'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 37 –May 2006
To contact us, or discontinue, write only to worldconv@aol.com ChristiaNet uses a send-only address. Clint Holloway, Editor
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Gallup Poll Results
A recent Gallup Poll shows that Americans who give their religious affiliation as “Church of Christ” are more likely than any other group to attend weekly worship services. Sixty-eight percent of Church of Christ members interviewed said they attend worship services at least once a week or almost every week, according to a poll released April 14. The top four religious bodies in attendance included Mormons at 67% followed by Pentecostals at 65% and Southern Baptists at 60%.
Unity a Popular Theme for 2006
Stone-Campbell Mega-church ministers Rick Atchley and Bob Russell have collaborated on a new book co-published by Standard Publishing and Leafwood Publishers titled Together Again: Restoring Unity in Christ After a Century of Separation. Copies may be ordered from Leafwood at www.leafwoodpublishers.com or from Standard at www.standardpub.com. The book focuses on the reconciliation efforts between Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in the U.S.
Christian Churches in USA Form a New Fellowship
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is one of thirty-four national Christian organizations, representing over 100 million Americans that recently formed to organize Christian Churches Together in the USA (CCT-USA). One goal of the new organization is to see the broken body of Christ made whole, to celebrate unity in the midst of diversity, to seek common witness, vision and mission. Visit CCT at www.christianchurchestogether.org
50,000 Books and Office Supplies Reach Ghana
Charlie Budd of African Hope (www.africanhope.com) reports that their Operation Bookshelf project is in the process of distributing 50,000 books, 100 computers and other office equipment and furniture to many churches and organizations in Ghana. These resources will be utilized by elementary schools through seminaries in West Africa where books are scarce and expensive. See the website for information about what sort of books are appropriate. For more information on the work in Ghana see the World Convention national profile.)
News Briefs:
· A new a cappella Church of Christ congregation made up of Indians and Filipinos has been established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Anyone visiting or planning to re-locate to UAE may wish to contact Russel Gulick at russgulick@yahoo.com. A missionary couple is sought to go and work with this new effort.
· Good News Productions, International, based in Joplin, MO., a ministry of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ and at work in India, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Ukraine and the US, announces a new website at www.gnpi.org
· An internet discussion site dedicated to facilitating dialogue between the major streams of the Stone-Campbell or Restoration Movement can be found at www.restorationheritage.com
· February 3-5, 2006 were the dates of the 15th All India Convention of Churches of Christ and Christian Churches. The three-day event was held in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, with Ajai Lall as Convener. The convention theme was “Looking Ahead Together” from Philippians 3:14 and saw 800 in attendance. For more information on the Convention contact Dr. Lall at ajai@indiamission.org See the World Convention profile on India for the history of the Stone-Campbell Movement in India.
· Congratulations to J. Sydney and Ann Carnes of Dallas, Texas for being the 100th and 101st registrants for the 17th World Convention to be held in Nashville, Tennessee July 30-August 1, 2008. Will you be there? Special discount registration rates are available until June 30 so act now!
· Prayer Focus: Recently a tidal wave of violence has swept Jamaica that has drawn criticism from the Prime Minister. In the outbreaks at least seven people –ages 3 to 40- with ties to Churches of Christ lost their lives. Gladwyn Kiddoe, a minister and director of Jamaica School of Preaching and Biblical Studies in Kingston, preached the funeral of a teenage boy who lost his life. Kiddoe reminded the assembly “the devil never sleeps, anywhere in the world.” See World Convention’s profile on Jamaica for the story of the Stone-Campbell Movement in the island nation.
· See the next issue of World Christian for updates on the plans to kick-off the celebration of the bicentennial of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address at the 2008 World Convention!
Coming Events:
The Stone-Campbell Dialogue will convene in Nashville, Tennessee June 11-13, 2006. While the Dialogue is not a public forum it does begin with a public worship service at 5 p.m. on Sunday June 11 at the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ. Participants will be included from all three streams of the Stone-Campbell Movement. Jeff Weston of the World Convention will lead in the Lord’s Supper. For more information contact Clint Holloway at milligan95@yahoo.com A cordial invitation is extended to any who wish to attend.
Columbia Christian College and Cascade College of the a cappella Churches of Christ will celebrate a heritage of fifty years of Christian higher education in the Pacific Northwest with an Alumni Summit and Reunion Weekend in Portland, Oregon June 22-25, 2006. The theme for the celebration is We Are One –Celebrate-Connect-Unite- Log on to www.cascade.edu to register.
Mix in ’06 is the name of the 2006 Disciples Women’s Quadrennial Assembly to be held June 21-25, 2006 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. The Disciples Women’s Ministries will look to the future with the theme ‘Dream On, Sisters!” Register online at www.dreamonsisters.com
Cane Ridge Day 2006 will be Saturday, June 24, 2006. The theme for this year’s annual gathering will be “Cane Ridge preservation at 75: The Past, Present and Future.” The Cane Ridge Meeting House outside of Lexington, Kentucky is sacred to the memory of all members of the Stone-Campbell Movement as the site of the Cane Ridge Revival of 1801 and the ministry of Barton W. Stone. For further information contact co-curators Robert and Diane Steffer at CANERDGMTG@aol.com.
The North American Christian Convention will be held June 27-30, 2006 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY under the theme “Together in Christ.” Convention President is Dr. David Faust. Visit the World Convention booth while at the Convention. Register at www.nacctheconnectingplace.com
The 13th National Hispanic and Bilingual Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will held July 13-16, 2006 in Killeen, Texas at the Iglesia Cristiana Monte Sinai. This year’s theme, “Tell My People to March!” is taken from 1 Peter 2: 9-10. Registration can be completed online at www.obrahispana.org/asamlea.htm.
19th Biennial Session of the National Convocation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be held in Dearborn, Michigan July 28, August 1, 2006. The theme is “Reclaiming Prophetic Ministry: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.” For more information and upcoming events see www.disciples.org/convo/index.htm
8th Annual Pan European Lectureship will be held in Brussels, Belgium August 1-5, 2006. The theme for the lectureship will be taken from 1Timothy 4:16, “How to Save Yourself and Other.” For more information go to www.lectureship.org
August 9-12, 2006 is the date for the 14th Biennial Convocation of the North American Pacific/Asian Disciples of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to be held in San Francisco, California. See www.napad.net for information. The theme is “Reconciled in Christ: to serve, to give to love” taken from 2 Corinthians 5:18.
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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