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Regional Assembly 2016 News
"We Are One: Race and Reconciliation"
Galatians 3:26-28, Hebrew 12:1-2, and
2 Corinthians 5:16-21, are the theme scriptures.
watch this space for more information in the months to come!
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Racial/Ethnic Ministries of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
We Want to Hear From You!
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) embraces three racial/ethnic general ministries that provide resources to congregations within the United States and Canada:
Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries - for more
National Convocation - for more information click on this link:
The Region wants to hear from Tennessee Disciples who are associated with these ministries. We want to let the rest of the Region know what activities and events you are doing in Tennessee. Contact the Regional Office with your news at:
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Celebrating 70 Years of Bethany Hills Camp!
If you are a member of a Disciples of Christ Congregation in Tennessee, you are part owner of Bethany Hills Camp, an amazing camp and retreat center near Nashville.
2015 is the 70th year Bethany Hills has been part of our Disciple Ministry. The dining hall was built 106 years ago. This means the camp predates most of America's National Parks!
For the most recent 12 month period we counted 96 events at Bethany Hills! Bethany Hills does much with little, or with much, depending on your point of view.
We can use your help! Some congregations and some individuals make cash donations to help with general needs,or pick a project. Fall is a traditional time we ask for your help.
If you can help financially, donations of any size may be sent to the Regional Center for Ministry. One hundred percent of your gift will go to Bethany Hills' needs.
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SPOTLIGHT ON OUR CONGREGATIONS
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First Christian Church in Tullahoma gets creative to better connect with community
The congregation has worshiped in their original church building, which houses the sanctuary and a landmark white steeple, since the late 1800s.
 The old U.S. post office located on Atlantic Street in Tullahoma, is a historic site that dates back to 1924 and encompasses 8,000-square-feet of space. Today, this building is a part of the thriving ministry of First Christian Church, a former Disciples Church Extension Fund borrower that acquired the property years ago .
For the full story of this congregation's contribution to the community click on this link:
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2015 Thanksgiving Special Offering
Sundays November 8 & 15, 2015
The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries, and Divinity Houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
These learning communities are an extension of the church, challenging students to understand and respond to God's call to serve.
From the very beginnings of the movement, Disciples have founded institutions of higher learning, encouraging students in their intellectual pursuits. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education. Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps underwrite the education of students attending one of our fourteen undergraduate institutions and our seven seminaries or divinity houses.
Thousands of students have attended the Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church receiving both a quality education and the opportunity to remain within our Disciple's heritage. Your financial gift provides scholarships and support for spiritual life offices. By giving to the Thanksgiving Offering you are investing in our students and helping keep education costs down
Attending a Disciples College or Theological School is possible through the scholarships and grants that are made available by generous individuals, the Disciples Mission Fund and your gifts to the Thanksgiving Offering.
Please give generously to this year's Thanksgiving Offering.
Click on this link to give online:
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Chattanooga and Nashville Mental Health First Aid Training Opportunities
Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training to teach participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps trainees identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
This one day course teaches people how to give first aid to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis situation and/or who are in the early stages of a mental health disorder. Participants learn the signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems, where and when to get help, and what type of help has been shown to be effective.
Nashville -
Adult Mental Health Youth Mental Health First Aid First Aid
October 29, 2015 December 3, 2015
8:00 am - 5:00 pm* 8:00am - 5:00pm*
*Lunch on your own. Centerstone
Centerstone 1921 Ransom Place
1921 Ransom Place Nashville, TN 37217
Nashville, TN 37217
Chattanooga -
Youth Mental Health Youth Mental Health First Aid First Aid
November 4, 2015 November 5, 2015
8:00 am - 5:00 pm* 8:00 am-5:00pm*
Centerstone Centerstone
6110 Shallowford Rd, 6110 Shallowford Rd, Suite B Suite B
Chattanooga, TN 37421 Chattanooga, TN 37421
Cost
$50, includes book and participants will be Certified in Mental Health First Aid USA, from the National Council of Behavioral Health.
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 From the Interim Regional Minister's Desk October is Ministry Appreciation Month, and I shared some ideas about having some fun as you honor and thank you ministers. I also want to share this lovely prayer, part of the resources for Ministry Appreciation from our Pension Fund of the Christian Church. It is critical that we as congregations and leaders within the church understand the depth of commitment it takes to be a minister in any church, any denomination. Join me in praying for our ministers as they lift up scripture for us, share a well-prepared sermon, a great laugh, a visit over coffee, a holy moment of worship in the sanctuary, at the hospital, at the funeral home. Life is expansive and messy; thank God for those who help us find our way through the God-given days of those messy, wonderful, challenging lives. Pray for your ministers, and thank a minister today!
