The Youth Leadership Symposium will open in January, providing videos and recommended reading for participants. Three primary meetings will take place on February 4, April 29, and June 3, 2023. Participants may attend in person at the Fish Interfaith Center at Chapman University, or one of the many “Pod” locations where participants can zoom into the symposium as a group. Locations of pods can be found at Youth Leadership Symposium.

This is a free event, open to one high school age youth and one adult from every congregation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. If congregations wish, they can request a space for a second youth. Those youth who complete the symposium will be considered eligible for youth leadership scholarships at Chapman University, Texas Christian University and other church related institutions. Those completing the program will be provided more information on scholarship options and opportunities. 

Part of the symposium’s training will involve interviewing local Church leaders, designing a project for a local congregation, and adapting that plan based on new information or research. The hope is to provide youth with a true practicum that will help them serve the church and become leaders in the world. Evaluating needs, project selection, building relationships across generations, and adaptive change are just a few of the topics that will help youth lead in and beyond the church. 

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From August 7 through 11, Disciples Peace Fellowship will be hosting a series of 60-120 minute Zoom sessions as part of a capstone project for our 2020 DPF Peace Interns. We are calling it “Passing the Peace!” and we hope that you will join us for these exciting peacemaker training workshops. Check out the sign-up page on our website for details!

At “Passing the Peace!” each session will have a different theme, including: 

• Meeting the 2020 Peace Interns and learning about their unique experiences during this very different summer;
• Introducing the “Choose Your Own Adventure” style Anti-Oppression Tool they developed with Reconciliation Ministries;
• Sharing hand’s on Peace Prayers and Spiritual Resiliency Practices;
• Other exciting highlights from the Peace Interns’ work this summer with online camps and Disciples Justice Ministry Partners!

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Rice Patch Christian Church in Islandton, SC is being blessed with spiritual uplifting. The church has begun a series of “drive-in” services on the front parking lot situated on Highway 63 between Walterboro, SC and Hampton, SC. The Lord has blessed us with outstanding attendance from a group of people who treasure their worship and fellowship each week at Rice Patch. We had a wonderful drive-in service at Rice Patch at 10:00 AM on Easter Sunday. We had more than 20 cars parked in the parking lot and several people across the two streets bordering the building in vehicles and one family at their home.

On a previous Sunday, we even had cars stop during the service from Highway 63 and park with us for the duration of the service. The audio visual team at Rice Patch constructed a network of four powerful speakers and a microphone on the front steps of the building. The Lord was with us and blessing us!

At the end of the Easter service, I asked aloud for any who would request baptism to stand. Three youngsters, across the highway with their families, stood up and raised their hands asking for baptism. I had the help of the microphone and speakers on the front steps of the church so I took their confessions and they shouted a resounding “Yes” individually to the question of their belief that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior. Their families, including at least one grandparent, was present in the yard. The grandfather of these spiritually aware youngsters was baptized just a few weeks earlier.

After this happened, I was wondering how we could have a baptismal service with the group and not violate the personal separation rules. The indoor baptistry would not allow within the rules for an audience of church members, friends, and family of those requesting baptism. Then a church officer came up to me and said that we could borrow a tank and place it on the front parking lot. Several church men brought the tank and placed it on the parking lot the next Sunday at 10:00 AM full of crystal clear water.

At the end of the worship service, each of these fine youngsters were baptized by their baptized believer fathers and grandfather in the tank surrounded by a group of people in their vehicles observing. Each young person restated their confession of Jesus as their Savior individually and I announced to the group that each “was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of their sins”.

Coming up from the water each of the new Christians received a cacophony of enthusiastic vehicle horns in support of their obedience. All was done obeying the instructions of our governor about physical separation. Only the family were touching the person being baptized, so there is no chance of any outside communication of the virus. I am thankful for the quick thinking of this church officer, Ralph Polk, because I would have not known what to do to get a request for baptism and not be able to provide the response. The Lord is definitely looking over us and taking care of us.

Many of the friends of the youngsters came and parked in the parking lot with Rice Patch Christian Church attendees so they could view this exciting baptismal service. Our church historian, Tammy Polk, posted movies of each baptism on the Rice Patch Christian Church Facebook page for all to see.

I pray that other churches will confront similar issues and have equally rewarding means of providing the Lord’s care and keeping. Our members are determined that when the virus is brought under control, we will have at least one service per year outside as a drive-in service to commemorate the way the Lord has blessed us during this tragedy in the life of many people.

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This impactful visit sparked a call to return with others. “When I came back,” Feille remembers, “I thought, ‘We can’t just come to the media events – that isn’t really standing with the tribe. We need to do more.’”

