Across the nation, December 2009
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The high school class at the Beville Road church wanted to know: “Where do our brothers and sisters live and worship?”
For several months, they posted articles from The Christian Chronicle’s Across the Nation section on a U.S. map and articles from the Around the World section on a world map.
The students soon became aware that they have spiritual family meeting together and studying Scriptures in many places around the globe, church elders Ray Henry and Steve Odu said.
“Their interest in the church grew as they learned about the activities in faraway places,” church member and teacher Brent Buchanan told the Chronicle. “Keep up the good work.”
ALABAMA
BIRMINGHAM — A “For Sale” sign has gone up at the Roebuck Parkway church, which occupies 10 acres overlooking Interstate 59, the Birmingham News reported.
Jerry Jenkins, minister of the church since 1966, said members have been buying homes farther from the city, prompting the planned move.
“We’re hopeful once again we can really begin to grow,” Jenkins, who is known for his weekly sermons and Bible studies on Birmingham television stations, told the newspaper. The congregation has weekly attendance of 600 to 700 a week, down from a high of 700 to 800 a week in the 1990s.
CALIFORNIA
ANDERSON — The Anderson and Palo Cedro churches have merged on the site of the Anderson church and will retain the name “Anderson Church of Christ.”
“These two congregations have been serving in Shasta County since the early 1960s, and both groups are excited about the potential for ministry that exists in the merger,” said Curtis Barbarick, adult education minister.
For more information, see the church Web site at andersonchurchofchrist.org.
COLORADO
DENVER — Nearly 500 church members from 20 congregations in the Colorado Front Range — the region from Colorado Springs to Denver — gathered for a night of song and worship at South High School.
The recent unity event featured a sermon by Matthew Morine, minister of the Castle Rock church, and a joint concert by the Singing Youth of Denver and Legacy, an a cappella group from Lubbock, Texas.
GRAND JUNCTION — With many in the community struggling to make ends meet, the Grand Junction church handed out thousands of free clothes, from men’s shoes to tiny baby socks.
“The people really need the clothes, so we’re happy to help,” minister John Cooper told television station KJCT News 8.
Despite the recession, the church received more than enough donations for its recent giveaway, Cooper said.
FLORIDA
FERNANDINA BEACH — The city will allow the Fernandina Beach church to operate a “cold night shelter” this winter when the temperature drops to 40 degrees or below.
The shelter will be open to the homeless and “anyone who feels their health and safety is at risk due to the cold,” the News-Leader reported.
TENNESSEE
ANTIOCH — If David Vaughn doesn’t take your hand during church services, it’s not because he doesn’t like you. Quite the opposite.
Vaughn, church life minister at the Antioch church, and other members had a longstanding tradition of coming together at the close of service.
The H1N1 virus nixed that, The Tennessean reported.
“It’s because of our church culture, but with all the sickness it was recommended to our leaders that we forgo that for a period of time,” Vaughn told the newspaper.
“With what we know now about H1N1, we know that we made a good decision,” he added.
“It’s not just at church. It’s at work and at schools.”
CHATTANOOGA — Four books have been published in conjunction with the Central church’s centennial.
They are:
• “Central Church of Christ: From a Cent to a Century, a Narrative History 1909-2009,” by Johnny Owens Jr.
• “A Century of Kitchen sCents,” a cookbook with contributed recipes.
• “Central’s Story: A Century, Step by Step,” by John T. Smithson III.
• “Moccasin Tracks: The Story of the Christian Student Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,” by Smithson.
For more information, see the Web site at www.centralcocchattanooga.com.
TEXAS
AUSTIN — At age 90, Bessie Hardin Chenault still teaches a Bible study every Wednesday at the assisted-living center where she resides.
An active member of the Christlife Church of Christ in Austin and a former missionary to South Africa, she is the author of the book “Give Me This Mountain.”
“She has blessed my life and the lives of so many others,” said Barbara Tweed, a friend and fellow member of the Christlife congregation.
VIRGINIA
FAIRFAX — To help busy families, Greg and Kim Harris condense parenting and marriage books into eight-page summaries.
The Harrises are members of the Fairfax church.
