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 24 – MARCH 2005
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The Ties That Bind

The Tulsa Stone - Campbell Conversations will discuss “The Ties That Bind – Exploring Our Shared Heritage and Shared Faith.” This year’s event will be conducted at First Christian Church Tulsa April 2-3. The three General Editors of the “Encyclopedia of the Stone – Campbell Movement” Dr. Douglas Foster, Dr. Paul Blowers and Dr. Newell Williams will be present to sign copies of the newly released book.

Love in Action

American evangelist Reggie Thomas reports that when the Tsunami hit India, a group of Christian Church preachers in Andhra knew that the Telegu speaking people in Chennai would be in bad trouble. They do not speak Tamil and are viewed as outsiders. The preachers went to the aid of their brethren in Chennai. There were 3000 Telegu speaking Indians on the Chennai beach. They were homeless, helpless, some were naked, and all were hungry, and frightened. All together more than 1000 pastors of all denominations from Andhra came together on the beach. They went to local stores and out of their own meager funds purchased chicken and rice and prepared food packets for distribution. They did this for three days before the government came to the people’s aid. No denominational names were used and people of all religious beliefs were given aid in the name of Christ. This loving action made a great impact for Christ.

Opportunity knocks

George Benson Christian College in Zambia, Africa is growing. Not in numbers -  this school is growing in Christian influence. In less than six years teachers and students from George Benson Christian College have planted 93 churches in the northern provinces in Zambia. This year 30 GBCC students ready to do their teaching practice were sent to these mission areas of Zambia.

Visit to the Congo

Chris Hobgood, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, will lead a delegation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from March 7-22.  The goal of the trip will be to solidify relationships with the rapidly growing Disciples community in that country, which now includes more than one million people. The Disciples Church in the Congo was formed more than 100 years ago as a missionary outpost, but became self-governing in 1963. The Disciples Church in the U.S. and Canada and the Disciples Church in the Congo represent the largest Disciples congregations in the world.

TCU Extends Divinity School President’s Contract

Brite Divinity School’s Board of Trustees at Texas Christian University recently voted to extend President D. Newell Williams’ term through June, 2009. The eighth leader of the institution, Williams previously served Brite as Associate and Assistant Dean. Williams is a co-editor of “The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement” and has published the definitive biography of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) founder, Barton Stone.

Youth Faith in the US

A new survey finds a good number of American teens are religiously active, but not very well-educated in their faith --resulting in a shallow religiosity. The four-year National Study of Youth and Religion was conducted by 133 researchers and consultants led by sociology professor Chris Smith of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. A third of the teenagers said they were consistently involved in religious organizations and practices. Another third said they were "somewhat" involved.

Even though they said they believe in God and [that] faith is important, they have a hard time explaining what they believe and how faith makes any difference in their life. Smith describes many teens' religious knowledge as "meager, nebulous, and often fallacious." Smith says teens are still being mightily influenced by the religious lives of the parents, so parents should be challenged to play a leadership role and feel authorized to be parents. Full results of the study can be found in Smith's new book titled "Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers".

Excellent Response

Congregations, members and friends of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have now given more than $1.1 million through Week of Compassion to support relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that killed an estimated 250,000 people and seriously impacted more than 5 million others.  Executive Director Johnny Wray said, “indeed the humanitarian crisis following the December 26 tsunami has evoked a remarkable spirit of generosity, concern and awareness throughout the whole church.”  This offering is an unprecedented response to a disaster in Week of Compassion’s 60+ year history.

The Australian Churches of Christ have also responded generously with an offering of over $450,000 to tsunami relief.

US based Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort (CCDRE) set a new record in 2004 with $6.5 million in aid sent to more than a dozen states. (Christian Chronicle)

Widow of Missionary to Receive Honor from Indian Government

The widow of Graham Stains, a missionary who was murdered while sleeping in his car six years ago, is being awarded by the Indian government with a top award for civilians. Gladys Stains has lived in India since 1981 and has worked on behalf of citizens with leprosy since she arrived. “This is an honor not for me, but for Graham and all the staff at the leprosy home.” (ENI)

News Briefs:

·         US based group MASTER Provisions has sent five container loads of used clothing overseas this year. The five went to Iraq, Kosova, Romania, Ukraine and Liberia. Their vision is to send 45-50 containers this year to 9 countries.

·         World Convention Board member Katherine Ann Haggard Perry gave birth to a little girl, Charlotte Eleanor Perry on February 23. Katherine is the daughter of former World President, Forrest Haggard.

·         In May the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Britain will celebrate their 25^th anniversary of formation.

·         In January Central India Christian Mission dedicated 3 new church buildings. The buildings are located at Korasa, Katni and Ukwa.

·         Mission Connect (Romania) will award scholarships to several students preparing for the preaching ministry at Bucharest Baptist Seminary (Romania). Mission Connect will also award scholarships to Christian women who are preparing to be nurses at the Baptist Nurses College in Cluj, Romania.

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75^th Anniversary

This year is the 75^th anniversary of the first World Convention conducted in 1930 at Washington, D. C. In this year the World Convention will be conducting a special appeal to secure our future operation. We hope to raise 100 donors who will give $750 US each.  A special memento commemorating the anniversary will given to these donors.

April 1 & 2           Tulsa Stone-Campbell Conversations

April 10-13           European Evangelistic Society annual general meeting Bellevue Christian Church Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

April 15-16           Stone Campbell Journal Conference – Cincinnati Bible Seminary – Presenter Danny Carroll

Registration: stone-campbelljounal.com

May 15                   Global Day of Prayer for Africa

June 25                 Cane Ridge Day, Cane Ridge, Paris, Kentucky, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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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World Convention (Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ)
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 General Secretary: Jeff Weston