March 2001 News Archive

3/21/2001

Mongul UB, Shippensburg, Pa. On February 9-11, fifteen teens from Mongul attended a retreat in Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Youth director Andrea Dupuis writes, "It was an awesome retreat! The speaker, Josh Weidman, who was only 18 years old, made an impact on hundreds of youth that weekend. He offered an invitation on Saturday evening that was phenomenal. It really spoke to three girls from my group. They entered the family of God that night.

Mason, Mich. Beginning at noon on Friday, February 23, about 25 youth from the Eden UB church participated in a 30-hour famine, to raise money to send to World Vision. Their canned food collection on Friday night resulted in 234 pounds of food. Friday night the kids went bowling and then fellowshipped together with a praise/worship time at the church before sleeping in the fellowship hall.

On Saturday, they delivered all the food to the Red Cross. While there, the youth and their chaperones worked hard for three hours sanitizing the cans and packing and taping up boxes. Saturday afternoon they had a prayer drive-by of many homes in the Mason area.

The 30-hour famine ended at 6 p.m. Saturday with a meal provided by the church members. In the Sunday morning worship service, Eden's youth expressed their excitement at helping out those less fortunate and their commitment to being "useable" Christians.

Columbia City, Ind. Russ Wagner is resigning as the pastor of the Eagle Quest Church, which he founded, and as the director for the Northeast Indiana Center for Church Planting yesterday. He made the announcement on March 11, and it will become effective on May 31. Russ has accepted a position with Church Resources Management as a regional director for church planting. He will work in the Colorado and Montana areas, overseeing church planting ministries there.

Russ writes, "The Lord has stirred up within my heart an increasing hunger to be involved in more church planting. After careful meditation and much prayer, we decided to resign from the pastorate of Eagle Quest Church as of May 31. We will go on staff with the Church Multiplication Team of Church Resource Ministries. My new responsibilities will include: starting New Church Incubators throughout the Rocky Mountain Region; nationwide one-on-one coaching of church planters; coming alongside pastors of mother churches to lead them in Parent Church Networks; and being a member of a 'Virtual Team' that will travel throughout the U.S. and International Mission Fields to mobilize and train church leaders in church planting. The logo of Church Resource Ministries is 'Empowering Leaders Worldwide.' That is exactly what we will be doing."

All staff of Church Resource Ministries must raise their own support.

Heidlersburg, Pa. On February 25, Heidlersburg UB celebrated the 100th anniversary of its dedication, which occurred on February 17, 1901. With 110 people in attendance for the morning service, Pastor Craig Loewen unveiled a detailed photographic record of the history of the church assembled by parishioner Beth Mellott. A time capsule is being constructed that will hold messages and mementoes from the congregation to the future church members in the year 2101.

Dewitt, Mich. Ron Watterly, pastor of Dewitt UB, reports that his wife, Juanita, suffered a mild stroke on March 18. "She spent all day Sunday and Monday in the hospital in Newark, Ohio. They treated her with blood thinners and let me bring her home Monday evening. She saw our doctor Tuesday. He sent her to have an MRI and gave her medication for her constant headache. He also has her on an aspirin a day. She goes back to see him on the 28th."

Columbus, Ohio. Roger Martin, pastor of First UB in Columbus, Ohio, has had various health problems during the past year, including a diagnosis of cancer. His son Tom sent this update concerning heart problems which began on Saturday night, March 17, and continued into Sunday. "Evidently, the medications for the heart rhythm failed to work. He had a bad night; then, on Sunday morning, between 9:00 and 10:00, doctors decided that it was 'imperative' to shock his heart back into rhythm. Our doctor also said that for a while, he 'didn't know which way it was going to go' (which translates, life or death). As of Monday evening, though, everything looks very good: pulse, blood pressure, lungs, etc. They are now talking about doing the original procedure of stretching the esophagus, as soon as blood thinner is out of his system. It was by God's Hand that Dad is still here. We are very thankful for that!"

