Jason and Jyothi James worked with Stadia to plant New Hope Church in Harlem, N.Y. Their first service was March 1, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was getting underway. Consequently, after just a couple of weeks, the church could not meet in person for a year.
Episode 1 of Planted, a six-part vlog available on YouTube, features New Hope’s in-person regathering on Easter 2021 and ends with a cliffhanger of whether the church would be able to arrange a lease for a more permanent home. In Episode 2, the couple describe the soul-searching and sometimes frustrating process they went through while discerning whether God was calling them to plant a church in New York City.
At its website, Stadia shares “Five Reasons to Binge-Watch ‘Planted’ Today.”
_ _ _
News Briefs
Hope International University president Paul Alexander announced plans to return to a “normal . . . face-to-face instruction model” this fall. “I can’t wait—it’s been a long time.” Alexander encouraged those students who have not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine to do so for the good of others, although it will not be a requirement. The school is in Fullerton, Calif.—in Orange County—an area with among the strictest health care policies in the nation.
_ _ _
This year’s International Conference On Missions is slated for Nov. 18-21 at the Greater Richmond (Va.) Convention Center. The theme will be “The Call.” Pino Neglia of Lecce (Italy) Christian Mission is the 2021 president. In addition to Neglia, speakers will include Shodankeh Johnson of New Harvest Global Ministries, Disciple-Making Movement pioneers; Dr. Orpheus J. Hayward with Renaissance Church of Christ in Atlanta; and Dr. Rick Cherok, professor of church history and U.S. history with Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo.
_ _ _
A number of people who graduated from and/or serve(d) with Ozark Christian College shared short Facebook videos wishing OCC a happy 79th birthday on Sunday.
_ _ _
Phillip Tucker, an alumnus of Johnson University’s Master of Arts in Counseling program, was featured in a Knoxville News Sentinel article for offering free therapy sessions to Austin East High School students. Over the last four months, five students have died as a result of gun violence.
_ _ _
Kentucky Christian University is offering a new Certificate in Church Ministry designed to be completed online in three semesters. The certificate provides a foundation in Bible and ministry to enhance a leader’s service to their congregation. Courses are seven weeks long and begin with the fall semester. The courses can also apply toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at KCU.
_ _ _
In advance of July 4th, Owensboro (Ky.) Christian Church will be hosting a “Food Trucks and Fireworks” event that starts at 7 p.m. June 27.
_ _ _
Retired Southeast Christian Church senior minister Bob Russell recently sat down to discuss “When God Builds a Church” with Common Grounds Unity Podcast hosts Kevin Withem and Megan Rawlings. The pair have weekly conversations with unity-minded leaders within the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement.
_ _ _
A commercial lobster diver claims he was swallowed whole by a humpback whale off the coast of Massachusetts late last week. Michael Packard, 56, was about 45 feet down, he told the Cape Cod Times, when “all of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black. I could sense I was moving, and I could feel the whale squeezing with the muscles in his mouth.” Packard, who was wearing breathing gear, began to struggle, and the whale began shaking his head. Within about 30 seconds, the whale surfaced and either tossed or spit Packard out. Packard was taken to the hospital but suffered only some bruising.
_ _ _
Organizers with Town and Country Christian Church’s monthly food distribution in Topeka, Kan., are hoping an 11-year low turnout earlier this month is a sign coronavirus-related food insecurity is easing. The church typically serves people in more than 300 cars, but only 132 cars showed up two weeks ago, according to WIBW.com.
_ _ _
Christian educator Chuck Lawless shared “10 Signs You’re Struggling with Arrogance” recently at OutreachMagazine.com. The first three signs: “You believe few people are as smart as you are”; “Your first reaction to negative [news] is to be defensive or to cast blame on others”; and “Titles matter to you.” Access the entire list.
_ _ _
Send news items to [email protected].
0 Comments