With heavy hearts, we announce the closing of All Peoples Christian Church this month after nearly 80 years of serving our beloved community. Our church has been a national beacon of hope, fighting against injustice and inequality while seeking peace and fulfilling the Gospel. We have faithfully served, inspired by Isaiah 56:7: “My house shall be a house of prayer for all people,” where ALL are welcome.

To honor and celebrate our community presence over the past 80 years, we have scheduled two special events in March:

Homecoming Community Event
Join us as we gather for a joyous reunion and celebration of community. We will come together to share memories and remember the rich history of All Peoples Christian Church and its impact on the community and the denomination.
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: 822 E 20th Street. Los Angeles 90011

Final Worship Service
Join us for our final worship service, where we will come together in prayer and reflection, giving thanks for the blessings and experiences we have shared. Reception Lunch to follow after Worship.
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 10:45 am
Location: 822 E 20th Street. Los Angeles 90011

We invite all current and former members, friends, and community members to join us in these events as we celebrate the legacy of All Peoples Christian Church. Together, we will honor our past and look forward to the future with hope and gratitude.  While this chapter is ending, the spirit of the church—the deep sense of community, unity, and service—will continue to live on through the work of All Peoples Community Center. More information to follow. 

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Paul Allen is currently the pastor of First Christian Church, Huntsville, Alabama, having previously served congregations in North Carolina and Manhattan, Kansas

Paul is a graduate of Barton College and Lexington Theological Seminary and has regional ministry in his genes.  Both Paul’s parents served in Disciples congregations and regional ministry. He is married to Patti who is a Registered Nurse. Their daughter Abby is a junior at Auburn University and their son Joe is a junior in high school.

As the newest region in the church, the Northern Lights Region is excited to welcome Paul to leadership as we continue to live into who God is calling us to become, supporting pastors and congregations as we strive to faithfully answer God’s call to ministry as we do together that which we cannot do apart.

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Angelique previously served as the Regional Director of the Communications Ministry in The Christian Church (DOC) in Illinois and Wisconsin (and Michigan). She is a Disciple from Illinois. She authored the book, “The Phygital Church: Using Social Ministry to Make Disciples,” to assist congregations with being intentional about ministry in the digital space.

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Vanco serves community organizations with the church management and giving software and solutions to enrich communities. Vanco boasts more than 25 years serving tens of thousands of churches across denominations and provides industry-leading payment processing resources that help churches better engage with members and drive generous giving. 

“Disciples of Christ’s mission is to foster unity, justice, care and compassion to the more than 3,300 churches within its denomination. We’re thrilled to help empower that mission using our online giving tools designed to drive generosity using storytelling to connect donors to the causes and programs they support,” Vanco Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Dan Gretz said.

As part of the partnership, Vanco will offer special, tiered pricing to DOC churches listed in the most recent issue of the “Yearbook and Directory of the Christian Church”. These tiers empower churches to choose an option that fits their needs as they serve their members. They also help create a giving experience that connects donors directly to the programs and ministries they support. 

The Center for Faith and Giving is a ministry within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that exists to create a culture of generosity across the life of the whole church

‌“Online giving is more important than ever for churches, and Vanco has a proven track record of helping churches tell their stories, connect with donors and inspire them to support key ministries and programs that help congregations serve their members and communities. The recognition of VANCO as a preferred provider of the Center for Faith and Giving allows us to offer our member congregations and associated ministries a substantial discount for services they need – which will help them move more money to mission,” Bruce Barkhauer Director of the Center for Faith and Giving. 

The partnership will launch with an upcoming webinar where the Center for Faith and Giving will introduce congregations to Vanco and share how they provide congregations with tools for online giving, mobile app giving and engagement and much more.  

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When the General Assembly meets in Louisville, Kentucky July 29-August 1, 2023, it will be the first time in four years the church as a whole has gathered in person. The theme for the 2023 General Assembly is “Kindom of God Within Us, Among Us.” The General Assembly is the whole church. It’s not just a gathering. 

The whole church is invited to pray the preamble on Kindom Sunday, June 18, as an act of worship and unity in celebration of the way that God’s expansive love connects each of us as “kin” and to each part of the larger kindom of God.

Regional clusters will also share in a month of spiritual preparation and intercessory prayer during the month leading up to our worshipful work in Louisville. Please join us on Thursdays at 7 to 715pm eastern beginning June 22 streaming live on Facebook and YouTube. 

