Across the Nation, January 2015

“It was an amazing day,” minister Matt Dabbs said. “It was men, women and children as well as intergenerational. We had a kid zone for kids under 8 … and they served alongside people all the way up into their early 80s.”

For more information, see www.feedingchildreneverywhere.com.
FLORIDA
MiAMI GARDENS — Two Florida ministers recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the “Alvin & Anthony Show.”

The hosts are Alvin L. Daniels Jr., senior minister for the Hope Church of Christ in Miami Gardens, and Anthony Campbell, minister for the 15th Street Church of Christ in Pompano Beach.

The radio show features “two men of God committed to equipping, empowering and encouraging people through the discussion of God’s word and its relevance and application to our daily lives and the current affairs of our world,” according to their website at www.alvinandanthonyshow.com.
OKLAHOMA
TULSA — In a front-page feature in May 2014, The Christian Chronicle highlighted Night Light Tulsa, a homeless ministry under a bridge organized by the Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Tulsa animal welfare officials found out about the ministry and began dispatching an officer to the bridge — not to round up the guests’ dogs and cats but to distribute bags of pet food.

Recently, the animal welfare officers launched an organization called “Feeding the Pets of Tulsa’s Homeless.” The effort is helping provide food for the pets of the homeless people served by the Park Plaza ministry. 

“The second longest line at Night Light Tulsa … is the pet-food line,” the Tulsa World reported.

Night Light Tulsa volunteers feed the homeless under a Tulsa, Okla., bridge. (PHOTO BY BOBBY ROSS JR.) TENNESSEE
UNION CITY — The “Soul Food Café” started as a community meal hosted by the Exchange Street Church of Christ one Wednesday night per month.

But after building a new fellowship hall, the church expanded the outreach effort this past fall — and began offering it two Thursday nights per month.

“The greatest accomplishment of this new Soul Food Café is that other churches, civic groups, sports teams and others would be hosting the Soul Food Cafe,” said Dan Huggins, the Exchange Street church’s minister.

“The venue will always be at the Exchange Street building, but now so many others in our community can come and work together with us in blessing the community,” Huggins added. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for Christians across our county to work together.”
TEXAS
OGDEN — The Church of Christ in Ogden had been meeting as long as anyone could remember.

The Haley family was a mainstay, with Roy Haley — the oldest of three brothers — serving as the preacher in recent decades.

However, the brothers’ mother, Ruth Haley, died in 2013, and Roy’s health no longer will allow him to preach. Brother Matt and Joe Haley live elsewhere.

So the family recently gathered for a final worship assembly at the Ogden church building.

“It is sad to see a congregation close its doors, but the time has come when the remaining members are scattered throughout two states,” said Elise Haley, Joe’s wife. “You can almost hear the echoes of weddings, family gatherings, singing and a lot of good discussion over the years. 

“At times, there were four generations of the Haley family in attendance,” she added. “There will be lots of fond memories.”