wfn.org | DNS News Briefs - Jan. 14, 2005

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

DNS News Briefs
January 14, 2005
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor
E-mail:  news@cm.disciples.org 

CHURCH FINANCE COUNCIL PROFILES DISCIPLES GIVING IN 2004
The Church Finance Council, a general unit of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), thanks Disciples congregations and individual
donors for outreach giving in excess of $28 million in 2004.  This total
reflects giving through Disciples Mission Fund, Week of Compassion,
Reconciliation Mission Fund and support for various regional capital
campaigns.  To read the full release, go to:
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0502.htm 

DISCIPLES SUPPORT CONTINUES FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Nearly three weeks after a massive earthquake and monster tsunamis
created an unprecedented natural and humanitarian disaster in several
Indian Ocean nations, Disciples/Week of Compassion-supported relief
operations are well underway.

In India, for example, Disciples and Church World Service partner, CASA
(Churches Auxiliary for Social Action, the relief arm of Protestant
churches in India), has completed the first phase of relief assistance
to 50,000 families (more than 250,000 people) and is now expanding its
relief efforts and beginning its long-term recovery work.  To read Week
of Compassion's full update go to: http://www.weekofcompassion.org 

GLOBAL MINISTRIES THANKS THOSE WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO TSUNAMI CRISIS
The images and stories we are all seeing in print media and on
television are bringing home the loss, grief and trauma faced by the
survivors of the earthquake and tsunami that have taken more than
160,000 lives and rendered millions homeless. As more bodies are still
being recovered, especially in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the
Andaman-Nicobar islands of India, the hopes of finding the missing
thousands are fading away fast. Our Global Ministries partners in the
region, other relief agencies and the governments are doing their best
to address the situation. 

However new problems keep emerging, and thousands are yet to receive
relief, food, water, medicine and shelter. The spontaneous and generous
responses from our churches and individuals to help the victims have
been very moving and encouraging. We want to thank each one of you who
have responded so generously to support our efforts and the efforts of
our partners to help the victims with immediate relief and long term
rehabilitation and development measures.  For updates from our
missionaries and partners in Southern Asia, visit
http://www.globalministries.org.  New updates are added frequently. 

HEALTH KITS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR TSUNAMI RESPONSE
The regional director of the Indiana-Kentucky Regional Office of Church
World Service (CWS), has issued a public appeal for Gift of the Heart
Health Kits to replenish their rapidly diminishing stock. CWS is the
international relief and development arm for 36 U.S. denominations,
including the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  More than 40,000
health kits have been shipped to Sri Lanka and Aceh (Indonesia) for
immediate response to the tsunami disasters. Many more will be needed in
the weeks and months ahead.  To read more go to:
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0505.htm 

CHILDREN OF FAITH CAN PROVIDE TSUNAMI DISASTER RELIEF
Disciples Home Missions, in partnership with the Region of Virginia,
Common Global Ministries, and Week of Compassion, has launched a Kids to
Kids Special Project: Welcome Tents for Kids.

This project gives children an opportunity to provide tents as safe
places for children to go for counseling, fun, and educational
activities. It takes about $1.50 (U.S.) to provide one day of care for
one child. Children also can raise money to provide milk for infants. It
takes about $1 (U.S.) to provide a one-day supply of milk for one
infant.  For more information go to
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0503.htm 

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION AND CELEBRATION TO BE HELD IN NORTH CAROLINA
A worship Service of Reconciliation and Celebration will take place on
Sunday, January 23 between the congregations of Greenleaf Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) of Goldsboro, N.C. and First Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) of Wilmington, N.C. The occasion marks the
second such service held by the two congregations. The idea for this
partnership was birthed out of a deep concern for the current segregated
status of Christian churches of all denominations. To read more about
the service and its purpose, go to
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0504.htm 

DISCIPLES HOME MISSIONS SPONSORS TWO CHILDREN'S EVENTS
A Children Welcome! Conference will be held at St. Paul's Christian
Church, Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 11-12. The Rev. Bill Lee of Roanoke, Va.,
will lead the morning Bible studies. Cost for the two-day conference is
$80. Early bird registration ends Friday, Jan. 28. For additional
information, contact Kaye Edwards, kedwards@dhm.disciples.org or Sue
Halford, sue@ncdisciples.org or check the Children Welcome! website,
http://www.childrenwelcome.org.  

Children Worship & Wonder storyteller training events are being held
Jan. 28 - 30 in the regions of Arizona, Oklahoma, Kentucky and the
Pacific Southwest. The training in the Pacific Southwest Region will be
conducted in Spanish. For registration information contact Kaye Edwards,
kedwards@dhm.disciples.org or Connie Metts, cmetts@dhm.disciples.org.

TRAVELING EXHIBIT CHRONICLES THE COST OF WAR
"Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War," is a traveling memorial
exhibition that honors fallen U.S. military personnel and Iraqi
civilians. It will be on display at National City Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 19-21. Eyes Wide
Open features more than 1,300 pairs of combat boots, representing U.S.
soldiers who have died during the Iraq war.

 A 24-foot "wall" of names and incidents of Iraqi civilian deaths
confirmed during the conflict and 1,000 pairs of shoes representing a
small fraction of the Iraqi civilians killed in the war also are on
display.  For more details, go to:
http://www.nationalcitycc.org/boots.pdf 

CONGREGATIONS INVOLVED IN ECO-JUSTICE MINISTRY MAY BE PROFILED 
Web content is being developed for the National Religious Partnership
for the Environment. They're profiling congregations (lifting them up as
examples) for various eco-justice ministry work. They want examples of
Disciples congregations. Is your congregation doing really great
environmentally-related work that should be profiled?

Please let us know--no matter how big or small your work. Contact
Angela Herrmann, (317) 713-2683, (888) 346-2631 or
aherrman@dhm.disciples.org 

Don't forget to register for the 2005 General Assembly that will be
held in Portland, Ore., July 23-27. On-line registration is available at
http://www.disciples.org/ga05/index.htm. Hotels are filling up quickly.

####

For more information on the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
visit http://www.disciples.org 

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

wfn