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News In Brief

News of, by, and for those in the Christian churches/Churches of Christ. Send us the news from your ministry for posting here.

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CHANGES OF MINISTRY

(posted 4-20-09)
Fairway Christian Church, The Villages, FL, recently called Mark Fessler to serve as new preaching associate. The church celebrated her 10th anniversary on April 5.

(posted 3-27-09)
Kevin Short became preaching minister at Alaska Christian Church in rural Cloverdale, IN, effective March 15. Kevin is a 2000 graduate of Saint Louis Christian College.

(posted 3-16-09)
Kevin Daniels and his family moved from the Seattle, WA, area in mid-January to minister with the Hays (KS) Christian Church. He was ordained by the Soldier (KS) Christian Church in 2000.

 

ANNIVERSARIES

(posted 6-29-09)
Jack and Peggy Howard of Petersburg, IN, are planning to celebrate 50 years of marriage and ministry Aug. 22. John “Jack” and Margaret “Peggy” Schnelle of Arkansas City, KS, met at Minnesota Bible College in Minneapolis, MN, and married Aug. 22, 1959, at the Central Christian Church in Arkansas City, KS. They have three children, Rochelle Woolsey of Lincoln, IL, Cindy Harrison of Leesburg, OH, and John Paul Howard of Lincoln, IL, and nine grandchildren. The couple have ministered for more than 50 years with churches in Minnesota; Aurora, Petersburg, Peru, and Greencastle, IN; Monticello and Charleston, IL; Dallas, GA; West Burlington, IA; and presently in Petersburg, IN. The couple’s children will be hosting a party from 2 to 6 pm Aug. 22 at the Gospel Center Activity Building, 402 E. Illinois St., Petersburg, IN. All friends are welcome to attend.

(posted 6-29-09)
Phillip Alan Lee, evangelist with the Liberty Church of Christ, Salisbury, MD, began his 20th year on June 21.

(posted 6-15-09)
Donald P. Thornton retired in December 2008 after serving 46 years in the preaching ministry. He and his wife, Shirley, were honored at a retirement party hosted by Central Christian Church in Valparaiso, IN, where they ministered the last six years. He studied for the ministry at Minnesota Bible College and also held ministries in Danville, IL; Irwin, IA; Phoenix, AZ; Omaha, NE; and Boswell, IN.

(posted 6-15-09)
Jim and Betty Plunkett will observe their 60th wedding anniversary June 21 during services at Bright (IN) Christian Church. Jim is a retired minister now serving as an elder at BCC.

(posted 6-15-09)
John and Shelby Gillum will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception at First Church of Christ, Fairborn, OH, on July 11. John marked 50 years of preaching ministry April 19. The couple recently completed a second ministry with the Germantown (KY) Christian Church. The Gillums now reside in Maineville, OH, and are available for pulpit supply or interim ministry.

(posted 5-29-09)
Bill and Pam Cook will celebrate their second anniversary with First Church of Christ, Covington, IN, on July 17.

(posted 5-29-09)
On June 7, Morgan Park Christian Church, Chicago, IL, celebrated 95 years of sharing the gospel. David Downey of Morgan Park Christian Church and Clint Jackson of Wildwood Christian Church, Gary, IN, were the guest speakers.

(posted 5-29-09)
The Christian Church, Alfordsville, IN, is planning a homecoming Aug. 23. The morning service will be followed by a dinner and afternoon speakers. The church is attempting to locate previous ministers/wives and attendees. Contact the church at 6386 S. Church St., Loogoottee, IN 47553 or call committee members at (812) 295-3881 or (812) 644-7501.

(posted 5-29-09)
Mike and Teresa Beauregard began their third year as home parents at Shiloh Christian Children’s Ranch in Clarence, MO, on June 18.

(posted 5-29-09)
The West Belhaven (NC) Church of Christ celebrated her 100th anniversary on April 26 with a ground breaking for a new fellowship/education building. Bob Beltz serves as minister.