In response to several Disciples attending the ecumenical clergy visit at Standing Rock, Rev. David Bell, Minister for Indigenous Peoples Concerns at Yakama Christian Mission, along with Feille, organized a trip for Disciples to the reservation in January 2017. They visited the Oceti Sakowin camp, learned about the culture and challenges there, and looked for ways to offer support. The Upper Midwest region also gave a reconciliation gift to the tribal offices.

Still, Feille felt there was more important work to do together. “The only way we’re going to change things is for people to come here and learn. The media wasn’t accurate, and there’s a long history of land being taken from Indigenous peoples that we don’t talk about enough.”

The idea she developed with Bell and Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning (regional minister at the time) was a youth camp to teach groups the real history of Standing Rock and the tribes living there.

They partnered with Rev. Dr. John Floberg, supervising priest for the three Episcopal churches at Standing Rock, who agreed to share their camp on the reservation with the new youth camp.

The last two summers, the region has facilitated this camp for high schoolers from across the Church and ecumenical partners. During this week-long experience, the group tours the reservation, meets with tribal elders to learn about Sioux culture and traditions, and spends time together processing what they learn with camp leaders. They learn about the Christian Doctrine of Discovery (repudiated at the 2017 General Assembly) and Native American history.

While the camp is open to high schoolers from any region (2020 dates are June 6-13 and registration information will be shared when available), there are a variety of ways to incorporate Native history into your congregation or youth group discussions.

Feille offers a few suggestions: “Look in your own region for a similar opportunity to offer a camp of listening. Build relationship with indigenous siblings there. Learn who’s land you’re on. Research what happened on that land, and if there aren’t prominent Native communities present, why aren’t they there anymore?”

Disciples are also invited to join the Upper Midwest region’s Disciples Public Presence Facebook group, which grew out of early efforts to support the Standing Rock protests. This group is used to connect Disciples with opportunities to participate and learn about justice issues and events.

Regardless of what programs you choose, awareness and education are important steps for everyone. “When Standing Rock came in the news,” Feille remembers, “I realized no one was listening. It’s in our region, and even though at that time we didn’t have a congregation nearby that doesn’t mean we don’t care. I knew we were the ones to go. I went and learned and listened, and I can’t let go of it now.”

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Prevention and planning are key to lowering your risk of adverse incidents. This is part one of a series intended to give quick pointers for congregations before the crisis occurs.

Abuse situations

One of the first areas to address is the care of children. Background checks should be done not only for employees but also for volunteers who have contact with children. Written policies should be in place for every congregation that outline parameters such as no adult being alone with a child out of the sight of other adults or minimum ages for volunteers.

Our denominational partner, the Insurance Board, has a series of articles and resources on their website that range from training and background check services to procedural templates and information from the Center for Disease Control on how to best prevent child abuse.

The Insurance Board advises congregations to assess their policies (or lack of them) in light of an abuse prevention policy template available for download on the SafeConduct workbench page. If you already have a written policy, there is also an assessment tool available.

Also available from the SafeConduct Workbench are a series of online workshops on keeping camps and churches safe and what kind of activity needs to be reported.
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Sample list of appropriate physical interactions:

• Side hugs
• Shoulder-to-shoulder or “temple” hugs
• Pats on the shoulder or back
• Handshakes
• High-fives and hand slapping
• Verbal praise
• Pats on the head when culturally appropriate
• Touching hands, shoulders, and arms
• Arms around shoulders
• Holding hands (with young children in escorting situations)

Sample list of inappropriate interactions

• Full-frontal hugs
• Kisses
• Showing affection in isolated area
• Lap sitting
• Wrestling
• Piggyback rides
• Tickling
• Allowing a youth to cling to an employee’s or volunteer’s leg
• Any type of massage given by or to a youth
• Any form of affection that is unwanted by the youth or the staff or volunteer
• Compliments relating to physique or body development
• Touching bottom, chest, or genital areas

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Regional ministries receive the largest portion of these DMF gifts, and every gift stays in the region in which it’s given. Because of support through Disciples Mission Fund, regions offer leadership development opportunities, pastoral support, youth programs, shared mission, and more. As Rev. LaTaunya Bynum, regional minister for Northern California/Nevada and president of the College of Regional Ministers, explains, DMF is an integral part of Disciples’ identity. “We are ‘a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.’ The ‘we’ includes congregations, specialized ministries, regional ministries, colleges and universities, and theological education throughout the United States and Canada. When each of us contributes to the whole we are made stronger as we live, and are, the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Many general ministries, working across the US, Canada, and beyond, also receive support through DMF. Rev. Sotello Long, president of Disciples Home Missions, celebrates that DMF support strengthens their ministry. “Gifts to DMF help us empower the work of evangelism, leader development, Christian education and faith formation. Our gifts give witness to Disciples making a mark for Christ that cannot be erased!”

