'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 55 – November 2007

Write to worldconv@aol.com
Clinton J. Holloway, Editor

Register Now for Nashville ’08, while Discount Still Apply!

So far more than 350 people have taken advantage of the significant discounts available only through early registration. But time is about to run out on these discounts! On January 1st the regular registration rates will go into effect. There are still two ways to take advantage of these savings. Go to www.worldconvention.org, fill out the online registration, and pay using a credit card via a secure link. Or you can fill out the registration form printed in the last issue of World Christian and mail it along with your payment to World Convention, 1279 Brentwood Highlands Drive, Nashville, TN 37211

2008 Tours Available 

We are pleased to announce that several pre and post Convention tours have been organized to coincide with the 17th World Convention, including opportunities to take coach tours to New York, Washington D.C., Niagara Falls, Western U.S. National Parks and Stone-Campbell Restoration Heritage tours. Prices and dates vary. The current issue of World Christian will carry a description of these tours, open to anyone attending the Convention. In addition, there will be day tours available to see sights in and around the Nashville area. Contact Jerry Masterson at jmasterson@goodtimetravel.net or in the US telephone 1-800-606-7103.        

New Stone-Campbell Resource Available

Tom Mackey and his ministry, The Fellowship of John 17:21, has edited an interesting volume to focus the readers’ devotional thoughts on Christian Unity, Jesus’ Prayer from A to Z.  The small paperback volume of 80 pages available at a minimal cost, contains devotionals by 26 different writers, plus tools to direct your prayers for others by both their occupation and international location. Tom is inviting readers to join in a fifty day experience of Praying Jesus’ Prayer prior to the World Convention and is soliciting writers (US and international) for the to submit prayers for that forthcoming version celebrating Christian Unity.  Contact Tom at: Tom Mackey, Fellowship of John 17:21, Box 353, Granville, OH 43023 (USA) or via email at john17-21@msn.com or at the website www.john17-21.org       
 

Floods Devastate Parts of India

S.M. Vinay Kumar, a World Convention mission partner in India has informed us in recent days that a cyclone has caused severe flooding in his region. Many in his churches have lost everything, houses have collapsed, crops have been washed away, and many have lost their lives in the flood. There has been almost no government relief. Many affected have been church members. Kumar’s Helping Hands trust is a registered charity with the Indian Government.   

S.M.Vinay Kumar, Managing Trustee
Helping Hands Trust, Church of Christ,
Dr# 4-14-40 Beripet, Naidupet-524 126,Nellore Dt, A.P, India.
Ph No: +91 8623-277933, Cell : +91 98858 45588.
    

How Many Conventions Have You Attended?

We never know what the letter carrier will bring to the office each day, it is often a surprise! We want to share an encouraging letter recently we got from John “Jack” and Mary Johnson of Lynchburg, Virginia stating they first attended Convention at Toronto (1955), Honolulu (1980), Calgary (1996) and hope to attend Nashville (2008) despite their ages of 80 and 84. Mary said her father attended the first Convention in Washington (1930) and Jack’s father attended Leicester (1935). They also had encouraging things to say about the new format of World Christian and ordered a copy of Jeff Weston’s book Power for Pressurized People. Mary closed her letter “We appreciate your mailings and want to help.” and enclosed a gift to the scholarship fund to assist an individual from a two-thirds world country attend convention. Thank you, Jack and Mary! What a blessing you have been to us today! See you in Nashville!           

Prayer Focus 

On November 22 the United States will observe Thanksgiving Day. The staff and volunteers give thanks to the Lord for provision and guidance and for the love and generosity of our supporters all over the world.


News Briefs

Word has been passed along to the Convention office of the passing of Russell F. Blowers, former minister of East 91st Street Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday November 10 after a brief illness. Russ was a faithful friend of World Convention serving as Vice President on the Board.

 

Judith Garfield Todd, daughter of the late Sir Garfield and Lady Grace Todd, is the author of a new book, Through the Darkness, A Life in Zimbabwe. Published in 2007 by Zebra Press, www.zebrapress.co.za is available at www.amazon.com  Thos who have followed the life and ministry of the elder Todds will be interested in Judith’s story and work in Zimbabwe. This is her third book on Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.     

Copies of Jeff Weston’s Power for Pressurized People, A Devotional Study on Paul’s Letter to the Church at Colosse (Colossians) is available for $10 postpaid, only through the Convention office at worldconv@aol.com  Excellent for small group study or personal devotions!     

While in Nairobi, Kenya earlier in November World Convention Executive Director Jeff Weston witnessed the graduation ceremony of 33 faith-based Community Health workers who have undergone 12 weeks of training in counseling, nursing care and nutrition sponsored by the Bible Society of Australia. Among his speaking engagements was an address to about 100 ministers at the Embakasi Church of Christ where Martin Phiri, a World Convention Mission partner ministers. Jeff will also attend the Global Christian Forum sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the Secretaries of Christian World Communions meetings before traveling on to Zimbabwe.    

On November 26th the Conference of Churches of Christ in Vanuatu will celebrate their 106th anniversary. Our Vanuatu churches maintain strong relationships with the Australia and New Zealand churches of the Stone-Campbell Movement.

Fires in California in late October/early November have destroyed thousands of acres affecting many in our Churches, including a brief closure of Pepperdine University in Malibu. 

Disciples of Christ Minister and Professor at Eden Theological Seminary Michael Kinnamon has been elected to serve as General Secretary of the National Council of Churches beginning January 1, 2008. He is the third Disciple to hold that office, the others were Roy Ross and Joan Campbell. www.ncccusa.org 

The October Christian Worker reported 75 people from across Europe attended the second European Christian Workshop held at Lancaster University in Britain August 30-Setember 1. Randy Lowery, President of Lipscomb University in the US was speaker.

Mission Connect: Romania recently completed a medical mission to the southwestern mountain regions of Romania in which more than a dozen medical professionals from the US conducted clinic, distributed medicines and Romanian New Testaments. For more information contact jsweitzer@insightbb.com or visit www.missionconnect.net

White Fields Overseas Evangelism seeks prayer for an evangelistic mission to Monrovia, Liberia. A fourteen year civil war has ended. The first Church of our Movement was established by Doug Willis and Barbara Barger in 1997, 38 congregations have been established in Monrovia and surrounding villages. 

World Convention on the Road

Clint Holloway will take the World Convention booth to the National Missionary Convention at the Duke Energy Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 16-18. Our booth is #727. Stop by and pick up a “flashy” World Convention souvenir!  

We are currently putting together our 2008 Calendar of Events. For inclusion send news of your event to Clinton J. Holloway, ChristiaNet Editor at worldconvclint@aol.com

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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17th World Convention

“Together in Christ”

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE U.S.A

July 30 – August 3, 2008