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14 Dec

December 14, 2004 |

Since the referendum to join the Missionary Church failed, people are asking, “What happens now?” To help answer that question, Bishop Paul Hirschy has called a special meeting of the National Board on February 14 and 15. The meeting will start at 1 pm on Monday, the 14th, and conclude during the afternoon on Tuesday. It will be held at Huntington College.

Of the 65 members of the 2005 US National Conference, 24 also serve on the National Board (3 of them being elected officials). So a little over one-third of the National Board members will return for National Conference. All ELT members are also members of the National Board.

14 Dec

December 14, 2004 |

David and Melissa Kline report that they have received work permits for Macau, which means they can now begin teaching in the English Language Program. They will begin teaching in January, and may also have the chance to teach at a middle school.

They held a Thanksgiving Party, which went very well. “Normally we have a program including a speaker, singing, and maybe some games or group discussion. This time, we very intentionally kept the program to a prayer for the food and a short story about what Thanksgiving means to us. Everyone seemed very relaxed and stayed for a couple hours talking. Our entire team had many opportunities to build deeper relationships that night. Yeah God!

“As an advertisement for that dinner, Melissa made apple and pumpkin pie for English class. Some of the women liked the apple so much they set-up a time to come to our home to make it. Five ladies came over and we had a great time baking and eating lunch. Cooking seems to be a way into peoples lives lately.”

David and Melissa are currently in the States for the wedding of Melissa’s brother. They will return to Macau before Christmas so they can participate in the ELP holiday activities.

08 Dec

December 8, 2004 |
  • St. Mary’s, Ohio. Mike Spaulding has been named interim pastor of Hillsdale UB church in St. Mary’s, effective December 5.
  • Lucile Cook, wife of Herbert Cook, passed away December 7. Services were in Desert Hot Spring, Calif.
  • Dan Millard is no longer pastor of Northland UB in Traverse City, Mich. Carlson Becker is serving as interim pastor.
  • Robert Lust is no longer at First UB church in Columbus, Ohio. The pastoral staff at Franklin Church in New Albany, Ohio, will provide pastoral oversight during the transition. Mike Brown and George McCombs are the pastors.

08 Dec

December 8, 2004 |

The Huntington College Board of Trustees has approved a 0% tuition increase for 2005-2006. Annual tuition is currently $18,060, which places Huntington 19th out of 32 independent colleges and universities in Indiana. Across the United States, the average tuition at four-year private institutions this year is $20,082. Read the HC press release.

08 Dec

December 8, 2004 |

Linda Neely, a UB endorsed missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, reports: “Great news! In October I received an invitation to be a language survey specialist in Indonesia! This invitation came after I expressed interest in working in that part of the world. It is exciting to have an official assignment!

“My first year in Indonesia will be spent in language school studying Bahasa Indonesia (or Indonesian) in the capital city of Jakarta. A city of over 10 million people, Jakarta is located on the island of Java. I am planning to arrive there in July of 2005 for a field-training course before starting Indonesian classes in August.

“Since I will not be going overseas until July, it will be beneficial for me to stay here in Dallas until April to take an advanced survey course. During this time I will also learn how to write profiles of people groups, a skill that will be very useful on the survey team in Indonesia.

“Here’s some more great news: almost all of the monthly financial support that I will need for my assignment in Indonesia has been pledged! There will still be some additional expenses for airfare, moving, and setting up.”

08 Dec

December 8, 2004 |

The first African maintenance officer of the United Brethren Church, Sierra Leone, Mr. Toma K. Fogbawah, the first African maintenance office of the UB church in Sierra Leone, passed away on December 11. He was 69. Mr. Fogbawah is survived by his wife, Mrs. Dinah Fogbawah, and seven children. Cards to the family can be sent through Mrs. Fogbawah, Andrew, and Tom, all of whom reside at: 3017 4th Avenue, Claymont, DE 19703.

  • Hong Kong. Hong Kong Conference held a missions conference in early December. Here are some items from that conference, plus news from the work of several persons affiliated with Hong Kong Conference:
  • There were 380 participants in the conference. Attendees donated $1,232, and made a faith offering of $29,788. Several members indicated that they would participate in short-term mission opportunities.
  • Poland. Arek Delik, serving in Poland, attended a conference with 200 preachers from eight different denominations; they discussed the vision of planting new churches. Arek and Donna have a new female coworker in Poland, Alina Kozlowska. Donna is teaching 86 students in English classes; it is a way to establish relationshipos with unchurched people.
  • Myanmar. The Go Chin family returned safely to Myanmar on December 7. They have 180 students in English classes. Carmen has started a kindergarten; she needs a schoolbus to provide transportation for students. Bridget Ho is busily making preparations for a Christmas evangelistic gathering for the students in the English classes.
  • Thailand. In Thailand, 40 persons will be baptized over Christmas. Rev. H. M. Lee is the pastor.

18 Nov

November 18, 2004 |

Jana sent the following on November 13.

  • Our part-time secretary, Wing, has decided to join our staff full-time. This will be a big help to us. Thank the Lord for bringing Wing to our center. She’s very creative and a lot of fun to be with.
  • On Saturday, November 20, we’ll hold a Thanksgiving party for Kids’ Klub. We’ll be giving a gospel invitation. Pray that God will be working in the hearts of the children this week to prepare them for responding to the gospel. Pray for Michael and I as we counsel children who respond to the invitation.
  • On Sunday, November 21, we’re holding a Thanksgiving Pie Social for everyone who attends our English Bible Studies. We’ll be giving a gospel invitation at this event, as well. Several of these adults have been studying the Bible with us for over a year. Pray that their hearts will be touched and that they’ll take the step of faith for salvation. Pray for Michael, Jennifer, and Airy as they prepare to share testimonies of how God has worked in their lives. Pray for Michael, Jennifer, David, Melissa, and I as we counsel with those in our small groups.

Jennifer Blandin, missionary to Macau, will return to the United States for a time of furlough beginning in January of 2005. During that time, Jennifer will continue working on her graduate degree at Winebrenner University in Findlay, Ohio.

18 Nov

November 18, 2004 |

Russ Neterer is known to many people in the denomination through his involvement at College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind., his role as a founding member of Emmanuel Community UB church in Fort Wayne, Ind., his service as a lay delegate to General Conference, and his 25-year tenure on the Huntington College Board of Trustees.

Russ, 92, passed away early Wednesday morning, November 17, at Parkview Huntington Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Thelma, and two children.

  • Visitation: November 19 (Friday) from 1-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Emmanuel Community Church (12222 W. US-24, Fort Wayne, Ind.).
  • Funeral: November 20 (Saturday), 10 a.m., at Emmanuel Community Church. Rev. Dennis Miller will officiate. Burial will be in Wakarusa, Ind.

11 Nov

November 11, 2004 |

Edward E. Souers has been elected chairman of the Huntington College Board of Trustees. He is managing partner of Christen Souers LLC, an accounting firm in Fort Wayne, Ind. Ed is a 1977 HC graduate, and is a member of South Scipio UB church in Harlan, Ind.

Kelly Savage (Class of 1983) was elected Vice Chair of the Board. Savage is the chief information officer for Alticor, the parent company of Amway, Quixtar and Access Business Group. David Tinkey (1980), a commercial banking finance manager for Bank One in Indianapolis, Ind., was elected Secretary of the Board.