Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon
A team of 45 volunteers from Real Life Christian Church in Clermont, Fla., created more than 3,000 custom-made masks for local public high school seniors to wear during their graduation ceremonies.
The masks were fitted with the students’ school colors and mascots. They were delivered to Lake County Schools Superintendent Diane Kornegay.
“I’m extremely grateful for the support of this community,” Kornegay told the Daily Commercial. “They have rallied to make masks for all of our seniors. Keeping our seniors and our guests safe is our top priority.”
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The Daily Herald published a feature story calling David Dummitt the “anti-celebrity pastor” in recent days. Dummitt, who formerly served with 2|42 Community Church in Michigan, has begun his duties as senior pastor with Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill. Willow Creek was formerly led by Bill Hybels, who stepped down two years ago after being accused of misconduct involving women. The article about Dummitt quotes, among others, Dave Ferguson, lead pastor with Community Christian Church in Naperville, Ill., and Matt Schantz, executive director of New Churches of Christ Evangelism in Michigan.
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Over the past few weeks, IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service) has sent out more than $500,000 to help with coronavirus relief around the world. The mission agency has worked to address needs involving personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, medical supplies, and food insecurities in several cities in the United States, a total of 26 countries, and 50 mission and church partners.
IDES also is continuing to address other disasters such as tornadoes in Tennessee, floods in central Michigan, monsoon relief, wildfires, and clean water. More information is available at www.ides.org.
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Seymour (Indiana) Christian Church will distribute up to 5,000 gallons of 2% milk from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and American Dairy Association are making 600,000 gallons of milk available for free at various locations in southern Indiana, according to the Tribune newspaper.
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Compass Christian Church in Chandler, Ariz., is participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The church is distributing 1,000 boxes filled with free produce and dairy products from 7 to 10 a.m. each Friday through June 26, the Community Impact newspaper reported.
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Nebraska Christian College in Papillion, Neb., officially closed on Sunday, May 31, after 75 years of training up Christian workers. “The NCC Legacy Evening”—an event to honor “75 years of ministry, service, and friendships”—is set for 6 to 9 p.m. July 24.
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A fire Saturday night in Little Rock, Ark., damaged Lewis Street Church of Christ, an African-American a cappella congregation. The fire burned through the roof in three places, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. It is unknown whether the fire was connected to downtown demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn. A church Facebook post referred to the fire as “a senseless act of violence and indignation.”
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Grandview Christian Church in Johnson City, Tenn., has put in place an online reservation system for people seeking to attend in-person worship services as local COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
“We’re strongly encouraging people to wear masks and to keep social distance,” executive minister Brandon Waite told wjhl.com, “and doing the reservation system allows us to actually reserve seats for people and space them out properly so we can make sure people are keeping a healthy distance.”
Churches in Johnson City are limited to 50 attendees during June.
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Compass Christian Church, Colleyville, Texas, donated 1,800 boxes of food that was distributed at Red Sands Christian School in Winslow, Ariz., by The Well Christian Church, according to the Navajo-Hopi Observer. The school is a ministry of Lifeline Christian Mission.
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A few churches are planning Vacation Bible School events this summer, despite the challenges of coronavirus. The Daily Reporter of Greenfield, Ind., wrote about several, including Fortville (Ind.) Christian Church’s plans for an in-person gathering starting in mid-July. (Under Indiana’s reopening plan, the state should be allowing gatherings of 250 by then.)
“We’re aware that there is still a possibility that something could change, requiring us to postpone or cancel . . . at the last minute,” the church’s website stated. “We are planning with that in mind.”
Outlook Christian Church in McCordsville, Ind., is taking a different approach, according to the news story.
“We’ll be supplying our families with all the supplies to do their own backyard VBS, but alongside that we’ll be broadcasting live all the VBS segments and activities from a different backyard each night,” Outlook senior minister Rob McCord wrote on the church’s website.
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