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15 Jan

January 15, 2016 |

michael-elkinsMichael Elkins (right) has been appointed lead pastor of New Hope Community Church in Bryan, Ohio, effective January 1, 2016. His first Sunday to preach is January 17.

He graduated in 2007 from Baptist Bible College (Springfield, Mo.) with a degree in Pastoral Ministries, and earned a Masters in Human Services (Executive Leadership) in 2015 from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Va.). Since 2009, he has served as associate pastor of Connections Community Church in Schoolcraft, Mich. He and his wife, Michelle, have three daughters ages 2-7.

The previous pastor, Pat Schwenk, left at the end of 2015 to plant a new church in Michigan (with New Hope’s blessing and support).

15 Jan

January 15, 2016 |

Andy Sikora (right), senior pastor, Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio).

This year at Renew Communities we did “The Last Place Christmas Projects.” It was born out of the idea that Jesus calls his followers to take last place and live as servants of all. We encouraged people to come up with people they could bless and then recruit others from inside and outside our church to participate in these projects.

The video above shows some of the great stories that came out of these projects.

The last story shows the completion of our 2014 Home For Christmas project where we partnered with two other local churches to buy and renovate a house for a woman and her kids graduating from a homeless/crisis shelter here in Cleveland. In 2014 we raised nearly $25,000 and had other partners give $15,000 that went to rehabbing the home. As part of the Last Place Christmas Project this year, people from Renew collected all the furnishings and tons of Christmas gifts for the family.

12 Jan

January 12, 2016 |
The cluster leaders are meeting in the upper level of the Habecker Dining Commons at Huntington University.

The cluster leaders are meeting in the upper level of the Habecker Dining Commons at Huntington University.

The cluster leaders, National Office staff, and spouses enjoyed a buffet dinner at Huntington University.

The cluster leaders, National Office staff, and spouses enjoyed a buffet dinner at Huntington University.

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University, bringing greetings to the group.

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University, bringing greetings to the group.

Bishop Todd Fetters speaking to the group.

Bishop Todd Fetters speaking to the group.

Training time on Tuesday morning.

Training time on Tuesday morning.

The Cluster Leader Winter Gathering is underway at Huntington University. About 25 of the cluster leaders arrived on Monday. The event began with an evening meal, for which the National Office staff and spouses joined the group. The evening included from HU President Sherilyn Emberton, a message from Bishop Todd Fetters, and an extended prayer exercise led by Mark Vincenti, associate pastor of College Park Church in Huntington.

The meeting continue today (Tuesday) with a training time led by Mike Dittman, who heads a ministry called Haven for the Heart. He has been working with the clusters for several years.

08 Jan

January 8, 2016 |
In the photo taken soon after having traveled 40 hours, the team is receiving some pointers on Thai culture and basic phrases.

In the photo taken soon after having traveled 40 hours, the team is receiving some pointers on Thai culture and basic phrases.

Global Ministries associate directors Frank Y and Donna Hollopeter are traveling with a team from Huntington University’s Institute for TESOL Studies (ITS) in Chiang Rai, Thailand. ITS executive director Shoshannah McKinney, along with a group of seven students, are teaching English and practicing conversation in a number of schools and local ministries. Pray their words and actions would be seasoned with grace and that participants will be open to hear the good news of the gospel.

04 Jan

January 4, 2016 |

Ken Thompson has been appointed senior pastor of South Scipio UB church (Harlan, Ind.), effective January 1, 2016. He was ordained as a UB minister in 1993 and previously pastored UB churches in Van Buren, Ind., Huntington, Ind., and Hillsdale, Ohio.

04 Jan

January 4, 2016 |

Paul W. Cairl, 87 passed away January 3, 2016, in Findlay, Ohio. at Birchaven Village. He is survived by his wife, Virginia, whom he married in 1948, and a daughter. Paul was an ordained United Brethren minister, and a former administrator at Huntington College.

Visitation: 3-8 pm Wednesday, January 6, 2016; and 10-11 am Thursday, January 7.
Funeral: 11 am Thursday, January 7, 2016.

Both visitation and funeral will be held at the Lehtomaa Funeral Home, 201 Osborn Ave. Findlay, Ohio 45840.