DMF makes a mark on the world through higher education programs, too. All 15 undergraduate institutions and seven theological programs affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as well as Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM), receive DMF funding.

None of these impactful programs could grow without the steadfast support of congregations across our Church. Rev. Kory Wilcoxson, senior minister at Crestwood Christian Church in Lexington, KY recognizes that his congregation’s gifts to Disciples Mission Fund are an important part of their covenant with the wider Church. “As part of this body of Christ, we have a part to play and we do so with great gladness and much thanksgiving. We know we can do so much more together if we all do our part to make it happen.”

While budgeted gifts from congregations make up the largest source of DMF support, individual giving is growing. For monthly giver Sarah Beth Simonds in Farmington Hills, MI, giving to DMF is an important spiritual practice for her and her husband Robert. “We’ve been blessed in many ways by the wisdom and service of those who serve the general Church, and we want to support them. Giving to DMF fulfills a part of our covenantal relationship with the Church.”

Congregations’ and individuals’ support of Disciples Mission Fund together makes the work of our general, regional, and higher education ministries possible.

To strengthen our support, resources are available for congregation treasurers and worship leaders to share DMF’s impact and prayerfully consider including core support of DMF in church budgets. These resources are in addition to those for Special Day Offerings at Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

DMF-supported ministries also produce a variety of congregation resources, like VBS curriculum through Global Ministries, Mission and Ministry Grants through the National Benevolent Association, and stewardship materials from the Center for Faith and Giving.

For more stories from Disciples Mission Fund supporters and beneficiaries, join us on DMFday, Sept. 12, our first giving day for DMF, to further its impact across our Church.

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This time of reflection and conversation takes place over the 40 days preceding Children’s Sabbath, which falls on Oct. 20, 2019. This interfaith program is sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund, and invites faith communities to simultaneously witness for children through prayer, education, and worship.

“Many churches, individuals, and families have used the devotion to light a candle for children. The true prayer we need answered is finding ways to light a candle with children,” suggests Minister for Ministries Across Generations Rev. Dr. Olivia Bryan Updegrove. So, in recent years DHM staff changed the resource’s name from “Light a Candle for Children,” to “Light a Candle with Children,” in order to include youth as active participants.

During the vigil, which will take place Sept. 23-Oct. 20 this year, Ministries Across Generations will post devotions, reflections, and other resources on their website, Facebook page, and Twitter profile. You can also text @weeklyfc to 81010 to receive this information by mobile text message.

The 2019 program’s theme is The Hearts and Voices of Our Young People. Updegrove explains: “Children and teenagers were asked an important question, ‘Why will you be in the Church when you grow up?’ It’s estimated that most young people have decided by age 14 if they will be active in a faith community as an adult. With many young people making the choice to not stay active in their faith into adulthood, it was time to ask those under 14 what connects them to a love of God and God’s people.”

Each devotion for this year’s vigil will include responses, resources, and images from the young people Updegrove asked about their future involvement in our Church.

The Children’s Defense Fund also has resources for their theme, Uniting Hearts and Voices to End Child Poverty.

While Ministries Across Generations encourages families and congregations to participate in the vigil during its designated timeframe, the resources for 2019, and for years past are available online year round, and can be used any time.

To request physical copies of this year’s resources, contact Ministries Across Generations.

The post Light a Candle with Children prayer vigil begins Sept. 23 appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

So, earlier this year Carthage conducted a community listening campaign and found that there was a real need for more constructive youth programs. “We knew we didn’t have the resources to provide for these needs on our own,” Dicken explains, “But we took stock of what we could provide: a free location to host events in the neighborhood, and a deep connection to the people who call Carthage home.”

With these important gifts to share, Carthage looked for ways to partner with other organizations to fill this need. “Through outreach, networking, being open to meeting new people in roles outside the church – and let’s be honest, some good God timing,” Dicken remembers, “We were able to connect with the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM), one of the premier music schools in the country.”

Together, the organizations developed an idea for Camp HeARTbeat, an arts program to provide healthy growth and learning through arts projects. In March, they were awarded $35,000 in grant funding from the University of Cincinnati’s health initiative.

Carthage and CCM quickly got to work. CCM recruited instructors and brought instruments and other art supplies, and Carthage CC promoted the program across their community.

Knowing the neighborhood has the highest percentage of Spanish speakers in Cincinnati, Dicken says, “We knew it was important to reach out to our neighbors who come from Central and South America and now call Carthage home.” Congregation members passed out flyers in English and Spanish, went to summer block parties, spoke at civic league meetings, and shared the information with immigrant resource workers.

