaders Summit kicks off today in Holly Hill, Fla.
  • The first Warmth Summit, for staffpersons who work in areas related to spiritual care, begins tomorrow (May 18) in Wheeling, W. Va.
  • Bishop Phil Whipple and his wife, Sandy, are on their way back to Indiana from Pennsylvania. They’ve been on the road for about a month, beginning with the Youth Workers Summit in Florida in mid-April.
  • Jeff Bleijerveld is flying back today from a four-day visit to Haiti.
  • Former bishop Paul Hirschy has come down with pneumonia.

15 May

May 15, 2010 |
Dr. G. Blair Dowden presents a diploma to a student.

Dr. G. Blair Dowden presents a diploma to a student.

Some of the graduates waiting to hear their name called.

Some of the graduates waiting to hear their name called.

Huntington University honored 277 graduates today (May 15) during the 112th Commencement ceremonies.

Huntington University awarded 15 Master of Arts degrees, six Master of Education degrees, 75 Bachelor or Arts degrees, 153 Bachelor of Science degrees, nine Bachelor of Social Work degrees and 21 Associate of Science degrees.

Honorary degrees were also given to Dr. Herma B. Williams, provost and academic vice president for Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, Calif., and Donald Duff, Huntington University Board of Trustees chairman emeritus.

As commencement speaker, Williams addressed the graduates and asked them what their roles will be in shaping the future.

“Will you lead a life that matters?” Williams asked of the students.

Her addressed was titled, “Shaping the Future: Leading a Life that Matters.”

The afternoon commencement followed the morning baccalaureate service where Martha Smith, Huntington University associate dean of students, challenged the students to trust God today for the plans that he has for them. Her sermon was titled, “The Calling is Now.”

14 May

May 14, 2010 |

Impressive: 95 percent of graduates from Huntington University’s education program were employed in an education-related position in less than one year after graduation. That’s from a study of 110 HU graduates from the past three years (2007-2009).

Not bad, considering the tight job market.

13 May

May 13, 2010 |
Rev. and Mrs. Lee with children of migrant workers in Thailand (click to enlarge).

Rev. and Mrs. Lee with children of migrant workers in Thailand, plus their visitors from the US and China. Jeff Bleijerveld is in back, wearing a green shirt. Teacher Lee is just to the left, with his three children and wife next to him (click to enlarge).

For the Ahka People of Northern Thailand, making a living often requires a willingness to go where work can be found. In order to minister to families in these mountain villages, Rev. and Mrs. Lee have opened their home to the children of migrant workers.

Rev. Lee told us that in the first years of ministry in this region, people were quite resistant to them and the message of the gospel. Providing love and care to the children of migrant workers opened hearts. Many of the founding members of the two UB churches were migrant workers who entrusted their children to the Lees’ care.

A recent donation that came from the Center Hill UB Church in Illinois, at the time of its closing, made it possible to upgrade the bathrooms and dormitories and buy new bunk beds. When we visited recently, 26 children were living with the Lees.

13 May

May 13, 2010 |

Julie Goetz, coordinator of online education, has been named Huntington University’s 2010 Staff Member of the Year.

Goetz, who has been employed by the university for four years, was nominated by faculty and staff for the award and was selected by the university’s senior administrators. She was recognized for the award during the annual Celebration of Service banquet on May 10.

13 May

May 13, 2010 |

Huntington University students, faculty, and staff contributed more than 11,450 volunteer hours this year in the greater Huntington and Fort Wayne communities.

“It’s part of who we are as an institution. It’s a reflection of our Christ-centered values,” said Grace McBrayer, director of first year students and volunteer services at Huntington University.

Huntington University’s Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service tracks the hours that are volunteered by the campus at locations such as Youth for Christ, Huntington Kid’s Club, the Love Church in Fort Wayne, the Adopt a Grandparent program, Habitat for Humanity, and Volunteer 911, which is an on-campus ministry to provide assistance to the community by filling requests ranging from baby sitting to yard work and home maintenance. Students, faculty, and staff also volunteer each semester during the fall and spring work days. Spring break and fall break trips also contribute to this count.

The Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service is a student-directed organization that mobilizes the campus community for Christian service. It was founded in 1992 through a grant. Each year, more than 70 percent of resident students are involved in some form of volunteer service.

12 May

May 12, 2010 |

Our partner conferences continue to provide generously for the needs in Haiti and around the world. Rev. Owen Gordon, president of Jamaica Bible College, came to Indiana a few weeks ago to attend Huntington University board meetings. He delivered gifts of $872 for Haiti and $1147 for the Philippines. This is in addition to the initial gift of $6000 they provided for Haiti immediately following the earthquake in January.

Then last week, while traveling in Myanmar and Thailand with Rev. Mark Choi, director of missions for Hong Kong Conference, a gift of $7900 was delivered for Haiti Relief.

Tomorrow (May 13), I will travel to Haiti with Paul Plato, Joan Sider, and Jeff Gordon of our Canadian Conference. We will assess the needs and, along with Rev. Oliam Richard, our national leader, determine the most effective way to help our churches and their communities move forward.

Rev. Ed Sider, director of CH Global, will also be there to participate in our discussions. CH Global is our partner in matching sponsors with needy children and their families. This ministry works hand-in-hand with our local United Brethren churches and provides a long-term solution to the problem of poverty.

12 May

May 12, 2010 |

Darwin Dunten, pastor of Findlay First UB church (Findlay, Ohio), is mourning the passing of his father. David Dunten passed away Monday evening, May 10, after a long battle with Lewy Body disease.

Visitation: Thursday, May 13, 2-5 pm and 7-9 pm.
Visitation Location: DO McComb Pine Valley, 1320 East Dupont Rd., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Funeral: 10 am Friday, May 14.
Funeral Location: New Haven United Methodist church, New Haven, Ind.

12 May

May 12, 2010 |

"Teddy and Helen" and family in Myanmar

During the past week, it was a privilege to visit staff in both Myanmar and Northern Thailand with Rev. Mark Choi, the Hong Kong Mission Director. My other traveling companions included Donna and Jason Hollopeter, one member of Living Water UB Church in Macau, and two United Brethren members from Hong Kong.

Although we can’t disclose the names of these family members, many of you will recognize them as overseas staff from our Hong Kong Conference serving in Yangon, Myanmar. “Teddy” serves as the director of a team of 42 workers (both nationals and foreigners), and he mentors four pastors of local churches.

They use English classes to open doors and develop relationships. Thousands of university students have been through their classes and even listen with interest to the devotional thoughts from the Bible. In fact, they currently have an English class just for Buddhist monks.