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Across the nation, January 2009


ARKANSAS

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Where most people see a job, Joe Chesser sees a chance to do good. Chesser, youth minister at the WindSong church, recently organized Teen Leaf Raking, enlisting teenagers to rake leaves for the congregation’s older members, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
“It is not often that we get the chance to mix our older and younger members in casual settings,” Chesser said.
ILLINOIS
EAST PEORIA —  Families on a tight budget got a little help with Christmas shopping, courtesy of the East Peoria church.
For the second year in a row, “Operation Sleighbell” opened its doors, offering a place where families could buy clothing, shoes and even toys for a few dollars, WEEK News 25 reported.
IOWA

MARSHALLTOWN — Planting corn seed is a common sight across Iowa, but the planting of God’s seed is rarer.
Evangelist Fred Rhodes is doing something about it: He’s working in the Marshalltown and Newton areas to reach the lost. Rhodes reported at least three baptisms in 2008. His work was highlighted in the Alleluia! Journal, a publication of the Charbo and Karen church in St. Charles, Mo.

MARYLAND

TEMPLE HILLS —  The Oxon Hills church hosted the recent Mid-Atlantic Crusade Rally, designed to inform and inspire those in the region planning to attend the 2009 Crusade for Christ in Kansas City, Mo., this summer.
Coordinators also hoped to generate support and bring together area churches for the 2011 Crusade for Christ, which will be in Washington, D.C. “The lessons were superb,” Oxon Hill minister Floyd Williamson said. Three speakers addressed the topic “What One Can Do,” based on the story of Noah in Genesis 11.
NEBRASKA

BELLEVUE —  The Bellevue church has helped about 200 families with their basic needs in the last year, the Bellevue Leader reported. The church began a food and clothing pantry in 2007 to help meet the needs of the church and community.
“A lot of our members have been through tough times, so they want to reach out,” minister Jeff Weaver said.

NORTH CAROLINA

HAVELOCK — What began as a way to help hurricane victims has become a Christmas tradition at the Cherry Point church: an annual toy giveaway for the needy.
“It gets bigger every year,” Ruth Jackson, a church member and one of the organizers, told the Havelock News.
The church gathered about 4,000 packages for the recent giveaway.
PENNSYLVANIA

HOWARD — Two years after a New Year’s Day arson fire burned down its building, the Mount Eagle church celebrated the opening of its new building. About 125 people attended the recent service, the Centre Daily Times reported. “It’s just heartwarming to see this building built up,” said elder Ed McCartney.
TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE — Thousands of folks are a little warmer this winter thanks to the Granny White church. The congregation handed out more than 6,000 coats during its recent Warm Coats for Warm Hearts event. The 400-member congregation starts collecting coats at the beginning of October each year, The Tennessean reported.


TEXAS

HOUSTON — A reunion of the former Sun Valley church has been rescheduled for Feb. 7. Postponed because of Hurricane Ike, the reunion is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Clear Lake church.
The Sun Valley church was established in 1961 and disbanded in 1997.
For more information, see www.thesunvalleyconnection.blogspot.com.

Filed under: National Staff Reports

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