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The BishopBlog is closing temporarily. In about four weeks, we will relaunch the blog with a whole new design, and significantly expanded in scope. We want this blog to be a focal point for United Brethren discussion and thought. The...

I’m just finishing the book Band of Brothers, by Stephen Ambrose, which Pat Jones told me about. It is about a group of soldiers in World War 2 who were led by Dick Winters, who was a tremendous leader. They...

Here in the national office, we’re excited about the upcoming arrival of Jeff Bleijerveld as the new Director of Global Ministries. He’s a quality guy who will fit right in. I’ll enjoy watching him take our missions program to the...

Yesterday we announced through the denominational email list the appointment of Jeff Bleijerveld (right, with his wife, Charlene) as the new Director of Global Ministries. Starting March 3, he’ll head up our missions work, joining a staff which already includes...

For a long time I have tried to read a lot of good books. It must have been from my years in book publishing. Anyway, 2007 was no exception for me. Here are several book I read in 2007,...

A couple days ago, in Part 1, I discussed my dismay over the many churches that are disobedient to the Great Commission. Now I'd like to tackle a second issue that has concerned me as I interact with our churches....

Wow, 2008 already. I have been reflecting over the past two years of my term as bishop. People often ask me if I enjoy what I do. I usually laugh and tell them I am not sure this job is...

I'm sitting in a training/discussion meeting in St. Louis right now with Ed Stetzer, one of the most articulate, informed researchers in America today regarding the Church. It is very insightful and stimulating. My mind is wandering down many different...

A series of training events for laypersons will be held in five different locations during September and October. They are designed for anyone serving in some type of local church ministry. The training will include principles that can be applied...

Been awhile since I have made an entry to this blog. I'm afraid I only have excuses and not valid reasons. But I wanted to reflect a little bit about the recent National Conference 2007. First, let me say...

Years ago I was teaching an all men's Sunday school class and wanted to have them turn to some Scriptures that were not in the quarterly they used. Only one man had a Bible with him. I encouraged them to...

The past few days I have enjoyed reflecting on National Conference. It was such a joy to watch the interactions of all the attendees with each other. Sharing ideas, renewing friendships, discussing the speaker's points, praying for each other,...

Thom and Sam Ranier, writing in the January-February issue of Outreach Magazine, talk about a church's conversion ratio as one way to tell if a church is evangelistically healthy. Their research indicates that an evangelistically healthy church maintains an annual...

There was something that I wanted to say and just forgot, so here is a little add-on to yesterday's SFD (Single Focused Determination) post. What distracts us? I am sure we could develop quite a list. But after developing that...

A few weeks ago EJ and I were in Wheaton, Ill., with our granddaughter celebrating here sixth birthday. She had received an Ant Farm as a gift at Christmas but hadn't sent for the ants until just before her birthday....

Here is another question that has come to me. What are we getting if we sign the National Church Covenant? I have been a licensed minister in this denomination since 1964. There is nothing in the covenant that I did...

In case you are curious, my initials are RRR, thus triple R. In case you're not curious, just don't bother reading this! Anyway, here are two questions that came to my attention through the grapevine. How available are you to...

I believe that healthy churches grow. I do not believe that every growing church is necessarily a healthy church. But healthy churches grow! Tom Blaylock, our Director of Church Multiplication, recently sent me a review of the book, The Forgotten...

Just when you think nothing could happen that would shock you, something happens that is a tremendous shock. Of course I am talking about the shootings at Virginia Tech. While I don't know anyone who was shot, it still caused...

Registrations for the US National Conference now stand at 715, which is pretty incredible. Unfortunately, this means we outgrew the accommodations available at Sawmill Creek. However, a number of hotels are located within just a few miles, and we have...

Registrations for the 2007 US National Conference have been streaming in continuously. Over 100 were added in the past week, bringing us up to 380 registrations as of Friday, March 23. Persons from 88 different UB churches (including one UB...

