People of Faith Standing for Racial Justice

Find more photos on their Facebook page.

Compton Heights Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in St. Louis, together with St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church, is holding an ecumenical "People of Faith Standing for Racial Justice" Vigil each Friday, 5 pm to 6 pm on S. Grand, beginning at CHCC (2149 S. Grand) and spreading out both north and south along Grand. Masks and 6 foot social distancing are required between family units.

They witness together against the sin of racism and for the work of building true community that is anti-racist!

Masks for MC

Masks for MC began as an attempt for JoLynn Yates to provide masks for her daughter who is a physician in a medical clinic associated with the University of Nebraska. JoLynn, a member of Monroe City Christian Church, quickly realized that alone she could not help stem the tide of patients presenting in the clinic daily so she reached out to her friends that sew in Monroe City, MO. Within a few days, the group of women from churches across the community provided nearly 200 masks for Omaha. Then the group began to expand and to make sure they had masks for their families and those elderly that they were watching over. The mad dash to find elastic bound the women and their friends together and those that couldn’t sew became shoppers online for supplies and some began cutting out the fabric so a seamstress could concentrate at her machine. When asked for help, the local Ben Franklin Store made a huge donation of fabric. It became apparent that the group needed a manager that was not a seamstress so those that could would sew. This led to a front porch delivery system of drop off and supply pickup. The town’s needs have been prioritized, and as of Monday March 30, more than 200 masks have found there way to nursing home residents, first responders, Nutrition Center delivery volunteers, and Group Homes for the Developmental  Disabilities in just under 4 days. Plans are to reach businesses, the ministers, funeral directors, those with special health concerns, and Food Bank volunteers. Facebook/Messenger has been the contact tool and has proven very effective. 

Most masks are based on a pleated mask with instructions. Find more information on their Facebook page.

Thanks to pastor Mark Sewell for story and photo.

Mask Mission

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Affton CC has several congregants who work in various healthcare facilities and networks. Each network establishes their own policies when it comes to accepting homemade masks and mask covers. All of our healthcare workers are saying that the situation is changing rapidly and many are changing their policy to allow the acceptance of homemade masks and covers. So far, people within our congregation and within the larger community have donated dozens of masks and mask covers which have been distributed to various facilities accepting them. We remain committed to be a collection center in the community for masks and mask covers to be given, not only to healthcare workers, but all who are serving essential duties during the COVID-19 crisis.

If anyone is willing to sew homemade masks for Mercy Healthcare System, please contact Rev. David Woodard at revdwstl@gmail.com and indicate how many masks you're willing to make. The material and pattern will be provided by Mercy. 

Thanks to Rev. David Woodard for this information and photos.

El Dorado Springs' Drive-In Worship

You’ve heard the saying that originated in the early ‘70s, “Honk if You Love Jesus”? Well, that is exactly what First Christian Church in El Dorado Springs did for their “meet and greet” time Sunday morning (March 22). Honking horns, flashing lights, and waving hands wildly to their neighbors is how the congregation greeted people from their vehicles in the parking lot of the church, and still kept their distance from one another.  

Because the congregation is small and the Wi-Fi strength is not strong enough to do the normal FB Live, Zoom, etc. that many other churches are doing during the COVID-19 restrictions, the church board voted last week to have outdoor “Drive-In” services. Kyle Vickers, chair of the church board said he didn’t know how many to expect, but it was worth a try in order to not have to cancel worship services. “I don’t know how many people will get out and come to church during this Coronavirus thing, but we might as well give it a try. We’ve done this sort of thing in past summers when the weather was nice so people could attend an earlier service and then head to the lake, family gatherings and other Sunday events, and yet still be a part of a regular service.”

Since the church already had an FM transmitter in place that broadcasts up to 500 ft. from the building, the ideal spot for services was the church parking lot. People turned their radio dials to 100.7 (100 for the Perfect Christ, 7 for the holy and spiritual number of 7) while listening from inside their vehicles. Normally, First Christian Church has about 40-50 folks attending each week, and we were happily surprised that 35 people came to show their support and worship from their vehicles. In order to protect everyone, the people received a weekly bulletin and a song booklet inside a ziplock bag which was handed out by a greeter wearing gloves. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) practices open communion, and all believers are welcome to partake of communion. To go along with safe practices, the deacon serving the communion wore a mask and gloves. The communion was a small individually packed wafer and grape juice communion set.

