Disciples News Service
Category: Congregations
Pacific Southwest congregation honored for homeless ministry work
Submitted by Rev. Rebecca Littlejohn Since 2002, Vista La Mesa Christian Church, in east San Diego County, CA, has opened their doors to neighbors struggling with homelessness for two weeks or more each year, through the Interfaith Shelter Network in their community. Through this program, guests are provided with semi-private rooms overnight, three meals a […]
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Answering the 2019 General Assembly’s call to see and respond
October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month emphasis is just the beginning of learning about the issue that affects people across the spectrum of age, race, and economic status. An estimated 12 million people are hostage in toxic relationships. The dynamics are not logical and the complexities around abuse are not easily understood. The authors of the […]
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Texas congregation hosts “Change the Conversation” immigration conference
Saturday, Oct. 19, First Christian Church in Fort Worth, TX, hosted around 40 people from several congregations for a “Change the Conversation” conference on immigration. The event planning committee decided to focus on immigration and refugee issues because “We wanted truth,” explains committee member and FCC elder Ruth Winkler. “We wanted to hear some truth […]
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Congregation discovers its impact
Not too far from Cane Ridge and Paris, Kentucky, North Middletown Christian Church is, as their pastor Rev. Stephanie Moon says, a “modest” sized congregation. But their impact in the community is marked by generous giving to many causes. In 2018, the congregation embarked on a counting spree. They did not include the contributions the […]
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North Carolina congregation partners with general ministries to develop stewardship plan
Congregational transformation doesn’t always require immense creativity or large-scale programs. Instead, important growth can be the result of subtle changes made largely on paper. Reaching out for help is a critical first step. For First Christian Church in Greenville, NC, it was a simple recommendation that made all the difference. At their 2018 homecoming service, […]
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Disciples Women of Illinois/Wisconsin region host ‘Pray and Play’ events
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Beth Rupe, Interim Minister of Disciples Women for Illinois/Wisconsin There is probably not a woman who is active in Disciples Women Ministries that is not familiar with the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus comes to Bethany to visit. We find Martha in the kitchen doing what is generally expected of […]
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Oregon congregation works to build affordable housing on church property
Five years ago, members of neighboring congregations in Portland, OR – St. Johns Community Church (Disciples of Christ) and University Park United Methodist Church – began looking for ways to better serve people in their community without affordable housing. They knew many people had been displaced from the neighborhood as rent prices skyrocketed. They knew […]
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Disciples Mission Fund covenant makes ministry possible
Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) brings the whole Church together, connecting us to the life-giving and life-saving work we have been called to do. Since the mid-1900s, Disciples have used shared funding to facilitate our denomination’s growing cooperation. DMF is a simplified giving option for congregations or individuals that voluntarily share support. Gifts to DMF undergird […]
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Light a Candle with Children prayer vigil begins Sept. 23
Ministries Across Generations (previously Family & Children’s Ministries, housed in Disciples Home Missions) calls Disciples families and congregations to participate in the eighth “Light a Candle with Children” prayer vigil this fall, beginning Monday, Sept. 23. This time of reflection and conversation takes place over the 40 days preceding Children’s Sabbath, which falls on Oct. […]
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