Disciples News

From Disciples News Service - Oct. 22, 2008

In this issue:

• Gulf Coast Takes Another Beating; Work Groups Needed
• Disciples Congregation Takes Prisoners' Kids To Camp
• Disciples Can Join Online Communities To Support The '09 General Assembly
• Congo Week Observance Remembers The Exploited
• Disciples Representative Speaks At World Synod Of Bishops
• HELM's New Ministerial Student Grant Program Opens Doors For Learning
• Congregations Urged To Begin Planning For Bicentennial Communion Celebration
• 'Kids To Kids' Program Expands To Include Local Mission Projects
• Center For Rural Ministry Taking Nominations For Church Service Awards
• Haiti Battered By Four Consecutive Hurricanes
• How Does Your Congregation Celebrate Higher Education Sunday?

GULF COAST TAKES ANOTHER BEATING; WORK GROUPS NEEDED

Hurricane Ike swept through the Gulf Coast last month with 110 mile per hour sustained winds and a deadly storm surge. The hurricane caused billions of dollars in damage, including damage to several Disciples churches. The Office of Disciples Volunteering and the Coastal Plains Area office of the Christian Church in the Southwest Region have put out an urgent call for volunteers to help in the recovery effort.

"This storm was a monster. It was really wide. There's widespread devastation all the way from Louisiana to the west side of Houston," said Carl Zerweck, director of the Office of Disciples Volunteering. Herbert L. Lynskey, area minister for the Coastal Plains Area, reports that Disciples churches in the area banded together to help feed some of the victims. To volunteer your help, call the Office of Disciples Volunteering at 888-346-2631 or 317-713-2666, or visit: www.discipleshomemissions.org/Volunteer/ODV.htm

To learn more about the disaster, see:
www.disciples.org/tabid/58/itemid/95/Disciples-Churches-Band-Together.aspx

DISCIPLES CONGREGATION TAKES PRISONERS' KIDS TO CAMP

Hyattstown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hyattstown, Md., gave a special gift to a group of at-risk children they will always remember. Twenty children, all of whom have parents that are in jail or prison, spent four, fun-filled days and nights in August at "Camp Starfish." The camp was held at the Christian Church in the Capital Area's campgrounds in Sharpsburg, Md.

Each one of the campers has at least one incarcerated parent. More than 70 percent of the children of inmates end up incarcerated themselves, according to Department of Justice statistics. Most of the children had never been to an overnight camp before going to Camp Starfish, where they enjoyed swimming, boating, hayrides, hiking and horseback riding. For more, see:
www.disciples.org/tabid/58/itemid/96/AtRisk-Children-Have-the-Experience.aspx

DISCIPLES CAN JOIN ONLINE COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE '09 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Join the growing list of social networking sites that are bringing Disciples together to pray for the upcoming General Assembly, discover ways to "green" the Assembly and learn news and updates about the 2009 event. Disciples are using Facebook, MySpace and blogs to take advantage of online conversations.

To add your voice to the online communities that presently exist, visit www.disciples.org/ga and click on "Connect With Disciples Online."

If you have an online community or resource for the 2009 General Assembly that you'd like to share with other Disciples, send an e-mail with your name and a link to your resource to: generalassembly@ogmp.disciples.org

CONGO WEEK OBSERVANCE REMEMBERS THE EXPLOITED

Disciples are urged to join with over 100 countries in solidarity with the people of the Congo during Congo Week, which started Oct. 19 and extends through Oct. 25. Congo Week is a global initiative led by students to raise awareness about the situation in the Congo and provide support to the Congolese people.

Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most mineral-rich countries on Earth, 80 percent of its people survive on less than 30 cents a day. Multinational corporations have exploited the Congo for its abundance of Coltan, which is used in cell phones, DVDs and computers. The country is also exploited for diamonds, cassiterite and gold.

Disciples also are encouraged to participate in "Cell Out" which started today, Oct. 22, when thousands will turn off their cell phones from noon to 6 p.m. and refrain from text messaging. To read a solidarity statement addressed to the Disciples in the DRC and signed by General Minister and President Sharon Watkins, visit:
www.globalministries.org/news/africa/break-the-silence-congo.html

To read a statement by Disciples leaders in the DRC, visit:
www.globalministries.org/news/africa/statement-from-the-disciples.html

DISCIPLES REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKS AT WORLD SYNOD OF BISHOPS

Christian unity stands at the heart of the gospel message, Robert K. Welsh, president of the Council on Christian Unity, shared in his statement to a gathering at the Vatican earlier this month. Welsh spoke at the world Synod of Bishops on Oct. 9. as one of 10 ecumenical representatives to attend the meeting in Rome. The theme of the synod was "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church."