The small Southwest Missouri congregation is currently without a pastor so they have been using different men and women from a pulpit supply list. Nick Rodenberg, from Mt. Vernon, Missouri, and a UCC (United Church of Christ) member, was the guest speaker on Sunday. Nick, the worship leader, and the sound person were the only three inside the empty church, while the rest of the congregation promoted social distancing and their faith as they worshipped outside in their cars and trucks. As one member of the church put it, “This is one way we can spread the Good News and not the germs in our community!”

Stay tuned for the future of First Christian Church. “If we aren’t in “lockdown” in two weeks for Palm Sunday, we might get creative in our waving of the branches and driving around the block while we welcome Jesus riding into town on a donkey (or possibly a miniature horse)” said one church board member.

Thanks to FCC’s Barbara Walsh for this story and photos.

Christian Ministries Scholarship Fund

The application period is now open for Christian Ministries Scholarships!

The Christian Ministries Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for those preparing for Christian Ministries, both in seminary and undergraduate education. This fund is primarily aimed at supporting those persons from the Christian Church of Mid-America (CCMA) Region who are preparing for the Christian ministries. Women’s Ministry/CWF and the receipts from local congregations establish this fund that provides gifts as grants in aid to the recipients. Applications are due by May 30. Learn more>

Application form

FCC Lathrop Feeling Blessed

The First Christian Church of Lathrop was truly blessed with a generous monetary gift from a gentleman who had attended our church as a youth. This is a lesson in never underestimating the influence we may have on the young people in our congregations, even if they no longer live in our communities. Upon receiving this gift, our church board had the foresight to invest the money with the guidance of the Joint Investment Trust of the Christian Church Foundation.  Each year, the interest from the investment is used for needed projects and a good portion of the interest is applied to mission work. It was decided that 40% of the funds allotted to Missions would go to Local Missions, 40% to Regional and 20% to Global Missions.

This past year we were able to contribute to local projects such as: scholarships to local seminary students and college students in our congregation, Back Pack Buddy Program for local elementary children, refrigerator for local Community Outreach Program, Good News Club (an after school program for Lathrop Elementary students), and supporting a local college student on a mission project to Texas. At Christmas, our church as a whole, adopted four families to assist during the holidays.

Regional projects included contributing to the following: Care Portal Project in Clinton County, Disciples of Christ supported colleges in Missouri, Christian Church of Mid-America, National Benevolent Association and the Cane Ridge Re-Vital Program.

Global projects included supporting three missionaries: two teams in Africa, and one in Guatemala.

Feeling blessed?  We most certainly are. May we continue to be guided by God’s loving grace and continue in the service of his Kingdom!

West Lake CC Supports Week of Compassion

Every February, West Lake Christian Church holds their annual White Elephant Auction immediately following the 3rd Sunday Fellowship Dinner to raise funds in support of the Week of Compassion offering.

This auction has been going on for over twenty years and is one of our events that is looked forward to with anticipation by many. Using the White Elephant rules, items purchased may be opened or traded. Some of the items included are restaurant gift certificates, pies, Dairy Queen ice cream cakes for a year, paintings, boat rides with dinner on the lake, and there is even a White Elephant with $50.00 in it that remains with the winning bidder. Then there are gifts such as hospital urinals, old magazines, and a host of other unwanted household items. There is a lot of good natured ribbing and laughter had by all as we support a very necessary cause. When the bids were in and the last gift was auctioned we were able to send over $2100.00 to the Week of Compassion offering for 2020.

Thanks to WLCC Pastor Kelly Caldwell for this story and photos.

Kennett FCC Supporting the Colvins

First Christian Church of Kennett celebrated their most recent annual Thanksgiving potluck with a special twist. They added to the festivities a Sweet & Savory Silent Auction for Mission, a fund raiser for Global Ministries mission co-workers Larry & Debbie Colvin who are currently serving in Ghana. Participants brought homemade baked, sweet, salty, and savory goodies to be auctioned, as well as gift certificates for items requiring immediate consumption such as casseroles, salads, etc. There was also a cupcake cakewalk enjoyed by children and adults alike. The event was a success with $1,077.50 raised. 

