TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (BNc) – In March of 2009, Russian authorities cracked down on a church in Smolinsk that was teaching the Bible to children.  We prayed fervently for that situation, and God heard our prayers and reversed that decision on appeal.

Now a similar problem, but potentially much more menacing, is facing one of the largest churches of Christ, with approximately 500 members!  This church is located in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan (formerly a part of the Soviet Union).  The church was established in 1999, and owns its own property.

Tashkent was the third largest city in the former Soviet Union, after Moscow and Leningrad.  The population of Tashkent is now primarily Muslim; Russians make up about 40% of the population.

One man entered a charge against this church for teaching the gospel to his son without his permission (very much like the previous case in Smolinsk), and the government officials moved in.  Eight leaders of the church were arrested (detained for 24 hours), and were told to stop all church activities.

We fear that this is an effort to frighten Christians, likely a test case in how to stop Christians from worshiping at all.

Appeals will certainly be made, and our prayer is that the result will be dismissal as it was last year.  Believing fully that God answered our prayers last year, we ask that we all join in constant prayer for this church and for a softening of government’s heart in these matters.

Please remember our brothers and sisters under such pressure in Uzbekistan, with prayers that God will not only work in the hearts of their leaders, but that he will grand them courage to stand up in the face of this present danger!

ATHENS, Tenn., (BNC) — The Athens congregation just finished their first “His Eternal Plan” workshop.

The workshop is designed to assist Christians in setting up and conducting studies with non-Christians while presenting the simple truths of the gospel. Jerry Tallman of Rochester, Mich., and his wife Connie travel all over the USA and the world offering this workshop for free.

Tallman is best known for his book by the same title and simply asking people, “do you believe the Bible is the Word of God?” (Most people say “Yes”) and “do you understand the Bible?” (Most people say “No”). He then shows them a time line that outlines God’s eternal plan.

Tallman says the best approach is to get a spiritual conversation going and when a prospect asks a question, you reply, “That’s a good question. Can I study on that and we get together two nights from tonight to discuss the Bible’s answer?” Jerry’s lessons are biblical, simple and powerful.

Jerry and Connie travel in their own RV and have been doing this for four and a half years. You can contact Jerry at his website and download some of his messages and power point presentations. Or you can contact Travis Irwin, involvement minister of the Athens church of Christ for a recommendation.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Many people consider Jesus the ultimate example of pay-it-forward — a gift that keeps giving.

And the pay-it-forward concept takes on real meaning for members of the new Barkers Mill Church of Christ.

“The Madison Street Church of Christ planted Hilldale Church of Christ 50 years ago, and now Hilldale is planting the new church at Barkers Mill,” said longtime member Nick Muiznieks.

Barkers Mill Church of Christ has opened on Tiny Town Road near the entrance of Barkers Mill Elementary School. It has been a journey about people of faith building a foundation for future generations.

“This has been a 10-year plan, desire and dream to plant a Church of Christ in North Clarksville,” said Steve Kirby, senior minister at Hilldale Church of Christ.

Kirby said about 50 families from Hilldale Church of Christ moved to officially become the charter congregation for the North Clarksville church.

Mark Muiznieks and wife Claire with their three children are members of the new flagship fellowship.

A special Gospel Meeting is scheduled this weekend. James Sampson from Marshfield, Wis., is the featured speaker. He will discuss “How to Understand God’s Providence” at 7 p.m. today and present a three-part series “How to be Happier” Sunday at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“His talks are based on 15 biblical principles,” Caleb Sampson said. “Good stuff for anybody.”

“For us, there was a need to have a congregation in this part of town. We’re grateful we were given the opportunity to be involved. It has helped develop us as people and to be part of God’s church,” Muiznieks said.

Getting started

Caleb Sampson was tapped to helm the new church. He and wife Kristin with five children moved from Iowa to Clarksville in September. The new congregation started meeting at Barkers Mill Elementary School in October while construction started.
“Mark and Claire opened their home for Wednesday night services during those months,” Sampson said.

