First Capital Christian Church, Corydon, Ind., is providing its Church Anywhere services to Branchville Correctional Facility via GTL tablets, a device specifically made for those who are incarcerated. The device allows prisoners to maintain contact with family, receive educational training, and participate in religious services.
“Our ministry is based on building relationships,” Church Anywhere lead pastor Tyler Sansom told WBIW.com. “We use the technology to begin and foster those relationships with the people inside the walls. We also customize the video service for the incarcerated.”
“Having a variety of religious programming available on the tablets allows us to provide spiritual support to our men and women on their schedule,” said David Liebel, director of religious services for the Indiana Department of Corrections. “Even those who can’t go to the chapel are able to participate in religious services and education.”
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News Briefs
Compiled by Jim Nieman
Southeast Christian Church of Louisville has opted to continue offering in-person services at its 12 campuses despite Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s recommendation that places of worship move services entirely online through Dec. 13 because of a spike in COVID-19 cases.
“We will continue to take all necessary precautions possible to provide a safe environment for all who choose to join us in person,” SECC wrote on Facebook. “If you have any hesitations or are uncomfortable, or if you or someone in your life is medically vulnerable, we encourage you to join us at SE Online.”
In a message to the church, senior pastor Kyle Idleman said a major factor in the decision to continue offering in-person services was concern for the mental health of those who attend, WDRB.com reported. Mental health factors include depression, anxiety, loneliness, addictive behavior, and suicide.
SECC suspended in-person services for nearly four months earlier in the year. SECC was the second-largest church in our most recent survey.
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In a recent post about “Harvest of Talents,” a ministry that works through International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES) to fight world hunger, we neglected to mention several churches that participated.
In addition to Lincoln (Ill.) Christian Church, which raised more than $116,000 this year, other churches that conducted events included Michigantown (Ind.) Christian Church, Milford (Ill.) Christian Church, Fortville (Ind.) Christian Church, and Unity Christian Church (Marion, Ind.).
“Together you were able to raise $188,228.10 for Hunger Relief all around the world!” IDES wrote in a recent email.
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The Mabee Foundation has approved a $165,000 challenge grant to support renovation of Spurling Hall, one of three residence halls at Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Mo.
Spurling Hall, a residential hall for females that has been closed for two years, is expected to undergo renovation this coming spring in anticipation of reopening for fall semester 2021. This is Spurling’s first major renovation.
To qualify for the grant, CCCB first identified over $330,000 in giving commitments to the project from its own supporters. The $165,000 challenge grant will be given to CCCB when the remainder of the $825,000 funding is identified and the project is completed.
Previous grants by the Mabee Foundation to CCCB have totaled $1 million to support construction of the Reese Resource Center, Mabee Foundation Hall, and the Walton Student Center.
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A comedy special featuring Jeremy Nunes filmed last year at Lincoln (Ill.) Christian Church is now available for streaming rental or purchase at Amazon Prime and ChristianCinema.com. The one-hour special titled “Who’s with Me?!” includes bits like “Small-town Gangsta,” “Dad Is Still Crazy,” and “The Magical World of Didney.” Nunes lives in a small town and is the former mayor of Dawson, Ill., a village of about 500. (We wrote about his show at LCC last year.) Physical DVDs of the comedy show are available for purchase through Amazon.com or JeremyNunes.com.
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Central Christian Church in Mount Vernon, Ill., is providing Thanksgiving meals to those in need for the 24th consecutive year. Due to COVID-19 precautions, the church is offering curbside pickup of the meals from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The church also will deliver meals to the elderly, disabled, and homebound, www.KFVS12.com reported.
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Author Liz Curtis Higgs will be keynote speaker at the Woman’s World Conference hosted by Manhattan (Kan.) Christian College, scheduled for Feb. 26-27. The theme is “Made New.” Learn more at mccks.edu.
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Maple Avenue Christian Church, Macomb, Ill., distributed more than 200 turkeys and bags filled with food to families in need on Sunday.
“With everything that’s been going on this year, obviously we had a big demand for these baskets,” children’s minister Jason Seggelke told WGEM.com.
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