February 15, 2016
NAPAD grants available
By Lynnette Li, director of communication and transformational ministries

napad logo The North American Pacific/Disciples has more than 100 congregations, many of which are new congregations that have been formed within the past two decades. As these congregations continue to grow towards becoming sustainable mission-centered faith communities, they are met with many challenges, one of which is funding.

For the past two years, as a result of the generous giving of many, NAPAD has established two endowments that provide funds for two grants. They are named funds after ministry pioneers, Rev. Dr. Geunhee Yu and the late Rev. Harold Johnson. The Geunhee Yu Covenant fund provides grants to support new NAPAD churches in their efforts in becoming sustainable and mission centered congregations. The recently established Harold Johnson Legacy Fund provides grants to support the development of robust ministries for youth, young adult and women in NAPAD churches.

Loving Jesus Christian Church, Zo Christian Church (Fort Wayne, IN) along with Sallims Christian Church were recent recipients of the Harold Johnson Legacy fund. Loving Jesus Christian Church created a Church School program that involved art, music and camp. Zo Christian Church together with First Christian Church of Fort Wayne held children and youth activities. Sallims Christian Church worked on developing their youth and young adult ministry. These congregations have used the funds to establish intergenerational faith formation programs from a multi-cultural lens.

For two years, First Samoan Congregational Christian Church in Sacramento, CA received grants from the Geunhee Yu Covenant fund. They used their grant money to create an early childhood education center to meet the needs of the children of the congregation as well as their community. In doing so, they create a place of welcome for those within the nearby vicinity to foster relationship and thereby extending Christ's table.

The office of the North American Pacific/Disciples is accepting applications for the Geunhee Yu Covenant and Harold Johnson Legacy funds beginning February 15, 2016. To learn more about the grants and access the application forms, please go to http://www.napad.net/grants/

All application materials and recommendation letters must reach the NAPAD office by March 15, 2016.
For more information or questions, please contact Lynnette Li
, Director of Communications and Transformational Ministries. 

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NBA affinity groups offer 2016 webinar series
By NBA Staff
 
nba logo This year, the National Benevolent Association Affinity Groups - Prison and Jail Ministries and Mental Health and Congregational Care - will be offering a series of webinars exploring congregational and general church involvement in issues related to prison and jail, and mental health and wellness.
 
On Thursday, March 17, at 1:00 p.m. CST, join us for Juvenile Justice and Restorative Justice, a conversation about the school-to-prison pipeline - the result of structural racism in police, schools, and the juvenile justice system, and a major feeder of mass incarceration in this country. Learn more about ways you and your faith community can become part of emerging solutions, including those that employ the principles of restorative justice. Rev. Dean Bucalos and the Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker will present the webinar, co-sponsored by Reconciliation Ministry and moderated by Rev. April Johnson. Click here to learn more and register >> 
 
On Thursday, April 21, at 12:00 p.m. CST, join us for "Speaking into the Silence: Storytelling as a Path to Healing," a webinar for churches wanting and willing to begin dialogue about mental health in their congregations, presented by Rev. Sarah Griffith Lund and Angela Whitenhill. Based on the spirit of Sarah's book,  Blessed Are the Crazy, Sarah and Angela will share clinical and spiritual insights into how to facilitate storytelling as a medium for healing.
 
In May, the Prison and Jail Ministry Affinity Group will join with the Mental Health and Congregational Care Affinity Group for a webinar highlighting the connections between mental health, the prison-industrial complex, and the prison population. This will be the first of a mini-series of webinars between the two affinity groups, addressing various issues related to the complex and long-standing relationship between prison and mental health. This webinar is currently scheduled for Monday, May 16, at 1:00 p.m. CST.
 
To learn more about these webinars and NBA Affinity Groups, please contact Rev. Dean Bucalos, mission specialist for Prison and Jail Ministries, or Angela Whitenhill, convener for Mental Health and Congregational Care. To get updates on events go to  
Resources and continuing education
For more events, see the calendar hosted by Chalice Press.
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Featured Links

Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries search for National Pastor; applications close March 1
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The Gospel in the Ecological Crisis June 6-10 
Disciples Home Missions invites Disciples clergy to apply for this opportunity to heighten your environmental awareness while forming community with other church leaders at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
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In case you haven't been there for a while, disciples.org got a facelift this month.
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Ministers Tax Guide available for download from the Pension Fund
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Challenged by trying to explain Disciples Mission Fund?
 
You can download this video and get other information at www.disciplesmissionfund.org

How Your Offerings to DMF Support Mission in the Church
How Your Offerings to DMF Support Mission in the Church