July 2004 News

July 28, 2004

Caro, Mich. On June 27, Colwood UB dedicated a new 28,000 square-foot addition. Sandra Whipple writes, "We are blessed with a great group of dedicated laity that did almost all of the interior work on a wonderful building that includes a new sanctuary, children's center, and an administrative wing. We also remodeled our old sanctuary into a youth center."

During the week of July 12, Colwood did VBS using the Lava Lava Island curriculum. Sandra writes, "Our building was transformed into a jungle island. It was a wonderful week that was topped off on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, when 72 kids made first-time commitments to Jesus Christ. Over 400 kids and parents shared in a luau together on Friday night."

Findlay, Ohio. First UB has been involved with a new church plant in Findlay. First, they parented the Faith Community Church in a mother-daughter situation. Now they are fostering a new Korean congregation. Because of the University of Findlay, the city has a large Korean population.

Kangchoon Lee is a church planting pastor from Korea. He has planted two churches in Korea and is now planting a Korean congregation in the United States. He is partnering with First UB to start a new congregation called, in English, "The Forever Love Church." Currently, the church is running around 12 individuals. Once school starts, the numbers will escalate.

The First United Brethren Church is supplying the building, along with partnering in ministry. Also, First UB will provide an "English as a Second Language" course for the Koreans. This is very similar to the course that our missionaries teach in Macau.

Huntington, Ind. At the end of August, Rev. M. E. Burkett will step down from the active pastorate after 66 years in the ministry. He and his wife, Frances, will move to Florida for about nine months. He has served as a missionary in Sierra Leone and at the Laurel Mission, and has pastored churches in Canada and across the United States. Most recently, he has been pastor of the New Hope UB church in Huntington, Ind.

Rockford, Ohio. New Horizons UB paid off the mortgage on its new facility far ahead of schedule. Pastor Bob Loar reports that in the last five years, over $1.5 million passed through the building fund as they worked to relocate the ministry following the arson at the former building.

Chambersburg, Pa. Murray Stevens is the new pastor of Saint James UB in Mid-Atlantic Conference as of July 1.

July 20, 2004

Adrian, Mich. Tim Walberg, a layperson from the Trenton Hills UB church in Adrian, is running for the US Congress. Tim was a delegate to the 2001 US National Conference.

Huntington, Ind. The United Brethren Headquarters is undergoing a transition in the position of Finance Director. Janet Bilyew, our present Finance Director, will leave us at the end of July. Janet has worked at the UB Heaquarters since the early 1970s, longer than anyone else. She has accepted a position in Fort Wayne, just a few miles from her home. She will be greatly missed.

Janet's replacement has been found in the person of Jane Jordan. She is moving to the Huntington area, and started with us on July 19. Her husband is in the Navy and is being transferred from Seattle; he is about reach to begin a six-month submarine tour. Jane will be in the Huntington area for an extended period before her husband is then transferred to Virginia Beach.

July 19, 2004

Scenes from Findlay's block party.

Findlay, Ohio. First UB of Findlay helds its 4th annual community block party on Saturday, July 17. This concluded a week-long VBS that saw 14 decisions for Christ. In preparation for this party, individuals within the congregation blitzed the neighborhood with fliers and personal invitations. On Saturday, the church prepared games, food, and entertainment that was all 100% free to everyone. Individuals from the community showed up, and the next Sunday, one individual even visited the church.

Dimondale, Mich. West Windsor UB held a surprise 90th birthday party for Rholland "Archie" Carpenter on Sunday, July 18, during the Sunday school hour. He still attends every Sunday, and can quickly recall Bible verses for any subject they happen to be discussing. Among the 44 people attending were 16 Carpenters, mostly cousins, nieces, and nephews of Archie.

Archie and Cora Carpenter hosted the West Windsor church in their living room for many years before the current building was constructed. They are church patriarchs. Cora died a few years ago. Their daughter, Carol, who retired from school-teaching several years back, now takes care of Archie. He was the first Christian in his family, which included 11 brothers and three sisters.

India. Our couple in India are requesting special prayer for July 13-14, when they will hold special meetings for youth and students with the goal of reaching Hindus and Muslims. They will supply lunch for the students, and are expecting 250-300 to attend.

