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November 9^th, 2007	37^th   Weekly Edition                                                      2007 GRR CURRENTS
JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS	Kings Highway Christian Church and the Great River Region have lost another saint. Rev. Dave Farmer suffered a massive stroke on Friday, November 9, and passed away on November 10. Click here for details about services and visitation. Rev. Paul Elliott, Elm Tree Christian Church, is undergoing his 4^th (hopefully last) round of chemotherapy. Rev. Bill McKnight was in the hospital for a week receiving treatment for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, an extremely rare blood cancer. Rev. Robert D. Chambless who served pastorates in Russellville and Fayettevile, Arkansas passed away. Click here for his obituary and note from his daughter.
NEWS	The Regional Board met at Kings Highway Christian Church in Shreveport November 2-3. Lonnie Graves, Program Director for Office of Disciples Women in Indianapolis, IN, has offered her official resignation.  Lonnie visited with us during Louisiana’s Women’s Retreat.  Her press release is attached Southern District Ministry Committee met this week and licensed John Kirby, Grace DOC in Covington, LA and Michael Dickson, FCC Sulphur, LA to ministry.
EVENTS	Central Arkansas Minister/Spouse Christmas Dinner will be November 30 at FCC Maumelle, AR. Contact Rev. Searcy McBurnett for information and reservations. Southern District Minister/Spouse Christmas Luncheon will be December 1 at FCC Baton Rouge. Contact Rev. Michael Elmore for information and reservations. The Office of Disciples Women is sponsoring the first ever Women’s Blitz Build.  Partnering with the Office of Disciples Volunteering and Habitat for Humanity the women of CCDOC will help build a house in Beaumont Texas. Click here for Flyer and application.  The dates for this event are January 20-24, 2008 in Beaumont, TX.  The event is open to any woman interested in attending. Disciples Men Retreat is being planned for January 25-26, 2008 at Westside Mission Center in New Orleans, LA. SESSIONS 2008. Disciples Men…don’t forget to plan now for next year’s SESSIONS 2008 event to be held July 17-20, 2008 in Oklahoma City, OK.  Our General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery, Mark Briley and Rev. Bill Lee will be the featured speakers.  What a wonderful Christmas/birthday gift for the man in your life.  There is also a discounted registration fee for young adult men. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS SEMINAR:  Now is the time to begin fundraising for IAS 2008.  The weeklong trip to Washington D.C. and New York City will take place March 15-22 and will cost approximately $1500.  The trip is open to High School Juniors and Seniors and is a powerful way to help older teenagers connect their faith with major issues in the world.  If you are interested, know of a youth who should attend, need fundraising ideas or would like more information, please contact IAS Director Ronny Nowell (ronny@arkansas.net) or visit the website:  www.iasdisciples.com
STAFF UPDATES	From Barbara Jones: I enjoyed a few days off after the board meeting. I came to Shreveport as soon as I was notified about Dave Farmer and will be here through the funeral From Vivian Bryant: I will worship with First Christian Church and Highland Drive Christian Church in Jonesboro, AR on Sunday, November 11 From Michael Elmore: . I will be worshiping with FCC Sulphur this Sunday. Just finished reading a very interesting book that I highly recommend by Diana West, The Death of the Grown-Up. It will challenge you to take a look at our culture and has implications for the church. From Lara Blackwood Pickrel: Opportunity For Ministry-Minded Youth.  If you have high school youth in your congregations who are interested in serving the church through ordained ministry (or youth who show gifts and graces that might lead them to ordained ministry), please encourage them to attend TRANSY & TEAM (T.otally E.xcited A.bout M.inistry) at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.  This weekend event will take place November 9-11 and, aside from transportation, is completely FREE!!  General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins will keynote the event.  For more information, please call 1-800-487-2679. Rick Hamilton What a first week back! There is so much going on here in the Great River Region. This weekend  I will be in West Memphis, Arkansas to meet with their search committee, then off to Hot Springs to meet with Long Range Planning. Please keep Paul Elliot, pastor of Elm Tree Christian Church in Bentonville in your prayers. He will start a fourth (and hopefully final) round of chemotherapy in the next couple of weeks. Also please keep the congregation in your prayers.