Our mission: To inform, An international inspire and unite newspaper Vol. 74, No. 7 | July 2017 for Churches of Christ A special mission for the military MINISTRIES FOCUSED on service personnel meet to discuss goals. BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Lewis Holston serves as a loadmaster on planes that drop paratroopers and cargo into combat zones. On a recent six-month deployment to a remote hotspot, Holston — a deacon of the WindSong Church of Christ in North Little Rock, Ark. — searched for fellow Christians with whom to worship. Single father Neil Zierden, with son Brett, 7, and daughter Miranda, 9, prays before a recent weeknight meal. Dennis Saucier, director of the American Military Evangelizing Nations ministry, known as AMEN, connected the 26-year Air Force veteran with a few other members of Churches of Christ. Hope for single parents Two stateside Christians with military backgrounds — John Phillis A CHILDREN’S HOME that once focused exclusively on young ones expands its mission of the Northeast Church of Christ in Albuquerque, N.M., and Stephen to serve entire families. ‘We need to open our hearts and arms,’ a leader says. Paul Wolfe of the Edgemere Church See MILITARY, Page 7 BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE hurt man,” social worker Johnnie Coley said. “So when he came to MOUNT DORA, Fla. us, we brought him in. We loved n an instant, Neil Zierden’s him. We used all the resources that world fell apart. God has given us to help.” An accidental explosion at For decades, the children’s Firepoint Products Inc., the home — founded in 1945 in this Florida business Zierden PHOTOS BY BOBBY ROSS JR. picturesque town of 13,000 about Ico-owned with his 40-year-old Mount Dora Children’s Home’s 35 miles northwest of Orlando wife, Rhonda, killed her and an single-parent program serves seven — cared for boys and girls in tradi- employee, George Harthman, 54. mothers, one father and 16 children. tional group-home settings. It still Zierden was lost in his own grief operates two such homes overseen and faced with raising the couple’s May 7, 2016, tragedy. “I’ve never by foster parents in this community two young children — Miranda, been a mom.” with sprawling canopy oak trees. PHOTO PROVIDED BY LEWIS HOLSTON now 9, and Brett, 7 — on his own. Enter Mount Dora Children’s However, frustration with helping While flying on a training mission, “We just didn’t really know where Home, which is associated with children temporarily only to return Chief Master Sgt. Lewis Holston to turn or what to do,” Zierden Churches of Christ. them to dysfunctional households looks out the back of the plane. said, recalling the aftermath of the “It was obvious that he was a See SINGLE PARENTS, Page 8 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE JULY 2017 Church of Christ in Guelph, Ontario “We at Guelph, Ontario, have been greatly blessed... You are doing critical, valuable kingdom work as you continue to train and send out fine Christian leaders.” (from a thank you note from the Church of Christ in Guelph to the faculty of Sunset) The Sunset School of Missions sends out individuals and teams to strengthen and to plant churches around the world. These missionaries are trained to change the world for the Kingdom of God. Are you ready to change your world? Contact Sunset at www.sibi.cc or 800-658-9553 to learn more. School of Missions JULY 2017 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 3 War and For preachers, a textual feast fellowship SERMON SEMINAR affords spiritual — and physical — food. BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Larry Roberts, minister for the Daugherty Street Church of Christ in AUSTIN, Texas — Welcome to the Lone Eastland, Texas. in Georgia Star State capital, where major events “A lot of it has to do with the psalm include the South by Southwest Festival that talks about oil flowing down ATLANTA and the Keep Austin Weird Fest & 5K. Aaron’s beard, I think,” quipped Greg e really need to A lesser-known annual festival: the Fleming, minister for the North A know each other Gourmet Preachers Tour, conducted Church of Christ in Midland, Texas, better. during the Austin Sermon Seminar. referring to Psalm 133:2. So many of the The informal tour involves a dozen Joking aside, it’s not really the Wdivides in our society — or so minister friends. It usually food — but rather the chance to feast racial, social, economic — starts with Cooper’s Old Time on God’s word — that keeps these disappear when we spend Pit Bar-B-Que. Favorites such as preachers returning to Central Texas. time with Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and For 36 years, the Austin Graduate Inside Story each other. BOBBY ROSS JR. Chuy’s Tex-Mex follow. Don’t forget School of Theology has hosted the I have been Preachers listen to a speaker during the nightly visits to Amy’s