Across the nation: A portrait of community outreach
ALABAMA
MONTGOMERY
Want to connect youngpeople to Christ? Try reaching them online. The Vaughn Park church is among agrowing number of congregations nationwide using the Internet as an outreachtool.
The congregation’srefuelministries.org site includes a weekly poll question, a listing of eventsand pictures, along with a message board and prayer requests.
“We see it as an easyavenue to reach out to the youth,” Vaughn Park youth minister Jamin Mills toldthe Montgomery Advertiser.
FLORIDA
LAKE BUTLER
When seven childrenwere killed in a fiery crash Jan. 25, Lake Butlerminister Scott Fisher helped the family deal with the media and preached thefuneral for some of the victims.
Numerouscongregations contacted Fisher after seeing national news reports about thetragedy.
“We heard from a church of Christ from every state and missionariesfrom overseas,” Fisher told the Chronicle.He said the victims’ relatives and the church were “so thankful for thosefolks” who offered help.
GEORGIA
DALTON
The GospelBroadcasting Network — a 24-hour satellite network — began broadcastingrecently.
The network isavailable on a handful of cable systems and obtainable by private large dishreceivers or small dishes fixed on the network coordinates.
Overseen by theHighland church, the network raised $1 million in start-up costs, executivedirector Barry Gilreath told the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times Free Press.For more information, see www.gbntv.org.
ILLINOIS
CHANNAHON
Twenty-two men fromfive congregations attended a recent leadership conference hosted by theRolling Acres church.
Speakers includedSouth Holland minister Peter Bumpass, Schaumburgminister Glenn Jobe, Sunset International Bible Institute graduate Terryl Brownand Rolling Acres minister Jim Winne.
“All instructors wereso well prepared,” organizer Tony Centracchio said. “We are so thankful fortheir desire to lead.”
MICHIGAN
ROCHESTER HILLS
The recent GreatLakes Bible Bowl drew about 300 students to two locations, Bible Bowl chairmanGreg Campbell said.
“The most intenseBible study our kids get is when they are preparing for Bible Bowl,” Campbellsaid.
MISSISSIPPI
TIPLERSVILLE
Folding chairs helpedaccommodate all 207 people at the Tiplersville church’s recent 100thanniversary celebration.
Evangelist GarryMartin and elders Donnie Greene and James H. Rutledge serve the 60-membercongregation.
Allen Webster, thechurch’s minister from 1989 to 1995, and J.A. Thornton, whose family helpedfound the congregation, spoke.
NEW JERSEY
SEWELL
The Pitman church,which has tripled in size to about 300 members since 1985, recently bought a7.5-acre site.
The congregation isreviewing engineering and architectural firms as it prepares to build anauditorium and classrooms to serve up to 500. “Our people’s faith andgenerosity have been so encouraging,” minister Dan Cooper said.
TENNESSEE
MEMPHIS
The Sycamore Viewchurch opened a new Christian counseling center Jan. 26.
Located inneighboring Bartlett, the center offers marriage, family and individualcounseling, family life minister Keith Fussell said. Staff members are TammieHacker, Leanne Braddock, Kristen Thomas and Fussell.
TEXAS
GARLAND
The Saturn Roadchurch welcomed 1,600 worshippers from 42 area congregations to a recent jointworship service.
Minister’s wifeAndrea Wrape described the service as “a powerful evening of a cappellapraise.”
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
More than 1,500members and guests attended a recent dinner celebration marking the RichlandHills church’s 50th anniversary.
Walter Burch, thecongregation’s first pulpit minister, talked about the church’s start and itsgrowth.
“It was a really nicetime for our members who were here in the early time,” said Linda Terrett, aRichland Hills staff member. “It meant a lot to see friends they hadn’t seen inrecent years.”
SUGAR LAND
About 550 girls from35 churches came from all over Texas for the recent “Girls Reflecting God’sGlory” conference sponsored by the First Colony church. The event focused onthe theme “I Want to be a Star,” taken from Philippians 2:15-17.
“We made Fridayreally fun. We had a red carpet, with paparazzi taking pictures, and a bigspotlight,” said Jennifer Cooke, the First Colony youth minister for females.“From the moment they arrived, we wanted them to feel special, as though theywere celebrities.”
