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RegionalThe Christian

The Christian Feb 2019

By February 4, 2019February 19th, 2019No Comments

Regional Minister’s Moment

Our mission; To connect and empower Disciples congregations for life-changing and life-giving ministries in our evolving world.

As we began our new year, we launched a new ministry the “School for Ministry” with our partners in the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. The school’s intention is to raise up leaders from and for our small rural/urban congregations. Rev. Lorrie Reed, PhD has been called to serve as our Executive Director. We held our first discernment retreat with 17 people in January. This initial cohort will be attending online classes with Philips Ministry Training program, as well as attending workshops and weeklong summer classes. This summer we will have retired professor Marti Steussy, PhD teaching a class on First (Old) Testament storytelling. The class will be held at Eureka College, June 24-28. The summer class will be open to everyone who wants to learn. Watch for more info on School for Ministry Facebook page.

Service, Learning and Mission or SLAM is also one of our new ventures. The Rev. Bill Kerns, pastor at Davis Memorial in Taylorville, is leading the team. Our first project came to us: we are planning a CCIW Disciple summer week in Taylorville to do cleanup work from the November tornado. Watch for more information through our website and Facebook pages.

As a region, we give thanks for Bob and Bill Deck. The brothers were faithful Disciples, business men, and community leaders in Girard. Through their lives they supported many ministries, including Parkway Christian Church in Springfield; First Christian, Virden; First Christian, Girard. They also saw the value in supporting the regional church. With Bill’s recent death, the region has received the remainder of a Charitable Gift that Bob made in his lifetime through the Christian Church Foundation. We give thanks for the generosity of these two saints of the church, and, look forward to honoring their legacy with ministries of service.

As you can see, there is much to be grateful for in all ways. Do not be discouraged by the chaos of this world. The groaning of new birth is upon us. God will bring about the shalom that is intended for us and for our world. Christ is our light and life.

Teresa

We do this, because we want to be a radically welcoming Region of connected Disciples congregations,
radiating the Creator’s love, continuing Christ’s mission, and following the Spirit’s call. (Vision 2018)