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June 1998 News Archive

6/25/98

Ralph Faber, a pastor-superintendent in Rock River Conference, is gradually getting back to normal after his surgery. United Brethren churches and community benefits have raised $23,000 to help with his surgical costs.

Eden UB of Mason, Mich., is looking for a fulltime associate minister. If interested, send a resume to: Rev. Wesley Emerson, 2164 West Barnes, Mason, Mich. 48854. Phone: (517) 676-1376.

Youth Workers to Honduras. In June, three groups of teens, their adult chaperones, and pastors traveled to Honduras to tackle building projects and help in VBS classes. Youth pastors Jim Fleming (First UB, Blissfield, Mich.), Brian Kramer (King Street UB, Chambersburg, Pa.), and Roger Vezeau (College Park UB, Huntington, Ind.) were in charge.

STUMP Teens to Jamaica. Sixteen UB teens and their adult sponsors will be in Jamaica July 9-21 teaching VBS in UB churches.

1998 VBS Missions Project. This year's Vacation Bible School offerings will benefit United Brethren families in Sierra Leone. The recent war left hundreds of homes burned to the ground, hospitals and schools looted and burned, people's possessions stolen or destroyed. For $22, each family will receive cooking pots, plates, silverware, and a bucket.

VBS packets were sent to all UB churches in May. If you have questions about VBS or want more information, call the Mission Office at: (219)-356-2312. Last year, VBS offerings raised $15,000 for ministry to children in Costa Rica through the new UB church there.

Missionary Comings and Goings

  • Paul Coy returned to Macau on June 22 following his furlough.
  • Linda Burns will be in the States until mid-August.
  • Steve, Bev, Anna, and Jessica Swartz will return to Australia on July 10.
  • The Ron Anderson family (Spain) will be in the States for a few weeks.
  • Joseph and Edna Miller will spend this summer on furlough from their work with Trans World Radio in Swaziland. Their daughter, Ruth, and Sotantar Khalsa will be married in October in Arizona. Lois Miller lives and teaches in Japan.

An Introduction to Snowballs. Karis Wong, the Chinese co-pastor at Living Water church in Macau, and her husband Lawrence spent ten days in the United States this spring. They saw snow for the first time on March 13, and Paul Coy taught them how to make and throw snowballs. "They are quick learners," he said.

A Couple Weeks in Ecuador. Amy Powell, from Cochranton UB in Cochranton, Pa., is spending July 6-16 in Ecuador as part of a missionary work trip. She is one of six pre-med students who, along with a professor and doctor, will open a clinic along the coast to tend to people who may not have received medical treatment in years. "As we tend to their ailments, we will pray with each patient and introduce the Gospel as we feel the Holy Spirit's leading," she wrote.

100 Years and Still on Her Own. Mrs. Suzie Kerwin of Eden UB (Reedsville, Ohio) celebrated her 100th birthday on May 28. The church displayed a large banner in her honor, and gave her a dozen long-stem roses during the services on May 31. Many people attended the open house held in the afternoon at the church fellowship hall.

Mrs. Kerwin continues to live alone, care for herself, faithfully attend church. She is an inspiration to all who know her.

A Sextet of Nonagenerians. More than 60 people came to New Dundee UB in Ontario during May to pay tribute to six persons from the congregation who turned 90 during the year. Those new-to-their-90s persons were: Jane Baer, Margaret Hagey, Nellie Litwiller, Rev. A. Ward Woolner, Albert Fiederlein, and Charlotte Miller.

Each person was given a corsage or boutonniere. Wilbur Shantz emceed a program which, among other things, included the singing of such songs as "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," "You are My Sunshine," and "Down by the Old Mill Stream." There were readings, a cornet duet, and tributes by guests.

On May 9, New Dundee held a Quilt Fair. Sixty quilts loaned by women of the church and community were displayed in the sanctuary and auditorium. Some were made for children and grandchildren, others were given as wedding presents. The oldest dated back to 1852. Another was made in 1890. The Quilt Fair was a project of the church's Women's Missionary Fellowship, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Some Guidance in the Marketplace. A lot of attention has been focused on the Disney company largely as a result of the Southern Baptist action encouraging people to boycott the company because of its gay-friendly practices. The Brown Corners UB church of Clare, Mich., wrestled with how to respond to the issue as a local body, and realized that the issue transcended Disney itself. So, the board issued this well-thought-out statement for the congregation as a general policy:

"In the interest of standing firm on the truth of God's work, Brown Corners United Brethren encourages its members to avoid the purchase and use of products from companies who make it clear that they support practices that are contrary to sound biblical doctrine and Christian practice. When a company or organization deliberately and openly promotes what God calls abominations, it behooves us as Christians to stand against it.