Welsh acknowledged his hope that "this synod will deepen its reflection on the relation between the Word of God, the Eucharist, and the unity of all Christians within the one body of Christ." His speech was warmly received. For more, see:
www.disciples.org/tabid/58/itemid/97/Protestant-Pastors-Note-Ecumenical.aspx

HELM'S NEW MINISTERIAL STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM OPENS DOORS FOR LEARNING

Sometimes the right educational opportunities aren't on campus or covered by scholarship. In those cases, a new Higher Education and Leadership Ministries program may help. Beginning this academic year, the Ministerial Student Grant program will provide grants of up to $3,000 for selected master of divinity students to support research projects, educational experiences outside the student's institution, study-related travel, or other opportunities. To learn more about this program, visit: http://www.helmdisciples.org/

CONGREGATIONS URGED TO BEGIN PLANNING FOR BICENTENNIAL COMMUNION CELEBRATION

Congregations across the United States and Canada and around the world who are associated with the Stone-Campbell movement are encouraged to begin planning to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Thomas Campbell's "Declaration and Address." The thesis of Campbell's 1809 document is "the church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one."

A task force, appointed by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society Board of Trustee, is comprised of people representing all three streams of the Stone-Campbell movement. The task force is calling on churches to gather in their communities on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, to share in communion and remember our common heritage. A wide variety of resources that can be used for the celebration can found at: http://www.greatcommunion.org/

'KIDS TO KIDS' PROGRAM EXPANDS TO INCLUDE LOCAL MISSION PROJECTS

Does your congregation have a mission or outreach project that serves children in your local community? Would you like for this project to have broader exposure and support? If so, KIDS to KIDS is expanding to include mission projects of local Disciples and UCC congregations. The projects must serve children in the wider community. The application deadline for your church to become part of KIDS to KIDS is Nov. 1, 2008. If you have questions or need additional information contact Kaye Edwards, of Disciples Home Missions at kedwards@dhm.disciples.org or go to:
www.discipleshomemissions.org/PDF/FamilyChildren/K2KCongProjApp.pdf (PDF)

CENTER FOR RURAL MINISTRY TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR CHURCH SERVICE AWARDS

There's still time for congregations engaged in outstanding ministry in rural communities to be recognized. The Missouri School of Religion - Center for Rural Ministry is accepting nominations for the Rural Church Awards. Outstanding individuals, regardless of whether they serve in an urban church or community, may be selected for the John Bennett Award for Ministry in Church and Community.

The awards will be given at the Annual Fundraising Dinner, which will be held Nov. 21 at Broadway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Columbia, Mo. Nominations must be sent by Oct. 24 to Missouri School of Religion, P.O. Box 104685, Jefferson City, Mo. 65110, Fax: 573-636-2889 or emailed to krystalmsr@earthlink.net.

To learn about the criteria for submission visit:
msrcrm.vinehosting.com/annual-fundraising-dinner/rural-church-award

HAITI BATTERED BY FOUR CONSECUTIVE HURRICANES

The situation in Haiti has worsened following four hurricanes that struck the Caribbean nation over the past several weeks. The National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti (CONASPEH), a partner with Global Ministries, reports widespread destruction. "All the bridges are broken and the communication with people in the countryside is very difficult. More than 40,000 people lost their houses, gardens, papers, and animals," said Patrick Villier, president of CONASPEH, an alliance of more than 5,000 small, indigenous congregations spread throughout Haiti.

Haiti is fortunate to again have Global Ministries missionaries. Kim and Patrick Bentrott of Sixth Avenue United Church in Denver, Co., will arrive in Haiti on Oct. 28. The Bentrotts will be serving as Global Ministries missionaries with CONASPEH in Haiti. Kim is a physician and Patrick is a United Church of Christ pastor. To see the full update from Villier describing the situation in Haiti, visit: www.globalministries.org/news/lac/haiti-hurricane-update.html

HOW DOES YOUR CONGREGATION CELEBRATE HIGHER EDUCATION SUNDAY?

Nov. 2, 2008, is Higher Education Sunday in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a day when we celebrate our long tradition of education and faith. It's a great day to honor teachers, students, campus ministries, and the long-standing connection between education and faith. HELM offers ideas for celebrating Higher Education Sunday at: www.helmdisciples.org/highereducationsunday.htm