I wrote yesterday about what we are expecting about National Conference and also why we should consider attending. I got another thought this morning that connects with what we have been teaching in the churches. It has to do with...

During the morning service at the church I attended today, a baptismal service was part of the day's worship. It reminded me that I hadn't seen a baptism since I left Mainstreet in August 2005. A congregation ought to be...

I have been asked as we travel around why anyone should come to National Conference on May 31. What can we expect? What business will happen? Is it worth it? Let me give you my answer. First, let me address...

Pam and I have a precious two-and-a-half year old great nephew by the name of Karson Cabe. Karson's dad, Kraig, is the regional director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Northern Indiana. His mom, Christy, was the children's ministry director...

In light of the process every church is going through currently in signing the National Conference Covenant, some questions are being asked for clarification. The National Conference Covenant consists of eight statements which churches must agree to; the senior pastor...

The account in our church history of Otterbein attending a "Great Meeting" at Isaac Long's barn and meeting Martin Boehm has remained a favorite story ever since I first read it while a student in UB Church History. Early this...

Our good friend and mentor Bruce Dreisbach has a new book out entitled Out of the Belly of the Whale. You can get a copy of it along with his other resources at LifestyleWitnessing.com. Bruce's premise is this: "The greatest...

National Conference is coming up and I wanted to let everyone know a little more about this event. The dates are May 31 -- June 3, 2007, and the location is Sawmill Creek Resort, Huron, Ohio, just about 45-60 minutes...

I spent a few days last week in Texas at the deer ranch, hunting. Yes, I had a great time and yes I was successful in my hunt. But hunting isn't really what I want to talk about. At the...

Just finished 7 Practices of Effective Ministy by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner and Lane Jones. It is published by Multnomah and copywrited 2004 so it isn't brand new, just off the press. But it is an excellent book. It is...

I always know that shortly after the first of the year I received that intimating piece of mail from the IRS...my tax forms. Then the ones from the state arrive. I have even received them a time or two before...

A notice to those of you from the UB Church...if you sent me an e-mail during the last week and have not received an answer, you might want to resend it. We installed a new email server, and in switching...

I have been struggling since Monday evening with Vertigo and all that is associated with it. If you don't know what that is I'll spare you but is has something to do with meeting up close and personal a porcelain...

As I have had the privilege of sharing the Strategic Plan for the future of the UB Church, I have heard a call from key leaders: make accountability real. We have spoken about setting goals for reaching the lost so...

Recently, while out on a hunting trip in northern Michigan, I saw a rare and beautiful sight -- a bald eagle in flight. The very first time I saw a bald eagle was on that same hunting trip a few...

Someone recommended to me the book by Bill Easum, Unfreezing Moves. It is not a brand new book, having been published in 2001, but it is worth reading. While I do not agree with everything Easum says, I found the...

Pat Jones, Mark Ralph, and I spent this past weekend at Banner of Christ UB church in Grand Rapids, Mich., conducting our first Church Consultation Weekend. The initial response was very positive. These consultation weekends are a crucial part of...

This afternoon I am attending the first of four seminars scheduled for HU's new program in worship leadership. The seminar will bring together senior pastors and worship pastors "to encourage greater mutual understanding between the roles and personalities that are...

We lifetime churchgoers have our own lingo, with inside-the-Bible-Beltway terminology seldom used beyond the church walls. And some words, though they get used in the secular world, adopt a slightly different connotation when used in a church context. We all...

In the last post I mentioned the idea of a corporate time of prayer and confession for sins of the past in our church. Well, I was directed to a great resource, a book by Dr. Kenneth Quick titled, Healing...

In preparing for the 2007 National Conference, it has been impressed on my mind that I need a core of people who would be willing to join me in prayer that God would meet with us in a mighty way...

The National Conference 2007 dates are May 31 – June 3. The location, the Sawmill Creek Resort, is situated on beautiful Lake Erie near Huron, Ohio (one hour west of Cleveland). The conference will open with a Thursday evening session...

