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 28 – July 2005
To contact us, or discontinue, write only to worldconv@aol.com 
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World Convention Breakfast

The World Convention is conducting a special breakfast meeting at the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) General Assembly in Portland, Oregon. The breakfast will be at 7am on Monday 25^th at the Double Tree PNW Ballroom, cost is $10 per person. The General Secretary will share an update of the latest news from World Convention including plans for the 17^th Convention in Nashville 2008. Tickets are available from the World Convention office (615) 331 1824 or email; worldconv@aol.com  Make this a “must attend” meeting.

Zimbabwe Update:

Your prayer for the situation in Zimbabwe is still urgently required. A police spokesman said that more than 20,000 structures had been destroyed and 30,000 arrested in the three-week nationwide operation. The opposition say "Operation Murambatsvina [Drive out rubbish]" is punishment for urban dwellers who mostly voted against the ruling Zanu PF party in March elections. President Robert Mugabe said it is needed to "restore sanity" to Zimbabwe's towns and cities. The crackdown, which the United Nations says has left some 200,000 people homeless. At Makhokhoba many of our Stone-Campbell Movement church members have lost their homes and processions. Week of Compassion (USA/Canadian Disciples of Christ) has sent urgently needed funds to assist some of the relief efforts being conducted by the Makhokhoba Church.  Vice President of the World Convention Mr. B.J. Mpofu who lives in Bulawayo and is an elder of Makhokhoba Church of Christ, has asked that we place an urgent call for prayer before our people, he says; “thank you to those who have already assisted with funds for the relief effort. If it is at all possible more is still needed to assist these brothers and sisters. We deeply appreciate your prayers at this time.”  Our movement has over 1000 congregations in Zimbabwe.

Some Good news from Zimbabwe

A group from First Christian Church Hagerstown 70 miles West of Washington D.C. USA is currently working at Khayelihle Children’s Village in Bulawayo. This special farm property is providing care to children who are orphans and neglected as a result of HIV Aids deaths (a full report of the KCV work can be found in World Christian Number 47). The group has donated funds and is now constructing a new accommodation house which will complement those constructed by the churches in Australia and New Zealand. All team members have reported on the devastation in the Zimbabwe community, the long lines for basic commodities such as bread and fuel, yet the wonderful warmth of welcome they have received.

Indian Floods

While much of India is experiencing drought conditions at this time there have been overwhelming floods in the Central Indian Sate of Maharastra.  World Convention Board Member A.J. Lall and his team from Central India Christian Mission have been busy trying to assist the needy. Unfortunately A.J. has come down with severe Gastroenteritis and has been admitted to hospital. It is thought he may have contracted this from drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. He is expected to be released in three or five days. Please pray for A.J. and the needy people he is assisting. The medical team is serving in 9 camps where those who have lost their homes are staying. Meanwhile A.J. reports that the church at Darjeeling had 8 baptisms, Shahdol 15, Korba added 15 families, Makronia 9 accepted Christ, Raipur 20 baptisms and Basna 135 baptisms. We praise God for these.

How much is enough?

Ashley Barker working in the Klong Toey slum at Bangkok, Thailand (see report in World Christian Number 47) answers this question in his latest newsletter.  He says; “In Thai society you have benefactors and recipients and that’s the way society works here. We thought we’d just try and be friends with everybody, but you can’t; we’re too wealthy. Even though we’ve stripped, you know, we came with nothing; literally nothing.  We sold everything  we had to come here, we’re still wealthy so you have to keep shedding, you have to keep giving away and you have to be really intentional about it so we try our best.” The Barkers live in the slum and support the local community and Ta Rua Church. Ashley asks us to pray for the Ta Rua church who have to relocate. 

Stone-Campbell Dialogue Finds Common Ground On Scriptural Interpretation

Representatives from each of the three streams of the Stone-Campbell movement gathered at Skillman Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas, on June 5-6 to explore the theme "The Way We Interpret the Bible". Dialogue team members from the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the a cappella Churches of Christ found that they possessed a great deal of common understanding on scriptural interpretation. The next meeting will take place in Nashville, TN in 2006. At that meeting they will draft a statement on interpretation and authority of scripture, finalize the Congregational Workbook and generate ideas on how to promote unity across the three streams of the Stone-Campbell movement. (Disciples News Briefs)

Big Enrolment at Philippines College

Ross and Cheryl Wissman report that ninety nine students have completed their enrolment at International Christian College of Manila.  More students are expected once classes get underway. They have also added three new faculty members over the summer and added additional dorm space for the boys, two small staff apartments, and a workshop. Please pray for Ross and Cheryl as they head up this valuable work.

Diamond Campaign

Giving a gift to the Diamond Campaign is a great way of celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the World Convention. Those who give a gift of $75 US or more will receive one of our specially cast anniversary key rings.  With a gift of $750 US you choose between a gift of “The Encyclopedia of the Stone Campbell Movement”, or a special desk top 75^th anniversary crystal paper weight. Those who give a gift of $1000 US will receive a free entry to the 2008 World Convention (What a great way for Churches to reward to their Pastor!).

Events for prayer:
- July 12 – 14 North American Christian Convention at Jacksonville, Florida.

- July 23 – 27 General Assembly Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Portland, Oregon.

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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“Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” 1John 2:6.