President's welcome
DHM: Focused on CongregationsI want to share with you some things Disciples Home Missions has done this year, and some things in the works. Before doing so, however, I would acknowledge that many of you wouldn't consider DHM's work the most important in the church. In fact, I agree. There sure is more important work than ours. More important work can be found in local congregations … in fact, congregational work is the most important work in the world! It is devoted to worship of God, nurturing people in the Christian faith and spreading the Gospel in word and deed. Sadly, this most important work isn't necessarily going on in all our congregations. As Darrell Faires taught a generation of us to sing, "There's a world out there. Don't you hear it cryin'?" The most important work of the church happens in congregations where that sad song is sung with feeling by Disciples intent on making a difference. These are vital congregations with well trained and committed leadership. That's the most important work. The work of Disciples Home Missions is in helping those congregations be as vital as possible. Our work is helping those leaders be as well trained as possible. Granted, this may not be the most important work in the world but close enough for me to take great pride in the people and ministries of DHM. I want you to know your congregation is the concern of Disciples Home Missions. We're dedicated to helping others know the life changing love of God in Jesus Christ. Nothing else is more important to us and this is why we're committed to the congregational vitality and the leader development necessary to carry it through. That's the part we play so Disciples congregations and ministers can do their more important part as well as possible. So what is DHM doing? This year, we consolidated our volunteer ministries into the Office of Disciple Volunteering because Disciples find great meaning in hands-on mission work. Volunteers develop skills and relationships that enrich their congregations for years to come. Consequently, more than 2,000 Disciples from across the continent participated in internships, home rehab projects in Appalachia, mission trips to our mission centers and construction of two churches. The mission centers provided direct care for children and adults, improved communities and nourished Christian life in Los Angeles, San Antonio, on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington, and in the Appalachia area of Kentucky. We have given leadership to such successful transformational events as Sessions '04 for men, the NAPAD Convocation for Asian-American Disciples and the National Convocation for African-American Disciples. We have given leadership at 18 Disciple Women regional retreats and workshops and led opportunities for women to experience the work of the faithful across North America and abroad. Much is being done to make the Mix in '06 the best quadrennial event ever for Disciples Women. Mix in '06 is an ICWF event that will happen in partnership with the women of the United Church of Christ. Kaye Edwards' ministry has included leadership in 27 events to help congregations make the most of their young people's childhoods. She has overseen 10 Children Worship and Wonder trainings and has as many already scheduled for next year. Congregations increasingly will find themselves involved in the use of the Internet for their ministries. To assist congregations in this change in communication, DHM's webmaster, Angela Herrmann, has been helping congregations adapt by co-leading Web site developers workshops. She has also started a First Monday Chat for on-line education and support. (Visit the DHM Web site for a list of future chats.) We provided ongoing consultation and resources to congregations and individuals about a myriad of issues involving congregations. These included Faithful Planning and Claiming God‘s Vision workshops, two programs that help congregations find their vision and mission for the future. Some congregations find new life in helping newcomers to this continent. Your Refugee and Immigration Ministries office has led five workshops for those seeking to enter this ministry. More importantly, they helped our congregations settle 663 people looking for a new life in a New World. We appreciate that Disciples don't like to be told what to think and how to feel. We're a stubborn people about things like that. Still, we're a people who feel responsible for going where Christ leads us. Consequently, our ministry of Rapid Response is designed to help Disciples respond to issues of political importance without prescribing opinions. We have organized commissions on Youth and Young Adult Ministries to allow for the participation of the most youth and young adult ministers as possible. We have provided support for such Disciples ministries as the Association of Christian Church Educators, the Association of Disciples Musicians, Disciples Committee on Boy and Girl Scouting and Camp Fire USA and the Disciples Peace Fellowship. This year we awarded $143,450 in scholarships, mostly for people entering ministry. We provided salary support for two congregations and gave staff support to the distribution of $18,400 of Disciple's Men's Pancake Breakfast funds. Unfortunately, space limitations will not allow me to report all of the ministries in which we engaged on the behalf of congregations and their leaders, but they are numerous. Exciting new ministries are coming soon. Soon, you will be able to visit www.disciplelders.org and take advantage of an Elders Training Program for Disciples elders. You also can check out, download and/or order our new Vacation Bible School curriculum written by Disciples to teach our values, our Christian perspective, to Disciple children. Later in the year you‘ll find Disciples worship information and resources. Much of what we do we do in partnership. Partners include Church Extension, Council on Christian Unity, the Division of Overseas Ministries, the Regions and the Week of Compassion. Most of all our partners are baptized Disciples who find life in Christ the most meaningful way to live and who long to share the blessings with others. I'm so glad to be in this ministry with you.
Arnold C. Nelson Jr. The Rev. Arnold C. Nelson Jr., president of Disciples Home Missions, is a native of Clarksville, Tenn., and is a member of Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis. read DHM President
Arnold Nelson's 2004 columns |
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Home Mission Advocate published by Disciples
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