Disciples News Service Release

Title: Thanksgiving programming to feature Disciples relief
ministries
November 12, 1996
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org 

96b-91

     NEW YORK (DNS) -- The role of the religious community
in helping Americans overcome xenophobia (fear of strangers)
and in making the United States more hospitable to
immigrants is the focus of special programming during
Thanksgiving week on the Odyssey cable network.

     More than 10 hours of programming in the "Giving Thanks
for Diversity" theme begins on Sunday, Nov. 25, and
continues through the week. Included in the special emphases
is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) program, "Care
for the World."

     "Care for the World" features the Rev. Johnny Wray,
director of the Disciples' relief and development ministry,
Week of Compassion. The program appears at 6:30 p.m.,
Monday, Nov. 25, on "One in the Spirit," and features images
from Haiti, Rwanda, Kenya and Bosnia.

     Also featured that week are specials such as "The Ties
That Bind," an hour-long documentary that looks at the human
drama behind the current debate over U.S. immigration
policy. Examining issues on both sides of the Texas-Mexico
border, the documentary explores the root causes of the
growing desire to immigrate, recounts the arduous passage
endured by many immigrants, and highlights the values of
family, faith and work that many immigrants bring to the
United States with them.

     "Giving Thanks for Diversity" continues a special
emphasis by the National Council of Churches on "Building
Hospitable Community." 

     Odyssey is a 24-hour network channel that reaches
approximately 27 million households on nearly 1,600 cable
systems and nationwide on Channel 83 of Primestar, a direct-to-home 
satellite service.  

                          - 30 -

Posted: July 16, 2004