March 16^th, 2007	11^th  Weekly Edition                                               2007 GRR CURRENTS
PRAYER CONCERNS	Rev. Tim Colvin, Mission in South Africa and the Wrenchville congregation. Her address in Austin, Texas is 12370 Alameda Trace Circle, #223, Austin, Texas 78727. Her cell phone number is (512) 769-5450. Tim is grateful for our prayers and says it is good to know she is surrounded by loving community. Click here for her most recent update.
JOYS	Progress on the Westside Mission and Westside Christian Church is amazing! Thanks to God, to volunteers, to donors, to prayer partners for continued presence and support. Check out the pictures: http://tinyurl.com/388lgx Donna Rountree, Pastor at FCC Conway, AR will have her 50^th birthday March 17th. Her email is drountree@tcworks.net if you want to send her a note! On March 3, 2007, Jim Brandt, former member of First Christian and a Disciple's minister, got married to Sally, a woman he met about a year ago in a Bible study program they both attended. Jim and Sally are in the process of getting settled in their new home. Cards of congratulations can be sent to: Jim and Sally Brandt, 5300 White Pine Dr. Flower Mound, TX 75028 Email can be sent to Jim at: sjim2933@yahjoo.com Home: 972-899-2373 Cell: 318-613-5138
EVENTS	Preaching for Transformation Workshop to be held on April 9-11, 2007 at FCC Monroe, LA.  Cost per person will be $100 and includes all meals and program. Nationally recognized Pablo Jimenez will be the keynote speaker.  You will also have a chance to compare the three most popular organizations that are helping Disciple congregations across our denomination to be transformed into thriving, vibrant forces in their communities.  Alan Roxburgh from Allelon Missional Leadership Network will be there via live video and/or audio feed, George Bullard of the Columbia Partnership will be with us and own Michael Elmore will present information about the Jesus Connection.  Barb Jones and Rick Hamilton will lead breakout sessions and Vivian Bryant will participate in a panel on cultural context for transformation issues. Brochure and Registration forms can be obtained online at: http://www.disciplesinstitute.org JUST SAY KNOW: Biblically Based Human Sexuality April 20-21 Park Hill Christian Church, North Little Rock AR Attention all Ministers, Youth Directors, Youth Workers and Parents of teens/tweens: The Great River Region is hosting a two day workshop in coordination with CLER Ministries that will train adults to lead the JUST SAY KNOW biblically-based sexuality course. The 10 hour training event will consist of Richard and Linda Goddard taking participants through the 10-session high school sexuality course. Having completed this training, participants will be qualified, with the help of CLER Ministries' resources to conduct elementary through adult classes at their respective churches and will receive a Certificate of Completion from CLER Ministries. The workshop will take place at Park Hill Christian Church in North Little Rock on April 20-21 (Friday evening through Saturday afternoon). Registration Materials and cost will arrive shortly. Cost TBA. For more information on CLER Ministries, please go to: www.clerministries.org
	Clergy Misconduct Investigator’s Training The Christian Church in the Southwest is sponsoring a Clergy Misconduct Training Session for those interested in becoming an instructor and investigator for Clergy Sexual Misconduct Prevention cases in the Christian church. Great River Region is sending Vivian Bryant, John Kirby and Rick Hamilton for training at this event. The instructor training will run from Sunday, March 18-20, 2007. The investigator training will be March20-21, 2007.