Pam and I received word that someone we care about deeply has been told he has cancer in several locations in his body. In addition, this past week blood clots flowed to his head and caused two minor strokes, leaving...

We're in the midst of another national election. From what I've observed, United Brethren churches keep a good balance when it comes to political activity, and most prefer to avoid partisan politics. Which is proper, according to the IRS publication,...

I have been meaning to post this for sometime. When I remember, I'm traveling and away from my computer, and when I am close, I forget. But anyhow, I read a book recently that I thought would be good to...

I’ve been a little tardy in posting to the blog. No excuse really, just busy. But we all could say that, couldn’t we? Well, I was thinking about writing this post this morning while I was mowing my lawn--or more...

I have been in a number of serious conversations over the past months. But last week I was told a joke that struck me at the right time in the right way and I had to laugh. And I laughed,...

How many of you remember high school chemistry class? Even though I have to go back 20-plus years, I vividly remember my experiences. Our teacher was your classic "nutty professor" type, brilliant but not fully plugged into reality. One day...

People expect certain basic amenities in a church. Indoor plumbing. A roof. Chairs to sit on. Telephone service. And now--a website. The younger generations, at least, expect a website. If you don't have one, then to many people, you don't...

A friend told me today about a bull he raised on a farm when he was younger. This bull had a several foot wide set of horns. If you challenged him by walking straight up to him, he would wave...

Steve Dennie and I have been on a mission. The shipping area of our building was in need of some cleaning. Yesterday we finished phase two of what will turn out being a four or five phase project. As we...

As I ended the last entry, I mentioned my granddaughter. Actually, I have 3 grandchildren: 2 boys and 1 girl. They are probably the most handsome, beautiful, smart, intelligent, thoughtful, and loving children. And did I mention smart? I don't...

Just take a minute and list in your mind all the ministries of your church. Preaching, worship, music, Sunday school, youth ministry, etc. You'd probably have a fairly long list. Got all of that in your mind? Good! Now, think...

Oswald Chambers observes: The phrase we hear so often, Decide for Christ, is an emphasis on something Our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him - a very different thing. At...

In 1994, we held a leadership conference which brought several hundred UB ministers and laypersons to Huntington, Ind. One morning we divided everyone into groups based on church size--24 different groups. They talked about various issues for a while. Then...

This was sent to me by Gene Wood the Turnaround Church author and speaker. Here I am, 66, and reading this with some regret. You who are younger would do well to heed this advice. 50 SUGGESTIONS FOR PASTORS If...

In light of the war in Lebanon and the threats created by the plot uncovered in the UK, I was asked the other day why the Islamic extremists hate Jews and Christians so much. I clarified immediately that the key...

Thought you might like to know some of the stuff I've been reading this summer. So here is a short list: Hit The Bullseye, by Paul Borden an Abingdon Press book. This is the story of how one region of...

One year ago yesterday. That is when Pam and I (exhausted from the tears of the day before) drove our overloaded vehicles the 500 miles we had driven many times before. The difference is that before it was to visit...

We have a superb track record when nearby UB churches merge. I wish the Elgin UB church had gone that route. My mom grew up at Elgin, a small rural congregation outside of Van Wert, Ohio. I was related to...

I am pleased to announce that the 2007 National Conference will be held May 31 - June 3 (Thursday through Sunday) at the Sawmill Creek Resort, in Huron, Ohio, on the shore of Lake Erie. The resort is about 45...

I had breakfast the other day with three UB pastors. One was pastoring a large church that is well established, and the other two were pastoring smaller congregations that were planted 5 – 8 years ago. All three pastors live...

I've come alongside some broken situations lately. My heart aches. I've seen it all through the years, and there are some patterns that continue to make no sense to me. A spouse is told that the "feeling" is gone and...

Mt. Pleasant UB church in Chambersburg, Pa., is partnering with a UB church in Mexico that has a big vision to make a difference in a city of 70,000 people. But they are wondering, "Could we work with other UB...

