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June 6^th, 2008	63^rd   Weekly Edition                                                      2008 GRR CURRENTS
JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS	Johnny and Deborrah Wray will be returning to Mississippi to live full time at their farm outside of West Point! A search committee is being formed to begin looking for Johnny’s replacement. Click here for announcement. Rev. Rita Richardson, Pastor at Central Christian Church in Russellville, AR, requests prayers for her Brother, Clyde Richard Brown who is recovering from a stroke, and for her sister Rockie Richardson who continues to struggle with cancer. Rev. Mona Lisa Garrett in Lake Charles, LA request your prayers for some health concerns she is having.
NEWS	St. Charles Ave Christian Church, New Orleans, LA. Rev. Frank Sherard will be celebrating his Covenant of Calling with Rev. Dr. Michael Elmore June 22^nd at 3pm in our sanctuary. All are welcome! Ashley Sherard, Secretary scacc@bellsouth,net The mission team of Highland Drive Christian Church in Jonesboro, AR recently completed its third mission trip to New Orleans. During the week May 27 through May 31, the group performed work on two homes and a church in the lower ninth ward.  The work is sponsored by the Westside Mission located on the West Bank. The mission Is an outreach program of the Great River Region of the Christian Church, which includes Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Mission groups from schools, civic groups, and all denomination from all over the U.S. have volunteered at Westside for the past 2 1/2 years. Pastor Vance Moore, former minister at Highland Drive, is the director of the mission and the minister of the Westside Christian Church. Highland Drive CC is located at 501 W. Highland and Rev. Brad Clark is the Pastor. Disciples Institute Web Site. We have information about Disciples Institute and some of the course offerings and up-coming events.  Also check out the Bi-Vocational Ministers blog.  Link:  www.disciplesinstitute.org Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director. Doctorate Program beginning at Columbia Theological Seminary: Decatur, GA— Beginning in fall 2008, Columbia Theological Seminary will offer required introductory seminars for its Church and Ministry Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program in Atlanta, GA and Montreat, NC. At each location, degree candidates can take the introductory seminar and three elective courses toward the completion of their D.Min. in Church and Ministry. The Doctor of Ministry Degree program is open to experienced pastors of all denominations and backgrounds. For more details and application materials, go to www.ctsnet.edu. Then click Degree Programs, then Advanced Degrees, then Doctor of Ministry. OGMP Announces New Minister of Faith and Giving Position. The Office of the General Minister and President is seeking a Minister of Faith and Giving who will lead the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in creating a stewardship movement and a culture of generosity. The Minister of Faith and Giving will work with regional and general ministry partners to create culturally diverse resources for congregations related to giving, annual stewardship campaigns, personal wealth management, and congregational financial management. To read the full ministry description, please: www.disciples.org/watkins/news/2008/05/20a-mfg.pdf. Interested candidates can contact Dr. Todd Adams, Assoc. General Minister and VP 317-713-2414 or tadams@ogmp.disciples.org. Please submit resumes by July 10, 2008 to: Dr. Todd Adams, c/o Office of the General Minister and President, 130 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204. Just Communities of Central Arkansas. Join us in a 30 minute video from the Unnatural Causes series.  The complete series is provocative and available (through UAMS College of Public Health) for others to show in their own venue.  Contact Kate Stewart [StewartMaryK@uams.edu] or Ruth D. Shepherd, Executive Director, 1400 West Markham, Suite 405, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-372-5129. For more information click on the links. Invitation. Promotion. Christian Church Foundation is responsible for assisting individuals, congregations, regions and other entities of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to discover the joy of sharing their resources to further the work of Jesus Christ in the world. At this time, the Foundation is responsible for over $436 million of the church’s money. Distributions from permanent funds held by the Foundation benefit local congregations, regional ministries and general units of the church. Bobby Hawley, Vice President, Christian Church Foundation, bhawley@ccf.disciples.org  and Marilyn Fiddmont mfiddmon@ccf.disciples.org are available to consult with donors privately and confidentially about ways to make gifts that will benefit themselves, their heirs, and the church causes they care about.  In addition, they are available to preach on the stewardship of accumulated resources and do workshops.
