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03 Nov

November 3, 2022 |

Bishop Todd Fetters and Samantha Essig

Sam Essig (right) with her predecessor as administrative assistant to the bishop, Cathy Reich, at the farewell luncheon.

In August 2021, Samantha “Sam” Essig came to the United Brethren National Office as administrative assistant to Bishop Todd Fetters (that’s the two of them in the first photo above). She took the place of Cathy Reich, who had held that position since 2007 and was moving into semi-retirement with a new role as Events Coordinator.

Sam has been a perfect fit for this office–talented, personable, fun, energetic, a self-starter, and brimming with ideas to make us more effective. She’s a Huntington University graduate with deep roots in the United Brethren church. So we’re really, really sad to see her go.

Sam has accepted a job as Care Coordinator with Pathway Community Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., a very large Missionary Church congregation. She starts Monday. Sam and her husband, Jake, live in Fort Wayne and attend Pathway, so it’s a good fit. It’ll certainly be a much shorter commute. We know it’s a good opportunity for Sam, and we’re glad for her. But good help can be hard to find, and Sam has been far better than good. She’s been great.

Last week, the UB National Office staff held a farewell luncheon for Sam, with gifts. It was a good time. Her predecessor, Cathy Reich, came to help say goodbye. Friday, November 4, is Sam’s last day at the UBNO.

We are grateful to Sam for her time with us, and for the many ways she has sharpened us and contributed to the ministry of the United Brethren Church. We wish Sam the best, and know God has good things in store for her.

02 Nov

November 2, 2022 |

Dr. Paul R. Fetters

Dr. Paul R. Fetters, 88, of Fort Wayne, Ind., passed away early Monday morning October 31, 2022, in Fort Wayne, Ind. Paul lived out Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” in his leadership roles in the Church, ministerial education, and family, which he loved deeply.

Visitation: 4-8pm Friday, November 4, 2022.
Visitation location: Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel, 2901 Guilford Street, Huntington, IN 46750.
Funeral: 10:30 am Saturday, November 5, 2022. Viewing one hour beforehand.
Funeral location: College Park United Brethren Church, 1945 College Ave., Huntington, IN 46750.

Dr. Fetters was an ordained minister in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and served churches in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In 1972, he founded the Graduate School of Christian Ministries at Huntington University and taught theology and Bible for over 45 years.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, whom he married in August 1956, three sons, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Dr. Fetters was born in 1933 in Celina, Ohio. He graduated from Huntington University in 1955, and from the HU Theological Seminary in 1959; he was ordained that year as a United Brethren minister. He went on to earn a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1980.

His pastoral ministry began in 1954 as pastor of Calvary UB church in Rockford, Ohio, followed by a year at Hopewell UB (Auburn, Ind.), and then 1957-1962 at Third Street UB in Fort Wayne, Ind. (now Anchor Community Church). He pastored a United Methodist congregation in Pennsylvania for two years while working on his MDiv at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He then returned to pastoring UB churches for eight years: 1964-1966 at Park UB (Bluffton, Ind.), and 1966-1972 at Kettering UB (Dayton, Ohio).

In 1972, Dr. Fetters moved to Huntington to found the Graduate School of Christian Ministries, a new paradigm for training UB ministers. He served as dean of the GSCM for the next 25 years. He then stepped down as dean, but continued teaching fulltime at Huntington University at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Over the years he served as general editor for several books related to the United Brethren church, including Trials and Triumphs (UB history), Theological Perspectives, and two volumes about UB bishops since 1889. He also wrote various other UB materials for the denomination–curriculum, booklets, pamphlets, and articles.

Paul and Barbara’s three sons are ordained United Brethren ministers and currently live in Huntington. Brooks is a former UB pastor, church planter, and two-term mayor of Huntington. Luke, a former UB church planter and missionary in Macau, is now Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Huntington University. Todd, a former UB pastor in Michigan and Pennsylvania, has been bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ USA since 2015.

Interment will be at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Huntington.

