wfn.org | Disciples News Brief

["Wilma Shuffitt" <wshuffitt@cm.disciples.org>]

Date: June 17, 2004
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Phone: 317-713-2492
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org 
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

SOW RECONCILIATION.  REAP JUSTICE
By sowing seeds of reconciliation, Disciples can begin to dismantle
systemic racism and become God's "faithful, growing church that
demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion
for justice." 

Congregational support of the racial justice and reconciliation mission
witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is vital to this
ministry. At least 50 cents of every dollar from this offering will
remain in the region where it will be used to support local and regional
Anti-racism/Pro-reconciliation projects and initiatives. The rest
supports the ministry of Reconciliation Mission across the life of the
church. Starting in July, a re-designed resource guide will be available
to pastors and congregations as well as a new website for Reconciliation
Mission that will be posted at: www.reconciliationmission.org. 

GLOBAL PRAYER LIFTS UP INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS
A weekly global prayer is now available through Global Ministries, a
common witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the
United Church of Christ. The prayer, updated each Monday, can be found
on the www.globalministries.org website. This week, visitors to the
website are encouraged to pray for human rights for Asian refugees and
refugees in all parts of the world as part of World Refugee Day
observances. Visitors to the site also can join the Global Ministries
email update list to receive occasional updates about what is happening
around the world in God's global mission.

2004 DISCIPLES PEACE INTERNS
Four young people are traveling the nation this summer leading
discussions on peace. The 2004 Disciples Peace Fellowship interns are
Krista Johnson, who attends Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis,
Ind.; Rob McRight, St. Paul's Christian Church, Raleigh, N.C.; Timothy
Murphy, First Christian Church, Paducah, Ky.; and Vy Nguyen of East
Dallas Christian Church, Dallas, Texas.

The interns spent a week in Indianapolis recently, meeting with staff
persons at the Disciples Center, learning about issues such as racism,
refugee and immigration ministries, the Decade to End Violence,
globalization and the war in Iraq. They now are carrying the message of
their special peace ministry to junior and senior-high camps and
conferences across the country. For further information contact Sarah
Riester at sarahriester@yahoo.com or visit:
www.discipleshomemissions.org/Dpf/ for more information about
Disciples Peace Fellowship.

BRUCE JONES, WELL-KNOWN DISCIPLE MINISTER, PASSES AWAY 
Bruce L. Jones, 79, former Regional Minister of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Arizona, died May 30. Jones was called to serve
as the first Regional Minister in Arizona in 1977.  He served in that
position for 14 years, and was well known as a leader with great passion
for peace and justice. Prior to his Arizona appointment, Jones served in
various ministries, including pastoral ministry in Concord, Calif.;
Interim State Secretary for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in Northern California-Nevada Region, and as a missionary in Costa Rica
and Paraguay. He also served the General Church in Indianapolis, as
Director for Education for Mission in what is now Disciples Home
Missions. Jones retired in 2001.

FIRST NBA MIRACLE DAY EVENT OF 2004 HELD IN ALABAMA
The first National Benevolent Association (NBA) Miracle Day of 2004 was
held June 5 with the Alabama-Northwest Florida Region. Nearly 200
volunteers from 27 Disciples churches assisted United Christian Church
of Montgomery, Ala., in cleaning and repairing the church's building
and grounds.  

There have been 48 Miracle Days, since the event was created by NBA in
1997. Miracle Day is a joint mission venture between the NBA and the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in citywide, area or regional
manifestations. For more information go to:
www.nbacares.org/DoC/NBAToday/NBAToday.htm#MD49.

WEEK OF COMPASSION CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO NATURAL DISASTERS
Week of Compassion efforts are helping with cleanup and recovery work
in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the aftermath of some of the
worst flooding and mudslides ever to strike the island.  For information
on how Week of Compassion has responded to these and other disasters,
visit the Week of Compassion website at:
www.weekofcompassion.org/pages/updates/updates.html.

CANE RIDGE IS CALLING
Those interested in the history of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) will want to attend the 200th Anniversary of the Signing of the
Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery.	Three days of
events will take place on June 26-28 at Cane Ridge, Ky. For further
information or to register to attend, visit the website at:
www.caneridge.org/.

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

wfn