The Indiana e-Christian

During a recent meeting of the Johnson County Ministerial Association, the pastor from Whiteland United Methodist Church mentioned that an elderly family in Whiteland may have to vacate their home, where they had lived since 1964, if major roof repairs were not completed soon.

The Methodist church had some volunteers able to work on the project, but it needed someone with construction expertise that would know best how to proceed.  Dennis Combs and Terry Doty, from First Christian Church in Bargersville, met with the couple, launching a joint venture between the couple and the two churches to get the roof replaced.

Following the worship service on November 15, twelve people from First Christian volunteered their time, and church members donated $850.  Another group agreed to donate lunch for the workers.

On the following Saturday, 58 volunteers from Whiteland U.M.C., First Christian and Mount Olive Lutheran Church gathered at the home to begin work at 7:00 a.m.  By lunch time they had removed the existing shingles and plywood, replaced damaged trusses and installed new plywood decking.  As dusk fell around 5:30, the new roof was completed.

Many volunteers and donors came together to make the homegrown mission trip a success by organizing workers, food and materials.  As a result, neighbors of the three congregations will be able to remain in the place they called home for 44 years.

A Disciples pastor whose church has demonstrated outstanding stewardship has been called to serve as the new Minister of Faith and Giving. Bruce Barkhauer, senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Jeffersonville, Ind., will assume his new position beginning on Feb. 1.

 “I am excited about Bruce’s call to lead the church in this important and vital ministry,” said Todd Adams, Associate General Minister and Vice President. “I first met Bruce at a stewardship training event where I was one of the leaders. As we engaged in conversation, I remember thinking, ‘He could be up here teaching this as well!’ I look forward to the many ways in which his ministry will bless and lead the wider church.”

Barkhauer has been pastor of First Christian in Jeffersonville since 1996. His congregation of 400 members contributes about three quarters of a million dollars a year to the church’s ministries.

“I’m thrilled to become a part of this process for the Church. I am very humbled by it,” said Barkhauer. “I am asking for people’s prayers, not only for myself and my ministry but for the Church in general as we undertake this endeavor.”

John Mobley, chair of the Center for Faith and Giving, and regional minister of Alabama/Northwest Florida, said Barkhauer has been an effective pastor, has a background in business and communication, and has been active in community service and organization.

Mobley said the Church will benefit from a ministry that is dedicated to helping Disciples understand stewardship as a life-response to the love and generosity of God. Although many ministries of the church already emphasize the importance of stewardship, stewardship has not become a church-wide priority.

Barkhauer graduated from Ohio University in Athens in 1979. He attended Lexington Theological Seminary and earned a M.Div. degree from Christian Theological Seminary in 1985. He also did significant doctor of ministry work at Ashland Theological Seminary. During his undergraduate studies he was an intern with the Phil Donahue Show in Chicago, and later served as the general manager of WJMM-FM, a Christian radio station in Lexington, Ky.

R. Glen Miles, chair of the search committee, said the new minister of Faith and Giving is a tremendously gifted communicator. “Bruce is passionate about stewardship,” said Miles, senior minister of Country Club Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kansas City.

Marilyn S. Fiddmont, also a member of the search committee, believes that Barkhauer has a clear, uncompromising theological understanding of stewardship – not only as a financial impetus but as a spiritual discipline. Barkhauer is focused, visionary, articulate, and yet practical in his understanding of faith and giving, she noted.

“This was demonstrated not only in abstract terms but in a tangible proven record both personally and in the congregation he has served,” she said. “He has been instrumental in creating a culture of generosity in that community.”

First Christian Church, Jeffersonville, where Barkhauer is pastor, contributes about $750,000 a year to its debt retirement, mission, and operating budget, “which is amazing, considering its size,” he said.

“The first thing I will do is a lot of listening,” said Barkhauer. “I will listen to the General Ministries, I will listen to the Regional Ministries, and I will listen to the congregational pastors. From that, my advisory committee and I will get a sense of the resources that are needed to help cultivate a culture of generosity across the life of the Church.”

Light of the World Christian Church in Indianapolis, as a response to recent child deaths in Indiana, hosted a children’s blessing service on Sunday, November 22.  The service was a call to action against childhood violence.

Read the full story on The Indy Channel web site.

On World Wide Communion Sunday, Disciples congregations were encouraged to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Declaration and Address. This historic document sets forth the principles and distinctions of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.

In preparation for their observance, Monticello Christian Church researched the worship styles of 1809 and with denominational input was able to reproduce Thomas and Alexander Campbell’s worship service from that era. The Chancel Choir sang a song written by Barton W. Stone, using several different tunes illustrating the versatility of the music and message.

The Elders of the Monticello church led the three morning worship services in accordance with Campbell’s directions for proper worship. All of the songs sung in the services were written around the time period of 1809 with the exception of “Bringing in the Sheaves” written in 1874 by an Indiana Disciples pastor, Rev. Knowles Shaw. The sermon focused on the foundational principles of the Restoration Movement and how they are lived out in the life of the church today.

