wfn.org | Disciples News Brief February 12, 2004

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Amy Shockley
Phone: 317-713-2495
E-mail: ashockley@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

NATIONAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION SEES STRONGER REVENUE IN 2003, BUT CREDITOR 
INFLEXIBILITY AND RESULTING NEGATIVE PRESS DRAMATICALLY SLOW BUSINESS IN 
SECOND HALF
St. Louis, Missouri - National Benevolent Association ("NBA") said today 
that total revenue gains and other support for the year ended December 31, 
2003, increased by $19,003,000 compared with the same period in 2002. This 
increase was due largely to an increase in fees paid by residents of 
NBA-owned retirement facilities, improved performance by NBA financial 
investments and decreased salaries and other expenses largely as a result 
of reductions in staff and other efforts to control labor costs, NBA said. 
To read the complete press release from NBA, go to: 
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2004/0409.htm

UNTANGLE THE WEB
Are you struggling to build a good website for your congregation? Looking 
for ways to take your site to the next level? Need to figure out why your 
church's website is an afterthought? You need to come to Indianapolis March 
4-5 for "Untangle the Web: Strengthening your congregation's Web presence." 
For more information, visit: http://www.disciples.org/webhelp, To register 
for the conference, go to: 
https://register.disciples.org/main.asp?assemblyid=31 -- hurry, the 
deadline is February 20.

WEEK OF COMPASSION OFFERING TO BE RECEIVED Feb. 22 and 29
For the past few years, Week of Compassion has reported regular updates of 
widespread drought and famine across large areas of southern Africa. While 
news of the drought and its debilitating, often deadly impact on millions 
of people has been overshadowed in the news by the war in Iraq, the war on 
terrorism, celebrity scandals and trials, politics, etc., humanitarian 
crisis in the region continues. Go to WOC website for the complete update: 
http://www.weekofcompassion.org/pages/updates/2004/feb0407.html.

To learn more about Week of Compassion Offering visit the WOC website at: 
http://www.weekofcompassion.org/

SITE ACQUISITION GRANTS FOR NEW CONGREGATIONS ANNOUNCED
Church Extension and New Church Ministry are pleased to announce the 
availability of Site Acquisition Grants for new congregations anticipating 
land acquisition in the next twelve to eighteen months. Grant requests must 
be received at the Church Extension office by March 15, 2004. To get a copy 
of the Grant Guidelines and an application form, contact Rick Reisinger at 
rreisinger@churchextension.org or Rick Morse at rmorse@churchextension.org, 
or call 800-274-1883.

FIND INSPIRATION IN A UNIQUE LENTEN RESOURCE
ST. LOUIS, MO - "Fellowship of Prayer" is inspiring many this Lenten season 
as it prepares Christians for renewed service to Christ. Regional and 
general leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) compiled 
their heart-felt thoughts and prayers together into this small devotional 
that reaches many during this time for reflection and rebirth. Learn how 
you can order a copy of this devotional from Christian Board of Publication 
by going to: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2004/0408.htm

ATTEND SECOND 'CHILDREN WELCOME!' CONFERENCE
Plans are underway for the second annual Children Welcome! Conference in 
Roanoke, Va., Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2004. Over 300 Disciples adults, youth and 
children are expected to attend. Discovery group sessions will focus on a 
number of relevant topics including how to advocate for children, how to 
organize mission trips for children, youth and adults, prayer and faith 
development for kids and what it would take to raise a non-racist 
generation. Don't miss this opportunity to network with local church clergy 
and lay people of all ages while sharing your story and expressing an 
interest in children and in the youth of our denomination.

For more information on the conference and to registration online, visit 
the Disciples Home Missions website at: http://www.childrenwelcome.org. To 
view a promotional flyer: 
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2004/ChildrenWelcome2.pdf

FORMER DOM EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN, JUDITH ANN 
DOUGLAS DIES
Judith Ann Douglas, former Division of Overseas Ministries Executive 
Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, died Dec. 21, 2003, at 
Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. For additional information 
from Global Ministries, go to:
http://www.globalministries.org/news/news.htm#5

*The Disciples News Brief is distributed each Thursday by Communication 
Ministries. For changes, additions or deletions to our distribution list, 
please contact news@cm.disciples.org.

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