(posted 5-22-09)
The Church of Christ in Nevis, MN, will be celebrating her 100th anniversary Aug. 8 and 9. Anyone with information about these former pastors—Arthur Culver (1914), E.C. Hedlund (1919), Emil A. Gustafson (1920), A.J. Murray (1924), William Lavens (1928), Leo Balf (1934) or Terrence Bentley—is asked to contact Martha Joyce Pearson, P.O. Box 82, Nevis, MN 56467.

(posted 4-24-09)
Bill and Tami Meaige are celebrating 25 years of faithful service with the North Terrace Church of Christ, Zanesville, OH. The Meaiges came to the church in 1984 with daughters Whitney, Courtney, Allison, and son, Ben. Bill serves as lead minister. An open house honoring the Meaige family was held April 19.

(posted 4-20-09)
Creswell Christian Church, Bel Air, MD, plans to celebrate her 50th anniversary Sept. 26 and 27. Bart Steever of Cincinnati, OH (son of Creswell’s first minister, Rolland A. Steever) and John Ward of Greenville, VA (a “Timothy” of the congregation), will be the guest speakers. Friends and former members are invited. Additional information is available at www.creswellchristian.org or by e-mailing Wayne Murphy at wayne@creswellchristian.org or Annemarie Howard at annemarie703@comcast.net.

(posted 4-20-09)
The Mountain View Christian Church, Ooltewah, TN, rejoices to be entering her 25th year of ministry to the community debt-free. The church concluded her recent Homecoming Jubilee service by burning her mortgage. MVCC began in August 1985 with the help of Hickory Valley Christian Church; ground was broken for the building on March 27, 1988.

(posted 4-3-09)
On Jan. 1, Hoyt W. Allen Jr. began his 26th year with KYOWVA (Kentucky-Ohio-West Virginia) Evangelistic Association, Ironton, OH. During 2008, he and his wife, Shara, conducted KYOWVA programs and led in revivals and seminars at 50 different congregations, camps, conventions, rallies, etc. Allen has conducted more than 100 revivals and seminars during his ministry. His wife, Shara, typically participates through “chalk arts.” The couple has been married over 51 years.

(posted 4-3-09)
On May 15, Tim Craig began his 10th year as stewardship officer with Shiloh Christian Children’s Ranch, Shelbina, MO.

(posted 3-27-09)
Southwest Christian Church, Mount Vernon, IL, celebrated her 60th anniversary April 26.

(posted 3-16-09)
Lindsay (CA) Christian Church had her 100-year celebration on May 2 and 3. The church’s Web site is www.lindsaychristianchurch.com.

(posted 3-2-09)
Chris and Melissa Harley began their second year as ministry support/pastoral counselors at Shiloh Christian Ranch, Kahoka, MO, on April 1.

(posted 3-2-09)
The Vanceburg (KY) Christian Church is celebrating her 150th anniversary this year. Among the special activities to help commemorate the anniversary will be a Homecoming Dinner Sept. 7, to which former ministers and members are invited, and participation in a community Great Communion service on Oct. 4. Trips to Cane Ridge and nearby historic churches also are planned.

 

PERSONALS

(posted 6-15-09)
Stephen A. Yeaton, senior minister with Batesville (IN) Christian Church, received his DMin degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Wenham, MA, on May 9.

(posted 6-5-09)
The Council of the Advancement of support of Education (CASE) recently announced Dr. James M. Owston’s doctoral dissertation as the 2009 international winner of the Alice L. Beeman Award for Outstanding Research in Communications and Marketing for Educational Advancement. Last year, Owston’s work won a national prize for research in higher education administration from the American Association of University Administrators. Owston is a 1977 and 1978 graduate of Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, and was the former minister at the Manila Church of Christ in Chapmanville, WV, where he served the congregation a total of 19 years in several ministries. He serves as senior academic officer at Mountain State University, Beckley, WV.