Hilldale Church of Christ gave the new congregation 9 1/2 acres of land and covered site development costs. The new congregation has shouldered a mortgage for structure construction. The 5,000 square-foot facility includes a sanctuary with seating capacity of 140 with a nursery, an office, a kitchen and six classrooms.

Sampson said donations from Thomas Lumber Co., Jimmy Miller and Jeff Burkhart resulted in considerable savings. Also, Hilldale Church of Christ committed to covering the minister’s salary for three to five years.

“These are just measures to help them as they get on their feet,” Kirby said. “After all, they’re an extension of our family.”

‘Grow as a family’
Sampson stressed his vision for Barkers Mill Church of Christ is “grow as a family.”

“We have a great group of folks to work with. A big part of our thrust will be an outreach to the military. We want to help families here while loved ones are deployed and when they’re home,” Sampson said.

He also said congregation members would be active in the local area “with a lot of door-knocking.”

Reaching out with the good news is important to Mark Muiznieks.

“As a congregation, we try to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. We want to be as close to the first century church as possible and are open to study with anybody,” Sampson said.

Editor’s Note: You can read the original article at TheLeafChronicle.

CAMPINA GRANDE, BRAZIL (BNc) – The church arrived before the mission team in this city in northeastern Brazil!

Campina Grande is the second largest city in the state of Paraiba, with a population of 400,000. Saints are preparing to take Christ there. The church is praying. Brazilian congregations are raising money to send two national families there, in addition to a missionary family planning to move there this year.

But even before they arrive, God is working, as Joe McKinney tells below:

I usually travel through Campina Grande on my way to anywhere in Paraibam so when I discovered that Izaias, an old friend whom I had not seen in over 15 years, had been transferred there with the Federal Police, I decided to try to find him.

When I got there, I called him and his wife answered, whom I had never met. She told me how to get to the house.

Izaias took off from work and came to meet me at home. We had lunch and spent the day catching up and talking about life, God and the Scriptures, until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.

I spent the night at their house and the next day went on my way.

Three weeks later, Izaias called me and said three people had decided for Christ and wanted to be baptized and would I come do it? Of course, I went and, after a Bible study with the family, baptized Izaias and his two daughters, Patricia and Vanessa. I went on my way rejoicing.

The church in João Pessoa is right now preparing three families to move to Campina Grande to begin the church there, hopefully in June or July.

After the baptisms, Izaias told me, “The church is now in Campina Grande.”

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (BNc) – Captain Anthony Holloway, Family Life Chaplain, reported in a letter back home of the goings on with the church in Kandahar Air Field (KAF), Afghanistan.

A major from the unit they replaced began the service at the Chapel Ministry Center (CMC), which is something of a general purpose building used for Bible studies, classes and meetings. At that time it was basically an informal Bible study around a table with about six people attending.

When the 135th arrived, the numbers grew to about 10-12. They were able to find a time slot on Sundays in Fraise Chapel.

They have managed to increase attendance each week by one or two as word about the service has spread.

On February 7, 2010, Captain Holloway reported that they had 21 in attendance.

Holloway, better known as Craig back home in Alabama, shares the preaching responsibilities with a major from their unit who is a minister in his civilian life at a church of Christ in Tennessee. If neither of them is available they have a Marine colonel who can preach as well as a SFC from the unit who is an elder in the states.

Holloway reports that there is also another church of Christ chaplain who can fill in if needed. However he mainly concentrates his efforts on another part of KAF.

Holloway supplied the picture of a group who recently gathered to worship. Captain Anthony Holloway is pictured as tallest on back row.

Editor’s Note: Anthony Craig Holloway is the son of Duncan and Mary Holloway of Geneva, Ala., and the husband of Kim Holloway, Montgomery, Ala.

