11 Nov Five Youth Find Christ at UB Weekend Retreat

Kendal Sheen, Youth and Music Pastor, Kilpatrick UB (Woodland, Mich.)

I am a new youth and music pastor with the Kilpatrick United Brethren church. I wanted to spend some time with the teens to get to know them better and determine where they stood in their relationship with Christ, so I planned a weekend retreat at Camp Michawana in Hastings, Mich.

I was looking to bring in a speaker from Huntington University to make a connection with the youth and the University. I contacted Cathy Reich, the Administrative Assistant with Healthy Ministry Resources, but we couldn’t find someone to come speak with the youth.

Now that the weekend is over, I realize that God was moving his plan forward, not mine.

I spoke this past weekend to the group, which I believe is what God wanted from the start. He opened their hearts and minds during the weekend.

Five youth accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives. Praise the Lord!

09 Nov NorthPoint Begins Meeting in Local YMCA

On November 8, NorthPoint Church of Toledo, Ohio, began holding services in the 930-seat auditorium of a new YMCA. In return, NorthPoint signed an agreement to contribute $500,000 to the YMCA over the next ten years.

The Toledo Blade ran an article about the church on November 7, which included interviews with senior pastor Brad Wotring and teaching pastor Pat Schwenk.

Northpoint, with a 2008 attendance of 500, is overflowing its current facility (the church once known as Harvest Lane). They held a preview service a few weeks ago at the YMCA, and 800 people came. They’ll continue using the Harvest Lane facility for office space, Bible classes, community outreach, and other things.

06 Nov Pastor Appreciation in Mt. Solon, Va.

Fonda Cassidy, layperson, Mt. Olivet UB (Mt. Solon, Va.)
During October, we had pastor appreciation each week with events of writing on their walls, poking them, etc. (using large cardboard pieces as walls). The third Sunday, our two pastors, Todd Lilley and pastor Dan Lam, were presented with overnight stays at the Highland Inn, a beautiful historical hotel in Monteray, Va. The fourth Sunday, we did a short video of events throughout the year, and a surprise lunch at the end of the service. We had great attendance and great support.

06 Nov Halloween and Pastor Appreciation at Ebenezer

Bonnie Ramer, layperson, Ebenezer UB (Greencastle, Pa.)
Our church held a Pastor Appreciation Sunday. We gave our pastors the day off, and members of the congregation did the entire morning worship service. Afterwards, everyone was invited to the front of the church to present their tokens of appreciation to senoir pastor David Grove and his wife Amy, and associate pastor Jim Mack and his wife, Faith. Since David and Amy just had a baby girl, Madison Noel, on October 1, we had a baby shower for them at the same time.

David Grove, senior pastor, Ebenezer UB (Greencastle, Pa.)
For the first time, the church held a public Harvest Party on the church parking lot as an alternative to Halloween Trick or Treating. We had games, food, face-painting, trunk & treats (candy was given out from the trunks of several cars), and hay rides. Although it was windy and chilly, we had close to 300 people. Praise God for this great success. We are planning on having a second one next year.

05 Nov On the Road: Ohio and Pennsylvania

Last Sunday evening, Sandy and I went to Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio) to hear senior pastor Marty Pennington talk to the small groups that normally meet on Sunday evenings. They set up their lobby as a coffeeshop and served coffee and donuts. He shared about their “BE” capital campaign. It was an enjoyable night.

We returned on Monday for a tour of the Mainstreet facility. It is an attractive and functional church. We shared lunch with Marty and Amy. It is exciting to see God at work.

On Tuesday morning, before we headed out of Ohio, we realized that we were only about 10 miles from Bethel UB in Elmore, Ohio. So we drove over there. Pastor Norm Pickett was visiting someone in the hospital, but the church secretary showed us around. She was a great guide and spoke in positive terms about the church and the impact it is having in the life of the community and in her family. It was exciting to hear. We then drove on to Franklin, Pa.

On Wednesday morning, we met with Steve Clulow’s cluster at the Atlantic Avenue church in Franklin. About 10 pastors were there. Gary Small, who pastors Atlantic Avenue, shared devotions about unity from Acts 4. Some good discussion followed and then I shared a little of what has been going on at Healthy Ministry Resources.

Gary took us on a tour of the new facilities under construction. They will have a new sanctuary, offices, and lobby, and the lower level is being turn into a delightfully decorated children’s area. God is at work.

Sandy and I then left Franklin around 11 and headed across Pennsylvania. And today, Thursday, it is on Yonkers to meet up with Dalton Jenkins and the Bethel Temple of Praise church. Looking forward to a good time together.

05 Nov Pastor Appreciation Month in Action

Greg Helman, Senior Pastor, Blue Rock UB (Waynesboro, Pa.)
Blue Rock Church held a roast for me at the Mont Alto Fire Hall to celebrate over 20 years of ministry for me. There was a tremendous turnout for the event. Some people who attended were in my Sunday school class when God called me to be a pastor. At that time, I was the teacher.

Photograph albums, posters, and a ministry scrapbook of weddings and funerals were laid out for all to see. A number of people stood up and spoke from the audience. Two of my children did a Top Ten of things they thought were both funny and serious about me. My wife shared her point of view from the call throughout the last 20-plus years.

Of course, they asked me to share some, and I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love through cards, gifts, and kind words. It was a wonderful night of good friends and good food.

David Burkett, Senior Pastor, Mount Morris UB (Mount Morris, Mich.)
For Pastor Appriciation Month this year, I received cards of appreciation, some including gifts of cash or gift cards, throughout the month. Then on Sunday, November 1, we had a “Pack-A-Pew” Sunday. We gave a prize to the person who brought the most first-time visitors. The prize-winner brought six new people with her! Following the morning service we had a potluck dinner at which my family and I were the honored guests.

Tell us how your church recognized Pastor Appreciation Month.