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January 25^th, 2008	46^th   Weekly Edition                                                      2008 GRR CURRENTS
JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS	Rev. Rick Hamilton, Regional Pastor for GRR, and Family on the Death of his Grandmother, Elva Boren, of Arlington, Texas. Services were Thursday, January 17^th. Elva Boren died Sunday the 13^th at the age of 92. Bettie Duhon will be leaving the country on Jan 19 and asks for our prayers.  On Friday she will leave from New Orleans, LA and travel to Newark and then on to Tel Aviv.  She is asking that we continue to pray for her safe travel and continued good health. Hancel Bankesker, Pastor at FCC Vicksburg, MS, has been going back and forth to the doctor.  Please keep him and his family and church community in your prayers.  The church has also lost two members who have relocated to other parts of the country and beyond.  Rob Heltzel, son of Ann and Sam Heltzel, also members of FCC Vicksburg, will travel back to England to complete his educational pursuits. Please continue to pray for Northside Christian Church in West Point, MS as they continue their church renovation and expansion process. Russell B. Myers, father of Pastor Russell H. Myers and Pastor of United Christian Church Jackson, MS is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.  Pastor Myers has been in Indianapolis, IN visiting with his father for the last week.
NEWS	Shirt Sale. We have a very limited number of Great River Region Logo shirts left and ON SALE! Yellow, Green, and Light Blue Polo style shirts in Men’s XL and Women’s XL and XXL sizes are available in limited quantities at the bargain price of $20 each! Please call the office for color availability as quantities ARE limited. (501) 562-6053 Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth had their first board meeting of the year on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at their corporate office in Jackson, MS at 11 am.   Rev. Sue Cherney is the Executive Director. Disciples Women were involved in the first ever Blitz Build in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity and the Office of Disciples Volunteering.  Ann Pickett Parker, IDWF Cabinet member, was a participant in this endeavor. Pastors, This time of year one of the Scripture Readings is about Jesus' Baptism.  What a special time and great opportunity to highlight a critical time in the life of those being baptized. Here are seven things that can be done with baptisms: 1. Create and give the candidates invitations to invite family and friends to this special celebration.  2. Recruit a Host(ess) who will help them get ready, answer questions & help clean up afterwards.  3. Celebrate Communion as part of the event.  4. Celebrate the event as an eternity changing moment.  Take pictures and put in the newsletter and on the bulletin board, talk about it, etc. 5. Give a Certificate as a tangible sign of what they have received and a way to honor their decision. 6. Undergird the experience with prayer.  Pray as they are making the decision for the Holy Spirit's presence, power and leading.  Pray during the ceremony for God's blessing on them and for the communities calling to nurture them.  Pray for a designated time afterwards (tell them that you will lift them up each Monday for the next 50 days).  7. Help them move forward.  Don't let the excitement and power of this experience just fade away.  Instead develop a mentoring ministry (using Elders or others) who will regularly contact them, help answer questions and help them grow (contact me for a program example).  Remember that I am here to help you.  If you would like for me to provide a specific resource let me know or if you would like to find out about a person visit or consulting/training give me an email or call 501 217-9129. Steve Wallace, Wallace SC&W, www.wallaceresources.us.
EVENTS	Staff Women's Fellowship will be held January 24-27, 2008 in Houston, Texas. GRR Disciples Men Retreat will be January 25-26, 2008 at Westside Mission Center in New Orleans, LA. Rev. Steve Wallace will be our leader. The theme will be "Spirituality for Men." Cost will be $50.00 a person. Registration forms have been sent to your congregation. 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. Partners in Ministry ’08 Workshop. Put this date on your calendar:  Partners in Ministry ’08, a workshop for ministers, church musicians, dramatists and visual artists will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at FCC El Dorado, AR.  Ministers: bring your musicians and other creative people.  Musicians and other creative people:  bring your ministers!  You will receive lots of ideas for working together to make your worship services more meaningful and transformative for your congregation.  For more information, please contact Deitra Blackwell at 501-517-2474 or at disciplesinstitute@grrcc.org. Thanks! Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director Disciples Institute
STAFF UPDATES	From Barbara Jones: Will be on Study Leave January – March 2008. Rick Hamilton: I will be spending the next few days in Northwest Arkansas, and Northeastern Oklahoma. Saturday I will participate in the Congregational Planning Meeting in Fayetteville, AR. Sunday I will be preaching at the First Christian Church of Rogers, AR. Monday, I will be attending supervised ministry workshops at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK. Search Committees I am currently working with: Lakeshore Drive CC, Hot Springs, AR FCC Jackson, MS FCC Mountain Home, AR (Assoc) FCC Rogers, AR FCC Stuttgart, AR FCC West Memphis, AR From Vivian Bryant: I will attend the Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth Board meeting on Wednesday and then head for Houston, TX on Thursday for the Disciples Women Staff Fellowship meeting. From Michael Elmore: I will be attending the Disciple Men's Retreat at Westside CC in New Orleans, LA this Friday and Saturday. At this time we have 25 people registered to attend. Sunday I will be preaching at FCC Sulphur, LA. From Lara Blackwood Pickrel: Attended the MIDWINTER MISSION WEEKEND at Westside Mission in New Orleans, LA. SNOASIS:  This event for CYF-aged youth (formerly named CYF Midwinter) will take place at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, AR over the weekend of February 22-24.  Forms will be mailed to your congregation soon so that all are able to meet the registration deadline of February 11.  The theme for the weekend focuses on transformation and our keynoter is Randy Kuss!!  Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this exciting event! Youth Workers, Mark Your Calendars!!!  In May (2-4), the Great River Region will host our second F.E.A.S.T. event.  This weekend retreat for adult youth workers will be keynoted by Randy Kuss and is a great opportunity to renew your spirits and energies for youth ministry!!!  Be on the lookout for registration materials! Camp & Conference 2008 brochures are heading your way soon!  Keep an eye out for these important registration materials. Deadlines for Counselor/Steward/Youth Commissioner/Intern applications is April 14th.  Deadlines for camper registrations is May 19th. Check out the youth page on the regional website (www.grrcc.org).  We have added the new youth event calendar, information on a great retreat for adult youth workers and links to many youth ministry resources!