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Stuart Johns has been named senior pastor of Idaville UB (Idaville, Pa.) effective November 1. He and his wife, Judy, moved from Marietta, Calif. Stuart is currently an ordained minister with another church. He spent ten years, 1995-2005, as a Child Evangelism Fellowship director. Most recently, he was Director of Development Systems for Every Generation Ministries.
The United Brethren churches of Jamaica’s Easter District will hold a joint missionary service at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, November 29, at Washington Gardens church in Kingston. The theme is “Reaching the Lost and Needy, with Open Hearts and Hands.”
Deon McClennon writes, “We hope to sensitize the individual Christian and churches to the urgency of reaching the lost and needy (whether near or far), in every way possible as God blesses and enables us.”Some of you remember Dennis and Debbie Osberg, former UB endorsed missionaries who served with a Christian school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. They have been back in Honduras for a couple years, but under not as UB missionaries.
In a recent newsletter, Debbie sent this note about the political situation.
“Things have settled down in the city. The curfews have been lifted and life seems to be back to “normal” for now. The presidential election is proceeding for Sunday, November 29, and all eyes are watching the outcome. The ousted President is still living in the Brazilian embassy and they’re still working on an agreement. Continue praying for God’s peace and hand to be on the country of Honduras.”
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!
We received word that Thelma Sommers, widow of UB minster Walter Sommers, passed away Monday morning, November 9. No details, except that the funeral will be held in Elkhart, Ind.
After church on Sunday at Bethel Temple of Praise in Yonkers, N.Y., Sandy and I drove across New York City and through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. We arrived in Shippensburg at 6 p.m. I dropped Sandy off at our son’s home and I headed on to Rhodes Grove Campground. It was my first visit to the camp.
At 7:00 I arrived at the camp for a fireside chat session with some pastors and lay folks from Pennsylvania. I shared my story and talked about what I see for the United Brethren Church in the future. We had an enjoyable evening.
On Monday morning, I shared some devotional thoughts with a group that had come in for Mid Atlantic Resource Day. Then I headed back to spend some time with our son and daughter-in-law. Added to that opportunity was the chance to spend time with our granddaughter Aubrey. What fun it is to see her walking and growing up so fast.
Tuesday morning found us headed back to our home in Huntington. It has been a good trip.
Sandy and I arrived in Yonkers, New York, on Friday, November 6. On Friday night and Saturday, I led an evaluation of Bethel Temple of Praise, the UB church in Yonkers.
I was joined by Dan Palmer, an experienced church planter from Tennessee who and has a history of planting a multiethnic congregation. We had a good meeting with senior pastor Dalton Jenkins on Friday night.
On Saturday, a group of 15-20 people from the church came together. We asked some questions and did some teaching and sharing. Then Dan and I came back to the hotel and put together a report.
On Saturday evening, I met with the cluster that Dalton leads. Linton Thomas and Joseph Abu came to the meeting, and we had some good interaction.
Then, around 7 p.m., there was a fundraising rally. It was a night to remember. Many people, most of Jamaican descent, came from a number of area churches. The Bethel Temple of Praise church was packed as its praise team led off with several songs. Each church had someone sing a song. After each song, they went out to collect an offering, then return and report what they had raised. The emcee kept it moving with humor and a good-natured challenge to each church to out-give the last one.
On Sunday morning, I gave the sermon at Bethel, challenging the people to identify the lions in their lives that cause them to fear, and to become a lion chaser through the power of God.
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.
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.
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.
