October 2001 News Archive

October 30, 2001

Dillsburg, Pa. South Mountain UB hired Marc Stephenson as the new associate pastor of youth/worship. Marc is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is enrolled at Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, Pa., where he's pursuing a Master of Divinity. Marc's wife, Sue, is a teacher for the hearing disabled, having graduated from IUP as well.

The church held its Fall Rally day on October 21. Renee Basel, the featured singer for the day, is a former backup singer for Larnelle Harris and was an awesome inspiration to all who attended. She weaved stories, her testimony, and songs into the morning's service. Pastor Greg Helman gave the evangelistic message for the day.

On October 28, South Mountain held its annual Autumn Extravaganza. The night included a lengthy hay ride through the country, plenty of hot dogs, marshmallows, and smores, which use Hershey's chocolate and marshmallow between two pieces of graham crackers. Hot chocolate was in heavy demand on the cold and blustery evening. Approximately 60 people attended, with at least three unchurched families joining in on the fun.

Mid-Atlantic Conference. The Growth & Renewal Commission of Mid-Atlantic Conference held its first Pastor's Summit October 5-6. This was designed to give pastors, staff, and their spouses an opportunity to be refreshed by God. Each woman received a rose in a vase with a card, which quotes Proverbs 31:29-31, to place in her room and take home later.

Rhodes Grove Camp's new Miller Lodging Wing was packed for this event. Great fellowship was enjoyed as plenty of good ice cream was served at the end of Friday night's activities. Breakfast and lunch on Saturday were also helpful in getting to know new people and renewing old friendships.

Gary Thomas was the featured speaker. His theme was, "The Private Life of the Public Person." His messages were both inspirational and candid as he freely shared from his own life experience. Pastor Todd Fetters surprised Gary and the crowd by arranging a long distance telephone conversation with Gary's wife which was heard over the sound system.

At the end of each break, prizes were given away. Four couples were given gift certificates to enjoy "Sight and Sound," a Christian playhouse located in Lancaster, Pa. Eight ministers received free book coupons good for one of Gary Collins four books.

An all-star worship team was formed from around the conference and definitely made for a wonderful atmosphere of worship throughout the weekend. Also, tapes of the event were made available to every pastor in Mid-Atlantic Conference. This was a memorable occasion for all involved and will be repeated next year.

Toronto, Ontario. The Chinese church in North York, Ontario, closed as of August 2001. Pastor Isaac Hor was the pastor of this church, which began as an outreachof the Toronto UB church.

Pastoral Assignments.

Wayne Carnes has been named pastor of Rugy UB in Hope.
Ben Geiser has been named interim pastor of First Love UB in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This is the church pastored by Rev. Gary Dilley, now the Director of Global Ministries.

October 29, 2001

Macau. Jana Hoobler, Macau Mission Director, sent this update on October 26:

"Yesterday morning four women came to the English Bible Study that Nellie Birdsall is teaching especially for housewives. One of the women, Grace, is one that I've asked people to pray for previously. This was her first time to attend. Please continue to pray for her salvation.

"On Wednesday, eight students and three teachers attended our weekly prayer meeting for Pui Va School. Praise the Lord for these Christian students and teachers. Pray for wisdom as we teach the students to pray for their teachers, administrators, and classmates. Some of them aren't sure they actually want to pray for their teachers!

"We are sending out fundraising letters this week to raise the funds needed to move Living Word Church to a facility that is suitable for registration with the government. Pray for God's provision as the local church, Hong Kong Conference, and we missionaries work together to raise the needed funds.

"We have a ten-day ELP break this coming week, so we will be spending a lot of time with classes and individual students as we invite them into our homes. Pray that God will use these times together to draw people to Himself."

October 26, 2001

Phoenix, Ariz. Gordon Rohn, a UB partial support missionary serving with Paraclete, writes: "September 11 is a day we will always remember. Like many I was riveted to my television that morning until I had to leave for a doctor appointment.

"I will remember September 11 for another reason. That is the day my doctor told me that I almost certainly had cancer and that surgery was necessary as soon as possible. The surgery took place and caused me to miss the Kazakh Partnership meetings. The events of September 11 caused other ministry events to be canceled so I did not have to cancel my participation. I am now nearly but not totally healed from the surgery.

