'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
18 - September 2004
To
contact us, or discontinue, write only to worldconv@aol.com -
ChristiaNet uses a send-only address.
Arrival of New General Secretary
Jeff Weston,
General-Secretary elect of World Convention, and his wife Rosemary, have just
received their USA visas and plan to arrive in Nashville mid October. Jeff
will lead the ministry of World Convention as it seeks to build up fellowship,
understanding and common purpose within the global Christian - Churches of
Christ - Disciples of Christ family. For many years Jeff has directed
overseas mission work in Fiji, India, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe for
Churches of Christ in Australia. He has also directed COCOA - Churches of
Christ Overseas Aid. He was formerly a missionary in Papua New Guinea and
a minister in Australian Churches of Christ. There is a planned overlap time
with Lorraine and Lyndsay Jacobs, current executive staff, who will leave
Nashville on November 30, and Los Angeles on December 5.
Extensive work in India
World Convention has recently added
the 87th National Profile - India - to its web site
(www.worldconvention.org). Because of the huge growth of the work in India
since the first four missionaries arrived in 1882, this profile required a great
deal of research by World Convention national profiles editor, Clinton
Holloway. You will find it fascinating and encouraging reading.
Statistics are not always available and may not be totally reliable but
Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ membership may well be
towards one million. (This estimate includes only the 'Disciples'
percentage with the united Church of North India.) In a report just to hand,
Central India Christian Mission reports it has finally been able to secure title
to land in a strategic area in Delhi and plans to build as soon as funds are
available. The next profile will cover South Africa where we have about
650 congregations in addition to our involvement in the united
church.
Milestone Conference
From October 27-29, leaders of
Christian Churches/ Churches of Christ and Churches of Christ in the USA 'will
seek to learn how the power of what they have done separately can be multiplied
when done together.' Speakers will be: Rick Atchley, Mike Cope, Allan
Dunbar, Randy Harris, Barry McMurtrie, Ben Merold, Bob Russell and Rubel
Shelly. Lynn Anderson is the facilitator. Details at
www.TogetherConference.com
More than 3000 Churches of Christ added in
Africa since 2000
The fourth Churches of Christ Africans Claiming
Africa for Christ Conference held in Ghana in August, learned that no
less than 3000 congregations had been added in the thirteen countries
represented. The first ACA conference was in 1992; the 2008 conference
will be in Nigeria.
Death of Florentino Santana
The president
of World Convention from 1960-65, who presided over the convention in Puerto
Rico in 1965, died last month. Florentino Santana served as a Disciples of
Christ pastor in Puerto Rico for more than fifty years. His longest
ministry was in Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Calle Comerio which
helped establish more than ten new congregations and the country's third largest
private school in the San Juan metro area. Don Black, husband of
the late Marj Black, president of the Calgary 1996, also died in
August.
Praying for Peace
Everybody is very aware of the
violence in the world - everything from violence within families to
international conflict. Violence has other dimensions too - things like
hunger, inadequate health care, racism and fear. We could add conflict in
the Body of Christ - within and amongst churches. The United Nations
encourages the observance of the International Day of Peace on
September 21. From this year, the World Council of Churches is
calling on all churches to make September 21 an International Day of
Prayer for Peace. You may find the World Council of Churches Decade
to Over come Violence website useful:
www.overcomingviolence.org
Global News Briefs
Almost
200 gathered in Osaka at the end of July for the All Japan Christian
Convention. Forty-one new congregations have been established by the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the USA in the first half of
this year. The annual national convention of our movement in Zimbabwe
was held at Mashoko Mission in August. A successful crusade was held
in Vitigo, Fiji in June - seventeen decisions were made. River of
Life ministries have established four new congregations in the Sao Paulo area of
Brazil this year. Four people including two preachers were taken at
gun point by Maoists during a Christian Church service in Durlung, Nepal
in July. They (beaten, ransomed paid) have since been released.
Being a Christian is very difficult in much of this country but Christians
remain strong in their faith. Durlung is a twelve hour bus ride, followed
by a fourteen hour walk, from the capital, Katmandu.
Events for
prayer:
- 57th USA Annual National Missionary Convention, September 30 -
October 3. Peoria, Illinois Civic Center. World
Convention is one of some 500 exhibitors. All in our movement able to come
would be welcome. www.nationalmissionaryconvention.org
- National
Christian Convention of the Deaf (NCCD), Niagara Falls, New York, USA,
October 7-10. President@nccd-online.org
- Restoration Forum.
October 15-17. Rochester Hills (Detroit area) Michigan,
USA. For all Christian Church - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ
members. tbalk@rc.edu or Tammy Balk at (248) 218-2013
- Fellowship
of Churches of Christ in the United Kingdom. Task Group Vision and
Sharing Day. October 16 - Birmingham. chrisworkman@beeb.net
-
Ministry Impact '04. October 27-29. Conference of leaders of
Churches of Christ and Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.
www.TogetherConference.com
- Associated Churches of Christ in New
Zealand. National Convention, November 12-13, Auckland.
Ministers: 12th. jfulford@xtra.co.nz
- European Mid-Winter
Rally. December 27-31, Hermeskeil, Germany. Organised by
Christian Churches/Churches of Christ members from the USA & Germany and
open to all. www.midwinterrally.com or info@midwinterrally.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 168 countries.
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World Convention (Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of
Christ)
Stay on good terms with each other, held together with
love. Hebrews 13:1
4800 B Franklin Road, Nashville TN 37220-1199, USA
Phone +1
(615) 331-1824; Fax +1 (615)
331-1864
worldconv@aol.com
www.worldconvention.org
Lyndsay Jacobs - General Secretary; Lorraine Jacobs -
Associate General Secretary
General Secretary Elect: Jeff Weston