NEWS AND ACTIVITES	From Barb: This week I met with Central Arkansas Ministers and enjoyed hearing how various congregations are working together and what pastors are doing in their congregations. I also made a quick trip to Indianapolis as the Ministry and Money Task Force closes in on plans for what happens next as we merge Church Finance Council into the Office of General Minister and President. Saturday March 17, I join Rick Hamilton and many others in ordaining Laura Whitaker into ministry. Sunday I’ll be preaching at Elm Tree Christian Church in Rogers, AR. From Vivian Bryant: Mississippi Christian Missionary Convention board meeting will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 10:00 am at United Christian Church in Jackson, MS. This will be the last meeting for planning before their annual Convention in June. I’ll be at the Clergy Misconduct Investigator Training this week. From Rick Hamilton:  Last Sunday I had the pleasure of preaching “at home” at FCC Fayetteville while the pastoral staff attended International Affairs Seminar. I have spent the week working with FCC Ozark on Disciple History and Polity, and in transition work with Bentonville Elm Tree CC. This Sunday, I will be preaching the Merge Celebration service for Lakeshore Drive CC in Hot Springs, AR (formerly known as National Park and Spring Valley Christian Churches). Congregations in I’m working with in Search and Call: Bentonville AR:  Elm Tree  - Pastor (In Negotiation) Jackson MS:      First – Pastor Weiner AR:         First – Interim Pastor West Point MS:   First – Pastor (Direct any inquiries to me in confidence.) From Michael Elmore: I will be worshiping at FCC Sulphur this Sunday, Rev. Dana Hoover, Pastor. Rev. Mona Lisa Garrett, FCC Lake Charles submitted her resignation as Pastor effective May 31, 2007. She has served FCC Lake Charles during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and led the church is establishing a Mission Station at the church, developing support groups for hurricane victims and led the church during a difficult time of recovery. From Lara Blackwood: I will travel this week with Rev. Ryan Pfeifer and Hanna Arambel (FCC Fayetteville) along with youth and adults from the Oklahoma and Southwest Regions to Washington D.C. and New York City for the International Affairs Seminar. During this week, high school juniors and seniors will consider the topic of Immigration in light of their faith, prior study and workshops/small groups on the trip. Historically, the Great River Region has sent a large number of youth participants on this trip. If you know of a youth who would gain from this trip next year, please let them know about it and contact Lara Blackwood (the director for IAS 2008). Also consider fundraising for next year's trip as soon as possible! For more information on this year's trip, please visit: www.brite.tcu.edu/ias First Christian Church Pine Bluff, AR is currently looking for a person to fill the position of Youth Director. This is a part time position requiring at least 20 hours per week. Specific details can be provided by contacting Delene Broeckling by phone at 870-329-7677, email at natman@seark.net or leave a message for Joe Garkovich at 870-718-3585. First Christian Church Baton Rouge, LA is seeking to fill the position of Part-time Director of Youth & Children’s Ministries. Responsibilities: * Coordinate and oversee children & youth Sunday School curriculum selection, teacher recruitment, teacher training be present Sunday mornings * Coordinate and oversee weekly Sunday Night Youth Program mentor adult sponsors for youth grades K-12 develop programming for four (4) youth groups * Be present Sunday mornings, and afternoons and/or evenings Requirements: * Strong faith and sense of spiritual vocation * Open and engaging attitude and personality * Excellent relational and communication skills * Highly dependable * Dedicated to developing quality youth * Some experience preferred Please contact Rev. Michael Karunas, (michael@fccbrla.org, 926-4175) From Rev. Dan Thornhill: Central Arkansas area Disciples are invited to Parkview Christian Church (9300 Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock, AR, 501-565-5005) for their study sessions on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. The group will be studying “A Handbook for Today’s Disciples” by Dr. Duane Cummins, and a different area pastor will present each chapter. The schedule is as follows: March 21 – “Disciples and Church Structure” The Rev. Barb Jones March 28 – “Disciples and the Sacraments” The Rev. Dan Thornhill April 4 – Holy Week. No study session. April 11 – “Disciples at Worship” The Rev. Miles Cook April 18 – “Disciples and Mission” The Rev. Rebecca Frankford April 25 – “Disciples and Moral-Ethical Issues” The Rev. Vivian Bryant May 2 – “Disciples and Christian Thought” The Rev. Bill Hale May 9 – “Disciples as Church Members” The Rev. Holly Patton You are welcome to come with or without the book. Guidance Workshops: The South Central Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC), Central Arkansas Veteran’s Healthcare System & Rebecca Spooner from “The Laurence E. Schmidt Center” Presents: Life Guard Training Monday, April 2, 2007 Click here for more information.