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Building and flying
National Benevolent Association's XPLOR project
by Rev. Bonnie Osei-Frimpong, project coordinator
The NBA XPLOR Project has been in development for over a year. The XPLOR Team has consulted with 17 similar residency programs, accessed their best practices and made valuable additions that provide this residency with a uniquely Disciples ethos. A diverse team of pastors, lay people, and young adults conducted interviews with a dynamic group of young adult candidates. And now, as residents begin to accept their site placements and continue preparation discussions with local, social service sites, there is a feeling that we are now officially launching and inaugurating this exciting ministry complete with residents, congregational teams, service sites, and many ministry partners. Sometimes it feels as though we are building this plane even as we fly it!
As project coordinator, what has surprised me is the faithfulness and integrity of the applicants - not only in their applications and interviews, but especially in their lives. XPLOR applicants value diversity, understand issues of privilege and oppression, and are committed to developing hearts for care and service. One applicant explained the attraction to this service program, "I really like the way the program phrases it, to discern the purpose for which one's soul is made. I want to give this intentional attention, in community. It is something I really need to work on, to figure out what is important."
In this inaugural year of XPLOR, my hope for residents is that they can cultivate and confirm vocational habits -spiritually and professionally - that will equip them to sustain the work of service wherever their vocation calls them. This means, among other things, keeping a sabbath time, developing mutually transformative relationships within a community, and living simply and intentionally amidst a culture of consumption.
The young adults and host congregations have begun a faithful and exciting exploration. The residential houses will be a mixture of church camp fun, dorm room camaraderie, and family dinner fellowship. The challenges that arise will result in deep personal growth. Host congregations in Hiram-Mantua (Ohio), St. Louis (Missouri), and North Hollywood (California), will be invigorated and enriched by the relationships formed between residents and people in every aspect of church life. Work sites will receive diligent and dedicated workers who strive to better understand and dismantle systemic injustice.
As we build the plane and fly it, we are grateful to explore what the future holds for the residents, host congregations, work sites, and the larger church.
Interested in learning more about NBA XPLOR? Contact Rev. Rebecca Hale, vice president for Mission and Ministry or Rev. Bonnie Osei-Frimpong, XPLOR project coordinator | More information
Contemporary songs that support liturgical worship? Imagine that!
 Raised Southern Baptist, and a long-time music director in the independent Christian Church, Tim Harper was energized by discovering the Disciples. "What I fear many Disciples take for granted, I continue to see as a unique and vital message for our culture; that of tolerance and a more thorough sweep of the gospel message," he said. He found that supporting that message with contemporary music as music director was a huge challenge. However, the ministry staff at Beargrass Christian Church in Louisville encouraged broader themes be covered musically, and language concerns be addressed as well. He spent a few years searching for, adapting, and writing material to meet the challenge. He also discovered that countless ministers were frustrated with inadequate material to support their theological teaching. "In some cases it seemed churches had abandoned ideas that drew me to Disciples churches in the first place by adopting music programs imitating the popular with seemingly no concern for language. My heart was breaking." Believing in the power music has to connect with people, move them, and get across a message, he decided to initiate a digital music distribution system and resource - songsforsermons.org LLC It provides piano sheet music, lead sheets, chord charts, audio recordings, and sing-a-long recordings as well a license to reproduce the material on screen or in bulletins. Harper is offering a sample by using coupon number 1842 for a discount or simply e-mail the title to tim@beargrass.org | 