We did and invited a speaker to discuss sermon preparation and give sample sermons. Interest increased; more speakers were invited. We moved to a hotel conference area. We dreamed big. “Let’s invite the best speakers in the brotherhood and see who we can get.” They came. Wives wanted in, so we added women’s classes. While these great speakers were assembled in one place, we decided to offer classes for elders. They loved it. People began coming from all over the country.

Youth workers and deacons became interested. We added tracks for them. PTP moved to a large event center in the Smoky Mountains. Attendance approached 1000. Christians from other nations began coming.

“Why don’t you have classes for regular members?” we were asked. So we added a Spiritual Renewal Weekend, as well as tracks for members, teens, and children. Attendance surpassed 1400.

That brings us to 2010. The largest PTP ever is in the works – 102 speakers and worship leaders, 10 concurrent sessions each hour, 375 separate classes spread over seven days. Our attendance goal is 2000.

What does God have in store for PTP now? Come and see!

The scheduled PTP for 2010 will be from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2.

View the PTP Schedule.

Register online or call 1-877-338-3397.

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (BNc) – In the 68-year history of Fort Rucker, this is the first time churches of Christ have conducted worship on post. In fact, Christian families in the military say it is rare for our brotherhood to be so represented on military installations.

George Merritt, a long-time minister in Southeast Alabama, and CW4 James Baker have both been certified by the U. S. Army to lead the 1:30 p.m. worship each Sunday afternoon at Rucker’s historic Wings Chapel.

“We are targeting some 4,000 student soldiers here, especially those affiliated with the church of Christ,” says Merritt.

The first meeting on post was in mid-September, 2009, after six months of paperwork for approval.

In the first few months, the brethren coming onto post from surrounding congregations have had a taste of how they hope to assist more and more troops and their families.

One WOC candidate saw the service promoted on the marquee soon after arriving. For two months, the early afternoon service gave him a Lord’s Day respite from the confines of “lock down” and the rigors of class and field training. It afforded him the opportunity to observe the Lord’s Supper, study God’s word, sing, pray, and fellowship with other Christians.

A Christian father and his two children came after seeing a flier announcing the service in the PX immediately upon arriving at the “Home of Army Aviation”. A young soldier’s wife with two small children and expecting a third sees the worship service as a way to be near her husband during his time away from his family. Other soldiers, too, have already found this unique “congregation”, including a Lieutenant from Nashville, Tenn., in flight school.

Several nearby congregations have committed to supporting this work with their presence on designated Sundays. Among those who come each week is Betty Marcum who was a civilian employee at Fort Rucker 37 years and whose husband is retired military.

“It’s such a blessing that the chaplain’s office has embraced this work and made it possible,” Marcum says.

This ministry is under the direction of the Ariton, Ala., congregation, with which Merritt works. Congregations sending people to assist  are Christian Home at Wicksburg, College Avenue in Enterprise, the Ozark, Geneva, and Clio congregations.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (BNc) – The Great Smoky Mountain Marriage Retreat was held Valentine’s weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with 700 attending from 16 states. This retreat began in 1999 as an effort of the Jacksonville, Ala., church to strengthen its marriages and homes. The next year it was made available to any who wanted to come, and it has steadily grown over the years.

The Sevierville, Tenn., church has partnered with the retreat over the years and hosts the Wednesday night service. The attendees ranged from newlyweds to those who had celebrated fifty years together. Some traveled more than a thousand miles to attend.

David Shannon, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and Phillip Hines, of Hartselle, Alabama, did an excellent job teaching sessions on “Joy in the Journey. Celebrating God’s Gift of Matrimony.”  Jim Dearman, of GBN television, hosted the event and at times had the crowd rolling with laughter.

If the Lord wills, the next Great Smoky Mountain Marriage Retreat will be held February 16-19, 2011, so mark your calendars for a very special Valentine’s weekend.

CDs of this year’s classes, as well as previous years, may be ordered at their website or by calling 1-877-338-3397.

by Richard Mansel

HAZLEHURST, Ga. (BNc) — Ian Burgin said, “So many churches are small in Southeast Georgia, and we remain true to the pattern and serving God.”

