Real news An international newspaper that honors God for Churches of Christ Vol. 78, No. 9 | September 2021 www.christianchronicle.org Can America be saved? Yes, say these Christians DOMESTIC MISSION EFFORT focuses on reaching lost souls in the U.S. BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE ROME, Ga. ulie Trujillo has traveled to Honduras and Peru to help with medical missions. She has flown to Panama to evangelize. The 45-year-old Christian was looking for her next chance to share Jesus in LatinJ America when she learned about a door- knocking campaign in Rome — the small town in northwest Georgia, not the Italian capital. “We don’t need to go to Central and South America to see people who are lost,” said Trujillo, a member of the Haverhill Road Church of Christ in West Palm Beach, Fla. “America is lost.” COVID-19 travel concerns prompted Latin KRISTI JONES, LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY American Missions — sponsored by the Forrest Park Church of Christ in Valdosta, Ga. — to cancel its international First female president makes history at Lipscomb mission trips last Candice McQueen visits with Mike Engelman after her introduction Aug. 5 as the first woman to lead a university summer and again associated with Churches of Christ. McQueen, 47, will succeed Randy Lowry as president of Lipscomb University in this summer. Nashville, Tenn. Engelman is Lipscomb’s director of construction and maintenance. “It would just be RELATED COVERAGE, Page 26 very hard to take 30 to 50 people down there and do a successful Singers celebrate hymnal’s 100th anniversary campaign because of BY JOEY ROBERTS | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE minister for the Fredericksburg Church of curfews and Christ in the Texas Hill Country. testing,” said ABILENE, Texas — Each summer, Levi Sisemore He met his future wife, Sara, at the 2001 event. Austin Fowler, enjoys a spiritual mountaintop The singing school’s 75th anniversary coin- PHOTO PROVIDED BY CARY GILLIS the organization’s experience in flat, dry West Texas. cides with the 100th anniversary of the “Great Niki Villareal of the Oak Hill director. For Sisemore, the annual Texas Songs of the Church” hymnal. Both milestones Church of Christ in Rome, Instead, Normal Singing School in Abilene were celebrated as more than 100 students and Ga., knocks on a door. Latin American brings a reunion with fellow staff from 18 states and Mexico gathered. Missions part- believers who love singing praises Songleading students ranged from Levi and nered with the House to House/Heart to Heart to God as much as he does. Sara Sisemore’s 7-year-old son, Benjamin, to School of Evangelism — a ministry of the East “I started off making friends Curt Harris, a 74-year-old member of the South Ridge Church of Christ in Chattanooga, Tenn. — to at the singing school, and over Anchorage Church of Christ in Alaska. Levi Sisemore organize the recent American Mission Campaign. the years, friends have become “I have seen the awesome power of God’s See CAMPAIGN, Page 10 family,” said Sisemore, worship and involvement See SINGING, Page 12 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 2021 Bachelor of Biblical Studies The two-year Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree is the core training program at SIBI. Students study 40 courses equaling 120 college-level credit hours that cover the entire Bible. Each student also chooses a four-course emphasis in preparation for his or her chosen ministry. Students may choose an emphasis in congregational ministry, family & youth ministry, missions, or Christian interpreter training. 800.658.9553 www.sunset.bible SEPTEMBER 2021 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 3 A wrong turn, The happiest a lesson learned on Georgia trip place on earth? ROME, Ga. IN DISNEY WORLD’S shadow, s I made a right turn Equip Conference brings on the way to my hotel, a homeless together pandemic-weary man standing in the Churches of Christ. highway median waved fever- ishly, begging me to stop. BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE I ignored him. I was tired and ready to ORLANDO, Fla. grab a quick dinner and ickey Mouse may be relax. the big draw for millions Inside Story Even as I of tourists who flock to cruised past Central Florida each year. the man, he MBut for the roughly 1,000 kept yelling, Christians who met recently at his frantic an Orlando hotel, the chance — movements at long last — to sing, pray and reflecting in mingle with fellow believers beat my rearview Walt Disney World. mirror. After over a year of virtual Bobby Ross Jr. Give him services and social distancing, credit for the Equip Conference, a regional persistence, I thought, as I gathering of members of Churches started to accelerate. of Christ, buzzed with handshakes, But then I noticed some- hugs and happy reunions. thing else. “I hope this is the next chapter A