Memorial donations can be made out to Paul Richard Fetters Scholarship at Huntington University in care of Myers Funeral Home, 2901 Guilford Street, Huntington, IN 46750.

Other funeral information can be found on the Myers Funeral Home website.

05 Oct

October 5, 2022 |

UB Global is holding a special missions event on Friday evening, October 21. It’s designed for the whole family, and it’s free!

When: 6:30 – 8:00 pm Friday, October 21
Where: Emmanuel UB church, (12222 US Highway 24 W, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46814
Cost: Free!

Some highlights:

  • Designed for the whole family.
  • Sample international appetizers from places like Ethiopia, Pakistan, Myanmar, and other countries.
  • Missions stations for engaging with international cultures, including a challenge food table for extra spicy, weird-tasting foods.
  • A great chance to meet & connect with others interested in missions from our wider region
  • The evening will conclude with a series of short but high-impact stories of what God is doing around the world.
  • Interact with the UB Global staff and other UB leaders.

Learn more on the UB Global website. You’ll also find promotional resources you can download.

05 Oct

October 5, 2022 |

Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio) will host this UB Global Prayer Gathering on Saturday morning, October 15. It will be a time of gathering together to pray over our mission fields and for our missionaries. Prayer is so powerful and we invite you to join us!

Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Time: 10 – 11:30 am
Location: Mainstreet UB church, 5465 Moline-Martin Rd, Walbridge, OH 43465

Please register at this link so we can get a number count for lunch.

04 Oct

October 4, 2022 |

Mary Souders

Mary Frances Souders, three day shy of her 105th birthday, passed away September 29, 2022. She was the widow of Rev. William Merle Souders, a longtime pastor and conference superintendent in Kansas. They married in 1935 and were married for 71 years.

Visitation: 11am Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Funeral: 1:00 am Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Location: Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, Kansas

Rev. Souders pastored the former Grayston Avenue UB church in Huntington, Ind. In the 1950s, he and Frances moved to Kansas to start a new UB church, and spent the rest of their lives there.

Read the online obituary here.

04 Oct

October 4, 2022 |

“A Morning with Mark: the Backstory of the Bible” is the topic of the next Idea to Action Symposium. It will be held Monday, October 22, from 10am to 12:30 pm. The cost is free, but you need to register. The symposium will be held in-person at Huntington University, and also online.

The three sessions will be led by Dr. Mark Fairchild (right), professor of Thought and Practice at Huntington University. He has done original archaeological research on the early Christian church in Turkey, and has written extensively about the Apostle Paul. He is currently a Fullbrght Senior Research Scholar studying the underwater basilica at Nicea, thought to have hosted the Council of Nicea which issued the Nicean Creed.

Register at this link.

26 Sep

September 26, 2022 |

Rachel Graham

Rachel Graham, 92, wife of longtime UB minister Rev. Ken Graham, passed away September 24, 2022. They were married in 1951 and remain members of Mainstreet UB church (Walbridge, Ohio), the church they pastored for many years.

Viewing: 4-7 pm Thursday, September 29, 2022
Viewing location: Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home, 701 N. Main St. Walbridge, Ohio 43465
Funeral: 11 am Friday, September 30, 2022.
Funeral location: Mainstreet UB church, 5465 Moline-Martin Rd, Walbridge, OH, 43465

More information on the Walker Funeral Homes site.

20 Sep

September 20, 2022 |

First United Brethren Church is a smalltown congregation located in Van Wert, Ohio (about 30 minutes southeast of Fort Wayne, Ind.). We are looking for a pastor who will work alongside leadership and create opportunities for discipleship.

Our next pastor will possess a shepherd’s heart and be an effective communicator. The ability to motivate people to develop their spiritual life and use their abilities in ministry is essential. Skill and experience in care-giving ministries will be a benefit. It is also anticipated that this individual will maintain professional ministerial credentials with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.

First UB, Van Wert is a congregation of approximately 50 people. Though we are small, we are a loving, caring community of people with a facility and location large enough to accommodate much growth.

If this sounds like something for which God has been preparing you, please send a copy of your resume, a cover letter, and a current photo to bishop@ub.org.