Gracious and loving God, we lift all pastors up to you in prayer. Pastoral life is filled with many challenges and demands. We ask that you will sustain them and provide them with powerful weapons to fight fatigue and burnout symptoms.
We pray for pastors who are so overloaded that they view ministry as work rather than a calling.
We pray for preachers whose lives are physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually exhausted and are convinced they have nothing much left to give.
We pray for ministers who work hard and feel that they are getting little accomplished.
We pray for those shepherds who are drained that they may be refilled with energy and hope.
Let your blessing rest now on all pastors who need new strength to be effective servants in this new generation.
O God, grant them
passion to know your heart
love to forgive
compassion to serve
power to defeat the giants of this world
courage to face new challenges
wisdom to make the right choices
discernment to discover your will
patience to manage conflict
perseverance to finish the work
discipline to achieve goals
vision to develop new projects
determination to march forward and fearless
to the promise land.
strength to resist temptation
faith and hope to never give up.
Renew, refresh and sustain all pastors in their journey as they learn to depend on the God of unlimited resources, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Source of all kind of blessings and the One who strengthens those who are weak and gives fresh energy to the tired. Amen. written by Rev. Jorge Cotto, Pastor at Central Christian Church (Coral Gables, FL)
Beth
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Tennessee Tidbit
The urban churches in Tennessee had Sunday school prior to the war between the states but it was not until after 1874 that they became popular among the rural congregations.
from: "Tennessee Christians, a History" by Herman Norton, published 1971
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Sign Up to Get the Tennessee Christian!
To get the latest news on what is happening around the Region, sign up to get the Tennessee Christian delivered to your in box monthly.
Simply click on this link and follow the instructions:
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Does your congregation have news you want the Region to know about? Email the Regional Office by the tenth of the month and we will make every effort to have it in the next issue of the Tennessee Christian which is published on or near the 15 of each month.
Send all articles to:
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Central Christian, Memphis Church Event 
Central Christian, Memphis is having an "Autumn Evening in Central Gardens", Saturday, October 24, 2015 from
6:00-8:30 pm. Proceeds to
benefit Outreach Ministries. For more information call the church at: 901-276-2708
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Disciples Men Fall Retreat 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015 - Saturday, October 31, 2015
6:00 PM
Bethany Hills Camp
"Men on a Mission" Guest speakers Rev. John Walker Associate Minister of Alameda Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Min. Ronald Bond of New Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
click below for registration form:
CYF/Chi Rho Youth Fall Retreat 2015
Saturday, November 07, 2015 - Sunday, November 08, 2015 Bethany Hills Camp Fall Retreat for grades 6,7,8, 9, 10,11 & 12 . Fee $65
Counselors Fee $25
click below for registration form:
Silent Retreat 2015Saturday, November 21, 2015 - Sunday, November 22, 2015
Bethany Hills Camp
For everyone 17 yrs and older who can be silent. click below for registration form:
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In Isaiah chapter 9, what does Isaiah call Christ?
The first 10 people to contact the Regional Office with the correct answer to the Bible Trivia will receive this chalice pin.
Send your name, mailing address and correct answer to:
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National Convocation
Disciples Men
Weekend of Service
November 13-15, 2015
Calling all Disciples Men's groups in Tennessee associated with the National Convocation. The National Convocation Disciples Men are sponsoring a Weekend of Service and you are invited to participate. This Weekend of Service is also open to any Disciples Men's group in Tennessee who wishes to participate.
Elder Arnold Hayes President Disciples Men National Convocation of the Christian Church (DOC) For more information about the organization follow this link: For a flyer for the Weekend of Service click here:
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Goodwill Does More than You Think!
Our neighbors up the street from the Regional Office have opened their doors to let us use their facility for a meeting.
We discovered that more goes on there than many people may know. Good will is more than just a thrift store.
Did you know that the newer Goodwill stores have a Career Solutions Center attached? These centers help with career assessment, career planning, assisting individuals in applying for jobs online and practicing for job interviews.
Goodwill Career Solutions Counselors specialize in placing thousands of people every year into employment in various industries:
Accounting, Call Centers, Construction, Custodial Services, Customer Service, Document Solutions, Food Service, Health Care, Hospitality Services, Hotel and Lodging, Manufacturing/Assembling, Retail Sales, Security, Transportation and Warehouse.
There are 27 Goodwill Career Solution Centers throughout Middle and West Tennessee. To find the location nearest you call: 1(800)545-9231 or visit: goodwillcareersolutions, by the way, all these services are free!
Goodwill's History
Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or were given to the people who repaired them. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of "a hand up, not a hand out" was born.
Dr. Helms' vision set an early course for what today has become a $4 billion nonprofit organization. Helms described Goodwill Industries as an "industrial program as well as a social service enterprise...a provider of employment, training and rehabilitation for people of limited employability, and a source of temporary assistance for individuals whose resources were depleted."
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