Across the nation – January 2007
ALABAMA
BIRMINGHAM
For Homewood High School senior trumpet player Ameet Bosmia, marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade was a big deal.
But the support he received from his band family after he was diagnosed with epilepsy was even bigger, The Birmingham News reported.
Lauren Nowak, Bosmia’s friend and head drum major, invited him to her church, the Palisades Church of Christ.
“I converted and was baptized,” Bosmia told the newspaper. “That was a fundamental impact on making it through, as was the support of my band family.”
ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH
Got car trouble? Perhaps the West-Ark church’s monthly Car Clinic can help.
Clinic volunteers Jack Lowry, Marvin Hughes and Mike Burkett meet in the church parking lot the first Saturday each month to offer their services to those in need.
The team changes oil, rotates tires, replaces spark plugs and checks fluid levels and air pressure in the tires.
“Anything we can do, we’re always there,” Lowry told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “It makes all of us feel good inside to know we can help.”
West-Ark minister Chris Benjamin told the newspaper: “What I love about Car Clinic is it shows that everything can be a ministry, that every good work can be a ministry.”
GEORGIA
ELBERT COUNTY
North Georgia Christian Family Services Inc., a ministry associated with Churches of Christ, has purchased 105 acres in northeastern Georgia to build homes for foster children.
“We’ve had some obstacles in raising the money for the first house but a lot of success in dealing with the state and local agencies to have our plans approved,” said Pam Baggott, administrative director.
Most churches in the area “are very small but supportive of this effort,” Baggott said. For more information, see www.fallingcreekranch.org.
IOWA
KIRKMAN
For several years, the Daringer family — faithful members of the rural Redline church — would drive their tractors to worship, just for fun.
The elders liked the idea, so they invited everyone to join in a “Celebration of Blessings” and bring their tractors to church, said Gary Jorgensen, an elder at the nearby Harlan church who participated in the event.
A long procession of tractors followed by hay racks traveled to a local state park recently for a potluck picnic. Church leaders said the event was one way to keep small country churches active, interesting and reaching out to others.
MISSISSIPPI
OCEAN SPRINGS
The Ocean Springs church has started the Gulf Coast Single Parent Network as a community outreach.
“Countless single parents perform heroically every day with little to no help,” minister Al Sturgeon said.
“Parenting is difficult when there are two parents around, so I’m convinced that single parents have the toughest job in the world.”
Eleven single-parent families participated in the network’s first event, which featured the theme “Help! I’m Stressed!”
OHIO
HEATH
Members of the Southgate church haven’t forgotten the rebuilding needs of the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. More than 40 members have made a half-dozen trips to help “muck out” homes that were under 4 to 8 feet of water, the Newark Advocate reported.
“Everyone down there tells us that nothing would be done without faith-based volunteers,” member Bill Donegan told the newspaper. “But out of all this mess, God’s love is still evident with the outpouring of volunteers.”
OKLAHOMA
LAWTON
The Northwest church offers the “Safety Chain” as an easy way to organize Scriptures and teach loved ones the gospel. The congregation has developed a CD with appropriate verses, questions to mark in one’s Bible and teaching tips gained from experience, deacon Gerry Armstrong said.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every member of the Lord’s church had an easy way to teach the gospel plan of salvation?” Armstrong said. For details, call or see www.nwcoclawton.com.
WILBURTON
After a split about 20 years ago, the Park Road and Wilburton congregations met Dec. 3 for a fellowship meal and Sunday evening services.
They plan another joint service and meal in January, said Scott Elliott, preaching minister for the Wilburton church.
“Many people believe this will lead to the congregations being united once again,” Elliott said.
Frank Wilson is the preaching minister at the Park Road church.
TEXAS
GARLAND
Five more baptisms on Dec. 10 pushed the Saturn Road church’s 2006 total to 182, a record for the congregation.
Senior minister John Scott said the church expects multiple baptisms each Sunday and usually is not disappointed.
“The vast majority (of those being baptized) are adults who are coming from a local drug rehab center,” Scott said. “It’s quite a ministry for a very conservative, mainstream, suburban congregation,” he added. “I have seen our folks at their best in dealing with all the heartache and trauma that these new converts bring with them.”
Most of these converts only remain at the Saturn Road church for four to six weeks before returning to their homes throughout the Southwest, Scott said.
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
The Richland Hills church has given or pledged more than $1.3 million to world evangelism through its recent “Harvest Sunday 2007” campaign, church leaders report. Missionaries, church plants, the Let’s Start Talking ministry and World Bible School are among the beneficiaries.
MILESTONES
JANUARY
28 Jersey Village Church of Christ, Houston. 50th Anniversary. Call or see www.jvchurchofchrist.org.
28 Church of Christ, Orangevale, Calif. 50th Anniversary. Call.
BIRMINGHAM
For Homewood High School senior trumpet player Ameet Bosmia, marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade was a big deal.