The free summaries can be found on their Web site at www.familyintel.com.
For several months, they posted articles from The Christian Chronicle’s Across the Nation section on a U.S. map and articles from the Around the World section on a world map.
The students soon became aware that they have spiritual family meeting together and studying Scriptures in many places around the globe, church elders Ray Henry and Steve Odu said.
“Their interest in the church grew as they learned about the activities in faraway places,” church member and teacher Brent Buchanan told the Chronicle. “Keep up the good work.”
ALABAMA
BIRMINGHAM — A “For Sale” sign has gone up at the Roebuck Parkway church, which occupies 10 acres overlooking Interstate 59, the Birmingham News reported.
Jerry Jenkins, minister of the church since 1966, said members have been buying homes farther from the city, prompting the planned move.
“We’re hopeful once again we can really begin to grow,” Jenkins, who is known for his weekly sermons and Bible studies on Birmingham television stations, told the newspaper. The congregation has weekly attendance of 600 to 700 a week, down from a high of 700 to 800 a week in the 1990s.
CALIFORNIA
ANDERSON — The Anderson and Palo Cedro churches have merged on the site of the Anderson church and will retain the name “Anderson Church of Christ.”
“These two congregations have been serving in Shasta County since the early 1960s, and both groups are excited about the potential for ministry that exists in the merger,” said Curtis Barbarick, adult education minister.
For more information, see the church Web site at andersonchurchofchrist.org.
COLORADO
DENVER — Nearly 500 church members from 20 congregations in the Colorado Front Range — the region from Colorado Springs to Denver — gathered for a night of song and worship at South High School.
The recent unity event featured a sermon by Matthew Morine, minister of the Castle Rock church, and a joint concert by the Singing Youth of Denver and Legacy, an a cappella group from Lubbock, Texas.
GRAND JUNCTION — With many in the community struggling to make ends meet, the Grand Junction church handed out thousands of free clothes, from men’s shoes to tiny baby socks.
“The people really need the clothes, so we’re happy to help,” minister John Cooper told television station KJCT News 8.
Despite the recession, the church received more than enough donations for its recent giveaway, Cooper said.
FLORIDA
FERNANDINA BEACH — The city will allow the Fernandina Beach church to operate a “cold night shelter” this winter when the temperature drops to 40 degrees or below.
The shelter will be open to the homeless and “anyone who feels their health and safety is at risk due to the cold,” the News-Leader reported.
TENNESSEE
ANTIOCH — If David Vaughn doesn’t take your hand during church services, it’s not because he doesn’t like you. Quite the opposite.
Vaughn, church life minister at the Antioch church, and other members had a longstanding tradition of coming together at the close of service.
The H1N1 virus nixed that, The Tennessean reported.
“It’s because of our church culture, but with all the sickness it was recommended to our leaders that we forgo that for a period of time,” Vaughn told the newspaper.
“With what we know now about H1N1, we know that we made a good decision,” he added.
“It’s not just at church. It’s at work and at schools.”
CHATTANOOGA — Four books have been published in conjunction with the Central church’s centennial.
They are:
• “Central Church of Christ: From a Cent to a Century, a Narrative History 1909-2009,” by Johnny Owens Jr.
• “A Century of Kitchen sCents,” a cookbook with contributed recipes.
• “Central’s Story: A Century, Step by Step,” by John T. Smithson III.
• “Moccasin Tracks: The Story of the Christian Student Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,” by Smithson.
For more information, see the Web site at www.centralcocchattanooga.com.
TEXAS
AUSTIN — At age 90, Bessie Hardin Chenault still teaches a Bible study every Wednesday at the assisted-living center where she resides.
An active member of the Christlife Church of Christ in Austin and a former missionary to South Africa, she is the author of the book “Give Me This Mountain.”
“She has blessed my life and the lives of so many others,” said Barbara Tweed, a friend and fellow member of the Christlife congregation.
VIRGINIA
FAIRFAX — To help busy families, Greg and Kim Harris condense parenting and marriage books into eight-page summaries.
The Harrises are members of the Fairfax church.
The free summaries can be found on their Web site at www.familyintel.com.
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