Missionary Available for Church Events in Fall 2009

John Campbell-Nelson, our Global Ministries Missionary Partner serving in Indonesia, will be visiting congregations in the Iowa Conference of UCC & the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest this fall.

We’re seeking churches interested in hosting John for large & small events. John will be here September 6 – October 30, 2009(Note: All Sundays are already scheduled).

John would love to visit your congregation! Invite him to…

• Participate in a special mission event. Give John time to share his stories.

• Attend informal gatherings in a church member’s home on a weeknight, for lunch, or breakfast. Large groups aren’t necessary. Remember, “When two or more are gathered….

• Participate in a local mission/outreach project. Afterwards, John can make connections with his experiences in Indonesia.

• Attend & speak at city, cluster, or association ministerial meetings.

• Meet with church groups/task forces.

John would also like to speak to ecumenical, community, or campus groups that would be interested in the democratization process in Indonesia, post-conflict trauma/reconciliation issues or Christian-Muslim issues.

A Brief Introduction to John


John has been a missionary serving in Indonesia for 28 years. He is appointed by the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Global Ministries is committed to a ministry of Critical Presence where we meet in a timely and appropriate manner God's people and creation at the point of deepest need: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and/or economically.


In Indonesia John serves with the Evangelical Christian Church of West Timor. He serves as staff support for the Synod’s Theological Commission and Synod programs on lay leadership development, in-service training, and continuing education for clergy and the Diaconal Commission. He also serves as a consultant to several other partner institutions in the area, including the Christian Church of Sumba, Protestant Church of East Timor and Eastern Indonesia Theological Seminary in Makassar. John enjoys sharing the stories of his life in mission in Indonesia. He can help your congregation learn about Indonesia and issues facing the people of that nation.


John is a member of Robbins Memorial Congregational Church UCC in Greenfield, MA. He was ordained by the Riverside Presbytery. John is married to Karen Campbell-Nelson. Their children are Katherine, age 26, and Samuel, age 23. Katherine and Samuel will not be traveling with John. Karen has other employment in Indonesia and our understanding at this time is that she will not be traveling with him


John is a warm and easy going person. For a rewarding experience, consider inviting him to your congregation and hosting him in home. Having missionaries visit your church can be an exciting opportunity to educate your congregation about global mission through Global Ministries.



When John Visits You….

• Missionaries interpret our churches’ participation in God’s mission, which is made possible by Disciples Mission Fund and Our Church’s Wider Mission (UCC). They do not come as fund-raisers for their particular projects

• Hosting churches are responsible for housing and meals while the John is with them. Although John will have his own transportation, congregations will also be asked to donate, as they’re able, to defray other expenses. These expenses include gasoline, some meals and overnight accommodations when they are not with a specific congregation.

A Brief Introduction to John


John has been a missionary serving in Indonesia for 28 years. He is appointed by the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Global Ministries is committed to a ministry of Critical Presence where we meet in a timely and appropriate manner God's people and creation at the point of deepest need: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and/or economically.


In Indonesia John serves with the Evangelical Christian Church of West Timor. He serves as staff support for the Synod’s Theological Commission and Synod programs on lay leadership development, in-service training, and continuing education for clergy and the Diaconal Commission. He also serves as a consultant to several other partner institutions in the area, including the Christian Church of Sumba, Protestant Church of East Timor and Eastern Indonesia Theological Seminary in Makassar. John enjoys sharing the stories of his life in mission in Indonesia. He can help your congregation learn about Indonesia and issues facing the people of that nation.


John is a member of Robbins Memorial Congregational Church UCC in Greenfield, MA. He was ordained by the Riverside Presbytery. John is married to Karen Campbell-Nelson. Their children are Katherine, age 26, and Samuel, age 23. Katherine and Samuel will not be traveling with John. Karen has other employment in Indonesia and our understanding at this time is that she will not be traveling with him


John is a warm and easy going person. For a rewarding experience, consider inviting him to your congregation and hosting him in home. Having missionaries visit your church can be an exciting opportunity to educate your congregation about global mission through Global Ministries.

If you are interested in hosting John please contact,

Hal & Donna Rusk

2108 46^th St, Des Moines 50310

Phone (515) 277-7574 cell (515) 321-6972

Email: h.rusk@mchsi.com

Your UCC and Disciples Global Ministries Update - July 24, 2008

Disciples and UCC: together in God’s global mission - Visit us at: http://www.globalministries.org/


Please download the MONTHLY MISSION STORY for your church bulletin or newsletter:
July 2008: pdf or text only or espanol
August 2008: pdf or text only

To download the WEEKLY PRAYER for Sunday worship, click here: Paraguay

Recently changed your address? Please contact Marcia Harris at 317-713-2575 or mharris@dom.disciples.org to update your contact information. Don’t forget to tell us if the church has gone to a post office box.

Come to ¡Missionworks! / MMI in Cleveland October 2-5, 2008 for an inspiring and uplifting time! Disciples and UCC laity and clergy will meet to celebrate God’s mission and to be encouraged and strengthened for ministry. Click here for more information and registration material:
http://www.globalministries.org/calendar/missionworks.html .


Africa Office Executive Reports on Zimbabwe Summit
Sandra Gourdet traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa and gathered with church leaders from around the globe from July 14-17, 2008 around the theme "Overcoming Fear by Faith: Churches in Solidarity with Zimbabwe". The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, the South African Council of Churches, and the Council on World Mission hosted more than 70 Christian participants to discern ways in which one can demonstrate practical solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe. Participants saw tangible evidence of state sponsored violence and intimidation against the people of Zimbabwe before, during and after the March and June elections, yet worked to ensure that they maintained an open ear and heart to the cries of the people. To read Sandra’s full report and the statement made to President Thabo Mbeki, the African Union mediator between the two parties in Zimbabwe, visit:
http://www.globalministries.org/news/africa/zimbabwe-summit.html .

