'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 57 – January  2008

To contact us, or discontinue, write only to worldconv@aol.com ChristiaNet uses a send-only address. Clinton J. Holloway, Editor

Count Down to Convention Begins!

6 Months! With the New Year begins the count down to the 17^th World Convention, July 30-August 3, 2008! A stellar line- up of inspiring main session speakers will preach each day. The worship team is already into a rehearsal schedule! Dozens of informative and practical workshops are scheduled. Fellowship activities and meal events are quickly being planned. The exhibit spaces are fast being reserved. The children’s program is planned. Tours have been made available. Service opportunities are ready for servant hearts. Registrations are coming in each day. The World is coming to Nashville; are you?

Global Women Connecting Retreat to Pre-cede Convention

The Global Women Connecting (formerly World Christian Women’s Fellowship) will hold their quadrennial retreat immediately before the 17^th World Convention in Nashville. All women of the Stone-Campbell Movement are invited and encouraged to attend this event, beginning at 6:30 pm on Monday July 28. The retreat will conclude at noon on July 30. The theme is All Women Together in Christ.  Cost of the retreat is $45 exclusive of hotel and meals. For more information go to www.worldconvention.org or email abowman@dhm.disciples.org   

Week of Compassion, February 17-24, 2008

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations will observe Week of Compassion February 17-24, focusing on sharing resources and changing lives, around the world around the year. WOC helps rebuild communities ravaged by disaster, creates sustainable sources of income for rural villages, provides micro-credit to women to start poverty-alleviating business, teaches trades and job skills to people maimed by land mines, offers children a chance to go to school and much more. For resources to observe week of Compassion go to www.weekofcompassion.org

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, has named January 18-25 as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for the northern hemisphere. The theme for the week is from 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without Ceasing.  Meditations and worship material in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese are available on the World Council website at www.wc-coe.org  

Prayer Focus

Respond to Christ’s prayer that all may be one by spending time this week in prayer for Christian Unity. Pray for the 2008 World Convention whose theme echoes Jesus’ prayer, Together in Christ.  

News Briefs

The Russian Orthodox Church reports very significant growth in the last year: 11 new dioceses were begun, bringing the number to 142. The number of bishops grew from 168 to 193. 19 new monasteries and convents were also begun. It is good to see the work of the Lord expanding in the former Soviet states.

World Christian Broadcasting reports great progress is being made on their transmitter project in the region of the Indian Ocean. In addition, they report over 1 million hits on their Russian, Chinese and English websites in 2007 and are anticipating a 2008 launch for an African website. Read more about their progress at www.worldchristian.org    

The Zimbabwean National Youth Seminar was held in Margate December 4-8, 2007, sponsored, in part, by Christ in Youth of Joplin, Missouri. The event was preceded by the International School of Youth Ministry with classes for South African youth workers. Karen Reyman reports, “It was a good week of teaching, fellowshipping and enjoying getting to know staff members and youth ministers.” For more info contact Reyman at preyman@mindspring.com

The December Kiwi Link of the Christian Churches of New Zealand reports that they are ready to place an order for 2000 Bibles in the Africa languages of Shona and Ndebele, people groups in which it is common to find congregations with only one Bible for five members. The Bibles will be sold at half the price with the proceeds then used to purchase song books for African congregations. Bibles are expected to cost $8NZ. Contact Chris Baigent at cbaigent@xtra.co.nz to sponsor a Bible.

The December 27th elections in Kenya have caused much violence and protests all over the country. Martin Phiri reports that there is much chaos in Nairobi with bloodshed, lack of communication and shortages of food. Phiri, whom Executive Director Jeff Weston visited on his recent African deputation, reports that for the safety of the children in his school, the school cannot open at this time. Christian Missionary Fellowship missionaries have had their missionaries to gather in Nairobi, from around the country, in the event that conditions in Kenya worsen. Please keep the political situation in Kenya, and in Pakistan, following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, in your prayers, that those situations might have resolution and peace.    

The Centurion Project is looking for 100 Congregations who will accept the challenge of vision, faith and a passion for the lost to partner with Let’s Start Talking to reach thousands who need and want to know about Jesus and his amazing grace. The project is an ambitious and exciting global mission’s endeavor; for more information go to www.lst.org/centurion  

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently installed their first Chaplain, Abilene Christian University graduate Robert M. Randolph. MIT officials said the appointment underscored the role of religious life at the school, one of America’s most prestigious secular academic institutions.

Ong Chee Yong recently baptized 28 individuals, aged 13-85, in the village of Kampung Sabal Kruin, in the Sarawak state of Malaysia, establishing a church on the island of Borneo. A Christian Attorney, Ong flies once a month from his home near Singapore, to assist with the small Christian community on Borneo. During the baptismal service church members sang “Tu Meh Dunya Apai,” This Is My Father’s World in the Iban language. 

In Search of City: An Autobiographical Perspective on a Remarkable but Controversial Movement is a new resource available by author Thomas Cook and explores the Boston Church Movement, now the International Church of Christ, a group that grew out of the U.S. Churches of Christ and was once known as the Crossroads Movement. Tom Olbright calls this book “required reading for all who come into contact with leaders or members of the International Church.” Available from Discipleship Publishing, Spring Hill, Tennessee, ISBN: 978-1-57782-22109.

World Convention on the Road

Jeff Weston is traveling to Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida in January; Indianapolis, Indiana in February.

Calendar of Events

February 3-8, 72^nd Annual Bible Lectureship, Behold the Lamb, John’s Gospel of Belief, Freed-Hardeman University, Tennessee, www.fhu.edu/lectureship

February 17-24, Week of Compassion, Sharing Resources, Changing Lives, www.weekofcompassion.org

March 10-11, 14^th Annual National Preaching Summit, Indianapolis, Indiana, www.collegepress.com/nps

April 1-2, Robert O. Fife Lectures in Christian Reformation, 21^st Century Religion, Higher Education, and the call for Meaning, Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, www.esr.edu

April 11-12, Stone Campbell-Journal Conference, Back Toward the Future: Looking for Theology in the Stone-Campbell Movement, Cincinnati, Ohio, www.stone-campbelljournal.com

April 19, HIV/AIDS Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, Sponsored by FAME/CMF, www.YourChurchandAIDS.com

April 24-27, 96^th National Convention of Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in the Philippines, Intimacy with God, Iloilo City, www.nationalconvention2008.co.nr

April is the time for several Regional Assemblies of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The following regions will host springtime assemblies: April 18-20: Montana and North Carolina; April 24-26: Oklahoma; April 25-27: Alabama-Northwest Florida, California-Northern Nevada; April 26-27: Oregon. Go to www.disciples.org for times and locations.   

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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17^th World Convention

“Together in Christ”

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE U.S.A

July 30 – August 3, 2008