Across the nation
ALABAMA
Florence
For the 13th year,the Magnolia church had a combined assembly Oct. 16 with the North Wood United Methodist Church.
The Magnolia churchalso met recently with the First Baptist Church of Florence.
Church leaders saidthe joint services are important because the world needs to see Christiansunited.
LOUISIANA
West Monroe
Christians On Call,sponsored by the White’s Ferry Road church, has been organized to provideChristian emotional, mental and spiritual health services in the wake of recenthurricanes.
The goal is toprovide support and assistance to members of churches distressed by thedevastation caused by the hurricanes, program director Kevin Nieman said.
Christians On Callplans to partner with volunteer mental health professionals to deal withspecific crisis situations, Nieman said.
A variety of programsto address needs of church members will be offered, such as crisis recoveryinformation programs, children’s programs, recovery group discussions andpersonal care counseling.
A Web site is underdevelopment at http://www.christiansoncall.org.
OHIO
Conneaut
More than 100 people-— nearly three times the
congregation’saverage Sunday attendance — attended a Christian growth seminar Nov. 6 at theConneaut church.
Abilene ChristianUniversity Bible professor Randy Harris urged church members to not just claimto follow Jesus, but to “live out the story.”
The a cappella groupDeeperStill from the Detroitarea performed.
OKLAHOMA
Tulsa
The Crosstown churchserved as a Red Cross center for evacuees of Hurricane Katrina to receive helpfrom local, state and federal agencies.
About 6,000 evacueeswho came to the church received help from one or more agencies, and 15,000meals were served to evacuees and volunteers, minister Charlie Kymes said.
While the Red Crosspaid for the food, Crosstown members prepared and served it with help fromseveral area congregations, Kymes said.
“Sacrifices were madeby many of our members to help those whose lives have been wrecked by thedevastation of the hurricanes,” Kymes said.
The congregation alsogave nearly $10,000 in a special contribution for Churches of Christ DisasterRelief Effort, based in Nashville, Tenn.
PENNSYLVANIA
Douglasville
Fifty-five peoplewere baptized this year at Camp Manatawny, mainly as aresult of teenage Christians bringing their friends to camp, officials said.
However, a decline indonations attributed to hurricane relief and high gasoline prices have hurt thecamp’s finances, general manager Chip Hartzell said.
The 2005 operatingbudget is more than $125,000 in the red, Hartzell said.
For more information,e-mail Hartzell at [email protected] .
TENNESSEE
Columbia
About 350 seniorcitizens from Tennessee,Kentucky, Alabamaand Mississippiattended the recent “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair” rally at the West Seventh Streetchurch.
Jeremy Butt with the West Seventh Streetchurch said the rally aimed to “revive enthusiam for our senior saints, and tolet them know that they can still be useful in the church.”
Jim Bill McInteerwith 21st Century Christian delivered the keynote sermon at the rally.
Nashville
Churches of ChristDisaster Relief Effort has sent more than $8 million in aid to hurricanevictims in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas and floodingvictims in Vermont, the agency said in mid-November.
More than 150tractor-trailer rigs filled with emergency food, water, cleaning and othersupplies have been sent to 40 distribution centers in the disaster areas,executive director Joe Dudney said. The agency also has supplied new furniture,bedding, beds, appliances and other items.
An average of$750,000 in aid has been shipped each week since hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coastregion starting in late August, Dudney said.
TEXAS
Texarkana
A booth at the recent Four-States Fairgenerated 159 follow-up cards for the Walnut church.
Those included 53requests for home Bible studies, 22 requests for Bible correspondence coursesand 84 requests for free Bibles, said Tommy Gaither, outreach minister.
VIRGINIA
Warrenton
The 5th Quarter, afree gathering for teens sponsored by the Warrenton church, follows the fourthquarter of home football games at Fauquier High School.
Organized by theyouth group of the Warrenton church, 5th Quarter features free food,compliments of the Applebee’s restaurant chain, and a chance to hang out withfriends and listen to a live band on the church property, just north ofWarrenton.
Theevent has attracted up to 200 participants, the Fauquier Times-Democratreported, praising the effort as a nice alternative to teenage drinking anddrug use.