As a result of the service and the call to Christian unity represented in the Declaration and Address, the Elders of the Monticello Christian Church conducted a Sunday evening prayer service at the future site of the Twin Lakes Baptist Church (S.B.C.).

Seeking Christian unity, the Elders and members of the congregation from Monticello Christian met in the partially built construction of the Twin Lakes builidng along with the leaders and members of that congregation. After a time of singing, Rev. Chris Dodson, senior minister to Monticello Christian, presented the purpose of the meeting and the Scriptural mandate to bring people to the full knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The two congregations then formed a large circle in the future sanctuary and held a time of prayer for the future ministries of both Twin Lakes Baptist and Monticello Christian.

Both churches are experiencing phenomenal growth and reiterated their desire to work together and not in competition with each other. Pastor Ross Terry of the Twin Lakes Baptist Church said, “In over 40 years of pastoral ministry, as I have led numerous churches in building projects, I have never had another congregation come and pray for us in our building project and future ministry.”

On a cold Sunday night in October, the members of the Monticello Christian Church illustrated the truth that “We are not the only Christians, but Christians only.”

In 2008, DisciplesWorld magazine published a small classified ad stating that a church had stained glass windows for sale. Rev. Chris Dodson of Monticello Christian Church responded to the ad not knowing where the windows were or what they were. The story that unfolded was remarkable.

In the late 1980s an earthquake seriously damaged the structural integrity of the Hollywood Beverly Hills Christian Church. It was deemed too expensive to make repairs and the church was razed. Two beloved windows from the congregation were salvaged and moved into storage as the congregation found they were unable to rebuild.

In 2008, with no hope of rebuilding, the congregation decided to sell the windows. After numerous conversations between the two churches, the Hollywood Beverly Hills congregation decided to donate the windows to Monticello Christian Church.

The moving company that took the windows down and stored them in the 1980’s was contacted about bringing the windows to Indiana. Seeing this as assistance they could provide a church, the company only charged $1,200 to bring the windows across the country.

Further research determined that the original stained glass in the windows came from Indiana in the 1920s. The two windows that survived the earthquake matched two windows that were destroyed in Monticello during a 1973 tornado.

Prior to receiving the windows, Monticello had approved a major building addition to facilitate the needs of the growing congregation. The architect had to revise the roof of the proposed addition adding height to accommodate the 25-foot windows.

Bob Gray, building contractor, stated, “The gift of the windows is a sure sign that God is blessing the building project and is already bringing gifts for the future construction.”

First Christian Church in Kokomo has discovered new ministry and vitality using backpacks and toothbrushes.  Over the last few years, First Christian Church, located at the corner of Sycamore and Malfalfa on the west side of Kokomo, has entered into partnerships with schools to reach out to children and their families. 

One way is through dental care.  The “Happy Teeth” program provides dental exams and sealants to second grade children in the Kokomo-Howard County Schools.  This program is staffed by volunteer dentists along with students and staff from the Ivy Tech dental assistant program.  This partnership of funding and coordination from the church, with hands on caring by the dentists and students, is making a difference for the children of Kokomo. 

Another way is through backpacks.   “Building Blocks” provides food for a weekend for the families of first, second and third grade children at Bon Air elementary.  Each week backpacks are filled with non-perishable food at the church to be distributed on Friday at Bon Air. 

As with other such programs in the community, teachers and staff notice both the joy of children who receive the food and the increased health and ability to concentrate on Monday.  Bon Air principal, Paula Concus, says: “Families at Bon Air Elementary School are truly blessed by the First Christian Backpack Program.  Parents and students have shared that the food provided by this program has allowed the family to eat and eat in a healthy way.  We truly appreciate the support we have received for our students and families from First Christian Church members and others supporting this program.”

The relationship of First Christian and Bon Air also connects church members with students in a weekly reading program and, last spring, an adult Sunday School class provided new books to every student at Bon Air Elementary to encourage the love of reading.

With over 150 years of ministry in the Kokomo community, First Christian continues to be a church that “lives and shares the good news of Jesus Christ; witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.” 

For more information, visit http://www.kokomofirstchristian.org.

They’re an unlikely pair: a seventy-six-year-old woman with a cochlear implant and shoulder replacement and a large shaggy dog weighing almost as much as she does. It all began with a sermon given by John Davis (pastor of Greenfield Christian Church) more than four years ago.

Children rush up to pet Reggie before the service when Judy Brown and her therapy dog come for the children’s moment.

Pastor Davis’ text is Matthew 14:25-31. “Before Peter could walk on water,” he says, “he had to get out of the boat. And if you are going to serve God, you’ve got to get out of the boat . . .Think about what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and figure out how you can do that for the Lord.” He continues, “But you’ve got to get out of the boat.”

