wfn.org | Disciples to help rebuild rural Arkansas church

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

Date: February 21, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

97b-9

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) across the
country will
help rebuild a rural Arkansas church victimized by arson in November 1995.

     Disciples volunteers will participate in a 10-day blitz to restore St.
Marks Missionary
Baptist Church in the Chelford community near Tyronza, Ark. The scheduled
construction dates
are March 17-26. The project is being coordinated by the Disciples Volunteers
in Mission
program.

     Financial support for the mission activity has been provided by the
Burned Churches Fund
of the National Council of Churches, which Disciples supported with gifts to
Reconciliation and
Week of Compassion. Donations from Habitat for Humanity also support the
building effort.  

     The African American congregation is located about 45 miles northwest of
Memphis.
Church members have been worshiping in borrowed facilities for 15 months and
are "ready to
come back home," said the Rev. Jayna Powell, a Homeland Ministries associate
for Volunteers in
Mission.  

     The VIM program is working with Hosanna Industries, a Presbyterian
charitable housing
ministry in Pittsburgh, and area residents to rebuild the church facility.
Organizers hope to have
the structure finished before Easter.

     The project will culminate with a dedication service on March 26.

     Laborers, cooks and other helpers are needed, along with donations to
help furnish the
structure, according to Powell. Interested persons may contact her at (410)
788-6309; or Brenda
Mitchell of Homeland Ministries, (317) 635-3113, ext. 344.  

                          - 30 -

DISCNEWS - inbox for Disciples News Service, Office of Communication,
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206,
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