Across the Nation, August 2012

CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO — Two Churches of Christ have merged in an effort to “better reach out to the lost souls in San Francisco,” minister Daniel Hung said.

On a recent Sunday, about 130 worshipers celebrated the merger of the predominantly black Columbia Heights Church of Christ and the predominantly Chinese Westside Church of Christ.

The merged congregation will retain the Columbia Heights name.

“Before the celebration started, 10 young leaders of the church bowed their heads in prayer together before entering the auditorium,” Hung said. “They prayed for wisdom to lead this new congregation.”

GEORGIA

AUGUSTA — Tired, hot,drenched-in-sweat young people from Churches of Christ pressed on with theirgoal of inviting 10,000 people to church, the Augusta Chroniclereported.

More than 100 youths from congregations in Mississippi,Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia knocked doors for up to six hours a day ina campaign dubbed “Magnify Augusta.”

“It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this,”Jeremy Hinote, youth minister for the Central Church of Christ in Augusta, toldthe local newspaper. “We do a lot of missions away. As a church, we go toPanama and other places. This is a way to minister to our own backyard.”

NORCROSS — As a domestic missionaryfor the Peachtree Corners Church of Christ, Terry Davis is reaching out toresidents of a trailer park.

The church is sponsoring a 10-week Vacation Bible Schoolat the trailer park. Dubbed “Camp Outreach,” the VBS runs from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. each day and features a meal, tutoring and activities as well as Biblestudy.

“It’s all outdoors, rain or shine,” Davis said. “Youshould see the tents we operate under the rain.”

 

LOUISIANA

WEST MONROE — Alan Robertson describes himself as a“Jacob in a family of Esaus.”

The clean-shaven minister, whoshared the White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ’s preaching duties with MikeKellett, told the congregation recently that he’s leaving his ministryposition. Robertson will work alongside his long-bearded brothers and father inthe family’s thriving Duck Commanderbusiness — the subject of the successful A&E reality series “Duck Dynasty.”

“I will still remain on as an elder and teach and evenpreach as much as possible,” Robertson told The Christian Chronicle. Hisfather — Duck Commander Phil Robertson — also serves as a White’s Ferry Roadelder.

 

MINNESOTA

DULUTH — After torrential rains caused more than $100million in damages, this flood-ravaged community received a welcome gift.

A tractor-trailer arrived fromNashville, Tenn.-based Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort filled withfood, water and cleaning supplies as well as rakes and shovels, WDIO.comreported.

The East Duluth Church of Christ worked to distributethe items to flood victims. Ron Gerst, the church’s emergency coordinator, saidmany people’s water wells were contaminated.

“They can’t drink (from) their well, so we have 5,000bottles of water to give away,” he told WDIO.com.

 

OKLAHOMA

MANGUM — Todd McRay believes in the POWER of prayer.

McRay, who preaches for the Mangum Church of Christ,leads a prayer ministry called POWER — which stands for Prayers of WorkersEncouraging Results.

A widow who told McRay she wished she could do somethingbut felt impaired by her physical limitations inspired the ministry. Theminister came up with the idea of a group of people like the widow meeting topray.

When the group meets, McRay presents a list of people,including church leaders, who need prayers. He also distributes names ofprospects who might be reached with the Gospel.

 

TEXAS

AMARILLO — Three Churches of Christ came together tohelp the community through “Mission in Amarillo.”

About 60 teens and 20 adults from the Central Church ofChrist in Amarillo, the Church of Christ at the Colonies and the UniversityChurch of Christ in Canyon joined together for three days of service projects,KVII-TV reported.

“As the church, we feel it is our calling to be ofservice for the people around us,” said Matt McMahon, a summer youth ministryintern for the Central church.

The goal, he said, “was to go out and not just say,‘Hey, we care for people in poverty,’ but to actually show them that we’re hereand … we can help.”