Earlier this month, their efforts culminated with a weeklong Camp HeARTbeat for 20 children, ages 8-13, from all around Carthage. With grant funding, they were able to offer this program for free, provide free breakfast, lunch, and snacks to all participants, and arrange for teachers in drama, dance, music, and visual art. The week ended with a grand finale performance by the participants for their friends, families, and neighbors.

Watch this short video to see what Camp HeARTbeat looked like.

With the first camp complete, Carthage CC hopes to continue this partnership into the school year with an after-school arts program and recruit more neighborhood business and organizations to join in the effort.

“We are so excited to have our church be a place in our community where all children are welcome to come, laugh, play, eat, and have a chance for artistic expression in their lives,” Dicken celebrates.

“None of this would be possible without partnering with CCM, applying for grant money, and working with local immigrant services. Of course, really none of this would have been possible without the grace and vision granted to us by God.”

The post Ohio congregation hosts summer arts camp appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Dear Church –

My heart is still singing from the holy time we shared in Des Moines last month. The Spirit was present and real in worship. The discussions were deep in the workshops. The joy was tangible at the meal events.  Our programming for youth and young adults included education about the governance of the church, and we saw how important multi-generational worship is when we gather. Many of those gathered spoke strongly for justice in the business sessions, at the candlelight vigil and the post-assembly rally. As the General Youth Council reminded us with their resolution, we must continue to invite one another to listen and discuss, even when we disagree.  To walk together in love even when we disagree is at the heart of being “Disciple”.

I am genuinely hopeful for the future of this Church. I saw signs of life and growth everywhere, of Disciples who are learning to abide whether that means waiting with expectation or tarrying a while in the Presence. While we spent some time celebrating our past, I also heard from many dedicated Disciples that we are a group whose time has come in this fragmented world. A look at the MissionFest projects made me both proud and excited about the ministry that Disciples are engaged in across the US and Canada.  To quote the Week of Compassion team, “Good work, Church!”

In partnership with the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, we celebrated the 50^th Anniversaries of The Design and the Merger Agreement, two documents which shaped our current manifestation as church together.  As many of us gathered  to look forward in the “Design at 100” and “Second 50” workshops, I was encouraged by the presence of two of our former GMPS, Sharon Watkins and Dick Hamm, as they facilitated a conversation about what our church needs to look like in the next 50 years. Disciples from across our church stood to speak truth into the room, naming both our challenges as well as our hopes.  This kind of real talk must continue to be part of our work as we move forward together.  The conversations revealed that we are not as afraid of change, and that we are confident in God’s ability to empower us for ministry.

In the midst of the celebrations, we marked two very important occasions. One was the culmination of a major part of the 2020 Vision. Former General Minister and President Dick Hamm set the vision before us in the 1990s and he was there to announce the achievement of one of the goals of beginning more than 1,000 new faith communities. While not every start continued, we have more than 60 percent who did. But another effect of those planting operations was to work new church ministry into our DNA, to make the planting embedded in who we are today.

We were also blessed to affirm our full communion agreement with The United Church of Canada. We were already in partnership through two of our Canadian congregations and our shared relationship with the United Church of Christ. This agreement closed the triangle to make all three denominations stronger with shared ministry. Not a merger, but a partnership, this agreement will be celebrated in October in Winnepeg.

Disciples, while we are primed for growing into what the Lord has in mind for us – to become a healing, helping force for good in this fragmented world – we must make it a priority to be connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ, through the disciplines of prayer and Bible study.  We must be strengthened in our spiritual beings in order to bear the fruit that is only possible through Christ.  I invite you to do that work together, wherever you are, wherever you serve.  We will be stronger as a church because of it.  We must continue to abide, to remain, to persist.

I am looking forward to what we can accomplish before we meet again in Louisville, KY, in 2021. I am honored to be on this journey with you.

With God’s love,

Terri

The post General Minister and President reflects on General Assembly appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Since 2011, a youth group trip to the tennis court has grown into BCC Tennis Academy, which officially opened in 2018.

Participants in Britton’s tennis clubs like Los Gatos learn more than how to swing a racket. This weekly club is offered to students at nearby Britton Elementary School who are behind in reading, and includes tennis lessons, tutoring, time in the church’s computer lab with educational games, and Bible lessons.

The tennis program has grown to reach families across the congregation’s diversifying community, through weekly groups, summer camps and an annual event – and provides a powerful way for church members to volunteer.

“God can use me to make a difference in a kid’s life,” senior pastor Rev. Mike Hays explains. “It’s easy to ask, ‘how is an inner-city kid ever going to connect with me?’ as a white guy who lives in nice area. But kids could care less about that stuff if they know you love them.”

Coaches also use tennis to teach Biblical lessons, Hays says. “For example, the first time you touch a racket you might not hold it correctly. The coach will correct you, and you can’t blow off that advice. Proverbs says, ‘trust in the Lord, rely not on your own understanding’” (Proverbs 3:5).