"My cancer was found to be a non Hodgkin's lymphoma which is generally low grade and not aggressive. Today I completed a series of tests and examinations in an attempt to determine if the disease has spread and how advanced it is. The results thus far are very encouraging, but all of the results are not in yet. The doctor told me this week that at the very least I will have to undergo five weeks of five-day-a-week radiation treatments. He said that by Monday he should have all of the test results and be able to determine if chemotherapy will be necessary and if I will need radiation in any sites other than the surgery site. He expects treatment to begin in early November."

Oakland, Md. Harry Hebenthal was the interim pastor at Underwood Church. He is no longer assigned there. Underwood Church will be using several supply pastors for the near future.

October 23, 2001

La Ceiba, Honduras. Roger Reeck, a UB partial-support missionary serving with Wycliffe in Honduras, sent this report. It was written on October 1.

"I just got out of jail a few hours ago.

"On Sunday, September 30, I went to a Garifuna village to take medicines and talk to some teachers. At about 8:30 that night, I was about 30 minutes from home and I was rejoicing because I had a great trip. Then I came to a spot where there was a semi truck parked on the left side of the road and a lot of people on both sides of the road.

"A man who owned the local cantina had had too much to drink, and without looking he stepped out in front of my Ford van. I barely saw him before the impact. He died almost immediately. Because people get angry and beat up the driver in accident cases like this, a wise young man in the car behind me got witnesses to go with me to the police station. They treated me great. While I was there the son of the man came by and I was able to give him a hug, tell him I was sorry, and give him money for funeral expenses.

"In these cases the driver goes to jail for a day or two while they check out the accident. Often they get put in a cell with aggressive people. But when I got there they let me stay near the police in the outer office and sleep on a little wooden bench. They did all of the paper work, declared me innocent, and let me go around 3:00 Monday afternoon. Praise God. It usually goes much worse and they never declare you innocent.

"I still don't know what God wants to teach me through all of this, but I thank him that everything worked out so well and that I came through it all knowing that he loves me and takes care of me.

"Please pray for the family in their time of mourning. And please pray that God will let us share his good news with many while there is still time!

Findlay, Ohio. On Sunday, October 21, the children of First UB of Findlay raised $179 for the Afghanistan children's relief fund, as directed by President Bush. This money was sent to President Bush along with a card signed by all the children of the Sunday school telling the president that they are praying for him.

Fort Wayne, Ind. Patrick Rowland resigned as Pastor of Student Ministries at Emmanuel UB in Fort Wayne. Kent Koteskey is the new Pastor of Student Ministries, and Rudy Tamez is the Associate Pastor of Student Ministries.

Burbank, Calif. Paul Baird resigned as pastor of Victory Celebration Center in Burbank effective September 30. He has moved to Eugene, Oregon, and is pastoring with another denomination.

October 18, 2001

Huntington, Ind. Fall enrollment at Huntington College topped the 1000 mark for the first time ever. And just barely. The total headcount for the fall semester is 1001. That includes 879 undergraduates, 89 students in the EXCEL program, and 33 students in the graduate school.

The college's strategic long-range plan, adopted in 1993, called for 1000 students, including 850 fulltime-equivalency students, by 2001. Since 1993, HC has experienced a 73 percent increase in total enrollment. This fall, the college enrolled 271 new students, an increase of 13 percent over the previous year. Of those, 41 transferred from other colleges.

The 2001-2002 Huntington College verse of the year is: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Chambersburg, Pa. Mark Story was hired as Program Director of Rhodes Grove Camp, the campground of Mid-Atlantic Conference. Mark comes from Lancaster, Pa. He spent last year with African Inland Mission serving in Tanzania.

Waynesboro, Pa. Lee Nunemaker, Jr., is the new youth pastor at Otterbein UB of Waynesboro, starting October 1.

Chambersburg, Pa. Mark Story was hired as Program Director of Rhodes Grove Camp, the campground of Mid-Atlantic Conference. Mark comes from Lancaster, Pa. He spent last year with African Inland Mission serving in Tanzania.

October 17, 2001

Florida. Rev. James B. O'Sullivan, who started the UB work in Jamaica back in the mid-1940s, was found dead in his apartment in Florida on October 6. In his 80s, Rev. O'Sullivan remained active in ministry to the end, and will always be highly esteemed for his lifelong ministry. Rev. Owen Gordon, a Jamaican minister, writes, "His death marks the end of a legend. He was truly a great man who served his God faithfully and the United Brethren in Christ Church with distinction. We all mourn his passing."