(posted 3-20-09)
Brian L. Giese retired from the preaching ministry Dec. 31. He was honored, along with his wife, Sylvia, at a reception Dec. 28 at the First Christian Church in Kewanee, IL, where the couple ministered for 16 years. The church gave the Gieses a trip to Hawaii as an expression of appreciation. He studied for the ministry at Cincinnati (OH) Christian University and Lincoln (IL) Christian Seminary. Prior to moving to Kewanee, he ministered 19 years with the First Christian Church in Rapid City, SD. He also had ministries in Washington Courthouse, OH, Williamstown, KY, Honolulu, HI, and Hartsburg, IL.

(posted 3-20-09)
Last July, Kathy McCarty, missionary to Chidamoyo Christian Hospital in Zimbabwe, was honored as Humanitarian of the Year by the Pediatric Nurses Association of America for her 28 years of groundbreaking work with pediatric patients in Zimbabwe, Africa. Past recipients of the award include Paul Newman and Rosalynn Carter. Alumni of the Chidamoyo Christian Hospital Medical Internship program came from all over the U.S. to present the award to her.

 

ORDINATIONS

(posted 6-18-09)
Jeff Spiehs was ordained into the Christian ministry May 9. He is a 2009 graduate of Nebraska Christian College with a degree in preaching ministry. Jeff serves as pastor with City Church of Omaha, 6051 Maple St., Omaha, NE 68104; www.citychurchomaha.com.

(posted 6-5-09)
On May 31, Joshua Michael Day was ordained into the ministry by the leadership of LeRoy (IL) Christian Church. Phil Miller of Shelbyville, KY, gave the charge and Timothy Vollstedt preached the ordination sermon. Josh shared an emotional testimony of his faith in Christ, thanking many people who have played roles in his Christian growth, especially his grandparents, Doug and Ruthann Woodrum of LeRoy. Josh is a recent graduate of Cincinnati (OH) Christian University and is engaged to Emily Miller of Shelbyville, KY.

(posted 5-29-09)
Kyle Robert Beshears was ordained into the Christian ministry by South Side Christian Church, Munster, IN, on May 17. Kyle grew up in the church and was baptized there in 1996. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 2003. While stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, he began taking classes offered via the Web by Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He received his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies in May, and is continuing his education at Liberty University, also via the Web, to fulfill his requirements for the Air Force Chaplaincy program. He is currently serving in the Air Force at Biloxi, MS, and is attending People of Mars Hill Church in Mobile, AL. In August, he will separate from the Air Force, and he and his soon-to-be wife, Heather, will be moving to Germany, where Kyle intends to work as an IT technician. While there, the couple hope to start a house church and do missions work in the Trier-Luxembourg area.

(posted 5-29-09)
Phil Stiles of Cozad, NE, was ordained into the Christian ministry by the elders of Wildewood Christian Church, Papillion, NE, on May 17. He came to Wildewood a year ago as an intern working with senior minister Ron Wymer through a program offered by Nebraska Christian College. Phil graduated from NCC with a BA degree in pastoral ministries. He will be serving at the church as an associate minister of adult ministries. Pictured with Phil (from left) are elders Silas Lash, Bruce Kostal, Don Lorenson, Bob Colan, Phil Stiles, John Bowsman, Bill Dixon, and Anthony Yount.

(posted 4-24-09)
Adam Lovitt was ordained into the ministry by the elders of Kingsway Christian Church, Omaha, NE, on April 19. David Haynes, the founding and past minister of the church, gave the charge. Adam will graduate from Nebraska Christian College in Papillion, NE, this spring.

(posted 4-20-09)
Brett Ricley, formerly from McCook, NE, was ordained into the ministry by the elders of Kingsway Christian Church, Omaha, NE, on Nov. 23, 2008. David Haynes, the founding and past minister of the church, gave the charge. Brett is the children’s minister at Kingsway and is attending Nebraska Christian College, Papillion, NE.

