February 17, 2016
joy in worship
Mission Church congregation leads worship
 
Texas church finds joy, renewal
Hurst Christian Church partnering with new congregation
By Barbara DuPuy, Hurst Christian Church

In December 2013, Pastor Mechak Rwumbuguza and Mr. Love Safari first met with the church board at Hurst to share Pastor Mechak's calling to start a church in the DFW area. Pastor Mechak shared his vision of how they are a harvest of the seeds that early Disciple Missionaries planted in the Congo many years ago. "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Isaiah 43:19
 
The board voted unanimously to enter into a ministry partnership in January 2014. Two years later, Jan. 31, 2016, in a joint worship service the celebration went far beyond a two-year anniversary. Representatives from the Trinity-Brazos Area presented Pastor Mechak and Pastor Amani Sebaziga their commissioning certificates. Rev. Alan Lobaugh made this presentation in addition to sharing a letter from the New and Transforming Church Committee. The Disciples of Christ Mission Church has been approved for affiliation with the Disciples of Christ.
 
The majority of the Mission Church members are immigrants and refugees from the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. Many of the members have been in the US for 8-10 years, living in numerous states. The founding of the Disciples of Christ Mission Church provided an opportunity to worship in the cultural traditions of their home country in their native language. Many members also joined as members of Hurst Christian Church, and several have been elected as elders and deacons. Read more and see more photos

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Oklahoma leadership training addresses mission possible
speaker at podium
Week of Compassion Executive Director Rev. Vy Ngyuen was the keynoter for the 25th Leadership Training School in Oklahoma earlier this month. More than 400 Disciples gathered to focus on the possibilities of mission.
Read a story by Aaron Todd 
Studies by Antonio Redd available for download on Disciples Home Missions page.

Special offering coming Feb. 21 & 28
Every year in February Week of Compassion gets special attention, but the offering serves year round in disaster relief and long-term development in the United States, Canada and around the globe. Funding efforts as diverse as water distribution in Flint, MI, and the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe, or earthquakes and flooding, Week of Compassion is one of the most cost effective ways to donate with a tiny 6 to 8 cents per dollar going to administrative costs. Find out more 
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combination logo

July 26-30
Registration is now open for youth 13-18 and their families and sponsors to attend the Disciples/UCC joint youth event in Orlando.
News in the Church                                   Other News                          
Higher Education & Leadership Ministries Leadership Fellows applications available
by Hollie Woodruff, director of development and communications  
HELM is now taking applications to join the 16th class of HELM Leadership Fellows in fall 2016. The Leadership Fellows program is a unique opportunity for Disciples students to be in closer relationship with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), to network with each other, to encounter innovative and inspiring leaders, to prepare themselves for leadership in a rapidly and radically changing religious environment and to add additional value to their undergraduate educations.
 
Students completing their senior year of high school and who plan to enroll in a college or university are encouraged to apply. Students planning to attend community college with the intention of transferring to a 4-year college will also be considered. Note: We are not accepting applications from first year college students.
The postmark deadline for applications is April 15. It also may be filled out online
  
If you have any questions, please contact Eli Rolon, director of programs and technology at [email protected]
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Black Leadership Projects Grant
Accepting applications now
                            
The Black Leadership Projects Committee is happy to announce the 2016 grant process is open. Applications are due no later than May 31. There is no minimum request.

All proposals for projects that develop, nurture, and strengthen lay or clergy church leadership in Disciples African American congregations will be considered. Funds will be awarded to the chosen projects in Summer 2016. Go to our webpage for more information and application guidelines. 
 