The tennis academy’s board raised over $250,000 in donations and grants to build three courts on the church’s property, where they offer most of their programs. They also have groups practicing 3-4 days a week at a local country club, which charges the church a discounted fee.

Students of all ages and abilities can participate. The academy teaches all levels of tennis – from beginners two Sundays a month, to competitive teams like the Cheetahs, a 10-and-under club team, who won the state championship last year.

Church membership is a requirement to participate in the upper-level programs, and this program has helped Britton CC reach more families across the community.

“We want to be more than a tennis outlet for kids,” Hays suggests. “We want to minister to their families too, so these programs help bring in families that may be going through difficult times. We had a student start our after-school program, and he soon brought his mom to church. She came to other programs we offer, like ESL and citizenship classes, and church leaders attended her citizenship ceremony.”

Between the tennis academy and other community ministries like a medical and dental clinic, at over 100 years old, Britton Christian Church still finds new ways to serve love to their neighbors.

“God has given us a wonderful tool to get involved in families’ lives, be a blessing, and teach great lessons,” celebrates Hays.

“Love transcends every cultural divide, every racial disparity, every cultural context. Love transcends them all.”

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One simple question turned into an outreach ministry that touches many families in our community: “How can we include a very loved, special needs 4-year-old in VBS?”

God prompted the next thought, “Who else could we include? Who else could we love on in our community that had special needs?” In that moment the idea to host a Special Needs VBS was born.

We were nervous as we waded into unfamiliar land, but there was a calmness that comes when you are obedient to God. We made extra preparations, and all volunteers were trained in recognizing and responding to a variety of special needs. We set up a sensory and changing room, and a special place for parents and caregivers. We prayed and waited to see who would be touched by this extra-special VBS.

God answered with seven guests that first year (2014). We had a wonderful time singing, dancing and learning about God’s love. We received comments like, “This is so great, we don’t get to do things like this.” The parents’ faces lit up as they saw their children participating in music.

In fact, everyone’s faces lit up seeing the pure joy on the guests’ faces. There were a few tears as the parents received the crafts their children made. For some, this was the first craft their child had ever created, so it didn’t matter if it was a few strokes of the paintbrush or if the picture was fully covered – it was done by their loved one and they cherished it.

If you are a nuts and bolts person like me, you might wonder what was different from the typical VBS and what challenges we had. Our biggest challenge was to get the word out to the special needs community and for them to trust us with their kids. Most special families do not attend church and those that had attended had commonly been deeply hurt by the Church. On top of that, many of the kids have special medical needs and, as parents, we have a hard time trusting others to take care of our kids.

Over the last five years, we have gained their trust and this last year had over 30 participants join us for VBS.

One way we earn their trust is having trained medical personnel on site. Each night there’s at least one nurse present. We also have local community support. Each year we partner with the fire department. They love to help with games and it’s always a hit when they show off their gear and trucks. In fact, the community support has been so overwhelming we are able to have a community rotation. This allows time for the firefighters to show the trucks, a therapy horse to visit, a local business to provide sno-balls, and our beloved police dog even joins us.

Beyond trust, another challenge is to think on an individual basis. Our motto is “Whatever our guest needs!” We adapt to what our guest needs and we’ve learned this is easiest by having individual buddies available for each guest. Some participants need a one-on-one buddy, and some don’t. This system prepares to provide the best experience.

Minus the sensory room, changing room, and extra volunteers, we do not change much from a typical VBS. The decorations, music, lessons, and most of the crafts stay the same. Games and snacks are the exceptions. We don’t serve snacks to avoid allergy complications, and we modify games depending on the group.

We now have a support group who meets monthly, and we offer an annual respite day, which is attended by VBS families. We also found a niche in providing special needs-friendly craft booths at city festivals and are known in the community for this consistent outreach.

All of these programs grew from one simple question and the desire to include a loved little girl. God answered, and this experience has been a blessing to all involved!

Not only is that one little girl not being left out, but many more are being included and experiencing God’s love. We can’t wait for the summer so we can do it all again!

The post Texas church offers special needs ministry appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Sometimes a name says it all. But, sometimes, it only hints at all there is to know.

Anew Church is a Chicago-based Disciples ministry serving the residents of the Roseland, Woodlawn, West Pullman, Chatham, and South Shore neighborhoods. The stated mission of this self-described ‘church without walls’ is to “make our communities safer, stronger and better” and that’s exactly the focus of congregational activities.