(posted 3-27-09)
On Feb. 22, Steven Johnson was ordained into the ministry by the elders of the Smoky Mountain Christian Church, Sevierville, TN. Steven’s wife, Trish, among others, gave testimony to Steven’s dedication and walk with the Lord. Smoky Mountain ministers Phil Curry and Matt Higle gave the charge, and Steven shared his testimony. Steven is enrolled in the Lamp program at Johnson Bible College and is on track to graduate in December.

 

REPORTS FROM COLLEGES

Upcoming events hosted by Christian colleges are listed on our Calendar, accessible via our home page.

(posted 6-19-09)
Hope International University’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies is launching new one-year online graduate management programs this month (June). These programs, both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Management (MSM), are ideal for individuals interested in completing a graduate management program in a short period of time. The programs will be offered in a three semester per year structure and are offered entirely online. These programs can be completed in one year and allow students to continue with their full-time employment. Hope also offers on-campus graduate management programs, and combination online/on-campus coursework. The following degree programs will be offered: MBA with concentrations in general management, human resource management, global business management, international development, marketing management, and nonprofit management. MSM with concentrations in general management, human resource management, global business management, international development, marketing management, and nonprofit management. More information is available at www.hiu.edu.

(posted 6-5-09)
Dr. Paul M. Blowers, Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History at Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, TN, gave the Presidential Address to the North American Patristics Society at its annual meeting in Chicago on May 22. NAPS is an organization of nearly 900 scholars devoted to the history and theology of early Christianity. Paul, son of the late Russell Blowers, longtime minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, follows his mentor, emeritus professor Frederick W. Norris, who was president of NAPS in 1993-94. Emmanuel joins Notre Dame as one of the few institutions to have two faculty members who have served as president of NAPS. More information is available at www.esr.edu.

(posted 6-5-09)
Dr. Michael L. Sweeney has assumed the role as fifth president of Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, TN. Sweeney came to Emmanuel as a student in 1982 with his wife, Linda, and graduated with an MDiv in 1985. He received his PhD in biblical studies from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia in 1989 and pursued further graduate studies in linguistics at the University of Texas in Arlington. The Sweeneys worked in Papua New Guinea with Pioneer Bible Translators, 1991–2006; he served as the primary translator in the Mum translation. In 2006, he joined the faculty at Emmanuel as assistant professor of world mission and New Testament. The official presidential inauguration ceremony will take place Oct. 21 at Seeger Chapel on the campus of Milligan College.

(posted 5-12-09)
Roanoke Bible College, Elizabeth City, NC, changed her name to Mid-Atlantic Christian University on May 1.  The college was founded in 1948 as a private, coeducational, Bible-based institution. President Clay Perkins announced the name change.

(posted 4-24-09)
C. Robert Wetzel is retiring at the end of May after serving Emmanuel School of Religion as president since 1994. Under his leadership, the Johnson City, Tennessee, school added to its campus, housing, faculty, course offerings, and academic programs—including the Doctor of Ministry program. Also, two major fund-raising campaigns have helped secure nearly $12 million in special gifts to the school. Upon Wetzel’s retirement, Michael L. Sweeney will become president. Emmanuel School of Religion is a graduate seminary that serves students from around the globe. More information is available at www.esr.edu/.

MISSIONS

(posted 5-12-09)
Steve and Janeece England of Missionary Relief Services will begin relieving Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Kennedy, missionaries to Cape Town, South Africa, on June 14. MRS is a ministry that “relieves” long-term missionaries who need to leave the field for a period of time. For more information about MRS or to schedule them to assist your mission, contact the Englands at vsengland1973@yahoo.com. The couple are presently booking requests for future relief assignments.

