General Assembly News - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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Chalice PresstranslationsChalice Press will have aKorean translation ofDisciples Thumbnail Sketchesready for free distributionsoon. A ReconciliationMinistry grant covered amajority of production costsfor the publication, whichsummarizes basic Disciplesbeliefs and practices in a wayvisitors or newcomers to thechurch can understand. Thetranslation will be provided atno cost to congregations,regions, general ministries,and the general public onchalicepress.com. Additionaltranslations are planned withthe ongoing support ofReconciliation Ministry,Disciples Home Missions, andseveral Disciples regionalministries.Hispanic ministries welcomesRIM director to after sessionBy Rev. Dr. Huberto Pimentel, nationalpastor for Hispanic MinistriesOur greathighlight of theGeneral Assemblywas thepresentation ofRev Dr. SharonStanley-Rea at ourEncuentro Hispano on Sunday night afterworship. Dr. Stanley-Rea is the newdirector of Refugee & ImmigrationMinistries at Disciples Home Missions.Her presentation at Encuentro Hispanowas enthusiastic and full of in-depthinformation regarding the recent newsabout the immigration law reform. Weare blessed to have such a prophetic andstrong advocate for a fair and justimmigration law. She encouraged all ofus to be active and strong requestingfrom our State representatives to beadvocates of a just and fair immigrationlaw.The National ConvocationHeritage Dinner a successBy the Rev. Dr. Timothy James, associate general minister andadministrative secretary of the National ConvocationWe were blessed to haveanother sold-out GeneralAssembly meal function. Wewere at capacity with threehundred persons present. Ourkeynote preacher, Rev. Dr.William Edwards, RegionalMinister and President of the Christian Church in Ohiobrought forth a powerful and dynamic word. Manyhave exclaimed that the message of Dr. Edwards wasamong the best heard at the Assembly. We wereblessed with inspirational music from the PraiseTeam of the Arise Christian Church there in Orlando,Florida where Rev. Sammie Robles is pastor. Wewitnessed warm recognitions given to Rev. TrayceStewart, the recipient of the 2013 Fred CraddockPreaching Award; Mr. Oscar Haynes MeritoriouslyAwarded for his Editing of the OLD TIMERSGRAPEVINE for the past 15 years; and Rev. Dr. JohnR. Foulkes received the status of “AdministrativeSecretary Emeritus” with a carte blanche passage toNational Convocation gatherings and meal functions.And from North American Pacific/Asian Disciples...was so happy to meet the family of First Christian Church of Charlotte, NC at GA. Over“I 20 people from this single church joined the GA! The church has warmly embraced theMontagnards, refugee people from Vietnam as their family and has eagerly worked tosupport them in the level of human rights. I was so thankful that they joined the NAPADLuncheon and shared their love with other NAPAD family. I especially appreciate thechurch leaders, Rev. Jolin Wilks McElroy and Rev. Nancy Carol Stahl as well as the churchboards for how they are serving them with the heart of Jesus Christ. They are a real NAPADcongregation seeking the transforming community with evangelical passion, radicalinclusiveness, and responsibility to the world.” by Rev. Jinsuk Chun, Executive Pastor of NAPADy favorite memory of General Assembly was the worship. We are so fortunate as“MDisciples to be in the pews on Sunday morning of some amazing preachers. Ouropening worship speaker was the Rev. Dr. R. Glen Miles who reminded us that all arewelcome at the Lord’s Table. All means all. That message set the tone for the entireGeneral Assembly for me and I hope many others and reminded us just how Christwelcomed us, we too can welcome each other.” by Pastor Mayon Marcelino, NAPAD Youth Minister6CHRISTIAN CHURCH DISCIPLES OF CHRIST | JULY 13-17, 2013
NBA introduces mission statementFollowing God’s call, the National Benevolent Association existsto inspire and connect the people and ministries of the ChristianChurch (Disciples of Christ), to accompany one another in thecreation of communities of compassion and care, and to advocatefor the well-being of humanity.– NBA mission statementAt the recent 2013 General Assembly, theNational Benevolent Association (NBA) of theChristian Church (Disciples of Christ) hosted aluncheon and program with 250 Disciples friendson Sunday, July 14, 2013. The gathering markeda time of celebration and sharing of new ministries and mission-centeredinitiatives for the NBA. The Rev. Belva Brown Jordan, member of the NBA Boardof Trustees, opened the meal with prayer and the invitation for all to hear of howNBA has worked to be in intentional dialogue withDisciples related to visioning and planning for new NBAministries. The NBA will incubate, initiate, and connectDisciples health and social service ministries so thatacross the denomination and in local communities there isthe opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow strongertogether.Pastoral TableGeneral Minister and President SharonWatkins shares pastoral words alongwith Rev. Dr. Jinsuk Chun, executivepastor of North American Pacific/Asian Disciples, Rev. Dr. TimothyJames, associate general minister andadministrative secretary of the NationalConvocation, and Rev. Dr. HubertoPimentel, national pastor for HispanicMinistries.With a mix of multi-media video and personal reflections from three tremendousDisciples leaders and pastors-Rev. Virzola Law, Pastor of Discipleship andLeadership at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee,Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, founder and pastor of New Song Community Church ofColumbus, Ohio, and Rev. Jose Morales, Executive Regional Minister of theChristian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Central Rocky Mountain Regiontherewas a joyful spirit and invitation for all to be a part of how NBA initiates,incubates, and connects local congregations, committed Disciples, andDisciples-related, health and social service ministries.Rev. Gilmore reflected, “...this ministry that we share is about who we are. Weare the body of Christ, feeding multitudes, healing the sick, settling disputes,empowering communities, strengthening the church with a teachable spiritincubating new forms of prayer in the service of health because we are personsof sincere faith, to some a fragrance from death to death and others a fragrancefrom life to life. Together, we speak as persons sent from God, spreading thefragrance that comes from knowing God here and now.”Mark D. Anderson, President of the NBA, encouraged luncheon attendees tosign-up for continued updates about NBA ministries at nbacares.org. Andersonand members of the NBA Board of Trustees also expressed their gratitude andappreciation for the service and leadership of Rev. Belva Brown Jordan, whocompleted her tenure as chair of the Board of Trustees in June of 2013.James BrothersAll three expressions of the Churchwere present when the James brothersgot up to sing “Amen.” Titus is alocal church pastor in Kansas, Eugeneis a regional minister in Michigan andTimothy is associate general ministerand administrative secretary of theNational Convocation.CHRISTIAN CHURCH DISCIPLES OF CHRIST | JULY 13-17, 2013 7
Page 2 and 3: CONTENTSMessage from Sharon Watkins
Page 4 and 5: Congo Initiative LaunchedGlobal Min
Page 8 and 9: Collaborative ministries celebrate
Page 10 and 11: Disciples “Get Dirty for Jesus”
Page 12 and 13: General Assembly ResolutionsFull te
Page 14 and 15: “When I Retire, I Want to…”Wh

General Assembly News - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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