Across the nation, October 2008
New Web site has details on Asian churches in the U.S.
Where would you look to find a Laotian-speaking Christian church in Arkansas? A Thai church in New Mexico? A Chinese church in Louisiana? You can find all the above and more on a new Web site on Asian outreach.
The site was developed by Allen Jang, a high school biology teacher and leader of a San Gabriel, Calif., area house church sponsored by the Culver Palms church in Los Angeles. Culver Palms elder Ron Lau, seated, demonstrates the site to Chinese congregation members Qinxue Ding, pointing, and Jian Hua Lai , left. Michael Okabayashi, right, attends the English congregation.
ALABAMA
HUNTSVILLE — About 20 people participate in a ministry at the Mayfair church known as Military Outreach and Encouragement.
They gather on Monday and Wednesday nights in a second-floor classroom to write soldiers in Iraq, the Huntsville Times reported.
Some send e-mails. Others prepare packages filled with sunglasses, goggles and toiletries. But Christa Babe always sends letters.
“I’m old-fashioned,” she told the Times. “I remember how it was when my husband was in Vietnam. He appreciated the mail.”
AMERICAN SAMOA
TAFUNA — About 200 people attended the third annual South Pacific Lectureship, missionary Dave Willis said.
Don Oelze and Ronald Coleman, former missionaries to this U.S. territory in the South Pacific, were keynote speakers.
Coleman also preached a sermon for the Tafuna church while Oelze preached at the Nu’uuli congregation.
CALIFORNIA
SAN FRANCISCO — The Metropolitan church seeks $120,000 to help its Metropolitan Fresh Start House drug and alcohol treatment centers deal with the loss of funding during a state budget crisis.
“Fresh Start is God’s program and needs God’s people to support it,” minister Kinwood H. DeVore said.
KANSAS
TOPEKA — An old hardware store has been turned into the Bridge, a center offering tutoring and character education during the school year and a reading program once a week in the summer for elementary school students.
It’s a ministry of the Southwest church designed to reach out to neighborhoods just west of downtown, minister Chris Stewart told the Topeka Capital-Journal.
LOUISIANA
MONROE — More than 30 visitors attended a recent Internet awareness seminar at the Forsythe Avenue church.
Minister John Dobbs and family minister Jason Barnard presented information specifically for parents about the challenges of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, the dangers of Internet predators and strategies for parents of young people who frequent the Internet.
MARYLAND
ROCKVILLE — The Spanish-speaking Rockville church hosted a recent “Confraternidad” (Hispanic fellowship).
The topic of Rockville minister Hector Castillo’s sermon: “Love will cover a multitude of sins.”
“In the Hispanic fellowship, there were at least 200 souls, and we had a joyful experience there,” said Elmer Pacheco, a minister with the Silver Spring church.
OREGON
PORTLAND — The recent Agape Blitz project involved more than 220 people in service efforts, minister Ron Clark said.
“We had homeless people serving with church people,” Clark said.
TENNESSEE
MADISON — Concerned that people often feel a reluctance to come forward for prayers, the Madison church implemented a Prayer Care program.
Leaders carved out a dedicated area of the lobby for “Prayer Care” and report that more than 300 Madison members and visitors have visited the area, where there is a table, a couple of chairs and one or more shepherds available before and after services to pray and talk.
Jim Overstreet, the overseeing elder, wears a pager during services to make sure he is available for Prayer Care at a moment’s notice.
TEXAS
DUNCANVILLE — The Duncanville church welcomed more than 5,000 area residents to its grounds as part of its annual back-to-school giveaway, minister Ron Carlson said.
The congregation gave away more than 2,000 complete packets of school supplies worth more than $50,000.
VIRGINIA
BLACKSBURG — Twenty-five women enjoyed a recent retreat sponsored by the Blacksburg church, minister Tom Gilliam said.
The “Heart Spa Retreat” was held at the home of Diane Sutphin and consisted of singing, praying, sharing, crafts and lessons by Lisa Leichner, April Harrah and Dani Higgs.
Where would you look to find a Laotian-speaking Christian church in Arkansas? A Thai church in New Mexico? A Chinese church in Louisiana? You can find all the above and more on a new Web site on Asian outreach.
The site was developed by Allen Jang, a high school biology teacher and leader of a San Gabriel, Calif., area house church sponsored by the Culver Palms church in Los Angeles. Culver Palms elder Ron Lau, seated, demonstrates the site to Chinese congregation members Qinxue Ding, pointing, and Jian Hua Lai , left. Michael Okabayashi, right, attends the English congregation.
