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Leadership Academy introduces new ‘architecture’ for new church movement
Iconic North American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s “church of the future” proved a fitting setting to introduce DisciplesNEXT, a new framework for New Church Ministry (NCM) in a pandemic-informed ministry context. More than 50 clergy and laity gathered for...
Disciples Church Extension Fund celebrates 140 years (and counting)
With an $875,000 loan approval, Disciples Church Extension Fund helped Heart of the Rockies Christian Church in Fort Collins, Colo., begin a ministry project that today impacts the lives of hundreds of families. By today’s standards, that size of loan is increasingly...
DCEF Helps Texas Disciples Find ‘New Ways Into the World’
In 2014, First Christian Church (FCC), Odessa, Texas, was literally in a bad place. Membership was down. The building had significant accessibility issues and was hidden from view behind another church. Without transformation, the congregation would perish. So, First...
Alabama Church Survives Hurricane, Relies on Insurance Claim Advocate in the Aftermath
On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at the corner of Highway 59 and Keller Road in Foley, Ala., a sign read: “South Baldwin Christian Church 1/2 mile W.” When Hurricane Sally made landfall that day, Foley – and the sign – stood directly in the path. Sally’s winds ripped...
Latinx Congregation Shares Faith ‘In-Between’
When describing the ministry of Comunidad Limen Christian Church, the organizing pastor of this Latinx, Spanish-speaking, open-and-affirming congregation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pauses. “Have you seen the movie Luca?” While it’s not typical...
Merger Rekindles Fire Of Aging Florida Church
Drake Cromer-Moore faced a daunting challenge in 2021 when he became pastor of First Christian Church of Gainesville, Fla. The church, founded in 1921, was down to eight active members – average age 75 – trying to support a costly campus in Gainesville. Yet Pastor...
Colorado Church Leads Childcare and Housing Crisis Response
Fort Collins, Colo., is by no means a metropolis, yet it struggles with issues many densely populated cities face: affordable housing and childcare. Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (HRCC), blessed with large acreage, recognized the need and...
Why Build Back? Build Forward!
While a natural disaster can bring devastating results, there’s a silver lining in the storm clouds for Disciples congregations: Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF)’s complimentary Building Disaster Response Service. Jim Michel, the Building and Capital Services...
DCEF: More Than a Fair-Weather Friend
One Sunday, gentle rain may fall on a sanctuary roof. The following Sunday, torrential storm waters can cover the sanctuary floor. Welcome to ministry in a climate-change context. For almost 10 years, Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF) has anticipated the growing...
