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An amazing gift of 160 acres of land for a camp and conference center has been given to the Northwest Area by a faithful woman of prayer, Sharon Pulliam!  The land is near I-35 and Highway 116, north and east of Lathrop.  Although the land is currently in probate, we are beginning to raise funds to build what we believe God will use as a camp and conference center for children, youth and adults for years to come. 

The camp offering you send with your son or daughter will help to purchase:

Many thanks for sharing your child with us at camp this summer!

The Northwest Area Staff

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The Partners in Ministry Mission group will present an overview of the ministry in the Northwest Area when they go to Mexico .  If you have digital pictures of ministry your congregation is doing in your community, (especially things you are doing outside the walls of the building), please send one or two pictures to Sandi Mull at ssm@nwareacc.org . She needs to start working on the presentation, so please send any pictures you have as soon as possible.

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Our High School class is remodeling their classroom and in a small closet that is going to be closed off, we found 12 aluminum communion trays and 6 or so bread trays, although I think I know where the other bread trays are.  These are older aluminum ones, just not as shiny as our current stainless steel ones.  There are also 100-200 of the older heavy duty reusable plastic juice cups in the trays.  We are looking for a church or mission that might have use of these.  We’ll get them wherever they can be used.  I don’t believe they are in bad shape, although at the moment they are a little dusty and need some cleaning.  I don’t think there are any “tops” to the trays, or at least we haven’t found any.  When we found these, we thought that maybe some church in the Greensburg Kansas area could use them.  That might be too late, now.  We would just like to get them to some group that could use them.  Rhonda, at the church, will take any messages and take care of getting them shipped if we can find an interested group.  Call (816)324-3322 or email cchurch@savannahfcc.org

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November 24 to December 7, 2007

Sponsored by Global Ministries, a common witness of the Division of Overseas Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ.

This visit is coordinated by the Child Sponsorship Program and includes the following purposes:  to provide an opportunity for sponsors and other individuals interested in working with children to visit the children they are supporting at the Family Village Farm; to enable participants to learn of the work of the Family Village Farm; to visit the Christian Medical College (CMC) at Vellore; and other projects of our partners in Southern India.  Part of the trip includes a short “hands-on mini-project” at the Family Village Farm.  Additionally, the group will visit the Taj Mahal and do some Delhi sight seeing.

Initial cost estimates for this trip are approximately $3,200 per person, double occupancy.  This includes airfare to India from Chicago ; domestic transportation, lodging, meals, and mandatory travel insurance.  Passport and visa fees, immunizations, medications, tips, and personal incidentals will be in addition to the $3,200 and will be the direct responsibility of the participant.

This trip will be limited to the first 10 registrants who submit a non-refundable deposit of $750.00.  Dr. Rev. James Vijayakumar, Area Executive for Southern Asia , and Linda Lawrence, Program Administrator for the Child Sponsorship will escort the group.

For more information contact:

                    Maria Cruzado

          Phone:  317-713-2565

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Rev. Bob Eichenberger has served in this region for over 20 years in congregational ministry and in clinical and private practice as a professional psychologist.  The attached brochure describes what looks like a great trip.  If you've ever considered a trip to Israel , this might be a good option

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At the Area Board gathering it was discussed to possibly change the day for the next gathering.  One possibility was to have it on Saturday morning with an optional meal at noon following the meeting.  We would like to hear from those in the Northwest Area if a change in the day for the meeting would make it easier for more to attend.  Also we would like comments on the new format for the last gathering.  Your comments and suggestions would really help us plan for the next Area Board gathering in October.

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July 13, 14 and 15, 2007 starting at 5:30 P.M. (After your evening meal on your own).  The retreat is held at Missouri Western State University in Student Residence Hall Complex and Nelle Blum Student Union in St. Joseph , Missouri .

The retreat is for spiritual enrichment, renewal, fun and fellowship.  The theme this year is Are You on Fire to Serve the Lord?.   The cost is only $70.00 ($35.00 if you commute) for two nights lodging including bedding, towels, soap and four meals (three Saturday and one Sunday). 

Registration deadline is June 30, 2007 for form and fee.  Cancellation Refunds until July 6, 2007.  Bring a snack to share, comfortable clothing, personal items and your Bible.

For a registration form contact:  Mary Lynn Breit 1-816-324-5214

                                                    Beverly Cadle     1-660-564-3577

                                                    Dixie Burks         1-816-539-3574

                                                    Helen Hodkins     1-816-232-2927

                                                    Rose Findley        1-816-324-1227

                                                    Linda Long           1-816-324-6176

                                                    Alice Miller          1-660-786-2234

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Our keynote speakers will be Zane Whorton and Nathan Brooks who will share our theme of “Disciple Spirit” with the youth who attend.  We will also have Barb Jones, Executive Regional Minister for the Great River Region attending to share with our campers about the destruction of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and how the DOC churches pulled together to assist the communities and congregations impacted by these storms.  As always there will be workshops, family groups, singing, worship and lots of fun as we build relationships with other youth in the Mid-America Region.

Any questions e-mail me or give me a call, 573-442-0336. 

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Plan to register early as we are expecting full camps again this year.

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Earlier this week an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale struck China 's southern Yunnan province. Initial reports are that three people were killed and more than 300 injured; however, the amount of destruction is very extensive, with more than 90,000 homes destroyed and some 270,000 damaged.

Long time Disciples and Church World Service (CWS) partner and Action by Churches Together (ACT) member, the Amity Foundation, is responding to 2000 of the most vulnerable families affected by the quake who have not received assistance from the government or from other agencies. Amity's immediate response includes provision of rice, quilts and plastic sheeting to meet the urgent need of food and temporary shelter. For the post-crisis response, Amity is preparing to rebuild 100 homes, two village schools and three irrigation systems.

CWS is issuing an appeal to its member communions in the U.S. in response to a larger ACT appeal on behalf of Amity. Week of Compassion is responding with a grant from the Compassion Response Fund on behalf of the Disciples.

WOC Committee Approves Sustainable Development Requests

Meeting in New Orleans, LA, recently to see Disciples hurricane recovery programs and assess ongoing hurricane needs, the Week of Compassion Committee also approved $119,250 in expenditures for eight long-term sustainable development projects, including a project to support sexually exploited and abused children in Nicaragua; a community-based health care project in rural Bosnia Herzegovina; and a capacity-building project with Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) - World Health to support several Christian Health Associations in Africa. A complete list of long-term development projects funded by WOC can be found on the Map/Poster page on the WOC website.

Volunteer opportunities abound for Disciples work groups. Work groups are still needed in large numbers across the Gulf Coast to participate in the Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative through the end of the summer of '08. Work groups are needed in Kansas to respond to the recent tornadoes and flooding. And now WOC has received an urgent request from Dave Troxler, pastor of First CC, Daytona Beach , FL , and president of VIND (Volusia Interfaith Networking Disasters), for skilled volunteers to help rebuild homes following the tornadoes of Christmas Day 2006 and February 2, 2007. Call the Office of Disciples Volunteering for details/scheduling at 888.346.2631.

Click below to read how one congregation affected by Hurricane Katrina that has been on the receiving end of work groups is now sending its own work team to Kansas .

Also, CWS greatly needs volunteer groups to help sort through kits at its New Windsor, MD, distribution facility. Volunteers for a day or longer will help assemble and process kits and make sure any expired items are replaced. The need for volunteer help is urgent, as we have many pending kit requests from overseas partners that cannot be facilitated until kits in the warehouse are processed. Call 410.635.8700, the Brethren Service Center Hospitality Office, if you would like to schedule a time to help.

WOC Map/Poster

Click below for the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the WOC map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.