Huntington University is seeking a person to serve in the part-time role of Graduate School Admissions and Marketing Coordinator. This position involves representing Huntington University in a professional manner throughout the process of recruiting, admitting, and matriculating prospective graduate students, specifically in marketing the Graduate Ministry and the Graduate Counseling Programs.

Candidates must have a strong personal faith in Jesus Christ, a desire to serve others and a commitment to being a faithful steward of university resources. The ideal candidate will have marketing skills and strong computer skills: primarily Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. The individual should have strong communication skills, both written and verbal, in one-on-one and group settings and must be able to work in a highly interactive and team-oriented environment. The role requires a candidate with self-motivation and initiative, creativity, attention to detail, and time management skills. The candidate must possess a high level of problem solving and organization skills, and must be able to execute multiple projects and tasks concurrently. A Bachelor’s Degree is preferred.

If interested, contact:

Huntington University
Human Resource Office
2303 College Avenue
Huntington, IN 46750
Email to prudy@huntington.edu
Or fax to 260-359-4086

A team from Canada is currently in Haiti doing construction work and ministry. Unfortunately, Pastor Oliam Richard, who leads the churches in Haiti, suffered severe injuries in a fall on Monday. He attempted to jump down from a height of about six feet and ended up breaking his wrist in three places, and his hip, which they originally thought was dislocated, turns out to be badly broken. He will require a hip replacement operation.

Joan Sider (center) with Esther and Oliam Richard.

The accident happened at what is called the "Hill Church." Team members and some Haitian men had to carry Pastor Richard down to the bus. They spent two and a half hours looking for a doctor, with no success. The hospital in the town of Cayes couldn't do anything for him. They tried to go to see some Cuban doctors Pastor Richard knows, but they were not at home. They went to the United Nations, who put them in touch with a nurse practioner. They visited a clinic, but there was no doctor at that time. They offered to keep Pastor Richard, but he declined. He was in considerable pain, but conscious and aware.

On Wednesday morning, the group planned to begin the six-hour bus journey to Port au Prince, the capital city. Upon arriving there Oliam's wife, Esther, would begin investigating the possibility of taking her husband to France for medical treatment.

However, a wonderful opportunity arose on Tuesday night. The Mission clinic they were at suggested they try going to the Southern Baptist Mission Hospital, which is one of the best in the area. They hired an "ambulance," which was little more than a van with a mattress on the floor and tires to lean up against.

Four times a year for one week, a team of doctors comes to this hospital from the United States. This happened to be one of those four weeks! Plus, one of the doctors is among the best Orthopaedic surgeons in North America! Definitely a God-thing.

After meeting with the doctors, they decided to have the surgery done there. A cast has already been put on Pastor Richard's wrist. This injury is apparently the more difficult of the two problems, since three bones are broken quite badly.

Hopefully, on Thursday, Pastor Richard will have his hip operated on and they will have him up on his feet on Friday. Pastor Richard will remain in the hospital for ten days.

The cost for the operation will be about $5000 Haitian [$700 US]. There is no provision for food in the hospital. The Team will be going out to find a market to get food. Someone, likely Pastor Richard’s secretary, will need to cook the food at an outdoor fire.

Team Haiti will be going back to Cayes. They had already checked out of the hotel, but the hotel has rooms for them at a reasonable rate until Friday. From Saturday until their return to Toronto (as scheduled), they will stay in Port au Prince.

Ann Spores, who served with her husband Darrell as a UB missionary in Sierra Leone during the 1980s, passed away January 19. They served as business manager and hostess at the mission house in Freetown. Darrell's address is:

Darrell Spores
1200 Miva Mar #602
Medford, OR 97504-8568

Lester Smith (right), senior pastor of Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.), sent this report about their January 6 service. "January 6, 2008, the Day of Epiphany, fell on a Sunday. Epiphany recalls the wise men following a great light to come to Christ. So the Hillsdale UB Church celebrated the 12th day of Christmas by lighting a candle for each of the 12 people who came to Christ in December through our church's outreach ministries. The congregation at the HUB gave the Lord an ovation for all those born-again in 2007, which was double the number of the previous year."

Fonda Cassidy of Mt. Olivet UB in Mt. Solon, Va., sent this report: "This past year was a great outreach for our church in missions. We shared in opportunities with local missions for building a complete house in our community. We cut and carried wood as was needed. We had a large group travel to Kentucky to work on projects directed by Titus Boggs. Other individuals traveled to Belize, Honduras, and Bolivia for medical and construction assistance. Five young people attend Rhodes Grove Camp, and two received Christ as Savior! Opportunities come and go, but it's what we do with them that could count for Him."

We received word that in early December, Gary Brooks was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Gary and his wife, Diane, served as missionaries in Honduras for many years, and later pastored UB churches in Michigan and Florida. Gary has continued his involvement in UB missions, frequently serving as an interpreter on trips to Spanish-speaking countries. Gary and Diane now live in Palmetto, Fla., at 2608 87th Court East, Palmett, FL 34221.

Jennie Bishop, a member of the praise team at Daytona UB church (Holly Hill, Fla.), sent this report about Christmas at First UB church:
 
"The Daytona UB church honored our Lord and Savior this Christmas season during each Sunday morning of Advent with a special song, a special music selection, and a narrative presentation. During the first three Sundays of Advent, our Praise Team sang a special song called 'Messiah,' and they also sang a special music selection. The song 'Messiah' was written by one of our church members who also wrote and coordinated the narrative readings. During the singing of 'Messiah,' four ladies wore robes of righteousness and walked down the main sanctuary aisle toward the front of the church where an adorned crown was placed at the manger in the nativity scene. After the singing, a narrative reading was done by several members of the Praise Team.
 
"Each Sunday during the singing of 'Messiah,' the congregation was instructed to write in a crown-shaped image on a piece of paper what they were willing to do for Christ this Advent season. The emphasis was on our willingness to serve Christ, and all written cards were kept anonymous as each church member placed their 'Crown of Willingness' on the alter. Prayer requests were also written on crown-shaped pieces of paper and placed on the altar. After each service, the willingness cards were collected and placed into the adorned crown that was laid at the manger.
 
"During the last Sunday of Advent, while singing 'Messiah' the cards of willingness were collected and placed into a crown of thorns which was placed before baby Jesus in the manger. Laying a crown of thorns signified that without the birth of Christ, there would be no salvation for mankind. In closing the service on that last Sunday of Advent, the congregation held lit candles while the Praise Team sang 'There is Peace in the World Tonight,' after which a flute and guitar duet played 'Silent Night.'
 
Below is a music MP3 file for the song “Messiah” (Lyrics written by DJ Muller, performed by Edie Shadle, and recorded and produced by Matt McKeown of Sound Mind Productions).

Doug Moyer was hired December 14 as part-time youth pastor of Lancaster UB church (Lancaster, Ohio).

Devon Strine has resigned as senior pastor of Kunkle UB church in Kunkle, Ohio, effective January 10, 2008.

Donelle Raab, wife of Michigan minister Dick Raab, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on her spinal column this week. She began radiation this week to be followed up with chemo.  She is in a good bit of pain despite medication.

Dick and Donnelle served 42 years in the pastoral ministry, retiring in January 2007 from their last pastorate, Richfield Road UB church in Flint, Mich. Donelle holds a Specialized Ministries license, and until the end of 2007 was a member of the denominational Women's Ministry Team. They now live in at 1914 Jack Pine Court, Dorr, MI 49323.