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18 Feb

February 18, 2025 |

Good resources can be hard to find, but there are a few coming soon, and one recently released, from pastors and friends of the United Brethren Church. You can find more information about each of these resources below, including where to find them and how to purchase them.

Recently Released:

Death, Life, and Discipleship: Seven Ways Jesus Defeated Death Before the Resurrection

This book explores Jesus' victories over challenges like ignorance, sin, and Satan, offering a deeper understanding of His power. Each chapter examines a specific victory and draws practical principles for discipleship. It encourages personal spiritual growth and equips readers to make disciples themselves, fostering a deeper understanding of holiness and a Christ-centered worldview. This is a fantastic resource for personal and small group study. The author of Death, Life, and Discipleship, Victor Collins is the Associate Pastor at Kilpatrick Church in Woodland, Michigan. Purchase here through Amazon.

Coming Soon:

Grit & Joy: Help for Bewildered Families of Teens

In today's fast-paced world, teens often crave something deeper than fleeting distractions. Grit & Joy guides parents and mentors in cultivating lasting, authentic faith in young people. It blends practical advice, compelling stories, and insights from social and brain science with biblical wisdom, providing a roadmap for helping teens develop a meaningful relationship with Christ. This book is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to help teens find enduring joy. Dr. Dave Rahn was an influential professor at Huntington University, has been a featured speaker at UB Youth and Associate Pastor Summits, and will be the keynote speaker for youth workers attending the UB Youth Camp this summer. Co-author, Ebonie Davis is a veteran youth worker, researcher, and author who received her M.A. in Youth Ministry Leadership at Huntington University. The release date for this book is February 25 but you can preorder your copy here.

Essentials of United Brethren History: 10 Events, 10 Bishops, and 10 Issues You Should Know About

This is the latest release coming soon from Steve Dennie, our beloved United Brethren historian, author, and former communications director who served at the UB National Office for 45 years. Essentials of United Brethren History covers the denomination's history from its 1767 beginnings to the present day. Divided into sections on key events, influential bishops, and important issues, it tells the story of what has been important and what remains important to the United Brethren Church and its people throughout the years. This book is a valuable tool for anyone wanting to learn more about the United Brethren Church. It will be available this summer at the UB National Conference. You can find Steve's other works including All for Christ - Volumes 1 and 2 and Against the Blighting Curse here.

We hope these resources are helpful in your family, small groups, and discipleship ministries.

09 Feb

February 9, 2025 |

The Well in Huntington, Indiana, seeks a Worship Leader who facilitates an atmosphere of praise and spiritual connection by leading their congregation in musical worship. The role involves planning, rehearsing, leading worship services, coordinating with the pastoral, technical, and administrative staff, and shepherding a team of musicians and vocalists. Please see the full job description here.

If you are interested, please email a resume, cover letter, and any media highlighting your abilities to Pastor Josh Kesler.

27 Jan

January 27, 2025 |

Registration for the 2025 US National Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ is now open!

Visit the conference website to see all the details including who our keynote speaker will be, when childcare will be available, and what Huntington University has planned for middle school and high school students.

The conference will take place at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 15-18, 2025. The cost to attend is $100 for adults (18 years and older) and $50 for students and children (17 years and younger).

Visit the conference website to learn more.

24 Jan

January 24, 2025 |

First United Brethren Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania is looking for an individual to join their team as the pastor of students and family life. This person will be responsible for overseeing children’s ministries and student ministries and developing lay leadership for all areas of family ministries. Some of the specific responsibilities include building relationships with students, families, and key leaders in the community, recruit and equip leaders to serve in children’s, student and family ministries, and assisting with the pastoral needs of the congregation.

First UB Church is a church of approximately 150 people led by pastor Marc Stephenson. The mission of First UB church is to effectively communicate the gospel of Christ by word and deed toward the end that people will be saved and become faithful disciples of Christ and responsible members of His church.

Pastor Marc has provided a more detailed job description for those interested in learning more. Further inquiries and resumes can be sent to [email protected] with a subject line that reads, “pastor of student and family life.”

