2005 Archived News

November 21, 2005

Philippines Short Term Mission Team “Outreach ‘06”, an evangelistic crusade trip to the Philippines, has been planned for March 29-April 8, 2006. The crusade will be done in partnership with our Philippines United Brethren Church. Each year for the past 18 years Rev. Prudencio Lim has conducted evangelistic crusades in different provinces (states) throughout Luzon, the main island of the Philippines, consistently opening new churches. In recent years, several North American United Brethren pastors and lay people have been joining Pastor Lim and his team. The activities of the trip will include not only nightly crusade meetings but also sharing testimonies in several Manila area U.B. churches, meeting pastors and spending time in prayer with them. Many opportunities for ministry are available during the trip. They include:

• Medical & Dental: A medical and dental team will serve the needs of people during the day
• Testimonies: During each night of the crusade, team members are needed who can share their personal testimony
• Music: Various opportunities for vocal and instrumental music
• Speakers: On Sunday, April 2, it is hoped that six Manila churches can be filled with team members who wish to preach/share a message
• General Help: During the week, many roles need to be filled: cooks, set-up persons, laundry workers, assistants to medical staff, altar counselors, etc.

Cost for the trip is expected to be approximately $1,350 which includes everything except personal spending money.

For further information, please contact Rev. Mike Brown at the Franklin UB Church in New Albany, Ohio (614-855-1391) or Gary Dilley in the Global Ministries Office (260-356-2312 or 888-622-3019)

November 18, 2005

Angie Swanson, a member of the Findlay First United Brethren Church, and currently serving as a short-term missionary at the Jamaica Bible College, has been asked to continue her work there through July of 2006. Angie has been teaching a number of different classes including music and computers; has served as a mentor to a number of students, and has been involved in work within a local UB Church in Jamaica as well. She is currently applying for renewal of her work visa which will allow her to continue her ministry in Jamaica through the summer of 2006.

Ways in which you can partner with Angie and the ministry she is involved in are:

• prayer support - praying for her continued good health, her teaching, and wisdom as she mentors students;
• financial support - Angie is in need of an additional $3,000 for her support through the end of July, 2006; contact Global Ministries at missions@ub.org for information regarding contributions;
• emails, cards, letters of encouragement - as with all of our missionaries, Angie appreciates hearing from individuals, Sunday School Classes, and WMF groups. The words of encouragement and news from home are most appreciated. Email her at: Swanson@ub.org or send a card to: Angie Swanson, Jamaica Bible College, P.O. Box 141, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies

Angie with the children

November 9, 2005

Honduras Mudslides. UB Superintendent Francisco Raudales reports much damage in the northern part of Honduras due to mudslides resulting from the recent storms. The conference has been involved in relief work to help many UB brothers and sisters in the area. Below are pictures of the house of one of our people and the relief work.

Outside view

Inside view

Another inside view

Handing out relief supplies

More relief items supplied

September 7, 2005

Volunteer Work Team Opportunity for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief.
Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief organization led by Rev. Franklin Graham, is helping to facilitate groups of people who want to help Hurricane Katrina victims repair their damaged roofs and clean up their properties. Their website is www.samaritan.org. This is the same organization that many UB churches have partnered with in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Here is the note on their website: "Perhaps your church or group would like to send a work crew. We need groups of at least five individuals. The minimum age is 18. Construction skills are helpful but not necessary. If you are interested, call the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief staff at (828) 262-1980 or email disasterresponse@samaritan.org."

August 31, 2005

Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief. United Brethren people have a history of responding with funds and as volunteers when disaster strikes. When hurricanes hit Florida, we worked through our UB churches there providing relief. After the tsunami last December, we worked through our workers in India.

Several UB people have inquired about ways to help victims of Katrina. Because we do not have any close United Brethren connections in the area that has been hit by Katrina, we are referring people to other reputable organizations that are able to mobilize this relief effort.

Please contact the organization of your choice.

August 25, 2005

Report from Jamaica Conference by Winston Smith - August 2005

Ministry

• Most, if not all, of our churches have had Daily Vacation Bible School and Crusades. Many decisions were made and prospective candidates are enrolled in new converts classes.
• We have just concluded three weeks of Camping in Malvern. Approximately 300 persons attended.  There will be an adult weekend camp this week.

News

• We hope to begin a radio program in October.  This is a 15 minute Youth – Focus Program. The cost is approximately $13,128.00 US per year.  
• The program will be sponsored by churches, businesses, and individuals.  
  We also hope for partnership with US churches on this.
• Hazard, Washington Gardens and Golden Spring churches have changed their Sunday morning service time from 11:00 am to 9:00 am.  The change has shown improvement in attendance in morning service and Sunday school.