“We believe that a church is its people, not a building. So, it’s important for us to be out among our neighbors, walking beside them, making their lives, and ours, better,” explains founding pastor Rev. Dr. Franshonn Salter. “Our name comes from Isaiah 43:19 which begins ‘I am about to do a new thing’ and we describe ourselves as ‘A Nontraditional Extravagantly Welcoming church – an acronym for the loving acceptance of Jesus we’re trying to emulate.”

The vision for the church started years ago when Dr. Salter, who works both as a pastor and a social worker, noticed the common disconnect between Christendom and young people. Eventually, it became the focus of her doctoral dissertation, Hip-Hop Worship: Bridging the Gap between Youth Culture and the Church, and a road map for a new kind of church, one that spoke to today’s youth.

“We look for ways to involve young people in our ministry. To give them ownership and leadership in who we are,” says Pastor Franshonn. “That’s why our worship services are held in each of our neighborhoods on a rotating basis, often in coffee shops, and include hip-hop, rap or spoken word in addition to a Message from me. We also have regular Artist Showcases presenting rap, spoken word, dance and song. It’s all to reach out to them not only where they live, but how they live, and to model Christianity as a relevant, engaging part of our lives. With Jesus as our example, how can we miss?”

Through the 2020 Vision, the new church movement has already helped the Disciples family grow by nearly 1,000 new and affiliated faith communities. Anew Church is an example of doing it in ‘a 1,000 different ways.’ As a multi-site, mobile church focused on community service and welcoming ALL to the Lord’s Table, Anew church is answering God’s call to serve its neighbors, spread the gospel, and make Disciples…especially among the young. It is supported in these efforts by New Church Ministry and people like you who support the annual Pentecost Offering.

Each year, half of this offering stays in the local Region or Area where it was collected to start and uphold new churches. The other half is used across the United States and Canada to support the recruiting, assessing, training and coaching of new church leaders at events like Leadership Academy.

The 2019 Pentecost Offering will take place Sunday, June 9. Please consider a contribution to support the new church movement, New Church Ministry and more new congregations like Anew Church.

The post Anew Church: Welcoming all to a new worship experience appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

So, what to do with the funds from the sale? Barbee had been the launching pad for so many commitments to service and faith and the Regional Board was determined to continue that legacy.

“We know that summer camp has been the place where community has been formed, spirituality deepened, the scriptures discovered, and God’s presence felt,” said Regional Minister Rick Spleth. “We want to stimulate the opportunity for that to continue to happen in our churches.”

The creative plan that is now in place includes a $1 million endowment fund that will assist the Bedford Camp and Geneva Conference Center with capital needs. The fund, administered by the Christian Church Foundation, is expected to earn about $50,000 annually to be split between the two facilities.

The remainder of the Barbee Blessing, as it is now known, about $500,000, will be invested to support the Faith Formation Designated Fund. This fund will initially provide $1,000 grants to every congregation in the region, to bolster their faith formation efforts in their local setting. As congregations develop plans for larger projects they can apply for supporting grants. This is accompanied by a new regional effort to compile faith resources on the region’s website.

Faith Formation Commission Chair Rebecca Sundquist, said, “It is our hope that the legacy of Camp Barbee honored in this way will have a ripple effect of faith formation for generations to come.”

The first checks will be distributed at area gatherings in May. Later in 2019, congregations will be invited to report to the rest of the region on the new place their grant allowed them to go.

For more information on these efforts, contact Rebecca Sundquist, chair of the Commission on Faith Formation in the region.

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His first memories are of exploring the outdoors, and as a high school senior, he’s still affected by the world around him. “In Colorado, I’ve seen the impact humans have on our environment,” Nottingham says. “It’s a beautiful area, but we also face damaging challenges like fracking and urban sprawl. It’s a very visual contrast here.”

Nottingham applied his passion for creation by leading a school walkout and climate rally on March 16. The Fort Collins event was part of the global Youth Climate Strike. More than 1.4 million students participated in over 100 countries.

The protest was an educational experience for Nottingham. Youth leaders learned how to organize effectively, working with school and city leaders to obtain permits and recruit speakers. Students developed skills like graphic design and public speaking.

“My favorite critique we got was ‘stay in school,’” remembers Nottingham. “If we wait until we’re more educated and have credentials, then it will be too late to make the changes our climate needs.”

Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri, associate minister of Green Chalice agrees. “We’ll need significant systemic efforts to enable a livable planet into the next 100 years…May we be in solidarity with our youth as an expression of our love for God and our neighbors.”

An important piece of these systemic efforts is leadership development, an identified priority of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Nottingham’s leadership has certainly been supported and encouraged by Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (in the Central Rocky Mountain region), where he is an active member.

Invited to preach on Youth Sunday, he chose to reflect on his favorite Scripture, James 2:14-18. Associate Minister Rev. Daniel Lyvers says Nottingham’s sermon “reminded us that God’s love is made known through what we do, and how we act in relationship with each other and God’s creation.”

