Across the Nation, March 2012
ALASKA
JUNEAU — Joan Mize, Kathy Schmitz and Rayisa Boone no longer have school-age children. That doesn’t keep them from teaching the Wednesday night class for 3- to 6-year-olds at the Juneau Church of Christ.
“Their children are all raised, making their ongoing commitment all the more laudable,” said church member Matt Jones, a father of six.
“Their continued service allows mothers of young children a break from the routine for 45 minutes,” he added.
“They exemplify a spirit of lifelong service to the church and validate a vital need for older members to remain actively involved in congregations.”
HAWAII
HONOLULU — The television ministry “In Search of the Lord’s Way” has begun airing the Gospel to the entire state.
The broadcast on KWHE reaches every island, speaker Phil Sanders said.
“After the very first program, a lady phoned the ‘Search’ office from Hawaii requesting materials,” Sanders said.
The Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma sponsors the ministry.
INDIANA
LA PORTE — The La Porte Church of Christ has a team of three interpreters who help deaf people integrate with the congregation.
The congregation provides interpreters for potlucks as well as assemblies.
Linda Pitman said she believes it’s her purpose to help the deaf communicate.
“It’s a gift … from God that we are able to do this, and so I look at it as it’s been given to me for a purpose,” Pitman told the Herald Argus newspaper.
MARYLAND
HYATTSVILLE — The Capital Beltway is a long way from South Sudan.
Most members of the University Park Church of Christ can’t relate to walking miles just to find clean water.
But members walked 3.5 miles recently to raise money to build a Sudanese water well. In all, the congregation raised $6,000, far exceeding the original goal of $4,000, deacon Hamil Harris said.
MISSOURI
KANSAS CITY — The Downtown Church of Christ is fighting to remain in the inner city. The church is seeking $5,000 per month in support to remain at its present location.
“Our bank is trying to pressure us to put our church building on the market,” minister LaVance Wes Anderson said. “They see that our funds are low and nearing depletion.
“All they are seeing is numbers,” he added. “We did not accept their offer. We walk by faith. There are far too many precious souls in this area on the brink of missing heaven.”
For more information, call the church at (816) 241-9999 or write: Downtown Church of Christ, 2010 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64127.
PENNSYLVANIA
READING — A police sting operation led to the recent arrest of a man accused of stealing from the Shillington Church of Christ during Sunday services.
“We had a previous robbery, and I set up surveillance cameras and noticed suspicious actions,” member Anthony Fischetto said. “I notified the police, who watched our surveillance videos and decided to set up a sting operation, which worked great.”
TENNESSEE
DICKSON — After months of prayer and preparation, the Walnut Street Church of Christ unveiled “Opening Doors,” a daily devotional book written by members.
Young and old alike contributed to the project, which is being shared with friends, relatives and the community.
“Most folks need a little help to start a conversation about spiritual things,” involvement minister Larry Snow said. “Our book ‘Opening Doors’ provides that help.”
More than 400 community members received the book — along with a free meal — during a recent outreach event sponsored by the church.
KENTON — A wreck near this west Tennessee town claimed the lives of three church members.
David C. Bell, 51, a longtime member and song leader for the Thomaston Road Church of Christ in Macon, Ga., died after the car he was driving was struck by a pickup truck that crossed the center line on a rural road in Obion County on Jan. 7. Also killed was Bell’s mother, Sue E. Bell, 81. Bell’s father, Jack Latimer Bell, also 81, died Jan. 12 from injuries suffered in the wreck.
The Kenton Church of Christ hosted a memorial service for the family. Survivors include David Bell’s three children.
TEXAS
GARLAND — A revamped mailbox at the Buckingham Road Church of Christ allows neighbors to leave cards asking members to pray for specific needs.
The Neighborhood Prayer Box features a picture of praying hands and appeals in English, Spanish and Vietnamese for the community to share prayer requests.
“It’s overwhelming to us when we consider that those who have deep physical and spiritual difficulties … would entrust us, virtually strangers, with the responsibility to present their desires to God,” elder Willie Hunter said.
Each month, the church prepares at least 100 prayer request postcards for homes and businesses and asks for God’s blessings on the recipients.
