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08 Apr

April 8, 2015 |
Matt and Jodi Coppess and children.

Matt and Jodi Coppess and children.

Steve Dennie, Communications Director

For the second year, Bishop Phil Whipple created an NCAA bracket on ESPN and invited UB ministers, missionaries, and national office staff to participate. A total of 73 persons filled out brackets. Of those, 44 picked Kentucky to win, 11 picked Wisconsin, and 7 picked Duke. Six persons got the Final Four right, but none of them picked a Wisconsin vs. Duke final, and none of them picked Duke to win it all.

Bishop emeritus Paul Hirschy was solidly in the lead going into the Final Four. However, both of his teams (Kentucky and Michigan State) lost on Saturday, so Paul dropped out of contention.

The winner was a new guy: Matt Coppess. In October 2014, Matt became Pastor of Family Ministries at Heart O the Lakes UB church in Brooklyn, Mich. He finished with 1400 points, 30 points above second-place finisher James Hippensteel, Pastor of Congregational Care at The Well in Huntington, Ind.

Congratulations, Matt! And welcome to the United Brethren family!

Matt is an interesting guy. He grew up in Lansing, Mich., and for a good part of his childhood attended the UB church in Sunfield, Mich. In Lansing, he was part of Youth for Christ groups directed by another UB, Trent Bushnell.

Matt always wanted to become an officer in the military, and to play football at one of the military academies. His good grades and gridiron skills provided two choices: West Point, or the Air Force Academy. He says he chose West Point because his hero, George Patton, wasn’t in the Air Force.

Matt played offensive tackle for three years at West Point. He spent one summer serving at Fort Benning, in Georgia, as a drill sergeant.

Then, in a wrestling class, Matt injured his shoulder. Badly. He returned to Lansing to spend a year on medical leave, trying to rehab the shoulder, and then went back to West Point. Matt knew his shoulder was still messed up, but he tried to fake it. However, doctors saw through it, and said his shoulder wasn’t good enough for military life.

So, back to Michigan. He finished his studies at Michigan State, and embarked on 20 years with Youth for Christ. He started with ten years in Lansing, where he developed student leader curriculum and supervised both paid staff and volunteers. In 1999, he married Jodi Traynor, a 1996 Huntington University graduate with a degree in youth ministry. She served on staff with Lansing YFC for ten years, 1995-2005.

In 2005, after the birth of their first child, Jake, the Coppess family moved to Saginaw, where Matt served as executive director for Great Lakes Bay YFC. Cristin and Zach joined the family in 2006 and 2009.

After nine years in Saginaw, Matt took a YFC position in Tuscaloosa, Ala. But Matt grew weary of fundraising. After a year, he learned about a staff position open at Heart O the Lakes. He was familiar with the pastor, Kevin Cherry, who had previously pastored the Sunfield church. He applied…and there they are.

07 Apr

April 7, 2015 |

Marshall Woods (right), senior pastor, Mill Chapel (Reedsville, W. Va.)

Easter Sunday was an exciting day at Mill Chapel. The attendance exceeded 400. The best news was that approximately 30 made first-time decisions for Christ. Sunrise service was at 6:30, followed by breakfast. Our regular worship services were held at 8:30 & 11am. It was a profitable day for the kingdom of God. Our sermons are now on a local television station.

God is doing great things.

05 Apr

April 5, 2015 |

The Lent and Easter season is always a great time of the year for United Brethren churches. A time of special emphases, meaningful services, and, often, record attendances.

Let us know what happened at your church during Lent and Holy Week. Write up a little description, and we’ll get it posted on UBCentral.org. Other United Brethren will enjoy hearing about it.

01 Apr

April 1, 2015 |
Nichie Parish signing the agreement. Pastor Randy Carpenter is on the left.

Nichie Parish signing the agreement. Pastor Randy Carpenter is on the left.

Sunfield United Brethren Church (Sunfield, Mich.) celebrated Palm Sunday with a signing ceremony with Global Ministries staff member Nichie Parish. The church has committed to praying for Nichie’s ministry in South Africa, and providing $10,000 per year toward her annual budget for the next three years. Nichie will serve in Johannesburg with an organization called Impact Africa.

01 Apr

April 1, 2015 |

HUNursingAcademy

Interested in nursing? Huntington University is hosting a summer nursing camp from July 13 – 17, 2015, for high school students entering their junior or senior year.

The Huntington University Nursing Career Academy is a week-long nursing camp which explores the field of nursing in a hands-on environment. Participants will have the opportunity to become CPR certified and learn basic first aid and nursing skills in HU’s Nursing Simulation Center and classrooms. Campers will also tour area hospitals and trauma centers, and interact with a variety of nursing professionals.

Campers will stay in the dorms with current and past HU nursing students, which will give them a chance to interact with actual students, as well as get the college experience of dorm living.

The cost is $350.

01 Apr

April 1, 2015 |
HU Alpha Chi members with the President's Cup trophy. On the left is Dr. Paul Michelson, a History professor at HU, who has long been an Alpha Chi sponsor.