02 Sep

September 2, 2022 |

L-r: Alan Harbold, Jody Fleming, Rick Tawney, Al Carter, Jim Pryor, John Brainard, Byron Spear.

We need to get caught up on some pastoral assignments.

Senior Pastors

Alan Harbold has been appointed senior pastor of Strinestown UB church (Manchester, Pa.). He has been pastor of Mt. Washington UB church (York, Pa.) since September 2020, and will now pastor both congregations. Jody Fleming, who had pastored Strinestown since September 2019, has retired.

Rick Tawney has been appointed to oversee First UB church (Columbus, Ohio) while continuing as a church planter in Columbus, which he has been doing since 2019. Al Carter, a UB minister since 2002 who had pastored First UB since August 2011, has retired.

Jim Pryor has been named senior pastor of Richfield Road UB church in Flint, Mich. He previously pastored that congregation 2007-2017. In between Richfield Road was served by John Brainard, who concluded four years as pastor there in December 2021.

Byron Spear has been appointed senior pastor of Banner of Christ UB church (Byron Center, Mich.), effective September 11. Since 2011, he has served primarily in youth ministry at three different churches, including four years at Rising Hope UB (Shippensburg, Pa.) and, since 2018, at Colwood UB (Caro, Mich.). Banner has been served by interim ministers since April 2021.

L-r: Todd Frederick, Bill Blue, Daryl Elliott, Matt Coppess, Ted Doolittle, Robert Rose, Ricky Hull, Amos Rawley.

Todd Frederick has been appointed senior pastor of Shoreline UB church (Oak Harbor, Ohio) effective July 1. He had served the UB church in Jackson, Mich. (originally Pathway Community, now Heart O’ the Lakes-Jackson) since February 2017. Bill Blue, the pastor at Shoreline since 2011, retired in October 2021 after 45 years in United Brethren ministry going back to 1976, mostly as a youth pastor.

Dwight Walker has been appointed senior pastor of Fountain UB church (Keyser, W. Va.). Daryl Elliott, the pastor at Fountain 2002-2021, retired in June 2021 after 32 years of United Brethren ministry.

Matt Coppess has been serving since February 2022 as senior pastor of Calvary UB church (Saginaw, Mich.). Ted Doolittle, who had pastored Calvary for the previous 14 years, retired at the end of December 2021 after 41 years in UB ministry in Ohio and Michigan.

Robert Rose was appointed senior pastor of First Church of the Bronx (Bronx, New York) effective July 1, 2022. He was previously a United Brethren minister in Jamaica Conference.

Mike Heim has been appointed senior pastor of Victory Heights UB church (Franklin, Pa.). Previous pastor Steve Henry passed away in 2021, as did interim pastor Tim Bell, who followed him.

James Martin was appointed senior pastor of Orrstown UB church (Orrstown, Pa.) in February 2022. Ken Williamson, the pastor since 2012, departed in 2021.

Ricky Hull has been appointed senior pastor of Crosswords UB church (Charlotte, Mich.) effective September 11, 2022. He has served in UB ministry since 2012 in Ohio and Michigan, including a previous six-year stint at Crossroads.

Amos Rawley concluded seven years of ministry at New Hope UB (Huntington, Ind.), including senior pastor since July 2016, at the end of May 2022. The church is currently in the stationing process.

L-r: Greg Reed, Steve Fish, Don Baker, Keith Elliott, Mark Ralph, Darrel Bosworth.

Interim Pastors

Craig Holler has been serving as interim pastor of Mt. Hermon UB church (Pomeroy, Ohio) since June 2021.

Greg Reed retired in December 2021 as senior pastor of Morning Star UB church (Kokomo, Ind.), after serving there since 1978. Since then, Steve Fish has been serving as a part-time interim pastor, a role which will conclude in November 2022. Steve began his ministry in 1989 with 12 years on staff at Morning Star, and is currently an associate director of UB Global.

Dave Bowersock has been serving the past year as interim pastor of The Heights, a UB church in East Liverpool, Ohio.

