Regional News

Listening Conferences in
Mid-America Region

To effectively deal with the current economic downturn and limited or reduced funding sources in Mid-America, Regional Minister Dr. Danny Stewart, met with all four Area Ministers in December 2008. They proposed Listening Conferences in each Area and seek the participation of all congregations. The objective is to discuss Mid-America's next steps. Rev. Stewart's letter shares more details. It can read below - click on the link. Visit your Area Office Web sites for the list of Listening Conference dates. This list is also available in the March Mid-America Messenger newsletter. See the electronic version of this issue here:
http://www.mid-americadisciples.org/communications.htm

Click here to read Danny's letter

The Rickman Future Mission Identification and Ministry Committee has received this consultants report about the study being conducted of our Rickman Conference Center.

The Committee is considering recommendations that will be made to the Executive Committee of the Region and will share information with the Listening Conference Visioning Team as we prepare to move toward the future in the region and at Rickman. Chair of the Rickman Future Mission Identification and Ministry Committee is Larry Veatch.

Click here to download a pdf of the report.

Soles4Souls

Soles4Souls has a simple mission: impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls Inc., felt compelled to respond in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia. Home one night watching TV, he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That image triggered the creation of a mission, then a non-profit organization with a donation of a quarter million shoes to victims in devastated areas domestically and globally. Soles4Souls was created to facilitate the donations from these groups to the people who desperately need footwear.

The international footwear charity based in Nashville, Tennessee, sponsors a series of nationwide events - like National Barefoot Day- to raise awareness. Churches in our Region from Northwest to Southeast Gateway Areas, participated by conducting shoe drives. Visit the Web site (www.soles4souls.org/ways_to_help/houses_of_worship.html) to see how your group or congregation can partner with Soles4Souls.