UB Now

We sat down once again with Bishop Todd Fetter to learn a little more about what he's up to, what he's learning and what's coming up for our United Brethren Churches. Our four rounds of questions this time included: What is something fun you have done since our last recording? What Scripture is challening or encouraging you right now? What is going on in the UB world that excites you? and a bonus...

This episode of UB Now takes us back to the Bishop's office for another four rounds with the Bishop to learn: Round 1: What's on his mind Round 2: What he's working on Round 3: What scriptures are encouraging him currently Round 4: This one's a wild card. Tune in to find out. ---- Share this podcast with a friend or on your social media. ---- Host: Brian Biedenbach Music from #Uppbeat (free for Cr...

Greg Culpen serves as the Associate Pastor of Youth and Worship at Jerusalem Chapel in Churchville, Virginia, and he recently returned from Ethiopia where he serves every year with Hawassa Hope. In this episode, we talked about Greg's call to ministry, God's work at Jerusalem Chapel, and Greg's experience in Ethiopia. For him, this wasn't just a short term mission trip. This was another short term...

In this special episode of UB Now, Bishop Todd Fetters joins us for an engaging conversation about what he's learning about the Fruit of the Spirit, what he's working on to strengthen UB Churches, and what has been encouraging him from scripture lately. If you listen closely, you might even hear Todd talk about the best gifts he has given and received for Christmas. Merry Christmas! ---- Share thi...

In this episode, Brian welcomes Hunter Taylor, an associate pastor at Brown Corners Church, to talk about his experience working throught the Multiplying Leaders cohort that was offered following the 2025 US National Conference. Hunter shares the significance of having "ICNU" ( I see in you ) conversations, which encourage leaders to identify and affirm the gifts of individuals in their church and...

In this week's Live at Lunch conversation, we're talking to John Shadle, pastor at Prince Street Church in Shippensburg, PA. Prior to his time at Prince Street, he served at King Street and Fowlerville United Brethren Churches. John also currently serves with the Pastoral Ministries Leadership Team and chairs the committee developing the UB Pastoral Ministry Grant, which will be the focus of our c...

We have been hearing rumors of some exciting things happening on HU's campus - students surrendering to Christ, getting baptized and even asking for bibles in their native languages. So we decided to investigate. In this episode of UB Now , we invited campus pastors Mark Vincenti and Karyn Kamphausen, to join us to share more of the God-sized stories they have been able to witness on campus this f...

This week we welcomed back all three of our church planters whom we recently interviewed to hear about their launch Sunday on September 7, 2025. Find out what they learned, what surprised them and how they are preparing for all the weeks to come. Connect with our new churches: CrossFields Church Arise Community Church Cedar City Church ---- Share this podcast with a friend or on your social media....

Kevin Kowalski began his career as an offensive lineman, but is now the lead pastor of CrossFields Church, a new church plant in North Royalton, Ohio. We sat down with Kevin to talk about his journey from the NFL to church planting. CrossFields Church officially launches on Sunday, September 7, 2025, and there are already some exciting things happening there. Listen now as Kevin shares their story...

Kelly Ball is the lead pastor of a new church plant in Bad Axe, Michigan. Arise Community Church officially launches on Sunday September 7, 2025, but the Lord has already opened some significant doors for ministry in the community. In this episode, Kelly talks about her ministry journey, her calling to church planting, and the exciting things that are happening with Arise. Listen now to hear the s...

In a movie theater near Michigan State University there is a church called Cedar City. Jay Leadley is planting that church with a desire to connect college students and young adults to Jesus through life-on-life discipleship. Cedar City Church is one of three new United Brethren Churches that are set to launch on September 7, 2025. Listen now to hear the story and discover ways you can pray for Ja...

We spoke with Andy Sikora (Pastor at Renew Communities and Director of Church Multiplication for the Church of the United Brethren in Christ) following the UB National Conference. In the first part of our conversation we dove into the ins and outs of The Movement System that many of us were introduced to at conference. Then we turned a corner for a conversation about church planting, which Andy ov...

