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HOW DID WORLD CONVENTION WORK TO UNITE CHRISTIANS IN 2013?
Promoting visible unity among Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ, and Churches of Christ :
- January 17-21, Gary Holloway was at the Keiser Church of Christ in Oregon, promoting World Convention there and with supporters from the Oregon Christian Convention.
- Gary Holloway was honored to give the Henry Webb Lectures at Milligan College in Tennessee, February 25-28, also meeting with a group of local ministers and speaking in chapel at Emmanuel Christian Seminary and met with the faculty there.
- Julia Keith attended Come before Winter on Keats Island, British Columbia, Canada, March 11-15. This renewal retreat for women in mission or ministry originated with the a cappella Church of Christ and now serves a larger Restoration Movement family.
- In May, Gary Holloway presented at the Pepperdine University Bible lectures in California.
- World Convention organized two sessions at the Christian Scholars Conference at Lipscomb University in May, presenting a panel of Robert Welsh, John Mark Hicks, and Mark Weedman discussing Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry.
- June 30-July 2 was the Lipscomb University Summer Celebration in Nashville, a time when several hundred from Churches of Christ meet. Gary Holloway and board member Doug Foster taught two classes that focused on our worldwide movement-past, present, and future. In those classes, we were able to share the new global history of our movement and the ministry of World Convention with many.
- July 9-12 brought Gary Holloway to Louisville, Kentucky to the meeting of thousands at the North American Christian Convention to teach a class on the work of World Convention. We also had very encouraging meeting with board member Ajai Lall and his son Abhijeet on the possibility of our World Convention Global Gathering coming to India in the future. If you do not know of the amazing ministry of the Lalls, please see indiamission.org.
- July 13-17 Julia Keith and Gary Holloway attended the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Orlando, Florida.
- One way we try to spread the word about our worldwide movement is through writing. Board members Doug Foster, Gary Holloway, David Thompson, and several others in the United States, were contributors to an issue of Christian History Magazine on the Stone-Campbell Movement, published in August 2013. One article focused on the global nature of our movement and the work of World Convention. For a free download see https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/issue/church-to-end-all-churches/.
- September 15-18, Gary Holloway and Board member Doug Foster presented two classes on the Worldwide Stone-Campbell Movement and on our ecumenical work, including discussion of World Convention at Summit, the Lectures at Abilene Christian University.
- Julia Keith represented World Convention and Global Women Connecting at the International Conference on Missions in Kansas City, Missouri, November 14-16, including meeting several women responsible for the 2014 ICOM women’s track during their preliminary planning discussion. Julia was afforded an opportunity to invite those attending the Common Ground event to discover WCCC/GWC. Many women with Christian Church/Churches of Christ backgrounds have been unfamiliar with the World Convention/Global Women Connecting ministry.
Promoting Unity with other Christians:
- January 29-February 1, Gary Holloway was in Austin, Texas along with board members Dick Hamm, Robert Welsh, and Doug Foster, attending the annual meeting of Christian Churches Together in the USA.
- Doug Foster and Gary Holloway represented World Convention at the World Council of Churches meeting in Busan, Korea from October 29-November 9. Several from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) were there, including board members Robert Welsh and David Thompson. Ian Smith from Australian Churches of Christ, representing the Victorian Council of Churches was also there.
- Gary Holloway and Doug Foster represented World Convention at the Secretaries of Christian World Communions meeting in Geneva Switzerland, November 18-22.
Promoting Unity as you stay involved with World Convention:
- Praying for Christian unity and for the ministry of World Convention.
- Planning to attend World Convention Global Gatherings.
- Connecting through our websites WorldConvention.org and GlobalWomenConnecting.org, Facebook, and Twitter to develop global relationships.
- Subscribing through our websites for “ChristiaNet”, our monthly email newsletter, formatted to be readable on mobile devices.
- Celebrating World Convention Sunday the first Sunday of August.
- Working with other Christians locally in worship and service.
- Worshiping together on World Communion Sunday the first Sunday in October.
- Meeting at gatherings in the U.S. (Summit at Abilene Christian University, North American Christian Convention, Disciples General Assembly, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, Disciples Women’s Quadrennial Assembly, International Conference on Missions, National Convocation, and others).
- Sending us a story of how God is working toward unity in your community.
- Inviting us to speak to your church, ministry, or community group about World Convention.
- Participating with a gift to the ministry. 2013 gifts are listed in the printed annual report.
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