For this occasion download the printable, commemorative preamble to The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

Schedule 

For the month leading to General Assembly there will be opportunities to participate digitally in the spiritual preparation for the General Assembly gathering through intercessory prayer during the month leading up to our worshipful work in Louisville. Please join us on Thursdays at 7 to 715pm eastern beginning June 22 streaming live on Facebook and YouTube. 

June 22
Western Regions in Ministry (WRIM) – Northern Lights, Oregon/SW Idaho, Northern California/Nevada, Pacific Southwest, Arizona and Central Rocky Mountain regions

June 29
Regions of the Sun Equipping and Serving (ROSES) – Southwest, Great River and Oklahoma regions

July 6
Southeast Regional Fellowship (SERF) – North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama/NW Florida, Tennessee and Virginia regions

July 13
Heartland – Illinois/Wisconsin, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Mid-America, Greater Kansas City and Upper Midwest regions

July 20
Northeast Inter-Regional Fellowship (NIRF) – Ohio, Pennsylvania, Northeast, West Virginia, Michigan, Canada and the Capital Area regions

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On this episode of Imagine with Me, General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens speak with Dr. Delesslyn Kennebrew, the newly called Administrative Secretary of the National Convocation about the future Convocation is imagining.

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In this episode of Imagine with Me, General Minister and President Rev. Terri Hord Owens invites Rev. Lee Hull Moses, Executive Director of the Proclamation Project, to share about this new Lilly Endowment Initiative. Watch now to learn about the genesis of the project and how it will enrich Disciples preachers across the life of the church.

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On this episode of Imagine with Me, General Minister and President Rev. Terri Hord Owens speaks with Rev. Caroline Hamilton Arnold of Week of Compassion and Rev. Carol Divine of Green Chalice about the impacts of climate change and what congregations can do to be climate ready.

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Ms. Hernandez is a graduate of Christian Theological Seminary and brings a wealth of experience in the area of program leadership, cross-cultural engagement, as well as pastoral care and counseling. She recently served as the Director for the Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries People to People Program and as Acting Executive for the Mission Personnel Office during a leadership transition at DOM/Global Ministries. Lorna is no stranger to DHM, having worked with DHM from 2009 to 2011. She is certainly well-known and highly respected by many across the life of the church, and will undoubtedly do a great job as an interim in this role. Lorna began her time with DHM on March 1, and there is a month of overlap between when Lorna begins and Warren Lynn concludes his work with DHM on March 31, 2023. We certainly pray for blessings for Warren and his family, and we pray for Lorna as she begins this important work.

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In this episode of Imagine with Me, General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens speaks with Rev. Tyler Heston, Minister of Spiritual Formation at Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, about the Arts Engagement initiative at General Assembly and how art will be integrated into the whole experience through out the Assembly.

“That’s exactly what I hoped for out of these immersive art exhibits that each of these five different access points. Provide tangible ways for people to access the deeper story about this idea of God’s kingdom in which they envision, they can imagine what can be different and that both in terms of our internal world and how we connect with God as individuals and like the depths of who we are. But also different ways of being in community relationships with the people.” -Rev. Tyler Heston

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It is the seventh such survey in the Faith Communities Today (FACT) series, begun in the year 2000. The surveys offer religious leaders of all traditions critical planning information about the changing nature of congregational life and how to effectively respond. The findings from the FACT surveys are freely provided online.

This survey is also being conducted in partnership with the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations study, which is actively researching change and innovation in the American religious landscape as a result of COVID-19. 

Faith Communities Today invites leaders of individual congregation to complete this confidential survey. In order to provide a complete picture of the full variety of religious congregations in America, we encourage leaders from across the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to complete the survey. The survey is offered in seven different languages. 

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The best method for growing financial support comes from sustained attention throughout the year.  This resource includes materials for a year-round education and discussion of generosity as a spiritual practice.  This resource includes materials for a year-round education and discussion of generosity as a spiritual practice, while also providing everything you need for a traditional shorter and more focused campaign.

Approaching stewardship as a spiritual practice (instead of a crisis around paying bills) helps shape people into stronger disciples who more deeply connect to their faith.  

