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12 Sep

September 12, 2008 |

Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries

George Rhodifer (right) is one of my cluster leaders. In addition to pastoring the Olivet UB church in New Lebanon, Ohio, he leads a cluster of churches located in Ohio and Indiana. I’ve appreciated working with him over the past three years.

Today, George was told that he has bone marrow cancer. He’s been given three months to live. He sent me an email about this a short time ago.

“My blood count has been low for several months and they could not find a reason for it,” George wrote. “They sent me to a blood doctor and she wanted to do a test on the bone morrow which makes blood. She read the report to us today in her office. It seems that I have bone morrow cancer–luekemia of the bone morrow. She told my wife and I that I have about three months to live. With low-dose chemotherarpy, I could possibly live six months, but that is not a guarentee.

“This came as a complete surprise to us. I have a pinched nerve in my back which has affected my right side. I was getting ready to go on pain management, but the doctor told me I may as well cancel that and just take pain medicine.”

George asked that we remember him in prayer, and he states, “I believe that God is able to touch me and take care of the problem.”

You can contact George by writing to:

George Rhodifer
109 Solar Drive
Tipp City, OH 45371

12 Sep

September 12, 2008 |

In exactly one month, the Mt. Zion United African Church in Philadelphia, Pa., will relocate. They’ve been needing a bigger place, and they found one about 2.5 miles from their current meeting place. 

The grand opening is October 12, with a reception afterwards. Pastor Joe Abu invites you to attend, if you’re able.

11 Sep

September 11, 2008 |

Michele Vigil, Youth and Discipleship Pastor, Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.)
What an amazing week in Honduras for the Hillsdale UB Youth Team! From the very beginning, when their flight was cancelled in Detroit, and then postponed in Atlanta (leaving them stranded for three days), to them finally arriving in Honduras four days later than planned…this group saw God protect and provide for them each step of the way!

Twelve teens and adults traveled to Honduras July 14-21. Our goal was to bless those less fortunate than ourselves, but we were blessed even more by our new friends in Honduras. Each day in Honduras, we were able to visit orphanages, villages, and churches. At each location, we performed songs in Spanish and a skit in Spanish about being a Good Samaritan. We also gave away over 250 soccer balls to kids from needy families.

In addition, we visited a local high school and performed at their assembly. After performing each day, we came back and worked on painting the mission and laying new cement sidewalk. We also were able to provide funds to fix the mission’s bus and van while we were there.

Finally, each day we were able to meet new friends and enjoy the relaxed culture of Honduras, as well as share our message of hope and good news. It was a life-changing experience for all of us who attended. We saw God open doors for us to serve, and had our eyes opened to how privileged we are as Americans, and how even a little sacrifice on our part can change the lives of an entire village. We hope to bring that same heart of service back to our own community and back to Honduras in future years.

11 Sep

September 11, 2008 |

FennigTruck_500.jpg 

In buying a vehicle for Sierra Leone, Randy Fennig (above) looked for something that ran on diesel fuel. He finally found a 1982 Toyota Land Cruiser in great shape. All part of a plan.

“One long-term development project I’d like to work on is encouraging farmers to grow jatropha, a tropical oil seed related to the castor plant. There are huge jatropha projects in India and Africa.” 

Jatropha seeds contains up to to 40% oil which, when crushed and processed, can be used in a standard diesel engine. 

“You can run the oil straight and make high quality diesel. A diesel vehicle means I would have access to cheap fuel, rather than pay $7 a gallon, which is what fuel costs right now in Sierra Leone. If you’re spending so much money on fuel, it can limit what kind of ministry you can do.”

11 Sep

September 11, 2008 |

This weekend, 22 people will attend the Mission Team Training at Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind. That’s twice the number who attended the August event in Chambersburg, Pa. Of which enthusiastic attendees said:

  • “Everyone, whether a team leader or not, needs to attend one of these training events. Anyone can benefit from the information and can use a lot of it in their home lives and on the mission field.”
  • “The team building activities were fantastic and relevant to team preparation.”
  • “The Seven-Step Process will help us bring the church along for the trip–something we have not been able to do.”
  • “I understand Global Ministries better and see how helpful they’re willing to be in the process of planning, preparation, and supporting throughout.”

