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I have been loving the Olympics. There is something special about watching people compete at the top of their game that is so inspirational to me. I realize that watching these short meets, where they win a medal or go home empty-handed, is the culmination of years of hard work, training, planning, and sacrifice. I recently read a story from the 1988 Olympic Games.

In the 1988 Olympics, the world assumed the United States would be victorious in the 400-meter relay. They simply were the best. The gun cracked, and they were off and running. After the last curve, the unthinkable happened. The United States was ahead by 10 meters with no real competition in sight. And then, with victory in their grasp, it happened. They dropped the baton. The thousands in the stands gasped in disbelief. The United States team--sleek, muscular, and fast as leopards, lost the race. Why? Someone dropped the baton.

Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

I would hate for us as a church to be the people who dropped the baton. What is God calling us to be and to do as God's people in this time and this place? As the Disaster Response Coordinator, I think part of that call is to acknowledge and prepare for climate change, more and more intense weather, and the current hurricane season. I had the great opportunity to meet with the Mississippi Christian Missionary Convention this past month to do some preparedness training. I will be Keynoting the DMF retreat in Little Rock, AR on September 20-21. At this retreat with the men, we will be looking at more plans and dreams for the future of disaster response in our Region. And then at the Regional Assembly in Baton Rouge, LA, November 1-3, I will once again be presenting some information and gathering ideas from you all about our response to disasters in our three states. We have this time to work, pray, and prepare so that when the storms come, we do not “drop the baton” but finish the race and win the prize to which we have been called. Let us continue to pray and prepare so that we can be the “body of Christ” to reach out and help when the need arises.

Blessings to you all,

Rev. Ronny Nowell

Regional Disaster Response Coordinator

ronny@grrdisciples.org

479-633-7611 cell

Disciples Men's Retreat 2024



September 20-21, 2024

First Christian Church

14411 Taylor Loop Road

Little Rock, AR 72223

It is time to come together as Disciples Men. This event will be a time for connection, fellowship, and service to strengthen our spiritual walk as men of God. The focus this year will be on ways that the Disciples Men's groups from across the region can support the new Disaster Response Coordinator. Rev. Ronny Nowell will Keynote and share ways that each person or group can organize to be prepared in a time of need.

Disciples Women's Retreat 2024

September 6-8, 2024

Vines Center

1 Four H Way

Little Rock, Arkansas72223

The Registration for the 2024 GRRDW Fall Retreat is OPEN! Please register by August 21 to get a retreat T-Shirt and receive the ‘early bird discount’ of $25.00. If you are in the local area, you can register to attend without having a room. The registration costs cover your meals and the costs of programming, materials, and facility usage. We hope to see you there!

Installation Service of Rev. Laura West

CLERGY TRAINING

The Great River Region usually offers Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation and Healthy Boundaries once each year.

Alternate dates are offered by other regions from time to time.

A minimum five-hour training is required for Standing purposes.

Both, Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation and Healthy Boundaries are required every five years

for Clergy Standing.

If your last training was in 2019 or before,

You will need to register for these.

Facilitator

Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker

ONLINE ONLY EVENT

AUGUST 10, 2024

9AM-3PM

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• Global Ministries has two positions open - Grant Writer Program Associate and Global Relations Minister, Latin America and the Caribbean. Learn more here.

• FCC, Rogers is searching for an Associate Pastor. Contact the Regional Office for more information.

Information for congregational delegates and registration coming soon.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2025

SAVE THE DATE

Unpacking the Core Competencies of DisciplesNEXT: Prophetic Advocacy

What does Prophetic Advocacy look like in our daily lives? Join Rev. Cherisna Jean-Marie, Dean of the Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt University, and host Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez, Minister of New Church Strategies, for a New Church Ministry webinar on August 21 at 3:00 PM EST that explores this core competency of DisciplesNEXT, its connections to spiritual formation, and what it has to do with New Church! Register

Below are the congregations engaged in a search process to call a new pastor:

• FCC Rogers, AR, Associate Pastor
• FCC Bossier City, LA
• FCC Mammoth Spring, AR
• FCC Stuttgart, AR
• Grace Point Christian Fellowship, Lake Charles, LA

* For information regarding church positions, please contact the Regional Office.

Clergy Fellowship Opportunity

• Central Arkansas Clergy- Every 4th Monday @ 11:30 a.m.
• Northwest Arkansas Clergy- Every 3rd Wednesday
• Brown Bag Clergy Zoom Call- August 28, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.

Co-directors of Disciples Men, Greg Alexander and Alex Ruth, are excited to announce the first online men's group for Disciples Men.

"Pathway to Blessing" will be held on Zoom beginning September 10, from 8-9 PM (ET). 

Each week, participants will examine biblical and historical models of masculinity and integrate them into our lives today. 

Space in "Pathway to Blessing" is limited, so sign up today!

• Anti-Racism/ Pro-Reconciliation Zoom training - August 10, 9AM-3PM
• DW Fall Retreat - September 6-8 The Vine Center, Little Rock, AR
• DM Retreat- September 20-21 FCC, Little Rock, AR
• Regional Assembly- November 1-3 First Christian Church, Baton Rouge
• Fall Fandango- November 15-17 Camp Couchdale