Across the Nation, May 2014
VALDOSTA — About 850 youths and parents from Georgia, Florida, Alabama and other locales were “Unmasked” during the annual Youth Enrichment Seminar (YES) weekend, hosted by the Forrest Park Church of Christ.
“Each speaker encouraged participants to stop participating in worldly sins and start letting Christ shine through in their lives,” said Letson McCoy, youth and family minister for the Thomaston Road Church of Christ in Macon, Ga., who brought a group to the event. “Topics such as dishonesty, materialism, hypocrisy, immorality, prejudice, silence and disguise were discussed.”
In addition, youths were treated to an evening with illusionist Harris the Third.
KANSAS
WICHITA — The predominantly white East Point Church of Christ and the predominantly black Chisholm Trail Church of Christ conducted a joint Sunday night assembly.
About 150 members from each congregation attended the recent worship service hosted by the Chisholm Trail church, where Clifford Easily has preached since 1991.
“It was so good to be able to join together for a chance to sing, pray and talk about God,” said East Point minister Patrick Barber, who preached. “Then we all stuck around for another hour and enjoyed the refreshments they’d prepared for us. It was just such an encouraging evening.”
MAINE
KITTERY — A recent areawide preachers’ luncheon hosted by the Kittery Church of Christ drew 34 people — the best attendance ever for the monthly event, minister Leo J. Woodman said.
Seven Maine congregations and three from New Hampshire were represented, said Woodman, who preaches for the Kittery church.
Preachers, elders and wives heard a presentation on shape notes by Wayne Newland, a member of the Greater Portland Church of Christ.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MANCHESTER — Fourteen students from Harding University in Searcy, Ark., made a spring break mission trip to the Manchester Church of Christ.
The students painted the front of the church’s auditorium, decorated a Bible classroom and volunteered with a community project serving the homeless, Manchester minister Park Linscomb said.
They also visited shut-ins, sang at a senior housing facility and worked with children at a daycare, Linscomb said.
Students Dalton Braziel and Sarah Hines served as the group’s leaders.
NORTH CAROLINA
WILKESBORO— It was more than a note burning. It was a solar event.
After the Wilkesboro Church of Christ recently celebrated paying off the debt for its $2 million building, leaders announced a new project: distribution of solar-powered audio players to African nations.
According to Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, Texas, each device will be programmed with the Bible, Bible study lessons and hymns.
“We’ve been blessed,” evangelist Lowell White said of the church’s ability to reallocate its resources.
TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI — “Scripture Sunday” is a new social media initiative of the Weber Road Church of Christ youth group.
The teens post Bible verses on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, youth minister Christian Torres told the Christian News of South Texas.
He’s hopeful that the messages make a positive difference in the lives of those who see them.
“If posting a Scripture every Sunday can accomplish this, then how much more could we do by taking full advantage of these free forms of communication,” Torres said.
KINGWOOD — Kingwood Church of Christ member Sharon Underwood works to brighten the lives of sick children with superhero capes adorned with animals and bright colors.
The Kingwood Senior Village resident enlists the help of friends, family and fellow Christians to sew capes for children in the pediatric care unit at a local hospital, The Humble Observer reported.
She calls the group the Super Hero Club.
“The kids love the capes,” Camela Rose with the Kingwood Medical Center pediatric unit told the local newspaper. “The capes are motivation for the kids to get up and walk around after they have surgery; it makes them feel special.”