(260) 356-2312

UB.orgUBGlobal.orgChurch Search

03 Aug

August 3, 2008 |

globalkids_150.jpgGlobal Ministries has published “Global Kids,” which is designed to teach children about missions, and particularly the world of United Brethren missions. It’s available now for $25, and you can order online. A number of churches have already ordered copies.

  • 130 pages
  • For children ages 4-12
  • Information about UB missionaries–how they became missionaries, where they work, etc.
  • Information about our various national conferences.
  • Worksheets, activities, photos, games, and other resources.
  • Could be used to supplement midweek or other children’s materials.

02 Aug

August 2, 2008 |

Here are two comments people made about new music sung in church. Both are taken from Dan Kimball’s blog.

“I am no music scholar, but I feel I know appropriate church music when I hear it.  Last Sunday’s new hymn–if you can call it that–sounded like a sentimental love ballad one would expect to hear crooned in a saloon. If you insist on exposing us to rubbish like this–in God’s house!–don’t be surprised if many of the faithful look for a new place to worship. The hymns we grew up with are all we need.”

“What is wrong with the inspiring hymns with which we grew up? When I go to church, it is to worship God, not to be distracted with learning a new hymn.  Last Sunday’s was particularly unnerving.  The tune was un-singable and the new harmonies were quite distorting.”

The first comment was written in 1863 in reference to the hymn “Just As I Am.” The target of the second comment, from 1890, was “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

01 Aug

August 1, 2008 |

Jim Ellifritt (right) is an ordained United Brethren minister in Washington, who formerly pastored our church in Vancouver, Wash., and served for many years as the Northwest Conference superintendent. He is also a lieutenant colonel in the Army reserves.

Jim reports that he was recently stationed at Fort Lewis, about 120 north of Vancouver, where he and his wife live. He writes:

Looks like I will be home once a week for a day and then Deb will try to come up weekly once I get my lodging squared away. She still prefers two years here verses a year in the desert. [Jim has served in Afghanistan while his son, Jim Jr., simultaneously served in Iraq.]

They have given me a Battalion Command at Fort Lewis. It is a rare opportunity commanding fulltime as a reservist, so I am honored. They have had there struggles here, so pray I am up to the task. We are responsible for training all the small units going to Iraq and Afghanistan and other locations as needed. The training is for 40 days straight and we work 365 days a year, so there is an intense management process.

I am looking around again for a church to plug into here or a Bible study. I have one to check out tonight.

Below is a list of humorous “Lessons I’ve Learned,” which Jim wrote in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan.

  • After 15 days, you really need to bathe all parts of your body. No matter how many baby wipes and how much baby powder you use, your body sticks to itself! And you really smell!
  • You can wash from head to toe with five pints of water.
  • Being shot at is highly over-rated.
  • A three-week-old newspaper is still better than no news.
  • A cup of Starbucks coffee will make most days begin civilized.
  • Eating with local nationals is a privilege and a challenge.
  • Drinking Chi (tea) out of an unwashed cup probably won’t kill you. Same with eating off unwashed plates.
  • Lots of places cook and eat food that is very different. Goat brains are really gross looking!
  • Imodium or Kaopectate is your friend. After a week of the trots, a little pill makes you mighty happy!
  • When the nearest church is three hours away through “Indian country,” it’s still worth the drive.
  • Letters from home can be read over and over, and usually are.
  • Phone calls home are worth whatever it costs.
  • People can live on less than $40 per month.
  • The finest soldiers in the world are the young men and women representing America.
  • God is in charge no matter where you are in the world or what the dominant religion is.
  • One wife is better than four even if your religion allows it (Islam allows 4).
  • No woman looks good in a burka.
  • Electricity is for the weak. But it sure is nice to have.
  • Expensive health care is better than no health care at all.
  • Girls should go to school.
  • You really can spend $1,000,000 in seven months and still have barely scratched the surface when it comes to humanitarian aide.
  • Sand buggers are just part of life. Get ready to dig daily.
  • There is nothing like the smell of burning human fecal matter (we burn ours daily).
  • Running at 5200 feet is a challenge physically.
  • Afghans are the most hospitable people in the world.
  • Knowing a few Phastoo words opens many doors.

31 Jul

July 31, 2008 |

Doris Shepherdson, 81, passed away Monday, July 28, in Modesto, Calif. She was Head Resident Counselor of Hardy Hall at Huntington University 1975-1979. She was also the aunt of UB endorsed missionary Dave Spencer. Doris was a member of the former Oakdale United Brethren church in California.