EVENTS	GRRCC Disciples Women. The last DW Spring Workshop will be held on June 7 at FCC in Fort Smith, AR.  Registration will begin at 9:30am and the workshop will begin at 10am. Youth Worker F.E.A.S.T. (Originally scheduled for May 2-4, 2008) has been moved to September 26-28.  This new date will allow more GRR youth workers and youth ministry teams to sign up for a time of Sabbath rest and renewal and will also make it possible for many of our brothers and sisters in the Oklahoma Region to join us for the event.  The Fall event will take place at the Lutheran Camp on Petit Jean Mountain (outside Morrilton, AR) and will cost $95.  Registrations are due with payment by September 10th.  Revised registration materials will be sent to all churches, senior ministers and youth ministers in upcoming weeks.  Please mark the dates (September 26-28) on your church/personal calendar and encourage all who minister with Chi Rho/CYF aged youth to attend!! If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Lara Blackwood Pickrel at 479-236-8295. Plans are being made for the GRR Regional Assembly that will be held on November 7-9, 2008 at FCC Bentonville, AR. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. Our theme this year is “Strength for Today; Hope for Tomorrow”. Building a Gifts-Based Church. Sign up now for the Spiritual Gifts workshop taught by Rev. Frank Johnson on June 6-7 at FCC Baton Rouge, LA! This is definitely not an attempt to fit people into pre-arranged church board slots! It is a process designed to honor the integrity of congregation members’ abilities and commitments to God’s work in their congregations. This is a train-the-trainer format class. Ministers and church leaders who attend will learn how to administer a spiritual gifts inventory, along with ways to identify leadership styles, interaction styles, types of tasks that people enjoy doing, and the ways they experience and approach God. With this information in hand, ministers and leaders can help congregation members honor their gifts and serve God. It is a process that has been tested and has evolved within real congregations in real churches since 1988. Identifying spiritual gifts can help to transform your congregation with the energy of people who know they are bringing the first fruits of their lives to God each week and making a difference in their communities with the gifts God has given them. Thank you! Deitra Blackwell, Executive Director Disciples Institute, 501-517-2474, deitra.d.blackwell@comcast.net or www.disciplesinstitute.org. A Brochure, Registration Form, and Map are attached.  Also attached is the Spiritual Gifts Assessment Form that you need to fill out prior to coming to the class. SESSIONS 2008 in Oklahoma City is going to be a huge event for all Disciples Men from around the country.  The event is going to be held July 17-20, 2008 at First Christian Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.  To find out more about this important gathering of Disciples Men and how your life can come into focus go to: http://sessions2008.org/ or contact Rev Tod Iseminger, Minister of Leader Development at 800-346-2631. The 20^th Biennial Session of the National Convocation will be held in Memphis, TN on July 25-28, 2008.  The theme for the Convocation is God, Our Weapon in Spiritual Warfare.  II Corinthians 10:3-5.  GRRCC clergy interested in attending this event are encouraged to contact the Regional office concerning scholarship assistance. Disciple Home Mission is planning five area church transformation workshops beginning in September of this year. The one for our area is planned for January 16-18, 2009 at Oklahoma City. Michael Elmore, Regional Pastor is working with the area committee and planning the event for our area. A flyer can be found at http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08025.pdf. 2009 General Assembly July 29^th – August 2^nd, 2009. Revision: Attached is your “Resource Group Application,” which we invite you to fill out and return if you are interested in offering a Resource Group, as well as criteria upon which your submissions will be selected for use. You will note that General Assembly Resource Groups are scheduled for 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1, 2009. Presentations may be either 1.5 hours or 3 hours in length. As you may know, Resource Groups must be sponsored by a General Ministry, Region, or Institution of Higher Education. Proposals must be submitted on the attached form NO LATER THAN July 1, 2008. The Resource Group Committee, based on the criteria attached, will select the proposals. We will notify applicants of the decisions of the committee by July 7, 2008. In addition, more learning opportunities including resource groups will be developed based on a survey of Assembly registrants. Workshop Criteria and Application. The Assembly’s theme is “for the healing of the nations,” based on Revelation 22:2. Cindy Meilink, CBP, Facilitator cmeilink@cbp21.com; 314-231-8500, ext. 1326. Patricia Case, GA Program Coordinator., pcase@ogmp.disciples.org; 317-713-2410.
