'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
56 – December 2007
To
contact us write only to worldconv@aol.com
The Staff,
President and Volunteers of World Convention, together with our families, wish
our global family peace, happiness and the blessings of the Lord during this
season in which we celebrate to birth of Jesus. We look forward to seeing you in
Resource Available from Convention
Office
The
Traditions of Christmas by
Jeff Weston is now available and just in time
for use this season! Written in 2006 but updated and expanded for 2007, this
little eBook traces the origins of many of the customs and symbols we use in our
Christmas celebrations. Available only in electronic version,
the book is free of charge to anyone who wishes. Contact Jeff at worldconv@aol.com and it will
be emailed to you!
2007
Discounts End Soon!
Many people have taken
advantage of the significant discounts available only through early
registration. But time is about to run out on these discounts! On
January 1st the regular registration rates will go into
effect. There are still two ways to take advantage of these savings. Go
to www.worldconvention.org, fill
out the online registration, and pay using a credit card via a secure link. Or
you can fill out the registration form printed in the summer issue of
World Christian and mail it along with your payment to
World Convention,
2008
Several pre and post Convention
tours have been organized to coincide with the 17th World Convention,
including opportunities to take coach tours to New York, Washington
D.C., Niagara Falls, Western U.S. National Parks and Stone-Campbell Restoration
Heritage tours. Prices and dates vary. The current issue of World
Christian (which is available on the website for those who do not get a
paper copy) carries a description of these tours, open to anyone attending the
Convention. In addition, there will be day tours available to see sights in and
around the
Want to Give a Christmas Present with Significance?
Our ministry partners at Global
Ministries has composed a very helpful list of alternative Christmas
gifts possibilities that will help you give a gift of meaning and help others,
from drought relief in Northern India to soap-making in the Congo, go to their
website: www.globalministries.org
and click on the box for Alternative Christmas Giving. Another
option is to visit the website of the Australian Churches of Christ
Global Mission Partners at www.gmp.org.au for their wish list of
The December 2007 issue of The Christian
Chronicle (www.christianchronicle.org) carries
news of a November 11 event that called together 48 Churches of Christ in the
Chicago, Illinois area for the first time, regardless of ethnic, racial and
socioeconomic background. The theme of the event was “One Mind – One
Voice.” Patrick Odum gave the keynote message in which he said, “We are
family, not by our blood, but by his blood. We are family, not by biology, but
by theology.” Congregational singing was conducted in both English and Spanish
with many people of diverse backgrounds participating in the planning of the
event. A second annual celebration is tentatively planned for
Churches Working Together Provide Water in
In the southwest portion of
The
interdenominational group ‘Churches in
The
Showers of Blessing Trust which is a project of the Associated
Churches of Christ and managed by World Convention incoming President B. J.
Mpofu, are drilling for water and providing wells for the worst hit areas. The
Trust is also providing food relief to Church members across the country as
there is a shortage of grain due the drought conditions.
Prayer Focus:
As the old Christmas carol says, “Pray
for peace people everywhere.”
News
Briefs
The World Convention family will be saddened to learn of
the sudden passing of World Convention Executive Muriel Garrow
on November 19 following a stroke. Muriel has been a vital member of the
Executives and was instrumental in the planning of the 16th World
Convention in
Toshima-Ku, a part of the Metropolitan Tokyo (
Friends of World Convention, Dr. Gail and Carol
Dunning recently wrote, ‘The Good Lord and health willing, we plan to
attend the World Convention.” They also sent the names and addresses of three
friends in three states and asked us to send them information of the
17th global gathering of the Stone-Campbell Movement, which we did.
How about you? Do you have friends and family who should be
aware of the ministry of World Convention? If so, send us their name, address
and email address. Thank you, Doc Dunning for this opportunity to spread the
word!
Despite harsh economic conditions in
World Convention on
the Road
There will be no travel for the Convention for the
remainder of the calendar year. The offices will close on December 24th and will
reopen on
Will
you send a special Christmas gift donation to the daily work of
World Convention? Our ministry is more than just organizing a global conference
every four years. Just in the past month our Executive Director has conducted
Church Leadership workshops in Kenya and Zimbabwe, represented our Churches at
the first ever Global Christian Forum and the Conference of Secretaries of
Christian World Communions, shared encouraging messages from the word of God at
a Deaf Church in Nairobi as well as in Churches in Zimbabwe, was keynote speaker
at a convention in Zimbabwe, visited a work amongst street children in Nairobi
and a children’s home for orphans of HIV/Aids victims in Zimbabwe, visited
Church schools in Africa and encouraged the staff and students, consulted with
local ministers in Africa and written a revised edition of a book on the
Traditions of Christmas. This is in addition to his regular work of coordinating
arrangements for the 2008 and 2012 World Conventions and corresponding with
Stone-Campbell Movement members around the world and promoting Christian Unity.
We
need your support for this valuable ministry, please send a gift
today.
We
are currently putting together our 2008 Calendar of Events. For inclusion send
news of your event to Clinton J. Holloway, ChristiaNet Editor at worldconvclint@aol.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.
SHARE YOUR NEWS BY MAILING OR EMAILING TO
WORLD CONVENTION
17th
World Convention
“Together
in Christ”
July
30 –