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16 Apr

April 16, 2010 |

Members of Aperture with some Japanese kids.

The Huntington University worship ensemble, Aperture, traveled to Japan March 6-21 for a spring break mission trip.

Advised by Marvin McNew Jr., Aperture consists of Jessica Bauman, synth and vocals, from Japan; Kris Burgess, electric guitar, from Williamsburg, Ohio; Josh Dirnberger, acoustic guitar and vocals, from Sioux Falls, S.D.; Zach Reuter, drums, from South Whitley, Ind.; Justin Siemens, bass guitar, from Brandon, S.D.; Tyler Skinner, electric guitar, from Rensselaer, Ind.; and Laura Stuckey, keyboard and vocals, from West Lafayette, Ohio.

The group led musical worship at various events, including youth events, churches and international schools in Tokyo, and at the Asian Access mission retreat in Karuizawa, Japan.

15 Apr

April 15, 2010 |

40 new members received on Easter Sunday at Zion UB in Blissfield, Mich. (click to enlarge)

From Rochelle Jensen, Zion UB (Blissfield, Mich.)

The “best kept secret in Lenawee county” is leaking out. On Easter Sunday, Zion United Brethren in Christ (Blissfield, Mich.) took in 40 new members! Pastor Aden Porter has given the church that motto because we are located in the rural area of Ogden Center. But just as the early followers of Christ came to him from everywhere, people are joining the community of believers here at Zion UB. Knowing Christ as Lord and Savior is one secret we want to share with everyone.

15 Apr

April 15, 2010 |

COMIBAN, a Latin American missions consortium, recently held a consultation in Honduras. The United Brethren in Honduras were specifically invited to attend. Rev. Juanita Chavez, our Honduran Superintendent, and Marilyn Reeck, a Global Ministries endorsed staffperson, attended. Rev. Chavez sent this report.

Yesterday I returned from the 2010 Mission Consultation held in the city of Siguatepeque. It was a wonderful experience for me. I was surprised to learn that there are currently 45 Hondurans serving as missionaries in various countries. A number were present and shared their experiences.

As a result of our discussions, a number of proposals were presented as challenges to each of the participants. Areas to which the Honduran United Brethren in Christ have pledged themselves are:

  1. Mobilization. Target audience: Churches, pastors and leaders.
  2. Training. Target audience: Training centers, Bible schools, and teachers of missions.

We have no doubt that God will enable us to also send missionaries from Honduras to share the good news of the gospel with those who have yet to hear.

14 Apr

April 14, 2010 |

Jeff and April are non-traditional staff serving as our Central American Liaisons. Jeff is primarily on staff with Brown Corners UB in Clare, Mich., but in partnership with Global Ministries will spend about three months of the year working on projects, training leaders, developing micro-enterprise opportunities, and coordinating short-term trips to the region. His family plans to spend as many as two months per year on the field with him.

The whole Dice family has spent the last 8 months studying Spanish at the Spanish Language Institute in Costa Rica. On April 13, they sent this note:

Hello from Costa Rica! We are now in the home stretch, as we only have 7 days of school left. We had our oral proficiency interviews last Friday and received our marks today. April and I both tested at the level “Avanzado Medio.” April also took the Comprehensive Grammar Exam and scored an 84.

We are ready to return to Michigan and find some Spanish speakers to befriend.  We have both decided to take as many CLEP tests for college credit in Spanish as we can. I may continue studying Spanish at Central Michigan University. Pray that we can find opportunities to speak Spanish in Michigan!

The “avanzado medio” translates “mid-advanced,” which is quite high for someone who has been there for less than an entire year.

12 Apr

April 12, 2010 |

For those who weren’t called into ministry immediately out of high school, transitioning to such a position later in life can be a challenge. Huntington University’s EXCEL Adult Degree Programs is helping meet that challenge with one of its newest programs–an Associate of Arts degree in Christian Ministry.

“There are more and more people called to ministry leadership roles later in life,” said Dr. Luke Fetters (right), associate professor of Ministry & Missions. “These people often find themselves in staff positions or even as pastors of local churches, and they feel inadequately prepared.”

The Associate of Arts in Christian ministry program offers the opportunity to develop and strengthen skills necessary to successfully practice ministry—-all in a convenient one-night-a-week format.

In addition to those serving in fulltime ministry, the program also is a valuable resource for those who desire to become more effective volunteers in ministry.