Herb and Judy Brown are listening. Both are enjoying the freedom of retirement, but Judy is wondering “Isn’t there more to retirement than this?” With experience training family pets, she has often thought it would be challenging and rewarding to train and work with a therapy dog. But there has never been a right time to make the huge commitment in time, money and effort. Now for the first time she considers a therapy dog as a ministry. Pastor Davis’ phrase “You’ve got to get out of the boat” sticks to her mind, as Judy says, “like beggar lice to wool socks.”

A few days later she stops by the church to discuss the possibilities of a therapy dog ministry with Pastor Davis. He practically jumps out of his chair with enthusiasm. “You’ve got to do it,” he exclaims. Her husband, Herb, is harder to sell, but he too becomes a strong and supportive silent partner in the project.

Reggie and Judy are now registered Delta Society Pet Partners (therapy dog team). Together they visit Hancock Regional Hospital every week and Springhurst Health Care Campus bi-weekly. The unique part of their work is a ministry with the children and youth at Greenfield Christian Church. Judy incorporates Reggie (a Giant Schnoodle) in stories for the “Children’s Moment” and in the message for Youth Worship once a month.

“Reggie captures the children’s attention,” Judy explains, “and illustrates key points in the story. By connecting the story to what Reggie does, the children seem to remember the object of the story better.”

The most recent aspect of the Pet Partner’s ministry is a web site where they share the details of their journey and a collection of stories Judy has written for the children and youth at Greenfield Christian Church. To learn more about the ministry of Judy and Reggie, go to www.therapydogministry.org.

Youth and young adult groups from Central Christian Church in Lebanon combined to carry out three mission trips this summer.

Chi Rho youth from Central Christian in Lebanon bring down the walls of a house being razed in Neon, Ky.

A group of Chi Rho youth and their sponsors, 16 people in all, traveled to Neon, a community in southeastern Kentucky, from June 14 to June 20.  While there, the group worked with HOMES (Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service), a non-profit organization that builds and repairs houses for low income families living the Neon area.

The group’s task for the week was to demolish one of two houses in such bad repair that they were creating a health and safety issue for the surrounding neighbors.  It was the hope of the HOMES staff that after the two homes were demolished and the lots were cleared that the town would use the ground for a community playground.

What at first seemed to be an overwhelming task was accomplished as the group’s skills, confidence and determination increased.  By the end of the week, the youth had made so much progress that they were split into two groups, with one group returning to finish work on the house and another group assigned to help pour footers for a new home being built.

A group of 13 CYF youth and sponsors traveled to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to work from June 21-27.  Hosted by First Presbyterian Church, the group spent the week working on a Habitat for Humanity build.  Although it was was first Habitat build for most of the group, they worked diligently with the Habitat staff and local volunteers to take a house from a slab foundation to locked with windows and doors in less than five days.  The workers from Central even had time to share an evening meal with their sister congregation, Central Christian Church, in Murfreesboro.

Then, during the week of August 2-8, seven young adults traveled to Kent County, Mich., near Grand Rapids, to work with Habitat for Humanity there.  Hosted by Wyoming Park United Methodist Church, the group spent its first day working at the Habitat ReStore, where local builders and stores can donate surplus building and decorating supplies.

The rest of the week they worked at two houses being renovated for Habitat-qualifying families. These are houses that are too good to tear down and just need some TLC to once again be livable and bring pride to the neighborhood. Most of the work involved preparing and painting walls and woodwork, doing small repairs to windows and doors, cleaning, and helping make lists of those things that still need to be completed.

The youth and young adults of Central Christian Church, Lebanon, demonstrated their ability to rise to a challenge and their commitment to giving of themselves to benefit others.

Mark Gray and Anthony Gray demonstrate the ceremonial burning of a tattered American flag.

Few people are aware that flags that have become tattered or otherwise unsuitable for display should be burned in a ceremonious fashion.  This and other interesting information about the handling of the American and Christian flags was shared as part of the LOGOS ministry of Westview Christian Church in Indianapolis. 

Representatives of Boy Scout Troop 505, which meets at Westview, attended the regular Wednesday night meeting of Westview’s LOGOS Program on October 23 to instruct the children and youth in the proper respect and handling of both the American and Christian Flags.  The demonstrations by Anthony Gray, Mark Gray, and Ron Turner were held in the outdoor Vespers area at the church. 

A wiener roast was enjoyed by all as a part of the evening.

220 worshippers crowded into Eastwood Middle School in north Indianapolis for the opening worship service of New Revelation Christian Church on September 20, 2009.  Richard Reynolds serves as the lead planter for New Revelation. 

Reynolds is a graduate of Christian Theological Seminary and was ordained in July at Light of the World Christian Church. 

New Revelation currently holds worship services at Eastwood Middle School, located on the north side of Indianapolis, just east of Allisonville Road on 62nd St.  Services begin at 12:30 p.m. each week.

Pastor Reynolds initial message launched a sermon series on “Birth of a Nation” with a sermon entitled “The Delivery Room.”

New Revelation is jointly sponsored and supported by Light of the World Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana.