On Monday, March 28, the home office staff gathered to recognize Facilities Manager Tim Sipes upon his retirement. Office employees and even some remote employees shared egg and cheese bagels, donuts and fresh fruit as many shared stories and memories of their time working with Tim.

Tim and Connie Sipes were Ambassador Bible College students in 2010 when positions at the home office opened rather suddenly. Kitchen and building management became an immediate need, and Tim and Connie graciously stepped in to serve.

Since then, Tim has been an integral part of the home office. Serving as the Facilities Manager, Tim has overseen all building-related activities including utilities, maintenance, repairs, inspections and remodeling. He has also managed the upkeep of equipment, and handled service contracts and inspections, budgeting and tracking expenses, handling landscaping, and managing and organizing the warehouse. While Tim has been in this position, many changes and upgrades have taken place at the home office, perhaps most notably the Beyond Today studio which was finished in late 2018. His last project before retiring was to finish a break room for the employees, complete with a kitchen, dining area and sitting area. He was also ordained a deacon in the Cincinnati East congregation in April 2018. At the farewell breakfast held in Tim’s honor, nearly everyone had a story about him helping them around the office wherever needed, and just being a good friend with whom to talk things over.

Tim reflected on the journey of the past twelve years, “My wife and I came to Cincinnati the spring of 2010 to attend Ambassador Bible Center [now College] that fall. It was a great experience for our first year of marriage. We planned on attending the classes and then moving on with our new life. In the middle of that school year, a few people left the employment of the church and with a lot of prayer and evaluating, we applied for the jobs of Facilities Manager and Food Service Manager respectively. I had my own construction company that I had sold and so had the building/maintaining experience. I enjoyed working with God’s people and being able to oversee the construction of the new Beyond Today studio in 2018 along with my regular duties of maintaining the facility and grounds. It has been a blessing to work for the church and I am grateful for the experience and all the people we have met along the way. We look forward to what God has in store for us in retirement years. We plan on selling our property and moving to Northeastern Kentucky this year, God willing.”

Tim has two sons, Cody and Josh, a step-daughter, Rachel, and nine grandchildren. He loves anything to do with building and fixing things, hunting and fishing. Tim and Connie look forward to the many projects they plan to pick up in Northeastern Kentucky upon their move.

Media Operation Manager Peter Eddington commented, “The positive, serving attitude of Tim has been a real blessing to all of us at the home office. His care for Church facilities and his concern and welfare for the home office employees has been greatly appreciated. Tim was always available to help when needed, no matter the hour or the task. He will be greatly missed and Terri and I pray for his success during his retirement years.”

Building and IT Manager Richard Kennebeck reflected, “It truly was a God-send when Tim began working for the home office as the Facilities Manager in 2011. The home office, and those who came in contact with Tim, greatly benefited from his vast knowledge and his ongoing desire to humbly serve and help those in need. I will greatly miss seeing him around the office.”

The United Church of God thanks Tim Sipes for all of his dedicated service to the Church and wishes him all the best in retirement.