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For over ten years, a group of teens and adults went to Jamaica during the summer to conduct VBS in Jamaican churches. We called it STUMP — the Summer Teen United Ministry Program. There is no official STUMP group this year. However, our Open Bible Fellowship church in Safford has stepped into the gap. They are sending a group to Jamaica to conduct VBS in four churches, all in the Kingston area. The group will leave on Friday, July 17.
A group of 15 people from College Park UB church will travel to Mexico July 17-25 to work with our Hispanic churches in Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas (across the border from each other). They’ll do VBS in three places, and also help construct a Sunday school area for one of the El Paso churches. We have three churches in Juarez and six in El Paso. Gary Dilley, Director of Global Ministries, will lead that group.
Dr. Walter Burkholder passed away on July 9, 2004. The Pennsylvania native pastored at United Brethren churches in Pennsylvania, Fort Wayne, and near Geneva, Ind., and served as general secretary of Christian Education for the United Brethren denomination.
Surviving are wife, Erma; children, Alan, Ann Oden, and Sharon Bryant; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held Tuesday, July 14, in Huntington, Ind.
Here are some news items taken from Hong Kong Conference’s June 2004 report. It includes news about two missionaries who have come from Hong Kong Conference, and about work in several other countries.
Arek and Donna Delik (Poland). The summer English camp has been canceled due to a lack of tutors. Donna and Arek will start evangelism in Kutno and promote the mission work of Operation Mobilization….Donna and Arek will take 22 youths to participate in the Conference on Street Evangelism for youths in Germany from July 31 to August 6.
Myanmar. The move to the newly purchased centre has been postponed as the contractor is still not ready to hand over the centre to us….In June, the English classes started and the admission is good. As a result, two more tutors are required.
Northern Thailand. At present, an Akar missionary couple is working with Pastor Lee….In August, Mr K. K. Fung will lead a short-term mission group to Northern Thailand. There are five participants.
Bridget Ho. Ms. Bridget Ho completed her short mission in Nepal and returned to Hong Kong on June 20. She will attend a talk on Youth Mission in Taiwan.
Macau. At Living Word church, a coworker for student evangelistic work is required so that Pastor Connie Sung can have more time for church pastoring and training….Mr. Michael Chan is serving in the English Centre. He is from the Cell-group Training College. The Centre is open from June to August to facilitate English studies.
Jana, Global Ministries staff in Macau, sent these items on June 29.
Jennifer Blandin sent these items on July 1.
Luanne Brooks has been a missionary in Haiti since March 2003. She has been a UB missionary, but working with OMS International. Luanne has decided to conclude her ministry with OMS. She explains:
“When I signed on with OMS, I signed on for two years. My plan was to work here for two years and by then, the UB church would be ready for me to move down to Port au Prince and work with our churches there. God threw a monkey wrench into that when our church began merger talks with another denomination. And so I thought that maybe I would just stay here with OMS. But God has been speaking to my heart about that, too. I now feel that God has another plan for me.
“I will be returning to the States and continuing my education. I believe God is calling me into fulltime ministry as either a hospital chaplain or in women’s ministries. When I return home I will finish my bachelors degree at the University of Central Florida and then look into seminaries.
“Please pray for me. This is going to be a big change. I am leaving many people I have grown to love and admire. My leaving has not been good news for the clinic staff; many have expressed their regret. I will be returning home on Tuesday, November 30 (my birthday), and will try to a short-term position in South Florida with my daughter. My plan is to move back to Daytona after about six months, in time to start school at UCF. I hope to work with my church and help with Haitian ministries. We have two Haitian churches in our conference.
“If you are supporting me financially and/or in prayer, I ask that you continue to do so. I do not have enough money in my support account to finish my term if the giving stops. I will need your prayers for knowing where God is leading. I want what He wants. He knows better than I what is best for my life.”
New Horizons UB paid off the mortgage on its new facility far ahead of schedule. Pastor Bob Loar reports that in the last five years, over $1.5 million passed through the building fund as they worked to relocate the ministry following the arson at the former building.
Michael Wentz, pastor of Living Hope UB, challenged his congregation to take $10 and multiply it for UB missions. J. P. and Matthew (the boys pictured above) decided to invest in a food and beverage stand at a neighborhood yard sale in order to multiply their “talent.” They multiplied it ten times! Their donation of $100 was added to Living Hope’s missions offering.
Our director in Macau sent this update on June 12.
