Series: Buzz

December 23, 2010

Christian Standard

Churches Provide Mission Opportunities at Christmas

Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (Bloomington, IN) created a Global Christmas Market catalog to provide opportunities for missional giving this season. The catalog included information about the local and global missions supported by SOCC, as well as specific “wish list” items for each ministry: food for the hungry, a week at camp for a needy child, mosquito nets, and many more. Participants could designate their financial donation toward any item and the church also provided gift acknowledgement cards for them to explain their donation to recipients. Common Ground Christian Church (Indianapolis, IN) also created a way for members to give to

December 18, 2010

Christian Standard

Churches Celebrate Our Savior”s Birth

By Jennifer Taylor So many churches, so many different ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior! Each December for the last three years, My Safe Harbor (Anaheim, California)“”a nonprofit organization providing education and support for low-income single moms and their children””has coordinated a Christmas brunch for teachers at four local elementary schools. From homemade treats and decorations to music and gifts, the MSH team provides a special time of appreciation for these hard-working teachers. Members at Anaheim First Christian Church, which helped launch My Safe Harbor, sign thank-you cards and donate money for presents (including refills for the Keurig

December 16, 2010

Christian Standard

A ‘Reel/Real’ Christmas Celebration

“Tis the season for Christmas concerts, and this year Rocky Mountain Christian Church (Niwot, CO) tried something new! This past weekend the church presented “Reel to Real,” a celebration of Christmas movies (reel) and the real meaning of Christmas. The event included clips from favorite Christmas movies on a giant screen while a chorus and live orchestra provided the music and a red carpet and “paparazzi” created the feel of a movie premiere.

December 15, 2010

Christian Standard

‘Pink Slip Christmas Party’ Held

On Dec. 14, Meridian Christian Church (Okemos, MI) hosted its first-ever “Pink Slip Christmas Party.” The party, an opportunity for the unemployed to meet with potential employers, included food, workshops, and networking. The church”s Community Ministries organization partnered with area businesses, agencies, and career specialists and provided the “ultimate career event and holiday celebration” free of charge. Click here to read more.

December 13, 2010

Christian Standard

A Constructive Way to Help Churches

By Jennifer Taylor Kent Hawkins, senior minister with Cornerstone Christian Church, is driving to the site of the congregation”s new building in Vero Beach, Florida. It”s almost dinnertime, and church members are preparing and serving a meal to the volunteers working on the framing of CCC”s new building. In just a little over two weeks, these electricians, contractors, and carpenters””all of them members of Jack Ballard Church Builders“”will donate thousands of hours to build this new facility””and save the church around $100,000. Jack Ballard Church Builders was founded in 1971 after members at Mount Carmel Christian Church (Stone Mountain, Georgia)

December 13, 2010

Christian Standard

Church on Tour

By Jennifer Taylor Crossroads Christian Church (Newburgh, Indiana) encourages its thousands of members to participate in churchwide outreach events, volunteer with ministry partners like Habitat for Humanity, and attend seminars on generational poverty, evangelism, and more. But Eric Cummings, community outreach pastor at Crossroads, says the church”s “inner-city van tours” are the most valuable educational tool they”ve developed. Each month, 10-12 adults participate in the two-hour experience, seeing the reality of crime, poverty, and homelessness while also stopping at many of the schools, government agencies, and ministries working to help the city”s residents. “We don”t get out of the van,

December 8, 2010

Christian Standard

“˜Making a Mess” Book a Finalist for Cover Design Award

Standard Publishing’s new book, Making a Mess and Meeting God, is one of three finalists for the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association 2010 Book Covers Award in the small publishers category. The book, written by Mandy Smith, helps readers discover new and deeper ways ordinary activities and daily life can teach us about God. Winners will be announced in a free webinar next Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

December 8, 2010

Christian Standard

Two Ohio Pastors Support Undocumented Immigrant, DREAM

By Jennifer Taylor Last week, a Canton, OH-area newspaper reported the story of a Cincinnati teen and the local pastors championing his cause. The student, Bernard Pastor, was brought to the United States as a 3-year-old and taken into custody last month as an undocumented immigrant. Greg Nettle, senior pastor at RiverTree Christian Church (Massillon, OH) and Troy Jackson, senior pastor at University Christian Church (Cincinnati, OH) are among the leaders calling for the passage of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. “At the heart of all of this, we’re talking about caring for children,” Nettle

December 8, 2010

Christian Standard

Upcoming Webinars Focus on Tax Changes for Clergy

Making correct IRS filings and minimizing taxes are important issues for ministries nationwide to consider early in 2011. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) will host live webinars Jan. 12 and Feb. 23 in which leading experts will discuss IRS requirements for congregations and tax changes for clergy. Participants in Jan. 12’s “Congregation Filing Issues for 2010 Data” webinar will learn how to correctly fill out IRS filings required of nearly every U.S. congregation. The requirements start with Form W-2, and–for many congregations–include various versions of Form 1099. Participants in Feb. 23’s “Clergy Tax Issues for 2010 Returns” webinar

December 1, 2010

Christian Standard

TCMII Reaches Merger Agreement

Last week, Training Christians for Ministry International Institute (TCMII) and the European Evangelistic Society (EES) announced a merger agreement. EES will become a wholly owned subsidiary of TCMII. For nearly 60 years the EES has been a witness to the gospel at Tübingen University in Germany. The organization has also helped sponsor a colloquium for international doctoral students. TCMI has ministered to believers throughout Eastern Europe and Russia for more than 50 years and established the institute in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR. Today TCMII enrolls more than 800 students from 28 countries and provides leadership development and

December 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Ministry on Black Friday

Members of Journey”s Crossing Christian Church (Gaithersburg, MD) were at the mall at 5:30 a.m. on Black Friday””but not to get a jump on their Christmas shopping. Instead, the team gave away coffee, hot chocolate, and breakfast treats at one of the busiest shopping centers in their area.

