Showing Jesus: Christians offer physical, spiritual help after historic flooding
WAVERLY, Tenn. — The Waverly Church of Christ’s pews were…
Across the Nation: A centennial celebration, new meaning to ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ and more quick takes
Across the Nation is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ across the U.S. Got an idea for this column? Email Audrey Jackson at [email protected].
Featured image (above): Members of the Benton Church of Christ in Kentucky gather for a group photo after a Sunday service.
The congregation recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and commemorated the occasion by burying a time capsule for future members to dig up in 2072.
The Benton church began in the home of Naaman Duke Sr. and met in public spaces until members were able to afford a building in 1922. The church moved to its current building, pictured above, in 1999.
FLORIDA
VERO BEACH — “Jesus, Take the Wheel” took on a new meaning recently.
A tire came loose from a moving car about a block from the Vero Beach Church of Christ. The tire gained speed as it rolled and hurtled through a fellowship hall window, breaking the glass and disrupting tables and chairs.
The room was not in use at the time, and no one was harmed. Minister Tracy Moore was in the kitchen with two other people at the time and heard the crash.
“I thought part of the ceiling had fallen in,” Moore said. “It was bizarre.”
TENNESSEE
WAVERLY — Church leaders joined with the Waverly community to seek comfort and mourn two teenagers who died by suicide, WTVF-TV in Nashville reported.
Jeff Keele, minister for the Waverly Church of Christ, and Joe Rhodes, minister for the New Johnsonville Church of Christ, gathered with the community to share in the grief and pray.
“We want you kids to know right off the bat, we haven’t been listening, but we’re gonna start,” Rhodes told the crowd at a vigil in early June.
“You’re not alone. You’re valued. There’s someone who loves you. There’s someone who just wants to listen to you. We want to hear you.”
Waverly, a town of 4,300 about 65 miles west of Nashville, has faced its share of turmoil, from the COVID-19 pandemic to a deadly flood that destroyed hundreds of homes, businesses and schools last year.
Related: Showing Jesus: Christians offer physical, spiritual help after historic flooding
Newsmakers:
HIRED: Zachary Green as pulpit minister for the Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ in Pampa, Texas. Noah Icenhour as preaching and teaching minister for the Northeast Church of Christ in Cincinnati. Jeremy Hall as minister for the Bartlett Woods Church of Christ in Arlington, Tenn. Hall previously served as the Bartlett Wood church’s children and family minister. Luke Skelton as the youth and family minister for the Lancaster Church of Christ in Ohio. Carl Dye as pulpit minister for the Bell Avenue Church of Christ in Amarillo, Texas.
RETIRED: James Johnston as preaching minister for the 4th and Vine Church of Christ in Corning, Ark.
Quote of the month
“Directly affected or not, people from all over the United States have come to mourn,” said Joe Perez, Spanish minister for the Getty Street Church of Christ in Uvalde, Texas. “And they shed tears. Even though they knew no one, they still shed tears. And that’s love, it’s the love that Christ put in all of us.”
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