Reading Time: 3 minutes
Three churches had their first official worship service on Sunday: Accelerate Church of Camden County, N.J., Beacon Christian Church of Derry, N.H., and Elevate Christian Church in Lexington, Ky.
News
Where Have All the Deacons Gone? (Part 3 of 3)
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Part 3 of 3: What the Bible Says About Deaconesses — The evidence is disputed, but I believe women did and do serve in this capacity—often without the title.
CCCB and SLCC in Merger Discussions
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Central Christian College of the Bible and St. Louis Christian College are investigating “the possible benefits of a merger or similar formal arrangement between the two institutions,” according to announcements at the Missouri colleges’ websites.
Team Expansion’s Afghan Appeal Sees Record Response (Plus News Briefs)
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Team Expansion sees amazing response to appeal to help internally displaced Afghans. Plus briefs from First Christian Church (Lamar, Mo.), ICOM, IDES, Dallas Christian College, Hope International University, and more.
Where Have All the Deacons Gone? (Part 2 or 3)
Reading Time: 7 minutes
Part 2 of 3: Who to Select and How They Should Function — Four scriptural texts help shape our understanding . . .
A Loving Sacrifice: Pastor Donates Kidney to Church Member
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Pastor Jack Coultas, of Park Grove Christian Church in Deepwater, Mo., encourages people to “love dangerously”—just as Jesus did. It’s a self-sacrificing message Coultas can preach boldly because he was able to live it out. Early last year, Coultas donated one of his kidneys to a church member.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Is Divorce the Unpardonable Sin?’
Reading Time: 6 minutes
“In churches of Christ and Christian churches, is divorce the unpardonable sin?” Judy Norris asked in this column from 1980. “Have we become so Pharisaical that our own self-righteousness causes us to negate love?”
Longtime Ozark Prof Gordon Clymer Dies (Plus News Briefs)
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Thousands are praying for Charlie Russell . . . plus updates on Team Expansion’s efforts to help Afghans and efforts to plant churches in New England. And much more . . .
Hurricane Ida Is Latest in String of Disasters for IDES
Reading Time: 3 minutes
When Hurricane Ida roared ashore in Louisiana on Sunday, it caused damage and destruction that continues to be assessed, and it added to the mounting workload for IDES—the International Disaster Emergency Service—a Christian church/church of Christ organization that provides emergency assistance around the world.