Serving amid the storms
BALTIMORE — "Our city has problems, big ones,” the editorial…
Across the Nation: Discipleship emphasis, disc golf evangelism, 50 years preaching 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)
Students worship at Missouri ministry event emphasizing discipleship: Attendees praise God during the recent Campus Ministry United Workshop hosted by The Crossings Church, a Church of Christ in Wentzville, Mo., near St. Louis.
“Our emphasis this year was focused around the major aspects of discipleship,” said Wes Woodell, the organization’s administrative director.
The three-day workshop drew about 500 participants, Woodell said.
Spotlight
Disc golf tournament sparks ‘unusual outreach’: When an international disc golf tournament recently descended on central Pennsylvania, the Glen Rock Church of Christ decided to reach out to the local volunteers as well as the players.
“It was an unusual outreach for a rural church but resulted in new connections.”
The congregation provided an extra water station with an abundance of fruit during the Professional Disc Golf Association’s amateur world championship.
On two days, the church prepared lunch for the local volunteers.
“It was an unusual outreach for a rural church but resulted in new connections in the local, national and international disc golf community as well as others who were visiting the multi-use local park,” minister Eric Hallett said.
Quick takes
COLORADO
PUEBLO — Three members of the Southwest Church of Christ — Dagne Seegren Billings, Kim Ferris and Keetha Dickerson — sewed 80 pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa.
The women presented the dresses to missionary Nkosi Mpofu and his wife, Katie, who serve in Zimbabwe.
“Sewing these dresses was rewarding,” Billings said. “Each dress had a purse with a leaflet (giving the) steps of salvation and a headband.”
Dagne Seegren Billings presents the dresses to Nkosi, Katie and Tiana Mpofu.
MICHIGAN
WATERFORD — The 350-member Waterford Church of Christ launched Northern Michigan for Christ with a goal of reaching lost souls.
Evangelist Charles Anderson said he and his wife, Michelle, began traveling to the northern areas of Lower Michigan to evangelize about six years ago.
“We saw a hunger for members to be involved in reaching out to the lost but lack of understanding and identifying their role,” Anderson said.
OKLAHOMA
HOBART — “I’m a new man,” Chris Highwalker said after his recent baptism.
The 47-year-old babe in Christ recalls his former life: A gang beat him with baseball bats and left him for dead. His injuries left him wheelchair bound with limited mobility.
Dee Max Corbin, an elder of the Hobart Church of Christ, takes communion every Sunday to a nursing and rehabilitation center.
Chris Highwalker with nurse Waranya Srithanrat and elder Dee Max Corbin.
There Corbin met Highwalker, and the two began a friendship.
Then one Sunday, Highwalker told Corbin that he wanted to be baptized.
“This is an example of how God can work — caring people sharing Jesus,” said Hobart member Judith Krieger, who shared the story.
Joseph H. Brown
VIRGINIA
RICHMOND — Joseph H. Brown has served as minister for the congregation now known as the Church of Christ at Sandy Lane for 50 years.
Brown began preaching in 1955 as a student at the now-defunct Nashville Christian Institute in Tennessee. In 1988 he established Hi-Land Christian Academy, a K-12 school in Richmond.
He and his wife, Phyllis, have three sons.
“We extend true commendations and hearty congratulations to Brother Joseph H. Brown,” the church said in a news release.
Monica Moreno, third from left at the front, poses with her extended family at the Montwood Church of Christ. The picture was taken on Father’s Day.
Quote of the month
““It’s heartbreaking … so hard to believe. I can’t imagine what the families are going through.” — Monica Moreno, Montwood Church of Christ member, on El Paso, Texas, massacre that claimed 22 lives. Read the full story.