Global Mission Youth Group Resource Now Available
Your youth group can help change the world and be inspired through global mission! Global Ministries would like to accompany you on the journey of being a Global Mission Youth Group. A Global Mission Youth Group PRAYS regularly for partners, missionaries, and the world; EDUCATES members about global issues; SEEKS JUSTICE for the "least of these" in the international community; RECEIVES the gifts of the global church; GIVES to the work of global mission; SENDS its members into the world to share the Good News of Jesus; and GROWS in sharing the story of God's mission with others. To download the Be A Global Mission Youth Group guide that will help your youth group create an action plan for the coming year, visit:
http://www.globalministries.org/global-mission-youth/ .

Middle East & North Africa Council Will Forge Just Peace
Leaders from Religions for Peace, the largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, forged a consensus to build peace in the region and launched the Middle East and North Africa Religions for Peace. With representatives from more than 20 countries in the region, the Council will engage in a number of activities aiming at greater understanding between religions and communities. The participants agreed to give priority to building inter-religious platforms in the region by reinforcing the efforts of the inter-faith initiatives that already exist in the Middle East. To read more about the Middle East and North Africa Religions for Peace, visit:
http://www.globalministries.org/news/mee/religious-leaders-of.html .

Young Adults Participate in a WCC Interfaith Summer Seminar
Muslim, Jewish, and Christian young adults from around the world are exploring the question: "How can we affirm our religious identities not in separation or against each other but in relation to one another?" at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland from July 7 to 31, 2008. Their experience of living under the same roof, sharing meals and prayers, and sports and recreation is enriched by lectures offered by specialists from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities. The month long program "Building an Interfaith Community" prepares future leaders of churches, other faith communities, and the society-at-large for the challenges of living peacefully in a world of religious plurality. To read more about the Interfaith Summer Seminar, visit:
http://www.globalministries.org/news/mee/young-muslims-jews-and.html .

Rev. Crabtree Reflects on Her Pilgrimage to Colombia
Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, Conference Minister for the Connecticut Conference, UCC, shares a reflection from a recent trip to Colombia. The group Rev. Crabtree traveled with met with families who fled from their homes on June 23rd, the third time they have been displaced since 1996. There are close to 4 million Colombians living in displacement, on the mountain hillsides outside cities in "zones of despair;" yet, they are resilient and full of faith. They find hope in the work of Global Ministries partners, Justapaz and Sembrandopaz, who have worked to acquire land to resettle families on farms and are documenting the human rights violations. To read Davida’s complete story, as well as her prayers for Colombia, visit:
http://www.globalministries.org/lac/missionaries/displaced-in-colombia.html .


If someone forwarded this e-mail to you and you would like to receive directly to your inbox these weekly Global Ministries updates, please send your name, e-mail address, physical address, phone number, and home church to: bshebeck@dom.disciples.org

Please contact us, if you want any further information:

For Disciples: For the UCC:
Bob Shebeck Jan Aerie
bshebeck@dom.disciples.org aeriej@ucc.org
317-713-2571 216-736-3204

Prayer and Action for Zimbabwe on Sunday, June 22, 2008

From Global Ministries:

Written by Sandra Gourdet and LaMarco Cable
June 18, 2008

Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

The citizens of Zimbabwe will return to the polls to cast their ballots for the presidency on Friday, 27 June 2008. Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ want to emphasis the critical nature of this election, its fairness and its aftermath as the results will influence the future of the nation and region. As the days lead up to the Election Day we are mindful of the challenges of our global partners and all the people of Zimbabwe as they seek to overcome violence as they exercise democracy.

On Sunday 22 June 2008 Global Ministries in solidarity with our partners, the world community invites you to join us in a season of prayer for the people of Zimbabwe, its leaders and election officials. On this Sunday and the days to follow we ask you to join the faith community praying for a swift, peaceful and just resolution to the crisis confronting our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe and praying God's peace, justice and grace to prevail in that region. May the following prayer guide your heart and thoughts as we petition God for the people of Zimbabwe.

Eternal God:

In your sight nations rise and fall, and pass through times of trial. We pray with and for Zimbabwe in this hour of national decision, and we ask your divine blessing on all the people of the land. May Zimbabwe's leaders seek justice by means that are just; May the voters take action to promote the common good; may international observers and mediators be guided by your wisdom. Lead us not into temptation, Lord, and deliver your people from evil: Empower us all to overcome anger, jealousy, division and violence; help us to respect one another despite our differences; and teach us the things that truly make for peace. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

(prayer written by Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of Churches)

In addition to joining the faith community in prayer we invite you to add your signature on a letter calling for a fair and peaceful election in Zimbabwe. In this open letter, former heads of state, business leaders, academics and leading campaigners call for the presidential election to be conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner that allows the citizens of Zimbabwe to express freely their will. To access the letter and add your signature, go to:

http://www.zimbabwe-27june.com

May the God of justice and equality bless you as you continue to stand in solidarity with our partners in Zimbabwe.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Sandra Gourdet - Africa Area Executive

Rev. LaMarco A. Cable Program Associate Advocacy and Education

For More Information
Sandra Gourdet
Area Executive
Africa
PO Box 1986
Indianapolis,Indiana 46206

317-713-2551
Fax: 317-635-4323
sgourdet@dom.disciples.org