The resource includes:

• 8 sermon exegetical reflections and companion worship resources 
• Children, Youth, and Adult educational materials
• Guidance for volunteers on the process of planning, asking, and thanking

Writers for the materials include leaders like Rev. Dr. Katie Hays (Galileo Church), Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause (Eden Seminary), Lee Hull Moses (Disciples of Christ), Dr. Frank A. Thomas (Christian Seminary) and many more.

These materials will help you teach your congregation that, “Because of you, our church changes lives.”

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The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has received a grant of $1 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help support and equip Disciples for the task of preaching the good news. 

The program, preliminarily called The Proclamation Project, will kick off in January with a virtual preaching workshop and a sermon series resource for preachers to use in preparation for next summer’s General Assembly. As the program takes shape, it will grow to include a resource library with new and curated preaching materials, support for preachers in bi-vocational settings, cohort groups, and learning opportunities for Disciples preachers.

“I am thrilled that we will be able to offer this level of support to preachers in local congregations,” said Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President. “We know that preachers are hungry for resources they can trust, hungry for connection with other preachers, hungry to hear good preaching themselves. We understand that proclamation is not a discrete task but is intricately tied to the whole of ministry: from the prophetic to the pastoral to the educational. As we continue to imagine new ways of being church, the Proclamation Project will help Disciples offer the authentic, Spirit-filled preaching the world needs.” 

The Office of the General Minister and President will be developing a team to lead this effort, which will provide support and resources for preachers from the diverse communities that make up the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The program was designed by a planning committee that included Rev. Lee Hull Moses, Vice President and Chief of Staff in the OGMP; Rev. Rogelio Martinez, pastor of Casa de Oracion de Fullerton and Iglesia Nueva Vida; Rebecca Anderson, co-pastor of Gilead Church Chicago; and Rev. Bill Lee, former moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The Proclamation Project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is one of 32 organizations receiving funding in an invitational round of grants for the initiative, which is designed to help Christian pastors strengthen their abilities to proclaim the gospel in more engaging and effective ways.

“We are excited about the work that these organizations will do to foster and support preaching that better inspires, encourages and guides people to come to know and love God and to live out their Christian faith more fully,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion.  “Their programs will serve a significant number of aspiring and current preachers who are working to reach and engage increasingly diverse audiences both within and beyond congregations.”

The Compelling Preaching Initiative is part of the Endowment’s longstanding interest in supporting projects that help to nurture the religious lives of individuals and families and foster the growth and vitality of Christian congregations in the United States.

About Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. In addition, the Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.

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General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, Rev. Terri Hord Owens wishes the church a holy Christmas.

“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus the one whom we confess as the Son of God, Lord and Savior of the world I pray that your day is filled with all the joy that God gives us through Jesus.” -Rev. Terri Hord Owens

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The theme for the 2023 General Assembly, Kindom of God, Within Us, Among Us, was develop out of three scriptures: Genesis 11:1-9, Luke 17:20-21 and 2 Peter 1:3. The theme aims to explore the way that the church gathers in many manifestations of God’s limitless love in communities across the United States and Canada and how we come together at this event.

If you are an artist interested in immersive and interactive encounters, work with stories and themes woven around things like the sacred, mystery, justice, and wholeness, we encourage you to consider applying for this opportunity. Find out more information about applying to be a Resident Artist at the 2023 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

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The Youth Leadership Symposium will open in January, providing videos and recommended reading for participants. Three primary meetings will take place on February 4, April 29, and June 3, 2023. Participants may attend in person at the Fish Interfaith Center at Chapman University, or one of the many “Pod” locations where participants can zoom into the symposium as a group. Locations of pods can be found at Youth Leadership Symposium.

This is a free event, open to one high school age youth and one adult from every congregation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. If congregations wish, they can request a space for a second youth. Those youth who complete the symposium will be considered eligible for youth leadership scholarships at Chapman University, Texas Christian University and other church related institutions. Those completing the program will be provided more information on scholarship options and opportunities. 

Part of the symposium’s training will involve interviewing local Church leaders, designing a project for a local congregation, and adapting that plan based on new information or research. The hope is to provide youth with a true practicum that will help them serve the church and become leaders in the world. Evaluating needs, project selection, building relationships across generations, and adaptive change are just a few of the topics that will help youth lead in and beyond the church. 

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In October 2021, Bethel Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, experienced vandalism to their church building. As a result, Bethel Christian Church, a member of the North American Pacific/Asian Disciples, began a ministry partnership with First Christian Church of Noblesville, an English-speaking congregation to share space and facilities.

