In this issue:
WEEK OF COMPASSION CELEBRATES NEW HOMES FOR TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Johnny Wray, director of Week of Compassion, recently joined with tsunami survivors in Southeast Asia to celebrate the completion of 53 new homes and a multipurpose disaster shelter in the village of South Chinnoor, India.
Wray was among a group of local clergy, public officials and partners, including a delegation from Church World Service (CWS) and the Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), who were present at the March 26 celebration.
Church World Service and its U.S. denominational supporters - which include the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - have helped fund CASA's post-tsunami reconstruction and recovery efforts. To read more about the partnership, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/releases2007/07043.html
To learn more about Week of Compassion, visit: www.weekofcompassion.org
ASIAN (KOREAN) CHURCH STUDIES PROGRAM ESTABLISHED AT BRITE
Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University will hold a service to launch the Asian (Korean) Church Studies Program and inaugurate Timothy S. Lee as assistant professor of the history of Christianity on April 10 at Brite Divinity School.
"Lee is one of the foremost leaders of Asian Disciples in North America," said D. Newell Williams, president at Brite. Lee teaches courses in Christian history and Asian/Asian-American Christian history. Brite Divinity School is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
To read more about the establishment of the Asian (Korean) Church Studies Program at Brite and plans to inaugurate Lee, see: www.disciples.org/dns/releases2007/07044.html
EASTER SPECIAL OFFERING SUPPORTS THE WORLDWIDE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
The Easter special offering helps drive mission and ministry throughout the world and allows Disciples to unite in a common witness that demonstrates our church's vision. The offering benefits a number of Disciples General ministries in their work to build networks of love, care and nurture for the human family. Please give generously during the Easter Special Offering, which will be received this Sunday, April 8.
Look for a thank you note in your church bulletin. It will be from someone whose life changed because of your generosity. To learn more about the Easter Special Offering, go to: cfcdnn.onapps.net/2007EasterMaterials/tabid/540/Default.aspx
EMERGING AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS TO ATTEND CONFERENCE
Twenty-five emerging African-American leaders in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will attend the African-American Disciples Leadership Development Conference at Transylvania University July 13 and 14. The emerging leaders, ages 16-20, will be guided in discerning leadership opportunities to which they may be called.
The conference will be led by Timothy M. James, associate general minister and administrative secretary to the National Convocation, William Lee, pastor of Loudon Avenue Christian Church in Roanoke, Va., and 2005-2007 moderator of the of the Christian Church (DOC), and Charisse L. Gillett, program director for the Lilly Project at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky. and 2003-2005 moderator of the church. For additional information, contact Dave Carr, campus minister, at 859-281-3691 or dacarr@transy.edu.
DISCIPLESWORLD MAGAZINE CONTENT GOES ON-LINE
DisciplesWorld has launched a new website that allows its magazine's print content to be available online to subscribers for the first time. DisciplesWorld announced the new service in the April issue as part of its fifth anniversary celebration. The newly revised website will continue to provide daily news updates for free, along with a Bible series and the cover story of the current issue. Readers will need a subscription to the magazine to access the rest of the content that appears in print. To read more about the new changes at DisciplesWorld go to: www.disciples.org/dns/releases2007/07045.pdf (PDF)
FOURTH ANNUAL SPIRIT WALK TO DEMONSTRATE POWER OF PRAYER
Hundreds of Disciples are expected to participate in the 4th Annual Spirit Walk, which will be held at 7 a.m. July 22 during the 2007 General Assembly in Fort Worth, Texas. "It will be a demonstration of the power of prayer!" said Nadine Burton, minister, new church leader development in New Church Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). "It's a celebration to raise prayers, passion and participation in starting new congregations in the United States and Canada."
The walk will flow through the Fort Worth Convention Center, where the Assembly will be held, and culminate with a procession that will lead directly to the youth-led worship service that will take place in the convention center at 9 a.m. The walk is expected to last less than an hour and remain indoors. Back by popular demand, Spirit Walk participants will have the opportunity to compete for the Great Commission Award, which will be given to the church that registers the largest amount of participants. Registration is $25 and participants can register by calling 1-800-274-1883. Proceeds will go toward New Church Ministry.
TRANSYLVANIA CHOIR TO JOIN OTHER COLLEGES FOR TRIBUTE CONCERT
Transylvania University will hold a concert featuring a 200-member choir and orchestras from four colleges. The Transylvania Choir will perform with singers and musicians from Asbury, Berea and Centre colleges on April 14 in Haggin Auditorium at the Mitchell Fine Arts Center at Transylvania, which is located in Lexington, Ky.
The combined college choir and orchestra will perform "A Stravinsky Tribute: Symphony of Psalms." Tickets are $10 and may be purchased by calling the Transylvania box office at 859-233-8601 April 9-13 from 1-3:15 p.m. To find out more about this upcoming musical performance, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/releases2007/07046.pdf (PDF)
CULVER-STOCKTON COLLEGE TO HOST 8th ANNUAL HISTORY COLLOQUIUM
Andrew P. Haley, food historian and assistant professor of cultural history at Southern Mississippi University, will be the plenary speaker for the presentation, which is open to the public. Culver-Stockton College is associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is located in Canton, Mo. For more information on the colloquium, visit:
www.culver.edu/publicrelations/article.asp?id=3001