'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 32 – November 2005
To contact us, or discontinue, write only to worldconv@aol.com 
ChristiaNet uses a send-only address.

 

General Secretary visits Hurricane damaged areas

World Convention General Secretary Jeff Weston spent the first week of November with a team from Woodmont Christian Church, Nashville, working on disaster relief projects in Louisiana. On return Jeff said, “even though it is now many weeks since Hurricane Katrina struck the area there is wide spread devastation with thousands left homeless. I was just amazed at the extent of damage and personal loss from both wind and flood. We worked as part of the Disciples volunteers in a mission program which has established mission centers throughout the area. The people whose homes we worked on deeply appreciated our presence and assistance. I congratulate the Stone-Campbell Churches for the work they are doing to assist the needy. All three streams of our movement are very active in assisting those who have suffered great loss.” If your church would like to send a work a team to the area to assist there is still a need for workers.

 

General Secretary to visit Australia

The General Secretary of World Convention, Jeff Weston, will return to his native homeland Australia at the end of November. Jeff and Rosemary Weston will take some vacation with their daughter Michelle who lives in Hobart on the Island of Tasmania. Jeff will also speak at a number of Churches and meet with the Australia World Convention Committee. The Weston’s will return to the US early February 2006.

 

Champion for church unity in Great Britain and Ireland dies

Philip Morgan, one of the leading ecumenical leaders of the 20th century, died Oct. 17 at the age of 75, from a heart attack.  He was an ordained minister and former General Secretary of the Churches of Christ in Great Britain and Ireland (1967 – 80), and also served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church (1984 – 85) and as General Secretary of the British Council of Churches (BCC) from 1980-1990.  His deep ecumenical commitment led him to engage in dialogue with leaders from all denominations. 

Cane Ridge Meeting House declared one of the top 10 landmarks in Kentucky

 Cane Ridge Meeting House in Paris, Kentucky, has been designated as one of the 10 places that every Kentuckian should visit. The site made the list created by the late Kentuckian historian Thomas D. Clark.  He lists Cane Ridge as the site that served as host to events that helped change the course of religion in the United States more than 200 years ago. The August 1801 revival that drew more than 20,000 was held on the site and was part of a wave of religious fervor that swept America in the early 1800s. The Cane Ridge revival is still called a "watershed in American church history," according to the Lexington-Herald newspaper that reported the designation. Out of the revival came the creation of what is now known as the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

 

New United Congregation in Kentucky

Bluegrass Christian Community is a new church being planted in Lexington, Kentucky. According to founding Pastor Bryan Barrett the church has two major goals—“to take the good news of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and to inspire unity among Christians.  We are simply Christians, non sectarian which communicates with this post-denominational world. We hope to be an inspiration among people in the three streams of our movement and all Christians to reclaim simple, genuine, non-sectarian Christianity and carry out Jesus prayer that we all be one.  Christian unity itself is inherently evangelistic.” To know more about Bluegrass Christian Community contact Bryan Barrett at bryandbarrett@yahoo.com.

 

World Christian Broadcasting has arrived in Madagascar; Construction has begun

An earlier ChristiaNet reported that the President of Madagascar has provided 84 acres of land for Franklin, Tennessee based World Christian Broadcasting to build an antenna- actually four antennas! Construction has now begun on these new digital antennas that will send a radio signal comparable to a local sounding signal and will blanket Africa, South America, the Middle East, European Russia, south and west China and Indonesia –some 5 billion people!

 

 

Zimbabwe Continues to Deal with Hardships

Marcia Kay Thomson, American missionary in Masvingo, Zimbabwe reports several items symbolic of the continued hardships in that country. Water is in short supply; each night the water is cut off in order to allow pumps to “catch-up.” Temperatures in Masvingo are 100 degrees.  The US dollar is now trading for Z $60,000.00 at the banks. The largest bill Zimbabwe has is the Z $20,000.00. Prices go up daily. Wages go up but never keep up with expenses. Thomson says “we may have the poorest millionaires in the world!” Despite dire economic conditions the churches continue to grow. Marcia is requesting individuals or churches to send her small plastic communion cups, new or used. Cups are given at the annual preaching summit (February) and at the graduation of Zimbabwe Christian College (April) and are thereby scattered around the country where they are repeatedly used, washed and re-used until they break. Pack them in shoe boxes (larger boxes cost more to send). Label them “used small plastic cups not for resale.” Send them to Marcia Kay Thomson, P.O. Box 231, Masvingo, Zimbabwe, Africa.      

 

Standard Publishing for Sale

Mark Taylor, editor of the Christian Standard, and a member of the World Convention Executive Committee recently released news that Standard Publishing is for sale: “Randy Scott, president of Standard Publishing, told employees October 26 that our parent company, Standex International Corporation, had decided to offer our company for sale. Christian businessman John Bolten purchased Standard Publishing in 1955, the first acquisition in what would become an international conglomerate of 22 companies with operations in Australia, Europe and North America. The resulting corporation, Standex International, has grouped its operations into five categories: Food Service Equipment, Air Distribution Products, Engineered Products, Engraving, and Consumer Products. Standard Publishing is one of three companies in that last group. The other two, Berean Christian Stores and Standex Direct, a direct-mail food retailer, are also for sale. According to an October 27 news release, Standex has retained New York-based investment banking firm Berkery, Noyes & Co., LLC to identify potential buyers for the three companies.” Further details will be available in the December 6, 2005 issue of the Christian Standard. Standard Publishing has been providing materials for the Stone-Campbell Movement since 1866.

 

News Briefs:

·         Former World Convention General Secretary Lyndsay  Jacobs has accepted a networking role on behalf of the Associated Churches of New Zealand and will be responsible for representation of the Association at national and international ecumenical events. (email: lyndsaylorrainejacobs@xtra.co.nz)  

·         Mr. Barry Grear, former National President of the Australian Churches of Christ and current Vice Chair of the Australian Churches of Christ Overseas Mission Board, has been appointed President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations 2007 – 2009. He will preside over 90 national engineering organizations.

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

The World Convention is considering an invitation to take a team to visit Zimbabwe in 2006. This would not be a tour! The team would visit a number of Churches and institutions offering encouragement to leaders and churches. Living conditions may be demanding at times and team members will be expected to share in teaching and preaching. We would like to have a team that has representatives from all parts of the movement. Numbers will be limited. If you would be interested and like more information please email Jeff Weston at worldconv@aol.com

 

Coming Events:

November 17 – 20 National Missionary Convention Atlanta, Georgia. If you are attending the Convention stop by the World Convention booth and visit with General Secretary Jeff Weston.  

 

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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