Global Ministries is grateful to FCC Kennett and other congregations who have so faithfully and creatively found ways to help fund the appointments of the Colvins with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. This event is a wonderful example of how we can all help make a difference!

Learn more about the Colvins’ work in Ghana and how you and your church can help support it.

Growing with Older Adult Ministries

Our Older Adult Ministries Program has received a renewal of its National Benevolent Association (NBA) grant for this year, along with an increase in funding. This is a positive acknowledgement of the work being done here in our Region, and the value the work has as a model for other congregations, Regions, and even other denominations.

Theologians and church experts are more frequently saying that church revitalization must enfold Older Adult Ministries in its intergenerational approach. So, our Older Adult Ministries seeks to increase its impact and exposure by connecting with more congregations, and having resources and services available more frequently. The program has served more than 35 congregations in our Region in four years, and will continue to expand.

The new NBA funding for this year will enable online resources to be created. These include a descriptive promotional video, and a series of short videos which can be used as discussion starters by adult church groups. The series will address common and ponderous topics about aging and church ministries. In the coming year more will be added to the series.

The program will increase its visibility by being present at Regional Assembly in October, offering a day-long seminar on Thursday, a display and workshop. Churches are encouraged to plan their own seminar to address specific needs in their community and churches. These can be two-hour to day-long workshops including hands-on materials, lively discussion, and creative planning. Everyone is invited and participation is free!

Watch for new educational videos available soon. These can be utilized by any church, with various age groups, to begin to explore and discuss the unique gifts and experiences older adults have to share intergenerationally. Our web page offers many resource links as well as study materials.

Contact Paul Koch at paul.ccma@sbcglobal.net or 636.221.7065 or Jan Aerie at aeriej@gmail.com or 216.870.1557 for more information.

Thanks to Jan Aerie for this information.

Disciples on Campus Mission Trip

(Top row – L to R) Rev. Jimmy Spear, Wyatt Rogers, Rev. Nick Larson, Megan Potthast, Hunter Rogers, Jonathan LaHue, Kim Potthast. (Bottom row -- L to R) Chloe Prewitt, Aliyah Lundsford, Sarah Butler, Julia Bower, Eli Gaffney

Each year the DOC – Disciples on Campus college ministry in Columbia, MO takes a mission trip over winter break. This year a dozen DOCers spent the first week of January serving and learning in Memphis, TN. The DOC group was hosted by  Kingsway Christian Church in east Memphis.

The group served alongside organizations such as St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen—providing a 150 year-old daily cup of nourishing hot soup; Friends for Life—serving the needs of the HIV/AIDS community; Mid-South Food Bank—feeding the needs of many Tennessee counties; Room in the Inn—offering overnight shelter to the Memphis homeless community. These organizations provided the chance for the week to include:  serving hot soup each morning, laundering shelter bedding, packing food, and learning about the needs of both the poor and homeless of Memphis. The group also had the opportunity to engage in the historical significance of several Memphis landmarks.  It was a moving experience to learn more about the slave trade (touring Slave Haven a station on the Underground Railroad) and to connect with the witness of the National Civil Rights Museum.

Each winter break mission trip builds on the community of the DOC group’s weekly gatherings giving the students a chance to spend a week away from school/home with a great group sharing in service, worship, play and fellowship. The DOC group consists of those students at school at one of four Columbia institutions and also those who are from a Columbia congregation attending school elsewhere.  A majority of this year’s group have known each other since middle school through many years of participating in the NEOLA summer church camp program. In DOC they continue to build on what have now become long term friendships. DOC is a joint student ministry of First Christian Church and Broadway Christian Church in Columbia.

Submitted by Jimmy Spear,
First Christian Church, Columbia

Christmas Time is Mission Time at Clinton Christian Church

The Advent and Christmas seasons have been very busy with outreach work for Clinton Christian Church.

