wfn.org | Disciples cited for St. Mark's project

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

Date: June 27, 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

97a-40

    INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The National Council of
Churches Burned Churches Fund has honored the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a
Presbyterian ministry partner for their roles in
rebuilding an African-American church burned by an
arsonist. 

    The Burned Churches ministry of the NCC
presented the "Racial Justice Partners in
Achievement Award" to the Disciples' Volunteers in
Mission ministry and Hosanna Industries Inc. for
"creating a 10-day miracle of reconstruction at
St. Mark's Missionary Baptist Church in Chelford,
Arkansas."  

    Volunteers in Mission, a ministry of the
Disciples' Homeland Ministries division recruited
and organized more than 300 volunteer laborers who
built a new St. Mark's church building between
March 17-26. An arsonist burned down the old 
church in December 1995.  Hosanna Industries, a
building ministry related to a Bakerstown, Pa.,
Presbyterian congregation, created and supervised
the detailed work plan for the ten day start-to-finish "blitz build."  The 35-member congregation
held its first formal service in the new building
on Easter morning.

    "We were excited and grateful to receive the
award for the reconstruction project," said the
Rev. Ann Updegraff-Spleth, president, Homeland
Ministries.  "But the greatest honor of all, was
rebuilding a community of faith and their house of
worship. We accepted the award on behalf of all
Disciples who pounded nails, prayed and
contributed resources to the rebuilding of St.
Mark's."

    Updegraff Spleth and the Rev. Jayna Powell,
Volunteers in Mission director,  accepted the
award at a Washington, D. C., banquet on June 9. 

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DISCNEWS - inbox for Disciples News Service, Office of Communication, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206, tele. (317) 635-3100, (DISCNEWS@ecunet.org) Wilma Shuffitt, News and Information Assistant; (CWILLIS@oc.disciples.org) Cliff Willis, Director of News and Information; (CMILLER@oc.disciples.org) Executive Director