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Report on the
158th Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (DOC) in Georgia
November
9-10, 2007 - Sandy Springs Christian Church
 Seeing Visions
and Dreaming Dreams:
We are the People We’re Waiting For
Page
1 - Friday Night
For Saturday's Report Click
HERE
On all photos - click on the thumbnail for a
larger image.
Friday Night, November 9
Dinner
Friday night began with a wonderful
dinner prepared by the host Church, Sandy Springs Christian.
Salad, Chicken Pot Pie and hot biscuits filled us all in preparation for
a message from Jim Howell of the Board of Campbell Stone. Jim
reported that Campbell Stone has completed a refinancing and has
refurbished much of their facilities. They are actively seeking
residents and encouraged those at the Assembly to refer those looking
for housing.
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Pam gets attendees registered. |
Cokesbury Bookstore. |
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Dinner
prepared by
Sandy Springs Volunteers. |
Lining up for
Salad. |
Good
fellowship. |
Jim Howell |
Worship
Friday night's opening worship began with
the praise band from Brookhaven Christian Church who put the
congregation in the spirit with a combination of contemporary praise
songs as well as old standards such as "How Great Thou Art." Henry
Brewer-Calvert then led the 175 people present in a call to worship.
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| The people
gather. |
The communion
table is set. |
Brookhaven Christian Church Praise Band. |
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| The
congregation on its feet. |
Gathered for worship. |
Henry
Brewer-Calvert
leads the call to worship. |
Rev. Dr. Brad Miller, Moderator, welcomed
everyone and brought greetings from Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister
and President who's video taped greeting did not arrive in time for the
Assembly. Brad called the roll of churches present then called on
Rev. Doug Job to bring greetings from the host church, Sandy Springs
Christian Church.
Rev. Chimiste Doriscar then introduced
the keynote speaker for the evening, Rev. Gilberto Collazo, New Church
Ministries Vice President.
Brad thanked the regional staff for their
work in the past year. He pointed out that there are 63
individuals working towards ministry with the Commission on Ministry.
There are new church starts in each district of the region. Brad
pointed out that there are still challenges in the region, mostly
financial, but that things are getting better every day.
Emphasizing the financial, Brad then asked Rev. Andy Campbell to talk
about the importance of the upcoming Christmas Offering. Andy
pointed out that all of the Christmas offering goes to the Regional
Church. He encouraged each church to set a goal of $10 per member.
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| Rev. Brad
Miller |
Rev. Doug Job |
Rev. Chimiste
Doriscar |
Rev. Andy
Campbell |
Rev. Janetta Cravens Boyd then led the
assembly in prayer ending with the Lords Prayer which she encouraged
each member to say in the language and form with which they were most
comfortable because even it that sounded a little confusing, "God can
sort it all out."
The Sandy Springs Choir sang a beautiful
rendition of "As We Gather At Your Table" which led us into Communion
led by the Regional Ministers Dr. Ray Miles, Rev. Michael Weeks and Rev.
Betty Brewer-Calvert.
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| Rev. Janetta
Cravens Boyd |
Sandy Springs
Choir |
Rev.
Brewer-Calvert
Dr. Ray Miles
Rev. Michael Weeks. |
Communion |
Rev. Jamie Brame of
Christimount
Christian Assembly then talked about people's favorite reasons to
come to Christmount. He reminded everyone of all the special
programs and retreats including music workshops, Christmount Week, The
Scott Clergy Forum and others and encouraged everyone to come up to
Christmount with a group or as individuals.
Steve Tadegrin of Centre Evangelique Pierre la Angulaire in Auburn Georgia led the Assembly in the hymn
"I See The Lord" in both French Creole and English as members of the
congregation helped us learn the French parts.
Rev. Bob Harris, president of the
Christian College of Georgia pointed out that 60 years ago a Regional
Assembly had created the Christian College of Georgia at Athens.