Years ago, Denny Miller, Bob Bruce and I traveled together to attend seminary at Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, Pa. Denny and Bob would pick me up along the way and from my home we would alternate driving so...

I performed an informal assessment with a church. I asked them what (if any) threats there were that would keep the church from moving forward. One man responded that he thought the larger churches in their area were a "threat."...

I am currently in San Francisco at a conference. We attended church at First Baptist Church of San Francisco, which is located directly across the street from the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Community Center. It also strategically sits on the...

1 Kings 19:3--Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat...

I have just returned from a brief vacation. My wife EJ and I flew to San Antonio, Texas with our daughter and her family. We spent about a day and a half touring the Alamo and the River Walk. We...

I've been working hard at perceiving things as Jesus would. The disciples saw a sinful woman at the well. Jesus saw a person reaching out for help. Jesus observed how hard the Pharisees worked to get their "converts", even going...

I was recently asked by the Admissions and Theater departments of Huntington University to sit in on a dress rehearsal of their 2006 Summer Tour production of Godspell. You could probably join me in reciting the words to many of...

I had the privilege of attending a commitment Sunday service on May 21 at Main Street Church (Walbridge, Ohio), where I served for 12 years prior to this assignment. During this service, the congregation made commitments to a stewardship campaign....

Recently I shared prayer requests with a team of people who serve as intercessors for us and this ministry. Most if not all that I shared in this update were challenges we were facing. One intercessor wrote back and said...

A pastor again recounts how efforts at change are met with strong resistance, despite the fact that few if any people have been saved through his church’s ministry in the past decade. A lay leader expresses frustration at the lack...

Pam and I have been on a two and a half week journey. We left home two weeks ago yesterday and will not return home until Tuesday. During most of this time, we have not had internet connection, and I...

I am currently attending the 2006 UB Youth Summit in Florida. Matt McKeown, youth pastor at the Daytona Church, is producing "podcasts" of each session. These are Quicktime files which you can listen to online. All of the sessions available...

Picture Pilate standing next to the bloodied, tattered body of our Lord before the crowd from The Passion of the Christ. Listen to his statement: "I am innocent of this man's blood. " I was sitting in this Good Friday...

"The problem with denominations is that they want to shape the mission around their polity, rather than shape the polity around the mission. The latter view is the spirit of all the founding fathers and mothers of every denomination, while...

A study I read said that filling a church pastoral vacancy now takes 18 months on the average. With that in mind, I have been pondering whether it is time for us to develop an Interim Pastoral system. Being an...

When you call Pat Jones or me, you will be introduced to a new voice. That voice belongs to Erinn Caley, who became the Administrative Asst for Pat and me. Erinn graduated from Huntington College in 2003 and served two...

Just another brief encouragement to pastors and lay people that this seminar is coming soon: April 18 at Huntington University. We have many churches that I would characterize as being turnaround situations. We ought to have a number of our...

Ken Sande, President of Peacemaker Ministries, says in an article that I had just read that: 23% of all current pastors in the US have been fired or forced to resign in the past.45% of the pastors who were fired...

Okay, you know we are talking about Revelation here. I just read an article from Peacemakers about the toll conflict is taking on the church and on pastors. Conflict has hindered or ruined many churches' ministry. It has contributed to...

Thank you: the words seem too simple to be meaningful. But to a tired soul who wonders if the investment is worth it, they can bring some short-term replenishment to the brittle dryness. That is what I hope happens through...

We are in need of locating a few, really sharp young pastors who can help us change our leadership DNA. Do you know any student that is currently in a seminary anywhere? Could you give me the person's name and...

Just received some promotional material that churches can use to present the real truth of the Da Vinci Code movie that will be out May 19. It And got me to thinking about what our churches are doing, if anything,...

REMINDER! The Turnaround Church Seminar is coming quickly--April 18 at Huntington University. See my March 14 posting for more details. If you need registration forms, let me know. This would be good for board members, staff members, commission chairpersons, pastors...anyone...