I sat down this summer at the United Brethren National Conference to have an impromptu conversation with Brent Leichty, pastor of Rising Hope Church in Shippensburg, PA. We put a couple mics in front of us not knowing where the conversation would go, and the result was a great conversation about discipleship in the everyday moments of life. ---- Share this podcast with a friend or on your social m...

Recently, Bishop Todd Fetters, UB Global Director Frank Yang, and Assistant Director David Kline, traveled to the southern border of the United States on a trip hosted and led by the National Association of Evangelicals. While there, they spoke with representatives from the US Border Patrol, leaders of local charities, and several families south of the border who are seeking asylum. In this episod...

Andy Sikora is no stranger in the UB Church. He grew up here, attended Huntington University (College), planted a church as a UB pastor and until recently he's served as the assistant director of church planting. He now serves as the Director of Church Multiplication. In that role, even as he continues to serve as the senior pastor at Renew Communities (Berea, OH), he is helping to develop and lau...

If you have been around the Church of the United Brethren in Christ for any amount of time, you likely know Cathy Reich. She's served in a number of different roles at the national office and has her fingerprints all over many of the ways we operate and the events we create. Cathy retired earlier this year, but before she did I had a chance to sit down with her to hear more of her story. If you wo...

John Authenreith never anticipated becoming a senior pastor, but after spending years as a tech director and worship leader in a couple local churches, he began to sense a call to the pastorate. He now serves as the senior pastor at Cochranton Community Church in Pennsylvania where there are a lot of great things happening. In this episode of UB NOW, John talks breifly about his story and what the...

Matt Kennedy is the lead pastor at Dillman Church in Warren, Indiana. He accepted that assign in the fall of 2013 with much excitement about what could be, but quickly learned not everyone was as excited as he was for a new direction. In this episode, Matt shares what he's learned about leading a church through conflict and what he's learned about himself in the process, including a change in pers...

Josh Good, pastor of Hillsdale United Brethren and current member of the Executive Leadership Team of the United Brethren Church, is our guest for this episode of UB Now. Josh and I (Brian) go back to our days on the UB Youth Ministry Team, but Josh's UB roots are much deeper than that. He grew up in a UB church and has served UB churches his entire career (except for one short year which you will...

Banner Church in Byron Center, MI, recently celebrated their 100th anniversary and things did not go quite as planned. Byron Spear, the senior pastor at Banner, shares that story in this episode of UB Now. Byron also talks about the church's focus on equipping and sending out young leaders. He advises young pastors to be patient, listen to the congregation, and surround themselves with wise leader...

There are many ways one could introduce today's guest, Matt McKeown. He's a musician, producer and song writer extraordinaire. He's also a humble and generous servant of his community. But Matt is here today because he is the senior pastor of Daytona First United Brethren Church and he has some exciting stories to share about what God is doing right now in the midst of a budding partnership betwee...

The Ministry Leader Summit for United Brethren associate staff is happening April 29-May 3 in Daytona Beach, Florida, and our guests in this episode are dishing out everything you need know about it. Whether you are a first time attendee or long time veteran of the UB Youth Summit or other UB Pastor's summits, Craig Mickey and Bobby Culler are the guys who will help you get the most out of your ex...

Training up the next generation of church leaders is something Jim Bolich is extremely passionate about. Jim is the Director of Ministerial Licensing for the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and pastor at Mount Pleasant Church in Chambersburg, PA. He joined us for this episode of UB Now to discuss the pastoral residency program they have developed at Mount Pleasant, where young leaders can...

We took the show on the road for this episode of UB Now to visit Michael Elkins, lead pastor at New Hope Community Church in Bryan, OH. We thought our visit would be focused on the ways New Hope was leveraging audio and visual media to engage their congregation. But our conversation quickly turned to the ways New Hope has embraced the opportunity to minister to, and minister with, the developmenta...

The Brotherhood Mutual Foundation is offering a Kingdom Advancing Grant for "church teams who, in their God-ordained calling, transform their community in creative, innovative, and collaborative ways." Kathy Bruce, long-time United Brethren leader and Director of the Brotherhood Mutual Foundation, joins me to talk about what this grant is all about and how you can apply. Discover more and apply fo...