On a Mission to Get the Church Working AS the SLUGGISH U.S
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Our mission: To inform, An international inspire and unite newspaper Vol. 70, No. 8 | August 2013 for Churches of Christ On a mission to get the church working AS THE SLUGGISH U.S. economy struggles to recover, Christians offer Bible-based advice on resume writing and interviewing. BY HAMIL R. HARRIS AND ERIK TRYGGESTAD requests similar to Thomas’. THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE He saw an opportunity to help his church and his community. BALTIMORE Recently, he and Eric Lorick, ouls in need of prayer the congregation’s Christian fill the seats closest to life minister, hosted a “Working the pulpit of the East Heartily as Unto the Lord” Baltimore Church of seminar for 10 members. Christ — as they do most “In all honesty, it is incred- SSunday mornings after minister ibly unfair that employers are Kevin Bethea’s sermon. judging your potential based QIONGFANG NI Some ask for healing for on a 10-second glance at your loved ones. resume or In the heart of Cajun country, Chinese believers find new life Others come a 30-minute At the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ in Louisiana, Jingtao Feng performs his first baptism as attendees of repenting of interview,” the congregation’s Chinese-language service watch and snap photos. Feng baptized Hong, a woman from China unspoken sins. Hager said. who stayed with Feng and his wife, Qiongfang Ni, while Hong’s son underwent surgery in nearby New Orleans. The Arnesia To capture Chinese Agape Foundation arranged for the surgery. “Qiongfang and Jingtao taught and encouraged the mother, Thomas asks employers’ and she made a decision to be baptized,” said David Finch, the church’s Chinese minister. “God is so good.” the church to attention, he pray that she urged church finds a new job. members to Near the “think fruit,” Oh, Brothers! Baseball not pitcher’s top priority back of the following auditorium, Jesus’ words BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE him the 34th overall pick in base- Dan Hager HAMIL HARRIS in Luke 6, “For ball’s 2009 amateur draft. listens to every Arnesia Thomas speaks to Dan Hager every tree is LOS ANGELES — Rex Brothers He has compiled amazing prayer request about her job search after worship at known by its portrays himself as “just a numbers so far this season: — especially the East Baltimore Church of Christ. own fruit.” normal dude.” At press time, he had thrown that last one. “Don’t just Except that he’s standing 31 straight scoreless outings After the closing prayer, he tell me you were responsible in the visitors’ clubhouse at covering 29 innings. hurries to find Thomas and for customer service. Show Dodger Stadium as he makes “He’s a great talent,” said offers to help. me the fruit — good customer this claim — a few hours before Rockies pitching coach Bo For Hager, employment is satisfaction scores, employee of pitching yet another scoreless McLaughlin, a fellow former ministry. An administrator the month recognition or your inning for the Colorado Rockies. Lipscomb player. “From the at Johns Hopkins University sales performance,” he said. “People look at me as an time we got him, we knew that School of Medicine, he tries to Many of the 5.8 million people athlete, but I want people to he was going to help us in the live by the words he reads in the who live in Maryland, which look at me as a normal human RICH CLARKSON AND ASSOCIATES big leagues.” Bible, including Colossians 3:23, nearly surrounds Washington, being, too,” says Brothers, 25, Left-hander Rex Brothers throws a More importantly, fellow “Whatever you do, work heartily, D.C., depend on government a left-handed reliever who fires strike for the Colorado Rockies. Christians describe Brothers as for the Lord and not for men.” jobs. A recent round of politically 97-mph fastballs. as a humble, down-to-earth Hager and his family began See WORKING, Page 12 A faithful Church of Christ late May after an injury to Rafael disciple of Jesus who pursues a attending the East Baltimore member and former Lipscomb Betancourt. The Shelbyville, higher calling than baseball. church about a year ago. Week INSIDE: An Alabama ministry uses biblical University star, Brothers stepped Tenn., resident has been a top “He’s one of those kids that after week, he heard prayer principles to help the unemployed, Page 13. into Colorado’s closer role in prospect since the Rockies made See BROTHERS, Page 11 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE AUGUST 2013 While Everyone Else Is Saying No, Join churches and individuals all Ukraine Is Saying Yes! across the nation on September 29, 2013 Two states, Lviv and Luhansk, Ukraine to help place Bibles in Public Schools have asked for Bibles in 2,145 Public in Ukraine. Just