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Connecting God’s Beloved Community of Georgia Disciples
Camp Christian Turns 60

Camp Christian Conference Center will celebrate 60 years of camps, activities, and programming in 2023. To mark this special occasion, the Christian Church in Georgia will be “Celebrating 60 Years of Camp” with a 60 for 60 Fundraising Campaign! The campaign, which began at the Regional Assembly in November 2022, invites donors to give 60 – pennies, nickels, dimes, dollars – for 10 months, with the campaign to conclude in August, and the celebration to take place in September. But don’t let 60 limit your imagination! If you do the math, 60 donors x $100 = $6,000. Or 60 donors x $50 = $3,000. Or 60 donors from your church x $20 = $1,200 x 10 churches = $12,000! Pam Van Dusen and Marilyn Parks (Regional Co-Directors of Camp Ministries) are spearheading this campaign. Please contact them at campoffice@gadisciples.org if you have questions.
 
We have much to celebrate about Camp Christian, which has had 60 years of successful ministry as a summer camping facility, with the last 20 years expanding to Camp Christian Conference Center, a year-round conference and retreat facility.  Beginning with the gift of land by the Charles and Lucie McAfee family in 1960, the camp was initially called a number of names including “The State Camp,” “Camp Gordon," and more recently, "Camp Christian." Your support of Camp Christian Conference Center through time, talent, and treasure has been and continues to be the foundation of the camp’s ministry, which you can read more about here. The 4C Taskforce and Outdoor Ministry Advisory Team (OMAT) are working on a long-term vision for Camp Christian Conference Center, and are depending on your continued support. Whether you give $60 or $6,000, one time or monthly through the “Celebrating 60 Years of Camp 2023” campaign, you’re invited to give here.
Regional Youth Assembly – Register by Feb. 1st

The 2023 Regional Youth Assembly (RYA) on February 24-26, 2023, will be a time of fellowship, worship, and fun for the Disciples of Christ (DOC) youth of Georgia around the theme of “Breakthrough.” Youth and their adult sponsors will gather at Epworth by the Sea, in St. Simons Island, GA. Registration packets have been mailed to churches, but you can also download the packet, and learn more and register here. A discounted price is available till February 1, with the final registration deadline February 15, 2023. For more information, contact yac@gadisciples.org
Upgrade Thursdays Returns January 12

Upgrade Thursdays returns January 12 from 7-8 pm with an important discussion about Christian nationalism, a movement which is gaining momentum in the US and around the world. Rev. Adam Bradley, Associate Pastor, Downey Avenue Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN, will present Hijacking Jesus: A Rebuke of Christian Nationalism. In this session Rev. Bradley, former pastor of Cherry Log Christian Church in Georgia, will define Christian nationalism, and then turn to Paul’s Letter to the Galatians for a theological basis to reject Christian nationalist ideology and reaffirm a full and unconditional spiritual freedom-in-Christ. 

Upgrade Thursdays is a creative experience using a virtual platform to inform, inspire, and encourage the Christian Church in Georgia family. Drawing from expertise throughout our region and denomination, presenters will offer an hour-long, Assembly-style workshop on the second and fourth Thursdays during January, February, and March to Disciples across Georgia. After a break for Easter and summer, we’ll return to programming in August, September, and October. Learn more and get the Zoom link here.
Learn More About the Racial Wealth Gap

You’re invited to gather for the first of this year’s Pop-Up Gatherings with other Georgia Disciples on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 1 pm to participate in a hands-on learning experience that explores the Racial Wealth Gap. We’ll meet at Ray of Hope Christian Church, 2778 Snapfinger Rd., Decatur, GA 30034, beginning with lunch. Then from 1:30-3:30 pm, Frances French Hagan, Regional Organizer for Bread for the World will present “Advancing Our Understanding About Hunger, Racism, and the Wealth Divide,” using the Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation tool. Learn more about this powerful tool here
Important News for Clergy