(posted 4-21-09)
David Henry, MD (a dermatologist), and Sunisha Henry, MD (an ophthalmologist), both of India, report that in 2008 they examined 15,000 patients and performed 350 cataract surgeries. The Henrys also report that leprosy continues to be a major health problem in India. The Henrys are also involved in several other Christian endeavors, such as women’s and youth conventions, maintaining a preschool and vocational schools, as well as a hostel for children.

(posted 4-3-09)
Savannah (GA) Christian Church senior pastor Cam Huxford and missions pastor Dave Stewart, along with Dave’s wife, Lynn, recently visited Central India Christian Mission. A highlight of the visit was meeting with pastors and church leaders from Orissa, where there is severe persecution. The believers shared stories of killings, rapes, and brutality against Christians. Most families there lack finances to send their children to school. It was an overwhelming experience. CICM and SCC helped those believers with their physical needs, prayed with them, and washed their feet. CICM is building a center where these persecuted Christians can live and/or find refuge, and also receive food and clothing. For more information and to support, contact L.V. & Susan Spencer, Central India Christian Mission, P.O. Box 430267, Houston, TX 77243-0267; office (713) 935-0826; e-mail lvspencer@indiamission.org or cicmsms@aol.com. Field address in India: Dr. Ajai L. Lall, Director, Central India Christian Mission, P.O. Box 11, Damoh (M.P.) India  470661; phone 011 91-7812-222500, 223300; e-mail cicmind@sancharnet.in.

(posted 3-30-09)
Reggie Thomas, founder/director of White Fields Overseas Evangelism, Joplin, MO, conducted his 40th and final trip to India Jan. 21 through Feb. 6. This soul-winning effort included an 11-member team that traveled with him, along with more than 100 Indian team leaders and evangelists. Teams traveled daily to villages in the state of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and records show 3,242 souls accepted Jesus and were baptized as a result. Thomas has now retired as director of the White Fields Ministry. The ministry, guided by an advisory board of 16 members and an executive committee of four members, has chosen J.D. Miller as the director of development to lead the ministry. The goal of White Fields remains the same—to preach the gospel in every nation and establish the church of Christ in every nation and unreached village of the world. Thomas has accepted the role as director emeritus and plans to continue preaching and promoting the work of White Fields wherever the Lord leads. He also plans to write a book of memoirs.

BUILDING PROGRAMS 

(posted 4-24-09)
In January, Olathe (KS) Christian Church completed a $3.5 million building project and moved into a new facility consisting of a 650-seat auditorium, seven classrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, nursery, narthex, and storage areas. The church also added parking.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

(posted 4-3-09)
During the first week of May, Christian Care Inc., founded by a handful of ministers and members from First Christian Church–Phoenix, will break ground on a new 50-unit, assisted-living facility in Mesa, AZ. This will be Christian Care’s fourth assisted-living facility in Arizona. During the last 29 years, Christian Care has grown from a 60-bed nursing center to become Arizona’s largest provider of affordable senior housing, and the 28th largest not-for-profit housing and healthcare provider in the U.S. There are now more than 2,100 residents living in CC’s independent and assisted-living campuses and nursing center.

(posted 3-16-09)
The annual Revival Fires Camp Meeting is set for June 23-25 at the Radisson Hotel Ballroom, Branson, MO. Featured speakers will include pastor Joe Wright, Ken Idleman, Cecil Todd, Kenny Speakes, Gen. Georges Sanda, Don Todd, Dave Wickins, Gary Layman, Tim Todd, Jerl Joslin, and P.V. Alexander. Featured singing groups will include The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, The Good Twins, Lowell and Duke Mason, Johnny Minick and the River of Life Quartet, The Vintage Gospel Lads, Dino and Cheryl Kartsonokis, Tony Orlando, Gail (Todd) Stallman, Jerl and Dani Joslin, and Sue Ann (O’Neal) Clark. Admission to all services is free. However, people with tickets will be admitted first. Free admission tickets are available by calling the Revival Fires office at (417) 272-3660. This event will mark the 60-year anniversary celebration of Cecil Todd’s ministry.

 
 




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