'ChristiaNet'
Monthly Global News and Information for members and friends of the
Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ family of churches around the world from 'World Convention'
Number 20 - November 2004
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A million Disciples in the Congo
According to Dr Chris Hobgood, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, the Disciples community in the Congo DR has now passed the one million mark. Dr Hobgood was born to missionary parents in the Congo.
'Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement' published this month
This long awaited, 'ten years in the making,' 800 page volume, written by historians from the three streams of the Stone - Campbell movement in the USA is due out November 29. Paul Blowers, Doug Foster, Newell Williams and the late Tony Dunnavant have provide a unique and extremely valuable resource to help us know and understand ourselves. Order from www.eerdmans.com or (in the USA) 1 800 253-7521. US$50.00.
Increase in International Teen Mission Trips
The November issue of the "Christian Chronicle" reports that; "An August 11 report by the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported that in a survey of 3,000 US teens ages 13 - 17, 57 percent reported going on one or more mission or service trips. Thirty-nine percent had participated in two or more trips." The Australian Churches of Christ have also seen this as a growing area of ministry development. In November a group is travelling from Australia to Orissa State India to visit the work of Dr Iris Paul who ministers amongst isolated tribal people in that state.
Disciples' Unity in South Carolina, USA
After decades of separate meetings and parallel structures, South Carolina'a black Convention and white Assembly churches are taking a giant step towards unity this month (November 12-14), gathering for the first time as the South Carolina Conference of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ).
Villagers killed in Burma
Members of our family are involved in taking the gospel and much needed support to internally displaced refugees in Myanmar/Burma. We have received a report that three Karen villagers and a KNLA medic were killed by Burma Army troops on 27 September in attacks that also destroyed 62 homes, 5 rice barns, a clinic, a school and displaced 242 villages. The attacks occurred in Hsaw K'daw Hta, southern Mergui-Tavoy, Karen State, Burma. Please pray for these displaced people and those helping them. (Names withheld for safety reasons.) Global Day of Prayer for Burma - March 13, 2005.
Zimbabwe Children's Village continues development
Khayelihle Children's village in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe conducted their annual meeting on October 16th. The meeting was well attended by donors and members of the churches in Bulawayo. The older children performed some great music on the marimbas and the pre-school children sang and presented a skit. All were impressed by the completed Australia House, the almost complete New Zealand house, and the "under construction" America and Zimbabwe houses. Each of these houses has been funded with donations from the respective countries. KCV is providing a safe and happy home for children who are orphans as a result of HIV AIDS deaths in Zimbabwe. Current statistics state that over 2,000 people per week die of HIV related illness in Zimbabwe.
New restrictions in Vietnam
House-church leaders are requesting urgent prayer for Christians in the communist nation as a new restrictive law on religion is due to take effect on Nov. 15. According to Open Doors, the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship (VEF) says the new law "is likely to permanently outlaw our house-church organizations, none of which have been recognized since 1975. Many articles in this ordinance will also provide a legal basis for local authorities to hinder and persecute the church." The VEF asked for prayer that the government will withdraw the law issued on June 18 and stop all forms of persecution and hindrances to church activities.
Well done Lyndsay and Lorraine
General Secretaries of the World Convention Lyndsay and Lorraine Jacobs conclude their service in Nashville at the end of this month. The Jacobs, who have served for over 12 years as General Secretaries, will return to their home country of New Zealand. We sincerely thank them for their years of outstanding service and sacrifice for the cause of unity. A special time of thanks and farewell was conducted at Vine Street Christian Church on November 6.
News Snippets
- Jack Hensley, one of those kidnapped and executed recently in Iraq, was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Marietta, Georgia, USA.
- A new web site, www.globalmissionsnetwork.info features missions and ministries supported by Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in the USA.
- Alvin O Jackson concludes his ministry at National City Christian Church (Washington DC, USA) on November 30. Dr Jackson spoke at the 2000 World Convention in Brisbane, Australia.
- 2064 youth, representing over 100 churches, attended the recent Christ in Youth India Conference hosted by the Central India Christian Mission. 680 made decisions to follow Christ.
- Good News Productions International recently received five awards at the International Christian Visual Media Crown Awards. Twenty-six awards have been won in recent years. www.gnpi.org
Events for prayer:
- Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand. National Convention, November 12-13, Auckland. jfulford@xtra.co.nz
- Brazil Christian Churches/Churches of Christ Convention, Goiania, November 12-14. (rim_fifes@hotmail.com)
- European Mid-Winter Rally. December 27-31, Hermeskeil, Germany. Organised by Christian Churches/Churches of Christ members from the USA & Germany and open to all. www.midwinterrally.com or info@midwinterrally.com
- January 18-25, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. (Some southern hemisphere countries choose different dates.) www.geii.org/#wpcu
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 no less than 178 countries.
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'I pray that you may have your roots and foundations in love, so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love ... and so be filled with the very nature of God.' Ephesians 3: 17b-19.
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
General Secretary Elect: Jeff Weston