May 21, 2010

              146^th   Weekly Edition                                     2010  GRR CURRENTS

JOYS AND PRAYER CONCERNS

FCC Meridian, MS.  Rev. Tom Sikes shares a slideshow of SIX baptisms Sunday, May 9^th.   Click here: Smilebox Playback to watch the slideshow, complete with music!

Our brothers and sisters in Nashville need our help.  Disciples Volunteering is working with Week of compassion in a response similar to the Gulf Coast response following Katrina.  Many who have come faithfully to work in the GRR following hurricanes are now devastated by flooding. Churches, homes, and even the Regional Office was a total loss.  Consider taking a work group to Nashville – call Disciples Volunteering – or make a special gift to Week of Compassion designated for Nashville flood relief.

Tina Jones, regional staff, brother (Keith Williams) has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital at UAMS in Little Rock, AR.  He can swallow and move his fingers.  He cannot speak or move any other part of his body.  Your continued prayers are needed.

NEWS and

EVENTS

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.

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

STAFF UPDATES

From Barbara Jones:  Vacation through the 27^th.

From Rick Hamilton:  I will be on vacation until Monday, May 31st.

I have restarted occasional publication to my Blog: grrick.blogspot.com.  The latest post is on requirements for selecting congregational leaders.  I will try to note postings here in the future.

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

      Bentonville First (Associate)

From Michael Elmore:  I will be meeting with the Visioning Team and Preaching at FCC Greater New Orleans this Sunday.

Please be in prayer concerning the oil spill along the Gulf Coast, this has the possibility of being devastating for people in our area and across our Region. 

Search Committees I am currently supporting:

FCC Gulfport, MS

From Vance Moore:   This week I spent time with other GRR staff in formation meetings for Westside Mission Center.  On Sunday I’ll worship with Real Faith Christian Church in Clarksdale and then tour their new facility construction site.  Won’t be long before Real Faith will be celebrating their move to this beautiful house of worship!

Search Committees I am currently supporting:      

       FCC Newport, AR

       Community CC, Hardy, AR

Westside Mission:  Thanks to Keith Strain and the hardy group of volunteers from FCC Crawfordsville, IN for a great week working on Mrs. Banks and Mrs. Gueringer.  Every week we come a little closer!

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)