See the DHM calendar for an up-to-date listing of upcoming events.

Disciples Women + four days + hammers + nails and lumber = a house!

It is said that a woman on a mission is unstoppable. That being said, women, strap on your tool belt, grab your hammer, and pack your bags. Disciples Volunteering and Week of Compassion are partnering with Disciples Women to organize the first all-woman Habitat Blitz Build.

Gathering in Beaumont, Texas, January 20 to 24, 2008, Disciples women from around the country, led by their regional women‘s staff, will build a house in four days.

Certainly, many Disciples women have participated in Habitat for Humanity builds over the years, but this is the first time that the Office of Disciples Women and International Disciples Women's Fellowship have organized this opportunity for Disciples women to work together to make a difference for those still reeling from the effects of the 2005 hurricane season.

The Rev. Carl Zerweck, director for Disciples Volunteering, said there are no gender-specific tasks on these builds and that the women will do everything themselves, from laying the floor to raising the roof, and everything in between. He added that training would be provided … if needed!

The Rev. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, has been invited to participate with the women and hopes to participate. Adonna Bowman, executive director of the Office of Disciples Women, says that she hopes this first build will be such a positive mission statement that it will become an annual event for women.

For more details, visit www.discipleshomemissions.org/Women/ or call Beverly Ledwon at (888) 346-2631.

Super Bowl of Caring

"Lord as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat."

In 1990, a Super Bowl Sunday prayer inspired a group of young people to do something more than celebrate a football game. They created the Souper Bowl of Caring, a simple service activity that has grown into a national movement of God's grace including tens of thousands of young people across the country.

The Souper Bowl of Caring is easy-youth collect $1 donations in soup pots on Super Bowl Sunday. All you have to do is:

• Register at www.souperbowl.org to receive your free resource kit with all of the materials you will need to plan and promote your event;
  
• Collect donations on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, 2008;
  
• Report your collection at www.souperbowl.org;
  
• Donate 100 percent of your collection to the hunger-related charity of your choice. No money comes to Souper Bowl of Caring.

In 2007, more than 14,000 youth groups participated, collecting over $8 million for charities across the country. Of those, 367 Disciples congregations took part in the effort and raised close to $175,000! Through the Souper Bowl of Caring, youth learn about the magnitude of domestic and international hunger, as well as recognize that God can use them to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

The Rev. Tod Iseminger, minister of leader development at DHM, urges more groups to get involved on February 3, 2008!

"I applaud the youth who participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring for showing such compassion and vision to make Super Bowl Sunday the largest weekend of giving and serving in this country. This year, I hope that 500 Disciples groups will unite in this movement of God's love."

The Souper Bowl of Caring is unique, because every dollar collected is donated directly to the hunger-related charity selected by each congregation. Many Disciples churches donate their Souper Bowl of Caring collection to Week of Compassion, a ministry that connects Disciples to the world and shares compassion with all of God's children.

"The Souper Bowl of Caring is a great catalyst for engaging youth in lifelong service to God and our neighbors in need," said the Rev. Amy Gopp, Week of Compassion associate. "I hope you will ask others to join this hands-on effort to fight hunger and poverty."
Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began, more than $41 million has been generated for those in need. This year with your help, more lives will be changed, more dollars will be raised and more young people will experience the joy of serving Christ by serving others. Join in this unique opportunity to share God's love with those who are in need. Register today at www.souperbowl.org.

Long-term volunteer training event

The Office of Disciples Volunteering staff invite prospective volunteers to attend the first, Long Term Volunteer Training Event, January 3 to 6, 2008, at Grace Disciples Christian Church, Covington, La. (the New Orleans area). There will be no cost for volunteers who attend the training. Transportation, housing, and meals will be provided to trainees. The training will begin with supper on Thursday, January 3, and conclude with lunch after worship on Sunday, January 6.

Following Hurricanes Katrina and then Rita, volunteer staff have worked across the Gulf Coast, running Mission Stations. Disciples have recently responded to other disasters (including Greensburg, Kan.), using the Mission Station model. As "Disciples Volunteering" continues to grow and expand its Disaster Response efforts, more people are needed who are willing to commit time and energy to a ministry of volunteer leadership. DHM is recruiting volunteer leaders who are willing to commit four to six weeks at a time to staff a Disciples Mission Station following a disaster. One of the keys to success following a disaster is to have not only committed, but fully trained, persons serving as volunteer staff. 

Those interested in attending the Volunteer Training Event, must register. For more information or to register, please contact the Rev. Carl Zerweck at (317) 289-5061 or czerweck@dhm.disciples.org.

The Rev. Carl E. Zerweck III,  Director of the Office of Disciples‘ Volunteering is a native of Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo. and a member of Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis.

Disciples Men announce new president and 2008 events

Buzzy Marable, a past president of the Oklahoma Region is now the new Disciples Men‘s President.  His term began in July, 2007 during the Disciples Fort Worth, Texas, General Assembly.  Buzzy , who lives in Elk City, Okla., is a member of First Christian Church there.

When Buzzy was active in the Oklahoma Region, he saw a need for men's ministry to be more than just a way for men to gather on a social basis. One program he implemented was called the "Round Tu-It" program which was started in Indiana. This program offers incentives to men in the Oklahoma region to become more intentionally involved in their local congregations. As a result of his leadership, the men of Oklahoma have seen an increase in the number of men participating in men‘s ministry.

Marable is married to his wife Marla of 26 years and they have two children, Jake, 18, and Micah, 16. Marable is excited about the future of Disciples Men's Ministries.  Contact him directly at marablb@elkcity.com to get involved.