“Ehret has such a vision for what the Church can and should be, and young folks like him give me so much hope,” celebrates Lyvers. “My prayer is that we allow ourselves to pay attention to the truth – that God is shaking things up through young people like Ehret, and I pray that we, as churches, continue to offer space for our youth to challenge, inspire, and lead us in creating community in the way God envisions.”

For Nottingham, activism is a natural expression of his faith. He encourages other students to get active in their communities, be early supporters of new opportunities, and “disregard the scary ‘what if’s’ when you start something new.”

“This protest was not the end of the line or the culmination of the movement – it’s the beginning. When you go home after church, you don’t forget what you learned – you keep working on it.”

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Phillips University Legacy Foundation is pleased to announce it is accepting new applications for its Undergraduate Scholarship and Leadership Development Program for the 2019-2020 academic year. The deadline is March 15, 2019. The application can be submitted online through the Foundation’s website.

The mission of the Phillips University Legacy Foundation is to follow the tradition of Phillips University by providing scholarships and opportunities to educate and develop leaders who embody Christian values in their lives, service and work. The program is available to incoming full-time undergraduate students (freshman through seniors) pursuing a liberal arts education at any of the 17 colleges or universities that are currently or historically related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (complete list).

Since 2002, the Phillips University Legacy Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships to 169 scholarship recipients and administered 17 Leadership Development Conferences. These recipients, known as Phillips Legacy Scholars, have completed over 460 Volunteer Service Projects.

For more information or to apply for the Phillips University Legacy Foundation’s Undergraduate Scholarship and Leadership Development Program, please contact Tamela Harsha, Scholarship Administrator, at 580.237.4433 or email scholarshipships@pulf.org.

If you would like to help support the Phillips University Legacy Scholarship and Leadership Development Program, please contact Kelly Coker, Executive Director, at 580.237.4433 or email kelly@pulf.org.

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Education at the General Assembly will be a bit different this year. Some classes will be the traditional 60-90 minutes. Some classes will stretch across several days. This is to accommodate a new feature of the event – classes that count!

If you need pro-reconciliation/anti-racism training, we have a class for you. Clergy who need regular boundary training for standing? We have a class for you. If you are a commissioned minister who needs a Disciples history and polity course, we have a class for you. Phillips Theological Seminary is also running a pre-event that can net you a CEU. There will be a special section on discernment of call for young adults and a workshop centered on campus life for college students. Our organizers are also offering two church administration workshops in Spanish.

In addition to these, we will have workshops on a range of topics from software to laity leadership (elder) training to a panel discussion of the first 50 years of The Design, our governing document. Even the CYF (high school) youth will have their own workshop tracks in addition to their other activities as well as a workshop for adult sponsors.

So if you were wondering how to make the most of one trip, here’s your opportunity to add education to an agenda of worship, fellowship and fun!

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When we think of college, we think of books, professors, and athletic events, but we don’t often think college chaplains. Yet college chaplains play a vital role on campuses. College chaplaincy is a ministry of presence and can often feel like a job that requires the person to be on hand 24/7.

A major part of a chaplain’s responsibility is coordinating the religious life offerings on campus, like weekly chapel services, study groups and fellowship time, or leading mission trips. The chaplain also participates in campus-wide events.

Other than the president and deans, very few university officials are called on to be present at more university functions than the chaplain. Offering prayers at opening convocation, commencement, and athletic events, the chaplain is there to be the spiritual voice of the institution.

The places where the chaplain is often most present, but perhaps not widely visible, are in providing pastoral care and mentoring students in the process of vocational discernment. From the moment students arrive on campus until the day they graduate, students will face serious personal challenges that lead them to seek out someone to talk to. Students are also looking for someone who can engage them from a faith perspective.

Whether it’s struggling with grades and roommates, dealing with the loss of a loved one back home, or trying to figure out answers to new and unsettling questions of faith, students look to the chaplain as a pastor.

Chaplain at Bethany College Rev. Cherisna Jean-Marie says: “The ministry of presence is one of the most fulfilling roles I play as a chaplain. To be a conversation partner, a guide, a sacred and safe place for young people discovering who they are and who they want to be is probably one of the most important things I’ll do in my vocation.”

Chaplains also serve as mentors to students who are trying to better understand how to best use their talents and how to nurture their gifts.

“Increasingly people are unfamiliar with the chaplain’s job, so students might not actively seek you out at those critical vocational intersections they face,” says Rev. Bruce Fowlkes, chaplain at Eureka College. “I must communicate and demonstrate mentoring skills, and the passion for it, at every opportunity. In essence, it is taking my calling to where students are actively discerning.”

