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'Sharing the Love That Unites...'
Global Gathering 18
Goiania, Brazil
July 25-29, 2012
Participate in the Order of 2012...
Your financial partnership makes possible the efforts of connecting people everywhere, every day.
*Relate to all members of the global Stone-Campbell family through gathering and channeling news and information.
*Strengthen global contacts and links.
*Lift up visibility of our global family.
*Stimulate thought, discussion and action.
*Enable opportunities for world fellowship, which is the nature and function of this ministry.
Successful completion of a three-year commitment will enjoy several distinct privileges of membership, including:
One free individual registration to the 18th Global gathering in
Goiania, Brazil...
Recognition of membership in World Convention publications and at Brazil 2012...
Priority information on tours, events and other notices for Brazil 2012...
A recognition meal at Brazil 2012, special seating and badges for 2012 members... And more.
Do you want to be part of the Order of 2012? Just complete the form at the bottom of this newsletter and return to us at PO Box 50998, Nashville, TN 37205-0998, or cut and paste into an email and send to Julia Keith at julia@worldconvention.org
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| Prayers for the World... | |
Sister unity organizations -
Christian Churches Together
www.ChristianChurchesTogether.org
Council on Christian Unity
www.disciples.org/ccu
Stone Campbell Dialogue
World Christian Broadcasting
www.worldchristian.org
Edinburgh 2010 (WCC)
www.edinburgh2010.org
Global Mission Partners
www.inpartnership.org.au
Global missions and ministries
Central India Christian Mission
African Hope - Charlie & Kim Budd
Nigeria - Ed & Janice Nichols
Pacific Rim Ministries - Darryl & Carol Kause
Global Ministries
www.globalministries.org
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| Travel Opportunities |
International Theological Summer School which is being held at Scottish Churches House in Dunblane, Scotland from 26 June to 9 July this year. The theme is 'Visions for the Future' and there are still a few places left. The cost is £995 and there are a few bursaries available to help with the cost for those who are eligible. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit Scotland. Further details can be obtained on www.scottishchurcheshouse.
Oberammergau Passion Play and Tour. Sept 25 - Oct 4, 2010. rziglar@cox.net
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The Seven "C's" of the World Convention
I cannot say enough good things about the work my friend Bill McDonald did as Interim Director of the World Convention. The question I am asked most frequently is the same one he was asked, "What is the World Convention?"
Bill performed a great service by summarizing the work of the World Convention under a few headings, all beginning with the letter "C." I'd like to adapt and expand that list to include seven "C's" of the World Convention.
What is the World Convention?
1. It is a ministry of Christ. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus could have prayed for many things. He said, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me" (John 17:20-23).
2. It is a ministry of contemplationand prayer.It is God's work. Therefore our first call is to hear God's voice. "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world" (Psalm 46:10).
3. It is a ministry of confessionin two meanings of that word. First, we honestly confess that we have sometimes promoted disunity in the church by our words, actions, and apathy. Yet our oneness is based on a common confession that we believe all will someday make: "As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God'" (Romans 14:11).
4. It is a ministry of communication. We need to tell and to hear the stories of God's work in the world. As Jesus tells the formerly demon possessed man, "'Return home and tell how much God has done for you.' So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him" (Luke 8:39).
5. It is a ministry of convention. In our Global Gatherings every four years, in the words of Scripture, we "hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete" (2 John 1:12).
6. It is a ministry of communion. At the Lord's Meal each Sunday, we experience the unity Christ intends for us each moment. "When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body" (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
7. It is a ministry of co-mission. The World Convention is a mission organization, because we are called to join God's mission of reconciling the world. "And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!'" (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
So there you have it (thanks mainly to Bill)! A memorable way to share the ministry of the World Convention. In the weeks and months to come, we will have more to say about these seven "C's."
~ Gary Holloway |
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GLOBAL WOMEN CONNECTING
As women of faith, we have been gifted and called by Christ to be nurturers, listeners and creative responders to the needs of the communities in which we live and work. As Stone-Campbell women, we have a tradition of support and action in areas of mission where both assistance and trail blazing are necessary. We are a source of energy and insight, poised to respond to the vision of World Convention in co-operative spirit.
- Julia Keith
2008 to 2012 Service Project
Over 25 years ago, the Church of Christ Thailand, through the hard work of two amazing Christian sisters, Kru Dow and Kru Duen, established a day care center on what was then a rubbish tip in the largest slum in Bangkok. The day care center developed into a Christian Montessori pre-school and currently houses programs that serve:
· Preschool for three to seven year-olds
· Youth group for 8 to 15 year-olds
· Daily soccer program for 6 to 18 year-olds
· Fair trade based handicraft projects which employ 20 women full time selling and exporting goods made in the slum
· Coffee Shop, set-up by the women from the profits of their handicrafts, to train unemployed youth
· Medical programs and training
· Family support programs
The center has nine full time Thai staff and five missionaries from the Churches of Christ Victoria/Tasmania.
More detailed information on these initiatives is available at:
Disciples Women: www.discipleswomen.org
Global Ministries: www.globalministries.org
Our purpose is "to provide a channel by which all women members of the Stone-Campbell heritage churches and of the United churches who share that heritage, may be joined in fellowship and, through prayer, study, and service, may share the gospel to the ends of the earth. " |
| World Convention has moved...
Thanks to Vine Street Christian Church, we have a new home in the educational wing at 4101 Harding Pike in Nashville. We would love to see you when you're in the area.
Our new mailing address is:
PO Box 50998
Nashville, TN 37205-0998
Our new telephone number is:
615-298-1824
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