wfn.org | Disciples News Brief - December 31, 2004

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

Disciples News Brief December 31, 2004 Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor E-mail:
news@cm.disciples.org

DISCIPLES RESPOND TO SOUTHEAST ASIA CATASTROPHE Countless people
in Southeast Asia are now without food, shelter and basic living
supplies following Sunday's earthquake and resulting tsunami. The
global catastrophe has claimed over 120,000 lives, and left in its
wake thousands of injured and stranded individuals. Disciples are
responding with donations to assist with the worldwide humanitarian
efforts. Week of Compassion (WOC), which provides emergency and
long-term assistance to people in the aftermath of natural and human
catastrophes, is coordinating donations on behalf of Disciples
in North America. Already, WOC has pledged $250,000 for Asia
relief. To learn how you can help WOC reach its goal as well as
to read the latest updates on the crisis, visit the WOC website:
http://www.weekofcompassion.org

GLOBAL MINISTRIES ASKS FOR PRAYER FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS
Global Ministries, a common witness of the Division of Overseas
Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Wider Church
Ministries, United Church of Christ, is also paying close attention
to developments in Southeast Asia. Global Ministries asks that people
everywhere continue to pray for partners, missionaries, and the people
in the region who have been devastated by the tsunami. Their web site
contains several articles written earlier this week about the on-going
disaster, including a letter from the Southern Asia Area Executive and
a missionary living in Sri Lanka. For more information, visit Global
Ministries web site at: http://www.globalministries.org/

OTHER LETTERS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION
n Click here to read a letter from Chris Hobgood,
General Minister and President of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), and Charisse Gillett, Moderator.
http://www.disciples.org/hobgood/tsunami_response.htm

n The link below contains a letter from Geunhee Yu,
Executive Pastor for North American/Asian Disciples
(NAPAD) that was sent to NAPAD pastors and congregations.
http://www.disciples.org/internal/news/tsunami_NAPAD.htm

DISCIPLES CHURCH IN TENNESSEE DESTROYED BY FIRE First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Oak Ridge, Tenn. was gutted by fire early
today. Fire officials are calling the blaze "very suspicious." They
believe two fires may have been set- one in the bottom half of the
church and another in the top half.

The church's pastor, Jack F. Russell, remained optimistic early Friday
morning. "This is just a building," Russell said. "I don't know how,
but I truly believe something good will come from this. When God
closes a door, He opens another one."

First Christian Church will worship this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the
lobby of Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. The location of a
congregational meeting/lunch at a local restaurant will be announced
during the church service. Week of Compassion has sent a grant on
behalf of Disciples to the church.

CHURCH EXTENSION ADDS SPANISH TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE LINE As part of
its continuing effort to provide excellent customer service, Church
Extension has added a Spanish toll-free telephone line.

The new line will allow Church Extension and New Church Ministry
to offer persons who speak Spanish a direct line to a staff person
who speaks the same language. Church Extension believes this will
encourage Spanish-speaking Disciples to better utilize Church
Extension services, including mission-driven investments, strategic
planning and capital loans for congregations. Pastors and organizers
of new Hispanic congregations can also use the line to contact New
Church Ministry.

"This new line gives us a chance to put into action our commitment to
serve all Disciples congregations," said James L. Powell, president.
"Starting with the first words of greeting on the phone, we want to
make working with us as easy as possible for our Spanish-speaking
brothers and sisters."

The phone line, 1-866-534-1949, began operation Dec. 6, and is
available during business hours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST. Church
Extension's original toll-free line will continue at 1-800-274-1883.

HELM's "TOMORROW'S LEADER'S TODAY" WINTER EDITION ONLINE The
newest edition of HELM's quarterly newsletter is online at
http://www.helmdisciples.org/helm/04/TLT-December04.htm Find out
what's happening at HELM (Higher Education and Leadership Ministries)
-- Leadership Fellows converge in Florida as the next Fellows download
applications. Also: "Joshua Generation" heads to the Lone Star State
while seminarians head for Music City.

PETER MORGAN INDUCTED INTO HALL OF HONOR Peter Morgan,
historian-in-residence for National City Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ), Washington, D.C., has been recognized for his
contributions to the ecumenical witness among the churches who trace
their origins to Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone. On October 15,
he was inducted into the hall of honor of the Restoration Forum.
The forum has been an ecumenical dialogue group primarily between
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. In recent years they have
sought to involve Disciples of Christ.

Other previously honored Disciples include Perry Epler Gresham,
President of Bethany College, and Lyndsay and Lorraine Jacobs, General
Secretaries of the World Convention of Churches of Christ.

Morgan presented the Peter Ainslie ecumenical lecture for 2004 at
National City Christian Church on October 30. Morgan served as
President of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society for nine
years, retiring in July.

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