Happy Birthday to us.
On June 28, 1804 Barton Stone and five others dissolved the Springfield Presbytery into the 'body of Christ at large'. Their desire was to be 'Christians only' and this date is one that is seen as marking the beginning of the Christian/Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ family.

Great Communion Celebration proposed for 2009
The meeting of the USA Stone-Campbell Dialogue team [ChristianChurches/Churches of Christ - Churches of Christ - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)] on April 26 proposed a Great Communion Celebration in 2009 to mark the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell's Declaration and Address and to recall the great communion service that brought together 50,000 persons in Forbes Field in 1909.  It is hoped that thousands of Christians from across the three streams of the movement in the United States would gather to celebrate the Lord's Supper in local communities, as a recognition of our unity in Christ.  Resource & study materials will be available.

World Convention urges our family throughout the world to pick up this celebration in a way that it appropriate for each national and local setting.  Journeying under the Lordship of Christ, let us meet around Christ's one table!  Let this be a global celebration.

Thirty-four New Churches
By the end of May, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada had planted thirty-four churches - just four churches less than the goal for 2004. 

www.ChristianChurchToday.org
Find information about all Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in the USA at this new web site.

Orchard Group Church Planting
(a ministry within USA Christian Churches/Churches of Christ; formerly Go Ye Chapel Mission) has been planting churches in the New York City metropolitan area for 55 years.  Its mission today is to plant 'growing and reproducing churches in New York and the North East'.  Five new churches will be established in New York in 2005 - including one for Brazilians living there.

Large South India convention
The annual one day Convention conducted by the Christian Mission in South India met in Sathyavedu, Andhra Pradesh on April 16th with 2000 attending.  The CMSI focusses on sharing the gospel, church planting and the publication of Christian literature.  A Family Seminar will be conducted in Kottayam, Kerala, June 17-20, led by Jeff Hostetter from Ghana, West Africa.  Contact Binoy Thomas: cryoutglory@sancharnet.in   In Bhopal, Central India a crowd of 15,000 gathered on Easter Sunday.  The preacher at this Central India Christian Mission service was Ajai Lall.

Family Retreat in Slovakia
Recently Churches of Christ in Slovakia held their seventh annual family retreat.  Over fifty people attended from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Significant damage by Cyclone Ivy
Most buildings at Londua Technical College, one of two high schools of Churches of Christ in Vanuatu, South Pacific, were damaged in March.  Churches of Christ in Vanuatu were established more than 100 years ago.

The James A Garfield Award
This preeminent award of Emmanuel School of Religion, a Christian Church/Churches of Christ seminary in Johnson City, Tennessee, USA, was awarded to the General Secretaries of World Convention, Lorraine & Lyndsay Jacobs on May 23.  The award citation, 'Servants of the world church through their ministry to the World Convention of Churches of Christ.  Builders of understanding and fellowship.  Graced with goodwill and faithfulness',  is seen by the Jacobs as a tribute to the vital ministry of Churches of Christ within our global church family.

Keep In Touch - Know What's Happening!
- The second quarter 2004 issue of World Christian was mailed on June 1.  It is a special pre World Convention issue (important reading for all conventioners) - the last issue before the World Convention July 28 - August 1, in Brighton, England. 
- Registration for World Convention will continue right through to the convention itself.  You can even register on the spot.  However, we strongly recommend registering NOW.  If you can possibly attend, don't miss out!  Supporting and email registration also available.  See www.worldconvention.org
- Staffing of the World Convention office in Nashville will be much reduced from mid July - late August.

Events for prayer:
- The International Christian College of Manila (ICCM) in the Philippines begins its 5th year.  June 16th.
- Bi-centennial celebration of the 'dissolution of the Springfield Presbytery': at Cane Ridge, near Paris, Kentucky, USA: June 26 - 28  www.caneridge.org
- United Reformed Church (Churches of Christ - Congregational - Presbyterian in the United Kingdom) Assembly.  Glamorgan, Wales, July 3-6.
- North American Christian Convention meeting in Phoenix, July 5-8.  President: Dick Alexander.  www.nacctheconnectingplace.org
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada summer 'Disciples' events including July 8-11 (San Diego): Hispanic Assembly.  July 15-18 (Lexington): 'Sessions 04' (Men).  July 28-31 (Chicago): NAPAD (Pacific and Asian Convention).  August 6-10 (Indianapolis): National Convocation. www.homelandministries.org  
- Australian Churches of Christ national day of prayer for missions in India, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Zimbabwe - July 25.
- All Japan Christian Churches Convention.  Osaka, July 28-30
- World Convention, Brighton, England: July 28 - August 1.  www.worldconvention.org

World Convention seeks to build up fellowship, understanding and common purpose within the Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ family of churches, now serving and witnessing as part of Christ's church in at least 167 countries.

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Founded in Christ - Building for Tomorrow: the World Convention theme.  'So then, anyone who hears these words of mine, and obeys them, is like a wise builder who built his house on rock.  But anyone who hears these words of mine, and does not obey them, is like a foolish builder who built his house on sand.'    Matthew 7: 24,26.

World Convention (Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ)
4800 B Franklin Road, Nashville TN 37220-1199, USA
Phone +1 (615) 331-1824; Fax  +1 (615) 331-1864
worldconv@aol.com    www.worldconvention.org
Lyndsay Jacobs - General Secretary; Lorraine Jacobs - Associate General Secretary