04 Jan

January 4, 2016 |

Rev. Donald Bender, 85, passed away January 1, 2016, in Chambersburg, Pa. He graduated from Huntington College and spent his life pastoring churches in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He was a member of Blue Rock UB church in Waynesboro, Pa., which was one of the churches he pastored. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Shirley, and three children.

Visitation: 6-8 pm Monday, January 4.
Funeral: 11am Tuesday, January 5.

Both the visitation and funeral will be held at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 South Broad Street, Waynesboro, PA. Rev. Gayle Ruble will officiate at the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, 2700 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org.

29 Dec

December 29, 2015 |

langeEsther Lange, widow of Rev. Burton Lange, passed away at 9:15 pm on Monday, December 28, 2015. Sons Roger and Jerry were praying around her bed as she took her last breath.

Esther and Burt served 58 years in United Brethren pastoral ministry–in Kansas, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Burt passed away June 22, 2015. Funeral details for Esther will be posted when available.

29 Dec

December 29, 2015 |

doris-malson200Here are the funeral details for Doris Malson, who passed away on December 24.

Visitation: 3-6pm on Saturday, January 2, 2016,.
Visitation location: Mt. Hope UB church Fellowship Building, 5011 Mt. Hope Road, Carson City, Mich.
Memorial service: 3pm Sunday, January 3, 2016.
Memorial service location: East Washington UB church, 8051 S. Crapo Road, Ashley, Mich. (corner of Crapo and M 57 just west of Ashley). Visitation one hour prior to the service. Rev. Steve Malson, a son, will officiate.

Doris M. Malson was born August 17, 1923 in Lansing, Mich., the daughter of Fred and Bessie Crowl. She was a good student, athlete, and president of her class the last three years in high school. She and Charles F. Malson met and fell in love at Camden High and were married after graduation in the fall of 1941, a couple weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. They were married for 73 years. Charles preceded her in death in 2013.

Doris is survived by her children Beth and Lee Palmer, Cathie Kesler-Collins and Tom Collins, Chuck and Kate Malson, Patsy and Trent Bushnell, Steve and Jody Malson, Mary and Doug Streeter, by 19 grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.

Doris’ life was manifested by her love for Jesus, her devotion to Charles, her family, and a host of those who loved her as family. She spent her life caring for others and was proud of how many were unofficially adopted into the Malson clan. She cooked for camps and conferences at the Carson City Christian Camping Center. She readily hosted people for meals. Visitors knew that they would be offered ice cream and her famous homemade chocolate topping and/or homemade donuts even if it were a drop-in visit.

charles-doris-malsonDoris and Charles farmed after marriage until Charles answered the call to Christian ministry. They moved to New York, where Charles attended Houghton College. To supplement their income, Doris did laundry for college men. One Monday she washed, starched, and ironed 58 white shirts along with the other laundry. (This was before dryers were common.)

She served alongside Charles at Brown Corners UB church in Clare, Mich., 1952-1957, and at Richfield Road UB church in Flint, 1957-1982. Dozens consider her to be Mom or Grandma. Doris traveled extensively with Charles, who was fulltime superintendent of Michigan Conference 1982-1991, when he retired.

Doris and Charles visited various countries while serving on the denominational Board of Missions. She was president of the Michigan Conference Women’s Missionary Association for several years. While in the Carson City area, they were faithful members of the Mt. Hope United Brethren in Christ Church.

She and Charles believed in giving back to the community where they lived. They volunteered at Carson City Hospital for more than 25 years, developing many community friends while helping to create a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere as people registered.

Memorial funds may be made to any of the following:

  • Carson City Christian Camping Center, 10890 Easy Street, Carson City, MI 48811.
  • Greater Lansing Youth for Christ, 5222 Dumond Dr, Lansing, MI 48917.
  • Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 48607.

24 Dec

December 24, 2015 |

Doris Malson passed away at 6:30pm on Christmas Eve. She had suffered a massive stroke on Friday, December 18.

Her son Chuck wrote, “At 6:30 tonight, Christmas eve, my Mom, Doris Malson said Merry Christmas to St. Peter at the gates of heaven, knelt at the feet of Jesus, and looked around for Pop, Charles Malson. At least, that’s how I imagine it. What a great time for a great woman. Thank you for all your prayers and love. No details yet on the visitation or Memorial services.”