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From the President
My daughter, Michele, introduced me to the writings of Og Mandino. She said, "Dad, you have just got to read this book," as she handed me a copy of The Greatest Salesman in the World. In this book, Mandino writes:
"Nor will I allow yesterday's success to lull me into today's complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life."
Mandino's words remind me of the words of another whom the theologian F.F. Bruce called the apostle of a heart set free. The Apostle Paul in his writing to the church at Philippi [Philippians 3:13-14] wrote:
"Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on to the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."
I do not want to step on any toes, but our congregations and their leaders must stop living on the laurels of past accomplishments and move with all deliberate speed into the future to which God is calling us. There is no question that we, with God's help, have accomplished some pretty significant things in our 182 years of history since the union of the Disciples and Christians in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1832. We have a distinguished past, but our past is just that, past! We need to fix our eyes "and greet the new sun with confidence" and "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."
I had a conversation the other day with a minister's child. I call them TO's or theological offspring's, rather than PK's or preacher's kids. The TO was raised throughout her life in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), attended Sunday School, Worship, Children & Family and Youth programs of the local congregation, and Camp & Conference Programs of the Region. Her father was Senior Minister of this particular congregation for over 20 years. Church had become everything to her over the years.
She confessed to me that since her days in that particular congregation she has been trying to replicate the experiences she had there. She said, "My growing up at First Christian Church ______ was so great and magical that I have not found a congregation that can match up to what I experienced there in the past. I guess I just had it too good."
If we collectively continue to gaze, as does this TO, through the rearview mirror of our church, we will be lulled into complacency where lies "the great foundation of failure." Let us instead turn our eyes upon Jesus and his call to go into all the world with the gospel. Let us not look back but look ahead. In close communion with God let us prepare ourselves for new experiences with God, Christ, and the church which will move us forward to a place of engagement with God's brave new world of today and tomorrow.
Front Windshield-ly yours,
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Clergy Continuing Education Grants
Clergy Continuing Education Grants awarded through Disciples Home Missions
The period of application for clergy continuing education grants awarded by Disciples Home Missions for the 2015 calendar year will be between September 1 and October 31, 2014. This is a change from last year's application period, and is meant to facilitate application requests for events earlier in the calendar year.
If you would like to be considered for a DHM Clergy Continuing Education Grant next year (2015), you must apply during the application window. Visit our website for instructions and an application.
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Family & Children Ministries
Preparing for Advent
As November approaches we offer you resources and ideas for your planning your Advent programming and worship:
www.discipleshomemissions.org/worship-resources.
Be sure to join us on Pinterest as well. We'll be adding new pins daily beginning now and throughout the Advent season! Check out our board for Advent & Christmas or for Alternative Christmas Gifts.
Upcoming Interdenominational Events
We learn when we come together! These are events of interest we're looking into for 2015. They promise great conversations and education on what it means to be a part of 21st century Christianity and Faith Formation:
Faith Forward 2015
April 20-23, 2015 in Chicago, IL
Bringing together children's and youth ministry leaders for collaboration, resourcing, and inspiration toward innovative theology and practice.
Christianity21
January 22-24, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona
21 speakers deliver 21 big ideas in 21 minutes each
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Disciples Women
Just Women
Fall 2014 study guide is available.
Winter 2015 issue, focusing on bullying and celebrating family no matter the configuration, is being written.
Spring 2015 Bible Study pre-orders are now being accepted.  Orders received BEFORE February 1, 2015, will be shipped FREE. "Women of the New Testament: Finding their Voices" is being written by Rev. Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, Rev. Daphne Gascot Arias, and Rev. Dr. Cathy Myers Wirt. This is the second year for the study to be written in its entirely by Disciples women scholars. The Spring Bible study sold-out in 2014.
Umoja October newsletter is now available.
Human Trafficking - Breaking the Chains: Link by Link
This is the social action emphasis for Disciples Women. Do you know the three areas of focus? Learn more.
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Refugee & Immigration
A group of 12 Bunong and 4 Jarai Disciples traveled to DC on Sunday, September 28th and stayed in the home of the Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director of Refugee & Immigration Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). On Monday, Sept. 29th,we participated in seven different meetings, arranged for us by Sharon Stanley-Rea. The first four were on Capitol Hill, followed by lunch and three meetings at National City Christian Church. At the end of the day, we visited the NCCC sanctuary. Read More...
Raquel Garcia Retires After 18 Years of Ministry with SWGSM
Before a crowd of over 100 enthusiastic supporters who had gathered  from Washington, D.C., Arizona, and cities all around Texas on October 10th, Raquel Garcia was honored and thanked for her dedicated ministry as Administrative Assistant to SWGSM for over 18 years. The program was held in Ebenezer Christian Church in San Benito, and opened with words of love from her long-term partner in ministry, Rev. Feliberto Pereira. "Raquel has been the heart and soul of Good Samaritan Ministries," expressed Feliberto.
SWGSM Board Moderator Rev. Dr. John Callison offered gifts from the board of a Disciples chalice necklace, an engraved cell phone cover, and a plaque of appreciation. SWGSM board Vice Moderator Rev. Hector Velazquez, offered words of reflection and encouragement from Acts 13, reminding Raquel that "Retirement is not the end of one's work, but the beginning of a new journey." Refugee & Immigration Ministries (RIM) Director, Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea, presented a certificate of appreciation from Disciples Home Missions and RIM, reminding her of great partnerships in scripture, and expressing joy for her biblical commitment to hospitality to "welcome the stranger" throughout decades-which has influenced the whole of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination.
A banquet followed the service of thanks in the church fellowship hall, and Raquel spoke of her excitement of "new roads and ways" ahead in her life. If you would like to make a donation in honor of Raquel's ministry, please mail to SWGSM.
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Eureka College
Support for Disciples Students at Eureka College
Eureka College is committed to a renewed relationship with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Today, this historical foundation is expressed in the strategic goal, "Eureka College will increase the presence of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) tradition in all areas of campus life and have EC recognized as one of the Top 3 schools affiliated with the church."
Grants for Disciples of Christ Students ($500 each, stackable)
- Members of Disciples of Christ congregations are eligible to apply for the Faith-Based, Service and Leadership Engagement Awards.
- Active members who are also dependents of DOC ministers.
- Active members who are youth leaders in the regional or general church.
Application
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