One of their efforts is to help with the local Senior Center’s Candy Cane Project. Participants are asked to contribute gift bags filled with items needed by the Center’s clients including throw blankets, toilet paper, flashlights, first aid items, gloves, and socks. For the past two years, the church has filled and donated fifteen such bags. This year the total need rose from 115 to 150 bags, so the church contributed thirty bags rather than fifteen.

Another ministry of the congregation is to collect blankets for the homeless. Their tradition is to receive an offering of blankets instead of money at the Christmas Eve worship service. This year over 150 blankets were contributed. Thirty of those will be distributed as needed in the local community. The rest will go to Operation Chillout at First Christian Church of Blue Springs for distribution via agencies in the Kansas City area.

The congregation’s children are also mission minded, having become “Kids 4 Change.” Over four Sundays, they took up a loose change offering during worship to be donated to their local animal shelter. The total donated was $600! The congregation also provides the shelter with space at their semi-annual flea markets to promote animal adoption.

Thank you to Clinton CC pastor Rev. Tim Wessley for this information.

Operation Safe Winter

Rock Bridge Christian Church’s Rebecca Shaw describes how their congregation became involved with Operation Safe Winter in Columbia.

Operation Safe Winter CoMo is a local group started by concerned citizens and run with a small group of individuals who work directly with the unhoused population in Columbia. They saw a need in our community and have been working to fill a gap. This group began taking donations about a year ago, as well as running a mobile soup kitchen out to some of the camps in outer areas of town. They work mainly with other local advocate groups and individuals to collect donations and setup 'free stores' in differing areas in town once a month, laying out donations of food, clothing, camping gear, etc for the taking. Their volunteers get word to those in the unhoused community of these events, lay out items and cook a meal to serve during the event. It is truly an operation run by individuals working for the greater good.

I learned of this group through advocacy work done locally and brought the idea to collect goods to RBCC's Social Justice team. Our church members responded quickly and in true RBCC fashion, went above and beyond in their generosity, filling boxes with items as fast as we could put them out! Soon we had overflowing sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothing and care items to get to OSW for their next event.  

My five year old daughter became involved with Scouts this year and her leader and I were discussing service projects that children of a young age can be involved in. There aren't as many opportunities as one would hope for young children, so I invited Scout Troop 700 Lion Den to work with our SJ team and assist in collecting items to make personal care packages that could be passed out. The kids had a wonderful time packaging items and helping sort and worked hard! What a great opportunity to involve them in our community and give them the chance to really help others in need!

Our church will continue to serve as a drop off point for this organization and they will continue to collect items throughout the year. As many cities are seeing a rise in homeless populations, the needs continue.  Columbia City Council and advocacy groups are currently in discussions in hopes to find a permanent year-round facility to help with this cause. Until then, OSW, local advocates and congregations are stepping up to assist in these needs.

Loads of Love

Farmington Christian Church participates in the ecumenical Loads of Love ministry through the Farmington Ministerial Alliance. One Saturday morning a month, people in need of financial assistance can come to the local laundromat and have their washing paid for by a participating church. The machine fee is covered, detergent and other supplies are available, and sometimes there are even snacks and help with the folding!

The ministry was born out of the facts that laundry is a necessary expense that some people have trouble covering, and everybody deserves clean clothes. Often people bring larger items like towels and bed linens, which would be more difficult to try to wash at home.

When FCC first started participating, there were twelve nearby churches involved. Now there are eighteen, so each church is responsible for staffing the ministry once each year and a half. Spread out this way, the job becomes smaller for the volunteers, but still makes a big difference each month for the people who can always count on their Loads of Love.

Thank you to pastor Alan Berry and youth director
Kim Amsden for this information and photos.

Community Meals at Woodson Chapel Christian Church

For more than ten years now Woodson Chapel Christian Church in St. Joseph has been feeding its community every Monday night. The outreach started with the idea that people could benefit from such a ministry – whether they had financial trouble putting complete meals on the table, or they would perhaps otherwise be eating at home alone, or maybe they just wanted a hot meal that wasn’t fast food.

The attendance is usually between 45 and 65 each week. Supplying the meals to the community for free has become part of the regular church budget, but they also receive some donations from the participants who are able to contribute. There are two main cooks, a core group of helpers, and other occasional volunteers to staff the gatherings – preparing the meal, hosting, and cleaning up.

