A training event for church treasurers will be held 9am – noon Saturday, February 20, 2016, at Rhodes Grove Camp and Conference Center (Chambersburg, Pa.). The cost is $15 for the first person, and $10 for each additional attendee.
Keith and Joy Sider from Sider Agency will be presenting on “Can We Lessen the Tax Burden for your Pastor through Health Insurance.” Lunch will follow the presentations.
The Associate Staff Summit is held every two years. It is designed for persons in UB churches working in such staff roles as pastoral care, assimilation, adult education, visitation, counseling, missions, discipleship, children’s ministry, etc. It is NOT for senior pastors.
Craig Mickey and Sam Ward, associate staff at Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.), are in charge of the programming and schedule. (Youth ministers have their own summit).
Date: May 2-6, 2016 Location:Best Western Aku Tiki Inn
2225 S Atlantic Ave
Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118
Registration
Registration includes lodging, meeting costs, 4 breakfasts and some dinners.
$100 per person (for the week). We’ll put you in a room with another attendee.
$200 per person (for the week). For a private room (by yourself or with your spouse).
You are responsible for:
Transportation to and from Daytona
Lunch on your own, some dinners.
Hotel incidentals and extra days (before or after the summit).
Continuing Education
The Associate Summit qualifies for 20 hours of continuing education.
Date: April 25-28, 2016 Location: Best Western Aku Tiki Inn, 2225 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118
This is an annual event of encouragement and training for persons in youth ministry. It is available for the lead youth ministry workers (fulltime, part-time, or volunteer) in every United Brethren church. About 25 youth persons usually attend.
The Summit is a great time of networking with other youth leaders and being encouraged by others who are in the trenches of youth ministry. They enjoy the beach, the golf course, and incredibly beautiful weather, along with the chance to slow down and step away from the constant demands of youth ministry.
You are responsible for:
Transportation to and from Daytona.
Meals that are not covered.
Hotel incidentals.
Keynote Speaker
This year our keynote speaker is Dave Rahn (right), a nationally known youth ministry expert. He will encourage each of us in our attempt to make a difference for the Kingdom of God among today’s generation of teenagers.
Schedule
The Summit begins with a steak dinner on Monday evening, April 25. It comes to a conclusion (much too early) after the evening session on Thursday, April 28.
Continuing Education
If you hold a UB ministerial license, by attending this summit, you will earn 20 credit hours, which satisfies your annual requirement
The two-day United Brethren History Course will be offered in Michigan and Pennsylvania during February and March. This course is a requirement for ministerial licensing in the United Brethren denomination. In addition, many people who just want to learn more about UB history take the course. During the past five years, about 140 people have attended the course in 17 locations.
Sunfield, Mich.
Date: February 29 – March 1, 2016 Time: 9 am – 4 pm Location: Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.) Address: 8436 W. Grand Ledge Highway, Sunfield, MI 48890 Instructor: Bob Bruce (right), associate pastor of Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
New Castle, Pa.
Date: March 21-22, 2016 Time: 9 am – 4 pm Location: First UB church (New Castle, Pa.) Address: 1900 Eastbrook Road, New Castle, PA 16101 Instructor: Daryl Elliott (right), senior pastor of Fountain UB church (Keyser, W. Va.).
Registration
$200, if you are seeking a ministerial license. There is a $25 discount if you pay fully in advance of the class, making your cost just $175.
The complete Huntington University chapel program on November 19, 2015, when four generations of the Merillat family–including matriarch Ruth Merillat–participated in a panel discussion led by HU president Sherilyn Emberton.
Ruth Merillat will celebrate her 95th birthday on January 18, 2016. Over the years she and her late husband, Orville, who passed away in 1999, have been a huge blessing to Huntington University and to many United Brethren churches and ministries across the world. Orville and Ruth started a cabinet company in 1946 which grew to become Merillat Industries, the world’s largest cabinet manufacturer.
On December 29, Ruth suffered a minor stroke. The family announced, “After a brief hospital stay, Ruth is now at home and getting some much-needed rest to help with her recovery. She has received countless flowers, cards, and well-wishes from her vast network of friends, and would like to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts, kindness, and prayers. As you can imagine, this is an important time for Ruth and our family as we work toward providing her with the 24-hour care she now requires.”
On November 19, Huntington University hosted four generations of the Merillat family on campus. Ruth Merillat, Richard & Lynette Merillat, and Tricia (Merillat) McGuire, along with her two daughters, were part of a panel on the subject of giving. Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of HU, led the panel discussion during the morning chapel. The video above includes the entire chapel.
The Merillats, members of Trenton Hills UB church in Adrian, Mich., first gave to Huntington University in 1968–a gift of cabinets for a house the college owned. In 1972 they led the campaign for the new Merillat Physical Education Complex, and gave toward nearly every building constructed in the 1980s and 1990s.
Three buildings on Huntington University’s campus are named after the Merillat family: The Merillat Complex (PLEX), the Merillat Centre for the Arts (MCA) and RIchLyn Library (a combination of the names Richard and Lynette).
The Merillats have contributed toward many other Christians organizations, and to numerous United Brethren causes–missionaries, church construction, church staff, national office staff and equipment, and much more.
Dr. Sherilyn Emberton (third from left) and other Huntington University staff wishing Ruth Merillat a happy 95th birthday.
A group of Huntington University Occupational Therapy students decided to spend their January Term in Haiti. This trip is about offering mobility options and fittings to Haitians in need. This is the second year that a group of Occupational Therapy students have made this trip.
Nate Short, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, has accompanied the students during both trips. HU partners with Wheels of the World, a program created by Joni and Friends International Disability Center, for this project.
Michael 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).
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.
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.
Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University, bringing greetings to the group.
Bishop Todd Fetters speaking to the group.
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.
This year our keynote speaker is Dave Rahn (right), a nationally known youth ministry expert. He will encourage each of us in our attempt to make a difference for the Kingdom of God among today’s generation of teenagers.
Date: February 29 – March 1, 2016
Date: March 21-22, 2016
Michael 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.
Andy Sikora (right), senior pastor, Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio).
