CURRENTS

March 30th, 2007

13th  Weekly Edition                                                                      2007 GRR CURRENTS

 

 

PRAYER CONCERNS

 

 
  • Polly Sharp and family in Newport, AR
  • Rev. Tim Colvin, formerly pastor of the Wrenchville Congregational Church in South Africa .  Her current address is 12370 Alameda Trace Circle, #223, Austin, Texas 78727  wrenchvillecc@yahoo.com>
    CLICK HERE FOR A GREETING FROM TIM TO THE GRR!!
  • Several GRR Congregations concerned about their future ministries
  • Rev. Tom Jewell, OK Regional Pastor and his family as they attend his mother’s funeral in Lima OH.  Mrs. Jewell had made her residence with Tom and Kay in Oklahoma City for the last 18 months and passed away Saturday, March 24.  Visitation is tonight and the funeral is Saturday morning March 31 at Central CC in Lima, OH.

 

 

JOYS

Ed and Donna Owen of FCC Meridian MS responded to the need for disaster response in Dumas Arkansas.  Click here to see additional needs.  Thanks for bringing a Disciples presence, Ed and Donna!

 

Taylor Kent, grandson of Linda and Mike White, was born on Thursday morning about 11 am.  He and his mother Laura are doing well as daddy Mike tends to both.  Taylor was just about 2 lbs and will be in NICU at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock until he is up to 5 lbs. It is a joy is that medicine has advanced so much that both he and his mother have a far better chance of recovery since his birth.  Linda White’s email is lqwhite@sbcglobal.net

 

 

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 audio feed, George Bullard of the Columbia Partnership will be with us and own Jan Linn 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). The cost for this event is $15 (to cover printing costs of the curriculum). Saturday's lunch and snacks will be provided and participants are encouraged to find rooms at local hotels.  If you need assistance in arranging for lodging, please contact Lara Blackwood at lara@grrcc.org.  For more information on CLER Ministries, please go to:  www.clerministries.org


CAMP DEADLINES APPROACHING!!!
Don't forget that the regular registration deadline for all camps/conferences is May 4th!!  After this date, each participant must pay a $50 late fee.  If you need ideas to help advertise for camps in your congregation, please check out the ideas listed in the Camp and Conference Catalog.  Also, please note the registration deadline of April 16th for all Camp Counselor, Camp Steward and Youth Commission applications!!! 

SUMMER CAMP AND CONFERENCE (click for details)

 

COMPLETED K thru 2 — Discovery Camp
(June 16-17 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR)    $75 before 5/4

For Discovery Camp, all churches are required to send adult sponsors with campers.  If a church sends both male & female Discovery Campers, both male and female adult sponsors are required. 

COMPLETED 3 thru 5 — Junior Youth Fellowship (JYF) Camp
(June 17-20 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR)    $185 before 5/4

COMPLETED 6 thru 8 — Chi-Rho Camp
 (June 20-24 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR)   $195 before 5/4

COMPLETED 9TH GRADE – F.I.S2H. CAMP  (Fundamental Intro to Spiritual & Sexual Health)

      F.I.S2H. Camp (June 24-30 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR)          $245 before 5/4

COMPLETED 10 thru 12 — Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) Conference
(July 1-7 at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR)         $245 before 5/4

ALL AGES - Magnolia Conference
 (June 25-30 at Roosevelt State Park in Morton, MS)

 

NEW 07

This year's NEW will be a joint venture of the NEA, The Columbia Partnership and the New Church Ministry Team of Church Extension.  It has some top-notch speakers and presenters in three tracks...church growth, coaching, and new church establishment.  Dick Hamm is the coordinator for the event as the President of The Columbia Partnership. The website www.new07.org is the best place for registration information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS

Disciples Home Missions (DHM) is planning to redesign its Web site,
www.discipleshomemissions.org, and is interested in hearing from
Disciples Regional and congregational staff. DHM staff want to know how
how well its Web site has served visitors. You are invited to
participate in the survey to help shape the evolution of the DHM site.
To participate, go to:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=365063398362 .
Estimated time of completion is about 10 minutes.

 

 

 

STAFF UPDATES

 

 

From Barb:  I had a wonderful visit to Utica last week and we installed Brad Hartzog as their called pastor.  I’ve been focusing on administrative duties this week and am currently at the Chicago Midway airport between flights to Indianapolis.  I’m driving from there to Lima for Mrs. Jewell’s funeral.  Tom has been my Regional Ministry prayer partner for over 10 years and I’ll represent our region and our presence during this time of grief and sadness.  Sunday I’ll worship with Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis, the congregation I served before my call to serve the Christian Church in Arkansas.

 

From Vivian Bryant:  Arkansas Disciples Women will have their cabinet meeting on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31, 2007 at FCC. Little Rock.

I will be preaching Sunday at St. Luke Christian Church in Pattison, MS.  This congregation is in search and call and would appreciate your prayers.

I will be visiting/meeting with Bethel Christian Church on Saturday, March 31 and Christian Chapel Christian Church on Monday, April 2, 2007 as they too continue the search and call process.

 

From Rick Hamilton:  Sunday I worshipped in Paris, Arkansas, before making my way to New Orleans. There, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Jose Guzmon, a church planter doing construction work in the New Orleans area.

Jose and his congregation Iglesia Cristiana Nueva Jerusalem are anxious to find a place to worship in New Orleans and begin a vibrant Spanish language congregation.  I also got to spend a couple of days working at West Side Christian Church. The place is truly transformed! If it has been a while since you’ve been there, you need to go back and see the progress. There’s still so much work to do all along the gulf coast, but there are definitely signs of hope.

Saturday and Sunday, I will be with my family in Fayetteville for Egg Hunting and Palm Branch waving. Hosanna!
Congregations in I’m working with in Search and Call:

·         Bentonville AR:  Elm Tree  - Call extended and accepted

·         Jackson MS:      First – Pastor

·         West Point MS:  First – Pastor

(Direct any inquiries to me in confidence.)

 

From Michael Elmore:  On April 29, 2007 during morning worship FCC Gulfport will have a re-dedication service for their sanctuary.  There was much damage done to their building and repairs have been made.  Rev. Nic Nickerson, Pastor will host the service and folks from Disciples Volunteering will participate as well as Regional Pastor, Michael Elmore. We celebrate with them.  FCC Gulfport continues to be a Mission Station.  Sunday I will be worshiping at FCC Lafayette.