say Da! Schools with 452,397 students. DA! www.MillionDollarSunday.org September 29, 2013 AUGUST 2013 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 3 Youth sports: a modern-day idol The Tabernacle comes to Tulsa for some families? TULSA, Okla. — The Park Plaza Church of Christ welcomed 5,657 guests, ages 2 to unday used to be 102, to the congregation’s parking lot to reserved for worship see a full-size replica of the Tabernacle of Sand rest. the Wilderness from the Old Testament. Now, youth sports compete It was the first visit to Oklahoma by The for many families’ time and Tabernacle Experience, a traveling exhibit attention on the Lord’s day. that features an “I would go so far as to interactive, audio say that children’s sports tour of the temple. are the idol of this gen- Guests were eration,” said clothed in the Inside Story Judy Square, white linen gar- whose ment of priests, husband, laid sacrifices at Woody, the altar of burnt WWW.TABERNACLEEXPERIENCE.COM serves as offering, washed A visitor views a lamp- youth and in the laver in stand in the Tabernacle family min- preparation for the of the Wilderness. ister for the work of the Lord San Leandro and gave a half-shekel donation before Church of entering the Holy of Holies. Bobby Ross Jr. Christ in More than 250 Park Plaza members California. volunteered, said Ken Factor, who helped “Everything on the family’s coordinate the recent 12-day event. Many schedule bows down to it.” visitors endured a triple-digit heat index to That includes the Sunday JENNIE RIDDLE gain a better understanding of God’s Old morning assembly. As the parking lot of the Park Plaza Church of Christ became the Tabernacle of the Wilderness, Covenant, Factor said, “yet emerged with In a study of 16 declining minister Mitch Wilburn preached about how God “wants to dwell with us, in us and through us.” smiles and, sometimes, tears of joy.” Protestant congregations in the U.S. and Canada, the reason most cited by clergy and members for falling Christians help Colorado wildfire evacuees attendance was the secu- BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE in Colorado history,” he told his Twitter larization of Sunday, with followers. “Your prayers are carrying us.” many identifying children’s Churches of Christ in Colorado are help- Nashville, Tenn.-based Churches of sports as most responsible, ing with recovery after the Black Forest Christ Disaster Relief Effort sent a ship- according to the Association fire burned 16,000 acres in nine days, kill- ment — including food, cleaning supplies, of Religion Data Archives. ing two people and destroying more than blankets, new clothing, “The repeal of ‘blue laws’ 500 homes and businesses. bottled water and wheelbar- that kept stores closed on “You don’t know how many people care rows — to the Mountain Sundays has resulted in about you until something stupid like this View Church of Christ in many more people working happens,” Brian Evans told the Colorado Colorado Springs. or shopping on Sundays, Springs Gazette. Evans and his family, Members of Colorado and children’s athletic activi- members of the Eastside Church of Christ congregations including ties are often scheduled on in Colorado Springs, lost their home in the the Pikes Peak Church of Sunday mornings at the very blaze — and immediately had two dozen Christ in Colorado Springs, Mead time when many churches offers of shelter from fellow Christians. the Castle Rock Church of traditionally have provided The Eastside church sheltered, fed and Christ and the Tri Lakes Church of Christ religious education,” comforted evacuees at its building, about six in Monument distributed the relief. reported researcher Stephen miles southwest of the flames. Patrick Mead, Reflecting on what was lost in the fire, McMullin of Acadia Divinity the church’s senior minister, “shared lunch, Brian Evans said, “It’s just stuff. The wife College in Nova Scotia. stories, laughter and tears with families who and the kids are out. The dogs are out. LARRY BERTRAM At the Canyon Church of lost their homes,” he said via Twitter, which After that, the rest is just ... stuff.” Larry Bertram of church-supported Orphans Christ in Anthem, Ariz., he used to send updates about the fire. Lifeline International captured this view of the See SPORTS, Page 4 “This is already the most destructive fire SEE updates at www.christianchronicle.org/blog. wildfires near his home in Monument, Colo. 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY AUGUST 2013 www.christianchronicle.org Go online to find news updates, an expanded calendar, classifieds and much more. Use the barcode at right to visit our mobile site. CORRECTION: A story on Page 17 of the July issue incorrectly identified a source. Isaac Sanyu is A graduate program an administrator for the Kampala Church of Christ in Uganda.