That leaves two Mission Team Training weekends to go:

  • October 3-4: Crossroads UB Church (Charlotte, Mich.)
  • November 14-15: Lancaster UB Church (Lancaster, Ohio)

The cost for the two-day event is $60. You can register online.

10 Sep

September 10, 2008 |

When I talk to churches about the governance model, several questions typically come up. One involves voting. 

In many of our churches, 10-25% of the people are on the board, and you vote for people on those boards. The issue of American democracy and having a vote is vital to people– they want to have a say in who sits on the board. But as I talk to people, I look at them straight, and say, “Would you agree that your voting doesn’t necessarily put the best people in the best spots?” Their answer is generally “yes.”

Voting is not a biblical model for putting leaders into place. It’s an empowerment issue. Under the governance system, we encourage letting people nominate persons for various positions. But your leadership team makes appointments to put gifted people in proper places. This follows the Acts 6 model. Deacons were “nominated” by the people but appointed by the Apostles.

09 Sep

September 9, 2008 |

forbeslogo.gifForbes.com placed Huntington University on its Top 100 list of America’s Best Colleges. HU was ranked No. 65. For perspective, other schools in the top 75 were:

  • University of North Carolina (66).
  • Wake Forest (69).
  • Cornell (71).

This is impressive, too: only five Indiana colleges made the top 100. They are:

  • Wabash College (12th).
  • DePauw University (47th).
  • Huntington University (65th).
  • Notre Dame (77th).
  • Earlham (94th).

Here’s the Forbes.com listing for Huntington University. Or, check out the state-by-state list.

08 Sep

September 8, 2008 |

Wardena Waldfogel, the wife of Bishop Emeritus Raymond Waldfogel, just came out of surgery on her carotid arteries. The doctor was optimistic about how things went. She’ll be going home within a day or two. Please pray for her continued healing.

The Waldfogels live at 2002 North Avenue, Huntington, IN 46750.

08 Sep

September 8, 2008 |

2YonkersPhotos.jpg

Dalton Jenkins, pastor of Bethel Temple of Praise, a UB church in Yonkers, N.Y.
It all began in the fall of 2007 with a call from then director of Global Ministries Gary Dilley. He asked if I was interesting in having a Youth Pastor, who was looking to do some missions work that summer, come and help us out with Vacation Bible School. I was glad for the opportunity and was later introduce to Pastors Dennis A. Sites, Todd Yoder, and Jerusalem Chapel.

This was around the time of the 2007 UB National Conference. Providence would have it that of all the places Todd and I could find in the hall to sit, we ended up next to each other. What made it more interesting is that we did not recognize each other until Bishop Ron Ramsey introduced me to the convention.

There we were, two guys from two different worlds, with the same passion, serving under the same banner. Little did we know that this was the start of a friendship built on the desire to mobilize the church to a missional cause, ministering to the total man.

Pastor Todd led a group from Jerusalem Chapel that summer to conduct a VBS for us at Bethel Temple of Praise. It was Virginia meets Yonkers. The spirit of the “We are brethren!” declaration of Otterbein and Boehm lived on. We put aside our differences and stood together as disciples commissioned to proclaim the Gospel.

This summer we decided to give back-to-school supplies to the kids in Yonkers. Qe were in the process of fundraising for the event when Pastor Todd called. He said they would love to buy supplies for our VBS this year. Since we were not planning a VBS, because we did not have the personnel, I told him of our efforts to give out supplies. He committed to contributing to our efforts.

With the contribution from Jerusalem Chapel and our own fundraising efforts, two groups of volunteers distributed over 70 bags of supplies at two locations–one group at a park near our church, the other in the middle of town. Two nurses did about 50 blood-pressure tests and provided other medical advice to persons who stopped by. This was done during two hours on Saturday afternoon, August 24. Thanks, Pastor Sites amd Todd and Jerusalem Chapel. This partnership is invaluable to the proclamation of the Gospel.

Reactions to our efforts were refreshing. Many were surprised that the church was giving away free supplies. Some people promised to visit our church.