The Indiana e-Christian

The Regional Assembly did more than offer Indiana’s Disciples an opportunity for worship and fellowship.  It even presented more than the mission partnership with Disciples in the Congo.  The theme of the asssembly and one person’s experience among Congolese Disciples inspired two songs written by Hoosier Disciples that were presented for the first time at the assembly.

V.J. Stover, pastor of First Christian Church in Sheridan, translated the assembly theme into a six-verse hymn, Have You Heard (That Nothing Is Impossible with God).  The hymn was woven throughout the Friday evening worship service and sung as the closing hymn of the Assembly on Saturday.

In addition to an M.Div. from CTS, V.J. holds a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Evansville and a Master of Arts from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.  He has been a public school music director in southern Indiana and does not recall a time when he could not read music. 

V.J. has been composing since high school.  He has written a piece for every performing group that he has directed, including two cantatas for the Sheridan Community Choir that were performed during Easter sunrise services.  He also composed a musical for the Indiana region’s 150th anniversary.

Susan McNeely, a member of Southport Christian Church, was a member of the delegation that visited Mbandaka in May.  Her experience while there inspired her to write The River and the Tree. 

Susan wrote most of the devotional guide that Indiana Disciples used while the group was in Congo.  Although she has written some poetry, this was the first song that she has written.  During the trip, the group spent a full day on the Congo River, visiting churches in the Mbandaka district.  Feeling that was the day that the partnership was really forged, she felt that it must be making God happy.  The verses talk about the river, the tree and the people and how each makes glad the city of God.

Once the poem was down, according to Susan, she realized that it could work well as a song.  She added a chorus and began working on a melody. 

Susan had some musical training as a child but took up playing the mountain dulcimer two years ago.  Using the Applachian folk instrument to compose the melody gave the song an American folk air.  She hopes to hear the tune combined with Congolese drumming to bring together both musical cultures.

Congolese cloth and a Congolese talking drum adorned the worship space for the 2008 Regional Assembly at Purdue, October 10-11.

More than 400 Disciples from across Indiana gathered at Purdue University on October 10 and 11 for the 2008 Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana.  The West Lafayette campus was host to Hoosier Disciples for worship, study and fellowship.

Gathering under the theme, “Did You That … Nothing Is Impossible with God!”, Indiana’s Disciples received challenging messages from Rev. Elizabeth Myer Boulton, minister of discipleship at Boston’s Old South Church, and from Regional Minister Richard L. Spleth.

The new mission partnership between the Christian Church in Indiana and the Mbandaka District of the 10th Community, Disciples of Christ, in the Democratic Republic of Congo took center stage at the assembly.  This partnership was prompted by the Disciples Division of Oversees Ministry and was finalized last May when a delegation of nine Hoosier Disciples visited Mbandaka.  DOM will also give oversight to the partnership.

Congolese cloth, a gift received from Rev. Illumbe, Principal Supervising Pastor for the Mbandaka District, decked the table at the focal point of the worship space.  Sounds of the talking drum, a Congolese instrument, called attendees into worship.  Overseas Ministry loaned the drum for use at the Assembly.

The Assembly opened on Friday afternoon with a lunch gathering for clergy and their guests, sponsored by the Pension Fund of the Christian Church.  Dr. TImothy James, Associate General Minister and Administrative Secretary of the National Convocation, addressed the clergy.  Dr. James drew on the theme of the assembly to remind clergy that we serve a God who specializes in the impossible.

The business and plenary session on Saturday morning featured reports from various ministry areas withing the life of the church.  Absent from this assembly were any resolutions for consideration.  The election of officers for the 2009-10 biennium was the only item of business requiring a vote from the assembly on the agenda.  The report of the Nominating Committee was approved by unanimous voice vote.

The business session concluded with a report from the Congo Partnership Task Force.  Bob Shaw, chair of the Task Force, and Cheryl Cloar, staff minister for mission and women’s ministry, discussed the partnership and presented a 12-minute video on the experiences of the delegation that visited the Mbandaka DIstrict last May.