31 Jul

July 31, 2008 |

Godspell will be performing their final show at Huntington University, in the Merillat Centre for the Arts, on August 8 at 7:00 pm.

This show concludes the summer tour of 44 venues and nine states, including churches, church camps, high schools, a community festival and a performing arts center.

This year’s program captures an island theme – Survivor meets Cast Away. With references from classics such as Fantasy Island, Hawaii 5-0, Gilligan’s Island, and Tarzan to the more familiar Survivor, Lost, Cast Away and The Amazing Race, achieves another fresh take on the Gospel of Matthew that will entertain, inspire and transform!

Admission is free, and a reception will be held in the lobby afterwards.

30 Jul

July 30, 2008 |

2008_JBCGrads_500.jpg
Owen Gordon, president of Jamaica Bible College, sent this note on July 16:
Two weeks ago we brought down the curtain on another challenging, but successful year. We were blessed with a very beautiful graduation service. Our special guest speaker was Rev Dr Stephen Clark, son of Mr Ernest Clark, one of the three founding fathers of the College in 1945. Dr Clark gave a very inspiring and challenge address to the hundreds of persons in attendance.

There  were a number of firsts at this graduation:

  • We had the first group of 5 students graduating with a B.A in Theology with minor in Business.
  • Several students graduated with an Assoc Degree in Business. (There were other students with the Diploma in Theology)
  • Several students graduated with the Certificate in Business, & General studies.
  • Some students completed their Seconday level education under the ROSE II/ Ministry of Education program.

In all there were 59 students.

2008_JBCGrad_475.jpg
Rejoice and pray with us for the following:

  • Lenique Powell, a Secondary level student who committed his life to the Lord in the Week-end Camp in February, has expressed a desire to return to study Theology. We are putting things in place to offer him a tuition Scholarship.
  • Duane Harris, another student who just completed his Assoc degree in Business, wants to do the BA in Theology. Pray for Scholarship support.

We will introduce several new programs in September 2008:

  • BA in Theology, minor in couseling.
  • BA in Psychology emphasis on counseling.
  • Assoc degree in Finance.
  • Early Childhood Certificate through the HEART NCTVET.

Our desire is to lift the standard of the College and increase and improve the offerings.
Pray with us for a good group of incoming students for September 2008, the necessary committed teaching/Administrative staff, and the necessary funding.

Two major challenges are ahead of us:

  1. Security.
  2. The challenge to change the name of the Institution to reflect the original vision and purpose, and broaden its appeal for funding, and student enrollment.

30 Jul

July 30, 2008 |

Many people have fond memories of attending summer camp while they were growing up. Friendships were formed, knees were skinned, challenges were conquered, and most of all, life long lessons were learned. Now that we are older, we are glad places like that still exist for our own kids and grandkids.

Camp Cotubic is one such place. It held a special place in the heart of Mr. Tom Ponsot, who passed away in the Spring of 2005. Tom saw the great potential of Camp Cotubic and volunteered his time and financial resources to preserve it as a place where his own grandkids and many other children could experience summer camp. Tom served as the chairman of the camp board for several years and was passionate about the camp’s ministry.

One of the challenges summer camps face is raising the financial resources to maintain high quality programs. To this end we are announcing the 4th Annual Tom Ponsot Memorial Golf Tournament:

Date: September 6, 2008
Registration: 7:30
Tee Time: 8 a.m.
Location: Clear Creek Golf Course, Huntington, Ind.
Cost: $50 per person (includes green fees, cart, snacks, and lunch).

The tournament will use a four-person/team Florida scramble format. Prizes will also be awarded in a variety of categories. All proceeds to go to support the ministries of Camp Cotubic.

To register, please contact Zanesville United Brethren church by email or phone (260-638-4220). For more information about Camp Cotubic, please visit the Camp Cotubic website.

30 Jul

July 30, 2008 |

I love books. I keep a lot of books at home, and I’ve given away a lot of books. Someone told me that a person who can read but doesn’t is no better off than a person who can’t read at all. Books can open up your mind and vista. You can do things by reading a book, be translated to somewhere else. That’s the magic of books.

Christian men are notoriously bad about not reading. At Scripture Press, when we produced a book for men, we had to use a cover with a soft design that would attract a woman, who would then buy it for a man. Women, we knew, buy more books than men, even books for men.

At Mainstreet, I was always after people to read. I gave the elders books to read, theology books. There are so many good Christian books.