 

22 Jan

January 22, 2025 |

Rev. Philip R. Marxson, 83, passed away January 20, 2025. He and his family served as missionaries in Sierra Leone for six years, 1981-1987, and later pastored three United Brethren churches in Indiana and Ohio.

A Celebration of Life service will be held April 12, 2025, at Salem Church of God, 6500 Southway Rd #1, Clayton, OH 45315. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am. The service will begin at 11:00.

Phil grew up in Shelbyville, Ind. He and Sondra were married in 1963 and had three children: Lisa (wife of Bishop Todd Fetters), Kristen, and Michael.

The family served three terms as United Brethren missionaries in Sierra Leone, starting in 1981. Phil was administrator of Mattru Hospital, while Sondra was a nurse and, in the second and third terms, matron at the hospital.

After returning from Sierra Leone, Phil entered Huntington University. He graduated in 1989 with a degree in Bible & Religion, and went on to receive the Master of Christian Ministry in 1991. He was ordained in 1993.

Phil and Sondra served three United Brethren churches: Bethesda UB outside of Huntington, Ind., 1989-1991; Otterbein UB in Rockford, Ohio, 1991-1993; and Olivet UB in New Lebanon, Ohio, 1993-2004. He retired in 2004.

After retiring from the United Brethren ministry, Phil served nine years as chaplain at BrookHaven Retirement Community, and also worked eight years at Gilbert Fellers Funeral Home, both places in Brookville, Ohio.

(submitted by Steve Dennie)

15 Jan

January 15, 2025 |

In July 2025, Fort Wayne, Indiana will host the U.S. National Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Beginning on Tuesday, the 15th, delegates will gather from UB churches across the country to worship, learn, and celebrate together. The business session of the conference will take place on Wednesday, July 16, in which delegates will discuss a variety of proposals, including potential changes to Part V of the U.S. Discipline. Bishop Fetters has formed a select task force to review, study, and recommend relevant changes to this section. 

Proposals, which must come from a group or official entity (e.g. local church board, denominational leadership team, denominational task force, clusters, etc.), must be submitted by March 31, 2025, to the Bishop’s office. The Bishop and the Executive Leadership Team will then be responsible for processing and approving each proposal and presenting them to the conference. The timeline from submission to presentation at the conference is as follows:

  • March 31, 2025 – Deadline for submitting proposals to the Bishop’s office.
  • April 15, 2025 – Proposals are finalized and formatted for the Executive Leadership Team.
  • April 29, 2025 – The ELT reviews the proposals.
  • May 1, 2025 – A draft of the proposals, as approved by the ELT, is posted on the conference website.
  • May 2025 – The draft is discussed in regional meetings. Suggested revisions are noted and, at the Bishop’s discretion, revisions are made to the proposals.
  • June 13, 2025 – A final version of all proposals is posted on the conference website.

 

How to Submit Proposals for Revising the Discipline:

  1. Submit the exact wording you would like to see used (rather than just a general idea).
  2. If it is new content, state where you suggest placing it (chapter and paragraph number).
  3. If it is a revision to existing content, state the chapter and paragraph number to be revised.
  4. Include a brief statement of the rationale for making the revision. A sentence or two may be sufficient, depending on the nature of the revision.

 

How to Submit Other Proposals:

United Brethren members may submit proposals that reach beyond revisions to the Discipline regarding the work and ministry of the U.S. National Conference. These proposals must also be submitted by a group (not an individual) and should include specific wording describing what you want to happen.

 

How Proposals will be Processed

  • All proposals will be channeled to the Bishop’s Office.
  • The Bishop will determine the best way to process proposals for eventual presentation to the national conference. Proposals may be referred to other leadership groups, and new committees and task forces may be formed.
  • All proposals will be presented at the April 2025 Executive Leadership Team meeting.
  • Proposals will be passed along to the National Conference delegates, either as proposals for consideration on the floor or as supplemental proposals. A supplemental proposal will not be considered on the floor unless delegates move to consider it.
  • No new proposals will be added after the April 2025 ELT meeting. However, revisions can still be made at the Bishop’s discretion until June 13, and later if he feels it is necessary.

