05 Mar Tim Walberg Becomes Second UB Congressman

Tim and Sue Walberg

United Brethren churches can now claim two members in the US Congress. Mark Souder, from Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., was first elected in 1994 and was re-elected to his sixth term this past November. Joining him is first-time Republican Congressman Tim Walberg, who is from Element Church (formerly Trenton Hills UB church) in Adrian, Mich.

Tim Walberg grew up in Chicago, and went on to attend Western Illinois University, Moody Bible Institute, Taylor University, Fort Wayne Bible College (now Taylor University-Fort Wayne), and Wheaton College Graduate School. He spent nearly ten years as a pastor (non-UB churches) before winning a seat in the Michigan State House of Representatives, where he served 1983-1999. He then worked five years as a division manager with Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

In August 2006, Walberg defeated moderate Republican Rep. Joe Schwarz in the primary, winning 53% of the vote (in 2004, he placed third in the Republican Primary). He then went on to win the general election with 51% of the vote.

“Politics is just another format that can be used as a place of intentional ministry,” Walberg said in an interview with World magazine. “Everything comes at me through the filter of my faith. It has to be that way if this is more than a religion.”

Walberg and his wife, Sue, have been married for 32 years and have three adult children (see the family).

26 Feb Anchor Joins Hands with Neighborhood Churches

Persons from five neighborhood churches gathered in Anchor Community Church’s fellowship hall on February 25.

Anchor Community Church is getting together with four other neighborhood churches for five Sunday nights during Lent. To make a difference in their lower-income neighborhood near downtown Fort Wayne, Ind., it makes strategic sense to partner with other churches, regardless of denomination, which also want make a difference.

Pastor Tim Hallman, pastor of Anchor, got things going last spring with a letter to the pastors of four nearby churches: Grace Presbyterian, Trinity United Methodist, First Mennonite, and North Highlands Church of Christ. That resulted in a joint Vacation Bible School last summer. Now things are going further with these Lenten get-togethers.

The five pastors agreed on a common format. The host church would provide a soup and dessert meal, each church would do three songs which come out of their church tradition, and the host pastor would then talk about his/her church’s history, ministries, theology, denomination, etc. In this way, the churches could learn a lot about each other.

Pastor Tim Hallman of Anchor (right) with Pastor Barb of Grace Presbyterian.

Anchor got things started on Sunday night, February 25. The bad weather, a big concert in town, plus the Oscars created somewhat low expectations. But those expectations were well exceeded when 75-80 people gathered in Anchor’s fellowship hall. For their three songs, the Anchor worship team did “Take My Life and Let it Be” (though they “Anchorized” by using Chris Tomlin’s version), “I’ll Fly Away,” and “This Little Light of Mine.” For the latter, when they reached the verse which said, “Shine all over Third Street” (where Anchor is located), everyone attending inserted their own church’s street. The Presbyterians, for the record, got everyone started clapping on “I’ll Fly Away.”

After Tim Hallman talked about Anchor’s history, ministries, structure, denomination, and other matters, everyone broke into smaller groups around the tables. The Anchor attendees at each table introduced themselves, told how they came to Anchor, and answered questions from the guests from other churches.

Next week we’re at North Highlands Church of Christ. I can hardly wait. In reaching our neighborhood, the most strategic relationships we can develop are not with other United Brethren churches in Fort Wayne, but with other churches, regardless of affiliation, located in our neighborhood. We’ll discover which ones share our heart for really making an impact. This can only lead to good things.

The United Brethren church began when a Mennonite and a Lutheran, discovering that they shared the same spiritual passions, declared, “We are brethren.” These Sunday night dinners fit that attitude nicely. In the process, Anchor hopes to discover the fellow churches and Christians who share their passion for making an impact in the surrounding neighborhood.

26 Feb NFL Great Speaks to UB Teens

Former NFL receiver Irving Fryar spoke to over 200 persons during a dinner at Atlantic Avenue UB church (Franklin, Pa.) on February 23. Fryar spent 17 years in the NFL, and scored the Patriots’ only touchdown in Super Bowl XX against the 1985 Chicago Bears, before retiring in 1997. He reached the Pro Bowl five times.

The occasion was the church’s second annual charity dinner and sports auction to benefit World Vision. Last year’s speaker was former Pittsburgh Steeler Mel Blount.

The dinner coincided with the youth group’s 30-hour planned famine. Teens college pledge money for each hour they go without eating, and the money is donated to World Vision. About 70 youth from Atlantic Avenue, plus 20 from another church, participated in the fast. Those same teens, while fasting, served dinner to over 125 guests.

Fryar says he never prepares speeches in advance, but let’s God guide him toward the right thing to say. “Whatever I’m saying, it’s always going to lead to the gospel,” he said.

26 Feb Lake Havasu Church Pulls Out

Hilltop United Brethren church in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., has withdrawn from the denomination. A letter from the Leadership Council, dated January 22 and signed by senior pastor Michael Tucker and three other men, says:

“Hilltop Community Church wishes to withdraw from the United Brethren in Christ denomination, effective immediately. We have been granted our own 401(c)(3) tax exempt status with the IRS….We are not upset about any issue, and we hold no ill will toward the denomination. the decision was put to the congregation for a vote, and it was unanimously approved. We feel this move is the best for our church.”

Hilltop began in the mid-1960s as First United Brethren Church under the leadership of Rev. Marvin Price. Using property donated by the McCulloch Corporation, First UB grew to become the largest church in what was then called Pacific Conference (later Arizona Conference). The most recent year for which we have statistics, 2005, shows an average attendance of 116. The only other churches remaining in Arizona are in Fountain Hills and Phoenix (the latter a Hispanic church).

Among the UB people with roots in Lake Havasu are missionaries Ruth Ann Price and Debbie Osberg; pastors Don Dennie, Stu Dennie, and Steve Gilbertson; Communications Director Steve Dennie; and Huntington University’s Rich McConnell.

26 Feb Hillsdale UB Dedicates New Office Center

The Hillsdale UB Church (Hillsdale, Mich.) dedicated its new Ministry Office Center on Sunday morning, February 25. The Ministry Office Center, located in the former parsonage, is located next to the church. It now houses a large classroom and offices for all of the church staff.

In a five-year period, Hillsdale’s average attendance grew from 200-500. This created the need to add classroom, plus expand the lobby, nursery, and other areas. Moving the church offices into the former parsonage freed up space in the church building.

Bishop Ron Ramsey spoke at the dedication. An open house followed at both the Ministry Office Center and the renovated Student Ministries Center on the church’s second floor.