The Great River Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

April 16, 2010

Click here to see 'AROUND THE REGION'

141^st Weekly Edition 2010 GRR CURRENTS

JOYS and PRAYER CONCERNS

Prayers surround Rev. Gil Hogue, life long Arkansas Disciple minister who's wife Judy passed away Tuesday April 12. Gil returned to Arkansas and her funeral was held this past weekend at Weiner. Click here to read her obituary.

Regional income from Disciples Mission Fund is the lowest this month I've ever known it to be. Would you check with your congregations to see if things are on schedule, if this is a blip in the radar, or if it's a sign that changes in past giving have been made that we need to know about? Thanks so much! Remember that we "feel the impact" of what congregations give, as do the general ministries and theological institutions, two weeks after the month ends, so it's an immediate impact -- good or bad! Blessings, Barb

NEWS and

EVENTS

The Disciples Women Spring workshop schedule is as follows:

Covenant CC, Byram, MS - April 24th

Broadmoor CC, Shreveport, LA - May 1st

First CC, Little Rock, AR - May 15th

Highland CC, Bella Vista, AR - May 22nd

Make plans now to attend a spring workshop near you!

Learn Spanish. In conjunction with the Opportunity Center (a part of the Hispanic Apostolate of the Episcopal Diocese), we are ready to offer a ten-week introductory course in Spanish geared toward outreach to the growing Spanish-speaking community, beginning April 20. Attached is a tentative curriculum.
The class will be taught by two men, Henri and Gerardo, who are native Spanish speakers working in New Orleans. They participate in the ESL classes at the Opportunity Center. Jaime McDaniel, who directs the ESL outreach, will work with them as they teach us. Other students from the intermediate ESL program may also assist.
The cost is $50, plus a textbook (probably about $20 more). Claire Brooks, Pastor, Chinese Presbyterian Church. If you have questions give me a call. Cell is 504-481-4281 and home phone is 862-5263.

Greetings from the Young Adult Commission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)!
We are excited to announce that this fall the Young Adults of our denomination will be gathering together for the first ever Disciples Young Adult Conference. Our theme will be "Recharting Our Faith" and we will be looking at ways in which the church is trying to navigate the current culture using outdated maps, and how we as Young Adults in the church can work to change this and make our church a relevant agent of the Gospel in today's world. Our speakers will be some of the editors of the new WTF: Where's the Faith? book series for Young Adults published by Chalice Press - Christian Piatt, Jose Morales, Lara Blackwood Pickrel, and Heather Godsey. They will cover topics ranging from culture and politics to racism to sexuality, all in a manner to promote discussion and sharing among all of the Young Adults across our denomination. This will all take place in a setting that can't help but call to mind the prevailing currents of today's Young Adult culture - Las Vegas, Nevada - "The Capitol of Second Chances."
It is our hope that you will pass this information along to any Young Adult ministries in your region and assist us in getting the word out about this first ever event. Registration and more information will soon be available on our website: http://www.docya.org. It would also help us if you could send us contact information of Young Adult leaders in your region so that we can get in touch with them directly.
If you have any questions we can help you with, please don't hesitate to contact us, or you can connect with us via the Facebook Group "Disciples Young Adults".

The Association of Disciples Intentional Interim Ministers will be hosting The Intentional Interim Minister training the week of September 20th - September 24th at Christmount Christian Assembly. This training is being provided by the Interim Ministry Network, Inc. (www.imnedu.org) utilizing two Disciples trainers and is for those who have already completed the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry training or its equivalent. Applicants must also apply through the IMN prior to attending. The registration cost, at a significant discount, includes lodging, meals and training fees and will be $1000 for ADIIM members and $1100 for Non-Members. (A $100 deposit will be requested to hold your place.) There are grants for up to $1000 available for Disciples Ordained Ministers through DHM.

For more information please contact James Cotten at pastorjamesc@gmail.com. To request an application packet please call the Ozarks Lakes Area Office at 417.865.0850

Global Ministries hosts a variety of webinars with mission updates.
To see a schedule of all upcoming Global Ministries Mission Live webinars
Click here:http://globalministries.org/news/webinars/mission-live-global.html

THE PARISH PAPER

From Herb Miller: Your congregations can now download several dozen free resources from the www.TheParishPaper.com Web site.

Want to check your congregation’s giving? Disciples Mission Fund has a new look online! The link below will take you to Disciples Mission Fund's website to view Comparative reports of offerings. www.disciplesmissionfund.org.