Meanwhile, Disciples Men also have upcoming events as well. For example, on April 5, 2008, the first ever Regional Men‘s Retreat will be held at Community Christian Church in Kansas City. This event will focus on mission work and how that can transform men's faith lives.  More information about this event will be coming in the next few weeks.

Sessions 2008 will be held in Oklahoma City from July 17 to 20.  The theme of this event is "Prioritizing, Transforming and Renewing." To learn more about this event, visit www.sessions2008.org.

Children's art welcome at Exploring Life Through the Spirit (Children Welcome!/ACCE conference)

What would the world look like if people let God's Spirit guide their lives?

The planners of "Exploring Life Through the Spirit," an event organized by Children Welcome! and the Association of Christian Church Educators, want to make sure the voices of children and youth are heard. Therefore, children and youth are invited to submit original works of art that illustrate what they believe the world would look like if people did indeed let the Spirit of God guide the living of their lives.

The art may be the efforts of a group, such as a church school class, or the work of an individual. It may take any form-drawings, paintings, posters, fabric art (maybe a tee-shirt design), collages, banners, sculptures, poems, songs, short stories, photographs, dances, or plays. All art will be displayed at the conference and some will be published on the Internet following the conference. Those inspired to do a large sculpture that can't be mailed, simply mail a picture of your creation. If a dance is created or a play or song is written, mail a DVD of your production.

Each submission must include the name of the group or individual and contact information.

Art creations may be brought to the conference or sent ahead of time to the Chaplain's Office at Chapman University. Children and youth are encouraged to submit art even if they are unable to attend the conference.

Seven Steps to Creation

1. Have these words written out before you: "What would the world look like if people let God's Spirit guide their lives?"
   
2. Read aloud Galatians 5:22: "… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
   
3. Reflect silently on the scripture.
   
4. Discuss the scripture with others.
   
5. Pray.
   
6. Spend time in quiet, letting God speak to you through your imagination.
   
7. Create!

The Rev. Kaye Edwards, director of Family and Children's Ministries, is a native of Paris, Ky., and a member of Church of The Covenant, Lynchburg, Va.

The Rev. Kaye Edwards, director of Family and Children's Ministries, is a native of Paris, Ky., and a member of Church of The Covenant, Lynchburg, Va.

ICYF to gather in Southern California, July 20 to 27; Disciples Youth prepare for 2008 gathering

Disciples youth are making plans for sunny southern California next summer. Every four years, Disciples celebrate church youth and help them explore their gifts at the International Christian Youth Fellowship (ICYF). In 2008 this event will bring high-school youth from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) together at Chapman University from July 24 to 27.

ICYF will allow youth to join together in worship, study, play, and a wide range of workshops and fun activities that will build relationships for a lifetime. There will also be a pre-event mission experience. This "prequel" to ICYF will start the evening of July 20 and end early on July 24.

The theme for this event is "Read the Book – Be the Movie." The Rev. Greg Turk of All Peoples Christian Church will be our key-note speaker and be joined by an all-star team of youth and adult leaders including the Rev. Sharon Watkins, Disciples General Minister and President.

Josh Elson, Paul Svenson, and Nathan Brooks, Andra Moran, Bill Thomas and others will lend their musical talents. Worship will include the Revs. Amy Gopp (Week of Compassion), Dr. Ben Bohren (Regional Minister of Northern California/Nevada), and Dr. Don Gillette (East Second Street Christian Church, Lexington, Ky.).

The leadership for this event starts with the General Youth Council but includes the combined efforts of Chapman University, Disciples Home Missions (DHM), Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM), Week of Compassion, The Pacific-Southwest Region, The Northern California/Nevada Region, and the Office of the General Minister and President. This truly is an event of the whole church!

Registration packets were mailed at the end of July and should be in your church office already, thus providing Disciples with enough time for advance travel planning and promotion of ICYF in congregations.

If you have questions please feel free to contact ICYF directors, the Rev. Lee Yates and Kortni Ingebrightsen, at icyfchapman@yahoo.com.  You can also check out the event on the ICYF Web site at www.icyfchapman.org.

So, what is going on at ICYF?

Music: The best song leaders in our church will help us all sing. A huge youth choir will make worship even better. Small bands and solo performers will entertain us on an outdoor stage during lunch and dinner. The mealtime stage will also offer some open-microphone time for youth who bring their instruments or want to share their composition skills.

Feature Groups: Each youth and adult will choose a topic of interest and explore it through these groups led by experts in their field! A complete list is included in the registration packet and available on line at www.ICYFChapman.org.

Short Groups: Ever thought about trying something new? Shorts are workshops that only last an hour and you can go to a different one each time. Choose something fun, try something challenging, or just close your eyes and pick!

Cast Parties: For those who have been to camp, this will feel like a "small group" or "family group."  ICYF is not as long, but the idea is the same. These are folks from all over the country with different ideas and interests. Make some new friends and explore where God is present in your life and at ICYF.

Special Events: Massive group games, a beach party, and a talent showcase will be highlights of ICYF. Each night brings something different and all are a guaranteed good time!

Worship: Each service will be planned and led by youth, featuring the gifts of wonderful Disciple musicians, the work of our Feature groups (choir, dance, etc.), and some amazing guests selected by the General Youth Council.

Mission: Come early and join us for three days of hands on mission work in Southern California. With work sites from San Diego to Los Angeles (that's a lot!) this event will put Disciples youth in mission with a diverse selection of people, projects, and issues. Check out www.ICYFChapman.org for work site information in Fall of 2007.

The Rev. Lee Yates is a volunteer Director of the International Christian Youth Federation (ICYF) and one of the operational coordinators of the big event at Chapman in 2008. Yates is the Associate Minister at First Christian Church in Lawrenceburg, Ky., where he also lives.