Disciples News

From Disciples News Service - Nov. 19, 2008

In this issue:

• Habitat For Humanity Starts Construction Of 300,000th House
• National Hispanic Pastor Emeritus Lucas Torres Dies
• Disciples Seminary Foundation Establishes Ecumenical Center In Berkeley With The Pacific School Of Religion
• New Women's Magazine To Be Launched In January
• Global Ecumenical Leaders Speak Out Against Crisis In Zimbabwe
• Volunteers Needed For General Assembly Mission Projects
• CCF President: Christians Still Generous In Hard Times
• Sale Of Christmas Cards Help Feed Hungry
• Appalachian Ministries 2009 Classes Begin In January
• Chalice Press-CPB Offers Daily Devotionals For Advent
• Missouri School Of Religion Plans Retreat On Spiritual Formation
• Eureka College Offering Full-Tuition Ministry Fellowships

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF 300,000th HOUSE

Disciples and Habitat for Humanity have a long and storied history together dating back to Habitat's beginning in 1976. Through its partnership with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and other faith communities, Habitat for Humanity reached a remarkable milestone last week. The organization began building its 300,000th home, when it started construction on a house in Naples, Fla.

Millard and Linda Fuller, who served as Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) missionaries in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1973, founded Habitat for Humanity International in 1976. Continuing a long tradition, more than 75 Disciples volunteers from 12 congregations assembled in Beaumont, Texas, earlier this month for another Disciples Habitat Blitz Build. To read more about Disciples' work with Habitat, go to:
www.disciples.org/tabid/58/itemid/124/Habitat-for-Humanitys-Relationship-with-Disciples.aspx

NATIONAL HISPANIC PASTOR EMERITUS LUCAS TORRES DIES

Lucas Torres, pastor emeritus of the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries, has died. Torres, 74, passed away at an Indianapolis hospital on Nov. 11. He had served as a pastor in Puerto Rico, Bronx, N.Y., and Orlando, Fla. He had been director of what is now the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries (CPOHM) from 1973 to 1977. He was National Pastor of the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries from 1993-1999.

Torres became a pastor in his native Puerto Rico at age 17. He retired from CPOHM in 1999, and in 2006 he became the first national pastor emeritus for Hispanic Ministries. Torres was honored at a memorial service on Nov. 14 at Iglesia Cristiana Discipulos de Cristo Pajaros Candelaria in Puerto Rico, where he formerly served as pastor and founded a school. David Vargas, president of the Division of Overseas Ministries, was the main speaker at Torres memorial service. For more about Torres, see a tribute written by Carmelo Alvarez, a professor and ordained Disciples minister, at:
www.disciples.org/tabid/58/itemid/123/Lucas-Torres-Romn-Enlightened-by-his-faith.aspx

DISCIPLES SEMINARY FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES ECUMENICAL CENTER IN BERKELEY WITH THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF RELIGION

The Ecumenical Center in Berkeley, Calif., (ECB) has been established by Disciples Seminary Foundation (DSF) and Pacific School of Religion (PSR) in the historic building of a Disciples congregation. In a new legal partnership, DSF and PSR completed purchase of the property of University Christian Church, Berkeley, on October 31, 2008, 20 months after the congregation ended its visible ministry. For more information, visit: www.disciples.org/tabid/58/itemid/125/Disciples-Seminary-Foundation.aspx

NEW WOMEN'S MAGAZINE TO BE LAUNCHED IN JANUARY

A new magazine aimed at Disciples women will debut at the beginning of 2009. Just Women will feature articles of interest to women, including columns covering issues such as women and ministry, health as it relates to spirituality, and stewardship. Just Women will be printed quarterly in the months of January, April, June and October.

The full-color periodical will be published by DisciplesWorld, Inc. in partnership with International Disciples Women's Ministries. The magazine will be the primary educational resource for the International Disciples Women's Ministries and the Office of Disciples Women. For more, see: www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/DNS/2008/20081119-JustWomen.pdf [PDF]. The Just Women website can be found at www.justwomenmagazine.org.

GLOBAL ECUMENICAL LEADERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE

An urgent call has been made by global ecumenical partners to protect the right to life, dignity and democracy in Zimbabwe. The call speaks out against the Southern African Development Community (SADC) leadership and Zimbabwe's political leaders who fail to act decisively in the ongoing political situation in the country. Since August a severe cholera outbreak has claimed hundreds of lives. Schools and hospitals are closing daily because there are no teachers, doctors, nurses or medicines. Millions of Zimbabweans are starving despite the best efforts of aid agencies.

Yet reports say the country's government continues to misappropriate funds needed to buy life-saving drugs for the sick as well as provide jobs for at least 50,000 Zimbabweans in the health sector. The groups also call for adherence to democratic principles and processes in mediation and a return of the rule of law inside the country. You may read more of the call which is posted on the Global Ministries website by going to: globalministries.org/news/africa/urgent-call-zimbabwe.html

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY MISSION PROJECTS

From preparing the meals that will be distributed to the poor by 50 non-profit agencies to planting shrubbery and mowing lawns, the 2009 Indianapolis General Assembly will offer ample opportunities for Disciples who want to share their witness through mission. The Office of Disciples Volunteering of Disciples Home Missions is planning mission projects in Indianapolis starting as a pre-event from Sunday, July 26 through Wednesday July 29. During General Assembly, work projects are planned for the afternoons of Thursday, July 30; Friday, July 31; and Saturday August 1.