A New Graduation Record. This year, 156 students received degrees from Huntington College--the largest graduating class in HC history. Among the graduates was Beau Dowden, son of HC President G. Blair Dowden.

Honorary degrees were conferred on three persons:

  1. Alumnus Calvin D. Hawkins ('67), the Commencement speaker.
  2. Local businessman James J . Shuttleworth.
  3. Dr. Gerald D. Smith, who stepped down this year after 16 years as Dean of the College to return to fulltime classroom teaching.

Dr. Ron Webb was hired as the new Dean of the College. His experience includes two years teaching in Iran, and extensive teaching and consulting experience in Russia, Europe, China, and Latin America. Most recently, he has been a business professor at Messiah College in Pennsylvania. Webb appointed Dr. Ann McPherren, a business professor, to the newly-created position of assistant dean, a position which will consume half of her time.

Ring Around the Campus. The college board of trustees approved construction of the remaining segment of the perimeter road around the east side of the campus. This will complete HC's transition to a pedestrian campus.

Student Paper Awarded. The student newspaper, The Huntingtonian, earned a first place with special merit award from the American Scholastic Press Association. The special merit category requires a score of 900 out of a possible 1000 points; the Huntingtonian scored 955. This places the Huntingtonian in the highest category of recognition for collegiate newspapers, according to Dr. Blair Dowden.

The women's basketball team spent May 18-27 in Jamaica with Christian Service International. They held basketball clinics. taught physical education in a girls' high school, and helped build a house for a family.

The annual phonathan set a new record, with $106,000 pledged. The previous high was $86,000, set in 1996. An anonymous foundation will match phonation gifts with another $100,000. All of this money will be used to underwrite scholarships.

New Degree Area. Beginning this fall, HC will offer a new concentration in theater design and technology, which will offer more options for students wanting to pursue careers in the performing arts. There will be new courses in stagecraft, scene painting, scene design, lighting design, and costuming.

Pastoral Changes.

  • On August 1, Dave Burkett will begin his new duties as fulltime superintendent of Michigan Conference. He is now finishing up his work as pastor of Colwood UB in Caro, Mich., and preparing for the new role. He and Julie has found a home near Sunfield, Mich., within a few miles of several UB churches. They plan to move in July. Meanwhile, Phil Whipple, now pastor of Pleasant Valley UB near Lake Odessa, Mich., is preparing to become the new pastor at Colwood.
  • Valerie Kesler has been hired as Youth and ChildrenŐs Minister at Richfield Road UB in Flint, Mich. She and her family--husband Denis and two sons--come from the Mt. Hope UB church in Carson City, Mich. Valerie has extensive background in childrenŐs ministry, plus theological training from Asbury Seminary.
  • Dan Kopp has resigned as pastor of First Love UB in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, effective 14. He and his family will relocate on the northwest side of Columbus, Ohio, to start a new church there. Rick Petty is serving as interim senior pastor at First Love.
  • Roger Grant is the new pastor of the UB church in New Dundee, Ontario. He started June 14. Grant is currently a student at Tyndale Theological Seminary in Toronto. He worked ten years in secular work before heading off Aldersgate Bible College in Saskatchewan, from which he graduated in 1995. His wife, Colleen, is a registered nurse employed in Kitchener. They have two sons. New Dundee is a part-time pastorate.
  • Dale Hughes, Director of Music at King Street UB in Chambersburg, Pa., since 1995, resigned from that position to accept the same position in his home church back in Virginia.

Ralph Faber, a pastor-superintendent in Rock River Conference, is gradually getting back to normal after his surgery. United Brethren churches and community benefits have raised $23,000 to help with his surgical costs.

6/22/98

Paul Coy returned to Macau June 22 for his second term as a missionary there.

Dan Kopp, founding pastor of First Love UB in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, on the east side of Columbus, is leaving that church to start a new congregation on the northwest side of the city.