September 21, 2022
News Briefs for September 21
News briefs about Ozark Christian College's Preaching-Teaching Convention in February 2023, RENEW.org's National Gathering on Oct. 4, Beacon Church in New Hampshire, and more.
Articles for tag: Rick Atchley
November 11, 2020
California Church Mobilizes to Help Chaplain Bless Troops (Plus News Briefs)
By Jim Nieman Central Christian Church in Lancaster, Calif., is mobilizing to send Military Christmas Care Boxes to a troop of U.S. Army soldiers stationed overseas. The mobilization to fill approximately 350 shoeboxes with letters, snacks, and various necessities is in response to a request from a CCC member who serves as a U.S. Army chaplain for those male and female soldiers. “We have always done [Samaritan Purse’s] Operation Christmas Child boxes in the past,” said Autumn Rutledge, who serves with Central’s women’s ministry. “This year we were asked . . . if we would consider sending care packages to
May 17, 2020
Restoration . . . Not Preservation
By Josh Ross Family reunions typically carry with them a mixed bag of emotions. There is joy and sadness, excitement, and even anxiety (when we forget a name or can’t place a face). A small part of family reunions is catching up with everyone. But for the most part, family reunions are about reminiscing about the past, and this can be delightful and frightening simultaneously. It’s nostalgic to hear stories we haven’t heard in years. It’s frightening when the stories entail embarrassing moments from our lives. We all have stories of breaking windows, running over a mailbox, and getting caught
June 23, 2018
Paddling Together in the Same Direction
By Victor Knowles In our American Restoration Movement, we have been paddling in separate streams for more than 100 years. Like Paul and Barnabas, we had a “sharp disagreement” (Acts 15:39) over issues like instrumental music and missionary societies. We too “parted company” and had our own journals to spread the good news (Gospel Advocate and Christian Standard), started our own Bible colleges and Christian universities to prepare gospel workers (Lipscomb University and Johnson Bible College—now Johnson University), and developed our own lectureships and conventions to encourage and equip Christians (Pepperdine Bible Lectures and the North American Christian Convention). Since
The Best Sermon I”ve Ever Heard (23)
By Arron Chambers Christian leaders, some of them preachers themselves, tell us about a sermon they can”t forget””and maybe you won”t either. Kevin Wise Kevin Wise was raised in the church but lived in the world. After two years in college, he left school to party and deal drugs for a couple of years. He then returned to college, where he took anatomy and physiology classes that made him more aware of a designer and creator. As he studied the Bible, his life totally changed. He became a minister and served with the North County Church of Christ in
September 25, 2016
The Best Sermon I”ve Ever Heard (15)
By Arron Chambers Christian leaders, some of them preachers themselves, tell us about a sermon they can”t forget””and maybe you won”t either. Chuck Sackett Chuck Sackett grew up outside the church and became a Christian during high school. His parents owned a bar and restaurant in a small town in Idaho. He came to Jesus through the friendship of someone willing to “cross the tracks” into his world. He currently preaches at Madison Park Christian Church (Quincy, Illinois) and teaches at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian University and for TCM International Institute. He is husband of Gail and they have three married
August 23, 2015
The Best Sermon I”ve Ever Heard (2)
By Arron Chambers Christian leaders, some of them preachers themselves, tell us about a sermon they can”t forget””and maybe you won”t either. Steve Malone Steve has been in the preaching ministry for 24 years and currently is lead pastor at Maple Grove Christian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. Steve”s Best Sermon: The best sermon I”ve heard on God”s love is by Jud Wilhite, senior pastor at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada (www.southeastchristian.org/sermons/pursued-for-relationship). Why Steve likes this sermon: “In this message, Jud makes the story of Hosea come alive, and he does an incredible job of showing how what God
July 20, 2014
A Simple Charge
By Rick Atchley (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I”ve Ever Received.”) When I was a student at Abilene (Texas) Christian University, one of my favorite professors was Dr. Neil Lightfoot. He loved the Bible, and he taught us to love it too. His one charge to all his students was simple, “Preach the Word!” Anything else in his eyes was a betrayal of our calling. For years after this, whenever I returned to the campus and crossed his path, I knew what Dr. Lightfoot would say. He never asked, “How large is your church?” or “How many
March 18, 2014
Extending a Hand and Standing Firm
By Mark A. Taylor The cover headline on Christian Standard”s July 2, 2006 edition was “We Are NOT the Only Christians.” The lead article was from a book written by Rick Atchley and Bob Russell, a small volume about Christian unity titled Together Again*. The book”s publication coincided with the historic 2006 North American Christian Convention, whose theme and goal was to repair wounds and open doors between a cappella churches of Christ and independent, instrumental Christian churches and churches of Christ. But the book talked about more than that division. It also offered a challenge for how we view
August 5, 2013
Victorious! — A Review of the 2013 NACC
