New Resource

Available in time for Spring events ~ Human Trafficking - Breaking the Chains: Link by Link flyer. You can visit the National Human Trafficking Resource Center to find information about your state to add to the back of this flyer to make it more relevant to your attendees. Research your state's stats ~ the numbers may surprise you.

DW @ GA2015

Is your collection of plastic shopping bags growing and threatening to overwhelm you? Please feel free to donate to a good cause ~ turn them into crocheted plastic sleeping mats for the homeless. This project will take place on Monday, July 20.

Disciples Women's Ministries is helping Disciples Youth with this project. You can create your own balls of plarn and bring them or bring bags with you to GA. Extra P, Q, or 10 crochet hooks, tape measurers, and scissors are welcomed also (just don't pack the scissors in your carry-on). They can be left in the Franklin Ballroom in the Hyatt near the convention center entrance, through Monday noon. They can be shipped (UPS or Fed Ex) to Disciples Women, Attn: Sleeping Mat Project, 1099 N Meridian St, Suite 700, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or USPS to PO Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (must arrive by June 30, 2015 if shipping to Disciples Women offices!)

We are also looking for a few volunteers to help with the project on Monday. All ages and abilities are welcomed. The bags need to be sorted, plarn created, mats crocheted, and others taught to crochet. Also need Disciples Women's luncheon hostesses for Wednesday, July 22. Please let us know if you are available for either opportunity. Email us.

Global Women Connecting

The next Global Gathering will be in New Delhi, India, January 12-15, 2017. For fun check out the list of countries which are host to at least one congregation from the Stone-Campbell heritage. This gathering will be in conjunction with the Global Women Connecting Executive Committee meeting and the women's retreat. At this retreat the next service project will be selected. 

Mission Opportunities at General Assembly

What does "SOAR!" mean to you? For the members of the General Assembly Local Missions Committee, "SOAR!" is a call to Share Our Abundant Resources! Assembly participants are invited to give blood through the American Red Cross and knit or crochet scarves and other items for individuals living rough in Columbus - all without leaving the Convention Center. Or give a few hours of your time outside the Convention Center, by serving through the Mid-Ohio Habitat for Humanity Restore or pitching in to sort a semi-trailer full of produce which will be distributed to area food banks in partnership with the Society of St. Andrew. More information about these opportunities is available on Disciples Volunteering web site. Advanced registration is now available and strongly encouraged for the Food Drop and Habitat ReStore.

Syrian Refugee Advocacy Alert - Ask Congress NOW: Support relief and resettlement for Syrian refugees!

The human rights violations that have been perpetrated by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) have been widespread and have left more than 10 million people in need of humanitarian and protection assistance both within Syria and in surrounding countries.

Take Action -The Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act of 2015,H.R. 1568, was recently introduced by Representatives Vargas (CA-51), Rooney (FL-17), Conyers (MI-13) and Hunter (CA-50). H.R. 1568 would make the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program more accessible to persecuted groups in Iraq and Syria, including individuals facing gender-based violence and religious and ethnic minorities fleeing ISIS. The legislation would also open additional processing entities in the region, increase staff for processing refugee applications, and streamline the existing systems for conducting

background and security checks. H.R. 1568 would also expand the use of video interviewing and improve accountability and transparency around denial decisions.

Youth groups are invited to make a week of the General Assembly. 

The General Assembly Youth Planning Team has arranged for mission opportunities for youth groups who attend the General Assembly, to take place Thursday - Saturday following Assembly at three different Mission Destinations: Indianapolis, Lexington, or just outside Columbus. Food, housing, and work assignments are all being coordinated by your General Assembly Youth Planning Team. Cost for the weekend is $40/person. Participants must be entering sixth grade or above. Youth groups are responsible for their own transportation and must have one participating adult for every five youth. Learn more and register here.