Mason, Mich. On Sunday, March 18, twelve people from the Eden UB flew to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for a two-week work project. They are staying at the Jamaica Bible College in Mandeville and are working with the people of the Battersea UB church. Plans include pouring concrete for a second floor on the parsonage, and painting rooms. They also hope to teach Bible lessons to children.

The group members range in age from 15 to 73 years. Nettie Gallaway, the youngest, said she wants to "make a difference for God in someone else's life." They will fly back to Detroit on Sunday, April 1.

Oak Harbor, Ohio. The Oak Harbor UB church is taking resumes for a Student Minister. Please send your resume to the Oak Harbor United Brethren Church, P.O. Box 335, Oak Harbor, OH. 43449. You may also call (419) 898-6700 for further details on church history and position requirements.

Findlay, Ohio. Mark Mitchum, nationally known deaf artist, will be in concert at First UB on April 21 at 7:00 p.m. Though Mitchum was born deaf, he embraces both the Deaf and Hearing "world" through his use of Sign Art, performing recorded songs in American Sign Language. The musical experience that Mitchum brings to the concert stage includes his being a founding member of "Silent Touch," the international music ensemble of Deaf Outreach Opportunity (DOOR), assistant choir director at Texas School for the Deaf, assistant choir director at Kentucky School for the Deaf, numerous television appearances, and founder of Heartland Ministries, Inc. In 1999, Mitchum was a featured guest at the Gaither Homecoming-Texas Style in Fort Worth, Texas. Mitchum is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, who is called by God to a unique ministry giving concerts in Sign Language.

Mitchum's ministry is being brought to Findlay in a cooperative effort of Silent Partners, a First UB outreach ministry to the deaf and hard of hearing, and the Hancock County Community Partnership. The concert is open to the public, and a freewill offering will be taken. Mitchum will also be sharing his Sign Art in the 10:00 morning service on April 22.

3/9/2001

Columbus, Ohio. Central Conference is on the verge of starting a Hispanic church on the west side of Columbus, Ohio.

The conference needs to raise $50,000 over the next two years, with $10,000 in up-front money before getting started. The churches in the Columbus-Dayton district have challenged themselves to raise the upfront cash in a special offering on Sunday, March 11.

Denis Casco, Director of Latin American Ministries, has been working with them to secure a pastor from Guatemala, who has already arrived in the States. Denis writes, "I couldn't be more excited about a planter to come to Columbus. The Rev. & Mrs. Volfi have successfully planted three churches in Guatemala, and presently pastor a church of near 400. They feel God is calling them and their two young children to central Ohio to begin this new work among the Spanish speaking population!"

Banner of Christ UB (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Banner of Christ launched two new worship services in February. They are designed for two different target worship audiences. The Remember Service, on the second Sunday evening, is for persons looking for a more traditional hymn service with testimonies and a teaching style of preaching. The other service, on the fourth Sunday evening, is called the Rock Service. This one has a decidedly more alternative style worship, with a coffeehouse atmosphere for the young and young-at-heart. Banner's regular morning services are identical each Sunday. They reflect a contemporary style of praise and worship with a few traditional touches.

Pastor J. Michael Caley says, "Our vision with the new services is to offer, each month, something meaningful for persons who long for more on both sides of our current offerings." About 60 people attended the first "Remember" service. The first Rock service, on February 25, drew about 70 people, about 40 of whom were in the target group (others included parents of some teens and a few "young at heart").

Pastor Caley says, "We had a band of five including our own worship leader and keyboardist. The music had more edge than Sunday morning, and we used some creative scripture reading and video to compliment a topical message on Life-Choices. "The setting was like a coffeehouse, with tables on the perimeter and chairs in the center. We served coffee, cappuccino, pop, and snacks. About half the crowd stayed for table conversation times. We found several things we didn't do as well as we wanted and are planning for changes by next month. The overall reception was, 'This is a great idea!' Sunday nights are back with a twist at Banner Church!