Missions

• The conference will sponsor a member of the Haitian church to pursue theological studies at the Jamaica Bible College in Jamaica.
• Marshalee Brown, our first missionary, has been ministering in Mekelle, Ethiopia for approximately two years and seven months.  She left Jamaica in January 2003.  She teaches 52 girls three days weekly.  There are five groups and each has a leader.  Marshalee has also opened a library at her home.  She is also teaching at the Youth Centre.  These classes are going very well. Please pray for Marshalee that God's will be done in her life, the lives of these little girls and the teenagers and young adults she teaches at the Youth Centre. Each year the conference supports her with $2,400.00 US. This is a yearly commitment.  However, Marsha's needs are greater.

Need

There is an urgent need for financial assistance to purchase land for church extension (all amounts are in US dollars):

1. Iterboreale, St. Mary is soon to be organized as a church.  The conference built a large structure that can hold 500 persons.  The property is being sold to us for $23,990.
2. Longville Park, Clarendon has a bright future. For years, we have sought for land for church planting. Recently we were offered a one-acre lot for $12,795. We must make a down payment of $6,397 now to secure the land.
3. Eltham Park is an organized church, and has made a deposit on two lots. They need to pay a balance of $13,595 as soon as the title is ready.
4. Rhymesbury, Clarendon - We have an organized church in Rhymesbury but we do not own the lot we are occupying.  Land is being sold for $9,596. We have already secured 50% of this amount.

Report from Mexico Conference by Denis Casco - August 2005

Report from the 2005 Mexico Annual Conference

• 337 people were in attendance, which included pastors, lay leaders, delegates and general guests from all across the country.
• The following districts were represented: Ciudad Juarez, Queretaro, Michoacan, Cuernavaca, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Monterrey and Estado de Mexico.
• Pastoral licenses were given to eight new pastors working in our new extension fields.
• Two pastors who have met the requirements according to the Mexican Constitution were ordained: Rev. Carlos Chaves and Rev. Evangelina Rodarte.
• Denis Casco has been elected to a six-year term as leader of the Mexican Conference. A dedication service was held.
• There is a desire to start additional theological training for pastors in the year 2006. There is a great need to provide theological education for our pastors as they lead their churches. This will be a big challenge.
• We received three new indigenous groups who are not Spanish speaking. Pastor Javier Rios is our missionary to these groups through our conference program of Purepechas indigenous out reach. They need the New Testament in Tarasco (their indigenous language).
• The Mount Pleasant UB Church from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania led by Bobby Culler, provided a wonderful Vacation Bible School ministry in Valle de Santiago this summer. We greatly appreciate their work with us.

August 16, 2005

Ministry Team Coming March 2006 - Honduras Medical Mission Trip . Honduras Conference has requested a team to do clinics in three or four villages about two hours away from La Ceiba. The team will assist in meeting the physical needs of individuals located in poor, remote areas of Honduras where medical attention exists only on a limited basis. During the trip that took place in 2004, the medical team saw more than 1,100 patients and treated them for a variety of chronic ailments as well as performing some outpatient procedures that saved the lives of three seriously ill people. Personnel needed: doctors, dentists, EMTs, support personnel (individuals who will help with record keeping, getting supplies and managing flow of crowd, and people who will pray with and for patients before they leave the clinic). Cost of the trip will be $1,250 per person in US funds. Trip sponsored by Global Ministries and led by Donna Hollopeter. For additional information, check this page.

Ministry Team Coming June 2006 - Poland English Camp. The purpose of this trip is to work along side UB endorsed missionaries, Arek and Donna Delik, as they reach out to the young people of their city of 50,000. The method will be teaching English as a second language to teenagers in a camp setting. Activities involve conversational English; sports and games; crafts; and music. The ability to communicate and converse in English is the main requirement. A large part of this ministry is establishing relationships with the teens and their families. Trust and relationships are important in being able to share the love of Christ. There will be opportunities for the building of relationships not only through the English Camp but personal visits to the homes of students and their families. This trip is sponsored by Global Ministries and led by Donna Hollopeter. The team will also be involved in an additional short side trip as the team exits Poland. Cost of the trip will include meals, lodging, airfare, side trips, gratuities, etc. Cost per person is $1,700. For additional information, check this page.

News from Macau

David and Melissa Kline. In May, some of Kline’s Pui Va students accepted Christ. Since that time, four of them have been attending Living Water Church regularly. In June, Melissa’s parents went to Macau for a visit. While they were in Macau, they had a chance to meet students from Pui Va on several occasions. When people in Macau realize that Melissa is a Christian, that her parents are Christians, and that her grandparents are Christians, that has made quite an impact on the people. In June, a team from David’s home church – Union – in Huntington, Indiana went to Macau to help out. They conducted VBS for the children and transformed the ELP into a jungle paradise. Some of the kids who attended made decisions for Christ.