Foundations Course for Ministry Next Series Getting Ready for May/June Kickoff

Over 40 participants from 7 states have gone through this course that provides a picture of what is needed to serve a congregation. Of those who have gone through the course, 43% have been licensed ministers, 11% have been children’s/youth/music staff persons, 30% have been lay leaders of congregations and 16% have been those trying to decide if God is calling them into church work. The Foundations Course looks at 24 areas of ministry and takes place over 14 weeks and is a combination of weekly online webinars (1¼ hours each topic) and two Saturday events. It can be taken anywhere you have a high speed internet connection. If you have to miss a live presentation or want to rehear a session then recordings are provided. Topics covered include:

Bible Introduction, New Testament Introduction, Old Testament Introduction, Spiritual Disciplines, Connecting People to God, Ethics, Administration, Conflict, Worship, Stewardship, Group Dynamics, Counseling, Communication Skills, Introduction to Theology, Preaching/Teaching, Learning Methods, Church History, Disciples of Christ Basics, Pastoral Care, Goal Setting/Evaluating, Relationships, Wedding/Funeral & Special Services.

The Foundations Course is taught by Rev. Stephen Wallace and Dr. Julie Wallace (licensed psychologist and Pastor of FCC, Sherwood, Arkansas). Cost for the complete course is $395. The next series will begin in May or June and you can sign up or find out more by emailing Rev. Stephen Wallace at swallacegs@aol.com or calling (501) 217-9129. Some Scholarship funds may be available for those qualifying. Find out more about us at: www.wallaceresources.us.

Some of the comments from participants are:

*“These classes have been very helpful to me. I would recommend anyone considering the ministry to participate.” Pam Decker, FCC Newport, AR

*“These classes are really very well taught and explained.” Marilou Coins, FCC Sherwood, AR

*“In the past I have doubted my ability to lead and these classes are helping me.” Aaron Dummer, FCC, Junction City, Oregon

*“I can’t express, words can’t express, the gratitude that I have for the class you have helped me through and given me a little more understanding of the things of God…I thank you for helping me to grow in my spiritual life …we appreciate you and will be praying for you. God bless you.” Eddie Wyatt, Real Faith CC, Clarksdale, Ms

*“I really enjoyed all of the classes. The presentation of the material was excellent. I can not wait till you are ready for the next set. Thanks for the life skills.” Jeremy Kuntz, FCC, Nampa, ID

*“The material was very helpful it let you know right where you are in ministry as well as to appreciate your ministry or make needed improvement if necessary.” “This is a very good course for all ministry leaders and laymen or anyone in ministry.” Willie Turner, Real Faith CC, Clarksdale, Ms

Quadrennial Assembly Pre-Event Opportunities.

Wish someone would explain what the Disciples Mission Fund is and how it works? Want to become a Ministry and Mission Interpreter (MMI) for the church? Love to get your hands involved in mission and see tangible results?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you won’t want to miss the Quadrennial Assembly pre-events. Special note: Because these events are expected to fill up quickly, you MUST be signed up for these trainings by April 15, whether you have already registered for QA by then or not. Read on for more information and instructions on how to be sure you’re not left out.

Available Now from Chalice Press: A Travel Guide to Christian Faith (by Dawn Weaks) has three components. The Before You Go booklet gives first-time seekers an easy-to-understand synopsis of the Christian faith. If they wish to learn more, the Traveler's Edition serves as a student workbook, while the Tour Leader is for the instructor.
This group package offers a 25% discount off the regular full price, and includes:

·one (1) copy of the Tour Leader

·ten (10) copies of the Traveler's Edition

·ten (10) copies of the Before You Go

To order, call 1-800-366-3383 or click here: A Travel Guide to Christian Faith Group Package.

Disciples' Bicentennial History Book and Workshops. There are less than two months left during the Disciples’ Bicentennial Anniversary! We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the publication of The Disciples: A Struggle for Reformation, our bicentennial history (2009) authored by D. Duane Cummins. It is the successor to Journey in Faith, written by McAllister & Tucker in 1972. The reviews for Cummins' new volume are highly favorable, strong and solid.
To view more information about Dr. Cummins’ new book, follow your browser to
http://www.chalicepress.com/The-Disciples-Deluxe-Edition-Leather-Hardcover-P169.aspx.
The Disciples: A Struggle for Reformation is available in a leather hardcover edition and paperback.

cumminsdd@gmail.com, 255 Sears Lane, Swanton, Maryland 21561, 301-387-8088.

FREE DEMOGRAPHIC UPDATES ARE READY! We know it's possible, with everything going on at the beginning of a new year, you may have forgotten Percept's Annual Data Update! But, for us, it's a big production. We regenerate tens of thousands of custom studies and demographic reports, then store them on our servers so that when you want the latest data for your ministry area, all you have to do is click. You can sign on to Link2Lead and, within a minute, get the latest FirstView or 10 Facts report instantly, for your county, ZIP Code, or a radius around your church.