What a wonderful ministry of welcome, hospitality, and assistance!

…Jesus had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:35

Thank you to church administrator Barbara Frank and
pastor George Morey for this information and photo.

Open Hands - Bolivar Area Soup Kitchen

First Christian Church in Bolivar has launched a new ministry of feeding the hungry in their community. Pastor Bill Nichols shares about their experience over the last two months.

After a successful volunteer training and kickoff dinner on Monday, September 30th, the Open Hands Soup Kitchen started serving meals to the public on Monday nights beginning October 7th. While there were only a few members of the public in attendance for the first couple of weeks, we had and continue to have a plethora of volunteers from the public and continue to train new volunteers on almost a weekly basis. On Monday, November 25th, our 8th week serving the community, we fed over 100 people a full course Thanksgiving Meal. Once again, our volunteers came out in force not only to serve, but many brought desserts for the meal. Turkeys were donated by the local Woods Market and were smoked by one of First Christian Churches elders, Gary Short. Pastor Joe Langford, one of several local pastors who participate in this ministry, gave the devotion. Door prizes were drawn after the meal and then those present were able to pick up free grocery items to take home with them.

Open Hands is an ecumenical organization formed by several churches and community ministries that is hosted by First Christian Church in Bolivar. Several members of the church also participate in the ministry and the pastor’s wife Becky Nichols serves on the board of Open Hands. Crosslines Ministry in Springfield and Community Outreach Ministries in Bolivar help supply some of the groceries and paper supplies needed for this ministry. Donations to help support this ministry can be sent to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 416, Bolivar Missouri, 65613 and designated for BASK.

Thank you to Rev. Bill Nichols for this information and photos.

Meeting the Need for Meat

Community CC’s Cindy Stephens (left) is pictured here with Debbie, kitchen manager for Salvation Army in Jefferson City.

The tornado that blew through Jefferson City on May 22 is having continuing effects on the citizens of the city. Many lost homes and are continuing to rely on the Salvation Army for food and shelter. This is creating a stress on the budget for that organization. Recently the Salvation Army sent out a request for donations for meat as they are preparing twice the usual number of meals. The Outreach committee of Community Christian Church in Jefferson City took this need to their congregation. The request was met with a ‘Money for Meat’ special offering of $696.

The kitchen at Salvation Army serves three meals a day, every day of the year. Debbie, who oversees the kitchen, said that there are days when she wonders how she will be able to manage the next meal but someone will  appear at the door with the needed food. For several years, Community Christian Church donated  food  to help the Salvation Army food pantry, and continues this mission.

Community Christian Church temporarily worships at the Hawthorn Bank Community Building, as their church is being rebuilt after taking a direct hit by the tornado. The church members are so thankful to all who have given to the rebuilding effort. The meat fund for Salvation Army is one example of how the members are saying thanks to their community.

Thank you to Cindy Stephens of Community CC for this story and photo.

UCAN Challenge Fulfilled

In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Pastor Frank Chlastak of the First Christian Church in Poplar Bluff issued a challenge to the church members.

If the church raised $500, Rev. Chlastak would dye his hair and beard pink and would then preach from the pulpit. Members rose to the challenge and on November 10, Rev. Chlastak kept his word.

Several members and youth participated in the coloring.

Rick Quigley, a UCAN representative, was on hand to received the donation on behalf of the church.

UCAN (United Cancer Assistance Network) is a 501(c 3) nonprofit organization funded by local citizens who want to lend a hand to their friends and neighbors. It is designed to provide individualized support for area cancer patients and to ease some of the burden brought about in the wake of a cancer diagnosis.

Pastor Frank thanks to all who donated to the challenge. "We all have known or know someone who has been affected by cancer and UCAN does a wonderful job helping those in need of assistance, so why not have a little fun helping a good cause."

Thanks to Rev. Frank Chlastak for this story and photos.

