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On October 15, Mount Zion United African Church dedicated its new church facility located on 1453 N. 52nd Street in Philadelphia, Pa. They’ve been holding meetings there for a few weeks, but on Sunday, people came from far and wide for the dedication.
In the photo (l-r): Bishop Emeritus Paul Hirschy (guest speaker), Dr. Anthony Blair (former Mid-Atlantic Conference superintendent), and Joe Abu, the church’s pastor.
Tim Hallman, senior pastor, Anchor Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
I am attending the REVEAL conference at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. On Tuesday, Bill Hybels, Willow’s pastor, talked about the four categories of people they identified in the REVEAL study. Here’s what he had to say about them:
As revealing as this information was to Hybels, what he really wanted to know was how to move people from segment to segment. How do you do that? Preaching? Worship singing? Church activity?
A major revelation was the primacy of engagement with the Bible! The more an individual fed on the Scriptures, the more they moved towards becoming Christ-centered.
Interestingly, the most difficult transition to make in becoming Christ-centered was the last movement–from Close to Christ to Christ-centered. It’s the Christ-centered ones who give sacrificially of money, time, energy, love, service. People in the other three categories are still very self-centered about their relationship with Christ. Only in the last category are people fully-devoted to the person of Christ. They have moved beyond self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness, abandoning self in complete surrender to Jesus.
The new strategy at Willow for Hybels? Focus on helping people make the move to become Christ-centered. It’s the hardest move, but it’s the one that will yield the biggest results for the Kingdom.
Ron Ramsey, Bishop
On Monday we sent an email to the denominational list telling about the upcoming regional meetings regarding National Conference. The first is next Monday here in Huntington at the Good Shepherd UB church, followed by a meeting three days later in Bryan, Ohio. Then, in November, we’ll hold meetings in:
These meetings are for both ministers and laypersons. Pat Jones and I want to talk to you about various things in preparation for next summer’s US National Conference.
The meetings:
Ron Ramsey, Bishop
Several weeks ago I came into possession of some old books about the history of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. One was the translated journal of Christian Newcomer. He:
Between 1810 and 1828, Newcomer made 24 round trips across the Allegheny Mountains on horseback, starting churches wherever he went. Newcomer tried making one trip in a horse and buggy, but it didn’t work, so he reverted to horseback. He left his family for months at a time. One time, he got lost in a forest in Ohio. He stopped, knelt down, prayed, and he and the horse quickly found the path.
Our church spread into western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana because Newcomer’s soul burned with a fire to reach the lost. In reading Newcomer’s journal, I was moved by his passion and determination to plant churches wherever he went.
As he moved into the west, he began organizing some annual conferences–Scioto, Muskingum, a few others. It wasn’t organization for organization’s sake, but organization to support the mission. In some ways, it seems like those early leaders purposely tried not to organize themselves. Yet the providence off God led them to develop their organization and structures.
Newcomer’s passion to reach lost people drove him. I don’t want to go back to our history to stay there, but I would like to drag some of that passion forward.
Olinda Barnes has concluded her 13-year ministry as director of Camp Living Waters in Luther, Mich. Her last day was September 30. Olinda became the director in January 1995.
Olinda is looking for employment, and says she would love to remain in the UB church. She’s got lots of experience in youth and children’s minisry, women’s ministry, and running an office. You can contact her by email.
Bishop Ron Ramsey is holding a series of regional meetings in preparation for the 2009 US National Conference, which will be held June 4-7. These meetings are designed to:
The meeting is open to all UB people, both ministers and laypersons. The meetings will last two hours, and there is no cost.
October 20 (Monday)
Good Shepherd UB church
Huntington, Ind.
Time: 10 a.m. – NoonOctober 23 (Thursday)
New Hope Community Church
Bryan, Ohio
Time: 10 a.m. – NoonNovember 6 (Thursday)
Cochranton UB Church
Cochranton, Pa.
Time: 1-3 p.m.November 10 (Monday)
Rhodes Grove Camp
Chambersburg, Pa.
Part of the Mid-Atlantic Foundation meeting, during the afternoon breakout sessionsNovember 12 (Wednesday)
Lancaster UB Church
Lancaster, Ohio
Time: 1-3 p.m.November 18 (Tuesday)
East Washington UB Church
Ashley, Mich.
Time: 10 a.m. – Noon
If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Reich at 888-622-3019. Cathy is the bishop’s administrative assistant.
October is always infested with lots of meetings.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Are you doing something special for your pastor? It could be:
The Global Ministries team gathers around Miriam Prabhakar to pray for her at the conclusion of her report.
The Global Ministries Leadership Team meets twice a year, and they’re meeting right now. The always follow the same format: the Finance Committee meets Wednesday night, then the full team meets all day Thursday and Friday.
Thus far today:
Sam Quinn underwent brain surgery on October 6 in San Francisco to remove a small tumor which was feared to be cancerous. Sam is superintendent of United Believers in Christ, a group of former United Brethren churches in California that withdrew from the denomination in 2005.
Burney Fix, who works with Sam, sent this report:
Sam went into surgery Monday morning about 8:00 and came out in the early afternoon. His son Mark told me the doctor reported that all went very well and the tumor was removed. He also said that he doubted the tumor was cancerous, but it has been sent to the lab for testing.
I was over to see Sam on Monday evening in ICU. He was awake, feeding himself, and propped up in bed. He was slow to speak and had difficulty finding words and remembering names, which was expected in the recovery. On Tuesday evening, Sam was transferred out of ICU into a private room. He was doing much better, and was communicating more clearly.
I have not heard when Sam will be released to go home, but last week it was expected that he would be going home Thursday or Friday.
I believe that we are seeing answers to prayer and that if the doctor is right about no cancer, then it is a BIG answer to prayer! So keep praying for his recovery and we will keep you posted whenever possible.
