Number 60 – April 2008

Downloadable registration forms are now available at http://www.worldconvention.org/PDF/Global_Youth_Gathering.pdf for the youth program portion of World Convention to take place at Aspen Grove Christian Church in nearby Franklin, Tennessee, July 31-August 2. Virzola Law, Jeff Walling and Ajai Lall will be the challenging main session speakers. Andra Moran and Band will lead the young people in worship geared for their ears. During the day their program will have a strong service component as they will engage in building house frames with CrossRoads Missions’ Help Build Hope project. Each evening will conclude with a late night coffee house at Aspen Grove. Several youth groups have already registered; group discounts are available. Registration includes lunch and snacks through the day. Space is limited; register now! Contact the office at 615-331-1824 and we will send you promotional postcards to distribute to your youth and teens. Milligan College is to sponsor the coffee and snacks at the late night youth coffee house on Friday and Saturday and Phillips Theological Seminary has sponsored mini back-packs for youth registrants. We thank these two colleges for their support. There are still sponsorship opportunities available, contact the World Convention office for details.

An excellent team of professional children’s ministers has put together a fun and inspiring Convention for children Pre-K through the fifth grade; the children’s program will run July 31 to August 2. Included will be activity centers, Bible lessons on Love, Joy and Kindness, worship, games, crafts, snacks and a service/mission project. Afternoon excursions will be to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, AdventureScienceMuseum and Planetarium and the Marionette Theatre at Nashville’s Downtown Library. Children will need to join their families for lunch. A small registration fee to cover the costs of the excursions will apply. Contact the Office for more information.

Scores of volunteers will be needed throughout the Convention to usher and greet, serve communion, house guests, serve meals at teen convention, act as a tour guide, and much more. There will be many opportunities to serve and Convention Volunteers will receive a special discount and a great shirt! To receive a volunteer brochure or to volunteer contact Mary Ingmire, our Volunteer Coordinator, at maryji321@comcast.net

Call the office at 615-331-1824 and we will be happy to mail copies of the full-color tour brochure to you and your travel group! Destinations include New York City, Washington D.C., Stone-Campbell Historical Sites, Alaska Frontier, U.S. National Parks as well as day trips in Nashville to the Grand Old Opry, General Jackson Showboat Excursions, Home of President Andrew Jackson, Nashville’s Houses of Music, Discovery Tour, Athens of the South Tour and “Stars” Home Tour.

In the last six months the World Convention website has seen nearly 15,500 unique hits. That means there are a lot of people out there are interested in this global ministry. Have you “hit” us lately? For the full story on World Convention visit us at www.worldconvention.org

We currently have a limited number of rooms available at the Nashville Sheraton Downtown at a substantial savings off of their regular price and includes a free breakfast. Also we have a block at the the Comfort Inn and Suites in Cool Springs (for those participating in the teen Convention). To book a room contact our AAA housing agent Karin Adinolfi at kadinolfi@aaasouth.com or call Mrs. Adinolfi at 615-297-7700 ext 2228. Book now as these rooms are going quickly!

One unique feature of the 17^th World Convention will be the kick-off of the Bicentennial Celebrations surrounding the 1809 publication of Thomas Campbell’s seminal document Declaration and Address. A new resource available in April from Leafwood Publishers is One Church A Bicentennial Celebration of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address, edited by Glenn Thomas Carson, Douglass A. Foster and Clinton J. Holloway. The volume includes an introduction, six essays by younger leaders on the Movement discussing the document’s impact on their ministry, a history of Campbell’s opus, a re-telling of the famous 13 Propositions in modern language, excerpts from the original, and Communion meditations from several international voices. Available through Leafwood Publishers for $10.99; Contact them at 1-877-816-4455 or see the website at www.leafwoodpublishers.com. World Convention has obtained several copies of OneChurch. For World Convention friends making a donation of $30 or more we will send you a copy of One Church with our best wishes.

Prayer Focus: Recent presidential elections in Zimbabwe have been the cause of concern and fear for the future. Please pray for Zimbabwe in this time of political unrest. Remember B.J. Mpofu, President-Elect of the World Convention, and all our Stone-Campbell Movement family in Zimbabwe.

For those interested in the heritage of the Stone-Campbell Movement we want to draw your attention to three websites: the Origins of the British churches of Christ prior to the 1800s at http://Traces-of-the-Kingdom.org.uk. The Portuguese language www.movimentoderestauracao.com is interesting to view, even if you cannot speak Portuguese! You’ll be surprised how much you recognize! Disciples of Christ Historical Society has launched a major update of their web presence at www.discipleshistory.org

Thomas B. Peake, a retired Disciples Minister has authored a book, Unmuzzling the Dogma, Dealing with Roadblocks to the Christian Faith. Order the book for $12.95 (postage paid) by emailing Rev. Peake at mtpeake@bellsouth.net or writing to him at 243 Myhr Green, Nashville, TN 37211.

The TCM International Institute in Heiligenkreuz, Austria, which serves the educational needs of more than 750 students in ministry, largely from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has been granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the first school outside the US to gain the standing. The standing gives a substantial boost to those who need meaningful credentials in working in their home country. Dr. Tony Twist is President of TCMI. Visit them at www.tcmi.org

Disciple Heritage Fellowship’s annual National Conference will be held July 10-13, 2008 at Eastridge Park Christian Church in Mesquite, Texas. The conference will focus on worship, preaching, workshops and fellowship. Information and registration can be found at www.disciple-heritage.org

One of the great stories of heroes in our Movement comes out of the tragedy of Japanese invasion of Nanking, China in 1937. Several Disciples missionaries risked their lives to protect Chinese civilians in the wake of the invasion. A significant motion picture has been produced that depicts the invasion of Nanking; several Disciples ministers are portrayed in the movie, Nanking. Visit www.nankingthefilm.com for more information; the film has been nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary.

January 21-24, 2008 saw about seventy-five Korean Disciples ministers gather for the Korean Disciples Convocation and Ministers’ Retreat. According to Guenhee Yu, Executive pastor of North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD) participants were challenged and empowered for ministry and mission. Kyu-Su Um of Wilshire Korean Christian Church in Los Angeles was elected Moderator.

Jamaica Christian Mission reports that the Youth Convention 2008 held on February 6 drew a crowd of 650 young people from across Jamaica. The convention theme was A New Season. Highlights included a quiz bowl competition, recognition of outstanding youth achiever and the collection of $65,000J. For more information visit www.jamaicachristianmission.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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