But the support he received from his band family after he was diagnosed with epilepsy was even bigger, The Birmingham News reported.
Lauren Nowak, Bosmia’s friend and head drum major, invited him to her church, the Palisades Church of Christ.
“I converted and was baptized,” Bosmia told the newspaper. “That was a fundamental impact on making it through, as was the support of my band family.”
ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH
Got car trouble? Perhaps the West-Ark church’s monthly Car Clinic can help.
Clinic volunteers Jack Lowry, Marvin Hughes and Mike Burkett meet in the church parking lot the first Saturday each month to offer their services to those in need.
The team changes oil, rotates tires, replaces spark plugs and checks fluid levels and air pressure in the tires.
“Anything we can do, we’re always there,” Lowry told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “It makes all of us feel good inside to know we can help.”
West-Ark minister Chris Benjamin told the newspaper: “What I love about Car Clinic is it shows that everything can be a ministry, that every good work can be a ministry.”
GEORGIA
ELBERT COUNTY
North Georgia Christian Family Services Inc., a ministry associated with Churches of Christ, has purchased 105 acres in northeastern Georgia to build homes for foster children.
“We’ve had some obstacles in raising the money for the first house but a lot of success in dealing with the state and local agencies to have our plans approved,” said Pam Baggott, administrative director.
Most churches in the area “are very small but supportive of this effort,” Baggott said. For more information, see www.fallingcreekranch.org.
IOWA
KIRKMAN
For several years, the Daringer family — faithful members of the rural Redline church — would drive their tractors to worship, just for fun.
The elders liked the idea, so they invited everyone to join in a “Celebration of Blessings” and bring their tractors to church, said Gary Jorgensen, an elder at the nearby Harlan church who participated in the event.
A long procession of tractors followed by hay racks traveled to a local state park recently for a potluck picnic. Church leaders said the event was one way to keep small country churches active, interesting and reaching out to others.
MISSISSIPPI
OCEAN SPRINGS
The Ocean Springs church has started the Gulf Coast Single Parent Network as a community outreach.
“Countless single parents perform heroically every day with little to no help,” minister Al Sturgeon said.
“Parenting is difficult when there are two parents around, so I’m convinced that single parents have the toughest job in the world.”
Eleven single-parent families participated in the network’s first event, which featured the theme “Help! I’m Stressed!”
OHIO
HEATH
Members of the Southgate church haven’t forgotten the rebuilding needs of the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. More than 40 members have made a half-dozen trips to help “muck out” homes that were under 4 to 8 feet of water, the Newark Advocate reported.
“Everyone down there tells us that nothing would be done without faith-based volunteers,” member Bill Donegan told the newspaper. “But out of all this mess, God’s love is still evident with the outpouring of volunteers.”
OKLAHOMA
LAWTON
The Northwest church offers the “Safety Chain” as an easy way to organize Scriptures and teach loved ones the gospel. The congregation has developed a CD with appropriate verses, questions to mark in one’s Bible and teaching tips gained from experience, deacon Gerry Armstrong said.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every member of the Lord’s church had an easy way to teach the gospel plan of salvation?” Armstrong said. For details, call or see www.nwcoclawton.com.
WILBURTON
After a split about 20 years ago, the Park Road and Wilburton congregations met Dec. 3 for a fellowship meal and Sunday evening services.
They plan another joint service and meal in January, said Scott Elliott, preaching minister for the Wilburton church.
“Many people believe this will lead to the congregations being united once again,” Elliott said.
Frank Wilson is the preaching minister at the Park Road church.
TEXAS
GARLAND
Five more baptisms on Dec. 10 pushed the Saturn Road church’s 2006 total to 182, a record for the congregation.
Senior minister John Scott said the church expects multiple baptisms each Sunday and usually is not disappointed.
“The vast majority (of those being baptized) are adults who are coming from a local drug rehab center,” Scott said. “It’s quite a ministry for a very conservative, mainstream, suburban congregation,” he added. “I have seen our folks at their best in dealing with all the heartache and trauma that these new converts bring with them.”
Most of these converts only remain at the Saturn Road church for four to six weeks before returning to their homes throughout the Southwest, Scott said.
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
The Richland Hills church has given or pledged more than $1.3 million to world evangelism through its recent “Harvest Sunday 2007” campaign, church leaders report. Missionaries, church plants, the Let’s Start Talking ministry and World Bible School are among the beneficiaries.
MILESTONES
JANUARY
28 Jersey Village Church of Christ, Houston. 50th Anniversary. Call or see www.jvchurchofchrist.org.
28 Church of Christ, Orangevale, Calif. 50th Anniversary. Call.
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