Dewitt, Mich. The Dewitt UB church is holding its final service on August 1. The pastor has been Rev. Ron Watterly.

July 15, 2004

Huntington, Ind. Dr. Walter Burkholder passed away on July 9, 2004. The Pennsylvania native pastored at United Brethren churches in Pennsylvania, Fort Wayne, and near Geneva, Ind., and served as general secretary of Christian Education for the United Brethren denomination.

Surviving are wife, Erma; children, Alan, Ann Oden, and Sharon Bryant; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were held Tuesday, July 14, in Huntington, Ind.

Huntington, Ind. A group of 15 people from College Park UB church will travel to Mexico July 17-25 to work with our Hispanic churches in Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas (across the border from each other). They'll do VBS in three places, and also help construct a Sunday school area for one of the El Paso churches. We have three churches in Juarez and six in El Paso. Gary Dilley, Director of Global Ministries, will lead that group.

Safford, Ariz. For over ten years, a group of teens and adults went to Jamaica during the summer to conduct VBS in Jamaican churches. We called it STUMP -- the Summer Teen United Ministry Program. There is no official STUMP group this year. However, our Open Bible Fellowship church in Safford has stepped into the gap. They are sending a group to Jamaica to conduct VBS in four churches, all in the Kingston area. The group will leave on Friday, July 17.

UB Historical Society Meeting. The special event scheduled by the UB Historical Society, which was to be held in Welland, Ontario July 29-31, has been cancelled. The number of registrations was too low.

Macau Updates.

• Michael Chan is a new Chinese coworker in the English Language Program. Using his training in small group development, Michael will work with Bible studies and outreach events on the island of Taipa, where we are in the process of starting our third church in Macau. Michael is initially working in an internship role, but it will evolve into full employment with the ELP.
• Mee Fong Ngai was sent by Hong Kong Conference to spearhead outreach to the poor and lower classes of Macau, especially women. She is working under the authority of the Living Water UB church in Macau.
• A group from the Brown Corners UB church (Clare, Mich.) is currently in Macau working with VBS and doing kids classes. The group includes senior pastor Chuck Malson and associate pastor Jeff Dice (a former UB missionary in Macau). When they leave, another church group will arrive to do much the same thing. This group will be led by Gary Hoobler (Jana Hoobler's brother), who is on staff with New Covenant Bible Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• Macau is enjoying a very encouraging round of outreach classes for children this summer. There are English language classes for kids, plus chapels which expose kids to the Gospel.

Jamaica. Angela Oesterle is returning to Jamaica Bible College in September, and plans to serve there for a year. She is from the Eden UB in Mason, Mich. Jamaica Bible College is a primary training institution for many of our Jamaican UB pastors, along with students from many other denominations. Rev. Owen Gordon, a pastor and leader in Jamaica Conference, also serves as president of the college. Angela previously served six months at JBC, and returns now to help organize their new library, reach out to women students, and assist with occasional teaching responsibilities. Angela is raising support for her year of service, and would appreciate any financial support from UB people and churches. You can contact Global Ministries about supporting her. Call toll-free: 1-888-622-3019.

Missions Resource. A growing number of UB churches run announcement loops prior to services--PowerPoint slides, shown via an electronic projector, which contain announcements and information about upcoming events, birthdays, etc. This is like the slides often shown in theaters before the movie. You have a captive audience, and people will watch whatever's on the screen. It's a good communication vehicle.

Global Ministries has produced slides for all of our missionaries, as well as for a number of our international leaders and countries. These can be added to your announcement loop to help people become more familiar with the things we are doing in missions, and particularly with our missionaries. The slides are available on the website, and can be downloaded directly to your computer. Or, Global Ministries will be happy to burn a CD containing all of the slides currently available and mail it to your church. You can find the slides here.

July 6, 2004

Haiti. Luanne Brooks has been a missionary in Haiti since March 2003. She has been a UB missionary, but working with OMS International. Luanne has decided to conclude her ministry with OMS. She explains:

"When I signed on with OMS, I signed on for two years. My plan was to work here for two years and by then, the UB church would be ready for me to move down to Port au Prince and work with our churches there. God threw a monkey wrench into that when our church began merger talks with another denomination. And so I thought that maybe I would just stay here with OMS. But God has been speaking to my heart about that, too. I now feel that God has another plan for me.

