Bob Vernon, 97, an Ozark Bible College graduate who, with his brothers, was a pioneer in Christian television broadcasting, died April 14. The brothers’ program, Homestead USA, was broadcast nationally in the 1950s. In the mid-1960s, Bob’s 90-minute special Back to Jerusalem was shown nationally on CBS. We featured Bob Vernon’s story in a feature article last year. Our friend and Ozark booster Meredith Williams announced Mr. Vernon’s death via his Facebook page.
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David and Dolores “Dolly” Nicholson will retire from full-time ministry and move to west-central Michigan this summer after 39-plus years in ministries in West Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio. Most recently, David has served with First Church of Christ, Fort Recovery, Ohio. The couple also served in various church camps in Maryland, Virigina, Illinois, and Michigan. David has also served as a volunteer chaplain in hospitals, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and the Western Ohio CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) response team. David graduated from Eastern Christian College (Bel Air, Md.) and Lincoln Christian Seminary (Lincoln, Ill.).
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The Christian Evangelizing Association of Kansas has established a fund for the Heath Kelley family “to use as needed during this time of healing and transition,” said Brad Fogo, executive director of CEA. Jilian Kelley, Heath’s wife and mother to their four children, went missing March 30 and was found dead with another woman April 14 in a case that has received national news coverage. Four people have been charged in the women’s murders. Heath Kelley, minister with Hugoton (Kan.) First Church Church, has been planning to transition to ministry with Willow Christian Church in Indianola, Neb., in June. Send gifts, designated to the “Kelley Family Benefit Fund,” to Christian Evangelizing Association of Kansas, P.O. Box 3252, Shawnee, KS 66203.
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Last week, the Bartholomew County Public Library board voted to accept a gift from the former North Christian Church congregation for the building and grounds that previously housed the church in north Columbus, Ind. The donation encompasses the entire campus.
The Modernist church is the last building designed by architect Eero Saarinen before his death. The building was completed in 1964; it has a six-sided sloped roof, topped by a 192-foot spire and a gold-leaf cross. The building for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation last held services in 2022.
“The library will be respectful as to future changes made to minimize the disruption of the original design while creating a space that is energetic, fun, and welcoming,” the library stated via an update at its website.
Columbus is noted for its Modernist architecture. Repairs to the 166-foot, masonry tower of First Christian Church in downtown Columbus were completed earlier this year at a cost of $3.2 million. Donations from the community and many other sources combined with church funding to pay for those repairs. Eero Saarinen helped his father, Eliel, design FCC’s building, which was completed in 1942.
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Dr. Daniel Overdorf’s inauguration as the eighth president of Johnson University is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2024. Overdorf will succeed Dr. Tommy Smith, who began his tenure on July 1, 2018.
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Author: Christian Standard
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