Tears at a military church
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Fifty years after preaching his first sermon,…
Across the Nation: Congregational anniversaries, ‘Boxes for Vets’ 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): Nearly 1,100 current and former members of the Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma pray during a Nov. 6 assembly marking the congregation’s 100th anniversary. Preaching minister Randy Roper’s sermon focused on the “Deep Roots, Wide Reach” of the church north of Oklahoma City.
Executive minister Kent Risley announced the congregation’s latest plan to serve its community: construction of a $1.6 million gathering place with amenities including a walking trail with a meditation station and a pavilion with an amphitheater.
Former Edmond ministers David Duncan, Alan Martin, Jake Perkins and Bob Young taught special adult Bible classes.
KENTUCKY
LOUISVILLE — The Midwest Church of Christ encouraged its neighbors to take care of their physical wellness by hosting an annual health screening day.
In one group, Christians and community members gathered recently in the church’s gym to focus on various types of wellness. Women and children carried hula hoops to participate in a free physical fitness class. In another, visitors enjoyed healthy food while learning about nutrition.
Related: Tears at a military church
Booths on health education lined the walls of the room.
Healthcare providers also transformed classrooms into vaccine and cholesterol testing clinics. Outside, the Norton Mobile Unit offered free mammograms to women over 40 years old.
The following Sunday the church addressed spiritual health — while wearing pink to raise awareness about breast cancer.
OHIO
ALBANY — The Airline Church of Christ is serving those who have served. Members recently sponsored “Boxes for Vets,” which is an outreach that encourages veterans in long-term care facilities at the Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The Airline congregation has worked with organizations to provide care packages for four units at the hospital, the Athens Messenger reported. The care packages contain items ranging from personal hygiene to puzzles and books.
Veterans in attendance at the Airline church were also honored during a recent Sunday morning service. They received gifts from the congregation afterward.
TEXAS
TEXARKANA — Two Texas congregations recently worked together to pack over 200 boxes of food for their community.
Participants pray during the West Texas Rally for Christians Against Hate.
The Walnut Church of Christ and the Westside Church of Christ jointly hosted the distribution at the Westside building. Packages with cans of vegetables, meat, rice, pasta and other nonperishable food items were made available to the community at no charge.
The Westside church’s food pantry ministry began over 20 years ago to meet the needs of families in Texarkana. The congregation also boxes and distributes food monthly.
ABILENE — Participants prayed during the West Texas Rally for Christians Against Hate, organized by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action at Abilene Christian University. The Oct. 15 rally occurred at the base of the Tower of Light at ACU’s Beauchamp Amphitheatre.
WEST VIRGINIA
The Duhring Church of Christ building.
ROCK — The Duhring Church of Christ celebrated its 154th homecoming recently with a special Sunday service and a fellowship dinner for the members.
“Tomorrow is our 154-year homecoming for a church that’s had many great worship services, many great people that have walked through these doors and wonderful fellowship,” the church shared on its Facebook page.
Founded in the 1800s, the Duhring church survived the collapse of its building in an early 1900s storm before being repaired and moved to its current location by horses and wagons, according to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
TENNESSEE
HENDERSON — Freed-Hardeman University renovated the Laurel Cottage Hospitality House — named in honor of Laurel Sewell, who served as first lady from 1990 to 2008 — to host parents, alumni and other campus visitors.
NEWSMAKERS
HIRED: Andrew Beasley as pulpit minister for the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, N.C. Jonathan Godsey as minister for the Amory Church of Christ in Mississippi. Michael Jacobs as preacher for the Palm Desert Church of Christ in Bermuda Dunes, Calif. David Dixon as preaching minister for the Central Church of Christ in Saraland, Ala.
APPOINTED: Gary Bryen and Taylor Cave as elders and Jacob Bautista, David Clevenger and Marland Taylor as deacons of the South Walker Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. Andrea Morris as assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives at Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
HONORED: Mary Stephens of Canyon, Texas, by Let’s Start Talking with the Woodward Heart of the Servant Award. Tim and Rebecca Talley with the 2022 Crystal Globe Award for distinguished service in world missions from Mission Resource Network.