HU Alpha Chi members with the President’s Cup trophy. On the left is Dr. Paul Michelson, a History professor at HU, who has long been an Alpha Chi sponsor.

Huntington University’s Alpa Chi chapter was named “Outstanding Chapter of the Year” at the Alpha Chi National Convention, held March 19-21 in Chicago. There are over 300 Alpha Chi chapters. The award, called the President’s Cup, was first given in 1987…to Huntington University. Only one other college has won the award twice.

Community and campus activities factor into the award. Students also present academic papers at national conferences. HU students wrote on topics ranging from Shakespeare to F. Scott Fitzgerald to pornography addiction.

Membership in Alpa Chi requires ranking in the top 10 percent of the junior or senior class, outstanding character, and a nomination by faculty and staff. Huntington University’s Alpha Chi chapter shows HU’s serious academic competency.

30 Mar

March 30, 2015 |
Bishop Phil Whipple (left) with Pastor Gary Small.

Bishop Phil Whipple (left) with Pastor Gary Small.

Gary Small, pastor of Atlantic Avenue, throwing a shovel of dirt.

Gary Small, pastor of Atlantic Avenue, throwing a shovel of dirt.

Bishop Phil Whipple turning a shovel of dirt.

Bishop Phil Whipple turning a shovel of dirt.

Atlantic Avenue UB (Franklin, Pa.) held a groundbreaking service on Sunday afternoon, March 29. Associate pastor Patrick Daugherty explains:

“We are about to begin an expansion project that will increase the size of our facilities by approximately 17,000 square feet. The new addition will connect both of our existing buildings, which will allow for easier access to our facilities. The new area will include much-needed classroom space for adults and youth, as well as a large multipurpose room that can accommodate 200 people.”

Rev. Gary Small has been pastor of Atlantic Avenue since 1991. During that time, attendance has grown from the 100s to nearly 600.

Bishop Phil Whipple was on hand for the groundbreaking.

19 Mar

March 19, 2015 |
Ricky and Jami Hull and children.

Ricky and Jami Hull and children.

Ricky Hull concluded his ministry at Mt. Hermon UB church (Pomeroy, Ohio) on Sunday, March 15. He has been senior pastor there since 2012. Ricky has been named senior pastor of Crossroads UB church in Charlotte, Mich. He replaces Mike Arnold, who retired as senior pastor last fall.

In 2014, Ricky graduated from Winebrenner Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He and his wife, Jami, a medical transcriptionist, have four children.

17 Mar

March 17, 2015 |
Delegations from Lenaweee Christian School and Huntington University.

Delegations from Lenaweee Christian School and Huntington University.

President Emberton and President Ma Chunlin of Liaocheng University signing cooperative agreements.

President Emberton and President Ma Chunlin of Liaocheng University signing cooperative agreements.

President Emberton meeting with Principal Sun at Tong Sheng Hu Experimental School in Hunan Province.

President Emberton meeting with Principal Sun at Tong Sheng Hu Experimental School in Hunan Province.

Administrators from Huntington University and from Lenawee Christian School in Adrian, Mich., are currently in China. They are spending ten days exploring partnerships with Chinese institutions.

The HU delegation includes :

  • Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president.
  • Dr. Mike Wanous, vice president for academic affairs.
  • Dr. Luke Fetters, director of HU’s Institute for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Institute.
President Emberton with Alex Zhang at Tongshenghu Experimental School.

President Emberton with Alex Zhang at Tongshenghu Experimental School.

Lenawee Christian School representatives are Trevor Cook, president, and Joy Carl, director of international studies.
The various stops include:

  1. Visit Liaocheng University in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, to discuss opportunities for agriculture, business and English programs, as well as student and faculty exchange programs.
  2. Meet with officials from Tong Sheng Hu Experimental School in Changsha, Hunan Province, about a potential partnership.
  3. Visit China Hong Kong English School in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, to dialogue about a Foundation Year program that would allow Chinese students to experience HU in China before attending the university in the U.S. Also, discuss summer programs.
  4. Visit Jilin University – Zhuhai College in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, to discuss growing the summer TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) program and finalizing a joint degree program agreement. Also, discuss a faculty exchange program.

This is the third trip to China that Huntington University administrators have made within a year to pursue partnerships. Huntington University has a seven-year history with China, having hosted summer English camps there since 2007. Those camps have expanded significantly with last summer’s programs involving 180 Chinese students, 80 Chinese teachers, 32 U.S. team members, and six weeks of camps in three locations.

In addition, last fall, five HU alumni established an office at China Hong Kong English School and are teaching English classes there. In fall 2014, 10 percent of the international students enrolled at HU were from China.

Learn more about HU’s Institute for TESOL Studies.

17 Mar

March 17, 2015 |
Bishop Phil Whipple (right) with Chris and Sara.

Bishop Phil Whipple (right) with Chris and Sara.

Chris Soltis was ordained on Sunday, March 15, at Shoreline UB church in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Chris is Pastor of Children & Youth Ministries at Shoreline. Chris holds a Master of Divinity from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio. He and his wife, Sara Nichole, were married in 2006. Bishop Phil Whipple conducted the ordination at Shoreline.