In 1945, Rev. O'Sullivan, a Jamaican who had been pastoring the independent Union Church outside of Huntington, Ind., agreed to go to the Bahamas to head up a new United Brethren mission there--actually, assuming control of a work there started by someone else. But first, he sailed to Jamaica to visit family. On the way there, a hurricane marooned him on an island off the coast of Cuba, and it took several weeks for him to reach Jamaica. By then, the mission board, following a visit to the Bahamas by two of its members, decided against going into the Bahamas. However, the mission board supported O'Sullivan as he began ministry in Jamaica.

Chambersburg, Pa. Chris Little is the new senior pastor of Mount Pleasant UB, starting October 16. The previous pastor, Daryl Elliott, will become senior pastor of Lake Brantley UB church in Florida beginning in November.

Macau. Jana Hoobler sent these news items on October 16.

"On Saturday night, October 13, we had an Indoor Beach Party and BBQ at our center on Taipa. Nearly 80 people attended! This was a great turnout, and very encouraging to our team. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the time. It ended with a 'campfire' and sharing by Pastor Russ Birdsall. Praise the Lord for all the good contacts He's given us on Taipa.
"In August, we split our Sunday school at Living Word Church into two classes. We missionaries are helping with the younger kids. There aren't many in that age group, so we started an attendance campaign. We met our first goal of six students last Sunday, so each child had his/her picture taken on a motorcycle. (Big stuff for 5-8 year-olds!) Pray that we'll meet our next goal of eight students soon!"
Living Word Church is planning to relocate. Jana says, "Continue to pray for Pastor Connie Sung as she coordinates the move for Living Word Church. She's in the middle of having plans drawn by an architect and submitting them to the government. At the same time, she's negotiating with the landlord on when we need to sign a rental contract. Living Word is also preparing for a big fund-raising dinner on October 27. Lots of things are happening!
"A group of teachers and pastors from several churches have started a worship and prayer time for Christian students at Pui Va Middle School that meets at our center on Taipa. Praise the Lord that six students and three teachers came last week. Pray that the group will continue to grow and that the students will have a growing desire to share the gospel with their classmates."

October 5, 2001

Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Arturo Casco (left), a prominent leader in Honduras National Conference since the early 1960s, passed away October 5. In his 80s, he was still pastor of the large UB church in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. He served as the first national superintendent of Honduras Conference (after missionary William Smith-Hinds left the field). He had been in a coma for several weeks after having suffered a stroke and a heart attack.

Rev. Casco is the father of Denis Casco, Director of Latin American Ministries. Denis had just arrived in Huntington, Ind., for the first meeting of the new Global Ministries Leadership Team, when he received the news of hisfather's death. He immediately left for Honduras.

A chapter on the life of Arturo Casco appeared in the book Tio Archie, published this summer. The book combines the life story of missionary Archie Cameron with the history of Honduras Conference. You can read that chapter online. The Global Ministries Leadership Team issued a resolution, written by former Honduras missionary Harold Wust, concerning Rev. Casco.

India. Miriam Prabhakar sent this note on October 2: "Could you please pray especially for a need that is heavy on our hearts. Someone has written a leaflet which they have circulated to all in this area and east Godavari, making false acccusations about Richard. This is really painful and we are not sure exactly what we should do. For some reason, a group of people are trying to attack him and the work that we are involved in. Please pray for His grace and wisdom to do what is correct. We are waiting to hear from the lawyer as to what would be the right step to take in this matter."

Macau. Jana Hoobler, director of the Macau mission, sent these items on October 4:

"The students attending Sunday's Bible study on Taipa brought more friends last week. Afterwards we all went to Melissa Hull's house to celebrate Jennifer Blandin's birthday. We're so thankful for the relationships we've been able to build with this group. Pray that a solid group will continue to attend. Pray that more ELP students will also join this Bible study.
"This year I have started teaching English conversation to two classes at a high school here on Taipa. This week I met with another Christian teacher at the school. We are going to try to start a small group for Christian students in the school that will meet at our center on Taipa. Praise the Lord for seven Christian teachers at this school who have a desire to share their faith. Pray for God's protection over our good relationships with the administrators of the school.
"This week Nellie Birdsall is starting an English Bible study on Friday mornings for our morning students on Taipa. Most of them are housewives. Pray that a group of these students will come and be open to the gospel."