one-way sign. to normality, you know what I’m My right turn had been saying?” said Brandon Smith, a the wrong one. I was headed worship leader for the Fifth Avenue straight into oncoming JAKE EDWARDS Church of Christ in St. Petersburg, traffic. Fortunately, the The recent Dixie Fire creates haze and smoke near Lake Almanor in Northern California. Fla. “This is awesome.” ramp remained clear at the For nearly four decades, Equip moment. — formerly known as the Spiritual I hit the brakes and made Growth Workshop — has helped a quick U-turn in the grass. Dixie Fire burns down strengthen ties among church I slowed down at the stop See EQUIP, Page 14 sign and rolled down my passenger window. The man I had brushed off as a California church camp panhandler patted his chest. “You about gave me a BY AUDREY JACKSON | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE southeast side,” camp administrators heart attack,” he told me as posted on Facebook. “We are so sad to he leaned into the window. he Dixie Fire that ravaged report that the fire went through camp. “I’m sorry about that,” Northern California destroyed Please keep the families and communi- I replied. “Thank you for Sierra Bible Camp, a mainstay of ties in that area in your prayers.” trying to warn me.” Churches of Christ for 67 years. Founded by three northern In my first five minutes The second-largest wildfire Sacramento Valley preachers, Fletcher in this northwest Georgia Tin California history leveled the Cauthen, George Dickson and Paul town — where I had come Plumas County camp, which the state King King, Sierra Bible Camp leased to report on the American Department of Forestry and Fire the current location from the U.S. Mission Campaign — I Protection earlier had used as a base Forest Service in 1954. BOBBY ROSS JR. already had survived a hair- of operations. The Aug. 6 fire wiped out all 21 Rhonda Zorn Fernandez greets friend raising experience. And “The winds shifted, and the Dixie buildings, including several that were and longtime minister and church leader See TRAVEL, Page 4 Fire came back at camp from the See FIRE, Page 13 James Moore at the Equip Conference. 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY SEPTEMBER 2021 How a Christian college helped Bucks win The Milwaukee Bucks recently won the team’s first NBA championship in 50 years. Rochester University — a Michigan college associated with Churches of Christ — got a little credit. Bucks general manager Jon Horst, 38, is a 2006 Rochester graduate. Horst played, albeit sparingly, for former coach Garth Pleasant. In 38 seasons, Pleasant compiled 720 career wins, four small-college national titles and a long list of former players who credit him with helping develop their faith. Horst Read the full story at christianchronicle.org/bucks-win. TRAVEL: Adventures on the road FROM PAGE 3 motorcycles on the road,” I posted perhaps I learned a lesson about on Facebook. “No picture available paying attention. since I was concentrating on not My travels with The Christian killing anybody.” Chronicle have taken me to all 50 I was exaggerating. states and 14 nations. But only slightly. Maybe there’s a After staying home for over a year reason my wife, Tamie, always insists because of the COVID-19 pandemic, on driving when we’re together. I am blessed to be fully vaccinated My favorite road trip was one and covering news in person again. where I didn’t have to handle the Most of my time on the road — steering wheel. and in the air — is pretty boring, In 2018, I rode shotgun with John October 9, 2021 standard stuff. Kincaid, a volunteer truck driver with Airport security lines. Rental car Churches of Christ Disaster Relief 7 KEYS TO SUSTAINED CHURCH GROWTH check-in counters. Fast-food drive- Effort in Nashville, Tenn., as he thru lanes. delivered emergency supplies after * PROSPECT TRAFFIC * But occasionally, I run into a bit Hurricane Michael struck Florida. * MEMBER INVOLVEMENT * of excitement (even when I follow Kincaid navigated through the * MODERN LEARNING * directions correctly). night — 466 miles — pulling his big * INFORMATION SYSTEMS * In 2015, I flew into Rapid City, S.D., rig into the parking lot of the Jenks * SHEPHERDING * on a Saturday and then drove 300 Avenue Church of Christ in Panama * GOALS & OBJECTIVES * miles to the state capital in North City, Fla., just after 2:45 a.m. * KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE * Dakota. I stayed overnight at the Here in Georgia, the homeless home of minister Walter Clark and his man explained that a town ordinance Location: Omni Houston Hotel West wife, Cindy, before Sunday worship prevented him from asking for money. 13210 Katy Freeway (@ Eldridge) with the Bismarck Church of Christ. However, the look on his face indi- That afternoon, I got back on the cated that he would accept any help General Schedule: 7:30 - 8:00 - Registration Register your attendance at: road.