Stitching and Ripping for the Lord

A Service of Blessing and Consecration of Gifts handmade by the “Stitching and Ripping for the Lord” outreach group was held October 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. This outreach ministry, started just five months ago by Rev. Ruth Ann Jones of Louisiana’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is endorsed by the local Ministerial Alliance.  The Christian “Piece-Makers” group was responsible for making 109 “pillow case” dresses that will be delivered by a local Rotarian when he goes to Zambia, Africa next month.

Over 500 items were created and donated, including 157 preemie hats that will go to St. Louis Children’s Hospital; 111 knitted stocking caps for local school children (29 of them being “pony tail hats” for those who need an opening at the top of the cap for their pony tails.)  Over 20 scarves were also donated to the schools. 

Prayer shawls were distributed to the local Home Health and Hospice, and hats for those with cancer who have lost their hair were donated to the local hospital for distribution.  Hand-knitted and hand-crocheted facecloths, with some decorated with embroidered designs, totaled 137 and these will be wrapped around a bar of soap and included in Christmas Shoeboxes that will be packed at the church later this month.

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In addition to congregational singing, messages, scripture readings, and special music, the rite of asperges (blessing of the items with Holy Water) was done.  Participants in the worship service included Dorothy Webb, Win Cafer, Sharon Kakouris, Rev. Pat Glenn, Fr. William Korte, Rev. Jay Ayers, and Rev. Jones. This was truly an ecumenical project that benefited people locally and even internationally.

Thank you to FCC’s Linda Beer for this story and photos.

Brentwood CC Participates in Relay of Kindness

Last month Brentwood Christian Church in Springfield participated in the Relay of Kindness. Together with other churches and organizations across Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, they provided much needed supplies to Mission: Border Hope. This non-profit organization provides supplies, lodging, food, and prayers to asylum seekers as they travel.

The Relay of Kindness started in Gladstone, Missouri, where the first truck was loaded with supplies bound for Columbia. Waiting in Columbia was a replacement truck which was pre-loaded with all of the supplies collected locally, a team of volunteers ready to transfer the Gladstone truck’s contents onto the Columbia truck, and new drivers to continue the route to St. Louis. As runners in a relay race pass a baton, these hundreds of volunteers passed the growing collection of supplies along the 1500-mile route to Eagle Pass, Texas.

Brentwood CC contributed to the cause significantly. Members donated the hygiene products and other supplies that had been requested. The church also served as a location where other local organizations could bring their collected items. Brentwood youth packed 100 hygiene kits. Additional church volunteers packed other donated items including diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products, filling another 20 boxes. When the truck arrived from Wappapello, a team was ready to unload its contents, reload them onto the new truck with all of the Springfield contributions, and send it off to Joplin.

A total of almost 400 boxes relayed their way to Mission: Border Hope. From there the supplies and kindness will be distributed to those who are in desperate need of both.

Thanks to Brentwood CC Associate Minister Rev. Emily Bowen-Marler
for this information and photos.

If Birds Could Talk: Celebrating What We Share in Common as Stewards of Our Environment

Photo by MRBO’s David Duke.

When we think about Missouri’s natural resources, it is difficult not to realize that we have been blessed with abundance. In fact, our whole country has been blessed with abundance. But, along with celebrating this abundance, we can’t allow ourselves to take any of it for granted. So the greatest challenge that we have in common is to remember we are all stewards of our environment.

On Sunday, October 6th, Arrow Rock Federated Church presented a special Fall Fourth Sunday Community Conversation about this topic. (The goal for the Community Conversations program isn’t just to inform people about issues, but to bring people together from the surrounding community to actually take the time to sit down and talk to each other, sharing what they know/think/understand about important topics that are related to all of us.) Dana and Ethan Duke, Co-Founders of the Missouri River Bird Observatory headquartered in Arrow Rock, served as the presenters in a conversation about celebrating what we share in common as stewards of our environment. Working with small groups, they led a facilitated conversation identifying the concerns, issues, and challenges facing the environment in Arrow Rock and surrounding area. Participants were also invited to explore the opportunities we have in common with each other to protect the future of our natural resources.   

Thank you very much to Patrick Overton, pastor of the church and co-organizer of the Community Conversations program, for this story and photos. For more information about this program, how it was planned, and its outcomes, please continue reading his detailed description of the process.