Gordon Rohn. Partial-support missionary Gordon Rohn reports that he recently returned from Chiang Mai, Thailand--his third international trip of 2001. He and a coworker spent two days in Bangkok visiting a ministry and sightseeing. He wrote on March 7, "Judy and I lived in Bangkok from 1966-1968. The city has really changed. Where our house sat, in a mainly residential neighborhood just off of a busy street, is now an area of high-rise office buildings and a hotel or two. Bangkok has changed in many ways, but the people and the tourist attractions remain about the same. I enjoyed the visit." On March 22, he begins an 11-day trip to Russia and Kazakhstan.

Franklintown, Pa. The Franklintown UB church is celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout 2001, with special events each month. In March, they are honoring former pastors. Four former pastors will participate in the morning service on March 11. They are: Rev. Thomas Mellott (1966-1973), Rev. Victor Moon (1975-1978), Rev. Dale Thrush (1978-1981), and Rev. Richard Mose (1981-1985). Each pastor will be introduced by a member of the congregation who attended during that pastor's ministry. A meal will follow the service.

Mason, Mich. Beginning at noon on Friday, February 23, about 25 youth from the Eden UB church participated in a 30-hour famine, to raise money to send to World Vision. Their canned food collection on Friday night resulted in 234 pounds of food. Friday night the kids went bowling and then fellowshiped together with a praise/worship time at the church before sleeping in the fellowship hall.

On Saturday, they delivered all the food to the Red Cross. While there, the youth and their chaperones worked hard for three hours sanitizing the cans and packing and taping up boxes. Saturday afternoon they had a prayer drive-by of many homes in the Mason area.

The 30-hour famine ended at 6 p.m. Saturday with a meal provided by the church members. In the Sunday morning worship service, Eden's youth expressed their excitement at helping out those less fortunate and their commitment to being "useable" Christians.

Ron Anderson Family (Spain). On March 7, the Andersons reported, "It is exciting to plant churches and to see people grow in Christ. But it is even more exciting when a church plant becomes a mission-minded church and starts sending missionaries to other needy areas of the world. Ron has taken on the additional responsibility of leading our local church's mission program. On February 25, the evening service was dedicated to Morocco, our neighboring country. The church plans to send a team there this summer to be involved in ministry through social outreach.

"Brenda continues to minister to a Moroccan lady in the local prison who will get out next month. Brenda learned a lot about the Moroccan thought pattern in order to help her share Christ with someone who knows nothing about Christianity. Her friend is very open to the Gospel and needs your prayers." The Andersons are endorsed UB missionaries serving in Spain with European Christian Mission. Ron is mapping out a church-planting strategy to plant second-generation churches in 20 European countries. This project was requested by the ECM leadership, and will be presented to the mission leadership in April.

Macau. Mission Director Jana Hoobler writes, "We have around 60 students registered on Taipa so far. We're thankful that God is bringing students to us! Praise Him for using this as confirmation that we're headed the right direction. "Several individuals have applied to serve with us here in Macau long-term. Praise the Lord that He is answering this prayer of ours. "Living Word Church is having a Women's Outreach this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (March 7-9). We are praying that many women will come for the free blood pressure checks that will be offered, and that it will help build the neighborhood's trust in the church. "English Bible studies will start next week at Living Word Church and at Pui Ching High School. Pray for God to draw people to these studies."

Joe and Edna Miller (Swaziland). Edna Miller reports that TransWorld Radio received its first letter from North Korea. TWR has broadcast programs into North Korea for many years, but had never received a response. They understood the reasons--fear of persecution, cost of postage, illiteracy, etc. Nevertheless, when there is no response, it's easy to question whether or not you're being effective. But then this letter arrived on March 2. It read in part, "Thank you so much for your sending radios and songbooks to us several times. Those are very helpful for our mission work and we use it well. Especially the quality of radios which you send this time is excellent, and it so good to study. As you know, we meet many dangerous things every time, however we are not depressed but are doing His work by faith."