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Scholarship for ministerial students
Disciples Home Mission is currently accepting scholarship applications for full-time ministerial students preparing to serve the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Applications due March 15.  Multiple awards and funds are available.  Interested applicants need only submit one application and will be considered for all awards for which they qualify.  Details here.
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Hispanic National Pastor search
The National Pastor for Hispanic and Bilingual Ministries is responsible for developing programs and offering pastoral care to Hispanic ministers, lay leaders and Hispanic congregations, as well as advocating for the Obra Hispana in the general and regional expressions of the Disciples of Christ.The office is located in Indianapolis. All applicants are required to provide updated search and call paperwork and to submit a "Letter of Interest" postmarked by March 1.  More information can be found on 
www.obrahispana.org   
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PSR & DSF announce full tuition Scholarships for Disciples students
In an effort to strengthen their continued commitment to preparing people for religious leadership within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Pacific School of Religion (PSR) and the Disciples Seminary Foundation (DSF) have partnered to ensure that all PSR master's degree students affiliated with DSF will receive a scholarship that covers 100 percent of their tuition - 40 percent from DSF and 60 percent from PRS.  Please contact [email protected] for more information. A "Come and See" event for new and prospective students is scheduled for April 8-9.

Great River Region accepting applications for Executive Regional Minister
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of the Great River Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi) is seeking to call an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Executive Regional Minister. A Regional Profile and Position Description are posted on the following website www.grrdisciples.org/regional-minister-transition . All applicants are required to provide and/or update search and call profiles through the Office of Christian Vocation in order to be considered. Furthermore, all applicants are required to submit a Letter of Interest to the Great River Region Office addressed to:
ERM Search Committee Chairperson
 Great River Region Christian Church (DOC)
9203 Geyer Springs Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
 
The application deadline is March 31, 2016
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Phillips University Legacy Foundation accepting scholarship applications
For more information or to apply for the Phillips University Legacy Foundation's Undergraduate Scholarship and Leadership Development Program, please contact Tamela Harsha, Scholarship Administrator, at 580.237.4433 or email
[email protected] . Applications can be accessed online at www.pulf.org/scholarshipforms. The application deadline is March 10, 2016.
     
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Black Ministers Retreat in March
ALL Disciples are welcome to attend the Black Ministers Retreat in Jackson, MS, March 8-10. The theme is Ministry for the Long Haul.
Register
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DYMN Retreat (Disciples Youth Ministry Network) set for March 
Info provided by Rev. Randy Kuss  

What: If you are looking for an intimate event with opportunity for interaction with leaders in youth ministry, this is the place to be. 

Dates: March 29-30-31
Site: Disciples Crossing, Athens, TX
Keynoter: Andrew Zirschky, Academic Director, Center for Youth Ministry Training, Memphis, TN
Registration: $250 through March 1 (includes lodging, meals and event costs)
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Events, Resources and Ministry in Action                                                   
Events


Feb. 26-27


Mar. 5-6

Black Ministers Retreat, Jackson, MS, March 8-10

Chapman Founders Day, Orange, CA, March 11-12

Building an Inclusive Church Training, Atlanta GA, Mar. 11-12

Christmount Caregivers Retreat, Mar. 19

DYMN retreat, Athens, TX, March 29-31

Stepping into Stewardship
Orlando, March 30-April 1

Apr. 8-9, PSR, Berkeley CA

Apr. 15-16

Disciple Men, Fort Worth, July 8-10

Hispanic Assembly, Coral Gables, FL, July 14-16

Association of Disciples Musician's Conference, Evansville IN, July 17-22

National Convocation Biennial Session, Overland Park, KS (KC area), July 21-24

National Youth Event with United Church of Christ, Buena Vista, FL, July 26-30

NAPAD Convocation, Oakland, CA, Aug. 3-6

Find more events on the calendar hosted by Chalice Press
Resources

Religions for Peace offers online lectures to learn about Muslims 
   Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 
  
Interfaith toolkit on human trafficking

NEW Center for Faith and Giving stewardship campaign "Go and Do the Same"

Building an Inclusive Church toolkit




logo How you can prepare
Ministry in Action
NBA residents
NBA XPLOR: Latest Stories and News
We continue to receive applications for the 2016-17 cohort of NBA XPLOR Residents; our extended deadline is Feb. 19. Hear from this year's XPLOR Residents, who reflect on social justice issues, vocational discernment, "being the change," and more. 

You can find ways to plug into mission and more through these ministries.....
 
  
  
  
  
  
  

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