Ice Creams. Sermon Seminar. blessed — recent Austin Sermon Seminar in Texas. “We emphasize fellowship,” said See SERMON, Page 27 and my life has been enriched — by everyone who has In Guatemala’s young churches, elders abound shared with Lynn McMillon me their BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE life’s story. The diversity we encounter PATZITÉ, Guatemala is a gift from God. early 50 Iglesias de Cristo, or So it was at this year’s Churches of Christ, meet in National Lectureship, an Guatemala’s Quiché depart- annual gathering of predomi- ment, the heartland of the nantly African-American ancient Mayan empire. Churches of Christ. The NThey worship in simple adobe build- West End, Camp Creek and ings, assembled by hand on high moun- Bouldercrest congregations taintops, at the end of winding dirt roads in the Atlanta area sponsored and on bustling city this year’s event. street corners, awash My wife Joy and I first in diesel fumes. attended the lectureship in How many are led by 2009 in Jackson, Miss. We’ve elders and deacons? returned many times since “Todas!” says to be spiritually uplifted and Francisco Aguarré with to continue The Christian a quick wave of his Chronicle’s mission to connect Aguarré hand. All of them. with Christians across our In truth, says Kemmel fellowship. We want to share Dunham, a medical missionary trans- great stories of what they’re lating for Aguarré, there may be one doing for the Lord. or two Churches of Christ in Quiché Few church events (pronounced “Kee-CHAY”) that don’t are more meticulously yet have the leaders described in the planned, well-executed and See ELDERS, Page 14 inspiring than the National Lectureship. The seven- MORE FROM LATIN AMERICA ERIK TRYGGESTAD day program’s theme was ROAD NOTES: ASTOUNDING BEAUTY IN BOGOTÁ ................17 “Brother Dave” Mellor, mission trips and church relations coordinator for Health “This Means War: Effective CURRENTS: YOUTH GROUP TAKES OVER CHURCH ...............18 Talents International, says hello to a young Guatemalan during a medical clinic See LECTURESHIP, Page 4 IN THE WORD: PRIVILEGED TO PRAY ...................................28 hosted by the Las Trampas Church of Christ in the country’s Quiché department. 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY JULY 2017 LYNN Mcmillon LYNN Mcmillon Teens at the National Lectureship gather before a visit to the National Center for Civil O.J. Shabazz, minister for the Harlem Church of Christ in New York, speaks on “Satan’s and Human Rights in Atlanta. The teens also participated in afternoon classes. Affliction with God’s Permission” during the 2017 National Lectureship in Atlanta. LECTURESHIP: Reclaiming ‘broken churches, a broken brotherhood’ FROM PAGE 3 to the captives and to “proclaim the new track of classes and activities, nowadays often fact-check during Strategies for Spiritual Warfare.” year of the Lord’s favor.” Tier 1, geared toward young adults. the sermon. Along with other The intent was “to bring awareness Among the lectureship partici- The track included classes focused speakers, he stressed teaching from to the people of God regarding the pants were “Young Soldiers” who on social issues from a Christian the Bible as God’s Word, a notice- schemes of Satan as he wages war wore military style dog tags and perspective, service projects and able theme in the lecture series. against the Church of Christ and all carried camo backpacks as they late-night activities and fellowship. The Elect Ladies’ Luncheon on of humanity,” said Orpheus Heyward, learned about Atlanta’s place in Of course, the National Lectureship Wednesday included a dynamic and minister for the West End Church of history. Each morning 100 or more had its renowned worship and inspirational lesson from Mikki Taylor Christ, who co-hosted the lectureship teens took field trips to locales preaching sessions three times per of Essence Magazine — regarded as a with Camp Creek minister Howard including the World of Coca-Cola day. The passion of worship in these beauty authority for women of color. Wright and Bouldercrest minister and the National Center for Civil gatherings is deeply inspiring, and The lectureship also included prac- Kelvin E. Teamer. and Human Rights. In the after- the lessons elevate the authority of tical classes for Christian women. Across our nation, Wright sees noons they attended classes and a Scripture. Praising our Father was a Beyond the classes, the field trips “broken hearts, broken health, special youth worship service. dominant theme in many songs. and the wonderful worship, the broken friendships, broken dreams, Oh yes, and they had choir prac- Morning classes dealt with a time spent meeting new people and broken churches, a broken brother- tice and learned to sing together range of subjects — from sharp- visiting with friends was perhaps hood,” the minister said.