 

Send proposals to Bishop Todd Fetters at: [email protected]. Or mail to:

Bishop Todd Fetters
302 Lake Street
Huntington, IN 46750



10 Jan

January 10, 2025 |

Rev. Robert Shook

Rev. Robert Shook, 84, a United Brethren minister since 1965, passed away January 7, 2025, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. He graduated from Huntington University and was ordained in 1981. Bob retired in 2005 after pastoring nine different UB churches in Ohio and Indiana. Most recently, he pastored the Mt. Zion Bobo UB church of Decatur, Ind., 1986-2005.

Rev. Shook was born in 1940 in Van Wert County, Ohio. He and Nancy, who survives, were married in 1961, and enjoyed 63 years of marriage before his passing.

Preferred memorials are to the Laurel Mission in Kentucky or Operation Christmas Child.

You can read the online obituary here.

Visitation

  • Friday, January 10, 10-11am at Adams Woodcrest Porter Auditorium, 1300 Mercer Ave., Decatur, IN 46733.
  • Friday, January 10, 2-7 pm at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, 520 N 2nd St, Decatur, IN 46733

Funeral

  • 1-2pm Saturday, January 11, at Rockford Belle Community Church, 135 W Market St., Rockford, Ohio 45882. Viewing one hour beforehand.

 

(submitted by Steve Dennie)

06 Jan

January 6, 2025 |

Countryside United Brethren Church in Breckenridge, Michigan, seeks to hire their next youth pastor. The core function of the role is “to build relationships with youth and provide support for them and their families as they grow in Christ with the intent to integrate them into the larger body of believers.”

This is a 20-30 hour per week position. A full job description can be found here.

Interested candidates can submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

16 Dec

December 16, 2024 |

The US National Conference of the Church or the United Brethren in Christ will once again convene in Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 15-18, 2025. Every two years we come together around a particular theme that is meant not only to unify the body at the event, but also to cast a vision that will propel UB churches in a unified direction for the next two years. So what is the theme that will do that for us in 2025?

 

 

Let’s Move is a call to action. It is a call to multiply disciples, multiply leaders, and mulitply churches. Rob Wegner, Movement System Director for NewThing, one of our strategic partners, will be our keynote speaker and will help cast that vision and offer some practical tools and resources to help us move.

The conference website will be live early in January. Registration for this event, which will open soon after the website goes live, will be $100 for adults (18+) and $50 for children (17 and under). Childcare will be provided for children up through 5th grade.

Keep an on ub.org for more information.

Huntington University is hosting several events that same week for our middle school and high school students. Middle school students will have the opportunity to participate in a one-day getaway on campus to catch a glimpse of high school camp (more on that in a moment) and life at the university. High school students are invited to attend the four day UB Youth Camp taking place the same days as national conference where they will focus on mind (asking good questions about the fatih), mission, mental health, and marketplace readiness. Registration for these events hosted by Huntinton University is separate from the national conference registration and is currently open. You can find that here.

Students attending the UB Youth Camp do not need to register through the national conference website.

 

18 Oct

October 18, 2024 |

We have an exciting opportunity at Fowlerville United Brethren Church in Fowlerville, Michigan, for a Lead Pastor to foster unified relationships across the pastoral team, elders, and Operations Director while maintaining a discipleship-focused culture. Embrace the tranquil setting of Fowlerville, offering a blend of small-town charm and urban convenience near bustling cities like Brighton and Lansing. Make a difference by nurturing relationships, empowering individuals for service, and leading the congregation towards a deeper reflection of Christ’s love and truth.

– As Lead Pastor, prioritize equipping both congregation and staff for service while fostering collaborative relationships and inclusive community bonds.
– Showcase your abilities in inspiring, educating, and empowering individuals for meaningful service and growth in their faith journey.
– Embrace the opportunity to nurture a welcoming church environment that encourages individuals to deepen their understanding of God’s truth and actively participate in His Kingdom work.

For those with a missional focus connecting outreach with ministry practices, this role at Fowlerville United Brethren Church offers the platform to integrate teaching, team building, collaboration, and equipping for church growth and community impact. Apply now for the Lead Pastor role and be part of a dynamic ministry focused on proclaiming the good news of Jesus and making disciples for His Kingdom.

 

Apply now.