STAFF UPDATES	From Barbara Jones: Next week we will begin new pastoral care assignments of our regional pastors and clergy / congregations, which will not be strictly by district. For details, click here. From Rick Hamilton: Sunday I will complete a six week sermon series in the transition period for Elm Tree Christian Church in Bentonville, AR. This week’s sermon in the series “Coloring Outside the Lines” is called “An Unfinished Masterpiece.” Search Committees I am currently supporting: Lakeshore Drive CC, Hot Springs, AR Parkview CC Little Rock, AR FCC Mammoth Spring, AR FCC Mountain Home, AR (Sr. and Assoc.) FCC Rogers, AR FCC Russellville, AR Please contact me directly and in confidence to inquire about any of these ministry opportunities. From Vivian Bryant: This weekend I will be attending the last DW Spring Workshop at FCC in Fort Smith, AR. Registration will begin at 9:30am and the workshop will begin at 10am on Saturday. From Michael Elmore:  Sunday I will be preaching at FCC Baton Rouge, LA. From Lara Blackwood Pickrel: Camp registrations will still be accepted but will require a $50 late fee.  If you still have registrations to turn in, please contact the regional office and let us know they are on their way! 2008 Summer Camp Dates/Locations/Directors/Costs: CYF Conference             June 15-21        Camp Couchdale          Jennifer Mikesell                    $250 ($300 after 5/21 deadline) Magnolia Conference      June 15-21         Roosevelt State Park     Josie McClorine                     $110 Discovery Camp             June 21-22         Camp Couchdale           Brian & Wendi Phillips             $80 ($130 after 5/21 deadline) JYF Camp                     June 22-25         Camp Couchdale            Marilyn Pickrel                      $190 ($240 after 5/21 deadline) ChiRho Camp                June 25-29         Camp Couchdale         Loy Hoskins & Chuck Pickrel     $200 ($250 after 5/21 deadline) FISSH Camp                  July 6-12            Ferncliff Camp              Carol Renee Eakin                  $260 (310 after 5/21 deadline) 2008-2009 GRRYC SELECTED!!!   The following youth and adults have been selected to serve on the 2008-2009 Great River Region Youth Commission: -Betty Arambel (Adult, FCC Fayetteville, AR) -Tyler Button (FCC Rogers, AR) -Georgia Carter (FCC Rogers, AR) -Stacy Eastwood (Adult, FCC Lake Charles, LA) -Katy Featherston (FCC Fort Smith, AR) -Brittany Hampton (FCC Sherwood, AR) -Kelsey Lundberg (Millwood Christian Church, Rogers, AR) -Heather Martin (FCC Rogers, AR) -Jennifer Mikesell (Adult, FCC Sherwood, AR) -Ronny Nowell (Adult, FCC Rogers, AR) -Chuck Pickrel (Adult, Millwood Christian Church, Rogers, AR) -Cara Pledger (FCC Harrison, AR) -Yvonne Taylor (Adult, FCC Baton Rouge, LA) CALLING ALL PASTORS!!!  Although the official selection process for the Great River Region Youth Commission has concluded, we are still in need of more youth/adult leaders!  If you know of a youth in your congregation who is entering their junior or senior year of high school and has gifts for servant leadership, please encourage them to apply for the GRRYC.  While all applications will be reviewed equally, we are in particular need of applicants from Louisiana and Mississippi. The deadline for applications is June 11.  If you have questions regarding the process or need an application, please contact me at 479-236-8295 or lara@grrcc.org GRR SUMMER INTERNS SELECTED!!  This year we had a number of excited and qualified candidates for our two Regional Summer Intern positions.  Thanks to cooperation between the Region and First Christian Church in Sherwood, AR, we were able to place three applicants rather than two!  The GRR Summer Interns for 2008 are Jacob Wilson from FCC Bentonville and Leah Vest from FCC Sherwood.  FCC Sherwood will enjoy the service of Katie Taylor (FCC Baton Rouge) as their first-ever summer intern.  While Jacob and Leah will spend 8 weeks of the summer helping with our regional camping program, Katie will spend 8 weeks working with the children and youth at FCC Sherwood.  Many thanks to FCC Sherwood and Will Feland for being so willing to partner with the region!  Next summer, if your congregation needs to find a summer intern, please contact the Regional Youth Coordinator to see if we can partner in similar ways!! 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!