JUNEAU — Joan Mize, Kathy Schmitz and Rayisa Boone no longer have school-age children. That doesn’t keep them from teaching the Wednesday night class for 3- to 6-year-olds at the Juneau Church of Christ.
“Their children are all raised, making their ongoing commitment all the more laudable,” said church member Matt Jones, a father of six.
“Their continued service allows mothers of young children a break from the routine for 45 minutes,” he added.
“They exemplify a spirit of lifelong service to the church and validate a vital need for older members to remain actively involved in congregations.”
HAWAII
HONOLULU — The television ministry “In Search of the Lord’s Way” has begun airing the Gospel to the entire state.
The broadcast on KWHE reaches every island, speaker Phil Sanders said.
“After the very first program, a lady phoned the ‘Search’ office from Hawaii requesting materials,” Sanders said.
The Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma sponsors the ministry.
INDIANA
LA PORTE — The La Porte Church of Christ has a team of three interpreters who help deaf people integrate with the congregation.
The congregation provides interpreters for potlucks as well as assemblies.
Linda Pitman said she believes it’s her purpose to help the deaf communicate.
“It’s a gift … from God that we are able to do this, and so I look at it as it’s been given to me for a purpose,” Pitman told the Herald Argus newspaper.
MARYLAND
HYATTSVILLE — The Capital Beltway is a long way from South Sudan.
Most members of the University Park Church of Christ can’t relate to walking miles just to find clean water.
But members walked 3.5 miles recently to raise money to build a Sudanese water well. In all, the congregation raised $6,000, far exceeding the original goal of $4,000, deacon Hamil Harris said.
MISSOURI
KANSAS CITY — The Downtown Church of Christ is fighting to remain in the inner city. The church is seeking $5,000 per month in support to remain at its present location.
“Our bank is trying to pressure us to put our church building on the market,” minister LaVance Wes Anderson said. “They see that our funds are low and nearing depletion.
“All they are seeing is numbers,” he added. “We did not accept their offer. We walk by faith. There are far too many precious souls in this area on the brink of missing heaven.”
For more information, call the church at (816) 241-9999 or write: Downtown Church of Christ, 2010 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64127.
PENNSYLVANIA
READING — A police sting operation led to the recent arrest of a man accused of stealing from the Shillington Church of Christ during Sunday services.
“We had a previous robbery, and I set up surveillance cameras and noticed suspicious actions,” member Anthony Fischetto said. “I notified the police, who watched our surveillance videos and decided to set up a sting operation, which worked great.”
TENNESSEE
DICKSON — After months of prayer and preparation, the Walnut Street Church of Christ unveiled “Opening Doors,” a daily devotional book written by members.
Young and old alike contributed to the project, which is being shared with friends, relatives and the community.
“Most folks need a little help to start a conversation about spiritual things,” involvement minister Larry Snow said. “Our book ‘Opening Doors’ provides that help.”
More than 400 community members received the book — along with a free meal — during a recent outreach event sponsored by the church.
KENTON — A wreck near this west Tennessee town claimed the lives of three church members.
David C. Bell, 51, a longtime member and song leader for the Thomaston Road Church of Christ in Macon, Ga., died after the car he was driving was struck by a pickup truck that crossed the center line on a rural road in Obion County on Jan. 7. Also killed was Bell’s mother, Sue E. Bell, 81. Bell’s father, Jack Latimer Bell, also 81, died Jan. 12 from injuries suffered in the wreck.
The Kenton Church of Christ hosted a memorial service for the family. Survivors include David Bell’s three children.
TEXAS
GARLAND — A revamped mailbox at the Buckingham Road Church of Christ allows neighbors to leave cards asking members to pray for specific needs.
The Neighborhood Prayer Box features a picture of praying hands and appeals in English, Spanish and Vietnamese for the community to share prayer requests.
“It’s overwhelming to us when we consider that those who have deep physical and spiritual difficulties … would entrust us, virtually strangers, with the responsibility to present their desires to God,” elder Willie Hunter said.
Each month, the church prepares at least 100 prayer request postcards for homes and businesses and asks for God’s blessings on the recipients.
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