In this issue:
- Congregations Are Asked To Consider "Stewardship Stimulus Gifts" To The Church
- National Convocation's Biennial Event Will Be This July
- Transylvania Students Advocate For Sudanese Refugee To Remain In This Country
- Pentecost Special Offering Supports New Congregations
- HELM Leadership Fellow Produces "D.o.C. Campus Guide Brochure"
- Early Bird Registration For Pastor's Conference Approaches
- Former Missionary To China And Thailand Dies
- Disciples Of Christ Coffee Project Supports Fair Trade Projects
- Interreligious Group Will Help Repair House Of Worship For Disciples Congregation
- Growing Number Of People Are Seriously Impacted By Fighting In Darfur
CONGREGATIONS ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER "STEWARDSHIP STIMULUS GIFTS" TO THE CHURCH
Economic stimulus checks from the U.S. Government will soon be in the mail for many individuals. Todd Adams, Associate General Minister and Vice President, is encouraging congregations to be creative in thinking about the special opportunities the checks provide to support the Church's overall mission and outreach. In what Adams is calling a "Stewardship Stimulus Package," he gives several ideas that suggest ways church members can use portions of their stimulus checks to not only support their local congregation, but also church-wide initiatives such as the Disciples Mission Fund, the Pentecost Offering and Week of Compassion. To read more, go to: www.disciplesmissionfund.org/Default.aspx?TabID=168
NATIONAL CONVOCATION'S BIENNIAL EVENT WILL BE THIS JULY
 The 20th biennial meeting of the National Convocation will feature outstanding music, dynamic preaching, and opportunities to learn and sharpen your ministry skills. This year's Convocation will take place in Memphis, Tenn., from July 25-28 and will open with a concert from well-known gospel recording artist Kurt Carr.
A pre-convocation institute also will be offered that will provide a range of workshops and forums for clergy, lay and youth. The four-day program also includes preaching by Kenneth Robinson, pastor of St. Andrew African Methodist Episcopal Church in Memphis, as well as several outstanding Disciples pastors.
To register and find out more about the upcoming Convocation, visit: www.disciples.org/convo/biennial.htm
TRANSYLVANIA STUDENTS ADVOCATE FOR SUDANESE REFUGEE TO REMAIN IN THIS COUNTRY
 Lino Nakwa came to this country five years ago as a refugee from Sudan and already has captured the hearts and attention of many, particularly the students at Transylvania University. Nakwa, an honor student at Transylvania, recently learned that he faced possible deportation due to the U.S. government's decision to deny his application for permanent residency status. That's when Transylvania students decided to do their part to help him remain in the United States.
In the midst of preparation for finals, hundreds of Transylvania students took time to make cell phone calls and write letters on Nakwa's behalf. Their efforts, combined with a legal motion from Kentucky Refugee Ministries Attorney Teresa Powell, along with supporting letters from Kentucky legislators and others, led to a decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reopen and reconsider Nakwa's case. To read more about Nakwa's appeal and the efforts of Transylvania students to assist him, go to:
www.transy.edu/news/new_story.htm?id=391&obj=index
PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERING SUPPORTS NEW CONGREGATIONS
 At one point, every congregation was a new church. Since that time, it is likely that thousands of people have had their lives touched by your congregation's programs and ministry. The Pentecost Offering is your opportunity to "pay it forward" by supporting a new congregation. By planting new congregations Disciples establish congregations that also will touch thousands of lives over time. Sixty-five percent of the US population does not live near a Disciples church, and there are many segments of our population that have not had a chance to participate in a Disciples witness. This year's Pentecost Offering will be received in congregations on Sunday, May 4 and Sunday, May 11. For more information on how to support the Disciples New Church movement go to: www.disciplesmissionfund.org/Default.aspx?TabID=112
HELM LEADERSHIP FELLOW PRODUCES "D.o.C. CAMPUS GUIDE BROCHURE"
 Starting your college search? Looking for a school that reflects your Christian values and dedication? Disciples of Christ have lots of colleges across the United States offering various programs, sizes and cost. Now it's easy to see side-by-side comparisons of our colleges with the newly created "D.o.C. Campus Guide Brochure." The brochure was created by Alexis Westerhausen, a freshman biochemistry major at Culver-Stockton College and a HELM Leadership Fellow, to help congregations promote the benefits of Disciples undergraduate institutions with their youth. Visit www.helmdisciples.org to download the brochure or learn more.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FOR PASTOR'S CONFERENCE APPROACHES