As the two congregations began to settle into the partnership, several youth from First Christian Church expressed interest in learning the Korean language and culture. The Bethel community identified several Korean adults who wanted to learn English and other older adults in the community want to get help related to English, such as connecting to local community services and understanding official documents or letters. Both communities identified that a ministry of mutual learning might have appeal in the wider community as well. Additionally, as members of both communities witness and experienced xenophobic, racist rhetoric and violence against Asian Americans in many parts of society, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, making this project all the more urgent. Their hope was that many issues could be mitigated by understanding each other’s traditions, differences, and social contexts. 

Considering this context, the congregations first launched a Korean language with a English language in development for launch later in the year. The congregations applied for support from National Benevolent Association’s Mission and Ministry Grant and the Region of Indiana’s Reconciliation Grant, whose funds come from the Reconciliation Ministry special offering. With the support of NBA and the Region of Indiana, they launched Korean Language Classes in mid-September with 15 students an instructor with plans to launch ESL classes later this year.  

Rev. Baek Hee Kim explains, “We hope this language project promotes and eventually expands and develops into a space for sharing cultures. And we will experience the vital role of social tolerance in making a pro-reconciling community.” 

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Responding to God’s call to do justice, Washington Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Elyria, Ohio, has abolished an estimated $2.1 million in medical debt, specifically for Lorain County and Ohio residents. 

Through a partnership with the national nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, based in New York, Washington Avenue Christian Church in Elyria, Ohio, has retired medical debt in an amount equal to more than six times its annual operating budget. RIP uses donated funds to purchase medical debts in large bundled portfolios for a fraction of their face value. It notifies recipients by mail if one or more of their debts has been purchased and erased. RIP only abolishes debt for those in financial hardship (those 400 percent or below the federal poverty level or who have a debt that is 5 percent or more of their annual income). 

In June, the church had plans to attend the Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls. Last-minute travel complications prevented church members from making the trip. Instead of going to D.C., the church live-streamed the event in its building. Following the broadcast, congregants decided to distribute the $2500 that had been designated for bus tickets in support of local, state, and nationwide organizations that are addressing the same concerns. As a result of this gathering, the church used $1,000 to eliminate $100,000 in medical debt throughout the United States. 

Upon hearing the news of $100,000 in medical debt being canceled, members asked if forgiving more medical debt was possible. Washington Avenue’s Outreach Committee accepted this prompting and set a goal of raising $5,000 that would be used to abolish an additional $500,000 in medical debt. Before this initiative was publicly launched, the church met its $5,000 goal. Inspired by the energy surrounding this effort, the church doubled its goal to $10,000 to retire $1,000,000 in medical debt. The Rev. Nathan A. Russell, senior pastor, announced this drive in his sermon on Sunday, July 3. Russell said, “Let’s tell the oppressed their medical debt has been erased and that this is the year of the Holy One’s favor.” 

Though this was primarily a congregational initiative, the church invited everyone interested to join in making this medical debt cancellation a reality. People from Ohio to Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf of Mexico made gifts online, mailed checks to the church, or gave during in-person worship. The church’s efforts were featured in local print media, ABC-News Cleveland, Spectrum 1 News Ohio, and Good Faith Media. 

Rev. Russell reflecting on the work of his congregation and community “In setting this goal to abolish medical debt, we were surprised and encouraged by the community’s response. People from Texas, Maryland, Michigan, and Indiana contributed in this effort. One person said, “This is why I still believe in the Church.” In a world in which the Church does not have the best reputation, we’re seeking to embody Jesus’ mission as Disciples of Christ. We’re showing that the Church is not dead but vibrantly alive and doing the work of the gospel.”

Washington Avenue Christian Church, a historic Disciples of Christ congregation, has been part of the Elyria landscape since 1881. As witnesses to the very best, most beautiful gospel-good news of Jesus Christ, the church strives toward the future God wants and ultimately will have. 

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On today’s message, General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens encourages the church to hold Jackson, Mississippi in prayer, support the ministry of Week of Compassion and continue to advocate for a justice.

“Just consider your family not having safe drinking water and the kind of help that you would want. It’s a justice issue and it’s something that we can do something about. We hope that you will give generously and give to Week of Compassion” – Rev. Terri Hord Owens

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