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01 Oct

October 1, 2003 |

Huntington College announced a total fall enrollment of 980. That includes 838 undergraduates, 89 adults students in its EXCEL Program, and 53 students in the Graduate School of Christian Ministries. This is down slightly from last year’s enrollment of 1016 (the graduating class last spring was a record 234). Retention is good: 77% of last year’s freshmen returned for the sophomore year–among the highest figures in recent years. Overall, 85% of students eligible to return do so.

Homecoming is being held this weekend. It will draw attention to the 100-year anniversary of powered flight, in tribute to the Wright family. Bishop Milton Wright, father of the Wright brothers, was instrumental in founding Huntington College. As Bishop, he laid the cornerstone of the school’s first building in August 1896, and offered the prayer of dedication for the college in September 1897. A residence hall, Wright Hall, is named after Bishop Wright.

30 Sep

September 30, 2003 |
  • Paul Dunbar is no longer the interim pastor at Lurgan Church, as of September 30. He will be unassigned for now.
  • Richard Mose is the new interim pastor at Lurgan UB (Shippensburg, Pa.), effective October 1.
  • Rudy Tamez, associate pastor at Emmanuel Community Church, has resigned effective September 30. He will be serving in another denomination.
  • Barry McCune, senior pastor at First UB Church, Van Wert, has resigned his position. He will live in the parsonage for the rest of this year. He is not being reassigned at this time, and the church will be unassigned. This is effective October 1.
  • Kent Maxwell has retired as pastor of New Hope UB in Huntington, Ind., effective September 30. M. E. Burkett has been named senior pastor of New Hope.
  • Robert Reid is no longer pastor of Friendship UB (Vancouver, Wash.), effective August 31. He will not be reassigned.

25 Sep

September 25, 2003 |

On October 12, Sunfield UB (Sunfield, Mich.) will dedicates it new fellowship/Christian education building to the Lord. Former pastor Kevin Cherry will be speaking.

October 12 will also be the annual “Miracle Sunday.” Every year on the second Sunday of October, they take a special offering for the construction fund. Last year they raised close to $40,000. The building, which cost $500,000, has a remaining indebtedness of about $100,000.

Sunfield will participate in a spiritual journey called “40 Days of Purpose” between October 12 and November 23. It is based on Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life.”

25 Sep

September 25, 2003 |

Our director of the Macau ELP work sent these notes about the summer in Macau.

During the summer at the Taipa Center, we held six weeks of English classes for children and teens. We helped them with their English conversation skills and also shared Bible Stories with them. Then we had VBS for a week, with the theme “Surfin’ God’s Word.” We were happy to build our relationships with more of the families we’re working with on Taipa.

Linda Neely returned to the States in August after a year of service as a volunteer missionary in Macau. Lamar and Karen Crumbley arrived at the end of August to serve with us until Christmas.

Living Water Church held a water-gun fight and BBQ at the beach in July. It was a great time of fellowship with the church members and some of their friends. We even BBQ’d some eggplant! The after-dinner activities were cut short, though, when a typhoon started blowing in. Everyone made a dash for their cars as the rain and wind started.

Living Word Church held a calmer BBQ in August. Several teenagers who have been attending worship services came to the event. Everyone ate and talked and BBQ’d a variety of meats for several hours.

25 Sep

September 25, 2003 |

Park UB (Bluffton, Ind.) participated with 17 other churches in a Prayer Tent at the Bluffton Street Fair, held September 16-20. Each church was responsible for two time segments during the week. They wore t-shirts that said “Thirsty? Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst again.” The back of the shirts read, ” Churches cooperating for a changed community.”

Each team greeted the people as they passed by, offered them a cup of water, and received any prayer requests that were given. They gave away 50-70 gallons of water each day. And each day, they emailed a list of prayer requests to the participating churches.

During August, 12 people from Park traveled to Vermont to work at a local church. While there, they built a handicapped ramp, replanted new landscaping, and led the children in VBS. The team members raised their own money throughout the summer in order to make this event possible.

25 Sep

September 25, 2003 |
  • Darren Duncan, formerly a pastor in Central Conference, holds the rank of Captain in the US Air Force. He began his active duty chaplaincy at McChord Air Force Base in Washington on May 30. He says he will be deploying to a classified location from November 4 to March 4.
  • Tanya Hardaway is the new Director of Children√ïs Ministries at Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.), effective June 15. She is part-time and not licensed.
  • George Rhodifer has been named Interim Pastor of Hillsdale UB of St. Mary’s, Ohio, effective September 14. He was formerly the associate pastor at Park Layne UB in Dayton, Ohio.
  • Eric Ross is supply pastor of Eden UB (Reedsville, Ohio). Gary Reed, the lay leader at Eden, had been serving as supply pastor.
  • Angela Burnside is the new Director of Children’s Ministries at Gaines UB (Caledonia, Mich.), effective September 3. She replaces Kelly Dutcher, who resigned from that position as of August 15.
  • Doug Wendt, who had been music minister at Gaines UB (Caledonia, Mich.), resigned from that position in June.

25 Sep

September 25, 2003 |

Pleasant Hill (Greencastle, Pa.) UB’s student ministry is called WHAT–Weary Hearts Acquiring Truth (based on Matthew 11:28). This summer, they participated in the “Ultimate Van Tour.” The participants included 20 students, 6 adults, and 2 children.

They left after church on July 27, traveled to the UB church in Oak Harbor, Ohio, and stayed there Monday and Tuesday nights. The youth were challenged to show Christ in a practical way while at the Cedar Point amusement park. Youth came back with many stories of how they showed Christ to others–from holding doors for people, to asking strangers about Christ.

Oak Harbor’s youth pastor, Don Gentry, led the group with devotions Monday night after the Cedar Point experience. Then on Tuesday, they traveled to Adrian, Mich., where they spent time using the pool, gym, and bowling alley at the Christian Family Center.

Then it was on to Mason, Mich., where they spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Eden UB church. They had a bonfire on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, it was on to the UB church in Fowlerville, where the youth were involved in a prayer walk with Youth Pastor Bill Blue.

Say Ray Dutcher, youth pastor at Pleasant Hill, “A trip like this allows students to experience other UB churches and other states”

25 Sep

September 25, 2003 |

Rhodes Grove Camp (Chambersburg, Pa.) had 613 campers this summer, 23 of whom made first-time salvation decisions. Campers gave $3,000 to help with world hunger.

25 Sep

September 25, 2003 |

Fort Wayne, Ind. Here are several items from Anchor UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.), which on October 19 celebrates its fifth anniversary.

  • About a dozen youth from Anchor UB, along with several adult sponsors, attended the DC/LA youth conference in Cincinnati. Some of the neighborhood youth made decisions for Christ during the event.
  • Soon after returning, the youth headed off again, this time for the Cornerstone music festival in Bushnell, Ill.
  • Jamie Knuth, a member of the youth group, led this year’s VBS program during June. She incorporated high-school, college, and adult volunteers. A great example of youth ministry leadership. Jamie, who has also been a youth leader with Campus Life, is now a freshman at Taylor University’s Fort Wayne campus.
  • Every year, Anchor holds a baptismal service/picnic/worship service at the Stillwater retreat just south of Fort Wayne. This year, five people were baptized. They included a mother and adult daughter; the daughter had led her mom to the Lord during the previous month.
  • Over fifty kids showed up for our fifth annual Neighborhood Carnival. Many of them came for the first time.