Go to www.link2lead.com and provide some simple sign in information. In minutes you will know more about the community you are called to serve than you did before. Link2lead data will tell you about the age, income, spiritual priorities, church going habits, and more in YOUR ZIP code. Or, the region can help you generate a custom report. The fees are prepaid through a partnership with the region and Church Extension.

Study Leave Program.
       Study Leave for Ministry Professionals at Duke Divinity School is for Christian institutional leaders and pastors of all traditions who want to spend a week immersed in learning and renewal through self-directed study, worship and prayer on the Duke University campus. While on campus, study leave participants have full access to university libraries, community worship and lectures. Special arrangements can be made for participants to audit courses or meet privately with Divinity School faculty.
       Study Leave is open to ministry professionals of all Christian traditions and communions, including Christian institutional leaders, pastors, educators, musicians, deacons, elders, lay professionals, parish nurses, program directors and youth leaders. The program is offered multiple terms each year. Tuition for Study Leave is $650 for the 2010 fall and 2011 winter/spring terms.
       Tuition for the week includes: accommodations for four nights, a meal allowance, access to the campus gym, parking on campus, a temporary university library membership. Please click the link below for more information and online registration.
http://faithandleadership.com/programs-training/for-organizational-leaders/study-leave-for-ministry-professionals

The Christian Church Michigan Region is continuing its search campaign for its next regional minister. You can send a quick e-mail to our search committee chair at the following e-mail address: Miregionsearch@hotmail.com. Anyone who has interest in the Michigan region can download pertinent regional documents from the Michigan region website: michigandisciples.org. We are looking for a candidate with pastoral, relational, and administrative abilities who has done on-going training in leadership and conflict mediation, someone who has experience with regional work and/or General Board and denominational issues, someone who leadership style is transparent, collaborative, and clear, who holds people accountable, who works within existing structures and who can move the region forward, without dwelling on the past. We are looking for someone who can do necessary repair work, and who sets good boundaries. Thank you for your help and for your ministry. May God bless you in all that you for the Church. Rev. Richard H. Boyd, Chair, Regional Minister Search Committee, Michigan Region. Pastor, FCC Lansing, Michigan.

ATTENTION GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: Click here for an exciting Leadership Fellows program exclusively for Disciples of Christ students!

Deadline to apply is April 30, 2010

STAFF UPDATES

From Barbara Jones: Having finished the College of Regional Ministers, we are half way through General Board. Donna Rountree is our regionally selected representative, and I discovered on arrival that Ely Bulness, of King Highway Christian Church, is a General Assembly elected General Board member. This Sunday the 25th I will celebrate the covenant of call of Lewis Godby with First Christian, Mountain Home!

From Rick Hamilton: This weekend I will be preaching at Parkview CC in Little Rock, then I will be working with several churches on follow up from New Beginnings.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

Bentonville First (Associate)

From Michael Elmore: We had an excellent Ministers' Spiritual Life Retreat this week. Fr. Paul Patin, S.J. led us as we looked at St. Ignatius' rules for discernment. We also had time for personal reflection/rest, Rev. Donald Dick fed us a wonderful dinner one night at his church FCC McComb, and we had time to share with each other. The Sisters at St. Mary of the Pines were great hosts and the weather was wonderful. See ‘Around the Region’ page for pictures.

I will be worshiping this week at FCC Lafayette.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

FCC Lake Charles, LA

FCC Gulfport, MS

From Vance Moore: This past Saturday we participated in daylong events in Jonesboro. The whole day was about “critical presence” and outreach. Lots of discussion about how we can grow our churches and live out God’s call to “love one another”. Watch for this meeting/event in your local church. If you would like to schedule a time when we can come and share about growth, love and service get in touch with us; we’d love the opportunity to come and share with you.

On Sunday Pastor Debra Matthews was installed as the pastor of Highland Drive Christian Church in Jonesboro. Many of Pastor Debra’s “home church” folks and family from Huntsville, AL made the trip over for this wonderful service. Welcome Pastor Debra. We pray God’s blessings on your ministry and the ministry of Highland Drive.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

FCC Newport, AR

Community CC, Hardy, AR

Westside Mission: This week we hosted a group from Groce United Methodist Church from Asheville, NC. They worked hard hanging sheetrock in the Gloria Vincent home in the lower 9^th ward and cleaning up and prep work on the Rose Gueringer home in Gentilly. Thanks folks for a great week!

WHERE DID YOU SEE GOD TODAY?

From Sara Rozzell: Registration and counselor forms can be viewed and printed on the youth page at www.grrcc.org .

2010 Summer Camp Dates:

June   4-6      Family Camp at Camp Roosevelt (contact bjones@grrcc.org)
June 13-19    CYF
June 19-20    Discovery
June 20-23    JYF
June 23-27    Chi-Rho

July 4-10 FISSH (finished 9^th grade only)

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April 16, 2010