With Hurricane Gustav rolling across Jamaica on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, Owen Gordon sent this note from Jamaica around 6 p.m. Friday, August 29. Owen, president of Jamaica Bible College, is a UB endorsed missionary.

Thank God! We are ok! The torrential rain has been falling unabated all day! The wind is very strong at times, and the electricity fluctuates (some places have no electricity since yesterday). Even as I write, the rain is pouring down heavily. There is no reception from the television. However, we are alive and for the most part dry inside. Thank you for your prayerful concerns.

The evening news reported seven persons dead and hundreds left homeless, roads have been damaged and many areas flooded, as Hurricane Gustav slowly mauls its way across the southern half of Jamaica. The entire country is being drenched with continuous rainfall.

Our plans for Orientation for College students scheduled for today has been set back. We have had to close down operations since yesterday. We are hoping to go ahead with plans for orientation for pre-college students on Monday. Our numbers have shown indication of increase, however, we can't count students until they are fully registered and turn up for classes. We are looking at a high of 150 with a low of 130.

The full extent of local and national damage cannot be assessed until the rain stops, so there is going to be extensive damage. The cost will run in millions of dollars. We feel for the people of Cayman, Cuba, and the Gulf States as Hurricane Gustav strengthens and heads towards them.

Ruth Boggs, the mother of Laurel Mission director Titus Boggs, passed away Tuesday, August 26. Ruth's late husband, Alvin, served on staff with Laurel Mission in the 1950s, and later started a school near the mission.

The first of five leadership training events took place August 22-23 at Salem United Brethren Church in Chambersburg, Pa. The sessions focused on developing effective short-term mission teams and covered the nuts and bolts of putting it all together like a pro.

Here are a few comments from those who attended:

• "Everyone, whether a team leader or not, needs to attend one of these training events. Anyone can benefit from the information and can use a lot of it in their home lives and on the mission field."
• "The team building activities were fantastic and relevant to team preparation."
• "The Seven-Step Process will help us bring the church along for the trip--something we have not been able to do."
• "I understand Global Ministries better and see how helpful they're willing to be in the process of planning, preparation, and supporting throughout."

Additional training events will be held:

September 12-13: Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
October 3-4: Crossroads UB Church (Charlotte, Mich.)
November 14-15: Lancaster UB Church (Lancaster, Ohio)

You can register online. The cost for the two-day event is $60.

The Huntington University men’s soccer team partnered with Mainstreet Church in Walbridge, Ohio, to host the Onside Soccer Camp August 11-14. Two coaches and 23 players worked with 86 children, ages 4-13. The children participated in drills, games and team time activities. This is the second camp the team has organized for the church and the community.
 
"Not only do we share the game of soccer, but we also have an opportunity each night to share our faith with the children," said Russ Lawson, head coach of the Huntington men's soccer team. "This stretches most of our players and moves them out of their comfort zones. This week also allows us to learn more about each other and prepare for the season with a handful of training sessions."

Lawson added that Cathy Burson, children's ministry director for Mainstreet Church, and her staff volunteers "do an amazing job of taking care of us."

Submitted by Ron Watterly, pastor of McCallum UB church, Delon, Mich.

Jerry Johncock recently completed his 103rd marathon. That’s normally not a newsworthy item. Did I mention that Jerry is 80 years old? He not only completed the race, he set a new national record for runners in his age group, four hours, 11 minutes, 51 seconds.

Johncock is a member of McCallum UB church in Delton, Mich. He took up running at age 50 as a way to bond with his five sons, and has been at it ever since. He competes in several races annually. Racing is sort of in the Johncock blood. A cousin is Gordon Johncock, winner of the 1973 Indy 500.

Jerry was raised in the McCallum church. After high school, he attended Huntington College with the intention of becoming a teacher. His education was cut short by a stint in the Navy. After the Navy, he married Dorlene Ramie.

Through the years, Jerry served as a traveling evangelist, missionary to Mexico, and pastor of the Otsego, Mich., UB church. He never made it back to Huntington, but did complete vocational training at Michigan Career and Technical Institute and worked as a television repairman.

Of the five sons, Mark, the youngest, graduated from Huntington University and is employed at the Michindoh Camp and Conference Center (Hillsdale, Mich.). Jim, next to the oldest, is chairman of the administrative board at McCallum. Besides raising their own children, the Johncocks provided a home for numerous foster children over the years.

L-r: Lee Shortridge, Michael Slane, Jonathan Krull, Jay Duffer.

Four new members are joining the Huntington University faculty this fall.

Lee Shortridge, assistant professor of art. His resume includes a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1982 from Rosary College Graduate School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy (he focused on drawing and painting). Shortridge has taught courses for Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University, Bradley University, and Northeastern University. His areas of expertise include graphic design and fine arts.

Michael Slane, assistant professor of theatre. He holds a Masters degrees in theatre from the University of Kentucky (2001) and Ohio University (2008). His areas of expertise include theatre design and technology.

Jonathan Krull, visiting professor of philosophy (a one-year appointment). He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., and is pursuing his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of South Carolina.

Jay Duffer, visiting professor of theatre (one-year appointment). He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Baylor University. He is a professional actor, director and playwright. He has performed in venues ranging from Off-Broadway and New York theatre to regional houses as well as working in productions overseas.

