Title: Disciples cited for St. Mark's project
Date: June 27, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
97a-40
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The National Council of Churches Burned Churches Fund has honored the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a Presbyterian ministry partner for their roles in rebuilding an African-American church burned by an arsonist.
The Burned Churches ministry of the NCC presented the "Racial Justice Partners in Achievement Award" to the Disciples' Volunteers in Mission ministry and Hosanna Industries Inc. for "creating a 10-day miracle of reconstruction at St. Mark's Missionary Baptist Church in Chelford, Arkansas."
Volunteers in Mission, a ministry of the Disciples' Homeland Ministries division recruited and organized more than 300 volunteer laborers who built a new St. Mark's church building between March 17-26. An arsonist burned down the old church in December 1995. Hosanna Industries, a building ministry related to a Bakerstown, Pa., Presbyterian congregation, created and supervised the detailed work plan for the ten day start-to-finish "blitz build." The 35-member congregation held its first formal service in the new building on Easter morning.
"We were excited and grateful to receive the award for the reconstruction project," said the Rev. Ann Updegraff-Spleth, president, Homeland Ministries. "But the greatest honor of all, was rebuilding a community of faith and their house of worship. We accepted the award on behalf of all Disciples who pounded nails, prayed and contributed resources to the rebuilding of St. Mark's."
Updegraff Spleth and the Rev. Jayna Powell, Volunteers in Mission director, accepted the award at a Washington, D. C., banquet on June 9.
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