06 May Martin Magnus Needs Surgery for Tumor

Martin Magnus, a retired minister and former conference superintendent in Ontario, is undergoing major surgery this week to remove a brain tumor. One surgery is occurring this morning (Tuesday). Martin will then undergo an all-day surgery on Thursday, May 8, to remove the tumor. The tumor was discovered after Martin began experiencing little “seizures” that appeared as absent spells; pressure from the growing tumor was the cause. The tumor is not malignant.

Martin’s son Brian (President of the UB Church in Canada, and pastor of the UB church in Guelph), writes, “They’ll do an embolism at the meningal artery that’s feeding this tumor. I believe they’ll do an angiogram beforehand. He’ll wait at the hospital until Thursday, when they’ll begin at 8 a.m. the all-day ‘intercranial surgery’ to remove the tumor. Dad will probably remain in the hospital to recover for about five days….

“The tumor is under the right sideburn, 2 inches in diameter–larger than a golf ball, smaller than a tennis ball. There are many small vessels leading to the tumour. Since it is so vascular it is thought to be a Meningioma. It is growing off the Meninges (brain lining), not the base of the skull.

“Mom and Dad (and all of us) really appreciate your prayers!”

03 May Among Ministers….

Gary Reed, lay leader at Eden UB (Reedsville, Ohio), is filling the pulpit until a new pastor can be found. Bill Duty, the previous pastor, resigned as of April 13.

Peter Martindale is pastor of Mount Hermon UB (Pomeroy, Ohio) effective May 4.

02 May Roy Atherton Hired at Sunfield

Sunfield UB (Sunfield, Mich.) has hired a new Assistant Pastor. His name is Roy Atherton. The church had a special welcome for him, his wife, Judy, and their two children, Nicole and Kieth.

16 Apr Martin Magnus with Brain Tumor

A CT-Scan has shown that Rev. Martin Magnus, a long-time pastor in Ontario, has a brain tumor. His son, Brian Magnus, President of the UB Church in Canada, sent this report.

“He has a glioblastoma which appears to have been there a while. The report also speaks of vasogenic edema, metastatic lesions and suggestions of necrosis. I think that means it’s a tumor that has some dead tissue within it, swelling of the brain and blood vessels surrounding it, and perhaps a connection to another tumor elsewhere (primary tumor vs. secondary tumor).

“Currently it’s about 5 cm X 3 cm (1″ X 2”) and is on the surface of the cerebrum. Dad goes in to the London University Hospital next Wednesday (April 23) for a biopsy. They’ll decide on their plan of attack after that.

“He had the CT-Scan because he’d had a few ‘absent spells’ where he’d just go into a daze for a minute or so. Not good, especially when you’re driving! His only symptoms to this point were these black-outs over the last eight or ten months, which he thought were ended with a change in his glaucoma medication.

“Dad is a United Brethren minister, pastoring in Canada and Michigan from 1956 to 1990. He and my Mom, Lois, live a very busy retirement life in Kitchener, Ontario where they are active in the Stanley Park Church and also in the United Brethren Church in Canada (Dad just preached for me here in Guelph a few weeks ago). They have five kids, 12 grandchildren and thousands of friends.

“Dad and Mom and all of us would covet your prayers at this time.”

15 Apr Otterbein UB Hires Student Ministries Dir.

Craig Shuler is the new Director of Student Ministries at Otterbein UB in Waynesboro, Pa., effective March 30.

11 Apr Among Ministers….

James Mack, former part-time Youth Pastor at Ebenezer UB Church in Greencastle, Pa., resigned that position as of March 1.

Chris Moore was hired, as of January 2, as part-time Technology Coordinator at Emmanuel Community UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.). He had previously served as pastor of Good Shepherd UB in Huntington, Ind.

Julie Sattison was hired, as of January 13, as part-time Director of Preschool Ministries at Emmanuel Community UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.).