June 2001 News Archive
June 19, 2001
New Role for the Bishop. Bishop
Ray Seilhamer will become Associate Dean of the Huntington
College Graduate School of Christian Ministries in August. His term as Bishop
ends on August 15. Bishop Seilhamer previously served as President of Evangelical
School of Theology, a seminary in Myerstown, Pa.
New Websites. Here are some new websites to check out.
Looking for Associate Pastor. South Mountain UB (Dillsburg,
Pa.) is looking for an associate pastor of youth ministry and worship. This position
is fulltime and would involve oversight of all youth groups and the praise band.
Spiritual maturity is the first requirement for this ministry opportunity. However,
musical giftedness and youth ministry training are essential. For more information,
contact Pastor Greg Helman. Phone: 717-432-5662 or 717-502-0266. Mail: South Mountain Church, 1048 South Mountain Road, Dillsburg, PA 17019-9703.
Greenfield, Ohio. Good Shepherd UB celebrated its homecoming on Sunday,
June 10, with 201 people present in the morning worship service. A highlight was
the "surprise" burning of the mortgage for its seven-year-old facility. Jim Blaine
is the pastor of this growing congregation.
Pastoral Changes
- Dr. Gary Newton has been named interim minister at Eagle Quest Church (Columbia
City, Ind.), effective June 1. He is currently Associate Dean of the Huntington
College Graduate School of Christian Ministries.
- Wayne Carnes has been named interim minister of Rugby UB (Hope, Ind.) effective
June 1.
- Bob Lust has been named as the interim minister at Columbus First Church
(Columbus, Ohio), effective May 20.
- Doug Coldsmith is the youth director of a new church getting started in Winchester,
Va.
- Scott Hardaway, a recent graduate of Asbury Seminary, will become associate
pastor of Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.) in July. He holds a local conference
ministerial license from Heart O the Lakes UB of Brooklyn, Mich. Scott and his
wife, Tonya, are both graduates of Huntington College.
Waynesboro, Pa. On Sunday, May 20, Rhoda Bauer, age 104, was baptized.
Rhoda still lives in her own home along with her two cats. Although she is not
able to get out much anymore, over the years she was an active attendee of Blue
Rock Church and Sunday School. Pastor John Shubert also baptized four other persons
that day.
Jana Hoobler, our
Macau Mission Director, reported on June 15:
"We are finishing another term of classes on Taipa this week, and it feels
like we have developed some good relationships with our students. We aren't able
to offer many classes this summer because of our small staff size, but hopefully
many of these students will return in the fall. Praise the Lord for a good start
on Taipa!
"Clare Weaver, the college-age daughter of a missionary couple in Macau, is
helping us with ELP classes this summer. We're thanking God for this provision
of an extra teacher.
"Just today I had tea with a former Pui Ching student of mine named Chris.
She's now graduated from college in Australia. She became a Christian and was
baptized there. It's always a blessing to hear back from former students who have
accepted Christ. Praise the Lord for this blessing in my day today!
"Last week I had dinner with Lee, one of my students at the Taipa Center.
She has had a difficult life and is in a tangle of many complicated relationships.
She feels her life is very meaningless and that she can't trust anybody. Pray
that she'll be open to the Gospel as I share with her.
"One of my students on Taipa, a young woman named Kim, told me that she just
accepted Christ as her Savior. As I talked to her, it was obvious that she's very
confused by a variety of Buddhist, Catholic, and Christian beliefs. Pray that
I'll have an opportunity to talk to her more and know how to help her.
"Karis Vong, pastor
of Living Water UB church, shared during our chapel times on Taipa, and the students
seem to be responding more about spiritual things.
"I have started a Sunday English Bible Study on Taipa. Only one student came
the first week. He didn't stay, because he didn't want to be the only one. Pray
that more people will come in the next few weeks, and that they'll be drawn into
an interest in the Bible.
"Jen Blandin and I
have gotten pretty much settled into our new apartment on Taipa. It's really comfortable
and much larger than our other apartment. I'm enjoying it a lot!"
Hillsdale, Mich. Pastor Les Smith reports: "On June 10, Hillsdale UB
received 17 persons into adult membership. Since research shows the first year
of membership to have the greatest dropout rate, each of the new members was assigned
a sponsor from among the administrative board of the church. A reception meal
was served following the service and then a new member orientation session was
held. The sponsors and new members were introduced to each other and sat together
for the meal and training session. These leaders will offer prayer and other forms
of support to those they sponsor during the first year of their membership.
"The previous week, on Pentecost Sunday, over 400 attended as a half-dozen
were baptized, bringing the total baptisms to 30 so far this year. There have
also been over 30 conversions. Attendance is up 25% from last year."
June 1, 2001
Mt. Solon, Va. Fonda Cassidy sent this note from Mt. Olivet UB: "On
April 29, we had a bring-a-friend Sunday. Attendence was 116. We were almost packed!
We had a covered dish meal followed. Our message was entitled 'Howdy Neighbor!'
"We had a membership class, and seven new adult members joined our church
fellowship! On National Day of Prayer, we had a special prayer meeting with a
neighbor church. Mothers Day, May 13, featured a special service honoring all
mothers with a gift and special gifts to oldest mother, youngest mother, mother
with most children present, mother with children born closest together, and the
mother who traveled the greatest distance."
Macau. Jana Hoobler sent some news items from Macau.
- "Jennifer Blandin and I got moved into our new apartment on Taipa. We haven't
had much time to unpack, so our apartment's a mess, but at least we're in!"
- "Karis Vong shared during our chapel times on Taipa last week, and the students
seem to be responding more about spiritual things. Praise the Lord for the relationships
and trust that are being built."
- "Pray for planning for summer activities in both churches and on Taipa. The
summer's coming quickly, and we want to use those months to reach as many people
as possible!"
Paul Coy. Paul Coy
arrived back in America on May 28, concluding his years as a missionary in Macau.
"All my flights were on time and went smoothly. All 20 hours from airport to airport."
Wes and Jean Bell. The Bells,
partial support missionaries serving in Brazil with Wycliffe, have completed another
four-year assignment. They are leaving on furlough on June 4. They will spend
the rest of June visiting relatives and spending time at the Wycliffe home office
in Orlando, Florida, and at a regional office in Chicago, Ill. On July 3, they
will move into the UB Mission House in Huntington, Ind.
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