The projects will include working with a food recovery agency, at residences for former prisoners transitioning back into society, various homeless shelters, and a collaborative blitz event to spruce up economically depressed areas of the city. For more details, contact Brenda Tyler in the Office of Disciples Volunteering at 317-713-2642 or toll free 888-346-2631 or btyler@dhm.disciples.org or visit www.disciples.org/ga and click on the "Mission Opportunities" link.

CCF PRESIDENT: CHRISTIANS STILL GENEROUS IN HARD TIMES

Gary Kidwell, president of the Christian Church Foundation, told the Foundation's Board of Directors that while current economic conditions are troubling, the generosity of the people of God should not be underestimated. Statistics show total philanthropic giving does not always correlate to economic conditions, including recessions. To read more about the Board meeting, go to: www.disciples.org/ccf.

SALE OF CHRISTMAS CARDS HELP FEED HUNGRY

Disciples are invited to participate in helping end hunger around the world by purchasing special Bread for the World Christmas cards for family and friends. The two Christmas cards being offered are decorated with stunning photographs from foreign lands. One is highlighted by a picture of an infant from the Andes Mountains in Ecuador.

The second Christmas card shows an Afghan shepherdess with a staff in hand standing in a picturesque mountain meadow. The cards may be purchased for $10 per pack. Each pack contains 10 cards. For more, see: www.bread.org/emails/order-christmas-cards.html

APPALACHIAN MINISTRIES 2009 CLASSES BEGIN IN JANUARY

The Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center (AMERC) has announced its courses for 2009. AMERC's first course, "Fierce Landscapes: Listening to the People of Appalachia," will allow students to experience on-site interactions with congregations, and religious and community leaders in southwest Virginia and western North Carolina. The class runs Jan. 2-13. Two other January courses offered by AMERC, "Faith, Health, and Economics: an Appalachian Experience," and "Christ, Culture, and Mission in Appalachian" are full.

AMERC will offer the course "Religion and Arts of Appalachia" May 22-June 5. This class is designed to help students understand the religious and economic realities that form the arts and culture of the Appalachian region of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Another course, "Mountain Stories: Care for Self and Community," will be taught May 25-June 7. The Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center is located in Berea, Ky. To get more or to register for a class, go to: www.amerc.org

CHALICE PRESS-CPB OFFERS DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR ADVENT

Disciples may this year again acquire the Partners in Prayer daily devotionals as guiding reference material to use during Advent, which begins Nov. 30. In the devotionals, Disciples ministers Dawn and Joseph Weaks steer readers through the Advent season, the month-long period before Christmas that is observed through fasting, prayer and reflection. The devotionals are available through Chalice Press-Christian Board of Publication.

Chalice Press also continues to offer New Day for Christian Women materials at a 25 percent discount if purchased before the end of November. The current issue of New Day for Christian Women focuses on the middle step in prayer, and perceiving the answer to prayer. It features stories from seven writers who share their experiences with answered prayer. For more information on the Partners in Prayer devotionals go to:
www.cbp21.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=3029

For information on New Day products visit:
www.cbp21.com/CategorySubDetail.asp?CategoryID=185&CategorySubID=556

MISSOURI SCHOOL OF RELIGION PLANS RETREAT ON SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Missouri School of Religion is once again bringing back its annual Spiritual Formation Retreat. The gathering called "Sacred Intentions," will take place Dec. 8 through Dec. 9. The retreat will address the questions "What do you want for your life?" and "What will you do to achieve it?" Presentations and discussions will refer to the book "Entering the Castle" by Carolyn Myss.

In Entering the Castle, Myss uses St. Teresa of Ávila's metaphor of the "interior castle" as a template, and challenges readers to get in touch with their own souls in showing how they can then lead deeper, more joyous lives. Professional counselor Mary Tobias Hagan will be the presenter. The cost is $135 and includes lodging and meals over the two days. For more, visit: www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/DNS/2008/20081119-SacredIntentions.pdf [PDF]

EUREKA COLLEGE OFFERING FULL-TUITION MINISTRY FELLOWSHIPS

Applications are being accepted by Eureka College for two full-tuition ministry fellowships. The fellowships are intended for students pursuing vocational ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In addition, recipients of the fellowships will also receive two on-site mentorships exploring ministry anywhere in the world, once those mentorships have been approved. Eureka College is located in Eureka, Ill., and is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

For more information or to request an application for the ministry fellowships or other grants for Disciples, contact Bruce Fowlkes at bfowlkes@eureka.edu, or call 309-467-6429 or visit the college's Web site at www.eureka.edu and click on the admissions and financial assistance links.