 General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins encourages all Disciples clergy to join her in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 8-10 for the Pastor's Conference, which will take place at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest Hotel and Coco Key Water Resort. Attendees will be able to participate in a variety of workshops and panel discussions, as well as hear from Floyd Flake, Pastor of the Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y. and Will Willimon, Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. The conference is being coordinated in conjunction with the Church's 21st Century Vision Team. To take advantage of the early bird registration rate, which expires on May 15, go to: www.disciples.org/watkins/pastorsconference/
The complete schedule for the conference is now posted on the web. To review it visit: www.disciples.org/watkins/pastorsconference/schedule/
FORMER MISSIONARY TO CHINA AND THAILAND DIES
George Cherryhomes, a former missionary, recently died. Cherryhomes, and his wife Margaret, were missionaries to China from 1946-1950 and to Thailand from 1952-1956. In 1945, he married Margaret and the couple began their missionary life the following year in China. Later, they pioneered and shared in building a school in Thailand. He was for many a pastor, a counselor, a mentor and a teacher. The Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries thanks God for the life of service offered by Cherryhomes. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at Central Christian Church in Denver, Colo. To read more, go to: www.globalministries.org/news/losses/death-of-george-cherryhomes.html
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST COFFEE PROJECT SUPPORTS FAIR TRADE PROJECTS
 Who doesn't enjoy coffee, tea, chocolate or a variety of snack foods? But how often do you think of the ways your consumer choices affect the global community?
Disciples Home Missions (DHM) and Week of Compassion invite congregations to support a Disciples project linking our churches with small farmers and their families around the world who provide commodities such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Equal Exchange is a worker-owned cooperative dedicated to Fair Trade. Founded in 1986, the cooperative pioneered a new model of trade built upon fairness and stronger relationships between farmers and consumers.
Much work in this area has already taken place. It's estimated that in 2007, Disciples bought 3,420 pounds of fairly traded coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and snacks. That translates to 1.71 tons! Proceeds from the initiative support a Disciples Hunger Relief and Food Security Fund within Week of Compassion and DHM. To learn more about ways to support the project visit: www.equalexchange.com/doc
INTERRELIGIOUS GROUP WILL HELP REPAIR HOUSE OF WORSHIP FOR DISCIPLES CONGREGATION
Jewish and Muslim leaders will help paint, caulk and repair the exterior of Bethany Christian Church in Austin, Texas, on May 4. The faith leaders are part of an Austin Area Interreligious Ministries (AAIM) program, known as "Hands on Housing." The group has repaired a number of neighborhood homes, but this is the first time that it has tackled repairs on a house of worship. Bethany, an historically African-American congregation, has about 40 members in worship. Those members will hold Sunday School and worship an hour early on that Sunday to allow the congregation to prepare a spaghetti lunch for their guests, as well as work themselves. The partnership between AAIM and Bethany has caught the attention of KLRU, the local public television station in Austin, which will produce a documentary of the occasion.
Members from another Disciples church, Hyde Park Christian, have helped with electrical wiring at Bethany, with one of their team members being 90 years young!
Bethany's pastor, Amy BeVille Elder, shares more details in a letter which can be accessed by going to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08039.html
GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE SERIOUSLY IMPACTED BY FIGHTING IN DARFUR
Week of Compassion reports that a new report to the United Nations Security Council shows a worsening conflict in Darfur and an ever-growing number of people seriously impacted by fighting. More than 2.7 million people have been displaced, and 4.25 million of the country's 6 million people are dependent upon international aid for survival. Some officials now estimate the death toll may be close to 400,000.
Action by Churches Together (ACT) and Caritas International continue to provide basic emergency services to hundreds of thousands of those displaced. Week of Compassion has pledged at least $100,000 on behalf of North American Disciples to support the '08 ACT Darfur appeal of $13.6 million. To read more, go to: www.weekofcompassion.org/pages/updates/apr0824.html
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Editor: Wanda Bryant Wills
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
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