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11 Jul

July 11, 2008 |

Todd Fetters, Devonshire Church, Harrisburg, Pa.
At a recent funeral, I heard the classic hymn “Amazing Grace.” The familiar second line of the first stanza has since stuck in my mind: “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”

While it is true that Christ saved me when I was a mere seven years old, it is also true that Christ is still saving me. And because of God’s amazing grace in the last 12 months, I could easily amend the second line to read, “I was stuck, but I’m progressing, was discouraged, but now am hopeful.”

Okay, so my amended lyrics don’t flow as well. My point is this: God’s grace is always amazing. We make a huge mistaken when we think God’s grace is amazing only in relation to our moment of salvation. God’s grace has got to be amazing to you right now…in the past week…in the past month…in the past year.

I’ll bet you can point to ways in which God’s continuing transformational grace has recently touched and transformed some aspect of your life. You could amend the lyrics to “Amazing Grace” just like I did. Here are a few other edits that I think would be relevant to Christians today:

  • Last year I was stingy with my time, abilities and money, but now am generous.
  • A week ago I was addicted (to gambling, alcohol, sleep, entertainment, pornography), but now I’m free.
  • Last month I was distrusting, but now I’m trusting.
  • I once was discontent, but now I’m satisfied.
  • Yesterday I was scared, but now I’m at peace.
  • A month ago I was angry, but now I’m loving.
  • Two years ago I was overly competitive, but now am compassionate.
  • Five years ago I was depressed, but now I’m filled with joy.
  • Six months ago I was disobedient, but now I’m walking in obedience.
  • I once was bitter, but now I’m forgiving.

What lyrics would you choose to describe your most recent encounter with God’s amazing grace?

10 Jul

July 10, 2008 |

This Sunday, Josh Kessler will preach his first message as the new senior pastor of Good Shepherd UB church in Huntington, Ind. After the service, the church is holding a community hog roast to welcome Josh and Molly to the church. The Kesslers are moving into their new home today. The church has been without a pastor since last September.

09 Jul

July 9, 2008 |

Huntington University registered 229 first-time freshmen during Registration Weekend, topping the previous record set in 2006 by 28 students.

In addition, 38 more freshmen indicated to the registrar’s office that they intend to register in the near future.

Registration Weekend, held June 20-21, is an orientation to Huntington University for students and parents. Both attend seminars introducing them to faculty, staff, and current students. Students can take placement tests, sign up for housing, have their student identification photo taken, and learn about the university’s wireless computer network. A highlight of the weekend is the HU Olympics, hosted by current students.

09 Jul

July 9, 2008 |

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This year’s Poland group, with 26 members, returned to the States on July 2 after spending two weeks in Poland.

They left on June 19, flying into Warsaw, where they met UB endorsed missionaries Donna and Arek Delik. After a 3.5-hour bus ride, they arrived in Kutno, where the Deliks serve with Operation Mobilization. They stayed at a boarding school, which also served as the location for the English language camp. A group of four Christians from Scotland joined them.

The schedule followed pretty much the same format as previous years. The English camp (70 teens were signed up) was held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with different classes designed to help Polish teens develop their conversational skills. Then from 4-6 p.m., teens could come back for an informal time of board games, basketball, and maybe to work on music skills. Quite often in the afternoon, Polish students would invite team members to their homes to meet the families.

A concluding gathering was held on Saturday, June 28, with family members invited and certificates given for participation in the camp. This event always includes singing songs learned during the camp, skits, refreshments, and a time for taking photos.

On Sunday, June 29, the group visited the Auschwitz and Berkenau concentration camps and spent some time in Krakow. They then flew back to the States on Monday.

09 Jul

July 9, 2008 |

Darwin and Polly DuntenPolly Dunten will undergo surgery July 28 to remove a non-malignant tumor from her brain. Polly is the wife of Darwin Dunten (that’s them on the right), senior pastor of First UB church in Findlay, Ohio.

The Duntens traveled to the Cleveland Clinic on July 3, where they learned the following:

  • The tumor is larger than they thought.
  • It is in a more difficult location and is causing more damage than they thought.
  • Polly has lost eye functions and hearing on her left side.
  • The tumor is pressing on the brain stem, and is grown into a part of the ear canal.

The tumor must be removed. Darwen reports: “Cleveland’s surgeon will not take all of the tumor, but most of it. He stated that once the surgery is complete, he will reevaluate (at a later date) the tumor to determine if radiation is needed. Currently, radiation is not an option because of the size of the tumor. It would require such a large dose that it would certainly damage the nerve and possibility the brain.  With most of the tumor out, a much smaller dose would be needed.”

