by Rev. Layne Beamer, First Christian Church of Whittier, CA As someone who was slated to be a Moral Witness at the Sacramento Action, I have an odd mixed bag of thoughts and feelings about the fact that NO arrests were made at this particular action. I admire and respect the officers who continually eased back […]
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19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:19 (NRSV) Alaska, Washington State, North Idaho, and Montana soon may be part of one big region. On April 28 and May 19 respectively, […]
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When Rev. Rich McCullen worked with teenagers at a parachurch organization, he noticed that bringing students to an institutional church was always challenging because there seemed to be a prejudice against those without any religious background. So, McCullen decided to start his own student service. “We wanted to connect ancient Christian spirituality with a modern […]
Read moreWill last year’s new tax legislation impact the giving of Disciples to your ministry? Will it impact your own giving? The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made significant changes to the federal tax code. Many of us are anxious to see what this will mean for charitable giving, especially where our congregations are […]
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“The Mission First! pilot showed us the power of connection and the analysis gave us clarity about action,” said Moderator Sue Morris. “Not only did we learn about the great work being done across the life of the Church, but we also learned that there is a craving for connection.” Beginning with an idea in […]
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Before Rev. Bentley Stewart was a church planter, he was a hospital chaplain. In that ministry, he regularly worked with people with no interest in religious conversations. Stewart would press on, developing relationships with patients and families. He felt it was his job to “bear witness to a God of love and redemption who meets […]
Read moreEven though the Iowa winter did not want to let go, the General Board meeting was full of signs of spring and resurrection. The general ministries and regions shared their verbal reports in detail with small groups and the highlights were shared with the whole board in a joy-infused session. Included in those notes were: […]
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For church planter Rev. Rachel Woehler, the call to form a new kind of church came from the Lord’s Supper. “In summer 2011, I got a metaphorical burr in my saddle,” Woehler said. “Almost suddenly my ear became attuned to certain words: feast, meal, table, and fellowship. I was especially aware of these words when […]
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Disciples have been getting up and out into their communities a lot in the last few weeks. Issues including gun violence, racism, poverty, and education have all motivated action from congregations coast to coast. Here is just a sample of activities to show the breadth of Disciples responses. March for Our Lives | Act to […]
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For Park Avenue Christian Church (The Park) in New York City, the key to growth wasn’t searching outside their building’s walls, but instead, listening to the people already inside them. When executive minister Rev. Stephanie Kendell accepted her call in 2017, The Park already had a very diverse congregation, with a median age of 35. […]
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