  • Standing forms due January 16: Georgia Disciples clergy are required to complete a standing form each year in order to retain their ministerial standing. Completing this form enables clergy to officiate at weddings, be eligible for clergy tax breaks, vote at Regional and General Assemblies, and be listed in the Disciples Year Book & Directory, among other privileges. Read the letter and instructions here and complete the online form here. You may call the office at (478) 743-8649 or email us at office@gadisciples.org to request a paper form or help access the document
  • 2023 Healthy Boundaries for Clergy: Georgia Disciples clergy are required to take a Healthy Boundaries workshop every five years to retain standing. Clergy, seminarians, and candidates who wish to transfer standing are encouraged to register soon for 2023 workshops, as some workshops filled quickly last year. Workshops and dates are: Healthy Boundaries 101: Fundamentals (February 3-4, 2023); Healthy Boundaries 301: Money, Sex, and Power (April 28-29, 2023), and Healthy Boundaries 201: Beyond Basics and Into the Digital World (August 25-26, 2023). Learn more and register here.  
  • Clergy Connect in 2023: Rev. Dr. Denise Bell will convene one-hour Zoom meetings with various clergy groups to connect and encourage during 2023. Mark these dates and groups on your 2023: calendar:
  • January 19, 7-8 pm – African American Clergy Connect
  • March 16, 7-8 pm – Women Clergy Connect
  • May 18, 7-8 pm – Chaplains & Educators Connect
  • August 17, 7-8 pm – Retired Clergy Connect
News & Reminders

  • YAC Leaders Wanted: The Youth Activities Council invites Disciples youth from around Georgia to apply for the Youth Activities Council for 2023-2024, a position which begins at RYA 2023. Applications (including your Pastor’s recommendation form) must be received by the Regional Office either electronically or in hard copy form by Feb. 1, 2023. Download application information here
  • Disciples Peace Internship: Disciples Peace Fellowship has announced its 2023 Disciples Internship, a 12-week paid internship for young adults ages 21 and up. Learn more and start your application process here. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2023. 
  • General Assembly 2023: Registration is open for the General Assembly to be held July 29-August 1, 2023, in Louisville, KY. With a theme of “Kindom of God Within Us, Among Us,” the Assembly will include hands-on mission, Bible study, workshops, worship, and fellowship with Disciples from across the US and Canada. Early bird registration ends March 1; learn more and register here
Rev. Dr. Denise Bell’s Upcoming Schedule

  • January 7, 2023, 7 pm - Preaching at Iglesia Christiana Getsemani, Valdosta
  • January 15, 2023, 11 am – Cherry Log Christian Church, Cherry Log, GA, Monica Ledford commissioning
  • January 22, 2023, 8 am – First Christian Church of Atlanta, Tucker, GA, Ann Edmondson ordination
  • January 29, 2023 – Workshop for Regional Board Indiana

Please Note: Ja’Lisa Jarvis is out of the Regional Office on maternity leave. Linda Van de Merwe will be filling in with a few office tasks. 
Prayers and Celebrations

Prayers

  • Prayers for Rev. Dr. Valerie Alexander and family in the passing of her mother, Barbara M. Alexander on December 20, 2022. Services were held January 4, 2023, at Ben Hill United Methodist Church, Atlanta, followed by interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, College Park. The obituary may be viewed here. Continued prayers for this family, who were already mourning the October 22 passing of Valerie’s sister, Beverly Melvin Alexander. 
  • Prayers for Rev. Cheryl Cloar and Rev. Alan Cloar and their family, upon the passing of Cheryl’s father, David Mobley, on January 3, 2023. Services will be held this weekend, with the family to receive visitors at A.S. Turner & Sons, 2773 N Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, on Saturday, January 7, 2023 from 4-7 pm. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, January 8 at 2 pm at Decatur First United Methodist Church, 300 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030, with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall. The obituary may be viewed here. 
  • Prayers for the family of Rev. Dianne Hummel Sweckard, who passed away at the age of 81 on November 30, 2022. Rev. Sweckard attended the University of Georgia and was the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Religion from UGA in 1963.  Following graduation in 1965 from Lexington Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Religious Education, Rev. Sweckard served for several years as an Associate Regional Minister for the Christian Church in Georgia. Later she served in Christian education, including at Forest Hills United Methodist Church, Macon, for a total of 40-plus years in the ministry. The funeral service was held on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Forest Hills Church, with interment at Riverside Cemetery in Macon. The obituary may be viewed here.
  • Prayers for Rev. Peter Yoon, whose father suffered a serious bike accident in China.  
  • Prayers for Bertha Bell, mother of Rev. Dr. Denise Bell, who is now living with Dr. Bell’s sister in Dacula, GA, and is adjusting to her recent move.  

Celebrations

  • Continued prayers for Ja’Lisa Jarvis, and baby boy Jace, born in mid-December. 
  • Each month we invite your prayers of gratitude and support for Georgia Disciples congregations. This month please pray for the ministries of Union Christian Church, Watkinsville, led by Rev. Heather Webb, and First Christian Church, Waycross.
Christian Church in Georgia news is published on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Please submit any news to share one week before publication date to communication.ccinga@gmail.com.
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Macon, GA 31204
​Tel: 478-743-8649
Fax: 478-741-1508