ALABAMA
HUNTSVILLE — About 20 people participate in a ministry at the Mayfair church known as Military Outreach and Encouragement.
They gather on Monday and Wednesday nights in a second-floor classroom to write soldiers in Iraq, the Huntsville Times reported.
Some send e-mails. Others prepare packages filled with sunglasses, goggles and toiletries. But Christa Babe always sends letters.
“I’m old-fashioned,” she told the Times. “I remember how it was when my husband was in Vietnam. He appreciated the mail.”
AMERICAN SAMOA
TAFUNA — About 200 people attended the third annual South Pacific Lectureship, missionary Dave Willis said.
Don Oelze and Ronald Coleman, former missionaries to this U.S. territory in the South Pacific, were keynote speakers.
Coleman also preached a sermon for the Tafuna church while Oelze preached at the Nu’uuli congregation.
CALIFORNIA
SAN FRANCISCO — The Metropolitan church seeks $120,000 to help its Metropolitan Fresh Start House drug and alcohol treatment centers deal with the loss of funding during a state budget crisis.
“Fresh Start is God’s program and needs God’s people to support it,” minister Kinwood H. DeVore said.
KANSAS
TOPEKA — An old hardware store has been turned into the Bridge, a center offering tutoring and character education during the school year and a reading program once a week in the summer for elementary school students.
It’s a ministry of the Southwest church designed to reach out to neighborhoods just west of downtown, minister Chris Stewart told the Topeka Capital-Journal.
LOUISIANA
MONROE — More than 30 visitors attended a recent Internet awareness seminar at the Forsythe Avenue church.
Minister John Dobbs and family minister Jason Barnard presented information specifically for parents about the challenges of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, the dangers of Internet predators and strategies for parents of young people who frequent the Internet.
MARYLAND
ROCKVILLE — The Spanish-speaking Rockville church hosted a recent “Confraternidad” (Hispanic fellowship).
The topic of Rockville minister Hector Castillo’s sermon: “Love will cover a multitude of sins.”
“In the Hispanic fellowship, there were at least 200 souls, and we had a joyful experience there,” said Elmer Pacheco, a minister with the Silver Spring church.
OREGON
PORTLAND — The recent Agape Blitz project involved more than 220 people in service efforts, minister Ron Clark said.
“We had homeless people serving with church people,” Clark said.
TENNESSEE
MADISON — Concerned that people often feel a reluctance to come forward for prayers, the Madison church implemented a Prayer Care program.
Leaders carved out a dedicated area of the lobby for “Prayer Care” and report that more than 300 Madison members and visitors have visited the area, where there is a table, a couple of chairs and one or more shepherds available before and after services to pray and talk.
Jim Overstreet, the overseeing elder, wears a pager during services to make sure he is available for Prayer Care at a moment’s notice.
TEXAS
DUNCANVILLE — The Duncanville church welcomed more than 5,000 area residents to its grounds as part of its annual back-to-school giveaway, minister Ron Carlson said.
The congregation gave away more than 2,000 complete packets of school supplies worth more than $50,000.
VIRGINIA
BLACKSBURG — Twenty-five women enjoyed a recent retreat sponsored by the Blacksburg church, minister Tom Gilliam said.
The “Heart Spa Retreat” was held at the home of Diane Sutphin and consisted of singing, praying, sharing, crafts and lessons by Lisa Leichner, April Harrah and Dani Higgs.
•••
MILESTONES
Sept. 27-28 Burleson, Texas, church. 75th Anniversary and Homecoming Celebration. Contact [email protected] or (817) 295-2233.
Sept. 28 Owens Cross Roads, Ala., church. 100th Anniversary Homecoming. Contact www.ocrcoc.org or (256) 725-4172.
Sept. 28 Wichita Falls, Texas, church. 100th anniversary celebration for former and current members and ministers. Contact [email protected] or (940) 723-2731.
Oct. 18-19 Florissant, Mo. church. 50th Anniversary. Contact www.florissant
churchofchrist.org or (314) 837-8000.
Oct. 19 Central church, Amarillo, Texas. 100th Anniversary. Contact www.amarillo central.org or (806) 373-4389.
Oct. 19 Pearl church, Gatesville, Texas. 113th Anniversary. Contact (254) 865-9282 or (254) 501-0616.
Nov. 1-2 Hartford Avenue church, Ponca City, Okla. 50th Anniversary. “50 Years Blessed by His Love”. Contact (580) 765-3610.
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