Don Baker was appointed interim pastor of Criders UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) in June 2022. He has served in ministry since 1980, most recently with 11 years on the staff of King Street UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.). In November 2021, Keith Elliott concluded ten years as pastor at Criders.

Mark Ralph has been serving as interim pastor of First UB church (Van Wert, Ohio) since June 2021. In March 2021 he concluded seven months as interim part of First UB in Findlay, Ohio. He will conclude his assignment at Van Wert at the end of September 2022. Mark officially retired in 2018 after 33 years as a UB minister going back to 1975 (with about 11 years serving elsewhere).

Darrell Bosworth, a UB minister in Michigan since 1999, concluded a year as Revitalization pastor of Crossroads UB (Charlotte, Mich.), and will now begin a 6-12 month interim assignment at Sunfield UB (Sunfield, Mich.).

25 Aug

August 25, 2022 |

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University, speaking at a press conference about the Step Forward campaign.

Huntington University set out to raise $34 million, and ended up raising over $56 million! HU made the announcement earlier this week.

In 2014, as the Huntington University Board of Trustees looked toward the schools 125th anniversary in 2022, they approved Step Forward, a comprehensive campaign to raise $34 million, the largest campaign in University history.

“For those of us in the room when that was decided, that was a large goal and frankly, a pretty daunting one,” said Tom Clounie, Advancement Committee chair. “And it had a ticking clock on it. We knew this campaign was intended to wrap up in 2022 as part of the University’s 125th birthday year.”

That $34 million figure included funding for six capital projects, nine new academic program launches, and growing the endowment and scholarship funds. Seeing how well things were going, the trustees upped the goal to $40 million in the fall of 2019.

Capital Projects
When this campaign launched in 2014, only six capital projects were on the University’s radar. But the University has gone well beyond that. Below are the capital projects which have been completed since 2014.

  • New occupational therapy labs ($75K).
  • Renovations at HU Arizona to create space for an entire occupational therapy program location ($125K).
  • The reconfiguration of the Nursing Lab in the Dowden Science Hall ($300K).
  • Forest Glen baseball field renovations and new turf project ($1.3M).
  • The reimagination of the student center (known as the HUB) ($4.3M).
  • The construction of the Welcome Center as part of the Merillat Centre for the Arts ($800K).
  • The Ware Plant Science Production Facility addition to Dowden Science Hall ($500K)
  • The construction of the Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center ($1.2M).
  • The creation of the esports competition lab ($35K).
  • The updates to the sand volleyball court and construction of the pavilion ($50K).
  • The UB Launch renovation ($100K).

Endowment
$5.8 million has been added to the University endowment. That’s over $1.8 million more than the goal. The overall endowment during the campaign years (2014-2022) has increased by 50%.

New Academic Programs

  • $3.8 million has been invested in launching five new academic programs, including.
  • The Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy — one of the first in the country.
  • The Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy assistant — the first in the country.
  • The Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.
  • The Master of Business Administration degree.
  • 12 degree programs in agriculture.

Academic Upgrades

  • Nearly $1.2 million has been invested in academic upgrades and improvements, including:
  • Additional academic classroom resources ($250K).
  • Anatomage Tables ($300K).
  • Agriculture tractors/trucks/equipment ($400K).
  • Technology ($200K).

Investing in People

  • Scholarships. $4.3 million has been raised toward the Forester Fund, HU’s student scholarship fund, which provides financial assistance for over 90% of the University’s traditional undergraduate students. Every dollar raised for that Fund goes directly toward student scholarships. Since 2014, overall enrollment has increased by 12.7%.
  • Employees. $4.8 million has been invested in personnel and employee compensation.

“The results of this campaign allow HU to move forward faster to accomplish the mission God has called us to do,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “God’s faithfulness to the University through challenging times and a global pandemic is beyond evident in this campaign, not only in the capital projects completed and the dollars raised, but more importantly in the lives impacted. Nearly 400 additional graduates earned HU degrees as a direct result of this campaign. That’s a powerful statement to the steps of faith taken by so many since 2014.”