ChristiaNet
Monthly Global News and Information of the
Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ family of churches
from World Convention
ChristiaNet Number 9 - December 2003 [Second series]
To contact us, or discontinue, write to worldconv@aol.com - ChristiaNet uses a send-only address.
Add Two Countries
Did you know that there are 15,000 Sudanese in your global church family? We have added national profiles of The Sudan, and also the Seychelles (Indian Ocean) where there is an a cappella congregation, to our web site. This takes the number of profiles now available to 35. The total number of countries where we know there are Christian/Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ churches climbs from 165 to 167.
The National Missionary Convention
of Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (Cincinnati, Nov 20-23) in the USA was an exciting event. There was a record attendance (including more than 1000 young people), an outstanding program and over 450 exhibits of mission work - and a real buzz! Convention Director Walter Birney says that the college students and teens are the most mission conscious generation ever! It was especially moving to see well over 100 people commit their lives to missionary service for at least a year and perhaps a lifetime.
Praying with other Christians
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is January 18-25. With 'unity as our polar star' it is appropriate that we are involved as much as possible in these celebrations - with an emphasis in our private prayer life, within our own churches and with others. The theme this year is 'My peace I give to you,' and the text from John 14:23-31. (Some southern hemisphere countries celebrate at another time because of summer holidays at this time.) The World Day of Prayer (This year, March 5 - always the first Friday in March) is another opportunity to pray together. This is a worldwide movement of Christian women (in our experience men also attend) of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. www.worlddayofprayer.net
Australians Working in Vietnam
COCOA - Churches of Christ (in Australia) Overseas Aid - has designed a contract with the Peoples Committee of Bhin Phuoc Province, northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, to undertake a number of special aid projects. John Dean is director. Contact: omb@omb.org.au (A Vietnam national profile is available on the World Convention web site.)
UK a cappella Churches of Christ project in Malawi.
A number of members and churches in the UK a cappella Churches of Christ (there are about eighty) are working with congregations in northern Malawi on a 'seed and fertilizer' project to help some churches to become self sufficient.
World Convention updates
- The fourth quarter 2003 issue of World Christian is in the mail.
This issue includes latest program details for the Brighton 2004 World
Convention, details of the World Youth Convention at Brighton and also
has a special page of updates on the World Christian Women's Fellowship -
a ministry amongst all 'Stone-Campbell' family women. If you are not on
the mailing list, email your name & address to worldconv@aol.com
- Eleven: Eleven - Get Connected! Have you set your watch yet? Join our every-time-zone prayer partnership daily at 11:11 am!
1. Thank God for what you have; pray for what you need.
2. Include any person around you in your prayer.
3. Be truthful if you are asked what is happening (an opportunity for witness).
4. Remember your global church family and that you are a loved and commissioned
member of the whole church of Jesus Christ.
- Register for Brighton before December 31 and save!
Please pray for:
- About 500 congregations within our movement in Cambodia. Amazing
isn't it!
- 28 women and 103 children on 'Women's Island', 45 minutes from Phnom Penh, Cambodia
and the ministry of ARM Prison Outreach International (Joplin, MO USA) to
these 'outcasts'.
- The European Mid-Winter Rally, in Hermeskeil, Germany, December
27-31. Info: info@midwinterrally.com
- 500 children who attended a recent Vacation Bible school at Cap-Haitien Church.
There are many ministries/missionaries from your church family working in Haiti.
- The ministry of Christian Churches in the Holyland. The Awwad family
is continuing much of the leadership and people-support following the tragic death
of Pastor George Awwad earlier this year.
- Sagar & Shalini Rai, the first missionary family from Central India Christian
Mission being sent to Bangladesh - to the capital Dhakka. And the
1550 young people in India who recently attended the CICM youth conference.
- The first annual Church Leaders Convention in The Philippines,
December 5-7.
- National Pastors and Leaders Conference, Christ's Church of the Valley
(Christian Churches/Churches of Christ), Peoria, AZ, USA, February 4-7.
http://www.ccvonline.com
- The work and witness of all Christian/Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ churches, as part of the whole church of Jesus Christ, in 2004.
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 in at least 167 countries
PLEASE TELL (mail or email) 'WORLD CONVENTION' WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
Christmas greetings: "I am here with good news for you; news which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in the city of David your Saviour was born - Christ the Lord!" Luke 2:10-11.