By Darrel Rowland The woman who can never stand up got a standing ovation simply for guiding her wheelchair onto the stage. Why did the entire hall of thousands of Christians rise to applaud Joni Eareckson Tada””an honor given to no other speaker during this year”s North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky””even before she uttered a syllable? Perhaps because her life embodies the theme of the 2013 gathering: “Victorious.” Convention President Matt Proctor”s decision to spend July 9-12 plowing through the book of Revelation may have generated skepticism beforehand, but the reaction afterward was overwhelmingly positive. “I think this is
July 16, 2013
The Best Part for Me
By Mark A. Taylor I have a confession to make about the North American Christian Convention. The preaching hasn”t usually been my favorite part. Oh, I”ve always attended main sessions, and in my three-plus decades of attending NACCs, I know some sermons have moved and taught me. But what I”ve anticipated about each year”s gathering””and what I”ve promoted most when encouraging others to attend it””was not the preaching. I talked, instead, about the fellowship. I”ve always played up the “connecting place” angle of the NACC where we reignite longtime friendships and make new ones. Ministries and missions agencies and all
February 19, 2013
Victorious (Previewing the 2013 NACC)
By Matt Proctor Someone wrote that 10 years ago our world had Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Jobs, no Cash, and no Hope! Maybe you”ve experienced those moments of “no hope.” The normal challenges of life””financial shortfall, physical illness, family conflict””are tough enough. But for believers, life can be even harder. In John 16:33, Jesus promised, “In this world you will have trouble.” In Acts 14:22, Paul said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” You may know those hardships very well: You”ve struggled to get free of a
February 19, 2013
2013 NACC Schedule of Events
TUESDAY, JULY 9 8:30 a.m.””Preconference events (some are ticketed) Noon””Exhibit Hall opens 7:00 p.m.””Evening Main Session (Matt Proctor speaking) 8:30 p.m.””NACC President”s Opening Night Reception 10:00″”Exhibit Hall closes WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 7:30 a.m.””NACC Ministry Networking Breakfast (ticketed) 8:30 a.m.””Bible Study with Mark Scott 9:00 a.m.””Exhibit Hall Opens 10:00 a.m.””Morning Main Session (Aaron Brockett and Randy Harris speaking) Noon””NACC Seniors” Luncheon (ticketed) 1:30 p.m.””Seminars 3:30 p.m.””Seminars 5:15 p.m.””NACC President”s Banquet with Ken Davis (open to all, ticketed) 7:00 p.m.””Evening Main Session (Jon Weece speaking) 8:30 p.m.””Receptions 9:00 p.m.””Exhibit Hall closes THURSDAY, JULY 11 7:30 a.m.””NACC Ministry Networking Breakfast (ticketed) 8:30
July 21, 2011
Interview with Rick Atchley
By Brad Dupray As minister of the Word at The Hills Church of Christ, Rick Atchley leads a congregation that has expanded to three campuses in the Greater Fort Worth, Texas, area and ministers to 5,000 people each weekend. The Hills has a background as an a cappella church of Christ, but has transitioned over the past few years to include instrumental worship in most services. Since graduating from Abilene (Texas) Christian University, Atchley has been in the preaching ministry for 33 years and has served The Hills for the past 22 years. He has written several books, including Together
May 24, 2009
The 2006 Unity Efforts”“Three Years Later
 By David Faust Three years ago I had the privilege of serving as president of the 2006 North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Our convention theme, “Together in Christ,” highlighted Jesus” prayer for unity in John 17. We preached the great unity texts found in Ephesians 4. We sang””with and without instrumental accompaniment””and worshiped the Lord together. We noted the historic significance of the year 2006, 100 years after the U.S. Census Bureau first listed the a cappella churches of Christ as a separate body distinct from the Christian churches. We acknowledged that in a lost and dying
August 9, 2006
It Was a God Thing
North American Christian Convention in Louisville featured shared preaching and blended worship between Christian churches and churches of Christ, with messages of grace, reconciliation, and unity shaping the week.
July 2, 2006
A Common Plea: From the New Book ‘Together Again’
A book excerpt urging humility and unity: Jesus’ words in Mark 9 and Restoration Movement leaders remind believers to be “Christians only,” while admitting we are not the only Christians.
June 28, 2006
Can We Allow What We Do Not Advocate?
Mark A. Taylor reflects on fellowship amid disagreement—first in families, then in churches. He calls for humility and grace that covers belief and practice, urging Christians to pursue reconciliation without compromise.
June 7, 2006
Interview with Bob Russell
By Brad Dupray Bob Russell says he “anticipated staying four or five years” when he came to Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1966. “I saw myself going back to Pennsylvania, preaching somewhere near my hometown.” God had other plans. In 40 years of ministry at Southeast Bob has led the church to weekend attendance of 19,000. The church has become a force for evangelism, a help to those in need, and the conscience in its community. The word on the street is Bob Russell is retiring. How would you define this transition in your life? I think it’s
February 5, 2006
NACC: Together in Christ
A call to renewed unity within the Restoration family, centered on Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and the 2006 North American Christian Convention theme, “Together in Christ,” in Louisville.