Beth Nelson from the Mongul UB Church outside of Shippensburg, PA spent the month of July in Macau working as a short-term missionary.  She worked with the Women’s Bible Study and with the kids program and was a great blessing to all.

One of the big needs in Macau in order to minister is to build strong relationships with the people.  David and Melissa have been involved in many different activities, building and strengthening relationships so that they might have the opportunity to share the gospel.  They are rejoicing at the increasingly stronger relationships being built with the teachers at Pui Va and they have particularly asked that we remember them in prayer as they build those relationships.

Jennifer Blandin. Jennifer returned to Macau at the end of June to begin her fourth term of service there. Jennifer returned knowing that she would be living in a different apartment from when she left. She is praising the Lord that it is feeling more and more like home with each week.

Jennifer is rejoicing also that a target date has been established for the first official service of the third UB church in Macau.  That date is February 26, 2006 and the name of the church is Living Stone United Brethren Church. Jennifer asks that we pray for “a core group of local and mature Christians to be part of the start up and that more people in the community will be open to learning more about the Bible”.

Carlson and Naomi Becker from Traverse City, MI will begin three years of missionary service in Macau at the beginning of September.  Carlson will serve as the Macau UB missionary director and help with the church plant.  Naomi will be teaching English classes as well as having other responsibilities with the ELP.  Please pray for the work permit which will allow the Becker’s to live and work in Macau.

Items from the Hong Kong Conference July 2005 Newsletter

Poland. Thank God for the success of the English Camp held from June 27 to July 2. There were 74 participants. It was assisted by 24 members from the American UB Church.

Myanmar. A short Mission Team of 7 members headed by Bridget Ho were in Myanmar from July 16 -22. They participated in the English classes, led Sunday worship and gatherings in the poor people district and the orphanages.

N. Thailand. There are over 60 members and some children attending Sunday worship in Loh Mah Church. Rev H. M. Lee and his assistant are conducting Sunday worships and family gatherings.

Miscellaneous Articles

• A two-part update on Haiti: an overview by Gary Dilley, and an update from Luanne Brooks, who heads back to Haiti on March 30.
• The 2004 WMF Project: training centers for women in Sierra Leone.
• Update on the 2003 WMF Project: Shoes for Missions.

Sponsor a Child in India (3/23/04)

Children in India whose parents have leprosy or are HIV positive are not accepted in regular schools. Miriam Prabhakar saw this need and began a special school on the grounds of the Bethesda Leprosy Hospital in Narsapur, India. The children stay in a "hostel," which is like a dorm, and only go home periodically. For $20 a month ($240 per year pledged) you can sponsor a child. This provides the child with all school supplies, books, clothing, food, and medical needs. Your donation will definitely make a difference in their lives not only by providing a regular school education, but also as the seeds of faith are planted through Bible stories, songs, and lessons. For pledging information and to check the availability of children to sponsor, contact Darlene at the Global Ministries Office.

VBS Update (3/23/04)

Our Vacation Bible School Project for 2003 was to help build a church and provide a place for children to worship in the tribal areas of India. Over $8500 was raised through the generous giving of children. Because of this, the following has come to fruition:

• One church has been built, and the people are worshipping in it and praising the Lord for the facility. This church is pictured.
• A second church is under construction in another location.
• At least three pavilions will be built to house new church plants with the remaining money.

The funds have been a big blessing because there was a great need for people to see a church being built in villages that are predominately Hindu.

News from India (3/23/04)

From February 16-19, pastors and delegates from our church planting region in India were able to attend a family conference organized by the UB people. Three guest speakers gave excellent teaching, and 35 delegates were encouraged and refreshed. Our couple in India were excited about this opportunity because of the increased challenges facing our pastors through persecution from the Hindus and the threat of a new anti-conversion law. The state's ruling party is threatening to pass a law that would prohibit a person from changing his religion, and would outlaw baptism. This has already been passed in three of the neighboring states. Despite the difficulties, through the church planting ministry 189 more people have accepted Christ as Savior, and out of these, 124 have taken the significant outward step of baptism.

After 30 Years, Swartzes Leaving Wycliffe (3/23/04)

Steve and Bev Swartz, UB endorsed missionaries with Wycliffe Australia, are currently in transition. They began their work with Bible translation in 1975 and started working in earnest on the Warlpiri translation in 1978. That Bible was joyfully dedicated in 2001 in Alice Springs, Australia. The time has come for a change of pace. Steve will begin a leave of absence from Wycliffe this spring, and will be employed at Yirara College in an administrative position.