The EXCEL professors have expertise not only in ministry but also in adult learning. Fetters, the 2009 EXCEL Professor of the Year, has a doctorate in adult and community learning. In addition, two other professors who teach in the program–Dr. Karen Jones and Ruth Ann Price–also have experience and education in adult learning.

Students can begin classes toward the Associate of Arts in Christian ministry degree on September 8 on the university’s main campus in Huntington, Ind. Classes will run 6-10 p.m. one night per week. For more information, log on to the EXCEL website, e-mail the staff, or call (800) 600-4888.

09 Apr

April 9, 2010 |

From Greg Reed (right), senior pastor of Morning Star Church (Kokomo, Ind.)

As a way to demonstrate the free gift God gives us and to show His incredible love to others, our church gave away 7,950 FREE chicken & noodle dinners to people in our community. From 11 am-7 pm, we offered dine-in, carry-out, and delivery meals absolutely FREE to everyone! Not only did our guests enjoy a free meal, it was also an incredible experience and a true blessing for everyone who served that day.

On Easter Sunday, five persons indicated that they were placing their trust in Christ for salvation for the first time. God is so good!

09 Apr

April 9, 2010 |

The crowd at Colwood church awaits the arrival of the helicopter with Easter eggs. (click to enlarge)

The helicopter dropping eggs. (click to enlarge)

Blue-shirted Colwood volunteers.

When Colwood UB (Caro, Mich.) announced that they would host a free community Easter Egg Drop, Pastor Jon Herron was praying that 1000 people would show up. Caro is a town of 4500, so that would make a pretty good percentage.

What a surprise when 5000 people came! Cars poured in from Birch Run, Bay City, Saginaw, Bad Axe, and elsewhere.

As the crowd watched, a helicopter flew over the grounds and dropped over 10,000 plastic eggs onto the field. Each egg contained such items as candy, toys, and free iPod certificates.

Pastor Jon Herron with wife and son.

The egg drop was designed for kids age 12 and under. Local fire trucks, EMTs, and sheriff’s deputies were on hand, and kids could also enjoy inflatable games.

Pastor Herron wrote on his blog, “God multiplied our hopes and dreams by five. I can imagine the Father hearing our prayers and saying, ‘Hey, Jesus and Holy Spirit, circle around and watch Me do this!'”

A group of 135 volunteers helped make it a big success. Pastor Herron writes, “It was awesome walking around Saturday morning with nothing to be in charge of. Our staff and volunteers had everything mapped out–my role was simply to cheerlead!”

Unfortunately, there weren’t enough eggs. They prepared 10,000, but that was in anticipation of 1000 participants. Many kids didn’t get any (including the pastor’s own three-year-old). So for next year, Pastor Herron says, they’re looking at 100,000 eggs, bigger fields, and multiple drop times with different age groups to make sure nobody goes home empty-handed.

On Sunday morning, 850 people attended the multiple worship services. And 19 persons stood from their seats and prayed to receive Christ!

09 Apr

April 9, 2010 |

From Jean Bell, UB Endorsed missionary in Brazil

Because none of the churches in our small Brazilian community hold an Easter Sunrise service, we missionaries meet together to worship and celebrate Christ’s resurrection. But this year’s service was not quite the normal service.

The setting was near the baseball diamond of our school for missionary children. We sat about 25 feet from home plate. To our left grows an enormous rubber tree along with two gigantic mango trees, and to our right the school’s playing field, just in front of the elementary wing of the school.

After our favorite Easter songs in English and praying in English–oh, what a treat!–a colleague began his Easter meditation. Hardly had he begun when in our our peripheral vision we perceived movement in the air: a toucan. Not more than a few minutes later, a second toucan soared by and landed in the nearby rubber tree. Then, yes, 3 more that joined the others. They were very quiet for toucans, not squawking or making their deep clicking noises.

A former student leaned near my ear to whisper, “They’re Christian birds.”

“Congregating, right?” I returned.

Within minutes of the rising sun, swarms of small, raucous parakeets and parrots dipped and circled overhead. I whispered to Wes, “All we need now are the ibises and blue-gold macaws.”

Within minutes the ibises honked and hooted overhead, but the macaws never joined our worship service.

Needless to say, we missionaries and our families had our powers of concentration tested at the Easter Sunrise Service.