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06 Oct

October 6, 2003 |

Ron Gonzales, pastor of Open Bible Fellowship, being interested by the ABC crew.

Sorting clothes in Angels Closet.

One of the Johnston daughters at work in Angels Closet.

On September 29, a family from Open Bible Fellowship (Safford, Ariz.) was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America. Bill and Ruth Johnston started a clothing ministry when the local clothing bank closed. They feared that needy family would go unhelped, and their daughters would come home from school reporting about classmates who needed clothes. So they decided to do something about it.

The result was Angels Closet. They began by storing donated clothes in their garage, giving them out to individual families. They soon expanded into a 10-by-10 foot room behind the church, and then it took over two rooms in the church educational building.

Now, Angels Closet regularly serves hundreds of families a month. They come from four counties and American Indian reservations. All five of the Johnston daughters, ranging in age from 10 to 23, are heavily. Bill says, “You know it’s not something they have to do. They’re doing it because they want to do it. And it makes me feel very proud.”

Two grandchildren are also helping out. Says Trystin, age 5, “I give out toys. I let them take them with them. They don’t need to take them back.”

Bobbie Thompson, the church secretary, reports, “Since the show, we have had several calls and emails regarding the work here. NBC is now wanting to do a special on this family and our clothing bank, and has even spoken of flying them to New York to be on a talk show. Several donations have been called in, and several cash donations have been made.”

An article about the Johnston family can be found on ABC’s website. Angels Closet also has its own website.

Bobbie Thompson also wrote about other recent goings on at Open Bible Fellowship.

“Over 150 kids attended each day of our summer Vacation Bible School. There were 33 decisions for Christ and several rededications.

“A team from the church goes into Mexico every other month to distribute food and clothing, and to preach the gospel. Last count, souls saved to date was over 900.

“Sunday school is going strong, and our worship ministry just added three new members to their team, which now gives us a total of 10 members. Things are going great. With the new facilities we have had plenty of room for everyone.

“Right now, we are getting ready for our Family Fun Night, an alternative to Halloween. Last year, over 1200 people come through our doors. There will be several games with prizes, a concession stand, and a concert held outside during the evening.

“We are excited about what God is doing here in Safford. We are experiencing new growth within the body, and are continuing to look for more.”

03 Oct

October 3, 2003 |
  • Don Palmer concluded his ministry as pastor of Pennfield UB (Battle Creek, Mich.) on September 30. A supply pastor is being secured.
  • Angela Burnside is the new Director of Children’s Ministries at Gaines UB (Caledonia, Mich.), as of September 3. She succeeds Kelly Dutcher, who concluded her tenure in that position on August 15.
  • Marion Hall, as of August 17, is the new pastor of Harrison UB (Harrison , Mich.).
  • Brian Biedenbach is the new Associate Pastor of Student Ministries at Emmanuel UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.), as of September 28. This is a fulltime position. He replaces Rudy Tamez, who accepted a position with a church in another denomination.

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.