"I will be returning to the States and continuing my education. I believe God is calling me into fulltime ministry as either a hospital chaplain or in women's ministries. When I return home I will finish my bachelors degree at the University of Central Florida and then look into seminaries.

"Please pray for me. This is going to be a big change. I am leaving many people I have grown to love and admire. My leaving has not been good news for the clinic staff; many have expressed their regret. I will be returning home on Tuesday, November 30 (my birthday), and will try to a short-term position in South Florida with my daughter. My plan is to move back to Daytona after about six months, in time to start school at UCF. I hope to work with my church and help with Haitian ministries. We have two Haitian churches in our conference.

"If you are supporting me financially and/or in prayer, I ask that you continue to do so. I do not have enough money in my support account to finish my term if the giving stops. I will need your prayers for knowing where God is leading. I want what He wants. He knows better than I what is best for my life."

Macau. Jana Hoobler, a UB missionary in Macau, sent these items on June 29.

• "Karis Vong is celebrating her tenth year as pastor of Living Water Church this month. I'm so thankful for her friendship all of these years I've been in Macau. Praise the Lord for her faithfulness in serving Him.
• "Summer classes have started. I'm teaching one class for Primary 1-3 students and another for Kindergarten students each Tuesday through Friday afternoon. I enjoy this chance to work with children. Pray that these kids will come to understand the gospel through our daily Bible times together.
• "Two teams will be coming in July from the States to work with us. Pray for them as they prepare to join us in ministry. We're thankful for the extra help and energy they'll bring this summer!"

Macau. Jennifer Blandin sent these items on July 1.

• "June 1 marked the beginning of new roles for Jana and me on the UB Team. Jana is enjoying the chance to refocus her energy on spending time with people, teaching, and doing evangelism. I am wading through lots of stuff as I try to figure out and take on the role of Team Leader for the UB missionary staff in Macau. Gary Dilley is now our remote field director, which is an added responsibility for him, as well as a new style of leadership for the Macau team. Please keep us in your prayers as we work to adjust to this new structure.
• "Starting in July, Michael Chan, one of our former secretaries, will be doing a ministry internship with us out at the Taipa Center. Michael has been taking a yearlong program in how to develop cell groups. In August he will be joining our staff full time as a ministry layperson. We are very excited, and thankful, to have a local person join our staff at the ELP Center!
• "Athletes are always talking about needing to take their game to a new level. If you really want to win, you need to look deep inside and play at a higher level. In April, I wrote about a trip I took with some ladies from our English classes. They are a great bunch of ladies. Up until that trip, I would say we had a decent friendship. If we got together, we would always have fun. After that trip, deep friendships have develop. At this level, I'm learning more about what is on these ladies' hearts and they are learning more about what I care about and the concerns I have. Just as it is for athletes to take it to the next level to win the big games, as Christians we also need to take it to a deeper level with people we know to be sure Christ is reaching them at the level they are at."

Hong Kong. Here are some news items taken from Hong Kong Conference's June 2004 report. It includes news about two missionaries who have come from Hong Kong Conference, and about work in several other countries.

• Arek and Donna Delik (Poland). The summer English camp has been cancelled due to a lack of tutors. Donna and Arek will start evangelism in Kutno and promote the mission work of Operation Mobilization....Donna and Arek will take 22 youths to participate in the Conference on Street Evangelism for youths in Germany from July 31 to August 6.
• Myanmar. The move to the newly purchased centre has been postponed as the contractor is still not ready to hand over the centre to us....In June, the English classes started and the admission is good. As a result, two more tutors are required.
• Northern Thailand. At present, an Akar missionary couple is working with Pastor Lee....In August, Mr K. K. Fung will lead a short-term mission group to Northern Thailand. There are five participants.
• Bridget Ho. Ms. Bridget Ho completed her short mission in Nepal and returned to Hong Kong on June 20. She will attend a talk on Youth Mission in Taiwan.
• Macau. At Living Word church, a coworker for student evangelistic work is required so that Pastor Connie Sung can have more time for church pastoring and training....Mr. Michael Chan is serving in the English Centre. He is from the Cell-group Training College. The Centre is open from June to August to facilitate English studies.