Across the Nation, June 2011
CALIFORNIA
CHICO — Church members across the nation contributed $60,000 to buy a handicap-accessible van for Tim Kelley, senior minister of the Chico Church of Christ.
Readers helped with the effort after The Christian Chronicle reported on it.
“It has taken several weeks for all the necessary work to be completed on the van, but recently the finishing touches were applied,” said Carolyn Tyler, a member of the Caramillo Church of Christ in California and a leader in the fund-raising effort. “The van is now paid for and fully equipped to meet Tim’s every driving need.”
MICHIGAN
LANSING — 1968 was a tumultuous time for racial relations in the U.S. But that year, a white Church of Christ and a black congregation merged.
The Holmes Road Church of Christ, which began meeting at its present site in 1961, combined forces with the black Butler Street Church of Christ.
“Now, the church has 43 years of merged history, a significant Hispanic membership, a Michigan State University outreach, a microcosm of an international community, an integrated leadership, and is looking forward to the next 50 years,” said Bob Young, a former minister. The Holmes Road church recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
MISSISSIPPI
FULTON — Friends, relatives and fellow Christians dealt with shock and heartbreak after the recent stabbing deaths of a retired Church of Christ minister and his wife. Funeral services for Fred and Mildred Joy House were conducted in Fulton.
“Fred was a Church of Christ minister for many, many years,” said his nephew Carl Royster, data compiler with 21st Century Christian publishing in Nashville, Tenn. “The sad thing is that Fred and Joy had helped out their killer on multiple occasions in the past.”
OKLAHOMA
OKLAHOMA CITY — Hundreds of church members from across central Oklahoma were “United in Christ” during a gospel meeting at the Memorial Road Church of Christ. The meeting encouraged unity and fellowship among black and white churches.
Speakers were Vernon Taylor, minister of the Southlake Church of Christ in Jonesboro, Ga.; Jim Baird, minister of the Wilshire Church of Christ in Oklahoma City; Calvin Bowers, minister of the Figueroa Church of Christ in Los Angeles; and Lawrence Murray, minister of the Spencer, Okla., Church of Christ.
TEXAS
CLYDE — A retired postal worker, 80-year-old Chal Burgess said he is not financially able to make many donations.
However, Burgess recently sent a $10 check to The Christian Chronicle to help support the newspaper’s mission of informing, inspiring and uniting Churches of Christ.
The Clyde Church of Christ member made the gift in memory of his late grandson, Army Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Burgess, who died March 29 while serving in Afghanistan. (The Chronicle does not release information about donors, but he gave his permission.)
“I tell you, it’s devastating,” Chal Burgess said of his grandson’s death. “But we knew what he was doing and that it was possible at any time. The sad thing is, he had only 26 days left on his third tour.” Bryan Burgess had served two Iraq tours and a third in Afghanistan.
“He was very dedicated to serving his country,” Chal Burgess said. The staff sergeant also was a faithful Christian. In his school years, he was active with the youth group at the Granbury Street Church of Christ in Cleburne, Texas.
ROUND ROCK — A memorial fund has been set up to benefit the family of Jenny Mae Cope-Gosch, a 33-year-old mother of five who recently suffered a fatal stroke.
Jenny and her husband, Tyson, were members at the Simi Valley Church of Christ in California before moving to Texas just before her sudden death. The Pepperdine University graduates had found a new home with the Westside Church of Christ in Round Rock.
Donations may be sent to: Jenny Gosch Memorial Fund, 325 Village Drive, Blythe, CA 92226.
CHICO — Church members across the nation contributed $60,000 to buy a handicap-accessible van for Tim Kelley, senior minister of the Chico Church of Christ.
Readers helped with the effort after The Christian Chronicle reported on it.
“It has taken several weeks for all the necessary work to be completed on the van, but recently the finishing touches were applied,” said Carolyn Tyler, a member of the Caramillo Church of Christ in California and a leader in the fund-raising effort. “The van is now paid for and fully equipped to meet Tim’s every driving need.”
MICHIGAN
LANSING — 1968 was a tumultuous time for racial relations in the U.S. But that year, a white Church of Christ and a black congregation merged.
The Holmes Road Church of Christ, which began meeting at its present site in 1961, combined forces with the black Butler Street Church of Christ.
“Now, the church has 43 years of merged history, a significant Hispanic membership, a Michigan State University outreach, a microcosm of an international community, an integrated leadership, and is looking forward to the next 50 years,” said Bob Young, a former minister. The Holmes Road church recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
MISSISSIPPI
FULTON — Friends, relatives and fellow Christians dealt with shock and heartbreak after the recent stabbing deaths of a retired Church of Christ minister and his wife. Funeral services for Fred and Mildred Joy House were conducted in Fulton.
“Fred was a Church of Christ minister for many, many years,” said his nephew Carl Royster, data compiler with 21st Century Christian publishing in Nashville, Tenn. “The sad thing is that Fred and Joy had helped out their killer on multiple occasions in the past.”
OKLAHOMA
OKLAHOMA CITY — Hundreds of church members from across central Oklahoma were “United in Christ” during a gospel meeting at the Memorial Road Church of Christ. The meeting encouraged unity and fellowship among black and white churches.
Speakers were Vernon Taylor, minister of the Southlake Church of Christ in Jonesboro, Ga.; Jim Baird, minister of the Wilshire Church of Christ in Oklahoma City; Calvin Bowers, minister of the Figueroa Church of Christ in Los Angeles; and Lawrence Murray, minister of the Spencer, Okla., Church of Christ.
TEXAS
CLYDE — A retired postal worker, 80-year-old Chal Burgess said he is not financially able to make many donations.
However, Burgess recently sent a $10 check to The Christian Chronicle to help support the newspaper’s mission of informing, inspiring and uniting Churches of Christ.
The Clyde Church of Christ member made the gift in memory of his late grandson, Army Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Burgess, who died March 29 while serving in Afghanistan. (The Chronicle does not release information about donors, but he gave his permission.)
“I tell you, it’s devastating,” Chal Burgess said of his grandson’s death. “But we knew what he was doing and that it was possible at any time. The sad thing is, he had only 26 days left on his third tour.” Bryan Burgess had served two Iraq tours and a third in Afghanistan.
“He was very dedicated to serving his country,” Chal Burgess said. The staff sergeant also was a faithful Christian. In his school years, he was active with the youth group at the Granbury Street Church of Christ in Cleburne, Texas.
ROUND ROCK — A memorial fund has been set up to benefit the family of Jenny Mae Cope-Gosch, a 33-year-old mother of five who recently suffered a fatal stroke.
Jenny and her husband, Tyson, were members at the Simi Valley Church of Christ in California before moving to Texas just before her sudden death. The Pepperdine University graduates had found a new home with the Westside Church of Christ in Round Rock.
Donations may be sent to: Jenny Gosch Memorial Fund, 325 Village Drive, Blythe, CA 92226.
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