November 30, 2010

Christian Standard

Working to Expand Mission in Chile

By Jennifer Taylor Jim and Cheryl Green launched Conosur Christian Ministries in 1996 to oversee their work in Chile and planted a new church””Iglesia Cristiana Ciudad Satélite””during their eight years as missionaries there. Now the nonprofit ministry, based in Palmdale, California, where the Greens currently live, plans to build a Christian K-12 school to expand its mission. “The church began with a vision for reaching the emerging middle class in Chile, with an emphasis on future leaders who can influence a society becoming more secular,” says Jim. This focus on education was part of the Greens” work from the early

November 29, 2010

Christian Standard

Green Rooms

By Jennifer Taylor Renewal, a student-led creation care movement based in Minneapolis, recently recognized Abilene (Texas) Christian University for its environmental stewardship emphasis. ACU established a “sustainability pledge” in 2008 that asks students to commit to at least three new habits like installing fluorescent bulbs, walking or biking instead of driving, recycling, and taking shorter showers. Abilene also created “ACU Unplugged,” a residence hall competition encouraging students to reduce their personal energy use. www.acu.edu

November 29, 2010

Christian Standard

Good Call

By Jennifer Taylor This month, Christ In Youth (Joplin, Missouri) launches THE CALL BOOK, a new online registry where generations of CIY conference attendees can share their stories of how a CIY conference changed their lives or prompted a call to vocational ministry. This past summer, “dozens of individuals eagerly shared stories of their calling to ministry after being challenged at a Christ In Youth event,” writes executive director Andy Hansen. “Their stories will be the first of what will be thousands in the years to come.” CIY is making plans now for its first CIY Alumni “CALL BOOK” event

November 24, 2010

Christian Standard

More Stories About “˜Just One” Sunday

Churches continue to share stories about their “Just One” Sunday. In addition to joining with other participating churches in praying for more laborers for the harvest, Crossroads Christian Church (Newburgh, IN) also used the three weekends before the Nov. 14 emphasis to challenge every Christ follower in the church body to identify “Just One” person with whom they would build a relationship, share Jesus, and include in some expression of Christian community. CCC plans to continue this emphasis on making disciples and raising up Christian leaders throughout 2011. During its services that Sunday, Greencastle (IN) Christian Church displayed pictures of

November 24, 2010

Christian Standard

Thousands Attend National Missionary Convention

Thousands of people attended the National Missionary Convention in Lexington, KY, last week. In addition to workshops, worship services, and exhibits, the NMC featured several special events: the launch of Restoration Revolution, a concert of prayer surrounding the convention center on Thursday morning, and the “Million Meal Feast,” an effort among Lexington-area churches to prepare 1 million meals to send to Haiti and North Korea.

November 17, 2010

Christian Standard

Churches Participate in “˜Just One Sunday”

By Jennifer Taylor Churches around the country have participated in “Just One Sunday,” a challenge from Christian college and university presidents to pray for “just one” person who might become a vocational kingdom worker and to make Matthew 9:38 a special prayer emphasis during worship services. Parkway Christian Church (Surprise, AZ) created a “Just One Challenge” card for each child at the church, from newborns to high school students. During the service, PCC members each selected a card and committed to pray for that young person at least once a day. David Doty, senior minister at Woodland Hills Church of

November 17, 2010

Christian Standard

Skipping Dinner to Make a Difference

On Sunday, Rochester (IL) Christian Church celebrated “THANKSgiving, living, loving.” “Instead of our annual Thanksgiving dinner (which none of us needed!), we collected items to fill 200 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, 82 duffel bags filled with toiletries and gifts for foster kids, and 42 Thanksgiving meal baskets for local families,” says Matt Bortmess, senior associate minister. On Sunday families, small groups, and friends worked together to assemble the gifts. The special outreach is part of RCC”s “DO Something” series; throughout the series the church also shared other local and global ways individuals could “do something” to make a difference.

November 16, 2010

Christian Standard

Celebrities Step Up for Haitian Mission

By Jennifer Taylor In 2001, Northwest Haiti Christian Mission created its first “Miriam Center,” a home and therapy center for dozens of Haitian children with disabilities and special needs. In recent years, NWHCM partnered with other organizations, including AHomeInHaiti.org, to plan a second center to serve 100 more children. Two months ago the organizations raised $700,000 for the cause in 10 days. “We had been moving forward with plans for a second center when Shaun King, lead pastor at Courageous Church in Atlanta, visited us and just fell in love with the special needs ministry,” says Cameron Mayhill, director of

November 16, 2010

Christian Standard

The Buddy System

By Jennifer Taylor Central Church of Christ (Mount Vernon, Ohio) is committed to serving people with special needs. Five years ago the church launched its “Very Important Persons” class for community members with Down syndrome. Each participant is matched with a “buddy” who becomes a special mentor and meets on Wednesday afternoons for Bible lessons, singing, trips, restaurant outings, and more. “An outgrowth of the ministry has been clowning,” says associate minister Don Linn. “The group rides in parades and visits nursing homes together. Not only is it fun for them, but we”ve discovered people treat them differently. Kids approach

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