I recently came across this quote that moved me. How about you? "It is a marvel to me how men continue at ease in preaching year after year without conversions. Have they no bowels of compassion for others? No sense...

When I first started in ministry, the goal seemed to be to get things done. The primary way people were influenced and helped was with the teaching. Sunday preaching, teaching times, and classes were the major focus. Families were stable...

There is an event planned for April at Huntington University that some of you should be interested in attending. The Hoffman Lectureship Series for 2006 will be held on the campus April 18, 2006, with the topic being "Turnaround Churches."...

Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries, reporting to the Executive Leadership Team During the past few weeks, we've had a lot of meetings--the Global Ministries Leadership Team, the Healthy Church Leadership Team, the Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team, and...

Shocking statement, isn't it? But stick with me. The Scriptures remind us that we must approach each day as if we are dead to yesterday. Jesus said, "Whoever will not take up his cross daily and follow me is not...

When EJ and I were first married we bought a used TV. It was in a nice large (and heavy) cabinet and we thought it would look nice in our apartment. Well, we soon found out the reason it was...

Faith Church in Port Orange, Florida lost their multipurpose building in one of the hurricanes last year. They currently have approved plans, and even have a local contractor who will pull permits on his number, but neither he nor others...

To be licensed in the UB Church, every candidate needs to take the UB History course. It is being offered this summer at Huntington University. Please get this info to every person associated with your cluster's churches who needs to...

Recently I was challenged to a full orbed view of the Great Commission. Since we are covenanting together to be "Great Commission" churches, we must have a full view of what that entails. The front side of the commission is...

Roses are red Violets are blue I wish I had some snappy two-line ditty to finish this little poem to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day! But alas I am no poet and "my big feet show it" (and...

Here are some questions for you to ask yourself and your leadership with tenacious honesty. Time is short and we must stop kidding ourselves about the effectiveness of our ministries. The reason some churches function at a high level of...

I have identified five stragetic initiatives for my term, and I would like your feedback on them, either through the comments or using the Contact link on the right: 1. Implement and encourage an atmosphere where multiplication of leaders and...

I was in Michigan this past weekend attending their Mid-Year Conference. They announced a cooperative effort between Sunfield UB and a neighboring Weslyan Church to plant a new church in Portland, Mich. The church planting pastor, Ed Love, was introduced...

Several people have ask me how Paul Hirschy is doing. I am happy to report that Paul is doing fine and in fact has a new position with Huntington University. Effective February 1, 2006, Paul was appointed as a development...

When was the last time you personally saw an old honest to goodness scalawag sinner come to faith in Christ as a result of your church's ministry? I ask that question in nearly every church I visit. I get some...

We talk a lot about it, but do we do it? Really, do we really even believe it? Yeah, I'm talking about prayer and fasting. I wonder what could happen if a number of our churches would seriously consider seeking...

I know none of us are anxious to have another church-wide election, but one will be necessary this fall. The purpose of this election will be to vote to change the constitution, thus completing the transition of our denomination that...

It's interesting how we take things that are biblical and make them a buzzword for a while. Today, spiritual formation is in danger of becoming a buzzword in our church cluture. When I talk about spiritual formation, I think of...

If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12...

Thanks again to all who participated in our first cluster leader training. Just having you rub shoulders in the same room for a day and a half was a blessing to watch. YOU are key to making a difference in...

I have basically "bought in" to the Healthy Church concept that healthy churches grow and it is possible to establish criteria to describe a healthy church. However, I was a little uncomfortable with the fact that the arguments for are...

At the Huntington University trustee meeting last week, Dave Engbrecht, Pastor of Nappanee Missionary Church, was the devotional speaker. One thing he said was very thought provoking: "Whenever memories are greater than your future, you're writing your last chapter." Wow!...

Our primary ministry focus must be outward--reaching lost people with the Good News and seeing them begin their journey to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ....

It is a new year for the United Brethren Church--not just because the calendar says it’s a new year, but because of all the changes that became official on January 1....