Across the Nation: A chaplain’s commissioning, a bus to serve homeless and more quick takes
Across the Nation is our monthly rundown of news briefs,…
Across the Nation: Unity in Detroit, ‘Lamp Lighters’ in Washington state 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 Bobby Ross Jr. at [email protected].
Featured photo (above)
More than 200 Detroit-area Christians stress unity at annual God’s Family Conference: Roger Woods, minister and elder of the Walled Lake Church of Christ in Michigan, leads singing at the recent God’s Family Conference hosted by the Oakland Church of Christ in Southfield, Mich., near Detroit.
Related: No more ‘us and them’
More than 200 Christians attended the annual conference and related God’s Family Banquet, Oakland minister Edward Cribbs said.
Attendees remembered the late James E. Thompson, who served 50 years as senior minister for the North Broadway Church of Christ in Mt. Clemens, Mich. Thompson died Oct. 6 at age 79.
Spotlight
‘Lamp Lighters’: The Springbrook Church of Christ in Kent, Wash., works to equip young families for raising God-loving children.
Boys and girls are urged to develop their gifts through Leadership Training for Christ Northwest, which features an annual convention hosted by the Richland Church of Christ.
In addition, a “Lamp Lighters” workbook authored by member Thomas Morse is given to parents as a guide for nightly devotionals.
Children gather at the Springbrook Church of Christ in Kent, Wash., front of the auditorium to practice what they’ve learned.
Quick takes
CALIFORNIA
REDLANDS — Members of the Redlands Church of Christ have voted 70-5 to merge with Eastland Christian Church of Anaheim.
Redlands minister and elder Steve Kay said the decision came after a year of prayer, study and strategizing about declining membership. Congregation leaders determined that no a cappella Church of Christ is growing in Southern California, Kay said.
“We do it very well here at Redlands,” he said, “but visitors just don’t want it.”
The congregation will become the fifth campus of Eastland Christian Church, which plans to spend $1.1 million renovating the Redlands facilities.
“Eastside is a dynamic and energetic church, reaching the lost and especially reaching the youth,” Kay said, “and we realize that we cannot sacrifice another generation of young people just so we can have a worship service that suits us.”
NEW YORK
LIVERPOOL — The Wetzel Road Church of Christ is launching Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls groups for its children.
Related: Boy Scouts’ gay-friendly policies draw mixed responses
The groups were created by former leaders of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts “who broke from those organizations when the spiritual commitments of those organizations began to change,” elder and minister David Owens said.
“We will be the first in central New York to offer these programs,” Owens added.
NORTH DAKOTA
BISMARCK — The Bismarck Church of Christ hosted the recent Bismarck Missions Workshop.
Sixty-four leaders from 21 congregations attended the annual workshop, which the Bismarck church has hosted since 1967.
Related: Sparse numbers, strong faith in North Dakota
“Churches of Christ across the northern Plains face a number of challenges, but isolation is one of the biggest,” said Scott Laird, minister of the Great Falls Church of Christ in Montana. “This workshop provides an opportunity for leaders who share the struggles of the North to come together and encourage each other in the work of the Gospel.”
Dude Eggar, Christine Eggar, Shawn Eggar and Jeremiah Eggar from Wolf Point, Mont., at the Bismarck Missions Workshop.
Participants came from Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota as well as the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
TENNESSEE
GATLINBURG — The Gatlinburg Church of Christ is making progress on replacing its building, which was destroyed in the November 2016 wildfire that claimed 14 lives.
Related: Wildfire destroyed their building, but not their spirit
Construction is ongoing, and the church hopes to complete its new building by the spring, minister Roger Comstock said.
“The new building is located at the site of the old building,” Comstock said. For now, the congregation is meeting in a temporary location. For updates, see the church website.
Carey Dean Moore wrote a letter to prison minister Bill Hance one day before Moore’s execution.
Quote of the month
“Have I been executed? Oh, I pray I have, brother in Christ!” — Carey Dean Moore, death row inmate in Nebraska, in letter written before his sentence was carried out. Read the full story.
View Comments