Burgin, minister with the Nashville, Ga., church extolled the virtues of serving in a small congregation as he gave a report on the work in his community, at the church workers’ meeting.

Workers from a variety of congregations in Southeast Georgia drive on the first Monday of each month to Sisters Country Kitchen to fellowship and edify one another.

These brethren are close and look forward to these visits. They also attend each other’s gospel meetings and seminars. Most have known each other for many years.

We meet and greet one another and share a printed copy of an article or a sermon with everyone else. The meeting begins and some preliminary comments precede the speaker coming to deliver a lesson.

In the most recent meeting, Richard Mansel, of the Allenhurst congregation, spoke on the necessity of being Biblical and how important it is to use Scriptural language.

Accordingly, we must remember that the denominational world has changed the definitions of many words and that people may hear something different from what we mean, as a result. We must be exact and Scriptural in our preaching and teaching, so we can all be on the same page and be as one.

After a meal together from the buffet, we have reports from the various congregations on how the Lord is blessing their communities. We report on gospel meetings, seminars and youth days, as well as mission reports, jail ministries, publishing efforts and supporting new congregations.

It is edifying to hear what the brethren are doing to reach the lost.

In addition, we have an area-wide newsletter to make all the congregations aware of these activities.

In Southeast Georgia, congregations are small and far apart. These brethren frequently drive two hours, round trip, or more to gospel meetings several times a year. Many drive that far and more to attend these church workers’ meetings each month. These brethren are dedicated to the cause of Christ.

Since Southeast Georgia is largely a military area, we pray for the troops and their families, as well as each other and our respective works. Some of those in the meeting have children who are serving abroad in the armed forces.

The Lord is active worldwide and we must all be forever grateful and tireless in his fields and give him the glory (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Preachers’ meetings are a great joy, and every area of the brotherhood should have them.

The church would be stronger if brethren would work and serve together as one (Ephesians 4:1-6).

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BNc) — A preacher’s departure from a church, especially after an extended tenure there, creates stress. While most congregations face this event with Christian maturity and love, even the most stable find this time difficult, and some find it a time of crisis.

Since we completed our stay in Hendersonville December 30, 2009, I am available to work with another congregation as an interim preacher.

An intentional interim preacher can be helpful if a congregation finds itself in one or more of the following situations:

1. The minister served seven or more years before leaving,
2. The minister resigned under pressure (a forced termination),
3. The minister’s resignation was requested due to ethical or moral misconduct,
4. The minister departed in the midst of severe conflict within the church,
5. The church has not conducted a self-study of its structure, history, priorities, mission or vision in the last five years, or
6. The church has a pattern of the last two ministers leaving after having served the church for only two or three years (Ronald G. Brown, © Intentional Interim is copyrighted by Interim Ministry Network, Inc., Baltimore, MD).

From my practice, interim ministry is not just “fill-in preaching.” Gail and I move into the community. I work with the elders and those they select to evaluate the congregation and the strengths the next preacher needs to help them do the work of the Lord in their community. I teach leadership classes and train those who will be searching for the next preacher.

Gail is involved to the extent she is needed. In our last two works Eddyville, Kentucky, and Hendersonville, Tennessee, she taught ladies’ Bible classes and was involved in other areas.

One of the essentials of interim ministry is that I sign a contract that I will not consider or be considered as the next full-time preacher for that congregation.

To learn more about this process, see my web site: BarberClippings .

I would be glad to discuss the opportunities for spiritual growth during transition and suggestions for preacher searches. If you, or someone you know, is aware of a congregation that might consider my services, please let me know.

I am also available for a limited number of workshops and special series. See a partial list on my web site: Special Series and Workshops.

You can contact me by calling or email me: jerrie@barberclippings.com.

Jerrie W. Barber, 756 Woodland Way, Nashville, Tennessee 37209-5207