November 2022

Did You Know?
A Scan and Purview of Our Thankfulness


Greetings from a
Water the Plants prayer intercessor,

With a heart overflowing with “thanksgiving” let us bless the staff, other prayer intercessors and participants in New Church Ministry during these trying, pandemic times of recent years!

As we reflect upon the following scriptures, we can ask the question “what are their implications for my life?”

Psalm 9:1
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”

Philippians 4:4-7
“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In response to the earlier question, let us take a moment to declare audibly or legibly at least three things that we can say “I thank my God for __________ because __________.”

1.

2.

3.

Popular American Gospel singer and artist Bishop Hezekiah Walker sums up his answers to this question in his song, “Grateful.”

“I am grateful for the things that you have done
Yes, I'm grateful for the victories we've won
I could go on and on and on about your works
Because I'm grateful, grateful, so grateful just to praise you Lord
Flowing from my heart are the issues of my heart, it's gratefulness
I am grateful for the things that you have done
Yes, I'm grateful for the victories we've won
I could go on and on and on about your works
Because I'm grateful, grateful, so grateful just to praise you Lord
Flowing from my heart are the issues of my heart, it's gratefulness…”



With a grateful heart,

– Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Bynum, Associate Regional Minister, Pacific Southwest Region

 
 
Hurricanes. Floods. Heatwaves. Our world is experiencing an increased amount of these natural disasters because of rising temperatures. What can Disciples do to address climate change and be responsible stewards of the environment? Learn the answer to this question and much more at New Church Ministry’s webinar. Host and Transitional Minister of New Church Strategies, Jose Martinez, will be joined by
David Bell, the Minister for Indigenous Justice at the Center for Indigenous Ministries, Dan Paul, the Director of the Blue Theology Mission Station, and Brooks Brendt, the United Church of Christ’s Minister for Environmental Justice.
 
Kin-folk,
 
Let me take this opportunity to show my gratitude. Thank you for the opportunity to have a wonderful Leadership Academy. New Church Ministry could not do this work without your spiritual and monetary support. So please continue to give in ways that you can. Due to your support, we were able to partner with new ecumenical friends at this year’s Leadership Academy and we want to thank them for their participation. We want to thank our keynote speaker Sandhya Jha, who really set the tone for the whole Academy as we move forward for a “Just Transition” in a cascading traumatic time. We want to thank all the general ministries that participated and gave helpful seminars. We want to give thanks for all the facilitators for the Start, Sustain, and Multiply tracks. We also give thanks to all the participants not only for participating in Leadership Academy, but also showing us how God is stirring in their hearts to move our church forward. Finally, I give thanks to NCM’s Program Coordinator, Wesley King, whose hard work made Leadership Academy run smoothly. Let us look to 2023 with hope, gratitude, and renewal.

Jose Martinez, Transitional Minister of New Church Strategies
 
To access the full prayer list, become a prayer intercessor, or submit a prayer request, visit our website.
 
Grants Available
If so, then consider applying for a Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FFE) Grant from our ministry partner Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF)! It’s providing up to USD $20,000 in 2022 for eligible Disciples congregations. The application deadline has been extended to Dec. 31, 2022.

Eligible materials include office furniture (such as desks, chairs, lamps, cabinets, bookcases, and partitions) and electronic equipment (such as computers, printers, photocopy machines, audio-visual equipment, and security systems).

Eligible congregations:
  • Are within seven (7) years of their founding, or three (3) years of being listed as Affiliated in the Yearbook & Directory of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Have within the previous 12 months or will in the next 12 months purchase FFE using only their funds, or their funds combined with a loan
  • Are in covenant with their Disciples Regional Ministry and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) demonstrated by financial support to these ministries 
  • May also apply for other grants, interest-free or interest-bearing loans from DCEF
 
Apply by Dec. 31 for consideration in 2022. For more information, contact your regional Building and Capital Services Advisor.
 
Where We've Been 

10/14 - 10/15 | Pacific Southwest Regional Assembly
10/14 – 10/15 | Capital Area Regional Assembly
10/14 – 10/15 | Greater Kansas City Regional Assembly (pre-recorded video)
10/14 – 10/15 | Illinois/Wisconsin Regional Assembly (virtual)
10/14 – 10/15 |
Michigan Regional Assembly (virtual)
10/28 – 10/29 |
Great River Regional Assembly
11/2 – 11/5 | 2022 Christian Community Development Association Conference
11/4 – 11/5 |
Kentucky Regional Assembly
11/11 – 11/12 |
Georgia Regional Assembly
11/7
11/20 | Theory of Change workshop


Where We're Going

11/7 11/20 | Theory of Change workshop
11/30 | Creating Best Practices for Creation Care (webinar)


What We're Thinking About

SoulCare Warmth & Wellness
Webinar: Restorative Justice in Action


Becominging Antiracist

Dia De Los Muertos