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Across the Nation: The waving Oregonian, a family baptized and more quick takes
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Across the Nation is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ across the U.S. Got an idea for this column? Email Calvin Cockrell at [email protected].
Featured image (above): Immediately after being baptized himself, Ted Blankenship baptizes son-in-law Christian Lieffring, along with four other family members.
OREGON
TIGARD — When motorists drive along Durham Road in this Portland suburb, they often see a tall, friendly man waving at them. He’s Craig Benjamin, an elder of the Southwest Church of Christ.
Benjamin and church member Greg Buehler began walking together for exercise in April 2020 — and offering an encouraging wave to everyone they saw.
Craig Benjamin and Greg Buehler wave on their daily walk. The two men are members of the Southwest Church of Christ in Tigard, Ore.
In 2021, Benjamin extended his route past Tigard High School, waving at students in their classrooms who, in return, rushed to the windows to wave back.
The walking duo had their biggest year in 2022, when Benjamin took over 6 million steps to walk over 3,000 miles.
Members of the Tigard, Ore., community imitate Craig Benjamin’s signature gloved wave.
His efforts have made an impact on many in the community: Some have stopped and asked for prayer or visited the Southwest church.
Nurses have said how Benjamin helped them get through long shifts and difficult times. Others have noted, with tears, how important Benjamin’s waves have been to brightening their days.
Benjamin’s smile and wave have even been featured on stickers in local fundraisers for leukemia patients.
WISCONSIN
APPLETON — A seed planted decades ago bore fruit as six family members were baptized into Christ.
In 1999, Joe Jandacek and his family became friends with the Blankenships — who believed in Jesus but hadn’t been baptized for their sins.
Twenty-five years later, Jandacek had become a preacher and moved across the country and back, mostly losing touch with his friends. But then Ted Blankenship texted him. He had been studying the Scriptures and realized he needed to be immersed.
Immediately after being baptized himself, Ted Blankenship baptizes son-in-law Christian Lieffring, along with four other family members.
Blankenship asked Jandacek if he’d return to the Mason Street Church of Christ to baptize him. Blankenship, along with his daughter Alyssa McCord and granddaughter Mia McCord, came prepared to enter the baptistery.
But after witnessing Jandacek baptize Ted, and Ted baptize Alyssa and Mia, three more family members decided to put on Christ: Alyssa’s husband, Ryan; Ted’s daughter Breanna Lieffring; and Breanna’s husband, Christian.
“A little planting and watering over 10 years ago to people who genuinely sought to be pleasing to God resulted in six family members being baptized into Christ, receiving the gift of God’s Spirit and being added to our family in one glorious day,” Jandacek said.
NEWSMAKERS
APPOINTED — DAVID BELL, ERIN BROGDON and BRANT BRYAN to the board of trustees at Harding University in Searcy, Ark. They join 19 other trustees who oversee the university, which is associated with Churches of Christ.
BAPTIZED — MARK BARBEE of the Southside Church of Christ in Syracuse, N.Y. CHUCK and SUE BELL of the North Terrace Church of Christ in Zanesville, Ohio. CHRISTOPHER BLAUSER of the Blacksburg Church of Christ in Virginia. ELI FOWLER of the Covington Church of Christ in Tennessee. SHIRLEY GIBSON of the Kingsley Terrace Church of Christ in Indianapolis. BRIANA GROVES of the Newberg Church of Christ in Louiseville, Ky. CHARLOTTE and WELDON KEY of the Lyons Chapel Church of Christ in Tomkinsville, Ky. BENDYJINO LUCIEN of the Bedford Street Church of Christ in Abington, Mass. MAKAYLA RICHARDSON and R.J. RUNYON of the Van Dyke Church of Christ in Warren, Mich. LILY SIMPSON of the Cookeville Church of Christ in Tennessee. RYLYNN WADE of the Summit Church of Christ in Hohenwald, Tenn.
From left, Erin Brogdon, Christian “J.T.” Johnson-Thompson, Alan Rhodes and Jett Smith.
NAMED — SAM DILBECK as pulpit minister for the Baker Heights Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. He succeeds Larry Sullivan, who retired from full-time preaching to focus on mission work for refugees in Vienna, Austria. CHRISTIAN JOHNSON-THOMPSON as evangelist for the Torch Hill Church of Christ in Columbus, Ga. ALAN RHODES as chair and Quentin Mimms as vice chair of the board of trustees of Lubbock Christian University in Texas. Rhodes is a shareholder with Texas-based Underwood Law Firm and has practiced with the firm for over 40 years. Rhodes serves as secretary and director for the board of Eastern European Mission. He suceeds Terry Creech as LCU board chair. Mimms is managing director in the Dallas office of Alvarez & Marsal. JETT SMITH as minister for the Redland Church of Christ in Valdosta, Ga. Smith studied at the Georgia School of Theology in Warner Robins, Ga. He and his wife, Ashlee, have a son, Jude.
