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06 Jun

June 6, 2008 |

dean_micheal_220.jpgLast weekend, Pat Jones and I traveled to Kansas to examine Micheal Dean, a young man applying for a local license. He is pastor of the UB church in Sabetha, Kansas. (Yes, “Micheal” is the correct spelling.)

Micheal is actually a former prison convict, and he and his wife met in an alcohol recovery program at another church. The Lord gloriously saved and redeemed them. Micheal has such a fine spirit. Over dinner, he almost wore me out explaining all of the plans he has for reaching the community, including going back into prisons. Micheal is the real deal.

Michael Longfellow, the cluster leader, and I interviewed Micheal while Pat met with the board downstairs. Then we came together to sing and have prayer. It was a privilege to grant a local license to Micheal.

At one point, Sabetha had lowered its ceiling. They took it out and refurbished the tin roof. It’s now one of the neatest, cleanest small churches we have. I told him as soon as I walked in, “This doesn’t smell like a church.”

05 Jun

June 5, 2008 |

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To receive a national conference ministerial license, you must complete the UB church history course. That class has been meeting since Monday at Huntington University, and will conclude today. One attendee is Jeff Bleijerveld, our new Director of Global Ministries, who is preparing to transfer his ordination from the Missionary Church USA.

Here are the class members from the photo, left to right (click the image for a larger photo):

  • Marvin Schwartz, senior pastor of New Horizons UB church (Rockford, Ohio) since May 25.
  • Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries.
  • Warrick Fuller, from Devonshire Church (Harrisburg, Pa.). He holds a local church license. (He’s got a blog.)
  • Doug Moyer, youth pastor of Lancaster UB (Lancaster, Ohio).
  • Dustin Staples, youth pastor of Atlantic Avenue UB (Franklin, Pa.).
  • Steve Henry, senior pastor of Victory Heights UB (Franklin, Pa.).
  • Dr. Howard Cherry, the teacher.
  • John Schadle, associate youth pastor at Fowlerville UB (Fowlerville, Mich.).
  • Brad Kittle, currently pastor of Findlay Evangelical Congregational Church (Findlay, Ohio).
  • Thurm Payton, senior pastor of Lighthouse UB (Williamston, Mich.).

Dr. Howard Cherry, who served in the HU Graduate School of Christian Ministries until 1992, has been teaching the course for nearly 20 years.

04 Jun

June 4, 2008 |

The denominational Bible quiz finals will be held June 13-15 (Friday through Sunday) at Huntington University. The Saturday night awards banquet starts at 5:30. Churches from three areas will compete:

  • Michigan: Eden UB (Mason, Mich.).
  • Pennsylvania: Salem UB (Chambersburg, Pa.) and Ebenezer UB (Greencastle, Pa.).
  • Central: The Chapel and Bethel (both non-UB churches).

03 Jun

June 3, 2008 |

Jennifer Blandin sent these updates from Macau on June 3.

  • On May 30, Carlson and Naomi Becker returned to the States. Pray for their adjustment back to life in the States and reuniting with family and friends. Pray for the staff and Living Stone Church as we move through this time of transition.
  • Starting in June, I will be preaching twice a month at Living Stone Church. My first Sunday will be June 8. I have already started to prepare for that Sunday, and while it has not been easy, I have enjoyed the journey.
  • June 3 marks the beginning of the final term of English classes as they have been up until now. These classes will end July 10. Many relationships have been built over the years. English classes brought those relationships together, and now it’s an exciting time to discover new ways to keep them going.
  • Please be in prayer for those affected by the earthquakes in China. Beyond the many who have died, there is a great need for food, safe water, and places to live for those who have survived. There is also an acknowledgement of a great need for psychological help as well. Thankfully, Macau was barely affected by the earthquake and has been able to offer assistance and help to the mainland.

03 Jun

June 3, 2008 |

For change to occur in your church, you need to leave some things behind. That is hard. If you’re not willing to leave some things behind, you’ll never experience change. That’s true for us personally, for our families, and for our churches.

A lot of times, churches become layered: in the 1960s you did this, in the 1970s you added this, in the 1980s you began doing these things. You get all these layers operating, because nobody wants to leave anything behind.

It’s interesting the things we’re not willing to leave behind:

  • Pews
  • Worship style
  • Music preferences
  • Church dress code
  • Organizational structures

So ask yourself: What am I willing to leave behind? And then make sure it’s the right things.

How about it? What are some things you’ve seen that churches have difficulty leaving behind?

03 Jun

June 3, 2008 |

Carlson and Naomi Becker returned to the States on May 30, having served a three-year term in Macau. Carlson worked in the national office for about 25 years (1977-1993) in several different roles, including associate director of Missions, before accepting a pastorate in 1993. We appreciate their continued ministry during their “retirement” years, and their valuable contributions to the work in Macau. They now live in Cedar, Mich., which is northwest of Traverse City, where they previously pastored.

02 Jun

June 2, 2008 |

Devonshire Church in Harrisburg, Pa., is the latest United Brethren church to offer a podcast of the weekly sermon. That makes 17 churches doing podcasts. Plenty of great sermonizing there. A number of other UB churches are doing podcasts.

A podcast is simply a sermon you can download from a website and listen to on your computer or on a music player, like an iPod, Zune, They are typically an MP3 file.

At least two churches are doing video podcasts, which means you can watch the sermon: Emmanuel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Mount Pleasant (Chambersburg, Pa.).

02 Jun

June 2, 2008 |

Indiana is getting its chance to host a “Hang with the Bishop” event. This is for pastors and laypersons from churches within driving distance of Huntington, Ind.

  • Date: Thursday, June 26
  • Time: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Location: College Park UB church, Huntington, Ind.

This is an agenda-less, informal meeting. Come with your questions, and Bishop Ron Ramsey and Pat Jones will do their best to answer them. Bring your staff or any interested persons from your congregation.

And by the way: lunch will be provided.

We need to know how many people are coming. So please RSVP to Cathy Reich, my administrative assistant, by June 19.

We previously held Hang with the Bishop meetings in southern Ohio, Chambersburg, Pa., and  Ashley, Mich.