Your Mid-America News

Please hold Rev. Dr. William E. Crowder, Jr. and his whole family in prayer as they mourn the loss of their 21 year-old son Sollomon. Last week Sollomon was found lifeless by Washington D.C. homicide after being reported missing from his Howard University campus the day before.

Dr. Crowder is the President of our Disciples National Convocation, and the Regional Minister of the Living Waters Region (formerly MI & IL/WI).

2026 Summer Camp

REGISTRATION IS OPEN for all of our 2026 summer camp programs and there is something for everyone!

Click here to get started planning your summer!

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SUMMER'S ALMOST HERE!

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Can you believe that our first program of the summer begins on June 5?! That's in less than a month!

And our camp scholarship applications are due June 1!

Don't miss out on the experience of a lifetime, and some help with the fee!

Don't Forget

We have free tickets available to the May 8 Organizing Eco-Justice Transformations workshop through the Center for Lived Faith & Organizing. Can be attended online or in St. Louis. Contact Regional office for information>

Congratulations to our Mid-America clergy celebrating milestone anniversaries of their ordination or original commissioning in May!

Clela Anderson, 70 years

William Stewart, 45 years

Joe Jimmerson, 20 years

David Roush, 15 years

Andrew Taylor Peck, 15 years

Sarah Taylor Peck, 15 years

Hannah Ryan, 10 years

Erin Medsker, 10 years

Don't Miss the Spiritual Drum Birthing Retreat in June

This very special event has been planned for June 18-20 at the beautiful Jabez Retreat Center in Mooresville.

The Native American inspired art of drum building is a sacred spiritual practice involving a ceremony where the drum is created with intention as a living, sacred instrument.

Come learn more about this traditional practice and make your own drum if you choose!

This event was originally planned for Disciples Women and registration is open to women exclusively until May 11. At that time, if there is space still available, the invitation will be extended to the men of the Region.

Learn more and register now>

Got Handbells?

Olivet Christian Church in Columbia is looking for a set of used hand chimes or handbells. If any congregation is looking to get rid of theirs, please email office@olivetchristian.org.

Mission & Ministry Grants Awarded

Congratulations to three ministries in Mid-America that were recently awarded Mission & Ministry grants from the National Benevolent Association!

Fifth Street Christian Church in Columbia, for their Adult/Senior Lunch & Wellness Program.

First Christian Church in Republic, for Chalice & Bread Feeding Our Seniors

Woodhaven Learning Center in Columbia, for Safe Mobility for Medically Fragile Older Adults

Learn more about this NBA program and the other grant recipients here>

Kirby Gould Marks Receives Woodhaven Guiding Light Award

Since Woodhaven was founded and supported by the NBA, our Christian Church Foundation has been a trusted and valued partner in helping its legacy be established and sustained. This is especially important as many clients outlive their parents and sources of revenue for their continued care. CCF and Kirby Gould Marks have been working long and hard to have their investments fill gaps in many needs. Congratulations to Kirby Hughes Marks for excelling with them. She is their Guiding Light.

Many Disciples gathered in Columbia on April 30 to congratulate Kirby and contribute to this legacy.

CCMA Seeking Remote Ministry Associate

Our Personnel Committee has assessed our staffing needs and developed a Remote Ministry Associate position to support our Regional Commission on the Order of Ministry and maintain our clergy records.

This part-time contract position will include occasional travel for meetings, but will otherwise be remote so the candidate could be located anywhere in the Region.

Looking to fill as soon as possible. Find more information, including application process, here>

Men's Spring Retreat

Nine Disciples Men, including four from the Great River Region (Utica, MS), two Mid-America pastors, and three lay saints joined ten men from other Christian congregations at Shannondale Mission deep in the Ozarks for our annual spring retreat this past weekend. The weather was picture-perfect to hike, explore, canoe, kayak, and especially to unite in mission. A craft pavilion needed overhauling so artisans can demonstrate and work on their crafts for Shannodale's fair-trade local ministry. This is vitally important as Shannondale is in the poorest section of the poorest county in Missouri. In addition the creek at Troublesome Hollow was dammed to create a swimming hole for campers and the community. This certainly will be enjoyed by Disciples at our own Canoe Camp. The Saturday bonfire, led by Regional Minister Paul Koch focused on Matthew 11:28-30 and burdens that men often carry alone. Love among brothers helped release these burdens in blessing.