Darwin added in a July 3 note, “Please continue to pray as the pain is returning even with the medication. She will be starting a new medication tonight on top of the other meds and its side effect.”

The surgery on July 28 will take 4-5 hours, and Polly will be hospitalized for at least three days. If you want to send a note or card to Polly, you can use this address:

Polly Dunten
701 Cynthia Court
Findlay, OH 45840

09 Jul

July 9, 2008 |


I love getting emails that describe the movement of God in our churches. I received one this past week that warmed my heart. It came from Todd Fetters (right), pastor of Devonshire Church in Harrisburg, Pa. The email arrived July 3, and told about a wonderful service they had the Sunday before.

Our One Prayer emphasis ended Sunday with a climactic altar experience. The prayer I preached on was, “Lord, Make Us Thirsty.” Nearly 20 people came and knelt at the altar for an anointing service. Some came for physical healing. Others came for emotional and relational healing. Two couples came forward to have our four “elders” lay hands on them and pray for them to become “one.” When I invited others from the congregation to come up around those kneeling to support them in their anointing, those who came stood 3-4 deep.

Most dramatic was the man who came forward for physical healing. Before he would let me anoint him, he was adamant saying, “Before you anoint me, I must ask my brother ‘Milton’ (not his real name) to forgive me for my angry words and feelings towards him over the past several years.” And, then he looked at “Milton” who was beside me. There I was, on my knees, intertwined with these two men as they were on their knees embracing and speaking words of authentic sin-admission and eager forgiveness. I could actually feel their reconciliation. WOW!

When you have good stories to tell, please send them to me. I’m always thrilled to hear what God is doing in our churches.

08 Jul

July 8, 2008 |

Roger and Marilyn Reeck are UB endorsed missionaries serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Though based in La Ceiba, Honduras, they have been spending considerable time the last few years working with translation projects in West Africa. Here is part of a report received on July 8.

We are now two-thirds through our time here in Africa. The Lord has been so good to us, revealing Himself to us in so many ways and helping us through many situations that we know we couldn’t have done through our own strength.
Our first assignment was the two-week Balanta Scripture Use Workshop. The 13 participants worked hard and learned tons. They left with lots of ideas and tools to promote the use of Scriptures in their mother tongue, Balanta.
Then we changed hats for our second assignment–hosting a group of missionary kids from North Carolina. They participated in a variety of activities–

  • helping out at an orphanage.
  • a mini VBS for the local children.
  • activities for youth.
  • a one day woman’s retreat.

Materials produced at the Balanta workshop were used with the children, youth, and women. This experience has helped several of the American teenagers to consider dedicating their lives to missionary service.

We came back to Senegal to see them off and are now on our way back to Guinea Bissau for the third assignment. Over the remaining weeks, Roger will be training and checking the translation of two different language groups. Marilyn will work on a video project. We leave for home on August 2.

08 Jul

July 8, 2008 |

Recently I preached at one of our churches at their Saturday night service. After the service, someone handed me an envelope with my name on it. The envelope had been placed in the offering plate. It contained a three-page letter outlining concerns regarding the pastor of another church in the area. The letter was unsigned. 

Bishop Ron Ramsey and I have an agreed-upon policy regarding unsigned letters. We toss them. Not that we callously desire to ignore people’s concerns. There are times when people may have legitimate concerns that should be addressed. But sending an anonymous note to the Bishop (or a pastor or board member) violates the principles of Scripture. If I have a problem with a brother, I need to go to him. The whole process is outlined in Matthew 18. 

It is also unfair to throw out criticism (and many times venomous accusations) against someone and not be willing to face them or discuss it with them. I often wonder if the writers of these notes would want the same done to them.

So if you want to raise a concern with us regarding what is happening in one of our churches, you must understand two things. 

  1. Sign your name or it will be tossed without any action.
  2. If you sign your name, be prepared to answer in the affirmative that you have gone to the pastor yourself with your concern before writing to us. 

We must follow Matthew 18 in our relationships with each other or we are no better than the world around us. And we give Satan the opportunity to have a foothold in the life of our church.

07 Jul

July 7, 2008 |

We need to be change agents in our churches. Change involves a three-step process:

  1. Here’s where we are.
  2. Here’s where we want to be.
  3. The neutral zone in the middle. What you go through to get where you want to be.

The neutral zone is a tricky area. Change is occurring, but it hasn’t become fully implemented in people’s hearts and minds.

People may say, “Yeah, we’ll try that for a while to see if it works.”

No, that’s the wrong attitude. You do it because it’s what God called you to do.

The management of change occurs in the neutral zone. The problem is that you are implementing change, but a lot of stuff you left behind is clamoring for your attention. The challenge is to not get so tied up with what you’re leaving behind that you don’t get to where you want to go.