The role of the college chaplain is unique. It lies at the nexus of education, ministry, and personal growth. While the public presence of the chaplain is the one that gets noticed most frequently, it is the personal, pastoral presence that often has the biggest impact on the life of a student.

To support the work of chaplains and other Disciples higher education programs, you’re invited to give to the 2018 Thanksgiving Special Day Offering, received in many congregations on Nov. 11 and 18.

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Religion and politics – two things you are not supposed to talk about at dinner. And yet, it is always important to know how your faith informs the rest of your life. Deciding to follow Jesus means following Christ in the classroom, at work, and in the community. Now more than ever, it is important to know how our faith shapes policies made in this country and around the world.

It is in that spirit, that the Ohio CYF embarks every two years on a “UN Seminar” trip. For a week, high schoolers from around the state travel to New York City and Washington D.C. to explore how faith and politics impact one another.

While in the Big Apple, students tour the United Nations Building (technically leaving U.S. soil briefly)! We meet with representatives of Church World Service and the Nation Council of Churches. In our nation’s capital, students have a chance to meet with congressional representatives, and sometimes even one of the senators of the Buckeye State. The UN Seminar participants have the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum, the National Museum of African American History, and many other fascinating places of learning.

While there are many opportunities for education and chances to interact with decision makers in our country, there are also a lot of other experiences to be had on the UN Seminar! Throughout the week, participants participate in a service project, see a play, go to the top of the Empire State Building, take in a Broadway musical, worship in some of our nation’s important Disciples churches, and go sightseeing all over!

Traditionally, this has been an experience reserved for Ohio high schoolers, but we would like to take this opportunity to invite anyone and everyone from high schools all over the country who would like to join us on this once in a lifetime trip! We’ll be going from Feb. 22- March 2, 2019 and all are welcome to apply!

Learn more and start the application process.

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Children’s Sabbath is traditionally celebrated on the third weekend of October, and Family and Children’s Ministries’ usually provide resources for the four preceding weeks. This year, Children’s Sabbath is the weekend of Sunday, Oct. 21, and weekly resources will begin with the week of Sept. 24.

Minister of Family and Children’s Ministries Rev. Dr. Olivia Bryan Updegrove says that the program’s evolution from a vigil for children into a vigil with children is important because “Lighting a Candle with Children involves them in our worship traditions and faith and teaches them. It also allows children to teach us, instead of providing different activities that separate us by age group.”

Moreover, Updegrove says, the goal of this program is to provide resources that families, congregations, and individuals can use, both at church and at home, during this special period and beyond.

“Faith is more important at home than anywhere else,” she says, but there is a difference between activities that entertain children and youth, and those that engage them in worship and scripture, providing them with opportunities to grapple with difficult topics and ask big questions.

“A lot of people are looking for ways to develop faith in their homes,” Updegrove explains.” The Light a Candle with Children resources provide “a simple way to engage visually, and through technology, with your family at home throughout the year.”

Resources from previous years’ prayer vigils are available online, so families, youth groups, and congregations can access them any time. The Children’s Defense Fund’s website also provides a variety of resources for congregations and families.

Additionally, the Family and Children’s Ministries team has made an effort to include multiple voices in these resources, which also include video, coloring pages, reading materials, and more, so there is something for every age and learning style.

Updegrove has served DHM as the minister of Family and Children’s Ministries for over five years. She also serves as the pastor at Independence Christian Church in the Kentucky region.

These two ministries inform each other, she says, because she can explore and experience programs like Children Worship and Wonder from all sides.

When her calls intersect, she becomes even more assured that children are important members of our faith communities and need to be treated as such.

“Children aren’t the church of tomorrow — they’re the church today. We can’t deal with issues for them; we have to work through issues with them. If we’re going to work together, they have to know who we are, and we need to find ways to build authentic relationships with them.”

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If you answered yes to any or all of these, chance are you’ve been to church camp. Church camp is one of the most meaningful and important ways to develop and deepen the faith of kids, youth, and adults. It’s also a great way for our regions to stay connected as people from all over the region come together to grow in faith, love, and community. Attending church camp is one of the most formative faith experiences for children and youth.

Christmount has launched the Camp Matters Permanent Fund starting with the “I’m in for Ten!” Campaign. With this campaign, we’re asking you to give $10. Half of your donation will go towards the Camp Matters Permanent Fund, and half will go directly to the DOC Camp and Conference Center of your choice. Once the Fund reaches $50,000, Christmount will begin accepting applications from DOC Camp & Conference Centers to receive small grants to help with projects, property, or personnel.

Thank you for joining us in building camp and conference ministries for all Disciples. We want everyone to know #CampMatters! For more information or to join the “I’m in for Ten” Campaign, visit christmount.org/campmatters.

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