Their appreciation goes out to "friends and family who have prayed for and supported us, who have struggled our struggles and dreamed our dreams, who have laughed and wept and rejoiced with us and the Warlpiri people for these last 25 years that we have lived and worked in Australia. We owe each and every one of you more thanks and credit than we can ever give or repay. We know for certain that anything we have accomplished for the Lord here in Australia has been your accomplishment as well, and we praise and thank God for you all."

Steve and Bev Swartz can be reached at this address: 55 Patterson Crescent, Alice Springs, NT 0870 Australia. Email: swartz@ub.org.

Work Group in Haiti (2/3/04)

A UB work group from Canada traveled to Haiti on January 30, and will be there until February 10. There was initially a great deal of concern, because both the United States and Canadian governments had travel advisories out for Haiti. In recent weeks, there has been a great deal of unrest in Haiti. However, the group decided to go, and thus far, they have not had any troubles. You can be in prayer for them, though. They are working with construction, medical, children’s, and medical ministries.

Darlene Burkett Joins the Global Ministries Staff

At the beginning of the year, Darlene Burkett began serving fulltime as Administrative Assistant in Global Ministries. When you call Global Ministries with questions or requests, there's a good chance you'll talk to Darlene. Darlene actually started working part-time in the department during the fall. Darlene and her husband, Phil, are one of the two founding couples of the Macau mission work. Phil now serves as Minister of Music and Missions at College Park UB in Huntington.

Notes on Upcoming Trips (1/29/04)

• Global Ministries is sponsoring a medical missions trip to Honduras in October 2004. Read about it.
• There will be no STUMP trip in 2004. Gary Dilley explains.

Coming and Going (1/28/04)

• Rick and Ann Runyan and family (right) are prayerfully investigating whether God is calling them to fulltime mission service. They will be in Honduras for the entire month of February, spending time with US work teams and getting acquainted with ministry in Honduras Conference. The Runyansw are from the Idaville UB church (Idaville, Pa.), and their pastor is Dirk Small. Please pray for them this month as they take this step of faith.
• David and Melissa Kline are planning to leave for Macau at the beginning of April. Their funding is now at the 90% level, and they are prayerfully working on raising the remaining amount before they leave.
• David and Jane Arends, from Otterbein UB in Waynesboro, Pa., are preparing for service in Belize, a country next to Honduras. They will serve with Mission to the World. David, a physician's assistant, will work at the Presbyterian Medical Clinic and assist with church planting. Jane will teach music at the Christian schools and assist with church planting. They have three children (ages 6, 11, and 12) and are endorsed missionaries with Global Ministries.
• Ruth Ann Price has spent the last several months serving with Wycliffe in restricted access countries in the Far East. She has returned to serve as missionary-in-residence for second semester at Huntington College.
• Barry and Charlotte Elliott have returned to Greencastle, Pa. They had been serving with World Gospel Outreach as houseparents for Honduran children. They are from the Otterbein UB church in Greencastle.

Birdsalls Back in Macau

In early January 2004, Russ and Nellie Birdsall began their sixth short-term tour of service in Macau. They are working in the English Language Program, teaching Bible studies, doing leadership development with the pastors of Macau and Hong Kong, and building relationships with the people of Macau and Taipa.

A new video features Russ and Nellie sharing about their love for Macau and how they want to be used by God during their retirement years. Global Ministries will gladly provide one for your church to use.

It costs the Birdsalls up to $6000 to spend three months in Macau. One church has contributed $3500 to help make this possible. If you would like to contribute, you can make out a check to Global Ministries and on the memo line note that this gift is for the Birdsalls' ministry in Macau. You can also give online via credit card through Paypal. Go to their UB homepage for the link. Those gifts are tax deductible.

News from India

• One of our pastors recently baptized 20 new converts. Please pray that these new believers will continue to grow in their walk with Jesus and be his witnesses.
• A week of heavy storms and rains badly damaged one of our churches. We are trying to construct a stronger building.
• One of our pastors reported that a fundamentalist group held a meeting threatening Christian workers not to preach the Gospel.

• El Salvador. In recent years, Honduras has extended its church planting into El Salvador. The Honduran superintendent, Francisco Raudales, is requesting a work group from the United States or Canada to help with church construction for their San Salvador congregation. For more information, contact Global Ministries.
• Macau. Travel to the Far East (Macau, Hong Kong, China) with the Director of Global Ministries April 29--May10, 2004. This is designed to be an exposure to UB missions in this corner of the world. Contact Gary Dilley.

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