Across the Nation: Christian fills top medical role, university commemorates terrorist attacks and more quick takes
Across the Nation is our monthly rundown of news briefs,…
Across the Nation: 1,100 at racial unity gathering, phones down for Bible class and more quick takes
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Across the Nation is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ across the U.S. Got an idea for this column? Email Audrey Jackson at [email protected].
Featured image (above): Church members share a meal after the Sharing the Spirit service at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ.
SPOTLIGHT
RICHARDSON, Texas — “A long overdue coming together in one place.”
That’s how Mark Bryson, minister of discipleship and missions for the Church of Christ on McDermott Road, described the first Sharing the Spirit gathering. His Plano, Texas, congregation hosted the event last August, inviting predominantly Black and predominantly White congregations to attend the Sunday night service.
The Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in Richardson hosts the second Sharing the Spirit, with nearly 1,100 attendees.
The church set up chairs in its fellowship hall for overflow, but “we simply didn’t know how many would come,” Bryson said. “We had 840 in attendance, praise God!”
Recently, the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in Richardson hosted the second Sharing the Spirit, and nearly 1,100 Christians from 19 churches attended. The Greenville Avenue, McDermott Road, Frisco, Shawnee Trail, Crossway and North Colony churches organized it. Robby John, preaching minister for the Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland, Texas, and McDermott minister Wes McAdams delivered messages.
“It was a powerful reminder of the strength we find when we come together as a community,” McDermott members posted to social media.
[RELATED]
ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS — “How hard would it be to not be around your phone for 30 minutes, a few hours, all day?”
Members of the National Park Church of Christ got a partial answer to that question when they relinquished their phones for a recent Wednesday night Bible class, said minister Boo Scott. As the Christians studied the Sabbath, their phones — bearing cases adorned with flowers, camo and a range of bright colors — sat on a table. “It was hard for some,” the church posted to social media, “while others loved not being connected to their phone.”
Phones are laid on a table during Bible class at the National Park Church of Christ.
MONTANA
BELGRADE — Although the temperature was close to minus 40 degrees, “that didn’t seem to cool anybody’s spirits down,” said Belgrade Church of Christ minister Chris Crooks.
Nearly 60 visitors joined the Belgrade church for the annual Gallatin Valley Rally. In addition to fellowship and Bible study, participants volunteered at benevolence programs including a food pantry.
“Our teenagers decided that this year they wanted to do a service project instead of another activity like a sledding party or scavenger hunt,” Crooks said. “The response from these organizations was pretty amazing. They seemed to be really impressed that a group of kids would do projects when the weather was that cold.”
TEXAS
Stephenville — Students from the Texas School of Preaching in College Station traveled to this small town southwest of Fort Worth to worship with the Hillcrest Church of Christ. Students from the school, which was established in 2021, conducted worship and spoke at a preachers luncheon. Terrance Brownlow-Dindy is the school’s director.
NEWSMAKERS
NAMED: Peter Rice as the next dean of Harding School of Theology in Searcy, Ark. Rice succeeds Mark Powell, who served Harding School of Theology for 22 years.
HIRED: Connor Gaither as youth minister for the Rainbow Church of Christ in Gadsden, Ala. Joseph Pauley as the preacher for Milford Heights Church of Christ in Loveland, Ohio. Landon Willis as the preacher for the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Killen, Ala.
BAPTIZED: Christian Madore at the Davison Church of Christ in Michigan. Missy Rice at Stinson Church of Christ in Grayson, Ky. Mylae Wright at the BayNorth Church of Christ in Fairfield, Calif. Nathan and Desireé Amstead at the Second & Wallace Church of Christ in San Saba, Texas. Fidel Gundiño and Krisley Garciá at the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. Karmen Bostic at the Vansant Church of Christ in Virginia. Genesis García, Eduardo López, Marialex Roman and Luis and Maryely Bastidas at the Bellevue Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn. River Robison, Rohan Scott and Sadie Borchers from the Lascassas Church of Christ in Missy Rice, Tenn.