Craig Kirby-Grove Retires

This past Sunday at Affton CC those gathered honored Catherine Kirby-Grove and Rev. Craig Kirby-Grove for 39 years of ministry. Catherine received the Honored Spouse Certificate and Craig received the Honored Ministry Pin from the Pension Fund. Craig had served several congregations in Mid-America over the years, as well as other churches in eastern Disciples Regions. We wish them well as they explore what's next for them!

Important Due Dates Coming Up

Don't miss out on a great opportunity by letting an application window close. Get your information in for the following programs before it's too late:

Black Leadership Project grants, to fund events, activities, are resources that develop, nurture, and strengthen leadership in African American Disciples congregations - Due May 31. Learn more>

Bridgeton Fund grants, to help meet a church's temporary financial need - Due May 31. Learn more>

Christian Ministry Scholarships, through the Disciples Women to help support those studying for Christian Ministry - Due May 31. Learn more>

Orchard Chest Camp Scholarships, to help pay registration fees for summer camp - Due June 1. Learn more>

African American Clergy Gathering

Join Associate Regional minister Rev. Angela Williams this Saturday, May 9 at Second Christian Church in Jefferson City to begin planning for support of African American clergy and the churches they serve. Learn more>

The Dramatic Sermon Workshop May 14

Dr. Aaron Scully, the Meridith Harmon Sauer Distinguished Professor of Theatre at the University of Central Missouri, will lead a 3-hour workshop for ministers on May 14 on the UCM Campus in Warrensburg. “The Dramatic Sermon Workshop” will focus on drama resources to enhance sermon preparation and delivery. The workshop is sponsored by the UCM Theater Division and First Christian Church in Warrensburg, Rev. Tim Whitmore, Pastor. Participation is limited. Click here for information and registration>

From the Wider Church

This coming week's Global Ministries prayer request is for Palestine.

The Big Reveal: Reading & Responding to Revelation

Eden Theological Seminary invites all to this new ministry cohort that will meet online three times this summer.

May 21, June 25, July 23 - (6-7:30 each night)

The group will take a close look at Revelation, the apocalyptic genre, Revelation's reception history, and many of the interpretive moves that various groups make. They'll work to examine this text and its message to determine whether it can inspire us to embrace its final words - The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Ministry Cohorts support lifelong learning and are for anyone- authorized clergy, chaplains, Christian educators, lay leaders and anyone interested in the topic.

This cohort is created and facilitated by Rev. Dr. Jeff Moore, pastor of Webster Groves CC and affiliate faculty member at Eden.

Learn more and register>

Pentecost Offering for New Church

What can church look like for participants who have experienced religious trauma? Potentially triggering songs are scrapped from the worship playlist and sermons are focused on what individuals can do to think about their faith from a different perspective. This is Springs of Life Church.

Founded by Pastor Larry Gipson, it serves a diverse group—from LGBTQ+ folks to ex-evangelicals to unchurched people. Together, they worship God, seek justice, and gather in community.

On May 17 and 24, your participation in the Pentecost Offering supports new congregations that are putting love into action.

Faithful Financial Leadership for Congregations

Take time this summer to strengthen one of the most critical—and often most complex—areas of congregational life: financial ministry.

This four-session webinar series is designed for pastors, treasurers, and church leaders who want to lead with clarity, integrity, and confidence. Across four 90-minute sessions, you’ll gain practical tools for:

Church budgeting and financial systems
Interpreting financial reports
Strengthening internal controls
Building trust through transparency and accountability

This series equips you to align your congregation’s financial practices with its mission—so you can enter the fall season prepared for faithful, strategic planning.

Learn more & register here>

Meet DCEF's New President

Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF) invites you to join Creative Writer/Digital Media Specialist Nadine Compton on May 12 at 2:30 PM for a moderated Q&A conversation designed to help you get to know the ministry’s President and CEO Rev. Dr. Courtney Stange-Tregear better and ask the questions that matter to you. On Zoom and Facebook live, she will share reflections about her journey, her values, and her hopes for DCEF, the future of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada, and how our shared work could unfold. Register here>

Thanks for keeping in touch!

Susan Moore

Ministry Associate

ccmacomm@yahoo.com

Springfield Office

Monday-Thursday

8:00-3:30

417.865.0850

St. Louis Office

Monday-Friday

8:30-4:30

314.462.0932