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August 2001 News Archive

August 14, 2001

Pastoral Changes

  • Daryl Elliott is resigning as pastor of Mt. Pleasant UB (Chambersburg, Pa.). On November 1, he will become pastor of the Lake Brantley UB church in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
  • Kathy Capello is the Director of Children's Ministries at Grace Now! Ministries (Etters, Pa.). Anthony Blair is the senior pastor.
  • Steve Barber resigned as pastor of Grace UB (Manlius, Ill.) effective August 1.
  • Dean Rhine resigned as pastor of Union Chapel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) as of July 31. Wayne Goldsmith, a retired minister, is serving as interim pastor.
  • Richard Barber was hired as the part-time Pastor of Children and Youth in April.
  • David Riddle, an intern at Emmanuel UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.), will become the new senior pastor of First UB of Blissfield, Mich.
  • During Central Annual Conference, Tom Brodbeck was elected to a new term as fulltime conference superintendent.
  • Bill Case is resigning as pastor of New Hope UB (Camden, Mich.), and plans to teach in a Christian school in Auburn, Ind.
  • Tracey Slager was hired as director of the Anchor Community Church Youth Center, starting June 15. She is a 2001 graduate of Taylor University-Fort Wayne.
  • Brad Riddle was hired as Pastor of Worship, Music, Evangelism, and Discipleship at Atlantic Avenue UB (Franklin, Pa.), effective July 1.
  • Dr. Gary Newton was named interim minister at Eagle Quest Church (Columbia City, Ind.), effective June 1. He is a professor in, and former Associate Dean of, the Huntington College Graduate School of Christian Ministries.
  • Wayne Carnes became interim minister of Rugby UB (Hope, Ind.) effective June 1.
  • Bob Lust was named 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, is now 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.

Spencerville, Ohio. Monticello UB will celebrate its 125th anniversary on September 9. The festivities begin with the 10:00 a.m. worship service. A service at 2:00 will be a time of remembering.

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. Email: smuub@juno.com. 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.

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."