Church Supports Family of Guard Killed in Transit Shooting (Plus News Briefs)

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who attended Sullivan (Mo.) Christian Church was shot and killed Jan. 31 while serving as a security guard for a firm that contracts with MetroLink, the mass transit system in St. Louis.

James Cook, 30, leaves his wife, Kim, and two children, ages 9 and 5. Kim thanked the community for their support and her church for helping strengthen her family, Fox 2 Now reported.

On Tuesday, SCC livestreamed a memorial service it hosted for Cook.

Nathaniel M. Smith III, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death, according to stltoday.com.

A circuit court attorney read a statement Kim Cook wrote to Smith during a hearing last week. Cook wrote, in part, “As a follower of Jesus Christ, I want you to know that I do not hate you, although you are charged with the murder of my husband and best friend James Cook . . . I sincerely pray that one day you will know the peace and hope I have because of my faith.”

On Sunday, Veterans Service Organization members and community volunteers lined both sides of Highway 185 with 1,500 American flags in memory of Cook and in support of his family, KSDK.com reported.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the family.

_ _ _

News Briefs

Spire Network has started a “Spire Cast” with guests such as Ben Cachiaras, Cam Huxford, Julie Bullock, Carl Kuhl, Nate Ross, and Greg Lee. Go to Spire’s Facebook page to hear the next live discussion or to download the app and listen to them on-demand.

_ _ _

Waypoint Church Partners will sponsor five “Art of the Sermon” seminar options during March; four of the seminars will take place at local churches, and one of those seminars will double as a virtual event.

All seminars will feature Taylor Brown, a writer and speaker who specializes in creatively communicating the gospel to audiences of all ages. Brown is a contributing writer for Christ In Youth’s WRKR films; he previously served eight years as director of programming for CIY’s junior high Mix Conference.

The lineup of seminars for regional church leaders—all taking place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.—is as follows:

• March 9—Martinsburg (W.Va.) Church of Christ

• March 10—Velocity Christian Church, Richmond, Va.

• March 16—Woodland Hills Christian Church, Abingdon, Va. (this will double as a virtual seminar)

• March 17—Burlington (N.C.) Christian Church

Standard cost is $29 for in-person attendees and $19 for virtual attendees. Johnson University is sponsoring the “Art of the Sermon” series. Learn more and register at Waypoint Church Partners’ website.

_ _ _

Christ’s Church of the Valley plans to launch its 11th and 12th campuses in Greater Phoenix this year as it continues its mission of “Winning the Valley for Christ.” Curt McReynolds will serve as pastor of the Queen Creek Campus, while Ryan Malone will be pastor of the Laveen Campus.

_ _ _

Milligan University in Tennessee will add a parliamentary debate team and men’s and women’s bowling teams this fall.

Dr. Michael Blouin, associate professor of English and humanities and co-director of the Milligan Honors Program, was named director of the debate team.

“Parliamentary debate fits clearly with existing courses and majors at Milligan,” Blouin said. “It . . . contributes to the development of Christian servant leaders who are articulate and possess the skills to participate in respectful, dignified dialogue and debate.”

The debate team will participate in intercollegiate competitions with several regional colleges and universities.

Milligan’s new bowling program will compete as a member of the NAIA. Milligan becomes the fourth full member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference to offer bowling. Men’s and women’s bowling become the 30th and 31st sports sponsored at Milligan and the 17th with opportunity for female student-athletes.

Brian Rickert will be MU’s first bowling coach. The last two years, Rickert served as assistant bowling coach with NAIA member Ottawa (Kan.) University.

_ _ _

Johnson University is working with Future of Hope to sponsor a “Faith and Justice Summit” Feb. 11 and 12.

The conference-style event is “aimed at encouraging high school students and those who work with high school students to think and reflect on the intersection of their Christian faith and justice issues in broader society and within the specific context of the city of Knoxville.”

Learn more at FutureofHope.org.

_ _ _

Lincoln Christian University will team up with e2: effective elders for the virtual church leaders’ conference, “Leading through Crisis: What COVID Taught Us about Conflict, Commitment, and Staying on Course.” The conference is set for 9 a.m. until noon (CT) Feb. 20.

“The conference is filled with good ideas about how to successfully weather the stress and struggle that COVID has brought to all of our churches,” e2’s David Roadcup said.

_ _ _

Kentucky Christian University has a Memorial Stone Program that allows the institution’s alumni and friends an opportunity to purchase a stone in memory of a loved one. KCU writes, “The stone will have a prominent place on our campus that will be seen by students, faculty, staff and visitors alike.”

_ _ _

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Dallas Theological Seminary recorded its sixth consecutive academic year of record enrollment. Additionally, student enrollment exceeds 2,500 for the first time, and spring 2021 is the first semester the school has surpassed 1,000 female students.

_ _ _

Milligan University senior Chase McGlamery, who serves as president of Heritage Hall Theatre, presented a $1,000 donation on behalf of the theatre to support Johnson County Community Center’s after-school programs.

_ _ _

Southeast Christian Church in Louisville has launched an “Unleashed” sermon series, will host an online Unleashed Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 6, and is making its new Unleashed book available for free at its website.

_ _ _

Send news to **@********************ia.com.