Across the Nation, June 2013
COLORADO
GREELEY — Rich Mazur believes the U.S. desperately needs prayers.
Mazur, a member of the Columbine Church of Christ, and the church’s preacher, Paul McWilliams, have launched a campaign called “Prayer for America 2013.”
They are asking other Christians to join the effort and to set aside the first Sunday evening of each month to pray for the nation.
For more details, see www.columbinecoc.org.
STERLING — Dan Kafka, one of three chaplains at the Sterling Correctional Facility, volunteers 20 hours a week at the prison.
The Holyoke Church of Christ prison ministry’s mission is to spread the message of Christ to 2,500 offenders. Kafka, a member of the Holyoke church, is under the spiritual supervision of the church’s men.
Throwing the Bible at prisoners like a stick of dynamite is not the way Kafka likes to work. He “door-knocks” in the administrative segregation unit and gives offenders biblical reading material. Visits with inmates in the yard, chow hall and his office occupy most of Kafka’s time.
About 100 men were served the Lord’s Supper for the first time in years through the ministry, Kafka said. He describes a cappella singing, baptisms in the cattle trough and Bible studies with inmates as the highlights of his week.
MARYLAND
BALTIMORE — Minister Cliff Holladay, who was paralyzed in a beach accident last year, died April 13. He was 62.
Holladay, who preached for the Westside Church of Christ in Baltimore, was featured in a Christian Chronicle story earlier this year.
“He inspired many of us with his determination following his accident,” said Steve Mahoney, minister for the Newark Church of Christ in Delaware.
Holladay’s wife, Becky, and son, Caleb, were with him when he died. The church earlier established a fund to help the family. Tax-deductible checks can be sent to the Westside church at 7009 Johnnycake Road, Baltimore, MD 21244.
OREGON
LA GRANDE — Glen and Verla Henry enjoy preparing and delivering box lunches to shut-ins.
So what if these Meals on Wheels volunteers are both in their 90s and have been married for 73 years?
“Glen is also our top songleader and has served all his life in the church,” said Doug Edmonds, minister for the La Grande Church of Christ. “Until the last few years, Glenn went sledding with the youth group … and did most of the repairs to our church building.
“Glen never ceases to amaze me, and Verla is very special, too, as she tries to participate in things she was able to do when she was younger,” Edmonds added. “The church in La Grande loves this couple, and what an inspiration they are to all who know them.”
SOUTH CAROLINA
SUMMERVILLE — A group of 23 Hilltoppers — as the senior members of the Summerville Church of Christ are known — found a little “providence” on a bus trip to see a Bible exhibit in Charlotte, N.C. Nearly 200 miles from home, the seniors were stranded by a malfunctioning alternator.
But then a group member remembered that one Hilltopper’s son serves as an elder for the Providence Road Church of Christ in Charlotte. A few calls were made, and Lee Thrasher, the Providence Road church’s executive minister, arrived with a bus to take the group to its destination.
“And, since parts to repair the Summerville bus would not be available until the following week, the Hilltoppers returned home in the aptly named Providence Road bus,” member Dave Mathis said. They “praised the Lord for all that had happened.”
TENNESSEE
MURFREESBORO — Nearly 500 families at the North Boulevard Church of Christ have pledged $5.8 million to support a vision set forth by church leaders.
That amount exceeds the $3.6 million requested by the leaders, who said the church hopes to spark a worldwide spiritual awakening.
Those leaders said the vision is designed to accomplish six key challenges: plant churches around the world; open a School of Christian Thought within the congregation; launch a television program; align all the church’s ministries around the single purpose of maturing disciples; actively integrate the church’s leadership team racially and ethnically; and build a full-fledged widows ministry “for the purpose of praying the congregation through its mission.”
To see a video related to the plans, go to www.christianchronicle.org/blog and search for “Murfreesboro.”
TEXAS
NACOGDOCHES — A 15-year-old Boy Scout was deemed a hero and recognized as an honorary firefighter at a recent Nacogdoches City Council meeting.
Ketavian Oliphant was attending an Eagle Scout ceremony at the North Street Church of Christ when he found the kitchen filled with smoke and located an extinguisher to put out the fire.