Since then it has been preparing individuals for ministry guided by its
board of trustees. Today the College ministers to students on the
campus of the University of Georgia with over 50 students involved.
The College also operates the 18 month old Institute for Christian
Ministry which currently has 26 students enrolled and working through 13
courses to become licensed ministers. And the College runs the
annual Voices Clergy Retreat each year at Camp Christian Conference
Center.
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| Rev. Jamie
Brame |
Steve Tadegrin |
Members of
Centre
Evangelique
Pierre la Angulaire |
Rev. Bob
Harris |
Video: in preparation for the
Assembly, congregations were asked to submit
 videos
of their members giving their vision for the Christian Church in
Georgia. Members from Gods City of Refuge, First Christian Church
Macon and Brookhaven Christian Church participated. The Video was
co-ordinated by Ms. Jocelyn Wheaton of God's City of Refuge and produced
by Mr. Will Boyd of FCC Macon.
 Rev.
Michael Zhu of the First Chinese Christian Church of Norcross read Joel
2:26-32 in Chinese while the words were projected in English. God
tells his people Israel that he will pour out his spirit upon them and
their sons and daughters will prophesy and the old men will dream dreams
and the young men will see visions.
Ray Miles handed out Special Church
Recognitions..
LEADING CONTRIBUTORS TO DISCIPLE MISSION
FUND IN 2006
First Christian Church, Athens
Cherry Log Christian Church, Cherry Log
Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur
First Christian Church, Macon
Eagles Landing Christian Church, McDonough
First Christian Church, Sandersville
First Christian Church, Valdosta
LEADING CWF/DISCIPLE WOMEN CONTRIBUTORS
TO DISCIPLE MISSION FUND
First Christian Church, Athens
Central Christian Church, Columbus
First Christian Church, Sandersville
Sandy Springs Christian Church, Sandy Springs
LEADING YOUTH GROUP CONTRIBUTORS TO
DISCIPLE MISSION FUND IN 2006
First Christian Church, Lawrenceville
CHURCH GROWTH – ADDITIONS AND BAPTISMS
Peachtree Christian Church, Atlanta
Bogart Christian Church, Bogart
Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur
First Christian Church, Macon
Mount Vernon Christian Church, Monroe
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| Leading
Contributors to Disciples Mission Fund |
Leading Youth
Group Contributors to Disciple Mission Fund |
Leading
CWF/Disciple Women Contributors to Disciple Mission Fund |
Church Growth
- Additions and Baptisms |
Following a prayer by Dr. Roger Sizemore
and special music "And I Saw A New Heaven" by Sandy Springs Choir,
Rev.
Gilberto Collazo brought the sermon.
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| Dr. Roger
Sizemore |
The table and
the congregation |
Rev. Gilberto Collazo |
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In his Sermon, Rev.
Collazo talked about Vision. He pointed out the progress the
denomination is making towards its 2020 Vision of 1000 new congregations
by 2020. Over 500 new churches have been started to date and
35,000 individuals have found a relationship with Christ through those
congregations. He reminded us of
the role playing game that was popular a few years ago called "Dungeons
and Dragons." This game, Gilberto said, encouraged players to be
visionaries and step out of their comfort zones in order to win.
But, he said, many congregations are plagued by "Vision Slayers".
He reminded us that Proverbs 29:18 says: Where there is no vision, the
people perish. He paraphrased that as "When vision is lost,
congregations begin to die."
Gilberto said that Vision Slayers use three main tools: 1) "God would
never call us to change the way we have always done it." But God,
he said, is actually a God who continually calls us to do new things.
2) Fear. Congregations can't fear change. We talk a lot, he
said, about "letting go and letting God" but in reality we fear letting
go to God. 3) Complacency. We need passion to keep the
church moving forward.
 Finally
Gilberto challenged us to ask "What would you give to see your vision
for your congregation become a reality?"
Dr. Miles closed with a Benediction and the light was
taken from the Sanctuary until Saturday morning.
Continue To Saturday Morning |
