ChristiaNet
Monthly Global News and Information of the
Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ family of churches
from World Convention
Number 6 - September 2003 [Second series]
To contact us, or discontinue, write to worldconv@aol.com ChristiaNet uses a send-only address.
A struggle in Liberia
Liberia (capital Monrovia) in West Africa has been very much in the news lately
as a peace agreement was reached. A civil war has ravaged the country and virtually
nobody in the population of towards three million has escaped from starvation,
property damage, looting, the destruction of vital services, relocation, rape,
deprivation, injury or death. The peace settlement is tenuous and both prayer
and hard work by church and other humanitarian agencies are necessary.
Reggie Thomas of White Fields Evangelism, a Christian Churches/Churches of
Christ ministry based in Joplin, Missouri, USA has been in touch with pastors
there during August. The story of destruction and dislocation is gradually
coming together. White Fields reports thirty Churches of Christ in and around
Monrovia. A White Fields evangelist and psychologist, Dr Blythe Robinson, is
leaving for Liberia on September 12th to assist churches there. Week of Compassion
(www.weekofcompassion.org) and the Division of Overseas Ministries (www.disciples.org/dom)
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada,
have been working through ecumenical partners in Liberia helping with vital
present needs and future planning. At least US$30,000 has been forwarded. An
article in the latest 'Christian Chronicle' (www.christianchronicle.org) reports
that there are between sixty-six and seventy (a cappella) Churches of Christ
across Liberia.
Our family of churches can trace its links to Liberia back to 1855 when an
early mission sent a freed slave to Liberia.
Growth in Zambia
We were quite amazed in the mid 1990s when we picked up a directory of a cappella
Churches of Christ in Zambia and found it listed 500 congregations. Zambia
Christian College in Kalomo reports that there are now 978 congregations!
In 1980 there were just 211. Attendance is recorded at 53,359.
TCM International
The ministry of TCM International (Training Christians for Ministry), based
at Haus Edelweiss near Vienna, Austria, began in 1963. This Christian Church/Churches
of Christ ministry equips Eastern European Christians for ministry in churches
in sixteen countries. Numbers each year were relatively small prior to the
collapse of the 'Iron Curtain' but growth in the 1990s has been huge. This
year TCM is equipping national leaders all year long through sixty-nine seminars
in Austria and in-country extension centres in ten other countries: Belarus,
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Moldovia, Poland, Romania, Russia
and the Ukraine. (www.tcmi.org)
World Convention updates
- The next issue of the quarterly, World Christian, will be mailed this month.
There is virtually no overlap with news in World Christian and ChristiaNet.
To receive a free copy email your name & full postal address to worldconv@aol.com.
- 'World Convention' will have exhibits at the Restoration Forum, the 'Disciples'
Assembly and the National Missionary Convention (see below). Come and talk
to us if you are at any of these. For those in the Charlotte, North Carolina
area, we have a 'World Update' breakfast meeting on Monday, October 20 in the
Westin Hotel. 7.00 am. US$11.00. Request tickets from worldconv@aol.com
- If you can come to the next World Convention in Brighton, England - July
28 to August 1, next year, we strongly recommend you register and request accommodation
now. See World Christian or www.worldconvention.org
Please pray for:
- The National Gathering for Women of Churches of Christ in Australia - September
10 in Perth, Western Australia.
- IDES, an international relief ministry of Christian Churches/Churches of
Christ in the USA holding a day of fasting for world hunger needs on September
13. Ides celebrates thirty years this year. (www.ides.org)
- Fiji Churches of Christ celebrating ten years of witness and growth, September
26-28 (Information from the Australian Churches of Christ Overseas Mission
Board: omb@omb.org.au).
- Western Christian College and High School holding its 58th Lectureship in
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, October 10-12 - its new campus in a new province.
(www.westernchristian.ca)
- The XXI Restoration Forum for all members of our movement being hosted by
Milligan College and Emmanuel School of Religion in Johnson City, Tennessee,
USA, October 12-14. (Phone +1 (423) 461-8710)
- The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the USA and Canada holding
its biennial General Assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina, October 17-21,
with the theme, One Church, One Vision. Chris Hobgood will succeed Dick Hamm
as General Minister and President. (www.disciples.org)
- The National Convention of the Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand
at the beginning of November.
- The annual National Missionary Convention (Christian Churches/Churches of
Christ in the USA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 20-23. President: Greg Pruett.
(www.nationalmissionaryconvention.org)
- The church in Nakon Pathom, now District 11 of the united Church of Christ
in Thailand, celebrating 100 years since its founding by Churches of Christ
missionaries from the British Isles, on November 22. Information from Allan
Eubank (ajeubank@cm.ksc.co.th).
- Ranwadi Churches of Christ College in Vanuatu (South Pacific) celebrating
its centenary, November 20-24.
- Gandep Bible School in Papua New Guinea holding its first graduation service,
November 29-30.
- Christian Churches/Churches of Christ members from Europe gathering at a
mid winter rally in Hermeskeil, Germany, December 27-31. (www.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 in at least 165 countries
PLEASE TELL 'WORLD CONVENTION' WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
'Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christian brothers and sisters, and be eager to show respect for one another.' Romans 12: 9-10.