GREELEY — Rich Mazur believes the U.S. desperately needs prayers.
Mazur, a member of the Columbine Church of Christ, and the church’s preacher, Paul McWilliams, have launched a campaign called “Prayer for America 2013.”
They are asking other Christians to join the effort and to set aside the first Sunday evening of each month to pray for the nation.
For more details, see www.columbinecoc.org.
STERLING — Dan Kafka, one of three chaplains at the Sterling Correctional Facility, volunteers 20 hours a week at the prison.
The Holyoke Church of Christ prison ministry’s mission is to spread the message of Christ to 2,500 offenders. Kafka, a member of the Holyoke church, is under the spiritual supervision of the church’s men.
Throwing the Bible at prisoners like a stick of dynamite is not the way Kafka likes to work. He “door-knocks” in the administrative segregation unit and gives offenders biblical reading material. Visits with inmates in the yard, chow hall and his office occupy most of Kafka’s time.
About 100 men were served the Lord’s Supper for the first time in years through the ministry, Kafka said. He describes a cappella singing, baptisms in the cattle trough and Bible studies with inmates as the highlights of his week.
MARYLAND
BALTIMORE — Minister Cliff Holladay, who was paralyzed in a beach accident last year, died April 13. He was 62.
Holladay, who preached for the Westside Church of Christ in Baltimore, was featured in a Christian Chronicle story earlier this year.
“He inspired many of us with his determination following his accident,” said Steve Mahoney, minister for the Newark Church of Christ in Delaware.
Holladay’s wife, Becky, and son, Caleb, were with him when he died. The church earlier established a fund to help the family. Tax-deductible checks can be sent to the Westside church at 7009 Johnnycake Road, Baltimore, MD 21244.
OREGON
LA GRANDE — Glen and Verla Henry enjoy preparing and delivering box lunches to shut-ins.
So what if these Meals on Wheels volunteers are both in their 90s and have been married for 73 years?
“Glen is also our top songleader and has served all his life in the church,” said Doug Edmonds, minister for the La Grande Church of Christ. “Until the last few years, Glenn went sledding with the youth group … and did most of the repairs to our church building.
“Glen never ceases to amaze me, and Verla is very special, too, as she tries to participate in things she was able to do when she was younger,” Edmonds added. “The church in La Grande loves this couple, and what an inspiration they are to all who know them.”
SOUTH CAROLINA
SUMMERVILLE — A group of 23 Hilltoppers — as the senior members of the Summerville Church of Christ are known — found a little “providence” on a bus trip to see a Bible exhibit in Charlotte, N.C. Nearly 200 miles from home, the seniors were stranded by a malfunctioning alternator.
But then a group member remembered that one Hilltopper’s son serves as an elder for the Providence Road Church of Christ in Charlotte. A few calls were made, and Lee Thrasher, the Providence Road church’s executive minister, arrived with a bus to take the group to its destination.
“And, since parts to repair the Summerville bus would not be available until the following week, the Hilltoppers returned home in the aptly named Providence Road bus,” member Dave Mathis said. They “praised the Lord for all that had happened.”
TENNESSEE
MURFREESBORO — Nearly 500 families at the North Boulevard Church of Christ have pledged $5.8 million to support a vision set forth by church leaders.
That amount exceeds the $3.6 million requested by the leaders, who said the church hopes to spark a worldwide spiritual awakening.
Those leaders said the vision is designed to accomplish six key challenges: plant churches around the world; open a School of Christian Thought within the congregation; launch a television program; align all the church’s ministries around the single purpose of maturing disciples; actively integrate the church’s leadership team racially and ethnically; and build a full-fledged widows ministry “for the purpose of praying the congregation through its mission.”
To see a video related to the plans, go to www.christianchronicle.org/blog and search for “Murfreesboro.”
TEXAS
NACOGDOCHES — A 15-year-old Boy Scout was deemed a hero and recognized as an honorary firefighter at a recent Nacogdoches City Council meeting.
Ketavian Oliphant was attending an Eagle Scout ceremony at the North Street Church of Christ when he found the kitchen filled with smoke and located an extinguisher to put out the fire.
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