For the past few years, Duffer has directed the popular New York-based sketch comedy troupe, Freedumb. The troupe played to sold-out crowds at the 2006 and 2007 Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, the 2005 and 2006 Toronto International Sketch Comedy Festival, and the 2007 DC Comedy Festival. From 2004-2007, he served as the executive director of New Works for Threads Theatre Company, a faith-based arts company that promotes and supports Christian writers in the secular marketplace.

You can read more about them on the Huntington University news page.

Huntington University will welcome new and returning students on Friday, August 22, for Move-In Day.

The first-time freshman class and the overall new student group, including freshmen and transfer students, are both expected to be 10 percent larger than previous record levels. The university anticipates that the new student group will break the 300 mark for the first time in Huntington’s history.

Also on Friday, Livingston Hall officially will open to students. The modern student residence is designed to house 150 undergraduates, primarily freshmen and sophomores. Construction began in the summer of 2007.

Move-In Day will kick off a three-day orientation weekend for new students, including the Huntington University Plunge, small group sessions and social activities. The plunge, sponsored by the university’s Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service, involves groups of new students as well as faculty and staff volunteering at various locations in the Huntington community.

Archie Kent, 94, a retired UB minister from Rugby UB church (Hope, Ind.) passed away on Wednesday, August 14. He served United Brethren churches in Anderson, Alexandria, Rugby, Huntington, Warren, New Castle and Williamsport, Ind., and Sherkston, Canada. He also had been an accountant with Canadian Fairbanks-Morris Co. in Canada.The arrangements are:

Visitation: Saturday, August 16, 4-8 p.m.
Location: Norman Funeral Home, Hope, Ind. The funeral home is located on State Road 9 on the west side of the town square.
Funeral: Sunday, August 16, 2 p.m. Visitation will occur 1-2 prior to the service.
Location: Ruby UB church.
Burial: Hawcreek Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian, whom he married in 1938. There are also six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

The ladies of the Rugby church plan to serve a dinner following the burial service. Memorial contributions may be given to Rugby UB church.

Marty Wilt has been named pastor of the Underwood UB church (Oakland, Md.). Marty holds a local conference license at Underwood. Marshall Woods, the previous pastor, resigned so he could give more time to the Mill Chapel congregation (Reedsville, W. Va.), which he also pastors.

Ruby Cherry passed away Saturday, August 9. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at Eden UB church (Mason, Mich.). Visitation will be at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 900 Michigan Ave., Lansing, Mich., at these times:

• 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 12.,
• 9-10 a.m. Wedneday, August 13.

Ruby was the wife of longtime UB minister Harold Cherry, and the mother of Kevin Cherry, currently pastor of Heart O' the Lakes UB in Brooklyn, Mich. Rev. Milan Maybee will officiate at the funeral.

Contributions for those desiring to do so can be to the Gideon International or Global Ministries of the United Brethren in Christ.

John Cole, pastor of Northland UB (Traverse City, Mich.), sent this report about their receive Vacation Bible School.

Last year we set a goal to have 40 children attend VBS, and we met that goal. This year we wanted to reach 50-60 children and their families. We held VBS on Friday evening, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday morning during the worship service. Not only did we serve a total of 55 children, but we had probably a dozen visitors, including one who told John that she felt the Holy Spirit’s presence at our church.

At the conclusion of the VBS, which had a service theme, we took the children to an assisted living facility just down the road from the church. The children sang a couple of songs to the residents and gave them each a sun catcher they had made during the weekend. Even the smallest children willingly gave gifts and hugs to the residents. We wanted to give the children and their families an immediate opportunity to serve their community, and they did.

One parent sincerely thanked us for having VBS on the weekend because, as a parent who works fulltime, her child had previously been unable to participate. She also expressed a desire to begin attending Northland.

All of these things are great, but the best part of the weekend was when ten children, three from our own congregation, accepted Christ. We were so excited last year when three children made commitments. We have been asking God to show us needs in our community that we could meet and through this He has shown us lonely people who need companionship, parents who crave safe activities for their children, and many children and families who need hope. We got to share that hope with so many this weekend. We praise God for showing up in such a powerful way.   

Brian Albright resigned as pastor of Freeport UB (Freeport, Mich.) effective August 10.

Leslie Lightner, an ordained United Brethren minister, passed away August 8 at age 58. He served as associate pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.) and as senior pastor of Park UB (Bluffton, Ind.). Most recently, he has been a professor at Winebrenner Theological Seminary (Findlay, Ohio). The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at Winebrenner, with visitation 204 and 6-8 p.m. on August 12. Details are here.

Jennifer Blandin, UB missionary in Macau, calls her monthly newsletter the "Macau Sports Report," and always draws creative analogies between athletics and the work in Macau. In her July edition, she mentioned that she'll be going to Beijing for the Olympics, which she describes as "a sports dream of mine."

Follow the link to read portions of her July newsletter, which focus around the Olympics.

Continue reading "Update from Jen Blandin" »

Dan Drake resigned as pastor of Olive Branch UB church (Lakeville, Ind.) to accept a staff position with a church in Texas. August 3 was his last Sunday.

Polly Dunten is home, after undergoing surgery July 28 to remove brain tumor. Polly and her husband, Darwin, serve First UB church of Findlay, Ohio. Darwin sent a note to Bishop Ron Ramsey on Sunday, April 3, which you can read on the BishopBlog.